Oops.

I have NO WAY to edit my blog right now -- I can just post through email and the not-so-dependable signal at the Creek! Please excuse the multiple postings about Kait's ski!!!

Oh -- and I finally named my Jet-ski. D'Lupe's Dash. Because I am living my "dash" to the fullest!!!!
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Do You Know What This Is???

If you've been around the Biggs Bunch at all, you know Kait wants to do EVERYTHING Abs does!! Well, this is Abbie's second year to slalom, and Kait has been wanting to as well.

BUT Kait's itty-bitty feet were just to small for Abbie's skis.

So Biggs, being The Greatest Dad in the World, just made Kait a slalom ski out of one of her little skis. I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!!!
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Sea Center Texas

We needed a bit of a break from my pier today. So I got up and rode my bike through a couple of "neighborhoods" while Abbie learned to wakeboard and Kait gave her lots of advice.

Then Biggs slalomed -- like a wild man. It was something to see!!

We came into town for lunch and a visit to Sea Center Texas. If you're ever in Lake Jackson, this is a GREAT place to bring your kids. They have a touch tank and beautiful aquariums. They have a tremendous fish hatchery tour.

Sea Center Texas is a partnership effort between Texas Parks and Wildlife, the Coastal Conservation Association and a host of others. It's staffed by volunteers who have a great passion about what they're doing. It's a great way to spend some off-pier time!!
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That's My Chair

But it's still too hot out there in the sun.

Took the girls to Sargent Beach this morning. Hurricane Ike stole the beach three years ago, but it's back. And the girls had a blast.


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My View After My Nap

No. I'm not in the exact same spot I was in yesterday morning. And I HAVE spent some off-pier time with errands to the store for ice cream, the one-room local library and the boat launch to put the jet-ski in.

And Kait and I took the kayak out. And we spent the majority of our day today with Captain Gene out on Matagorda Bay.

But I'm back in my chair and re-reading The Help in preparation for the movie release next week. I don't often re-read books, but this one is even better the second time around.

If you haven't read The Help, I strongly suggest you get up off your hiney and do so before you see the movie next week. I have a feeling the movie is going to be like going to visit old friends. And I can't wait!!!
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My View at Breakfast this Morning

Jealous??

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The BEST Week!

 We had THE BEST Week last week!  For one thing, Biggsy came home from two weeks at Camp GE. Whoo-Hoo!

 

 

The Owen family came to town, and we spent a great afternoon/ evening with them at Lake Conroe.  I set a new standard for Banquet Attire when I wore my swimsuit cover-up with Abbie's flip-flops to dinner. YIKES.

 

 

Apparently, all the dove that AREN"T in West Texas yet are in our front yard.  There's at least a limit or two....

I painted our bedroom -- nothing says Peace like a coat of fresh paint and new bedding!

AND I painted this little nook between our living room and our bedroom.  Fancy!!!

 

The Princess Guide: If You Need Inspiration

This time of year, I start to get a few emails from people who aren't going to walk after all -- for whatever reason. I think that's because there's this huge lag time between when you register in the spring and when we do the actual walk.

Life happens. Things get crazy.

And we kind of forget why we registered in the first place.

When you first sign up, you think you've got al the time in the world to raise $2300.

Then August and September come around and you begin to get nervous.

And we kind of forget why we registered in the first place.

This crazy chick who calls herself D'Lupe keeps sending you emails about fundraising and all that jazz. But it's 106 degrees in the shade -- and standing in line at the post office to buy stamps sounds anything but fun.

And we kind of forget why we registered in the first place.

Well....

Most of you didn't know my Mom. You don't walk because Sue Stephens passed away four years ago last Thursday. You don't walk because my girls have to grow up without their Granny. You don't walk because I can't call my Mom and tell her that Abbie started learning the change-up at her pitching lesson today, or that Kait had her first pitching lesson and LOVED it.

No, YOU have your own reason that you registered to walk in the first place.

It's still there.

If you need a bit of inspiration, if you need to be reminded of the absolute unfairness of this horrible disease, spend some time at http://toddlerplanet.wordpress.com 

You'll remember why you signed up to walk in the first place.

Big Hugs,
D'Lupe

 

Adventures in D'Lupe-Land

We've had a lot of fun the last couple of weeks. The girls and I took a quick trip to Round Rock / Austin for Carey Cox's wedding. We checked out the condo where we lived when Abs was born....

... And we had Round Rock Donuts for breakfast.

Kait went to soccer camp in Aggieland.

We've been fishing with Pa. I caught a shark.

Abs had the catch of the day!

 

 

I Have a Blog, But I'm Afraid to Use It.

Seriously.

In the past year, a well-meaning but off-base acquaintance has "trumped" my blogging a few times. Off-hand comments such as:

Please don't blog about that.

You can't blog about that.

Don't write about that.

Take that off your blog.

If you don't take that off your blog, I'm going to call Obama and invite him for lunch at your house.

Okay. Maybe it wasn't that bad. BUT even a few off-hand comments stack up.

Now, I feel censored. Watched. And for goodness' sake if there's one thing I don't relish in life it's knowing someone doesn't approve of something I'm doing.

ARGH.

Here's the thing..... Blogging allows me to write. And I LOVE it. I love sharing with all four of you. I love being real. I love the good, the bad and the ugly. And believe it or not I do censor myself to some extent. I haven't even told you about.... (See??)

I have to create. It's part of what makes me me. It's kinda like breathing. I have to be doing something with my hands and brain and all that together or I'm just stifled. And stifled is a great word for how I've felt since this person started getting all up in my business.

I've tried to be real with you -- and this road we've walked together has been UGLY at times. BUT I've been real. You know it all.

But knowing that I've been "watched" or "mothered" or whatever you want to call it has just completely taken the wind out of my sails.

Yes, it might have been a mistake to blog about certain things that have happened in the last year. But if I'm stupid enough to blog about them, I'm the one who has to deal with it. RIGHT?

So here's my question.... How do you deal with this? What are your boundaries when it comes to blogging? And how do you deal with people who get all up in your business?

I can do so much good with my blog -- but not if I'm afraid to use it.

 

 

18 Months & 60,000 Stitches Later....

My Ruthie"Quilt is finished!!! It's a queen-sized, machine-pieced, hand-quilted beauty. It took 18 months to make and includes over 60,000 hand-stitches. I'm beyond happy that it's done! I used three different designs to quilt the blocks. Can you tell? This is the back. It'll be Kait's someday -- when she's much, much older. She has a few stitches of her own in this quilt and really shows and interest in all things quilting!