You can't fix stupid

I was really excited about this weekend. My friend Kim was flying in from Denver to attend a baby shower thrown in her honor at her mother’s house in Austin. Kim and I used to be roommates in Dallas. She's a fellow Baylor grad and started at Accenture (then Andersen Consulting) the same day I did (September 2000). Now she's 7 months pregnant with her first child and I’m super excited for her and her husband Scott.

So I've been looking forward to this shower for a while. Ok, ok, I have to confess. Anyone who knows me knows that I really dislike showers. I've always said that I'll buy you the biggest, most expensive gift as long as I don't have to attend the shower. But this was different. I wanted to see my friend and wish her all the best for this life changing event. It didn't matter that her mom lives in north Austin, which is about an hour and a half drive...I was going to attend, regardless.

As is fairly standard for me, I got lost on my way to Mrs. McCarty's house. I'm terrible when it comes to directions, which is really no surprise. My entire family has a poor sense of direction. Strangely, I've always prided myself on being far less directionally challenged than both my mom and grandma. Regardless, I still suck at it.

When I arrived (15 min. late), I thought it was strange to see that the street wasn’t lined with cars. I also thought it was out of the ordinary to see Kim's mom in the front yard and the lawn crew finishing up. So, as I walked up and greeted Mrs. McCarty she looked at me with surprise and said "Oh my! You're a day early". What!?!?!? I pulled out the invitation and sure enough...I was early - a full day early to be exact.

Luckily, I got to visit with Kim regardless. It actually worked out better because I wouldn't have gotten to catch up with her otherwise. She looked great and is expecting a boy on February 3rd. I'm so happy that we've stayed in touch throughout the years. I really enjoy seeing Kim and her husband Scott. My only wish is that they lived closer so we could see them more often.

As for me, I've learned that I need to pay more attention to details. I've also confirmed my theory that extreme sleep deprivation and babies make people stupid. I'm the prime example. :)

Here come the babies....

I can't believe I didn't post this sooner. I'm actually completely embarrassed that I haven't formally acknowledged it until now. Sadly, I've been so consumed with my own struggles that I haven't been a good friend or sister-in-law. Please forgive me.

So, I want to give a very warm and special congratulations to Brett and Ivy (Ross's sister and her husband) on the newest edition to their family (due date 6/2009). Ross and I are thrilled to welcome a new niece or nephew into the family. We also look forward to the day that Connor, Lauren Ann and baby Holmes are playing together out in the yard, or tearing through presents under the Christmas tree. How fun!!

Special congratulations also go out to Kim and Mark (Ross's cousin and her husband). We're super excited to welcome a baby Holland in April! Kim - Hopefully, our little babies won't cause as much trouble as you and Ross did when you were growing up. :)

Being that I'm a second generation only child, I've always dreamed of a having a big family. So bring on the babies...

4th Picture in my 4th Folder

I've been tagged again...

This time I was asked to post the 4th picture in my 4th photo folder. So, here it is...

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Several years ago, Ross and I took a trip to Europe. I was returning from Kuwait and arranged for a week long layover in Amsterdam. Ross met me there and our plan was to take the train down to the south of France to watch Lance Armstrong ride in his last Tour de France. However, after a few too many drinks in Amsterdam, I wrote the date in wrong on our train tickets which essentially voided them out (mm/dd/yy instead of dd/mm.yy).

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The conductor, who had seen this mistake made by many stupid Americans, told us we could get our tickets re-issued in Paris, however, there was a catch. We were arriving on Friday night and had to wait until the ticket office opened on Monday morning. So basically we were "stuck" in Paris for the weekend.

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With no hotel reservations, no map and no idea of where to go, we began walking the streets in hopes of finding a hotel for the night. As midnight quickly approached, our situation was looking slim. I was entirely convinced that we had no other option than to sleep on the streets. However, at the last second we stumbled upon an internet cafe (thank goodness) and were able to locate a room.

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The next morning we got up and began to explore the city. The first thing we did was to buy a guide book and since Ross and I aren't the museum going type, we headed for the catacombs. CREEPY....

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Now I need to "tag" four people...

Jenifer F.

Maggie

Elisa

Sarah

I've been tagged

I've been tagged and have to write 6 quirky things about myself then tag 6 others.

1. I'm ADHD to the fullest extent. I can't do anything from start to finish. That's not to say that I don't start things OR I don't finish them...I do. But the order of events occurs something like this. Turn on the stove, feed the dogs, play with Connor, check the mail, realize I left the stove on, chop some veggies, put Connor down for a nap, sweep the floor, and finally finish dinner. It drives Ross insane - I love it!

2. I wear too much black and put my hair back in a pony tail all the time. I really need some friend or family to nominate me for a makeover. Ahem?

3. I really wanted to name Connor - Jack or Jackson. Ross wouldn't let me and now I'm glad. Not that those aren't nice names, but they're too popular right now. Connor has two Jackson's in his daycare.

4. You'll never find me in a pedestal tub (you know, the old cast iron ones with the feet). I'm scared of them and always think that they're going to fall through the floor. I also won't eat meat with bones in it and am terrified of ghosts. Once Ross told me that he saw a ghost in our house and I didn't sleep for a week.

5. I went to Baylor to be a marine biologist. But after realizing Waco was 300 miles from the coast, I changed my major to marketing, then entrepreneurship and finally MIS/International Business. I also minored in German after having lived in Vienna, Austria for a year after high school.

6. A few years ago, I had to go to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba several times for work. While I was there I stayed in a single wide trailer in a secure area located 200 feet from the back wall of the main prison. One night, my clients had a cookout and as we sat at a picnic table eating burgers from the grill, I felt something scratching my leg. I looked down to see a rat the size of a small house cat (the locals called them banana rats) begging for a bite of my burger. As everyone began laughing wildly, I remember screaming like a little girl and jumping on top of the table. It was so embarrassing and completely unforgettable.

My little monster

We spent Halloween over at my sister Alycia's house for her annual Halloween bash. The men take the kids trick-or-treating and the ladies usually sit on the porch drinking wine and handing out candy.

Connor may be too small for tick-or-treating but he's not too small for dressing up! Whoooo, scary!