Author: Yajaira

The Beginning of Christmas Vacation

See? There I go with my internet ADD. I barely finished editing my post from November 18th and already I was wandering off to Facebook when I only meant to close the tab. THAT’S why I never blog anymore!

Anyway. Let me start this post from December 18th…if the girls allow it. I think, what I’m going to do to catch up with my blogs is going back and just copy/pasting all my Tweets from all the days in between posts. I’d hate for Twitter to have some kind of glitch and lose my memories!

Fri., Dec. 18th – I’d spent the entire day/night the previous day baking away for the kids’ teacher’s cookie tins. That was my gift to them this year. I made Snickerdoodles, chocolate chip cookies, mini banana muffins and Mary contributed some of her famous Pan De Polvo. I finished with everything around 11:30pm.

What the tins will look like. Too bad this is all that fits LOL.

I called Mom over earlier than usual to watch the girls since Mario wanted me to drop him off at work. Went straight home after that.

As sore as I was from my work out at Taekwondo the previous day, I managed to busy myself around the house till it was time to pick up the boys at 1:15 (early release). My Eenan would leave me for 3 days that afternoon. He was going to Eagle Pass with my in-laws. I’ve been away from him before, like when I was giving birth to the other 3 kids and when Mario, Mary and I went to Houston with Mario’s aunts for the George Straight concert. But each of those times we were only apart for 1-2 days! This time HE was the one leaving me. I was terrified, but I knew he’d be well taken care of, of course.

He had a breakdown before he left, telling me how much he’d miss Mario, Mom and me, but I assured him we’d all be ok, he’d be ok and we’d see each other very soon. Plus, he had his cell phone to keep in contact with us.

When he left and the kiddos were all situated with Mom I left to run a few errands, like depositing Mario’s paycheck, paying a bill at the Credit Union and getting my hair cut. I was already running late, so I was hoping the lady would hurry. It was the owner this time, and not the other lady who used a razor to cut my hair the last time and totally effed it up. I figured my hair would be fine.

The little boy who was cutting his hair before me kept staring at me. I smiled at him and continued texting with John. When I looked up once he mouthed, “Help. Me.” I couldn’t help but giggle. He was so cute! Little did I know he was trying to warn me!

I told the lady exactly how I wanted my hair, and of course she did the complete opposite of what I wanted! Why do they do that! I didn’t even know how bad the damage really was until I got home, showered, blow-dried and flat-ironed my hair (which is how I usually wear it). It looked like she’d gone to town on my hair with a weed-whacker :(. I was so upset. She didn’t even CUT the length of the back, which is what I wanted done in the first place! I wanted a shorter version of what I already had! She even added bangs! Argh.

I get to TKD and, because I’d skipped lunch, was shaking. Didn’t help that I was cold and still livid about my hair cut. Class helped me sort of forget about it and I had a few laughs about the whole situation with my instructor. He even warned me not to go back to have her “fix it” because she might ruin it more. I could hear him in the back of my mind when I was getting in the van to get it “fixed”, so I didn’t go LOL. I took both instructors their cookie tins, too, before they disappeared at the house LOL.

Mario called before I had to pick him up and asked if we wanted to go to the movies to watch “Avatar”. Um, yeah! It would bring up Jaylen’s spirits since he was feeling a little bummed about Eenan not being home, which always boggles my mind because they’re constantly at each other’s throats! That’s brotherly love for ya.

Alaethia was excited as soon as she heard “movies”. I think she mainly likes to go for the popcorn LOL.

Elda offered to watch Emmy for us, which was awesome of her. I took them a plate of cookies and all of her things and as soon as I knew she was alright we took off.

The movie was…AWESOME. It just was. I didn’t think I’d like it but I LOVED it! Jason and Mirella just so happened to walk in as we were and they sat a row above us. Jaylen was literally on the edge of his seat and Alaethia only had 1 potty break and stayed awake for the most part!

It was super foggy on the way home. I hadn’t seen that kind of fog since the months of October when I was still working at the middle school.

We got home and the girls played together with Alaethia’s old Laugh and Learn kitchen, aww. Cutest thing ever watching them interact. I can’t wait to see them both in fairy or princess dress-up clothes! Jaylen played a game on the Xbox even though it was late; he just got ungrounded that day after the long grounding both boys had. We had some celery & ranch (even Emmy got in on that) and we went to bed about half an hour later.

