Proof of Life

I am a terrible blogger.  Thankfully, it probably doesn't matter because a) I don't have a real following and b) blogging seems to be out of fashion.  Basically, I am still here because it is a good avenue for occasional journaling and even better way to document just a few of the ridiculous amount of digital photos we hang on to.  So, while I can't be counted on to blog more than twice a year, I will persist for a while longer at least.

This is something rarely seen - me in a photo.  How could I not share this?  Look at that boy!!! This is the kid I get when we are not having a standoff of wills.  Recently we have taken up a tickling game.  Every single time we play, he begins like this: "Hey Mom, let's play that game I made up.  I kiss you and then you tickle me.  Then you kiss me and I tickle you." Truth is, I made the game up to bribe him into giving me kisses.  I told him if he wanted to be tickled he would have to pay me with a kiss.  He can't get enough, but the other secret is...I'm really not ticklish.

First of all, Daddy took the kids out one day and returned with our first (and last) pet ever!  The kids, especially Scarlett, adore her.  They named her Cinderella because of some blue coloring that is not really evident in this photo.

We have not been completely immune to the strong winter this year, though our version of cold and snow is pretty puny in comparison to most of the country.

In between bouts of cold, in typical Texas fashion, we had some really nice weather. Obviously that meant we had to shoot some hoops...

practice some martial arts (this is the grumpy ninja sick of me taking photos)...

surrender to the camera...

and practice the art of the "selfie".  The kid needs real-world skillz, right?

Below is a pic of the Valentine wreath I made.  I really don't care for the holiday, but I do *heart* all the pink, red, white, lavender, heart, lacy/doily decorations!  Also, I love stripes...and polka-dots, but there are plenty of other opportunities for more dots.

Later, I truly had one of the best, most satisfying Valentine's days ever.  No pressure for me & the hubs, no gifts, dinners, flowers, or $10 cards.  Just love and appreciation.  Spent the day volunteering for Scarlett's school party, then played at the park after school.  One of my best Texas friends who is also my neighbor got this for us as a treat.  So, thoughtful and sweet.

And just so that I'm not accused of favoritism...look how grown and beautiful this girl is becoming.

 

What do you think, busy?  I think I like it...for now. The zigzag/chevron trend may not have much life left.  Not that I care to follow the trend, but I don't want to date myself either - there is good reason I don't have a tribal band bicep tattoo, among other things!

On to more important things:

Who knew small navy buttons would be so hard to find?!!

Summer: The Short Version

Scarlett had another violin recital where she played "Rolling Along" AKA "Mary Had a Little Lamb".  She did such a great job and I am so proud of her.  Since she is my girl, I went kinda crazy and made her a pink, real SILK dress.  It turned out gorgeous, but the fabric felt like working with wrapping paper and I'm not sure I'll use it again.  The most fun and exciting part though is that GRANNY came all the way from Indiana for the performance!

There's Scarlett, her teacher and Jud.  Thank goodness Jud snapped that pic of Scarlett putting her violin away.  And Scarlett with some of the other Plano Pluck students (along with some dad's head).

We were lucky enough to have Granny visit the rest of the week until Scarlett finished school (she also rocked kindergarten, is a reading mad-dog, and again, I am so proud).  Mom, Jud, Damien and I didn't have any problems staying busy that week.  We did the driving tour of Dallas, sneaked down to the fabric district and ate at a local diner while Damien was at work, and also had a lovely birthday dinner in honor of Damien with his family.  Mom, Damien and I made like bakers and created a fabulous version of Cheesecake Factory Hershey's Chocolate Bar cheesecake. Yum. 

The next week the kids and I drove Granny back up to Indiana and stayed for a week to play.  The kids love the country and I do too, duh!  They got to ride atv's, pretend to be firefighters in the bed of Grandpa's truck, got new cowboy boots (so they aren't out of place in Texas, of course), played on "Rocky Mountain", ate at Bucceto's, Starbucks, Noodle's, and got totally worn out. I got to look at old pictures with Mom, see the new-old houses, ride the atv, get feet and hands done with Mom and Moe. I was pretty worn out too.

We had a month of pool, play, and lazing before Damien's vacation time. And then we decided to go back to Indiana for a few days during his break.  We stopped and met Mom and some cousins at Holiday World, a terrific little water park in Santa Claus, Indiana.  It was fun and also a little stressful with all the kids.  We stayed in a hotel on our visit, which felt pretty fancy and we had a great time eating all the food Damien especially misses.  He also was able to do a little work with Dad, for which I am very grateful. We also got to celebrate Scarlett's birthday with Granny and Gramps.

