Category: Family

Ever since my “big” events finished and all we had to worry about for the week was entertaining a delegation from Irapuato, I’ve been feeling a little more at ease, a little less stressed-out, thank goodness. It was about time, heh.

That’s given me more time to browse through eBay after I’ve tended to the girls and put them to bed. I recently got lucky on a few auctions. I get the “collecting” bug about once a year, and this is about the time it happened last year, too :P.

I was stalking a seller from California, who seemed to be selling her entire collection of 80’s plushes. She had all the UK Care Bears and the rare UK Popples. I scored the Chef Popple, which I’ve wanted for YEARS, and my very first UK Care Bear: Sea Friend Bear ^_^, both for amazing prices!

I also scored a few Yum Yums. I hardly collected these since they’re always so expensive. I bought the bunny around 2003 or so, then found Peppermint Kitty around 2008ish and hadn’t bought them since. I still kick myself in the butt for not taking the chance to buy Chuckle Chip Bear back during the All-City Garage Sale days, for $4. I didn’t buy him because he was kind of floppy and dirty, but now that I only see him for $40+, I regret not getting him =\. I am thrilled, however, that I found Lucky Lemon Lion and Goody Gumdrops Mouse for under $20 each! I also finally made my Yum Yums their own page after all these years!

I also got some Fluppy Dog hats. I think they’re the Fluppy Puppy hats. I’m confused as to whether those are the hats they came with or you had to buy them separately back then? Who knows. I only got them because they were a steal, heh.

Anyway, I spent time with the girls as much as I could Monday and Tuesday, because Wednesday and Thursday I knew I’d be working late. It isn’t often that I do work late, but the girls fall apart when I do have to, no joke. They did much better this time, but I still can’t help but feel guilty =\.

Alaethia, Emily and Jaylen had Open House at their schools on Tuesday evening. Their dad joined us. First to the girls’ school, where they had great things to say about both. It was a quick visit with Emily’s teacher. We reminisced about how fast time flies since it’s been 2 years since he was Alaethia’s teacher, too.

We went to Jay’s school next and his teachers all had great things to say about him, too. Well, I can’t say “all” because there were a couple we didn’t see. I got to see Norma and we chit-chatted a bit. She told me Jaylen’s math teacher is a little on the mean side and we figured that was why he was having trouble asking about this darn science project he has in his Pre-AP class. But when we started talking with the teacher we joked around with him and got all the info we needed about the project. We did some already, now that he’s on Spring Break, so I’m hoping his father will help with the last few things he’s missing. He says he forgot that part at the house, so we’ll see.

The delegation had 2 gentlemen that had joined us before back in 2012. We took them on the tour back then, too. 3 new gentlemen joined this time.

We had breakfast at the Country Club the first morning (yellow-egg ham & cheese omelets–which I shouldn’t have had =\), where I had to leave abruptly and join Laura at Latina Hope, the program we’re spearheading, along with Eduardo. We were teaching a jewelry-making class and Mrs. Thelma was teaching wreath-making. We joined her class the first session and I have to say, I am in love. Like I need another hobby!

I made this burlap wreath for Dina :). I had originally wanted to make it in the shape of an actual sunflower, but I couldn’t find yellow mesh at all when I went. Must be because of Easter.

I met the group back at the Rotary Club, where there was a very informative presentation about Quinta Mazatlan. We had lunch, then headed to the school district’s Central Office where we had another informative meeting. I love being “in the loop” heh.

We had dinner at House.Wine. after that. I had THEE BEST salmon pasta with garlic caper sauce. I wish I had that recipe!

(I just got hungry again.)

It was a fantastic evening. The live music was great and the men kept us laughing all night with their jokes. They’re so down to earth!

The next morning Jessica helped me get ready for a breakfast I had put together at the Incubator. Koko’s was catering, there was Shipley’s coffee and the breakfast was in the gallery with a few of the artists, the delegation and some of the committee. I’m glad Jessica was there to help me and eat breakfast with me. (Also: hardly anything I ate those 2 days were things on my low-cholesterol menu. Oops.)

