Monday, April 20, 2009

"Who Let the Dogs Out?"

I should so be in bed but really, I knew you all could use a little Van-Fam Drama. I think these things really only happen to me...

First though I will share something I was really comfortable sharing until we were past it. The week before last we dealth with something not-so-nice. Something that will make you itch as soon as I tell you about it. Something that I hope to never deal with again but know it's very possible. Something such as - lice. Yuck. It was awful. I have never washed so much in my life. But, here we are almost 2 weeks later and no more lice, but I didn't check tonight so I might need to retract that statement.

And while I'm sharing...I will continue with the stuff I swear, only happens to us...

This morning I woke up to Kenz hollerin' "MAMA" in her crib. I listened for a few and could still hear JD breathing (he's a heavy breather) in his room and could tell he was still sleeping. I laid there a while longer and before long JD was stirring and then all of a sudden I hear him say, "Oh, she's calling me, I got to go." And with that he jumped up and ran to his sister's room. I guess he was hearing "Bubba" instead of "Mama". Regardless it was precious. And that was the highlight of my day. I should have stayed in bed b/c it was all downhill...

I was walking down the stairs carrying Kenz when I missed the 5th step from the bottom and fell. I landed right on my butt and sorta bounced the rest of the way down. My entire bottom half was so sore it was almost numb. I set Kenz down who whined a second but was fine and crawled my way to the couch. I laid there for 15 praying nothing way broken. Eventually I got up and walked it out. I have a nice purple bruise across my right cheek now. I tried to take a bath tonight but really needed one of those donuts they give you after pushing out a baby.

We (any by we I maan Kenzie) had a meltdown during our probiotic granola and yogurt this morning...and then she turned the granola mixture over on her head. That was fun to get out.

Then...my best friend Ashley came over to perform a school experiment on JD. After her pyscho-analysis on my son and after giving him the greenlight fir 1st grade (he's 4) we headed outside while the kiddos played. We were out there for only a few when the real drama started...

Backup 6 months...
...New neighbors move in. Great. They have 2 german shepherd mixed dogs, 1 mama pitbull, and 7 pitbull puppies. Not so great. The dogs attack the fence everytime our dogs are out and over the course of the last 6 months have come in our backyard 10+ times. I bet they have repaired our fence a dozen times (at least). It's ridiculous and needless to say, Jimmy is so over it. I have been fearful things were gonna get ugly...did I mention they are pits?

Well, they were finally down to one mama pit (who's mostly an inside dog), 1 german shep mut, and 4 pits that are not-so-puppyish anymore. So...the kids and I and Ash were all outside today. The kids in the fort and Ash and I on the ground talking. Next thing I know, these 3 pits and german mut coming charging into my backyard. THANK JESUS the kids were in the fort. The dogs have never been overly aggressive so I wasn't too panicked but they did have me cornered onto the stairs and were barking like crazy. Thank GOD Ashley was there b/c she was able to get the hose and spray them to get them to back off some. They would not scare off though...they def. were not scared of us but we finally got them back enough that I could get JD down and in the house and then Kenz (who was scared and crying) down and inside. Ash immediately called Jimmy and was probably more mad than I was. I usually don't tell him when the dogs get out b/c I know eventually he's going to go over there. Or shoot them. He comes home and the calls begin. We called the police dept first and they give us the number to Harris County Animal Control. We call AC and they are at lunch. We wait until 1:00, all the while these dogs in our backyard getting more aggressive by the minute. It was to the point that if any of us walked towards the backdoor they went crazy. There was one that was significantly bigger and more aggressive than the others. He was actually attacking the backdoor. I can't tell you how my hair stood up when Kenz walked over towards the door and that pit went crazy. All his barking and snapping was at the exact level of her face. It was at this point I realized the severity of the issue. So...1:00 rolls around and Jimmy call AC back. After explaning the situation the lady said she would get someone out....
Jimmy: "When?"
AC Lady: "Sometime. Maybe tomorrow, I can't give you an exact time."
Jimmy: "Maybe I need to re-explain the situation. We can't even walk out of our backdoor...what happens if they are back in their yard tomorrow?"
AC Lady: "Well, then there won't be much for us to do..."

This is about the time Jimmy lost it...

AC Lady: "And sir. Pitbulls are a family-friendly breed unless provoked..."
Jimmy: "#@!*&%^#!$*$(^!@*%$#@!(&%$ Don't preach to me and do your job!"

CLICK!

At this point in an attempt to calm Jimmy down and secure our rights as a HO, I called my mom to talk to our lawyer friend Bill. He explained the rights and in short said as long as we file a police rept we would be fine..."

