Going from One extreme to the other!

Our Christmas 2012 was spent in Utah. We left the beautiful sunny wheather to freezing temperatures. The only warmth was the fact we were with family and saw the amazing Chirstmas lights at Temple Square. We also did a lot of errands that were a must. Doctor appointments and getting our driver license renewed. Christmas and New years with some of the children and grandchildren was all so worth it.

Christmas 2012 in Thailand!

I love to look at this picture of Cristi, Brooks and Nixon. They went with the rest of the Dame gang to Thailand on December 2012 to January 2013. It must have been wonderful. Nixon got to ride and play with real elephants. I was glad they took him. At one point they were considering leaving him with me because no other child was going on this trip. Cristi and Brooks are expecting their second child in June.

Thanksgiving 2012 at Cavarete

Our camera got stolen so this is as close as I can get the idea of the place where we stayed in Cabarete for Thanksgiving. It was great! many of the American families came also. It almost seemed like a ward party. It was during the Thanksgiving break which was so perfect because it is not a holiday here. I have learned to go somewhere else for a holiday unless you own your private vacation home. We had told all of the kids to come over but  Pablo was moving, Hernan, Rachael and Mandy are busy in school, Cristi said Brooks couldn't get off work and neither could Ale and Lexi and besides going to the beach is not their ideal vacation because they live right on the beach. Andres is saving to go to Uruguay, Ani has a visa issue, Bianca's work don't allow her to take more days around Holidays and Gabriel and Danae are going to Europe in December so that only left Valentina. She came so we rented a nice three bedroom condo, (we did this wishing others would show up) the place was nice close to the beach and the pool to ourselves. If I had known that only Vale was coming, we could have gone to the all inclusive Hotel for the same price. For thanksgiving we actually went out to eat a turkey dinner at Casa Colonial, a nice boutique hotel. What was fun about this trip was to see people enjoying the waves. Some even got to go horse back riding. Many I think would have like that. Daniel went out with a board and even I did it a couple of times. It was fun  the only problem is that Daniel got a nasty ear infection that lasted for several days.

October Conference 2012

The October conference 2012 is one I will never forget. First of all, Daniel was invited to attend a special meeting with the General Authorities. He was kind of nervous so he woke up early that Friday, as usual got there an hour early. In that special meeting some new items were discussed about some changes but the real surprise came when President Monson annouced the age change for boys to be 18 and for girls to be 19. I was there and felt so excited!! HOW WONDERFUL more girls will go on missions. Also the next day on Sunday a miracle happend. Mandy needed an extra ticket for one of Becca's friends so I gave her mine so they could get in. Daniel went in and I went looking for a spare ticket. I saw a woman counting some tickets she had on her  hand and asked if she had an extra one and she said, Yes! HOW AMAZING I was there inside even before Daniel got there. I was worried because it was almost time to start and he wasn't in then all of the sudden I see him but my reserved seats were taken so we had to sit somewhere else. This is when I discovered something about Daniel, he feels he needs to be inside that building no matter what. He thinks is his duty and part of his work. But I am just as happy watching it on TV because so many people want to go in and there is only so much space. I felt a little upset he didn't stay out with me and he felt upset I gave away my ticket. This was a tense moment for me because I thought he would be happy to see that I managed to get inside but he was still very upset I gave my ticket away because that meant he would have to go inside alone. Nevertheless we survived all that anxiety. That afternoon I went out to meet Mandy and her friends at temple square where I gave the missionaries some names of people. What I think I should do is ask those people before I send the missionaries so they don't have to feel rejected.  The rest of the week there was just as usual, doctors appointments and eating out with the kids.

Sister time!

There is nothing more special than spending time with sisters. My girls got to spend time together in New York. I was very blessed to be able to visit New York in order to celebrate Cristi's 30th birthday. We went out to see the play Newsies and had so much fun shopping and eating out.

Later that year in September I got the chance to visit El Salvador. I didn't get to go to the beach but I did spend time with my sister Liz for her birthday.

