September 2019

 First day of school

As a parent we want our children to have good school experiences and although we know there will be trials just like at any other place we still hope that our kids will be safe and happy.

Well, the 2019 school year started out fine for Riley. He was excited to be back in school.

As is our tradition, Jacob came along with us.

Riley's 3rd grade teacher seemed nice. She was cordial but not friendly. That didn't sit well with me. She was also on her last trimester which meant she was going to have a substitute for most of the school year.

He's looking so handsome!

About three weeks into the new school year Riley began having issues with a particular boy. There's a lot of immigrants from Africa and the Middle East. Riley had a misunderstanding with a boy, unpleasant words were exchanged but then this boy proceeded to get physical, he kicked Riley on the mouth and a tooth got loose. About an hour later his tooth fell out. Thankfully, it was a baby tooth. However, this behavior is unacceptable and so we requested a meeting with the principal. 

The principal gave us a bogus excuse regarding the boy saying that fighting is part of their culture where he's from. I then said, well, he lives in America now and he should know that assaulting people is not the norm here. The principal continued to defend the boy. Jacob and I were very upset and so we made the decision to move Riley to another nearby school.

We got in contact with this principal from the other school and his personality was completely the opposite from the other principal at Riley's old school. He accepted Riley's transfer immediately and Riley began at the new school the following Monday.

We met up with Riley's new teacher and she was very friendly and understanding. We had open communication with her constantly. We liked that.

So here he is on the first day at the new school.

Well, for the whole six months he was in class he had a great experience then, the stupid corona virus hit and well, it took him and us a while to get use to the new online routine.

Lord, shine Your light on the path You want Riley to take. 

Help Him to trust that You are always with him.

Riley's First Day of School 2018

Riley's always eager to return to school. I wonder if he'll be as excited/eager once school becomes more work and less play ... I guess we'll see.

Such a cute face.
Only when Riley started Kindergarten did I miss him a lot while he was at school. Obviously, because it was our first year of being away from each other for seven hours. Now however, us being apart for seven hours is no longer hard. Once back home I quickly become distracted with chores and errands.
I obviously do think about bullies and hope that his teacher gives fair treatment to her students and not just dismiss whenever they state their concerns to her. I say a little prayer every morning for Riley's protection, for him to be a good student and to honor God with the choices he makes.

Jacob makes sure he's part of his first day of school. It's a special day and I'm thankful that we're both able to share in this experience with Riley. This will be one of those memories that will stay with him forever.

After dropping him off at school and after Jacob left for work I had the house all to myself once more. For breakfast I treated myself to chick-fil-a. Just the fact that I'm by myself I am able to truly relax and delve into uninterrupted activities.
Also, back then I was reading The Story. I enjoyed it and I do realize it only talks about some books from the Bible and not in complete detail. I guess some people have an issue with that ....  however, The Story was never meant to replace the Bible.

After my breakfast I went back home did some chores then enjoyed a cozy movie (Signs) and blogged. I do like to watch movies.

And my ever loyal companion resumed her position next to me on the couch. Such a sweetheart!

I couldn't wait to hear about how his day went. As soon as I saw him I knew something was wrong because I could see discomfort on his face. The grass at his school is horrible. There's holes all over. I didn't have to ask him what happened, he immediately told me that he sprained his ankle while running on the grass playing tag. The first of many.

Other than that he did have a fun day. He mentioned friends that were in his class and made sure to tell me about the new students.

I had him lean into me as we walked back to the car and as soon as we got home I put an ice pack on his right ankle.

Time has the power to fly fast,

childhood is the best to enjoy while it lasts.

First Day of School 2017

Oh boy, was Riley ever so excited about the first day of school. He loves school. I think that's how it is with most little boys since school for them is all about recess and playing .... but, as they get older and begin to get homework that's when they see school differently. I just hope that learning is interesting and enjoyable for him as he gets older.

I loved how happy he was and it's exciting for me to see where he sat (of course knowing that their seating would change many times during the school year). I was also glad that there were other kids in his first grade class that were in his kindergarten class. Familiar faces always makes one feel more at ease, especially for a little boy.

