Working girl

You got it. This Mom of one is entering the corporate world again.

Remember this movie..."Working Girl" that's me on the phone....working. Sans cigarette, corded phone, red hair, flawless skin, and 80's puff hair.

Going back to work for the company I worked before the little one came along. A crazy good opportunity....working from home...on the go...flexible...

Something I just couldn't pass up.

I will be the first woman on my Mother's side of the family to work with a small child. I hope I am not shunned at Christmas. ha ha!

I start June 1st. And I'm pretty excited.

4 legged best friend.

Sorry to the 100% of my 5 blog readers who could give a "you know what" about horses.

But....I had to share a picture of my new best friend.

Have been lucky the last few weeks and have gotten to ride him in my lessons.

Not a great picture. He's in the cross ties....about to be saddled. Ain't he purdy?

I love Wednesday.

Turtles & Easter

It took me 2 days.....but I made these cookies. All from scratch. I have the best cookie book on the planet....helpful for people like me that are horrible at reading and following directions.

It's just lots of steps....but I think they are so worth it. My jeans on the other hand DON'T.

Easter rivals Christmas for me.....I have always liked it. Such an important day....but without the pressure of presents...wrapping....decorating...parties....and the candy is pretty good too.

Day started with an Easter egg hunt....more time in the kitchen....clean up....put on a dress....go to church....listen to an amazing message from the smartest pastor....home for more cooking...eat....candy....eat again....pie....candy....game of go fish....clean....candy....say goodbye to family.....eat....candy....sit. Dang good day.

Hunting "doodle bugs" has become part of my girly girl's daily schedule. If she can't find one....the day is no good....not complete.

Yesterday...we found a box turtle in the yard while hunting the crustaceans. They aren't really bugs. Part of the isopod family. (your "I learned something today" moment)

I had a few turtles in my day. Only box turtles were allowed. Water turtles have salmonella....

Wonder why I am so germy......hmmmmmmmm.

My previous turtle experience came back to me and I remembered how much they love grapes.

He ate lots.

Left fat & happy.

Just how I feel after today's Easter dinner.

I love Easter.

4 years

Hard to think that my 10 pound newborn has grown into this beautiful little girl.

She can buckle her car seat all by herself now. Thank God. ;)

We celebrated her special day from dawn to dusk.
The birthday girl having a difficult time staying still to capture a picture with Gana & Minnie
Recital pictures were scheduled on her birthday....what 4 year old doesn't love getting dressed up in a frilly over decorated outfit?
Day after her birthday.....trying to get shots of my two "kids"

This picture is a perfect example of what lots of my pics end up looking like. ;)

Neither one will cooperate.

I did get ONE good one.

Happy birthday to my favorite kid.....

redneck princess

She went fishing today for the first time.

Worms were a good source of entertainment.

The Disney Princess fishing pole helped reel in this monster.

She caught 8. Dad - zero. Mom - zero. Minnie - zero.

For a girl who is into all things glittery and nice.....she certainly isn't afraid of nightcrawlers going on hooks....or holding slimy fish.

Took this on her way to a Fancy Nancy party. Just a little different from the other two pictures.

Happy fishing. ;)

help! I'M IN A TENT!

One of my friends parents have a farm in the hill country.

She has invited our family every year to go camping....and each year, I say "NO."

Well, this year, I had run out of excuses and decided to suck it up and just go camping. I mean, how bad can it be?

So, I called all 2 of my outdoorish friends and asked if they had a tent. Luckily I found one.

Then, I found some sleeping bags to borrow. The whole idea of actually sleeping outside was starting to get to me. How could I shave my legs with my Vera Wang shower gel? Where was I supposed to sit to apply my lip gloss in the morning?

Surely I could handle one night.

We drove about 2 hours with a car FULL of stuff for 1 crazy night.

Once we reached the destination....and I saw about 8 other tents already assembled and my fellow campers decked out in tennis shoes, baseball hats, and sunscreen.....

I was in fashion jeans and flip flops. Already, I was showing my lack of camping skills. Who wears flip flops in the dirt? Who forgets a baseball hat when the wind is blowing 15 mph.

