~La Familia ~ November Birthdays

Hola Familia ~

Forgive me for being late with this I have been running around like a nut ! Me and Marjorie were in San Francsico last weekend with the girls and then I am in San Fran right now for Halloween so I am doing this from their computer !

Here are the November Birthdays I have been given so far !

Uncle Joe ~ Nov 8th
Cuz Kelsey ~ Nov 25th
Cuz Rosies Grandaughter RILEIGH ~ Nov 25th (shes turning 7 ! )
Cuz Rose ~ Nov 27th
Cuz Hannah ~ Nov 27th

thats it... if theres more please send them to me so i can update !

Armando & Roses 49th Wedding Anniversary is November 22nd !

Everybody have a Safe Halloween and hope to see everyone for Thanksgiving !

Luv Y'all like Cuz's
Cuz Andy & Cuz Marjorie

~ La Familia ~ Chances to Volunteer !

Hola Familia...

Cuz TJ sent me an email about something he has been a part of for The American Cancer Society...I thought it would be good to let everybody know about another opportunity to help ! I have copied and pasted it below to leave it in his words !
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I volunteered for the 40th Annual Cattle Baron's Gala at Sunset Station last night. It is one of the biggest fundraisers for the American Cancer Society in Bexar County. I don't have any numbers but it seems like it was a big success! The greeters at the front keeping track of attendance were estimating close to 800 people attended. It is a fun event to volunteer for. The guests are treated to great food and entertainment (last night was Steve Warner). In addition, there are many venues where "yellow rose" memorials, pins, pictures with a real longhorn (one of the more popular), Texas Hold 'Em, where the guests pay for the venue by making minimum donations. Plus there's the silent and live auctions for many different things - everything from golf course certificates to trips, etc. I think most metropolitan areas have their own version of this event - so people can always watch for it in their community. This was the second year I volunteered for this event and it was well worth it - you meet a lot of people who are there for someone they know.

T.J.
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Luv Y'all like Cuz's...
Cuz Andy & Cuz Marjorie

Happy Bday Rafaela aka Yaya.....

Hola Familia,

Apparently there's somewhat of a mystery surrounding Rafaela Rodriguez's (aka Yaya to most of us) Birthday.....some say it was yesterday 10th Oct. and then others say today 11th Oct. ! I dont think I had ever heard this story or if I did I was way too young to have paid attention , but , from what my mom (Rosa de la Pena) says the story as she knows it is that on Yaya's birth certificate it says she was born on the 10th at something like 11:57 58 59 PMish or so. BUT , she was actually BORN at 12:01 02 03 AMish on the 11th ! I am sure there's different version's of this that might be out there but the mystery of Yaya lives on !
Afraid of angering the CEO of the family ( Aunt Bitsy ) I am making sure that I get this blog out there to y'all about Yaya's bday. I was going to make sure and remind everybody about it but not do a story but I heard thru a memo to one of the middle management executives (my mom) that CEO Bitsy wanted to make sure I recorded any stories or memories everybody has about Yaya too ! So, not wanting to lose my status in La Familia and anger the God's (Aunt Bitsy) here it is ! : )
If anybody wants to submit anything to me about Yaya please send it to me and I will post them as I get them like I did with Grandma Rosa's ! THANKS ....
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My Mom's (Rosa) memories of Yaya are one of a very caring and loving lady that although she had no children of her own embraced all her nieces and nephews as though they were her's. And true to form it didn't stop there because once those kids had some of their own she treated the Grand nieces and nephews the same. She was wonderful to all the children. Yaya was the "go-to" person for remembering bday's, she knew everybodies ! My mom remembers that Yaya always, always walked everywhere and never took the bus even if where she was going was on a bus line ! Who could forget the "Silver Dollars" she gave to all those that graduated High School ! According to my mom Yaya was usually thinking ahead and as most people from that era scrimped and saved every penny.When she started getting social security she opened up a bank account and even though it was barely enough to live on she tucked away most of her checks and was able to leave a pretty good amount to be split among her siblings.
My moms memories of Christmas are of Yaya making a BIG production of setting up the Nativity Scene and re-doing the trees and shrubs in it every year and then setting it on top of the old buffet table .
In telling me this story my mom said that Yaya was good enough to have 2 Birthdays ! She said she will always remember her with love & respect.... "My Aunt Yaya was awesome!"

