New Moon Fiesta!

Ahhhh!  New Moon! Awesome!  Okay, I got that out.  This past weekend I had a GIRLS WEEKEND with my family for the opening premier of New Moon: The Twilight Saga.  My mother flew in from Arkansas and my SILS flew in from California and Laredo.  We had a most luscious vampire-lovin' weekend!

The most exciting part of the weekend was our surprise guest!  On the dawn of our weekend fiesta--I got a knock on my front door.  When I answered the door, I was in utter swooning shock as I stood before Edward.  Seriously, my fellow devoted Edward-aficionados, when I unexpectedly encountered this life-size stand up--my heart started to pitter-pat and my palms got sweaty until I realized it wasn't really him.

So, I decided everyone should have the same experience that I did.  Edward upexpectedly greeted everyone that entered the house that weekend.  He even showed up in inconspicuous spots like the shower.  The best was waking up to him staring at you--just like Bella!! 

Don't judge my sister-in-law!  You know you were thinking the same thing!

Brett is such a trooper!  Our anniversary was the day before the movie opened.  He was very understanding that I spent our anniversary with Edward.  He only had a little animosity.

It was a very awesome weekend and thank you Mom and Sisters for making it so!

Restaurant Review: Madam Mam's

This is going to be a fun Restaurant Review.  The sad part is this restaurant is in Austin, so it will be a bit of a drive for most of you to get there.  It just might be worth the drive though, because Madam Mam's is the place to go if you want some great Thai food!

We went to the restaurant on a recommendation from Aunt Kay.  She and her sweet family accompanied us and helped us decipher the menu.  Brett and Kasia no talk Thai.

The kids were interested in the live fish swimming around in the huge aquarium above our table.  However, when the food arrived, all thoughts of aquatic life swam away, and the feast was on!

If we had ever been to Thailand before, I'm sure that we would have felt just like we were going back to that place we have never been.  Does that make sense?  Sure it does!  I'm trying to say that Madam Mam's might be really authentic.  Regardless, those fan thingies on the ceiling sure were cool.

I (Brett) got this delicious soup with chicken and green leaves.  I think it was called something like Guay Teaw Nuer Puey.  Or Guaw Wee Not Teen.  Or Noen For Cing tent.  Whatever it's called, it was enjoyable.

The kids devoured the Pad Thai, as you can see from the meaty fist in the picture.  Pad Thai means "Rice from a Thai paddy" In Thai.  Actually, it doesn't.  But the kids sure liked it!

Kasia partook of the masman curry.  She liked it but she LOVED . . .

. . . the Tom Kha, a coconut, lime, and lemongrass concoction.  Exact quote: "I could eat this all day." Party on, Kasia.

 

Some restaurants win, and some restaurants lose, but this restaurant review ends in a Thai.  We love you, Madam Mam.

Story Book Characters

Every year, the elementary school has *Dress Like Storybook Character* Day on Halloween, so I usually try to create their Halloween costumes around the storybook character of their choice.  They have a parade at the school and the kids carry the storybook with them.

Wilson wanted to be Mighty Casey at the Bat.  He didn't like the mustache or the *muscles* we put on him.  He kept saying, "No one wants to see me with muscles!"  I insisted though, because without the muscles or mustache he was just an ordinary baseball player.

Maisy wanted to be Kirsten: An American Girl.  In the book, Kirsten is a pioneer who comes on a boat from Sweden and then travels to Minnesota to settle with her family.  All week long she has been asking us to just call her Kirsten, please.

Ace didn't have much say in what his costume would be.  He got to be a Chocolate Chip Cookie from If You Give a Mouse a Cookie.  He does like that book and he liked his costume okay too.

We had a Halloween Party this year.  We made Haunted Gingerbread House!  Very spooky!

Even spookier--our friend that dressed up like He Who Must Not Be Named

We had sooo much fun trick-or-treating in our neighborhood.  It's such a fun place!  Everyone comes out and sits on their porches or driveways to hand out candy.  It's a very festive atmosphere.  We love and hope to celebrate many more Halloween's right here.

Happy Halloween!

Wilson has glasses!

After weeks of complaining that he can't see things far away and after a screening test at the school--Wilson got glasses!  He had a great experience with Dr. Gibbons.  Seeing better is helping him in all aspects of his life...

It helps with playing BASEBALL

It helps when playing GAMES

And of course it helps when watching TV

In the car on the way home from picking up his glasses, Wilson was enthralled in the new world of being able to see things much clearer.  I overheard him saying this to Maisy:

Wilson: "Maisy, I can see things that you probably can't see!  Like that tree over there!  It's like I have SUPER SONIC POWERS!!"

Maisy: "Wow, Wilson!  That's so cool!"

All About Ace

I thought it was time to give a little update on Alton.  He's growing up tooooo fast.  We call him our passionate child.  Every emotion is to the MAX!  But he is conceivably cute while wearing every emotion.


This is a HUGE no-no in our house.  No eating in the living room.  But, I couldn't help it.  He's so cute!

I LOVE this little video.  We had been trying to get Ace to say "Da-da" or "Daddy" or anything resembling his father figure.  He's been enthusiastically saying "Mom!" for a while--which I will admit is secretly so satsifying because our other two said "Da-da" first without even a bat of the eye.  But when we would request him to say "Da-da," all we would get is a precocious little grin.  Until one morning, when Brett was at work, he woke up saying, "Dad," and he wouldn't stop.  It was totally unbelievable!  I had to video tape him so that Brett would believe me.  It was just so great!  We love you ACE!

A Time for Birthdays

We had a wonderful time celebrating Maisy's birthday with a Pajama Party!

She had a donut cake (very easy to assemble.)

Her friends all came dressed in pajamas and some even wore slippers.

We had pancakes and played games.  One of the games involved pillow cases and hopping around in them.

Then we headed over to Austin to celebrate my grandmother's birthday.  This picture is for posterity.  It's not as good as my other "for posterity picture" otherwise known as "the grandma picture."

This is my Grandma Judy with my mother (her daughter.)  We had a great time!  The best was when I found out that I am related to the principal (his boss, basically) at Brett's school.  We are 2nd cousins once removed!!  Isn't that just the best!  So totally random.  Gotta love families.