Every visit to Antigua, we MUST visit Hermano Pedro's grave site and museum (the Saint of Guatemala) to thank him for the many prayers of helping our Cole grow into a healthy active 8 year old. In front of the church where Hermano Pedro is buried. I love the picture of the monk!!!
While visiting Hermano Pedro's museum, we took an "illegal" picture of Liza in the room of crutches.....we prayed for the quick recovery of Liza's ankle.
Another "illegal" picture....Last summer, Cole found his picture on the wall of millions of pictures of individuals that have prayed to Hermano Pedro for healing purposes. Cole's picture is the one in the middle right, he is in a striped blue and yellow shirt on a hobby horse. We delivered that picture to the museum when we visited 7 years ago and it has been there ever since!
Friday evening we went out to dinner with Monsi's dad and brother and then off to meet all our cousins for a quick after dinner drink.
Camench, Alyssa' "fairy God mother" and her "prince" Salvador:
Saturday morning began with a mass in honor of Mama Lily.
On to the grand party! Escorted by my Tío Jose and Armando and her 'bodyguard' my cousin Boby close behind, she walked down a grand stairwell of about 40 steps! Not bad for a 90 year old! Tía Gladys, my mom and the rest of us were at the bottom of the steps awaiting and applauding.
The FIRST time EVER that all 14 of us cousins have been in Guatemala at the same time! In this picture are all of us cousins, some spouses and some of Mama Lily's 14great-grandchildren.
My tía Glady's family:
La familila de mi tío Armandito:
La familia de mi tío Jose y tía Linda:
Nuestra family....our family!
Gaby gave us a mini-concert and she even sang with her dad for the first time, tío Armandito.
Mama Lily is "unforgettable" and she makes each and every one of us feel the same to her! Gaby and Armando singing "Unforgettable"
Mama Lily is a party animal!! :)
The after party was at Tía Glady's house.
What the....? I guess you can never stop "learning"
I told Camench that I DIDN'T want to see any PDA.....she told Salvador...and the poor guy was so uncomfortable when Camench wanted to give him any attention...I think she was doing it on purpose!
Tía, Rodrigo puso cerveza en tu planta...o tal vez fue Peachy..no me acuerdo...pero te lo juro que NO fue los gringos! :)
The after-after party went into late in the night...or should I say early in the morning at my Tío Jose and Tía Linda's house. Don't you just love the bar?? It used to be a garage...who needs a garage??? Here she goes again....
Ohhh...to be 21 again.....watch my little hot Latina cousins dance a new dance! I'll be sure to send Alyssa to Guate when she is 21 to learn how to dance the Latina way...although Camench will be 38 then....! Maritere (in black) will be the newest family to the Moreno family when she marries my cousin Jose in August! Ignore my commentary in the background...Brian made me talk my "Mama's Club" talk...so silly!
The next morning we woke up to open some birthday presents....of about 20 some scarfs, tons of lotions, soap and frames.
The last day of celebrations was at the family's lake house.
We only saw Gabriele as we drove by....the little guy wasn't feeling very well. Even though he wasn't feeling well, he was able to shine that sweet smile for us.
Lots to eat....Paella and some sacadas...????
Since we are only Guatemala once every so many years, we have to celebrate the new arrivals all at one time.
Lili and Oscar's baby is due in July:
Mau and Luisa had their third a few months:
Ana (Gaby is standing in for her big sister) and Alex had their third a few months ago too:
And Jose and Maritere are getting married in August! LOTS to celebrate!!
Mama Lily and I having a "moment", as my cousins were looking on, they thought I was crying...I wasn't crying....this time...they to interrupted our moment to 'console' me...
...back to our moment...
...they thought Liza was crying too.....she wasn't...this time! Poor Lili is caught in the middle of the consoling...watch her belly boys!!!!
We don't have views like this in Ohio...the volcano in the background is the one that the boys and I climbed last summer.
We had a GREAT weekend to celebrate Mama Lily's birthday. GRACIAS a toda la familia en Guate! We are very lucky to have such a large, loving, energetic, compassionate and such a fun family. We can go years without seeing each other, but once we are all together it's as if we have never been apart! Les quiero mucho y siempre!
The article from La Prensa Libre. To see the rest of the article and pictures, cut and paste the site below:
http://www.sociedadonline.com/Mayo09/1094192143448.htm
Brady, Cole and Alyssa weren't in Guatemala, but Mama Lily was very close in their thoughts.
