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Terrific Tuesday

We had marvelous plans for today. It was Abe’s day off and we could think of nothing better than checking out some new places off the beaten path here in San Antonio, Texas. We would wake up early, and we would faithfully mail out the girl scout cookies to my family in California. Then we would set out to the Army Surplus to rummage the racks of pea coats and window shop in the glass cases of “hardware". Then we would be off to explore a new gourmet shopping venue in Serna, Texas called Specs. We dreamt of casually strolling the isles of je ne se quoi, maybe a tasting, cheese and wine, or just a trendy treat. All of this was to add up to an afternoon of delight. 

Not to be so. Our day turned out to be neither terrific nor marvelous. We woke up late, still a little sick and it was raining with a bitter cold that could deter even the most determined. We definitely are no ordinary shoppers though, as we could be classified “a stubborn bunch”. So, the morning wore on, and I, as most extraordinary shoppers do, began to justify in my mind the kind of coats to be found in the Army Surplus, and a desperate need for stinky cheese.. I decided that for our health’s sake, we should all brave the elements and mosey on down the way and check it out anyway. All for one, and one for all, right? We put off the trip to the post office and drove down there to the Army Surplus. What do you know? It was no longer there. So much for nice wool navy blue matching pea coats.

Once we decided to ditch our plans for the morning and just go with the flow of traffic a while, things started looking up. We stumbled on a Boricua Market, and picked up some much craved foods, just like grandma made them back home. How can you go wrong with a couple of junta’s of pork and yucca pasteles, a Puerto Rico style tamale, and a fresh jar of Sofrito? Sofrito is a blended aromatic base of onion, cilantro, garlic, salt and pepper. It’s our cultures building block to almost every recipe. No stinky clean up in the kitchen to make it, either!  Fabulous! They even had a ‘ready to fry’ box of bacalaito, cod fritter mix. Tasty! Oh, and I can’t forget the batata, which is a sweet potato candied paste we picked up at the register. That store was a yummy reminder of childhood. After our little shopping spree, in now my favorite market, we headed home to put away our finds. It was then time to pick up the kids from school, and we realized that it had turned out to be a pretty terrific Tuesday after all.

Christmas Time is near... OMG it's here!

It's almost that time again, and I am running behind my to-do list as usual.. Where did I put those stamps? I can't believe another year has passed by! With the lights dimly lit I gaze at the christmas tree and reminisce about Christmas' past. Just a couple of years ago, I was putting up trees with friends at work and wondering what new holiday drama would unfold before the fateful day! I can almost taste the roast my grampa makes every year and smell the wonderful deserts all laid out for everyone to enjoy!

I remember my children would run around grama's house and just light up with laughter chasing each other and getting scooped up for hugs and kisses from family and friends. It's not the presents under the tree, or the hurried preparations that I remember most; It's everyone's smiles and all the warm hugs and the love filling the room that tears me up inside across the miles from home.

Don't get me wrong... We have love and laughter, sometimes even a roast. We are together, my husband, children (now four of them) and I here in Texas, and we are a family through and through, but I miss everyone so much. I feel so sad that we can't share the excitement and anticipation of new exciting things like the upcoming Christmas day with everyone.

Most days, as my wonderful husband leaves for work, I am happy and fulfilled, but around the holidays I can't help but think about all of the love and support I had when he was away working, and I can't further help but get misty eyed.

Yes, there are worse things, and I know that there is a reason for everything, and we had and have our reasons. We moved here to find ourselves, to build up our family, to stand on our own two feet, (well four if you only count the parents), and find our own rythm to life together. Now that we have found everything we came here hoping for I realize there is still a hole in my heart that only home can fill during the holidays and it kills me to be unable to travel. So I wish and wish and wish and wish... on the big bright Texas sky full of stars that our efforts and struggles will someday soon reap great rewards in the travel budget...

So until then..... if I cry at the light because Home for the Holidays came through so crystal clear on my radio, don't be alarmed, I just miss being home, I miss you all, so I'll quote a lil' of the song Theres No Place Like Home For The Holidays, it was written by Al Stillman, and the music composed by Robert Allen, who both must have felt just as I do right now when they put this song together, so as the song goes:

Oh, there's no place like Home for the holidays

'Cause no matter how far away you roam

When you pine for the sunshine Of a friendly face

For the holidays, you can't beat Home, sweet home.
I met a man who lives in Tennessee And he was headin' for

Pennsylvania And some home made pumpkin pie

From Pennsylvania folks a travelin' down

To Dixie'’s sunny shore

From Atlantic to Pacific,

gee The traffic is terrific.
Oh there's no place like home For the holidays,

'cause no matter How far away you roam

If you want to be happy in a million ways

For the holidays, you can't beat Home, sweet home.

It's New Years Eve, and there is nothing I would like more than to ring in the New Year with my Husband! This is the first year in about 4 years that he will be home from work in time for this particular holiday! I am so excited! I wish I had the time/funds/gusto to get all festive and make it super, like "party" special, but it'll just have to be togetherness special! That is absolutely what I wished for on Christmas!
Does anyone still faithfully do the whole resolution thing?? I have always put tons of thought into mine and then sidesaddled them just weeks and sometimes days after that fateful moment at Midnight! This year I really didn't think about it until a few moments before I sat down infront of the computer. I don't really have too many of the usual resolutions so to speak. I really hate being toooo traditional, but I still have this nostalgic need to make them nonetheless! My resolutions are a little on the classic side; To work harder on being healthy; To spend more "Quality"time with each of my children, and of course: To give 100% to everything I do, not just 99%! lol! I am especially vowing to myself just two things, to keep up with my interests outside of my family, (like scrapbooking, blogging, drawing and painting, my appearance and reading) and to keep up with my Husband, ie: take more time to do things together that are fun! Not so much that it takes away from our children, but since the twins were born it has been really difficult to see beyond the "schedule". I will work harder to make sure we have as much free time as possible, and network for a sitter that we can trust! I wish I could say I will positively do these things, but as most resolutions go I can only do my best and hope that they don't get put on the side burner by March! lol!

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OOOHH! We all had such a happy Halloween!! The babies slept through most of it, but they seemed to enjoy all the attention! It was a bunch of fun to get all the kids all dressed up and cute! I cant wait for next Halloween already! In my opinion we have too few nights where people can dress up and just be anything you want to be as well as get free candy! lol!

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So far!

Babies! They are getting so big! Evie and Sebi are over 10 lbs now and they are starting to roll around and gurgle and coo more and more everyday! I love the little faces and the new sounds that they are making ! I even love the new cries that they have found! I can't wait to hear and see the new stages everyday, forget being tired!
Alex and Kathy are doing soooo good, Alex is even chillin out in school a little! Kathy's teacher said that she is the best in the class, and Alex's teacher says he's such a sweet boy and that he's trying soooo hard!
I am excited about tomorrow because my Kathy is starting Math tutoring and choir tomorrow and she is so excited about it! I can't wait till she gets home to hear how it went! Alex is having a substitute teacher tomorrow so I am a little worried about what may happen tomorrow! With Alex, any little change and he can have a bad no good day! I will be here at home with my phone on my hip and my fingers crossed!