I went back to Michigan for the msu game.  UGH. not what I had hoped for as of score nor play.  Damn I wouldn’t have cared who would have won if it had been the least bit exciting(sorry Gregg).  The tailgate was wilder than usual.  They had octobongs and an ice luge.  I did participate in the ice luge.  Patrick rented a sound system and the place was hopping.  Sooo many more people than used to be there when I hung.  It’s a nice location only being two parking rows from the stadium-Thanks to Aaron and his contributions to the U of M hockey team-and by the way GO Boston Bruins!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I found Jamie Morrison working the crowd and giving out field passes to past and soon to be present players.  He commented on two young men shadowing him and mentioned whoe they were.  When I turned to look at them the both said, “Oh My God, Ms, Champe/Mrs. Henson.”  I recognized the boys as Matt and Ryan Leach(sons of ex QB/baseball player R. Leach).  I almost died.  THese cute little boys were grown men.  The first a senior and the latter a freshmen.  These were great guys.  I remember Matt as an outstanding math student.  He is going into Athletic mangement(hence shadowing Jamie) and Ryan as such a ham.  He was such an outgoing guy that I had him do the play by play for the Piston’s MLK game with George Blaha.  The kid was a natural and is still as outgoing.  They were both interningfor Jamie and my friend Joe who is  Sr. Assoc. Athletic Director.  Funny thing is back in college Joe and my friend Pia and Topher and I were all suppose to get married and grow old together.  Oh how things have changed.  Joe has a family and stayed at Michigan(was on swimming team),  It was actually Joe and Pia’s time in Austin that taught me how cool it was here and allowed me to make the jump to move here.  Pia is a Dr. in Santa Monica and saving animals across the country with  adoptapet.com That is Pia with the pigtail braids.  I love that girl!  Topher is?????????????????????  Aspen, San Diego, Some third world coutnry, or somewhere parts unknown.  Please contact me or Kendo if you get this we would love to hear your latest adventure!

I have a ton of pictues to post when I get time.  I am back to tutoring at the middle school.  Great two day a week gig but I had to quit the PTA Homeroom parent chair.  That was hard but between the JJ, MS and kids it was too hard.  It is still nice though because Gregg and I get to regularly have lunch with Noah at school and go on his field trips.  Noah got his first report card and got great grades in music, art, PE, and math.  He got god grades in everything else but I am especially happy he got such great grades in math(being a math teacher and all).  It’s funny, I always thought his strength was in verbal communication of just about anything.  I was actually surprised to learn that he is great in geometry and statistics. 

Cooper is very much a computer guy.  It is funny to see him move the mouse around and get done what he wants.  He can do just about anything on the computer and we have never taught him it.  He knows how to turn the volume up and down and how to print many documents.  I always ask Gregg, “Did you teach him that?”

Anyway, Good things are happening and I will be writing more and sending pictures in the next week or so.  Sorry for my absence!

Tonight we were invited to a great party.  We were a bit hesitant.  We had received a letter from the Austin Chronicle announcing we had won a “best of Austin” award.  The invitation said we had won an award and that we should arrive at the Long Center for the Performing Arts to accept it.  It didn’t say what we won, so we had to go to find out.  There was no description on the invitation.  We didn’t know how to dress or anything.  The Austin Chronicle is like the Metro Times in Detroit so I assumed casual was they way to go and I was not wrong.  Everyone was there.  oh my the way everyone was dresed>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

The mayor was there taking his picture with Uno(spelling).  THat is Gregg’s love…the Westminister Dog best in show winner(he uses Paul MItchel products as said by the winner(as a joke)).  The first ever Beagle.  I finally did pet him and he was so soft for a beagle.  Aside from that it was not a big sell for advertising like Gregg feared.  We got our certificate and then we were ushered into a free drinks and food party.  We met and partied with lots of different people….best pastries, best DJ, Best bumper fixer and best actress/actor.  It was great we even got great contacts for NOah if he wants to go into acting(big ham).  It was definitely a who knows who type of crowd.

It was especially fun since we won a critic’s choice award for best kid friendly coffee house.  Not bad for only having been in business for almost 3 months.  I asked how we were nominated and apparently a writer for the news or some one in higher authority visited us and presented our name and category and the rest of the panel had to agree.  This is great news and hits the presses in the next week.  They say this will be great recognition.  I have no doubt since we have been getting lots of pass holders from the Austin area in the last week alone.

