A totally-not-so-boring start to summer.

Riding an elephant!

Huzzah!!!

That is worth at least 20 THRILL points!

Yeah, we totally rocked the Judy Moody movie – Not so Bummer Summer – like genuine-and-for-real.

Okay, so maybe I liked it a little more than the kids (kinda), but it is such a fun movie. Judy Moody is adorable. I love the idea of thrill points; or going beyond your comfort zone. Learning new things (and being a little scared to try), but mostly, just the trying part. All it takes is getting out there.

Doing. Being. Becoming. Experiencing.

Why yes, I think I do have a thing for -ings. It must come from my be-ing. Heh.

Our family adventured to the Renaissance festival Memorial Day Weekend. It was HOT. Hotter than hot. Like we should have gone a month ago too hot. But, we made the most of our fun and I have sooooo many pictures from our start-to-summer weekend (and good-bye for a month to Sydney). I hope to be sharing more stories from that day with you.

The elephant ride shots really captured my attention and took me back to that day. From the four-year old in the front to the eighteen-year old in the back, with the seven and seventeen-year old in between – all of them – LOVED riding the elephant. Considering it was a miserable wait for a short ride, not to mention a little pricey, it was worth every penny just to see their faces.

Memories like these make me glad I get to be a photographer, I just love their expressions, even the elephant.

I tried to narrow down the choices to post, but I couldn’t. You’ll just have to ride along with them. My camera battery almost died. I was so lucky to get these.


Annnnnnd they’re off!


“Hi!” You are ON an elephant!!


I bet Brandon got some fun video.


My fav!

And that was it.

The ride ended. But it totally made the summer not a bummer!

RARE!

Now, I’ll have to come up with plan to keep those thrill points coming. 🙂 We wouldn’t want to have a boring summer end and starting in July the little girls will be with us for the entire month.

If you never did, you should. These things are fun, and fun is good.
Dr. Seuss

I’m a Creeeeep…I’m a Weeeeirdo…

What the heck am I doing here?
I don’t belong here.

-Radiohead

I typed out these lyrics to Creep in a Facebook message. Little did I know, they would dramatically change my life. It was, in all honesty, the only Radiohead song I knew.

I saw an update status asking if anyone would be interested in Radiohead concert tickets on Sunday. Well I really wasn’t, unless I could get my brother to come down from Oklahoma, but being it was a Sunday night that wasn’t likely to happen. The bigger question to me and the one that I asked to my casually acquainted Facebook friend……why aren’t you going?

He admitted to not having a date, going through a hurtful divorce, and the regular woes of life that we all get so caught up in that we forget to – well – have fun.

Then I wowed him with my lyrical knowledge. “I’m a creeeep! I’m a weeeeirdooooo!” Never mind I wasn’t singing but typing. I’m that good.

He was so impressed that he found a fellow Radiohead fan in all of Facebook-land that he offered to take me to the concert, so we could crone as one.

I did what any single girl would do trying to become a crazy fan in 48 hours or less to impress a guy. I YouTube searched a few more songs. Surely I knew more than one Radiohead song. Right???

I found Karma Police. Yeah. I think I heard one of the contestants sing that on Rockstar INXS. Cool! I watched the video. See I was a Radiohead fan after all. No problem. I got this.

We made plans to meet at his house at 6pm to head from Arlington to Dallas. I talked to him for the first time on the phone the day before to set it up. I, incredibly, got there at 6pm sharp. For those that know me that was a miracle in itself.

As I pulled up, the garage door opened and there stood my date – that wasn’t a date – but just a kind gesture of servitude to another concert going Radiohead fan (heh).

Our eyes met in smiles right away, he was MUCH better looking in person than in his picture and what surprised me most of all…he was TALL. 6ft 1in. If only Facebook gave profile stats, I could have known. I wore my high heel sandals thinking he was short. I know. Don’t try to compute the logic, I had guy issues. Ahem. I’m a creeeeppp.

Off we head to Dallas, listening to Radiohead in the car, except I didn’t know it was Radiohead since I only knew ONE song. Maybe two if my YouTube memory held out. I actually figured it out AFTER the concert when I truly was a new turned fan.

Didn’t matter anyhow, we talked the whole way – about – everything. If there is one thing my momma taught me it was how to have a conversation, with anyone, anywhere, anytime. Thanks mom! I’ll chat with you later when I have a few hours *wink*.

It was a good thing too. It took hours just to get INTO the concert. Never have I seen so many people going to a concert at Superpages.com, or better known as the Smirnoff, or more simply Fairpark, in all my life.

The park was packed. Our seats were just under the awning – which was GREAT – considering the entire lawn behind us had seating that was really far back and ALL of it was standing room only. The concert started right after we sat down and it took my breath away. Literally, or Lyrically. I guess both.

And really I can’t describe it, but those things hanging down..they changed colors. They glowed. They flashed. They did everything but walk off the stage, or maybe they did that too. It was all in tune to the beat, and the motion of the music, which was poetry in itself. Incredibly awesome, like nothing I have ever seen.

These images are from a google search. Our view was more like this.

But honestly? It didn’t matter where we sat. It was the greatest, most energetic, dramatic, artfully choreographed media concert show I have ever seen and, trust me, I’m no concert virgin. There was a time I thought I was watching a video being played on a big screen, when in fact it was in live time with the stage. It was that good.

