Cutting down the nets

I found this funny this morning: I was watching SportsCenter after my run, and Jack came in about 6:45 and started watching with me. They were showing UConn (I think) cutting down the nets after their regional final. Jack was concerned about this and asked why, and I told him it was a ceremony for the winners and was kind of a trophy for the winning players. He thought about it for a while and then asked, "But do they have more nets to put up?" I kept my giggles internal and told him, yes, they can replace the nets.

Yet another milestone...

...has taken place in the Hutton house today. Jack came running in just before bedtime to tell me something "so totally cool." "Look, Mom, what I just learned...." he says. I'm thinking of all the amazing things it could be and was somewhat taken aback when he says.... "I can make fart sounds under my arm. All my friends can do it and now I can too. It is so totally cool. Everyone was arm farting at Graham's birthday but I didn't know how." ('to arm fart' - another new entry to put in the dictionary)
And so we have marked yet another important watershed moment in the life of a young boy...arm farts.
His Uncle Sambo, Uncle Andy and Uncle Jason will be sooooo proud! Somehow I am envisioning arm fart Christmas carols in our yuletide future this year!

Oh, and by the way, there really was another milestone. Jack has a lovely "window" in the front of his mouth....


What a (handsome) ham!!

Tonight...

...my 7 year old son Jack consumed for dinner:
2 large pancakes
2 fried eggs
6 slices bacon
2 apple slices
1 glass of milk

Tonight's bedtime prayer will go something like this....

"Dear God,
We are no longer worried about paying for college. Please help us to pay for the emormous amounts of food it will take to feed three boys (and all their friends who hang out here). Bless us with a larger refrigerator, full-sized freezer, and a lifetime membership to Sam's.
Amen"

Techno-Challenge (alt. title, "Being Dragged Kicking and Screaming into the 21st Century")

This morning I was sitting in front of ESPN Sports Center after my run, and Annie came in to join me for a little snuggle and quiet time. She was paying attention to what was on the TV--I was so proud when she identified Mike and Mike as the radio show I listen to in the mornings on the way to school--and eventually asked me, in response to something she saw, "What is Twitter?"

I struggled to explain it, because I don't really understand it myself, but finally came up with an explanation that satisfied Annie but not me: it's like a lot of little blogs that describe what people are doing throughout the day. Since I recognize that she and the boys will soon surpass my technological know-how*, I figured that I need to try to keep ahead of her, at least while she's in elementary school! So today I tried Twitter for the first time. Will be an experiment--I've not been so good recently with the blog, will see if Twitter is any easier or if it is more trouble than it's worth.

* I had to laugh earlier this week when a mom I know was trying to find her husband's e-mail address on her iPhone, and she ended up handing it to her 3rd grader for help! That day is coming for all of us!

Boys will be boys...

After 4 days in the car with a moody (seriously, is it time for that) and very disgruntled tween, I decided that God knew exactly what he was doing when he gave me 1 girl and 3 boys. Boys are easy. They eat, they sleep, they fight, they move on. Now girls, a completely different story. The drama....my gosh the drama. And the sass!!! And the attitude...and all of this from a 9 year old!!! I mean, we are not even dealing with a teenager yet Lord help me! So boys seem so much easier...unless it is the day after a long road trip and you are tired and they are tired and everyone has a vacation hangover. Then, boys are impossible. The fights turn ugly and tears start to flow. The whining is unbelievable and the pestering intolerable. There is one thing that remains constant, though, no matter the circumstances...and that is that boys will always be...boys. Today for instance, with my patience at an all time low and my frustration at an all time high, Will chooses to make some very bad choices. Namely, he decides to pee in the outdoor toy box. Why, you might ask? I, too, asked that question. Why Will? Why? The answer..."I dunno, because I can. You always let us pee outside." Yes, outside, on the side of the house near the fence if you just can't make it inside...but not in the toy box....gross!!! This just weeks after he decided to pee down the slide...also gross. And all of this during a time when he just can't seem to keep his hands off his privates!!!! I mean really! So on our first day home from vacation, our day of rest and rejuvenation, here is the short list of all that took place... bowling, inappropriate peeing, snake skin discovery, live snake discovery, bike rides, bike crashes, mud pits, spit balls, scooter races, friends over, football games, a picnic lunch, a lost tooth and finally, showers and bedtime. Makes me tired just to type it. So, with all my little monsters now in bed, I am writing this blog to help me recognize the humor in my crazy life, and trying to remember that even though I deny it most of the time..this is indeed what I signed up for, what I hoped for, the kind of life I wanted to live and the kind of mom I wanted to be...sass, snakes, pee and all.

