Blogger award

Danielle has nominated me for the nice matters award. She is really very kind and I am humbled by this. Especially since it came from her. She is always thinking of others and how she can make a difference in the world. And did I mention she is 10 years younger than me? I think she could be the younger sister I never had (except then I would not be the baby anymore)!

Thanks Danielle! I nominate Amy at Nesting for Natalie. She has a fabulous story and they actually call Natalie "Jane".

MeMe

I have been tagged for a meme by Rony. Hmm.. probably too much info for everyone but here goes! She also tagged me because I am seriously behind on my blogging! I just started back to school (just call me Professor H.) and this week has been busy getting students oriented to hospitals and such. I must say that I LOVE my new job! It is a Christian University and I think this makes a difference. Everyone is so nice (students included) and helpful.

Okay here are a few of my favorite things.... Can you hear Julie Andrews???

Or as Mae calls her "Poppins".

Sound - My girls laughing and a really good choir
Late night snack - Well, my bedtime is usually 9:30!!
Smell - Lavender or gardenia
Color combination - Pink and Green (yes I am one of those preppy girls and still tie a sweater around my neck!)
Nut - my friend Laura
Time of the year - Spring or Fall (college football!!!)
Author - too many
Books - too many but I did just finish Momzilla and thought it was a HOOT!!! I also loved the Nanny Diaries and I am sad that the movie is not supposed to be very good.
Vegetable - grilled (very important) asparagus
Male Actor - Dr Rey on Dr 90210 (Ha! Just kidding Danielle) I think it is a toss up between Jude Law (except for the fact that he slept with his nanny) and the guy that played Jake Ryan from 16 candles and the guy that was in Sweet Home Alabama ( I can never remember his name but he is yummy to look at)
Flower - Sunflowers and Gerbers.
Vacation spot - Roatan or Disney
Pizza - Jim Davenport's Pizza (local)
Sport to play - Is fly-fishing a sport?
Subject in school - Biology
TV channel - E! for Dr 90210, TLC and MTV
Radio station - Our local station that carries the Ace and TJ show in the ams and then I listen to Satellite
Holiday - Christmas, Halloween and Easter
.Perfume - Happy by Clinque
Shoes - anything that is comfortable
Candy - Chocolate (no nuts or coconut) and Laffy Taffy
City to shop - Well, I like Atlanta because they are the closest with a Nordstrum
Female actress - Cameron Diaz
Beauty products - Arbonne
Item to shop for - Children's clothing and home decor

Birthday cupcakes!

Today was Jane Harris' birthday! This fall both Princesses will have a combined "Princess and Pirate" birthday blow-out! Since it is our 10+ day of temps over 100 degrees it is way to hot to have any type of party at the moment! Fortunately, school allows us to bring special snack when it is your birthday. All of her friends were anxiously awaiting my arrival and everyone enjoyed the yummy cupcakes!

Birthday girl in her party dress!

OOOOO...yummy!

Ever Mommy's girl, Jane likes the frosting best!

Sweet baby Jane

My sweet baby Jane; two years ago today you arrived into this world with a gusto! I will never forget the moment you came; we were a little apprehensive because you came a little early - 5 weeks to be exact. All the doctors had talked to us about the possibility you made need some help breathing if your lungs were not ready. Well, you proved them wrong! The moment they pulled you out you let out a scream that people could hear all over the maternity floor! You were tiny and perfect with a ring of bright red hair around the back of your head!

I remember it like it was yesterday and it is hard to believe that 2 years have passed since that day!

You are growing up to be an independent and feisty girl with a sweet disposition and smile. You love all animals and you love to give hugs and kisses. You enjoy coloring, singing and being 'side with your Daddy. You swim like a fish and beg to "go unda" the water.

Remember that no matter what, your daddy and I will always love you.

And just like your "tita", you are our miracle. May the sun always shine on you and may you always feel warm and safe and loved.

With love,

your mommy

One week
6 months
one year
16 months
2 years

From the mouths of babes...

It is my custom to ask Mary Austin what she learned at school each day. I get a daily report so I have an idea of what they have done. Today she was very excited to report that they had watched the "Space Shittle" come back to Earth. All the way home we practiced saying shuttle!!

Mary Austin's heart

Mary Austin told Tripp and me last night that her heart would not be "fulfilled" until she had a baby brother! What a hoot! I mean where does she get these things???!! Especially the word "fulfilled" To her utter disappointment we advised her that her heart may remain unfulfilled for a while! And, if and when, we have another child she may get a sister and not a brother. But in her 3 year old mind (or maybe 30 year old mind) she will be getting a baby brother because, of course, she already has a baby sister! This is also the same child that told me she had the prettiest dress at Sunday school when I asked her what she had learned ! Evidently this is what one of her teachers told her and she took this one point with her. Nada about God's love.

100+

That is what the temperature has been here lately. I think that we are on our 7th or 8th day straight of 100+ temps with no end in sight!

It feels like we are living here:

Or quite possibly here:
The heat is so horrific that you don't really feel like doing anything much at all.

The only way to cool off is to take a shower which the girls have recently discovered and love to do!
Or to visit the pool or fountains at the Zoo!
Or to eat ice cream. Except that it is so hot your ice cream melts rapidly and it ends up mostly on your face!

