Bits of Texas: Nathan's 1st Birthday!

In honor of tomorrow, the 25th, making my nephew another month older, I decided to share some heartwarming pictures from his first birthday party in June. I remember for months and months leading up to this big deal event, I'd gone over the emotion of it all it in my head and anticipated a show of water works; I'd cry just thinking about him turning a year old (!!) and how fast these last twelve months have gone by and how the three times I saw him last year were some of the most wonderful moments I'd ever experienced...but in the midst of being surrounded by such happy family members and friends, and Nathan making everyone laugh as we sang happy birthday to him, there was just no room for tears, not even the happy ones. Just smiles.

 My sissy ordered the cute Mickey Mouse treat boxes and personalized thank you cards from Etsy

She and I made all the Mickey-shaped rice crispy pops and cupcakes (+homemade frosting) together! 

 Not trying to be cute - whoever took the picture didn't give me a chance to swallow my food

 Siblings

 Mommy 

 Nathan's daddy

Brother's family (my neice, Makaila)

The following 2 [blurry] pics are screen shots from a 10 minute video Mikey took of the cake situation

Haha, he's like "What the hell just happened?!"

Oh, but he loved his smash cake. He was a beast! We are SO related. 

 "Hey! Bring that *bleeping* thing back!"

 Proud aunt & unckie to these two cutie pies <3

Sorry about the photo bomb. It was hard to select only a handful of my faves from a 200+ stash of happy stills.
Enjoy your weekend, pretties!

It started with drinks...

Remember how I told y'all Mikey and I shared our first kiss underneath an Arby's drive-thru (and were subsequently inseparable ever since)? Well, that sloppy, drunken make out sesh happened four years ago today. 

Let's go back to our life in Vegas, four years ago, when we couldn't get enough of driving around town listening to Jack Johnson while holding hands, and applying a sepia toned filter to almost all our pictures...

May 3, 2008: night of our first kiss

May or June 2008: we used to always split a 6 pack of beer & watch a movie

Sep 2008: club night. I saved him from getting hit by a car this night. 

Gosh, we've changed so much. Mostly for the better. For instance, Mikey no longer has those disgusting glasses. 

Does it mean that the fire is gone if we no longer roll around on oily concrete, sucking face like horny teenagers? ;)

Heartsy Fartsy Anniversary post

Today is mine and Mikey's 3 year wedding anniversary! Before we head out to a romantical day of exaggerated I love you's and a million too many kisses, I thought I'd take a trip down memory lane and share some pictures from our "big day" in Las Vegas. It was actually a very low key style wedding. We want to have a big to-do one in a few years. 
Definitely click on the pictures so you can see them b i g g e r. It works like magic. 

Getting ready at home...

Left: My sister tying my ribbon and me pointing out her cleavage.
Middle: My mom fixing Mikey's rose thingy.
Right: Mikey & I being goofballs

Walking in circles downtown. We'd forgotten the location of where we were getting married. Oops!

In attendance...

Left: A bunch of wedding saps! :)
Right: (back row L to R) Chryssi, Mona, Stacy
(in front L to R) Mikey's mommy & my mommy 

Vows...

aaand it's official! We're stuck together. 

 Our mommies

Sitting in front of the waterfall...

The last three years have truly gone by in a beautiful blur of memories. Despite the lovey dovey pictures of us that I post on here, we argue like any other couple and I'm a major pain in his ass (I can admit it), but we really make each other happy and honestly bring out the best in one another. That's what matters. He makes me feel like the luckiest girl in the world EVERY DAY. That's a fact. I thank God for giving me such a patient man. Lord knows, that's one of the main reasons this works! ;)

