I've blinked- and lost 3 months!

Corporate America is keeping me quite busy! I have to say that I'm enjoying what I'm doing quite a bit- although its hard to be away from the kids so much. It is nice to be able to talk with grown ups about things other than eating their mac-n-cheese and poo-poo. I've been working on some pretty major projects and one of them is about to launch this Friday, not that that will allow any down-time. I dont think there is such a thing at this juncture! Too much to learn- too little time to absorb- before moving on to the next thing.

Kids had a great Christmas- and we really enjoyed spoiling them rotten! They each got an electric car and lots of toys. It was probably the most memorable holiday of my life. Thats what holidays are for- making memories and spending time with family.

On that note- my grandmother died about 3 weeks ago. It was very sad. She was 91. She had a grand- long life and lived every minute to the fullest while she still could. Its scary- to get old. Let's not- and say we might... :) I'll pass- thank you!

What else? I've been swatted by my local mothers group for making a comment back to a poster that basically was trying to make any working mom on earth feel bad. Not just working moms either- but also- anyone who works hard for a living and has something to show for it. It was pretty uncomfortable- I wonder if she'll be at the MNO this next week- so I can smack her? FREAKING LIBERALS!

Hope you all are well! Post sometime soon so I'll know you are alive!

Corporate America- Here I come-

Sorry its been so long since I've posted- I've been busy with kids, having my main contract not renew with one of my clients- and finding a new j.o.b. :( So-- as you can tell-- its been quite a few weeks around here. We're adjusting- and I've started a new position with a local energy company that fits my skills and background quite nicely- so it's all good. Regardless- I hope I never have to witness any of our VP's pulling this shite!

Datz how we "roll" to Aggie Football

Amazing how Aggie football can conjure up old feelings (basically the last 10 years of my married life.) Every football season and several early fall-late summers- I've been inundated with college football. It's not my husbands fault- it's his moms! She is probably the most energetic football enthusiast I've ever met! She know's the scores- she knows who's who and why they played for a certain team (both NFL and Collegiate) and what they weighed at their spring training. (well- maybe not what ALL of them weighed) So- lets just say- I'm either doomed to the life of a "football-widow" or I join in on the fun! I've picked the latter. (not as enthusiastically as my MIL though.) Our dear friends Kat and Lance have had a motorhome for several seasons and a travel trailer before- they also have twins that are one year older than the "killer B's"- and the B's love hanging out with "the E's" :) so- we decided to do it- we're now RV'ers! We've purchased our first little trailer with a bed and a cooktop and basically a place to crash when games get tough or the celebration gets to a point that stopping is not an option! We took this little maroon and white baby out on her maiden "voyage" this past weekend. (I think we're going to call it the "B Hive") and I've even picked out an image that I'm going to have a flag made into for our little "home away from home" Other than the fact that I almost broke my foot when we drove in the parking lot and began taking the trailer off the "Ex-Pi" (whether it is actually broken or not-is still up for interpretation) We had a great time! We grilled burgers, had a few glasses of wine- and soaked in the football! The lot ("Lot R") is basically about 300 yards from the football stadium- and although A&M has not been the "hot-bed" of collegiate tailgating in the past- it is heating up pretty quickly now! There were TONS of RV's in the lot for this game- and even more will be there once they start going head to toe with the big 12 teams. (Texas Tech is this coming Sat.- Whoop!) So- we've got lots of "camping" in our future. We're also thinking about people like Brad Blauser while were there and wishing him the best while he is in Iraq. Enjoy the pics- There will be LOTS more coming in the next few weeks!

Filler' Up!

Amazing!! We drove in to the parking lot of Sams this weekend to fill up our gas guzzler- and this is what we saw! National Gas prices are still pretty high- I wonder if the little gas man that stands around the pumps at Sams accidentally put up these prices? We thought we were in some alternate reality. :) We had ideas of "running home to fill up milk jugs" with gas and driving for days around Beltway 8 or the loop just to stop at other Sams and fill up on cheap gas! (Incidentally- we had some other thoughts too horribly immature to speak of in this venue-) so I'll just keep quiet about those and we'll enjoy the better gas prices while they last.

