Crazy

Oh, the madness of March Madness. It's truly, well, maddening. But I love it. I love the drama, the victory of an underdog, and cheering for teams I've never had any vested interest in...ever. Thus, the brackets.

The first year I did brackets, I didn't know anything about the whole process, so I randomly picked teams. Wish it still worked that way for me, because each consecutive year I've done worse. I've even won the last-place toilet bowl prize - two years in a row. Last year was my best finish in ten years when I came in 6th. Camron had the right idea last year by randomly picking his teams, and he won the whole kit and caboodle - and he did it all himself.

So on to this year. We all did our picks - me trying to logically deduce which teams would do better based on the year's play and team summaries; Meaghan picking teams based on how pretty the names sounded or if she had heard of them/the state before; and Camron picking teams he either 1) loved or 2) were ranked higher. Having said that, he picked Texas and BYU to go to the final game and for Texas to win it all. While the control freak in me wanted to change it for him, I knew this kid would never forget... and what kind of fool would I be if such major upsets occurred? But alas.

After the first day I realized Camron wouldn't be winning the office pool this year - though he may take home the coveted toilet bowl prize. But then after the second...and third and fourth day, I realized I wouldn't be winning it, either. (Thanks a lot, Michigan, one of my two final teams.) And Meaghan... well, apparently pretty names don't get you anywhere. Out of the 49 entrants, Camron is 45, I'm 41, and Meaghan is 40. We're in a fight for last place. Craig is our best hope for a top finish.

So now I'm back to enjoying the drama, the underdog victories, and loving that my kids are still invested in every game depending on their picks.

That's bracketology my friends, mixed with lots of madness.

Livestock Show and Carnival 2012

I remember riding those kiddie rides at the rodeo carnival like it was yesterday - kids screaming, getting nauseous, feeling my brain slosh about, and the all-too-familiar vertigo. But thanks to my kids growing like weeds, this year I didn't have to accompany them on a single ride. (Ahem, though they may have been accompanied by their dad on the Ferris wheel. Someone's gotta show them some fear.) I guess there are a few benefits to your kids growing up.

And so our annual pilgrimage to the Houston Livestock Show and Carnival. In pictures:

On the tram and ready to go.
Poor Daddy never gets to fully escape work.

The petting zoo was a hit for everyone this year!
We were only molested by a few animals this time and came away with mostly dry clothes.
Unless you were Rosa or Meaghan, and they learned to stay away from urinating goats.

Pony rides and smiles...for one, anyway.
Sadly, Camron wasn't as impressed this year and it may be his last pony ride.

Digging for worms. In compost. That's gross.
Of course, I used to do it as a child, too, so there is that.

The not-so-slippery slide.
Humidity and a slight drizzle are not cohesive to sliding in potato sacks.

Once this ride started, they laid down their heads and barely smiled.
I thought maybe they were napping. But they said they loved it.

The roller coaster is always a hit.
See those smiling adults? They're only pretending to have fun...trust me.

Thank goodness for daddies when children ask to ride the Ferris
wheel and mommies say, "There's no way in..."

Our first year with the bumper cars, and it's a new favorite.
Lots of smiles, lots of laughing, and, as one would guess, lots of bumping.

This Mother's Prayer

Dear Lord: Please help me remember in trying times and meltdowns that I adore my children. Help me remember that they are brave, strong, compassionate, sweet, loving, unique, brilliant, beautiful, and gifts from heaven. They are funny and fun, and are always eager to learn - though not always from me.

Bless them to continue to grow strong and healthy, to ask questions and take risks, to love and be loved. Bless them with understanding and clarity, and to continue with a love for learning. Bless them with a love of God and to know they are blessed. Bless them with good friends and patient parents. Bless them to know they are loved by many, including their parents, family, and You.

