The Meneses Spot

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter to all you Meneses family members! Whether you're on Spring break now, or if you are still anxiously awaiting a few days off this weekend, we hope you all have a relaxing and enjoyable Easter celebration! Feel free to share pictures or updates of what you will be up to! The Craven family had Spring Break last week and we spent an few fun filled days in Arizona, and we're looking forward to hunting eggs and playing horseshoes on Easter Sunday at our house.

The Big Six O

Celebration Time!!!! That's right, it's THE BIG 60. You are all invited to celebrate a milestone birthday for Elvia Grimsley. We will be having a Breakfast/Brunch Bash on Saturday, February 16, 2013 at Jim and Elvias. The breakfast/brunch will be from 10:00-12:00. Then feel free to hang out and continue the celebration. Hope to see ya'll there!

Holiday Gathering

This year the Grimsleys are extending an invitation to gather at their house Sunday, December 23 at 6:00.
This will be an old fashion potluck due to the fact that Elvia's stove choose the holiday season to quit working and a new one will not arrive until after Christmas.
We will do the traditional video exchange for the adults, but this year there will also be one for the kids.
Also, if you want bring cookies or candy, we will do an exchange. Bring one and get some.
See you there!!!

Trail Mix

When we were young and lived at Del Rey Farms there was always farm work to do. So at this time of the year, we often had to help pick up walnuts. On the farm there were two sheds. One was mostly empty and the other larger, more modern one housed the tractors. To the west of this garage, there was a row of walnut trees, and it was left to all the kids, Martinez's and Meneses's to pick up the walnuts, take off the hulls and bag them up to go somewhere. We would keep some of the walnuts and mix them with some of the raisins that we also grew. We had our own trail mix. Many a day this was my salvation meal, since I really hated atole and avena (oatmeal and cream of wheat). Most days mom had a eat what you have or do without rule. Sometimes I would pick to do without. I think that it is totally ironic that now I am eating lots of cream of wheat and oatmeal and the things that make it tolerable is adding walnuts and/or raisins. So my question to you is what foods do you remember really disliking as a kid that you eat now?

Thanksgiving Pasts

I hope that everyone had a great Thanksgiving. We did. We had lots of great food and fun. We started a new tradition after letting our food settle, we had a Just Dance contest. Chris and Connor were the winners in the adult and children divisions.
I thought that I would share my memories of the California Meneses' first encounter with a Thanksgiving turkey. We were living at Del Rey Farms, and Uncle Abel was staying with us. We had been learning about traditional Thanksgiving in school and so we (the kids) determined that we needed to have turkey. Of course this was during winter and it was cold and raining so dad had not worked and we had no money. I can remember crying as if the world would end if we didn't get a turkey. I think poor Uncle Abel finally had enough and he went out and bought a turkey. Of course when he brought it home, mom didn't know how to cook it so she cut it all up and fried it. I think we all thought it was delicious.
As I look back across the years, I know it was a challenge to mom and dad to learn all about the expectations that come from living in a world where the culture is not the one you grew up with and that you know your children need to learn if they are going to be successful.

Tamale Day

Come join us in celebrating a family tradition. As usual, meet at our home. Uncle Harrison will provide the pizza and soft drinks. Allison, I will provide the wine :) Where? 328 Oleander Shafter, CA When? Sunday, December 16th at 1:30 p.m. Looking forward to spending time with you all!

Save the Date!

Mother/Daughter luncheon will be on Sunday, December 9th at 2:30 pm. Can't wait to see all you lovely ladies at Connie's house!

Update on Connie

My mom will be having surgery tomorrow at 11 am. She looked good tonight and the surgeon is very optimistic. We think she will be groggy and in pain tomorrow, so she will probably not be up to a lot of visitors post-surgery tomorrow, but somebody will send out an update.
She will have to be in the hospital for 3 to 7 days after surgery, and after that will have six weeks off of work. So, if you are in the area during that time, stop by and visit. It's been nice for her to have a lot of visitors, and laughs!
Thanks for all the prayers, notes, visits and love.

September is under way!

I hope everyone had a great Labor Day weekend. Many of the Smiths found themselves spending time at Tulare District Hospital. But there were other exciting events happening. Reese started preschool and not only did she look cute, but she was very brave. As she starts this phase of her formal education, Cathi is completing her requirements for a Bachelor of Science degree and will be gratuating September 15th from University of Phoenix. As a follow-up to Doug's question, here's a new one: Who was the biggest quarterback bust everrrrrr? Why. Did you know that Grandpa Art Meneses' favorite baseball team was the Milwaukee Braves?

Reese's First Day

Football how we love thee, let us count the ways

I didnt mean to knock scarlet off of the top spot, but something important has come up....time for the meneses predictions! Im sure if we pulled last years up id be way off, but im giving it another shot and this ones for all the marbles! Or just bragging rights