Makaila...College is scary for me too

My baby is almost 17...her Senior year of high school is fast approaching and I'm not ready!!  I mean seriously....how did time go by so fast....she was just this little....

 Makaila.  I am so proud of you.  Everything about you!  Your beautiful smile, your hard work, your patience, your kind heart...I could go on forever.  I know you are stressed out about college and grades.  I know you have your heart set on Baylor, and I know that I put a lot of pressure on you in regards to getting good grades and getting involved in things....but its hard for me too.  Your my baby.  You made me a mommy.  At an age when I was completely unprepared, lost, confused and scared shit less,  you came into my life and made me whole.  Getting ready for your senior year breaks my heart.  It's hard to watch you grow up.  I mean hell....it feels like just yesterday I was walking behind you while you held your daddy's hand to go to your first day of Pre-School!!!

I blinked and you were singing camp rock songs at the top of your lungs and pretending to be Gabriella from High School Musical.

 Sometimes I look back on these pictures and remember these moments like they were yesterday.  I remember holding your hand while we walked through Sea World for the 4th time that summer and taking 17,543 pictures at your Fall singing show in Pre-School where you dressed up like a care bear and sang 5 Little Pumpkins.  I remember carrying you to your bed at night when you fell asleep because you would fall asleep with me in my room when your daddy was working nights.

 I remember taking you to Astros' games, water parks, hanging out with my girlfriends and their kids, taking you on Mommy daughter brunches, and that red dress in this picture...you were wearing that the night I graduated college.  That picture was taken at Zio's after my ceremony and you told me at least 15 times that night how proud you were of me and how much you loved me and that you wanted to go to school like me when you got big!

 Do you remember how much you wanted a sister?  You asked for one three Christmases in a row!  There were nights you would cry yourself to sleep because you wanted a sister so bad and I wouldn't give you one.  It's so funny.  I can remember the day I found out I was pregnant with your sister.  I cried because I wanted her so bad, and I knew that I only had a limited amount of time to get pregnant because I was sick and the doctor wanted to take my ovaries out...so he gave me a few months to get pregnant or that was it.  I was afraid that you would be jealous, or that I wouldn't be good at being a mom again, or that something bad would happen, or that your dad and I wouldn't make it work....but when I told you I was pregnant you cried.  You were so excited.  When I was pregnant you would touch my belly, and sing to your sister, and read her books.  You would tell her prayers in my belly, and you would tell me how much you loved me for giving you a sister!  You took all my fears away and made me feel so much better...and I'm sure you had no clue!!

 You are such a good sister.  You love your sister, you protect her, you care for her.  It's like she has two mommies.  I don't know what I would have done without you...she is so much more sassy then you were.  But you guys are the perfect balance.  You drive each other crazy, and love each other fiercely, and I am so proud of you.  You take being a sister to a whole new level!!  I wish I had a sister like you!


Thinking about you going away to college in a year or so gives me pride in abundance.  It makes me feel like I was a good parent...like I set a good example....but it also scares me so so much!  I'm a protective momma.  I want my babies to stay babies.  But that isn't an option, so instead I am watching you grow into a beautiful woman.  Your almost 17, your driving, your the Student Council VP, you are a black belt in Taekwondo...WOW.....Can you believe it!!

You remember the year you turned 9, and we took you to Disney World?  Man - I felt like a queen that day.  You have no idea how hard your daddy and I worked to make that happen. We saved for what seemed like forever, we planned the breakfast with Mickey and Goofy, we stayed on the resort so you could have balloons in your room on your birthday, we had a tea party in Minnie's house, and you had your daddy whirl you around in the tea cups ride not once but twice!  

 Man, you should know that as I started this post...that turned into about 4 hours of me looking back on pictures and crying like a baby.  I thought about so many things.  So many memories.  You loosing teeth, getting braces, going to Honduras on a mission trip, posing in front of the Eiffel tower in Vegas, pretending to be the statue of Liberty in New York, feeding a zebra from our car to prove your sister wrong....

 I thought about us on the beach, your first time going to Taekwondo crying beucase you didn't want to do it.  The first time you placed first at a Tournament and how that just lit a fire in you and then you won State and District Titles....OMG!!