I felt SAD when it ended. When our night ended. I felt like we went through something special together and a friendship bond formed. Was it love at first sight? Not at all. I was pleasantly surprised by him. Blown away by the concert, and really enjoyed our long car conversations. *It took three hours to get OUT of the concert*

Jason, my friend, my boyfriend, my husband – Happy THREE year anniversary of our meet date. I can humbly say, May 18, 2008, a Radiohead concert, truly changed my world by bringing you into it.

You know the funniest twist to it all? They didn’t even play Creep.

I’m a creep.
I’m a weirdo.
What the heck am I doing here?
I don’t belong here.
Oooh-oooh.

*I rarely re-post, but this is in honor of another year.*

Happy last first date to my sweetie! Now, when is Radiohead coming back in concert?

Love, Text, and an iPhone

We discovered on long car rides the best antidote for entertainment is not to install an expensive dual headrest TV/DVD players for the children, but to simply surrender hand-over our iPhones.

It works wonders to keep the peace. There is music, games, and a camera. A gazillion options of fun. There is no fighting in the back seat and the only worry is how many car chargers do we have if those suckers run out of juice.

On this particular road excursion, last November, the car ride home took four hours and could best be described as – most blissful car trip EVER!

iPhone!

Then something crazy cool happened…….

My oldest step-daughter (age six at the time) taught herself how to text. The little booger was reading at age four. Spelling at age three. It wasn’t too surprising that she easily figured out the icon, the key pad, and the art of texting. Mostly because of her older step-sister sitting next to her who can text a billion messages a minute and holster the phone in her back pocket without blinking an eye.

I must admit, when I first read the text, I was confused. Why would Jason text me while driving? More importantly, why would he text me while driving and while I was sitting next to him? The message was from Jason. Then, I remembered who had his phone. I took a peek at the backseat and heard a giggle. That’s when I figured it out and replied back.

Our conversation went like this.

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With each reply, the giggles increased, and dang if she wasn’t pretty fast at texting too.

I was completely enamored. They are the sweetest messages!

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As sweet as a bowl of chocolate Cheerios in a heart-shaped bowl. My little text buddy.

These precious little pearls of devotion are what will get me through those days (like Mondays) and step-daughter teen years. I latch onto these nuggets – knowing the future is shaky in blended families – and cherishing the good times. Someday – I might hear those knife-through-the-heart phrases; You’re not my mom! I don’t have to do what you say! I don’t love you!

I will read this.

I will remember.

I will save it forever.

A picture of love via iPhone.

She told me this Sunday (which I heard was un-officially Step-Mom’s Day?) that if it was or wasn’t….she would do anything for me. Really? Anything???? Anything.

I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. Way too tempting! Foot massages, cleaning, and laundry. Oh the possibilities!

This girl has the purest of intentions when it comes to sharing her adorations. She is such a treasure.

The funniest (and scariest) thing about the text messages that night? Well, Jason and I got to wondering……..if she was smart enough to text me…….. Was she smart enough to text anyone else? And if she did? Who?

Yeah.

About that.

She DID text someone else.

Her Mom.

Jason’s ex-wife.

Thankfully, the message wasn’t near as descriptive as mine, because HONESTLY? What would she have possibly thought getting a text message from her now married ex-husband chock full of affection for her? I can only imagine. Ummm, yikes!

When we read the text Molly sent to her, it wasn’t near as bad as we thought. Instead of being downright awkward, it only bordered sheer creepiness.

The text read: Goodnight.

Love, text, and an iPhone.

Don’t you just love technology and super smart children?

Have you ever gotten (or sent) any embarrassing texts?

**this post courtesy of my iPhone photo gallery**

Still in Existence: The Drive-In Movie

I know, right?!?

I can hardly believe it either. We live in the city of Dallas/Fort Worth with roughly three million peeps and counting. How can such a place not be extinct? Where can you possibly go to SEE the screen through all the pollution hustle and bustle?

Well….. the country. Just head South of the metroplex. It’s really not that far.

Welcome to Galaxy Drive-in Theatre, Ennis, Texas. A step-back in time.

This place is awesome. There are five screens showing double features, and they have a kid’s screen too – showing Hop. We decided to take the girls – who thought it was like CAMPING. I wasn’t so sure about taking them, but turns out? They LOVED it. This is the perfect family outing.

Picture of the screen to the right of us. There are five lots with screens at this drive-in, but only one concession, one bathroom – just sayin’.

My oldest step-daughter doesn’t play model often, but tonight she was happy. No sun in her eyes. No wind. Lots of snack foods and fun. This is one girl who loves the great outdoors and movies.

I recommend arriving early, so you can get parked, and settled BEFORE the movie starts. At nightfall, there are NO lights, just the screens. The roads are dirt and grass. It is hard walking to the concession – forget driving with kids and families everywhere.

As it became later, we anxiously waited for the sun to exit the theater.

We quickly took our seats. You can sit anywhere…in the car, or on the lawn chairs (if you bring them). We had some set up in a mini theater at the front bumper. I saw some families with tents, and blow-up beds. Seriously! *totally stealing this idea for next time*

Hello Moon.

Hellooooooo movie!

Hop is an excellent movie. The kid’s loved it. Seated in the mini-chair area wrapped in fuzzy blankets. Jason and I, had our first kiss at the drive-in (many moons ago – heh!). We had another.

The only advice I would give when taking the fam to the outdoor movies is this…..don’t run the radio on car battery before and during the movie. If you do…….have jumper cables, and nice car neighbors.

🙂

I can’t wait to go to the Drive-In again!

Do you remember the Drive-In? Do you have one you still go to?