ONe strange thing was………….When we were in line for a drink this girl was behind us.  She was petite had many tatoos and had a dress with combat boots on…I had to do a double take.  I turned to Gregg real quick and said…Oh MY GOD..who does she look like.  It was like a mini Sabrina standing before us.  We talked to her for a while and I couldn’t believe how much she reminded me of her aside from the fact that she didn’t know hockey.  Oh how we still love the thought of Sabrina, she never could be replaced just remembered more fondly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just basking in the afterglow. Oh and Gregg met a Bob Talbert type alter here, John Kelso.  Gregg loved his quote hat his 401 K is now a 201K and if you hated him he is never going away because he can’t retire.  In person he didn’t think it was as funny.  The market sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OK we spared you the confetti.  Or I should say I did.  Gregg wanted payback!  I hope you and your family celebrated nicely.  Expect your presents Friday night when we get to celebrate with you!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We had another nice weekend.  We had our second family fun day on Sunday.  We hit the Original Pancake house.  My kids eat like crazy there.  Noah ate 5 chicken nuggets before we left and ate 3 buttermilk pancakes when we got there.  Then we went for a nice ride to south Austin and look at the neighborhood Travis Heights.  When we roginally moved here the concierge at the hotel tried to convince us to move there.  So we went to see what it was like.  It was very cute.  It reminded me of a mixture of Royal Oak Craftsman type homes with the Ann Arbor(green living) feel and the colors of Key West.  Very cute.  We stopped in a neighborhood park and talked with the locals while the kids played.  It reminded me so much of Michigan.  The odd thing is for how much it cost to live plus the high taxes they pay it is like living in Birmingham/GP and having Detroit schools.  Everyone pays high taxes and sends their kids to private schools or specialty schools.  It was cute, out of our price range and seemed hardly worth it.  We luckily avoided the candy store again even though Cooper picked it out amongst the many colorful storefronts.  Then we went home and I attended Jamie’s baby shower.  She received many nice gifts for Keegan.  Congrats again.  It won’t be long now.

Now we are off to another great week.  Noah had a play date last week with a fellow kindergartner and now Cooper has a play date with one of his classmates.  It is so cute seeing them get so excited about their play dates.

OMG I don’t know if I ever mentioned about getting my eyebrows done when I had my hair cut.  I know it’s not that exciting to write or read about.  BUT I had them threaded.  I didn’t know what that meant but I figured since my hair is so short I should do it.  I mentioned many time that I was a complete wuss when it came to waxing.  I didn’t know what I was in store for.  She pulled out this piece of floss thing and i thought ……OK.  I still don’t know what she did with that thread but my palms were sweating and I was in serious pain.  I guess it is good because people tell me I won’t have to do it for a while since it pulls out the roots but it was a much longer and slower process than the painful wax.  Again I am a wuss so I don’t think I will be doing that again.  There is a nail salon here now that has those fishy things.  You know the fish that eat your dead skin away as a pedicure.  GROSS!!!!!!!  Perhaps it is a Michigan thing.  But I always feared and hated when the fish in the lake would nibble on a freckle.  THe thought of paying $75 or whatever it is to have fish do that to you on purpose grosses me out.  I know I would squeal and wiggle and probably step and kill many fish.  I’m staying out of that pond!

Well tme for bed and Heroes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now that this business is up and running Gregg and I decided to take Sundays off.  It is designated Family Fun Day.  This was our first family day since the night run to San An. for the wiggles.  I’ll ask Gregg to post pics tomorrow.

First we started our day off at the Original Pancake House.  If you haven’t gone to one it is soooo yummy.  There was one in RO that G and I used to go to all the time.  There is also one in G.P. and Southfield.  This was our first time here in Texas.  We went to the one on Parmer lane as we were heading downtown afterward.  There wasn’t a line like the ones in MI.  I remember many a cold snowy morning waiting outside in line.  Those waits could range from 25 to an hour wait.  This was about 5 minutes.  Oh but the wait is so well worth it.  I used to love the Big Apple.  They call it something else here.  The boys devoured their pancakes like we had withheld food for days.  LOl they finished before Gregg and I which is unheard of.  Noah said they were the best pancakes he ever had and wants to come every Friday and Sunday.  I assured him we would come every Sunday.  It will be our new tradition!

