RUAPITTMAN2?

Calling all Potter fans...

2009-07-18T09:55:00.004-05:00

So I know that I haven't posted in a while and owe pics on here and FB of my trip / kids / whatnot, but I just saw HPHBP, and I want other peoples opinion...is it just me, or did they leave out a lot of the plot? I try to hide my super geek side, but having read the whole series more than a few times, I couldn't really enjoy the movie. I mean I loved the love triangle scenes with Ron/Lav/Her/Ginny/Harry and the movie had truly beautiful scenes, but it seems that there was a lot crucial in this book that was not there. Won't be specific in case you haven't seen yet, but really. If you have seen it let me know if you agree or if you think I am being more than a little crazy. :)

Tamaranukkah...live it, love it

2009-05-08T09:14:00.013-05:00

So the time has come again for "Tamaranukkah!!" What is that you might ask? Well for those of you who don't know... every 8 years my husband celebrates my birthday for 8 days. He calls it Tamaranukkah. Last time he gave me a gift every day for eight days, the last day being my actual birthday. This year, we are leaving on my birthday and are celebrating by ourselves in FL for the duration of Tamaranukkah. YEAH!! I love my thoughtful dodo. (Don't ask, it's a pet name.)

Anyway, I know it has been awhile since I last posted. Really, nothing too exciting has happened. I have tried to find the exciting in the mundane, but that really isn't doing it for me. So I have decided to only post when I have something in particular to say or record. Love me, love my inconsistent blogging. Here is a quick list of what I have been up to:

1) Family (I signed Lucas up for Kindergarten yesterday.)

2) Gardening (Trying to grow food and fighting the epic battle to keep other things from eating it before I do.)

3) Reading (I am currently hooked on all things fantasy oriented.)

4) Church, Church, Church

5) Roof, Roof, Roof (Hail damage facilitates the need to get it replaced.)

Here are some pics of the kiddos for those relatives out there who what to see them and are mad at me for not getting skype and posting more. :)

You know your kids are Texans when...

2009-04-05T09:30:00.006-05:00

you hear yelling and screaming as they scurry under your covers, playing "Run from the Tornado."

Brrrrrr.....Austin Rodeo

2009-03-14T18:32:00.009-05:00

So we went to Austin's rodeo today and it was really fun. It was really cold, frigid really, but the upside was that no one was there.

We saw the Swine Races...

The kids got to ride the ponies, pet some deer and goats, and then settled down to eat their carnival food on a stick...Yummy.

A little personal...

2009-03-06T13:18:00.004-06:00

So, I usually try to not get super personal on my blog, cause, you know, stuff is personal. So sorry if I share too much, but everyone needs an outlet. A couple of days ago I found out that an essential part of my anatomy, has decided to let gravity win out over all the kegels I do and has fallen/slipped/whatever out of its proper place. I was a little disconcerted to hear it. Granted, for various reasons we have decided that our two little kiddos, were all that we were going to have, but to have the decision or opportunity to have more literally falling/slipping/whatevering away is a little sad. So what to do? I could either have it temporarily hitched back up or removed. I have learned that if I get it tacked up it will fall again shortly and I would have to get a hysterectomy anyway...sigh. Plus, then I get freaked out thinking about being in the hospital for something like this. A 33 year old shouldn't have to think about this kind of junk.

Hello, again, hello....

2009-03-02T09:45:00.021-06:00

Dear Blog-

So, here is a brief but pic filled recap of what has been going on while I was out of touch...

I went to Winter Park, Co., and had lots of fun with the fam skiing...

We had a great time on the road staying in various hotel rooms....notice where Lucas' hand is resting...I mean gripping.

The kids took lessons. (Linley center in blue. Lucas in red on the bottom of the pic on right.)

Lucas and Linley played "beauty shop" and had some fun with Linley's hair. Above is the before and after...

We saw many things along the way back home, including the US Airforce Academy, The Science Place in Dallas, and a broken down dino in Clayton, NM.

Linley had a Strawberry Shortcake B-day recently with some gal pals... I made strawberry PB&Js that I thought were cute and yummy...

Then last weekend we went to the Austin Kite Festival...thousands of kites and people trying to keep out of each others way. There were a few very large (hundreds of feet long) kites, Miss Betty the octopus was the most successfully flown.

That is it, my friend blog. I hope to be better at keeping up with you. I hope you will forgive any lapses, sometimes keeping up with you becomes (no offense) a bit of a chore. So, I take a break to be able to enjoy you again.

XOXOXO

Tam

Slacker Life...

2009-02-05T14:56:00.003-06:00

Dear Blog, I am sorry I have been neglecting you. I feel a significant amount of guilt. Hope to catch you up on everything as soon as I get back into town.

XOXOX

Tamara

Food Comas and Undecking the Halls...

