On my mind

I downloaded a couple of albums so far.

1. Cut Copy, In Ghost Colours, this was recommended tunage on Dooce.com and she never steers me wrong. It's funky 80's music, a lot like Erasure. Keith said it's pretty gay.

2. M.I.A., Arular, which was released in 2005, but is getting a lot of buzz lately because Paper Planes was in Slumdog Millionaire. Turns out she's been popular among the cool folks for awhile, but I just jumped on the bandwagon. A week after I got her album, she performed on the Grammy's, totally pregnant, in a crazy outfit. M.I.A. is the S.H.I.T. Anyway, her Bucky Done Gun song rocks and listening to Kale sing it is effing hilarious.

You can give me a big fat F for all the non-posting I've been doing. Sorry. Bringing that up all the time is essentially the beginning of the end, huh? Well, I'll try and not let it be.

We had a wonderful Valentine's Day. Kale sent Valentine Transformers with a lollipop and M&M's to all his friends in class. The Valentines weren't to be addressed to anyone in particular just to "My Friend" from their name. Kale got a small heart box of Spiderman chocolates from one little girl. Pump ur brakes lil lady. And, it was addressed to him. Hmmm. Hmmm. This is the same little girl we ran into at Luby's ' a couple of weeks ago after school. Kale urged me to let him go say hi. So, after we finished eating, we headed over. As we got closer, Kale increasingly became glued to the back of my leg and disappeared. I introduced myself and nudged him to say hi to her, to which he did and was very happy. The little girl's grandmother whispered into her ear "Is that your boyfriend?" to which she very enthusiastically said "YES!" to.

Our weekend was spent with Uncle J, Na-na, and Melissa. We took turns babysitting while the other couple went out for the night. We've been spending a lot of time together, us four. It's been great. Last weekend, my Mom stayed home after the boys had gone to bed, we went to dinner and then bowling. We haven't had this much fun in a long time. I jokingly told them that getting pregnant at the same time we did, was the best non-planning they'd ever done. Ha! But, seriously, it's really been such a blessing and I can't think of any other way things should've turned out. We're looking forward to our vacation together this year. They're ready to get their arses handed to them in Scrabble...with love.

***

I'm going to end with news that's been spreading like wildfire where my Mom works. It's just a reminder of how precious life is and how we never know what path it will take. A well known Dr. at Methodist was recently featured in an article in Reader's Digest. Well, he lost his son in a tragic car accident this weekend. His son's obituary is truly remarkable and moving. Any mother and father would be proud of such a wonderful young man he was turning out to be.

I look at Kale and Mack and see their potential and I wonder what they'll be like one day. I can't imagine doing what every parent does...the feeding, the bathing, the hugging and kissing, the teaching, the nurturing and everything else...only to have it taken away from you. It's a pain I pray I never experience. Please pray for this family.

http://www.legacy.com/houstonchronicle/DeathNotices.asp?Page=Lifestory&PersonId=124138021

Texas sledding

It is almost time to pick up Kale and I've been meaning to post these vids of us at the park, for oh, 3 days now. I don't have enough time in the day. If only there were 3 extra hours, or if I didn't need sleep. So, I will leave while the computer uploads them and when I come back, I will attempt to publish, but that may be too ambitious for me. I'll come crawling back to the computer at 11:30 tonight...


Yesterday I took Mack to his new tumbling class at the YMCA, he's so crazy. He only does what the teacher asks 57% of the time. And, if he were my first, I'd be chasing him around the room trying to get him to do a pencil roll for the 5th time. Instead, I get him to try it once and then I let him do whatever activity that interests him, until the next task. Maybe it's the balance beam or the big triangle pad, whatever. I'm paying for it and I don't really expect him to learn anything, so it's about having fun for me. The poor teacher hasn't taught a toddler class before. Ha. She tries her best to keep them focused on her and at the task at hand. She was sweating at the end of our class (3 little boys, 2 and under). My little monkey...

Here we all are kickin' it old school. Yes, that's cardboard. And, yes, it was a lot of fun. The funniest video is on Melissa's blog, it's of me flipping off at the end of the hill. At the beginning you hear Justin giving me a tip on how to go faster and I respond with "No, that's alright." And, right before I put my second leg in, I tell Tatum to move before plunging to bottom and eating grass. Check it out here.

Keith's turn, he got some pretty rad grass stains:

Here's Melissa and I racing:

And, here's one of many of Justin:

For a good time

We were out to dinner the other night and I got a misdirected text message on my phone.

So, I decided to have a little fun with it...I replied

I thought the guy would figure it out and I'd get a pissed off or a funny reply...

