"Date Day"

Since José's teaching schedule has been changed to evenings, we have had to adjust a little. When school's off for one reason or another, he has to teach on Friday nights to make up for the missed days. Today our date night was changed to date day. Best yet, it was my date to plan. I chose the beach!!! After our routine morning run/workout session, we headed out to Combate Beach in Cabo Rojo. We decided to explore the area past El Faro (lighthouse). Usually it is full, but with today being a school day, we were in luck. We parked, grabbed our beach gear and were welcomed by this breathtaking view:

Could I ask for a better place to spend the day with Güiro (aka José)?! After soaking up some rays and swimming in the warm water, we hiked to the lighthouse and spotted two manatees swimming near the cliffs. We headed out around 1:30p. to get Güiro ready for work. On the way home we stopped at BK for a whopper. I know it beats the purpose of running, but let's face it - it was FREE and I only had 1/3 of the burger, 1/2 of an order of small fries, 1/2 of a small soft drink and two bottles of H2O on the way home.

Date Cost: Fuel ................... $5 Food ................... $2.90 Spending time with my hubby ................ PRICELESS

Nature At Its Best: Before and After

The big 3-6!

Jose's birthday was on Sunday. I asked Robin Evans if she could make him a cake. She made one in the shape of a car. I looked great and it tasted even better. Jose was like a little kid in a candy store. His smile was huge. He was so cute. Needless to say, the cake is gone.

Secret Santa

Every year we spend Christmas with family members out of state. This year will be different. Plane tickets are way to expensive. Closing the shop for week is out of the question. So we've decided to go a different route. This year we will be doing Secret Santa within our own family. We only buy presents for the person whose name we picked out of Nellie's purse (we were in the middle of Best Buy with no hat in hand so we improvized). For several months, I have been saving the left over money from our grocery budget and putting it in an envelope labeled "vacation". So far, with the help of coupons and price matching by Publix (I love Publix), I have been able to save $500. Not enough for a roadtrip or plane tickets, but great for Secret Santa. Each one of us will get $100 to spend on gifts with a minimum of 4 gifts to purchase. This amount has to include tax, wrapping and card. The remaining $100 will be used on Christmas Day for brunch and a movie. We are so excited to go shopping for presents. We even created wish lists on Amazon.com so our Secret Santa would have an easier time shopping. I personally still don't know what to put on my wish list. I have the hardest time spending money on myself, especially $100 of not-needed-stuff. But I will convince myself to get over it and enjoy my presents.

Gator Time!

I know it's been a month since I last posted but nothing exciting has happened until this week. 2 am we hear our dog barking non-stop. We think it is another encounter with a possum, racoon, turtle or snake. Remember, we live in hillbilly country. Jose gets up to put the dog away in her cage. This is what he finds: I thought he was kidding. Lake Idamere is about 1.5 miles away. So no one can pinpoint his home. Luckily it was only 3 feet long and Jose was able to corner it and get it in Chocolate's cage. It was not a happy camper:

I called the wildlife office at 8am and they did not show up until after 5pm. I was worried the poor little guy or gal would get sick for being out of the water for so long. I expressed my concern to the trapper and he validated my worries. He said they were on their way. Finally the trappers came to relocate it and this is how the story ends:

Don't you feel sorry for the animal?
Our heroes:

Catch-Up Time

Well, it has been a while since I have posted so her it goes.

Soccer season is officially over, I think. They won't meet again until June. It at least gives me a rest. I do not know how some moms have their children in more than one weekly activity.

Nellie is getting migraines. They are caused by high concentrations of sugar (chocolate, soda, etc.). So we did away with that. Also during her last soccer game, which was in the middle of the day, she was really dizzy and her vision was blurry. We had to sit out and since then she has been experiencing some "tickling" in her chest. The doctor did an EKG and said everything was OK, but she probably lost a lot of electrolytes and the heart being a muscle needs hydration. So hydration is the Rx.

Nashua has really bad allergies and the fact that it hasn't rained does not help. Her allergies turned into a sinus infection and now I have two sick girls at home. Her knee is not good either. Someone kicked it in a soccer game about a month ago and again two weeks ago. It is painful when she taps it. The doctor examined it and said it was the same as getting a bump on your head from an impact. The fluid has accumulated behind the knee cap. She has to let it heal for two weeks and wear a brace.

They both are all covered with bruises from soccer. Those girls are vicious. I did not think girl soccer would be this dangerous.

New callings - we just received new callings: Jose was called as the 2ND counselor in the Bishopric and I was called as the new Primary president. I know, crazy busy. I was crying because the girls were so big and I they did not need my help anymore. I was feeling sad that I didn't have any little ones to take care of and of course Heavenly Father is aware of us. Now I have a ward full of little ones to love, teach and spoil, but only the good kind of spoiling . I am so excited. My counselors and secretary are great. It has made the transition so much easier. I really admired Sis. Shipley for what she did. She was so great with the children. I guess it is the mother in us that makes it so easy to love these little ones.

Free Car Care Clinic

I know what you're thinking. We're trying to plug-in our business. Well, think what you may but that is not the reason so read along.


Free Car Care Clinic – The free Car Care Clinic is open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. It will be held Saturday, April 11th, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Lugo Auto Repair location on 29325 C.R. 561 in Tavares. Vehicles will be checked free of charge for the condition of lights, windshield wipers, fluids, tires and other components essential to a safe and dependable vehicle. All we are asking is to drop-off a non-perishable food item (ex. peanut butter, tuna, canned soups, baby formula, pet food, etc.), which will be donated to a local food pantry. Florida Blood Centers will be sponsoring a blood drive from 8a-1p. Tell your friends and neighbors. Come join us as we offer free inspections for a good cause.