We had a tour at the STC medical building, lunch at the Spanish Room with Eduardo, and then a meeting at MEDC. And then we said our goodbyes and my boss and I headed to the office where he needed to finalize some things for a trip they were having the next day and I had work bills to pay. I also had to turn in my absence sheet because I promised the girls I’d take some days off to spend with them during Spring Break. I had been feeling really overwhelmed and stressed about work, I really couldn’t even tell you why, but I really do enjoy what I do ^_^.

We went to Eenan’s Open House next. He was extremely nervous about it, as he ended up with a 33 in his Spanish class. Yes. A 33. I was upset at first, but I kept calm and didn’t explode, especially because I could see just how afraid he was. I also couldn’t be too mad about it because his core-subject teachers spoke the world about him and he had great grades. I applaud him considering he’s also in Pre-AP classes. So we spoke to the Spanish teacher, and him, and hopefully he’ll do better this semester. I’m sure he will :).

We went to his counselor’s office to get access to his grades from home. On the way back home we had a deep conversation about religion and beliefs. About how his dad is an atheist (he has been since we met in high school, although around 2010 when he served me with divorce papers and wanted people’s attention and pity, he was as holy and Catholic as they come, posting verses and whatnot on Facebook, grrr) and it bothers Eenan that he insults people’s beliefs. We talked about our own beliefs. Then we got further into religion and…hypocrites. I’m glad I can have these conversations with them. I hope they can always talk with me freely about anything that’s on their minds.

Jessica and I went to the City Health Fair on Friday morning, after we were done with all our morning work. I wanted a second opinion, I guess you can say, about my cholesterol, but considering my diet the 2 previous days, I don’t think it’ll make much of a difference :(. I did get my BMI done and it says I have 6 lbs. to lose to be at my ideal weight for my height. I’ll take it, ’cause I seriously thought it was more >_<. Dina, Briana and the kids came down to visit starting Friday evening, which means we went into turbo-cleaning mode, heh, and we put up some wall decor we'd been putting off. (And by "we", I mean Jorge :p). [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Wall stuffs ^_^"][/caption]

Javi came over, too, and we all sat around with the kids and spent time together and laughed and used our electronics. It’s always great having them over.

Dina took the boys to the movies on Saturday morning. Of course my teenager chose to stay home LOL. While they were out, Emily and I went to get groceries and then all us girls went to Fantasyland Skate Center for a party Briana had invited us to. Needless to say, the girls were all terrified, poor things. They only went around the rink once and said NO MORE.

We had a good time anyway.

We chilled out the rest of the evening. Once the kiddos had all passed out we enjoyed some wine my love bought for us. It’s some Diva brand, I think, and it was a pineapple-coconut moscato. OMG. It was heaven.

I woke up and made wheat pancakes for everyone.

They were so tasty. I’m so glad there are some leftover, heh.

We spent the day lazying around with the kids and then Dina, Briana and the kids left. We lazied some more and it’s such a relief to know neither the kids nor I have to go anywhere tomorrow. Unfortunately my love works tomorrow :(, but I plan to be a good girl and clean the house and spend time with the kiddos. I’ve been waiting for this downtime all year! 😀

In my usual manor, I’m finishing this entry up a month after the actual date, but that’s how I do .

Dina, Briana, Javi and the kids got to come down for the holiday . There was a lot of laughing and running around, since Jorge and I had to share the kids with the other parents, like we usually do on holidays.

On Christmas Eve, we visited Gramma and took her her gifts :).

The girls and I visited Rosie and Michelle for a few minutes that evening. The girls had a blast with Sheeba, Rosie’s 4th baby, heh, and looking at their Christmas decorations. They go all out!

The kiddos all played with their cousins and Javi, Briana, Dina, Mom, Jorge and I sat around and opened our gifts from them. I wanted to wait till Christmas, but Javi said, “You’re adults, you don’t have to wait till freakin’ Christmas!”

Javi and Mia brought Ruffles some presents, too. Little toys with bells and a standing thing with a ball and feathers; he had a blast!

They brought us an awesome candle holder centerpiece for the table and 3 bottles of Moscato d’asti! I love my family, they know us too well!

We woke up early on Christmas morning and Jorge went to pick his boys up. They got back and then commenced the ripping open of packages and squeals from the kids. I feel so blessed and great inside that, er, Santa, got to make all their wishes come true. (This is around the time that Jorge would say the fat man gets all the credit .

