April 26, 2011

recapping the recapable

Well, hello.
We're still alive here, even though my complete and total lack of interesting in blogging right now might lead you to think otherwise. Part of it is that I've been really, really bad about taking photos lately, so I don't feel like I can blog. Why blog if you have no photos to share? Exactly.

This past weekend, the darling Easter Bunny stopped at our house with a few fun goodies for a very sweet little boy. I'm going to let YOU guess who insisted on the large foam mace. Yeah, not me. We had a lot of fun shopping for the basket this year, but always tend to buy toys that are "too old" for our little almost 2 year-old. Remind me to discuss that later in the post. Thanks. Liam was pretty pleased with the Kinder Surprise that I stuck in there. If you are not lucky enough to know the greatness of a Kinder Egg (yes, that's what I call them still) I'm very sorry. It's a thin shell of milk chocolate on the outside, and white chocolate on the inside and the egg contains a plastic capsule with a small toy of some sort. My brother and I were introduced to them when we moved to Norway (like, right off the bat someone showed us. While we were still in our rental. REALLY early.) and loved them for the 5 years we were there, and then reconnected with them in Australia. Sadly, they're not legal in the States because the capsule and toy don't meet safety standards. Yes, America, you are missing out. My dad has been bringing Kinder Eggs back for me, my brother and now Liam since he moved over to Qatar 3.5 years ago. Great treat for an Easter basket.

I digress.

When we went shopping for the basket, we took along Liam's Christmas present from my Uncle and we added to his collection of Playskool's Wheel Pals. He is so obsessed with these toys. We've got so many animals, I have a hard time keeping track of whether or not I've found them all at the end of the day. I have stopped putting them away because they're one of the first things he drags out in the morning. They now reside under the coffee table and Liam is thrilled with the arrangement. The little blue egg was a special one for Easter and he's completely attached to it. The egg goes in the shower with us, and goes to bed with Liam every single night.

I digress. Again.

Easter Sunday was wonderful. How could it not be? We headed to the 11 o'clock service at church. It's not my favorite, I prefer the 8:30, but we didn't feel like rushing that morning since Liam would have a basket to open and I was a little intimidated at having a whole new head of hair to figure out how to style. More on that later too. Liam looked very handsome in his Janie & Jack outfit his Grandpa Roger bought him. I used his white and green get-up as a jumping off point for the rest of the family. Zach was not amused, but we had numerous people tell us how cute we were in our matching white and green outfits. I am completely bonkers for my Easter dress, so you can expect to see it on this blog numerous times in the future. Of course, my handsome little bugger got dressed Easter morning in his WHITE sweater and then promptly went and laid all over Jethro. Jethro, who is big and black and sheds on anything just by looking at it. Oh well. Boys will be boys. They were so cute, anyway. Poor Jebbers has done a lot of laying around lately because his poor bubba feet have been bothering him. Giving Liam ample opportunity to wallow all over his big, pathetic self. What do you do?
After the 11 o'clock service, we met up with my mom and brother and Zach's mom and dad at P.F. Chang's in Sugar Land. Yeah. I know. Chinese on Easter Sunday is not exactly the first thing I'd think of, but it was hard to get reservations around the area, and my FIL was in the mood for it now that he's able to taste more of his food. We were happy to oblige with a trip to one of our favorite places-- one that DOESN'T have a horrendously unhealthy menu. Thank you.


After lunch we headed home and did baskets with Grandma and Grandpa Clark. Liam discovered the chocolate truffle eggs from Williams Sonoma that his Great Grandmother Kennedy put in his basket and it's been love ever since. He's a big chocaholic. It's probably going to be a problem in the future. You can bet this kid didn't take a nap on Sunday, nor did he go to bed at a reasonable hour. Way, way, way too much sugar in his little body.
But it's not very often, so it's okay, right?


Liam has changed a lot lately, he's becoming very kid-like. He finds all sorts of new and crazy ways to entertain himself and using his Anywhere Chair from PBKids is just the beginning of it. He cracks me up! Also, Auntie Ashley! I love this shirt to bits and pieces, and not because of what it says, but because of the back! Too cute. He wears it all. the. time.



