Friday, March 30, 2012

The Last Week of the Audit...By the Numbers.


  • Hours worked - 70+
  • Chai lattes - 10
  • Times I cried - 1
  • Hours of sleep all week - 25
  • Questions asked - countless
  • Drafts of the report received - 5
  • Opinions issued - 1!!!
It's Friday...and we're done!




Wednesday, March 28, 2012

A Work Story

I thought it was only fitting this week to share a story about work.  I truly work for an awesome company who tries really hard to take care of its people.  It's just the nature of my job that there are periods that are super busy.  But every year the powers that be come up with contests and activities to try and make busy season a little fun.  This year has been no different.

One contest has a prize of $250 - $500 to go toward a team party (meaning alcohol {grin}). There are several categories a team can enter. Things like 'best team morale building story'. What category have we entered?  'Most unusual takeout meal'.

Let me set the scene:
  • SXSW in ATX (you know, only the biggest music festival in the world)
  • Saturday
  • St. Patrick's Day (And yes, I made everyone wear green)
  • Super Austin-y food trailers on Congress Ave.
  • Selected food trailer only served meals made of bison meat

Who says working on Saturday can't be fun?

So... think we have a shot at winning?

Monday, March 26, 2012

It's the 2nd Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Our mission: To get our 3 hooligans together and get at least 1 good picture in the beautiful bluebonnets.

The target

Because the littlest can't move very fast...the best pictures are of her. {grin}

Decisions, decisions...chew flowers or my finger???

They've stopped moving...and killed us with cuteness.

Drop and give me 20

I'm bummed that you can't see the flowers as much in this one.

Seriously.  Seriously.  I might die.

Be still?  No way!

Look at those lips.

Results?  Success!

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Keep On...Keepin' On...

I should be working right now, but I'm taking a little break to blog.  My current 'big project' should be done in a week or less.  And while I have a great team, it just plain sucks how much time I've been away from home.  I saw Trent for about an hour and a half on Monday, an hour on Tuesday and an hour today.  That's all, folks.  Boo. Hiss.  I was so jealous when Brent went to pick him up from school today.  Luckily, my husband really steps up his game and turns into a super hero when I'm working lots.  We make a great team.  He cracks me up because I am definitely the messy messier one in the relationship, and all he asks of me right now is to 'not make it worse'.  He literally told me that he doesn't ask me to pick anything up right now, just don't mess it up more.  Ha!  That's a saint of a husband right there.  So point being, I know the blog hasn't been super awesome this week (although the pictures of Trent for sure were), but cut me just a little more slack, and I'll be back with awesomeness very soon.  And just a little jealousy against anyone who will have already seen 'The Hunger Games'.  Because I'm not bitter at all. {grin}  Okay, back to the grind.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Book Review: The Best of Me

I read a Nicholas Sparks book this weekend.  I haven't read too many of his books, but I usually like what I read...



PlotThe Best of Me is the heart-rending story of two small-town former high school sweethearts from opposite sides of the tracks. Now middle-aged, they’ve taken wildly divergent paths, but neither has lived the life they imagined . . . and neither can forget the passionate first love that forever altered their world. When they are both called back to their hometown for the funeral of the mentor who once gave them shelter, they will be forced to confront the choices each has made, and ask whether love can truly rewrite the past. {image and plot via}


Review: I had mixed feelings about this book.  It went in a totally different direction than I thought when I started the book and had a few themes that I don't normally see/relate to a Nicholas Sparks book.  It was a little darker IMO.  Violence, drugs, child abuse, ghosts...  I also feel like you almost have to expect to cry when reading one of his books, right?  Well, there was actually some child loss in the story.  That I couldn't handle more than any other part.  It is my absolute biggest fear in the whole world, and reading about it was not fun.  I was reading in bed with Brent asleep next to me just hoping he couldn't hear my crying.  So would I recommend the book?  Yes.  Do I want you to be prepared before you read it?  Yes.


So have I made it seem worth reading at all?  I'm not so sure...{grin}.

Monday, March 19, 2012
Friday, March 16, 2012

It's the Little Things

Brent and I had the following exchange this morning.


In case you can't see what the picture was...

Oh yes, I am one lucky lady.
{If you don't know me, let me fill you in - I am crazy for gum.}


Thursday, March 15, 2012

Rough Daylight Savings

Poor guy can't get his sleep straight.
Mean parents made him wake up early this morning.
And made him go to school.
Mean mommy recorded him expressing his feelings about school.
This was after he took off his shoes and threw them.
And threw his juice.
And kicked and screamed in his car seat.


Even this mad, he is still the cutest thing!

In case you need a translation, all he says is "I don't want to go to school."


Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Randoms


  • This morning I debated pretending we lost power so I could not fix my hair and have a reason for it. {Because that did legitimately happen in January.}
  • Work being busy = Allena gives up on trying to eat right.  Chocolate?  Sure!
  • Trent has turned into such a staller at bedtime.  He wants '1 more minute', water, squirty fruit, etc.  Lately he is pretending to need to go to the bathroom.  You can't really tell your kid no when he asks for that!
  • I already know I can't make the midnight premiere for 'Hunger Games' work with my work schedule.  Super bummed.
  • I have been drinking way too much Coke lately.  Why does it have to taste so good? 
  • SXSW is going on in Austin right now.  We can hear the music in the audit room at one of my clients.  Kind of fun and depressing at the same time.
  • I have to work on Saturday - downtown.  It's St. Patrick's Day.  No fun!
  • I've had an eye twitch on-and-off since January.  I thought I had Parkinson's.  Reading on WebMD it's probably just stress and being tired.
  • We have NO handsoap in our house at all.  I'm using Trent's body wash.
  • Brent went to the store yesterday for Trent's essentials.  It's sad when your kid ASKS for a banana to eat...and you don't have any to give him.  His breakfast on Monday partially consisted of Ritz crackers.  #momfail
Anything random happening in your life?


