It's raining men, um, I mean toys

Lisa and I shopped today. We hit Old Navy (help me please), Carters, Fuddruckers Subway (where I most certainly did NOT eat a burger slathered with fake cheese and A-1. Or steak fries) (where I had a delicious, nutritious 6 inch turkey sub), and then we headed home. While we were getting the babies down for their naps, our older 3 were up to something big. Doors were closed and closely guarded, messengers were sent out with news of a big 'show', and finally, when it seemed that Lisa and I could no longer stand the suspense (we were Twittering people!), we were asked to take our seats. At first, there didn't seem to be anything awry, that is, until we looked UP. I ran to grab my camera, and we marveled at the sheer genius of our children.

The switch was flipped and the toys, oh how they flew. No one was injured and we all had a good laugh!

Here's what they had to say in a post-show interview:

BJ: I was the master of the idea. We got on the bunkbed and put the toys on and then we tested it out to make sure the toys wouldn't go too far. And they didn't so we decided to go ahead with the party.

Sophie: I put on some of the toys. Sam was our assistant. I also invited the mommies to the party and told them when it was ready.

BJ: I was the one to make sure that it exactly worked. Sophie was the toy-putter-on, and helped me invent the idea.

And so I give you, the Raining Toy Party.

The toys, they rained down on all over,

There are no photos because we were ducking for cover.

Our kids are wicked smaht, and oh so funny.

We need to figure a way to pimp them our for money.

Mama needs a new pair of shoes.

Blogher 2009 - What it was for me

I've had a few days to recover from Blogher. Only, I haven't really recovered, since I'm on another trip now. Holy hell. My feet are still swollen.

Blogher was, without a doubt, amazing.

In the days leading up to my departure for Chicago, I have to admit I was a little nervous, and even more intimidated by all that Blogher promised to be. I mean, the official program was 50 pages long. I knew I would be hanging out with my girls, but would anyone else even know me or care to meet me? Would I really get anything out of the conference? Would I be able to keep up with the rigorous schedule of parties?

The answer across the board is YES! Mostly. I met so many wonderful people. I finally go to me April. Of course, it felt like I'd known her for ages, but we finally got to hug and it was great! Rooming with her and Lisa was the best experience ever. No one even snored!


I met Heather, who is so soft spoken and angelic (her halo is under that paper bag), but don't let that fool y'all. That girl can do some pretty amazing things with a cheeseburger, yo.

I met Midwest Mommy, who was not soft spoken, but had the best mid-western accent EVER. OMG, I wanted to pack her in bag and bring her home like a fine piece of swag.

Elaine, who was all that I thought she'd be and more-so warm and friendly like only a Texan could be.

Kim was so special. Just like I thought she'd be. Funny and sweet, and she had such a wonderful smile. Libby was so cute and happy.

I got to ride in the Wienermobile. Can you tell I had a hot doggin' good time?


And right up there with riding in the Wienermobile was meeting Deb and Lee. If you haven't read Lee's post about Blogher, it's a must read. I had never even heard of these ladies before Blogher, but I feel so fortunate to have met them. Even if they didn't remember who I was 30 seconds after meeting me.

To answer your question, yes, they always looked that HAWT.

Attending Bowlher was definitely a highlight as well! I got to walk the red carpet with some of my best hookers.

See Brooke White perform.

Watch Ivy and Libby dance and clap.

And holy hell, I met the Pioneer Woman. Ree was so kind and friendly. Totally what I expected. She was even nice enough to pose for a picture with Lisa, April and I. I was just about to grab her and shove her into my pocket when the Marlboro Man pulled her up on to his horse and they rode off into the sunset.

The best part of the whole trip was hanging out with old friends and new. Party hopping, bar hopping, sightseeing. It was so much fun rolled into a nice long weekend. I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Well, after my feet recover.




To see the rest of my wonderful memories from Blogher, you can check out my Flickr set.

You Capture - Feel

This week was tough. I thought it over and my interpretation is how *I* feel toay. My best friend Lisa is visiting this week, and it makes me feel so happy!

This picture makes me feel so happy. My children and Lisa's children feel love for each other (most of the time), and I think it shows.

To see more Feel Captures, head on over to I Should Be Folding Laundry.

Moms Gone Wild

My girls weekend was this past weekend in San Antonio. It was amazing. Wonderful. Relaxing. Hilarious. Fun. And so needed. We drank, we ate, we drank, we shopped, we sat at the pool, we drank, and some of us went swimming! We were all so relieved to be childless!!

These first shots are from the end of my weekend. Blogger doesn't like me, so they showed up first in my post and I'm too lazy to move them around. After Lisa and Lauren headed back to Austin, Amanda stuck around and we went to the San Antonio Botanical Gardens. They were amazing! I got some great shots and so did Amanda! Be sure to stop by her blog and check out the cactus garden shots she captured. My battery died before we got there, so I didn't get any and I was so disappointed. I tried not to pout!!

This is how a real photographer gets the good shots!

We drank

Alot

We went shopping at night with no kids!

We watched a wedding from the balcony at the hotel

We sat at the pool, and apparently Amanda flipped me off

We stayed in a hotel with cool architecture

We ate at old Mexican food institutions We were real classy with our drinks! Lisa made us these great cups!

We ate Taco Bell with our yummy drinks!

