You make my day!

I have to apologize right here on the world wide web (lol, does anybody really say that any more??) to my dear blogging buddy Barb over at The French Elements. Last Friday she gave such a sweet award and I have been so busy and failed to post about it. I know I must seem like the rudest blogger in bloggerland, but I swear I was not ignoring you!!

So thanks, Barb for this sweet award!! And you can take it back if you'd like...

Now I need to pass it along to 5 fellow bloggers who make my day, so here goes...

Surf on over and see if these bloggers won't give you a little smile!

1. Shanan at Allmykids123
2. The attention craving poodle over at Mama's Losin' It
3. Melisa at Baird's Blessings
4. Mamamia at Dase of our Lives
5. Hottublizzy at The Journey to the Hottub
   

Happy blogging! And thanks again, Barb!

"My Husband Rocks" Friday

Today I'm going to take the whole "My Husband Rocks" thing literally... cuz...

MY HUSBAND ROCKS!!

I love that my hubby rocks because we get to rock together! We both sing and play in the band at church and I absolutely love looking over and seeing him there on the stage with me. It's one thing to have a passion for something and to have your spouse support you in that passion, but it's an entirely different - and BETTER - thing to share the same passion with your spouse. And I have that with my rockin' hubby!

Who wouldn't want to marry a rock star?

Like mother, like daughter.

Last week I posted this about Joey and Taylor, but today I have something equally, if not much more important to talk about - my daughter's hair.

It almost brings tears to my eyes...for two reasons. Let me explain.

Ashton has been asking for bangs for months and I have been putting it off. I thought that her desire would fade and I knew that if we had bangs in her hair that it require much more styling and I just wasn't looking forward to that.

Well, her desire didn't fade, and it actually shifted to not only wanting bangs, but wanting bangs "just like yours, mommy!" Now who can say no to that??

So I placed a call to the stylist to the stars - um, I would be the star - but we had so much trouble hooking up that you'll never guess what happened. No really, you'll never guess, so I'm going to tell you. While I was out one night, Joey took Ashton to... I can hardly say it... Super Cuts (GASP) to have her bangs cut... just like mine. Uh, no!

So, here I have two major pieces of news for you. #1 Joey is not perfect. I know he may look perfect, but he, too, can make an error in judgment. #2 If I could get this haircut for $11.99, I would!

In order to correct the "not-at-all-like-mommy's-bangs" that they cut at the $11.99 superstore, I took Ashton with me when I got my hair done last week.

This, my sweet little girl, is how you get your hair cut. Welcome to the razor and the stylist to the stars. You too, my dear Ashton, are now a star!

Ahhh... there's nothing like a great haircut. And don't worry baby girl, I'll lead you down the path of highlights soon enough. I pledge to never let your daddy take you to that dreadful place again. I'm so sorry.

Mommy is so proud of your beautiful bangs. It's like looking in a mirror.

Hot Tub Hero!

OMG!!! Hot Tub Lizzy over at The Journey to the Hot Tub has solved my problem! It's not Blogger that I should be raggin' on, it's YAHOO!! Blogger has been sending me my precious comment notifications all along. It's YAHOO that has decided that I didn't really want to read them and has tossed them into my spam folder!

How rude! These are my blogging buddies! They aren't junk mail!

Sheesh!!!

Thanks Hot Tub Lizzy for figuring out my problem! You're the best!!

Real Raggin' Wednesday

So Staci has inspired me and I'm jumpin' on the band wagon with "Real Raggin' Wednesday", so here I go...

Why, please tell me why, Blogger has decided to stop emailing me when I get comments on posts? How am I supposed to know what my fan base is? How am I supposed to respond to said comments like any good blogger would? Why does blogger want people in the blogging community to think that I am a comment snob? W.H.Y????

I mean, it's one thing if someone leaves a comment on today's post, or even yesterday's post. But what if they leave a comment on a post from a week ago? Or a month ago? I can't possibly be expected to review all of my comments, everyday, and remember which one's are new, can I?

