Monday, March 31, 2008
Como estas, mi familia?
I hope you are all doing well! Fill me in... tell me how your Spring is shaping up?
Monday, March 24, 2008
Cousins--30 Years Ago
This past week, my sister came out to Gilbert to visit. I was so happy to see her. We started to go through a big box of photos, and other memorabilia, that Granpo left. A few pictures were familiar to us, but many others were not. We've decided that without Dickie, we'll never know all the peoples and nuances associated with this treasure.Among the photos, is the one I posted today. Taken about 30 years ago, it shows a playful moment between Stevie and Ali.
Cherish your babies--they grow up so fast!
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Thursday, March 20, 2008
New pictures of the kids!
One is on St. Pats Day and the other is AJ's class picture from this year... I love how big and HEALTHY he looks!
Monday, March 17, 2008
Reflections on race one...
(reposted from my blog)
Well, dear friends, race one is oficially part of the record books, and while I broke, um, NO records, I did finish the race, which is more than I could have done 3 months ago (being a couch potato limits that ability).
Naturally, I do have some things to share about the race...As we were driving around looking for parking, I saw runners warming up everywhere... and I'll be honest, I came >this<>
The amazing thing to me was how MANY people I knew at the race... social workers from the hospital, nurses, old coworkers, neighbors. It's amazing how many people in my life run, and I was unaware!
At the starting line, I saw the 'elites' at the front of the line... nope, I thought, still not far enough back... oh wait- that lady looks like she could grace the cover of a magazine... stil not far enough back. Oooh, lady with a walker and two limping runners- I think I've found my place!
Seriously though... the people were so incredibly nice. I paced myself with a guy who, though older, has been running his whole life. He kept cheering me on, and it was really cool to have that.And even though I was terrified of the elite runners, once they were done, many of them lined the end of the course to cheer the rest of us on... and I never felt more like a runner than at that moment. :)
Did I wiggle? Yes. Did it hurt? God, yes. Was it worth it? Absolutely. A million times over. Because even though I am still a fat runner, I really believe now that I *am* a runner... and the race yesterday was the first in a lifetime of many more to come.
Distance: 3.92 milesTime: 38.40 minutes
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Friday, March 14, 2008
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Who does this lovely girl look like?
OK, I had to post a picture of my Mireya.
Notice the cheeks, slanted eyes, nose and smile.
That is why the picture below affected me so much. It is a blessing to see one's innocence in our children. I am so blessed.
God is good.
Who's this handsome boy?
Yes, indeed, who is this? I want to tickle him under his chin!
The information on the reverse side of the photo indicates it was taken in February on 1981--just about a month after Grandma Virginia died.
I remember Roberto as always smiling--guess nothing's really changed. He's still an optimistic glass-half-full kind of a guy, to me anyway.
The image on his shirt seems to be him. Coincidence or not?
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Diana's dorky & funny story...
I sent this story out in an email a couple weeks ago. A few of you received the email & have already read it, but I thought I would share it with the whole familia to, as Tia Mari said, bring us closer together. So here is just a glimpse of my dorky intricacies:
I was at my parent's late last night, midnight or so, (worked til 7:00, 11 hrs - not at all relevant, but just thought I would throw it in there since it may add an excuse of exhaustion on my part) working on a letter of recommendation for myself for a program I am applying to. I hadn't even began writing the essays, simply looked at the four questions to begin thinking how I would answer. As I was driving home, I was drafting the essays in my mind. Obviously, I couldn't write my thoughts down, but thought my start was too important and GOOD to leave opportunity to forget, so I used the voice recorder on my phone to save my thoughts... as a natural writer would.
10 or 12 minutes later I pull into the driveway at home and get out of the car. Carrying a crud load of things, including my cell in hand with much else, out of know where I hear a wave of mumbles, which expectedly, scared the beegeezeecies out of me!! What could that noise be? The mumbles turned into a strange voice! I thought: oh crap! someone is right behind me. I swirl around, nearly dropping my crud load, and fainting because of a sprint-pace heart race... only to realize it was my OWN voice, saying 'the directions were perfect....' (the opening sentence of my now written first essay. =) ...) I accidently and unknowingly hit the voice recorder play button. Once my heart rate stabilized it hit me: I really am a dork.