2008-12-27T20:20:00.009-06:00

So, I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas with friends and family. We did. I will blog in a bit about the extravaganza that was our Christmas, but I wanted to write quickly about food during Christmas, since I am currently wrapping up everything and sticking it in my freezer.

What did you have for your holiday dinner? Traditionally we always have had turkey or ham or both, usually at one of our families' houses. This year was my year to cook. (My first time ever!) So, I was determined to do things differently. I wanted yummy and gluten-free, so I dug up the following menu:

Appetizer:
Spinach Salad with Red Onions, Feta Cheese, Walnuts and Cranberries

Entree:
Slow Cooked Beef in a Pomegranate sauce
Whipped Mashed Potatoes
Roasted Green Beans
Sweet Potato Cornbread

Dessert:
Mixed Berry Crisp
Nirvana Bars (chocolate, coconut and almonds melted together with a good dose of sweetened condensed milk)
Blue Bell Ice Cream (of course)

It was nothing short of a miracle that everything turned out and was more than just edible, (if I say so myself.) If anything sounds like something you would like to try out, I would be happy to send out the recipes.

The second thing I wanted to address was when do you undeck your halls? My mom, and Jennie my sis-in-law could attest to this, leaves everything up as long as possible. One year she left the tree up until February...I suggested she could just leave it up year round and decorate it for the different holidays. Can you see it? Shamrocks would grace it for St. Patty's, flags for the 4th, turkeys and cornicopias for Thanksgiving, etc.

In contrast, I tend to be a get it up early, take it down early kind of gal.

P.S. Ray-Ray, here is a pic of some of the decorations we did this year, since you asked...missed you.

My Divine Life...

2008-12-15T12:59:00.004-06:00

So, have you ever made divinity before? It is that white, fudgey type candy that shows up around the holidays. My mom used to make it when I was little, and now I know why she stopped, it is tricky to make!

Well, as I am in the midst of making my first batch, I would say not hard as much as that it takes patience and a lot of time. In fact, I am blogging while I am waiting on the candy....will let you know how it turns out.

So my first attempt BOMBED! Yikes. I took the advice from some doof on allrecipes.com, and it turned out like this...

(It was as hard as a rock and tasted like old ribbon candy....I thought I could save it by adding chocolate. 'Cause everything is better with chocolate, right? It didn't work out.) So for my second and third batches, I followed the recipe EXACTLY, and they turned out perfect!

Lesson learned.

My House Elf's Life...

2008-12-11T20:03:00.017-06:00

So, this is the first year that we have had a Christmas tree with the kiddos. Every other year, we have been traveling during the holidays, so I haven't seen the point. But I was super excited this year to get a tree and this little guy...My kids named him Oobi. He is our Christmas elf.

Oobi arrived from the North Pole after Thanksgiving. Then, at night, Oobi comes to life and reports back to Santa if our kids have been naught or nice. After reporting, he shows up the next morning in a different spot from where he left. So far, my kids have sung to Oobi, talked with him, and told him what they want for Christmas. They also have reasoned, begged and pleaded with him not to tell Santa of their indiscretions.

Here are a couple of spots Oobi has been seen in

(He's the red dot above the fireplace...)

(Here's a closeup.)

So, this is one holiday activity in addition to decorating gingerbread houses that will become one of the Pittman family's Christmas traditions. What are yours?

BTW, do you let your kids do the Santa thing, or not? I have friends on both side of the fence, but on which side do you fall?

Catching Up...

2008-12-07T19:51:00.008-06:00

So we are back!

Are the Holidays treating you right? Got your Christmas shopping done? Are you doing any shopping at all? I am sending out Christmas cards and decided I needed a break...In the midst of all the holiday craziness, I have rediscovered an old seinfeldism recently that is getting me through...serenity now!

We're Sick....

2008-11-06T14:37:00.004-06:00

Two kids with mono....plus one mommy with the flu and a new calling to the Primary Presidency...plus one Daddy studying for the GRE and working 70+ hours a week...equals serious stress and cabin fever. Will catch up when all are healthy. (If we don't kill each other first!)

My Random Life...

2008-10-19T21:09:00.010-05:00

Thanks Mer for the tag. Six random things about me:

I am notoriously clumsy, so the fact that I have never broken anything is nothing short of a miracle. One of my most embarrassing moments in HS was as a freshman. We had to jog around the school fields for PE and there were quite a few hills. One the way down a hill, I tripped over a speed bump in the road and skidded to a halt in front of the football team who was practicing a few feet away. Ouch!
Some of you out there can vouch that I once ate a two foot long sandwich in less than 30 minutes...and kept it down...at least until I got home. Love that Sensuous Sandwich! I heard that it is not in Provo anymore. Can anyone verify that?
I have an aversion to animal hair (and people hair if I see it lying around.) It is the main reason we don't have any pets right now. In fact, I would be a great candidate to own one of those hairless cats or rodents, if I didn't think they were freaks of nature.
I love chocolate. Lots of people do. But what gets me in trouble is that I seem to be lacking that threshold to know when something is too rich or too much of something. This gives me the ability to eat a whole jar of Nutella in one sitting. Yum. Which is also the reason I am on a diet right now. :)
I always wanted to work in the Foreign Service at an embassy, but then that dream was superceded by a greater aspiration to the tune of "when I grow up, I want to be a mother, and have a family...one little, two little..."
I am a movie freak and one of my all-time favs is Anne of Green Gables series. Ohhh, and Pride and Prejudice. The A&E version.