He has become very enthusiastic about "his corner" of the living room. I never show many pictures from inside our house, and not because I'm ashamed, or I haven't decorated... I just don't. But. I thought it'd be fun to share Liam's little corner and when I asked him to show me his toys, this was the result. Kid cracks me up. 
That's what's been going on here lately. I'm going to get in gear and write another post tomorrow, hopefully, recapping LENT (thank heavens for making me DO something!) and Liam's upcoming birthday, but right now? I'm tired. I also have the WONDERFUL people from our WONDERFUL HOA coming out tomorrow to GENEROUSLY assess the severity of our issues with our cable company who they so INTELLIGENTLY forced us into a contract with. I'm so THRILLED to have to deal with this, I cannot even tell you. SO. Yes. It'll be... special. Keep your fingers crossed they actually are CONSIDERATE and listen to their residents. I know. I'm not holding my breath either.

April 17, 2011

odds & ends

  •  Hi there, Easter Bunny. I wouldn't hate you even a little bit if this pretty little gem found its way into my Easter basket. In fact, I would love you quite a lot. Because I think it's just about the loveliest thing I've seen in a long time. The colors and the pattern make me drool... or, if you're late, you know... Mother's Day is not far off. Just sayin'.
  • Speaking of you, Easter Bunny, please consider my sanity when bringing things to my little angel baby boy. Because I'm not sure this mama can handle *that* many more toys that make noise every time you walk near them. Seriously. Help me out. Cars aren't noisy.
  • We've implemented R-U-L-E-S around this house this past week. Serious rules. Liam is suddenly not liking this, but he's been getting quite a bit too big for his little britches for my taste. I cannot handle/abide by hissy fits when I turn off the TV, slapping when he doesn't get his way... it's actually helped me out a lot, and I feel a lot better about keeping him on a short leash at the end of the day. I do NOT want the child that hits/bites/scratches others in school. Trust me, his hiney butt doesn't want that either because it wouldn't feel very nice.
  • Have we talked lately about how much Kate Spade GETS me? Oh no? Loooooook at this new striped dress they just debuted on their website this past weekend. Are you kidding me? It's like she wanted to make a dress just for me, according to my taste and in colors just for an upcoming baby party. Bah. I can't even begin to justify the price. Geeze, do I wish Rent the Runway had anything by Kate Spade.


  • Speaking of Rent the Runway, let me send you an email invite! I'm desperate to try out their services, but I cannot justify paying $150 to RENT a dress when I can buy something beautiful for that money. Of course, I cannot buy a Herve Leger, but you get what I'm saying. But. the $40-90 price range is more reasonable. 
  • We're talking cars. VERY casually. But... well, whispering. I love old cars. Classic cars. What Id like more than anything to tool around in on the weekends? An old WWII era jeep.
  • My favorite TV show is getting ready to come back on air for a new season. It starts on the 23rd and I'm flipping excited. This upcoming season will be the FIRST time EVER that the series has been filmed on US soil, and I'm actually super, duper excited. Because he's going to sport a Stetson. Of course, now, Brits have started snapping up XX Stetsons to match him (he's a big cosplay character!) and they're surprised by the feel/shape/structure. No, duh. I just have to laugh. Measure your heads carefully, oh orderers from abroad!