Queen of the Rodeo

Here's a clip of Brooke riding one of the hand fed goats at my parents farm- (This past weekend) She screamed and chased them and tried to get back on them when she fell off. It was really cute. Do they make goat saddles? :)

A binkie each night helps ALL of us sleep tight

(THIS PIC IS NOT MY KID BTW-)

Horror of all horrors-- We (aka:Royal We- which is really "I") took away the binkies yesterday. We have been w/o them for approximately 22 hours now- and during waking/play hours things are good- but bed time is another story! Let me back up a little- a few months ago- we decided that our 2 year old twins needed to ONLY have the binks in the nursery- and we held pretty tight to that rule- unless we were on a long car ride where they might "need" them to get to sleep- they pretty much didn't come downstairs unless they were snuck in a pocket and pulled out on the sly while we weren't watching. So- yesterday- after the kids got out of bed and came downstairs- I got this wild idea that we would tell them that "Jiffy had them" and since he is a baby bunny- he "NEEDS" them. I went on to explain to two very perplexed toddlers that at nap time we would not have the binkies anymore and that they had been "sent to Nana and PAPA's farm to be put in Jiffy's cage". They seemed okay with that and only asked briefly where they were. When we laid them down for nap time- I went all over the house, in the cars and in their bags to collect the binks and put them in an undisclosed place. I didn't think that I would cave- but I knew that B might- so I didn't want him to be able to find them! My plan was falling into place seamlessly- but I hadn't "planned" on the fallout that ensued! At naptime- we all marched up the stairs as usual and that's when the kicking and screaming and running and opening all the drawers in the nursery began- there was explaining and re-explaining and letting them know that they were "big girls and boys now- and they didn't really need them"- this explanation happened at least 4 times. Needless to say- there was NO nap. :( This all took about 3 hours- Several times I wanted so badly to just give in to Bryce- (because Brooke acted as if she could care less if she had one or not-although she did use this as an opportunity to get out of bed and run in circles as Bryce cried.) but I knew if I handed it over to him- he would know I was a liar- and my elaborately schemed plan wasn't really true. Hang with me-parents of older kids- this is my first attempt at parental sneekyness! Furthermore, I knew it might spark other tantrums for other objects that Bryce might want really badly in the future. So- I held firm. After we got them up from their non-existent "nap" we all went outside- and did a little gardening and they rode their bikes around the driveway- and after about an hour- Bryce layed down on the concrete and said- "I tired-sleepy!" So- I decided to take them up about 6:00 -- and start the process of getting them in bed- early. Bad idea. It just ended up being 3 hours of them (Him) screaming for binkies instead of the regular one hour bath-PJ and book reading extravaganza that bedtime usually is. (Note to self-don't prolong agony- keep it simple stupid!) So- now "We" have TWO over-tired two year olds on our hands-- and its only 8pm! God help us! Then (drum roll please)- the door slamming started- and after several attempts at getting them back in bed- the frustration set in. Bryce was NOT going to go to bed w/o his "bink"- and about 1:30am B started asking if we were doing the right thing-- "yes" I muttered... He just looked at me and blinked- like I was cutting off their arms or something! ugh! I realize they are our babies- but they REALLY are toddlers-- 2.5 now and ready to be potty trained and move past needing oral fixations to get to sleep. (Although B is almost 40-- and ...well- never mind... ) How does this happen to me? It seems simple enough. The doc says "they cant have the binks- take em away- and don't give in. "-- Now execute-- EXECUTE--EXECUTE!!! With that-it's way past nap time here and I feel like getting my silky- and laying down for a good thumb sucking... :) Some things never change.

We Will Not Forget!

