summer sum up

Now that school has begun for Mitchell, I am officially back into my glorious work clothes and heels and I can't find a parking space at work I thought I would sum up the past few months and how wonderfully blessed we were summer 2008!

• Mitchell finished his second year of teaching and got the head band director position at Clack Middle School. (see previous blog post)

One of Mitchell's last Madison concerts.

• We celebrated 2 years of marital bliss and took a small yet amazing anniversary trip to Fredericksburg, TX. Ummm, I am pretty sure I am in love with that town. If you have never been drop everything you are doing right now and go. I have no visual evidence of that trip other than a cute rooster rug in the kitchen and two lovely hand painted pots on the back porch of our house. I forgot our camera. Sorry. But here are some pictures of where we began, 06/10/05.

Us leaving the chapel on the way to the Grace Museum for our reception.



2 of the Six White Horses! My horse and carriage!



The lovely wedding party in the beautiful Logsdon Chapel.



This is us at the Mansion on Turtle Creek before we left for Mexico.
We are adorable, I know!

• We did an insane amount of traveling for various reasons.
• Romulus got bigger, the nieces and nephew grew, mom, dad and Vicki had their birthdays.
  
• We visited DFW and Austin. And in Austin we ate at my FAVORITE sandwich/bakery - which isn't just a bakery. Texas French Bread is a State-of-Mind and will change your definition of the sandwich. My mouth is watering right now, literally! Don't try to call me right now.
  
• Oh, and we got to swim in the freezing waters of Barton Springs along with the Salamanders.

That's me and my music man before it took me 15 minutes to get in the pool/spring.
Yeah, literally 15 minuets. I think Mitchell was a bit perturbed with me!

• Mitchell worked at Abuelo's as I learned to stay up late and watched lots of trash TV which I secretly love and confessed to my husband. i.e. Tori and Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood and Denise Richard. Don't judge me. I was home alone with the dog.
  

• And I did lots of decorating in the Love Shack. More picture of that to come in another post once we get the office done. But not until then.
  

So long summer 2008. You were good to us and we are sad to see you go. But we are happier to see the fall semester come.

my music man

Today is my music man's first day of his third year teaching. What's so extraordinarily special about today is that today is his first official day as a Head Band Director. At the end of last year Mitchell was named the new Head Band Director at Clack Middle School. Mitchell spent his first two years teaching as the assistant at Madison Middle School. And while those first two years were wonderful and probably the best years that a teacher could ask for, today is a day he has been waiting for. My music man worked with two of the best band directors this city and state probably have ever seen at Madison the past two years.

Although it was bittersweet for Mitchell to leave Madison and his students were sad to see him go, today is a day he has been ready for. (You should see the CUTEST banner his Madison students made him! Its hanging in the house saying how much they are going to miss him! Wouldn't you miss him, too?!?!)

Mitchell has 249 (give or take) students in his band. The largest middle school band in the city. I'm not bragging.

This is 75 chairs. Not even enough room to fit his largest band. 90 students!

Is this not the cutest thing you have ever seen? He's so organized.
When he wants to be!

Just the 2 best schools in the city! GO BIG RED!

Clack Middle School. Established in 1992! Go Cardinals!

The one and only, Mr. Etter! aka, the Man in Charge! (my music man)

He knows how to run the show!

And the place where it all began! Fair daughter of the west, we love and honor thee!

Isn't he so sweet?
Ok, maybe this was a present, but he didn't have to put it up in his office!

Future Hall of Fame Band Director & ruler of the band world! My Music Man!

He knows what's going on!

I can't wait to get home today and hear how Mitchell's day went. My husband is the sweetest and most compassionate man I know, and to see him work and teach students music is a true blessing. It is sad to that school districts are cutting fine arts and music from their curriculum. Music is a gift. I wish that everyone at one time in their schooling can have the opportunity to take a music class. Music benefits everyone in their lives every single day. It not only benefits you, it blesses you. And it all begins in a middle school with a teacher like my husband and a simple scale of music.

mitchell, romulus and paul

This is a story of my crazy family; Mitchell, Romulus and... Paul. Much explanation is needed.

Mitchell comes home one evening after working at Abuleo's this summer, takes off his shoes and exclaims, "We have a new member of our family."

Me: "Oh really." half asleep and not really listening because Mitchell is crazy.

Mitchell: "Yes, I discovered him earlier today as I was putting my shoes on. I have a bunion from my work shoes. And I have decided to name him... Paul, Paul Bunion!"

Me: "You named your bunion?!?!" Now I am awake and quite scared!

Mitchell:"Yes, Paul. Paul Bunion. I figured if he was going to be sticking around I'd give him a name."