WHY WON'T YOU COOPERATE BLOGGER? WHY???

Ok, now Staci says that I have to forgive Blogger and never rag on Blogger and their lack of cooperation and emailing me again. I've never been one for following the rules, but I guess I have to.

Blogger, I forgive you for being stupid. I forgive you for not actually doing what you say you will do. Like when I ask to receive "comment notification" and you simply just refuse. Or when I select "no" on the option to "view quick edit tools on my blog" and you show them anyway.

You're obviously not the brightest blogging software available, but you're all I know. So I forgive you.

Please don't leave me.

Build-A-Bear, Pay-A-Bundle

I admit it. I'm a sucker.

So I was at the mall with the kids the other day and as we were walking I saw Build-A-Bear Workshop across the way. I did everything I could to distract the kids, but they saw it anyway. They begged to go in, so I gave in, but told them were NOT "building a bear" today. It was too expensive and we had already spent plenty of money.

And besides, your daddy will kill me.

As you can see, I'm a woman of my word.

I know, I know. It goes against every parenting book out there to say one thing and do another. But seriously, just look at those faces!! Could YOU say no???

So I filled out the loan paperwork (using the kids college funds as collateral), cuz that's what you have to do to BUILD-A-BEAR!!! And off we went...

Step 1: Stuff it.

Step 2: Squeeze it to make sure it's fluffy enough.

Step 3: Choose a heart for your bear (that costs $5 more! And what is the mom supposed to say at this point, no?? Whatev...) and make a wish.

Step 4: Brush it.

Step 5 would have been to use mine and Joey's retirement funds to buy clothes for the silly stuffed animals, but mommy has to draw the line somewhere! And that line is drawn at anything that prevents me from spending my retirement sipping margaritas on the sandy beaches of Playa del Carmen.

The funny part of all this is I spent the entire drive home telling the kids how cute their animals were and mumbling under my breath "daddy is gonna kill me."

When we got home the kids ran inside to show daddy their "Build-A-Bears" and the first thing Ashton said to daddy was, "please don't kill mommy." As soon as Joey saw me he just died laughing... he knows I'm a sucker.

The million dollar question

I'll give you three guesses to figure out what my family is doing.

Really? Do you need three guesses?

Maybe if you're new here... and if you are, welcome to the mouse trap!!

Yeah, you guessed it. I was sitting at the kitchen table blogging - cuz that's what I do people! - when I see a mouse run out of bedroom - YUK!!! - and under the couch!

At this point, I don't even scream any more. I mean, they've honestly become part of the family. I simply said, "Honey, a mouse just ran out of the bedroom and under the couch."

And this is what happened.

Not to rescue mommy from a mouse running free in the house, but because they wanted food for this.

That leads me to my next million dollar question. Anyone have a spare bedroom? And I'd prefer someone maybe in a tropical location.

I realize beggars can't be choosers, so if I have no blogging buddies in the tropics, I'll settle for, hmmm.... how about Colorado, California, Florida, or New York.

I'm small, I don't eat much, and you'll hardly notice I'm there.

Plus, I'm sure I'll have to bring my hubby out for visits. I really can't live without him. I just simply can't live with that THING!!!

Oh the LOVE!!

All of this SITS love? Whatever is a girl to do?

I guess first I could say thanks to Heather and Mrs. R for starting The Secret is in the Sauce. What a fabulous idea!!

Then from there, I just don't know...

I think it's just gone straight to my head. I mean I've been calling my hubby all day telling him about all the comments I've gotten.

I feel like I have my own fan club. I know it's only for a day, but just let me bask in it, ok?

Just until morning. Then I'll stop being a blogging diva.

Maybe.

Maybe not. I really can't make any promises.

"My Husband Rocks" Friday

Wow... I just don't even know what to say.

I got this email from my hubby yesterday afternoon with a website link, so of course I clicked on it. And this is what I found.

Go ahead. Click on it. The rest of this will make no sense until you do. I'll wait.

