Category: Shopping

I saw Mario off to work and then started tidying up here and there. I had a whole to-do list and it just seemed like it was impossible that everything’s going to get done. After lunch, John came over and I asked him to tag along with me and Alaethia to Hancock Fabrics. I’d started the morning by putting her in training pants and letting her walk around and use the potty everytime I had to go (which was often), but then she peed in the kitchen so we just took a break, heh.

I wanted to get the other valance done for my kitchen and I ran out of fabric. I hoped I’d find the right fabric; I’d gotten it back in November when the autumn colors were popular and wasn’t sure if I’d find it again.

It took forever to get there because first I got off the wrong exit, then I couldn’t remember how to turn around and find Business 83, and then I couldn’t remember if we were supposed to go East or West on Old 83. Grr. Needless to say, I had to rush and find some fabric (they didn’t have the one I wanted so I picked another stripey fabric that’s still cute) and still get to the school on time to pick up the boys. Alaethia didn’t make the end of the trip easy, either. Someone took her to town with them once (and I WILL find out who it was!) and let her sit in the basket part instead of the actual seat. Well, she made a big fuss when I wouldn’t let her out of the seat. It was awful. We finally gave in and told her she’d better sit before she fell out. So she did.

We picked up the boys and then John went to the bank while I got the boys started on their homework. I needed to go to Target and Walmart and Alaethia was already tired so the kiddos all stayed with Mom.

We went to Target first and then went to Walmart. Mario met us there since I wanted his opinion on what toddler bed to get Alaethia. We couldn’t find anything we liked. I really wish we could find a bed like the one the boys had. It was that hard Fisher-Price-type plastic and it was really cute. We’d sold it at a garage sale we had when Alaethia was around 4 months old because her crib turns into a daybed and full sized bed…and we didn’t think we’d have anymore babies LOL.

After we got home, put everything away and had dinner, we went over to Jorge’s. Mom offered to stay with Alaethia, so that was good since the time we’d gone over with her before she kept spilling stuff and was moody. I think this was the second time going over to their house since they moved into Jorge’s mom’s house.

We chilled out with Jorge, Javi and Maggie while the guys tried their hardest to make the internet work. At the same time, Jorge was transferring a whole butt-load of movies from his computer to Mario’s external. We were going to have movie nights for a month!

I woke up around 9am, which is unheard of for a Sunday, and started worrying about bills and trying to calculate things in my head. Now that I’m not working I need to re-do my whole bill schedule to make room for my Equinox and school loan, which I’d pay with my paycheck.

I willed myself to go back to sleep and had a dream about dad. I woke up when the phone was ringing and it was him. He told me he hadn’t called because he was sick. I said I know, from the cold and Laryngitis, right? And he said no, of something more severe. His leg got infected–the one that was amputated about 4 inches under the knee–and he finds out Monday what’s going to happen. I told him to take care and keep me updated.

I stayed awake and started cleaning up the kitchen. There was stuff left over everywhere from Alaethia’s party. I wasn’t sure if I should or not, but got tired of seeing everything on the floor and started opening up her gifts and putting stuff away. She has a whole new 24-months wardrobe, heh. I had some cereal, Cookie Crisp, of course.

I took my time checking my e-mail and then Mario and Aly woke up. The boys were already in church and Jaylen in CFF by that time. Mario dropped Eenan off. I got ready and we went on a date to Kumori once Mom came over and Mario picked Eenan up.

We talked all the way over. Well, I did anyway, Mario just patiently listened. When Mario remembered he had something to tell me, I found out some scandalous stuff about some friends. I felt disgusted, shocked and a bit intrigued at the same time. I couldn’t enjoy my food after this, let me tell you.

We left and went to Target to buy Alaethia’s diapers. I was going to get Pull-ups but they’re a bit costly and I didn’t even use any with the boys except for a few that Yadira had given me of Angela’s for Eenan. I just got regular ones and will work with her like that. We went to the baby section and I was going to get the monitors but they seemed a bit expensive so I got a playpen and swing instead. They’re not the ones I originally wanted but I think those were discontinued already. Still, the ones we got are cute. I just hope the playpen we bought Emily isn’t as uncomfortable as the one we’d bought Alaethia. The cushion on that one was awful.

We came home and each went to the bathroom. Alaethia followed me so I got her to try and use the potty. I even turned the faucet on for extra motivation. She got tired of sitting and got up and started peeing a little. She stopped herself and I sat her on the potty again but nothing happened. Grr. I was so sure she’d take to it like a fish to water, because she was showing so many signs of readiness, but nope. I guess I’ll try again next week. I don’t want to overwhelm her.

It was the day of Jorge and Mona’s Housewarming bar-b-q. Mario left to his Nino’s while I finished getting Alaethia ready. I seriously don’t know how I’m going to manage getting two girls ready when they start school! It takes 15-20 minutes just to calm Alaethia down enough to get her hair half-decent looking!

We went to his Nino’s and just chilled out with the family. The food was great. There were, of course, a few tiffs between relatives, like there usually is, but other than that everything was fine. The guys ragging on each other as always and by guys I mean Mario, Jorge, Jose and Adan LOL.

