That's So...

"Not Raven"

Raven Symone cancelled her Pajama Party concert tour. Not only that, I have to physically take my tickets back to the box office in order to receive a refund. Ugh! I am so mad a Raven right now.

Idol Fever

It's down to the last 6. After much consideration, I have decided that...



Do I think that he has a real chance at winning this thing?

Nope.

But, as Adam says, I have reverted back to my high school days and fallen for the long haired, blue eyed, alternative boy with soul. He knows me so well.

It's fun to be a fan!

For anyone wondering, because I know you'll ask...NO! I did not buy this t-shirt. But I would totally wear it!!!!

***So I don't get in trouble, let me give a shout out to the website where I found the awesome Idol t-shirts. www.tshirtblogger.com

The Name Game

I am going to preface this "mini rant" with the fact that Sissy's preschool is on my way to work so I usually take her and pick her up each day.

So, here is the story...

On Friday afternoon Adam left work early and picked Sissy up from school. Perfect. I worked a little later than usual and headed home. All is good.

Fast Forward to Monday.

Adam calls me to let me know that he will be leaving work early again and will pick Sissy up from school. Score!

I get home from work Monday and Sissy tells me that her name is "Olivia Jane." I am impressed.

"Did you talk about middle names at school today?"

The "HUH" look.

I think nothing of this other than "Oh! Who knows? Sissy likes her middle name! Fine!"

Fast Forward (Again)...8 p.m. Monday night.

I go to get Sissy's daily report out of her backpack and notice the name on the top says Olivia Jane. Hmmm! So, I ask Adam "Do you know why they are calling Sissy "Olivia Jane" now?

"Yeah, I told them on Friday that I don't like Sissy and to start calling her Olivia Jane from now on!"

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! WHAT???????????????

Red Face! Red Face! Red Face!

Talk about confusion. I won't get into my full response to HIS decision to change the name that they call her at school. That would take way to much time and space, but I will say this: After talking to her (calmly) and asking her what name she prefers, we have decided to stick with Olivia Jane. (This should also prevent any further confusion as to "Who am I?") I guess I figure if he could let the whole Tubee thing go...I could let Sissy go.

Though to me, her Aunt Sissy, and cousin Reagan, she will ALWAYS be Sissy!

Weekend Work

Adam had Sissy and our neighbors Jake and Matthew pulling weeds in our front yard on Friday evening. He paid them $3.00 a piece. (Not $3.00 per weed, $3.00 for the job!) They were so excited about the idea of earning money that they completely cleaned the flower beds and we actually got some bushes and flowers planted. I don't have any photos of the new landscaping, but I did manage to get a cute one of the kiddos doing their work.

Uganda Children's Choir and Tubee?

Last night our church held a special concert. The Hope For Africa Children's Choir from the East Africa UMC Conference performed. The children range in age from 5 to 12. All of these children have faced great adversities and are still full of energy and hope. There was not one child in the group of 23 that had not lost at least one parent to disease, war, or civilian terror.

A particular little girl stood out to me. She was one of the tallest girls and stood in the back of row. She smiled and danced and sang her little heart out. Towards the end of the performance, she was asked to come and talk to the congregation. It took her a moment to collect her thoughts. (She had probably never talked in front of that many people in her life!) She told of being on her mother's back as a young child and walking through the streets in Africa. Her mother was attacked a killed while carrying her child ON HER BACK! This little girl was found lying in a bush hiding next to her mother's body. A good Samaritan took her in and has raised her. She wants to be a bishop in the United Methodist Church when she grows up. Amazing!

All of these children are poverty stricken. Most of them have lost both parents.

Seeing these children and hearing their stories made me think about how truly lucky we are. I worry about trivial things like whether Olivia's clothes match and if her hair bow coordinates. These kids worry about where their next meal will come from and if someone else that they love will soon die from HIV or Malaria. We have it so good!

We left the performance last night feeling energized and grateful. When we got home, Adam said "Boy, the stories of those kids make the stresses of work seem silly and non-existent!" So true!

When we got home, I began focusing some of my positive energy on laundry, straightening the house, and tidying up the kitchen. Adam came into the bedroom and began putting away the folded clothes and tidying the bedroom. Around 9:30 p.m., I went into our bathroom to fill the tub for Olivia's bath and....





That's right folks! Tubee and Tish had been discarded. I stopped dead in my tracks. I looked at the roll. I looked in the trash. I was in SHOCK. I came out of the bathroom and asked Adam "Did someone tell you to change the toilet paper roll?" He said "No why?" (Puzzled?) Then the whole "Tubee Chronicle" came pouring out. The Husband Experiment, the Blog, the Days in Counting...he was less than excited! I admit, I would be upset too if he were chronicling my untidy habits.(Not that there are any!) Anyway, he got over it pretty quickly and as we were getting ready to turn out the lights he said "So, how many days had it been since I changed the roll?"

I grinned. Who's counting anyway?

Mother's Day Out

Yesterday my neighbor Renee and I went on a special "Mommy's Day Out" trip. We took the whole day to go shop at the San Marcos outlet mall and have lunch. On the way back into Austin, we picked up Sissy from school and took her home for some fun sidewalk chalk art and outdoor play time with her boyfriend, Cooper (Renee's son). Renee wrote a big message on the driveway for the husbands when they got home. (In case you can't see it: "YAY! Mommy Got a Break Today!") I did a drawing of Andy the cat and then Renee challenged me to draw Lightning McQueen. So, I had to go for it!







Sissy and Coop



Sissy and our neighbor, Miss Cindy

Tubee Update

Welcome back to the "Tubee Show!" For those of you who have been keeping up, Tubee is doing well. Still hangin' out in the same place. In fact, I have some exciting news to share. Tubee has a new girlfriend. Yes, that's right...a girlfriend! Her name is Tish (short for Tissue). She has been with Tubee now for at least a week.

Though I generally don't like my housemates to have overnight guests, I have made an exception for Tish. She is really sweet and keeps Tubee company while we are gone all day.

Here is the latest photo of the happy couple!