We called the police back and spoke to an anti-pitbull lady who dispatched someone ASAP. A PO showed up a few minutes later. As soon as she went to open the backdoor they came running back through the hole in the fence (the fence issue is never-ending b/c they are constantly breaking th pickets). She went to walk out and they started going crazy. She did what she could to get ahold of the HO's and after no luck called AC herself. They sent someone out and it got worse in worse. In a matter of minutes the bigger pit was getting more and more aggressive. As soon as the AC worker saw the situation he immeditaley said they were going to be removed and if any got aggressive they would be putdown on the spot. He was able to cath all of them but it did take some time. He went after the aggressive one first and he took the longest. By the time he had him restrained he was foaming at the mouth and FREAKING out. Jimmy said it looked like one of those alligators on Animal Planet the way it was spinning. The homeowner's son came home during this mess and had no prob. Apparently they are the mother's dogs and he is sick of dealing with this crap as much as we are. They did advise him that they would have 3 days to get them back after paying the fines and showing proof of registration, rabies vac, etc. All except the aggressive one. He was "red-flagged" meaning he would be put down ASAP. It was really scary there for a bit, especially seeing how more and more out-of-control the big pit was getting. The AC and PO could not get over it...it was pretty bad.

And then...we had a nice quiet afternoon. Jimmy got home and took JD to golf and Kenz and I went to JoAnns and Barnes and Noble.

I did get home to an interesting story. Apparently JD was playing with Jimmy's phone we he said, "Oh!" Never a good sign. "She's talking to me..." Jimmy grabbed the phone and sure enough...JD had dialed 9-1-1. Jimmy said "Hello" and heard, "9-1-1, what's your emergency?" After explaining the situation all was well...

Of course...it was the perfect ending to a odd day. LOL. The positive in all this? Sleeping tonight without listening to dogs fight/bark! Amen to that! And praying they don't return!!!!

Off to bed....

Photobucket

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Two New Additions to the Van-Fam

We have two new people living in our house these days...we call them Won-chi and Won-chu. They are brothers. Ok, so they aren't really people. Or non-people for than matter. They are our new favorite words...err...JD's new favorite words. Ok, they are our new favorite words that JD uses.

"Won-chi paint a picture?"

"Won-chi roll the window down for some fresh air?"

"Won-chu come watch a movie and snuggle with me?"

"Won-chu make me chicken nuggets for dinner?"

"Won-chu come enjoy us?" Oh, and this is another new phrase. He asks us to come "enjoy" him. I think this comes from me saying things like "I enjoy watching you and your sister play" or "I enjoy seeing you share with Kenz."

Yes...won-chi and won-chu, we love them. JD doesn't think it's very funny though. All though he is clearly saying "won-chi/won-chu" he is hearing "why don't I and why don't you" so when we repeat it the way it really sounds he gets all upset and stomps his little feat. It's sooo funny, won-chu think?

So, besides the grammar lessons and rain watching...seriously, the rain has been insane, it's been sewing-central here. I did take a break this evening as it seems I am about a week ahead of schedule. What-what? And...I need a new blade on my rotary cutter so I am gonna wait until I make a run by JoAnns tomorrow.

For now...I am gonna answer a few emails and head to bed. Looking forward to church tomorrow morning...and praying for some sunshine.

Ohh...one more thing. Miss Priss has a new favorite commerical. She is a dancing machine so she is quite partial to those with good beats or animals. She really likes animals as well. So of course her new fave is the one with the hamsters/gerbels in the car dancing. She LA-HUVS it! This evening she was laying on Jimmy's chest before bed and as soon as it came on she hopped off the couch and stood up just so she could dance. And laugh. Dance and laugh. I MUST get this on video!


Photobucket

Friday, April 17, 2009

Quick Update!

Ahh...what a week. Who knew creating your own clothing line could be so much...work? Ha. It was a very productive week but exhausting all the same. Good news is, we are getting somewhere. The site is up minus the products and a lot of information. I have the clothing line fully designed on paper and most of the fabric either ordered or purchased already. AND...a few pieces of the playdate line completed. Yea! Now only 8-1/2 more outfits to go. Haha. But really, not too bad. The MUDCAKE ORIGINALS photo session is scheduled for the week of May 11th! And as soon as those are edited and added to the site we will be in business. Yea! Of course, I have decided to put a hold on orders right now in order to finish this process. I have a couple more orders to finish this weekend and then it's SUMMER LINE all the way. I am so excited to get this all done!

That's all I got time for, for now. I am headed to bed. I am BEAT!!!

