Bummer dude!

Well the first item, I was late for Friday Live and totally missed Nic's class performing Stop in the name of love with all of the words changed to talk about math strategies. In my own reality I was not late. I walked in at 2:30 on the dot. It was the school that started the assembly early because there was so much on the docket for the day. Yeah, they could have shared that somehow...

Second item, Nic did not win his class election. He was beat out by two girls, that might make it even harder for him to accept. The class is heavy on girls though so his chances were slightly reduced considering the alliances that are formed in elementary school elections. He was bummed but seems to be moving on.

Both boys are looking forward to attending a b-day party for friend D across the street. They are going to Amazing Jake's and are hoping that it is beyond AMAZING!

I am off to try to pull some stuff together for my crop this weekend. I will be in and out all weekend but need to take something to keep my hand busy and off the snacks! Tonight I am going to spend time sorting photos and memorabilia that got tossed all together after the fire. I have sorted by boy and parents but need to get it sorted by year and event so that then I can come up with page kits etc. What a process!

Migraine is also sneaking in so I have taken two pills and I think I can lay down for about an hour and hope it takes a hike! G-night!

Been a good couple of days!

Yesterday started off well and before I even ate lunch I headed to school to accompany Will's class on their first field trip of the year. We went to the Frisco History Museum. Our group ate first and had to kill an hour. Do you know how long it takes a 3rd grader to eat their lunch sitting on the ground in unfamiliar territory. Not an hour! Once they were done we wandered around some outside building that we could only peak in the windows of. That took about 10 minutes and there was still time left. I pulled out an old faithful and taught the 4 kids in my group how to play TV tag. I think that I didn't share the rules right but it worked for a few minutes. Once it was all said and done and they had a chance to think about it this was a real question from someone under the age of nine. "So was it hard for you to think of a TV show when you played since there were not many shows? I mean TV had just been invented right?" That particular kid may not see 9.

Once we got into the museum, Richard, our tour guide did a great job with our group. He was a wealth of information as any tour guide should be, and explained it all very well to the third grade crowd. We finally wrapped up and headed back to school. I just hung out until it was time to head home.

After school we had a Destination Imagination Meeting for Nic and then Will wanted to go to a special event called Frisco Reads. The DI meeting went much more quickly than I thought it would so the Frisco Reads event was easily squeezed in. We made a stop at the Barnes and Noble book fair and then each boy had a book signed by the author. Once we had the autographs we headed down to the book walk, think cake walk without the sugar, a BOOK instead and then wandered in to see The Singing Cowboy. He was really funny and we helped him sing a song about Pico de Gao. Good times, good times!

Once that was done we snuck out before the talking part commenced and called in a dinner order to Hungry Howies. YUMMO! The rest of the evening went really smoothly until it was 9:07 and I had totally lost track of time and the boys weren't in bed yet. Thursday is our early rise day so a late to bed night on Wednesday is not a good thing. It was evident this morning that I had slipped. Better luck next time.

Today started a little slow but the boys finally got into gear. Nic had safety patrol and Will had Library Lions so they both had some motivation to get out the door. I had MOMS this morning and needed to take a snack so I whipped up some pumpkin muffins and got myself ready once I got them settled at school. MOMS group went really well, since I did find my book very late in the evening and was able to get my homework done. We had a good discussion and got done right on time.

After MOMS I ran to the USPS and treated myself to Subway for lunch. I totally forgot that it was Chick-fil-a fundraiser for dinner. I kept busy for a bit at home then went to school to volunteer for the boys' teachers. I spent about an hour there then we were headed home for a bit before the Chick-fil-a fun. We ran back out for dinner, made a quick stop at Target then back home for the rest of the night.

I should be prepping for the crop this weekend but I am just not sure what to work on. I have pictures to sort and ideas to sort and paper to use but I need a little more motivation. Maybe tomorrow. Not that I don't have three other things on the calender. It will happen or I'll just grab a couple of boxes of pictures and start out slow.

BIG ELECTION RESULTS TOMORROW! Check back to see if I will be living with two politicians.

Gratitudes

I was inspired by a blogger to be aware of blessing and share gratitude so here goes!

1. Fred working hard for his family here, there, and everywhere.

2. Will getting REALLY excited about doing a book report at school and even announcing that he is planning to do EXTRA CREDIT. Will I tell you!

3. Nic doing on AWESOME job on a collage project for his GT class. They had to pick a quote and make a collage to represent that. He chose a great quote, "Always shoot for the moon because even if you miss you land among the stars." and the collage looks great!

