That's a longggg time!

Well, tomorrow Leon and I celebrate 18 years together. Eighteen years with the love of my life! We pretty much grew up together and now here we are growing old together-it's happening rather quickly too, I might add. :) Of course, we've had our ups and downs...tell me, who hasn't? But here we stand, hand in hand-together. In 18 years, we've experienced death of grandparents, illnesses of parents, deaths of our best friends, losing a baby, moving, job changes, a car jacking, a flood, and a terrible car accident. We've also shared many moments of bliss: laughs, two beautiful children, buying a home, graduating college, renewal of our wedding vows, vacations, a baptism, and so many other fond memories. I will say that this man completes me. He loves me, in spite of me. He makes me whole and makes me laugh more than anyone I've ever met. He is soft, gentle and would do anything for me. I can honestly say, I hope my son grows up to be just like his dad and I hope my daughter marries someone like him, too. He's the provider for our family and he's a hard, dedicated, honest worker..that's hard to find in an Auto Technician you know... :) He loves my mom-that means alot to a girl. He would do anything for anyone. He's my best friend and my biggest fan. He thinks I'm wonderful, even when I don't see it. There isn't a day that goes by that we don't laugh. Laughter is very important in our house. Due to that, there isn't a Mexican or white people joke we haven't said, a shower taken without a prank played, a jumping out and scaring each other, or a wrestling move that we haven't tried on each other. I'm blessed beyond belief. Many people spend their whole lives searching for that one person that truly gets them. I found mine. God decided mine would live right up the street in Goree, TX when I was a mere 14 years old. Eighteen years later, here we stand..That Crazy Redhead and that Little Latino, still in love. It's hard to believe it's been that long ago that we walked the town, spend time on the sidewalk that never ended, front porch dated, shared a Camelot Village, drove on bridges with napkins and saw Homeward Bound while sharing a pizza. I love you, Leon..and I'm so proud of the life we've made and the life we live together with our sweet babies. But I'm getting a present, right?? :)

In One Day...

Just in one day my son managed to make all of us laugh about 100 times, at least. First, he wanted a few quarters while we were out shopping. I gave him one and my friend, J, gave him like 4! Have I mentioned J really thinks alot of Aidan? :) Anyway, he found a quarter machine and put in his money and bought a fake mustache. He was quite amusing with it on. He even managed to talk T, his best 14 year old friend, into getting one. They posed for a few pics and then it was on! Every time someone on the loud speaker said for the Men's Dept. to call a different department there he went. He would say, "I'm coming..I'll be right there!" with his stache on of course! Then we went out to dinner and he asked the waitress for the Senior Menu. Makayla asked him his Senior name and he said, "Russell...Russell Patch." He couldn't even wear the mustache without his eyes watering, because he has allergies and it was causing him to sneeze and his nose to itch. Makayla put her finger under his nose for him. He said, "Thanks, Sweets." He was completely into his character! I sent my sister his photo and she said he looked like Cheech Marin. Gosh, she was right! He did! Then she said, "I love that freakin kid!" I told Aidan, and he said, "Everyone does." Leon said playfully, "I don't." Aidan's remark was, "Maybe I should go then." Makayla told him to take a limo..he said while rubbing his chin and stroking his stache, "Limo hmm...that might be to much...Taxi..that's better." Then he asked Leon for 20 bucks. I'm pretty sure I should put him in acting. I think he may be a natural! He played Russell..Russell Patch very well, afterall! And where are we going tomorrow? Why back to the quarter machine to get another mustache of course. ;)

Wasn't this just yesterday?