Photobucket

Monday, April 13, 2009

MUDCAKE ORIGINALS - Coming Soon!

Whoo-hoo. A little sneak peak everyone...

www.mudcakeoriginals.com
it's not really up and running yet as I have not added any content. i hope to get all added by end of April/early May. i am not doing a HUGE summer line since it's so late already, but there will be a few things available this summer and then a much BIGGER FALL LINE with some fun new things!!!

Also, there of course has to be a blog to go along with the site...so check that out too and please bookmark!

And rest assured, once the site is up and fully functioning, I will send out a huge MASS email informing you all!

Thanks so much for your thougths and prayers...I am so excited to see where the future leads...


Photobucket

Friday, April 10, 2009

Spring is in the Air

Spring is here and I am so happy. I am so ready for some warm weather, some sun, and some fun days at the lake.

Today we headed to the bluebonnets before our FIRST lake-trip this year. Whoohoo! I have wanted to do this the last 3 years and each year something stops us. This year I refused to let that happen. I reminded Jimmy so many times that we were going to the bluebonnets today that he was really getting anoyed with me. Ha. So...we got up, Jimmy and Nick got the boat all clean and vacuumed out and we headed towards the bonnets. We stopped a little past Chappel Hill and took pictures in one of the prettiest fields ever.

Photobucket
1 of the 2 decent ones of both kids...

Photobucket

Photobucket
and yes...we had to pick one.

Photobucket

Photobucket
I love Texas for this reason right here!!!

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

After our bluebonnet stop we headed to Somerville. It wasn't really the best day for the lake but we have been DESPERATE to get out there! The water was cold and it was cloudy and only about 74 degrees. A little too cool but still so much fun!

Photobucket
Kenz having a blast on the boat.

Photobucket
SOOOO coooollllldddddd!

We are going to be in trouble this year. She LOVES, LOVES, LOVES the water. She wanted to get in so bad.

Photobucket
She is so silly!

Photobucket

Photobucket
A COMPLETE daddy's girl

Once we got home we had a mini-photo session. My website is almost done and I need a temporary, but good, picture for the home page. So...I tortured MacKenzie a little while as I attempted to get a photo of her in a Mudcake Original. Not sure if I got anything I love for the site...but did get some cute ones of my girl!

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

And now, my kids are in bed and the hubs and I are watching a movie. I will post after Easter!




Photobucket

Wednesday, April 01, 2009

TBall Fun

Whoohoo. What a whirlwind the last couple of weeks have been. Heck, the last weekend alone WORE ME OUT. Friday night we enjoyed some fun time at the AGC Cookoff. This is an event my mom's company has been involved with for years and for the first time we had such a big great group there. We had a blast!

Saturday was a BIG FIRST. We woke up nice and early and by nice and early I mean not-so-nice but VERY EARLY. Like, 5:45 early. I forgot there was a 5:45 A-M. Yikes!!! What could pull this mama out of bed at such an awful hour??? Oh....10 little 4 & 5 year olds for a wonderful day of TBALL. Whoohoo. Saturday was JD's Baseball parade, 1st TBall game, and and Baseball Carnival. If you Houstonians remember, Saturday's weather was less than perfect. Like, several 10's of degrees less that perfect. We all FROZE. It was MISERABLE!!!!!!! BUT, my sweet thing was super precious in his tiny little TBall outfit out there on that big field. So...I finally have some pictures, and really...they say it all. Oh, and then there's that video.

Photobucket
Me and my sweet girl before the start of the parade. And yes, she is wearing a Mudcake Original.

Photobucket
She loves the wind and gets super excited!!

Photobucket
I *love* this pic! I think it's hilarious that his last name is really bigger than his shirt!

Photobucket
My little Yankee

Photobucket
Right Fielder

Photobucket

Photobucket
First time at bat...

Photobucket




Sunday we had a wonderful time at church. I tired to take a few pictures of the Priss before leaving but instead I got a meltdown and some non-smiles. She's a mess and I love her to pieces.

Photobucket
I DO NOT want to take a picture!!!

Photobucket

Photobucket
This is as close as it gets to a smile...

Photobucket

We spent the rest of Sunday visiting with my family, a birthday party for a sweet friend of JD's, and a wonderful benefit at the golf course for a friend of Jimmys. It was a lot of fun and a HUGE turnout for a sweet family.

As for the rest of the week...I am going to try and get my house in ORDER so that I can get to sewing! I have some major things to get done!!! So I can get a website done! So much to do...sooo little time.

That's all I got for now!

Photobucket