3. Pete the dog didn't dig outside today!

4. I have toilets to clean and I cleaned them.

5. My washer and dryer work, with my help of course, and we now have lots of clean clothes.

6. I had YUMMY leftovers from The Cheesecake Factory for lunch today.

7. I got to go back to bed after taking the boys to school this morning. Just a little bit longer...

8. I saw actual workers at the crispy house today!

9. I got happy mail today. Secret stuff for Grandmother Christmas presents. All good stuff!

10. I get to go croppin this weekend! Not sure how long I will stay and how much I will get done but I am excited about the possibilities.

3 Movies in 3 days

I don't think I have EVER been to three movies in a week, rarely even three movies in a month, but this weekend... 3 movies in 3 days.

Friday I took myself to see FIREPROOF. It was a tear jerker and a christian look into saving a marriage. I enjoyed it.

Saturday Fred was working although he was home and I was getting a little frustrated listening to him on his phone. I decided that if the boys and I left then he could work hard in peace and we could enjoy a kid flick. Well, the choices were Igor or Beverly Hills Chihuahua. We picked the silly dog movie and the boys enjoyed it thoroughly. No comment from the mom.

Last night we crossed the ally to spend a little time with our neighbors. They have three kids 15-20 yrs, two of whom babysit. We spent about 3 hours poolside with them drinking and talking and drinking and talking. I did some listening and very little drinking in comparison. The boys started out at home and then joined us over there and played Wii with the 16 yr old son. In the conversation I mentioned that Fred and I wanted to go on a date today so a little after 2 this afternoon I took the boys over there where they would stay until a kid sitter returned home then she would bring the boys here. So Fred and I ran off and saw EAGLE EYE. Scary stuff if you really think about it but all the same, likely true on some level. The world gets a little more scary by the minute.

So three movies in three days and I am beat. I need to get the boys cleaned-up and ready for their week. Fred leaves in the AM and I think i have some VERY busy days and some mellow ones. I should go check my calender to be sure.

Visual update and some EXCITING election news...

First, election news.... I believe that the obvious winner of the VP debate was my very own candidate.... NOT!

WILL WON! I have no idea why he found out today but he did and he is a little excited. Just a little.

Nic's class voted today and then had to do an immediate re-vote, not a recount, a re-vote. There was a tie and somehow they expected that someone, not sure who, would change his or her mind and break the tie. We wait. That is all we can do.

So I am throwing in a few pictures of my last couple of days. I seemed to have forgotten my camera at very pivotal moments and have multiple pics of the quite mundane, like my thrice weekly trip to the USPS and Chick-Fil-A. Fred is landing about now and I have NO IDEA what we will end up doing this weekend. It may include fried food, it may be taking in a kid friendly movie, it may be figuring out why the sprinkler system isn't kicking in and then mowing the slightly browned grass. Stay tuned...

Drinking my H2O in the October appropriate container. MOMS group without the MOMS. They just came later. Dinner at Peter Piper's Pizza the night we had a showing at the house. Me on hold with Huntington Bank dealing with the whole lease return and threatened collections deal. UGH! And finally, a less than stellar TX sunset. They just don't compare to the sunsets across the horizon of farms in IA.

Just babble...

OK, the jury is still out on the State Fair. Lots of "YOU SHOULD GO!" from the out of state people but the locals say not so much. We'll see what the weekend brings.

Fred ordered our new HVAC set-up today though so that may just make our decision for us. Even with his Lennox deals that stuff aint cheap. I am just so happy that at least the HVAC sub-contractor seems to be moving forward. There has been no noticeable work at the crispy house over the last couple of days. Despite the lack of work there had been someone at the house. I drove by yesterday to find the front door wide open but no one there working. This is the second time the door was wide open and the third time it was unlocked. I was not a happy camper. I lit into my site manager (who was not ONSITE at the time) with a nasty tone but I wasn't too sorry. Of course no one has called me to update the who and why of it, it probably doesn't even matter, but it would be nice to hear from the incompetent people anyway. This is one of those times that I heave OPTIMISM out the window and ask God to intercede with progress and peace. I better get on my knees tonight!

OK, off to watch Grey's Anatomy and then get straight to bed. It has been a LONG but mostly positive day. I'll try my best to post more of my life in pictures tomorrow.

