Gram Takes on the Heat

After we returned home from Omaha, my mom came down to Houston to visit. This time it was actually hot...yeah, like 110 hot. I had to return the Traverse that week, uhhhh - I'm over it now though. :) It was really, really nice to drive a brand new car for 8 weeks. This was a first for me. I have never had a brand new car. We spent the whole day detailing both cars and preparing for the return. Cambry was thrilled (as you can tell - see below) to have the 'lady bug' car back.


Or was it that she was thrilled to finally be let behind the steering wheel? Ironically, after I returned the Traverse, the A/C quit working in my Equinox, again. I am knocking on wood as we speak. Although my car has recently been dubbed the 'holy car,' yes literally. Every time something goes wrong with it, it is due to a hole in that particular part. However, we have been new hole free for 3 1/2 months. Yeah! My Mom was a trooper, didn't complain about the heat even once, even when we drove 30 minutes to church without A/C. We even spent the whole day one day down at Hermann Park. This was a great experience for all of us!




One of Cambry's favorite things to do with Gram is to have a popcorn tea party.

Thanks for coming Gram! We can't wait to have you in Houston again.

Chevy Traverse Mommy Madness - We're on the Squad!

I have been anxiously awaiting the day when I can announce to you that we have been chosen to be a member of the Houston Chevy Traverse Mommy Madness, Mom Squad. TODAY IS THE DAY!! Five Houston Mommy Bloggers have been chosen to drive a new Chevy Traverse for 8 weeks and share their experiences through pictures, video, and blog posts online. Make sure to check back often to share the adventure with us. There will also be opportunities for you to win an hour massage and even a Girls Weekend Getaway! Mommy Madness begins next Monday, April 20th. Follow along here as well as the Houston Mommy Madness site. I will have many more details for you after we pick up the vehicles. Stay tuned.

Bluebonnet Tour, 2009

The kids and I are exhausted after an eight hour bluebonnet tour about 50 miles west / northwest of Houston. We had a wonderful time out in the fields and the sun. It hit 88 degrees out where we were. We were traveling with a group of 18-20 photographers, some amateur, some professional, a couple (myself) wannabe. Every stop was more beautiful than the next. The spring wildflowers attract people by the thousands. We were fortunate to be guided by a native Texan who knew just the right back roads to take so that we could experience the beauty of the painted, rolling hills on our own. Here are some shots from the day. (Sorry, no more details today. We are off to rest.)

A Dose of Daily Irony

Today was day two of our mission to register the vehicle and obtain a TX driver's license. (#2 on the cons of moving list) It can't be that bad right? Maybe, if you are waiting in line by yourself and you brought your ipod along. :P I, on the other hand, had the children in tow. Let's just say it was an adventure. Did you know that you need to make four stops to accomplish this mission, meandering through the queue area maze in all but one place? What is the technical name for that maze they put up anyways?

Warning: Standing in line can cause extreme boredom, annoyance and even rage. (CNN) My daughter made it through each of those stages several times during our adventure. I am not sure why I expected anything less. hehe.

Here she is mission accomplished! I let her have the plates because when we finally did make it to the window at our last stop, and the lady handed over those metal rectangles, Cambry said, "Ughhh. This is exactly what I have been looking for. Thank you." Right then and there I forgot all the trouble we had earlier in the day.

The other thing that totally made me laugh today happened in the parking lot of DPS - the driver's license division. Just as we were backing out of our parking space, Joe Schmo comes flying into the parking lot in his rundown astro van. By this time I have hit my breaks and am watching the in rear view as he has one hand on the wheel and is bent over looking for... I lay on the horn just in time to see him look up and hear his tires screech to a stop less than an inch behind my car (just guessing). I pulled forward to let Schmo by. And where did he pull his car into? The 'Park Here for Driving Test' lane. My guess is the testers already saw his display through the bay window out front and will just go ahead and mark him as fail right now. Thanks for that. lol.

Here are a couple more shot from the day. 1) Boston waiting in line all morning. I tell you, not much rattles this guy. 2) Boston during what should be nap time. 3) Cambry in the tea cup on the carousel ride at the mall. She was spinning so fast I was sick just watching.

Thanks for checking in with us. Until later - A

Rodeo Houston

First let me say that Rodeo Houston, which spans three weeks every year, brings in $325 million in revenue for the city each year. I tell you what, I just want to be the gal to pocket the proceeds from the ferris wheel rides, even for part of one day. $6 a person...yes, $6 a person to enjoy 5 minutes on a 36 gondola wheel. Seriously? I told Cambry we weren't tall enough to ride. The Rodeo does however contribute a great deal of its proceeds to scholarship funds around the state.

Thursday was Joe's only half day through the course of the opening to be out of the restaurant. It was sort of like a half day off, except for the fact that his time was planned for him. We were fortunate enough to be invited to spend the afternoon and evening with the restaurant managers and training staff. Cambry loved everything about the scene. At the end of the day when asked what her favorite part was, she quickly chimed in, "Riding the airplane and pirate ship." We did watch about an hours worth of Rodeo competition as well. Amazing talent! The Steer Wrestling was my favorite. Enough chit chat, check out my lady lovin' the rides.

Zest is the secret to all beauty. - Christian Dior

She is a trill seeker. The roller coaster was her idea, not mine. Looks harmless right? Oh yeah, when we got to the top of the first drop, I thought for sure the whole thing was going to collapse. When did I start to worry so much? Two minutes after my first child was born I think. I suppose the added fear that comes with carnie rides is what makes it all so exciting.

"Papa Joe, what was your favorite part about the day?"

"Watching Mommy ride the slide with Cambry!" Again, the lady who is afraid of heights has to ride a slide twice as tall as the last one. (And for the record, I looked it up online, the slide at Bounce U was 26 feet high.) This five hump carnie slide was at least 40 feet tall - really. As we were trudging our way to the top, me clutching the railing with one hand and using my other hand to hold Cambry's hand, Cambry says, "Mommy, I think you are scared." I gasped (because I was holding my breath). :) I told her I was scared, but we were going to have so much fun riding down. We did, screaming all the way. Ahhh, the things we do for love.

"Dance with me Papa."

Boston Boy is a people watcher. He was completely content just to lounge in the stoller and watch the happenings. Now this is how you do it.

Spring Has Sprung?

When did this happen? I was driving down town last week and the tulips were in full bloom...everywhere. Tulips are beautiful, but it got me thinking - after spring is summer (logically), I'M NOT READY FOR HOUSTON SUMMERS! I went straight home to devise my plan for remaining clam and comfortable in the heat. I drew out the floor plan of our home, labeling the air vents and then indicating where the fans need to go. If I have calculated correctly, 37 oscillating fans, give or take, running on med-high (high is just annoying) 24/7 should adequately cool at least the top floor of the home.

On a more serious note, Grand Forks is already taking the necessary precautious in the event that The Flood of '97 repeats itself. Record snow falls with more on the way. Please pray for a s-l-o-w thaw for these folks! (Remember showing up at school for the day just to be checked in and then to be bussed to homes or warehouses to sandbag all day? How's that for a story to tell the Grandkids?)