Another New Chapter!

As much as I still can't believe my little Rylee is 2, I also can't believe it's time already for Rayven to start Kindergarten! So many of my friends yesterday dropped off their babies for the very first time, and I sympathize. It's so hard to let them go, and it's also hard to accept that the "preschool" chapter of life has come to an end...

So before I tell you about our first day of Kindergarten, let me rewind about 18 months. It was February 2009, and we had just moved to TX. As a matter of fact, we were staying in nearby Canyon Lake for one week while we waited to close on our house. And it was THERE that it hit me: God was tugging at my heart to HOMESCHOOL Rayven. ME? Lord? Are you sure??? I'm not patient enough. We won't get along. I'll be so TIED DOWN!! I'm looking forward to going back to work when both the girls are in school. I'm sure I can't do this. As many excuses as I had NOT to do it, the tugging kept getting stronger. So I asked God to show me a sign. A billboard. A note from Him. A burning bush?? :) ANYTHING to make it clear to me that this is my path. And the VERY next day, I went to the clubhouse to do a little Longaberger work. Mind you, there's almost NO ONE at a resort area in February in the middle of the week, but there was one lady, and she happened to sit at the ONLY table with an outlet, which I needed for my computer. I asked to share her table, and she gladly agreed. We began talking over the laptops, and then her son walked up. YEP. She was a homeschooler.

Ok Lord, this must be a coincidence. There is no way I'm going to do what SHE'S doing. My kids will be weird. They won't be social. They won't get to go to PROM!!!! Please, show me again if this is what you want from me. I prayed. And I prayed a LOT. And then that Friday, we finally moved into our house. And guess what? Our neighbors are very friendly. :) The ones who live just next door came right over to welcome us. And they have 2 little girls, close in age to my 2. And guess what else? They were about to start homeschooling their oldest for Kindergarten. Again....right there in my face. So God affirmed to me that this was my path, and that I CAN do this. But there was one more thing...Gonzalo.

I decided soon after we moved in, that I would discuss homeschooling with him and get his opinion about what I felt led to do. Much to my surprise, he was COMPLETELY against it, for a lot of the same reasons I was. He argued that our kids wouldn't be social, that they would miss out on the real world, and that I probably wanted to do it so I wouldn't have to get up early or rearrange vacations around school. Hmmm...good points! So I prayed: Lord, you KNOW I can't go against my husband. This must be something I've just got in MY head. This must not be from You, Lord. I can't change his mind. And that, my friends, was my ticket out of this journey. I thought, WHEW, that was close!!! :)

Although I still knew in my heart that homeschooling was what I wanted, I only mentioned it to him maybe one more time. He is very easy going, but when he is against something, he doesn't change his mind. After 7 years of marriage, this is one thing I know!! :) I accepted that she would be going to school, so I made preparations last year to get her ready for Kindergarten. I put her in Mother's Day Out 2 days a week to get her adjusted to "going" somewhere. I even planned our summer trips BEFORE school started. And then one day last October, he came home from work. I will never forget this day as long as I live! We had finished dinner, and he was wiping down the high chair. Without even looking at me, he said, "If you're still willing to homeschool the girls, I think it's what we should do." WHAT?????? Are you SURE??? I had already accepted that she would go to "real school". But at that point, I knew this was a "God thing", because only God could have changed his mind.

Fast forward to NOW. We started Kindergarten yesterday! I wanted to get going so that we will finish in Mid-May. We had a lot of fun!! I hope today goes as smoothly as yesterday did. I'm still nervous about teaching reading, but I know with His help, I can do this! Here are some pics of our first day.... She is such a big girl! ;)

My Baby....is TWO!

Really, I'm getting bad at this blogging thing, people! We have had a jet-setting summer, as most of our friends would say. From our trip in May to New Mexico & Arizona, we haven't slowed down a bit. In July we celebrated our precious Rylee's second birthday!

I can't believe she is actually TWO... where has the time gone by? She is so sweet, and she is a cuddler. She loves to do everything big sis does, and she throws a huge fit when things don't go her way. She may be passionate like her mommy! ;) I love how she is so into baby dolls, and she has about 10 things she sleeps with every night (her favorites are Lelly & Puppy). She is growing up into quite the little lady, and it keeps me busy doing her hair, makeup, and perfume. She is obsessed with jewelry too! She loves to dress up, especially when Rayven dresses her up in her clothes. Big sister's closet seems like her fave place to be! Here are some pics of a photo shoot we did with my friend. She looks like such a big girl!