They are growing up, to fast, if you ask me! During the summer we always do school starting in mid-July. The kids love it. We usually do 15 minutes of reading. One reads, the other does computer time, and then they switch. Then we do about 3-4 worksheets. Makayla now does piano for 15 minutes, too. We started our school today and they loved it! They kept saying, "can we do more?" I was shocked. Then Makayla said, "I would love to do home schooling, Mom!" I was easily like, "Ummm...no way!" Honestly, I would probably like it...except for the fact that we all know that I cannot do math...well, not Jr. High/High School Math. Then it hit me....my little girl is in her last year of Elementary this year. When did this happen? When did I get old enough to have a sixth grader? How is this even possible? Didn't I just finish sixth grade? UGH!!! Time has really flown by. I know OLD people always say that, but it really does once someone puts a baby in your arms. It's sad. Anyway, then we set off to go over to a friends house and Aidan had his sunglasses on his head and was about to pull them down on his nose when he says, "Y'all ready for this?" It was in a tone. A grown tone. I laughed because it was darn funny, and then imagined him as a teenager. UGH....again. I am NOT in any way, shape or form ready to live in a house with a teenage boy. Come to think of it, I never have lived in a house with a teenage boy. That alone scares me. Will he always be my sweet baby boy that thinks his mom is the best there is? Ok, I'm stopping now, before I cry. :(

Busted...

Okay, let me just start off by saying that I play on the computer a lot. I look at houses, even though I'm not moving. I look at all my favorite stores online, not searching for anything special, just looking! I just navigate my way onto websites...just browsing. Tonight was no different. No sooner than I clicked PUBLISH POST on my last post about my children fighting does Aidan make his way into the kitchen with his sister not far behind. I had two tabs open on the computer. First it was my blog spot. Then it was Ashley's Furniture. Aidan came into the kitchen along with Makayla, who has been bunking with him since school let out for the Summer. Maybe this is why they have been fighting so much?! Hmm....Anyway, here they are when they were already all tucked in the bunk beds, supposed to be asleep, when they decide that they REALLLLLLYYYY needed a drink of water. Umm..ok. So they get their water, come stand behind me and Aidan sees the Ashley's Furniture tab. He said, "Where's Dad?" I said, "He's asleep, you know where you and Makayla should be." He said, "Well, if he sees you looking at that new furniture you might have to sit on the OLD couch and hold hands for wayyyy longer than 9 minutes." Do you think that's bribery? Because, I'm still trying to decide.... ;)

Cruel Punishment..maybe, but if it works...HEY!

I'm a teacher so I get the opportunity to be at home during the Summertime with my sweet, adorable, ALWAYS FIGHTING children. Ok, they aren't always fighting but seriously they have their moments! Today, I finally had my fill. They argued about who had the TV first, who got to be first playing the WII, where they were sitting, and then legos! I had my fill at Legos. I told them 2 times to just work it out. When I left the room and then came back, it was still going strong. I then became, CRAZY REDHEADED MOM..which happens from time to time. :) I told them to park it on the couch and gave specific instructions who was to sit where, b/c let's face it, they would just fight on where they wanted to sit or who was there first, if I let them decide on their own. Then I made them sit beside each other-really close and hold hands. They argued with each other, then with me, which just earned them 2 extra minutes holding hands. Then Aidan let go..another minute. Then Makayla squeezed Aidan's hand...another minute. You get the idea. All in all, the punishment started at 5 minutes but ended in 9 actual minutes of holding hands once you added all the extra time they earned. It worked like a charm. It's been pretty peaceful in the Sanchez house tonight. Occasionally, I do yell out, "Wanna have a seat on the couch and cozy?" - just as a reminder. It then becomes really quiet, except for one little voice belonging to an 8 year old saying, "Mom may have lost it.." followed by an 11 year old saying, "Ummhmm...but that happened a longgggg time ago." You guessed it...more time on the couch. :)

Another Aidan moment...

