Fri. 29th – I think everyone was excited for the 4-day weekend; we had Labor Day off. The kids were all excited at school and I, thankfully, finished everything I needed to finish. Mrs. V. praised me and I beamed all afternoon. I love feeling like I actually accomplished something.
I can’t remember what we did when we got home. I know Mario was off work that day but neither he nor I can remember what we did. I think I was starting to come down with a cold that night after I finally get over the darn sinus headache.
Sat. 30th – I think that day was the morning we picked up Mario’s paycheck from his work and went to cash it at Mary’s bank in Weslaco. We did the usual: paying bills, and then met Mario for lunch at Pizza Hut. We ordered the Spinach and Artichoke dip…it was so good. When Mario went back to work we decided to go home since we were way too tired to do our grocery shopping that day.
I debated all day whether I felt okay enough to go to my workplace’s first social that night. I was on day 2 of the shortest cold I’ve ever had (lasted 3 days—must have been all that orange juice and prenatal vitamins helping me out). At the last minute I finally decided that yes, I was alright to go. I got all dolled up in my nice brown dress and got Mario’s clothes ready for when he got home from work. He bathed, changed and we left the kiddos with the moms. We found the Shrimp Hause, where the social was being held, and I couldn’t wait to order something since I hadn’t had anything to eat since lunch. We said hello to all my co-workers and sat with Veronica and her husband. We listened to the live music waited a good half hour to have our drinks (I had lemonade) brought to us. It was another half hour before they brought us menus and although everything sounded good, I couldn’t make up my mind. We finally decided to bail. All Mario had to say was, “Chili’s?” and I said goodbye to everyone. I ordered some spinach and artichoke dip, of course, and some shrimp alfredo—YUM. We talked and just had a lovely date and went straight home afterwards and watched tv.
Sun. 31st – Mario had decided to make tripas, or intestines—a Mexican delicacy for some damn reason– that night so I went to H-E-B to get whatever we needed. I made some cilantro dip, a recipe I got from Estella at work, and Mario made his tripas. My dad-in-law had just finished building an awesome new carport especially for the kids and me and we were going to try it out. We all sat around this huge wok-type thing and just talked and had a great time. It wasn’t until the tripas were really frying that I had to run out of there and come inside; I couldn’t stand the smell. The boys were already trying to sleep and Alaethia and I stayed up until 11:30pm. It was around midnight that I was really getting sleepy but couldn’t sleep because I could hear Mario, Adan, Jose and Chris climbing the wall outside. Yes, climbing. Big Mario had installed a climbing rope for Mario to practice with when he was getting ready for the physical for Border Patrol and they were daring each other to climb. I hate being a party pooper, but I had to call Mario around 12:30 to ask them to please keep it down.
Mon. 1st – I wouldn’t actually call Labor Day a day of rest, as I spent the majority of it doing housework. But at least it got done. That’s what we need…a day for fun, a day for bill-paying and grocery shopping, and a day to do all the housework. I had a few laughs with John, who had Monday off from work and school, too. That night it was back to the drawing board. *sigh* At least it was only a 4-day workweek for me.
Tues. 2nd – We began Star Testing that day. Since Mrs. V. was testing at the computer lab I had the library to myself. I had it to myself almost all week, actually. I stayed in the library most of Tuesday and read my book (Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince). This is the week Mario finally decided he needed a change of scenery when it came to work. Jaylen also lost his two top front teeth.
Wed. 3rd – I started making tons and tons of copies for some booklets we were putting together for every teacher. Packs of 6 pages, front and back, in sets of 20; 40 of those in total. And we only had one copier to use. I had to bother the ladies in the front so I could use their copier. We were having faculty meetings most of the day, so I made myself scarce when I was in the library. During one of the days at the beginning of this week I’d bought a baby name book—my first one after 3 kids! The reason it got my attention was because I was flipping through it and actually found the meaning of my name!! I’d been searching for years for its meaning with no luck. The reason I couldn’t find it may be because I guess it’s derived from the name Yakira–no, seriously! And it means “Precious one”. Aww. I’d also gotten tons of scrapbooking stuff on clearance. Totally need to start scrapbooking again. Maybe when I’m not working anymore.
Mario had an interview at a new place that day. He was nervous, but excited and hopeful. They told him he was hired! He’d start the next Monday ïŠ.
Thurs. 4th – I had more copies to do. This time, wherever I went I took my book with me. I was much less bored. The only inconvenient thing about that day was that we were sharing only one copier with the teachers since the other copier was down due to the rain and no surge protector. I felt like I’d never finish. Oh yes, and Mrs. Ruiz came back!
I think this was the day that I planned to come home, have a Pepsi and some sliced cucumbers with salt, lime and chile Tajin, and update my blog once and for all. The sky was gray and gloomy and as I’m driving into town from work I can tell it’s been raining a while because it’s already beginning to flood down the middle road. I had just been thinking to myself how much I love this rainy weather. Sure beats the 100°+ heat that’d become the trend at the beginning of that week. I picked up the boys, got home, and held Alaethia. It starts to pour, so I take her to my bedroom and look out the window at the little frogs trying to make a dash for safety. When all the little frogs seemed to have vanished we go to the kitchen to look out of that window. I remember that poor Kilala, Mario’s dog, is leashed up under the orange tree. I notice she’s found refuge under a trailer my father-in-law has parked over there, but it’s raining so hard and fast it’s beginning to flood. I have no raincoat or anything and call Mario in a panic. I say a little prayer—because I don’t want to slip in the mud—and untie her. Only of course she doesn’t make it easy. I have to wrestle her to keep her from jumping on my belly. I finally get her loose and practically drag the huge beast over to the gated deck. She thanks me for bringing her to a nice, dry place by shaking the water off her coat all over me and promptly jumping over the gate and running into the water again. Lovely.
