Category: Photos

We seem to have crammed our “going-out” nights into the last week of Summer. We’re comfortable with just being home most of the time, but we figured it was our last hurrah before a busy school year began again.

After a great weekend of French-toast-making, Lilo-and-Stitch-watching, banana-bread-baking weekend, the kiddos were off with their other parents for the final week of summer :(.

My boss, Gerry, EZ and I had done a photo-shoot the week before for Santa Fe Steakhouse. The owner invited us to try out their new drinks and appetizer menu that Monday so I picked up my love after work and we met everyone at the restaurant. Everything was amazing!

We got done there and went straight to McAllen Food Park to get some skewers from La Caravane. I didn’t even get a photo ’cause we were THAT hungry.

We got home and made a joke about going out. And then we decided, you know what, why not go out?? So we convinced John to quit being a hermit (he’d been going through some stuff) and the 3 of us went to Suerte Bar and Grill downtown. We’d never been there, but I follow them on Instagram and LOVE the photos of their drinks and the decor is just right up my alley!

The work week went by, which also consisted of appointments for Mom. Jorge got a call from Briana, who was terribly sick with Strep and fever and couldn’t see a doctor. He got one of his co-workers to bring some antibiotics from Reynosa and we made a quick road trip to Austin that Saturday to drop them off.

We’d kept it quiet and surprised Dina when we got there :). Jorge had let Joe know we would be in town so we met up with him on 6th Street and he gave us a tour. He took us to the “tamer” part of 6th St.

I’m an old lady, so we didn’t stay out long, and plus, Jorge was tired from the long drive. I was happy to crash out when we got back to Dina’s.

The next morning we lazied around and then got ready for lunch at Chuy’s. Briana already sounded 100x better, thank goodness.

It was hatch chile week and I made the mistake of ordering hatch chile enchiladas! They looked delicious, but were so hot my mouth was on FIRE.

We made a trip to the mall that contained a Hallmark store, which was a little far, but my love is the best and always goes above and beyond for me <3. We ended up finding the Rainbow Brite Itty Bittys!

And then it was time to drop everyone off and rush home to pick up the girls since the next day was the first day of school! So we cranked up the music and karaoke’d our way home to these beauties:

I can’t speak much about it, because I’m a firm believer that I’ll jinx things, so I decided to blog–privately, for now–about our latest news.

Jorge and I are in a race to buy this house.

The rent is increasing as of August and there’s supposedly someone interested in buying the house. So we have to move fast.

I’ve only mentioned a few things to Michelle, but I don’t want to tell too many people because I’m just nervous and I really want this.

We are pre-approved and we have a meeting on Monday. Although the place is a bit old (built in 1989), and our air conditioning unit likes to take a crap every year, and the bathrooms all need to be remodeled due to old leaks before we ever moved in, and the huge yard needs to be cut every week, and the laundry room’s too narrow, and we need at least 2 more bedrooms, and the living room is recessed (ugh), and I’d like to knock that wall down between the kitchen and dining room…this is home. This has been our home for the past 4 years, 1 month and 27 days.

This is where our kids have grown; grown up, grown close. Where we’ve all grown as a family. Where we have parties on our porch and backyard. Where we snuggle and sprawl all over the living room and watch movies. Where we make cupcakes and new stuff to cook that we found on Pinterest in the kitchen. Where the kids can run in the yard. Where we spend entire Sundays in the laundry room washing and drying clothes and folding into 9 piles. This is home.

When Jorgie, Jaylen, Justin and I went for our jog last night, Jorgie found some paint samples in the center console of the car. He looked at the 3 cards and said, “What are these?? Are we moving??” I laughed and said, “No, it’s just colors I like.” They all agreed they didn’t ever want to move. Justin said, “This is the best yard for football.” I agree.

Back in 2011 when we were looking for a place to rent, we searched everywhere. I remember feeling disappointed about the small, cramped homes we’d see with the tiny yards. The slightly bigger homes would be substantially more expensive. Then Rosie told me about this one. It was in her old neighborhood and there was a for rent sign. We got the number and called and got an appointment to see it. I remember doing the walk-through and feeling a pit of sadness in my belly. I felt like it was almost perfect, and that meant it probably wasn’t going to happen. And then it did, and it became home.

You just can’t find new homes like this, with these big yards and big rooms. Not unless you want to pay tons more money. And we don’t!

We have an appointment on Monday to determine what the next step is. That’s what life’s been about lately: next steps. But it’s all about the bigger picture.

First, let me start by wishing all the mommies, grandma’s, caretakers, guardians, stepmommies, aunts, cousins, sisters, etc., a belated Happy Mother’s Day!

I had THE BEST day ever and I’m not exaggerating :D!

I started the day by rolling around lazily in bed while my love made me breakfast. Emily and Alaethia helped him, of course :). My little chefs. Jorge came to get me, walked me to the dining room with his hands clasped around my eyes and, after the boys prodded Justin awake they yelled, “Happy Mother’s Day” and I got hugs all around.