Here are some pics of the big birthday girl enjoying her day. Can't believe she's already two.... Did I say that already? :)

Happy Birthday, Rylee! You are such a wonderful little girl, and we love you so much!

Home Sweet Home

The girls with my parents

Rylee ready for the 4th of July

Rylee & cousin Danika



Rayven ready for July 4th




The art of Tree Climbing
(thanks, Uncle Kenny!)

Well...it's been awhile since I've blogged! My goal of once per week isn't panning out so well...but I really HAVE been busy!

This week, I've been in TN with my mom & dad, and then tomorrow morning, we're off to the beach. I've had a great time catching up with friends and family, but the week has gone by so fast!! I have been missing Gonzalo & home, but there are a few things I want to remember about this trip "home" to TN:

1. My parents don't have internet. But my kids think it's the most fun place in the WORLD.

2. My mom's kitchen is TINY. I mean, TINY. But - wow - she is the best cook ever.

3. My parents don't have central heat/AC. But the sound of the window air conditioner in our room upstairs will make Rylee sleep through ANYTHING - even a 1 AM game of Mexican dominoes with me, mom, my niece, & nephews.

4. My parents only have 1 bathroom...yes, ONE. We've learned a lot about SHARING this week. ;) After all, they did raise 4 kids in this house!

5. Some members of my family are some of my very best friends. :)

6. Dogs + my girls = PURE BLISS.

7. Mayfield ice cream really is 10 times better than BlueBell (sorry Texans) will ever be. Moose Tracks it is!!

8. I really miss Starbucks..... More than I should! LOL.

9. The mountains here are more beautiful than I remember...

10. When my parents are no longer here, I'm going to miss home - and them - like crazy.

Hope you're all having a great July, and I'll catch up sooner than later. Cheers, friends!

A New Chapter

So, it's finally hit me: Rayven graduated from preschool. Yes, we missed her actual graduation day, since we were in AZ with my parents. And we also missed the last official week of preschool. But on her last day, we took cupcakes for the kiddos to share, our gifts for lovely Ms. Karla, and I even got some pics of the rehearsal!! It was a great day, and of course, I CRIED!! We have loved her Tuesday/Thursday school (which is at our church) and her little class. The highlight of the year for Rylee was carrying sister's lunch box to school everyday!! She took it in each day like a big girl, and a few times she tried to stay at school with sister!

Her class and Ms. Julie's class during rehearsal

Her buddies at their table

Her preschool diploma and beautiful shadow plate
(How could I NOT cry???)



Rayven with her buddy Alexi & teacher Ms. Karla


The girls goofing off during rehearsal

Rayven & the other 3 girls in her class - Ella, Rayven, Alexi, & Bryn

Rayven getting her diploma from Ms. Karla

The basket we made for Ms. Karla with all the kids' handprints

My little preschool graduate!

Well, it was a great day, even if I cried. And I didn't cry for the reasons you think I did....it's not because I'm sending her off to school and I'm going to miss her so much!! LOL. Actually, Gonzalo & I have decided to homeschool the girls (for LOTS of reasons), so she won't be getting sent off in the fall. We will be learning at the kitchen table, the living room, the backyard, or wherever the mood strikes us. Actually, the more I think about keeping her home with me, the more I am sold on homeschooling. I love that I'll get to see her learn everyday and her growth, in physical, spiritual, and intellectual ways. So I'm not sad about that. But I cried because these 5 years have flown by so fast...like a blink. And if the next 5 go that quickly...I don't even want to think about it.

My mom says that life comes in chapters, and that we shouldn't be sad when one chapter is over but we should be happy for the new chapter we're in. I can't help but be a little sad that Rayven's baby, toddler, and now preschool chapters are over. But I'm also looking forward to the Kindergarten chapter where she & I will learn together what it means to homeschool. :) We got her curriculum in the other day, and it looks like so much fun! I think teaching her to read will be the toughest for me, but I'm ready for the challenge.

Congratulations, Rayven! We're so proud of you!!!

Heading West!