And now, it's your turn. (I promise it is pretty painless...)

Kelly
Janet
Mandy
Jennie/Aaron R.
Tracy
Aimee
Arlynda
Corrine
Shelly
Heidi
Amy

Copy and paste the above graphic on your blog, (Sorry I couldn't get the graphic on my blog for some reason, but go here to get it. Its cute!) then post SIX random things about yourself and then tag TEN more people!

My Entertaining Life...

2008-10-19T18:26:00.005-05:00

"My name is Lucas..." (He turns to leave, then is detained by the Primary President who fed him his correct line.) "Heavenly Father gave me parents."

Our charming little Sunbeam stated this loud and very clearly into the microphone during today's primary program during Sacrament. I had a hard time trying to stay composed, and then failed completely when James started rumbling next to me. Joy.

My Preparedness Life...

2008-10-19T18:12:00.005-05:00

So many of you know that I have become a little food storage / emergency preparedness crazy lately. It has become my mission/obsession/whatever, and makes up most of my spare time. I was looking at this blog that my brother recommended to me and the author had a post up today that I thought would be appreciated....much of it is common sense stuff, but good to have it all nice in a list. Here it is:

11 Preparedness Tasks for Kids/Teens
While teens seem to live in their own universe and are often much more concerned with what is happening today, at this very moment in their life, there are a number of preparedness tasks that they can do now which will prepare them for their future and/or any disaster that may strike. The bottom line is that you want your kids to develop a good self esteem and have confidence in themselves, you want them to know that they can accomplish anything they set their minds to, you want them to learn as many skills as possible, and you want them to be able to take care of themselves (and others) when they grow up. Having them do these simple tasks will give them many of the necessary components of adulthood.

Here's what they need to do:

Give them a month's worth of allowance (what you would give them for lunch, clothing, etc) and teach them how to make the money last for the entire month. Include lessons on saving and giving of this money as well.

Have them take a self defense class. Not only will this give them the physical skills to fight back but it will also build their self esteem so they will be able to stand up to more subtle threats.
Chores. Every kid needs to learn responsibility. It's easier to do this when they are younger than to wait until they are 17 to start teaching them to do chores.

A big project. Seeing a kid complete an Eagle Scout project is a Wow experience. The reason? All of the details, planning, creativity, effort, and coordination that goes into the project which the young person gets to take pride in after the fact.

How to do something by themselves. This may mean traveling overseas, camping overnight in the woods by themselves, or, as in this article, riding the subway by themselves. Scary? Yep. Dangerous? Possibly. A huge boost to their confidence? You betcha.

An assignment to cook dinner for the family once a week. I'll never forget moving my son into his own apartment and him asking me how to cook something simple. It had never dawned on me that since the spouse usually cooks and in a pinch the kids could microwave something, that the kids missed a crucial lesson in something so simple--learning how to actually cook something from scratch.

Taking care of their basic needs: ironing their own clothes, washing their own clothes, shopping the sales when they need things, how to keep their cars running well, etc.

Knowing how to communicate well with anyone. Whether they are reasoning with a three year old, calling 911 in an emergency, or asking a community leader to be their mentor, having good social and communication skills will be extremely beneficial for their future.

Creating their own little business. Entrepreneurial skills are learned and what better way to learn these skills (customer service, advertising, product development, etc) than to have your own business?

Participation in any community education class they can find. First aid class, CPR class, wilderness survival class, swimming team, soccer team...the list is endless and the lessons are valuable. With the things learned in these classes, your teen could be able to save a life, improve their health, climb a mountain, etc.

Volunteer. Giving of your time and talents to improve the community in which you live and helping people in your community is not only the right thing to do but will help your teen develop critical job skills and realize how important their efforts are to others even if they aren't getting paid to do these things.

My Civic Life...

2008-10-10T18:42:00.003-05:00

So we had a great day today. James took the rare day off, so we packed the day with activities. We:
-visited the Austin Children's Museum, (Sorry for those of you who are fans, but it was not half as good as the one in Houston. But, I did get a new smashed penny, which made the outrageous entrance fee and parking hassles all worth it!)
-picked out pumpkins in a pumpkin patch,
-ate lunch and played at Central Market,
-and drove around the hill country taking in scenery.

