Happy Birthday, Mom!

Actually, it was last week, but with her visit, the move, and a busy work schedule, I went on a blog post hiatus. Not to mention, we didn't have internet for two weeks.

After she flew in, Shawn immediately whisked her away to a birthday lunch with me in Boca. We basically hung out at home, trying to figure where to put stuff.  I took her to the Flamingo Gardens to see the flamingos.  She dressed for the occasion in the flamingo shirt I got her for her birthday.

We some some pretty fascinating animals:

Nap time!

A trip to the keys is a must! Islamorada for the day. Bully swam for the first time. We all fed the greedy tarpons.

 Mom got really excited by all the mango trees in our neighborhood. I ate mangoes for the first time in a while and every day during her stay. She bought forty from our neighbor to take back to Houston. Packed in a box and checked it on the plane, too.

I think this made her trip!

 As for the house, we're trying to prioritize the stuff we need first. We'll be taking some before and after pics. My mom cooked everyday and stocked our fridge. We couldn't have asked for a better first house guest!

What we gave our moms

One side features the appropriate kid and mom, and the other, Shawn and I.

Now that Christmas is over,  and our mom's have indeed received their packages, I want to share our gift to them: Lockets. My hubby bought me a bracelet for my birthday, and onto it I attached a silver locket with he and I on one side, and Bully on the other. 

This way I can bring my family to work with me without having them sit in the breakroom with coloring books.

I got the DIY charms from Anthropologie, of course, and thought this would be a great little gift for someone we love, but simply can't see all the time. So I shopped lockets, consulted a mother or two on which one she thought our moms would like, and shrunk some pics at Walgreens. I started the project and the Hubbs finished it. I came home to the image of him sitting at the dining room table, wearing my shuffle (with earphones), cutting the tiny pics into little ovals. 

SO CUTE. 

I should have taken a picture.

Tsk-Tsk

Woke up on a leisurely Saturday morning with plans to have a friend over, go to the beach, and have a couple tacos. On the way to the Mexican restaurant next door, Shawn's mom calls. They chat for a minute and then she drops the bomb:

Aren't you going to wish me a happy birthday?

The husband curses and apologizes. My eyes grown wide in disbelief. Oh no, he forgot his mom's birthday, which means we forgot his mom's birthday.

So today I made a Walgreens Photo book of her recent vacation pics. The hubbs had mentioned that she wanted something like this. It was very easy to upload and create. There was even a 40% promo in my e-mail for photo books. I made this book in 15 minutes, and told him to look at it. Which he didn't. I told him to leave his credit card and her address before he left for work, but he didn't. I really want to grab him by the shoulders and give him a big shake. Maybe something will stick!!!!

Normally, I wouldn't be so upset, but you shouldn't forget your mother's birthday. Or you wallet, or your house keys all in one week. I don't know what more to do, besides making sure he takes his vitamins, reciting his to-do list before he walks out the door, and assuring he carries a purse.

Is this normal? Or should I be worried that he'll forget to pick up Shawlani from school? Is three tasks too much for a man? Or is it my responsability to remember whatever he forgets? How can I not sound like a nag?

So many questions...

(and I'm serious about that purse!)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!

Two kids and their moms

I always say there are never any good pics of me.
Well, Not today!
I was totally excited to post pics of myself (rare) this time. I guess when you're on vacation, you have to like some of them, so you don't look back and wonder why had such a horrible time because you look so bad.

Well, here we are, playing on beaches with our moms.

Happy Birthday Mom!

Cheers!

    Today my mom celebrates her birthday in Houston, Texas. She is living the good life there with her sister. She made Houston her home last month.  I gather they go on lots of leisurely walks and pick fruit from trees in the backyard. Sounds good to me.

 Today also marks the one month anniversary of the Hubbs & I relocating to the sunshine state. I'd tell you what all we've accomplished in a month  but I'm not gonna steal my mom's thunder.

Love you MOM! Hope you love the flowers!

I will tell you that when I visit her, I am totally visiting the new BHLDN store.

from (here)

You know, I like their jewelry.

(Hubbs:"You looking at wedding stuff again?")

Our definition of Home

Build a photobooth, we will come. May '11, after  a crazy 12 hours on the beach.

     A few days ago, my mom moved to Houston, Texas from Atlanta, Georgia. It's a funny feeling to not have a reason to occasionally visit the city where I was born and raised. Over the past four years, I'd escape to Atlanta for some R&R. A visit to mom meant I'd eat good food, do some good shopping, and stock up on shampoo. I still called Atlanta "home," because that's where mommy was.
   Now that I'm an adult (how did that happen?) and married, my definition of home has to change. To be fair, I haven't really lived in Atlanta for about 11 years. Greensboro felt temporary. Every day Shawn and I look around us we ask ourselves, "how did we get there?" It honestly feels like vacation, but its home. To me, home is where my Hubby is. And Bully. Now, can I get a million dollars so we can buy a Victoria Park home?


Looted

With our stuff.

  On the way to Florida we pick up my mom's breakfront and dining room table. These things are probably over 40 years old and solidly built. I'm glad that I can have them in my possession and little Shawlani willl grow up looking at the plates and opening the drawers. Just like I did.

I kept a couple of Atlanta plates. My parents used to sell these at our Underground Atlanta store, before I was born. I get a kick out of the pics of the Omni, Fulton County Stadium, and the Scream Machine. Oooooold school.

Have the best time in Houston, Mommy!