Our Fiesta Week

Another Fiesta has come and gone, which only means one thing...summer is right around the corner and I for one, could NOT be more happier!!  We celebrated quite a bit this week with lots of food and fun, and now we're back to our normal routine.  We do have lots of exciting things to look forward to in May, so that will definitely keep us hoppin'!  

We kicked off Fiesta with a great day spent at Oyster Bake!!  Wes and his law school buddies have had one of the fajita booths there now for several years, and as exhausting as it is for them, they ALWAYS end up having a good time!  They meet up at 6 am, cook a WHOPPING 1000 lbs. of beef fajitas, and take down at 11pm.  You can imagine that fajitas are usually not on our menu at home for several weeks afterwards.   The kids and I have been coming up every year as well, because where they cook is up and away from all the crowds and we're able to spread out a blanket, listen to the music, and eat till our hearts content!   It has become quite a family affair for us since Wes and the guys are ALSO responsible for recruiting workers to cut, wrap & sell the fajitas that they are cookin', so who do you turn to when you need help?? Your extended family of course!  This year my parents drove up at 5 in the morning to get my dad here on time to meet with the guys, which also included my brother, our nephew Joey and Brandon's roommate Justin.  Lindsey, my sister was also able to tear herself away from her Fiesta Board duties to recruit some of her fellow friends and work too!  It was such a beautiful day and the kids had a ball!!  They would be heartbroken if we were to ever stop going!  Since Sam is older and not in such dire need of a scheduled nap as he has been in years past, we were able to stay about 7 hours and just hang out and visit with my mom and everyone.  Lindsey also had the Miss Fiesta court stop by and take some pictures with us...you'll see Sam was not amused!!  What a great time!

A lot of schools in San Antonio opt to have a Fiesta party instead of a Valentine's or Easter party, so we celebrated at Annie's school with nachos, frozen fruit bars & a pinata of course!  Annie's teacher also had them make crowns as their craft during the party and invited Jack to join in...Sam, again, not interested in anything but the snacks!  Great weather that day too!  It was so funny to walk down the halls because you've never seen so many crockpots full of queso cheese under one roof!!

Having a former Miss Fiesta in the family DOES have it's priviliges...with Lindsey now serving as Miss Fiesta's events coordinator the last 2 years, she is able to schedule a special visit to the kid's schools from the Miss Fiesta court!  Last year, they were able to come to both Annie and Jack's schools, but this year it just worked out to have them come to Annie's.  K-2nd grades lined the sidewalks waiting for the special arrival, while the upper grades lined the halls as they walked to the cafeteria to speak a little bit about Fiesta.  The teachers, staff and kids alike were very excited...only in San Antonio!!

Our Fiesta week would not be complete without a parade...of the Box Float variety of course!  The kids have ALWAYS had such a great time planning and putting together their ideas for their box floats to parade with at school.  This was Annie's first time in 4 years not to have one to do, and she was very disappointed, but more than willing to help with HER ideas for Jack's.  It will come as no surprise to anyone who knows him, what he decided to pick as his theme...Monster Trucks!!  Ever since he and Daddy went last year and again this year, to the Monster Jam in the Alamodome, it is ALL he talks about!  He had a very specific vision for what he wanted to create as he and Wes worked on the arrangement.  Such special memories!!  And with it being HIS last year at the preschool, I wanted to be there both days as he paraded to watch him beam with pride at his special float!  Can't believe he's going to be in Kindergarten!

Until next year...VIVA FIESTA!!

