Friday, September 30, 2011

A Boring Post + Pictures

I've had a revelation, thanks to a blind playdate Annabeth and I had a few weeks ago. The sister-in-law and 2-year-old niece of a friend of mine came over to play. They had just moved to Houston after spending 6 years in Durham, England, which was one of our favorite places to visit when we were living there. We bonded over hot tea, although after she left I realized that since I make it a little backwards I probably looked like the British version of a country bumpkin. Or a poser. Take your pick. (I like to put the milk and sugar in the cup and stir it up before I pour the hot water. Does anyone else do that?)

My new friend told me she drinks 5 cups of tea a day, and that's after cutting back from one every hour of the workday. Needless to say, I realized that I could be benefiting so much more from tea! So I added a cup in the late morning and it has changed my life. Waking up at 6 AM to have my quiet time before the kids get up has been a very positive change for me. I wish I had done it sooner. But I've become rather dependent on naps, which is not realistic every day. Anyway, my mid-morning tea is helping so much. Sometimes I even skip the afternoon one.

Now that you're crying tears of boredom, here's an assortment of pictures from my iPhone. I know you're just so thankful you stopped by today.

This is evidence of the hottest day in the history of Houston, Texas, which happened in August (the 20th, I think). It was BEYOND. I got to host some friends from out of town that day and, bless their hearts, it was just so horrid. It wasn't actually 120 degrees but for the temperature gauge to even draw close to this is insane in the membrane.



These are the chips that I became addicted to this summer. However, I came down with a stomach virus after putting them in a taco salad and it cured my addiction.



My dad called me a few months ago to tell me about this huge trout he caught. I said, "Oh, good, Daddy! Are you going to cook it for us?" He might have used a minor expletive to express his state of flabbergastedness at my suggestion. It may have sounded something like "Heck no! That was a career trout!" Here it is, folks - Dad's career trout.



Here's my mom trying on some Willy Wonka sunglasses.



There was a clothes basket sitting by the laundry room door, just waiting for mama to tackle it. Inside was Annabeth's special blanket - AKA Giraffe Babies - which had suffered a baptism of the most unfortunate kind in the night. The house had gotten very quiet and I didn't know where Annabeth was. This is how I found her.



It was the most adorably tragic sight I'd ever seen.



This is a light fixture at a local hamburger joint.



I just love art.



My guys playing Guitar Hero.



This is the day Annabeth let me put pigtails in her hair. She will not let me do a ponytail (so ironic) but I achieved this by telling her she would get to wear two bows.



This is the day she wanted to stroll her baby dolls down to the school to get Jackson. It appears that she's had a haircut but she really hasn't.



Curtis, AB and I went to the Zapp Hall antique show this week. We had lunch at Royer's at Zapp Hall and it was incredibly yummy.



This is the shrimp BLT. It has become legendary in my memory, much like Goode Company's BBQ chicken sandwich at the rodeo.



Thanks to the orange lei, Annabeth fell asleep flanked by her lamb purse and baby doll.



Have a great weekend, people!

28 comments:

Jennifer said...

That picture of Annabeth with the pigtails is adorable and my mouth is watering over that Shrimp BLT.

Now, you need to give us all a tutorial on how you do your tea and what kind you use. I hate coffee and can never seem to get a bag of tea right when I do it at work. It never has any flavor!

Immeasurably More Mama said...

I drink coffee instead of tea but I always put my milk and sugar in first. I'm a little jealous y'all got to go to Zapp Hall. I've read about all of Annalee's trips there and have always wanted to go...living in FL puts me at a slight disadvantage. :) Have a great weekend, Amanda!

His Jules said...

Even your boring days are so much fun for me to share, thanks!

Unknown said...

This is a fun post!
When we visited Australia last year, I can't count the number of cups of tea we consumed!
I am also addicted to Julio's. I don't even know if a virus could cure it. :)

Unknown said...

I need to start drinking tea in the late morning. I always want a nap.

I love the sleeping picture. She is so cute.

katiegfromtennessee said...

Amanda, I've been catching up on your posts. .Mom sounded great, and I'm so glad you shared about your second week with the church plant. I am excited for you. I'll pray for you all.

Ingrid said...

I have a fantastic photo of my son Solomon aged 3, walking around our circular clothes line hugging his snuggley rug. Needed a wash after the same misfortune as AB's rug. So adorable, thankfully at that point of cuddling it was washed and drying.
Regarding the picture of AB at the antique show: How can such a little girl consume such a huge drink?

This post was excitingly random, really didn't know what was next.

lavonda said...

I make my tea (and coffee) the same way... sugar and cream (or just flavored creamer) in first.

AB sitting there holding her Precious melts my heart. So so adorable! Don't you just love moments like that?