Is it time to leave yet? Someone...please tell me this is over.

I borrow someones sunscreen. "Help" my husband set up the tent and I arranged our personal belongings inside the fabric hut that we will be sleeping in. How could this nylon contraption protect me from varmints and intruders?

So I took some deep breaths...and enjoyed the afternoon. Ate enough for 12 people. Watched my kid play all day, ate some more, visited with friends, ate again, and then.....it came. NIGHT TIME.

Where was the bathtub? And the TV? I have taken a bath before bed ever since I can remember. I can do this. I can.

So I get my kid changed....she is in her PJ's and in her very loud distinct voice she belted out "MOM, DO I HAVE TO TAKE A BATH?" So loud that the entire camp heard her. Giggles.

After I assured my kid it was OK to sleep without a bath....she fell right asleep. My husband did about 3 minutes later. Then, the crickets started, other people talking & laughing, more crickets, snoring, wind, talking, silence, crickets.....someone please tell me it is 6 am already.

I am sleeping in a sleeping bag on the ground. I am unable to sleep on my side because my hip bones would be bruised by the rock hard ground I was calling my bed. Snoring husband couldn't turn over for the same reason.

A long night.

Counting sheep didn't work. About 3 hours of sleep under my belt.

Birds chirped about 6 am. I woke up and unzipped my door. I made it. Nothing ate me....and my family was sound asleep in the tent. No one else in our camp area was awake...I was the first one.

I grabbed my bag and ran to the restroom. (yes, we had a bathroom & shower - I would have never agreed to go without one present.)

Top 3 showers I have ever taken. Got dressed...applied my makeup in the tent while everyone else snored.

So, there you have it. My first (and likely last) camping trip. Was a fun time hanging out with my friends all day long....but the sleeping thing is a pretty big issue. So, next year....may be a day trip and I will leave the camping to Dad & Daughter.

The kid had the best time of her life. Spent most of her time on the old tractor & the swing.

Happy camping to you if you go this year....you brave soul. ;)

Artsy fartsy #2

We did it. We took a 3 1/2 year old to the fine arts museum. We were there a little over an hour.

She didn't break anything, knock any precious artifacts over, or cause any damage.

The kid was impressed with Monet's works.....but seemed to be most interested in the benches that were in the center of each exhibit hall. She must be gifted.

Monet, Renoir, Degas, Van Gogh, Cezanne, and 1,000 others I hadn't heard of. All beautiful.

There were two portraits by Rembrandt. They looked almost like a photograph. Amazing someone could actually paint that detail.

All in all...was fun. No real run ins with security except when I took the stroller on the escalator. No - my kid wasn't in it. I am just thankful she didn't take me to the museum holding cell.

Happy painting!

Artsy fartsy

Raise your hand if you think taking an almost 4 year old to the art museum sounds fun.

The Houston Fine Arts Museum has some very famous paintings right now....I don't remember much from my art history class in college (even the second go round) but I still enjoy looking.

Who knows....she may think it's the best thing ever....or we may be there for 4 minutes.

Won't know till we try!

Giant baby

My newborn baby was 10 days old in this picture. You can still see her umbilical cord. I had a huge baby. She weighed over 10 pounds and was almost 23 inches long.

Along with my huge baby is my huge chin. And why do my fingers look like sausages? Had I not sat next to a window in the last few months? Why is my skin is the color of my putty bed coverlet.

Come on....I should give myself a break. Carried that sweet "little" baby around for 9 months...and the old wives tale that "Girls steal mother's beauty" pretty much rang true for me.

This is probably one of my favorite pictures of me and my baby girl. My 10 day old baby is smiling. NO, it is not gas.

Aside from every bad thing I said about myself....

I still love the picture.

Nervous ninny

Yes...I know...I have put this on here before.

But, I thought you would want to admire my cowboy hat and of course my beautiful horse.

"Holly"

I think I may have been about 14 in this picture. It was the last horse show I was in.

That was almost 5 years ago!!! No...I'm not good at math.

This Saturday I will be in a horse show and I am just a little nervous.

I am in the "mature" ladies group. Think there are about 7 or 8 of us in the class.