Catching My Breath

Can you hear that???  It's the sound of absolute silence in my household...minus the birds singing outside, lawnmower running next door, cars driving by.  It is the sound of me being home ALLLLLL by myself for 3 days!!  The kids were out of school today because of the Battle of Flowers parade and Fiesta and since we've only been down to big C-town once since Christmas, Wes has been anxious to go down there and just enjoy being out in the country.  The kids weren't about to miss out on that trip and with all the family we have there, there were more than enough hands & eyes available to help out with the kids.  I was more than welcome to go down of course, but I opted to stay home and just catch my breath!  It has been a crazy, busy, hectic last few weeks, topped by the additional stress of figuring out our situation with Wes' job and such and I just NEEDED to be here and take some time...alone!  I love, love, LOVE my children & my husband and all that I get to be and do for them as a mom at home, but for a couple days, I just want to have NO responsibilities other than BEing here, BEing me!  Don't get me wrong, I have spent the week frantically working on my "list" of things I want to accomplish and DO while everyone was gone and even worrying if I would have enough time to do them all.  And even today, I've had to really force myself to 

S-L-O-W DOWN and just enjoy the time, and not rush...there are no meals to be made, bedtimes to keep, I can choose to spend my precious time any way I want, and that is just what I need!  The next few weeks before school is out will be EXTREMELY busy...more teacher interviews, preschool Jubilee, teacher appreciation, my brother's college graduation, the kid's teacher placement letters, and on & on....sooooo, this is my time to sleep in, stay up late, eat junk food, catch up on all my "recorded" tv shows, tackle my to dos and take my time doing so, read, and of course BLOG, without needing to share the computer!  I am really excited that Mamamia and I are meeting for breakfast in the morning at one of our favorite little spots as kind of a kickoff to our crazy week.  We see each other on a daily basis, but still can't get enough of one another and will enjoy some quality girlfriend time and some yummy food too!  We'll need sustenance to get us through all our upcoming silent auction stuff, and this is THE best place to do it!

Well, I have to mention that I'm not COMPLETELY alone...Doc, our 9 year old Beagle, who is truly an outside dog, is keeping me company inside.  He really thinks he's livin' the high life and getting all that attention he use to get before we had kids.  He's such a sweetie and has been so cute the way he follows me whenever I go from room to room! 

It worked out so perfectly that our cleaning lady came yesterday, right before Wes and the kids left, so not only did I not have to spend my precious time picking up after they left, but the house is virtually SPOTLESS...something that usually does not last long after she leaves!

The Bunco Babes met last night and I actually won this too cute beach towel for having the most losses...13 out of 18 games!  Always fun to get together, gab, eat and come away with a prize!

My friend, Dawn, loaned me the book "The Last Lecture" by Randy Pausch, who has been a very popular guest on Oprah and was recently on with Diane Sawyer and I'm looking forward to reading and MAYbe even completing it this weekend!  He is really wonderful and such an inspiration.

And it's Friday...the Spurs play tonight in their Game 3 against the Phoenix Suns!  Even though Wes and I won't be watching together, I will definitely have the game on...we are huge fans and I love playoff season and the way it brings our city together.  We love getting out our flag and showing our team spirit!!  GO SPURS GO!!  

Wes and I have talked several times and everyone is having fun...the kids are being spoiled by their Ninny and aunts, they have big plans to go watch their cousins at one of their sporting events this evening, Wes is hangin' out in the great outdoors and helping out with all the cattle & such, so it's ALL GOOD!  I miss them like crazy, but know that we will be back under one roof shortly and just may even appreciate each other a bit more after we've all had this time to catch our breath!

FIESTA Way Back Wednesday

OK...just gotta say one thing first!  It's SPURS playoffs season and that can only mean one thing...time to break out the heart medication & caffeine because those late night games can get pretty crazy, but always so much fun!  Whew!  GO SPURS GO!!!

It's Way Back Wednesday...Fiesta style!!  With Fiesta in full force this week here in San Antonio, I thought I'd dig deep into my photo archives and pull out pictures from 2004 when my sister "reigned" as Miss Fiesta!  It was such a fun 10 days and brings back great memories this week for all of us!  She had a motorcycle escort almost everywhere she went, military escorts on her arm for every event, and collected some of the COOLEST medals you have ever seen!  Hard to believe that Annie was just 3 1/2, Jack was a little over 2, and Sam was NON existent!  WOW!  Where does 4 years go??  We definitely made it to many an event that year, and ALL 3 PARADES, and had Aunt Lindsey visit the preschool...What fun!

