Too good to be true!

There is a 'Law & Order: Criminal Intent' marathon all day today on USA! This is my very favorite show in all of TV land! I love that guy character...what's his name...something...someone...GOREN! I think that's it...Robert Goren. But Steven wants to go eat mexican food. Now I'm in the middle of a huge delima! Mexican food is my favorite food in all of Food Land! What to choose! I'm afraid if I turn off the TV, Law & Order won't come on again. Guess I'll have to check and see just how long this is going to be on, and schedule mealtimes accordingly.

Ummm...sorry...

I think I was in a bad mood when I posted that last post! But don't worry...I've had some ice cream, and everything is all better now!:)

My Happy Bunny

You're a bunny bent on revenge! Mwhahaha!
Everyone's afraid to get on your bad side!


What Happy Bunny Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla
Took the "Which Happy Bunny are You" Quiz...it claims I'm hellbent on revenge. Funny thing is, I don't usually take revenge out on others...I wait for all that bad karma to catch up with them. It will get them much better than I ever could! But, if there was a Happy Bunny that said, "Fuck off!" or "Get the fuck away from me!" or "Shut the fuck up!"...THAT would be mine!

The singing, the fighting, the drama...

"Willy Wonka, Willy Wonka
He's the greatest chocolatier
Willy Wonka, Willy Wonka..."

The only sound coming out of my TV for the last 5 days comes from the 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' DVD. About 3 times I've been able to go in there when no one is around and actually get to change it to 'Law & Order'. It lasts about 3 seconds, then they all come rushing in, "Where's Willy Wonka? I was watching that!" Me: "From OUTSIDE???" Them: "Well, I was just taking a break. But I'm back in now." Willy Wonka, Willy Wonka...

And you know how they fight over everything...toys, bathrooms (they all have their own, but they fight over the GUEST bathroom!), Daddy, who gets to open the door first, food...whatever Claire wants, Ethan says, "But when we were at the store, Daddy bought this for MEEEEEEEEE!!!" Of course I go on to tell them that all the food here is for everyone. If you want something specific that you don't want to share, buy it with your own money. OK-got over that hurdle. But now we are fighting over FLAVORS of what was bought. Like yogurt. You know those little 6 packs that come in god-awful flavors like 'Watermelon-Green Apple' and 'Blueberry-Raspberry Cotton Candy'? Claire made the mistake of grabbing a blue one this morning...she should have known...Ethan felt those vibes from 3500 square feet away and appeared in the kitchen like magic..."The blue ones are only for ME! Blue is for boys, pink is for girls! The pink ones are YOURS, Claiya!"...he says with his little speech problem with his R's. lol!

And the drama! Nothing like a 4 year old girl to bring it on! 7:30 am..."Mom, can we play outside now?" "Um, Claire, it's like 29 degrees out there. Let's wait till it warms up a little bit." "Whaaaaaaaaaa! You NEEVVVER let me play outside!!! You ALWAYS make me stay in! I NEEVVVER...". OK people-if you just go to my 'What were you wearing Christmas Day?' post, you will see I have photographic evidence of Claire playing outside. So she can't say never...I did let her out once.

What's today? Today is Friday, right? They go back to school on Tuesday...well, I'm dropping them off at school anyway...Steven will be home till then...I just might make it through this one with my sanity relatively intact.

My Refridgerator

This first shot is the general inside of the fridge...looks pretty good now, because my mom has been here and she organized it. She's only been gone since Tuesday, so it still looks ok. Normally, everything just gets shoved in every which way and any way it will fit. I do know that in addition to our normal stuff, there is still a big ham in that big white plastic bag, and there are a bunch of leftovers in little containers and some sweet potatoes in that big glass pan. This really isn't the normal inside for us...I need to take a picture a couple of weeks from now when it's packed with Lunchables and yogurt and Gogurt and cheese and all of our normal foods!


This is a shot of the most important shelf...Lauri's shelf. My water and orange juice (NOT FROM CONCENTRATE!)and definitely WITHOUT pulp, and wine. ROFL!


This is Steven's shelf with his Starbucks stuff and Chai and Soy Milk.


And a shot of the freezer...coffee, popsicles and ice. That's pretty much all we use it for.


The outside of the fridge with all the artwork, notes and decorations...


...along with the side.

Aren't you all so glad Hayley tagged me for this?!? lol! Personally, I think it's kind of fun, seeing how other people live. Now I'm gonna tag Hayley back...I want to see pictures of her tackiest Christmas decoration! Somehow though, I'm having trouble she has anything even remotely tacky! But...maybe something ugly??? lol! Eh, while I'm at it, I want to see Kim's and Morgan's, too! Might as well. Y'all are my only friends who actually have blogs!