Well friends, it's been a very fun week so far! The Grand Canyon, I have to say, was GRAND. No one can prepare you for that first glimpse...it is, indeed, incredible. I am so glad we made this journey!

Everyone says we vacation a lot, and it's true. If you know how we love to travel - very CHEAP - you know that's why it's possible to take a lot of trips. But this trip was special, even more than some others we've taken. We came to Arizona to take my dad to the Grand Canyon. Sure, we want to see it too, but my dad REALLY has been wanting to come here.

I'm always optimistic, and it's something I never dare say out loud....but my parents are getting older. My dad is turning 72, and with his breathing the way it is, I can't help but wonder how many more trips like this he will be able to take. I hope for many, many more, but I'm also realistic. I wanted so much to bring him here, and his face was worth the trip. My girls may not remember it, but I WILL! I know it means so much to him, and that makes me so happy!

Here are some pics we took on the big day...I have so many to post, but these will get you started. It was so incredible!

Me & Gonzalo at the south rim

Me, Gonzalo, & the girls

Wow is all I can say!


I love this pic!

Mom & Dad

So beautiful!

Tomorrow we're heading to the Navajo Nation. My dad's other passion is Native Americans. We are of Cherokee descent, so he loves learning about Native American tribes. This will be another fun day!

I'm so thankful to God that I still have my parents around to enjoy them...and this beautiful Earth He created. Good night, friends!

Rayven's Prayer

I'm not sure if I'll stay awake long enough tonight to upload more photos from the journey, but I have to say that we're loving Arizona! Beautiful scenery, pretty blue skies - what's not to love? :)

I'll post pics tomorrow, but tonight I wanted to share the prayer Rayven prayed today...before I forget everything she said! LOL.

Last night before bed, I showed her a picture of Cayden from his mom's FB page. Cayden is her boyfriend from Tennessee that now lives in South Carolina. He has just turned 7, and the picture showed that he's lost his 2 front teeth (this will be important later, lol). We're driving back to the condo from eating our dinner tonight, and Rayven saw the moon. And she said, I'm making a wish on the moon!! Then here was her "prayer":

Dear God,

Thank you for these beautiful trees. And for everything you made.
And thank you for US. (lol)
Please keep us safe and don't let us get killed or anything.
And God, please help Cayden. Don't let him get sick.
And PLEASE make his teeth come back soon.
Thank you God. And I love Jesus.

Amen.

I just almost cracked up out loud right in the car! It was so sweet that she prayed for Cayden's teeth, and it just shows how thoughtful my little girl can be (when she wants to be!). She sounded so cute and so grown-up all at the same time. I loved it!! Hope you enjoyed it too....

Blast from the Past!

So....I've been a little busy, as you can see from my blog. And someday I'm really going to catch you up with all that I've been doing! But today was a GREAT day. You only have a few days a year like today.

Awhile back, I reconnected with a friend from long ago on Facebook. Her name is Annie, and we went to grade school together, up to the sixth grade. We were great friends, Girl Scout buddies, and always in the same room at school. After she moved, we lost touch - but I never forgot her! She was just a girl who is unforgettable, and that is the truth. We had so much fun!

My parents are visiting now, and we're on a little road trip. We'll eventually end up in Arizona, but we're making a few stops along the way. Last night we stayed in Carlsbad, NM which is such a small town! Reminds me of old westerns and cowboy days. Too cute! Today we toured Carlsbad Caverns National Park which was amazing. I am constantly amazed at the scenery God made for us to look at. Lovely in every way, and so many different things to see! Here are a few pics from that:

Big sis helping little sis through the big cave

The whole gang outside

Notice our windblown hair and Rayven's new bat!

This amazing cavern...can't even describe it!

Tonight was the best part! We came through Las Cruces, and I was able to have dinner with Annie! We haven't seen each other in 20 years, and we could have visited and talked all night I'm sure. I'm so excited to see her, and I'm glad we found each other again after so long.

Here is our picture, with Rayven of course! Can't even believe that we were her age when we met.

As you can see, it was a GREAT day. A day that began with new sites I had never seen and ended with an old friend that I hadn't seen in too many years. We won't let that happen again, right Annie? :) More to come from the Torres Travels tomorrow...if I'm not too tired!

Good night lovely friends!