Ahhhh I love the sun in the morning.  Good things ahead.  We have another beautiful day today, 64 and sunny, so we are headed to the park.  I remember when we moved here 2 years ago in Jan..  I found that Feb./March was the best time here.  It’s sunny every day and it’s not too hot nor too cold.    The sky is ssssssssssoooooooooo blue.

Gotta get ready to play.  Man my mom doesn’t stop!

Last weekend we went out with a family that we met at Chili’s a few months ago.  They are locals.  They took us to a fun park.  It was a beautiful drive and a side of Round Rock/Cedar Park I haven’t seen.  After the park we went to a fun restaurant for lunch.  We went to the Waterloo Ice House near Avery Ranch.  It was cool because we could eat on the outside patio and the kids could play on the huge playscape.  I love dining establishments that have playscapes and outdoor patios.  This place also has a great brunch and bottomless mimosas for $4.

Still having fun with G-ma.  These kids are going to run her down.  I don’t know how she keeps up.

We got G-ma from the airport today.  Noah loves going to the airport.  We got to see some airplanes and a helicopter.  I love the Austin airport.  It is so nice and small and perfect to get in and out.

Cooper got to take G-ma to his favorite place, HEB.  He loves going to the grocery store.  He always tells G-ma all about our trips.  Since he started going to daycare I have been going alone.  I have got to say that shopping without kids is a BIG treat.  the kids got more cookies and juice than mom and dad would have ever allowed.  I’m sure Noah and Cooper would love to take G-ma to the HEB every time.

They also love having G-ma around because she is a non stop play toy.  She hasn’t seen them in a while but even still she always plays non stop.  I told her she is going fade out fast if she doesn’t pace herself.

I made a nice dinner and fondue and now we have put the kids to sleep.  AHHH nice a quiet evening.  AT least until 5:30 am when Cooper comes crawling into my bed.

I just talked to my mom and she is on her way.  She will be happy when she gets off the plane and sees we have the same temperature that she is used to in Key West.  It is finally warm again.  The kids were all out playing yesterday and no doubt will be out again.  I think I feel a Tuesday Family Fun Night coming on.

We should get a peek at our final plans for the Jungle Java tomorrow.  Then the architect will have them put in to Auto cad.  We hope to have the plans to the permit offices by Feb. 10th. then 2 weeks to get permit and finally Build out!

I am also all ready to be a substitute teacher.  I have to do my final registration then I will get the call.  I’m excited to teach again and to do so without any of the headaches that a classroom teacher has.  As soon as my mom leaves I will get back into the swing.  I’m already stocking my “sub bag.”  Should be fun!

We have 3 birthday parties this Saturday(Taggert, Riley, and Colin M.).  Then on Sunday we will be hosting the Fairway Superbowl party.  Well I think we are calling it the halftime party as Monday is a school day.  So we will all drink, eat and be merry until halftime is over.  Now I am coming up with the menu.  So far I have chicken wings and a pear gorganzola tart to eat and maybe Hurricanes to drink.  Even though I love me some champagne I feel that this party calls for something will a little more gusto.  Any other drink or food ideas would be greatly appreciated.  If I find any good recipes in my Rachel Ray files I will pass them on to you as well.  Yum I love to eat!

Austin was named one  of the best places for young kids, best place to make a movie and best city for jobs in 2008.

If you can get out of Detroit you can get a job here and the cost of living is ridiculously cheap.  Austin is considered expensive compared to the rest of the state but it is still inexpensive compared to Detroit.

Here is an example from Austin.  My search included a house between 100-200K, less than 10 years old, Min 1500 sq. ft.,  and has a community swimming pool. 

Same search in Plano, the Birmingham of Dallas.  or Denton which is just outside Ft. Worth.

It’s getting late and I am so tired of hearing about the mayor of Detroit.  What a joke.  People that don’t live in Detroit already think that Michigan is some little backwoods state.  Everyone in the metro Detroit area knows that the area is very racist.  And I mean that both ways!!!!!!!!!!  When we moved to Austin and then to Philly I was pleasantly surprised to see that there wasn’t a race divide.  Everyone seemed to get along and in less than one year I saw more interracial marriages and relationships than I had ever seen in my whole life in Michigan.  Where we lived in Philly was very multicultural.  You could walk just about anywhere in either city and you didn’t get the impression that people thought you were out of place or didn’t belong.  Perhaps that is why people here just don’t get it.  They ask me how the city of Detroit can elect such a theif and liar.

Once I explain even further all the other things he has done(navigator, alleged Manoogian party, giving sister 100,000 job, using credit cards for personal use, etc)they are amazed that he was elected.  Oh and don’t get me started about the Belle Isle aquarium and Detroit Zoo.  I guess they don’t understand how the people of Detroit can stand behind him just because he is black.  I don’t get it myself.  I realize that some Detroiters would do anything opposite of what the suburbanites would want done but they are just shooting themselves in the foot.  The spin I hear already is just too much.  Personal problems are one thing and should be left out of it.  EXCEPT when you use the city credit card to pay them and you fire officers that are looking into your wrong doing and end up paying 9 Mil of taxpayer money.  That latter is what the city of Detroit need to keeo in mind. 

Gregg had said that if Kwame was reelected that we would no longer frequent anything in downtown Detroit.  I guess it is easier to do when you just move out of state.  I still remember reading that Kwame was reelected when we were here in Austin the first time.  I was happy that we had moved and didn’t have to hear about him ever again.  Now he is on national news and has disgraced the city yet again.

