ACL Mud Rash

Okay - I am only doing this because my Jeff wants me to. I actually think it is kind of gross. Here are some pictures of my ACL Mud Rash.

Yes, we were at ACL all three days.

Yes, I was covered in mud.

Yes, I have the 'ACL Mud Rash'.

Yes, we had the time of our lives and will go back next year!

No, I am not suing C3 Presents or the City of Austin. Although, a couple of three day passes for next year could make my eye hurt a little less.

P.S. How 'bout that I am getting a ton of hits on my blog cause of this stinkin' rash. Woo hoo.

MeMaw

Today I was at the doctor's office to have my ACL mud rash checked out. The nurse and I had friendly conversation while she was taking my vitals. When she started to walk out the door she inquired about the age of my grandson.

Come on. Really?

And P.S. Please excuse my muddy man hands. I just love the picture more than I hate the hands. I'm sure you understand.

Almost Famous

We went to the Austin City Limits Music Festival again this year. I've got tons to post and a gazillion picture to go through, but I thought I'd give you a little peek into our Sunday excitement.

Once again, the kids made the best of a very muddy situation. And then they became almost famous because of it. While we were watching Raul Malo play at the Austin Ventures stage, the kids got out the beach ball and started playing mud soccer.
Before we knew it, there was a crowd of festival goers gathering and lots of people asking if they could take pictures of the kids.

Once Raul Malo finished his incredible set, we made our way through the mud and over to the Dell Stage to see Sam and Lake's favorite, Michael Franti and Spearhead. Boy-o-boy, what a show. And what a crowd of professional photographers gathered around our kids.
It was crazy. I was starting to wonder if Brad Pitt was standing behind us or something.

I love that our girls are willing to get down and dirty and have a good time with the boys!

Once that show was over, we got some water and helped the kids wash the mud off of their faces. Sam had so much mud covering him that even his teeth were brown. Ick.

I've gotta say that I think Sam, Lake and Alex are pretty darn cute, even when they are covered in mud!


And the very very best part of the whole situation is that we were given another beautiful example of the kindness of strangers. I started going through our pictures yesterday and was really bummed out to see that I didn't have one single shot of the kids hanging over the front rail at the Michael Franti show. And then I realized that a lot of my mud pictures didn't turn out so great because there was a bit of mud on the lens. (go figure) So after much internal debate, I decided to go out on a limb and email a couple of the folks that gave me business cards when they were taking the mud photos. Well, lo and behold, I received a reply message today from my new buddy Karen, the Digital Executive Producer of KXAN here in Austin. Can you even believe that she took time out of her busy day to send me a few really incredible pictures?!?! I mean with a job title like that, she must be super duper busy - and she still sent us the pictures. I am so so so thankful. What a kind and special person she is. (Thank you SO much Karen.)

So here are a few of the pictures that I received from my new friend Karen with the swanky business title who works for KXAN the NBC Affiliate here in Austin.


Photo credit:
Super talented memory saver for taking pictures of my kids in the mud: Charlie L. Harper III, photographer

One of the nicest people ever for sending a mud tired momma some great pictures: Karen Brooks, Digital Executive Producer KXAN.com

Oh, and you can also find a picture of our muddy kids on the Michael Franti and Spearhead flicker page by clicking here. And did I remember to tell you that the muddy kids got to get up on stage with Michael Franti and dance and sing in front of thousands of people. Yep, they sure did. And nope, I don't have a single picture of it.

Oh, and you can also see a few photos of our Ella singing at ACL with the Barton Hills/Palm School choir here.

The Reason

I went to the grocery store this morning and can now provide proof of why it doesn't work for me to grocery shop with sleepy eyes, a cloudy head and no list.

Items purchased
3 containers of Spic and Span car cleaners (on sale for $0.75)
3 loaves of bread
2 boxes of instant oatmeal
2 boxes of taco shells
4 packages of McCormicks taco seasoning
3 packages of goldfish
1 jug of apple juice
1 newspaper

Now how in the world am I gonna feed 7 hungry mouths with that???

Although we need groceries, I am happy in my ACL haze. Ahhhh...

Oreo

My head is full. I've been bouncing all over the place lately with my thoughts. There are times where it feels like my chest will break into a million little teenie tiny pieces if anyone accidentally bumps into me.

I am happy. I feel so loved. I feel like loving so much. Oh these babies. I want to just eat them up. Every single one of them, dirty fingernails and all.

