Wordless Wednesday

That's my girl...

Car Prostitute?

OK...my best girlfriend, Nicole, called me a "car prostitute" today. I told her my dream car was a BMW 7 Series. She told me I would have to work and save every penny for a year to buy that $80,000+ car. I told her, "I would totally work a year for that car!" (if I didn't have kids, and my husband was still paying all the bills)

Does working to buy something mean my husband is a food and bills prostitute?

Just Normal

I have not been posting much over the past week because things are just plain normal around here. Nothing new or interesting to report. I hope something will pop up soon.

6 miles today!

My Senior Year

Thanks, Natalie.

1. Who was your best friend? Mandy Mix

2. What sports did you play? I was 18 years old in LA...I quit sports for, well, less healthy things

3. What kind of car did you drive? Maxima

4. It's Friday night, where were you? at a party

5. Were you a party animal? See #4

6. Were you considered a flirt? Voted "Class Flirt" by Senior my class

7. Were you in band, orchestra, or choir? Uh, no...did people really join those?

8. Were you a nerd? No...that was 6th grade

9. Did you get suspended or expelled? No

10. Can you sing the fight song? No

11. Who were your favorite teachers? I don't remember exactly. I liked my Social studies teacher cuz he was hot, and my English teacher because she taught Shakespeare.

12. Where did you sit during lunch? In the common room. With who? That just depended on my mood.

13. What is your schools full name? Central High School (Of course, I attened 3 different high schools.)

14. School mascot? Wildcats...I had to look that up on the Internet just now.

15. Did you go to Prom? For about 10 minutes

16. If you could go back and do it over, would you? No

17. What do you remember most about graduation? Hopping down the isle trying to pull up black and white striped stockings. I needed them to do cartwheels across the stage.

18. What was your favorite class? If I had to pick, it would be English.

19. Where were you on senior skip day? Almost everyday was Senior skip day for me. I went on road trips to so many places I can't even remember them all. Favorite memories: (1) Rolling down the Mississippi levee on bails of hay. (2) Dancing on the side of the Interstate in New Orleans.

20. Did you have a job your senior year? I worked at Olan Mills and Chilli's, I think.

21. Where did you go most often for lunch? I stayed at school

22. Have you gained weight since then? 10 lbs.

23. What did you do after graduation? I went out with Todd Sumrall, as usual.

24. Who was your Senior prom date? Jimmy Woods

25. Did you go to your 10 year reunion? No, Thanks.

I have to say, I went to a really good Private School for most of my school years...they taught me so much that I felt like I didn't need to attend class in the public schools. I told my teachers why I never came, and they allowed me to just show up and take the tests. My art teacher actually gave me a "B" and asked me not to come to class. Funny, huh?

Grateful Sunday

I am grateful for Julianne Price. From the day I met her, she has been a bright spot in my life. I just love her. She is funny, kind, generous and patient. She is a great friend. She bring so much love into this world...I can't say enough nice things about her.

Wordless Wednesday

Some of My Firsts

First Concert: Kenny G. Don't laugh, it was good date.

First Car: Nissan, Maxima. It was tan, and I thought it was cool cuz it talked, "Your door is ajar."

First Heart Break: Todd Sumrall. I found out he was cheating with a chick he worked with, Meredith. This wasn't the last time either. There was also Heather, Ami, and Jennifer to name a few.

First Time Wearing Makeup: I can't remember not wearing it, seriously. I think I was born with it.

First Best Friend: Richelle Sims, I think.

First Car Accident: I ran over a curb trying to make a quick left hand turn. I tore out the transmission.

First Job: Sales Person in the Mall...that fits.

First College Roommate: Tammy Franz, Big Sister in my Sorority. She was my only roommate...I liked living alone.

First Date: Todd Sumrall. I couldn't see. Crazy, huh? The night before, my contacts had cut my eyes. My Mom had to do my hair and put on my makeup.

First Kiss with Spouse: On his couch. I sat on his lap, and laid one on him. I was sick of waiting on him. Of course, Don said something completely inappropriate, and I thought, "Who the heck does this guy think he is?"

First Broken Bone: My right forearm...I fractured it tumbling at Cheerleading Camp. I suck at tumbling. I haven't done it since.

First Airplane Ride Alone: From BTR to LAX. I was looking at going to UCLA Long Beach and living with a friend. I was not ready for LA. I came home a few weeks later.

First Pet: A dog that looked like Lassie. I don't remember its' name, but I do remember I was very upset when it died.

First Memorable Gift: A pair of green and white Pom Poms. The big ones, not those junky things they sell at Target. Mom put them on my bed for a surprise when I got home from school. I couldn't have been more excited.