Considering the TX State Fair

So Fred and I had talked about going to the TX State Fair this weekend. I was just on the site checking things out and look at what I found! I had no idea that you could deep fry so many interesting things. Now after seeing this menu and considering just the price of admission I have mixed feelings about going. I see it as a MasterCard commercial...

Parking: $10

Tickets for Entry $48

Mid-way Fun $40

Food $40

Indigestion... Priceless

State Fair of Texas New Food Locator
Chicken Fried Bacon – Thick and peppery Farm Pac® bacon is seasoned, double-dipped in a special batter and breading and deep-fried. Served with a creamy side of ranch or honey mustard sauce. Served at N30 located on Nimitz at MLK. Winner of Best Taste in the Big Tex Choice Awards competition.

Fried Banana Split – A mixture of banana and honey peanut butter is rolled in balls, battered and deep-fried and topped with assorted, delicious fixings, including powdered sugar, caramel and chocolate syrups, chopped peanuts, whipped cream and banana split flavored ice cream bites then fittingly crowned with the traditional cherry. Served at the Auto Grill inside the Automobile Building. Winner of Most Creative in the Big Tex Choice Awards competition.

Fernie’s All-American Fried Grilled Cheese Sandwich – An American classic with a State Fair twist. Two slices of white bread filled with a blend of American and cheddar cheeses, dipped in an egg and milk batter and lightly coated with panko bread crumbs for extra crispness. Served with a side of shoestring potato sticks, a pickle spear and tomato soup dipping sauce. The All American Meal! Served in the Dock Restaurant inside the Embarcadero Building. Finalist in the Big Tex Choice Awards competition.

Texas Fried Jelly Belly Beans – Jelly Belly Beans are rolled in funnel cake batter and fried to a crunch. People can share the treat with friends and try to guess the flavors before biting down. Enjoy at the Granny’s Funnel Cake stand C6 at the south side of the Coliseum and at Rico's Burgers, stand C7, behind Gateway Pavilion. Finalist in the Big Tex Choice Awards competition.

Deep Fried S’mores – Marshmallow cream and chocolate chips are sandwiched between two graham crackers, dipped in a feather-light batter and fried to a golden brown. The campfire-inspired treats are dusted in powdered sugar. Included in the menu at stand N9 located near the Embarcadero entrance. Finalist in the Big Tex Choice Awards competition.

Fire & Ice – A pineapple ring is battered and deep-fried, then topped with banana-flavored whipped cream that’s been frozen in liquid nitrogen. The smoking concoction is ladled with strawberries and syrup. Fire & Ice is served by Abel Gonzales at the family-run stand on Nimitz Drive. Finalist in the Big Tex Choice Awards competition.

Fried Chocolate Truffles – A silky-smooth, handmade, dark chocolate truffle is rolled in cocoa powder before being battered and deep-fried. The melting chocolate goodness is dusted in cinnamon, sugar and cocoa powder. Located at N24 stand located on Nimitz near the entrance to the Creative Arts Showplace Theater. Finalist in the Big Tex Choice Awards competition.

Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Waffle Balls – Plump fresh strawberries covered in a thick chocolate shell are dipped in a sweet, waffle batter and deep-fried. Dusted with powdered sugar and served on a stick. Served at the Belgian Waffle stand G39 located on the NE corner of the Esplanade. Finalist in the Big Tex Choice Awards competition.

Fried Pop Rocks Fundae Blast - Ignite your senses with this explosion of Tastes. Fried Ice Cream covered in Hershey’s Syrup and Pop Rocks. Your fuse is a Twizzler rolled in Pop Rocks. While you disarm it, you’ll find an Atomic Fireball inside . . .“Fire in the Bowl”! Stand FW-22 located on Fun Way across from Lost Children Building.

Fried Dinner Roll – A savory dinner roll lusciously filled with cream cheese and covered with a sweet batter, placed on a stick and deep fried to perfection. Stand TB-14 located in the Tower Building.

Fried Cake on a Stick – A delicious, chocolate covered white cake filled with strawberry jelly and cream, dipped in sweet batter and deep fried until golden brown and served on a stick! Stand TB-14 located in the Tower Building.

Green Bean Fries - Fresh Green Beans lightly battered, deep fried, and served with a side of cucumber ranch dressing for dipping! BW’s Fried Ribs stand TB-1 in the Tower Building.

Texas Bar-B-Que Eggrolls - BW’s Chopped Beef in an eggroll wrap, deep fried to a delicate crispness, and served with BBQ sauce for dipping or ignite your senses further with a splash of Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce. BW’s Fried Ribs stand TB-1 in the Tower Building.

