Sunday, September 27, 2009

Ba de ya - say do you remember...Ba de ya - dancing in September...Ba de ya - Never was a cloudy day!

September has been so fun for our little Loco Lopez family. It finally cooled down enough to go camping. Lennon has decided it's not so bad getting dirty as long as there are s'mores and swimming involved. We found a great camp site with lots of room to run around and find fairy food and eat bag after bag of cheetos. Man we love camping.



We really don't let the girls eat too many chips at home so when they get a chance they go a little nutty. Lucie turned a righteous shade of orange by the end of the weekend.

Lucie chilling at our world class swimming pool. It had a fig tree umbrella, towel service, a sunscreen valet, water games and a super hot cabana boy.


Fairy food. We found all kinds of different kinds of food, but we learned that they preferred these little red berries the best. They like to save the skin to rub on their cheeks for that perfect healthy fairy glow.

Eating Laura Tolar's world famous cowboy stew in the camper.




Ahhh... the perfect marshmallow. Burnt to a crisp and melted to goop in the middle.


You know it's good when the chocolate runs down the side of your face.


Our campsite was a short walk to the lake. This area was knee deep about 20 feet out into the water. Perfect for little ones just learning to swim. Lennon shocked us by swimming out all by herself and not freaking out. She loved it. She even made friends with some other little girls. I laughed so hard when one little girl was singing "Poor Some Sugar on Me" at the top of her lungs and then asked Lennon if she knew that song. Lennon said no, but I like the "No One on the Corner Has Swagger Like Us" song. That's my girl.



Lucie wasn't so sure about this whole swimming thing. She didn't like the squishy mud, but once she figured out that she could splash us, she was sold.


Hi, I'm Atilla. I love to camp. I love to swim. I love to eat hot dogs. I love to get water dumped on my head over and over again by a two year old. Seriously, I do.

I can not even put into words how much the girls LOVE the camper. They have all kinds of little hiding places and they like to close the curtains that separate the bedrooms and have their own "houses". The area under the table was their store and they would take their babies grocery shopping for, of course ... cheetos.


We took the girls to my favorite restaurant in Grapevine during Grapefest. If you ever get the chance please go to Into the Glass on Main Street. The food is amazing - get the truffle macaroni, the tingas tostadas, the fried okra and the crab enchiladas. The wine selection is even better. They only buy wines from smaller eclectic wineries so there are some really fun choices.



Andy and Lu waiting for their grub. I thought Wayne (the owner) was going to puke when he saw me come in with toddlers to his wine bar. The girls were really good though, they swirled their glasses and sniffed the bouquet, checked for legs and decided that they liked the more oakey tasting Chardonnay over the buttery one. I mean geeze, give them a little credit. They may not be able to color in the lines, but they know a good wine.



Yummy yum, truffle macaroni makes us happy. They serve it in a tiny little blue enamelware pot with a lid. So its piping hot and buttery and garlicky and super cheesy. He doesn't use regular elbow macaroni either. No way ... he uses big fat penne noodles. Truffle oil people. I mean come on.

See how happy she is. Truffle oil. It's natures cure all. Makes three year olds sit still in wine bars, makes tummies full, makes mommies smile, makes daddies really really really mad because they are lactose intolerant. Sorry about your luck dude.





After drinking all that wine, Lennon was ready to ride some rides. That's right folks Lennon rode rides all by herself. We couldn't believe it. She cried when she couldn't go on the bigger rides because she was too short.


WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


My friend Kate asked me if I thought I could come up with a way to do cake pops for her daughter Reece's 2nd birthday which was Little Mermaid themed. I couldn't for the life of me figure out how to shape them into fish or mermaids so I just went with a Little Mermaid color scheme. Turned out pretty dang cute. My next attempt will be fishing bobbers for our upcoming fishing trip to Missouri and little puppy dogs for a baby shower later this month.




Blue and turquoise for Flounder, Green and Purple for Ariel, Pink and Red for Sebastian.





I threw in some baby blue "bubbles" for effect. Kate served them sticking out of a aquarium at the party. Turned out quite swimmingly if I say so myself.