Even though I missed my Nano terribly, it was a perfect evening. Totally made up for the hair cut!

Mario’s Party & Falling Stars

So I never finished up the previous entry. Are you really surprised? LOL

I cleaned up the house the next morning (Sat. Nov. 14th) and we had everyone over that night to watch the Paquiao fight. The guys set up the projector and screen outside and once everyone had eaten (I’d made enchiladas and Mary made carne guisada, beans and rice) we all went outside to watch the fight. It was becoming a little cool and there were mosquitoes, and Mario luckily still hasn’t put up our mosquito net in the bedroom after all these years so I laid Emily down in her stroller and covered it in the net. She slept peacefully and once she woke up everyone passed her around. All the kiddos were playing inside while we watched the fight. I hadn’t noticed just HOW MUCH they’d played until I went into Alaethia’s room the next morning (she still sleeps in her toddler bed in our bedroom) and saw the disaster. I could almost hear the “Psycho” theme song.

We watched “Yes Man” when the fight was over. I love Jim Carrey! I love the Red Bull part in that movie buahaha.

We slept in a little and had barbacoa at Mary’s that Mom had bought. Then we went to church. I love Sunday mornings like that :). I woke Mario up after church and we went to watch “2012”. It was just Mario, Mary, myself and Emily; the other kiddos would have been terrified of that movie. BUT the show was sold out so we ate at Whataburger and then saw the movie. It was good. Kinda makes you wonder about that whole thing. Mario’s really into the 2012 thing. In my opinion, I think it’ll be something like the Y2K thing. A lot of drama for nothing. Let’s hope I’m right, heh!

We went to Dinah’s house that evening to visit Brianna and her new baby. She’s so cute and little, but she’s chunky for a newborn! Very cute.

The cold front had come in the next morning, which is always nice. All 4 kiddos had dentist appointments that day so I picked up the boys after school and took them straight over there. I took Mom with me since they separate all the kids. Wouldn’t want to leave any of them alone in the lobby when it was Alaethia’s or Emily’s turn. Eenan got that same tooth refilled, Jaylen had two fillings done but did amazingly well. There were a few tears because he had to get a shot of anesthesia, but he was ok. Emily and Alaethia, of course, were fine. Emily’s only got gums LOL. Alaethia got lectured on how important it is to brush her teeth from both the dentist and myself LOL. I have so much trouble with her top teeth sometimes because she’s screaming!

The boys had TKD that night, so they got ready and we went. Jaylen kept messing with his lip because it was still numb. He kept saying it felt like cotton. During TKD they were practicing kicks (pi-chagis) and Eenan was his partner. Jaylen was holding the bag and one time Eenan kicked too high and the bag hit Jaylen in the face. Well he busted his lip just a teeny bit, but of course Jaylen started touching his lip with his hands. I don’t even want to imagine all the germs that are crawling around the bags and floor since everyone touches them (which he was touching while they stretched) but by the time we got home half an hour later, his lip was HUGE and swollen. It was the weirdest thing! We called Elda over, since she works at the office, and asked her advice. She said to give him Motrin for the inflammation and take him to the doctor the next day.

Mary got the boys ready and took them to school, like she usually does (she’s a saint, I tell you), and let me know Jaylen’s lip still pretty much looked the same. Mom had a really early appointment, so I got the girls ready and we went straight to Mission. I read my book “Tribulation Force” while the girls slept and finished it, finally. I couldn’t believe the end. It almost seemed kind of “fast”, like the author just wanted to finish the book already or something.

I did some housework and waited for Jaylen to call, but he didn’t so I assumed he was alright. When I picked them up from school that afternoon the first thing I asked him was to show me his lip. It wasn’t any worse, but it didn’t look at all better so I asked Mario to take him to the doctor while I was at TKD and I’d meet them there. He threw a fit about having to take them and not knowing what to do (it doesn’t take a genius!) but said he’d take him.

