Christmas in Virginia!

After a few, "Hey, what's up with your blog site?!*^&*&(" comments, I thought it was time for an update. I know it has been a while, and I am so sorry. It is amazing to me that time seems to pass more quickly. Cristian and Aidan and I have been out of school for a week now, but I think we have been so busy, that it has not felt like a week!
We had every intention of sending out Christmas cards to all out friends and loved ones, however, life again has interceded.
Julian had a solo singing part in his winter Christmas program at school. Needless to say, i don't think American Idol will be calling any time soon. It seems he has his mother's uncanny ability to NOT carry a tune. We were extremely proud that he had the guts to get up in front of 200 people and 5 2nd grade classes (over 120 students) and sing his little heart out. He stood up on stage like he was a professional and looked into the faces of his "fans". Great job Julian!!!!!!
Cristian also got a singing part in his Christmas program. He sang the Friendly Beast which is a Christmas song about all the animals that were at the birth of Jesus. He sang the part about the donkey being shaggy and brown. I thought the part was very fitting of him since he has shaggy brown hair. He was so cute!I took plenty of pictures of him in his suit!
Aidan had a performance right before he got out. He and his class of 5 sang a few Christmas songs. They were too cute. My Aidan decided to give everyone the traditional scowl look as the snapped pictures of the stage. He then decides to lean on the Christmas tree, cross his arms and wink at every mom in the audience as he scowled/smiled at them. Totally hilarious! His teachers absolutely adore him. They laugh because they say he is so funny. Their names are Mrs. Hartman and Mrs. Cook. However he calls them, "Hartman and Cook" like he works for Miami Vice. You know, Tubbs and Crockett?????? They say that when he's thirsty he says, "Hey Cook, hey Hartman get drink for Naidan (that's what he calls himself).
As for Jerry and I, what can I tell you. My job as a taxi driver continues. I watch my neighbors girls after school during the week, so my evenings are pretty much full running the Cantu daycare as my neighbors call it. I am still running. Hoping to maybe run another marathon next year since I got hurt training this year. Jerry continues his whole, I'm going to start running speech almost every day now (we'll see if he does)...... His job has actually threatened us with moving us to some town in Ohio. PRAY that it does not happen.
In case i never told you, a month after we moved out here, his company was sold to a Brazilian company called Gerdau-Ameristeel . They have plants in a lot of remote places. So they are doing the traditional shuffle of human inventory in their quest for a better corporation. Who knows what will happen next year. I just pray we don't move again and if we do that it is somewhere close to our friends and family again. HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEW COMING NEW YEAR~!!!!!! We miss you all. Pictures to follow soon........

Cristian and Aidan's Fall Pictures

Still have not gotten Julain's pictures yet, but I will update as soon as I get them! Enjoy pita!

Finally Some Time to Write!

Hey there. I know I haven't written in god knows how long, but life has gotten pretty crazy for me these past couple of months. Jerry is working so much that we hardly see him. He leaves for work at the crack of dawn and gets home about 7 pm. Then he is traveling so much. Half the time I feel like a single parent. Any way, I am trying to keep busy with the boys. Julian had a Karate Tournament this past weekend and he actually won 1st place. We were so proud of him. Cristian and Aidan are doing great as well. They all love school and are doing totally great!
I have been going to the gym and working out with a personal trainer. Two of my girlfriends and I meet with this lady named Sophia and she really works us OUT! It hurts to breath in and out right now. But it's a good hurt. I've been running again. I was told that I just had an inf lammed IT band and a lot of fluid build-up. But no meniscus tear which would have meant surgery. I was so glad. I have started running (I quit at the end of September and was up to 12+ miles on the weekend). Well, I am working up to five right know before I get winded. I was just out of the game for a month! But its funny how your body forgets and plumps up again without warning.
Anyways, I am looking forward to Thanksgiving and some R&R. I'm thinking of ya'll! Take care. Let me know how you are!!!!!!!

Cristian's First Day

Hey There!