Dionna said...

I cringe thinking of all the moments I missed taking pictures of my sweet girls! I remember so many times they'd fall asleep in their car seats like that...but we didn't have cell phones with cameras! And mine are only 12 and 14! How quickly we've advanced in those years!

And may I say that picture of Annabeth by her blankie in the laundry basket? Timeless and ultra precious.

California Dreamin said...

Thanks for your pictures Amanda. I just love the one with Annabeth and her two pigtails. She looks just like you did as a child. She's your "mini-me" Love you and the family. --Grandmamitz

wmcswain said...

I love the pictures and happen to have a blog full of pretty boring posts. 'Tis my life. Thanks for sharing. ;)

Anonymous said...

Your daughter is completely your mini-me. So precious! Thanks for sharing.

Tara G. said...

She looks just like you in the picture with the pigtails!

On the topic of tea, I may or may not put a little honey in mine sometimes. Thankfully, my British friend still takes tea with me. :)

Sarah said...

Too funny i blogged about willy wonka this week....check out my blog post:
Http://.theperfectiming.blogspot.com

Shellie Paparazzo said...

I mostly drink coffee, but I put my sugar and creamer in first. I think it's a lot easier that way.

Kristi said...

When our son, Dakota, was 3 years old he wandered into the living room and told us, "I'm gonna fleep (sleep) in the box!" And we said, "OK, baby...it's time to go night night now, though." So, we tucked him back in, completely ignoring the big box that had been the playhouse that day. And, the next morning I came in and he was "gone". We found him, and about 50 stuffed animals, "fleeping" in the box. He'd been there all night! It's one of my favorite photos in his scrapbook. :) Kids are too cool, aren't they?

Shelli Littleton said...

I know those Julio chips so well. Their salsa was awesome, too. We had a Julio's in San Angelo, and our Wal-Mart sold their chips and salsa. I haven't had them in almost three years ... moving solved my addiction!

Anonymous said...

I'm ALWAYS glad when I stop by your blog. Just sayin'. :)

Pam

Lauren said...

Such CUTE pictures!!!! :) Annabeth is too precious!!

Jennifer said...

Love the pigtails. I'm lucky if my girl let's me brush her hair! :)
I'm a coffee girl myself but maybe tea in the afternoon would be a nice pick me up.

Blessings!

The Well said...

Hey!
First time commenter here! I just started reading your blog recently and have loved hearing your journey through all your ministries! I'm a pretty new pastors wife (my husband just started at the church we're at in June) and I have to say I'm finding it a huge adjustment - esp. the time commitment it takes and the fact we have 2 under 2... I'd love to hear about how you find time to serve in ministry, and get everything done at home!
Anyway, look forward to hearing more about your journey with your church plant!
Suzanne

The Well said...

Hey!
First time commenter here! I just started reading your blog recently and have loved hearing your journey through all your ministries! I'm a pretty new pastors wife (my husband just started at the church we're at in June) and I have to say I'm finding it a huge adjustment - esp. the time commitment it takes and the fact we have 2 under 2... I'd love to hear about how you find time to serve in ministry, and get everything done at home!
Anyway, look forward to hearing more about your journey with your church plant!
Suzanne

Audrey said...

I love them all! And I, too, didn't find the greatness of waking at 6am for my quiet time until our boys were about your kids' age. Naps sound better every day (and occasionally I get to sneak one in), but I may take your advice and try fixing myself some tea to get a reboot...however, I'm sure it'll be more the action of making it that will wake me since caffeine does yucky stuff to me--our family loves, loves, loves rooibos tea~it's a South African {decaf} tea my husband found when on a World Vision trip there a few years ago. It doesn't take much (home)school after lunch to make me tired, but moving around definitely helps! I hope your week is bringing many joys your way!
love,
Audrey

Vanessa said...

I love this post and the cute photos! Your daughter reminds me a lot of my mini-me daughter. Too cute!

Vanessa said...

Love your blog! Your post and pics cracked me up! Your daughter is a lot like my mini-me 4-year-old. I also needed to hear that you get up early to have quiet time. I really need to get better at this.

connorcolesmom said...

those are some sweet pictures but the one with AB loving on her blanket just melts my heart. Both my boys were blanket babies - oh how I miss those days - SO SWEET!!
I love that her favorite blanket is the one from the Siesta Fiesta. Precious moments!
Have a great day!

This Is The Day said...

Wow, I cannot believe how big your little ones are getting! Seems like just the other day that Siestaville was eagerly awaiting the announcement of Annabeth's birth. Time really flies.

Rachel

Anonymous said...

I love the picture of your mom with the willy wonka sunglasses! haha... p.s. Annabeth's hair is so cute in pigtails :)

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