"The only thing that separates us from the animals is our ability to accessorize."

Tonight, Julian put this hat on backwards, and Bella slipped one of my bras around her shoulders. They ran into the living room and said, "Look! We're parents! I'm Mindi and this is Dustin." 10 minutes later, they danced like maniacs, Julian giggling so hard he was snorting instead of laughing and Bella started cheering, "We're children! We're children!!" They are so much fun.

Crucifying Nemo. This just made me laugh

The Weekend

Festival Feet

I had an amazing weekend. 4 1/2 days off work. Alone with Dustin. Road trip to Austin. And most importantly, ACL

It was so stinking fun. Literal use of the word "stinking". Hot as heck in Texas. Dusty. No shade. Check out my dirty feet. And that was only after a couple of hours.

*Highlights*

Day 1

using a portapotty and having a man throw the door wide open as I'm pulling my skirt up. Oh yeah, that was fun.

While standing in a shuttle line for 3 HOURS, a man with torn, blood stained clothing, burnt hair and flesh (his face was grey) and other horrible disfigurements, came RUNNING toward me from the woods. I was freaking out. Trying to avoid eye contact and get as close to Dustin as possible. He stopped in front of me and handed me a flyer for a haunted house. I was slightly relieved that he wasn't a serial killer, but did not take his flyer. Seriously, you can't be freaking girls out like that.

Keane, Spoon, John Prine, Black Crowes, not too bad for the first day.

Stayed at Camp. Totally fun.

Day 2

Dustin wasn't feeling well, so he stayed at Camp while I braved the Fest on my own.

Decided I was going to learn to sew (for real this time) and travel with the fam around the world and sell my stuff and take pictures and live a regular bohemian vagabond hippy existence. (i like those three words and couldn't narrow down which word to use, so there you go) Totally inspired by the ART shop setup at the Fest. Very talented girls.

Funny shirt that said, "Your face gives me the diarrhea." If I had $18, I would be wearing this shirt the next time you (any of you) saw me.

More funny t shirts "Talk nerdy to me"
"Rita hates music"

Met an interesting English fellow in line for the shuttles. Talked about music and travels for over an hour. Really excited about doing more travelling in the very near future. Made Dustin a wee bit jealous. He never left my side after that :)

Deathcab for Cutie, Widespread Panic, Drive By Truckers, and Oasis. Oasis. Oasis. Champagne Supernova and Wonderwall have been making me happy for several years now and finally got to hear them live. Straight from the cocky little Gallagher boys.

Another fun night at camp, raiding the freezer for ice cream sandwiches and Bomb Pops, and searching the kitchen for boxes of salisbury steaks (because seriously now, what is a cafeteria without boxes of Sysco Salisbury steaks?)

Day 3
Saying goodbye to all our Hurricane Rita survivors (Uncle Rob and Kelly were taking care of several people from Houston/Beaumont area)

Beautiful beautiful beautiful music day. The Novemberists (loved them), Franz Ferdinand (this is my "roll down the windows and blare the speakers while bobbing in my seat" choice), and finally COLDPLAY. One of the best concerts I've ever seen. EVER. Chris Martin is divine. And Dustin is not even jealous about my crush on him. I think he understands it (and maybe has his own crush on him in a totally hetero way) He's going to freak out when he reads this blog entry :)

We stayed the night in a freaking nice room (Holiday Inn Express) We should be spokespersons for that company. We LOVE Expresses. They rock. In a calm, relaxing and orderly way.

Picked up the kids. They are so happy to see us. We are so happy to see them. Back to work, as usual. But hopefully, if my artsy, hippy, travelling thing works out...not for long :)

On my day off...

It started out pretty bad. I was sick. Dustin was sick. All we wanted to do was sleep. But I dragged myself out of bed at noon and turned the day around. Dustin wimped out and stayed in bed...that's why there are no pictures of him.

He did, however, go to Wal Mart at 3 am for tampons and Midol. At HIS suggestion, not mine. Does that mean he is a superhero? Or that I was just very obviously cranky and he knew the Midol would be to his benefit? :) We may never know...

1. took pictures of the kids (this one makes me laugh, little miss uncooperative. this is where the "cupcake bribe" came into play)

2. cut juju's hair (new haircut picture coming soon)

3. made cupcakes

Tomorrow is my day off. I LOVE day's off. The kids do too :)

Flower girl duties

Annabelle

So I've been talking to Bella about the wedding. She doesn't quite "get" marriage yet, but we're working on it. Here's a couple of conversations we've had today.

M So, Bella, did you know A and S are getting married?
B Yeah, why?
M Why?
B Yeah. I wanted to marry Salomon
M You did?
B Yeah (with a disappointed look on her face)
M Well, A is going to marry S. They love eachother and...
B Oh well. It's okay. I guess Amy can marry him if she wants to...

