I have a Freshman

 

She stayed up last night to prepare her book bag. She woke up with butterflies in her tummy. She went off with her friends to experience new adventures.

I can't wait to hear about her day. :D 15 minutes and counting.

Gimme a V!!

Last night, the good husband took the good daughter into Urgent Care to get a last minute Sports Physical.
Volleyball tryouts start TODAY! I know it's going to be more competitive this year; more people will be cut then ever (the school's attendance has doubled!). Last year was Isabel's first year playing - I hope she makes it again!!

Please cross your fingers and toes and eyeballs!!

Isa's First Day

This morning, Isabel starts 8th grade! The Queen of the Campus! We went to her school last night for 'Meet the Teacher' - she only has two new teachers, four of the others she had last year. The school built a new Junior High wing over the summer, so there is plenty of room of them to spread out and do their thing. Although, I thought it was quite ingenious of the school to put the sinks and mirrors in the HALLWAY instead of in the bathrooms!! The bathrooms just have 5 or 6 stalls, and the communal sink is HUGE and right outside the boys and girls rooms. I love it! No more primping and posing or messing around! They do their business and get out! Smart!

Anyway - here is a picture of Isa from this morning (that sun light was killing me!)

And here are all of their first day pics, again!

Two things to note about today... 1) I am going to be KID free for the first time in FOREVER! and 2) I can't forget to pick Nic up from the bus stop early today - it's early release.

Will someone call to remind me?! ;)

Huh?

Who is this?
And what has she done to my lazy, sleep until noon every.single.day.during.the.summer daughter?

Oh. Maybe it's because I told her that Volleyball starts in a month...

One of the Perks of having a Teen-Aged Girl

Isa came down after dinner last night and asked if she could paint my nails.
How could I refuse? I thought, as I glanced down at the chipped neon pink polish that was close to two months old.

She received Seventeen magazine from my parents for Christmas, and the latest issue had a Sally Hansen insert with a ton of different nail styles. She went through her stockpile...and I got black and white stripes.

I love them! =)

She then went and painted her own finger nails. Too cute.

Updates, Breaking News & Random Randomness

I am truly trying to get back into the swing of things... Half of the month has gone by, and I feel like I've accomplished nothing.

I take that back...
We planned, executed and survived my grandpa's memorial service. I was the lucky one who prepared grandpa's obits and also wrote the program and tribute. I also read the tribute at his memorial service.
As in - with a micro-phone. As in - with Nic coming up to the stage every 5 seconds "Mom!" "Mom, can I talk into that thing?!" - to which at one point, I laughed nervously and claimed, "That one isn't mine. I promise."
To which, Father Brian* replied, only loud enough for the table he was at to hear him, "He's not MINE either!"

*Some names have been changed to protect the innocent. Or maybe since he's not my Father, I can't really remember his name. Sorry!

With grandma settling into her new routine, we've started to settle into ours.

Marcos and I had a few shopping trips this weekend. We went to Home Depot to buy some rose bushes. We will be planting those on the side of the house. We went to Best Buy to purchase a new mouse for me... and a cover for my Kindle Fire {love that thing}... and we went to Barnes and Noble and purchased a few books.

Nic and I are starting to read some of the Magic Tree House books. I remember those books being for 1-3rd grades. Now they are listed as Pre-K - 3rd. What the heck?!

We should have started in order, but Nic loves Pirates and he loves Mummies {he's already planning his Halloween costume for this coming Halloween}.

We finished Chapter 3 last night... after each chapter I ask him questions to ensure he is #1 listening and #2 understanding. If nothing else, it's awesome cuddle time with my baby.

At Barnes and Noble I also picked up One Pot Meals by Weight Watchers - it has over 300 recipes. Looking forward to trying some of them out. Who doesn't love one pot meals?! Easy peasy.

Isabel and I had to make an impromptu trip to Wal-Greens on Saturday night...
I had to seriously consider if I wanted to share this with you all on the blog. But after thinking about it for a while, I've decided to go ahead and put it out there.

#1 Reason?! It's *my* journal - I want to remember these things. I want my kids to be able to read back on them and remember....

#2 Reason?! When she sent out a text message to all of her friends that said "I am now a woman!" - I figured the news was fair game.

;)

Marcos had to go back to work yesterday, but I decided to keep up with the errand trend. While Alex went on his first {uhem} date {accompanied by his girlfriend's 9 year old niece}, I took the girls and Nic to IKEA.

Let's pause for a swoon moment.

SWOOOOON!

I was in desperate need for a new down comforter. My old one was actually for our old queen-sized bed, which Alex now has. I had a hard time picking out the cover{sheet?!}... but I love the one I ended up with.

I know... I need to work on my bed picture taking skills. And my bed making skills... sorry everything was so wrinkled. Just keeping it real, folks. ;)

Since I had my camera up in my room, I thought I'd show you what I wake up to every morning...

Doesn't even look real, does it?!
Some day there will be houses behind the pool, so I will miss the view of the mountains and such. /sigh
Until then, I will continue to soak it up as much as I can.

Wow - what a recap. This all brings us to today. Today, I am off {I work for a bank, remember!} and the kids are off... so Alex and I are getting my OFFICE squared away.

Marcos has decided to move out.
So I get my whole entire office to myself!! That means no more crafts on the formal dining room table (which already houses a nice modge-podge "stain").

YAY!!

Of course, I *will* miss the husband, but I am sure we will meet in other parts of the house.
 If he's lucky!

;)

One of the last days of the year

It's just about 75* here in the outskirts of Phoenix... a lovely, pretty much clear, blue-skied day. It's hard to believe that today is one of the last days of 2011. Where did the year go?

