Family Vacation

My family was in Miami on vacation....it was actually a double purpose visit....they were here for our wedding and also to spend time with us. It's been 6 months since I've last seen them but to me it felt like years. They spent two weeks with us- we had a WONDERFUL time together. It was like old times- we would wake up early and all have breakfast together, then hang around the house watching TV (more like figthing for power of the remote control)and chitchatting, then we'd hit the road for a couple hours have dinner as a family and just hang out. It was the best two weeks ever....well better said...it was two of the best weeks ever! I love my family and I guess you can call me biased when I say that I HAVE THE BEST PARENTS AND SISTER IN THE WORLD!!!!

Saturday July 12th we woke up and decided to head out to Orlando for the day to visit one of the theme parks....we ended up at Islands of Adventure. I felt like a little kid again; it's been years since we visited Orlando.Pig, Shaun and I took the park by storm...we went on lots of rides. We were soaked for the better part of the day ( didn't know that Islands of Adventure was full of water rides)and to boot we didn't even have a change of clothes for our ride back to Miami . Our dad was brave enough to join us for The Hulk Roller Coaster Ride.....he was a trooper...lol....my mom on the other hand was the photographer/purse holder (she cannot stomach any types of rides, so she would usually sit on one of the benches and wait for us to get back)...even Shaunie joined her on the bench every now and then, lol...

Two weeks vacation is never enough.....wish they could have stayed longer. It was fun coming home to a houseful everyday for two weeks....once Shaun and I got home after I dropped them off at the airport...we were both a little sad...the house was quiet..and it seemed as if there was nobody there at all....as if the family visit was just a dream. It's okay though...before we know it it'll be that time of year again and we'll have as much or maybe even more fun than we had this time around.

Mi stima boso cu tur mi curazon; Whoody, Daddy y Pig.

Our Wedding Day

July 3rd 2008

Today is THE BIG DAY- the day I marry my best friend. Every relationship has its ups and downs and ours was no different- we've been through it all; good times, bad times, laughter and tears...but through it all we've stuck by eachother. After today I'll officially be able to introduce Shaun as MY HUSBAND.

In attendance were my parents (Barbara & Carlos) and sister(Aisheline) who flew in from Aruba, my cousin Veronica, two of my college friends(Amorrell& Geanie ), Shaun's mom (Ingrid) and baby brother (Corey)and my friend from work (Merari) who might I add is the BEST PHOTOGRAPHER ever!!Besides remembering every single person in attendance- I don't really recall much about the actual ceremony. I do remember trying to hold back tears (to no avail) as soon as Shaun started saying his vows and I also remember seeing my daddy's eyes full of tears. If it wasn't for pictures and videos, this entire day would have been nothing but a blur to us. Thanks to my family and friends this day will be a day to remember forever!

With the power vested in me by the state of Florida I now pronounce you
Husband and Wife....you may HIGH FIVE your Bride!!





Family

25th Birthday Weekend

I'm 25 years and 3 days old....can't believe it! Growing up I'd always have a countdown to my birthday...but the past few years June 19th seems to have just crept up on me without me realizing. However, this year was different....I was excited for my 25th Birthday....I wasn't going to have a birthday party- I've stopped having birthday parties since I was 19...but this year was different....I wanted to celebrate the milestone; A QUARTER CENTURY- it's kind of a big deal! I wanted a fun celebration, a celebration I'd have with just my girlfriends...something like a girls' night out! So that was my plan..on my birthday (thursday)I sent out evites for the girls night out party on saturday.

Thursday June 19th, woke up earlier than usual....my cellphone rang, my parents were calling, as soon as I answered the phone I heard my mommy's voice and she and daddy sang Happy Birthday To ME :-D. After my morning serenade I hopped in the shower and as I was stepping out my Shaunie was there waiting for me and sang Happy Birthday, then he gave me the most beautiful card EVER! I cried...yeah I'm very emotional.... I got dressed and made it to work later than usual...said Bon Dia to everyone sitting at the front desk...when I got to my cubicle...it was decorated with a Happy Birthday Banner, a bouquet, and a card...I felt soo special!! The day was turning out to be wonderful ....I received phone calls, endless msn messages,email birthday cards and facebook messages... Roseline bought me lunch from Starbucks and as I was drinking my soup, she told me that smoke was coming out of the conference room.....I jumped up and was like...OMG that's crazy...as I got to the door and realized the door was closed I knew they were trying to surprise me (Melissa and Bianny) for our birthdays- yay for June babies!!! There were 3 cakes on the table and ofcourse mine was the Carvel Ice Cream Cake, they sang Happy Birthday To Us and then we got to cut our cakes :-D. I had to scoop Shaunie up from work today and when we left his job he took me to Bahama Breeze for dinner...he even made reservations....I still can't believe it! We had a fun dinner date.

