173/365 The Burbs

173/365 The Burbs

My brother just moved out here, it's where we saw the alligator the other day. It was funny to see this little duck just crossing the road like no big deal. 

172/365 Fountain

172/365 Fountain

Out for a Sunday stroll, or drive, I thought we would check out this very popular fountain near where we live. So the kids thought it was great. We opened the car doors and off they ran to check it all out. It was hot out and like a good mother I didn't let them actually get in the fountain and I'm glad I didn't.

When it was time to go we piled back in the car, Rob and I then began to smell this smell.

I realized it was the kids and with what little water they had gotten on them they smelled like the sewer !!! EWWWWW I don't think we will visit this fountain again anytime soon. 

But it is pretty !

171/365 Obsessed

171/365 Obsessed

It's my new obsession. I can actually sit outside and eat one of these and not sweet !!! That is so key for me.  This is Blue Raspberry and at first I was wondering why she asked if I wanted the blue or the clear. I kept thinking why wouldn't I want the blue one? What could possibly be so different about the 2?

Well I didn't find out until I got back in the car and by then it was to late. 

I think I learned my lesson, get the clear !!!

170/365 Mr. Funk

170/365 Mr. Funk

This is the character Mr. Funk that The Rhino created. He has been a reoccurring person who visits, makes alot of noise and a big mess. I LOVE HIM.

The Little Man though has a bread problem saying Mr. Funk and so instead says what sounds exactly like Mr. Fu@ky. You get the problem right. So Little Man is in the backseat just talking away and all of a sudden he starts saying Mr. F@cky, which means Mr. Funky. It threw everyone for a loop until I finally figured out what he was saying. All I know now is that I would hate to actually give him the real word or let him know he's saying something a little questionable, he would use that to his advantage.

169/365 J & C

169/365 J & C

This is my friend Julie with her little boy, who happens to be really tight with my Little Man.

This was part of the special I was running for Father's Day and to help build my portfolio.

I really was pleased with how they came out, Julie was so good at making her boy laugh and stay focused. It was great. These are some of my favorites.

168/365 Mud Dobber

168/365 Mud Dobber

I feel like this photo is so not me. I really love it but I haven't ever used a texture first and it just seems so far off from what I usually post. Anyway I found this little mud dobber making these little pots on my back door wreath. I have not a clue what's in them but the little mud dobber worked hard for 2 days to build this thing so it must be important. 

And yes my wreath has eggs on it, and no it's not left there since Easter, well maybe it is but it still goes !

167/365 Laundry Basket

167/365 Laundry Basket

This is what they mostly get used for, they only cost a couple of bucks and they are so versatile.

On this morning there wasn't any more room on the couch so this was his solution.

166/365 At The Car Wash

166/365 At The Car Wash

After the dump I thought it would be fun to visit the car wash. We usually go thru the car wash that is automatic, if we are going to wash the car like this we do it at home, but I thought the kids would get a kick out of it. They certainly got wet!!

I'm not sure how clean the car actually got, but GMan got a kick out of the sprayer when he realised that it had a powerful setting, not some lame old pansy spray !!!

Nothing like a little car wash soap in your mouth from a really filthy car wash brush !!!

EWWWWWW!!!

165/365 The Dump

165/365 The Dump

This is my baby daddy, and I love him when he works this hard !!!

OK not the most flattering picture but the sky was so increibly blue and this is SOOC. 

It was very interesting to go to the local (place where you can take things) . It's not really the dump it's more like the heavy trash depository where you can take things that you might not have been able to get out in time. We had some wood that needed to be removed and so took it there.

I saw this old spring box mattress and thought wow it's been so long since I've seen one of those. The last time I saw anything like it was at our family house in the hill country. Those beds were ancient !!!

Then I got hollered at by the sweet guy who works there telling me that I'm not allowed to take pictures at the dump, WHAT. Do they do something there that we should know about? I don't get it, well really I do, we are so lawsuit happy I can only imagine what brought that rule about.

164/365 Gurgling

164/365 Gurgling 

Very HOT here, so very HOT. We had to do some heavy labor on Saturday and the kids, including The G Man were all such a big help ! They needed a water break and decided to practice their gurgling, I'm sure that Little Man started this since he gurgles anywhere, anytime, DRIVES ME CRAZY/CRANKY.

163/365 VBS

163/365 VBS

Vacation Bible School

The kids love it and it is often free. This one was at our church and it's the 3rd year and the kids love it !

