~December Bdays & Thanksgiving 2008~

Hola Familia !

I have a lot to pack in to this issue so be patient and read on !

Lets start with the December Birthdays :

Dec 1 ~ Larry Wong

Dec 2 ~ Steve Vasquez

Dec 9 ~ Simone Emilia

Dec 10 ~ Elvira Vasquez "101" yrs old !

Dec 13 ~ Kailee

Brian Jr.

Dec 15 ~ Angela Rose

Paul Adrian

Dec 20 ~ Leti

Theresa Hapshie

Dec 24 ~ Aunt BB

Dec 27 ~ Faith Taylor de la Peña

Olivia Farias

Dec 30 ~ Rosie (in Cali)

If I have left anybody out that needs to be posted please let me know !

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Thanksgiving 2008

Marjorie and I went out with my parents to the "Party House" in Helotes (Chata and Lupe's) and saw most of the usual suspects out there. Lupe's Sister and Family were there to greet us and we got down to chowing down. Of course the bigger our family gets the more everybody has to try and split spending the Holidays with our family and with their significant others family too. So we just kept eating, watching football, and greeting everyone as they came in! We were entertained by "Baby" Brian who has been red shirted already for the Longhorns Football team (just kidding hahaha) he is already up walking around and showing off his strength! It was really good seeing everyone and we missed seeing some of y'all that were at your "other" families get togethers... we hope everyone had a safe and Happy Thanksgiving! We are looking forward to seeing more "Primos" for the Christmas Holidays! We also celebrated Rose Vallejo's Birthday and also even though she is in Cali, Hannah de la Peña's Bday! AND a rare sighting that was documented on camera , this shot of Armando smiling ! Here is the link for some of the pictures Marjorie took(< click on the word pictures) Hope Y'all enjoy !

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Hey y'all its Marjorie here and I thought I would include something here under the topic of thanksgiving. I made my Pecan Yam Casserole, and Cranberry Salad again this year and some of y'all asked for the recipe so I thought I would post it on here for those who want it! My disclaimer is anyone on a diet should not even look at this! Its about a zillion calories each but so worth it! Enjoy!

Pecan Yam Casserole

Filling:

4 bouregard sweet potatoes

2 tsp. vanilla

1 3/4 cup butter

1 1/2- 2 cups sugar

1 tsp. salt

2 eggs

Topping:

2 cups chopped pecans

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup butter

1/2 cup flour

Cooking Instructions (Filling first, Topping second)

1. Steam or bake sweet potatoes until soft

2. peel potatoes

3. mash potatoes

4. mix ingredients (filling)

5. place in casserole dish and bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean

1. add all ingredients (topping) butter must be melted, in a large ziplock bag.

2. shake/mix

3. add to top of casserole

4. bake in oven for additional 5 minutes (still at 400 degrees)

5. serve and enjoy!

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Cranberry Salad

1 bag cranberries (washed)

1 bag big marshmellows

1 med can crushed drained pineapple

1 cup sugar

1 regular size cool whip

In a food processor grind marshmellows and cranberries together on top speed. Add sugar and drained pineapple. Refrigerate overnight. Next morning add the cool whip and set in refrigerator at least 2 hours.

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Just a reminder !

LOOK AT THE TOP OF THIS BLOG ! The countdown is getting closer to FIESTA and our 2nd Annual Port A "La Familia" trip! Start planning and getting ready! Coming up soon I am going to be trying to get a count of how many people we will have going to Port A..... I know some of you might not know till we get closer but maybe next month I will try and get some kind of tentative count!

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THANK GOD !

I am thankful for having each and every one of you as my family! There have been so many good memories and there will be LOTS more to come! We have done a pretty good job of showing our youngest that we do our best to stay together, so lets keep it up! Y'all are very important to me whether you are in SA or Pfluggerville or North Carolina or Cali or wherever you may be and I want to hear about whats important to you and your families and if its ok with you let everyone else know too! So again I want everyone to know my email box is open and I will do what I can to keep "La Familia " posted!

LOVE YA LIKE CUZ's ......

Cuz Andy & Cuz Marjorie

Thanksgiving and New Cuz's.....

Hola Familia !


HAPPY THANKSGIVING !



Long time no see on here..I am sorry but life gets hectic sometimes as ALL of y'all know !


I wanted to get on here and get this out because I know some of y'all look at this stuff at work and later on this week you might not be working .



Well its the holidays and we also have some birthdays going on this week !


We have Cuz Rileigh in cali and Cuz Kelsey on Tuesday the 25th celebrating a birthday and then we have our very own Turkeys Cuz Hannah and Cuz Rose V. celebrating on Turkey Day the 27th ! Gobble Gobble !



Cuz Kelsey had an early bday celebration at the "party house" in Helotes on Saturday night and it was also a sort of farewell party because he is going back to North Carolina to help out with family back there ! Kelsey your family here wishes you well and wants to let you know we are "always" here for you and please let us know if you ever need anything...come back and visit soon !





I know everybody has tons of familia on both sides and it gets crazy trying to go back and forth visiting everyone, I hope we all get the chance to run into each other somewhere along the way during this Holiday season ....... Marjorie and I will be headed to the "party house" in Helotes for some good ole fashioned turkey dinner with Chata and Lupe and hope to see as many of you as we can !



NEW CUZ NEW CUZ NEW CUZ!




Another reason to give Thanks this year is that we have a new Cuz brought to us by Cuz Shanna.... Cuz Gabriel Federico was born in to our familia! I am trying to get more info and maybe some more pix from mama but be patient because you know new babies can make ya busy!





Also CONGRATULATIONS to my parents Armando & Rose de la Pena for their 49th Wedding Anniversary on the 22nd of November !




LOS PRIMOS Volleyball team finished up 2nd this last season and ended the volleyball year.....the team had a GREAT year and is looking forward to next season around feb/mar ! There is talk of some Garage Sales coming up to support the team so I will try and keep you posted. Los Primos volleyball would really like to see more familia come out and watch the games and just hang out!



Everyone have a Safe Holiday and keep me posted on whats happening with you so I can let everybody know!



Luv Y'all like Cuz's ....



Andy & Marjorie

~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