Seriously. I was so ecstatic I could hardly contain myself!! I know some of you are thinking "what is the big deal?" But here's the big deal...

My husband rocks because he takes a genuine interest in what I do. He has his own "myspace" kind of site on a bodybuilding website that he could have started a blog on, but he didn't. He chose blogspot because he wanted me to be able to design his site. Although it's been tough at times, he has been so supportive of my new business.

It may seem silly, but I love that he has a blog. I love that he's so into fitness. I love that he's so passionate about helping other people reach their potential. I love that he's so incredibly handsome. I love that he's mine. I love him!!

Welcome to blogspot, baby! I love you.

Got laundry?

Our crazy cat has decided that bringing in 3 to 4 mice a week is not enough. Now she's fluffing the laundy.

All I did was open the dryer and turn my back for one second and there she was!

It's good to be a cat...

"Africa" Hot San Antonio... Your Vacation of Choice!

Yeah!! My favorite Aunt and cousins came into town yesterday to hang for a few days at the fabulous Westin La Cantera resort.

(On a side note, if any of my other favorite relatives are reading this, honestly, I show no favoritism. I have plenty to go around!!)

Back to my favorite Aunt and cousins, not to mention their super-adorable-you-just-wanna-eat-them-up kiddos, I totally had to skip out of work early, snag my own kiddos and get over there as fast as I could!! I haven't seen Bethany in probably 2 years because her hubby is a complete genius and has been dragging moving her all over the country teaching at various colleges. And that might not seem all that fabulous... except he can't be more than 25! Ok, maybe 27?? I don't know, I haven't seen him in 2 years, I can't keep up!! (Sorry, Kyle. I mean this with all the love in my heart, I swear. But thank you for bringing my cuz back to Houston!!!)

And Lauren... I've only seen her maybe once or twice in the last 2 years. It's just not nearly enough since we grew up seeing each other at least twice a year - if not more! All those summers of living in the pool... only getting out for chips and hot sauce... those were the days!!

Now, let's get down to the fun! Word is Lauren was a golf cart girl one summer in high school. Hmmm.... I don't know if she remembers all of her training because I think little Berkley was a bit scared of Aunt Lolo's driving!!

After our near-death experience on the golf cart ride from the Casita to the pool (I kid, I kid!!), there were hours upon hours of swimming to be had by all. And get this - momma (THIS momma) even got her hair wet!! I know, don't go fallin' out of your chair or anything. It was actually an accident. I was forced to go down the slide by that very cute little girl you see (barely) sitting next to Lauren. She's small, but very convincing.

After much swimming, sliding, and splashing, it was clear that s'mores were the only things that would get the kids out the pool.

Thank you Westin La Cantera!

Ok, so the big kids had to have s'mores, too! (This is Lauren - a.k.a. Aunt Lolo - me, of course, and Bethany - a.k.a. Aunt B)


Oh the sugar rush...


And to all my blogger buddies complaining of the "Africa" heat here in my great city of San Antonio... at least we have a beautiful sunset like this at the end of our "Africa" hot days :)

Like father, like son.

The Bible tells us to train up our children in the way they should go and when they are older, they will not depart from it.

I'm certain this applies, right?

Awarded and Tagged?

First, I would like to thank the Academy. I could never have made it this far without you.

Next, can anyone tell me who the Academy is?

Now, onto the real reason for this post.

PART 1:

I received my first award this weekend from Katy Lin at The Great Adventure.

This award is "dedicated to many who nourish and enrich the spirit and creativity. They see dedication, creativity, camaraderie, joy and above all, ART - much art. I wish that this prize is entertaining to all bloggers who share this space and enrich it a little more each day." ~ Arte Y Pico

To be honest, Katy Lin, I can't say that I fully grasp this award due to the fact that it is in another language, but what I can say is I am ALWAYS one to play along!

So thanks, Katy Lin for giving me my first blogging award! You're the best!!

In turn, I would like to pass this award along to the following bloggers for making me rush to my computer to see what today's post has in store. May you never keep me waiting...

