Welcome 2 Summer!!!

School's Out for Summer!!!!!

After a week filled with end of year events & parties, a school-wide book swap, and early mornings for my almost-5th-grader-practicing safety patrol for next year:

Academic Awards for both:

And tearful goodbyes to favorite teachers:

 We officially "welcomed summer" with our annual bus stop "Welcome 2 Summer" popsicle party!!!

We have so much fun planned for the next 87 days!  Can't wait to tell you all about it!!

Don't forget to enter our "Keep Austin Weird" contest - even if you don't know the other 5 bloggers, take a guess - the prizes are super great!!

Keepin' Austin Weird

The ladies from Harried Mom of Four, Impulsive Addict, JennyKate's Spot, Seriously Shawn, The Texas Darlings and The V-Spot just spent a fun weekend in Austin, Texas.

Check it out:

Keepin' Austin Weird from Rebecca Darling on Vimeo.

**anyone catch two additional bloggers in the video??**

Keep Austin Weird is Austin's slogan... so the six of us tried to do our part!  We shared our senses of humor, a lot of laughs and a ton of off the cuff comments {some too inappropriate to share here}. We decided to write down the funny comments that were said and turn them into a contest for all of our readers. The winner will receive Austin souvenirs, picked out by all six of us.

The contest is very easy. Below you will find six quotes. Match up the quote with who you think said it.  For example, if you think blogger A was the person who said quote #4, your answer is A=4. Leave your match-ups for A-F in ONE comment.

This contest is running on all six blogs,  (there is no need to leave multiple entries), but go and visit all of these fab ladies. At the end of the contest, the reader with the most correct answers (or ties for the most correct answers) from each blog will have their name entered in a drawing. The random drawing will be held on Friday June 3rd and the winner will be announced that same day. (Then they can watch their mail box for the six separate little Austin-gifts that will be coming their way...)

Sounds fun, yes?   Here we go...

A. Becca- The Texas Darlings

B. JennyKate- JennyKates Spot

C. Jen-Harried Mom of Four

D. Vivienne- The V-Spot

E. Seriously Shawn

F. Impulsive Addict

Who said it...?

1.} Well clearly he wants to play a game called Just The Tip!

2.} Oh, that's even worse sober!

3.} He looks like a porn-star with that phony-tail and a 9th grade mustache!

4.} I'd rather be juvenile than an old fart!

5.} I think I just peed on my shoes a little.

6.} I don't know how to knick-knack my house so I don't know how to knick-knack me.

Have fun and good luck!

Here are some more quotes, just because they're too funny to go unmentioned!

* Did I shower last night? {Vivienne}
* No more free drinks! {JK}
* Ooh my sphincter! {Shawn}
* We brought the flats {Mimi & Mamarazzi} out last night but they got wet. {Becca}
* I've always wanted fallopian tube art! {Vivienne}
* We had pizza last night...right? {Vivienne}
* I might have just tinkled a little. {JK}
* I just drank matches. {IA}
* Tapas? I don't want to go to a topless restaurant! {Shawn}
* Either I'm in a disco or this room is spinning. {JK}
* I've never seen a drag queen before! {Becca}
* Walk away while you still can Tony Rogers {a comedian we ran into while having pizza at 4 in the morning}, we will suck you in! {JK}
* Asms are good, it's the isms you need to stay away from! {Porn star waiter who clearly was listening to our conversation!}

Perfect

Wow- what an amazing weekend I just had - I can't wait to tell you about all the fun we had, but life (and little Bubba) is needing some major attention.

In the meantime, here are 3 pics that sum up my weekend pretty well.....

6 amazing friends

lots of toasts to great fun & friends

a fun 2nd birthday party for the bubba-boy

two-two!!

and a very happy birthday to this lovable guy

And if you are in the mood to read something that will bring a tear to your eye, check out this post from my dear friend, Christie at Pop Rocks for Breakfast.  She is trying to win a contest for us to go to BlogHer in San Diego - please go give her some love!!!!!

A Weekend Away

Whew!  Is it summer yet???  I feel like I am Sissy's little hamster, running on my wheel, just trying to get to the end of the school year.... round and round and round... so what is keeping us so busy??