I went to my class, got out and when I got home almost had a coronary because Mario STILL hadn’t taken Jaylen to the doctor. So there, I go, changing and freshening up as fast as I could to make it on time before they stopped seeing patients. Of course we got there late. By the time we got there we were already 10 minutes late, but the girls at the office are so cool with me and let us in. The doctor wasn’t in; he’d already left for the day, but they took a pic of Jaylen’s lip, gave a description of it and what happened and the doctor diagnosed him and faxed a prescription to the pharmacy. Technology’s the best!

We got back from the pharamcy, went to Jaylen’s reading night for about 30 minutes and he got to test on 1 book. We got home, I made dinner, helped with home work and watched Biggest Loser. Man, I love that show. So inspiring that I did an additional workout of 150 situps, 100 crunches, 40 lunges, 20 pushups, 20 squats & a cool down, of course.

I showered and even though it was super cold outside, I bundled up, bundled up Emily (Alaethia stayed inside watching Noggin) and Mario bundled up so we could watch the Leonid (sp?) meteor shower. I was determined to FINALLY see a falling star for once in my life!

Mario brought out his thick army blanket Jason gave him, and his sleeping bag and backed the truck up so we could lay in it. We were super warm. The only thing missing was hot chocolate! We lay in the back of the truck and finally, finally, for the first time ever, I saw TWO falling stars! I was so happy. Wish I could have caught it on camera or something :(. It was a lovely night.

Mario’s B-day Weekend

Thurs., Nov. 12th – It was Mario’s 28th birthday! He decided to go to work instead of getting the day off, and getting out early that evening and then again on Saturday. I ran errands for both Moms that day, came home, picked up the boys from school, got ready for Taekwondo and had my class. I received my last two tapes from Ernesto that day. He had me doing kind of a practice test and helped me “perfect” my form and kicks and everything. I still have to practice the form some more (I know it by heart, but I get so nervous when I have to perform it in front of the instructors or when someone else is doing it at the same time! And I have to get over that because I’m going to be performing it in front of a lot of people the day of the test!).

The boys had Report Card Night that evening, so I got home, freshened up and took them straight to the school. They did really well; both got All A Honor Roll! So proud :)! Eenan’s sitting apart from the rest of the kids, right next to the teacher, since he distracts the other kids when he’s done with his work, but he said he doesn’t mind sitting next to her. She’s so patient! She’s so calm about it all though and for that, he adores her :).

Jaylen of course got nothing but good reviews from his teacher. She said she wished she could have 50 Jaylens *beams*.

Mario was home by the time we got back and I ordered pizza and wings from Wild Coyote’s, the new pizza place near the house (which is right next to TKD so as soon as we get out we’re smacked with the delicious smell of pizza and you just want to ruin your whole work out…anyway…).

Anyway, Mary and I went to pick up the pizza and sodas and we just had a nice little get together here at home for Mario. Elda & Jose came over a little later and had some Tres Leches cake with us and we chit-chatted. We’d be having Mario’s “big” party on Saturday.

Mario left to have some beers with his uncles so I watched Grey’s Anatomy and hoped to get a work out in before bedtime. Didn’t happen. Alaethia or Emily needed something every 10 minutes and Emily was a little fussy so that idea went out the window. And thus started a weekend of bad eating and not being able to work it off!!

Fri., Nov. 13 – I was feeling really lazy, but I’d been promising Mom all week that we’d go to town and so I had no choice. Got the girls ready:

My attempt at fixing Emily's short hair LOL

And just before we were going to leave, John calls asking if he can come over to do laundry. We waited for him and he went with us to Walmart. Mom did a bit of Christmas shopping, I got a few groceries and we rushed home so I could pick up the boys and then go to TKD.

Class was…alright that day. Didn’t get to practice too much for the test and the kicks were a bit more…tame that day. Not what I was looking forward to really.

The boys had class that evening, too. They enjoyed it ’cause they got to knock each other down practicing the one-step sparring. Ernesto had just made a comment about how well-behaved my boys are (they were partnered with each other) when Eenan got a little too over-eager and threw Jaylen down really hard. Oh, my boys.

We went to Jorge & Maggie’s with our girls after the boys got out of TKD. They stayed with Mary, as usual.

We had fun, had some laughs as always. I had a cranberry drink that was actually really tasty. It’s always nice hanging out with Maggie.

We left home early-ish because Mario had to work and I had to be up early to clean the house and get everything ready for Mario’s get-together Sat night.

…to be continued :P.