This picture is from a "halter class" where you are judged on your handling of the horse and the horse's conformation. I rode too...but this was the only picture I have.

No halter classes this weekend...all under saddle. I will be in 3 classes. Let's hope I don't make too big of a fool of myself. ;)

Happy riding!

Dog & camera

Just like people think their kids are the best...I think my dog is the best. And, she is the prettiest dog on the block. My kid is too of course.

Took these pictures of Doodle the Poodle playing window monitor at the front door.

Dare anyone approach our property...she will let you know.
The urge to be confident and knowledgeable with my camera is there....but I can't seem to find the time to mess with it. This picture is a perfect example. Beautiful Doodle's nose is the only thing slightly in focus.

I am sure I will be proficient with it in 10 - 15 years.

Good pictures to come some time in the "near" future.

Music bone

Music is something I never understood how to make. Only understood how to listen...and listen loud.

Looking at a sheet of music is the equivalent of looking at Arabic for me. Never wanted to be in the band....never wanted to play the guitar....but, I always wanted the latest and greatest U2 album.

Seems like my kid may have an "ear" for music....and so far I am thrilled with her taste.

Our 3 year old is very drawn to Elvis. I wonder why. Not like he is cute or anything.

Houston has a "Classic Country" station that I listen to once in a blue moon. Nothing like Willie Nelson singing to remind you why Texas is the greatest place on Earth.

Today, Johnny Cash came on....my little backseat driver asked me to please turn it on again when it was over.

So far we have Elvis, Coldplay, Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, Aerosmith, and Cinderella as being her top favorites. Good thing I will play the first five choices for her in the car.

Maybe she has a music gene....Shorty can read music and is good at math. I on the other hand can't do either.

lick the screen

It's just a cell phone picture....my laziness inhibited my "professional" camera taking, editing, downloading.

Simply just wanted to invite you to lick the screen.

Made "Pioneer Woman's" Red Velvet Cake today.

Can't really describe how totally delicious this is.

My visceral fat layer grows just looking at this picture.

Think I might go eat some more.

Jealous, huh?

Birdie & the gang

This is the new member of our "family"

Her name is "Birdie"

We had her on a trial basis....after a whine free night, and a clean bill of health at the vet, we decided to keep her.

So....once my two dogs stop moving....I will take a picture of them together. ;)

Don't hold your breath for too long....

Might be a while.

A new toilet

Dogs, not getting dogs, posts filled with errors, misspelled words, and countless boring posts about horses....and now I am sharing about our new family toilet.

Surprised all four of you still read this thing.

We have had a child's toilet seat on our guest room toilet for 2 years now. It isn't easily removed really....no place to put it...and what guest wants to touch that?

And, once it is removed...it is time to get out the Clorox wipes...no matter how clean I keep it.

So today....our kid graduated to "I'm a big kid now" status.

I disposed of the toilet seat....

Gone are the days of chasing my guests down the hall asking if they need to go to the bathroom...and if they do....could they please not use that one.

I can be annoying...but, that makes me especially annoying.

So, here is to a new bathroom addition.

It's the little things that excite me.

come on now....

As you know....if you read "A Real Short Story" that we didn't end up adopting that dog we named Gumbo. Heartworms.

We followed our gut instincts and decided he was not the one for and he would find his perfect home.

So, I sent 30 + emails. To all the "poodle people" in our area...and some as far as 200 miles away to see if they had any adult dogs they were looking to find homes for and what kind of puppies were around.

Turns out there are very few litters now. And only one adult dog looking for a home. She is from the breeder where we bought "Doodle the Poodle"

They are half sisters. Same momma.

Went to visit her....with Doodle and the kid....and we all became friends.

Sweetest dog ever. Calm, well mannered, pretty, perfect weight, and was good with my kid.

So we left there...on the way home we all decided we wanted to take "Rosie" home.

Called the breeder and asked if we could have her...they were happy to say yes.

She had her surgery today....in preparation for us to bring her home. During the surgery...they found a large mass on her ovary. Of course it was removed. The veterinarian said it was contained and whatever it was had not spread.

But, we have to wait for a biopsy. Really need it to come back benign.

So, here is hoping that Rosie turns out just fine.