Teacher Appreciation Week

Soccer Tournaments

Girl Scout Camp

Student Council Bowling Party

Select Soccer Tryouts

Bubba's Haircut

End of Year Movies

Planning Bubba's 2nd Birthday (awk- I can't believe he is two!!!)

and......

Our Blogging Girls Weekend is FINALLY here!!!

~ for 3 days, I am not gonna be a Momma ~ 

~ no "What's for dinner?  Can I watch a movie?  She hit me!!!" ~

~ 3 days of good conversations, tons of laughs, and relaxation ~

~ no cleaning dust bunnies from the corners or putting dishes away ~

~ 3 days of good food & great drinks ~

~ no poopy diapers!!!! ~

it's gonna be so great!

Can't wait to see Shawn, Viv, Jen, JennyKate, and IA tomorrow!!

Is it weird that I am this excited to meet friends that I only know from online?  That my neighbors look at me like I have 2 heads when I tell them about my weekend?  Nope - I have been friends with these ladies for more than 2 years - we blog, email, text, heytell, tweet, and yes, actually talk on the phone - we laugh together, give advice, share recipes (little miss homemakers that we are...) and do everything (and more) than friends I know who live in my neighborhood.  So I am more than thrilled that I get to hang out with them for 3 days here in my hometown.  It's gonna be fantastic.  

And then I get to come home and get right back on that hamster wheel again....Bubba's Birthday Party, School Book Swap, School Award Assemblies, PTA Party, End of Year Parties..........

yes, I realize what a **STAR** mommy I am going away the weekend of Bubba's 2nd birthday.

yes, I did plan it without remembering his birthday.

yes, I do feel guilty.

yes, he's getting a super-star train party on Sunday afternoon.

it's gonna rock.

and he is only 2.

he won't remember his bad mommy.

Bubbatainment

He keeps us in stitches....

Bubbatainment from Rebecca Darling on Vimeo.

And makes us smiles when he KNOWS when to use his manners to get what he wants.....

Manners from Rebecca Darling on Vimeo.

I {heart} this kid!

WWTKW - 2 weeks of school left!!!

Hello friends - the countdown is on here in Texas - 2 weeks and 3 days of school left and they couldn't go any faster.  I am so looking forward to school being out - I have so much fun with my kiddos home in the summer.   We have tons of fun planned this summer!!  Bubba & I can't wait.

But, to get me through another Wednesday, it's time to play......



Nothing to post about today?  Link up with Impulsive Addict, Janette, Mamarazzi, & Seriously Shawn for another great week of questions.  Here we go!
{1} What game show have you always thought you could be on and totally win?I love,love,love the Amazing Race - it is a reality show/game that qualifies - I seriously have dreams about making it on this show - hubby & I love to travel and we'd make an AWESOME bickering, yet loving couple for the show- seriously, if I could find someone to pay hubby's salary and watch our kiddos for a month, we'd totally go for it.  Any takers?
{2} Do you have a tattoo(s)?  What are they and what made you choose them?  If not, would you get one, yes/no/why?No tats.Won't get one.Don't like them - for me personally.  (for all my friends out there with tats - don't take this personally, I just don't want one for me)Hubs has 5 and they don't bother me at all - I just don't want one. K?
{3} What is your favorite piece of jewelry that you own?That is a tie between my Tag Heuer watch & a diamond necklace hubby gave me when I turned 30.  Both are incredibly sentimental to me - When I started in Corporate America, many of my co-workers had Tags and getting one for me was a sign that I was successful - not just in business, but life - I love it and wear it daily.  The necklace was a gift at my 30 birthday party (many, many years ago) from my husband - 3 simple diamonds on a platinum strand - Matt presented it to me with a sweet, loving speech that brought tears to my eyes.  I think about that moment every time I put it on.
{4} What is your driving pet peeve?Texas has crappy drivers.  No - not "texas".  DFW has crappy drivers - if you dare put your blinker on to change lanes, the person in the lane you want to go to speeds up and doesn't let you over.  Seriously.  It's like some unwritten rule up there.  So, you just don't use your blinker and swerve over - sounds safe, right?
{5} What was your favorite sitcom growing up that you wish was still on?I loved TV growing up - so much that my parents used to make me pick 5 hours that I could watch a week.  Man, that was hard and that was before we had 250 channels and dvrs!!  Between Silver Spoons, Different Strokes, Family Ties, & The Cosby Show, my hours were eaten up FAST.
The sitcom that sticks out to me the most was Different Strokes.  What you talkin 'bout Willis? OHHHH My Dad HATED this show - he felt it taught me how to back talk (couldn't have been cause I was a pre-teen huh?) One time, in an attempt to get me to stop watching DS, he made me write a 500 word essay on why I thought watching Different Strokes was good.  I did it, and he let me watch it - many what I wouldn't give to have a copy of that bs essay!!
I watched an old episode a few years back and that show was terrible.  So, I don't wish it was still on.
Ok- enough avoiding cleaning house - my parents are coming this weekend to stay with the baby while Matt has soccer tournaments and Sis & I go to Girl Scout Camp - I have to stay in a cabin with 6 pre-teen girls -- pray for me!

