Just Fly Away

When the kids and I were driving to Alexandria last week I had time to sit with my earphones in and listen to my own music as they sat in the back and watched Toy Story for the 800 gazillionth time.

The drive was quite nice, through the country side of western Louisiana, past many green fields and the sky was blue with lots of puffy white clouds. The kind you can see shapes in. "Oh look, there's a turtle!"

But they didn't hear me since they were listening to "This isn't flying, it's falling, with STYLE...".

Yet again.

As I was bemoaning the fact that modern technology (A.K.A. the portable DVD player) has taken over in the department of family car rides, I realized something. My kids don't usually SEE the colorful countryside or the livestock or the fields growing with the cotton that makes their clothes. They don't see the bright sky and the water flowing under the bridge.

And while I liked the fact that they were occupied that morning and not asking "Are we there yet?" until my ears bled, I also felt it was a bit of a shame that they saw very little of the scenery out of their tinted windows...

But then I was kind of glad that they didn't see HIM.

The man by the side of the road.

The one sitting on what were probably his only belongings, with his wrinkled, sun-stricken skin, puffing on his cigarette.

For some reason my heart went out to him and I started to think about his life and where he came from and how he got there and what if that was my child some day, sitting by the side of the road.

In a perfect world I could have turned around and helped him in some way.

In an even more perfect one he wouldn't have been sitting there in the first place. You know, unless he really wanted to...

But then I started thinking about something else.

His freedom.

Where does his simple (but probably hard) life take him?

Who does he answer to? Only himself?

And the stuff. He's pretty free of that for sure. Only as much as he can carry.

Oh to be free of some STUFF.

As my thoughts wandered and I continued to watch the road lay out before me, my eyes wandered up and followed the one lone bird that flew right in front of the car for about 10 seconds.

And then it was gone.

I wondered what it would be like to just 'fly away' for a bit. Into the turtle-shaped clouds.

Away from all the world's problems...

And then I wondered if Man By The Side of the Road ever wondered the same thing.

Just fly away...

You Capture - PLAY

On Tuesday it rained on and off all day.

One hour the sun would be out and the next it would be dark, as the clouds rolled in again.

I felt bad that the kids had been indoors all day.
I suggested to the boys that they go out and play in the rain.

The B Man's response was,

"We can go out of the garage...... while it's raining......in our CLOTHES???"
(I may or may not have ever allowed this before...)

I'd already made up my mind that it was all good because these days it's about the only outdoor play time they are going to get.

Usually it's either WAY to hot and humid or the mosquitoes are out for the kill.

So, guess who got to PLAY in the rain...


... clothes and all?

I think they may have enjoyed themselves.

And I might be just a tad proud that I let myself let them play in the rain.

In their clothes.

(and yes, Little G has an "owie" on the side of his nose - he ran into his bed somehow, I didn't actually see what happened. However The B Man did, and I believe the story has become somewhat embellished. But again, I wasn't there... Anyway, it looks worse than it is. He's fine...)

Oh, and all the rain play was over when SOMEONE (not naming any names..) got COLD and ad to be wrapped in a towel...

I Need Her

It's funny how there are things in life you don't know you need until you have them.

Like for instance, an incing spreader.

I used to frost cakes and cupcakes all the time with just a plain ole butter knife.

But then my baking life changed EE-mensely when I got a handy dandy icing spreader. It just makes it so smooooooth and pretty....


Another good example is my daughter.

I didn't really know I needed her either. That is, until she was here.

I didn't know how much extra joy and love and light she could bring to my life.

But I know now.

I know so very well.

I know how her smile literally warms my soul.

How her arms around my neck just melt me into a puddle.

How her laugh echoes in my head.

How her chubby legs and feet conjure a smile.

How her gorgeous blue eyes make me think of her Daddy.

How her soft and silly hair is so wonderful to run my fingers through.

How her sweet 'button' nose makes me just want to push it.

SHE has changed my whole life beyond measure.

And I can't even express how much I need her.

It's a Mother/Daughter match made in heaven.

Thank God.

New Friends, New Places

Last Friday I loaded up the kids and headed for Alexandria.

Louisiana, that is.

Don't my children look just thrilled? They really were, it was just very sunny. Oh and apparently Baby K was already scopin' the animals...

There's a zoo there and we met up with Heather and her kidlets.

Aren't they cute??

In hindsight the splash park next door probably would have been a better plan (it was pretty warm and humid, of course!) but we still had a wonderful time meeting, talking and taking the kids through to see the animals.

(Please don't eat me...)

Oh and riding the little zoo train too. I'm not sure whose kids badgered them about riding the train the entire time we toured the place. Coulda been mine. Ahem.

He put his arm around him like that on his own. Awww...

Anywaysies, after the zoo we grabbed a bite of lunch and then after that, headed to a cupcake shop in which Heather had met the owner of before.

Little Cakes with big attitude, they are called and, they are actually square instead of round! It doesn't matter what shape they are though because I'm here to tell you that they would give any of these other big cupcake shops a run for their money! I kinda begged her to start one here in Laffy but I don't think she's quite ready for that yet. Probably good for my mostly-non-carb eating self (obviously I cheated a little on Friday...)

It really was a great day and I could go on and on about how sweet and well behaved Heather's children are. Oh and Heather too. ;)

And the sweet baby girls, about six weeks apart

And our new friends even brought little gifts for the boys and Baby K. How sweet is THAT?

We hope to get together again soon. Because well, she's "good people" and I really like those kind...

Aren't WE cute?

People I'd Like to Meet (or see again) at BlogHer (if I were going)

If you follow me on twitter you know that my "I'm not going to BlogHer this year" pity party has started.

I've been trying to tell myself that it's not that big of a deal that I'm not going.

