Austin Zoo

On Sunday we went to the Austin Zoo. I really wanted to get out and enjoy the beautiful weather. The Austin Zoo isn't a major zoo in any shape or form, but it has some big cats, and that makes me happy.

We spotted this tiger napping in the sun. I got a great photo with my real camera.

Unlike most of the other animals, the bear cubs were super active. They chased each other around  the enclosure and climbed the fence walls.

It was such a great day to spend outside, checking out the animals.

February Trip to Massachusetts

Wow. Where have I been the last month? It seems like it flew by. I can tell you where I was for the last week: Massachusetts.

I left warm, sunny Texas for cold, snowy Massachusetts.

I arrived just after a big storm hit. Another storm rolled through after I arrived. I don't think I've seen that much snow since Snowmageddon in 2010. The girls have had snow days the last two Mondays, and they might have another snow day this Monday.

The trip was to help out Valerie. I went last Wednesday and she had surgery on Friday, while Troy was out of town. I stayed for about a week, acting as nanny, chauffeur, and nurse. The snow looked pretty, from inside anyway. Driving around was interesting. The already narrow roads were made even narrower with snow banks.

The coldest part of my week was waiting at the bus stop for the bus. Luckily I bought a new, longer down coat before the trip. I also wore tons of layers.

I made the girls hot chocolate after they were done playing in the snow. I did NOT go out and tromp around in the snow.

The girls helped me make cake balls. I had never done that before.

As we were pulling into the driveway one afternoon, Evelyn spotted some deer. When we realized they were headed for the back yard we went inside and watched them from the window room. The snow was deep--up to the chest of the deer in some areas.

Valerie is doing well. Her surgery was successful. Her recovery will be long and uncomfortable, but I'm glad I was able to go out and help for a while. I just hope the next time I head to Massachusetts it is sunny and warm.

Animals Anniversary

So yesterday marked our 14th anniversary. Out of curiosity I looked up to see what the traditional gift is for 14 years. On the Hallmark website it said Animals*. What? So the asterisk basically said that the traditional gift was ivory, but that's not ethical. So they changed it to animals? So I'm supposed to come home with a kitten? That's crazy. They could have changed it to bone, antler, or just something ivory colored, but no, they chose Animals.

I won't even get into the more modern anniversary gift suggestions. It is basically the same stuff over and over again: jewelry.

Happy New Year!

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Flashback Friday: Ethan eating pudding

This is Ethan eating Pooh-beer: Guinnes chocolate pudding in a Winnie The Pooh cup. He was just shy of his 4th birthday at our dessert party, 2008. He kept inhaling the stuff.

Rockin' Out

So the one thing I wish was different about my car: The cassette player. My car is a 2006. A cassette player, really? I wish it had some sort of hook-up for an mp3 player. Today I was bumming around at Marshall's, avoiding doing laundry, when I found this gadget. You put it in the tape player and plug the other end into your music device. I couldn't wait to try it. I tore open the blister packaging without harming myself and shoved the thing into the cassette player. I plugged in my phone. Nothing. Just a little static. Well, it actually worked when I pressed play on my phone! At first it was very static-y, but when I cranked up the volume on my phone I was able to turn down the volume on the car stereo and rock out without static.

I paid 4.99 for this little gem! In the past I have tried adapters that transmit to the FM radio. They never worked well for me and they always required batteries. This is great. Now I can listen to all the music I have on my phone (probably close to 25G) and I can listen to it through my awesome car stereo system, not my little phone speaker or a cheapie bluetooth speaker. Now I'll have more surround sound than tin sound.

Cactus Love

I recently bought a bunch of cacti because they were 75 percent off. I wanted to make a cactus garden in a large pot my mom had given me.

 This cactus looked so sad and lonely, all droopy, I had to buy it.

 After some TLC it perked up.

Now it's fully erect! Hahaha.