Her poster up at the Fort Sam Houston mall...pretty crazy to see!

Lindsey, Jack, my mom, and Annie at the UTSA Fiesta event...she hadn't lost her voice yet!

Annie collected quite a few medals herself that week and was asked by several people that week if she was the NEXT Miss Fiesta in the family...

Wouldn't it be nice to have your own car and be chauffeured and escorted around town??  She definitely hated giving up that "perk"!

Battle of Flowers Parade...she actually spotted us in the crowd and heard all our yelling!

The Miss Fiesta brunch held on the last day of Fiesta was very bittersweet for her...she was AND was treated like a Queen for weeks, met so many great people, and had to give up her motorcade!!!  Wouldn't you be in tears, too??  

Viva Fiesta!!

Earth Day!

It's Earth Day today!!  It use to be a day marked with going out to plant a tree, and everyone feeling like they had done their part!  NO MORE!  Now more than ever, it is sooo easy to take steps to take care of our Earth!  What can you do???

*use reusable grocery bags---HEB & Target both have inexpensive versions...in fact today, April 22, from 3-7 pm HEB is giving away 1 free reusable bag for every 5 plastic HEB bags you bring in(one per household) 

*change out your 5 most used sources of light in the house with the CFL environment friendly bulbs

*cancel unwanted catalogs by going to catalogchoice.org and save a few trees!!  it is so easy and only takes a few minutes

*use reusable/refillable plastic water bottles instead of buying more cases of water and filling the landfills 

*take advantage of the recycling bins we have in our lovely city of SA, not all cities offer this service, so use it to recycle cardboard, soup cans, aluminum cans, & newspaper...just to name a few!

*carpool whenever you can!  gas prices are outrageous, so save time, money & our air by carpooling with friends to all your kid's activities!  my best friend, Mamamia, and i started carpooling the kiddos to preschool and it has been the best thing ever & so much fun for them!

Think of the WONDERFUL example you begin to set with your children in showing them that our Earth is a priority and needs to be cared for just like anything else!  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CROC HUNTER!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, to my favorite brother!  I hope you always keep your sense of fun and adventure...even at the ripe old age of 23!!

Also, a Happy Birthday shout out to my new brother-in-law, David!  

New Beginnings

Springtime and new beginnings basically go hand in hand with one another.  It is a time for new growth, as the layers of Fall and Winter are shed of their dismal grayness and the bright colors of nature shine through showing their vibrant life.  We come to count on Spring and the reliance it brings to our yards, our wardrobes, and especially our moods!  It is AMAZING the way God designed nature to just "know" what to do, even without the use of a calendar!  

For the last few years, we have been blessed to have a family of Barn Swallows make our porch their home in the Spring and Summer months and look forward to seeing the first signs of them.  We have researched on the internet about them and they are known to return year after year and are considered GOOD LUCK!  Sooooo, disgusting droppings and all, to all our guests who come to our doorway, sorry, our family may not be super big on superstitions, but this nest won't be going ANYWHERE, while we're here!  

We've planted 3 Crepe Myrtles in our front and back yards over the years because of their beauty, hardiness, and reliability!  We cut them back every year, this year even later than usual, and they still come back bigger than ever...definitely good for a hectic family like ours!

Springtime is also a time to start planning and thinking ahead!  Believe it or not, Jack will be in Kindergarten next year and last week was his Kindergarten registration!  He was very excited and seemed quite comfortable with his surroundings...of course, being since he is there quite often with Annie doesn't hurt, but I'm glad he will already know the "lay of the land"!

Of course, a couple of questions that came up over and over again, were "Who is my teacher gonna be?" "What are my friend's names?"  And as his mom, I wish I knew too, but instead we will have to put our patience virtue into practice and wait till August to get those answers!