Typed by Cuz Andy ....Memories by Rosa de la Pena
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I have very fond memories of my great aunt Yaya. I believe that I spent the best years of my life in Yaya's house on Camaron street. My grandma would pick me up from school everyday and take me to her house. There Yaya was so thoughtful and loving that she would always have something hot on the stove ready for me to eat. I would play t-ball outside in the backyard with a ball made out of my grandma's pantyhose, pick pecans, and sometimes, when nobody was watching, I would try and peek into shed that was in the far corner of the yard...It was kind of like a haunted house to me. Although when the temperature dropped to about 75 degrees, Yaya would insist that I was cold, even though I felt like it was 95. She even bought me this big puffy jacket to wear so that I would never be cold, a jacket that I refuse to get rid of to this day (despite that fact that only a 7 year old can wear it). When I was done with my fun in the yard I would come inside to play more or rest on the chair in the "living room" (formerly Grandma Rosa's room) with the Fredrich air conditioner dialed into the highest setting to cool off and watch TV. Sometimes, I would prefer to go into Yaya's room and lay on her bed to watch from a small (perhaps 12") black/white TV, after fidgeting with the antenna of course. She would always look out for me as a mother watches her child. It was always nice to have two Grandmas under one roof! Indeed, Yaya has the ultimate of special places in my heart. Yaya was, and continues to be, my inspiration and motivation in anything good I do.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY YAYA!!!
Love Robert
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I remember Yaya always buying us a little something at the pharmacy where she worked. I do not know how she knew who would be at the house when she got off work, but she would always have something for us. She was always so thoughtful. I also remember when I around 10 when Yaya babysat me, and it was either New Years Eve or the 4th of July. My dad had bought me some sparklers. At last dusk came and I got to lite the sparklers. Yaya had a pail of water and when the sparkler burnt half way down I had to put the sparkler in the water as she was sure it would start a fire.
Thelma
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Hola Familia,

This is just a quick post to send out some family pix. TJ sent these to us from Cuz Skye Rivera. in California. They took a trip to the LA zoo and took some GREAT pix! For all you Cali cousins out there we would love to see more of y'all! Click here to see more!

Love y'all like cuz's

Cuz Andy and Cuz Marjorie

~October Birthdays~

Hola Familia .......

Heres what I have for October Birthdays ! FELIZ CUMPLEANOS !

Henry Rodriguez ~ October 4th
Homer ~ October 8th
Yaya ~ October 10th
Paulette ~ October 15th
Terri ~ October 15th
Alyssa ~ October 23rd

BOO !!!

Luv Ya Like Cuz's !
Cuz Andy & Cuz Marjorie

Grandma Rosa Memories....

Hola Familia....

I wanted to be able to put these stories somewhere that everybody could go back and read them. If and when I get more I will keep adding them. Eventually when I can figure it out I would like to make an album or book with pictures and stories from our family that could be passed around . Hope Y'all enjoy and keep those stories coming !

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I am happy to say that I can still remember when I lived at Grandma Rosa's house. Homer
and I were going to St. Ann's and mom would take us on the bus to school and go back
and pick us up. Homer of course knew the whole neighborhood in about a three block
radius or maybe more. We would go and buy masa for Grandma Rosa's famous
gorditas that she made daily. To this date, I still prefer corn tortillas to flour. Those were
happy times especially when we all got together for special events or on Sunday for soup.