Especially this little guy.



The girls hanging with their friend Logan at Reecie's party.




I caught Lucie being super silly the other day. She has the funniest facial expressions.

This is - Whoops, I just got caught taking books off of mama's shelf



But look how cute I am when I make my cold face.

See ... I knew you loved me mama. You can never stay mad at me. Can you? I win!




Lewisville has a big Western Day with a parade and all that good stuff. Brandi and Jeff and the boys met us and while it was insanely hot we had a really good time.


Lucie watching the parade and super stoked that she caught a tootsie roll.

This sweet little werewolf went over really well. All the kids watching the parade couldn't wait to run up and pet him. Universal shrieks of, "awww he's so cute!", could be heard from all. My kids especially loved the guts hanging out of his blood soaked muzzle.

After the parade we walked over to the main street area where the bands and food and beer were and we were stopped short by the longhorn cattle drive. They were literally right in front of us. I was so freaked out. Especially when the last two dudes decided to have longhorn "relations" with one another and abruptly started moving towards the crowd. Thankfully they got their hormones under control and we were saved.


Corny dog- corny dog -corny dog! Now if I can only get her to be a normal person and put mustard on them. Ketchup really?

Lennon spotted the Lewisville High School dancers and jumped up and down screaming, "Cheerleaders Mama"!!! These girls were so nice a posed for a picture with her. Love the hands on the hips and the tilted heads. Ahhh ... the good ole drill team pose.




It was after corny dogs that we heard the announcement for kids to come sign up for the stick horse rodeo. There is nothing better than publicly humiliating young children, especially if they are your own. But that's just me though, so we ran like the wind to sign all the kids up.


The concept was simple. Kids in three different age divisions 7-6, 5-4, 1-3, ride around on a stick horse which they have named themselves, in a rodeo ring that has three large pumpkins in the middle that they are supposed to pretend to gallop around. There were bleachers for the 150 or so spectators, a judges panel table and a creepy rodeo clown. Perfect.


Alec who's seven was the first of our brood to compete. Alec does not like to be publicly humiliated. At all. I mean the boy is so shy he barely talks and when Jeff told him he better participate or else I thought he was going to pass out. After the first contestant ... a girl wearing sparkly pink boots and pink cowboy hat came out of the shoot and pranced around and did a few tricks (riding backwards, jumping over the pumpkins, waving at the judges) I knew Alec was in his head figuring out a way to blow up all of Lewisville. None the less when his name was called he very slowly walked out on his stick horse and glared over at all of us and promptly walked right out of the ring, took the blue participant ribbon from the friendly lady at the exit and sat down in the bleachers and didn't say a word. The announcer even said, "well isn't he a spunky guy". Awesome.



Next up was Blayne. Blayne LOVES public humiliation and ran out of the shoot when his name was called, like a bullet. He ran so fast that he he tripped and ate it big time. He got right up and with a big smile continued running so fast you could barley see him. He ended up winning 3rd place.





Then it was time for the 1-3 year olds. Here are the girls practicing. Lucie had that special twinkle in her eye that told me that she was in it to win it.


Lennon on the other hand, while at first excited, quickly melted into pure panic mode when she realized that she was up next and that I wasn't going to go out with her. It went down like this: "And now riding her horse, Winner, is Miss Lennon!" The shoot door opens, Lennon takes three big gallops out, looks to the left sees all the people, her eyes bug out then well up and she screams "Mommy!", and turns right around and runs back to the shoot. I turn her around point her to Andy who was waiting for her on the other side and push her back out into the ring. She gets about half way to him crying the whole time and for some reason turns around and comes running back to me again. The crowd at this point was dying laughing. I'm telling you this public humiliation thing is great!

Here she is with her participant ribbon. Look at that poor little face. Love it!

Then there was Lu. She waited patiently while all the other little guys went out with their mom and dads helping them around the pumpkins. Most of them crying or just walking while timidly looking out at the crowd.


Then it was her turn. She went right out galloping her little heart out.