So my school year has started off totally great! Love my job! I work with such a great group of ladies. My kids at school are great. It is pretty stress free. Cristian and Julian had a great start to school too. Here is Cristian's First day with his teacher. her name is Mrs. Rives and she is a sweet woman. He had learned so much. I have to say I am truly astonished by how he can do.
Julian had a great start too. His teacher is the hottie at school. She is young, maybe late twenties, and moonlights as a fitness instructor and Gold Gym so you know she has a rockin figure! She a beauty and a loving teacher. He is doing great. Struggling a bit with spelling because they do twenty spelling words (and hard words too). We are working on it.
Aidan is doing great too. He goes to school two days a week and cries every time I leave him. Then a minute later he is fine and is loving it!!!!!
Well, right now I am in the process of putting up all my Halloween decor which takes me like two days to do. So I should finish tomorrow.
I ran a 1/2 marathon yesterday (Saturday) and I think I messed up my knee. The terrain was awful, very rugged. I went to jump some railroad tracks and my knee went one way I went the other. i had to finish the last 3 miles limping and in a lot of pain. So I have to get in to see a doctor tomorrow. I think it is my iliotibiul band (IT Band). I'll keep ya'll posted.

Starting off the year right!

So.........I wasn't sure about this job. First off, I really didn't want to work because I wanted to help Cristian get ready for kinder next year and I wanted to start working with Aidan. Then the job I go was at a Baptist church (hello??!?!@>#@ Catholic???). So I was REALLY worried I made the wrong decision.
However, I was so welcomed at this school today that I just know that it is going to work out. I already met and hit it off with Cristian's teacher which she so sweet. I have an assistant who is totally awesome and a go getter. Also, the director is really sweet and I can see that she understands that my children come first and foremost.
The teachers are total clock watchers!!!!! Not like last year when you would get the comment at 8:30 in evening and you were barely leaving......"leaving so soon??? They are like, its 2:02, lets go home and be with our family!!!! Go shooooooooo. Go home.
I was so taken a back that I had to argue with my assistant that 2:05 was not leaving late!!!!
Who knows. I am excited!!!
Julian had a great first day too! He loves his school and his teacher. She is really sweet.
Have a good year!

Starting The School Year

So, we are on the heels of another school year! We were fortunate and had a whole 3 months of summer vacation! Julian is heading to the second grade. However, I am having some issues with Cristian. He qualifies for kinder out here believe it or not. But I am torn between sending him to Pre-K or Kinder. Academically, I know he could handle it and do well. However, he is still so little!!!! I am sure he would do a great job but I don't know whether it will all be too much for him. What to do!!!! HELP!!
On a brighter note, I got a job offer (yes I know I am supposed to be staying home, but read on for details!;)). Cristian's pre-k school offered me a pre-school job. It is only 3 days a week 9:00 to 2:00. Can't beat that!!!! The money is not so great but I think it will keep me busy enough that I can slowly ween myself from working. Hey, I have been working since I was 15 without a break, it's a habit.........
Jerry of course wanted me to stay home, but I took it. It's only a few hours a week doing fun art stuff and teaching bible stories. It's a Christian school so that religion will be part of the curriculum.
Getting back to the Cristian thing, I am so torn about what to do. He has come such a long way this summer......Miss y'all!

Cristian's Musical Debut

I enrolled the boys in something called Vacation Bible School at Ironbridge Baptist Church. It was really fun for the boys, however, being a practicing catholic (yes Lupita, I still practice!!!!!!) some of the things they learned were a little weird. Julian came home one day and was asking me if we were Christians. I told him yes. Then he says, "Are we baptisms mommy? Because at VBS (vacation Bible School) they said you had to be Christians to be allowed into heaven. " I started laughing and said, "Honey, it's Baptist, not baptism and yes we practice Catholicism but we are Christians. " He wiped his forehead and said, "Whew, I am glad!"

Any ways, Cristian was in this cute program at the end of the week singing "Jesus is my hero!!!" He loved the music, which was really cute. This was the only picture I could get because the parents were just pushing and shoving to get pics. He got all the clapping and shouting and jumping down. He is in the first row on the left in a neon green shirt. He was so cute!!!!! I was the proud mama!!!!!!

My Kitchen

I just wanted to share with you my almost finished kitchen!!!! i got Crazy and wrote God Bless our Family in Italian over the thresh hold of the door. MY ARM IS SO SORE from writing it~!!

More Kitchen Pics

I got all this stuff at TJ MAXX.

I hope you can see what I am talking about. i just put them on the ends for a little contrast.

Look at my crazy wall i am working on!

Kitchen

Hi Rose!!! Here is a picture of that bush i told you I put on all my cabinet tops. There is really no space for anything else. Just fluff up the bush a little and let the grapes hang down over the edge.

Too Much...