Me:"Oh my gosh!"

Today I looked to Mitchell and told him Paul will be departing from our family. We are making a trip to Walgreen's to see if there is something we can do to... well, get rid of him.

This is part one of my crazy family. Romulus is part two.

Has anyone ever told you getting a dog will prepare you for having a child. I realized that
more than ever this week as I caught Romulus licking the electric outlets on the wall in the living room. I stopped and looked at him and then realized, oh wait. He's not supposed to be doing that! I yelled at him to stop, he clearly looked at me and then resumed licking it outlet as if to say, why it tastes really good.

I've seen my niece give my sister-in-law that look may times. You think I am kidding, but I am not. God is testing me. With a hundred and fifteen pound dog. I need to child/dog proof my house.

A bunion named Paul and an outlet licking dog. Its never dull around here!

the newlywed game and a shirtless elderly man

Tonight we hosted the NSO family - The Newlywed Game!!! Yippie! Don't ask me who the parents were because I don't remember and I am horrible with names. But we had SO much fun and everyone was lovely! We had cupcakes, brownies, coke and of course Blue Bell Great Divide. The Love Shack doesn't host parties without Blue Bell! And just for the record HSU has officially given it's newest students diabetes.

As we were deep into blissful Hardin-Simmons discussion our front door was open, glass screen door closed and one student observed a man passing our house... several times. After about the 10th or so time of this man passing the house this student says, "Ummm, there is an old man walking back and forth in front of your house."

I look to the student and think great I know exactly where this is going. I then ask, "Does this man have a shirt on?"

Student: "No!"

Me: "Oh, that's Clinton, our elderly neighbor and more than likely he's checking out the ruckus. Don't get a good luck at him. He chews tobacco and when he spits, he misses and it dribbles down his bare stomach."

Yup, that's my neighbor and apparently the welcoming committee as we host new students to HSU and Abilene. Thanks Clinton! I can't wait until it gets cooler outside and Clinton starts wearing more clothing. Maybe I should be thankful he just wears as much as he does! I will spare you and won't go into more details of Clinton's physical anatomy. Or maybe it's just our house. Remember the pantless, mexican, hobit-like man who was picking pecans in our front yard?

Oh yes! We are so lucky!

ode to my family, from romulus

The following is a small token to my family whom I miss and love ever so much.

These past few days I have been pacing my yard, sniffing around the house and wearing a single band-aid wondering and hoping I will get to see them again soon. Although I have not resorted to starvation, (my kibble is too important to me) I have been quite depressed. Dragging my feet, making a mess of my food and trying to cuddle with the rug. Mom keeps yelling something about stop it and expensive, but those word mean nothing in light of missing my beloved family.

To my SuSu:

As you are pinned up in that stinky ol' hospital room, I want you to know that I have attempted to escape to come see you. After much thought I knew I wouldn't make it far, my bones don't travel so well in the rain. But know that I hope you get well. As I think of you here in Abilene, I wear a band-aid in tribute of you on my right foot. Sort of like Michael Jackson and his one silver glove. But I choose to remain... you know, black!

Get well soon!

P.S.

To: Moonchie, Papi, Vicki, Bru & Abbie,

Although we got to spend over one week together, it wasn't nearly enough time. I had way too much fun tearing up the yard, waking up at 5 am and eating things I wasn't supposed to. If being bad means feeling this good, I don't ever want to be good! Below is a picture devoted to you.

We love you all so much!

did yall just order bar-b-q?

I had a meeting at the United Way offices on Cypress Street today. This isn't my first trip to their offices since I am now an official Loan Executive. This is maybe my fifth trip.

So, I am sitting in a small office talking to Laura and Margaret Mary Martinez (M to the 3rd power) about my accounts that I need to call on and gathering much needed information. During the next few moments the following conversation occurs.

Me: "Did yall just order bar-b-q?"
United Way Ladies: "No, why?"
Me: "It always smells like bar-b-q when I come in here and it makes me hungry."

*awkward pause. hysterical laughter ensues as a weird look crosses my face*

UW Ladies: "Amanda, did you not know that our building burnt to the ground in March?"
Me: "ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Was anyone hurt?"

*all the while praying that the burnt smell that I smelt wasn't... you know and that it was just burnt building!*

UW Ladies: "No, no one was hurt." More laughter.

Then they proceeded to call others in the office to tell them that I smelled bar-b-q and it was because their building burnt down... 5 MONTHS AGO! All the while laughing.

Me: "This is why I shouldn't be let out of my house, because I have a tendency to stick my foot in my mouth."
UW Ladies: "Well the great part of the fire was that there were a lot of cute fireman."
Me: "Maybe we should do a photo shoot with the fireman and sell calendars to raise money for this year's campaign!!!"