I thought about lots of things, but the thought and feeling that was the most consuming was PRIDE!!!

The point of this post was to tell you that if your scared, then you are not alone.  EVER!!  I'm scared with you.  But just like all the pictures in here prove and how I have always told you....I am here for you every step of the way.  I don't care where you go, or how far you are, I will always be here when you need me.  I will answer your calls, I will help with homework, I will scream at you when you think about giving up.  I will push you and encourage you, even when I am scared too.  I will try really hard not to cry in front of you when I think about you growing up.  I love you and am so proud of you.  You are going to be an amazing woman one day....I'm just sad that those days are coming so fast!! 

Don't stop, don't quit, continue to be the person you are becoming....keep growing and keep learning, and keep trying!! You are so smart and I know that God has great plans for you.  College is scary, and it's hard, ...but your not alone!  

We still have to get through this school year, the summer, and enjoy your Senior year....so don't let the stress of colleges, money, scholarships, grades pull you down.....enjoy today and remember to pray about it...God is way better at all this stuff!!!!  I love you, even on the days I spend most of my time complaining, criticizing, comparing, pushing, and nagging you.....so in case you feel frustrated or you are having a  pity party....look here, read this, and remember that you are blessed!  You are loved unconditionally.  You are my best friend, and I love you! Don't be scared...I'm right here! 

March 2017

March kicked off with Hernia surgery for my daddy!  This guy was a great trooper...but I still took 3 days off work to stay home with him and take care of him.  I love this cute little fella..isn't he cute!

 I spent my time getting him meds, watching Swamp People episodes and making him soups.  He likes potato soup and broccoli cheese soup and just about any kinda soup...he is an easy guest!  By the end of the week he was feeling better and moving a bit easier, so they headed home that Friday morning and I dropped off letters for Izzy's writing camp at her school.  I had lunch with Danny and did a little retail therapy...coupons in hand of course!

Rodeo was a little late this year because of Superbowl, but we kicked off with Rodeo Cook-off and had a great time!  with Cynthia and Gilbert.  By the time rodeo started this year...I was rodeoed out!  I had spent so much time and energy preparing the swaps and answering e-mails, and updating spreadsheets...I was tired.  My shifts were a lot too...they both landed during the week this year and went from 7 am until 3 am the next day...so I ended up having to take 2 days for each shift....I'm wasting away all my vacation time at work...and working my butt off!! Not fair!!  This rodeo things is quickly loosing its appeal!

The month was scattered with trips to the rodeo, Zumba, dance, laundry, driving school, Loteria Sundays and lots of love and laughter.

One particular Friday off, I took the girls for our Girls Day outing, which usually consists of lunch at Olive Garden and then some shopping.  We invited Vero to go with us, because I read the book The Shack and loved it.  The movie came out this month and I went to see it with the ladies in my Bible Study group and loved it.  I told the girls about it on the way to rodeo one night and they really wanted to see it.  So we worked it into our girls day and took Vero with us.  They loved it too.  They cried the whole time and were moved just like me!

 This is us prior to the tears.  

 Mid month I surprised the girls with tickets to go to the Beauty and the Beast Movie premier.  It was a big deal out in a fancy theater in Richmond that Tio Ray was bale to get us tickets too....so Ceci and I took my babies to it.  The week before I let them know we were going, and Issy was beyond excited.  She asked if she could dress up and at first I told her she was nuts, but then it dawned on me that she is growing up so fast and that these moments are few and far between...so if my baby wanted to dress up like a princess for the movie premiere....then damnit...I'm in!! I looked up the dresses online and found one at Target....of course the Target around us didn't have her size, so her daddy came to the rescue and drove around town until he found the Belle dress that was exclusively made for the movie release in her size and she almost cried of joy when we gave it to her....She tried it on immediately, and started planning on waking up early, curling her hair, lifting it in a half bun, make-up...the works.  I'm telling she was soooo excited.