I stepped outside to take a look around... It's a Friday, but because of the impending holiday, people were out and about as if it were the weekend already.

This is what our lovely tree  {the twig to the right} looked like last January:

Here she is today... I think her leaves are just about ready to fall off.

 Abby is off visiting her cousin and her uncle this weekend, so we invited Isabel's friend, Hannah, over for the weekend. They've been riding bikes, picnicking and going, going, going for two days straight.

The front of our house.
I just realized I haven't put my January wreath up yet. The house looks nekkid.

Here's a close-up of Isabel's new bike. Complete with a cup holder.
Lucky gal.

Marcos took the boys to the movies and to go run some errands today. We are having Carne Asada for dinner tonight, with homemade rice and refried beans. They went into Phoenix to get the best tortillas money can buy. Yummy.

I've been working on my January mantels and cleaning up the house. I start my new job on the 9th, so I am also trying to get my office straightened out.

I love a new year... it's a chance to start fresh.

I'm a Freak: V-Day Already?!

I swear, I am worse than Hobby Lobby or Wal-Mart.
I don't think even they have Valentine's on their mind yet (although, I did see some Spring at the Hob Lob this week!)...

I am really wanting to be super organized this coming year... so I thought while I had some down time, I would get started on Isabel's V-Day cards. Her being almost 13 and all, we had to mature her cards up a little.

Here are Isabel's cards from last year... which was our first time ever making handmade cards.

And this is what we have as our first draft for this coming V-Day:

This may not what we end up with, but it sure has our creative juices flowing. Isa mentioned that she'd like to do a little gift for her close friends at school, so I am going to have to see what else I can come up with.

Off to check out Pinterest to see if I can find some additional ideas.

Happy Valentine's Day Holidays!

Marcos & Jaime go to... What? What?!

Pardon the interruption from the regularly scheduled road trip updates...
{admit it, you need a small break!}

While I will share our Texas adventures with you tomorrow, for sure - I wanted to spend a little time today to brag on my three biological and one "adopted."

Alex, Isa and Nic have been WONDERFUL during this transition time. Makes me VERY proud of them.
Now that's not saying that Nic hasn't been a little crazy, excited, annoying, etc... He has been very loving and accepting of the situation and of Abby.

He wants her to be his girlfriend. She constantly has to remind him that that's not even legal in ARKANSAS! =)


Today is Abby's first day of school. She was N.E.R.V.O.U.S. but I gave her some pep talks (or was it Pepto?!) Hmm.  

Abby is fabulous. Bottom line. I know she is going to do just fine!

We went school shopping for her, got her almost a whole new wardrobe (different climate here), new Vans, a new backpack (they had lockers in AR and NC, we don't have them here), school supplies, make-up, etc.

Here is her First Day of School Picture:

She got a new Beatles shirt and opted to wear it for her first day; she wanted to be comfortable and herself!
Nic wanted to know who "all those girls" on her shirt were... =) 

Oh Nickelbutt - you crack me up!

Isabel - Volley Girl

WARNING: TOO MANY PICTURES of pretty much the SAME THING.

Oh well. I am proud of her!

Today was her second game - it was home and I was parked right on the front bleacher.

ACTION SHOT!!
Look at her go!

(man, I wish I had a better camera!)

During the Varsity game, Isabel was picked to be line guard. Doesn't she look super official in that green..."thing"? :)



The Patriot's are 2 and 0.

Next game is next Tuesday!!

Something New...

Isabel called me right after she got to school...
The new Volleyball team rosters were up.

SHE MADE THE TEAM!!

They have an "A" team and a "B" team (basically Varsity and JV)... Isa made the B team. Which I think is FANTASTIC for someone who hasn't played before! She has a natural ability, that one!

Isabel was kind of sad that a few of her friends didn't make the team... I agree.
But I am just soooo glad Isa did!!

She just DOUBLED our chances at a college scholarship - TWO SPORTS now! lol... ;)

Oh, Isabelllll....

My daughter has become one of "those" girls. You know, the FB profile pic of herself in the mirror, using her cell phone, making a face and perhaps a peace sign with her fingers.

I'd be bummed out that she gave in so easily (or that she's growing up too quickly) but - hot dayum, what little you can see if it - my living and dining room look GREAT in the background of the reflection.

P.S. I stole these pictures from her FB page.

I hope she doesn't sue me.

:)

P.S.S. Volleyball tryouts begin today. Exciting stuff!

And here we go again...

It's back-to-school Monday.
Can you believe it?!
Not me.

I was up until 1:30 working on something for... well, work. So, it's been a rough morning so far.
I had to rush to get pictures... They are so not impressed with me... and it shows. lol... Oh well, it captures their personality.

Nic doesn't start school until NEXT Monday... [long story]...
But, the two of us are off to Isabel's school.
I forgot to send a check for lunch money.

Epic Fail.
Mother of the Year.
Yep, that's me!

Happy Monday, peeps!

=)

Almost Done

It's been a very crazy & rough few days (more on that later)...

But, I did want to mention that today is Isabel's last softball practice and tomorrow is her last game.
That is, unless she makes the All-Star team (which she tried out for on Saturday night). We won't know about that until late May. And the cost is going to be fun (not!) - as it's basically club ball. She REALLY wanted to tryout though - and she's done such a great job this season, how could we say no?

Besides... we figure if we invest now, it will come back to us when she earns scholarships for her awesomeness. Right?!

Random PhotoShoot

I saw a random boat

behind my house.

I grabbed my kids

and my camera.

my heart is filled with love.