A Real Break

This is a glorious afternoon. The boys are both at vacation bible school from 9am to 5pm ALL week. It's just Randi and me, and she is napping!
It is amazing how much pressure has lifted. It's just plain hard to care for three kids.
I am finally getting a break, after 5 years, in my own house. Vacation is one thing, but there is nothing like free time in ones' own home.
I wish I could have a week alone with each kid, to focus on just them. I miss so many of the little things while running behind all 3. Of course, they would miss a lot if they didn't have siblings.
Life is full of trade offs.

Marathon Training Progress

5 miles today!

Grateful Sunday

I am grateful my family and I are healthy.

Leisure Classes

Here's a list of Leisure Classes I plan on taking...

Stripaerobics
Belly dancing
Latin dance
Floral Design
Gardening
Photography
Black Jack
Spanish
Piano
Masting the Mingle

Anyone want to join me?

My Search for a New Career

I have been pondering, if I were to go back to work, what would I do?
I don't want to do advertising anymore. It just seems like such a waste of everyones time. I know I don't like to watch commercials or read the ads in magazines.
SO, I figured I would go back to school and get a new specialty.

Real Estate: I don't want to work on the weekends. Don is only here on the weekends.
Law: I don't want to be stuck reading long boring law documents.
Business: How boring?
Teaching: I could teach High School English, but what is the point when I would only be paid $2 an hour?
Art: Seems silly and frivolous.
Architecture: Can't do the math.
Culinary: I don't want to be that creative all the time.
Nursing: Couldn't detatch myself from the patients.

I normaly would just pick one, do it, and see how it goes. But now, with 3 kids and their future to think about, I just hate to roll the dice with tution money.
Everyone tells me I need to be in sales. Sell what? The only thing for which I have a passion is non-profit...again, $2 an hour.
It must not be time for me to go back to work.
Guess I will take some Leisure classes.

Alex's 1st Trophy

Here it is...the coveted 1st trophy. This treasure was bestowed upon Alex for playing on the Tiger Team in WULL. Congratulations, Little Man! We are very proud of you.

Why bother?

Why is it that in Russia I put makeup on everyday? I even ironed my clothes and put on cute shoes.
Now, at home, I don't bother putting on makeup, and I wear Crocs all day.
Hummm.......

Houston Marathon

I took the leap of faith, in myself that is. I signed up for the Houston Marathon. I'll run it the day after my 33rd birthday. Happy birthday to me! I am not going for any specific time. My goal is just to cross the finish line.

Wordless Wednesday

Real Simple Questions

1. What's the one thing about your younger self that you would like to reclaim?
My energy. I remember my mother asking me to bring the remote control to her as she was relaxing on the couch after work. I did, and then I thought, "I'll never be as tired as she is." The moral of the story kids...Never say Never.

2. What are you really good at?
Empathy, reading children's storys, selling things, cooking and teaching. That's about all I can think of.

3. Before I die, I'd like to....
-visit every cool place I have seen on the Travel Channel.
-see my children succeed in life.
-do everything I think I can't do.

4. John, Paul, George, or Ringo?
Who are they? Just kidding, I don't have an opinion.


5. Who was your favorite teacher and why?
Dr. Roider. He was one of my History Professors at LSU. I scheduled him as much as I could. He was so passionate...he could tell a story and you would feel as if you were there. He was also very compationate...he empowered us by trusting us.
(Yep, this is a picture of him and me.)

6. I wish I could ignore....
rude people. You know, those people who want to tell you how to raise your children, how to drive or what to wear.

7. The big decision I'm currently wrestling with is.....
should I go back to work? I am always wrestling with this one...not a suprise.

Jodie needs...

I Googled my needs as well. Here they are:

I need "my meat!"
Not really...I could totally be a vegetarian.

I need to "grow up!"
I thought I did that after well, getting married and having 3 children. Guess one can never stop growing?

I need "a man."
Got one, thanks. He is about all I can handle.

I need "to be in more roles on TV."
How much does that pay?

I need a "new nose."
I know...no one needs to tell me that!

(If you want to do this, just type in " 'your name' needs" into the google search bar and enter. Then read the descriptions under the headers. Those descriptions should tell you what you need.)

While we were gone...

My Mother had this great idea to jot a few things down about what happened here in Houston while we were in Moscow. Here are a few highlights.

Wednesday:

"The best comment of the week "so far" has been this evening. When I closed the door to the boys' room for them to go to sleep, Cole started shouting, "I'm afraid of the dark!" Alex responded, "Forget it Cole, she's not the babysitter."

"Alex's prayers were asking God to "bring Mommy and Daddy safely home the day they come home."

