What? I'm A what?

Good grief - I'm officially a soccer mom. It's my fault for putting the girls in a summer program that was more sports oriented than school oriented. They decided they liked soccer and after many years of showing absolutely no interest - they are both on a team.

Tonight is the first practice - and i have to go buy shin guards.

And they're Off

Another year has begun. I know the girls are excited to see their friends again. My fingers are crossed that they give us a few days off before homework kicks in. P

Last day of Summer

Can you believe it? Wow - that was quick! Tonight we meet the new teachers and Monday - Back to School!!



Oh Summer, going so soon?

A Weekend Birthday Party at the American Girl Store

K1 got invited to a birthday party at the American Girl Boutique and Bistro this past weekend. The invitation said "bring your American girl doll" so its a good thing that K1 has a wonderful aunt who got her a doll last Christmas. Thanks Again!
So we arrive with doll in arm (on tax free weekend at the galleria - now you know i was worried about the parking and it was CRAZY) and there didn't appear to be a girl in there that didn't have a doll too.
It reminded me of PetSmart, except for dolls. I had NO IDEA. K1 loved just about everything in there (big surprise) She had a great time at the party and said it felt like it lasted "about 5 minutes" (it felt like 2 hours to me, even though i did get to walk the mall kid-free)
Luckily for me she had a sleepover planned for the evening and didn't want to waste time shopping after the party so we got out of there purchase-free (you know I'm shocked, but delighted) She did get a catalog, and I noticed it made the trip to Grandmother's last night. Smart Girl.

Sad. C'est Moi

The olympic swimming has come to an end *sniff* and I just don't know what I am going to do. The other sports wear entirely too many clothes. Except for the women, now why are they running races in little bikini things and the men are completely covered? Its just not fair. Don't they care about the ratings???

Sucked into the Olympic Vortex

I was pretty much apathetic about this years Olympics in China. Because, you know, its in China. The place that follows no laws save their own. That place which has no problem ripping off any brand that comes to their shore for a little cheap labor love.

But here I am a week into it and I'm watching it all the time. And I just can't figure out why.




Nope, no idea. Not a clue......





And if this girl is 16 then I am 29. Whatever. Why have rules if you let the gold metal team break them? It puts everyone else at a disadvantage and is JUST PLAIN WRONG. UGH. Shows what China thinks of rules, doesn't it? So why does Nike cry when they steal the shoe logo? Isn't that just "business as usual the chinese way"?

A quick trip to the Palace of Wax

We went to the Palace of Wax/Ripley's Believe it or Not last week. We had a really good time although the wax figures didn't strike me as all that amazing. The best part of the wax museum was the scary part - and K1 didn't care for that one bit. No haunted houses for her this year.



Our favorite part was probably the Mirror Maze. Maybe because we didn't expect too much. I like this picture because both girls are in front of me, but P is actually around the corner out of view. K2n has a hold of his wrist. It got confusing!



We had to wear gloves to keep from smudging the mirrors, and smudging really does ruin the effect. I think K2 left a cheek mark when she was 100% sure she was going the right way and face planted into the mirror. I probably shouldn't have laughed.

MMMM Enchiladas

Phillip and I had a debate over Beef enchiladas. I swore they were made with chili, ala canned chili. He swore it was not. So, i puttered around the internet and sure enough, it isn't chili ala tin, its called "Chili Gravy". So, last night I channeled my inner Lisa Garza, and using this recipe prepared Beef and bean enchiladas starting with a chili gravy. I even made a ROUX, we are talking cutting edge for this former burner of boiled eggs.

As i put it in the oven, i thought "there is no way the kids will eat this" - so I didn't take any photographic evidence.

Well guess what, My chili gravy was a bit on the thick side, but it was WONDERFUL. I got not 1 - but THREE (3!) thumbs up. Both kids had SECONDS. I cannot tell you what a rare event this is. RARE! REALLY RARE!

It would also be excellent over cheese/onion enchiladas. I am sure to make it again, and then i WILL take a picture.

Yea, I can now join the iZombie ranks

My own personal iphone-addict went and stood in a 10 minute line to get himself a new 3G iphone. On his way home, his first call to me DROPPED. Boy did that make me laugh (and he cussed a bit). And as of today, I HAVE HIS OLD ONE! SWEEEEEEEETTTTT. And it has all his programs on it - like iBeer, you know you gotta have iBeer.