With love,

Roni

Let's Rewind 10 years: pt. 7

Oh boy, we're nearing the end of these posts! You know what that means! :)
Now we go to 2008. I was 24 years old and over the drinking-like-Snooki thing. I still went out about once a month, to a bar, a club, whatever, but being hungover damn near daily was far from my norm anymore. My overused phrase that year was, "I'm gettin' too old for this shi-".
Significant events from 2008:
~I visited my friend Paige in Tennessee. Let me clarify, I finally met in person the friend that I had been talking to on the phone and online every week for the previous two years. I had never done that before. Luckily for me, she didn't turn out to be an ax murderer. And yes, we're still friends today. In fact, we take turns making trips to see one another every year. 
~I started dating Mikey, after two years of being just friends. 'Just' drinking buddies, really. I plan on doing a lovey dovey post with the deets on how Mikey and I started dating as it nears our wedding anniversary in March or for our total time together anniversary in May. 
~Mikey tricked me into meeting his entire family after only dating for 3 months! It was so awkward, but hey, we're inlaws now so everything's kosher. And honestly, they were all really nice. I was the nervous nancy. I'm very particular about when I think it's appropriate to "meet the parents", and I remember thinking it was wayyy too soon. 
~However, by October I knew that Mikey and I were a sure thing, so I took him to meet my family in Texas. We had so much fun and my family absolutely fell in love with him. I had only ever taken home the ex before, so you see how I take these things seriously.  
~And of course, this was the year that I welcomed my girly side to take over after Mikey bought me the $268 French Connection dress...just for me to wear to our 5 month boyfriend/girlfriend dinner date at the Wynn Hotel. I was like a deer in headlights when he bought me that dress. All I did was try it on and say it was pretty. That's it. Next thing I knew, the store was having it steam cleaned and it'd be ready for me to wear by dinner time. Mikey even bought me some pretty bow pumps to match (which I've since given to Jen since they were a tad bit big). Since the day I met Mikey, he's done everything in his power to treat me like a princess and roll out the red carpet for me. And no one had ever spoiled me to such levels before. Granted I don't always need that...it's just nice for a girl to feel so special. We had fun wining and dining that year in some of Vegas' most luxurious and well-received restaurants. 
One word for 2008: magical.

The day I turned 24. Natty & Stephanie threw me a surprise birthday dinner. Can you spot Mikey? To this day I giggle or smile at pictures of us, where he's innocently standing so close to me, and neither of us knew what was in our future. 

Wrightsville Beach, NC. He was serenading me in front of everyone. Awkward? Yes. Romantical nonetheless? Certainly.

Walking around downtown San Antonio. I have a picture in front of this same little water fall-y area from when I was in 1st grade. I like revisiting nostalgic locations and getting new pictures. :)

And here's a picture of us before going to our 5 month anniversary dinner. I'm wearing the French Connection dress. It's seriously one lovely dress, right down to the touch. LOTS of tulle underneath - yay. I've worn it a number of times, but not in the last 2.5 years after I started running (and shed off the unhealthy 15 pounds I put on while drinking 7 nights a week & binge eating at all hours of the night in 2006/2007). It's too big for me now and hangs in its garment bag waiting to be taken to a tailor. :/

Thanks for reading, dolls. I'll talk to y'all tomorrow! Have a happy hump day. 

Love,

Roni

Let's Rewind 10 years: pt. 3

2004 was just an even worse continuation of 2003 (marriage wise). I was still trying desperately to hold on to "him", hoping that he was just going through a phase, or perhaps late symptoms of cold feet. But who has cold feet for over a year after saying "I do"? He was spending every weekend with the new friends he'd made at work, drinking in their dorm rooms. None of them were married and I know it made him miss having the same freedom those guys did. I spent my weekends reading marriage books at a nearby Christian bookstore. I was so desperate for God to step in and work a miracle. Of course we don't always get the answers we want. And that's not always a bad thing.
One of the hardest things, out of everything I went through during that time, was not wanting to talk to my mom about it. I never wanted her to know how broken I was. But she did, and we'd often cry together. Which hurt me more, because now it wasn't just me who was hurting. I hated her knowing the unhappiness in my life. I can't imagine that pain for a mother. Mothers want the best for their children and are truly omniscient beings; I couldn't have hidden my sorrows from her if I tried. Mom, I know you read along, so just know that it always meant so much to me that you never said, "I told you so". Thank you for choosing inspirational words and being so gentle. We both know you're not the crying, mushy type. Well, you never like to admit that you can be anyway. :) [I love you.]
I also hated being 20. I felt like I was stuck in a rut. And I remember always blaming a good chunk of my being miserable on the fact that I was 20. The age that didn't make a lick of sense to me. 
The good part of 2004? November and December. The ex ended up being sent on a rather unexpected deployment (I was furthermore depressed when this happened), but in efforts to not just stay at home and cry -I can't believe I still had tears left!- I started hanging out with friends I'd met on base. I still talked to Angel, but she was living farther away with her then husband, so I didn't see her as often, but it was through Angel that I'd met Jen in 2003 and we (Jen & I) got to know each other better this year. Additionally, it was Jen that introduced me to my best friend Michelle. I started hanging out with people that would be some of my best friends for life. For the first time in a long time I was having fun. I was happy when I was with these people. 
They're not all pictured, but my first Air Force family away from my real one was: Michelle, Jen, Jamilya, Phil, Kyle, Jer-Jer, Chris, Andy, and Dustin. We all still keep in touch, even if it's not as often as I'm sure we'd all like. Life just gets busy, I suppose. 