Saturday June 21st- My Girls Night by the pool was scheduled for today...but the weather was not cooperating, so I had to move the celebration indoors...we had a wonderful time..if I must say so myself..but I think others will agree. We were about 15 girls hanging out, drinking martinis, socializing and eating. We also did karaoke....(Comcast has Karaoke OnDemand)...My last guests left around 2AM...Thanks to all that came out to make my Birthday Celebration memorable!

MURPHY LEAVE ME ALONE!!!!

Monday morning bright and early woke up extatic because I had finally said YES TO THE DRESS!! I found the perfect dress at Nordstrom...it was everything I had imagined and dreamt of; something classy and sexy at the same time. I ordered my size, received the confirmation and also the estimated shipping date; it said 7/11/2008, the date didn't phase me because I thought whatever....I'd be here by next week monday FOR SURE. So today June 12th, I contacted Nordstrom because the item hadn't shipped....what I was about to hear would ruin my entire day....okay, I'm being dramatic, but I was pissed,upset and sad all at the same time....my item wouldn't be shipped until JULY 11th....yes, she said JULY....that would not make it in time for my special day....I was CONVINCED however, that the confirmation email indicated JUNE 11th...but when I double checked I realized that indeed it said JULY. So here we go again...back to the drawing board..in search of ANOTHER PERFECT DRESS....





I checked my other online purchase and was happy to know that it had been delivered to my house ( said it was on my porch), so I got home..peeped on my porch and found NOTHING. So I thought that maybe My Dushi had seen it out there and brought it in....asked him....and nothing! Still I thought he was messing with me, ...I asked him what seems like a million times....and I soon realized that he was getting frustrated at me, which usually meant that he was telling the truth. Here we go again I thought.... I sat down at my desk, looked up the phone number to call UPS....the agent on the phone told me that it was delivered to Apt. 107 instead of 106, so I figured, no biggie..I'll just go check on THEIR porch! Hung up, went outside to go check with my neighbors, only to realize that they had moved ( no wonder I hadn't seen the guys in over a week )....daaaaaannnng....seems like Murphy's messing with me today. Oooh well, guess I should always think positively....the worst that could happen already did...so I have only positives to look forward to ( I have faith).

Who am I? 2

The culture of the Cocolos being from West Indian islands followed them where ever they went...and it was no different in DR. The Cocolos mixed British and African cultures and created their own; their ancestors were slaves brought from Africa to the Caribbean Islands, former British Colonies, and as any oppressed group of people, found comfort from their musical heritage and dance.

Fast forward a couple hundred years and you'll meet my greataunt Mary, descendent of a Cocolo. Mary Hodge was born on Feb 8, 1936 in Aruba (my grandfather's older sister), acknowledged by her father to carry the name Simon. Mary along with her two sisters moved to St. Maarten and hereafter back to Aruba, where they settled down in the Village in Sanicolas. The Village was where most West Indian descendants lived; for the most part because that was where the jobs were located (at the the Lago Oil Refinery). With many families from the West Indies having to uproot their families from one island to the next, they brought along with them their culture and customs for comfort.

In the early 1950s,My tante (aunt) Mary was one of the first people to start celebrating carnival in the village; she rounded up a group of friends and created the first of what we now know as "Parada di Sanicolas". With musical instruments made out of bottles, steel and plastic cups, they created music and danced through the streets of the village. It was a joyous occasion where everyone was able to let loose and be free and just have a good ol' time.


This year we marked our 56th year of carnival celebration on the island with parades in both Oranjestad and Sanicolas. A tradition (in Sanicolas) that was started by one lady who wanted to have a celebration of her [village's] cultural background. Thanks Tante Mary...for bringing this wonderful tradition to us.