So the other day, we helped my friend J get all moved into her new house. We had cleaned, and cleaned and cleaned some more. It was hot in the house, due to the electric company taking their sweet time to turn the power on so I felt really sorry for the kiddos. We decided to take them all out for ice cream as a treat for working so hard and doing it without complaining! As we're all enjoying our ice cream treat I look over and my son scored a Sharpie from somewhere and was writing all over his hand! He said he was making a hand puppet friend. I said through clenched teeth, "Aidan, do not write on your hand again...especially with a permanent marker and give me the Sharpie." He looks down at his hand and THE HAND says, "SHE DOESN'T LIKE ME...HEHEHE.." in a silly voice. All I could do was laugh. How do I get onto him for that? This is funny stuff! J wasn't helping. She thinks Aidan is quite hilarious. I am so thankful God blessed me with Aidan to help Him raise. We all get a big kick out of him. Makayla says, "having Aidan around makes the day go by faster and it's usually pretty fun." No one can make Makayla laugh quite like Aidan. Truth be told....no one makes me laugh quite like Aidan either. :) And of course I inserted a picture for your viewing pleasure of Handy Man. ;)

Multi-tasking might not be for me...

I woke up the other morning feeling quite ambitious. I made Makayla and Aidan eggs for breakfast, put chicken and rice in the crock pot for dinner all while talking to my sister on the phone. I was quite proud...well, until.....

I picked up the eggs to pour them onto the kids plate and I had forgotten the handle on my pan is kinda jiggly. It isn't to bad, but my first reaction was to stop the eggs from hitting the floor(which wouldn't have happened anyway, b/c the jiggle isn't that bad, really.) and I grabbed the bottom of the pan to stop the jiggle. The pan was hot. My index finger actually stuck to the pan. I didn't say any naughty words..I was pretty proud about that. :) I managed to burn all of my fingers and part of my thumb! It hurt bad! It was that kinda hurt that makes you nauseous. My sister talked me through. I ran it under coldish water and then applied a whole bunch of polysporin to my hand, several times that day. It's better today, but I'll admit I milked it while it lasted...which wasn't that long if you ask me. :/ Leon loaded the dishwasher, cleaned the counters and did a load of laundry. I watched with my mouth opened wide. I should have taken a picture. This doesn't happen to often in the Sanchez household...I would have liked to captured the memory. I'm better now. All crusty but better! Stinkin multi-tasking, only gets you in trouble. Don't try it. :)

Happy Fifth of July!

Well, yesterday was the Fourth and we celebrated with our town's fireworks. We sat in the VIP section with my husband's work and ate, visited and had fun with friends while we awaited the fireworks. Then all of a sudden, gusts of wind and down came the rain! We still got to see the fireworks...as we ran to the truck! Our kids don't really care about the fireworks anyway. They see them during football season right by our house for every home game. It's old news to them! This year we decided to do something different...We bought our own fireworks. Simple stuff, like sparklers, chasers, a few other popping stuff but nothing major. All kid friendly...or so it says! Since it rained on the fourth, we did our celebration in the backyard (don't tell the police) on the fifth. What's that saying, "It's all fun and games until someone gets hurt"? Yeah, well...sparklers can be dangerous if given to our children, apparently. Aidan burned his foot, Makayla burned her arm. The good news is that they burned themselves and not each other! Gotta see the glass half full, you know! Anyway, Happy Independence Day, friends...I hope you and yours had a good one!!

Wig no more!!!

Most of you know that my Mom has been battling Cancer for nearly a year. She went through the surgery, chemo and radiation. She has been wearing a wig and never has let us see her without it, except for once, and it was purely accident. She said she didn't want us to see her without her wig because we lost our dad from Cancer when we were really young. She was afraid if we saw her without her wig it would bring back memories for us..bad memories of when my dad was sick and dying. So she has religiously worn it anytime we are around. Even through cancer, feeling awful, being very uncomfortable she still acted as our protector. She's amazing. I am so very proud of my mom.

I didn't get to spend the fourth with my family this year. We stayed at our house instead, but my Step-Dad sent me a picture of my Mom today via email. It said "Yesterday was the first day Mom went out without her wig on. Fixed her hair in a spike style. Isn't she beautiful?!?" I cried as soon as I saw her picture. Happy tears. She looked beautiful, healthy and so very strong...and like Mom again! Talk about the ultimate Independence Day. I'm so proud of her! And of course, I had to share her beauty with all of my blogger friends. Thanks for the prayers...I think they are working!!