Happy Holidays!

Greeting from the Big D! December 2008
Last year I had big plans about maintaining a journal to keep track of what happened during the year so that I’m not totally befuddled when it comes to trying to assess another year in the life. Yeah…like that happened. So this holiday update will be short and fit on one page.
The big thrill of the year was going to San Diego for the Cruz Family Reunion. My dad, Kira, Robyn, her fiancé Kurt, my brothers, Steve and Ted all met with various aunts and uncles, and layers of cousins at the Lawrence Welk Resort. Unfortunately Quinn and Sarah could not make the trip this time around. It was a big happy bash that involved a whole roasted pig and several kinds of adobo. Besides talking, laughing, and telling old stories, we were blinded by the light of the Cruz paparazzi recording the event for prosperity. Later that night I got a chance to listen to the younger generation chat about discovering their extended family roots. Hopefully they will keep up the tradition and stay in touch with each other.
Perhaps by coming to Robyn and Kurt’s wedding next April 11. Rosenda and George Cephus graciously offered their beautiful backyard for the wedding and reception. It will be a small personal affair for just friends and family. Of course if you are reading this newsletter, then you are obviously in those categories and thus invited. Please let us know if your plan to come, we would love to see ya’ll.
Kira got her dream of going to Disneyland when we went west. It’s pretty much the same magical kingdom from my childhood only more intensely packed with people. The ride lines were insanely crowded so we only managed 4 of them. But she was a happy camper, so that’s all that mattered.
We also added to our menagerie of critters when this little, shorthaired, ratty Siamese kitten followed my dad home when he was walking the dog. The little guy walked right in and basically took over the house. He’s got a huge personality, spunky, curious, vocal, farty and clumsy. He loves the dog and tries to love the other cats, but they don’t have the patience for his antics. Dad named him Joey, Bob calls him Squirt. He’s already knocked down the Christmas tree.
We are still seeing tons of movies and all for free with my movie group which has grown to over 1000 subscribers. We see anywhere from 2 – 4 movies a week. The big ones this year to see are Gran Torino, The Curious Case of Benjamin Buttons, The Reader, Doubt, Slumdog Millionaire, Milk, and the Wrestler. Revolutionary Road screens at the end of the month so I don’t have an opinion. Dad will vote for his faves as a member of the North Texas Movie Critics Association as we enter Oscar season. Check his review page for his list!
Next year, I’m taking my vacation to volunteer once more for the AFI (American Film Institute) Dallas Film Festival. Saw 16 movies in week last year. It was heady fun, got to view some interesting flicks and see some minor celebs. Plus they give you great swag, food and parties for putting in time with them. They want to be like Sundance, or the Toronto Film Fest. But this is only their 3rd year, and still fighting the image of some hick city trying to be cool. Besides Target is their main sponsor. That should tell you something.
Other than that, we keep busy around here. Dad’s got his ESL classes, banjo band, drumming and writing movie reviews.
Kira dropped out of her rec center time and we keep hanging on to a thread trying to get resources in place for job training because the state agency keeps mismanaging their funds and she loses her services. She did go to a weekend session of Camp Summit for kids with special needs. We had a bake sale and palm reading to earn the funds. Our friend, Polly Perez generously donated the sale of her art work so Kira could attend in November. We will use her bake sale money so she can go to the spring weekend and hopefully we can get a scholarship for the summer week long camp. They say they don’t turn anyone away. We will see…
Bob keeps thinking he’s going to foray into the woods ignoring all the warnings that it’s not good for his heart. Otherwise he’s taking care of himself and the house. He’s peeved someone stole his ladder from our backyard. Crime creeps in, but at least it’s not all out shooting from the Laredo drug cartel like our last neighborhood.
I’m still working at Scarab, which bought some other e-discovery businesses on its way to be this corporate giant, and will soon be not so much fun to work for. Kurt works there too and is doing really well. Everyone is younger than me. I’m the office mom.
Texas is gawdawful hot in the summer, cold to bones in the winter, and wet and windy in the meantime. Then there are those days which are so darn perfect, you wonder why it can’t be that way all the time. Dallas always has something to do, and we try and keep Kira amused and feed her brain with new experiences. Now if I can somehow remember to write it all down and tell ya’ll about it next year.

Peace and love
Reesa, Bob, and Kira

It's my party...

Kira made me a cake! It was strawberry cake with whipped cream. Yummy!

She also raised money to go to Camp Summit next month by having a bake sale down by Steve's gallery.

My New Tats

Always wanted a tattoo, but could never figure out what kind and had the feeling that whatever I picked out when I was younger, would not look so good when I was old and fat.

My first one was on July 3, 2008. It's the astrological signs of my twins...taurus and my son..gemini.

The new one done 9/29/08 is a triskell representing maiden, mother, and crone. Since I've successfully managed all 3 cycles.

I'm enjoying them, and glad I waited until now.

Need Addresses

Are ya'll still out there checking the family blog? I would like to get a list of everyone's snail mail addresses. You don't need to post it here, but would ya'll kindly email what you have since not everyone who was at the reunion has signed up to join this little cyberspace. I will email the results to everyone if they want it too.

reesas@gmail.com

Upcoming Wedding!

Just a reminder to the family that Robyn and Kurt are getting married on April 11, 2009 and she would like ya'll to come! I know some of you expressed interest in attending, and she would like to find out how many were serious in their intentions. So please let us know as soon as you can as we are in gearing up to full wedding plan mode. We would love for you to come visit us in TX, and the weather is not as unbearable in April as it normally is in the summer months.

Lily Holbrook

You can catch my brother Ted playing keyboards in Lily Holbrook's new demo video on her MySpace site:

http://www.myspace.com/lilyholbrook

New Movies Reviews

Over the past few weeks we have been seeing some of the big summer blockbusters. Come check out dad's reviews at:
http://cruzreviews.tripod.com/movies.html

Next week he should have his review of Mama Mia posted.

Me and Kira went to a couple more...Space Chimps and Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D.

Our screenings coming up are Tropic Thunder, The Perfect Game, Step Brothers, The Mummy-Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, Sisters of the Traveling Pants2, Pineapple Express, Star Wars-The Clone Wars, and Hamlet 2.