I gave Amanda a half Nelson

A good time was had by all! The only mishap was me losing my car keys. In San Antonio. And I never found them. I have NO idea where they are. Amanda helped me retrace every step looking for them. Lisa was on her way back to Austin and pulled over to search her car. No luck. No keys. Oh well. It was still an amazing, wonderful, needed weekend with some of my best friends in the whole wide world.

Thanks Lauren, Lisa, and Amanda for hanging with me :)

Give me a break

In the, oh, past 2 months it's became painfully obvious to me that I need a break. I know, some of you may be laughing and thinking, 'hey, she lives in paradise, has amazingly awesome kids, a great job at home, and a strapping husband who's only home on weekends.' Yes, yes, all of that and more is true, but come on, give me a break! I do live in paradise, but the closest real grocery store is 75 miles away; my kids are awesome, but lately they're pretty much on my last nerve; I have a great job at home, but with all the distraction in my mind, it's been hard lately; my husband is quite strapping, and well, he's quite strapping! HA!

So about 2 weeks ago I had a meltdown of epic proportions. This meltdown consisted of me being totally bitchy all weekend and then finally breaking down in weepy sobs realizing that I need a break. I need some peace and quiet. I need to not be needed. For just a couple of days. REAL soon. Or else.

The strapping husband was more than happy to oblige. Shit, he fell all over himself trying to come up with remedies to the situation, because he loves me that much and wants to make sure my mental health stays intact. Okay, he didn't really fall all over himself, but he was quite open to the whole get mommy outta here gig.

So the remedy? A weekend away! A weekend that started out as just me holed up in a hotel with curtains drawn, ear plugs in, and a sleep mask on. Ahhhh, sleep. Quiet, peaceful, uninterrupted sleep. But who the hell wants to do that with an entire childfree weekend? Not moi! So I called in some reinforcements. Namely Lisa. Yep, she's my go to girl when it comes to fun, but most of the time it's either here or there and never in between. And more often than not (okay, who am I kidding, ALWAYS) there is a child hanging off of one or both of us. Literally. Well not this time (insert maniacal laugh here)!

Bring on the girls weekend. This weekend. In San Antonio. A nice hotel with a pool. Optional shopping and dining out. Mandatory drinking and silliness. Maybe some sleep, maybe not. But there will definitely be fun and lots of it. And NO kids. None at all. Yippppeeee!

Wanna know what other decision I made during my I-never-have-one-second-to-myself-ever meltdown? I'm going to Blogher alone. NO kids. Not a one. And so is Lisa. And we cannot wait.

An interview with Lisa's kids about Lisa

Today I sat down with Lisa's older kids, Sophie & Sam, for an interview about their mom! Yes, I totally stole this idea from Melissa, and added my own twist. Kids are so much more honest when it's not their mommy asking the questions, right?

Check-in over at Lisa's site later on for her interview with my son, BJ.

1. What is something mom always says?
Sophie: She loves me!
Sam: Don't

2. What makes mom happy?
Sophie: When I give her hugs and kisses!
Sam: Baby

3. What makes mom sad?
Sophie: When I don't listen.
Sam: ?

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
Sophie: When she says funny things.

5. What was your mom like as a child?
Sophie: I was not there, so I just don't know what.
Sam: I go

6. How old is your mom?
Sophie: I don't know. I just don't know how old she is.

7. How tall is your mom?
Sophie: It's pretty hard for me to know that.

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Sophie: To play with me.

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
Sophie: She might like, put the baby to sleep.

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
Sophie: I don't know.

11. What is your mom really good at?
Sophie: Helping me get my stuff down. Whatever I cannot reach.

12. What is your mom not very good at?
Sophie: I don't know.

13. What does your mom do for her job?
Sophie: She works at the house. I don't know what she does.
Sam: Gives me apples.

14. What is your mom's favorite food?
Sophie: All things are her favorite food!
Sam: ketchup

15. What makes you proud of your mom?
Sophie: I don't know.

16. If your mom were on TV, who would she be?
Sophie: Maybe a soccer player.

17. What do you and your mom do together?
Sophie: We um, it's hard to know that. I think we go to the store.
Sam: Play

18. How are you and your mom the same?
Sophie: That's a tricky one. I don't know.
Sam: ?

19. How are you and your mom different?
Sophie: Sometimes we do things that are not the same.
Sam: ?

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
Sophie: I don't know. She tells me she loves me.
Sam: Kisses!

21. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
Sophie: To the gym.
Sam: McDonalds

I have to admit that I was cracking up at some Sam & Sophie's answers. Especially on the last question! I'm really looking forward to seeing BJ's answers later today (hint hint, Lisa).

Good friends and some photos

Lisa and family are here visiting and we're having a great time. It's so wonderful when we can get together and it just seems like it doen't happen often enough. Our kids are the best of friends and so are we. Like Lisa said on her blog, we're more like sisters. It's an amazing relationship that truly cherish. I've never had a friend like her and I can't imagine my life without her!!

Since we're so busy having fun, I'll just leave you with a couple of pictures I took earlier in the week. It was early and the fog had settled nicely into the hills. Beautiful conditions for photography. When I sent a couple to Beth after my shoot, she told me they were powerful! And you know, I felt powerful when I took them. Enjoy!

p.s. Did you know Beth is hosting a photography challenge on her blog every week!? It's called You Capture. It's going to be awesome, so please considering joining in.