why i could never be a photographer

i get too caught up in the moment.
it is really the reason i retired from coaching. i would get too into watching the game and cheering my girls on rather than coaching them to a win. do you think r.c ever had that same problem? how about billy clyde?
hmmm, that could answer some questions, but i digress. . . .


this weekend we had a party for dave's graduation. just invited a few friends over.
i meant to have tons of partypics to post.
i really did. you know, for the society pages and my upcoming reality show.
but i didn't. i got too caught up in the moment.

i did go out and take pictures sunday morning.
so, imagine if you will. . . .
people sitting in these chairs. . . .
(cue wavy lines and goofy piano flashback music)

*disclaimer*
mom, these are the drinks i bought and authorized.


these are the drinks that "those people" must have smuggled in when i wasn't looking

kid's space. minimal damage. i mean thing 2, by herself, has done way worse!

i do wish i had gotten pictures of the kids with the glow sticks. they were fun. not to mention i have new landscape lighting in my trees now.

this patio is really nice. dave finished it about 10 minutes before people started arriving. i'll take some pictures once i've cleaned it up.

extra tables.
again, mom, i don't know where all those bottles and boxes came from.

crockett made me giggle when he walked out sunday morning and said, " look mom,all those people came to our house, and LITTERED!"

and yes mr. enviroment, i went through the trash and pulled out all cans and bottles to be recycled. my conscience did get the best of me.
we only 1 bag of trash!
our recycle bin is pretty full though.
and finally, some items were left behind, as happens at all good parties. . .so if you see something you recognize, call, text or email and i'll return it to its rightful owner.
funny though, the items that were left behind after this party sure have changed from *BC parties.




*Before Children

the bilay family

remember this story?
well here's an update.

this family received over $50,000, including clothes, toys, food, etc...
they have located family in salt lake city and will be moving up there with them. while i will miss seeing these sweet girls at school, i am so glad they have found a true home. i am also very happy to see how our small community rallied together to help out this family. it really warms my heart.

"I leave Dallas happy because so many people have helped me. I was lonely and grieving, and they came here to visit me," she said through a translator.

Her family are members of the Kunama people, who speak a language unrelated to that of other Eritreans in Dallas. She and her children speak no other Eritrean language and either limited English or no English at all.

People have contributed $50,000 to a fund established for the family at the Wells Fargo bank, besides giving money, people have donated food, clothing, toys for the children, even sleeping bags. Mr. Dago said a steady stream of strangers has come to the family's apartment to bring donations.

Some have come just to pray with the family.

Honoring another tradition, family members welcome the visitors with a nod and a proffered plate containing a gift – usually a bottle of water.

To the end, volunteers showed up with offers to help.

"There was something so precious, standing there holding hands with people who had come from across the world," Ms. Hall said.

The family, meanwhile, took pains to express their gratitude to the people of North Texas before they left town.

"We are blessed for what so many people have given us here," Mr. Addas said. "The people here are so generous. We will always remember and pray for Dallas and all of America."

does anyone read the sidebar?

in case you don't, i had to post this educational piece by rod dreher because i'm intrigued.
read and learn!
Wednesday May 28, 2008

Your summer drink list
James Poulos is a sophisticated tippler, and helpfully provides his summer drink list here. I was pleased to discover that he's also an aficionado of gin and grapefruit juice, which I've been a seasonal fan of for many years. I add a splash of club soda to mine, though, to give it a little lift.

My summer drink do's:

1. Vodka and club soda, on the rocks, with lots of lemons smashed in the bottom. I don't like sweet drinks, as a rule, and there's nothing quite so refreshing as a vodka and soda. This summer, I'm going to try infusing some Tito's with hot peppers, and various herbs from our garden. I'm curious also to try lemon grass-infused Tito's. A couple of summers ago I infused some Tito's with kaffir lime leaves, and let me tell you that stuff was terrific. Mixed with a little cranberry juice, grapefruit juice and soda, it transports you to the Long Bar at Raffles. Or what I imagine that must feel like.

2. Rose' wine. No, seriously. If your idea of rose' is Lancers, think again. There are some excellent, bone-dry roses available now, and for not much money. I bought a pale pink one from Touraine for Memorial Day sipping, and it was spectacular (and only $10).

3. The non-girly caipirinha. I don't make this at home, because it's too labor-intensive, but when I go to La Duni in Dallas, I always order their caipirinha, without sugar. Just fresh-squeezed lime juice, crushed limes, pinga and ice. Sour. Strong. Cool. Refreshing.

Summer drink don'ts:

1. Frozen margaritas and frozen daiquiris. Being anti-margarita is heresy in Dallas, but I'm sorry, they're just Slurpees for dipsos. Ditto on daiquiris. Go ahead, hate me.

2. Beer. I find it hard to drink beer when it's hot. Makes me feel like I've eaten a loaf of bread. Though I will say when you're eating chips and hot salsa, there's nothing quite as good as an icy Tecate in a can, with lime and salt. If you must drink beer in the summer, drink wheat beer with a slice of lemon (not Hoegaarden, though; it's the PBR of its class).

3. Brown liquor. This is idiosyncratic to me. I love whisky, especially (in the summer) Scotch and soda. But it gives me a headache. Pray for me, in your charity.

Summer can't decides:

1. Campari and soda. Love the bitterness and the effervescence. But it's very light.

2. Dirty vodka martinis. Delicious stuff, especially with Grey Goose. But they go down too fast, and always lead to regrets.

3. A real mint julep. I have a recipe Walker Percy wrote down, the secret ingredient of which is a dusting of fresh nutmeg. Seriously, this is a major sit-down-on-the-front-porch summer drink, and I can't recommend it highly enough, provided you use lots of mint, really good Bourbon, and pack the ice in pretty hard. Unfortunately, it's liquid hangover for me these days. Still, the occasion will present itself about once a year, usually in a situation involving a rocking chair, and I'll through caution to the wind. That's why the good Lord made Advil.

posted by Rod Dreher @ 7:39pm

top 10 reasons

that prove i'm a bad parent:

10. i don't always dilute their juice
9. i use bubble bath so i only have to rinse them after a good soak
8. i serve pop tarts for breakfast
7. i bribe my children
6. i will consume alcohol on a weeknight
5. i use the tv as a babysitter
4. i leave them at daycare so i can go home and watch tv uninterrupted
3. i yell
2. i spank
1. i work and i like it