pajama day

Every Friday this summer has been a theme day at D's school. Today was pajama day. Mean mommy and daddy would not allow her to wear a night gown but think she was ok wearing the Ariel pjs. Nice and comfy.

Blogger envy and insight

Now I've got blog entry envy of this posting by friend, Mandi who expanded on her husband's post. I am currently reading a book by a Brazilian author, Paulo Coelho, called Eleven Minutes. After a conversation with someone the other day and trying to figure out my life lately, I was struck by the insight/wisdom of this passage from the book:

"She decided that, for the first time in many years, she would devote the entire day to thinking about herself. Up until then, she had always been preoccupied with what other people were thinking: her mother, her schoolfriends, her father, the people at the model agencies, the French teacher, the waiter, the librarian, complete strangers in the street. In fact, no one was thinking anything, certainly not about her, a poor foreigner, who, if she diappeared tomorrow, wouldn't even be missed by the police.
Fine. She went out early, had breakfast in her usual cafe, went for a stroll around the lake and saw a demonstration held by refugees. A woman out walking a small dog told her that they were Kurds, and Maria, instead of pretending that she knew the answer in order to prove that she was more cultivated and intelligent than people might think, asked:
'Where do Kurds come from?'
To her surprise, the woman didn't know. That's what the world is like: people talk as if they know everything, but if you dare to ask a question, they don't know anything." . . . "Whenever I try to appear more intelligent than I am, I always lose out. Well, enough is enough!"
--from Paulo Coelho, Eleven minutes

chat with my friend

Last night I caught up with my friend, Kathy, over some yummy dessert pastries and, for me, a chai tea latte. It was such a beautiful evening out (in late JUNE!) that we sat out front and watched the clouds roll in and the sun set. We talked and talked for about 2 hours straight and could've talked for much longer.

I came home to find the neighbor's daughter over; Trey and Danielle were just about to walk her home but he needed to do homework so I walked her over with Danielle. When we got to the neighbor's porch the rain just opened up! So we stayed for a little bit then made our way home. BUT I forgot to buy carpet cleaner while I was out (the dogs are driving me CRAZY) so Danielle and I ran up to Wal-mart. When we left it was still POURING. It was still POURING when we got home. I got SOAKED just going to the door. Cache kitty was hiding under the Tahoe and I had to get down and crawl under to get him out. He was not a happy kitty. We both went inside SOAKED--REALLY, REALLY soaked! But I'm glad I got him out because it rained hard for about another hour!

All in all, though, it was a very fun night for me.

new children's hospital and dave

This evening was the opening of the new children's hospital at the old Austin airport site. On our way over to check it out we thought "let's go by our buddy, Dave's and see if he wants to go." Sure enough Dave did go with us and it was neat. Dave lives REALLY close and is pretty psyched for his house value. We're pretty excited for our house value too, though it will take a lot longer to get to us. Danielle just loves Dave so it was fun to have him along. Dave also shared that he got excepted into a pretty exclusive grad program at UT for next April. YEA DAVE!

TREY is scheduled to graduate with his BBA THIS DECEMBER!!!! YEA TREY!! I've informed Trey that we will go there and he will walk EVEN IF that means going to Detroit in the winter.

Day at the lake (Early July 4th celebration at Uncle Billy's and Aunt Donna's)

"Get in the picture, Spence! Get in the picture!"

"OK."

click!

Happy early Independence Day!

Friday night date night!

It's FRIDAY!! There was a retirement presentation and cake for one person at work and board meeting as well. After the board meeting we got to bug out early and the whole department went to Opal Divine's for a drink but I bugged out after one beer BECAUSE our precious neices, Amberlin and Emory, were on their way with the in-laws in route to the lake. We switched out our little one, Danielle, for the in-law's dog (I'm thinking they got the better deal) but it allowed Trey and me a little date night. Once they all left we popped in the rest of The Holiday , a movie we started LAST weekend. It was a perfect movie--I cried and cried and laughed and laughed and have now fallen in love with Jude Law, too. (I've been in love with Jack Black for a while now.) But, alas, my current sweetheart who was sitting on the couch with me wins out over all . . . even though he had to run off after the movie to do homework. Now, off to dreamland :-D

Wednesday was baby shower for coworker, Dena & Matt

photos from the birthday parties last weekend:

all the yellow cousins birthday girl
This photo cracks me up--nice family photo but birthday girl is having NONE of that happiness! It was nap time - look how good mom and dad are handling it.
This is birthday girl Sophia and Anaya and Danielle - haven't seen each other in a lonnnnng time. Too long - need to get together more.
Birthday boy Bill - those transformers are so hard to figure out!

the rest of the happy family

Bill and Trey

more tomatoes!

Last night I mowed part of the savannah jungle that has become our backyard. I mowed a path around the garden since Danielle did not want to pick tomatoes until "mommy mows the backyard." (I thought that was so funny--she knows that MOMMY mows the yard. Daddy usually does the tree trimming and edging though.) Then we picked a LOT of tomatoes - filled a half gallon bucket and the neighbor girl got a nice sized bowl too. Mostly low acid little tomatoes but a few cherry tomatoes and a nice sized red one.

party, party, party

Remember a few weeks ago I commented that Birthday party season had begun? Well, today . . .

1. Birthday party #1 was at 10am.
2. Birthday party #2 was at 12:30pm.
3. Birthday party #3 was at 6pm.

The first 2 were kid's parties, the last one was a friend of Trey's but kids were invited. So, today was whirlwind party day with short nap time and now we just got home for the night!