So tonight we're talking about her being a flower girl

M Bella, do you know that A and S want you to be a flower girl at their wedding?
B Yeah, why? (this is how she initially answers EVERY question asked)
M Well, they think you would be beautiful and you would do a great job for them.
B Yeah, why?
M Well, you would wear a pretty dress and carry a basket full of flowers, and walk in front of them and drop flowers for A to walk on.
B Why does she walk on them?
M Well, I don't know. Don't you think it would be sweet to walk on pretty flowers?
B No. It would hurt them.
M Well, I think they would be okay. Do you think you could be a flower girl?
B Yeah. (eyes light up) AND THEN!!! Salomon would give me a necklace!!
M A necklace? Why would he do that?
B Because, Mama, when they have weddings, and they step on my flowers, they have to give me a necklace. He will say, "Bella you are my girlfriend."

I like the way this girl thinks :) I wonder if I will get a necklace too?

duck chaser

Duck, Duck, Duck, GOOSE

I took the kids to the park this evening, to give Dustin some time alone to play his guitar.
We slid down the slides and played on the swings and chased ducks.

When we were leaving to go get ice cream, all of the ducks and geese had lined up on the edge of a bridge that we had to walk across to get to our car.
I told Annabelle that they had come to say goodbye to us.

At that time, a goose honked,
"HONK HONK HOOOOONK HONK".
I said, "Hear that? He said "BYE BYE BELL-A"

She was amazed, and even more so after he did it a second time right after Julian said Bye Bye. She started to walk away and said, "DUCK, say bye bye to Mama" and as if on cue, he honked again.

Bella said, "We're going to get ice cream now!" And the ducks flew off of the bridge and started quickly towards the direction of our car.
Bella started running, yelling

"NO DUCKS!! Mama!! They want our ice cream!!! RUN!!!!!"

So run we did. And we enjoyed the ice cream all to ourselves...except for a little sharing with one baby lion... (Julian)

Congratulations!!! My sister Amy turned 20 yesterday AND got engaged!!! :) She and Salomon will be married before the end of the year!! I love you guys!! :) :) :) Look for new engagement photos of them soon!

emotional

comfort in Psalms...

I'm a bit emotional right now. To the point where I was questioning whether I may be pregnant or not (as if I don't do that every month anyway) But seriously, crying over songs, crying over somebody's happiness, crying over others misfortunes (been a lot of that lately) I just feel like I've been going through a dry season and now the floodgates have opened for me emotionally and spiritually and the grounds are gathering up the rain...

I've been thinking a lot about the recent hurricane/flooding problems in the south...how could you not, right? But more than usual. Dustin too. The man never watches television (except for Antiques Roadshow) But he has been glued to the news. He's obviously upset, but excited about seeing the good things that can and will come out of this desperate situation. He is brainstorming and thinking of ways that our family can help. Do more than just be sad and donate the few spare bucks we have after the gas stations take their cut.

So last night, we are driving to my parents house and pass a bus here and there. We wonder whether they are from New Orleans, and what kind of people are aboard. I picture babies and children. Moms and Dads. Grandparents. Tired. Worried. Angry. Questioning.

And as we begin to pass a string of about 20 chartered busses, we also pass a small church with a bright marquis, stating,
"GOD'S QUESTION FOR AMERICA: CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?"

I did not handle it well. I started crying. So so angry. Bus after bus of people and this is what they have to see.

I don't care what your beliefs are, this is not humorous. This is not a time to wag fingers and present a mocking, damning God to the world. To these poor people who have lost everything and are then presented with the implication that they have deserved this. That they've been so bad that God had to destroy lives to get their attention.

The God I believe in is merciful. The God I believe in is full of compassion and grace. The God I believe in LOVES and cares for us. All of us.

Of all the things the church could say during this time to encourage and support and love our southern neighbors, that is what they chose. And it hurt so bad. And I've been angry and crying sporadically, even now, over it.

And tonight, I turn to the Psalms for comfort, and see reassuring words describing the God that I believe in.

"He will rescue the poor when they cry to Him;
He will help the oppressed, who have no one to defend them.
He feels pity for the weak and the needy, and He will rescue them.
He will save them from oppression and from violence,
for their lives are precious to Him." Psalm 73:12-14

"But you, O Lord, are a merciful and gracious God,
slow to get angry,
full of unfailing love and truth." Psalm 86:15

"The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed,
a refuge in times of trouble.
Those who know your name trust in you,
for you, O Lord, have never abandoned anyone who searches for you." Psalm 9:9-10

you can click on the picture to see a bigger version. This
is at the camp. It's so beautiful. I spent an hour taking
nothing but pictures of trees. :)

Wednesday, September 28, 2005

The Weekend

Saturday, September 17, 2005

Wednesday, September 14, 2005

Wednesday, September 07, 2005

Flower girl duties

Duck, Duck, Duck, GOOSE

Monday, September 05, 2005

Sunday, September 04, 2005

emotional

Thursday, September 01, 2005

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