It has been way to long since I've posted here!
Long story short - we moved to the Houston area last year (Summer 2018). That sounds simple enough but it wasn't. We weighed the pros and cons of relocating over and over. We stressed about it. It weighed on our minds for almost a year. The choice seemed simple - Jon's company was relocating so we could either stay or move. We finally chose to move and that meant a whole lot of things to take care of such as oh, selling our house! And ofcourse we had to decide whether or not to buy an existing home or build a new one.
There were so many things happening at once that it seemed there was hardly time to process it all. We're still processing it. Moving meant leaving our community, Emily's school, our church, and our friends. We spent 15 years in our house. Even though it was an older home it was our first home and it was special to us.
Our family was excited at the thought of us being relatively closer to them. It seemed like an easy and logical decision to them. But to actually go through it wasn't easy and sometimes I questioned the logic. We always questioned our decision. We convinced ourselves of the good things that would come of our move. Things like a new house, a new family oriented subdivision, and a new school kept our spirits up. In time we'd all make new friends and meet new neighbors. It will all work out.
Then the stress of tying up all loose ends before the move kicked in. Visiting places for the last time and having farewell get togethers had to happen quickly. It was difficult to say goodbye to people we've known for a long time. They were our family.
Moving day was just awful and a little dangerous. Functioning on little sleep and packing up three vehicles was no small effort. Then having to drive away from our house, neighborhood, and city was very emotional. I still don't know how we did it.
It's been over a year now since the day we moved away. We still miss our old friends. Sometimes we feel isolated. Sometimes I still revisit the old places in my mind. I'm thankful for Facebook and phone calls and texting. At least we can keep in touch with our old friends that way. Exploring new places is interesting and we are making some new friends but there's still that tug of our old life. All these "what might have beens" run through my mind every now and then.
I would say we are adjusting to our new life. It's still new to us. Change has been uncomfortable but we are determined to make wonderful memories together as a family. The saga continues....
Tuesday, September 3, 2019
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Where have I been?
Hello! I'm not even going to try to come up with an excuse for not blogging. This Stay-At-Home Mom has been busy! But I thought I'd better post at least once before the holidays come around and throws everything off.
First and most recently I've started to sew. Mom gave me her old machine last year and it sat in the hall closet all neat and pretty for a whole year. I kept trying to get motivated to take it out and try it but I never made the time. Then a few months ago we were in Llano, Texas visiting my inlaws and my mother-in-law, Aleta, took me to a quilt shop. Aleta has been quilting for a very long time and has made some awesome quilts. So we were in the shop looking at fabric and I mentioned that I had a machine at home. Next thing I knew Aleta had bought me some fabric to make pillow cases and a table runner! Well I became so excited that when I got home I put the fabric in the closet and left it there, occasionally taking it out to look at and wondering if I would ever sew. Finally today I told myself I'd have no more excuses and I took the machine out. I read the instruction book and to my amazement I got it to work! I got the fabric from the closet and started to sew. It felt so good to be doing something creative. The time flew by while I was sewing. By the time I knew it I had used all the fabric I had and made three pillowcases and the table runner! Ofcourse there are little flaws here and there but I was very happy the way they turned out.
Second, Emily is doing so well in school!! She is writing her name, saying her numbers in Spanish, singing a lot and becoming more confident. Her teachers are very proud of her progress and I am too. She amazes me everyday.
Third, Jon and I will celebrate 12 years together on November 17. How time flies! I remember our wedding day and the fun we had. We still have fun especially as a family.
Well, I believe I must go and admire my latest creations. Here are some photos. I'll post more soon.
First and most recently I've started to sew. Mom gave me her old machine last year and it sat in the hall closet all neat and pretty for a whole year. I kept trying to get motivated to take it out and try it but I never made the time. Then a few months ago we were in Llano, Texas visiting my inlaws and my mother-in-law, Aleta, took me to a quilt shop. Aleta has been quilting for a very long time and has made some awesome quilts. So we were in the shop looking at fabric and I mentioned that I had a machine at home. Next thing I knew Aleta had bought me some fabric to make pillow cases and a table runner! Well I became so excited that when I got home I put the fabric in the closet and left it there, occasionally taking it out to look at and wondering if I would ever sew. Finally today I told myself I'd have no more excuses and I took the machine out. I read the instruction book and to my amazement I got it to work! I got the fabric from the closet and started to sew. It felt so good to be doing something creative. The time flew by while I was sewing. By the time I knew it I had used all the fabric I had and made three pillowcases and the table runner! Ofcourse there are little flaws here and there but I was very happy the way they turned out.