Nathan started the 11th grade, a junior .... oh my, one more year of high school left. So crazy! I'm happy that he's got a group of friends that he hangs out with and hang out outside of school especially the gym.
Also, this past summer is the year that I'm sure he'll remember forever, the year that he finally began growing ... like a lot! Boy, did he ever. It seemed like he got taller over night and not to mention his voice, how much it changed. Geez, that puberty thing is no joke. But, I'm thankful. He's finally as tall as me and I'm sure he still has more growing to do.

I pray Riley and Nathan both have a great year. A year they enjoy, one that expands their knowledge, and one that besides putting in hard work will also be a year of fun times. And for those not so good days, I pray God will show them wisdom on how to carry themselves through those challenging times.



So, once again it's just me and Sophie. Now with more time on my hands to indulge in things I like, I can now resume on reading without interruptions or distractions and watch scary movies without having to wait until Riley's in bed. It's all about balance. Sophie can even sense the change. How it's quiet and now able to really relax laying stretched out next to me.

She's so cute and I love the white on her.

The things that matter most are our sons and

daughters and the stories we write with 

them in our own homes every day. 

Happy and Meaningful September Happenings

Well ... amidst our sorrow there were glimpses of joy here and there in September.
I obviously seriously love cats. I love their personalities and they are so much fun and such funny creatures. They are definitely more interesting than dogs when they're in their playful manner. Dogs may do cute things but cats are funny ... sure make me laugh.

Sophie is a feisty two year old. She's young which means she has a lot of energy and because she's a heavy girl one can definitely hear her when she goes on those sprinting runs she so often does.
Sydna was on her phone when out of nowhere she sensed Sophie spying at her. Sydna glanced and Sophie was wiggling her butt as if she was gonna pounce at Sydna. Funny how Sophie knows how to behave a particular way with each one of us. She'll playfully attack Sydna. With Nathan, Sophie is very loveable and just lays near him on the floor or on his bed. With Jacob, she'll seek attention {just like Libby used to do} and give him nose kisses. And with me, she'll be my shadow. She'll lay next to me or on me and is very vocal. She loves giving nose kisses ... but only once daily though. She's so particular, lol!

Having a cat especially during this difficult year has been a comfort. She'll help keep my mind occupied and I do love her unconditional love and attention she gives me. I love that she keeps me company.

Sometimes, when the evening is still young we take Riley to McDonald's so he can play in the play area especially now since it's getting dark earlier and also because of the rain. Once we're ready to leave his head is drenched in sweat, ew. I think we'll be doing quite a bit of this as Autumn becomes colder and into the Winter season.

While I was going through my miscarriage Jacob took time off work and while at home he would sometimes take the boys out so I could have my alone time. This was necessary for my mind's well being and I was surely grateful.
On this particular day Jacob took the boys to the zoo. Riley fell asleep on the way there.

Jacob sent me several pictures of their outing and was happy to see that Riley was having a good time feeding some parakeets. I sure didn't want him to become depressed watching his momma so sad and crying on and off. It was definitely hard to put on a brave face at the very beginning. I keep hearing how brave I am but I don't feel brave and my faith has definitely been shaken and I still find myself in a fragile state more often than not.

Here are a couple of "First Day of School" mentions.

Nathan is now a Sophomore, my goodness!! My middle child, so handsome, the most easy going, unflappable of the three. He's really a great kid. He is doing awesome in his studies {all A's but one B}. He's really quite smart. And he's sweet. I mean, he does get on my nerves sometimes especially when he's roughhousing with Riley but that's what brothers do right, no matter the age difference. I just threaten to take away his electronics and he stops messing with Riley. Easy. I just pray that as the years come and go that he'll still stay sweet and easy going and keeps up with his studies.

We love you Nathan!!!

AND our very active and eager five year old started

KINDERGARTEN!!!

ohmygosh! He was so excited. He could barely contain his enthusiasm the days before school started. Every single day he would tell us that he was going to start kindergarten and he would say, "I'm SO excited!". What a funny and sweet little guy.