The mystery is solved

Usually this blog is just about the princesses; however, today I have some thoughts that do not include them. (Amazing isn't it??!!) Danielle has a great top 10 list that she does and on her last one she mentioned how great Katie Holmes has looked lately. She is right about that. Katie does look great but the way Tom Cruise and his "handlers" treat her creeps me out. Why, I wondered would this precious, beautiful girl during her 20's want to all of the sudden be married to him? What do they have in common? Why would she put up with a 24-7 chaperon when he is not around? Now, part of me wanted them to be "real". Maybe they are in love. Maybe they have LOTS in common. I do not know them. BUT, I did see something on one of my favorite TV channels, VH1, that put it all into perspective. Katie and Tom's pre-nup gives her a cool $3 mil for every year that they are married and an even cooler $25 per biological child that they have together. It is all making sense now and if I were her I would be throwing away all forms of contraceptive!!!

This now brings me to my other favorite topic - reality TV. And like a true addict I must admit that I LOVE IT! Not all of it but certain shows. I do not know why at my age I am enthralled by The Hills and The Real World (although Denver sucked a$$ and I quit watching). I LOVE all of VH1's shows - they just did a great countdown on 80's music! And I am fascinated by The Girl's Next Door (really? you like having sex with an 80+ year old man??) Little People, Big World and A&E's classic, Gene Simmons Family Jewels. Now perhaps because I have to think all day at work and this is my little escape but I really do not have an explanation. But since they are not illegal, they will just remain my dirty little secret!

Saturday

Yesterday Tripp kept the girls so that I could go to a baby shower for a friend. A baby shower at a SPA!! It was a heavenly 4 hours of pedicures, facials and lunch!

When I left the girls were in pjs. When I got home I found them in some crazy outfits! Crazy outfits that they had been to a couple of plant nurseries and the grocery store in!

Below are the outfits that made me giggle!

Jane is in a pj top and some cargo shorts. Not really bad and it does match but it just made me smile that not only is this a pj top BUT it is a size 12 months!

Mae is in a Lily P short and a smocked mermaid top! The colors do match.

Final Denver post

After dinner on our last night, we took the girls to a local park to let off some steam! They had so much fun playing and since our trip Mary Austin has asked me every day when we are going back to play with Lily and Megan!

Running and
running and

running!

Climbing on the statue! No fear at all!

Mommy, when can we go back?

Evergreen wildlife

Tripp and I love the mountains and even went to Highlands, NC for our honeymoon. However, those mountains and these mountains are entirely different! I had been to Denver once before but stayed in the city. Several time I caught myself thinking, "now I could really live here"; but, then I remembered how bad I am about snow and the cold and how far we would be from our families.

Below are some pictures of the beauty of Evergreen and some wildlife!

Our last night (the one that Mary Austin and were chilly on) we ate outside at a restaurant on a public golf course. During dinner elk decided to come down and join us. In the foreground of the above picture is a "Christmas" tree. Mary Austin was amazed and delighted to find out where "Christmas" trees come from! (Actually ours come from NC but that is a moot point)
The entire elk herd

Amazing country that we live in!

A beaver.

Now, we have beavers here in Alabama but I was still on the high of seeing elk and got a little camera happy!

The Denver Zoo

Thursday we went to the Denver Zoo. We had a blast seeing the animals and meeting up with some of the Parker's friends who also have daughters from China.

We miss our elephant Mona.

Mary Austin chose the leopard to ride! Now technically I know this is actually a cheetah but I was stunned that she knew what a leopard was!
Our hippos are NEVER out of the water!

I guess it is too hot here!

Zebras!

And lastly, a polar bear! We, for sure, do not have and will never have a polar bear at our Zoo! If we ever did he would have to lay on a bed of ice from May to October! Mary Austin is still talking about the polar bear.

Tiny Town, Colorado

Our first full day in Denver we went to Tiny Town, Colorado. A "town" full of tiny houses. Some large enough for the girls to go in and some too small. Some had windows that you could look in and see "tiny people" having fun.

Built around 1915 by a father for his daughter, it is now its own municipality and has a coal run train. The weather was perfect (not too hot to us) and the girls had lots of fun!

Waving to the people on the train.

Waiting for our turn on the train!

Ever the princesses, the girls spied several houses that could have been home to certain princesses. Mary Austin thinks this may be Snow White's house.

Hmmm.. This looks big enough to be Cinderella's house.

Ohhh.. but this one MUST be Cinderella's!

DENVER FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The next few posts will be all about Denver and the fun Mary Austin and I had with the Parkers! If you do not know the story go here to read how we are all related! It was our first "mother-daughter" trip and will not be our last! I cannot wait until the girls are old (and independent) enough for us all to go together! Jane stayed behind this trip as there was no way to travel with the both of them by myself.

The weather could not have been better! It was not hot or humid! Our last night Mary Austin and I were even a little bit chilly. We did okay with the altitude change with only some minor headaches and some asthma-like symptoms for Mary Austin. The Parkers live about 45 minutes outside of Denver in Evergreen. They are at 7500 feet above sea level.

Our travels went off with only 2 minor glitches. The first day I backed up the rental car into some rocks causing some "minor" damage to the rear bumper (this was only about 2 hours after I had turned down the supplement insurance) and on the way home we were delayed in Atlanta for nearly 4 hours. Mary Austin traveled like a pro, loved the airplane and "fancy" rental car and even thanked 2 soldiers in the airport.