OH! I also have several new posts this morning, so keep on scrolling down. And I also started a new blog to keep shots of artwork and stuff for a 'picture trail', so check in there every so often!

And the 1st Place Award for Tackiest Christmas Decorations goes to...

ME! When Allison decorated this cactus with colored lights just a couple of weeks ago, it was happy, healthy and standing on it's own. Then the temperatures dropped into the 20's...and that apparently killed the cactus. Now it just looks like something that needs Viagra.

What were YOU wearing on Christmas Day...and a 'Mommy Daughter Moment"

So...we had a lovely Christmas, if not a white one. Or, well, just a different kind of white...sand. Ethan and Claire have been having a ball in the sand pile in front of the house they are building next door! I think it makes Steven anxious, because "you never know what's in there"! lol! But I'm betting it's only sand, and I remember how much fun Brian and I used to have in the sand from houses they were building around us when we were kids...I especially remember this one time, in South Carolina, when they were building across the creek that bordered our property across the back. We would cross the creek and play over there. One day, it was wet, and we got STUCK in the mud up to our shins, and could NOT pull our feet out! We just had to stand there and yell for help! LMAO! Mom finally came out...I must have been barefoot because I know I didn't ruin any shoes; but Brian had on his rubber boots, and when mom was finally able to pull his feet out they were covered in mud inside and out. I can still picture him sitting in the backyard with a water hose cleaning his boots. LOL!

ANYWAY...the kids are having fun with the sand, and I want them to have those memories. So I had to take this picture on Christmas Day, with temperatures outside threatening to break records held for over half a century (which they did on Tuesday) of Claire in a sundress playing in the sand...taking a break from riding her new Dora Scooter, which explains the helmet.



Fast forward to Wednesday, when we met a friend and her daughter at Mama's Cafe for breakfast about 9:00. It was so damn cold outside, I was wearing a scarf and hat! But, that's Texas weather for ya! But I thought this was a nice picture of me and Allison, so I thought I would share.

Goddammit!

Fucking Blogger! It won't let me do anything...I can't comment on people's blogs and I can't upload pictures to my blog. I don't know what the fuck is wrong...I bet this won't even go through.
If it does though, I do know I have been tagged by Hayley to post pictures of my refridgerator. I have taken the pictures, but it doesn't do me any good because I can't post them anyway.
And I'm trying to think of who to tag next and for what...maybe "What's inside your dishwasher?" or "What just came out of your oven?" or "What were you wearing Christmas Day?" or, something I've got a GREAT picture for, "What was/is your worst Christmas decoration?"
Hopefully I can do this soon!

Self Portrait Tuesday

The great thing about looking through old pictures is, you find stuff you completely forgot that you had! I found this reflection of me in a mirror when I was 6 mos. old...taken in February 1967.

Camera Tossing

So I read about this thing called 'Camera Tossing' (or throwing, or something like that) and I've been wanting to try it. Friday night, mom,dad, Brian, Steven and I and the kids went down to the Riverwalk for dinner and to see the Christmas lights...we took the river cruise and everything, and I thought that would be the perfect time to try it. Of course, I wasn't actually going to throw the camera up in the air, but I did move it really fast while taking the picture! lol! Here are a couple of those shots...this is great with Christmas lights!






I am also including a picture of the Tower Life Building and a picture of the Rivercenter Mall, because I thought they came out pretty great.





It has definitely been a very busy few days around here, and I feel like I could sleep for a week! It's been a great Christmas, and I hope everyone else has had a wonderful holiday as well!

Still looking through the old pictures...

And I have serious questions about this one! My brother, Brian, is on the right, of course Santa in the middle, but, that kid on the left??? If I am thinking correctly, that kid was our next door neighbor when we lived in Atlanta-Christopher Williams. Brian didn't even like him! He was a whiney brat! (Chris, if you are reading this now, I'm sure you've grown up to be a wonderful man.)

Now...why is HE sitting on Santa's lap with my brother? Where the hell am I? Was I naughty that year? (Who, ME? Naughty? I didn't smash bananas on ANYBODY'S door that year!) Why didn't I get to see Santa?!? I was denied my right to see Santa!

And you know what? I remember that was the year that Brian got 'The Green Machine'!Anybody remember that one? A cousin of 'The Big Wheel'...the seat was really low, so that your legs went straight out in front of you to pedal, and you would steer it with these sticking up things on each side of you instead of a steering wheel. Oh, and it was totally green!

I have NO CLUE what I got that year. Probably nothing, because I didn't get to see Santa to let him know what I wanted. I always knew they loved Brian more than me. ;)

Scanning Pictures...

My mom in her wedding dress and my mom and dad on their wedding day, leaving in their car. I love these old pictures!