     
  • My iPad arrived this past Wednesday. I can officially say we are all in love with it. Zach's been playing Angry Birds on it. I downloaded a couple apps for Liam, a xylophone and coloring pages. We've been out to eat a few times since it arrived and I've taken the iPad along and just let him play with his coloring pages before the meal comes and he loves it. I love it too, by the way ;)
  • I have the first line of my favorite poem engraved on the back (hello, when you order from Apple, engraving is free) and named the iPad after the poem's author. Yes, in THIS house, we name things. My old desktop was named Ralf after Ralf Schumacher. My iPod Touch is named Barnaby Barabas. Zach's iPod is named Roscoe T. Coltrane. Yep, that's us. So I now lovingly refer to the iPad as EAP. 
  • I have to find a cover for my iPad. I don't love the magnetic one Apple makes. It's not really enough to protect it the way I want. I want something that's indestructible (a la Otterbox) but cute. Hey, Kate Spade, team up with Otterbox, please. :)
  • I have already told my hubbers, our next home WILL NOT be in a master planned community. He agrees. I could never see another Homeowner's Association again in my life and it'll be too soon. I loathe them with every fiber of my being. Honestly, more HOAs need to be like New Territory and Pecan Grove: be your OWN organization and don't outsource. You're losing your sensitivity to your residents. I'm trying to talk Z into buying one of those couple-acre properties for sale on 359. That'd be heavenly.
  • I don't know where I saw it, probably in Lucky, but whoever recommended that people with blue-green eyes wear purple eyeshadow like Olivia Wilde does... I love you. I never, ever, ever would have thought of it, but man-oh-man do my eyes POP with purple shadow. Like, for serious. Love.
  • Strangely, when I preview this post, it is formatting with about three line spaces between each bullet point. I haven't a clue why. I haven't ever had it do that before. I guess Blogger is just trying to prove that it's smarter than me again. Whatever.
  • I know a lot of people who just don't care, but I am excited about the Royal Wedding. Yes, capitalize the event. I'm pumped, anyway. I grew up in a country that has a long-standing monarchy. King Harald V, to be exact. Also, Australia is part of the Commonwealth, so while they've got a PM, they're still subjects of the British Royal Family. So yes, I'm really excited to watch the wedding because I feel like I can relate to being a "subject" better than most Americans. Also, how gorgeous is she? Fabulous.
  • IF you're like me and enjoy classic films, you need to check out Royal Wedding! It's set in London, back when Prince William's dear Grandmama was getting married. It stars Fred Astaire, Jane Powell and Peter Lawford (who married into the American Royal Family, the Kennedys). It's so fun and sweet, and the scene where Fred Astaire is dancing on the walls and ceiling of his hotel room was shot by rotating the WHOLE room. I mean, it's just an incredible scene to watch, considering it was filmed in 1951. Check it out, you will definitely not regret it. Also, Peter Lawford is incredibly dashing. 

Can I just add a disclaimer?
I don't know WHAT THE HECK is up with the formatting in this post. It's completely bonkers and the post looks TERRIBLE and is driving me CRAZY but I can't seem to fix it enough to make me happy. I'm throwing in the towel on this post and I'll cringe at the formatting every time I see it, but at some point, give up, move on, make it better next time.

Oy.

SOURCES: {kate spade bangle, kate spade dress, wwii jeep, stetsons are cool, ipad2, EAP, Wills&Kate, Royal Wedding}

April 10, 2011

baby blue[s]bonnets

A couple of weeks ago, my mom and I went out looking for bluebonnets to get some sweet spring time photos of Liam. 

They were H-A-R-D to find. 
Like, not even kidding. 
We went up HWY 6 all the way to College Station. We took 150 at Navasota all the way to Brenham. We didn't find anything. We finally, finally, FINALLY found this patch in Chapel Hill after a whole day of searching. 

The pictures ended up pretty cute, and my sweet baby boy with his precious baby blues looked fantastic.




have you ever seen a white bluebonnet? 



April 8, 2011

some may boast...

This past Tuesday, as you may remember, the Fightin' Texas Aggies won the NCAAW National Championship.

This past Wednesday, they arrived back in College Station, and were met by some 8,000 screaming, thrilled, overjoyed, amazed, enthralled, ecstatic Aggies. Yours truly included. Yep, my mom and I made an impromptu trip to good ole Aggieland, and we are BEYOND thrilled that we did. 

We were moved by what Coach Blair had to say, loved getting photos taken with our favorite players... enjoyed watching the President of the University do the Bernie and Dougie with Coach Blair and the players. In his bowtie. He's so awesome. I wish Zach had gotten to go, he'd have loved it. I'm adding the video below. I swear, I saw it in person but I still get the giggles.


Hullabaloo, Caneck, Caneck
Hullabaloo, Caneck, Caneck

Good bye to texas university
So long to the orange and the white


Good luck to dear old Texas Aggies
They are the boys who show the real old fight


"the eyes of Texas are upon you"
That is the song they sing so well


So good bye to texas university
We're gonna beat you all to…


Chigaroogarem , Chigaroogarem
Rough, Tough, Real stuff, Texas A&M


Saw varsity's horns off
Saw varsity's horns off
Saw varsity's horns off
Short! A! WHOOP!


Varsity's horns are sawed off
Varsity's horns are sawed off
Short! A! WHOOP!




{late one night while the t-sips were in bed/ old Sul Ross put a lantern in the shed/ the Aggie kicked it over/ and he winked his eye and said/ there'll be a hot time in Austin tonight}

Sydney Carter!!
Sweet Lady Rev
gettin' love from DA
MVP Danielle Adams!! 