1. Danielle at Captain Pork Chops (every time I need a laugh, I just click on your link)
2. Heather at Mindless Junque (I CRAVE your story about "New Guy"!!)
3. BIG MAMA (she'll never read this, but ALL of you should definitely check out her blog. She is hilarious - with a capital H!!)
4. Half-Past Kissin' Time (well, just go on over and read... she's pretty freakin' hilarious!)
5. Scary Mommy (Simply for her Proudest Parenting Moment - warning, Rated R - but absolutely hilarious!!)
   
   
   

The rules for this award are as follows:

1. You need to choose 5 blogs you consider deserving of this award for their creativity, design, interesting material, or contribution to the blogging community regardless of language
2. Each award should have the name of the author and a link to her blog to be visited by everyone
3. Each winner should show the award and put the name and link to the blog that presented her with the award. (I know it says this is a rule but I also know that not everyone likes to do this. I'm totally cool if you wanna break the rules.)
4. The award winner and the one who has given the award should show the Arte Y Pico blog so everyone will know the origin of this award
5. Show these rules
   
   
   

PART 2:

I've been tagged! Wow! I'm actually honored. I mean, I see other people get tagged, but I just thought nobody liked me.

Barb over at The French Elements MUST like me, since she tagged me... so here goes...

First the rules ('cuz I ALWAYS play by the rules!):

1. Link back to the person that tagged you.
2. List the rules.
3. Share 6 important things about yourself.
4. Tag 4 people at the end of your entry.

Six important things about myself:

1. All things about me are important. Is this really serious?
2. I'm not good at accepting compliments, even from my husband - ask him. It drives him crazy.
3. I love to sing. I've sung at church with a band in front of over a thousand people at multiple services and never get nervous. But if you ask me to sing outside of that situation, I'll likely pee my pants.
4. I was a blog stalker for MONTHS before I ever decided to start my own. I knew these ladies better than they knew themselves... I'll never tell you who though... ha ha ha... could've been you. Are you scared?
5. Whenever I attend any kind of seminar, about halfway through it (ok, I can only last about 30 minutes) I get an overwhelming case of ADHD. It's worse when I'm with a friend b/c there's just no limit to the amount of childish acting up we can do. I'll go ahead and apologize if you've ever been speaking at one of these. Sorry.
6. I LOVE me a little Starbuck's white chocolate mocha non-fat no whip. Anyone wanna buy??

You've been tagged:

1. Kat at Sunshine and Lemonade
2. Motherhood for Dummies
3. Jill at One Wired Woman
4. Sheri at Life, Love, and Other Drama

Whew! Now, If you've actually read this whole thing you certainly deserve an award. Maybe one day I'll create my own award but right now I'm too tired from writing this FREAKING long post. Good gosh.

I sure could use a white chocolate mocha non-fat no whip.

Happy Father's Day

Wednesday I picked the kids up from school and asked the always interesting question, "What would you like to get your daddy for Father's Day?"

Ashton, who is always very thoughtful and pays a lot of attention to what people use and might want, quickly perked up and shouted, "new running shoes, mommy! I wanna get daddy some new Nike's and pedometer!"

Taylor on the other hand, well, I just don't know where he gets his ideas, but they're just so darned cute, what are you gonna say?? He shouted, "Sharpies!! An orange Sharpie, a black Sharpie, and a red Sharpie!!"

He was so excited about the Sharpies.

I'm married to the Father of these children and I can completely understand the new Nikes. But the Sharpies?? No idea where that came from. But I couldn't stifle the excitement, so what did we buy for daddy?

Nikes and Sharpies. What a combination.

They picked out their own cards at Hallmark and were SO excited to give them to daddy. Taylor is even doing his own little happy dance!

I know it appears that daddy is really upset about the Sharpies, but it's just a bad picture, I promise. He could never have been more excited to receive permanent markers as a gift, trust me.

"My husband rocks" Friday

I know. Don't laugh.

We were young. Very young. And those bangs were cool in 1999.