Second, Emily is doing so well in school!! She is writing her name, saying her numbers in Spanish, singing a lot and becoming more confident. Her teachers are very proud of her progress and I am too. She amazes me everyday.
Third, Jon and I will celebrate 12 years together on November 17. How time flies! I remember our wedding day and the fun we had. We still have fun especially as a family.
Well, I believe I must go and admire my latest creations. Here are some photos. I'll post more soon.
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Catch Up
Oh my goodness! Has it been that long since I've blogged? I will have to send an email to people once I've done this post so ya'll know I'm still here.
I really don't know where to start. I was going to compose an end of year letter but then that kept getting postponed. And we're in the first quarter of the new year already so here's my attempt to catch you up on what we've been doing.
Jon started his new job as a GIS Analyst with the Dallas Police Department in December 2012. It's an adjustment but he's doing fine. Also in December Jon received the Department of Commerce's Bronze Medal for his work with the Census Bureau. I continue with my book club and card making. Ofcourse I'm always trying to organize our stuff at home so that's a never ending project.
Emily will turn 4 years old on April 15. Can it be?! She is currently back at St. Michael's Academy in the 3 year old class. She is doing very well and has come out of her shell more. She likes her classmates but she does have a favorite friend named Jasmine. It's so cool to see them play together.
Well that's all for now. I hope to blog again really soon!
I really don't know where to start. I was going to compose an end of year letter but then that kept getting postponed. And we're in the first quarter of the new year already so here's my attempt to catch you up on what we've been doing.
Jon started his new job as a GIS Analyst with the Dallas Police Department in December 2012. It's an adjustment but he's doing fine. Also in December Jon received the Department of Commerce's Bronze Medal for his work with the Census Bureau. I continue with my book club and card making. Ofcourse I'm always trying to organize our stuff at home so that's a never ending project.
Emily will turn 4 years old on April 15. Can it be?! She is currently back at St. Michael's Academy in the 3 year old class. She is doing very well and has come out of her shell more. She likes her classmates but she does have a favorite friend named Jasmine. It's so cool to see them play together.
Well that's all for now. I hope to blog again really soon!
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
SMA Summer Camp
The Sky's the Limit! That was the theme for the week long summer camp at SMA. Emily got to see some old friends and make new friends. She also met her new teachers - Ms. Julie and Ms. Kathy. Each day the SMA hot air balloon went to a different location - New York, France, Antartica, Australia and Brazil. Emily really enjoyed herself and was so excited to experience something new.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
SMA End of School Year Program
Where does the time go? On May 2, Emily's class had it's annual end of year program. We all gathered in the Great Hall to watch a slide show of what the children did the past year. Emily came out in a lot of the slides. Then the two classes came out and sang songs. Some kids were a little upset but Emily did a great job and was happy to see mommy, grandma and grandpa in the first row.
Wow, what's going on?
We are ladybugs and we sing!
Grandma and Grandpa and Emily
Having strawberry shortcake
Proud Mommy with Emily
Ms. Rina and Ms. Annette
Wow, what's going on?
We are ladybugs and we sing!
Grandma and Grandpa and Emily
Having strawberry shortcake
Proud Mommy with Emily
Ms. Rina and Ms. AnnetteEmily's 3rd Birthday Party
Here are some photos of Emily's birthday party at Gymboree in Southlake. We had lots of fun!
Friday, May 4, 2012
Letter to Emily on Her Third Birthday
Hi! I'll post new pictures soon. I just wanted to post a copy of Emily's birthday letter now. We started this tradition when she turned one. I hope to keep this tradition going until she's 18! We'll see....
Emily’s 3rd Birthday 4/15/12
Dear Emily,
Happy birthday, sweetheart! It seems like only yesterday you were crawling all over the house. You’re not a baby anymore, you’re a toddler. You’ve completed a lot of milestones this past year and I want you to remember them like we do.
After you turned 2 years old, you really took off walking, running and jumping. You wore orthotics with your tennis shoes and they really helped you get around and build your leg muscles. We got rid of your strollers and had you walk all the time. Some of your favorite places to walk were Northeast Mall in Hurst, Grapevine Mills Mall in Grapevine and at the park. We took you to the “duck” park in Irving where you enjoyed watching the ducks and playing on the playground. You also enjoyed playing in the indoor play areas in the malls. One of your favorite things to do at Northeast Mall was to ride the small carousel or “the ducks” as you called it. You really liked sitting in the duck, the car and on the cycle and going round and round. Then you became interested in riding the horses on the big carousels at Grapevine Mills Mall and The Parks Mall.