Round and round the pumpkins she went, smiling all the way. At one point I think she even winked and blew a kiss to the judges. When the air horn blew telling her it was time to exit the ring she just kept right on galloping. I ran out into the ring to grab her and she galloped faster right away from me. Laughter and cheers and harmony spread through the audience and I knew right then that my little baby was a shoe in.


She politley received her participant ribbon and took her seat next to the - stilll plotting how to wipe us all out, Alec, the still smiling Blayne, the still blubbering Lennon, and never took her eye off the judges table.

And then we heard it. "Our 3rd place winner, riding Champion (yes, I was trying to sway the judges a little with their horse names) is Miss Lucie"! She walked back out to the arena got her belt buckle award and posed for a picture with the rodeo clown. No fear, no hesitation.

You go girl. I seriously was so proud of her. It made my heart explode.


Lennon honey you did just fine. We love that you tried. But you better get used to the pubilc humiliation. Mama's hooked!

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Summer Lovin ... Had Us a Blast!

Now that the summer is over I finally have some time to post on my blog. I know I need to keep up better with this, but it seems of late that I am too busy reading other people's blogs :). We have had the BEST summer ever. We played outside like mad dogs, did tons of stuff with friends, went to the circus, went to the BEST wedding ever in the Hill Country for our friends Steph and Justin, cooked outside almost every night, put up a play house for the girls, visited my grandparents and my aunt and uncles in Illinois, I went to DC three times, and Toronto once, Rylie girl came for a visit, I turned 30, Andy turned 29, our tiny baby that was JUST in my belly turned 2, Queenie had a birthday, we finished our kitchen, we went to the PAUL MCCARTNEY concert, I made tons of cupcake pops (my new passion), Lucie learned to talk, Lennon learned to chill out (mostly). It has just been GREAT! These pics are not in chronological order, sorry.

PS- I need to add some more b-day pics from my 30th and our trip to Illinois. These will be posted soon!


Lulu at Queenie's B-day breakfast. She NEVER cries so I had to post this!



Seriously, could this be any more classic? Me, always posing, and my beautiful prissy (not) daughter with her finger up her nose.



My two favorite homeboys.



Meggie and Queenie! Happy Birthday Queenie! Glad you are still around at 21!


Lucie wearing the sunglasses Aunt Elaine bought her! SHE LOVES THEM!!!!!


Opening presents at Lucie's 2nd Birthday. Blayne's like ... uh huh ... I want what is in the bag :)


Uncle Jack with his favorite chicas!

Lucie waiting for her birthday to start. I made her have an Elmo party. Lucie is so silly, she doesn't have a "favorite" anything. She just likes to hang out with Lennon and me and Andy. No tv character, no favorite color, nothing she's childishly crazy over. Just her family. I LOVE IT! I know it is wrong, so wrong. But I really love that she just wants to be with us! WE are her favorite :)

Mimi bought this for Lu's birthday. A bow holder! Our friend in Ennis made it. Amanda Zabonik http://www.myspace.com/redbarncandlecompany . She also makes seriously THE BEST candles EVER! They burn twice as long at Tyler candles and they smell better and they are cheaper. GO TO HER SITE!


I made some Elmo cake pops for Lucie's birthday party. They are SO good and I have pretty much become obsessed with making these things now. They are just TOO cute!





Andy and I were SO blessed and were able to go to the Paul McCartney Concert. It was pretty much my idea of heaven. I just needed three other guys up on stage with him. The concert was at the new Cowboy's stadium and was just amazing! At the very end he finally put some images up on Jerry's screen, this was, " Here Comes the Sun". Heaven. For Me.


At the show! Big dork Andy!



Paul on the screen. He was so amazing! Light hearted, young, played for three hours straight, played about 15 different guitars, moved me, made me so thankful for my parents, made me feel good about my kid's names, just really really made me happy!

Serving drinks for our friends in our suite for the Paul McCartney concert.



At Lu's birthday party at Teressa's. All the mommies with their babes :)


CHEESE - Happy 2nd Birthday!!!!

My kids on the street in Oak Cliff. Should I say anymore?


