WOW! The weather took a sudden nice turn. Seems like we were in the 100’s everyday and then when I cut all my hair off it got cool. It heated up a little bit but now is back to the mid 90’s where oddly enough I think is perfect. A 95 degree in Austin is beautiful. Now I am not running around in the sun or anything but from my back porch in the shade it feels great. It is even better when there is a nice breeze. The am and late pm is even better. Every morning the obys and I have our hot chocolate on the back patio before school. We watch the golf course buys set up for the day. It has been a nice treat as it takes them a while to wake up. I get the hot choc. ready and wake them as we chill on the porch and wake up. THey kid that it is their coffe.
Speaking of coffee……I love the smell of coffee. It is a treat working in a place that has that smell. I have never liked the taste of coffee nor really drank it up until about a month ago. Now of course my Dad, Bumpa, and Gregg wouldn’t say what I drink is coffee but I love our peppermint patty. It is a latte with cocoa and peppermint. YUM. I try not to drink one everyday as I don’t want to be one of those people who have to have their coffee to function.
Noah and Gregg are in MI. right now. Noah is having fun hanging with Gma and going to the other Jungle Java’s in town. I know Gregg is excited to go to the big house Saturday. The one person who isn’t excited is Cooper. He cried when he found out Noah and dad were in MIchigan. He cried even harder when he realized that Gma is also in MIchigan. I assured him we would be going back in Ocotober for the MI MSU game. He keeps asking me when we are going. This all made matters worse when he alsoe learned that he would be starting his new preschool that day. It was rough drop off to say the least.
Any whoooooooo things are going great here. Football has started and we have a new season to cheer. I don’t even recognize the Detroit team(thank god) so I will cheer for the Cowboys. Noah loves the Cowboys but Cooper still calls them the stars since they have a star on their helmet. Noah keeps reminding him that that is the hockey team not the football team. Cooper however bleeds orange. He is a big UT fan. BEVOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HIs favorite color is orange and he always wants to wear his bevo shirt. I guess that is right since he has lived here longer than anywhere else. Noah’s days as a Notre Dame fan have also diminshed. He still mentions the Wolverines much to Gregg’s joy. I guess Noah is what you would call undecided. Which is just fine by me. There are many good schools here in TX but I would like him to go somewhere out east.
OK this is way longer than I had anticipated so good night. Get ready to tailgate Jules. Can’t wait to see you and the gang!
The Wiggles were awesome. Cooper was soooo excited all day long. He was jumping about all day. I was afraid he was going to wear himself out before the concert. WE left Austin around 1 ansd got to San Antonio about 3. We went to the Tower of the Americas . WE had done the river walk so many times we thought we were due for a change. It was perfect. We went to the top and had drinks and appetizers at the Chart House. Then we saw the 4-D film about Texas. Noah and I didn’t have as much fun during the movie as Coop and dad. I don’t do well in IMAX theaters and of course Noah hated the sound and the special effects(cows spitting, snakings coming out from under the seats). Then we were off to the HEB to buy Dorothy(dinosaur) some roses and Wags a bone. We got to the concert in plenty of time to get gorged by the concession stand($17 for a t-shirt, 17 for a guitar, 17 a piece for two light sticks). When the concert started Cooper was in awe. He danced the whole night. I’m glad I gave up floor seats for an asile seat. We were 12 rows up so Cooper and Noah were still able to give the roses and bone to Wags and Dorothy. The host said they give the roses to a senior shelter and the bones to a dog shelter. After the concert Cooper just stared at the crew walking off stage and said, “I’m going to miss the Wiggles.” I’m sure we have another Wiggles concert in our future. After the show we loaded up the kids and put them in their PJs and drove home. We got home abut 10 and put our sweet wiggly boys to bed. A big thank you to Sandra for opening and coming back to close. Thanks to Carol and Sarh for looking on the place for us!
We have been so busy at the Jungle Java. Every day it gets better. We had our ad and write up in the community impact and had our best day yet on Saturday!
G-ma is coming for a visit on the 15th. The boys are so excited. Noah has started a count down. He loves to count down. Perhaps we have an astronaut. I will have to take him to Houston to see the space center. I think that is a trip just the two of us will take.
Gregg is planning some trips back. I think him and Noah are coming back for a family wedding in Sept. They have an old ticket they have to use. The whole clan will be coming back for the MSU game. Just an excuse to come home and hang with the old tailgating gang. I can’t wait to see all you guys. Oh and Jules let’s get those jalapeno’s cooking because I need some of your good stuff.
Well tonight is the first time I have made dinner in over 4 weeks so I must go in and eat. It is a most pleasant night here in Texas. Yea it is 104 during the day(GREAT for business) but the nights are nice and breezy.
My mom called today and told me that there were really bad storms. She said that they had to run to the basement this morning. Ugh! The whole Midwest is getting blasted.