I was at my parent's late last night, midnight or so, (worked til 7:00, 11 hrs - not at all relevant, but just thought I would throw it in there since it may add an excuse of exhaustion on my part) working on a letter of recommendation for myself for a program I am applying to. I hadn't even began writing the essays, simply looked at the four questions to begin thinking how I would answer. As I was driving home, I was drafting the essays in my mind. Obviously, I couldn't write my thoughts down, but thought my start was too important and GOOD to leave opportunity to forget, so I used the voice recorder on my phone to save my thoughts... as a natural writer would.
10 or 12 minutes later I pull into the driveway at home and get out of the car. Carrying a crud load of things, including my cell in hand with much else, out of know where I hear a wave of mumbles, which expectedly, scared the beegeezeecies out of me!! What could that noise be? The mumbles turned into a strange voice! I thought: oh crap! someone is right behind me. I swirl around, nearly dropping my crud load, and fainting because of a sprint-pace heart race... only to realize it was my OWN voice, saying 'the directions were perfect....' (the opening sentence of my now written first essay. =) ...) I accidently and unknowingly hit the voice recorder play button. Once my heart rate stabilized it hit me: I really am a dork.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
QUE PIENSAN DE ESTO?
Sent: Friday, March 07, 2008 12:02 PM
RE: Pictures...long overdue
HEY, IT IS THE OLD MAN HOW DO I GET TO BLOG? HAVE WE DECIDED WHICH BLOG TO USE? I HEAR TELL THAT THERE ARE SOME PICTURES ALREADY POSTED - WHAT I WAS THINKING IS THIS - WHY NOT POST A PICTURE AND LET EVERYONE COMMENT ON WHAT THEY SEE- QUE PIENSAN DE ESTO? I WAS HOPING WE COULD GET THE "SENIOR WOMEN" AKA MY SISTERS, TO ALSO COMMENT.
LET ME KNOW, GRACIAS, AMOR Y CARINO DICKIE
..................................................
Tio Dickie, it's Greg here... I've taken the liberty of jumping a ahead with your idea and posting your email along with one of my favorite pictures; one of Grandma Virginia cooking away. To post comments, simply click on the "comments" link below and log on an post your comments.
I think that's a great idea...
GF
this virtual brunch /chat is a welcome substitute
From: Margaret
Sent: Sunday, March 09, 2008 1:01 PM
Subject: RE: Pictures...long overdue
Hola familia querida,
Wouldn't it be nice to be close enough so .we could get together and have Sunday breakfast and it would just be the way we passed our time, being around and near one another. Since that's not how we live anymore, having this virtual brunch /chat is a welcome substitute. Thanks to Greg for initiating it and to all of you who have added your pictures and shared your pensamientos. We are SO lucky to have such a wonderful family. I feel so proud to be able to claim all of you as sangre.
How wonderful to use the computor for something other than work. Our clocks sprang forward this morning so I was at the gym around 7 am, which was really 6 am. . . .Congratulations to Ali for her resolve about running. That's just wonderful. Granpo would be so happy to know that you are following in his footsteps.
I wondered around the blog and found so many things I didn't know about our family. . .writing is so personal and there were my dad's thoughts. For a moment it was like he was right here again. And then my mom's calendar with her notes written when she was only 24 years old. Imagine the uncertainty of being pregnant as the world is coming out of a global war.
Well, I will figure out how to post my musings on the blog. . . but I wanted to add my two cents and tell you all that I love you.
Hugs and kisses. Margie
Sent: Sunday, March 09, 2008 1:01 PM
Subject: RE: Pictures...long overdue
Hola familia querida,
Wouldn't it be nice to be close enough so .we could get together and have Sunday breakfast and it would just be the way we passed our time, being around and near one another. Since that's not how we live anymore, having this virtual brunch /chat is a welcome substitute. Thanks to Greg for initiating it and to all of you who have added your pictures and shared your pensamientos. We are SO lucky to have such a wonderful family. I feel so proud to be able to claim all of you as sangre.