My mom sent me a bunch of pictures so I can "make something"...lol! It's fun to see where they started and think about where they are now. They've gone from that to this: /639/1600/Lau
Isn't that baby cute???

To this:

Then on to this:

And all the way to this:

OK-so looking at those pictures, maybe it's more about me than them, but, I left out a good one...Christmas 1966...

The only problem I have with that one is, it was my first Christmas, and I'm not even in the picture! Where the hell was I? They probably bummed me off to some relative in another room! That's what I miss about not having a big extended family...nobody to bum my kids off on!

Mmmm! Smells good in here!

The kids and I made those Cinnamon/Applesauce ornaments this morning. I don't care how they turn out, because the house smells so good!

OK-now I'm supposed to be at Chik-Fil-A in half an hour, and I haven't even gotten into the shower yet. Guess we know where my priorities are!

What is it about the computer??? The internet??? I can't stay away! I think it's because I love to read so much, and about anything, and there is just an endless supply of reading material out there. You could never run out of things to read on the internet...and that keeps me sitting here for hours!

Now let's all chant: Lauri take a shower! Lauri take a shower! Lauri take a shower!

OK, ok! I'm going! Geez.

Is it Christmas yet?

It just took me about 7 hours to go to Wal-Mart and Hobby Lobby.

I guess I should add that I went to the Wal-Mart in Schertz, because it is brand new and TOTALLY AWESOME, but it's only about 20 minutes away, so the travel time doesn't really add too much to it.

And yikes! Mom, Dad and Brian will be here Friday morning! (Oh, and get this: Brian is flying from Houston to San Antonio Friday morning while Mom and Dad are driving...Mom and Dad will time their trip so that they can pick Brian up at the airport on their way into town! That just cracks me UP!!! Why doesn't he just ride with them???) Only leaves me 3 days to do everything I wanted to do. If I can just keep the kids from messing up what I do get done! *Ummm, yeah. Good luck with that, Lauri.*

It's only 7:00 pm, but I can hardly keep my eyes open. I think I'll go to bed and just start fresh tomorrow morning.

The BEST part of holiday shopping...

Ya know, there is nothing like fighting the crowds, finally getting what you need, standing in line for half an hour, only to get up to the register and discover you don't have your wallet in your backpack. So that means you get to GO BACK and do it all over again later!

Oh yeah. It doesn't get any better than that.

I'm going to bed.

Self-Portrait Tuesday

I took this picture in the car. It reflects me and, it also reflects everyone who is part of me...my husband and 3 children. Kind of a 'Self-Portrait times 5'.

I know it's getting close to Christmas...

Because I didn't get to sit down all weekend! And as much laundry and cleaning as we did on Saturday, I don't think I will EVER catch up! When the children outnumber the adults-it's impossible!

Yesterday Allison and I went to San Marcos to The Paper Bear. It's this little shop of everything...candy, cards, toys, beads, t-shirts, house deco stuff, bath stuff, unique clothing and jewelry, artwork-including Frida Kahlo...and just about anything else you can think of! It was my absolute FAVORITE store when I was in college there. Actually, on the way home, Allison called my mom to ask her a question and mom asked her what we were doing. Allison told her she and I had gone to The Paper Bear, and mom said, "Oh, I remember that place! Everytime we balanced her checkbook about half the checks were from there!" lmao! And, geez! San Marcos has grown!!!

Anyway, Al and I went there and to a diner on the corner to eat, then stopped at the Wal-Mart in Schertz on the way home. That's a cool Wal-Mart! It's set up differently than any other one I've ever seen. We got some Christmas decorations-well, really, stuff for me to put together to decorate for Christmas. I'll take pictures if they turn out alright! Did some Christmas shopping...got some stocking stuffer stuff, and Allison thought that was really cool that she could help me pick that stuff out. We had a really fun day!

Meanwhile, back at the Ranch...Steven took Ethan and Claire to the park, played outside and stuff. So they had a good day, also.

So now, I have to get to work. I'm going to have a full time job for the next two weeks getting all the stuff done that I want to get done! Wish me luck!

Travis' Collage

Here is a picture of the collage I just made for a friend...he threw a really nice dinner party last weekend, and I did this as a 'thank you'.  There are several things in there that are personal to him, that he probably won't even pick up on right away...very subtle.

This is a detail of the collage...

Self Portrait Tuesday

Reflections:  This is my reflection in the French Doors to my study.  I chose this surface because this room is MINE...it's the only place in the house that is all about me and not influenced by anyone else.  It's where a large percentage of my time goes, when I'm not there, that is where I want to be, and, I'm sure when I'm not there, a part of my spirit is.

Saw this quote the other day...