I was driving down the road yesterday and I had a rare moment where a memory from my childhood came rushing into my head. I don't know what the trigger was. Before I knew it, I was in traffic on Lamar crying my eyeballs out. It is a strange thing, our mind.

We have an outstanding new music teacher at our school. He has the kids truly interested in music. This afternoon, I was watching YouTube videos with #2 and #4 - Elvis, Beach Boys, Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis, Beatles, Louis Armstrong. We were talking about Elvis and watching him perform in the 'old days' - as the kids like to say. I asked #4 if he remembered a certain song from Lilo and Stitch. He didn't know what I was talking about. It is sad to me that #4 can't remember seeing a lot of the movies that are huge memories for the other kids. When the first four were under 5, we had movie night every Friday after playing at the park. We'd watch all of the kid movies - Dumbo, Jungle Book, Little Mermaid, Toy Story, Lilo and Stitch. It is such a bummer he doesn't remember those sweet sweet times with four under five. So we watched Lilo and Stitch tonight. I think he liked it. I think he really really liked it. It was nice to all be in the living room having that time.

Maybe it was really nice because our bellies were full. I made pork chops, mashed potatoes (from scratch), green beans, corn and super flat rolls. Ugh. I let them rise for almost 4 hours and then they dropped when I put them in the oven. Oh well, they were really yummy flat rolls. :)

In addition to being worried about my own stupid crapola, I've also been worried about my friends. I think a lot about my friends in the middle of the night. I wonder where their hearts are. I hope they know they are loved.

I've also decided that I am done with grown-up problems. I am not done with the grown-ups or listening to the problems, but I just think that sometimes being a grown-up really really stinks. This is a brief list of what is happening to some of the people that we care about - friends getting a divorce, friend having an affair, friend that is trying to come out to the kids, and friend with a serious alcohol problem. One of my very best friends in the whole wide world was battered by her soon to be ex-husband last weekend - oh and that is different than the divorcing friends that I mentioned above. I can't completely let myself think about her being hit by someone that she loved. I can't completely let myself think about the fact that her child was there when it happened. I can't understand why a grown-up would be such a coward and so stupid. I can't let myself go back to the place where I am the child watching the abuse. I just can't.

I received an email that moved me this week. I haven't yet responded. I guess that is another thing to put on the list of things I can't do right now. It was hard to read, but it was good to read. I need to read it really really fast or else the tears take over and I will melt into a pool on the desk. Oh what facebook can do. Oh how I love my cousin. I mean really really love her. Thank you Vivian. I am working on being able to really really hear things from our past. I am taking baby steps, but they are steps.

***************************************
Vivian sent you a message.

--------------------
Subject: My First Memory of You

I did not want to share this with everyone. I remember this little toddler girl brought into my grandparents house with burn scars & hurt written in her eyes. Tia Jackie & Tio Manuel said this is our new daughter. I smiled at you, held my arms out to you & you fell into my arms & wrapped yours around me tight. I have always thought of you as special since then. We may not have communicated throughout the years but as long as I know you are still out there, my world is a better place.
Love you,
Viv
****************************************


Oh and on the list of things that I can do, LOOOOVVVVEEEE my husband, LLLOOOOVVVVEEEEEE my kids, be a FRIEND and take my kids to happy hour at Sonic. So there list of crummy things that I can't do - I am winning!

P.S. Oreo is the name of our new kitty.

Without Thinking

I did it.

I REALLY did it this time.

I was checking out the old facebook page tonight and noticed that our good friend had a stray kitten hanging in her garage.

At that very moment I sent her a message and within 10 minutes that kitten became ours.

I didn't ask JC.

I didn't talk to the kids.

I just did it.

I know it was a rash decision. and.i.don't.care!!!!!

We can't have a catless house. I can't STAND a catless house.

JC just smiled when I walked through the door. It was a half smile that can only be given by a man that has been married to me for almost 19 years and knows that I am sometimes a little bit nutty. (to say the least)

The boys woke up and were excited.

The girls don't know yet. Tomorrow morning when they have bed heads and sleepy eyes they will get a sweet surprise.

I am excited.

Fingers crossed that he uses the litter box that I just made for him. I can't wait until we can give him a name tomorrow.

I can't wait until he lays on my head while I am trying to sleep.

Welcome home kitty, I am looking forward to spending the next 15 years with you!

The Eyes

The other night I was up in the middle of the night. I walked into the kitchen and this is what I saw.

It kinda freaked me out at first.

Then it just made me sad.

The kids are still visiting his grave regularly.

#1 has made his picture the wallpaper on both of the computers.

We were so lucky to have such a sweet kitty for such a long time.