Tuesday, March 13, 2012

More Experimentation

I am probably going to bore my in real life peeps and my online peeps with lots and lots of pictures while learning my camera.  But my life revolves around work these days, so there's not much else going on.  Come on March 31!!  I took some pictures of Trent reading 'The Wheels on the Bus' while sitting in a laundry basket, in mis-matched pajamas, with 'night-night' and blanket.  You know.  Just a typical afternoon in our house.




I love this picture.  Very rarely is our kid ever still, so it's neat to catch him in a moment of calm.



Monday, March 12, 2012

Photography Beginner

I got my first DSLR camera.  But I wanted to learn how to use it.  So I took an online photography class this weekend.  I didn't want to spend all that money on a fancy camera and only use in 'Auto' mode.  That would feel like buying a super expensive point and shoot.  In just 2 hours, I learned so much!  We talked about 3 topics - ISO, aperture and shutter speed.  I won't bore you with the details but just wanted to show our experimentation during class.

ISO - light sensitivity
Even though the picture itself never looks good, can you see how you can finally see my dad?

Aperture - how much light you let in/what you focus on

Shutter speed - how long your shutter is open
How crazy is this comparison between over/under exposure and when you get it right?

I had fun playing at home too. {grin}



Friday, March 9, 2012

Best Day Ever - Trent Style

Trent spends 1 day/week with each set of grandparents.  I love that for him SO much.  He gets to have lots of adventures each week.  Well, this past week, I think he had the best.day.ever. with his Nana and Papa.  The plan was to take the Metro Train from by their house to the downtown station and walk around downtown and enjoy the nice weather.

Trent loving the train ride.

BUT in their walking when they got downtown, they passed a fire station where a real fireman was outside with the fire truck.  O.M.G.  The fireman was so nice to Trent and let him drive the fire truck and spray the hose.  What an adventure for this train/fire truck loving boy!

Fireman Trent!!!

I have to admit that when I first found out how his day went, I was a little jealous.  Trent has had so many fun adventures without me (seeing the Biscuit Brothers with Babs and Pops is another one I missed) because I have to work.  But then I decided to see the joy in the situation.  On one hand, it doesn't really matter WHO takes Trent as long as he's having these fun trips. And on the other hand, how awesome will it be for him to have these memories with his grandparents?!  So while I can't say I'm 100% not jealous, I can say that I am so thankful Trent gets this time with his grandparents and will have amazing memories with them for years to come!


And seriously, what a day, huh?

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Randoms

  • I am obsessed with Overdrive.  My only complaint is it's still somewhat new so there aren't a ton of books yet and most of the time there's a waiting list.
  • Because of Overdrive, I started the Jack Reacher series my friend, Kelly, blogged about a lot.  So good!  Unfortunately, long list for book 2.


  • I've been on a romance novel kick lately.  Had a big discussion about romance novels last night.
  • Our book club got together last night to not have our book club.  Heather is in town from New Zealand so we got to see her.  And eat Chuy's!  Yum.
  • I didn't intend for this post to be all about books, but I am such a nerd.
  • I utterly failed at giving up cheese for Lent.  $5 to charity coming up!
  • I'm in another busy time at work.  Seems like they pop up a lot lately...  Need to make it through the end of March and then {hopefully} things will slow down for the summer.  Fingers crossed.
  • I'm giving a presentation tonight about being a woman in business.  When did I become adult enough to do that?
  • My DVR is exploding, but I am just not in the mood to watch TV.  Except Law & Order: SVU.  Gotta watch Mariska.


Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Happy Birthday, Miles!


Miles is THREE today!  I can't believe it!  We celebrated on Saturday with a Barney-themed party.  Get ready for picture overload.

All the neat decor.
See all those beads?  My mom and dad went to Mardi Gras.  These are just the green and purple ones she got there.  Crazy!

Cupcakes!
Oh?  You think they're pretty?  Well, thanks!
That's right...I made them!!

See?  Gorgeous!

OMG.  This face.

Eating, singing, blowing out candles.
Miles was SO cute when we sang.  Just grinning!

I have what on my face?  Huh.


Love these peeps!

 Miles really got it that this was his party and his presents.  So cute! 

You're next, sweet pea!

We ended the day with a trip to Kiddie Acres...heaven for these kiddos!

Happy birthday to one of the sweetest kids around!  I love you, Miles!!

Monday, March 5, 2012

The Never-ending Stream of Cousin Pictures Continues...

Hopefully you like looking at pictures of these kids as much as I like taking and posting them.  If not, though, you probably stopped reading my blog a long time ago...and I should stop talking to you because you aren't reading this anyway! {grin}

Patty and I spent a lot of time together a few days in a row.  And the kids were hysterical.  The boys are really starting to play together more, and Miss Blair is just into everything she isn't supposed to be.  She is going to be (heck, she already is) the bossiest of the 3!

Blair thought it was so fun to ride his Trent's cart.
Trent didn't find it so fun to share with his little cousin.
Most people don't think Blair looks like my sis, but I swear, all I see is Patty's face when I look at Blair.  So stinkin' cute.  And almost ONE!

You can see our dad for real mowing in the background.
Trent: 'I like how you are improvising w/ that toy to mow.  Because you know I don't share mowers well.  And dude, where are your pants?'
Miles: 'I'll get the mower back from you, don't worry.  And who's talking about pants? At least I'm not wearing pajamas still in the middle of the day...that don't match.'

Now Trent is also sans pants.  And is hammering nails (golf tees) in the garden.
Along comes Miss B...to try and eat some dirt.  Love this girl!

And just another day in the life with our crazy trio!