Kindergarten graduate

On June 9, 2009 Big Z graduated from Kindergarten. All of the kindergartens sang and danced for the parents. It was precious. Grandpa C. and aunt Theresa came to watch him. Kindergarten was a good year for Big Z as he adjusted to a world bigger than mom and dad. His teacher Ms. Hynes was absolutely wonderful for him. He enjoyed talking to her and really respected her for how she listened to him. She showed up to one of his hockey game and was he proud. He even scored a goal. Big Z is excited to go to 1st grade but also timid about going without Ms. Hynes.

Big Z hits Albuquerque Hard

We went to Albuquerque New Mexico for the Spring Nationals. On the way we stopped at Grand Canyon so Big Z could see "the big hole".

While in Albuquerque, Big Z raced some good races. He placed 3rd and 5Th on Saturday. On Sunday, he took the 1st in mixed open and 3rd in class. Also that weekend, he earned his Open Award jacket. This award is given to the rider who makes 7 mains in the mixed open class. It's a hard thing to do so he was very proud of that thing.

On the way home we visited my mom. big Z enjoyed being spoiled by my mom. He gave her one of his trophies.

Haircut

Zeke decide that it was time for him to get his haircut. Both Mike and Zeke got flat-tops on the same day. Up until now, Big Z had just gotten trims so this was a big change for him. He looks just like his cousins.

Mother's Day

We had a mellow Mother's Day this year. Which is exactly the way I like it.

Bmx BMX BMX

Big Z has been really busy with his race schedule. Last weekend,he raced Bakersfield,CA. He got to meet Maris Stromberg the 2008 GOLD medal winner in BMX. What a great role model he is.

We now have a READER on our hands

This last Saturday, Feb 28 we were at favorite store and Big Z picked up a book and started to read. He has been studying his "sight words" in class all year. Until then he had no real interest in reading but I guess it all clicked. He has been reading everything he can get a hold of since Saturday.

Way to go Big Z

Hair cut for Big Z

Big Z got a hair cut. This is the1st really short hair cut. A older kid at school was teasing him and calling him a girl. So he came home and wanted to cut his hair. We told him to wait 2 weeks and see if he still wanted to cut his hair. We were trying to teach a life lesson here- not to let people's mean words direct your path. He waited and he still wanted to cut his hair. I think he looks very mischievous .

More Pictures of Winter Nationals

Here is more pictures from Lake Perris. My friend Lisa took tons of pictures so I was lucky. Please notice the large amounts of MUD.

Big Z wears blue on Saturdays and red on Sundays.

Next on the list : March 6-8 Black Mountain BMX which is in Phoenix AZ.

Big Z will race in the 6 and under mixed open and his class 6 intermediate. This is really exhausting for him, at Lake Perris Big Z literally fell asleep on his bike waiting for his last main. His day starts off with 4 races to get to the main - 1st race takes 4 out of 8 to the Quarter finals which takes 2 racers to the semi finals which take the top 4 to the main event. So when we say he made it to the main he really worked hard for it.

It will be kinda sad being in the town where Danny lived. We had planned for my brother to meet us and spent the weekend with us.

Big Z's BMX goal for the year

Taking it all baby at the Grand National in Oklahoma in Nov. Thare will be riders from all over the world - the best of the best!

Happy Valentine's day

Happy Valentine's day to all our family and friends

Lake Perris, Winter Nationals

This last weekend Big Z raced in the Winter Nationals. He didn't do too bad considering he had a bad cold. He placed 4th , 6th, 7th and 8th in his races. There were 27 different riders from around this part of the country. Big Z held his own. The bad weather just made it that much more interesting- The track was a big mud pit- Big Z wasn't allowed to play in it just race in it.

While we were there, something scary happened to him- he was shot directly in the eye with a plastic bullet. The little boy thought there was not anything in the play gun and pointed it at Zeke's eye. Big Z didn't have time to close his eye. I took him to the eye doctor and he had a scratch on his eye but no internal bleeding. We have to take him back in a week to make sure there is not any bleeding. Pretty scary stuff!

Also Big Z's big toughest opponent is a boy called A.G. His mom recognized me. I went to High School with her fairly good friends back then. She went to HS prom with my brother Tommy. Her named is Kathy Owens. Small world. So much for rivarly

A good Hockey day

Friday was a

good Hockey day for Big Z.

He scored TWO Goals

during his game. This was witnessed by his dad, Jonny, Tommy, Grandpa and his teacher Ms. Hynes. He was floating on Cloud 9 . This makes his career goal total to 3.

You rock! Big Z

Zeke's Favorite Movie Quote

Zeke has a favorite movie quote I wanted to share with you.

"BMX is what I do -

B a MeXican is what I am"

He told that to Uncle Danny shortly before he passed and it made Danny laugh even if it hurt for him to laugh.

Scanning your old photos

While preparing for Danny's funeral -I used this great service that scans all your old photos for you. For $30.00 Scan Van will scan 200 photos for you and give you a cd and will keep a back up for you. Check out the website:

http://1888scanvan.com/

These great old photos are just an example of the pictures i had scanned. The 1st one is in TJ Mexico in 1968. Danny's on the donkey, Tommy is next to him and I am the baby being held by my mom. Classic Photo

The little girl is me!

Happy Birthday Cousin Tommy

With all the funeral happening I forgot to wish Cousin T a Happy 11th Birthday.

Funeral Plans

The funeral plans are set for Danny.

Monday Jan 12,2009

at

9:00 a.m.

Please email me for place.

We will be having a gathering following the service.

He will be really close to Tommy's grave at the cemetery

BMX Recap

Here is a picture of some of the trophies Big Z has won this last 6 months. We stopped collecting the 2nd and 3rd place trophies due to lack of space. Big Z got a new race bike (a VRP frame) for Christmas so his is adjusting to that. Our plans for his racing are:
Feb. - Lake Perris
March - Phoenix
April:
May: New Mexico
He will still play Hockey because it helps with his leg strenght.

In Memory of

Daniel Ray Casares

Jan. 15, 1961 - Jan. 2, 2009