Mona gave us all little dishtowel gifts which was really nice, even though we’re supposed to be taking them gifts for their housewarming, not the other way around! I got some ideas for her though. I think a really nice gift would be a nice jar for her flour. She just had it in a bag.

Alaethia was getting bored and kept jumping on the couch so she had a few close calls. She’s so accident prone, that girl. Mom was being embarrassing again and said some stuff that would have been better kept quiet. She always does that and I end up having to defend/talk for her. We left a while after that even though Jorge wanted us to stay. I was silent the whole ride home until we parked here. Then I let her know how embarrassed I was that she’d said what she did. I told her next time she invited herself, I wasn’t going to allow her to tag along.

But anyway, I’m now chilling with Alaethia on the sofa, watching Noggin as usual. Emily’s moving like crazy tonight. I really wish I could see what she was doing in there, or why she stretches right across my belly and then starts thrashing about like she’s trying to find a comfortable position. This is probably what I’ll miss the most: feeling a baby move inside the safety of my body.

We were Benchmarking at work again so the library was closed. Orlie and the other students walked in and he took a seat beside me, ready to tackle his Science test and get some drawing in. I told him I unfortunately couldn’t sit with him for that test that day; this time I would be working on the bulletin boards per Mrs. V.’s request. He was a little upset, but I told him he was in good hands. I let her know about how he needs to distract himself with drawing sometimes so he doesn’t become so overwhelmed.

I laminated the heart die-cuts that were still not laminated and sat and chatted with Elva in her office as we cut the hearts out of the plastic. I’m really going to miss all the girls. They’re all so fun to talk to.

I finished as much of the boards as I could and later, when Karina and Jesus finished their tests they went out to help me. They did the high stapling for me since I didn’t want anyone scolding me for stretching again. When we were done, I started looking through files and putting my stuff in my bag (like my hairspray and lotions and stuff). I had enough time to cut out, laminate and glue the bright pink number cards for the computer center which I hadn’t had a chance to do all year! As I was instructing Saul and Jesus where to glue the cards, Mrs. V. let me know about the field trip the next day. I had no idea I was going with the Book Club to the movies, so that was a nice surprise!

I picked the boys up afterschool and they handed me a very last-minute note about a TAKS meeting and report card night. Grr. I hate that they do that, let us know about stuff at the last minute. So I waited till the last possible moment and got the boys in the car while Mom entertained Alaethia.

The TAKS meeting was about what we should look out for when the kids are doing their TAKS practice homework. Basically, if their passages and math work doesn’t have writing all over it, then they’re not doing their strategies correctly. I’m one of those people who’s extremely anti-TAKS, because they focus so much on stupid, confusing strategies than just getting to the point and showing the kids what the hell to do. It’s seriously more confusing then just doing regular work to get the right answer. Eenan can find the answer himself but has so much trouble trying to correctly assemble his strategies. I think it’s bogus. I do have to admit, though, that the strategy, or game as they called it, that they used to elaborate and be more descriptive with their sentences was pretty darn neat.

The meeting was over and Eenan’s teacher gave me his report card. He got all A’s! I’m so proud of him. And even after the whole perfect-attendance-field-trip fiasco, they still did give him perfect attendance. Good. Or I would have raised hell again—crying, or no crying.

The 4th grade classes are having fundraisers to visit the aquarium in Corpus. We have the pleasure of selling 51 different types of candy. The good thing is they’re candies people actually want to eat, like Snickers, M&Ms, and Skittles.

Jaylen’s teacher had nothing but good things to say about him, too. He’s reading anywhere from 1st to 4th grade reading level and he actually comprehends, so that’s great :). That’s what I love about his teacher; she doesn’t hold them back, regardless of the “rules” of the program.

He’d also be having a fundraiser, but they didn’t know what it was yet. I told myself last year, after they lost his whole packet with $174 or so in it (and didn’t believe ME when I went to complain about it) that I wasn’t going to sell crap from those booklets if that’s what it was. We’ll see.

Mario had just gotten home when I arrived with the boys. We all picked at left-overs at Mary’s and then Yadira and the kids got there and everyone started working on the candy bags for Alaethia’s and Angela’s party. I felt awful leaving them but Mary said it was fine and shooed Mario and I away. The kiddos all stayed with the in-laws while Mario and I went to Scent Chips and then Target. I wanted to get Mrs. V. and Mrs. Ruiz something nice and found some cute angels at Scent Chips. We went next door to Claire’s where we found a Jonas Brothers tote bag for Angela for her birthday. Then we went to Target where our first stop was nail polishes for Angela (she had actually told us that’s all she wanted) and went on to the stationery I picked out some thank-you cards for the baby shower and tried finding the perfect card for each Mrs. V and Mrs. Ruiz. It wasn’t easy, let me tell you. Mario had been doing wonderfully till I started taking long at the cards. I decided to start making up my mind when he said, “I’ll be in electronics,” which means he’s pissed and he’s probably going to wait in the car LOL.

I went to bed that night feeling bittersweet about my last day of work the next day. I even prayed that I’d keep my composure and not cry throughout the day.