They are front and center singing their little hearts out !!!

162/365

1622/365 Broken Bones

Well the summer in Houston is not the best time to have a broken leg, but what can she say she couldn;t figure out when else to take it so now is as good a time as any. The Bean won't be seimming at least for the next 6 weeks and that is tough. She's not even using the walker yet, what a mess. When we took her lunch this day she seemed in good spirits but glad to see us. We are praying for fast healing and for her to use this time as wisely as she can, like to learn her math facts !!!

161/365 Building

161/365 Building

Well this is a building in the Medical Center. I just thought it was pretty.

I was thinking about something today and yesterday, I have recently come across 2 people, one a young man and one a young mother of 2. I must admit that I don't know them very well at all but I have seen an amazing quality they both possess and I want it. So here it is, they both listen with such an amazing intensity. At first I was a little uncomfortable, I mean who now days really listens to someone they don't know that closely. I think I listen and I might appear to  listen but these two are so focused, they appear to hang on every word and not be waiting for the next conversation or worried about who is walking by or what's going on around them. So that's my new goal to make every person I come in contact with love to talk to me because I'm such a great listener !!! What a difference they have made in my life and they have not a clue !!! That's amazing also.

160/365 Floating

160/365 Floating

An experiment with Photoshop. The kids and I have come up with some exciting new ideas for pictures. Now I just have to try to find some time this summer to do them. I can't believe how busy the summer has been so far. 

159/365 10th Photo Posted

159/365 10th Photo Posted

Tezzie, who also is working on the 365 project, posted the photo from her 10th photo on her blog just to see the improvement. She asked me to do the same and I thought it would be interesting so here it is, this was from a post called "This could be gross" naturally !!! It was only like my 4th post ever !

I think the biggest improvement for me is that I don't use a flash anymore. 

158/365 Mam's Snowball

158/365 Mam's Snowball

It was blazing hot today, I mean blazing !!! That called for a snowball. 

157/365 Pillows

157/365 Pillows

These were at my sister-in-laws house and I loved them. I was kind of so impressed, I never think of her as liking things like this at all.

156/365 Painted Toes

156/365 Painted Toes 

That's 20 toes that got painted. I took Little Mama for a pedicure, she was so excited and has been waiting so long. I made her do the whole thing from massage to clipping of the cuticle. I think by the time she was done she had switched teams and is now on the team "wow that takes a long time just to get your nails painted". I can only do that every so often, it drives me crazy!

I can't figure out if they look more like bent fingers or fat toes? 

155/365 Scunt Face

155/365 Scunt Face

I think I'm going to rename Little Man, his new name is Scunt Face. This is what happened on Sunday, don't look if you have a weak stomach.

I have to say that it looks much worse in person and much worse than it actually is. 

Really Little Man took it so well, he was really scared and hurt and very grown up about the whole thing. He just kept saying "can we go home now" and we did. I think his Aunt Iggy, she was watching him when this happened, was so much more upset. She came around the corner with him on her hip and her hand in front of his face and she says " Staci we don't need stiches so don't get upset " and my heart just dropped. Anyway things have only gotten worse for her, The Bean, her daughter hyper extended her knee and broke the leg bone the very next day. I'll take a little road rash over that anyday !!!

By the way that is peanut butter on his mouth, he still has an appetite! 

154/365 The Scamp

154/365 The Scamp

I guess it's a 1972 muscle car, someone thinks it cool, my brother. He bought it and is working on it, I didn't know he knew anything about cars at all, maybe in his next career he can be a mechanic. It is kind of a cool car but it smells like the carpool I was in from the 70's and really when you bring back those kind of memories to a person who was always desperately car sick, no good can come from it !!!

It's a glittery silver color with rhinestones on the steering wheel and some of the buttons inside. It has a great sound system, so my brother tells me, and it is really kind of cool. I wonder what kind of old car I would like? I'll get back with that.

153/365 Water Drops

153/365 Water Drops (an experiment)

I saw someone catch a photo of a water drop and thought I would try. I think I need a bigger black container but am not interested in buying one just for this.

Even so I was pretty excited that I caught these. FUN !

This is in my orange Fiesta wear pitcher.

152/365 Signs Of Summer

152/365 Signs Of Summer

I heard on the radio yesterday that it's not even summer yet, well let me just say REALLY?? 

I think I'm in the midst of my summer, I feel it, I smell it and I sure do hear it, I am full on the mother of 3 kids who ARE OUT OF SCHOOL, and I consider that summer.

