Christmas 2011

Let me try and make this short and sweet (TRY). You knew that wasn’t going to happen, heh.

The week of Christmas was busy, busy. I was still out shopping for last-minute gifts on the 23rd. Mario and I worked out a schedule so we’d have somewhat equal time with the kids during the holiday. He had Emily Tuesday evening and Wednesday, then I went for the kiddos after lunch on Thursday and kept them till Saturday night, Christmas Eve. He picked them up that evening and brought them back to me Christmas after lunch. Then I kept them till Monday evening since I was off work :). It worked out pretty well.

Monday was pretty much get-everything-accomplished-at-work day since I was going to be off since Tuesday afternoon. I had vacation days I needed to take so that was pretty awesome.

Tuesday after work I spent getting stuff taken care of for several things, including the garage sale I was bravely attempting to have on Thursday and Friday. Got home and spent some time with my Emmos before Mario picked her up :).

Jorge got home and we ate dinner. We were totally hyped up, we told ourselves THIS. THIS WAS THE NIGHT WE’D DO SOMETHING. We’d become such homebodies lately and I was already getting into a crappy mood earlier that day because Emmos wouldn’t be home for 2 nights. So we decided we’d go out, somewhere cheap and just have a drink. I’d invited Michelle but she was out shopping. JR said he’d come over and we’d go somewhere. We were already getting tired and sleepy and had snuggled into bed :lol:, but Jorge said, “No, no. Let’s get up and get ready.” So we did.

JR arrived, changed, and we went to Cigar Bar. Although it was going to make my hair stink, I like some of the drinks there and we never spend too much money. So we sat and talked and had fun. The guys got hungry so we went to Jack-in-the-Box and they ordered tacos. Typical guys :lol:. They were being hilarious. I even had a mystery-meat taco LOL.

I had an appointment Wednesday morning and then I got home, my babe got ready and we picked up some tables from work. We got some wrapping paper and other stuff we’d need and then dropped off the tables. THEN we both finally ate at Palenque Chicken. Love that place :).

We spent the evening getting junk into the garage and organizing for the garage sale. We were just about to go get some dinner when the doorbell rang. A total stranger was asking if they could see the garage sale stuff. We said sure and she bought a WHOLE BUNCH OF STUFF. Kary came over and her mom took most of the girls’ baby clothes and the huge desk. Michelle and Rosie were right: advertising does work!

I woke up when Jorge did for work the next day. I took my time, didn’t even bother to make my hair decent since I figured I’d have plenty of time to do it after I got back from posting signs on the corners around the block. I open the garage…and I kid you not, it was like ZOMBIES were attacking from under the garage door!! I look at mom in horror, who’d followed me into the garage to help hang clothes up. I literally sold most of the stuff in under an hour. I texted Jorge to tell him how much we’d made around 11am and he was in shock. As was I. I was so grateful, too, as we still had gifts to buy and we’d just spent a good amount at my appointment the day before.

We had no idea how that people wanted our junk, but they did, and on that cold, bleak morning, too! Mom later told me that there was already a line of cars parked outside at 6am when she’d woken up. I had the garage sale posted for 8am, but no way were those people waiting!

I closed shop around 2pm. Went to pick up the kiddos and we sang and talked on the way home. I missed them so much! I spent time with each one and had to keep rotating, heh. Eenan was showing me his Sims game, Alaethia and Emily were watching videos on the iPad. Alaethia’s really been into cooking shows and baking lately. All she wanted to do was watch Barbie Princess cakes videos. That’s what she wants me to make her for her birthday next month (5, already, eek !). She has so much faith in her Mama :P.

And Emily, she loves BABIES. That’s all she wants to do is watch shows about babies and Youtube videos about babies. That’s all she wanted for Christmas: dolls and babies.

I made dinner, we watched TV with the kids and they settled down. I don’t remember what we watched but we all ended up falling asleep on the sofa again, scattered everywhere.

The next morning Emily woke up with an ear infection. She tugged at her ear and cried. Mom gave all the kids breakfast while I closed up the garage sale. We’d gotten 2 people in the entire day so closing early wasn’t a problem. All the stuff that’s left would be taken to Goodwill. Eventually.