Back in Texas, we finished Damien's vacation with more fun.  We saw Despicable Me 2, which the kids loved.  Scarlett got more birthday celebration with family here. We also visited the brand new Perot Museum of Nature and Science in Dallas.

Lately I've been working really hard to organize/reorganize our home and get ready for school. 

The kids helping me put a new bookcase together and subsequently filling it up for me.

Scarlett and I decided that we need a creative studio.  That's been a big motivating factor for me and I think we pretty much have it set up.

See the "S" for Scarlett, Stephanie, sewing, studio?

And here is the first completed project!

This may look candid, but that is actually her pose.  Spiderman insisted on jumping into the pic.

Granny gave her a new sewing machine, fabric and a pattern for her birthday and this adorable skirt is the result.  I helped her by doing the difficult stuff (zipper, hem) but she learned cutting, some top-stitching, seaming and ironing.  Also, she is able to wind a bobbin and thread her machine by herself.  That's more than many adults can do.

Also, she wanted to make a purse for her gorilla-buddy, it's so simple, but turned out well!

 

"Bully", Jud's longhorn-buddy and "Congo", Scarlett's gorilla friend.

We have only two weeks left until school starts and I am looking forward to the routine, but plan to have as much fun as we can until then!

At least there is the blog.

Because without this blog, I would have completely lost touch with the sequence of events in my life over the last few years.  I never journal.  I don't even blog regularly.  Still, the few things I have posted are fun (for me) and remind me of how things went down.  One day I know I will be really glad for my posts, even if they are few and far between.

First things first:

• Scarlett is officially a little reading machine!  A couple of months ago something clicked and ever since then, she has taken off.  She reads everything, everywhere we go...road signs, magazine covers, she even gets distracted by the titles of the exercises in her violin book while she's practicing.
• Jud is officially potty-trained!  Within the last week he is even diaper free at night.  I really hate the overuse of the word amazing, but for me this really is ah-MAzing.  (previous experience was extremely long, drawn out process) 

Jud and I have been checking out the "local" parks (honestly, we'd drive a good distance if the place looks cool enough), burning energy, and getting incidental farmers tans.  This is probably his favorite so far.

 "The Rocket Park" 

This link connects to a great site with tons of information about the parks in our area.

Below is a very satisfying and quick little crafty project I completed.  I wanted a fun summer wreath to brighten up the pukey, drab exterior of our not-so-grand apartment and saw this idea on pinterest, but followed a pattern, found through a google search, from "Skip to my Lou" for the pinwheels.  They have templates, but I just eyeballed it and that worked fine. I wish I had found brighter colored paper, but overall it gets a thumbs up and a Power Ranger pose with a half smile.

Happy Spring!

We've I've recovered, a little, from the disappointment of March hoops. Anyway, how could I wallow in candy-striped pity with these two cuties to cheer me up (and maybe a Cadbury egg or two...dozen)?

Indiana, our Indiana, clearly I'M all you need!

A little less than a year and a half ago, I was still living in Indiana while Damien was training in Texas.  My mom and I had fun wasting a lot of time together and I don't know how I would have retained any sanity without her. 

Well, Mom got the brilliant idea to get Damien some "candy pants" (more accurately candy-stripe, but I prefer to leave the stripe part out for my own entertainment) for Christmas that year. I guess since the pundits predicted Indiana might make it to 19 wins that season, it was time to gear up, ha!  She managed to find Damien the appropriate size and the gift went over so well/was so fun to give that I think eventually almost every adult in the family got some.  Anyway, Mom and I were on a mission to find the pants or possibly a t-shirt for me, I can't remember exactly, but it was a last ditch effort at the MALL. We were feeling a little spent, so Mom sent me inside while she waited in the GrannyVanny with the kids.  

It was December 10, 2011 when I walked into The Indiana Shop in College Mall and found this:

No, that is not a cut out, that was the real deal Cody Zeller, nice enough to smile and pose with the lady that looks like she escaped from a group home in Terre Haute!

Please just try to ignore that I looked like I belong on "people of walmart" and I was wearing an Indiana State hoodie, hey at least I had earrings! 

Seriously, this is kind of an amazing thing for several reasons. First, it was the morning of a home basketball game (why the heck would the kid be at the mall buying an IU mug??). Second, it was not just any game, it was THE Kentucky game.  You know, the one where they beat #1 Kentucky with a last second 3.  Last, I didn't even take my phone into the shop, but happened to run into a lady from church who took the pic and sent it to me.

So basically, what I'm trying to say is, clearly I was the spark that brought the Hoosiers back.

I'm posting this for good luck again.

This MAY BE...

the ONE thing I have in common with The Pres.! 

GO HOOSIERS!!!