Bless their mother, because I love my children, even when they try my patience. Help me to learn and grow with them. Bless me to appreciate the small things, the funny things, and to appreciate that stubbornness is a developing strength. And dear Lord, please help me to remember these things at the times I'm most likely to forget them, like when they're fighting, messing up the room I just cleaned, showing me attitude, whining, pitching a fit, lollygagging around when we're running late or when it's time for bed... and when I have to ask them a thousand times to do one simple thing.

I am truly blessed and I love my family. I'm grateful for everything, but sometimes... or more especially... the small things:

One of my more favorite work pages.
I love his innocence...and optimism.

Bubble baths are still the bomb.

Just because he's a bundle of cuteness.

My son made this sign before getting in the shower.
He's genius, if you ask me.

A sequence of self-portraits.
I love finding these surprise images on my phone.

Amen.

Happy Purim!

This holiday has something to do with a bad dude named Haman who wanted to massacre the Jews, and a queen named Esther who saved them. Without looking it up, I can't tell you much more than that....other than Haman wore a rectangular hat, which is why the Jews eat hamantaschen (a rectangular jelly-filled pastry). Hey! I just realized the "haman" in "hamantaschen". You learn something new every day. Anyway... I'm not a fan of the pastry, but a lot of people are.

What I do know about Purim is that you get dressed up in costumes as per the story, eat hamantaschen, do charity, and there's a carnival - a small indoor carnival with games and food. Guess what our favorite part of the holiday is?

I didn't take my camera to the carnival and I wasn't snap happy with my phone, except for a picture I captured of Meaghan at the craft table - where I'm pretty sure she spent the majority of her time. But what they did have at the carnival was a photo booth, and we may have had too much fun with it. (Some more than others.)

February Final

Wow, so February went by fast. Of course it's the shortest month of the year, so it makes sense that it would. I won't mention that whole extra day thing this year, as it does not play in my favor. And whatever the case, time marches on.

So, there was all the regular hoopla of February, and these little ditties:

A nut named Meaghan who loves her "Mommy and Meaghan Donut Days" when we can sneak them in. She doesn't look like she's had a bit of sugar, now does she? No bother, I fill her up and then send her off to school to become the teachers' problem.

Meaghan celebrated her 100th day of school...and they celebrated big!

We got to visit our friends' twin baby girls. And when we left, I wasn't the only one pining for a baby. My pining lasted up until the whining started in the car.

We used Camron's metal detector to find all sorts of buried treasures...like wadded up tinfoil, a screw, and a penny. Also, without really trying, we aerated our lawn and garden like Mr. Gopher did for the country club. Also, it's hard to convince kids that some treasures aren't worth keeping.

It was Grandparents' Day at Meaghan's school and she got to show off all her stuff, but especially loved the relay races. Oh, to be as coordinated and fast as my daughter...

Meaghan took and passed her belt test in tae kwon do - she's officially an orange belt! Don't mess with this Texan chickadee, not even the teacher was ready for her when she broke the board.

It was a busy month for Meaghan, but March is gearing up to be a busy one for Camron with kite day and a field trip coming up. Plus baseball season is just around the corner, and I've got two heavy hitters ready to swing the bat at anything, no ball necessary.

But before I go, enjoy this year's Super Bowl half-time show like you've never seen it before...

Yippee Yo Yippee Yay!

Go Texas Day!

Rodeo, BBQ, cowboy hats, cowboy boots, music, livestock show... all the best of Texas comes out this time of year and there's no better time to be a Texan. Unless you're a Utahan who refuses to give in. (Though I'm more cowboy than anyone else in my house - nobody can two-step or loves country music like I do.)

So for now, my true native Texans dressed their part for Go Texas Day:

I'll be enjoying the next three weeks of Rodeo Houston because it's the only time I'm "cool" for liking country music - and I mean the real country music of yesteryear. How can you not love yourself some Alabama, Mel McDaniel, Garth Brooks, The Charlie Daniels Band, Glen Campbell, Clint Black, Johnny Cash, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, John Denver, and the Highwaymen? Really I could go on, but this gives you a good taste...well, a good taste of my taste.

Now if I could just persuade my family to relish in the coolness of it.