On the road again....

Many of you might not know this but the origins of this blog stem from our last Hutton family road trip. Summer 2008 the six of us headed east…two 30 somethings and 4 kids ranging in age from 8 to 3 (yes, you read that right) left Dallas for the beautiful city of Asheville in a teeny tiny suv with what we thought was a working dvd player..ha ha. It was, to say the least, completely fun, crazy, frustrating, exciting, exhausting and wonderful. Each night after most of us dropped into bed (or sleeping bag or floor or whatever) utterly exhausted, Ames would sit down at the laptop and recap our day's adventures or misadventures, and he would email them home to family and friends. Needless to say, they were hilarious and he was encouraged (thanks Sarah!) to continue chronicalling our vida loca. So, here we are again, except now it is spring break 09 (party on!!...woops, wrong decade) hitting the road on a multistate trip. We will call this one “Reach roadtrip” since technically we are traveling for educational purposes (thanks Mrs. Dyer!). Annie is doing a report on Laura Ingalls Wilder, hence our jaunt to Mansfield, Missouri, and Jack is reporting on Elvis, prompting our pilgrimage to Graceland. Day one has drawn to a close and the children are snuggled in our lovely motel. Coming soon are a few of the sights and sounds from our first day on the road(pictures to follow upon our return)...

Making Waves

Congratulations to Annie (and Anna and Brigitte) and the second place finish in the North Dallas Elementary Regional Science Fair! The project--which involved testing of beach erosion--was awarded second prize among all third grade submissions in the Earth Science category across seven school districts! What an amazing accomplishment! Pictures to follow...

My list...

..is not nearly so exciting or well thought out as yours. But here goes...
Julia Roberts - walked by her exiting the law school (filming Pelican Brief) while I entered the library to study for finals.
Lenny Kravitz - sat on curb beside him outside Tipatina's inhaling his second hand "smoke"...nice!
Tom and Nicole - jogging in Audubon park (I was walking) while he was filming Interview with a Vampire.
Quentin Tarantino --was sitting just down from...
Lionel Richie at the Ivy in LA. (seriously lame sightings considering it was the weekend of the Golden Globes)
Tia Carrere - of Wayne's World fame (schwing) walking down the street in London.
Don Henley - might not count since we only talked on the phone a couple times a month. He was a client when I was a florist...in a former life.
George W. -- did we shake his hand at graduation? Anyway, he was the commencement speaker for HPHS class of '90...before he was gov or pres.
That's all for now. Have to check with Liza 'cause I think we saw someone else in London.

Ames' Top 11 Celebrity Sightings

Everyone has had their little brushes with fame, and I suppose we all have our own criteria about who is famous and what constitutes an actual celebrity sighting. I don't think it's quite fair to include people you went to school with (Hi Harrison! Hi Angie!) especially as they weren't really celebrities back in school. (Well, Angie became one while we were still in school, but...) Likewise for the local rock star (Hi Ken!) or former work colleague rocker ('Sup, Andrew?).
In any event, these become interesting cocktail party chatter or get-to-know-you type conversations.

Knowing that I'm probably leaving someone off, here is my personal Top 11 list of celebrity sightings, Letterman-style:

11. Oliver Stone. See number 1 below.

10. Lionel Ritchie. Cathy and I were eating at the Ivy in Los Angeles several years ago and saw the singer dining several tables away. No, he wasn't dancing on the ceiling, just eating. (Cathy claims that Quentin Tarantino was at the restaurant too, but I don't remember that. Maybe he'll make Cathy's list.)

