Bottoms Up.

Last night, I didn't sleep well. There was a wildfire within a few miles of my house. Evacuation calls were circulating through our area, that was on my mind. Lexie had fever of 103. My brain had plans for me that my body did not want to be a part of. The two of them just couldn't get together until about midnight. perfect~

This morning, I let the dog out and it was taking an unusual amount of time for him to come to the door. I called for him, but he didn't come. I looked outside to find him cowering down with mashed up poop in his fur. yay~

Lexie has to stay home from school today. I have to get Bella ready for school, make her breakfast, pack her lunch, bag up the cookies for Bella's class to celebrate her birthday and bathe the dog, all before 7 AM. joy~

I have sewing work to do, but nursing has taken precedence. Mom, I need a tissue. Mom, how do you put on a movie? Mom, my head hurts. Mom, I am bleeding. Mom, the dog still smells like poop. Mom, I'm hungry, again. Mom, Mom, Mom.... I have the hiccups and a headache. Did I mention that it is parent orientation tonight at school? awesome~

Needless to say, I got nothing done today besides being a master chef of chicken noodle soup. Dog grooming (bath and haircut included) has been added to my resume. Sewing? well, not even a single stitch of work got done. I have the hiccups, did I mention it? great~

Days like these make days like these happen...

N i n e. 9.

I know exactly where I was when I went into labor with Bella. I know the conversation that occurred, almost verbatim. I am replaying the drive to the hospital, I can see the anesthetist like she was sitting next to me now, esh~ (heebee jeebees)


From the moment Bella arrived 9 years ago she has been a blessing of a child. Sweet, kind hearted, smart, thoughtful, artistic. Bella is so many things to me...SO, today, I celebrate my precious Bella for all that she is, all that she will become and all that she has brought into my life. 

Happy Birthday Bella, I love you! 

Back To School.

Lexie and Bella started 2nd and 3rd grade this year. The photo above was taken on the first day of school this year. 

The photos below are from last school year, on the first day of school. 

There are a few changes. Lexie grew up a lot, she lost some teeth, got taller and was looking forward to school this year (whew!). Bella also sprouted up quite a bit, got "BANGS" (which she is already tired of by the way) and was not so much looking forward to this school year. 

 

The girls started a new school and Bella was the social Queen at her old school. So, she's going to have to start building her empire at the new school. I understand how she feels though. She was at her old school for 3 years and knew everyone (staff and PTA included)...she has her work cut out for her this year. 

Having said that, it will be a good lesson for the girls. Life changes and with that, one must learn how to adapt and embrace those adjustments. Better to learn how to conquer change now. 

When I was in High School, we moved the last 6 weeks of my Junior year to not only a new school, but another state. I got a violent shove into "make it or break it"...and you know what, I jumped in head first! So, in keeping with the old adage, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, Bella will be just fine! Queen "B" will be ruling her kingdom by the end of next week, I'm certain of it.

Crush...D

This was Bella's 2nd grade crush, Rodrigo. He is super adorable and Bella spent most of the year drawing pictures of her and Rodrigo holding hands, or with bubbles over their head with random statements. His Mom looks along the lines of Penelope Cruz, so I had to amp up my game a little bit. Put on some makeup and heels when I went up to school. Don't want the in-laws to think I am a gym rat. Well, I hate athletic clothing, so that is a bad reference. Whatever, you get my point, my baby girl was smitten with a boy, I wanted to make sure she wasn't embarrassed by her family. 

So, when I saw found in her diary the drawing that she made of them kissing, I ratted out my hair, put on my best trailer park (no offense) concoction that I could find and wore it on the last day of school. Needless to say, Rodrigo just wants to be "just friends" with Bella now. A Mama has to do what a Mama has to do, right? Kissing, in 2nd grade....not on my watch. 

I was playing kiss chase in 2nd grade, I practically wrote that book. I've already prepped her, school work is REAL HARD in 3rd grade, tests and all, therefore, she won't have time for little boys. 

Love you Baby. You will thank me someday, when you are nice and smart, making more money than some stinky boy, loving your career, traveling the world...meeting sexy Frenchmen. You're welcome! Mama knows best, Sugar, Mama knows best!

Where do you live?

There has been a lot of traveling going on this summer. Recently, while on a 10 day trip to Louisiana, one of my friends in Texas said "you are never HOME, so where do you live?". Good point. I guess, based on my traveling adventures over the past 2 months, technically, I am homeless. I'm just a girl who lives in her car. That's how I roll...
Our whirlwind trip to Dallas for market is where the "vacancy" sign was first ignited. Less than two weeks later, off to Louisiana, 2 days following that trip, to Mexico, in the interim, Lexie turned 7 years of age. 
Soon, we will be in Austin for a reunion. Unfortunately, blogging hasn't been a passenger on these trips, however, my camera was a trusty co-captain. Below are a few of the festivities that we engaged in on our journey through summer. 