Maybe.

Anyway, the reason for showing that picture of my blessed wedding day is so you can all see the wedding ring that my wonderful husband chose for me.

See, we started dating at the end of February 1998. He proposed on May 1, 1998. We were married on February 20, 1999.

We never looked for rings. I don't think we even talked about them. Truthfully? He was too busy showering me with dozens upon dozens of roses for us to talk about stuff like that!

But I do remember that day he bought it. He didn't tell me he bought it, but I could tell by the smile on his face that he had just dropped some cash - to make me his wife! He came to my office just to say hi. And show off that huge, make-me-wanna-kiss-you smile.

And I knew.

Fast forward 8 and a half years to the dreadful day that I turned 30.

My poor husband. He put up with all of my whining and moaning and complaining about how I was going to turn 30 and how horrible it would be. He even put up with the tears... and those began several months prior. This was NOT a day I was looking forward to.

But he had his heart set on making it a day that I would remember instead of a day where I curled up in bed and cried. So he (with a little help from two of my friends) threw me the biggest party with lots of friends, hilarious cards, and good drinks.

I don't think I've had a party at all in my adult life.

And for his gift?

He had the marquee from my wedding ring reset into this gorgeous band.

The part that makes him so amazing is that I have never disliked my wedding ring. I've never looked at other rings and wished I had them, I loved my wedding ring. He chose it and gave it to me. How could I not love it?

BUT he shows up with this... BAM!!! With no prodding, no suggestions from me - or anyone for that matter. He just went to the jewelry store and found it.

I LOVE MY RING! Not just because it's absolutely gorgeous, but because he thought about it and bought me a gift that meant something.

MY husband rocks!!

And all is right with the world... FINALLY!

Last Friday after Taylor's graduation ceremony, we went to his classroom to get all of his things from the day.

When his blankie wasn't in his cubby, we had to call in the crisis management team.

When the crisis management team (a.k.a. his teacher) couldn't locate the blankie in all of daycare land, we knew we were in for a long weekend.

Every night he would start to cry and say, "I just can't take it anymore."

I wonder where he got that.

Honestly, I was having my own little breakdown as well. He's had this blanket since he was born and I just couldn't handle the thought of it being gone forever.

And I'm not even sentimental. I'm the one who throws away everything, but I guess it's because he's my baby. And I know I won't be having another baby. I don't know.

So every night I would tell him the same thing - I'm sure whoever has your blankie will bring it back to school on Monday.

Monday came and went. No blankie.

And to make matters worse, he only goes to school MWF in the summer, so we had to wait until Wednesday to see if anyone would bring it back. His new teacher said she would ask all of the parents and even send a note home. If that didn't work, I was determined to get the phone numbers of all the kids in his class and call them myself.

I He had to have that blankie!

This is what I found when I picked him up from school on Wednesday.

There is nothing sweeter.

THIS is exactly what I was afraid of...

Anyone need a good laugh? Well you can certainly have one at my expense today.

Remember this post last month? No? Well, click on it and have a read.

Go ahead. I'll wait.

Yeah, that's pretty funny. Ha ha.

Now THIS is why I KNEW I should never have agreed to such a thing. Here's a copy of an email I received this morning:

Stephanie, congratulations on the article in the new "intermetso" magazine about you and your singing!

The article gave us an idea. I work for Metso Paper in Atlanta in the Capital Sales department for Paper, Board & Tissue, as an Executive Assistant. I've worked to put together the Metso Paper North America annual sales meeting each fall. We usually have around 115 attending (give or take a few). We are booked at the Marriott Riverwalk the week of September 29.

What I am leading up to is that we have a dinner scheduled for Wednesday night at the Marriott and we usually have some kind of entertainment at the main dinner. We would love to have you sing for us! Any chance you would be available?

We would appreciate it greatly if you could. Just let us know what we can do to entice you (& your fee for such events).

Thank you, and again, congratulations.

- Jackie Webb
________________________
Jackie Webb
Executive Assistant

Are you just rolling on the floor laughing yet?