You and mommy still went to story time at the Euless and Hurst libraries where you met new friends and looked through lots of books. Some of your favorite things to do were coloring pages with big crayons, playing with stickers and playing catch/roll the ball with daddy. Some of your favorite Sprout TV shows were “Play with Me Sesame”, “The Wiggles”, “Monkey See, Monkey Do”, “Caillou”, “Kipper” and “The Mighty Jungle”.
After a few months we got rid of your high chair and got you a booster seat. Your favorite foods were cheese, pizza, goldfish crackers, chicken nuggets, chocolate pudding, juice, popcorn and Gerber fruit pouches. You tried oranges, apples, grapes and strawberries and even took a few bites of celery, broccoli, and carrots. Your favorite toys were trains, cars, puzzles, play food, play kitchen, play dough, and V-tech toys.
Last summer mommy and daddy took a short trip by themselves and Grandma and Grandpa Rivera came to stay with you. You did very well and mommy and daddy really missed you! In the fall you started attending St. Michael’s Academy twice a week. That was such a big step for you! You learned so much while you were there. You also made new friends and you really liked your teachers, Ms. Rina and Ms. Annette. By the end of the year it was time to say good bye to your crib and to sleep in your new twin bed. You made the transition all by yourself.
For your 3rd birthday mommy and daddy took you to The Galleria in Dallas to play in the big play area and then to eat at Sweet Tomatoes. We opened presents at home and had cake. Your birthday party was held at Gymboree in Southlake a few weeks after your turned 3 and most of your classmates and family were there. You had so much fun playing on the mats and slides.
My wishes for you this year are to have fun learning new things and to always know you can count on mommy and daddy to be there for you. We love you very much!
Mommy and Daddy
Emily’s 3rd Birthday 4/15/12
Dear Emily,
Happy birthday, sweetheart! It seems like only yesterday you were crawling all over the house. You’re not a baby anymore, you’re a toddler. You’ve completed a lot of milestones this past year and I want you to remember them like we do.
After you turned 2 years old, you really took off walking, running and jumping. You wore orthotics with your tennis shoes and they really helped you get around and build your leg muscles. We got rid of your strollers and had you walk all the time. Some of your favorite places to walk were Northeast Mall in Hurst, Grapevine Mills Mall in Grapevine and at the park. We took you to the “duck” park in Irving where you enjoyed watching the ducks and playing on the playground. You also enjoyed playing in the indoor play areas in the malls. One of your favorite things to do at Northeast Mall was to ride the small carousel or “the ducks” as you called it. You really liked sitting in the duck, the car and on the cycle and going round and round. Then you became interested in riding the horses on the big carousels at Grapevine Mills Mall and The Parks Mall.
You and mommy still went to story time at the Euless and Hurst libraries where you met new friends and looked through lots of books. Some of your favorite things to do were coloring pages with big crayons, playing with stickers and playing catch/roll the ball with daddy. Some of your favorite Sprout TV shows were “Play with Me Sesame”, “The Wiggles”, “Monkey See, Monkey Do”, “Caillou”, “Kipper” and “The Mighty Jungle”.
After a few months we got rid of your high chair and got you a booster seat. Your favorite foods were cheese, pizza, goldfish crackers, chicken nuggets, chocolate pudding, juice, popcorn and Gerber fruit pouches. You tried oranges, apples, grapes and strawberries and even took a few bites of celery, broccoli, and carrots. Your favorite toys were trains, cars, puzzles, play food, play kitchen, play dough, and V-tech toys.
Last summer mommy and daddy took a short trip by themselves and Grandma and Grandpa Rivera came to stay with you. You did very well and mommy and daddy really missed you! In the fall you started attending St. Michael’s Academy twice a week. That was such a big step for you! You learned so much while you were there. You also made new friends and you really liked your teachers, Ms. Rina and Ms. Annette. By the end of the year it was time to say good bye to your crib and to sleep in your new twin bed. You made the transition all by yourself.
For your 3rd birthday mommy and daddy took you to The Galleria in Dallas to play in the big play area and then to eat at Sweet Tomatoes. We opened presents at home and had cake. Your birthday party was held at Gymboree in Southlake a few weeks after your turned 3 and most of your classmates and family were there. You had so much fun playing on the mats and slides.
My wishes for you this year are to have fun learning new things and to always know you can count on mommy and daddy to be there for you. We love you very much!
Mommy and Daddy
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