Muchas Gracias

Funny story...
Yesterday Alex & Conleigh were playing DOG in the hallway. Alex was under a laundry basket growling, and Conleigh was telling me about her dog. She kept lifting up the side of the basket and throwing things at him. I guess his chew toys...a miniture Cinderella, a stuffed animal...
I tried to reach down to "pet" the dog, but he was a loud and growly animal. I asked her what her dogs name was, and she said it was Muchas Gracias. I just laughed and laughed to myself of course.
Conleigh had spanish music blaring from her radio. Thus Muchas Gracias's name, I suppose. It wasn't quite on the station so there was a unbearable BIIINNNGGG coming from it too. Aside from being a dog owner, she explained to me about how she is an eye doctor and this is her store filled with all sorts of dress up clothes. She had them spread out on the floor and all over her bed. Her dog was stuck in the hall in his cage.
I love 'em. I love when they play and tell me stories!

A Terrific Weekend

What a wonderful, relaxing & fun weekend I just had. I flew to Greensboro, NC. My good friend Bridget picked me up at the airport. We went out for a great dinner in Winston-Salem and then we shopped in furniture-land on Friday. Overwhelming how much furniture there was and we barely scratched the surface. We had such a fun day visiting and looking.

Kate & Bridget

LOOK at that! Isn't it funny?

Friday evening we met up with our graduate school friends at Robin's house. She hosted us this weekend. It was like we had all been together last week. In reality, we hadn't seen one another in five years! Saturday afternoon we pulled out the letters we had written 5 years ago. We actually read the letters from August 1993 first. It seemed like most of us, me for sure anyway, were finally hitting at 15 years what I had written would happen in 10. Surprisingly, I said we would have 3 children. I don't ever remember thinking I would have three kids! The letters were funny. We all laughed our way through them.
We ate a lot, shopped some, told stories about our families and reminisced about all the adventures of grad school at the U of South Carolina. None of the five of us are doing what we studied in school. Four of the five of us are working outside the home, and we all have kids. There are 12 children among the 5 of us.
Late Saturday night we wrote letters for five years from now. That was a difficult task. I really couldn't focus on what I thought five years might bring. Got home late last night -- right about 11:00pm. I wouldn't have changed a thing about our reunion weekend. I love you ladies!
Bridget & Robin
Meghan & Molly

My sweet husband took Thursday & Friday off of work and took the children to Grandma & Grandpa Hardin's lake house south of Dallas. They had a great weekend riding in the boat and fishing. Our friends, the Lins met them there, as did Grandpa Hardin, so there were plenty of playmates including a visit from Uncle Kyle.

I'm going to Carolina...

Yay! The morning is here to go to the airport and fly off to see 4 friends I haven't seen in 5 years! I'm so excited. Bridget, Robin, Molly, Meghan and I all went to graduate school at the University of South Carolina from 1992-1994. In the summer of 94, we wrote letters about what we wanted to be doing in 10 years. Our hopes for families, careers, places to live, life. We sealed the letters in envelopes that said "do not open until 2003." In Oct 03, we met in Myrtle Beach, SC, and read the letters on one fun girls weekend. It was hilarious! We were all off by a long shot. I wish I could remember what those letters said. At that point, we wrote letters for what we thought 5 more years would bring. This weekend is that weekend. We are meeting at Robin's house in Greensboro, NC, to have a reunion.
We'll all be coming from different states. Texas, Maryland, NC, SC, and Georgia. Airfares are dictating the meeting place. I'm the only one flying and prices were crazy high to get anywhere in the NC/SC vicinity.
Can't waitto see everyone!

Long time - no Blog

Time flies! I'm not sure why I haven't blogged lately. I've had the time. I discovered Facebook through my friend Bridget and have spent time with that some lately. I've had a book on the nightstand to read. That hasn't happened. I did plant some new plants in our back flowerbeds this evening. Yesterday we had them all cleaned out, and when I say cleaned out, that is exactly what they did. I was hoping more for clean up and mulch, but they are bare. Trees and rocks, so I went to Home Depot last night and planted some new flowers today. They already look better.
We had a side part of the yard cleared out too with hopes of making a garden with the children. Alex & Daddy got busy planting tomatoes tonight. Alex wet down the area. His shoes were 2 inches thick with mud, but he had fun. As I called out the back door that dinner was ready, I saw this.