Next we headed to the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum.  They have an IMAX about the ocean and were having family fun activities today.  We got there an hour early so we decided to take the Metro(bus) south of downtown to see all the eccentric shops.  We were specifically going down to hit the “Big Top” candy store.  It reminded me of Drakes in Ann Arbor.  They had hand made sodas and any type of candy you could imagine.  It was all hard wood.  They didn’t have the booths and eating area like Drakes used to.  If you were ever fortunate enough to be in Ann Arbor before 1989 I’m sure you knew Drakes.  Once the older lady died her kids sold it and last I knew either Comerica took it over or that T shirt shop next to it did.  It was on a mini side street off of State right near Bivouac(if that is still there)  There used to be a Comerica there just east of Liberty.  Just a shame, I loved their cucmber sandwiches before running to Angell.Mason hall.

Anyway I digress.  After the candy store we shopped(got some cute old glass bottles) and then caught the bus back to the mueum.  Woohoo.  That was a trip, litteraly.  There were a LOT of freaks on our bus.  Far more freakier than a bus ride Gregg and I once took in San Fran.  The young kid behind me told me they call that line the “slice of life” route.  Some weird guy was entertaining the entire bus with his bizarre stories.  I don’t know what the man was on but I know he hasn’t touched a bar of soap in months.  He knew EVERYTHING.  Once more people got off the bus I was able to turn around a see him when I noticed he had some jumper cables attached to something and I didn’t need to look back.  Noah and Cooper were oblivious to what was going around them as they were amusing the people sitting near us.  It was an interesting ride to say the least.  We got off and walked to the museum.  The interesting ride had made us 9 minutes lat to the movie.  Instead we made fishy hats and saw a puppet show and music show.  They had this whole free kids day thing.  Well with that we also missed the second show by 5 mintues.  The place was like a frickin casino.  There were no clocks and even though we were in the lobby the whole time they never said over a PA or anything that the nexgt show was about to start.  That would be a comment I would give them.  So Noah decided he really didn’t want to go into the museum(Texas history) so we went to the gift shop and bught some nice presents.  Feeling hungry again we went to Sholz’s Beir Garten.  We had some lunch and watched some football then headed home.

It was a very good day followed by naps and then a night time viewing of “Monster House.”  Thank you Toon TV.  I used to love Disney’s Sunday night movies when I was a child so I’m glad that at least one station has something like that.  At least they aren’t watching Wipeout anymore.  UGH

Michigan finally won.  What a game.  We had a TON of birthday parties on Saturday so I didn’t get to see the beginning of the game.  I once saw the score of 19-0.  When I left Gregg said the score was 19-7.  On the drive home it became 19-14 and by the time I got home(mind you 5 mintues drive home) and made the kids dinner the score was 20-19.  Cooper and I continued to watch Michigan’s 2nd best comeback game to win.  My dad was not so fortunate.  I know he is kicking himself but my dad has always been about the getting out while the getting is good.  He hates traffic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I called him at the end of the game to see how it was and he called me back saying his biggest faux pas was leaving the game early.  First game he actually went this year and he missed a big upset.  Not to worry cuz when I come in for the State game I’m sure we will get to see another win.  I know Rachel and Brandon are happy.  With all the teams going down this weekend it loks like the Sooners are going to be number one.  That is nice as I believe we are all going up to Waco this weekend to catch them pound Baylor.  I hope it is a night game as we have a TON of parties this Saturday.  Is everyone in Austin born the first weekend in October?

I hope everyone had an enjoyable weekend and I hope Greg puts pics up for everyone.

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.

Talk to you all soon!

Things are going very well at the Jungle Java.  Today was our best day yet and it isn’t even over.  We hit what we would like to do every day today.  The ad campaign starts next week and I’m sure everyday will be like today if not better.

I love working the Jungle Java.  It is so much fun.  It’s nice to be doing something you like and knowing it pays off for you.  No more working for the man.  Instead, I work for the woman!!!!  I can’t believe we are finaly here!  It seems like it was always this thing that we working towards and now here it is!  At first it didn’t really sink in.  The climax was reached when we opened the doors the first night.  Now it is like riding a high.  I can’t believe we did it and once we get this store under our belt I look forward to building our second store.  We already have some ideas where we would like that one.  It’s almost like being pregnant.  You anticipate what it will be like.  How will it change your life.  I hope everything is OK.  And then it is here and you couldn’t imagine things any differently.  It is perfect.

