Friday

Friday, July 3, 2009 Posted in our house

Ok I know it is flickr faves day and I have been bad about doing that lately. I have been bad about just keeping up lately. Hopefully we/I will be back on track real soon. I have been doing most of my blogging with a baby on my lap and it just isn’t easy! When you are nursing it is waaayyy easier. Two hands free. Bottle feeding, not so easy.

So I was inspired by Meg to do a before and after porch series. Pictures coming soon. Today we finally bought a few things for the balcony off of our bedroom so we spent the day cleaning it up and getting it put together. Then after that I will do the screened porch, and if I get around to it- the front porch. I have ideas for all! I am photographing as I go so stay tuned- pics to come!

I am back into fixing up my house. After our remodel I was so DONE and took a huge break-no magazines, no plans, no nothing. But now I am starting to plan “phase two” which I have promised Andy can be at least 5 years from now. The scrapbook of ideas is back out, ideas are starting to flow. Phase two will hopefully include a pool and I am hoping for a studio that is not on a lower level so I am dangling “home theater” in front of his nose- my current studio would make the PERFECT place for a home theater. I want a studio that is all windows and doors to the backyard. I love our house. LOVE IT. We have really made it into something that is just so perfect for us. I really can’t imagine starting all over. It is so much fun to plan, think, dream, save, and then one day put it all together.

But for now, back to the Port A idea house. Let’s do the Guest Room now, this room is over the kayak room.

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Can you just see yourself in this room?? It was so cool! But no ocean view from here- that’s what you get if you are the guest.

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Tomorrow I will take you inside the house. Lots of pics for that one.

Enjoy your 4th!!

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by Elisa

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Home

Thursday, July 2, 2009 Posted in Travel

Can you believe it? I have never been so happy to be back in Ohio. Lush green trees and cool temps. My own bed. Nice.

I wasn’t sure we would make it back today. A car load of sickies. I was determined. I packed a bunch of plastic bags in case anyone needed to puke. No one did.

I am so ready to get started with my summer. Get the house put back together. Get the yard back together. Play, hang out, go to the pool.

Of course my first day home and Andy says, “what do you think about Philly? Austin? Cincy?” Can you tell he has been talking to recruiters? Can you tell he is frustrated with his job?

My kids are all over moving to Austin. In fact they were planning it before we left Texas. One look at the Southern Living Beach House some how had them convinced that we just needed to move back to Texas.

Speaking of the SL House, want to see some pictures? Yeah, I thought so. I have so many I thought I would break them into groups. And they were all shot with my point and shoot and they are all straight out of the camera. Sorry.

So let’s start with the exterior.

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I love the clean simple design. You can’t tell from this picture but the house is in a a little neighborhood that was so stinkin’ cute. All the houses were cool, with big porches and such.

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The “front” door was actually on the side

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Back porches

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There were all of these cool outdoor areas, with sitting, fireplaces, etc

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Here is the entry into the outdoor kayak room

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Coming tomorrow- pics of the guest house (located over the kayak room).

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by Elisa

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And then the tree fell on the car

Wednesday, July 1, 2009 Posted in Life

I know you must think I make this stuff up.

We pull into the driveway at 11:30pm on Monday night. Cole fell asleep on the way home from the airport and so we unloaded part of the car and when Andy went back out to get him there was a tree in our car. Cole was fine but we couldn’t get him out until Andy sawed up the tree. At midnight.

SO now I am at the farm picking up the dogs and Cole has been puking since 2am. My plan was to go home but now I have another sick kid.

Seriously, can I just go home? I miss my house!

UGH!

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by Elisa

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Still in Texas

Monday, June 29, 2009 Posted in Travel

Leaving late tonight.

I have a lot of pictures to go through but here are a few more

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Our beach pet

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What dinner looks like, minus two of the grandkids

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Grandma Lu holding her new great grandchild

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by Elisa

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Tie Dye

Saturday, June 27, 2009 Posted in ElisaLou

Annual Cousin Camp tradition- the making of the tie-dyes.

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by Elisa

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beach pics

Friday, June 26, 2009 Posted in Travel

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Some of the cousins

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Blake headed out

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Emma and Grace

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Aunt Julie and Eva

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Aunt Julie and Alex

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Andy and Cole

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Andy

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Max and Blake

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Cole

I just realized when I was going through the pics that I am not in any of them. And after thinking it through, I realized this is probably a good thing. :)

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by Elisa

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Tired

Thursday, June 25, 2009 Posted in Travel

It’s been a crazy week. Never a good idea to start a vacation off on 3 hours of sleep, but I never dreamed that it could be the most I got each night. I actually have no idea how much I am getting each night. It is a bit of a blur.

Between Blake’s coughing, me worrying about Blake being sick, and a 2 month old baby- well the sleep is a bit elusive.

Blake has been pretty sick. First strep, and then (we think) pneumonia, and then a case of croup (while still having the other two). I know Andy has been just as worried (having recently heard of an old friend that just lost her 12 year old to pneumonia). Even Austin, who in his pre-teen-ness thinks his little brothers are annoying, has asked on a multiple time a day basis, “is Blake going to be ok?”