Hopefully I redeemed myself. Did yall just order bar-b-q?!?! What was I thinking?

future HSU cowgirls

Please forgive me for not posting these pictures sooner. Our two beautiful, gorgeous and incredibly marvelous nieces Maggie and Mollie Grace visited a few weekends ago.

I personally think this picture looked like me my freshman year before I lost all that weight. Mollie Grace looks much cuter in the tummy shirt, don't you think?


Maggie really didn't feel like Vogueing it that day.

My predictions for the girls when they enroll at the 40 Acres are this: Maggie will be the girly athlete who plays Cowgirl basketball. And Mollie Grace will be on Spurs... of course. Who better to follow in her Aunt Mandy's footsteps?

We had the best time with the girls that weekend and can't wait until they come back to visit us in Abilene. We miss you and Luke every minute of the day!

Amo!

i am a domestic goddess.

With a one hundred and twenty pound dog.

When my music man and I starting looking for the Love Shack I/we had a list of things our first house had to have:

1. Our house needed to be in a great area. It is - historical Amarillo district, come on! Well, we aren't in the district yet but we have petitioned!
2. Trees, lots of trees. We have so many trees, remember the naked man who picked our pecans?
   
3. Garage: Check 2 car garage.
4. Backyard: We have a covered patio.

Now, I didn't require hardwood floors. I didn't ask for the smooth, nakedness of a bare floor. But I am a blessed woman. Fairly new bamboo hardwood floors (along with the newly renovated kitchen). I was hesitant about the bamboo but it has grown on me and the lighter wood is a great contrast against the darker color of our living room furniture.

Let me assure you if there was an inch of carpet in this house it would have been ripped out the minute we moved in. I just knew the hardwood would be much easier, right? That was life before my one hundred and twenty pound, hair covered, dirty/mud covered, drool releasing, small horse. You know him as Romulus.

This may sound funny to you, but you have no idea how true this statement is. Sometimes I am surprised there is grass and dirt left in our backyard after everything that he drags in. Each morning he puts on a show, circling the yard in figure 8's, kicking up dirt around him as runs. To the point where I can't see him. And then he runs inside, just fast enough to where he can turn without running into built-in cabinets or washroom. Which he used to do. All the while trailing in everything behind him.

You can't imagine the mess on the floor after this spectacle has taken place, sometime several times a day if it's weekend. That and because I leave the back door open for him to come in and out. I don't sweep once a week or twice. I sweep once a day. I have this new rover electric vacuum that so cleverly tilts its head, turns in to a dust buster. Its beautiful. I could go on for days. I sweep and electric vacuum. All for the sake of my hardwood floors. That's not even touching mopping.

It probably wouldn't be so bad if I wasn't OCD. This is another reason I have become a domestic goddess. This will be among many blog posts as I continue to learn to make the Love Shack a home, become a gourmet chef that prepares healthy food for her music man, decorate our home chicly on a budget and find my niche for an at-home business.


Oh, did I mention tame my wild beast in the backyard?

one camera phone, one small waiting room and one crazy family

Wednesday my uncle had surgery to remove tissue, a lot of scar tissue and to figure out what's going on in his body. Mitchell and I drove up to Lubbock to spend the day with my family in the waiting room as he was in surgery for about 6 hours. Everything went well, they took lots of tissue sample and should have the biopsy results back in about a week. Good news is they didn't take his kidney. I think that may be a good sign. Much to our surprise we got to see him after surgery, and just like Tio he was cracking jokes saying he felt like Angelina Jolie. Big lips and all. And of course he asked the doctor when he would be back on the golf course.

Although we were all cautiously worried about Tio we all found light hearted moments in the day. The best part of the day was spending time with my family which we haven't found time to do in a while. I haven't gotten to see my cousins since the few times I was passing through Slaton during travel season when I was in the admissions office. And that was only for a few nights and minutes at a time. Or at the hospital when family was sick. Mitchell hasn't really gotten to spend time visiting with them ever. Getting to hang out and visit with my cousins Raymond, his wife Susan, Laurie, her daughter Hopie, and my cousin James made me think of times when we little and would come to Tio and Tia's house to visit during summers. The only people missing was JR, my parents, brother and sister. And of course Tio.

Things weren't that different from year's ago. Comments were still made about my large feet.

The highlight of the day was not mine. It was Raymond's and his camera phone. Please see the evidence below.
These aren't the worst of it. There was a picture of Hopie being attacked by a giraffe and then also looking like some kind of deranged Mickey Mouse. I won't go into details. Yes, this is my crazy family and why I love them!