Martinis and Manicures

Tonight I went to a bridal shower for a coworker/friend/fellow ex-Arkansan, Lee. The bridal shower was at Cuba Libre where they have cheap manicures and claim to have cheap martinis but I obviously ordered the wrong ones. My martinis were $7.5 and $8. But I got a nice hot-red manicure for $5. It was a fun shower and because Lee loves Halloween as much as (actually probably more) than I do, I just HAD to get her Corpse Bride DVD as part of her shower gift. Lee and her fiance are going to France for a wine-tasting tour on their honeymoon. She is registered on this site called The Big Day and it is the COOLEST registry; You book your honeymoon and register for the different things you want to do on this trip. Then people check it out and if there is something in particular that they think is really cool or whatever then they can pay for that activity for you. It was a fun shower . . . literally, as I thought I would ride the bus to and from the shower (parking is awful downtown and I wanted to drink anyway). A HUGE thunderstorm hit as I was walking to the bus stop afterwards. I got SOAKED! But it was a fun evening. What do you think of my red-hot nails?

UWM dinner

Tonight was the annual UMW dinner hosted by my church. I invited a dear friend and coworker, Jennifer, to join me and she did. Jennifer is such a fantastic lady; I am continually amazed at how together she is and she's only in her mid twenties!! I don't think I got a level head until about 30. Anyway, I'm glad she came and I, of course, think the ladies at my church are lovely and they were very sweet and kind this evening too. The speaker was very interesting and promoted the P.E.T. Project.

update

Sunday was church Sunday school then home for lunch then off to a classmate's birthday party. It was at a fun little gym with zip line and ball pit included.

Yesterday evening was nice--staying at home and relaxing a little. Trey's garden has produced a plithera of cherry tomatoes so of course we had to make dinner that would include them. Had a yummy Italian sausage, eggplant, tomato and pasta meal. Then off to the pond to throw out some old bread to the turtles while Trey did homework and workwork. Lots of people out last night.

Got up EARLY this morning and took Daisy out for a long walk. Now off to working!

Come plaaaaaaay, Schlitterbahn.

Trey's company picnic at Schlitterbahn. Bob couldn't get in the water and Danielle was so excited to go to Schlitterbahn with Cari that we took her with us. Here the very patient (we got lost in NEW BRAUNFELS) girls are ready to FINALLY GO PLAY!!

Me and the girls:
Trey on the Boogie Bahn--he actually held on the wave for a few seconds but my camera didn't get the second shot.

LOL!!

Danielle and I checked the Owl Cam and this is what popped up!

tomorrow is FRIDAY!

Yea! Tomorrow is Friday! I don't know why but this week at work has DRRRRAAAAAGGGGEEEEDDD. We went to Chuy's for lunch and had some yummy creamy jalapeno ranch and chips. We had an excellent waiter.

Trey's tomatoes are starting to produce. We've had several of the cherry ones and his first medium sized one he picked tonight.

It was WARM and HUMID today and yesterday.

I got half of the front yard mowed last night. When I went to mow around the fire hydrant I noticed something moved and I immediately stopped. It was a baby mockingbird. So Danielle and friend Alison and I stood back near the garage and watched it. Two adult mockingbirds came over and coaxed it across the street and to the flower garden patch near its tree. It was a fun nature observation for the girls.

My SIL sent a blog link for food she is longer for:

http://homesicktexan.blogspot.com/

My nieces have started email and we've been trading jokes. Here's some jokes to start your weekend:

KNOCK KNOCK
Whos there
cows say
cows say who?
no silly, cows say MOO!

Who granted the monsters wish?
his scary godmother

TEACHER: Tommy why did you copy Tims test?
TOMMY: How do you know?
TEACHER: Because on his test the last question he awnserd 'I dont know' and you said 'Me too'


knock knock
who's there?
orange
orange who?
orange ya gana come out and play?

wishes

I saw a shooting star last night . . . I hope my wish comes true.

Welcome Cindy to the blog world

My friend Cindy, currently living in Hawaii, started blogging yesterday! Please see link at right.

photos from the dance recital

opps another sideways photo--Trey and Grandmama waiting in the audience

Presenting D with the flowers

D with all her flowers

photos from the baby shower

Mommy Paige with Danielle and friends Daddy Mike with cousins-in-law

opps--sideways photo. The books were Kathryn's--Paige's best friend who passed away in '99. The baby is a girl and will be named Kathryn so they are special books.

Last night's dance recital dress rehearsal

The ballet routine--Thank Heaven for little girls . . .


The tap routine--Splish Splash I was takin' a bath . . .

After the rehearsal we were driving home and saw the beautiful moon rising. Trey stopped and got this fantastic photo: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
One of the cool things about living in Austin (Live Music Capital of the World) is that there are always music events going on. Lots of times they are free. Yesterday at lunch several of us took advantage of working downtown and walked over to see Jimmy Lafave (http://www.jimmylafave.com/) for the Tunes at Noon (http://www.tunesatnoon.org/). We stopped at 7-11 to get slurpee for me and then I bought the sandwich and chips ($4) for the show. The music is provided free :-) so for about $5 I had lunch and saw a fantastic 1 hour concert. I love Jimmy Lafave--I haven't seen him in concert in about 10 years though, so his voice really took me back. I have his Road Novel CD and the first song You'll Never Knew is my absolute favorite. Yesterday he did Springsteen's Secret Garden and just about brought a few of us to tears.

Check out the "baby" owls

They are so big now