9. Col. (Ret.) Oliver North. Not too long after his trial over the Iran Contra affair, I met Col. North at a W&L football game, where he was watching his son play for the Generals. I sat behind him at the game and spoke with him a little.

8. Coach Don Nelson. My most recent sighting; I saw the Coach at the Ritz Carlton in New Orleans last month when the GS Warriors were checking in and I was getting ready to leave. He walked right by me and I couldn't hold back: "Hello, Coach, we miss you in Dallas!" After he finally realized I was talking to him, he said "Oh...thanks. Thanks a lot." and continued into the courtyard, where he fired up his stogie and read the newspaper.

7. Roger Staubach. Ordinarily, I'd put this much higher toward the top of this list. However, I don't remember it actually happening, even though Dad tells me that it did, and I've got an autographed picture of Roger Dodger from Culwell & Sons that I got when I met him. I'd like to meet him again so I can put the sighting closer to the top of my list.

6. Harvey Martin. Another great Cowboy of the 70's, I got his autograph when I ran into him at a park in Dallas. He wrote something next to his name and number that I've always remembered: "Nothing worthwhile comes easy."

5. Morgan Fairchild. This one is a bit of a stretch, but she made an impression at the time. Back in the 70's, my dad's business partner had a cousin (Bee Spears) in Willie Nelson's Family band. So the first concert I ever attended--2nd row, center stage at Reunion Arena as I recall--was opened by BB King and headlined by Willie Nelson. With Dad's connections, we got backstage passes and met much of the Family. We also got to visit one of the tour buses, and I was looking out the window at the other tour bus where I saw Morgan Fairchild! Hubba hubba. A thrill, even though I didn't get to meet her (or Willie Nelson, for that matter).

4. Jerry Jeff Walker. As long as we're on country singers, I've met JJW twice. Both in Lexington, VA; the first was when I helped "tear down" his set up for a concert at Zollman's and also helped recover his hat from my fool of a fraternity brother who had stolen it (hi Chad). A year or so later, I got to meet him again (much more sober this time) and recorded some promos from him for the campus radio station, WLUR.

3. Colt McCoy. I walked into a UT basketball game at the Drum with him last season (2008). He was very unassuming and polite; held the door for a lady in front of us and didn't attempt to draw attention to himself. Just a good ol' boy. (Honorable mention: I saw Ricky Williams several times on campus when I was in law school at UT but never had the nerve to speak to him.)

2. Ross Perot. When I was just a little guy, my dad used to take me to the barber shop on Saturday mornings, and I'd pick out a magazine from the rack and sit at Dad's feet, picking out words I could read for Dad and the barber. One morning when I was about 4 or 5, the man in the chair next to Dad commented on my age and reading, and then said to me: "Son, I've got a little software company. Come and see me when you need a job." Unfortunately--and probably unwisely--I have never attempted to take up Mr. Perot on his offer.

1. Tom Cruise: Back when I was a junior in high school, the movie Born on the Fourth of July was filmed, in large part, in Dallas. One of the opening scenes was a wrestling match involving Tom Cruise's character. As a high school wrestler of roughly his build, I was invited to try out for the part of his opponent (and, failing that, one of the other wrestlers in the scene). So one Saturday afternoon I headed over to Richland College to try out. After working out for about 30 minutes, I headed out in the hall to the water fountain. In the hall I ran into this short gentleman with a hat pulled down over his eyes walking into the wrestling room with a taller, more heavyset man with a scruffy beard. Yep, Tom Cruise and Oliver Stone. They were both polite if reserved. When I got back in the room, I was paired up with Tom Cruise and wrestled with him for a while. He was significantly shorter than I was at the time--I'd guess probably 5'7'' to my then 5'9''--and (I was told by the casting folks) I was too much bigger than him for the film. I was invited, however, to be in the crowd during the scene, but my football coach at the time did not see the potential upside to me missing (from the bench) a Friday night varsity high school football game to be in a movie!