River 09! We went a couple of times this summer. Brother Jack actually made it out this trip so I was super happy! We rented an awesome house that sat right on the river. Loved it loved it loved it!


Me and Val-A-wa!!!



Happy 29th Andrew Bradley Dyke Lopez! You are my best friend and the BEST dad ever! Seriously dude!!! Same team Farvre!



Lennon and I at the Circus. She was trying to be brave :)


We went down on the floor before hand and they got to try on some costumes.

Watching the show ... love this shot!


Breakfast on the new island in the kitchen. They love sitting in the big red chairs!



Lucie AKA the dirtiest baby EVER. I think she had markers, dirt, crayons, worms, Ebola, cooties, I mean everything on her this day. She's super!


Let me out of the house...I'm so dirty, I must live outside with the worms and the other people of the Earth who truly understand me! Lennon, you don't get it. You still freak out when a spec of dirt hovers near you.

All the cousins with Papa Pez!



My Favorite pic of Andy and Lu. I know these girls are going to look at these pictures one day and say, "Mom, what was the deal with those big bows"? Um...really? Can anything be cuter than this?



Looks like trouble ... the FAM on the way to watch fireworks.


Cheesers all around! It blows my mind how much Rylie looks like Mimi Rox.




This is just a little too much JonBenet, but the girls had SO much fun. They had a real tea party with pink cupcakes and got to dress up in whatever they wanted to try on. Blue eyeshadow was the rage and all was pure and perfect in the world for that hour.



What Lennon really did our whole family vacation at the Texan. Poor kid really struggled. She was so excited to spend time with Rylie, but I think, had some hard moments in dealing with the fact she had to share - sometimes.

Me and the girlies with Micky the monkey. He was super cute. He had some moments though ... made me a little nervous.

Our three silly girls with their hats/braclets. They fought over these for three days. They never lost air. Go balloon man!


Our sweet baby Lu playing outside. Too fun! Too cute. Too Lu


Me and my Grandma Millie Candy celebrating my 30th birthday. I love her more than I can express. I want to be all of the things that I love about her. Her bookshelves, her garden, her unfailing love of what she cherishes, her class, her strength, her books, her bleu cheese dressing, her love of the earth, her love of her family, her love of her mother, her love of MY mother, her love of me, her love of her husband, her love of fairies, her love of magic, her love of possibilities, her love of children, her love of animals, her love of love. Love you Grandma!!


My new second cousin. I want to steal him. Look at his face. I also want to steal his mama and have her come hang out with me and my girlies for a weekend. Swap mama stories, life stories, love stories. Love me some Hudson AND Cooper and some Ben and Stacy!


Ummmmm...can you say Candy family resemblence. Laura Varee Vs. Lucie Varee. Auntie - you rock! I'm so glad my girlies have you like I have you!!!!!


Growing up we always took pictures out by the front yard tree. Prom night, homecoming, easter, everything got documented by that tree. It killed me when my parents had to cut the tree down. Such is life I guess. But man it was hard. Don't know how long we will be in this house but, I want as many tree pictures as possible.


Shamless plug...but I'm SUPER proud. My team voted me teammate of the year for 2008. This is me crying like a fool. I had snot coming out of my nose - seriously. NICE. I was insanely humbled and honored and just really floating out of my body.



Some more cake pops. These were for my friend Kate's shower. She didn't know if she was having a girl or boy so I did a mash up. I loved the way they turned out. Seriously these things have become my outlet! She ended up with a boy. Baby Beau. Sweetest baby ever. I got to rock him recently for a good 20 minutes. He tickeled my chest with his tiny little hand and looked right in my eyes the whole time. I *heart* him! Dang it....I'm a little baby crazy right now and craving a little boy, is it that obvious?




Did I mention, I am making diaper cakes also. I just think these make the cutest table center pieces!




I will end on this HOT note. Me and Elizabeth and Val on my 30th. We had SO much fun and I felt so blessed to spend this night celebrating with two of my childhood friends. I know how rare that is and I am so unbelieveably grateful.