New Beginnings (part 2)

I don't think it could have worked out any better if we tried!  It was just one of those times when everything just worked out perfectly!  For instance... it just so happened that the same weekend that I was coming home to pick up and move Jeilene & the cats... was the same weekend of the graduation!  I flew in Friday night and 12 hours later I was with family watching Gema receive her diploma & her official chef hat!  

Being the monumental occasion that it was, I certainly wasn't the only family member that happened to drop by!  As it turns out... J.R. had planned to fly up earlier in the week from Mexico to pick up a van his uncle gave him and then drive it back south.  Once "the Girls" heard about J.R.'s short little visit... there was no way they were going to let him cross that border without the cuter/prettier half  of his family!  So adorable little Anabella and Idely packed their bags too and by week's end they were in L.A.! (Baby Joanna couldn't get her Visa taken care of in time for the trip, so she had to stay home. Bummer!)       

So although Gema was very proud and happy to be recognized for having perfect attendance and graduating with Honors... I think it's safe to say that she was even happier and felt more blessed that her extended family was there to help share in her accomplishments and her outstanding achievements... on such a amazingly beautiful day! 

We weren't really sure what to expect... but the venue was definitely a lot bigger than I expected... there were a heck of a lot more people in the stands than I imagined... and there was definitely a lot more people wearing white than I thought there was going to be!

 

 

Here is Gema with some of her classmates during rehearsal.

Once we all finally found some seats together... 
we all sat down eagerly anticipating the ceremonies! 

 

The graduation ceremonies eventually commenced and it was only a matter of time before it was Gema's turn to walk down the aisle (so to speak) ...with all her family & friends in the stands cheering her on!

 So wonderful to see classmates reach their goals!

...And greet what is only the beginning of their journey with a big smile!

Chef Gema with her two biggest fans!

Gema showing off her beautiful 'Le Cordon Bleu' Graduation Ring

I'd like to think we all were important enough to somehow snag an open spot in the sea of people outside the park... but I think we were just lucky!  So of course we took advantage and squeezed in for a photo!  Like I said... an absolute gorgeous day, but tons of people! 

My new best friend!

After graduation it was off to celebrate!  We all packed in to a restaurant in old town Pasadena and raised our glasses in honor of the new Chef!    

How else could we have celebrated & honored a newly graduated Pastry Chef?  ...But with a delicious flour-less chocolate cake of course!

Fortunately for Alec... he had his own little helper to clean up his messy eating habits!

Congratulations Chef Gema!!!  

..from your biggest fans & your most loyal taste testers!

The graduating class of 2010

I would like to thank Gema for setting such an excellent example and for teaching us it's never too late to discover and follow a new passion, no matter how long it takes or how hard you have to work ...even if it means setting aside your social and personal life!  Alec and I both admire her effort and dedication and are so very proud of her and her new title!  We feel blessed to be a part of such a wonderful family who supports and encourages one another no matter how rough the journey ahead of us lies!  We congratulate "Chef" Gema and wish nothing but good luck and great success to her and her new future!       

To new beginnings!

New Beginnings (part 1)

After nine long months of double duty: office work from 8am to 3pm... and then culinary class from 6pm to 11:30pm, Jeilene and I are extremely proud to be a niece and nephew of the newest Pastry Chef graduate of Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Institute!

Here are a few photos taken along Gema's long and extraordinary journey:

WARNING: If you choose to continue reading the rest of this post, you will undoubtedly have an overwhelming desire for yummy desserts!  Read on at your own risk!!!  

Gema's station

 

Apple & Berry Pies!

Batons Marechaux, Almond Macaroons and Florentines

  

Chocolate Box with Truffles Inside

Seven Layer Chocolate Cake with Mocha Mousse

Class Dessert Display

Petit Fours

Fruit Tart and Lemon Swiss Roll

Then Came the fancy courses...

Sugar Sculpting

Wedding Cake Decorating

 

And making a completely edible Halloween Gingerbread House!

It was a long, tiring, and stressful nine months, but for those of us that were fortunate enough to stuff our faces with projects, leftovers, homework, and exams... those nine months were absolute bliss!  It was no doubt a long and exhausting road... but in the end, it all payed off when the journey ended and a new one began... as the road stopped momentarily one beautiful Saturday morning at the once-famous Santa Anita Race Track...

Memory Lane

Allow me to take you for a stroll down memory lane... during my week long visit with family in Mexico!

The kids and I were SOOO excited to see each other that we insisted on sleeping together!  So naturally, we made our very own mega-sized bed on the floor!

For the very first time, Michele got full use out of her 'Windstar' minivan.  Trust me, it was a tight fit... but the majority of us refused to go in any other car since this one was the one bumpin' my newly created personalized CD (ghetto mix), which Nykol very much enjoyed!

Every time I see them I'm absolutely shocked at how tall & grown-up William and Sofia are!  It's a shame my hair was in a bun... but if you take a good look you will see William is at least 3 inches taller than me!  Hard to believe they actually fit into the palms of hands when they were just seven months old! Boy does time fly or what?!

 

We call Leo "the Attorney", for he always has a good argument to get out of being in trouble... and he never shuts up! (hee-hee!)

Catalina on the other hand, is the cutest little nerd ever...

so nerdy and she doesn't even know it!

Daddy and his little girl... just melts my heart!

A better look at Joanna Regina

She looks a lot like JR when he was a baby.

Outside my mom's house! (Okay, so Meeker, Colorado might have deer in their front lawns & streets... but down here in Mexico, we have cows!)

Joanna always smelled SO good!

Gotta love that 'New Baby Scent'!

We certainly can't forget about this little cutie!  Here we are at my uncle's birthday party. (I almost stole her bib!)

There was a live band (known as a "Banda") at the party, and Anabella certainly was no dummy... she sat on Abuela's lap and the two of them danced the night away!

 I don't know about you...

but that's five of the prettiest young ladies I've ever seen!!!

It just doesn't get much cuter than that folks!

 It wouldn't be a family photo without a little finger up the nose!

Love the "photo-bomb" here in this one!  I can't believe my uncle crashed a perfectly good 'tower-of-Tecate' drunken pic of Helen & Joanne!  Although to be fair... I'm pretty sure Rocio and I were responsible for our fair share of those empty cans!

We all enjoyed 'Family Game Night' later on in the week... with Bingo being our game of choice!

If we weren't dressing up in costumes or throwing a party... we were just plain lazy and would lay around the house giving each other smooches and being as silly as possible!  Of course some of us would try to be real sneaky and wear really cool sunglasses only to disguise a quick cat-nap! (Nice try, Dad!)

Uh, no... this isn't the Mexican "Octo-Mom"!  Rather two extremely lucky and proud grandparents with all eight of their grandchildren!  Wow... that's a lot of noise and chaos when they're all together! ...but one Hell of a good time!!!

My last day and it just so happened to fall on my Dad's Birthday! ...Happy Birthday, Dad!

What an absolutely fantastic vacation!  I thoroughly enjoyed every moment and don't think I could have had a better time!  Although I have to admit, it could have been just a tad bit better if Alec & Oscar Jr. had been there... but I try not to be too greedy, and am so very grateful to have spent such a significant amount of time with 'most' of my family... for God only knows when the next time we'll all be together again will be.  I just pray and have faith that it will be a lot sooner... than a lot later!