At the end of the day we went to Shakes (a great frozen custard shop) and let the kids play in a great little park area near the shopping area.

What makes it so great is that there were three or four HUGE, rambling oak trees. They were easily over a hundred or so years old. They had super large twisted trunks great for climbing and branches with a few that grew low to the ground (almost parallel).
Now, I am not a super confrontational person, but I will speak up on occasion. So we were sitting next to a table of about six moms who were talking and eating and basically ignoring their gang of kids. I don't have a problem with parents getting out and enjoying each others company, but I was getting pretty annoyed. Their kids were not just climbing the trees and branches, playing around them, or even jumping off them. All of which I am okay with. However, they were literally ganging up on the poor trees unrestrained. They were jumping, shaking and bending the branches so violently, that I swear I could hear the branches scream, "help us!"
So I pointed rudely, and said, "Um...do you think that they are being a little too rough with the trees?" One mom caught my drift and replied, "well, usually they just bounce on the branches." The other moms continued to ignore their marauding children.

Have you ever observed a tree grow in your yard? It takes a LONG time. I have no problem with climbing or hanging of the branches, but seriously the thought of one of those beautiful branches breaking off made me angry. If this happening in some one's private yard, I wouldn't have bothered (except to keep my kids from participating), but I felt that these trees were for all of us to enjoy, be respective of, and responsible for.

My kids finished up eating and were getting ready to venture out to the trees so we had a talk about being nice to the trees and then directed them to another tree that they could safely sit on. At the same time I heard a mom on the other side of the park area call out loudly to her kids as she noticed them wander over to the marauders... "X and X, come back over here please, it is not okay to treat the trees so disrespectfully. Those tree are old and those other kids should not be playing so rough."

Ahhh...a kindred spirit.

My PHOBIC Life...Part 2

2008-09-28T16:59:00.005-05:00

Whew....talk over. Can breathe again for another year or so... So my friend Corrine asked that I share my talk. It really is just a bunch of GA quotes strung together with some of my own paltry thoughts. If you want to read it, go here. A word of caution....it will be full of errors. Please overlook. I am just too sick of looking at it to do much more with it. :)

My PHOBIC life...

2008-09-26T10:03:00.003-05:00

I wish that I was a great orator, that I was naturally articulate. I wish that I could stand up in front of a group of people and deliver my thoughts without having every single word written out. I wish that I didn't stress about the upcoming speaking engagement every moment of every day; like a person waiting to step up in front of a firing squad. I wish I haven't had anxiety dreams every night for the last few days. (Last night I dreamed I lost all my teeth.) I wish I hadn't paid for that public speaking class at BYU. Obviously it didn't pan out like I had hoped.

So, this Sunday I am speaking in my ward's (my congregation for those who don't know Mormon speak) sacrament meeting. I have twelve minutes to either embarrass myself or to show that I am a relatively intelligent person who can put two thoughts together. I have spoken before. Usually I get asked to speak every two years depending on the size of the ward I am in and how often we have moved. It is difficult every single time and does not get easier for me. I get super stressed out. Usually the day before I have some sort of mental break down. (Tears are usually involved.) I have already started preparing James for the inevitable scene: me pouring over manuals / scriptures / talks from general authorities, trying to find that one perfect quote, that one perfect point.

It is not that I am afraid of getting up and speaking. The actual delivery part I have no problem with. It is the content that I stress over. Since I am relatively young and have had a relatively easy life, I don't have many personal experiences to draw upon. So, I rely heavily on the experiences of others. So my conundrum is this...how do you come up with something novel and unique to share about a topic that everyone knows about and knows what we need to do regarding it? Its hard. I scour ALL available sources...internet/friends/quote books/manuals, you name it. I over prepare; desperately trying to put things together. It is hard. I realize that as imperfect humans, we need constant reminders of even the most basic gospel concepts (prayer/faith/reading the scriptures/etc.), but to do that and say something that people will remember and respond too at the same time is the trick. I have prayed for help and inspiration, and feel that I have adequately prepared. So know as I write my talk today, my biggest prayer is not to have an anxiety attack and that more importantly some part of what I say will touch someone as truth.

James is relatively calm about his talk. He says that I always do a great job and that I really should be worried about his talk. (I do that too.)

My "I'd Like To Thank the Academy" Life...

2008-09-21T20:13:00.009-05:00

So, first I would like to say that I am honored. My friend awarded my blog with the Smile Award, (thanks Aimee!), and now I get the wonderful opportunity to pass it on. So who to pass it onto? There are so many wonderful blogs that I follow, their writers brighten my day and bring a smile to my face. But per the rules, I am limited on the number of people to award this to. So, here it goes:

First, I would like to give an award to Wendy and Britt. Your blogs make me laugh, cry and everything in between. Britt, your artistry and love of life shines through in everything you write. Wendy your love of your family and friends and simple sincerity makes reading your blog a must. Go Grapes! :)

Next, I would like to pass this award onto Rachel. You inspire me with your style and your savviness (is that a word?) in the kitchen compels me to venture forth and try new things.