I thought every once in a while I would post about things that make me think of summer.

I took the kids to James Coney Island for hotdogs the other day. This feels like something I would only do in the summer when everyone is out of school. I do love me a chili cheese dog though !!!

I was rather excited to see how the kids meal box can still keep The Rhino interested, or maybe it was the free frozen treat coupon on the side that he was looking at.

Oh and the french fries, if only he would eat something else I would be so happy !!!

151/365 Katherine Center

151/365 Katherine Center

That's her, the one standing in the back, the one with this fabulous hair that this photo doesn't do justice. Well she has written several books, the latest is called "Get Lucky", the other 2 are "The Bright Side of Disaster" and "Everyone is Beautiful"(this was my favorite).

 I grew up across the street from her and it's so interesting how our paths have crossed in our adult lives. Sometimes I think when you live in the same city your whole life, I did go away for college, then it really becomes a small town. I feel like I should always be "prepared" to see someone I know, and it's almost always happening that I do.

Anyway back to Katherine. I really enjoyed seeing her and getting a chance to see how her success had developed and how it affects motherhood. She seemed very grounded and like she tried to make her children and family her priority. I don't really know what else to say except thanks to Allison for asking me to come to the book club so I could touch base with Katherine and thanks to Katherine for being so warm and welcoming. It has left me with such a feeling of excitement  !!! I feel like walking around with my chest pumped up saying "I know a famous writer" na na ne boo boo!!! But that would make me look like a 4 year old and I'm 38 so.....

Check out her website at www.katherinecenter.com . She is such an interesting lady and has so much going on, it's well worth a few minutes to visit her site.

150/365 Writing Sample

150/365 Writing Sample

See below for translation:

The left side says "I can't wait to eat a Kolache" she got the Kolache part right, we were sitting in front of the Kolache shop. 

The right says "Can you please be quiet". That was a personal request from her to me!!!

149/365 Sunflower

149/365 Sunflower

This is SOOC .

So beautiful, this was at breakfast. What a way to wake up.

This is a new action that I got ! I'm amazed at the detail.

I love it !

148/365 Corn !!!

148/365 Corn !!!

Oh the trials and tribulations of being a "gardener" !!!

No really this is our corn about 1 1/2 weeks ago. You can kind of see the beans and pumpkins in front starting to grow. Well yesterday there was a major storm that blew through Houston and I guess I didn't really know how serious it was. 

I came home to find our corn looking like this. There were some very serious winds that went thru and this is the evidence. Luckily none of the stalks were actually broken or uprooted so Rob just stood them back up with a little support and we are on our way again.

It was kind of heartbreaking to come home to see this. I can't wait to see the food that comes from this little, very very little, group of plants. It really has been fun and I am do proud of us !!!

147/365 Spaceship !!!

147/365 Spaceship !!!

Come take a ride in my airship. It's a really great song 

Dad went on this ride while I tried to take photos.

We go to places like the moon and to friends houses.

Here Dad is talking about the deep craters on the moon and why and how they got there.

Little Man likes to take me with him, we sometimes even go to the ice cream shop !!!

So buckle your seat belts we are pushing the take off button, or maybe we are getting ready to land?

I'm not sure how I will ever get rid of these sheets, they have traveled so may wonderful miles with me

and the Little Man! 

146/365 Horseback Riding

146/365 Horseback Riding

Oma took the kids horseback riding. 

I was hoping that my intense fear of horses wouldn't get passed down to them.

I'm pleased to say that there was only a slight look of terror on LIttle Mamas face this time, better than

the first time when she cried? 

I also think it was kind of a cruel joke to get her on her horse first and then make her sit up there

for 10 minutes while everyone else was getting on their horses. Anyway MacPoof, the horse that is, 

seemed to treat Little Mama ok.

The Rhino seems to love to ride horses. He is very comfortable and likes to make them GO !!!

His horses name was Tess and she gave him a little attitude but luckily Aunt Danielle was there

to poke him with a branch !!!

And poor Aunt Danielle, I thought for sure this horse was going to give her trouble. 

She said that she had a nice ride, I mean after all the horses name was Mercy!!

Oma looks mighty fancy in her riding gear, really experienced too. 

Thanks Oma for taking the kids riding, they really enjoy that.

PS save some money so you can take Little Man riding soon.

I don't know what this horses name is but I was JUST trying to take a picture and he was either talking to me or trying to bite me? 

I think he needs a toothbrush.