Fat Dog

This is your dog on three and a half pounds of raw pork.

I left her in the house with a package of FROZEN pork chops in the sink.




It was completely gone in less than an hour.


That was last night, she is fine now and was begging to be fed this morning.

What is it with my dog and her lack of self control?

It's not love

but I don't hate it either.



My dad is going to add a shelf under the super high shelf so I can actually reach the laundry soap.



I picked this color on a whim. Just knew I wanted something bright and chose it from the millions of swatches.

While very sick to my stomach during the painting, the color has grown on me. I may even like it by tomorrow.
I am thinking of painting a catchy phrase on the wall. Maybe something like, "laundry sucks."

What do you think?

Ummm Soup

My kids love soup. They will put spoon after spoonful into their mouths until their bellies are swollen.

Here is my secret weapon, the blender.


Yep, whatever soup you are making, put about 3/4ths of it into the blender before serving, then pop back into the pot. Assuming of course there are not any noodles, rice or meat in there. This little trick seems to make the soup a much more kid friendly consistency.

I love the fact that the kids have no idea that they are eating super-healthy-good-for-you food, that I can get rid of huge quantities of vegetables and that most soups are pretty effortless.



If you're interested, we had Cauliflower soup today and Monday the kids scarfed down some eggplant and tomato soup.

Organized Craft

My friend Geni came over one day and put together an IKEA shelf for me. I could have done it but hey she offered, she says she LIKES to put IKEA crapola together. I had tons of organizing to do so I called her on it. She came over and put the darn thing together and even screwed it into the closet wall for me. I seriously owe her a few drinks or 10.

Anyway, that gave me tons of time to organize the many craft items that the kids and I have.

And now when they want to do fun things like these cool Count Down sticks to keep track of how many days until Grandpa Steve gets here, it isn't a problem.





Everything is labeled so they can't tell me it isn't to be found. And it is super easy to figure out where it belongs. Pom-poms are here, glue is here, glitter is there, coloring books are here. Little by little, this will be every closet in my house. That is if Geni is still available.

Freya's first day of school

She picked out the outfit herself. She was still wearing the sparkly shades atop her head when I picked her up. She slept for an hour an a half after. She doesn't nap. She said they got to go into the "big gym" and play with rackets.







The teacher had doughnut holes for their breakfast when the arrived. I won't go into that right now, just know that she loves her teacher and had a fab first day.

First Day of School

Jonah and Chloe actually seemed happy to get out of bed at 6:30 this morning to get ready for school. Was it something I said? Probably.

Well, they don't look very enthused in this picture, but that is their way of being funny. Mocking me for taking their pictures on the first day of school. Ahhh, I have taught them well, my work here is done.

Chloe did not want me to take her picture at her desk, so her all-knowing teacher, suggested she take the picture with her. What do you know? perfect smile from Chloe.

After dropping off the big kids at school, Freya and I took Suki on a run. Freya's usual morning stint in the jog stroller is getting more and more difficult, she is getting heavy!

Then we ran a few more errands and ended up at Friar Tuck's Pantry. If you live in Round Rock and haven't been here, please check it out. Super great tea, fun English lunch and they have a toy area! They were so sweet and gave Freya a mini cup for her raspberry tea. She was such a doll, putting cream and sugar in there and then mixing it all up.

This is Freya grooving to the music they had playing here. She called it, "fancy music."

Night Swimming

British Soccer Camp

My kids go to the uber-spendy and totally worth it British Soccer camp every year.

Not only is it well worth the bucks but they absorb innumerable skills from these imported soccer players.

The kids lavish in the soccer fever that these Britts emanate.

It is great fun and the kids always leave with that soccer fever/love...

Olive Fingers

To all my aunts, grandmas and my mom who never gave me that fifth olive. Here is what could have been....

City Museum Part two

Thank you City Museum for seeing my post. We love you! Here are a few more pictures from the wonderful day we spent last week.

Raita with is mom and Harvey

Freya traversing the pool of water
I know this picture could have come out super cute but this is what I got...
Sorry but being the claustrophobic and acrophobic person that I am, I tend to stay on the ground and out of tight places. But I can take pictures!
Jonah in a tight place that you won't find me in
Freya finding her way down a tight place
Looking up from the cavers. Not sure what these use to be but they sure are magnificent to look at!
The ball pit is a riot, they are big rubber balls, not those little plastic ones found in your local Fast Food place.

Great iron work that I actually climbed up!

St Louis City Museum

This is probably our favorite place to go when we visit St Louis.

Such an artistically fun place to spend the day.

When people ask us what the museum is, I find it hard to describe. There are tunnels, 7 story slides, caverns, giant whales, sculptures to climb in and on, a skateboardless park. Things pop out at you from nowhere and lead to somewhere. A school bus and airplane appear to hang off the building but are completely safe to climb in. It is basically the epitome of the most elaborate playground taken from a Dr Seuss book that is roaming around a child's mind put into reality with recycled steel, wood and the help of very talented adults.

Freya in a tunnel just bellow a ceiling with Grandma Norika following. You just never know where the tunnels will lead you.
Hall of mirrors

Giant....Hamster wheel?

Skateboardless park, even Raita had to try his hand at it.

There are a few artificats from the City which is where I guess the name comes from

Giant SlideIn this picture are Chloe in the thin white slide, Freya on the big white slide and Jonah running amok.

Jonah in a giant birdcage? Too bad he found his way out....
Raita and Freya walking on water:
Way more pictures to come in round two....