I realize like, two of you give a darn (Hi Sarah. Sup, Cory?) but I can't help it ;)
I can't tell you all how amazing it feels to be back in College Station. It feels so RIGHT there. 
Zach and I are already planning on retiring there- and not even kidding on that.
I love being able to walk around in shorts and a tee, with my hair pulled back, no jewelry or accessories to speak of...  and not be judged. I love that our defensive coach can say "Gig 'em and God bless" and nobody flips out. That calling our girls all Godly, strong Christians is something that is embraced. I love that darn school. Going back makes me realize how much I love that city, and how much I am looking forward to tailgating in Aggieland come football season. Now... if only the football team had the dynamic the ladies' basketball team does. 
Erm, or the record. 


You know.

April 7, 2011

i'm planning a party

April has crept up on me in a big way, and so it's time for me to start thinking about a Sip & See for Valerie and her baby boy.

My MIL and I are throwing the shower (with input from my go-to party helper, my FIL) the last Sunday in May, and I wanted to pick a color palette that is very *boy* but at the same time can be made very elegant, summery and even a little feminine. 

I came across these two images while I was image searching Google with various color combinations (seriously, try it sometime, it helps so, so much). I tried teal + orange, aqua + brown, grey + yellow (my favorite color combo of all time), yellow + blue, navy + lavender until I finally tried Kelly Green + Navy Blue. I'm in love with the colors together. Perfectly preppy, no? Throw in a little white and we're all done!

As far as the details go, my in-laws have a great house to host a Sip & See. 

Since baby Kennedy will be only a couple of weeks old, if that, we've decided to close off the doorway between the entry and the living room, and we're going to funnel people through the dining room, kitchen, and breakfast room past the spare bath and its sink and soap and a hand sanitizing station we'll have set up. That way, we can keep Val and the baby in the living room, where they can kind of hold court. 

I've already talked flowers with Rog, and he always does something really great, so I'm not worried about that. I'd really like some potted moss to put on the tables we're decorating... I think it'd add some needed live greenery, while at the same time keeping overly-girly florals to a minimum. 
Also, I'd like to find some items, thinking decor items, tchotchkes, that are very representative of a little boy and spray paint them in the three party colors. I think these would be whimsical and add a fun pop of color to the decor. I'm thinking dinosaur figures, little metal cars, blocks, balls... I'm going to start keeping my eyes peeled and picking up little things as I find them. 




Also, can we talk about these straws? 


Who wouldn't want to have one of those sticking out of their drink? I'm thinking it's a must-do. 
I'm really excited to get going on this, get things together and designed. 
I need to sit down with Roger and get the invitations hammered out-- I'm just trying to think of a nice way to say "keep your germ-infested children and sick selves at home." Ha. Adult ladies only. No kids. No men. People who will be capable of keeping their voices down and the baby calm. So yeah, no kids, no guys, no hacking coughs. 
Fun stuff. 


Now... if Baby Kennedy had ended up being a girl, I'd have drawn every single ounce of inspiration from this photo:

April 6, 2011

there's a spirit can ne'er be told


{image via espn}


My heart's in Aggieland today.

I wish I could be in Reed Arena at 2 o'clock. 
I wish I could see the Aggie family unite around our champs.
I wish I could listen to what Coach has to say in person.
I wish I could yell and scream and jump around with my friends.
I wish I could be in Aggieland.


I know most people don't care for women's basketball. 
I don't really care.
I'm thrilled our ladies won the Championship last night.
I'm thrilled Coach got his first title. 
I'm beyond proud of the way they fought.
I'm bursting with joy at how classily they handled themselves.
I'm thrilled with how our university was represented.
I loved seeing our coaches cry and dance with the girls. 
I loved that Danielle was so humble and sweet.


I don't care that it wasn't football.
I don't care that it wasn't men's basketball.
I don't care that it wasn't baseball.
A title is a title, and our girls earned their moment in the spotlight.


UPDATE: 
Hey, so we totally went. With my mom.
And got lots of pictures.
With a few of my favorites. 
Be on the lookout. 
A thoroughly Aggie-fied post is soon to come.





-and if L and I are up and dressed in time, who knows? we may head on up to Aggieland to help welcome our ladies home.-