So what celebrities have y'all sighted?

Just when you think...

...that you are going to lose your mind. Two of your children are so tired, so beyond tired, that they can't even speak coherently...all they can do is cry and whine and scream and cry again. You cook a healthy, wonderful meal...but you your husband's fish is underdone and nobody likes your vegetables. You realize the slow, dull headache that has been creeping up the back of your skull is now a full blown, eye-crossing pain that leaves you unable to focus, be patient or even really care. That is when you need a little comic relief. That is when your oldest son, wise beyond his years, after eating his dinner without a word of complaint, disappears into another room and comes back ...like this...



Ladies and Gentlemen....Elvis has entered the kitchen. Two things I know to be true....laughter is the best medicine...and timing is everything! Thanks Elvis!

God Bless Texas...

It was just another typical day here. The sun was shining in a cloudless blue sky. It was very warm,about 85 degrees, with just enough breeze to keep you cool but also quite enough to stir up the dry, dead grass and grey-black sand. The kids were all barefoot outside, striated with red, orange and purple lines on their arms and legs from delectable, sticky popsicles, long-ago devoured. Sarah and I sat under the quiet whirring of the ceiling fan enjoying an ice-cold glass of Pinot Grigio and listening to the rhythmic sound of the back door...banging open, slamming shut, banging open, slamming shut. We watched through the paned glass windows the endless parade of princesses, football stars, army men, superheroes, vikings, knights and villains as our children came in again and again for necessary costume changes emanating from the progressive dramatic storyline taking place outdoors. There were breaks for drinks, snacks, tattling, resolutions, apologies and the potty and then the action would resume. The filthy finger and toenails were a testament to the potions and concoctions being invented by the thespians and to the bare feet of all 8 kids. Yes, this was just another typical day among great friends...except for one tiny minute detail....it is FEBRUARY!!
God Bless Texas!

Wine always pairs nicely with whine....

I love to cook. Always have. Before we had kids (ah, back in the day), I used to read Bon Appetit regularly and flag pages with recipes I wanted to try. Needless to say, Ames loved this phase in our lives, and I feel sure, he has missed those wonderful meals that have been replaced with chicken, french fries, frozen peas and pizza. Now that our kids are getting older and things are a bit more manageable (did I say that out loud???), I find it easier to cook again. I'm also always in the market for quick, healthy recipes to try. I have been daunted by the idea of hours in the kitchen when all I really have is a good twenty minutes to spare at best. I also get pretty sick and tired of cooking for little urchins who begin complaining about dinner before it is even on the table....case in point tonight. Will walks into the kitchen post-bath and sees roasted tomatoes with homemade pesto waiting on a cookie sheet. In one long whining breath he says "ohmomyuckidon'tlikethatdowehavetoeatit?" Nice. Nothing like a little positive reinforcement in the workplace to make the worker bees feel like they are doing a good job. I must say, however, that once we sat down to eat our meal (Parmesan crusted pork tenderloin, almond rice pilaf and the aforementioned tomatoes), the kids did a pretty good job. There was actually a moment there where I thought to myself "I can do this...they are going to eat what I make!" Ames and I even reminisced about our days in Europe eating fresh pesto from Pesto, Italy and wonderful goat cheeses from the south of France....ah the good ol days! Tomorrow's meal of tilapia piccata and orzo with spinach and pine nuts should tell the tale. I will relish in my moment of glory tonight before the whining, refusing, cajoling, complaining begins anew. One of these days my kids are gonna thank me for exposing them to more than chicken and french fries...yea right. And we wonder, how is it we finish a bottle of wine each night at dinner....hmmmm!

Happy Birthday, Tita!

Hope you have a great birthday!



Much love from Annie, Jack, Will, Sam, Cathy & Ames

Tragedy!!