Last but definitely not least, I would like to pass this onto Jennie W. She is a supermom and super writer; funny and insightful. She also is a contributor to Segullah, which I recommend everyone check out.

Congrats!

The Smile Award
Characteristics for the Smile Award:
1. Must display a cheerful attitude.
2. Must love one another.
3. Must make mistakes.
4. Must learn from others.
5. Must be a positive contributor to blog world.
6. Must love life.
7. Must love kids.

These are the rules for The Smile Award:
1. The recipient must link back the the award’s creator
2. You must post these rules if you receive the award.
3. You must chose 5 people to receive the award after receiving it yourself.
4. You must fit the characteristics of the recipient of the award, as posted by Mere.
5. You must post the characteristics of a recipient.
6. You must create a post sharing your win with others.
7. You must thank your giver.

My BIKER MOMMA life...

2008-09-21T19:42:00.009-05:00

So, an update...thanks for all your thoughts and prayers. Our house in Houston escaped serious damage and is in pretty good shape. James went down this weekend and patched stuff up. He said things are really sketchy still down there but it is coming along.

During the hurricane, our friends the Oliveras evacuated to our house. We had a great time, and the kiddos got reacquainted. Here are some pics. (Poor Lucas, he wasn't feeling well in this pic. All through the night before he had a stomach thing that kept James and I up all night.)

Another exciting event in our lives right now is that after a year of coaxing, Lucas has finally started riding his bike! We are super proud of him, here he is in motion:

My HURRICANE of a Life...

2008-09-11T07:49:00.004-05:00

So just a quick flurry of a post today. We have been anxiously tracking hurricane Ike, and now it looks like the "Cone of Possibility" puts its direct path right through our old home of Pearland, near Houston. We still have a house there so we are pretty concerned. Luckily, our wind insurance just came into effect for that house a couple of months ago....Whew.

We got a call early this morning from friends who are now evacuating up to our house today. Although the circumstances of the visit are a little stressful, it will be fun. James thinks that we will have more than one family heading up here by the start of official evacuations this afternoon. Crazy! Now I am off to the store to stock up...

My SON'S ADVENTUROUS Life...

2008-09-04T17:06:00.006-05:00

This week was just Linley and I while Lucas was away at his Grandparents' houses...He first wrecked havoc, I mean, "played" at my parents' house and then worked his way over to James' parents for some more fun. (Thanks guys for shuffling him back and forth.) He has been gone a week and has been to the zoo, fished, played with his cousin, swam and overall had too much fun to miss his mama. I got him on the phone and he talked for all of two seconds to say that he saw a cougar at the zoo and then said, "bye bye, love you," and handed the phone off. He had a disposable camera with him, so I can't wait to see what shots he took. His Aunt Jennie took some great pics when he was at their house. Here. Out of the ones Jennie took, this was my fav. *Note the vintage Star Wars pillow case. That was my brother's. In fact I think he still has his Super Friends sheets as well.

My SITCOM-LIKE life..

2008-08-16T18:10:00.009-05:00

Okay, have you ever been stuck? I mean stuck by the side of the road, locked out of your car/office/etc....some sort of situation where for a moment or two or three it seems that all hope of rescue has left? If this was a TV show, hilarious hijinks would ensue, right? I only wish...

So a few days ago, I had a great day planned with the kids. We had a few chores to do around the house, but then we were off to a carnival themed birthday party for one of their friends. They were really looking forward to it, and I was looking forward to having some interaction with other adults. A couple of hours before the party, Linley was taking a nap and Lucas and I were picking up. Lucas needed to pick up some toys in the backyard so I went out there to show him where the toy bucket was.
I peeked outside to make sure that none of my neighbors were loitering in their backyards. (I was getting ready to take a shower and was wearing a robe and not much else...Maybe you can see where this is going?) Lucas and I stepped out and I shut the door behind me, not realizing that the kids had turned the knob lock...

After supervising the picking up of toys, I found that we couldn't get back in. Frantically checking all the windows/doors/etc., I began banging on the door and yelling in a vain attempt to try to wake up my two-year-old daughter. (Who I guess is a much sounder sleeper that I previously knew...) Half an hour went by, and then an hour. I contemplated going to a neighbors house to borrow a phone, but then thought about how I looked (robe... unwashed hair...probably smelly) and then pushed the thought aside. Surely Linley would wake up soon. Hour two rolls by, and still after multiple banging/yelling sessions, no Linley.

By now, Lucas had gotten bored looking for bugs and was in despair:

"We are never going to get back inside...we are going to have to live on the playground and eat bugs!"