Keith and I almost peed ourselves. What's the Meat Whistle? Really?! No clue?! We left it at that because this poor boy was lost and didn't need the help of our twisted minds. But, the next morning when I turned my phone back on, I'd received a text message at midnight that just said...Dude. And, I don't know what's funnier? What's the Meat Whistle or Dude? Dude could mean so many things. For instance, he could be saying Dude, you fucking bailed on me. What's up? or Dude, does Meat Whistle mean what I think it means? or it could mean Dude, you missed the most kick-ass night ever! Either way, I'm leaving it to the universe to help this guy figure out what the hell happened to his friend Aaron on Thursday night.

In other proud moments...

Justin just started his first semester at the Art Institute this month majoring in Web Design and Interactive Media. He's been working really hard on his assignments. He's so excited, because he's getting graded on his artwork. Actual feedback and praise. I can only imagine what the other first year students drawings look like. I'll say a little prayer just for them. This is impressive. You miss a lot of detail on the blog, but you get the idea.

*this is their living room, minus the Monopoly guy.

Name that song

Have you heard the song by Lady GaGa "Just Dance"? Okay, so who the f*ck can say Lady GaGa without feeling like a goddamn idiot? Do it. Say Lady GaGa. Makes you feel like you need a bottle and some Desitin on your bung hole, huh? Well, the chorus is supposedly something like "just dance, gonna be okay, da-da doo doo". Uh huh, whatever. Next time you hear it, put in "just gotta doo doo", cuz that's what I sing, and it sounds just as good.

In other funny (IMO) music related news, I recently caught Keith, with Rocco's head in between his hands, lovingly singing "Could you be...the most stinkiest dog in the world? Could you be? It's plain to see..." you know, the song by Prince The Most Beautiful Girl in the World. He so funny.

Besides these two horrible songs, I'm looking for some new music to make my ears bleed while I workout. Got anything? I need like 4 new albums by tomorrow. I'll let you know what I come up with. It's always fun to share new tunes. If you haven't bought it already, run out and get Santogold (one of our faves from Fall '08). That shit is golden! Listen to it and see if you don't want to slap the shit outta the person next to you on the treadmill and scream I got to be unstoppable. I got to be unstoppable. Ey ey ey ey. You don't lie. Ey ey ey ey. you don't lie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Seriously, I almost start doing to full out jabs and upper cuts when I listen to this album while working out. Like a scene out of Rambo. Except, I'm not Italian. Or a man. Or have a speech impediment. Nor do I wear headbands. There's always tomorrow.

Here's Santogold's single on You Tube...watch and listen and then bend down and cry "I'm not worthy! I'm not worthy!"

Figaro...Figaro...Fiiiiiggaaro!

Tonight, I'm taking my Mom out for her birthday. We are going to the opera! I'm so thrilled. I've been wanting to go to the opera for so very long now. I'm taking her to the opening night of A MidSummer's Night Dream and we are on the 3rd row!!! Shut yo mouth!!! I specifically got orchestra level seats because my Mom used to play the clarinet...really good. So good, that she even sat in a few times with the Houston Symphony during highschool!

We are both giddy with excitement. I know it's going to be magnificient, but we won't know the magnitude until the music starts and the lights dim. Ooooohhhh, I can't wait. Can you tell? So, here we are, getting all dressed up for our big night that we've been waiting for. Afterwards, I'm taking her for sushi. Happy Birthday, Mom...you sweet thaaang!

Cheers!

Very, very merry

Well, things are definitely back to normal around here. Kale started school again and Keith is back from a 5 day long meeting. Yea!! Days and weeks before his meeting we don't really think about it. Then it's the night before and we're all...shit. Then we pray and think good thoughts that he makes it there, and back, safely. 'Cause at this point that is all that matters. We say our goodbyes and then we're off. And, seriously, I can't even stop to think about it. I just jump in and keep swimming and before you know it he's back and everything is back to normal. Phew!

The days Keith was out of town, my Mom and my brother went out of their way to keep me company. It seems they were there every time I turned around offering relief or a good laugh. I feel so blessed to have them so close to me. Really, I don't know what I'd do. We had dinner together every night. My brother traveled with me to pick up my Grandmother for the weekend on Friday, visiting our favorite BBQ place along the way. (Oh, peanut brittle you are so naughty. So, so naughty.) And, whenever my Grandmother is in town, there's sure to be some kind of party. She has an entourage! Everyone wants to come and see her while she's in H-town, she's our living Elvis. But, that's exactly what me and the kids need when KD is out of town. Saturday night, Melissa, Justin and Nathan spent the night and we stayed up late playing Scrabble (which I totally need to practice, but when your brother scores 87 points in on one word on the second round, you might just throw in the towel and hope you can drink your way to victory, too). Before my Grandmother went to bed that night, we needed to discuss sleeping arrangements. So, I asked..."Momo, do you think you could sleep in my bed tonight?" She says "Why? You scared?" Man, she's hardcore! Nathan and Melissa needed to sleep in the guest room is all. Geez.