Although by this time I had already had baby at home I still fought through the emotional pain and made it a point to be happy for Riley, even if it was only for a few minutes. He deserved my happiness for him too.
Here we are just before class began. It was bittersweet because we both know that we were both ready for him to start kindergarten and I was so excited for him to become a tad bit more independent. He was so ready but I was also a little sad that he wasn't going to be home with me the entire day anymore. Oh well, that's how life goes I suppose.

Here he is right after school. Just look at his cute little smile. Sure missed him.

What a cutie pie!

A Birthday!

Nathan turned 16 years old on September 12th. I can't believe how grown my kids are getting. Per his request we had dinner at the Old Spaghetti Factory. We're all big fans of that place.

And once we got home we celebrated with a small cake and ice cream.

And our thoughts are always with our youngest, baby Reagan. We buried him on Nathan's birthday. No, we didn't planned it this way it just happened. It seemed that with baby Reagan, God made sure that the most significant dates happened on our families important dates. One thing is certain, our lives are never going to be the same. We will always grieve our precious baby boy. We will forever carry a sadness in our hearts that I don't wish upon anyone. Things like these shouldn't happen. Our children are suppose to bury us not the other way around.

Reagan,
I will always wonder who you would have been.

We love you sweet pea!

Nathan

Nathan's first day back at school as a freshman in high school. Not sure why but I am excited about him starting his high school career.  He also just had a birthday. My son turned 15 years old on September 12th. Every year I think the same thing about his birthdays ... that each year seems to really take its time when it comes to Nathan's birthday. I don't feel this with my other two children's birthdays.
He's always done great in school and I love that Nathan is smart in math. He catches on very quickly. He's also very outgoing and makes friends fast. Although he likes to hang out with his friends every now and then he also pretty much enjoys hanging out at home. He helps me out a ton with Riley and if I need a favor I know I can count on him.

Nathan,
I can't believe you're finally fifteen ... and I can't believe that you're already in high school. That's still a bit of a trip for me. I am actually glad that you're in football. It will definitely keep you active and will encourage you to continue to excel in all your classes. I can't wait to hear how your day went in culinary arts once you start preparing food. I really hope someone takes a picture of you in your apron and chefs hat. That will be a sight.
I can already see the handsome young man you're turning into. I am proud of you for advocating more for yourself. Remember to always treat others with respect. Be nice and considerate towards others. Never compromise your beliefs for anyone.
Remember that hard work will get you closer to your goal{s} in life. I can't even imagine seeing you behind the wheel in a year or two ... that time will be here before we know it.
What I like the most about you is that you truly love your siblings and us of course. You always keep me company whenever I am the last one in catching up whenever we're out and about. You stay close to Riley to make sure he's safe whenever he's playing outside somewhere. And, even though you and Sydna may bicker every now and then you also enjoy each others company.
Looking forward to celebrating your birthday.
I love you!

Back To School -2014

The kids first day of school was on September 3rd. Almost two weeks into the  2014-2015 school year already.

Last year of middle school for Nathan, 8th grade! This year should be fun for him since he's now in football. He's sure feeling aches and pains in places he hadn't felt before, lol. He's so sweaty and red when I pick him up after practice. They have practice every single day of the week! Except on game day of course which are about every Thursday. He's also still in band and still playing the trumpet. So far he hasn't complained about teachers or any of his fellow classmates.

This is Sydna's last year of high school, 12th grade. She's finally a senior. This year she again only has one class at her high school due to running start. Running start is when 11 or 12 graders enroll in college and take courses that will also count towards their high school credits as well as college credits which we pay at a discounted price. Once she graduates from high school she will also be very close in getting her Associates degree as well.
College doesn't start until next Monday so right now I drop her off at school at 7:45 am and pick her up just before 9:00 am then we have the rest of the day to do whatever. Once college starts I'll have most of the late morning into early afternoon to do whatever I like.
This time around, my routine in picking her up shouldn't be nowhere near as stressful as it was this past year. I can even go have lunch with Jacob a couple days a week if I choose to do that or go places with Riley without having to rush to pick her up. I'm happy about that for sure.

And on that first day back to school this is how Riley celebrated being the only one home with me. Woo Hoo!

