Lessons learned on Tuesday

When driving a 4 year old to the park, make sure to NOT put one's purse right next to the car seat ... otherwise, one might open the car door to find this :

Things a 4 year old says

... while petting Shadow's belly and feeling one of her kitty nipples, Evangeline says ...

"Mommy, is that her milky button ?"

Run Lola Run

The Houston Marathon (which was this morning) runs smack dab through the middle of our neighborhood every year. In fact, our little old house used to be the official 5 mile marker for it. All throughout the year, we would see runners come down our street and check their watches right in front of our house. Then the course was slightly changed to follow a wider street, and we weren't a marker anymore ... fame is fleeting. Now we just meet all the neighbors a half a block down to cheer everyone on.

We met up with Bonnie (she likes to cheer too).

Here they come!

Hey look !!! It's Donald, Ryan, Holly, Shawn, & Cynthia !

Francisca, I don't know you, but I've decided that you are my favorite. I'm rooting for you!

Good luck to our friend Dennis ( in black ) !

Nowhere else like it

There's a street in our neighborhood, one of the skinniest, with an awkward intersection or two. Progress doesn't seem to have changed it much in the last 100 years or so. That's just one of the reasons why Teetshorn is my favorite street in all of Houston. It's the street where you can still find the old grocery store, tucked away on a quiet corner. I've been obsessed with this building for many years now. Rumor has it, that it's owned by a friend of a friend of ours ... If it ever goes on the market, I will be first in line. 

A few houses down from the old grocery store is this cute as a button, bright green bungalow ...

... with a bee hive hair-do'ed cow in front - OF COURSE.

PS : When the husband and I were first married, we lived a street away from Teetshorn. When it was time for us to buy a home of our own, we scoured the street for anything we could afford. In fact, we came this close to buying an itty bitty house right across the street from the grocery store. We knew it was too small - but the idea of living on a street with " teets " in it just made us giggle uncontrollably. We may be near and over 40 years old, but inside we never made it past 12.

House envy ... again

The Country Living "House of the Year" is in the mountains of West Virginia, but it would look just as appropriate in the Swiss Alps ... either way, I'll take it.

Country Living House of the Year

If life gives you lemons ...

... give them to your husband, and if he's anything like mine, he'll make you a lemon merengue pie. Thanks honey !

PS : Thanks for the lemons Judy !

Blogs are the new wishlist

Look what Santa brought me for Christmas. Remember those? He must follow my blog anonymously. Hi Santa! I actually received 5 such aprons as holiday gifts - all different - and I love every single one. It's good to blog about things you love. In my experience, that increases the likelihood of them showing up on one's doorstep. 

PS: Long, long ago ... I blogged about this ... one day, out of the blue, it showed up at my house. Thanks Marty & Pat !!!

PS: Can I also just say that I love saphire and diamond rings, trips to Paris, and Cartier tank watches. That's all.

Cutest idea ever

I had one of those, now why didn't I think of that, moments today. We try to be vigilant about sending out thank you notes. It's not hard when you're pushing 40, but when you're dealing with a 4 year old, it's another story. It takes a looong time to get them done - she loses interest after about 30 seconds - wants to play with her dolls - and, she's gone. Well, I ran across this idea on Dooubleh-vay ... SO CUTE ... I can't wait to try it out.

Write the thank you on a blackboard, put the kid in front of it with said gift, take a pic, mail to gift giver ... genius !

found via Design Mom

Obsession du Jour

The new Domino has a tour of Mark Ruffalo's house. It's casual, warm, personal ... well, it's just perfection in my eyes ... much like Mr. Ruffalo, whom I adore to an inappropriate degree.

Things a 4 year old says

" Mommy, you look very movie starish "

This is just for me

Dear Blogger.com,

You stink.

Sincerely, Kelley

A happy and busy new year

We have been busy, busy bees for the last couple of weeks. Here's how it went :

Evangeline showed off her baseball skills. Seriously, the girl can hit a line drive to centerfield !

We spotted the cutest little squirrel snoozing way up in our tree ... and then he spotted us.

We went to the park on a dreary day.

We ran, and ran, and ran

We looooove to swing. Can you tell?

We made a cute new friend.

We went to the zoo, and gave some love to the goats.

We met a chubby little prairie dog.

And the little one got an insider's view into his home.

The lady lion made a funny face for us.

The big boy lion needs to learn some manners.

There was a carousel, so of course we rode it.

And finally, a ride on the train ... can you tell it's her most favorite thing to do ?