All the news has been talking about how great the bluebonnets would be this year due to the winter we had. They were okay, I wouldn’t say great, but good enough to take some pictures of the boys. Kobra was in no mood for pictures except when I was trying to take pictures of other people. Baby Hulk was pretty good, he is just getting into that phase where he fake smiles, so I wasn’t thrilled with his pictures. Don’t I sound like a bitch? Isn’t it half the battle when you can admit your failings? So, I can admit that I was more than frustrated with Kobra while taking pictures on Friday. I can assure you that he didn’t give a shit what I thought. BTW, the lady who took the last picture of me and Marivi asked us if we had seen the snake! What is it with me and snakes lately. I am so done with nature for awhile.

This was the look on Kobra’s face most of the day.

My sweet Goddaughter

I wonder if Marivi is stressing about me smiling just perfect?

In honor of St. Bernadette’s feast day, Friday afternoon a friend and I took our children to the Grotto at Our Lady of Lourdes parish off of 290. Oh My Gosh! This place was awesome! I’d seen a few pictures, and honestly, was a bit worried the place would be cheesy. I couldn’t have been more thrilled with it, and the children loved it. The boys were a bit spastic that afternoon, but considering Goose had been in school all day and the others were in a car for most of the day, I guess their behavior was normal. The Grotto itself was stunning and had a small chapel inside. Of course, all the kids had to light a candle. It was almost like bedtime, the amount of people the kids were praying for just so they could light another candle. There is also an outdoor Stations of the Cross. Wish I’d known about this before now. Regardless, at each station the boys (or girls) correctly identified the Station and said a prayer. It was pretty sweet. And worth driving home in rush hour traffic. They are building what seems to be a beautiful new church there. I am already making plans to return soon! (And I know Kobra looks awful in his outfit. I guess it’s time to change out “extra” clothes in the diaper bag.)

Look!!!

Celebrating their first mass together?

Our Group

It’s 7:45 pm and I’m supposed to be at dinner around 8ish. I have literally been on the go since last night, doing things I wanted to do, just not timed well. After dropping the big boys off at school, I managed to get coffee, grocery shop, stop by and give Lance a kiss before heading off to meet Marivi and the twins for bluebonnet pictures. We met around 9 this morning, drove down 290, took pictures, ate lunch, came home, I picked up BAM from school, then went back out to 290 to the Grotto at Our Lady of Lourdes parish. I got home at 6 pm. Besides Kobra not cooperating for bluebonnet pictures and the boys spazzing at the Grotto, the day was great. I am just dead and still have another place to go. Pictures to come after I go through them. You know me, I’ll probably stay up posting tonight despite being tired.

I hate “get to know you” emails. They always come from people who know me. REALLY WELL. And they always have that one question…who do you think will answer this questionnaire. For whatever reason, my name is always an answer to that question despite the fact that I never answer those type of emails.

In general, I hate forwards too. I don’t like the sweet stories, I don’t like the info forwards, or the prayer chains that people think I want just because I go to daily Mass. People, I don’t read them, and I break the prayer chains, so stop sending them to me. I think ALL political forwards are stupid and would never send them to someone else. For some reason people send those to me ALL the time too. And I have to read them just to see the stupid shit people come up with. I finally told a friend that it was insulting to my intelligence to even receive such crap. So, the first thing you know about me is that I’m a bitch who hates getting forwards.

Names you go by: Nicole, Nikki, Nik, Baby, Lance’s wife and mom. Interesting tidbit, although my name is Nicole, most of my life, I’ve answered to Nikki. At various times, (college, law school, work) I would try and change to Nicole, but then someone would hear someone else call me Nikki and it was over. Then I met Lance, who has a sister with the same name, different spelling. There was no way he could get romantic calling me Nikki, so since we’ve been together I’ve been Nicole. And now that I have tons of people calling me Nicole, I love when I meet someone new and they immediately call me Nikki.
Favorite color: red and burnt orange!
Last movie I saw at the theater: Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Favorite TV show: Mad Men, Big Love
Do you eat breakfast: yes, a 1/2 cup of Fiber One cereal. EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. even on vacation.
Deserted Island food: fajitas
Favorite dessert: Italian Cream Cake
Foods I hate: green peppers and tomatoes, as in I can’t eat a meal if they have touched my food. Lance just told me that is when he realized I was high maintenance.
What kind of car do you drive: Yukon XL
First car: 280 ZX, I loved this car!
Things that annoy you: oh so many. The biggest one would be when people ask if we are trying for a girl, always implying that there is something wrong with boys.
Favorite article of clothing: my jeans, the only expensive items I own
Eye color: brown
If you could go anywhere in the world: Turkey, I was planning to go there for 8 weeks until I met Lance.
Best childhood memory: the California vacation
Favorite time of day: when I pick Goose up from school.
what time do you go to bed: between 12 and 1
Where were you born: Galveston, Texas
Favorite sport: Longhorn football
Dogs or Cats: Dog. Someone once explained that when you have an indoor cat, you have a litter box, which means you have crap in your house until you empty your litter box. Not that I was ever going to get a cat, but after that there wasn’t a chance in hell I could have a cat without thinking of crap sitting in my house.
Do you have any pets: one dog, Lola.
Any siblings: one brother who I adore
Pedicure or Manicure: pedicure, actually, I would just prefer a massage
The last time you cried: last month, before that it was August when Goose went to school, before that it was when Dumbledore died in the 6th Harry Potter book.
Oldest friend: Paul
What do you do to relax: super hot bath
Glasses or contacts: neither, I had surgery!
Favorite fast food: Whataburger, and I hate Chick-fil-A
Favorite flower: anything my Baby brings me
Movie/s you can watch over and over again: Boogie Nights, Empire Strikes Back, Shawshank Redemption thanks to TNT playing it nonstop over the years, Bridget Jones’ Diary
Any Tattoos: At almost 40 years old, I can come clean about the Longhorn tattoo I have had for over fifteen years.
Any regrets in life: nope
How did you meet your husband: at a listener event, I was one of five girls eyeing him that night.
Scared of anything: flying
Do you eat organic foods: trying to switch over, but it’s so expensive
Favorite chore: dusting
Least favorite chore: mopping
Most annoying habit: it’s a toss between saying I need to lose five pounds or plucking my gray hairs while I’m talking to someone on the phone. They can always tell. It used to be plucking my eyebrows, then I found out about threading.
And my favorite band is: WILCO