Do you ever feel like there is so much going on at once that you can't possibly keep up? I am feeling like that right now. If you know me well, which I know most of you do, you know that I am an instant gratification person. I know how I like things and that is the way i want them. I am the most impatient person in the world. It drives me nuts to see my house in such disarray. I want my walls to be painted. I am faux finishing my kitchen with a sort of Tuscan treatment that is taking FOREVER!!!!!! So I am doing that, plus trying to keep the boys entertained, take them to camp, keep house, run errands, make phone calls about this that and the other. Man, i think working with 30 kindergartners is less stressful than staying at home!!! Don't get me wrong, I love my boys but they are a lot of work. Plus my niece is here which she actually counts as 2 kiddos. So a total of 5 kids!!!!! I am going to shave my head, by what little hair I will then have blond and change my name to Susan Powter. You know who she is, the "STOP THE INSANITY!!" lady from those commercials in the 90's. Boy I am dating myself there. Oh well, on to my hectic lifestyle. You think that I would get paid to do what I do. I do, I get tons of kisses from cute boys!!! That makes it worth my while......Talk to you soon..

Coming Together

Formal Dining

Kitchen

I have recently received several emails and voicemails harassing me about not updating my blog. I am so sorry!!!! I have been really busy getting settled, painting, and moving furniture around. I HATE MOVING. I am still missing random things that I really wish I had. Like this really nice throw I had made for my couches downstairs, some of tia's clothes, some of my shoes.....Nothing like picturing a the moving guy in my shoes and tias clothes!!!

Any hoot, I just painted my dining room and I love it!! It looks finished. Finally! One room at a time. Jerry and I just bought a sectional sofa for our room (yes we can fit a sectional in our room - it's a pretty big room). It's awesome. It is a faux suede and it is chocolate leather, faux suede cushions in a mocha, terra cotta and chocolate color. It's kind of contemporary looking but it will work.

By the way, here are some pictures for Lupita of the boys. I promised these last week just never got a chance.

When are you all coming to visit????

Rub-a-dub-dub. Three boys in a tub!!!!

Getting Settled

We have been in in our new house for almost two weeks now. Seems longer. I kid you not when I say that there has not been a day that there has not been some sort of unpacking or cleaning or organizing!!! I HATE MOVING! You realize that you have so much stuff that you really don't need. So you get rid of it. Then you go out and spend more money on stuff to replace that stuff. it's a vicious cycle.
We have already had to put deadbolts on the doors because little Aidan has figured out how to unlock our doors. He has been spotted several times in the front yard, at the neighbors, in the back yard (we have a creek that runs behind our house, so that is pretty scary). We are currently looking at landscaping the front yard. Talk about expensive!!!! Plus my lovely mystery machine (you know the van from scooby doo, that's my car nickname) has been giving me trouble so i think i am going to have to get a new car.
There have been contractors left and right here as early as 7:30 sometimes working on something or another.
Plus, our house in Dallas did not sell to the original buyers because something happened to their financing. Now we have another offer that is very poor and we are giving our house away. The joys of moving.
The boys are going stir crazy because we can't leave the house because of all the workers coming in and out. They are driving me crazy. Did I say i wanted to stay home and not work. WHAT WAS I THINKING!!!!!! At least at school I got 5 minutes of private potty time before I had to run back to my room to see what my class was getting into. Here there is no private potty time because Cristian or Aidan want to hold some sort of conversation with me while going potty. So, that is how most of my day is going.
Jerry and Julian and Tia are doing quite well. they love it here. It is beautiful. However, if you are not careful you can get really lost because it looks the same everywhere.
Love you all and miss you lots. I am not at the point of "Dallas Who?????" ;)

It's A Commonwealth, Not A State

We are here! It took 2 long days (23 hours) but Jerry and I made it here to the Richmond Area. It is beautiful! Did you know that Virginia likes to be called a Commonwealth and not a state. not sure what that is all about but I will get to the bottom of it!
I love all the history that is here. We went to look a the downtown area on Monday, and learned that at some point in the 1800's Robert E. Lee had tried to burn down Richmond because it was the capital city of the confederacy. All the old buildings that are made of brick are all black and charred. There is a a book called Richmond Burning that tells the whole story. I am starting to read it.
I feel like I should have paid a little more attention in history class because I feel like a lot the US history I should know about this place I don't. I need to get edjumacated!!! I look forward to learning more about this area. I will keep you all updated with pictures of the kids and the area.
We closed on our house today so that was something pretty exciting! Our house backs up to a creek, so we need to be concerned about little buggies like ticks and poison oak and poison ivy. Yikes! Lots of work so little time!
I look forward to showing you pictures of the area. Miss y'all!!!!!!