Chata
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My favorite memory is when each December 24th,Charles would drop me & the kids off at Grandma Rosa's home on his way to work (we owned only 1 car, so this was at 6 in the morning and usually we would be the 1st ones getting there) Grandma & Yaya would already be up preparing the meat for the tamales we made all day long....eventually the rest of the aunts got there, and by the time the men came home from work, the delicious tamales were ready...yum

Those were great days...everybody ate, visited, and the men would gather and play dominos or poker....until sometimes 2 or 3 in the morning....we would hurry home because we had to put the kids to bed and then Charles had to work putting bikes, toys, together, sometimes working until 6 a.m., and just as we were getting ready for bed, the kids would get up looking to see what Santa had left for them..... We had great times at Grandma Rosa's house!! and of course on Xmas day everybody gathered to open gifts....Gloria
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I can still smell the mole or menudo and rice cooking in the kitchen at her house as I walk in with my mom and my grandma . I can still feel the urge to go check out the living room because I was just told NOT to go in there ! LOL ! And playing with the Old Sewing machine in the hall ! (Do any of you remember what was in the little drawers of the sewing machine ?) hahaha
Andy
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The memories I have of the house by the expressway, one is the protector of the house, the big cement pillar in the front yard to climb and jump off of. The creek across the street that had crawl fish and minnows to catch, that has now been covered up with multiple lanes of cars zooming by. Walking with Yaya to Finesilver in the morning to get the San Antonio Light for Grandma Rosa to read. Sitting at the sewing machine and seeing who could make it pump the fastest. The best cake in town, just a plain yellow cake that at least for me was best with water, not milk, go figure. For some reason I was really mesmerized with the manual lawn mower, I would open the door of the weather worn shed and pull out the lawn mower and would like to see the grass fly up in the air. The faster you push the faster the blades would spin and shoot the grass in the air and couldn't belive this thing would cut the grass like that.The most memorable time was when I was about 5 or 6, the Nerf basketball hoop had just come out, or my parents had bought us our first. I don't know what I was doing, I saw the mailman deliver the mail so I went to get it to give to Yaya, I saw a Nerf hoop that had been delivered by the mailman, it did look kind of different if was wire not plastic, it didn't have a net, it didn't have the hook to hang it on the door. Well my love of basketball had me determined to find a place for it, I did. Just like Benjamin Franklin I discovered electricity, well my hoop was a wire antenna for the the tv and I found the perfect outlet to plug it into, that was the day my hair started to curl. I ran back to the mailbox and put the Nerf hoop back in and would never forget the memory that was BURNED to my brain.
Paul
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I can remember one time when I went with my Papo Joe to take care of amouse(I think ya'll know what I mean). Anyway, my Papo and I walk in thefront door to find Grandma Rosa chasing the mouse into Yaya's room. When Igot to the room, I looked in and saw Grandma Rosa standing in the middle ofthe room, with a broom, looking like a washing machine. Turning at thehips, missing the mouse everytime, the mouse ran under some sort of woodencabinet in the corner of the room. My Papo got another broom and got onthe floor. After locating the mouse under the cabinet, he stuck the broomunder there and did some kind of upward movement and there went the mouse.It flew about four feet high, along the wall and right back where it wasbefore.....under the cabinet. My Papo said some not so nice things inSpainsh to the poor mouse and closed all the doors. We had it !!!!!!Needless to say the mouse lost the battle with Grandma Rosa & my Papo Joe.

Greg
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I practically lived at "Tita's" house since my Grandma Bitsy also lived there after my Grandpa passed away. My memories of the house are the same from the familiar smells of menudo, mole and dye for the millions of cascarone eggs. I remember the sewing machine with the huge "pedal" because I used to park my behind on it and use it as a low swing. Tita's room was the ONLY room with the air conditioner that worked BUT could not be touched. I of course would close the front door that was always open and turn on the air conditioner to help cool off the house but as soon as that door closed, that was the give-a-way that I touched the air conditioner.Does anyone remember the HUGE Jesus 'Agony in the Garden' picture hanging in the entrance?

Alyssa
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Share the same memories with Alyssa pretty much...they also had that rocking chair in hallway with the big red pleather seat that sat right next to the phone. Yaya would just sit there and rock away while "Tita" was in her bedroom (living room). I remember their phone number I think: 227-6791, can anyone confirm that? I do remember they had a "party line" phone; we could pick up the phone and hear other peoples conversations on it. We found it so entertaining, that is until we got the donkey lady's number.