We made our way to the doctor. I was, in a way, glad Emily’s symptoms started showing up when they did, as the doctor’s offices would be closed till Tuesday due to the holiday. I took Alaethia in, too, as she’d also had symptoms of a cold and Mario hadn’t taken her in. Good thing I did: Emily had a severe ear infection and Alaethia’s was just starting out. Both of them had red throats and I asked them to prescribe something for Alaethia’s eczema, which has gotten a lot worse. Mario never took her in for new meds. (I’m happy to say it’s begun to clear up since she started taking that steroid! My poor girl was already in pain :(!)

Emily had a slight meltdown in the lobby as we waited for their prescriptions. Ok. I won’t sugarcoat it. It was an INSANE MELTDOWN. All because my phone was dying and I asked her to please put it back in my bag; she couldn’t play Angry Birds on it yet. Well, she’s used to getting her way at a place I won’t mention (not my house), so she had a fit. Not to mention she was irritable because of her ear and it was time for her daily nap. So I quietly took them to the van, buckled them in and drove around to the pharmacy drive-thru. Without losing my mind. I’ve still got it!

We stopped at HEB for a few things (yes, I braved it even with Emily’s tantrums) and when we got home, I gave the girls their meds. Emily fell asleep immediately. I made lunch and we kind of just had a lazy day the rest of the day. The kids continued it with Mom, who’d made popcorn and snacks :).

Pete and Sally invited us over (I’m so happy for them !). We put all the kiddos to bed and we headed over to their house (which is quite literally, down the street). All the kids had their phones just in case they needed us.

We had such a great time! Louie and his new wife, Jennifer, were there. Hadn’t seen Louie in YEARS! Jes was there, too and of course, Pete and Sally and Jorge and I. I’m so glad he can so easily get along with my friends. It means a lot to me that he makes an effort, especially with Pete and Sally, who are really important to me. I remember when someone else told me he had nothing in common with them and hated hanging out with them, which really pissed me off. (That’s actually around the time he told me he hated it so much that I should go hang out with Sally alone. Downtown even! And then the downward spiral of drama started. Just sayin’.)

Anyway, it was great :D. We made a cake and brownies and had some Margaritas. We kept making jokes about the shower to Pete, it was hilarious. A great, great night!

I woke up early the next morning, Christmas Eve! Made the kids breakfast and we ate together (my love had to work half a day =\) and then I started cleaning up. I got some Snickerdoodle batter ready around noontime, but since I had to chill the batter a while, I didn’t have them ready by the time Aunt Nora, Linda and her hubby, Tommy, came to visit. They brought everyone of us presents :*), how very sweet of them! We got to chat a while and Linda was in love with Ruffles :).

Mario came for the kiddos around 7pm. They’d gotten to get a few Snickerdoodles since I’d had a chance to make some before they left and I had them pose with the tree:

Jorge made us some bacon-wrapped, cream cheese & crab stuffed jalapeños that evening.

I can usually have about 5 of those babies. I had 2…and then I picked out this huge, dangerous looking one and I took a bite. I literally felt like my ears were bleeding. I felt nauseous–man, it was awful! No amount of milk or cookies or anything would help! Jorge thought I was being dramatic, but I told him to taste it and he said, “OMG, Baby, I’m so sorry!” 😆

We watched a movie while we wrapped the rest of the presents. I actually passed out while taking a break from wrapping but he finished. He did a great job with the boxes and even finished with Santa’s handwriting. He’s just so wonderful !

We woke up the next day and just enjoyed each other’s company :). We agreed to get each other a gift we’ve been wanting for a long time so we’d be ordering it soon :). I’ll post it when we finally receive it next Wednesday ♥.

Mom woke up and she opened her gifts from us :). She’d already given us ours: she pitched in to get us our gift from each other, heh. Jorge went to pick up his boys and Mom and I visited Gramma. We chatted a while and even shooed away her nosy, thiefy roommate . She was even snooping in Gramma’s wardrobe while we were standing right there! We’ve already brought it to the home’s attention, about this lady and her klepto-tendencies, but they say “she doesn’t know what she’s doing”. That may be true, but it doesn’t change the fact that it stresses out my poor Gramma!!

We got home around the time Jorge did. His boys opened their gifts :). Then Mario dropped off my babies and they got to open theirs :). It was a mad-house of giggles and wrapping paper. It was wonderful :)!

We ordered Domino’s (one of the only places open that day LOL) and spent the rest of the day opening plastic packages and downloading apps on their little tablets. The house was in shambles, but we left it all alone and spent the rest of the even enjoying our kids. I felt so blessed, so complete!