I've said it before. Yes, I sing. I sing at church mostly. With a band. And yes, we rock (but it's for Jesus!!). Other than that, I'm pretty much happy with absolutely NO ONE acknowledging anything about me.

Is that so hard?

And this isn't the first email I've received.

Since when do people actually read these company published newsletters??

So I have a dilemma. I'm the contact who receives our offices supply of said newsletters. I looked at one and about fell out of my chair when I saw the LIFE SIZE picture of myself on the back cover!!

I think I'll shred them all before anyone in my own office sees.

That's it. Crisis averted.

After a long, hard school year, who couldn't use a trip to the Rainforest Cafe to see all the cute, life-like animals and have them scare the begesus out of you?

Good times.

We took the kids on Sunday after church to celebrate the end of the school year and had a great time. Yes, Taylor was practically scared poop-less by the alligator. And then again by the thunder and lightening "show". But hey, when we got in the car he said the alligator was his favorite thing!

Figures.

Mommy, Taylor, and Daddy waiting for that darned chips & queso! Mommy is STARV-ING!

We always have lunch with Mimi (Joey's mom) on Sunday after church, so she came along.

Taylor was scared of the tiger, too. It may look like they're close in the picture, but they're actually a ways in front. He wouldn't get close!! Silly boy.

"You're the best mommy in the WHOLE world!"

... said the two children when I woke them up this morning and told them I was making cinnamon rolls for breakfast.

Thank you Pillsbury Dough Boy.

Taylor's "not-so" Graduation

Please tell me why the preschools that we love so much insist on torturing us, as parents, like this. I mean, take a look at that darling little boy. That's my baby! My four year old little boy.

In a cap.

And gown.

And he walked down the aisles just like I did when I graduated.

And then they played one of those tear-jerker videos with all of the kids... I almost lost it!

I had to hold back the tears that welled up in my eyes because I didn't want to be the mom that was bawling in the middle of the sanctuary.

And get this. He's not even really graduating. He's the youngest in his class so everyone else is going into kindergarten, but he still has another year to go. I didn't want him to feel left out in the ceremony, so he participated with all of his classmates, but he's not really graduating.

So I have do all of this again. Why, Lord, why????

The above pic is super blurry because it was really dark in there, but look at him accepting his diploma. Isn't that just torture? Pure torture.

And now it's play time. You have to admit that the diploma does look way too much like a telescope to not use it as a toy....

And now he's done. No more pictures mommy.

How about a little love for your man??

I came across this post through a cute little newlywed who commented on my blog today.

What a fabulous idea!!

"My Husband Rocks" Friday's? I love it! I mean, sure they leave the toilet seat up and can't replace the paper towel rolls, but then again, sometimes you come home to this, and you might even get to live with this - wait, he's mine!!

The point is, no matter what he may do to annoy you now and then, there is so much more about him that you love. So let's celebrate it!

I'm joining Katy Lin and starting a new Friday tradition. Next week. I've already posted three times today.

I love you, Joey!!

Where's my baby?

My baby girl is no longer in second grade. How did this happen? I mean, wasn't it just yesterday that we were celebrating her first birthday? And now she's graduating from the second grade!

Please, Lord! Make it stop!! If anyone can, I have complete and TOTAL faith that YOU are the only one who could do such a thing!!

Ok, fine. She has to grow up. At least she's growing up to be the smartest, most beautiful little girl I could have ever dreamed of.

Last week she had her awards ceremony and this year, they opted to do them all separately in the individual classes. (Thank you. Although I do love children - just mostly mine - watching all the students walk across the stage is such a beating!)

Here she is with her teacher, Ms. Villarreal.

And receiving her award for Academic Achievement (GT), Accelerated Reading, Science Fair, and several more that I just can't remember. She's so smart!!

Here I am sneaking in a pic with my baby girl and her best friend, Marie.

Congratulations on a fabulous year, Ashton. Mommy and Daddy are so proud of you!