I've pretty much known all along that I was NOT going to make it to NYC this year due to other trips, and timing, etc.

Could I have made it work?

Perhaps. But the fact remains that I will remain here while many of my blogging friends find their way to The Big Apple for the this large conference.

So, I thought I would go ahead and make myself REALLY realize what I'm missing by highlighting some of the folks I would LOVE to see if I were going.

Maria - BORED Mommy - Maria and I bonded quickly after she sent me the Martha Stewart Cupcake cookbook because she's totally awesome like that. Plus she's really funny and good-hearted. So wish I could give you that kiss on the lips girl!

Loukia - LouLou's Views - This woman is so beautiful and stylish that I just need to meet her in person. I bet she smells good too.

Momma's Gone City - Um, she lives in NYC and has two of the cutest kiddos. Plus she said I could stay on her futon if I'm ever in town (or something like that...)

Allison - O My Family - Cute Allision. Cute Obaby. I need to hug this woman. And her baby. Really I do.

Stacey - Is There Any Mommy Out There? - I saw her in one of the sessions at BlogHer last year but didn't put 'two and two' together until afterward and that makes me SO mad. Now I wish I was going to be there to hang out in the hallway with her. WAH!

OhMommy - Classy Chaos - I met Pauline last year, and as a matter of fact, she recognized me first (it was probably the 7 months preggo belly that gave me away) but we didn't get to talk much. I would love to hang out with her more...

Liz - Mom 101 - I actually found Liz's blog when she was featured in Parents magazine and now I'm a pretty faithful reader. She posted the greatest pre BlogHer post last week. Just one more reason I wish I could meet and hug her.


And p.s. If anyone wants to get together the weekend of Blog Her (Aug. 5-6) that is also not going and is near me, let's do it. It would probably take my mind off the fact that I'm missing out on the Sparkle Corn party and too much swag that I have to pay extra $$ to get my suitcase home.

Now excuse me while I go cry in my glass of wine...

You Capture - Black & White

When we celebrated my parents' 50th wedding anniversary this weekend I was so happy and excited to remember that my mother had the forethought to include her original cake-topper (see a pic here) for the cake she ordered for their party.

And I think it's quite perfect for this photo to be in black and white since the original ones were as well...

(I also used this cake topper on my wedding cake because I adore it!
That's REAL lace on her dress!! )

And on a completely different topic...

The baby girl and I went outside for a little while today, checking out the grass and bugs. I turned the camera on us because well, she needs to know that her Momma wanted to be in pictures with her. Always.

I was kinda hoping the black and white effect would get rid of the dark circles under my eyes but alas, today's technology can only do so much... ;)

Oh and please ignore the fact that I am 'glistening' in one of these. It's Louisiana. In July.

It's a little bit of a shame that you can't see how very blue her "baby blues" are in these.

Maybe I'll post some in color later. They are divine.

WW - Typical Day, Not so Typical Night

I went to bed "uncharacteristically early" last night..

(guess the movie and you WIN! nothing but Miss Elaine-ous life kudos points)
Therefore I did not post my usual WW post BEFORE I sacked out.

The day was similar to many.

Dropped one kiddo off at "summer" school...

Took the other two to the gym day care while I worked out...


Read blogs and twitter while eating my lunch while baby napped and The B Man played...

Picked up Little G from school...

Put stamp on the envelope I meant to send yesterday after realizing that is WHY the mailman didn't take it. Yeah apparently, no stamp = no takie. Huh...

(no, I am NOT naturally blond anymore but I still act like it sometimes)

Fed the cutest Baby K a few times...

Changed a pair of "I just tee-teed in them a little" Buzz Lightyear undies...

Made dinner...

Helped bathe them all...


I try not to take all of this for granted. Some of it may seem mundane and at times, it is. But that's okay.

Most days I do my best to be thankful for my healthy, beautiful children and my loving, helpful husband.

And yesterday I was also thankful for early bedtimes...

The Food of My People

Do you ever wonder where you came from?

I'm not talking about the big, HUGE Oh My Goodness, where did I COME FROM???

I'm talking about ancestry.

I know all my 'peeps' originated in the Slovakian area of Europe, many from what is now called the Czech Republic.

I know this because my parents told me (!) and because I've seen our heritage in my family for years. One that is steeped in the food, language, music and even some of the old 'ways' of those that came before me...

There were many times when I was a girl and my parents and I would go out to a restaurant and they would want to talk about someone one booth over. Most of the time they would speak their words in Czech. Even though I did not understand, I usually knew what they were saying (or close to it) just by the context and the direction they nodded and most importantly, their inflection.

I know some Czech, but not enough to carry on a conversation.

Can you say "Jak se máš"?*

I didn't think so.

My parents brushed up on their ability to speak the language before their first trip to the Czech Republic (they've been twice) and now also sing with a Czech singing group and continue to try to pass on some of the traditions and language.

All this to say...

My parents can make a MEAN apple strudel.

(MEAN = oh my goodness, melt in your mouth delicious!)

You may think this is a German thing. But no, it's a Czech thing too. Trust me.


And they have it down to a science.



Except maybe when their grandson's are around to help...


Then perhaps a few too many golden raisins end up in the mix. But oh well.


And this time I found out about a secret ingredient as they rolled up NINE of these babies. (no, I'm not giving it away!)

SO good right out of the oven! You know you want some...

As did they.


I plan to learn to make this myself so that I can pass this on to my children as well.

I feel like much of our heritage is lost on my generation and that makes me a little sad.

And I'm sure they'd be happy for me to make it again. And again.

And, again... ;)

What do you want to pass on about your heritage to your kids?



*prounounced YAHK-ZEH-MAHSH - a casual way to say "how are you?"