Not a Mom Today

Mother's Day is a great day - A day to recognize MOM for all she does.  A day to honor MOM with food, flowers, and gifts.  A day to hug & kiss & love on MOM for all she is to you.

Not in this house.  Mother's Day this year was my day to NOT be MOM.  And it rocked.


I slept in.

My sweet hubby snuck out of the house (with all 3 kids) to get me my favorite breakfast tacos.

I walked over all the scattered toys on the floor without picking up a one.

I had 3 cups of coffee in bed while watching tv shows on my dvr.

I didn't change a poopy.

I worked on my blog book for two hours.

I didn't make the bed.

I watched a 2 1/2 hour movie in the "Man Cave"....gasp.... I know he let me!!

I didn't go to the grocery store (hubby did for me...I know!!!)

I read for 30 minutes....and it wasn't Dr. Seuss, Goodnight Moon, or Harry Potter.

I ignored my 8-year-old's favorite question "What's for dinner?" all day.

I didn't help Sis clean the hamster cage.

I picked out dinner - my beloved filet mignon and glass of merlot, thank you very much.

I didn't touch a single dish all day.

I got an "Bubba" head for my charm bracelet - which was HUGE y'all - I never mentioned to the hubby that I wanted one but he NOTICED that I did.

I got amazing homemade cards from my kids.

And they all still loved me.....even though I WASN'T MOM.

But of course I am.......

I will always be mom to these amazing kiddos.

and that rocks even more than my day spent not being mom.

At the Car Wash....

Remember Field Day as a kid?  It's that time of year when summer is right around the corner, so the teachers let you run around crazy outside all day and call it "field day".  Ours involved relay & potato sac races, and ribbons and competition.  And we loved it - we looked forward to it each year.  Remember that?

My kiddos love their field day too.  And as time has gone past, elementary kids have all sorts of fun field day activities.  Like picking up marbles with their toes.  Or the Car Wash:

 When it's the first week of May and already in the 90's, the Car Wash ROCKS!

 Poor Bubba didn't know what to think of the crazy kids at the car wash....

 On to more "civilized" field day activities.  Like throwing a chicken with a frying pan?

 Finally Sis's class came out and was ready to get dirty......

 With a good old-fashioned game of tug-o-war:

 Did you win?  With a face like this....what do you think?

It didn't matter - they got out of the classroom and were exhausted when they came home form school that day! Score! 

I heart field day.

Two-Two

Brody loves trains - has always loved them - from Thomas to Geo-Trax, from old Steamies' to Amtrak, Brody LOVES trains.  So when Bubba came along, we knew were set for another train-lovin boy.  And boy has he not dissapointed!!

He will play with Geo-Trax and Thomas for hours - loves for his older brother to set tracks up.  Brody gets a little frustrated with him, as his clumsy, almost-2-year-old baby brother tends to knock a lot down, but secretly, I know he loves making them for him.

On a whim last Sunday, we decided to take a trip to a local park where they have this little depot and train running on the weekends.  Let's see what the almost-2-year-old thinks of this:

nervous anticipation....

 He loved most of it - although I couldn't catch a smile from him.......

The engine made fake "puffing" noises that scared the bejeezes out of him - hence the expression on his face and the clutching to mamma in this picture.

Afterwards, we enjoyed a picnic in the park where he followed his big brother around......

