Saturday, April 26, 2008

More Fiesta...

This was the second week of Fiesta, and although we missed a lot of it during the week, we decided to check out some new events this weekend. We started downtown at what is called "The King Williams Fair". It begins with yet another parade, and concludes with a big festival in a real upscale area of San Antonio. Since lack of parking spaces is a problem, not to speak of the expense (everyone who has parking available charges at least ten dollars), we decided to park at the HEB Arsenal, which happens to be right across the river from the King Williams area. We walked across an old bridge and ended up right at the beginning of the festival...it was perfect!

The houses throughout the area are some of the oldest and most expensive homes here, and most of them were decorated as well as hosting fabulous "Fiesta" parties on the lawns. It was fun to watch all the festivities. I talked to a woman who was seated on the front porch of one of the homes and discovered she was a founding member of the first King Williams Fair. She was fascinating!

Saturday, April 19, 2008

Fiesta Arts Fair

My friend Patty Gilbert had offered to introduce me to Fiesta by taking me to one of her favorite events, the Fiesta Arts Fair. It's a juried craft show located at the Southwest School of the Arts, and it was wonderful! Ever since I left the midwest, I've really missed going to good craft fairs because most of them here don't begin to compare. The one we went to today was as good or better than most I've been to, although it was rather expensive.

Patty got me with one of the confetti eggs that are a tradition during Fiesta...it was a first for me, but I'm sure it won't be the last!



Later in the afternoon, we went another event I had heard about..."A Taste of New Orleans" where I tried fried alligator and crawfish ettouille (sp?). I really didn't understand why this would be a part of Fiesta, but I guess it's a celebration of all the different cultures that make up San Antonio. In fact, there are German festivals as well, I'm told.

The last place we visited was El Mercado at Market Square. I had been there before, but I had never seen it like it was today. Everyone was celebrating with food, wares and lots of entertainment! It was crowded, but very festive!

Friday, April 18, 2008

Fiesta Party!

Today was the first day of Fiesta here in San Antonio, and to kick it off, all the schools have "Fiesta Parties"...I loved it!
It all began with the first grade parade of floats. The entire school was surrounded with students, teachers and parents watching as our younger students paraded by with floats they had made at home with their families. I had the "priviledge" of joining their parade as the infamous "Reading Fairy", bringing up the end with the two teachers who are retiring coming along behind me with push brooms...it was hysterical!
After the parade, the students returned to their rooms, where the room moms had set up some unbelievable parties. There was LOTS of fabulous food, as well as crafts such as making cascarades (egg shells filled with confetti that are broken over people's heads during Fiesta).

This last picture I included is of the vegetable gardens. Each class is given a "plot" of land to farm for the year where they grow various vegetables and berries... the kids learn alot and have fun farming. I really love my job at Encino Park, and I had my review this week and it seems they're happy with me too...I think I'll be around for a while!

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Day On the River

Larry and I had a super Sunday! After church this morning, we headed down to the Strawberry Festival, which turned out to be a real disappointment...mostly carnival rides and music. We decided to stop and have lunch on the Riverwalk instead, since it was right on the way home. It was a beautiful spring day and we had a wonderful time. We ate Mexican food on the river, where Larry was about attacked by the ducks as we tried to eat our chips and salsa. Then we took a walk down the river enjoying the atmosphere. Then we finally made it to the Alamo, which is the main attraction in San Antonio.


Next week is the big "Fiesta" celebration, which will last two whole weeks. It's a big deal...the schools even take a holiday for "the Battle of the Flowers" and we have school parties to kick off the celebration. I'm anxious to see what it's all about!

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Spring Visitor...

Tonight, Larry barbequed and we sat out on our patio enjoying the beautiful weather. While we were eating and discussing what we wanted to do with our yard this year, we saw a mother bird who kept flying by with food in her mouth. We heard baby birds chirping, but couldn't see the nest. It wasn't until we saw her fly into the bird house that we finally figured out where her babies were. It was fun watching her as she made repeated trips with food for her little ones. I finally got my camera and took a picture...

Sunday, April 6, 2008

Reunited...

Over twenty years ago, when Shannon and Stacey were very young, we moved into a neighborhood where several of us from the Twenty's Married Group at our church all built houses on a cul-de-sac so we could raise our children together. It was wonderful to know there was always a friend you could call on for support, although God did use those years to teach us all valuable lessons...as He always does!

Anyway, imagine our surprise when I received a phone call from Jill Fietchner (who I had not seen since then) telling me they were in the process of moving to Austin, Texas a few weeks ago! Well, today we all got together and had a fabulous reunion! We met at church this morning, where we had only a brief moment to say hello before turning our hearts toward God for worship. Max preached a great sermon, although I was very anxious for it to be over so we could talk. Their three oldest kids were not with them as they have a house together in California, but we did get to meet the rest of their family! We spent the day visiting and catching up on all that's happened in our lives since that time long ago, as well as sharing meals and even some shopping with the girls.

We were very impressed with all of their kids...they were all so helpful and fun to talk to...what a great family God has blessed them with!

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

My Kinders...

Last night was the Kindergarten Concert at my school, so I went to take pictures for the school. They were so cute...they sang "America, the Beautiful", "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and "Skin-a-mirink-a-do" with all the hand motions. They did a wonderful job and it's hard to believe how much they've grown just this year since I started teaching at Encino Park. It'll be fun to watch them grow up through the years and if it's God's will for us to be here , I may get to follow them all the way to fifth grade!