One night I took Blake out to “sleep” on the deck, hoping the humidity might help ease his cough. He dosed on and off and we talked about the stars, about the ocean, the lightening way out over the ocean. I loved every minute of it, even if I didn’t sleep that night.

One night his coughing was so bad that no one slept- I don’t think Eva could even sleep through it. Oh wait, Cole did. He can sleep through anything.

One night I tried to get a little more sleep by bunking in Andy’s parents room with Eva. But of course my worry followed me there and I found myself getting up to go check on Blake and sit and watch his labored breathing.

Yesterday afternoon he turned a corner. He got chatty, his cough started to lessen. With it went the adrenaline that I have been living on the last 4 days. I walked by a mirror and caught sight of myself and the dark circles under my eyes and thought, “wow, I do not look I am on vacation.” I was exhausted.

But this is our last day at the beach, tomorrow we head back to Dallas with hopefully a trip to Houston to see my brother and family. We plan to make the most of the day- Blake’s first real beach day of feeling good. Caffeine will be my friend today.

Because more than anything else, I am just happy my guy is feeling better.

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by Elisa

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Beach

Wednesday, June 24, 2009 Posted in Travel

I am having the hardest time updating the blog because there are 9 kids here and only 3 laptops. Unless I sneak in while they are all at the beach, it is hard to find an open computer. Plus the connection is slow and I can’t get any photos uploaded.

So…

Blake and Andy made it down here. Blake is still dragging a bit. He has a nagging cough that is driving him crazy but he was able to play in the ocean and the pool for a bit yesterday and seems to have slept well last night with the benefit of some cold meds. He is still sleeping but I am hoping today is better for him.

Want to see something cool?

The 2009 Southern Living Idea House is here and is open for tours. I am so going to check it out.

Only two of my pictures uploaded. Here they are.

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by Elisa

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A Rocky Start

Monday, June 22, 2009 Posted in Travel

Saturday night was crazy. Up until 1am with a boy freaking about our 6am flight and another boy that couldn’t stop coughing.

Got them to sleep at 1am, and then up at 4 to the airport. Things were running smoothly until Blake gets to the entrance of the plane and pukes. The pilot freaked and wouldn’t let him on. Talk of swine flu started swirling around even though I kept assuring him that he had strep and was on antibiotics.

So, I stay on the plane with the baby, Cole, and Austin. Blake and Andy go home.

The flight attendant apologizes non-stop to me about it, how they have never done that before. I sit there on three hours of sleep and think about crying.

Easing Austin’s fears about flying (which for the life of me I can not figure out why he still has it- the kid has flown at least 25 times, probably more over the last 12 years) for the entire first plane ride.

Hauling all the stuff, kids, and trying to make a connecting flight was challenging. Especially when I realized I forgot the carseat at the tarmac and had to ride the tram back (hauling kids) to the other side of the DFW airport only to find it gone.

The bright side of it all is that Eva was a champ. She slept the first flight, and was awake and chatting the 2nd flight. Austin was much better by flight #2 and we got down to Corpus in good spirits.

Andy took Blake to the urgent care and sure enough, strep. He has had it for the last 3 weeks. They determined that he is resistant to the antibiotic they gave him. He is on a new one, doing better- and catching a flight this afternoon.

So…. here are so shots from our trip so far

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Trying to start the grill- takes a team

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Aunt Kathy and Eva

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Emma and Eva

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Max and Austin

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by Elisa

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4am wake-up call

Saturday, June 20, 2009 Posted in Life

So the rest of the family is already there, enjoying day one on the beach. Austin didn’t want to travel on his birthday so we are leaving tomorrow- bright and early!

I have been trying to pack for our family of 6 while Andy runs all kinds of errands, all the while dealing with two boys who are bouncing off the walls excited to go, one boy who is getting anxiety about the flight, and one girl that wants to eat non-stop. Crazy.

I never stress too much about packing because I feel like whatever we forget is the closest Target away. Of course it will include a ferry ride, but it can be done.

Most important, I have bought three new books

Girls in Trucks by Katie Crouch

Can you keep a secret? by Sophie Kinsella

Nantucket Nights by Elin Hilderbrand

All three seem like great beach reads. I also have a bunch of magazines

Better Homes and Gardens

Cookie

Real Simple

and probably the one all of the chicks (including my MIL) will be fighting over- People’s latest issue with the hottest guys. Of course none of my top picks will be one the list. But that is a whole ‘nother post. One of my friends told me that she thinks I have the worst taste in men- well except for my husband. She thinks he is pretty cute.

My list would include a musician
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Because how can you not love a musical genius, and he is so stinkin’ cute. But probably way too short for me

a comedian

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Ok how can you not love a guy who makes you laugh all the time??

and a professional athlete

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Now you know the real reason I like hockey. Just kidding.

And no, my husband is not allowed to make a list because all you have to do is walk into his place of biz to get an idea who his list might include. Ok I just pulled up the link and I have that bikini packed to take to the beach but I am missing two large components for the top portion. It says miracle bra swimsuit but I think that miracle may have included a trip to a dr. Just sayin’….. that suit does not perform that kind of miracle on me. Oh never mind, upon further reading I realize that I have last years version which does not include the removable padding. That explains everything. LOL. :)

Ok, off to get kiddos to bed EARLY.

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by Elisa

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