richard III is nine

Continuing with our theme of "Things That Happened Weeks Ago," R3 is now officially nine! I sure am lucky this is the only other boy allowed to kiss me, because he's the sweetest, most hilarious little man. From spelling out "I Heart You" with his sandwiches to saying "Who's that pretty lady standing in the kitchen!?" while I'm making dinner, this kid's got a degree in Melting Hearts. While he still may not have the best attitude about eating his plants, he'll make his bed and empty the trash without being asked and takes home the trophy for "Not Talking With Your Mouth Full of Food."

This year, R3 is really into the Xbox, riding in the car with the windows down, and back-scratches. He loves cuddling in our bed on Saturday mornings and does super awesome backflips in the swimming pool! He loves being a boy and rocking out to "Eye of the Tiger" and any AC/DC song. He makes the silliest high-pitched commentary when he's playing video games and watching TV, which is equal parts Annoying As Hell and really easy to miss when he's not around (I can't watch Wall-E without him!).  He also claims to have already planned the rest of life without girlfriends ("video games, soda, and burgers"), however that hasn't stopped him from whistling and pointing to the couch simultaneously when he wants a cuddle right now (REALLY).

Top Richard Quotes this year include...

- "I'll bring you home a salad."

- "Your kisses are like magic!"

- Saying "dang" alot (I'm a terrible influence because I find it hilarious)

- "That's even better!" (after seeing my change my outfits on a whim)

- "Daddy + Kittens = Ms. Kylie!"

We had alot of making up to do this year because last year Daddy's car broke down in the middle of the his birthday and we got to hang out on the side of the rod in Garland for forever! Whew! We were all lucky enough to go to Granner's with Darrah + boys and Matt where there was lots of swimming, presents from loved ones, and eating of cake. We had such a lovely time! Like, "Meg Smiling In Pictures!" rank of a good time. ;)

Goodness, I'm obsessed with this picture!

Ugh!

LOOK AT THAT SWEET FACE.

R3 wanted a Minecraft (video game) t-shirt, and since I'm so out of touch I had to call Meggie from Kohl's before purchasing one: "What does he like? Is this green pixelated dude ok? What's the green pixelated dude? Do you think he'll like it? Do you really think he'll like it?!" So grateful she can help with things like this!

Um, sweet little man had not one but TWO cakes. We brought an oreo cake, and Granners accidentally bought one herself. Lucky boy! If you can't tell, the cake from Granners is camo on the inside, which earned it the "Freedom Cake" nickname. Thanks, Cody! ;P

Our beautiful hostess. :)

Richard, we all love you so much and we're so blessed because we get to see just how much you love us back. I can't wait to see how well you do in school next year because you're really into science, taking things apart, and putting them back together. You can make your sisters laugh like no one else, are the most dedicated helper man, and you give the sweetest hugs to people you've just met. I'm so sorry you're not in Cub Scouts any more, but we promise to help you find as many Boy Things to do when you're with us. I'm also sorry I get so annoyed when you touch things before you ask because you have a curiosity that should never diminish. This year, you've finally gotten comfortable smiling for the camera, and your sweet little Chipmunk Smile can light up my whole day. We just can't wait to see all the shit you get into next. :)

cody's graduation!

So, I've been really behind in blogging, which is what Sundays Off are for! Cody done graduate'd this month, which means we spent a lot of time listening to Darrah cry and be an adorable proud mom. ;P We don't get to see our sweet family as much as we want to, so it's always a good time hanging out with Darah and the boys and giggling at how sweet and hilarious they are. (Which totally made up for the crazy parking senarios... at least we're prepared for the upcoming years!) 

Congratulations, Cody!

R and Del, melting my heart. :)

I really wanted to get a picture of Del and I together, and I didn't realize I could, you know, take off my 5-inch heels? So that's why this picture is all out of wack... but I have so few pictures of me and my sweet Del together!

And the Obligatory Gratuitous Couple shot. ;P

currently

Really thankful for these beats that make my car feel like a 70s pool party at Marvin Gaye's house. Swagger!

treat yo' self 2013!

R and I recently took a glorious week-long "stay-cation," and we don't ever want to go back! We ate the best food,  stayed up late watched awesome television, hung out with our favorites, and slept-in until who-gives-a-fuck o'clock every single day. THE BEST EVER.

On Monday, my Bunny Brew (cutest juice name!) and I met Monsieur Ceej at the Design District, which is always so fun to poke around. Just look at this giant flask! Why didn't I buy that?!

On Wednesday, we did the Minimal Required Responsible Adult Activity for the week and took care of our cars. And by we, I mean Richard basically did everything while I looked really cute in my swimsuit. Oh, and Pandora! I figured out how to play Pandora while he changed oil, air filters, tail lights... all that stuff! I did help wash and vacuum everything, though!

We also made an honest "life is so hard!" effort to be functional at 11am to go try out Hypnotic Donuts... TOTALLY WORTH IT. I'm not into the cake-doughnuts for breakfast (I prefer savory to sweet in the mornings), but I did love me a classic Homer donut. :D Also, they have the most amazing biscuits. Like, so amazing I wanted a plain one after seeing R's chicken/gravy biscuit. I'm still dreaming about it... 