I know, I haven't blogged in like, decades, but I'll fill you in on all that later. First I must tell you I'm in mourning. A tragedy occurred in the Hutton kitchen last night...a tragedy of gargantuan proportions. Now, I know all mother's think their children are beautiful, and rightly so! But, my children were blessed by the Almighty with the most beautiful hair on the planet! Especially the boys (isn't it always funny how He gives boys those things that women long for...long, thick eyelashes, beautiful natural curl in the hair, but I digress). I have always had a wee bit too much hubris over the boys' hair. It is different colors, textures, styles, but they all have this thick, gorgeous hair that just makes you want to run your fingers through it.....until this week. This week we were exposed to that infamous elementary school villain..the louse. Yes, lice invaded first grade at WRE and ultimately found its way into the fabulous locks of my Jack. We tried to treat by conventional methods..lice shampoo, combing, etc, but still, in all that thick, wonderful hair, it was just too hard. So, that brings us back to the tragedy of last night. Now, I must inform you that Ames has been lobbying to buzz the boys' heads for years. In fact, he has taken immense, perverse pleasure in brainwashing them into thinking that they actually wanted to have their heads shaved and look like little paramilitary street urchins. And last night, Ames got his way. I couldn't watch, couldn't see all those golden curls lying there, massacred on the floor of our kitchen, couldn't see the moment of regret in my children's eyes as they realized there was no going back. But, I did. I did go in the kitchen, and I did try to be supportive. Funny thing though, there was no glimmer of regret. Only laughter and joy. And Ames, instead of having to encourage the boys or calm their fears while they lost their hair instead, sat there saying to them "Isn't Mommy being brave?" To which they all sweetly replied, "Yes." I was brave. When the tears sprang into my eyes, I looked away. I stood there and smiled and told them all how handsome they are. And truly, they are. Oh yea, by the way, only Jack had to have the buzz, but because the boys want to do all things big brother does, the little ones waited patiently in line for their buzz too. So, here they are, the befores and the afters. I will be ok. Life will go on. I will look at this as a lesson in pride and try to remember not to put too much emphasis on those things that ultimately don't matter. And I will look forward to the day when that beautiful hair grows back in...of course by then it will be summer and the massacre will take place again.

Change is Afoot at the Huttons...

OK, so you 3 or so faithful readers out there have probably noticed a drop-off in our blogging over the past week or so. A few reasons for that:

We're currently back in 1985 at our house as we are without our latest addiction, AT&T U-verse, which means no TV (gasp! Lost started last night!) and more importantly, no computer. Our friend Miguel and his great crew are working at the house doing some much needed repairs and cosmetic changes (did you know there was such a color as San Francisco Bay? I didn't until earlier this week...it's blue, apparently), but that involved disconnecting the U-verse brain and thus we're without TV and the 'puter. It was funny last night trying to watch Lost on the 11 inch TV that we inherited from my parents which had its first life in my sister's room in high school!

We're also having a huge pecan removed from in front of our house today. Not the expense I wanted to have right now, but I figured that (as it's got some slow decay running into the trunk) it was probably cheaper to have it removed this way than from the top of our neighbors' house! (Hi Dennis and Erin! And Maya!)

Not that anyone will notice, but we also had a roofer (Hi Bret!) out earlier this month to fix a "gash" in the roof right above Annie's room (which necessitated Miguel's internal repairs). So we've had a busy month so far at the Hutton house--just our way of trying to jump-start the local economy!

I'll try to update as I can with pics of the developments--stay tuned!

Oh yeah, one more thing. If anyone was keeping track (Hi Kyle!) of my progress on the Rocket Resolution, you may have noticed that I didn't update the widget on the right side of the page over the past 10 days. Long story short: I hurt my shoulder, tried to rest it by slowing down but ultimately had to give myself about a week off, but am getting back in the saddle effective today. Was able to do about 50 yesterday without problems, so I'll be working my way back up to 100 per. And I hope--before the end of the year--to make up those I've missed between 1/12 and today. Kudos to Kyle who is still cranking them out...and I understand that our friend Jason T. is on the bandwagon as well. Congrats and keep it up, guys!