We have some definite changes and new beginnings going on inside our house too!  After months of prayer and deliberating, Wes decided to tell his partner he was leaving the firm, and so for the meantime our playroom has turned into the office of Holland & Associates(associates being me, Annie, Jack & Sam).  We don't intend this to be long term, as he already has a couple leads on some prospective new positions, but the kids think it is the absolute best thing ever to have Daddy home in the middle of the day!  Two days have passed since having him here and it has been nice to run out and not take ALL the kids with me or grab a bite with him at lunch,  but our battle is definitely over computer time...isn't my "blogging" considered business too??  And checking e-mails in the middle of the day, forget it!  Only if I can get him to slip out of the room for a second do I have a chance to read, BUT not respond.  So we'll see who ends up pulling their hair out first!  

The conference room and table for the new office of Holland & Associates...hopefully, clients won't mind stepping on a little playdoh or signing any documents with crayon ;)

My friend, Lisa, from the O.P. 'hood, wrote in an e-mail,"Congratulations to Wes on making the right choice for himself and his family...too bad the right choice and the easy choice are very rarely the same."  And that is soooo true!  This decision has been an EXTREMELY long time in coming, and now that it's done a huge weight has been lifted.  How blessed we are to have such supportive family and friends around us!  We are just anxious to see where this crazy roller coaster called life takes us next and are praying for just the right opportunity to come, because we are in a prime position now to take it!

"No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow."

          Guinean proverb

You can bet that that is EXACTLY what we are counting on! 

100 Things About Me

Jennisa, my AWESOME blog designer, did a post April 1st on her personal blog, The Princess Diaries titled 100 Things About Me and encouraged others to do a similar list and have their husbands help complete it! When I read ALL the various things she mentioned and started thinking of my own, I thought it would be fun! Even if you know me well, you might learn something new that has never come up in regular, rushed, everyday "mom" conversation. I started this Wednesday and am FINALLY getting to post Friday night!

100 Things About Me

1. My middle name is Renee.

2. I LIVE in my "Crocs"! I have a red pair that I wear to run errands/walk to school & such, a black, fleece pair & a pink/brown flip flop pair that I wear inside & around the house. Our entire family has multiple pairs! Love, love them!

3. I am the oldest of 3 children in my family.

4. I have one sister and we are 9 years apart. I have one brother and we are 12 years apart.

5. I always felt like I was their second mom, because I had my driver's license and could tote them around from place to place when my mom was at school teaching, so even though there is a big age difference, we are very close! They even followed us up to big S.A. to go to college and now live!!

6. My husband and I started dating in 1989...I was a Senior and he was a Junior in high school.

7. We got engaged Valentine's Day, 1994 on the 50-yard line of our high school football field.

8. I played on the Varsity tennis team all 4 years of high school and even made it to Regionals in Doubles.

9. I took dancing from 3 years old till high school and STILL love dancing to this day!

10. I take EVERYTHING personal!

11. I am EXTREMELY sensitive!

12. Conflict/confrontations make me physically sick.

13. My zodiac sign is Cancer, which may explain 10-12.

14. Our children are the 13th, 14th, and 15th grandchildren on Wes' side.

15. Our children are the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd ONLY grandchildren, so far, on my side.

16. I am a home body!! I went to "overnight" camp for a week one time growing up and hated it! I also tried 2 other colleges, away from home, before coming back to graduate from a university only 20 minutes away.

17. I play in a neighborhood Bunco group that we call the "BUNCO BABES" once a month.

18. Food Network is my ABSOLUTE favorite channel!

19. I will ALWAYS stop and watch I Love Lucy reruns if I see they are on and can laugh & laugh at the ones I've seen a gazillion times.

20. I love playing Scrabble, but cannot complete a turn in under 30 minutes.

21. Duchess and Sandy were two of my Collies that I loved dearly growing up.

22. I was a 4-H member for 9 years.

23. I raised "show lambs" for the county stock show every year.

24. I also loved entering the county food shows, and even won Reserve Champion in the Cake division one year.

25. I played the flute for 6 years.

26. I was on the dance team 3 years in high school and an officer for 2 of them.

27. I wear a 9 1/2 size shoe! Wes calls my feet skis!

28. If the costumes weren't so much on the "skimpy" side, I would LOVE to dance or perform with a sports team's dance group or the Rockettes! Love, loved dancing at halftime football games and dance team competitions...watching them on ESPN gives me chills!!