How wonderful to use the computor for something other than work. Our clocks sprang forward this morning so I was at the gym around 7 am, which was really 6 am. . . .Congratulations to Ali for her resolve about running. That's just wonderful. Granpo would be so happy to know that you are following in his footsteps.
I wondered around the blog and found so many things I didn't know about our family. . .writing is so personal and there were my dad's thoughts. For a moment it was like he was right here again. And then my mom's calendar with her notes written when she was only 24 years old. Imagine the uncertainty of being pregnant as the world is coming out of a global war.
Well, I will figure out how to post my musings on the blog. . . but I wanted to add my two cents and tell you all that I love you.
Hugs and kisses. Margie
Samantha gives grandma reason to be proud
Samantha gives grandma reason to be proud
Dec. 14, 2007 11:26 AM
Dec. 14, 2007 11:26 AM
AZCentral.com
Mary Ellen Fresquez writes about granddaughter Samanth Fresquez's award-winning effort in the Hispanic Heritage Art and Essay Contest.Allow a grandmother to gloat as grandmothers do. Last month I alerted my granddaughter, Samantha, to a contest sponsored by The Arizona Republic (Newspapers in Education) and the Ford Motor Company. The basis for this competition, the 2007 Ford Hispanic Heritage Art and Essay Contest, is to select a person of Hispanic descent who has made a significant contribution to the community or to the participating student's life. After doing research, the contestant is asked to write an essay and create a portrait of this person.
http://www.azcentral.com/community/gilbert/citizen/articles/1214gr-nbyfresquez1215.html
Mary Ellen Fresquez writes about granddaughter Samanth Fresquez's award-winning effort in the Hispanic Heritage Art and Essay Contest.Allow a grandmother to gloat as grandmothers do. Last month I alerted my granddaughter, Samantha, to a contest sponsored by The Arizona Republic (Newspapers in Education) and the Ford Motor Company. The basis for this competition, the 2007 Ford Hispanic Heritage Art and Essay Contest, is to select a person of Hispanic descent who has made a significant contribution to the community or to the participating student's life. After doing research, the contestant is asked to write an essay and create a portrait of this person.
http://www.azcentral.com/community/gilbert/citizen/articles/1214gr-nbyfresquez1215.html
this virtual brunch /chat is a welcome substitute
From: Margaret
Sent: Sunday, March 09, 2008 1:01 PM
Subject: RE: Pictures...long overdue
Hola familia querida,
Wouldn't it be nice to be close enough so .we could get together and have Sunday breakfast and it would just be the way we passed our time, being around and near one another. Since that's not how we live anymore, having this virtual brunch /chat is a welcome substitute. Thanks to Greg for initiating it and to all of you who have added your pictures and shared your pensamientos. We are SO lucky to have such a wonderful family. I feel so proud to be able to claim all of you as sangre.
How wonderful to use the computor for something other than work. Our clocks sprang forward this morning so I was at the gym around 7 am, which was really 6 am. . . .Congratulations to Ali for her resolve about running. That's just wonderful. Granpo would be so happy to know that you are following in his footsteps.
I wondered around the blog and found so many things I didn't know about our family. . .writing is so personal and there were my dad's thoughts. For a moment it was like he was right here again. And then my mom's calendar with her notes written when she was only 24 years old. Imagine the uncertainty of being pregnant as the world is coming out of a global war.
Well, I will figure out how to post my musings on the blog. . . but I wanted to add my two cents and tell you all that I love you.
Hugs and kisses. Margie
Sent: Sunday, March 09, 2008 1:01 PM
Subject: RE: Pictures...long overdue
Hola familia querida,
Wouldn't it be nice to be close enough so .we could get together and have Sunday breakfast and it would just be the way we passed our time, being around and near one another. Since that's not how we live anymore, having this virtual brunch /chat is a welcome substitute. Thanks to Greg for initiating it and to all of you who have added your pictures and shared your pensamientos. We are SO lucky to have such a wonderful family. I feel so proud to be able to claim all of you as sangre.