Yesterday was Noah’s birthday. When he woke I started singing Happy Birthday and he said, “No, no, you can’t sing my friends haven’t arrived yet.” I explained to him that we had had one party in Michigan already and that we would have another when our Jungle Java opens next month. He made this really sad face so I got on the phone with Carol and invited her and the boys over at lunch for some cake. All of his friends dropped by yesterday and gave him a present. They were so sweet and thoughtful. To all my neighbors there will be a big party at the JJ.
I have two new favorite shows this summer. The first one is Equator. I believe this is a series as I have watched two. Noah was glued to the one about the fish at the equator on the reef. The second show is When We Left Earth: The NASA Missions. NASA is celebrating 50 years! My dad used to work at the Kennedy Space Center. We Lived in Titusville during this exciting time. We watche Apollo 11 take off for the moon. I was only two. My dad used to come to my schools and talk about space and how the ship had to use the moon and earths gravitational pull to sling shot them to and fro. My dad even had a replica of a scroll they left on the moon. It had everyone’s name who worked at the station. The original is on the moon and my dad’s copy is now somewhere only his second wife, Lynn, knows(bitch). Any way I remember my dad taking me to one of the best movies I have ever seen, The Right Stuff. That kind of fueled my love for science. What an exciting time to be alive. If you haven’t seen that movie it is a must see.
OK now on to Jungle Java. I’ll post some pictures of the progress later today.
Things are getting really busy here. Of course that is why I decided to do some yard work. LOL Which leads me to a random thought. I’ve often told you that the heat in Texas is different than back in Michigan. Case in point….I have been out the last couple of days cutting the grass, weed whacking, and weeding the flower beds. I also planted 5 flats of flowers. I did all of this in 100 degree heat. I never would have planted nor cut grass back in Michigan if it was over 85. 85 in Michigan can be oppressive with the humididty. The people in Texas think they have humidity but they haven’t felt anything like a muggy, wet day in Detroit. Monday I cleaned and decorated the back patio. It sounds completely crazy but 100 degrees isn’t really that bad. It is warm but very tolerable.
On to another random thought…..I hate that news reports on that guy/girl who is pregnant. They call him/her the first pregnant man. He is NOT a man. He is a she baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He was born a she and has kept her female reporductive organs. THe pictures quite frankly gross me out. I was eating breakfast when they were showing them and I had to pause the TV til I was done. GMA also said that he/she is a real whore too. I guess they have been selling their story and pictures to anyone who will buy them. Enough!
We are super busy with the Jungle Java now. I have to go run a bunch of errands and shouldn’t even be here right now. Today they are blow painting the ceiling and the putting the remaining coats of paint. The cabinets are going in now and the muralist expects to start this weekend. SUnday is also the big day the playscape people come too. The construction said they would be done by the 22nd but there was a delay in geting one AC part(i’ts installed now) so I am wondering if they thing they can still get it done in time. OK off to IKEA and Target to shop for the store. Yipeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!
Noah turns 5 tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Big guy!!!!!!!!!!!
Finally! I was hoping they would win it in HockeyTown. Again the Wings have to win the cup in foreign territory. Now I had fun when they won it in DC. But it is better when everyone is around. There was only a large crowd of us in the stadium and in the streets in DC. I have some great pics of Gregg and I on the ice in DC. We were partying in the lockerroom til so late and all of us had to go out on the ice to smoke. Yea a lot of the guys have a cig or cigar and we all went out on the ice to smoke. It just looks funny to see us in an empty rink smoking on the ice. I digress, it is fun to see them skating around. It was nice to see Dallas Drake get the cup after Lidstrom. I still can’t believe Dallas came back to win his cup in Detroit. Seems like sweet justice. Don’t even get me started on Chris Osgood. I’m so happy he got to come back and win it again! We have been fortunate enough to be around the cup a lot. Aaron was kind enough to invite us to his cup party after he won it both times in Detroit and in Carolina too. Actually Noah, Cooper, Gregg, Julie and my mom got to go the the wonderful party 2 years ago as I had to stay behind to move from Austin to Philly):
Enjoy the win Detroit. I’m sure the bars will be hopping in Royal Oak tonight. Keep your eye out for the cup. It will be all around town!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Today was not as hot as the other but we still had fun. I takes a few 100 degree days to get the pool water warm. So today we decided to have a water baloon fight. I filled 100 balloons with water and 9 kids and a few adults had fun. The nice thing with the heat is that the water evaporates pretty quickly leaving us all feeling cool.
The other day we went to the German festival in Pflugerville. Noah and Cooper rode almost every ride. Cooper is afraid of nothing. He wil ride any ride and do so with a huge grin. Despite the heat we haven’t gone to our community pool as much as we have enjoyed our pool out ack. Aunt Jan bought the kids a pool complete with a boat race launch. They love it.