29. I am a Catholic and went to Catholic school from 1st grade-8th grade.

30. I was baptized, had my 1st Communion, Confirmation and got married ALL in the same church.

31. I have worn glasses/contact lenses since the 7th grade.

32. I cannot live without my SUNGLASSES!!! The bright light even on a white, cloudy day really bothers me.

33. My favorite color is red.

34. My favorite style cuisine goes back and forth between Mexican(Tex-mex) and Italian.

35. I don't watch anything that hasn't been recorded first...the commercials waste my time!

36. My husband and I have been married for 12 years.

37. I consider myself very laid back.

38. I am very strict about following routines, especially w/naps & bedtime routines on school days & nights... that is my only time to get things done!

39. My degree is in Elementary Education with specializations in Early childhood & Reading...I started college intending to get an Accounting/business degree & also took some nutrition classes because I loved cooking/working with food.

40. I taught 1 year Pre-K and 3 years Kindergarten in public school before staying home to have children.

41. My first brand new car was a beautiful, 2-door, red Pontiac Sunfire, with a sunroof, that my parents gave me after graduating from college.

42. My beautiful, red Pontiac Sunfire was TOTALED 10 months later driving to teach Pre-K, when some guy ran a stop sign...I can still remember the date! I was so devastated, but wasn't hurt...just really sore for a few days!

43. I am WAY MORE comfortable around children than adults!

44. I am OBSESSIVE with my camera and taking pictures everywhere...I very rarely am in any, because I have a hard time releasing control to someone else to get the good "shot"!

45. We got our dog, Doc, a Beagle, 2 months after moving into our house.

46. We have lived in our house, 9 years this month.

47. I love 80's music...my all time fave being Duran Duran!

48. Wes has surprised me TWICE by taking me to see Duran Duran within the last 4 years...so cool!

49. I was 4 1/2 months pregnant with Sam, when we saw them the second time at their concert in Dallas.

50. Music makes me feel so alive...cannot be in a car without it!

51. I love being creative w/making Annie's lunch...next year w/Jack may be a different story.

52. I am a fanatic about having all food groups, whole grains, low sugar, etc. in all our meals...Wes is learning to acquire a taste for whole wheat pasta!!

53. The first thing I do every morning(if it isn't still dark) is open up all the blinds and let all the natural light in...I hate having a lot of lights on in the house.

54. I love the smell of coffee...but don't drink it!

55. I hate the taste and smell of beer!

56. I enjoy my fun drinks, when the occasion arises...My hubby's awesome Pomegranate Martinis, Bahama Mama's, Margaritas, Pina Coladas, & wine.

57. I have never held a cigarette lit or unlit to my lips.

58. If I have ANY caffeine late in the day, even from an Excedrin, I will have a hard time sleeping.

59. Having a Coke every once in a while is my "treat", if I keep them in the house, the kids drink 'em.

60. I drink water or decaffeinated Green Tea all the time.

61. I love to scrapbook & journal for my kid's, but I only really get a chance to do it in the summer...I write a birthday letter in their personal journals every year.

62. I LOVE TO EAT, but rarely get to eat anything for breakfast.

63. Raw chocolate chip cookie dough makes me feel better...yum!

64. If you walked in my house right now, you'd see my children's artwork & magnet letters covering the fridge, Hot Wheels, blocks, puzzle pieces and couch pillows all over the floor...Jack uses the couch as his place to play and line up his cars, Easter decorations stacked in a corner of the hallway waiting to be put back in storage, and a kitchen desperately needing to be mopped!

65. I am constantly washing my hands, so I always end up walking out the door without my wedding ring...It has been years since I have even tried to take off the gold, pinky ring Wes gave me for my 18th birthday, I NEVER take it off...it was taped on the bottom of a little girl statue titled "I'se spoken for".

