Thursday, October 30, 2008

I'm Out of Breath


The kids and I worked very hard tonight getting things ready for tomorrow's neighborhood Halloween party that we'll host at our house. One of our neighbors had bought a few things from Oriental Trading Company and brought them over for us to use. What I did not expect was the size of the Halloween limbo pumpkins that needed to be blown up--by mouth because I do not have any sort of pumper. These guys are probably about 6'5" and now that I think about it, probably intended for adults instead of kids based on the height of the limbo bar shelves. Oh well. They can be decorations too and maybe the adults can limbo for the kids' amusement!

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Things that Make You Go Hmmmm...Part 1

I frequently have moments that make me question my immediate surroundings...am I dreaming, did that just really happen, etc. I will share the most interesting Hmmm moments as they occur.

At the Grocery Store: I don't know if you're like me--I think most people are when it comes to grocery shopping--but I put everything in my cart mixed together. Yes, what is on the bottom or top depends on which side of the store I enter, but there is not particular care taken in arrangement within the cart unless there's something that can be crushed. While checking out on a recent trip, I was helping the bagger load groceries and he incredulously asked me "You're going to mix your chemicals?" I didn't know what he meant until I realized he was questioning the placement of the Dove hair mousse with the cereal boxes and pickle jar. I just told him that it didn't matter to me and that the mousse was mixed in with everything in the cart before it got to the bagging process.

In the Kitchen: Today was a busy day. Rod was working late and I had to get the kids and get Evelyn to soccer by 5:15 which meant dinner was after soccer, which ended at 7:00. While at soccer, I worked on a set of feedback for a work colleague based out of Taiwan which I had to get out in an email by 7:15 so that they would have time to review it before our conference call at 9:00. Mix in the fact that I had Krav Maga class from 7:30-8:15 and things get complicated. Rod pulls in right at 7:15 and I suggest a simple dinner that involves noodles and hotdogs. Most people cook those two items separately. I was absolutely aghast when Rod suggested just boiling the hotdogs and noodles in the same pot. It actually made me feel ill. He postulated that the hot dog fat "just boils to the top" and that "it's the same process, why not combine it and dirty one pot?" I still don't know how he actually cooked them since I had to leave, and I don't want to ask.

Friday, October 24, 2008

The Brooklyn Bridge


This is the photo I described in the post about our trip to New York. Rod decided to set up (photo) shop in a deserted area that randomly had a recliner present. He wanted a unique shot of the Brooklyn Bridge--and he got it!

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Mighty Fine ... Whaaaat?


We visited a new restaurant this weekend because Kenneth's soccer game was at a field in a part of Austin that we don't get to visit too much. It is called "Mighty Fine Burgers," owned by the same company that created Rudy's Barbecue. For those who are unaware of the sheer genius of Rudy's, it is the ideal restaurant for kids (well-behaved or otherwise). The atmosphere at Mighty Fine Burgers was similar: large fold-out tables laid out cafeteria-style, food on butcher paper, etc. They pride themselves on shoestring-size crinkle fries, which were highly addictive. Anyhow, we were all having a grand time talking about who knows what when Evelyn says "These burgers really are mighty fine, and ... (jaw drops) ... that is NOT mighty fine!" As we turned to look at what she was referring to, we were greeted with the unpleasant sight in the picture. Rod surreptitiously took this photo from his camera phone while pretending to be vastly interested in the television set. Kenneth suggested that we call the restaurant "Mighty Fine Boody" from now on!

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Visit to the Ontiveros Family


Last weekend we took a trip to see April, Cesar, Noah, and the newest Ontiveros addition, Seth. He is about a month and a half old and is very sweet. He looks a lot like Cesar.

Hopefully we'll get a chance to catch up again before the end of the year. Now that October is halfway done, the holidays will make the rest of 2008 fly by...

Wednesday, October 01, 2008

No Training Wheels!

My sweet Evelyn decided that she was going to remove the training wheels from her bike and ride it. She did so quite successfully. Please keep in mind that she got this bike when she was 5 and has chosen to ride it probably less than five times in the two-year interim. That is so Evelyn: make a decision and get it right the first time. No accidents so far...