I’d been home over an hour before I finally started slicing a cucumber for Alaethia and myself and got to sit down. I set up my laptop beside my awesome plate of cucumbers and lo and behold—the internet’s down, probably due to the rain. Grrrrr. So yeah, unfortunately I didn’t get to update that day either.
Fri. 5th – Mario was off work that day and texted me at work to let me know he was starting at the new place! He was only going to work for two hours that day and then he was going to go to his old place, pick up his toolbox and let his boss and supervisors know.
As for me, I got everything done at work, even the packs of copies I needed! When I got home and Mario had gotten back from doing what he needed to do we spent all day together with the kids. At his new job he’d be working from 9-5 with weekends off—yay! I’m so glad, too. Eenan’s been acting up so much lately it’ll be great for him to spend time with Mario.
Sat. 6th – We went to watch Fly Me to the Moon, Mary’s treat and then we met Noelia and Andy for lunch at Golden Corral for lunch. I was a little disappointed they didn’t have popcorn shrimp, but I still stuffed myself to the brim. So much so that I felt like I’d puke. Not good.
When we got home we dropped the men off and Mary and I went back to H-E-B to grocery shop. Then later on Mom, Aly and I went to visit Gramma.
Sun. 7th – I stayed home to clean. Eenan was really acting up and I’d already gotten so frustrated with him that I resorted to calling Mario back from dove hunting with his uncles to come tame the boy. I’d never been so upset with one of my kids like that before in my life. I bawled my eyes out, not just from the stress but because of how rude he was being! I’m wondering if it had anything to do with the new baby?
Mon. 8th – I woke up with a sinus headache…again. It was unbearable and I promised myself that if I still felt the same the next day I was going to stay home.
We started orientation that day. It was a pretty breezy week. Most of it consisted of readying everything for Mrs. V. that she needed and learning the names of the new kiddos. Although we had most of the teachers adding their goals to their student’s accounts, I helped with those that didn’t have a chance or didn’t finish.
Mario got home super late from work. I was trying not to turn it into a big deal but I did share my thoughts with him. He ended up staying for a get together at his boss’s house that night.
Tues 9th – Monday was Mary’s birthday but we planned on making her a get together on Saturday. I ended up staying home because of the sinus headache. It was awful. I felt so bad that I couldn’t at least make her a cake or something.
Wed. 10th – Back to work. All was clear and I even left early for once. About halfway down that spooky street to work a scary fog unfolded like a white sheet right in front of my eyes. I prayed and hoped that I’d make it alive to work. I was even driving about 35-40 MPH!
I lived through the day; by the end I hardly had the headache anymore. I added more goals and inventoried some new math scanners. I talked with Mrs. Ruiz and Mrs. V. about my leaving and possible replacements.
I wasn’t sure which of the kids needed a physical or vaccine (or both) so I made the mistake of taking them all with me a the same time to the doctor’s office. They were all great and well-behaved, but when we’d already been there an hour they started acting up. Luck would have it that one of my co-workers would show up and witness my usually well-behaved children acting like heathens. Aly was the only one who needed shots (3 in total!). She thankfully didn’t come down with a fever or anything. Jaylen was only due for a physical.
Thurs. 11th – The kids were excited about the pep rally that day. So were the adults actually LOL. It was a really good pep rally, and the tributes to 9/11 were all so touching. My hormones took over and I had a lump in my throat that almost caused me to bawl at least 4 times. I still can’t believe that it’s already been 7 years ïŒ.
Fri. 12th – Friday was a good day at work. We were still orientating and I was finishing up with goals. I spent time with kiddos and Mario called to go over to Jorge and Maggie’s. I was still wearing my t-shirt and jeans from work so I was ready. But then he calls to warn me that we’re going to his boss’s house to see Jorge and Maggie and everyone. So there I go getting decent. I felt awkward at first, but then got comfortable around his boss and boss’s wife and had fun. I watched them play poker; I still don’t get it.
Sat. 13th – I spent time with Mario and the kids in town. We went straight to Target, where the kids wanted to get a game (Jaylen) and Legos (Eenan) with their own money they’d been saving. We bought a gift for Mary for her birthday and a few other things. Mario didn’t feel well so instead of going out to eat we picked up Little Caesar’s pizza for lunch and went to eat at home. My stomach immediately started feeling queasy and sure enough, I got sick. Alaethia followed suit. It took us a few hours to feel a bit better before we left to H-E-B to shop for the rest of the stuff we’d need for Mary and Jose’s double-birthday-get-together. We saw Annie there, who was also getting stuff for the party. Got home and started on everything; Yadira was a huge help. We all spent time together which was awesome. I love those days.