Javi helped Emily put her Doc McStuffins Check-up Center together. That thing was the bain of Santa’s existence for the month of December .

Eenan, who asked for an old-school Gameboy, was–I think–pleased with his special edition Pikachu Game Boy and 4 games that came with it. Too bad one of them doesn’t save the progress, grr. Eenan hung out in their room while the other boys played a game of Monopoly while their new Xbox downloaded who knows what. This was their expression:

Alaethia opened every package she could find and when everything was nice and strewn all over their bedroom, we put their newest Barbie beach house together. She messed around with her new 2DS and then she, Emily and Mia played Barbie’s and Doc McStuffins together. Julien played with his toys for a while and got so tired he passed out. It didn’t help that the poor thing had a stomach virus. He arrived needing to throw up . That poor baby is sick from some ailment every weekend he visits, and when they don’t allow him to come, it’s because he’s got a brand-new virus of some sort. Anyway. I digress.

We hung around the rest of the day, enjoying the kids and our family :). We got mom a new TV that we got an INSANE deal on, but we aren’t sure if it’s a pro or a con, since I have a hard enough time getting her to do her chores as it is. I’m beginning to realize that what people say is true: as you and your parents get older, you switch roles .

Dina, Javi, Bri and the kids visited more family and then my kids were going to be picked up by their dad and would be back the next day. We took a few photos before they left. Don’t mind my make-up-less face and wild mane .

My loves were picked up and Dina, Javi, Bri and the kids came back. With a huge tray of cookies from Tony and Noni. I had these awesome little moon-shaped, powdered sugary cookies and I vowed to find a recipe on Pinterest and make them!

John, his girlfriend and her little girl came over for a while. It was the first time we’d met them even though they’ve been together a while. I was in the middle of making a crescent-wrapped brie when they arrived. I’d found the original recipe on Pinterest, but the link has since been turned into a spam-link so I winged it. Javi and Jorge brought back the peach jam I asked for, but brought garlic-flavored crescents back. I wasn’t sure how it was going to taste, but it was a huge hit!

John and his girlfriend and her baby left and I joined the rest of the family on the porch. We ate brie and had wine and just chit-chatted about everything, good and bad. I love when we just start talking about the past, the present, future, everything!

We went out to the driveway for a while so Julien could ride his new bike :).

We came inside and we sat around the table, on Facebook and watching TV. Javi and I scrolled through our newsfeed and saw some cute/cheesy/hilarious Christmas Family Photos. So we decided that every year from here on out, we were going to have our own Super Happy Family Fun Time Photo. And here it is:

We had actually taken several, one of them a super-hilariously cheesy one where we each had our hand on the person in front of us’ shoulder, very 1980’s, but Briana didn’t like how she came out and I didn’t like how I came out so we scratched that one LOL. We decided that next year, we were somehow going to find footie pajamas for everyone, with stockings in the background and a Christmas movie playing in the background, much like this one. Someone had a photo like that on Facebook this year and we decided we’re going to ONE-UP THEM.

We had such a great time and I feel so blessed that we could spend it together .

Monday – We started our Monday off by having breakfast at Denny’s, courtesy of our boss ^_^. By the time we got back to work, I had about an hour and a half to do a few last-minute things, like confirm attendance from VIP’s and pick up the Birds of Paradise, for the reception the next day before I had to pick Emmos up from school. My luck would have it that they didn’t have the Birds of Paradise in yet; not till 1pm .

I picked up Emily from school, had a quick lunch at home, and went straight Downtown to get supplies for the centerpieces. Again, my luck–they didn’t take American Express, so I had to go back to the office and find a Visa or Mastercard. Got that, went back and collected all my supplies. Made a few more calls, guided the men who were dropping off my linens, bar and cocktail tables, then started on my centerpieces. I have to say, they came out cute ^_^:

I talked to my boys when I got home, made dinner (shrimp, cheddar and jalapeño stuffed mushrooms), spent time with my little ladies and then put them to bed. My love and I were naughty and enjoyed some RGV Cupcake Factory cupcakes that Jessica and her hubby got us :).