Leti
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Hey Primos,
My favorite memory is of Christmas Day getting to sit in the Living Room that was normally off limits. Entering the room and seeing all the presents under the silver tree, it looked like there were at least a hundred presents. Sitting there waiting to hear your name as the presents were being passed out. Watching the Silver Tree turn colors as the colored panels rotated around the the light. The smell of tamales, sitting at the big round table to eat. Listening to the older family members: aunts talking, uncles playing cards/dominoes and kids playing with the Christmas toys. We did not watch a lot of TV on Christmas, but I remember the TV always having the foil around the antennas and like the rest the sewing machine. [Anytime ya'll come over to my house you are more than welcome to sit on the pedal of that old sewing machine and remember the good old days, (lol)].
Luv Ya'll .....Cuz'n Thelma
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Grandma Rosa was the center of my world so I have so many beautiful memories of Grandma. She taught me how to spin a Top. The under 60 probably don't know what a top is but Grandma had a talent that the younger ones never got a chance to witness.She played marbles with me and made sure that I always won! She played a little softball at our Easter picnics but preferred to make sure that the older men didn't burn the BAR-B-Q!She would take us out to the chicken coop to gather all the eggs. She had about 6-8 hens and a couple of roosters which provided the house with fresh eggs. She also made sure that the roosters didn't chase us all over the place.She enjoyed watching baseball - all her brothers were excellent baseball players so she knew baseball. She would watch the whole game on that little set with the rabbit ears and foil (thanks to Thelma for remembering the foil) for better reception. Now everyone knows why Chata uses foil on the rabbit ears on her TV set!She watched Wrestling every week on TV and knew the names of all the wrestlers. I always enjoyed sitting down beside her to watch the wrestling matches because she would really get upset with the bad guys. Grandma also taught Chata and me how to drink wine at an early age - she was always concerned about how thin Chata and I were and so she would give us a shot of wine to help our appetite! If she could see me now, she would have held back some of the wine! She always had a beautiful smile for all her Grandchildren - I tried to tell her how bad each kid was but she just couldn't believe all those stories. She wouldn't even laugh at Tito for wearing the red cowboy boots that were hand-me-downs from Chata. Tito wore the leather off those red boots and then wanted for Aunt Bitsy to have them fixed so that he could still wear them. I offered to cut around the toes so that he would not outgrow the boots but that idea was nixed by Aunt Bitsy. Grandma would just give him a hug and smile!We were probably the only family in the USA & Mexico that used Mustard instead of lemon for the caldo. I don't know how that tradition got started at Grandma's house but the jar of mustard was always present whenever caldo was being served. And like everyone else, I can ever forget her Gorditas (the regular as well as the ones that had the bacon bits) and my favorite - the Chile Rellenos. These are just some of the wonderful memories of Grandma Rosa. Next round is for Yaya who celebrated two birthdays - Oct 10 & 11!
Homer
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ONE OF THE FOND MEMORIES IS THAT GRANDMA ROSA'S HOUSE ALWAYS HAD A GREAT AROMA AND THAT WAS BECAUSE SHE WAS ALWAYS COOKING DELICIOUS MEALS FROM SCRATCH. I DON'T KNOW FOR SURE IF SHE WAS ALWAYS IN THE KITCHEN DUE TO FACT THAT MANY OF US LIVED WITH GRANDMA ROSA AND YAYA. AT ONE TIME, IT WAS CHATA, HOMER, THEIR PARENTS, MY MOM (TIA ANGIE), MY BROTHER HENRY &MYSELF..........AND THERE WAS ALWAYS ROOM FOR ONE MORE. I REMEMBER THE PECANS IN HER BACKYARD, WHERE CHATA &I PLAYED "COMADRITAS" (PLAYING MEXICAN HOUSE) BY MAKING A CHILI SAUCE FROM FRESH TOMATOES &CHILIS THAT GREW WILD IN THE YARD. OUR BLENDER OR MOLCAJETE WERE THE OUTSIDE SMALL ROCKS. WE WOULD EAT IT WITH TORTILLAS &IT TASTED GOOD. (ALL THOSE GERMS (YUCK) &WE SURVIVED IT ALL AS A MATTER OF FACT, IT MADE CHATA &I STRONGER. LOLGRANDMA ROSA WAS A PRECIOUS &VERY GENEROUS PERSON. MIND YOU, SHE HAD HER DAUGHTER-IN-LAW (MY MOM) LIVING WITH HER. UNHEARD OF IN THESE DAYS &TIMES........SO I THINK THAT THAT SAYS A LOT ABOUT GRANDMA ROSA'S CHARACTER AND KINDNESS. SHE HOLDS A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART...........I TRULY FEEL THAT OUR LORD BLESSED HER WITH SO MANY GOOD YEARS (99 YRS. TO BE EXACT) AND A LARGE LOVING FAMILY........BECAUSE GRANDMA ROSA ALSO HAD A SPECIAL PLACE IN OUR LORD'S HEART.