 And was able to wave at the train a few more times......

So, he loved it (no doubt that he would) and this family had a perfect spot to celebrate his upcoming birthday!!!

I jumped on Etsy that night and found this adorable invitation thanks to Dimpleprints.

And if I can just do a "plug" for this amazing company - I ordered the "print" on Sunday night and by Tuesday morning, I had my copy emailed to me - she worked with me on the picture (and was so gracious) and by Wednesday night, I had them in hand!  I just printed off 20 at Sam's for less than $5.00.

I loved the fact that I didn't have to go search for paper to make my own, take an hour to figure out the print (I never could have made them this cute anyway).  And I didn't have time to order them online.  It worked beautifully ~ and she has adorable banners, cupcake toppers, and gift tags to match.  Love it!

(BTW- I was not asked to post for Dimpleprints - I just loved the process and wanted to share how great of an experience it was!)

WWTKW - Dinner Anyone?

Good Morning & Happy Wednesday!

My, I am full of pep this morning ~ I should be ~ it's already the 4th day of the LAST MONTH of school and I have our summer vacation booked (the beach for a week- YAY!!) and Bubba's birthday planned AND it's 6:45 a.m. and I have already gotten my workout in ~ whew!!

So it is Wednesday and it's is time for a fun post - Seriously Shawn, Impulsive Addict, Mamarazzi, and Janette all host We Want To Know Wednesday - I always like linking up as it gives me something fun & different to blog about.



And this week is NO exception, as our questions come from the lovely, SPUNKY Impulsive Addict:

{1} If money didn't matter, where would your perfect vacation be? Briefly describe.
My perfect vacation would be 3 months in Europe.  I want to visit every.single.country.  I want to stay as long as I want when I find a quaint town and learn the culture.  My 2 trips (France, Italy, Ireland, & England) were not enough and made me just want MORE!! Oh, and I'd take this guy along with me:

{2} What's a bad habit that you have {or had} that is/was hard to break?
Jumping to conclusions.  I have a BAD habit of getting only half of the story and assuming the worst about someone/something.  It has ruined relationships and ends up making me look like an ass.  Yeah, I'll admit it.  Instead, I am trying to "sleep on it"~ wait to react~take a deep breath~ you always seem to see things differently then.

{3} If you weren't on a diet or counting calories, what would you like to have for dinner tonight?
Are you ready for this?  When I was working, I would have meals similar to the one below 3-4 times a month and now I miss it SOOOOOOOO much:

2 lump crab cakes & 2 jumbo shrimp with cocktail & remoulade sauce

III Forks salad (baby greens, granny smith apples, candied pecans, blue cheese crumbles topped with a sweet vinaigrette)

8 oz prime filet, medium (warm pink center please)

grilled asparagus & scalloped potatoes

vanilla bean creme brulee

2 glasses of Malbac

yea, I know what I want. I seriously dream about this meal....

{4} If you had the chance to interview anyone in the world, dead or alive, who would it be and what's one question that you would ask?
Michelangelo.  I am not really into art at all, however, I read Agony & Ecstasy (bio of him) before heading to Italy (it was an amazing book) and it opened up my eyes to his life.  When I saw David and the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, I teared up.  The book deals with how his art was both agonizing to him, yet filled him with meaning.  I would ask him, "What was your inspiration for the Sistine Chapel ceiling?"  Cause just look at this majesty:

{5}Describe yourself in 6 words.

Enthusiastic

Smart

Passionate

Determined

Dorky

Loving

That's me!  Hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday - thanks IA for the fun questions- now I am starving for a steak.....hmmm...Mother's Day is Sunday (hint, hint....Matt?  Are you out there?  Do you even read this anymore????)


P.S. Kudos to all those who guessed what was different in my vlog...after 3 years, I am going back to contacts.....still on the fence about them......Awesome job IA, Shawn, sarajo, MiMi, Mamarazzi,!!

Monthly Vlog ~ May

It's that time!!! The Monthly Vlog - y'all I have to admit....I am having WAY too much fun making these!  (Although now that we have a time limit, I had a very hard time getting all the questions answered in the alloted time....I digress)



We had some fun questions to answer this month.  Check it out.....
and please, no comments from the peanut gallery about the great face I'm "paused" on!