And then my sweetie got a handsome haircut. HANDSOME MANNN.

Annnd: Toulouse. One of our favorite places! We got all gussied up and made that menu our bitch.

A French-75! Officially added to my cocktail rotation. ;P

FROG LEGS, YUM YUM.

An old-fashioned and chocolate soufflé. :)

Not Pictured: the most wonderfully decadent scallop risotto and ugh-tastic lobster mac-and-cheese. We were too involved licking our bowls to photograph any of that.

This also happened at some point. OPULENCE.

Ok, let's all sit down and talk about Torchy's for a moment. This place makes Chipotle look like a pile of hot garbage. Fried avocado slices in my taco? Corn-flake battered cookie dough balls? Guacamole scooped into my queso?! What the what are you trying to do to me! If you're trying to make us order that fucking queso three seperate times within the entire week, well done, Torchy's! WELL DONE.

Torchy's queso for Hungover Breakfast-In-Bed at 1 in the afternoon?? Treat yo' self!!

Really awesome things that also happened during the week...
- hanging out with Ceej at JR's
- stayed up until 2 in the morning watching Zach Galifinakis and Eddie Murphy and laughing like crazy
- made kick-ass grapefruit-strawberry margaritas at Debbie and A-ron's
- discovered peach-flavored vodka!
- waking up every morning with my sweet handsome silly man there :)

Ugh, I don't ever want to go back. Vacations are awesome, but stay-cations are their own breed of kick-ass awesome. :) :)

may-babies take the dma!

So, mine and Emmy's birthday are one week apart, and thus we have a very special little May-baby connection that makes me smile. I always like to do something special with the kittens for their birthday (something with just the two of us! no Daddy, no siblings, just US!), and this year I decided that Emmy and I should go to the Dallas Art Museum and hang out. Emmy is our Little Artist in Residence, after all, and she just gets it.

The weather was so lovely last Saturday, and after waking to some beautiful morning sunshine, Emmy came in and cuddled and watched parts of Rigoletto with me. We were so into it, she even paid attention as I got dressed so she could tell me what the subtitles said (what a doll). :)

We then spent a fine afternoon at the DMA, where we ate lunch, did arts/crafts, and lusted over everything--including an opulent furniture exhibit (Emmy said, "I'm just really into furniture right now." and she's TEN). She is so fun to share art and artistic impressions with her because she really understands to look at all the details and the bigger picture at the same time. Plus, she's beautiful and mature and hilarious, and I adore her.

obsessed

Love us some JT.

emily is ten

Sweet Emmy hit the double digits! She is ever becoming the loveliest, most imaginative little lady and this year has been so fun. She's so creative, so outrageous, and so damn witty, and we have the best seats in the house to her brilliance.

Blackberry monster!

Her daddy once described her as "twisted in the best kind of way," which is just as adorable as it is accurate. She's so not afraid of making big creative statements and she has the cutest girl-crush on her big sister. She works extremely hard in school and has one of my favorite laughs when she find something so hilarious (most often in response to her daddy's shenanigans).

This year, Emmy has blown us away with her drawings of elaborate candy mountains, piggies on her toes, and meditating Buddhists (really!). She is just as excited to have her hair and makeup done as she is to catch a fish. She's rightly earned the nickname "Business Decision Emily" (Bizzy Dizzy Emmy!) because, boy, just tell her what's required to get what she wants and then count to ten--from eating extra veggies for more computer time to pulling her loose tooth when I promised her a secret candy stash--DONESKI.

So excited to find "Flintstone furniture!" | Covering herself in mud... just cuz!

Right now Emmy is really into messy tom-boy ponytails and cherry tomatoes. She always holds my hand when we're cuddling on the couch and she's written more than one letter to her Gramma in Tennessee of her own volition. She is always willing to pose for the camera and puts on the best Backseat Car Concerts with her younger sister. She's also one of the most sociable kiddos I've ever met, but she definitely requires Lone Emmy Time every now and then.

Top Emmy quotes this year include...
"Dad... I got my eye on you." (after a very intense wrestling session!)
"What is this steel cocoon?!" (her impression of an Amish person getting in a car for the first time... really)
"Why are all the cute boys bad?!"

R: "I believe your physical dominance over your younger brother is going to come to an end very soon."
Emmy: "So I gotta live the dream now..."

Me: "You're always ready for the camera, aren't you?"
E: "Yes! I can be silly, elegant, or jumpy!"

and, of course: The Tropical Num Num Song...

This year, we had a little party for Emmy at Aunt D's, which included a baller hand-made present from Meggie (a pillow blanket with her name on it!) and lots of video games. Emmy requested burgers and red-velvet cupcakes for her Birthday Dinner and even got to spend the night with the other littles.

Emmy, right now you're in that in-between stage where you really want to grow up but you still want to be small enough to pick-up and carry. I love learning what new Top 40 radio songs you adore and I really want to figure out how to make rainbow ice-cream for you. You always ask for your own veggie smoothie when I make one for me and Daddy, and you really can't stand when your younger brother shows signs of superiority in anything. I just love when you ask to talk alone and how interested you are in learning about art. When I grow up I want as much self-confidence as you, and we just can't wait to see all the shit you get into next. :)