How wonderful to use the computor for something other than work. Our clocks sprang forward this morning so I was at the gym around 7 am, which was really 6 am. . . .Congratulations to Ali for her resolve about running. That's just wonderful. Granpo would be so happy to know that you are following in his footsteps.
I wondered around the blog and found so many things I didn't know about our family. . .writing is so personal and there were my dad's thoughts. For a moment it was like he was right here again. And then my mom's calendar with her notes written when she was only 24 years old. Imagine the uncertainty of being pregnant as the world is coming out of a global war.
Well, I will figure out how to post my musings on the blog. . . but I wanted to add my two cents and tell you all that I love you.
Hugs and kisses. Margie
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Help me, please!
I wasn't able to add my blog to the list; can someone tell me how to do it, please?
However, here is the link: Tia Mari's Blog
xoxo,
Tia Mari
However, here is the link: Tia Mari's Blog
xoxo,
Tia Mari
Greetings from Tia Mari in Arizona
Hello to all my beautiful people! In case some of you don't recognize this phrase, it was frequently used by Grandpo whenever he wrote a letter. I always smiled when I read it.
I think that this blog is a great idea. We all need to keep it in our own area of focus so that, indeed, it brings us closer together. On Feb. 19th, Stevie celebrated her 40th! Can you all believe it? Well, let me tell you all a secret. Soon my sister will be 60--yes, that's 6--0. Tell me it isn't so 'cause I'm right behind her! Anyway this photo was taken in Tucson where we went to celebrate Stevie's special day. We drove to the top of Mount Lemmon where it had just snowed; it looked like a winter wonderland. The next day we went to the Sonora Desert Museum. It was just the opposite. This is a place where cactus are everywhere and so dense that it seems they are only inches apart. It was amazingly beautiful and so warm. I will post more photos later. I've included a link to a blog I started to supplement our entries here. Please read it. I've included a picture of a "journal" that my mother kept as Grandpo was headed overseas during World War II. Finally, I've heard the rumors regarding a family reunion. We're definitely due for one. Let me know what I can do to help. XOXO
Tia Mari "If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent Him." Voltaire
Friday, March 7, 2008
Update!
So... my *first* 5K will acutally be... (drumroll please)...
NEXT weekend! :O
I signed up to do the 5K on St. Patty's Day... mostly as a gauge to see where I'm at. I'm very, very excited, but a little nervous as well.
NEXT weekend! :O
I signed up to do the 5K on St. Patty's Day... mostly as a gauge to see where I'm at. I'm very, very excited, but a little nervous as well.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
5K for Grandpo
On July 12, 2008 I am running my first 5K... this race comes after years of me being morbidly obese. On January 1 of this year I finally decided to take control of my life again.
It's incredible because Alex, Diana and Rob will all be running this race with me. This a hugely emotional milestone for me, and I want to pay my respects to the runner who has always inspired me- Grandpo.
So, I am going to have shirts made for the four of us with Grandpo's name on them. I know that he'll be looking down on us and smiling that amazing smile of his... the one that tells everyone who sees his how PROUD he is of his nietos. :)
It's incredible because Alex, Diana and Rob will all be running this race with me. This a hugely emotional milestone for me, and I want to pay my respects to the runner who has always inspired me- Grandpo.
So, I am going to have shirts made for the four of us with Grandpo's name on them. I know that he'll be looking down on us and smiling that amazing smile of his... the one that tells everyone who sees his how PROUD he is of his nietos. :)
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Hola from Avondale, AZ...
.
..or at least it was cold enough for jackets
This was around Christmas time, or at least it was cold enough for jackets :) in Albuquerque, NM in 1975 or '76 at our house on Monta Vista Rd.
My mom (Tia Mari for my cousins), me, Grandma, Stephie (now Stevie), Grandp0 and Ali.
in thanks!