Tuesday – The next day was a whirlwind. First, our Temp. employee didn’t show up, so we had nobody to set-up the event that was happening that morning. Thankfully, EZ was there and was a total hero, setting everything up and icing down the drinks and wine along with Wally. They and Michelle stuck around in the evening for the event. I was glad to have moral support LOL. Everything went off without a hitch, even though Corner Stone was a bit late. I can’t be mad at them though, they always help us out and I LOVE their food. We had a great turn-out and we got to bring leftovers home, woo!

Alaethia got to enjoy some fruit while she played on the laptop (Mom had already made the girls dinner) and Jorge had leftovers. Sometimes it’s nice not having to cook, heh.

Wednesday – Since I mostly had e-mails to reply to at work (98% of them in Spanish, FML), I took Emily with me in the afternoon and Mario picked her up on his way to pick up Alaethia from school. She always enjoys going to work with me ^_^. She enjoys it too much sometimes, I think, because she’ll become mopey and upset when I won’t let her go with me. She was a total angel, though, coloring Hello Kitty pages with my highlighters ^_^.

I got home and spent time with the girls and John, who usually visits on Wednesdays. We were entertained by Ruffles, who always manages to stuff his enormous self into a small box or shopping bag :3.

Thursday – The next day was cleaning day at work, so we got to wear jeans! I coasted throughout the morning since I finished cleaning pretty fast. I concentrated more on answering a few e-mails, then went to pick Emily up. I was running late, so I didn’t even really have a chance to eat. Luckily, Anabel had an event and Koko’s was catering so we got to have some of the best fajitas and guac :).

When I got back upstairs, I had a nice pile of STUFF that needed to be filed/put in storage, courtesy of my boss, heh. When he peeked his head around the wall to check if I’d noticed the pile I gave him a look like, You’re kidding right?

But he wasn’t! He said it wouldn’t take long; just to stuff the things in the cabinets, but I spent the next 3 hours tossing things out, some that didn’t even belong in our cabinets and organizing by event. You can’t ask someone who is self-diagnosed OCD to “organize” things.

Picked up my boys in the evening and they suffered for about an hour and a half while I looked for a blouse for my Christmas party outfit. I couldn’t find anything in gold, grrr.

Got home, made dinner quickly, snuggled the girls awhile and put everyone to bed.

As I’m cleaning up the dining room I found this letter from Alaethia to Santa:

Isn’t she the most adorable, innocent thing??

Friday – Early morning for the boys and myself. Got to work and ran a few errands, including picking up the cake for our Business and Tamales event and the cupcakes for our staff Christmas party in the evening. Got back, dropped them off and picked up Emily. I got back to work, helped serve our members and then I got to eat some tamales. There were some leftover, so they gave us some to bring home. I was thrilled to have dinner “ready” for mom and the kids, since Jorge and I were going to slip out for 2 hours to attend the party.

I picked the boys up, got home, changed, Jorge changed and we were out the door.

We had such a great time :). I’m seriously a lucky girl to work with such fun, great people ^_^. The white elephant game was hilarious; about 80% of our “gifts” were wine or liquor and those were the ones people were “stealing” LOL. And of course the food was delish: Corner Stone Grill was catering again, woo!

When the party was over, everyone broke up into groups and went off to their after parties. Michelle wanted us to join them, but we wanted to get back home to the kids. And we did, and watched movies and relaxed :).

Saturday – All the kids and Mom and myself piled into the car and ran errands: mom had a bill to pay, I did some shopping for Briana and Dina at this cute boutique we discovered Downtown and then took the kids to Game Stop. Got home, made lunch and then the girls and I did some shopping at Target while Mom stayed with the boys.

Jorge was BBQ’ing for us that night (which everyone was glad about–the boys love BBQ’ing). Mom and Julien played with a tiny soccer ball, Julien rode a bike around and then he and Mom went inside since a cold front was coming in. I assisted with the cooking and we brought all the food in since it was chilly by the time it was ready. Eenan and I had about 5 quesadillas each that night. Lawd.

Sunday – We lazied around on Sunday, watching football and doing chores. The kids wanted to watch one of the Walking Dead episodes, and although I told the girls they’d be scared later they piled into our room with the boys. It was hilarious when Jorgie yelled, “Ok, everybody scootsies!!!” LOL

Eenan WAS going to watch the TV with the other kids, until I busted out my phone to snap a pic and he bailed LOL. I miss the days when I would force him to take a photo *sigh*. They grow so fast!