Art & kids ...

Can art make kids smart?

According to the Americans for the Arts Campaign, "young people who regularly participate in the arts are 4xs more likely to be recognized for academic achievement. In addition to enhancing problem-solving and critical thinking skills, arts education can also help instill a positive work ethic and a sense of pride in a job well done."

So, that's why I encouraged my daughter to try out for the "Latin Nights Talent Show" @ her school. Sure enough, she made it & the show is 2 wks away.
Boy, are we excited!! She & a group of other Kingergarteners will be dancing to Ricky Martin's "Pegate". And if u know me well enuff, u know I ADORE that guy. He makes me proud to be 100% Rican.


Other gr8t news: My mother-in-law is visiting from Puerto Rico!
We picked her up @ the airport 4 days ago & she's doing OK, thank God.

Pics coming up later ...........

Reflection for today ...

I have a little white book with 6-minute reflections for each day. The following is actually Monday's reflection, but it stood out for me. I dunno why.
Here it goes: " No one has to teach a mother that she's supposed to love her child.
This isn't something that she has to study. It's IN her.
The same is true of a child's love for its mother. A 2-day old baby is drawn to its mother. It doesn't have to be trained to do that.
This image can help us realize that God's love toward us isn't something God has to force himself to do. It's in God, just as a mother's love for her child is in her.
God made us. And God made us in his image and likeness. God is drawn toward us.
And the reverse is true.
We are drawn towards God.
Let me think about that. "

I do my reflections daily! I'll go nuts if I don't, or I feel guilty if I don't.
This, in fact, is how I spend some quiet time with the Lord (every day!) .. In addition to reading my bible daily as well. This works out perfect for me because when times get tough, I reflect on my bible readings & see how just how tough times were back then & how "tough" it was for God to get everyone to believe. And when times aren't tough, I still read to my heart's content because it makes me feel good. period.

SPRING BREAK >

....My daughter was on Spring Break all last week. We did some interesting, fun things that u can view more of in my Facebook...
Among them, our long-awaited outing to DisneyQuest. I have wanted to go here for ages, but of course, I was waiting on my daughter to grow some!
Not to brag, but we got in free since Eggie's a Disney employee & all. We were able to take 2 people with us, so Eggie took his 16 yr old nephew & 8 yr old niece.
1 thing I learned (for next time), there isnt much there for a toddler. No wonder it's free for 2 & under!!!
It's mostly made up of arcade games, virtual games, rides on which u need to meet the height requiremt of 51'', etc, etc. But Angel still managed to have his share of fun.
However, not that I'm being cheap but, I WOULDNT pay $40 (adult price) to go here.
Well, spring break is over & today was back-to-school. TIME IS FLYING ............

HAPPY APRIL ..

i WAS gonna pull a "joke" on my blog on behalf of it being April Fools, but then I decided not to, cuz I'm 2 nice 4 that, I guess.
Anyway, Angel Edgar actually surprised me today. After he watched me organize our kitchen cabinet, he told me 2 lay down on the sofa (he even had the pillow already there) cuz he wanted 2 give me a massage! HA! 1st time he ever said that 2 me. My eyebrows went up, like "oh---kay". And, he gave me a short, very brief massage with his hands & elbows! It felt good, even if just 4 a lil' while. But then, you guessed, he said it was HIS turn.
Eggie was receiving massage therapy for his back for some time & Angel alwayz went with. I guess this is where he learned it from...
That is why I posted this pic of him lookin' so happy. El chulito de mami ....

Felíz Easter ..

Happy Easter 2 all my friendz & family who read this blog! I know it's not much, but I do the best I can 2 let u all in on my Florida life. (By the way, have u guys heard of that new black singer who calls himself "Flo-Rida", pronounced like my name: " Flo-raida". ) So crazy; people don't know what 2 call themselves anymore!

Anyway, today wasn't a good day @ Church. Angel (while I was holding him & he had his head down on my shoulder to make me think he was sleeping) got a hold of the flower arrangement that was high up on a table in front of a statue of the Virgen & he knocked it down. Of course, almost ALL the dirt came tumbling out of the flower pot & since Church was sooooo packed today that there were people left standing, some of the dirt landed on this blonde, freckled, glasses-wearing boy who by the look of astonishment on his face as he looked to his mother for support was expecting either of his parents to yell or be furious was even more astonished when his happy-go-lucky mom just laughed it off as I apologized twice & told me not to worry about it & even helped me put the dirt back in the pot.. I could feel my face burning red!!!!!!!!!!!!! and then:

Eggie tells me I should've been aware of those flowers back there & that Angel would likely grab them??? DUH!

Even though, it was & is still a happy Easter. Let's not let the Easter celebration last only for today. Make it last the whole next 50 days!

she's growin' up ...

Angelice is truly growin' up.
Today was a special day: not only for her but for us as well.
She's riding her bike w/o training wheels!!!
Thank God! She's now ready 2 go shop 4 her "big girl" bike & already knows which one she wants & where she wants it from. Oh, Happy Day!

American Idol >

I have been a fan of A.I. since the year 2004, when Fantasia won. So, it's no secret I'm watching it tonight. Today is elimination night. Who will be sent home today? I was hoping Kristy last wk & hope so again. (My i's jumped out when she told Simon Cowell that she would "blow his socks off".) WTF was that? I guess there are 2 ways to interpret that. I also think that the finale will be between Brooke & David Cook; although, the 17y old David A. is a little cutie & has a great voice. Let's see what happenz.
Anyway, today was park day. It was a beautiful day (almost 90 degrees Fahrenheit), but what made it good was the breeze. I got on the swings today while my kids played & I just started reminiscing, I guess. Just thinking about how much we've accomplished so far & what we still need to accomplish.
Thinkin' about people that have passed on (I actually dreamed last night with one of my ex-boyfriends who died in the year 2000)!! The really weird thing is, it's not the 1st dream I have of him. It's freakin me out a bit since we were only a couple for a year & that was back in 1992!
I also thought about "what if" situations. This is a result of a recent death in my husband's family which actually occured 5 mos ago. His sister's husband died from advanced cancer (they used 2 live 5 mins away from us) & he was only 42!! Father of 6( of which 3 kids are with Eggie's sister). She ended up selling the home next to us & had to move back to her old home in Orlando (which they were renting). She's actually doing pretty good, though. Anyway, life is strange sometimes; we never know what's coming & then sometimes, it's 2 late. That's why it's important to:
Remember your family first.......