I’d been meaning to blog since that day but we had so much going on throughout the day and Grey’s Anatomy to catch up on (yes, I’m newly obsessed and have in turn made Jorge become obsessed!).

So after my epic breakfast, the kids and I devoured the iced Oreos and we watched Grey’s Anatomy while the kids all took turns bathing. Jorge was driving Javi somewhere, so the kids and I watched Friends while they continued to take showers. The hall bathroom is being remodeled so we’re down to 2 restrooms and 2 showers, but both showers are in the same bathroom so that doesn’t help, heh.

Jorge and I had an announcement to make to the kids, and we figured it was the perfect day. We’d announce it during dinner. I even recited a whole loving speech. I was ready!

So everyone got ready and then we piled into both cars and went to Cracker Barrel.

The kids skimmed the menus and everyone ordered. Jorge and I were fidgety…and figured let’s just do it, let’s tell them. So I called everyone and told them we had an announcement. Jaylen, Jorgie and Justin all yelled, “I think I know what it is!” And Justin said, “Either you’re married or you’re getting married!?” And Jorge and I looked at each other and laughed, and we said yes, that was it.

Alaethia said, “Wait, you’re not married??”

I still kinda fumbled with my words and told them they’re officially siblings and that we’d eventually have a wedding and they’d all be in it. Eenan said, “I’m not going to dance.” And I laughed, “No, you don’t have to dance, you’re just going to be up there, with us.” Then Justin told Jorge, “When did you propose?? What’s wrong with you??” And we had a good laugh. Love them all. Then they went about their business like it was the most cadual thing.

So my speech didn’t go exactly as I thought it would, heh. But I’m glad we didn’t have any rolling eyes, or sad faces, heh. I really was nervous once we were in the moment. I had no idea I’d freeze like that. Never in my life has that happened!

Jorge and I are finally, officially married :D. When I made the announcement at work, or when I tell people about it I get a “FINALLY!” right before the “Congratulations!” It really was about time. We’re already in a marriage and have raised our kids together for 4 years so we figured now was as good a time as any.

Of course I’d like an actual wedding, but it’s not anything that’s SUPER important or anything I want to stress myself with right now. We have more important things going on right now that we need to take care of first. And I’m just thrilled to officially call Jorge my HUSBAND :D.

So, to continue with our Mother’s Day, we finished up at Cracker Barrel (oh my gosh, did I glut!).

The waitress brought us our desserts and Julien randomly yells, “The whole world loves you, Mom!” Which made me get all the feels!! That just made my day!

Jorge brought Jorgie, Justin, Jules and Alaethia home with him since Aly wasn’t feeling good. She got a bad stomach ache while we were still at the restaurant.

We went to visit Gramma and took her her gifts and flowers. We talked and took photos and then we came home where we relaxed the rest of the day.

I made my announcement at work the next morning–quickly, right after my weekly update to everyone’s surprise. Everyone congratulated me and then we went out for breakfast at Denny’s (not because of my announcement LOL).

The rest of the week has been the same: work, home, cook, spend time with the kiddos…

…put kiddos to bed then Grey’s Anatomy. That show kills me and Jorge a little inside every day.

I took the girls to the doctor on Wednesday. Those darn colds never seem to go away! Alaethia was already starting with a throat infection.

I took the morning off work on Friday so I could take Mom for some blood work then go to the girls’ Field Day:

…and then I had a meeting before meeting my love at Wallbanger’s with the guys for lunch.

Jorge and I didn’t have the kids this weekend, so we had a date night on Friday evening. First Zoe’s Kitchen.

Then a drink and dessert at Longhorn Steakhouse.

Then Grey’s Anatomy, heh.

We were invited to Corner Bakery Cafe’s soft opening at Palm’s Crossing so I picked up my love and we met EZ, Michelle and Rosie there. Everything went smoothly and the food was delicious.

Michelle, Rosie and I went to Michael’s to buy flowers to glue onto our cheap Walmart full-length mirrors, like we saw at Mariposa Boutique during the Cash Mob.

(Excuse my crappy selfie-taking LOL.)

I also found a white frame on clearance and I finally got around to hanging my papel amate painting.

We went to Homegoods afterwards. It was my first time there. I wanted everything, but the big decorative stuff was still too pricey for me. I did end up getting new pot holders, dish towels, a large frame and a small globe.

I dropped the girls off, then Mom and I went to visit Gramma and went grocery shopping. I got home, paid all the bills online and then I made my love his (Vitamin) Rib Eye, as John jokingly called it.

And then we sat down for a long, heartbreaking bingefest of Grey’s.

As for this morning, I made us some awesome breakfast sandwiches and we had some Mimosa’s.

We’ve been lazying around waiting for laundry to be done, and we have a few errands we need to run so that’s the rest of our day. Then it’s back to the grind tomorrow!