Rosie
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Memories of Grandma Rosa: There are so many memories of Grandma Rosa and 912 Cameron! I remember her always having food for everyone to eat. It amazed me that she and Yaya could whip up food for 10 persons or more in a matter of minutes and still have some left over. It reminds me of Jesus with the loaves and fish......they always had more than enough. I fondly remember her making her corn tortillas by hand and making perfectly round tortillas. As soon as they were done, she would spread "manteca" (Roeglein-with the pig) and salt.....and of course we couldn't eat just one! I guess that's why I have so much "manteca" on me!!! I looked forward to her stories of the "old" days. Christmas was the big event at her house! The silver tree with the rotating color wheel and all the presents under the tree. The men playing poker or dominoes, the aunts preparing or serving the food, the children playing and anxiously awaiting the time to open presents. Hats off to a great lady who was instrumental in creating so many memories for her family.
Nena
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"Hi, everyone! Although I can't express my childhood memories of Abuelita Rosa, I can share my memories that I have when I joined the family by marrying your favorite cousin and nephew, Homer! Oh, I forgot, "mi hijo Santo." (That's what Homer told me when he introduced me to the family at Abuelita Rosa's home. Abuelita Rosa gave a not too believable chuckle, giving me the impression Homer wasn't telling me the truth. You think? Then there was Lilly Belle, the only one in the family who gave me fair warning about her favorite cousin, Homer. Did I listen? Oh well, love is blind. God willing Homer and I will celebrate our 40th anniversary in April 2009. I know Lilly Belle will be waiting for me with a reserved spot (I hope). Lilly Belle always said I had a place in heaven for marrying Homer. I pray she is right. Every time we would visit Abuelita Rosa, I can remember her smile and I always felt so welcomed every time. Abuelita Rosa and Yaya always treated me just like my "Mama Grande" did when she was here with me. When Homer and I would drive up to Abuelita's home, Homer would always pick a rose from her rose garden and when she came to the door, Homer would tell her that he had bought it for me. Abuelita Rosa would only shake her head from side to side and laugh. Homer did this every time we went over so she had a lot of missing roses. I think Homer must completed the whole dozen or more! Just like everyone, I had the privilege of tasting her delicious food. It didn't matter what she cooked, everything tasted great! I also remember the holidays and special times I spent at Abuelita Rosa's. I hope you didn't mind my sharing a few memories with everyone. I always felt so comfortable being in her home. Abuelita Rosa was a special person. I consider this a blessing in my life and one of the best things that has happened to me in being part of your family."
Rose Vallejo
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My memory is of Grandma Rosa rocking me to sleep by the front door in the rocker . She did that for me for so long that as I got older I had to lift up my legs to be able to rock. She was a kind and loving woman .
Rosa de la Pena
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Our Cali Cuz the Musician !

Hola Familia !

I just wanted to post this on here so its open to the public and gets out to all our Familia !

Our Cali Cuz "Marc Rivera" is a certified musician and trying to get his music out there....if I were you I would stop by his Myspace page (dont worry you dont have to join) and also check his bands website for his music ! On the Myspace page theres a player on the right hand side with a few songs, pick a song and click the play button ! http://www.myspace.com/marcthebassplaya
and also http://thegcar.com/home.htm
PLEASE PLEASE take a moment to check both sites out our Cuz is pretty Damn Good !!!!!

Luv Y'all like Cuz's
Cuz Andy & Cuz Marjorie