When Detroiters complain about abandon buildings, no TP in school restrooms, lack of books in classes, failing city services, etc. they should remember that 9 Mil could have bought a lot of thing not just two men’s silence!  Use your voice and do not vote for this man again, join the protest march, ask him to resign.  If you aren’t part of the solution then you are part of the problem.

Wow it has been cold here for a couple of days now.  I guess everyone in the US is chilly except for Key West(lucky mum).  It’s in the 40’s for the rest of the week then finally we get back to the 60’s by Sat and mid 70’s by Monday.  Just in time for my mother’s visit on Tuesday.

The kids are so excited to see their G-ma.  It has been almost 6 months.  That might not seem too long if your kids are older but in Cooper’s life that is a long time.  A lot happens when you go from 2 to 2 1/2.  Noah is acting older than ever, if that is possible. 

However I have caught him saying some things I am not happy with.  He said “Duh” and I just about fell over.  First of all he used it out of context so it didn’t upset me as much.  I was so flabbergasted by what he said that all I kept saying was that that phrase was not nice and it doesn’t sound very smart of him to say that.  I tried to say that made him sound…….dumb, but I won’t use that word so stammering all I could say is that makes you sound  (pause, pause) not smart.  That was the end of that thank God and then two days later he tried to say nu-unh.  I don’t even know how to spell that but you get it he was saying a slang version of no.  I really have to be better prepared for these things.  I just shot him a nasty look and told him that that wasn’t even a word and I can not respond to nonsense words.  I think I only repeated that 2 or 3 times.  How do you even prepare to hear something like that or respond to it.  I’ll learn.

Anyway I digress.  My mom is coming for over a week and we are excited to show her around.  WE have all kinds of plans to go downtown, San Antonio and the hill country.  Of course I will introduce her to all my favorite restaurants(Rudys, Chuy’s) and reacquaint her with our old friends, McCormick and Schmicks.

I can’t wait!

During Gregg’s podcast yesterday someone back home asked what I missed about Michigan besides family and friends.  Now…I love it here in Texas and I could make a list of things I love here but I was asked about Michigan.

HERE GOES

Athens Coney Island-Oh I miss the lemon rice soup, bean soup, coney dogs with everything, chili-cheese fries, and my morning omelet with chili on top!

Duggans-I miss hanging with Jason(best bartender and friend) playing the touch screen video game for hours and eating, gazpacho, spicy shrimp or the Turkey Rueben without the bun.

Michigan Football Games-Well I wasn’t suppose to mention friends but this is always a great day.  We have a GREAT tailgate location thanks to Aaron.  Great friends, good food and lots of fun.  Sometimes we even stumble into the game.  LOL

Cider Mills-Philly really rocked this category big time but I do miss the one in Milford/Commerce.  I just love the crisp fall day, cider and petting zoos.

Familiarity-I guess that comes with having spent 38 years of your life in one spot.  I’ll get it here too especially since they are building at such a feverish pace.  I love that if we want say, Cuban I know where to go.  Or if I want to find a romantic place for dinner.

OK I am starting to realize this is all food.  I LOVE food. 

Detroit Zoo-Detroit really does have a nice zoo.  Again Philly rocks way better as they actually have people that work at the zoo and give you info and hands on lessons at just about every exhibit.  But The Detroit Zoo is always great too.  The Polar bear/seal exhibit is cool even though you have to walk a mile before you get to it.  LOL

Downtown Royal Oak-OK the restaurant selection alone is the best in diversity.  My faves are the Cuban and Belgian.  The Arepas at Habana and mussels/fries with mayo dipping sauce at Bastone are just to yummy.  It’s nice to go to dinner and walk around with the kids.  They of course love Astoria and the trains at Barnes and Noble.

Tiger Games-(Gregg had me add this)This was fun back when they weren’t too good.  For $20 you could park RIGHT across from right field.  But I must say I LOVE the Round Rock Express games and sitting on the hill.

I’m sure there are some other things but this is what comes right to my mind.

Noah has given up his nummy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  He was down to three nummy a few weeks ago and I told him once those were gone(AKA Felix eats them) there would be no more nummies.  This past week we were down to just one nummy when last night Noah set it down.  Felix was no where to be seen and sure enough once we found Felix we found the remains of the lone nummy.  There were a lot of tears at that moment.  I told him that was the end of an era but he whispered to dad that he should go to CVS and get a new nummy(after all that is where they come from!).  Thank God he was so tired lat night that he just passed out without much fanfare.  This morning when he woke up he told dad that he didn’t need the nummy anymore.  He said they were dumb.  Normally I don’t like Noah to use that word but I am so happy this went better than I could have imagined

Here is a pic of Cooper in his indecision.  Which pair to wear?

I got a laugh this week.  I was carded when I tried to buy a margarita.  I told her she must surely be joking and she assured me wasn’t.  Once I showed her my ID she laughed and said I didn’t look “that” old.  How Sweet of her.  It must be a Texas thing because in July of 06 I got carded when I tried to buy cigarettes

Our guests are about to arrive for our football viewing party.  Mike and Shannon are bringing Sloppy Joes.  I haven’t had one of those in over 10 years.  We have some meats and cheeses and I am about to pig out if someone doesn’t arrive soon.

Go Pats!!!!!!!!!  Go Giant!!!!!!!!!!!!  I’m glad I’m not a Packer season ticket holder!