Cluster meeting in Buenos Aires 2012

The DTA cluster meeting in Buenos Aires was so much fun. We stayed in a Hotel right on 9 de Julio, the widest street in the world. The strret is named after Argentina's Independence on July 9 1816. The 9 de Julio street has so many busy lanes coming and going that it takes several stop lights to go accross it. Our hotel was near two very famous streets full of vendors. No cars allowed, only pedestrians.  We saw Gabriel and Danae and went out to eat at many places including a Brazilian Rodisio, palacio de papa frita a French fried palace and milanesa and steak type restaurant. We went on a nice boat ride call El Tigre to a Tango show and on a tour to Teatro Colon. The traffic is as to be expected, busy!!

Mother's day 2012

This was such a fun thing I did for my mother. I told my sister Mari I would surprise her and it sure was a big surprise. She even sent a friend of hers to pick me up at the airport. My mom had no idea I was coming. Mari said, mom I have someone at the door that wants to see you. My mom shook my hand and said: "mucho gusto" poor  thing,  she did not even recognize me because of her bad eye sight. Vane did the same thing. We worked on a scarpbook that I compile together for her. We also went shopping and took several pictures together. Liz had to stay with her family In El Salvaodr as she should but Vane and I made the trip to Miami. It was a time to be together with my two little sisters too. What a fun time we had!

Trip to Utah and Idaho

During spring break 2012 I made a trip to see Mandy. I felt I needed to see her during her Spring break. She would would be involved in her last riding competion and I wanted to watch her. I even helped out by picking up one of the judges at the airport. Afterwards we would visit Elder Allred and his wife who are so nice, a also got to see two of my friends from childhood and College years and continued over to see Cristi. I was glad the drive was fine considering I get lost easily when I don't know where I am going. The trip was short but so worth it. I also discovered that my allergies are still as bad, I was hoping that they had gotten better. I could only stand being in the stable for about 20 minutes before I started sneezing and coughing.

A special visit to our area on 2/12

Like every year, we have been blessed to have special visits from the leaders of our Church to our area. This time it was Elder Bednar, Elder Gonzalez and Bishop McMullin. We went to meet them in Puerto Rico where we were saying and came to the Dominican Repuclic for more meetings. I can only say that those days listening to these Men of God were priceless. I felt their wonderful spirits in each of the meetings and felt of their love for us. I was asked to translate for sister McMullin,who I consider a friend, so warm and pleasent to be around. It was a very touching experience, so much that tears were running down my eyes as she spoke. The messages were all wonderful and inspiring. They had meetings with the young men and youg women, with young adults, with the missionaries and at stake conferences. Daniel also translated for Bishop McMullin and did a fantastic job.

New Years Eve at sea!

It was my mother's dream to go on a cruise as a family. She was so happy to have all her daughters: Liz, Vane, Mari and me with their respective spouses: Eric, Ale, Andres and Daniel and the grandchildren: Manu, Andrecito, Paola, Alex, Mandy, Bianca and Cristi with their respective husbands; Joseph and brooks and great-grandbaby Nixon.
We were celebrating a new year coming our way. Daniel wasn't to keen of the idea because it meant leaving Vale and Ani to spend New Year's with Ale and Lexi in Miami but realized that it was my mother's wish so he was a good sport and went along with it.
 As a family we (The Flores) used to go on trips when my father was alive. Cruises are great because you can have a very large group of people without having to worry about entertaining them. It is all inclusive so all your meals are taking care plus activities withing the ship. Daniel did't think the cabins were the best but the fact that we were all together was what mattered. We left Miami on December 31st and got back on January 5th which means that I also spent my birthday on board. It was a special night because Bianca was schedule to sing that same night and with all the audience together everyone sang happy birhday to me. It will be one of my favorite birthdays that I won't ever forget. My mom tooks us both and Mandy as a birthday present for Daniel and me since our birthdays are both in January.