This is wonderful!! Absolutely wonderful!
How wrong that I am sitting at work surrounded by piles and lists of things to do, & all I want to do it add to our new family blog! ;) It's so exciting!
& Greg: never again question your blog. Being that we have access to this technology and that we all live so far away, it would be a shame for us to NOT blog. So, I commend you for both starting to blog again, b/c I do read and appreciate it, and for initiating the family spot... I love it!
& I love all the pics and postings of Grampo!
& kudos to Rob & Ali for getting us all together to get this started. Great idea! Gracias.
Big update: I am visiting Alex in Africa!! Ben & I both, I am there a few days longer than he, but we are SOO excited. I will be away March 9 - 19!
Please tell all the kiddos I love them and give them big hugs and kisses from me tonight. & tell them how very proud I am of them... I love receiving updates!
I can't tell you how much I miss you all. So, it is very special that we now have a common gathering e-spot. Keep it coming. :)
Hasta pronto.
How wrong that I am sitting at work surrounded by piles and lists of things to do, & all I want to do it add to our new family blog! ;) It's so exciting!
& Greg: never again question your blog. Being that we have access to this technology and that we all live so far away, it would be a shame for us to NOT blog. So, I commend you for both starting to blog again, b/c I do read and appreciate it, and for initiating the family spot... I love it!
& I love all the pics and postings of Grampo!
& kudos to Rob & Ali for getting us all together to get this started. Great idea! Gracias.
Big update: I am visiting Alex in Africa!! Ben & I both, I am there a few days longer than he, but we are SOO excited. I will be away March 9 - 19!
Please tell all the kiddos I love them and give them big hugs and kisses from me tonight. & tell them how very proud I am of them... I love receiving updates!
I can't tell you how much I miss you all. So, it is very special that we now have a common gathering e-spot. Keep it coming. :)
Hasta pronto.
Great grandchildren- Dickie's!
This was taken @ Bella's 5th birthday party... Roberto's Yeya, Vanessa's Liam & Logan, and my Bella & AJ. :)
Testament
This is exactly what I mean when I say I have such an amazing family.
A couple of emails about setting up a venue for our family to share milestones, pictures, etc... Two days later we have a site, messages and pictures.
Kudos to Greg for a wonderful name to our blog. Granpo Montoya has had such an impact on all of our lives, so "ojos de mi vida" is a perfect name.
I am thrilled that there are rumblings to a family reunion...let's keep the discussions going!
I love all of you and look forward to many posts and pictures!
Greg, can you also add my newly created blog to our list? It is called Roberto's Blog http://yeyasblog.blogspot.com/ thanks.
Hola from Colorado Springs
I'm so glad this is up and running! I am woefully out of touch with all of you, and after reading the emails going back and forth I know just how much I need you all in my life!
Like Greggie, I wasn't sure how the pictures and emails that I send out are received... I'm glad that they aren't seen as spam.
In that light, here's some new imagery of my babies.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Hola familia-
"Hola familia-
I have to first apologize for not sending more pictures. Que lasitma! Shame on me! Furthermore, I have to thank Greg for enabling me to copy his distribution list and get some long overdue pictures out to all of you."
...This is part of an email from my cousin Robert. It speaks volumes to me.
...........................................
I have blogged for quite some time. However, sometimes I am not sure of what others think when I send them my blog. Is it spam? Is it like the family vacation video that never ends? My cousin's note removes any doubt that I have had about using a blog to share pictues and send updates. Thanks.
Cheers Robert!
I have to first apologize for not sending more pictures. Que lasitma! Shame on me! Furthermore, I have to thank Greg for enabling me to copy his distribution list and get some long overdue pictures out to all of you."
...This is part of an email from my cousin Robert. It speaks volumes to me.
...........................................
I have blogged for quite some time. However, sometimes I am not sure of what others think when I send them my blog. Is it spam? Is it like the family vacation video that never ends? My cousin's note removes any doubt that I have had about using a blog to share pictues and send updates. Thanks.
Cheers Robert!
Ellos son los ojos de mi vida!!
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