Michelle & I during a game of Catch Phrase

Jen & Michelle's squadron Christmas Party 2004. I went as both their dates :)

Sorry this came so late. Ashley & I didn't get back from the City till well after 3 a.m. And all we did was shop, eat, and take pictures in the Forever 21 at Times Square! I can't wait to share my latest JC heels tomorrow, err, later today. I'm gonna catch some z's. 

Thanks for reading, friends. Really, really. 

Love,

Roni

Hooray for roll overs! And I'm not talking minutes.

I have some fun pictures to share with y'all from both birthday parties Saturday, that thankfully the snow didn't interrupt. However, I've got some school prepping to do tonight since we go back tomorrow (yay!/boo) and don't really have time to upload lots of pics, so instead I want to quickly check in and leave y'all with something sweet. I've mentioned a time or two (or even a hundred) that my sister in Texas sends Mikey and I pictures and videos every single day of our nephew Nathaniel. Well, this weekend my little love bunny rolled over on his own! No one put their hands on him and tried to barrel roll him this time; nope, Nathaniel decides, mid-laugh, to show his mommy what he can do all by his big boy self. Good job, baby! You made your auntie Roni cry with pride. I wish I could've been there. 

Mommy blogger-friends out there, I'm sure this takes you back to when your little cupcake did this big deal thing, too. :) It's so precious the littlest things that make your heart spill over with love.
Watching this video, I couldn't help but think of a song that my Mommy and I sing in little kid voices, laughing uncontrollably, but the song itself is so nostalgic, relatable/true, and makes me cry every time I hear it. I know my sister is one that holds tightly onto every moment she's having as a new mommy, and I'm sure lots of people are, so if you don't have a problem with country music maybe you'd like this pretty song. 
Have a wonderful week back at your places of responsibility, and may your hearts be happy. 


Love,
Roni

Late night ice cream date

9:30 p.m.

me: "You wanna go get some ice cream?"

Mikey: "Sure, like pints at the gas station?"

me: "No, I wanna go to Applegate's and get cones, and eat them in the car since it's cold outside. We can make out, too."

Mikey: "Okay!" 

mint chocolate chip

rocky road

we purposely put ice cream all over our lips, lol

Because it's moments like these that make married life so much fun. 

Happy 80th Birthday, Grandma

the back of this picture of my grandparents says "June 1962"

If she were still with us this is how old my grandma, Margarita Zapata, would have been.
My grandma only spoke Spanish. She never drove a car her entire life. She was a devoted wife and mother and my mommy and I are the only ones in our family that have her pale complexion.
My favorite memories of my grandma include me trying to make her laugh the only way I could: by saying the word "fart" in Spanish. I know that sounds silly, but I couldn't make complete sentences in Spanish and I loved hearing her laugh.  I only knew 'Spanglish' (combo of English & Spanish) and of course, I only knew the naughty/silly words. I could also tell her that my brother or sister peed their pants (it wasn't true) just to get her laughing. She was easily amused - I know where I get it from. :)

1984 - when my grandpa had us all do a spontaneous road trip to several states
me, Mommy, Grandma

My grandma passed away when I was 15 so I remember her very well. I'll never forget how she waited on the front porch, just about everyday, for me and my siblings to get home from school when we were youngsters. I miss seeing her there when we visit the old house in Poteet. (That's where my uncle and his family + my grandpa still live).

