this is my song, just couldn't stop laughing when I heard it the first time. I found myself saying,"I've said that, I've said that, I've said that." Just like Aly McBeal had her theme songs. Love it.


on the homefront, LOTS of projects. keeping myself super busy. I am totally getting into decorating for the fall, and I found some cute, cute fall/halloween decorations in McKinney Square. Love all the little shops there. Now if we could have some cool temps we would be all set.

The girls are good, but as always, with the change of seasons comes the "sickies". Tori has been out of sorts the last few days, and after a quick dr. visit, we are on a prescription cough medicine. I am hoping that will take care of it. Belle has been asthma free for about a year now (knock on wood) which for her is huge. So i am hoping that that streak continues.

Okay, I am off to make an early dinner for my family. Carne empanizada, rice and beans ... a good Mexican dinner. Then hopefully a movie night tonight. Has anyone seen All the President's Men? That is on the agenda. Hope fall is inspiring you. I'll update all on my mom's Paris trip tomorrow.

Have a great evening.
*ciao*

so we have been having a hard time going to school lately. my little one has figured out that if she complains that her stomach hurts, she could possibly get out of going to school. so every morning she starts to complain in the case that she actually does have to go. on the off days, once she realizes that she doesn't have to go, she makes a miraculous recovery. pretty sneaky. our school mornings are filled with drama, drama, drama. everything from stomach ache, to head hurting, to just plain don't wanna go. fun, fun, huh??? so yesterday, I managed to talk her down from her rant about not wanting to go, and finally got her excited because she was going to be able to take her Ariel doll for show and tell. (pretty genius actually). well she did really well all the way there, until we pull into the parking lot, then the faucets started leaking. while i was getting her out of her seat, she tells me,"I don't know about this mama." very matter of fact. i couldn't help but laugh. that is her lately. she just says the funniest things and really doesn't know why we are laughing.

case in point: this morning we are driving to my friend's house and there were bunches of hot air balloons aloft. really a beautiful sight to wake up to. so we start talking about our trip last year to Albuquerque, which was the last time we saw balloons. then she tells me, "mama, i want to go back to apple cookie." HUH??? Where??? "Apple cookie." Me..."Do you mean Albuquerque??? Tori..."yes mama that is what I said." never a dull moment.

okay, i am off to start dinner. have a great evening.
*ciao*

okay, I have to admit that my MTV phase has not been totally phased out yet. My sister and I share this one. We still watch some of the shows there, and our favorite is The Hills. This is my total guilty pleasure. What i particularly like is the music. so this week there was this one song that i just love the sound of, and here is a peek at it.

What do you think? It has a great sound I think.

Anyway, I am off to watch my other guilty pleasure... oh, wait did I say I have one??? The other is One Tree Hill. the bonus, they are replaying it from the beginning on Soap Network. i watch way too much TV.

Have a great night.
*ciao*

we were really nervous about our little tori starting school this year. last year didn't begin so well, since it was really the first time that she had been away from me. so needless to say, the first few weeks were rough with tori crying and screaming every time I would leave her at school. i was particularly nervous since her closest friends would be in a different class, so her comfort factor was really low. well, to my surprise, she did really well her first day. there was a little hesitation at home and she even mentioned that she felt it would be better if she just stayed at home with me, but in the end, all went well.
of course she had to wear her new "purple" dress to school... her signature color. she looks so big to me now. where has the time gone?
at the end of the day, she was so excited about her new class, although she was totally exhausted. time to get back to our routine again. i really have to enjoy this year with her, since all too soon she we will be off to school five days a week. i wish i could just keep her little forever, but i guess there is no point wishing that is there? oh well, i'll just have to take in every moment of her last year in preschool.

have a good night.
*ciao*

I can finally write about all the craziness that has been going on around here. I have written and posted pictures of all projects we have been doing to the house. well there was a reason that we were "project happy". we were preparing for a house full of people. family and friends that had never been to our house. why? you might ask. well we were preparing for a SURPRISE Retirement Party for this woman...
my mom.

my sister and I decided back in February to have a party... a huge SURPRISE... for my mom's upcoming retirement. lots of planning, and lying, and preparing went into this. by last week i was so ready for it to be over with. it was so hard to talk to my mom for the past few months and watch EVERY WORD I said. i had to be careful not to divulge any information that might throw her off, and get those wheels turning. i wouldn't even let the girls talk to her in the end. i was just full of excuses. but in the end, the party was fabulous, and she was totally surprised. we pulled it off. take a look at her reaction.

we had family and friends fly in from all over, and my cousin was even able to come in from Virginia where he is stationed. she had a great time, and we were so glad to see so many people come to help us celebrate all of her hard work.




We all had such a great time, and it was awesome to see family and friends that we hadn't seen in years. good times, good times.

Of course, who can come to a big city and not take in some great shopping??? Not us, and not our family. we shopped... a lot. I had a blast. i don't get to do that that often, and boy did I have some professional shoppers to show me the ropes. only here can you find the kind of deals that they were able to find. oh, and i have to send a special thank you to my aunt Terry for bringing us Chico's Tacos. my mouth waters just thinking of them. they are totally an acquired taste, but those individuals from El Paso can totally relate. Thanks auntie for bringing that big old suitcase full of an old favorite.

we also got to take in a baseball game while everyone was here, which meant hot dogs and beer... and some good margaritas. boy that liquor sneaks up on you. anyway, a relaxing evening, lots of laughs (get cookin' marie.. ha, ha!!!) and great company.


okay, i am done for now. i have more to post, but i am still trying to recover, which means off to bed early for me.

Have a great night.
*ciao*