She was having the time of her life....She got a bath before dinner.

Sunday we made a trip down to SeaWorld, San Antonio. It was the last day the water park was open. We all had a great time in the lazy river, the wave pool and pirate ship filled with water stuff. All of the Howl-o-Scream decorations were out. Surprisingly, we didn't even go see the Shamu show.


Campbell stayed in Austin & had fun with Granny...a trip to Burger King & the Childrens Museum.
Alex finally started the soccer season. He has wanted it to be "fall" for a long time so he could play soccer. The Katydids didn't have a winning game, but Alex scored the first goal and kept giving us this sign through the game.
Today Conleigh & I went to the Girl Scout organizaitonal meeting at school. Looks like we'll give the Daisies a whirl this school year. There are 12 little girls that will be in a troop. That's the scoop from our little neck o' the world...

"in the olden times..."

Tonight we went to a diner for dinner. Austin Diner. The food was fantastic. The service - not so much. While we were waiting for our breakfast for dinner meals, Conleigh saw records hanging from the ceiling. I told her that we didn't have IPods when I was a little girl. We listened to records. I explained a record player which she practically finished my sentence. She knew what it was, and said, "yeah, in the olden times you had to listen to those records." I laughed out loud. I can't believe that I have now LIVED "in the olden times!"
So, to continue our evening of "old"-ness. We went by my friend Kent's house. He & I grew up on Suwanee Lane in Houston together and spent many, many hours running around with the kids on the street. He was having his 40th birthday celebration this evening. We don't see each other often at all, but it is always comfortable when we are together. He and his wife are almost moved into their newly remodeled 40's (that number again) house. It is beautiful. It's also best that it isn't complete since our three youngn's (vs. oldens) were there to imbibe in the cake eating. Someday I'll scan a pictue of Kent & me when we were 5, but here is one from this evening at 40!

Not a lot to report here. I guess everything is cancelled this weekend because Hurricane Ike MIGHT bring heavy rain to Austin. The first weekend of Alex's soccer games has been cancelled. Even UT football has been cancelled. Peter was going to paint our house this weekend. That is cancelled too.
Conleigh continues to like school. I'll volunteer for the first time tomorrow...library volunteer. I get to help the kids in her class all choose their library book for the week. Looking forward to seeing all the kiddos and how they interact.
Alex is over playing at Colin's house. I think they are practicing soccer, so they'll be highly prepared for their soccer premiere on the Katydids, or the Katy-dudes as Alex likes to call himself.
Campbell is catching some zzzz's. Thank goodness. She is so much happier and fun to be around when she has a nap.
Our house is a wreck, but it feels good to have my feet up and be watching Project Runway...brainless, blog-writing tv.
Here's to quiet time!

Alex & Campbell go to Preschool

It was a good first day at Spicewood Country School as far as I can tell. Both Campbell and Alex came home with their sneakers full of sand and gravel, so I think that makes it a great day!
Alex was very happy to see all of his buddies from last year. All the boys are back and neither of the girls, but there are a few additions to his class, so I'll look forward to hearing him share the info. He had been asking for 2+ weeks, "when do I get to go to Ms. Lauren's class?" He was his sweet, shy little self yesterday when she greeted us.
Miss Campbell didn't hesitate walking into her new room. She promptly found new toys and started playing. Her teacher, Ms Susie is who Alex spent most of the year with last year. We are very happy Campbell will have Ms. Susie as her teacher. There was a cryer (sp?) for sure. Whoa! I couldn't believe that mom left her child to "cry it out" as I heard her say when she was leaving. Sheesh! It was painful for the poor girl and from what I hear, it became a domino effect and others decided they weren't so sure of this place either.
Anywho, the kids stayed for nap and Alex who hasn't napped much at all this summer fell asleep very quickly. Campbell wasn't ready to lie down which I thought might happen, but Susie said she cuddled her and she fell right to sleep.
I think we'll go back tomorrow. Wink! Wink!
Conleigh is loving elementary school. She is a pro already at buying her lunch. I think tomorrow will be her third time to buy lunch. With wide eyes and eyebrows raised she said, "Mom, they have one of my favorite foods there -- popcorn shrimp."
LIFE IS GOOD!