 That Saturday morning came and she was up and going by 7:30.  I curled her hair, lifted it half up i a rose bun, added some blush and lip gloss and we made the hour and a half long trek to GP to pick up Ceci and then drove to Richmond.  The place was a Colosseum...it was gorgeous.  And the tickets Ray got were awesome...they came with lunch, gelato, popcorn, drinks,...the works!!  Thanks Tio Ray!!

 That same day I had bought Alumni tickets to the Willie Nelson concert at the rodeo.  It was probably the last chance I would ever get to see him in concert and Danny wanted to see him too...so it was the only show we actually bought tickets for.  It was good.  He sang all his great hits, but he kinda spoke through the songs, was short of breathe and looked really old!  I don't anticipate he has too many shows left in him....but I'm glad we got to see him!

 This month Makaila had some great excitement too.  She ran for VP of Student Council!!!  She was so nervous...she made up these posters to hang in the school, and turned out that her position was the only one that had a competing person running for the position.  So all the other positions only had one person going for it and were automatically granted.....not hers.  She had a girl run against her and boy was she worried. She was stressed out like none other!  We prayed, posted things on social media, asked and begged for votes and she WON!!!  That Friday they made the announcements at school, she called me in tears so excited about her victory.  I have to admit...I cried too.  I was one super proud momma.  Knowing she was that happy and that she had succeeded I was overcome with tears!  I was calling my parents to brag, and texting my friends and talking about it at work....LOL.

 

 This month flew by and I didn't take too many pictures.  We saw Alisha Keys and Willie Nelson this year....the least amount of times I went to shows in years!! The night Makaila went with Karena to see Thomas Rhett there was a shooting scare and she didn't make it home until 1:30!  It was scary.  Makaila took her second round of SAT Tests , we saw a few movies, had a few girls days, and did boat loads of laundry!  It was filled with great memories, some fighting, and some definite getting on each others nerves...but I am grateful for every second.

I'll end this post with a few more pics of my babies and well wished for a fantastic April....I'm finally caught up on my posts....lets see how long that lasts!! LOL

February 2017

Ok - As good as I am at writing everything down in my handy planner and staying organized with this blog info, I am terrible at getting in here to post updates.  In my mind and heart, I would love to do it every morning, weekdays only and fill it up with great moments and memories...but the reality is that its just impossible.  I am busy at work most mornings, I forget most evenings, and life gets hectic.  I'm thinking that the bi weekly or monthly update will have to suffice.  I mean lets face it.  I am not writing this blog to make money or advertise, (Clearly you can tell by my lack of interest in grammar checking or re-reading) its for my babies to read when they are grown women and wanting to reminisce, or really its to remember when times get tough they can come here and be reminded that they are not alone, that we have probably already gone through something similar and we overcame it.  I want them to come back here and read these post many years from now and remember the moments that mattered the most.  The times they really screwed up, the times I hurt them or they hurt me...because that's life.  And the best part is we overcame every heartache, every pain and every failure and we kept going.  Because that's what we do.

So now that I have accepted the fact I'm just not going to update daily or even once a week...here goes February!

 This adorable nugget visited me at work today...OMG Precious!!! Isn't he freakin adorable!!

 The instapot is steady going...made spinach artichoke dip and it was freakin fantastic!!!

So Danny took the girls to the NFL Live Experience (the Superbowl is in Houston this year), and the girls had a blast...they were loving every moment...especially Makaila!

 And they even were kind enough to bring me a gift... I wore it while they told me all about their fun!

Nancy and I also took a day trip over to Waco.  We had so much fun just talking and laughing and shopping.  We hit up the Magnolia market, Ninfa's for lunch and then shopped all the littler stores we could manage until the town shut down at 6!!

 My favorite purchase of the  trip!! It's going in the girls hallway!  I LOVED IT

 It was a great trip that I am so grateful we decided to take.  Now if we can finally get a sisters trip with all four of us, that would be fantastic.  Makaila went to Reality Weekend with the church, and she was a complete sour puss about it.  I swear that girl...she has attitude from hell sometimes.  I wish they would just relax and enjoy life sometimes...but I guess this is typical for teenagers.  Drives me crazy!!  I basically forced her to go.  She was on board until she realized none of her friends were going and she would be outside her comfort zone and have to socialize with new people.....Heaven forbid!! We left her to enjoy her forced Weekend Reality.  Unfortunately Tia Angelita passed away so Danny and I went to her funeral, to pay our condolences to Tia Helly and Tio Orlando.  Later that evening we went to Herrera's night club to jam.  Nancy and Jose went with us, and Erica was there celebrating Noe's brothers birthday! We had a great time.  Before the evening was up Tavo and his wife came too.  They came in from Mexico to hang out for the weekend!