Another cool thing for me ... Nathan also started taking the school bus this year. That has been such a relief for me. You guys don't know how greatly that helps me in a lot of ways. If that service is available I don't see why he shouldn't take the bus to school {now when the time comes for Riley to go to school I will be taking him daily. I never had my kids ride the bus when they were little. I just don't feel comfortable doing that at such a young age.}. I do however have to pick him up at 4:30 pm from football practice but that's fine. He only rides the bus home on game days since they don't have practice after school.

All I ask God is to protect my kids while they are at school and to put the right people in their path to make friendships with and help them grown.

May they both have a great school year. 

First Day of School 2012

8.6.12

Sunny ... no clouds whatsoever. The breeze was so faint and the morning was already hot that it felt like it was going on noon instead of 7:15 am.
I set my alarm for 6:00 am but fell back to sleep and didn't wake up again until 6:25 am. I finally peeled myself off the bed and headed first to Sydna's bedroom. She has to be at school by 8:10 am but since she straightens her hair she needs to get up at least an hour and a half earlier because her hair is so long. She is so slow that sometimes she doesn't have time to eat breakfast. After waking her up I then woke up Nathan. His alarm was set to go off in five minutes so he stayed in bed 'til his wake up song came on.

In Tucson, elementary goes all the way to 6 grade so this is Nathan's last year in elementary school. When it comes to getting ready he's pretty speedy. I really don't have to be after him making sure he gets ready on time.

{Nathan - 11 years old}

This year is also the very first time that he rides the school bus. I've always taken him to school. Dropping him off right infront of the school in the mornings and arriving at the carpool lane 15-20 minutes early in order to be one of the first ones in the carpool lane. I think this is the right time for him to experience more independence. In my opinion when it comes to boys it's ok to be a little lax on certain things that I wouldn't be lax with Sydna. That's just the way it is. I still don't let him walk to school because although his school is only four blocks away those blocks are long and I just don't trust people. Simple as that. There's a lot of crazy people everywhere.

While I waited for the school bus to arrive with Riley attached to my hip I was already sweating. It was so humid this morning. Reminds me of Texas summers. Dreadfully humid! Yuck. Good thing I was outside for about two minutes and once I saw the bus drive up, stop, and saw Nathan walking towards it I took a picture and immediately went back inside the house. Nathan is the one wearing the red shirt.

It is such a relief not having to leave the house twice in an hour to drop off the kids. I'll still drop him off if it's raining in the morning or way cold but that wont be too often. For Sydna, we try to leave the house at 7:50 am. If you leave any later you risk being stuck in traffic. So given that she's so slow in doing things I have to be after her about every 5 -10 minutes. Yelling out the time, hurrying her up if it's ten minutes before we leave and she still hasn't eaten breakfast. Some mornings are definitely more stressful than others. When it comes to Sydna I am not a lax mom. She's sometimes not happy about that but I stick to my way of parenting and remain consistent no matter how draining it can be. I'm strict but fair even if she sometimes doesn't think so. There's a lot of communication going on between us and I'm hoping I always accomplish to have her see my point of view. I often have her see herself from a third person that way she sees things in a clearer light. It does work even though she may have an annoyed look on her face but that's my responsibility as her mom. To teach and guide her.

Sydna is starting the 10th grade, a sophomore. Yikes!

{Sydna - 15 years old}

Thankfully they both had a good day. They were a little nervous but according to their first day of school stories they did great. They both liked their teachers ... at least for now but they both had plenty  to talk about when it came to who they got in each class ... boy oh boy! I know there will be a lot of days they each will mention a certain someone telling me how that person irritated them, or how rude they were. All I can do is listen attentively and offer advise if it is required. Gotta love the school years.

I love my kids. They are my world and I pray they both have a great school year, work hard in their studies and always strive to be the best they can be. This is when it'll get more challenging for Sydna ... now until she graduates and we will be there for her through the highs and lows supporting her every step of the way.

I do get sad and at times teary eyed when I think of how our lives will change {are changing} as Sydna gets older. Nothing ever stays the same but I am looking to the future with optimism and can't wait to see the bright young woman I know she will become. She's got a bright future ahead of her. I just pray she always keeps God close to her heart.

With God on her side she will accomplish anything she sets her mind to.