"The Parade".

A tradition that happens at Nan-E and Pay-Pay's house. "Here comes the Queen" is lovingly chanted as each child makes their way down the parade route. Every child is given the appropriate paraphernalia to attract their patrons.

This is what "JOY" looks like....Great Grandmother with her only Great Grandson.

And then, there is this kind of thrill seeking "JOY" that Lexie is demonstrating. Convincing.

Friendship.

The best woman for the job of raising the crazies below....no easy task.

What's a blog without some Eye Candy. 

Please deposit 25¢.

Happiest Birthday to my sweet precious "7" year old, Lexie. What a ride it has been to watch you grow and blossom into this wonderful, smart, funny, ENERGETIC, fun loving girl. None short of a gift to this planet. I love you and I wish I had a smidgen of your energy! Today, I celebrate you and thank you for all that you have brought into my life, you are a blessing....

Happy Birthday!

Cabo

Beautiful sunsets. 

A room with a view.

Great company.

Infinity Pool.

Loads of laughter.

Excellent food.

A good book and my iPod.

Sunset cruise.

I'll take a few days in Paradise for $500, Alex.

This little piggy went to market

Twice a year, this little piggy goes to market in Dallas. Shannon and I have been working at Jennifer Massey Designs booth for a few years now. While the work is exhausting, the atmosphere ignites my creative spirit. I get to market and in some way, from the pit of my stomach, I come to life. I reminisce about the days of going to college in the Apparel Mart, working market 6 times a year for a dress company. I also modeled for ESPRIT, a million years ago, when caveman rags and bone necklaces were in and I loved every minute of it. The nostalgia hasn't worn off, I have a severe fashion addiction. 

At market, with Jennifer Massey Designs, we set up the booth, make the jewelry, sell the goods, wear the goods and are so exhausted at the end of the day, sometimes we fall asleep with the gems on. Jennifer is incredibly talented, creative and a true designer, by definition. This market, we unveiled a new line at a top secret, by invitation only party and SOLD OUT!  

While being replicated, not duplicated, is expected at market, one thing is always consistent with our market trip....laughter! 

Me and my PEEPS

 

One evening, Lexie and Bella were playing outside and they came across this little fella on the sidewalk. Little Peep was lost. Mama bird was flying from tree to tree, nervous about how she was going to get her little one back to her nest. Why she didn't swoop down and pick him up in the first place is a mystery. Maybe she could come down and give him a crash course in flying, or maybe, that is how he ended up here in the first place.

So, the girls got a bucket, put some dried grass and tried to coarse this little fluff ball into "walking" into the bucket. It went something like this: "Come On"..."here little birdie"..."Come On, you can do it"...Then they started to make the sound that you make when you are calling a cat or a dog (little fast kisses). Then, Bella whistled, and that got Little Peep's attention. He opened his mouth and waited for her to regurgitate some dinner for him. 

The girls cracked up laughing. Bella asked, "what do I do?". I said, chew up a worm and spit it in his mouth. I cannot understand why she didn't do it....

Finally, with gloves on, we put Peep on a tall rock near the trees where the Mama bird was flying back and forth, back and forth. We said a little prayer that Little Peep would make it home safely and took our bucket of dried grass home. The next morning, practically before the sun met the horizon and the roosters had their morning coffee, we walked down to see if Peep was rescued. Indeed, he was. We have high hopes that Peep figured out how to flap his wings into the coup and that the "cat call" my kids were doing didn't summon a different kind of rescue mission.

Old School

On this particular day, a year and a half ago, I spent most of the day conquering that "jump" that I used to be able to do about 250 years ago with complete grace .....It is all my brother's fault, he provokes a sense of youth in me and likes to challenge me to pull a muscle in some random place. It is ON like Donkey Kong, we like to take it back to the "old school" when we are together.
Honestly, we are 12, it is so fun.
On this day, I chose to jump around, pose with statues and relish in some of the most simple, unplanned, free spirited good times that a girl can have. These days, I appreciate the simplicity of movie night at home, dinner on a blanket under the stars and occasionally, taking it back to the old school, cuz I'm an old fool...(you are welcome for humming "can you dig it? we can dig it" for the next 8 hours). The small, simple pleasures in life do not have to cost anything at all, but can become a priceless memory.