For Today…April 11, 2010

Outside my window…it’s dark and the temperature is perfect. I love this weather. We spent most of the day outside enjoying the weather.

I am listening to…the Old 97’s, of course! Still so excited about the show. Plus, I have to listen to my favorite song that they failed to play over and over.

I am praying for…the pollen to get the heck out of here. I am so swollen and tired and just plain miserable. I think the baby is starting to feel the effects of it as well. He is fussy and not sleeping at all.

I am wearing…green shorts and a light pink top. I feel like Strawberry Shortcake.

I am thankful for…my husband. A blog reader posted something about how great he seems. And not to brag, but he is! I am sure I take him for granted more than I should, but thanks to this reader, I was reminded to tell him how much I appreciate him. People need to know they are appreciated.

From the kitchen…Lance and I are getting ready to plan the menu for the week. I hope we come up with something good!

On keeping home…same as usual. I don’t really mind cleaning, but I would like it if the floors stayed spotless for more than five seconds!

Around the house…I want to buy some plants and paint the bathroom. I think my husband and I can paint something that small, right? Knowing us though, we’ll be picking a color this week and hiring someone soon.

To be fit and happy…I love to workout. I do so five to six days a week. And I still haven’t lost a pound. I gained five pounds over Thanksgiving and can’t lose it. I think it might be the fact that I eat candy, cake or cookies five to six days a week. My challenge to myself is not to eat any sweets except Skinny cows for one week. Starting tomorrow. I already effed up today by having three pieces of cake.

One of my favorite things…going to concerts! I love live shows. So much so that I used to go to concerts by myself if I couldn’t find anyone to join me. Life is so busy now that I barely know any bands, much less know concert schedules so I was happy this past weekend.

I am hoping…to relax a bit this week. It seems as if we’re always on the go…we get up, take the boys to school, go to Mass, then the gym, then swim lessons or a play date, then, then, then. Hopefully, we won’t do too much this week. I know I’m in control, so hopefully, I’ll have control this week.

I am also hoping…that my boys find their way back to their own rooms. I am so tired of waking up with three little kids in my bed. No wonder I’m always tired.

A few plans for the week…

• park
• Super Saints
• swim lessons
• bluebonnet pictures with the twins
• birthday party
• prom dinner with Cindy and Terese

A picture thought I am sharing…

Our prom pose

I realize the top pictures are essentially the same picture, but I couldn’t decide which picture I liked the best. So you’re stuck looking at two pictures of me and my Baby. I call Kobra the baby, but Lance is my first Baby. Always!

The Old 97’s concert did not disappoint. I loved the venue, and the band was awesome. Period. We even sat with Denise and Wally, longtime fans of my hubby’s show. Denise brags about her sons and grandson as much as I do, so we got along really well! I can only say that when we have another kid, Rhett is on the short list for names. I don’t think we’re having another kid, but just in case, we are covered with another boy name. My only complaint of the night was that they didn’t play my favorite song.

While Lance and I were on a date Saturday night, Squirt had his first formal. A Military Ball! He has been waiting for a chance to wear a tuxedo for years. He wanted to wear it after we picked it up Friday night. He told me that I could take pictures if I wanted. As if he had a choice in the matter. Doesn’t he look so handsome?!

I don’t eat Sushi, but my husband does. I also don’t like tempura, so there aren’t a lot of options for me at a sushi restaurant. When Lance wants sushi, I usually suggest that he go with one of his friends for lunch, but last night he was taking me to see a band I have been dying to see so we went to have sushi. He was so excited about showing me this place.

How I wish I ate sushi because I would be at this place at least twice a week. It was so quaint and beautifully decorated. The owners were so nice and engaging. I liked it so much that I’m going back again this week. I ordered the fried soft shell crab. It was awesome, better than the soft shell crab at THE SUSHI place in Houston. From looking at our bank statements, I gather sushi isn’t cheap, but this place is. So here is my plug for a really nice sushi place that has really great prices and nice people. Yukino at the corner of Fountainview and Richmond. Go there, you won’t be disappointed!