“Jalapeno” Deep Fried Gorditas - Jalapeno flavored gordita cooked on the grill and then deep fried, stuffed with beef, chicken, or bean & cheese, and finally topped with lettuce, tomato, guacamole, and cheese. Festival Mexican Foods stand FW-25 located on Fun Way St.

Fried Apple iPie – A warm, delicious crispy fried apple pie with just a hint of cinnamon, is smothered in rich vanilla ice cream and topped with an edible iPod “like” mp3 player and whipped cream. Real working souvenir “ear-bud” earphones complete this tasty iPie experience! Desperado’s stand N-19 located on Admiral Nimitz Circle.

Fried Snowballs – Fresh from the fryer! A lightly battered Snowball (cupcake) dusted with powdered sugar! Shirley London and Sons stand M-19 located on The Midway at the intersection of The Midway and Martin L. King Blvd.

Fried Honey Bun – A lightly battered Honey Bun, served fresh from the fryer with a light dusting of powdered sugar! Shirley London and Sons stand M-19 located on The Midway at the intersection of The Midway and Martin L. King Blvd.

Deep Fried Apple Bites ­– Fresh cut apples dipped in a homemade batter, deep fried, and then covered with a caramel sauce and cinnamon topping! Puff Palace Concessions stand FW-9 located on Fun Way Street near the intersection of Fun Way and Martin L. King Blvd.

Bread Pudding with Rum Sauce – An old favorite returning after several years absence! Warm bread pudding chock full of real butter, cream, and rich cinnamon flavor served with a creamy rum sauce. Newport Concessions stands G-13, G-23, FW-33, FW-1, M-22 located throughout the grounds.

Mini Chopped BBQ Slider - Sweet, tangy and juicy chopped barbecue beef brisket on a mini bun. Just the right size for a taste of Texas barbecue. N-11 The Dock and N-10 The Cantina located inside the Embarcadero Building, and at G-1 The Funnel Cake Stand on Grand Ave. across from the Old Mill Inn.

Mini Chicken Fried Steak Slider - A miniature crispy chicken fried steak patty served on a mini bun with a side of cream gravy. A bite size version of "Big Texas Taste". Stand N-11 The Dock located inside the Embarcadero Building.

Dessert Shooters - A 3 oz. serving of rich and decadent desserts. Your choice of three fabulous flavors: Chocolate Oreo Mousse, a layer of Oreo cookie crumbs, creamy chocolate pudding, chocolate sauce, whipped cream, sprinkled with more Oreos and a cherry on top: Strawberry Cheesecake, Graham cracker crumbs, classic cheesecake filling, strawberry sauce, whipped cream and more graham cracker crumbs: and Vanilla Caramel Supreme, crushed Vanilla Wafers, creamy vanilla pudding, rich caramel sauce, whipped cream, sprinkled with more Vanilla Wafers and a cherry on top. N-11 The Dock and N-10 The Cantina located inside the Embarcadero Building.

Jalapeno Tamaritto – Ignite your taste buds with two Pedro’s Tamales wrapped in a warm flour tortilla, topped with chili, cheese, and Pedro’s spicy Jalapeno relish! Pedro’s Tamales stand TB-18 located in the Tower Building.

Ignited Moon Pie­ - The Original Moon Pie, lightly battered and deep fried, then gently sprinkled with powdered sugar! Stand N-9 located near the Embarcardero Building entrance.
Fruit Bag Drinks ­– Fruit, juice and ice combined in a clear bag with a straw for slow sipping. Savor the flavor of the juice and then eat the fruit! Benz Food Company stand CBP-1 located in Cotton Bowl Plaza.

Beefy Fried Queso Bites ­– Queso mixed with taco meat, breaded in a zesty batter and deep fried. Stand FW-46, Guacamole Paradise, located inside the Thrill Way Area.

Chick-a-Mole Bites – Guacamole mixed with a taco-flavor shredded chicken and cheddar/Monterey jack cheese, breaded in a zesty batter and deep fried. Served at Stand FW-46, Guacamole Paradise, located inside the Thrill Way Area.

Crispy Fried Cantaloupe Pie – Diced cantaloupe seasoned with brown sugar, cinnamon and coconut milk, rolled in a flaky pie pastry, and then deep fried. Topped with powdered sugar and whip cream. Gigi’s Food stand TB-22 inside the Tower Building