"No, no, Lucas, just wait, I am sure Linley will rescue us soon..."

Three hours and almost thirty minutes later... the party was over, I was frazzled and even more sticky and stinky from sitting in the humid Texas heat for three hours. Nature-boy Lucas had taken full advantage of the opportunity by peeing on trees and other stuff, and was now using the hose (thankfully) to make mud puddles. All of a sudden, we hear the door open and out pops Linley.

"Hi! I woke up....ohhh, can I make mud too?"

"Sure, why not...wait, don't shut the door!"

My Mom and Me Life...

2008-08-13T09:12:00.008-05:00

My mom is an elementary school teacher and so has the summer off to play. She was able to come down a few times this summer and hang out with me and the kiddos and gave James and I some free nights on the town. This last week she came down and we drove down to San Marcos to float down the crisply cool spring fed river, (I think it continually stays around 68 degrees....anyone know for sure?) and go shopping at the outlets down there. After blowing through a few stores,(love the Ann Taylor / Williams Sonoma outlets down there), we jumped in the river with a gazillion other people. It was 105 degrees that Saturday so know one cared how cold the water was.
The trick to floating the river is to position yourself just right that you can stay with your group and not inadvertently float into and get stuck with an island of floating strangers. Now if it was back in my single days, I may not have minded getting stuck floating with a bunch of partying college guys, but being happily married and with my mother in tow, my objective was to paddle past the parties and give us a nice buffer to enjoy our surroundings. The water was so clear that we saw a bunch of fish, and a few cranes.

We had a great time and it was all the more relaxing because my sweet husband stayed home with the kiddos...

Thinking of James, one time a quite a few years ago, he brought snorkeling gear when we went down the river and saw alligator snapping turtles and a few other underwater friends. I remember being super annoyed that I had to keep a hold of his tube and try to keep from floating too far away when he was underwater. (Which is really hard to do, since the current is pretty strong.) My arms and patience finally gave out and I floated a quarter mile away before Jacque Custo realized I wasn't there anymore.

Ahh, memories.

My LAZY SUMMER Life (Pt.2)....

2008-08-05T12:28:00.005-05:00

So I finished Breaking Dawn (I got it last night and finished it this morning) and its broken my heart that it is at an end. It was SOOOO good. Of course, I was predisposed to like it, and was glad that while the ending was a little predictable, their were a few surprises. But where do I go from here?? Any recommendations?

My LAZY SUMMER Life...

2008-08-02T16:59:00.009-05:00

So I guess this is my day to rant and complain. Sorry dear reader, but I feel the need to vent. The NBC weatherman reported today that we have had over 39 consecutive days of triple digit heat here in Central Texas. Yuck. It is so unrelentingly hot that we usually try to get a whole day's worth of outside playing in by 11am before it gets too bad.

I shouldn't complain, it is worse in other places, but I was raised as a wussy Californian used to a more temperate climate. It wouldn't really be all that terrible, but I have a preschooler and a toddler. Both can't swim, so even trips to the water park or local pool are more often than not, more work than they are worth. My plants are struggling or dead, and I am going crazy from being stuck at home. My van gobbles up gas, so day trips to interesting (but still hot) places are cost prohibitive.

None of this really would have made much difference if I just sucked it up and did stuff anyway. But, I have been so LAZY the past few weeks. Like really lazy. I don't know why, I guess I could blame it on any number of things: lack of exercise/sleep, proper nutrition, hormones, etc., but to me it seems that the heat sucked all ambition or care from me.

The more heat, the more lazy I became. I just stayed inside and read and read and read. Really.... I read a lot. Housework was barely kept up with, my kids were barely clean and fed and were slowly going feral. (My husband worked so much this last month I don't think he even noticed.) In the last month I have read:

-The Host
-The Twilight Series (reread all three to prep for #4)
-Memoirs of a Geisha
-Fairest (same guy that did Ella Enchanted)
-The Uglies Series (Uglies/Pretties/Specials)
-Blue Bloods & Masquerade (anticipating Book #3, Revelations)
-Dark Fever & Blood Fever (anticipating Book #3, Fae Fever)
-Austenland
-Eragon & Eldest (waiting on Brisingr)
-The Hiding Place
-The Red Tent
-The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks

So, 19 books and I am starting #20 tonight. Don't be impressed (or conversely) feel sorry for me. Most of these are Young Adult reads, and I like being by myself. I have to admit though that I tried and failed to read Milton's Paradise Lost, but it was just too involving for my laziness. I can barely manage to read a page or two out of my scriptures or Jesus the Christ a night for the same reason.

Keeping up this kind of pace is unrealistic, at least for me. I have a binge-type personality. I get as much as I can of something until I am sick of it. I go an a little hiatus, and then back again full force. I will probably go on for a bit more and then stop reading all together for a few months. But for now, I am still bookworm-ing it. I have a romance to get through tonight and Breaking Dawn and a parenting book arriving in the mail in a couple of days....