It’s starting to get hot here now.  It broke 100 today but it’s not as hot as I remembered it being in the past.  I have to say I think my blood has thinned out because I think the perfect day is a nice 92 degree day.  It’s nice and warm but not too hot.  It feels good in the sun but the shade is unbelievably cool and relaxing.  I long for those days again. 

The boys are doing well.  They like their school and love coming to the JJ.  Noah acts like a tour guide to everyone who comes.  I’ve actually had some kids returning to play with Noah.  They ask where he is and when he will be coming.  LOL my little social butterfly.  We are having to “train” them not to come behind the counter and get whatever they want.  They think the JJ is their own personal vending machine.  I had to have a talk with Noah about offering cookies and milk to his friends.  He is so sweet.

I always think of tons of things to write at 4 am but now I am drawing a blank.  Perhaps one night I will actualy get out of my bed and finally post all the things I think, “that would be a good post.”  Until then I hope you all have a very nice weekend!!!!!!!!!!

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!!!!!!!!!!!

That is what you heard at my house on Thursday night around 9:43.  Right in the middle of the Lost Finale we lost power.  The whole neighborhood lost power.  The island had just disappeared and the helicopter was going down.  Yep that is where my tivo left off.  I still haven’t seen the end yet.  I’m going to watch it today during nap time.

Wednesday I played volleyball.  I thought I was crazy playing volleyball in 90 degree heat but it wasn’t bad at all.  I wish I could say the same thing for our team.  Not bad for a group that hadn’t played in YEARS.  I even subbed for another team after our game and hurt my hand.  I din’t know how bad until the next day when the whole wrist and thumb turned black and blue.  Ouch.  Getting old sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We had another nice weekend.  We had a nice family fun night complete with appetizers that I made.  I pigged out.  Saturday the community had a BBQ cook off.  Mike and Mandy and Jaime and Joel teamed up to make some killer (2 kinds)Brisket, ribs, and cobbler.  Mike Smith also entered his pasta salad.  It was guys against the girls.  Everything had to be made on site and the girls had a secret weapon http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000A76V2E/?tag=googhydr-20&hvadid=1919547581&ref=pd_sl_4v6kwcbshp_b  This cute little thing brought them the gold.  They won best “other ” for their cobbler.  The judges even came over to see how they cooked it.  That CajaChina was pretty cool.  THe guys would not be outdone they won for best ribs.  So our friends won 2 out of the 4 categories.  I don’t know who won for best brisket but I really liked Mike and Joels Brisket.  We ate soooooo well that day.  They even had a slip and slide, wet slides, and a dunk tank.  The kids had a blast.  I took the boys to the pool earlier that day for the kindergarten round up.  We stayed there for 2 1/2 hours.  It was fun.  WE are going to spend a lot of time at the pool this summer(at least until I have to work).  AND……….later that night Cooper took it upon himself to ride the big two wheeler bike.  It does have training wheels but it is still a big step.  Noah even tried it again.  The ever cautious one wasn’t sure it was a good idea.

Yesterday we cleaned cleaned cleaned.  The guys on the path helped Gregg build a work bench on Saturday(thank you) and Gregg and I cleaned and put things away.  We are going to clean out the garage and take the top off the jeep and leave it off all year long.  Now with a cleaned out garage we can put it in when it rains.  Back to the garage.  Gregg is going to pimp it out.  He has a nice size TV and Sat. TV.  He even has his stereo with Sirius there.  He can hook that up to the tv and get surround sound.  And of course we live in TExas so you have to have a fridge.  Right now he just has a small(dorm) fridge but I think that is all that will fit right now.  LOL

Fun things.  Gotta go check the paint progress at Jungle Java.  They said they will be done with the construction in 3 weeks.  WOOHOO

Cooper loves to dance.  The kid was on the dance floor from the mintue we got there until we had to drag him off when we left.  Here are som pics of his signature dance move “The Wiggle.”  He is a HUGE Wiggles fan.  He just found out today that we are going to see them in San Antonio at the end of July.  He is very excited.  I know, I know, everytime I buy a ticket like this ahead of time it means we are bound to move before the concert date but I am pretty sure we are here to stay.  No more moving!!!!!!!!!!!