"Always spend more than your husband makes...it keeps him motivated."


Now THAT'S a good one!

Conversations with Claire

Claire: Mommy, here is something orange, and I can drink it.

(She pulls a 'Fanta' bottle out of the fridge.)

Me: (singing) Fanta Fanta
Dont'cha wanna
Fanta Fanta

Claire: (singing) Cup cup cup cup
Put it in my
Cup cup cup cup


*she has to be a genius to be that funny, that quick!

Grrrrr!!!

What a frustrating morning!!! Is it me or is it Blogger? It's gotta be Blogger. I know they are doing some updating stuff, but it was supposed to be from 9-11 pm tonight. I can't do anything today!

Well...

We all know I didn't get all that stuff done! lol!

Allison actually put the lights up! Remember they only went on the black railing leading up to the front door and the cactus. I didn't make her climb up a 20 ft. ladder to string them across the roof!

I started making a thank you NOTE for the guy that threw the party Friday night and it grew into a canvas size "note"! rofl! He is an 'appreciator', I guess you could say, of 'different' art, so I think (hope!) he will like it! It's still not done though. And of course I had to run out and get some more stuff...stopped by Starbucks and did a lot of window shopping by myself...it was soooooooooo nice! But now I'm absolutely starving, so I'm gonna go eat!

We got a tree!

It's officially the Christmas Season in our household now! We got a tree...artificial and PRE-LIT (yea!!!) and I cannot wait to put it up! I don't know why though. We've never put it up more than a few days before Christmas; sometimes even as late as Christmas Eve, just because we didn't have time. We even got a few lights for outside. (We haven't had lights outside because I quit doing them when Allison was 3 because Steven wasn't putting them up or taking them down and I just couldn't do it all anymore...I just remember that last year I did lights, I was in the middle of a miscarriage-my 3rd, and it was late so I was hemoragging like a sonofabitch-climbing and crawling all around the yard by myself thinking, "WTF???")

ANYWAY-sorry if I grossed anybody out...kinda went off on a tangent...BUT, we got a few lights for outside. I'm just going to put them on the black iron railing leading up to the front door. They are just the clear white ones. Then hang a wreath there on the rail where it faces the front. Then we (and when I say "we", I mean Allison and I) got some colored lights to put around the cactus! I really hope it turns out cute.

Of course I want to do all of this tomorrow, along with making a penguin bag that Allison will fill with candy to bring to school for an auction. The students can bid on things and buy them with their 'Bush Bucks' and apparently candy will bring in the money! I also want to try making paper beads with Allison tomorrow...we'll see how much I actually get done!

Quote of the day for Friday, Nov. 2, 2005

"Each has his past shut in him like the leaves of a book known to him by heart, and his friends can only read the title."-Virginia Woolf


So tonight is Steven's department big Christmas Party. Dropped $400 on a new outfit for this one...but, I didn't have to buy new shoes; I can wear the same ones from last time. Look at me getting all thrifty and everything!

The party is going to be at this guy's loft downtown-in the Art District. I thought we would just be having little finger foods and stuff, but apparently the guy is having it catered for a mere $2500! Hope the food is good! Anyway, I thought we should bring a bottle of wine. Easier said than done around here. In Houston we had Spec's...a really huge, great liquor store where you could get anything you wanted. At the liquor stores here, I couldn't do any better than an $8 bottle of Berringer! I could get that at Target for crying out loud! What's the point of a liquor store-other than having a place to get a bottle of Crown-if you're not going to stock good wine??? I ended up going to this wine bar and asked if they sold bottles of wine to go. They did, so I'm pretty sure I got a decent bottle.

Other than that little adventure all over town, that was my day. Well, I did go to the shrink. Did not get to work on any art at all! I have all this stuff I want to use, but just don't have time. I think once I can actually get started it'll be easier to keep going. And I'm noticing little things more than I can use...like I found this great placemat at Target last night...it's several different colors and designs of this silky type of material sewn together in strips. Very easy to take apart and use what I need! Also found a black chenille type placemat and one that is a vintage style...just the right amount of fabric for a few pieces! I just need to work!

Conversations with Ethan and Allison:
Ethan: I can speak Japanese.
Alli: No you can't!
Ethan: Yes I can!
Alli: OK, then say something in Japanese.
Ethan: Choing.

Well. There ya go!

Thought for the day...

"The savage lives within himself, while social man lives constantly outside himself and only knows how to live in the opinion of others, so that he seems to receive the consciousness of his own existence merely from the judgement of others concerning him."--Jean Jacques Rousseau



I saw this on an art quilters blog, handmaiden (Gabrielle Swain)...and I believe it was a quote from her son. Anyway, I like it and wanted to put it here. Maybe give someone something to think about.