“"The liberties of our country, the freedoms of our civil Constitution are worth defending at all hazards; it is our duty to defend them against all attacks. We have received them as a fair inheritance from our worthy ancestors. They purchased them for us with toil and danger and expense of treasure and blood. It will bring a mark of everlasting infamy on the present generation – enlightened as it is – if we should suffer them to be wrested from us by violence without a struggle, or to be cheated out of them by the artifices of designing men." -Samuel Adams”

Goodbye Croc-Hunter

So Sad to hear about Steve Irwin! He is one of my kids favorite's! He will be missed! "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin died today after being stabbed by a stingray barb. Irwin was off Australia's coast, filming a feature for his daughter's show. "He came over the top of a stingray that was buried in the sand, and the barb came up and hit him in the chest," Irwin's manager John Stainton said.

Dear Brooke;

CIMG8334, originally uploaded by amydell.

“To stand still is to lose, To move is to gain, To change is to grow.”

Interesting article on the finances of parenting

I was reading this article- and couldn't stop thinking of my friend Leigh (in Texas) She just bought a minivan! (Which incidentally was more $$ than my expedition!) I guess that's fine for Leigh and her family- but I assure you- we did NOT buy the BIG OL' S.U.V. for our whitewater rafting excursions! Its a good article- give it a read.

Whore for HBO

Have I told you how much I love this show? I would climb mountains, drive through the pouring rain- and knock down old ladies to get home in time to see it!

Bunny Love

We spent time at my parents farm this past weekend- and these are a few shots with "Jiffy" the peanut butter colored bunny- and baking Nestles Toll House cookies- YUMMAY! The kids had a great time and I think we've gotten them in the swing of spending time with Nana and Pop Pop- just in time for A&M football to start next weekend. We're super excited- and I cant wait to see my A&M friends! This should be a fun season. At least we're down one mortgage and things are going to start smoothing out really soon. I'm also looking forward to the next few months with the kids. They seem to be chatting up a storm and really enjoying the extra attention they get from saying such cute stuff! Here is a pic of Nana, Jiffy and Brooke too-

Memories of "Clique-ville"

Its hard for me to deny how much of an outsider I felt like when I lived up North. I know I talk about living up there frequently- but this week kind of brought up some memories from years ago- and how living there was both the best of times and the worst of times. Firstly- this post's comments section!!! (I don't think I even remembered how much I hated the "Bitchy-bitches" up there- until now!) I seriously have NEVER had problems making friends- and I had a serious problem up there. This post on Gawker really puts it into perspective. Women were so clique-ish and self centered- money-focused (I was a flight attendant with no degree & no $$ at the time- so I measured a "zero" on their scale of possible acquaintances!) The only people who even made an impression on me were ones who WERE NOT FROM THERE! I can honestly say I lived there almost 5 years and only keep in touch with ONE person from there now. No one I worked with up there even lives there anymore. Its a hard city to live in- one that will chew you up and spit you out if you aren't paying attention! I'm pretty sure the reason I had to make it back to the South ASAP was for my own sanity!! Another reason was to finish my education. Lastly- I had to meet my Darlin Mississippi man! Who says you cant play-then get back to where you feel comfortable and accepted? NYC might as well be another planet to me now.

And for my 100th post- a little Aristotle

“Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence”

Kiddos Packing Care Packages for the Soldiers in Iraq

The Kiddos LOVED packing the care packages for the soldiers over in Iraq. Bryce's little fingers had to be pryed off of the matchbox cars- and we had to explain to him that there were other children that would love to have these toys. Brooke eyed the "goldfish" and almost crushed one of the bags she was so excited. It was a good day- we all felt great to do something fun together and to make others happy by letting them know we appreciate what they are doing! I'd like to plug a website that I'm going to challenge you to donate to- Read his entries and pass on a note of encouragement if you can- or maybe a care package? He's a good Ag! - and thats Good Bull!