 In February we spent several weeks making geode rocks for Isabella's science fair project!

We watched the Superbowl over at Sergio's house and celebrated Mary's birthday too.  This month Danny and I celebrated 17 years of marriage....actually celebrated is over stating it.  The date came and went and nothing was even said! LOL  Thank Dan...I can always count on him for romance!

There were far too many nights spent working on Rodeo swaps!  Nancy came and tried a few Zumba classes with me.  Isabella went on her 4th grade Austin field trip!  She had a blast!!  Makaila had a few babysitting gigs, and at work I had to meet with HR, over an employee complaint.  I also was moved to the mangers area, begrudgingly....its been fun!  Apparently wanting people to do their job accurately and timely is now stress causing micro-management.  Go figure.  it's okay though...I'm gunna let it go and give it to God...stressing over it won't do me any good, and truthfully, its not even worth the energy!

Valentine's Day was nice.  Danny was sweet and bought flowers for me and for each of the girls.  He had a vase for each one of us.  He also got us some chocolates and some bundt cakes!  He really knows how to love us...with food!

Nancy and Jose went to the theater on a Valentine's Day date...how cute are they! 

 Makaila and I made many trips to the gym, and you can see above how I felt about that! LOL 

 This month the Carlo's Bakery (Cake Boss) opened up in the Woodlands, and Isabella was over the moon excited about it.  On Saturday the 18th, we spent our morning doing laundry and cleaning house, then we went to the Woodlands Mall to meet Carlo at the Grand Opening.  The line was over 4 hours long...but I stood in it with our baby because she was super excited.  While in line, Makaila and Karena said that some people were getting photo ops, so I stayed in the line while they took Isabella for the possibility of pics with Carlo.  45 minutes later they came back with a tear faced Isabella.  Happy tears of course.  I am dead serious...she was having a major fan moment.  She was so star struck and awed at having met one of her favorite Food Network stars she cried!  Adorable right!?!

These girls are so spoiled blessed! But its moments like this when they are working together to make each other happy that bring me the greatest joy as their mother.  It's seeing them so overcome with joy that they cry.  It's watching them love each other instead of fighting or being a pair of jerks!  I've told you time and time again, and now I'm writing it here so you cannot forget...You are only going to have one sister in this life.  Each other...that's all you get.  No one will trust you like your sister protect you like your sister or love you like your sister.  So treat her with love, care for her, be nice and enjoy her!!

We celebrated Ray's birthday with cake and Loteria too.  We celebrated Samantha's 30th birthday this year too.  Erica hosted a dinner party on the 24th and we went and had fun.  We laughed and talked crap and called it a night.  

That weekend we enjoyed the beautiful weather by hanging out walking the shops in Highland Village.  We met up with Veronica and Brianna and then had lunch at the Grand Lux Cafe.  We ended the night with ice cream in China town at the Juicebox...OMG  this stuff was freakin fantastic!!!

 We ordered the wrong stuff at first, and then ordered again before we left.  This snowflake ice was AMAZING!!!  I think we will be coming back her and probably often!!

 I think my favorite things of this month were the NFL experience the girls got to take part of with their dad, Izzy meeting Carlo, and her dad surprising her with treats from there later in the week.  But really if I'm being honest, it is the routine of every Sunday, getting up for church together as a family, and then going to have lunch with the Ramirez's and then going to my in-laws for Loteria.  Our Sunday have become so special to me. The only part I hate is knowing that my side of the family doesn't do anything like this and sometimes it feels like we drift further and further apart!  I'll be praying over this and praising God for the unity he builds in my Limon family, the laughter and crap talking we share over Loteria games, and the joy of going to church as a family!!

Here are some random snapchat pics that make me smile....ENJOY!