Getting Ready For The Big Move

So we are getting ready for the big move to Virginia in about a week and half. The nostalgia is starting to hit. I have made some wonderful and irreplaceable friendships here in Dallas. i often wonder what will become of them. I am hoping that it will be like everyone always says, "Oh, we will see each other all the time, we'll talk everyday, everything will stay the same, etc...." I am hopeful that it will be like that.
Time will be the true test. We have sold our house here and we need to be out by the 31st if May. We'll be out so much sooner. We close on our house in Virginia on the 29th of May which is totally exciting!!!!! I love that house. Who knows what the future holds. I sometimes wish I had a crystal ball..........

We Had A Great Weekend!!!

Well, Jerry was in town this past weekend. We had so much fun! He got here really late on Thursday, so all we did was get home from the airport and go to bed! On Friday evening (after spending the day with 90 kindergartners and some of the parents at the petting zoo - talk about exhausting!!!!) Jerry and I went to dinner for a belated birthday thing. We went to eat sushi at this place in Arlington called Piranha Killer Sushi. IT'S AWESOME!!! I love that place. We had a couple of martini's next door at the martini bar. After stopping at Tom Thumb for my birthday cake (we picked one up because Cristian wanted to blow out my candle!) we also stopped at Party City for party hats. For my 30th birthday I wore a Diego birthday party hat and Cristian blew out my candle!!! I would not have had it any other way.....
Saturday we took the boys to the farm so that that they could see "chivas". They got to ride pony's and take hay rides. It was a blast. We went to the ever so wonderful family establishment of HOOTERS for dinner! Can't beat the wings and a beer (I'm to easy to please aren't I????? :)) We ended the day at Crawford Park which is where the picture is taken at in Cedar Hill. It was great.
The sad part about it was taking Jerry to the airport today. they boys knew he was leaving again, so they were really sad. Aidan keeps. saying "daddy???" and looking in all the rooms for Jerry. We miss him!!!

Thumbsucker!

Who you lookin' at????

I Know What to Write About: STRESS

STRESS!!!! Do you ever get that feeling in the back of your shoulders that feels like you have been walking around all day with your shoulders at your ears and your head to one side???? You know that feeling where if someone asked you a question and you put your shoulders up to say that you did not know???? Anyway, that is how I feel. I had to literally hide and lie my way out of school today (I am a teacher and I do all my own stunts!). A coworker who I have lovingly names "Chicken Little" because the sky is always falling according to her.........was hounding me to talk about lesson plans, even though I had already done them. I kept telling her, "I am going to the copy room, be right back......" to which she proceeds to ask me why I am taking my purse and my lunch bag to the copy room. "I could not have pulled a lamer excuse out of my ass, but I said, "I am hungry and am going to eat whatever crumbs are left at the bottom of the bag and I need my purse to buy a diet soda while I am copying." She peered at me and said, "I'll go with you." I then said, the copy room is too crowded right now......(you think she would take a hint)" She looked at me and said (not the brightest lightbulb in the pack), how are you going to copy of you don't have any papers in your hand." Stumped, I looked at her and said, "I am going to get them from another teacher."
She left me alone to ponder if my story made any sense..........................
I then go to Home Depot to buy a geranium for my front yard and end up walking out with a ton of flowers I did not need! As I contemplate taking them back on my drive home, I am greeting by Aidan (2 yrs. old) at the door. "GO!!! OUTSIDE" VROOM!!!!" He says. I notice the huge scratch on his face given to him by no other than Cristian (4 yrs. old). I go out back to discover that Cristian has not only torn up the back yard and Aidan's face, but he has broken a tree that was the height of my two story house!!!!! YES A 4 YR OLD BROKE A TREE THE SIZE OF A HOUSE!!!!! I had to turn into a tree surgeon and begin to try saving branches.... You see now why I said I was a super mom.........

Di And The Boys

So this is a blog spot......hmmmmmmm.....what to write........Well, I am tired of my friend Lupita giving me a hard time about not starting one of these pages where people can come read your business. Like I have any business for people to read???? OF COURSE I DO!!!!!!! I promise that I will try and update this blog spot at least once a week if not more. maybe there will be more "chismes" to tell..........In the mean time............let me think of some Chisme's to tell you....