Soccer Superstar

March 26, 2010
This morning Madelyn made contact with a soccer ball during her first official soccer game. The video above catches her reaction after she kicks the ball for the first time...Madelyn couldn't quite handle the "pressure"...should be an interesting soccer season with plenty of sideline smiles and giggles...btw: after watching footage and looking back on game.. I AM "that parent" constantly yelling out, or nicely put, cheering for my kid...ohh boy, good thing there are several of us like that out there!!!A shot taken early on in the game when Madelyn was taking the game very seriously...I can see why she might have felt just a little intimidated.

A Must Read: The Help

Several people recommended I read this book, and after two months on our local library's waiting list, I was lucky enough to get my hands on it...sadly, it took me three weeks to even open it, and now three days overdue, I am happy to report it is more than worth the late fee I will incur! When finished with the book, I couldn't help but reflect on the "Black Help" within my life...although short in length, I will never forget the ladies of the sorority house I lived in for two years during college...LSU to be exact...a true southern school with plenty of leftover racial tension.
Looking back...Sadie, Egnola and Rosie were always bright lights during those memorable years...just thinking of them makes me smile, and I am so thankful I was able to have a relationship with them during that time. Even thinking of Floyd, the occasional gardner, makes me laugh. I don't know how many afternoons I would hang out with the help in the small room off the kitchen...all the ladies surrounding a small black and white television catching their afternoon soap opera...ha! Matter of fact, a few years ago, I revisited the house during homecoming of 2005, and you know who I hung out with and was most excited to see? Yes, Sadie and the ladies...I even have a picture from that visit...we brought the ladies a 24 pack of Miller Lite...made their day and mine! Still, I can't help wonder which of my friends or acquaintances would have acted like Hilly or Elizabeth from the book if they could...hmmmm....sad. Egnola (did most of the cooking...amazing to think I took all that yumminess for granted back then...she was a serious slot-player, loved her husband, cigarettes, and crown victoria), Me (pregnant with maddy early on), Rosie (sweetest lady ever...did the housekeeping downstairs, always had a smile on her face), and Sadie (had a pet name for me : big legs, the biggest smile in the world, so full of youth)Sadie Selmon and I...I miss her!

Viva Las Vegas!

March 20 - 23, 2010
A view of our hotel from a veranda at the Venetian...do you see the Volcano going off in the distance?So, I have now officially been to Las Vegas and the infamous strip, and whoa! What a fun, whirlwind vacation. Talk about entertaining....there is so much to take in...from the grandiose and opulent hotels to the cacophony of ringing slot machines..this place is over stimulation to the max!
We were very happy with our stay at the Mirage and all its accommodations....the pool area was so lush and relaxing, and the eatery and lounge options within the hotel itself were definitely worth the stay.
One thing any "virgin-Vegas" goer should be aware of before going: bring money and lots of it...there is a reason Vegas has so much wealth. There is a definite energy to this place that will pull you in to all its glory...do not, I repeat, do not go expecting to win...expect to lose....I had a difficult time dealing with losing, especially when I thought of all the "things" or little vacations we could do with the money lost...I'm not sure why I had this notion we were going to strike it big with some absurdly large jackpot...I suppose it's every Vegas goer's fantasy, and unfortunately for us, did not come true. The trip was worth every penny though....and the two shows we threw in were highly entertaining, especially Cirque Du Soleil's Mystere (everyone should see this at some point). The Cirque Du Soleil show Love (featuring The Beatles's music) was much more like a musical, and conveniently located in our hotel.
We visited many hotels and their casinos on our trip...and I have to say The Wynne/Encore towers were my favorite....their decor was amazing and I was a total sucker for their exquisite mosaic floors. The feel of the hotel was warm and much more like a boutique hotel...unlike many of the compound mammoths. Aria was my least favorite...way too modern, industrial and monochromatic for my taste. I was in awe with the fantastic color scheme and mosaic work. Two other favorites were The Bellagio (incredible floral garden) and The Palazzo mostly because of their unique and memorable landscaping, inside and out..



An art-glass lover's dream....Brad in front of The Bellagio.We could not have been happier with our hotel choice. I am a huge fan of hotel reviews, and this place lived up to its reputation on tripadvisor.Our friends Callie and Rob went with us...so much fun!

Gotta love Galveston!

March 19, 2010
Brad and I are headed to Vegas in a matter of hours, so my mom has been gracious enough to take Madelyn for the weekend when we leave...since it is Spring Break, we had the opportunity to spend two extra days with Omi. The weather has been incredible this week, so we took full advantage. Yesterday, we hit up Kemah and the popular boardwalk, and today we spent the day in Galveston...it was packed!!! The water might not be the clearest (or remotely close!!), but I love Galveston and all its charm. Really, just being on the beach is pure bliss...a favorite of ours!! Maddy and I walk and search for shells with holes to make jewelry...even though we collect quite a few each trip, we have yet to actually take the next step and something out of them! Any ways, here are some pics! It was pretty cold when we arrived on the beach, but Maddy quickly became quite brave (as usual, she did not want to leave)...We headed to the Rainforest Cafe after the beach...this place is a kid's paradise...check out our treat for the day..."The Volcano"Our last stop was some strolling within the historic Strand District...the oversized lollipop from the candy facotry was the perfect "activity" for Maddy while we window-shopped. You really should ckick on this pic for an up-close look at her expression...

Rodeo Ready

March 15, 2010
The annual Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is a big deal in these parts. The three-week event transforms Reliant Park into the world's largest rodeo featuring everything from "Mutton Busting" to deep-friend butter...yes, that's right. It really is a treat you shouldn't pass by, and we are lucky it is in our backyard! This year we saw Tim McGraw and the Black Eyed Peas (AWESOME show), and as the tradition goes (see rodeo blog from last year), we took Maddy to have her "rodeo day" with Toe (Abuelito). This year she wasn't really into the carnival scene as much as she wanted to be with the animals...here are some highlights taken from my phone (cannot believe I forgot my camera that day!)
This picture was taken immediately following a goat jumping up on Maddy...can you see her fright? Ok, notice the llama on the bottom left...as soon as I took this pic he bolted towards my hand and devoured my cup of food without much warning...can you see his pre-determined look of perseverance?? Oh, and he was HUGE (the pic does in no way do him justice)!!!

This was Maddy's only wish...to have her face painted...she opted for the pretty unicorn.

Schneider Wedding Weekend

March 12-14, 2010
This weekend we celebrated the union of Brad's cousin Clinton to Roslyn Kyle. Brad was an usher so we arrived on Thursday night to help decorate and set-up on Friday. It was wonderful catching up with family...the ceremony and reception were awesome...ohh, and the flowers were SO lovely! Highlights definitely include the cream cheese roll, wedding march, Aunt Dinah's sangria, wedding and groom's cakes (YUM), polka band, and so on! Congratulations Roslyn and Clinton Schneider!
Madelyn and her older cousin Madison....what a cute flower girl...oh, and check out the gorgeous flowers!!!Definitely my new favorite picture of Madelyn and Brad...love it!Brad's sister Christy and her fiance Gabe...congrats on your recent engagement lovebirds!