This Friday a bunch of the neighbors are going out to Wallburg for a Friday night of fun. It is a big outside venue with a live band, beer burgers and cowboys. Last year a couple of cowboys dropped in to water their horses and allowed all the kids to ride their horses and take pictures.
On Saturday there is a block party. THis will be with ALL the neighbors on our block. Lots of food and games will be in store.
AND on Sunday we are trying to plan our big movie night. Steve gets the big projector from Dell and we watch a family movie on the Jone’s garage. The whole block comes out for this show. I think we have decided on Alvin and the Chipmunks for the first movie. First film is on at 9ish. We do this all up with tickets and vending stands.
ahhhhhh it is so great this time of year. School is almost out and the weather is getting nice. Lots of fun times planned ahead. Oh and we are about a month away from Jungle Java opening. By July it will be about too hot for the little ones to play outside and perfect for the JJ. However I don’t think Icould ever convince Noah and Cooper that it is too hot to play. They will be beet red in the face and still say they are not too hot. Gotta love them!
I’ll have more postings on them later. They are both growing so quickly. I am astounded every day by the things that Noah says. He truly is remarkable.
OH am I procrastinating. I have a bunch of work to do but I haven’t posted in a while. I even watched some Wiggles with Cooper to get out of doing this(balancing the books). I will get right on it as soon as I am done here.
Well it is a hot one here today. Suppose to get up to 100 degrees. I love it love it love it!!!!!!!!!!!!! That’s not to say that it isn’t hot but it feels good. It’s still spring so we get nice cooler nights. The kids have been having fun in the pool that Aunt Jan bought them. I think we are going to be playing in it again today!
While in Michigan we traded in our minivan early. We were already over on miles and weren’t due to turn it in til November. Well they had some great deals and we got a new car for the same price. I didn’t really get to drive it much til we got back here. What a great car. It is much better than the last model. WE got the same Walter P Town and Country but it has so many more options. I like the layout and Gregg loves the touch screen radio. He loved being able to plug his Ipod into the stereo and download his stuff into the car. It was nice for him when he had to drive home. I LOVE the autostart. I knew it would pay off. Yesterday we went grocery shopping and we were able to cool down the car before we got to it and put in the kids and groceries. Perfect!
I have a bunch to say aobut Lost. I finally watched all 4-5 episodes in one sitting. I have some thoughts but will share them later. I still have thoughts on Aaron but we will share those later.
OK well I should get back to work. I can find nothing to say all day here. The JJ is moving right along. I bet they are sanding the drywall as we speak. We need to get up there. We go once in the am and once in the pm.
I have always wanted to sit on a jury. Alas, I never make it. Once I was summoned but I had moved from Oakland to Wayne county so I was disqualified. A few years later I was sent info on becoming a juror. I knew once I read the questionaire that I wouldn’t be accepted. It had asked if I had ever sued someone. The problem was not only did I sue someone but I sued a drunk driver who ran me over while I was walking. Yea, not going to get into a jury with that history.
Then it happened. I got a summons here in Texas. There was no silly questionaire asking about lawsuits and drunk driving. The only thing that would trip me up on this jury summon would be the fact that I have a masters. I have a theory on the intelligence they look for(or lack of). OH I was sooooo excited and then I looked at the date. They wanted me Monday, May 5th. UUGGHH I knew I would be in Michigan. Foiled again! I wrote a nice letter to the explaining that I would be out of town but would love to join them when I come back. Yea, still no comment from them. I’m sure I will hear something in a few more years. ack.
Yesterday Gregg and I took the boys to U of M. Gregg wanted to get pics of the stadium. Wow the new press box and suites are totally going to change the look of the stadium. We took the boys past one of the houses I spent most of my college life in and my dorm. We also took them to one of my favorite eating spots, Red Hot Lovers. They had no BBQ Tofu like I used to eat but it was all still good. I even walked the boys under West Engineering and they loved it. Of course it was a beautiful day. It was 76 and all the college kids were in shorts and t-shirts. I didn’t bring enough warm clothes because it doesn’t normally get this warm here now. WE have been blessed this trip.
OK well ony two more days for the boys and i and Gregg leaves tomorrow. It’s been fun but boy I am ready to go home and sleep in my own bed and not leave my 5 mile radius. I am sooooo sick of driving. poor Gregg.
Thanks again to everyone who showed up. We had lots of fun as everyone at Duggans could tell. A big thank you to Tom for giving Gregg the tapes of all the old shows. He can’t wait to get a tape player and listen to those on his way home.
So we only have a few more days left a still a lot to do. Wednesday night I am finally getting to go tothe Tiger game. It has been a long time since I have seen downtown. I really want to see the new buildings and stuff.
OK I don’t listen to music on the radio but I heard this song and fell in love with it. Sorry if this is an old song but I thought I would share it with you. It is such a fun and cool song. That is the best but simplest way to describe it. Enjoy