My Evolving Life...

2008-07-18T19:04:00.004-05:00

Okay, so a quick post today since I haven't blogged lately. I do have quite a lot to blog about but no time right now to do it...mostly about my love of all things that have drive-thrus....I know sounds exciting, right? :) But more on that later.

So James and I are not up on all the latest and greatest in pop culture these days, I think once you get out of college, have a few kids, you tend to lose a little of your grasp of stuff. BUT, James found this on You Tube and I am sure many of you have seen this already, but if not, take a look. I have it embedded on the right. (It is the bottom one, the top one is the same guys selling something. I couldn't get just it to show just the bottom video....Anyway, it is hilarious...

My LOVE life...

2008-07-10T16:39:00.003-05:00

There are four basic things in this world that I love and must have in my life to function....

My James (of course, he is sort of a given)
Something fun and/or interesting to read
Chocolate (Really, I am a true chocoholic...I would go into greater detail, but it is embarrassing.)
Movies

I LOVE movies...for me it is the pure pleasure of escapism. For two hours or so, I can live vicariously in someone else's story. Today I spent a leisurely two hours folding laundry and watching Out of Africa while the kids had nap time. I have seen it before but it had been awhile so the story was fresh again and at its tragic end still managed to make me cry. I have always loved the haunting beauty of the musical score and the vivid images of Africa. It really does make you want to see it for yourself. I loved Meryl Streep and Robert Redford, but the most touching relationship to me was between Meryl's Karen and her servant, Farah. Their true friendship and their parting was what turned on the waterworks...

Has anyone read Karen Blixen's book Out of Africa, or her other stories? If so, would you recommend them??

My FAMILY life...

2008-07-09T18:38:00.021-05:00

So, every 4th of July we trek up to the DFW area and visit both sets of parents. My in-laws have a 4th of July party every year and here are some highlights...

Linley's cousin Kimmy is telling secrets.

Cowboy chic?

Lucas and my brother's b-days are in July, so besides fireworks and fajitas, we had cupcakes.

Aaron and Benny

Linley and Lucas making cookies with Grammy...

I tried taking pics of the fireworks that we shot off, but they didn't turn out very well (photographer error)...Tracy, any of yours you would like to share??

my HUSBAND'S DREAM life...

2008-06-29T17:45:00.012-05:00

James' Dream Job

My husband has told me repeatedly that his ultimate dream job would be to open up a motorcycle shop. Mostly so he and other bike aficionados could have unlimited time and opportunities to talk about, work on, and ride motorcycles. James LOVES motorcycles. Throughout our marriage James has had a plethora of bikes floating in and out of our garage. Currently we have three lovely specimens in residence: a Ducati GT1000, a Ducati Paul Smart, and a Honda Dream 50. You may think that three is a lot. But to the bike enthusiast, three is a drop in the bucket. Over the years I have tried to curb this enthusiasm, but to no avail.

In fact, one running joke in our house is over my "rules" regarding how many motorcycles were allowed in our garage at one time.

Forever the rule was just one at a time. James would buy and sell bikes that he liked. I was happy with this arrangement, and didn't mind what was bought or sold as long as just one bike was in our garage at the end of the day. This was the trend until about four years ago.

At that time James snuck a second bike in. I don't really know how. One day it just sort of was there, and to my amazement, I really didn't put up much of a fight about it. From then on the new "rule" was no more than two bikes. That lasted until a few months ago when James came home with #3...but the rationale was that the bike was not for him... no, no, he had bought it for me!

My (James') Dream 50

I, who have never ridden or really expressed any keen desire to ride, now had a little Honda

Dream. Apparently it is a very "cool" little race bike that is light, easy to handle, and the "perfect" bike to learn on. James then went on to explain that he had just discovered too that there was a race track in Austin that he could race the Dream on. What a happy "coincidence" that was. (Since the Honda has joined our family James has raced it once, and I have yet to get on it. I will keep you posted if and when this changes.)

Happy for me is that while we were looking for a new house with a three-car garage so James could have a place to "work on" his bikes, (I think actually he was just wanting more space to add onto his collection) our new house has just a two- car. This means that while James may dream of a Jay Leno-esque garage filled with a dozen or more motorcycles, sadly we have room for maybe one more. I guess now, the garage can be the "rule" enforcer since mine were never followed.

Over Memorial Day weekend, James and some friends from Houston came up to our house and went on a ride through the Texas Hill Country. They did around 400 miles that Saturday. I guess the route they were on was pretty popular, because a photographer was there snapping pics of sports cars and bikes that passed. The one below is of James on his Paul Smart.

Friends have asked me why I "let" James ride or if I am not worried for him. Of course I worry, and he rides as safe as possible. So beyond that there is nothing more I can do. He LOVES it; he has always loved it; and I love him.