66. I am more apt to do things if I put them on a list...cannot stand to have a list and not mark things off it.

67. I had braces, spikes & retainers growing up...my bottom retainer is STILL cemented in my mouth, much to my dentist's dismay!

68. I took piano lessons for 3 years then quit and regret it still to this day and would like to take again.

69. I would NEVER choose to relive my middle school/high school years, and am DREADING them with my own children.

70. I consider FULL makeup on a regular, "mom" day, concealer, powder, mascara & lip gloss...most days I don't even do that much!

71. I only really get to watch any TV at naptime or nights/weekends, but the DVR is always set to record The Today show, The View, Rachael Ray & Oprah. We also like American Idol, Dancing with the Stars, October Road, Eli Stone, Brothers & Sisters, Grey's Anatomy & Desperate Housewives. Love being able to fast forward!!!!!

72. I do not know how to rollerskate, rollerblade, or ski.

73. I am not a daredevil...fast, twisty, topsy turvy rides at theme parks are not my thing!

74. I got my ears pierced in Jr. High and feel "weird" if I walk out the door w/out earrings on...even over wearing any makeup or having my hair fixed too great!

75. I guess the thematic teacher in me still remains, because I am a seasonal decorator...I change out my table centerpiece, and various items around the house to fit the season or holiday! Even at the carwash, I request scents to "match" the season... cinnamon & vanilla in the Fall/Winter and Pina Colada for Spring/Summer!

Annie wanted to participate too! Here is what she said about her mama.

76. She likes to dance.

77. She likes having kids.

78. She is pretty.

79. She is nice.

Jack said...

80. She always kisses me.

Sam declined any comment.

Wes wrote 81-100 without seeing my list.
81. Her smile lights up a room.
82. I asked her to marry me on our high school football field.
83. She is quiet.
84. Her laugh is great.
85. She loves to eat as much as I do. It just does not show on her body like it does on mine.
86. She is compassionate.
87. She puts up with me and my moods. I am definitely her cross to bear.
88. She is emotionally strong. Much more than me.
89. She loves God.
90. Her feet and hands are cold.
91. She loves Music. Especially Duran Duran.
92. She puts the kids and me before herself.
93. She is a great cook.
94. She is beautiful. Inside and out.
95. She is a picture fanatic.
96. She recycles. I call her Sgt. Greenpeace.
97. She is always there for me. Which lately has been a lot.
98. She sings into a hairbrush on Family Talent Night. From Fergie to Prince to Duran Duran.
99. She is a great mom.
100. She is the love of my life.

Unexpected Surprises

You just can't beat an unexpected surprise...the GOOD kind anyway! They can come in all sorts of ways from all sorts of people, but when it comes from a friend, for NO particular reason at all, it can put a huge spring in your step and turn a cloudy day into sunny skies!! Mamamia knows me so well and surprised me with a present JUST FOR ME from my favorite shop in town Moon Mippy, and it wasn't even my birthday! A best friend is like that...lifts you up just when you need it most! Thank you, my sweet friend! The package was so bright and festive, I had to capture it so I can always remember how it made my heart smile!! Even my kids were excited for me to open it!

I love, love having personal notecards and use them ALL the time! My other goodie is a bracelet that you can customize with letters and symbols, and it is just too fun! I can't wait to have a moment to sit and play with it! How cool to feel like a kid and play around with something fun to wear!!

The kids got an UNexpected surprise when the temperatures rose well into the 80's on Saturday, and they were able to play in their new wiggle sprinkler from the Easter Bunny...is my calendar right?? It is April isn't it? That's South Texas for ya!

And what backyard time would be complete without cold watermelon and BBQ!! YUM!

Can you see the watermelon juice that had run down Sam's body?? He sure liked it!

Jack is making sure not to let ANY bit escape him!

Daddy cookin' up a feast of BBQ chicken & ribs...we certainly ate good that night and the kitchen stayed clean while the backyard smelled incredible!!
We are READY FOR SUMMER!!!