Mikey and I try and remember to visit my grandma's resting place each time we're in Texas. We saw her again this last trip and I had a wonderful, long conversation with her. I asked Mikey to take a few pictures, and then I asked him if he thought that was morbid. I could see how some might think so, but Mikey confirmed what I already felt. 

When I go home to see my family, I take lots of pictures, because I don't get to see them as often as I'd like. And I want to remember the moments. For me, this is the same with visiting my grandma. I know she's not physically here anymore, but that doesn't mean I don't feel her presence. I'm keeping her alive in my life still. So when I see the pictures that Mikey took of this visit with her, I remember what I had to say to her, as far as updating my life, and the happy tears I always shed when telling her of how happy she'd be for our growing family. 

This particular picture I really love, because of the way the sun is shining almost through me, if that makes sense. I know that it wouldn't really mean anything any other time, but because of where I was and the moment I was having, I feel like it does mean something very special. 

I hope everything I said makes sense. We are taking our friend Purdie out to eat right now, but I really wanted to do a little post for my beloved grandma. I love you, grandma.

Love,

Roni

San Antonio Highlights: an epic picture post

My friend Marla and her boyfriend are in New York City alone tonight for dinner and a show. While I love my friend, I am stoked about having an evening of relaxation (and blogging) on my couch! We've been walking around the city all day for the last two days and I am e x h a u s t e d!
By the way, New Years Eve traffic was pretty darn trafficLESS despite the masses of people in one of the world's largest cities! Thanks for those that sent the no-traffic-vibes our way. It was a fun and memorable night...I'll do a post on that night, soon! I promise. Things have just been non-stop busy the last couple weeks.
Here are some of my favorite pictures from Christmas 2011 in San Antonio with my beloved family. Keep in mind I took exactly 763 photos during those 7 or 8 days. So much to capture. I'll try to keep it short.

Our 2nd day in San Antonio, I woke Mikey up by sitting Nathaniel on his tummy.

Mommy, Mona, me & Nathaniel on Christmas Eve

Nathaniel's loving mommy & daddy

My brother Danny & his girlfriend Bobbie (+ Makayla in the belly)

L to R: Mikey w/Logan, Ram, Danny w/Aaron, Gilbert w/Nathaniel

Cousins (except for Bobbie) L to R starting at the bottom: Krystle, Raylynn, Amaris, Mona, Bobbie, Mercedes, Niki, me

Grandma was there in spirit

shooting my cousin Ram's bb gun - hilarious!

Christmas day: Mikey & I got my mom a ring with the birthstones of me, my brother and sister...just like my grandma (her mom) had for her 5 kids. My mom loved it. 

Nathan loves his grandpa! (my stepdad, Dan)

...and he loves his uncle Mikey :)

getting a kissy from his second cousin, Logan. sooo cute!

These photo booth pics were taken the night mommy & I stayed up chatting till 7 am! We were a little nuts-O by this time. haha

I love me some nakey baby Nathaniel!!! Well, he's got his jeans diaper on. 

chicken strip baskets with country gravy @ DQ...nothing better

 me and brother

The night I wore a turtle neck sweater out to a club. hahaha

with my cousins, Krystle & Mercedes

 I'm bonkers for my grandpa!

 loving on my mommy the night before we left

Look at that face! LOL. Waking up uncle Mikey & I

 The day we left San Antonio. This picture chokes me up, because I feel like it describes mine and Nathaniel's relationship at this time. What it has to be: hugs, "I love you's", and "I'll see you soon's". 

 I wish my brother could have been in this picture, but he was 'workin' hard for the money'.

I know the next time we visit San Antonio, Nathaniel might be talking and walking + I'll have a brand new niece!! I can't wait to see these faces again.

I had a wonderful Christmas with my family. 2011 was a blessing for many reasons. Nathaniel being one of them. The times that I've visited my family over the last 9 years has always been something that fulfills my heart as I live far away from them, but this year's 3 visits were even more special for my family with all the love and positivity that Nathaniel has brought just with his little smile. He has brought indescribable levels of happiness for us all, and my mom and I feel that it's brought us even closer together as a family. I never knew we could get any closer than we've always been...but babies, ahh, babies really make everything better. 

Love,

Roni