(Besides that I think he is kinda hot in all his motorcycle gear.)

my GOLDEN life...

2008-06-25T08:08:00.006-05:00

I was hunting around Facebook today and was happy to have been contacted by some old friends. I love sites like Facebook and the emergence of personal websites because it makes it so easy to keep in touch with people or find people that you have lost contact with. Of course, being the sentimental goober that I am, I go on this nostalgic quest to see if I can find other people I have lost as well, which pretty much sucked up my whole morning. It also got me thinking about my old friends and the appreciation and love I have for them. (I really hate saying "old" friends, but I can't think of anything else, and "friends of a certain age" doesn't work very well.)

Anyway, in Girl Scouts, when I was a young Brownie, we learned the song "Silver and Gold"--about making new friends but keeping the old. A very wise adage that I have tried to follow with more effort over the last few years. It struck me recently that we have and need different types of friends during different times in our lives. Throughout my life, I have been blessed with groups of excellent friends. When I was in HS (I try not think about Jr. High) they kept me on the straight and narrow, in college they kept me laughing, and as a mother they kept (and keep) my sanity. Our shared experiences helped make me the person I am, and I cherish those memories. I look forward to the new friends that are coming my way, but to those friends that have passed out of my everyday sphere, thanks.

my LOVE life...

2008-06-23T22:54:00.006-05:00

So my friend Rachel's husband is a kindred spirit in that he too LOVES chocolate. So for Father's Day, she made him his favorite dessert. Rachel pretty much is SUPER talented in the kitchen and shared with me a piece of her"Le Jour et la Nuit Hotel de Crillon" (White and Dark Chocolate Mousse Cake). It is super rich, chocolaty and seriously the most sinfully delicious thing I have ever eaten. THANK YOU RACHEL FOR SHARING! Anyway, I haven't attempted to make it myself yet, but for those of you up to a challenge here is the recipe:

Le Jour et la Nuit Hotel de Crillon
9 large egg yolks
1 c. sugar
6 Tblspn. cornstarch
3 c. milk, scalded
1 Tblspn. vanilla
14 oz. fine-quality bittersweet chocolate, chopped
4 c. well chilled heavy cream
14 oz. fine-quality white chocolate, chopped

Garnish:
6 oz. fine-quality white chocolate, grated
4 oz. fine-quality bittersweet chocolate, grated

In a large bowl whisk together the egg yolks and the sugar until mixture is combined well, add the cornstarch (sifted) and whisk the mixture until it is just combined.Whisk in the scalded milk in a slow stream, transfer the mixture to a heavy saucepan, and bring to a boil, whisking constantly.Boil the pastry cream, whisking, for 1-2 minutes, or until it is very thick and smooth, strain it through a fine sieve into a heatproof bowl and stir in the vanilla.Lay piece of plastic wrap on the pastry cream for 1-2 hours, or until it is completely cooled.In the top of a double boiler, melt the bittersweet chocolate, stirring occasionally, and let it cool until it is lukewarm.Transfer half of the pastry cream to a large bowl, whisk in the chocolate and whisk the mixture until it is well combined.In a chilled bowl, with an electric mixer, beat 2 cups heavy cream until it holds soft peaks, stir in ¼ of it into the chocolate mixture, and fold in the remaining whipped cream gently, but thoroughly.Pour the dark chocolate mousse into a lightly oiled 10-inch springform pan, and spread evenly. Chill while making the white chocolate mousse. Repeat the above process for the white chocolate (melting, mixing it in the pastry cream, adding the heavy cream, and then spreading it on top of the dark chocolate mousse)Cover the cakes loosely with parchment paper or wax paper and chill overnight.Run a thin knife around the edge of the cake, remove the side of the pan and smooth the side of the cake with a spatula. Put the cake on a rack set in a shallow baking pan, press the grated white chocolate onto the side, gathering the excess in the pan and reapplying it until the side is completely coated evenly.Transfer the cake to a serving platter. Mound the white chocolate carefully on half the cake and the dark chocolate on the other half of the cake. Chill again until ready to serve.

(Pics and more details are available on Rachel's recipe site, "More than just Noodles." Link is on the right.)

my TECHNICALLY CHALLENGED life...

2008-06-23T11:11:00.001-05:00

Hey well, I have finally gotten this blog up and running. I am a bit sad to leave all the pics and posts of my old site, but feel that a fresh start is best. It's embarrassing, but I spent a bunch of hours trying to figure out Blogger. I am not that technically savvy and it took me forever to get over the intimidation factor. (Spaces just seemed a ton easier to figure out.) Hope to get back to blogging regularly soon, but I spent so much time getting this up, that I kind of sick of looking at my computer....

Coming Soon...

2008-01-19T12:11:00.000-06:00

Resolution for 2008...Diet and Get Blogspot Blog up.