"When I opened the Randi's door this morning, before she saw me she said, "Daddy!" I think she was a little disappointed for a moment."

Thursday:

"About 10:30am the phone rang and the caller ID showed YMCA (Cole was at soccer camp). My heart skipped a beat. When I answered the guy on the other end asked if I was Cole Haney's Grandmother. All I could say was, "Uh-Oh." I guess he sensed my fear and he quickly responded, "He's OK." Cole had run through the sprinklers and was soaking wet. Of course, when I brought dry clothes, he was ready to leave with me. That was OK by me. I was so glad there was no REAL problem."

Saturday:

Sarah writes, "COLE POOPED. :) I told him he had to go potty before he could go to the birthday party. He sat down and went "poop." Then he looked at me and said, "I guess I'm growing up now because I know everyone has to go poop." I thought it was cute."

That's enough junk food?

I can't believe it! We went to the grocery store today, and Alex turned down a cookie. He said, "That is enough sugar for me. I want to start eating healthy again." He ate some deli meat instead.
What a parental victory!

Russia

Moscow

There are so many things of which I didn't get pictures...some of the AMAZING restaurants ($300-400 a head) and the night clubs ($40 to get in and $500 for the woman of your choice). Crazy.
It seemed the population was either extremely wealthy or extremely poor. I didn't see much of a middle class. There was also a LOT more women than men, and you could tell the women were working it...short skirts, tight tops and lots of high heals.

Best line of the week: I told one of the women with us that I needed to go to the gym after seeing all these skinny Russian chicks. To which she replied, "Why? Don't you like breakfast, lunch and dinner?"

Here are a few pictures.


There are statues all over Moscow...tributes to anyone deemed honorable.
This one is a tribute to the common man, soldier, in Red Square.

A typical street view. This is a huge walking city. The Metro system is very used. Traffic is insane...it is pretty much a free for all. I would NEVER drive in Moscow.

This is a view through the gate at a platform in Red Square where Ivan the Terrible made speeches, many overly dramatic, to the gathering crowd. (Red Square, now a gathering place for concerts, parades and such, used to be a little city of wooden shacks inhabited by those who worked within the walls of the Kremlin.)

GUM is a very upscale shopping mall. It was originally built as a market place for those who lived in Red Square, but was used as office and military space when Stalin was in power. It has now been reconditioned for the currents shops, but still maintains it original architecture.

This one is pretty self explanatory.


These two are of one of the restaurants we visited. It was just lovely, but the food, well, I have had better. One doesn't go to Moscow for the food.




St. Basil in Red Square
This was built and refurbished several times. It has been added to and colors have been changed. Historically correct churches were white with gold tops. The inside paintings have been re-done, but are generally the same.
Church in Russia is typically 3 hours long, standing in one place the whole time.

The HUGE cannon that was shot to let everyone know if the Kremlin was under attack.

Don's favorite dining establishment. He calls them "crap dogs." The translation is really "star dogs."

Our hotel...it was really strange that it was only this dark 4 hours a night. We would be out to dinner, wearing sunglasses, at 10pm.

Guards at the Unknown Soldier of WWII memorial.

Off to Moscow

Here is my signing off blog. We are going to Russia tomorrow.
I stocked the kitchen with every easy food of which I could think. Hopefully, this will help Nanna and the Nanny. The boys probably will not want Mommy to come home after a week of junk food!
The house was cleaned today and the laundry is almost done. If I could just stop feeling nervous about leaving the country without my children, I'd be all set. Guess that is part of the adventure.

Grateful Sunday

I am thankful for Natalie and Leslie who so graciously allowed me into their circle of friendship.
These ladies are best friends and it shows. Let me tell you why I think they are so great.
They are gracious and kind, considerate and real, and best of all they genuinely care about those around them.
You guys have taught me so much by simply being yourselves. I love your confidence and assurance of who you are. It makes it OK for the rest of us to be who we are.
Thank you again for your friendship. Thanks for reaching out to me. I will miss you guys when you move on with your "real" lives.
Watch out Leslie, it is too late for me to steal Natalie's car keys, but I might still be able to find a way to make you stay!

Think I like flowers?

Here are a few pictures of the flowers in my yard.


This one looks aggressive, like it is lunging forward. It's bright and dramatic.


This one reminds me of lounging on hammock during a beautiful day. It's soft and gentle. It seems to be open just to drink up the light.


This one says, "Look toward Heaven."


This one feels like rain on a foggy day.


This one, for some reason, makes me think of good wholesome fun.


This one reminds me of my Mother. It's both unique and classic at the same time.


This one reminds me to focus.


This shot teaches me that seeing people from a different angle may reveal beauty I never knew was there.