As the sun came up, 5 measley hours from when I laid my head down, and Mack made it known that someone needed to pick his arse up from his dungeon pronto, my Grandmother rolls over. "You know what?" she says quietly. Sleepily I say "What?". "You snore. And, this comforter is so heavy I don't know how you sleep with it. I can barely move!". Good morning to you, too. Senior citizens are F-U-N. If you know my Grandmother, you know how hilarious she is. This cracks me up everytime I tell it. A special thanks to my family for making my life a richer, more happier place. I couldn't do it without them.

***

So many things have been going on. Just life, really. But, when life is happening there's not much time for anything else, like...blogging. Here's to a new year and to new year resolutions. I don't really make new years resolutions, but I've changed ways we do business 'round these parts and feel the need to share...

Numero Uno: I've cancelled all paper bills and therefore only get my bills delivered online. It is so worth it. Do you know how little mail I get now?!?! GLORIOUS!!!!


Numero Dos: We've joined the YMCA and now, look forward to working out. It is amazing to drop the kids off and then workout for an hour blasting my Ipod. Whoever thought of this concept really knew what they were doing! GENIUS!!!

Numero Tres: I've relocated my laptop to our bedroom. Of course this meant doing a mini makeover to our current "study"/guest bedroom and the master bedroom. Now, Keith and I have our own work spaces, respectively. The reason behind it was I found myself too distracted having my laptop in the kitchen. Sitting there. Calling out to me. Look at me! Look at me! Here I am! Don't you want to see what kind of sale ______ is having? Didn't you need to look up ________ for ________. Don't you want to see what's going on with _______? It just got too easy and too time consuming for me. I didn't have the discipline to not hop on and just fart around for a few minutes. I felt like it was pulling me away from the kids when I should be engaged. So, now that's in my room, hopping on is not so habitual anymore. I go to my room, the kids come with, I do what I need to do (pay bills, answer an email) and I'm done. It's much more refreshing.

What we've been up to:

Despite his clear hatred for a gazillion butterflies fluttering around his cranium (i.e. butterfly exhibit). Kale's favorite thing to do is re-enacting scenes of Bear Grylls, from Man vs. Wild, eating bugs. Notice the red shirt on his head. The shirt represents the piss laden shirt that Bear Grylls placed on his head to help him survive the desert heat. I would've put my foot down had Kale asked to pee on his shirt...maybe.

This picture is so funny to me. It's almost as if it's a split screen and they were at different locations. On left: Justin, Melissa and Nathan are excited to be at the Monster Jam Truck show and on right: Keith and Kale are watching a puppy being tortured.

Kale's world is being taken over by Transformers right now. The main character's car in the movie, called Bumblebee, is like so awesome. We spotted a car like it at the museum. Kale couldn't. stop. touching. it. It's like his "Jesus".




In Mack's world, this is his big to-do for 2009. Some hope to run marathons, finish a project, or give to charity more, not Mack. He just hopes his family is smart enough to have these on hand at the ready. Anyplace, anytime...for this is what makes him happy...anyplace, anytime. I realize how bad this is for his teeth *shudder*. I'm pretty sure he'll outgrow it, though. You got dumped right before you're Jr Prom, oh honey, here's a dum-dum, my sweet boy. All better? Excuse me?! Where'd' you tell me to put that dum-dum? If only it were that easy.

How do I love thee...

Mack loves Rocco. I mean l-o-v-e-s Rocco. I don't even think he likes us as much as the dog. And, I guess it's only right, in the balance of the universe and all, that he tortures the dog mostly. As much as Rocco annoys the hell the out of Tatum, he gets it back ten-fold from the other baby in the household. Mack slaps, punches and pinches him. He walks on him, pulls his ears, pulls his tail. We are constantly pulling Mack off of him and trying to teach him to be gentle. I'm just glad Rocco is accustomed to this man-handling.

If one cannot find Mack, it's highly likely that he is in Rocco's kennel with Rocco with the gate shut. Or, he's squeezed his little body into Tatum's kennel while Tatum and Rocco are playing tug-of-war. Either way, Rocco is Mack's best bud. It started early...

Attack of the mop:

Attack of the Mack: