How did you get to work today?

My father-in-law was in town for an extended weekend and he has some elderly cousins that live in Austin and he wanted to get together with them. After having dinner Friday evening with two of them, they decided to get together again at a coffee shop on Sunday so the other two could get a chance to visit.

Well why we just didn't go to the most obvious coffee shop around, I am not sure because there is one on every street corner (and I know what I like there). We ended up going to The Coffee Beanery. Never heard of it, never been there so we just took the directions she linked from MapQuest and went. Off we go, and go, and go as we loop all around the mall area and even across 183 just in case it is near the Super Target there. Where in the world is this place? We have the GPS in the car and we look it up on that, but the directions are still vague, but there is a phone number. By this time we are in the Home Depot parking lot. We call and ask for directions. The first person could not tell us where they were located so he passed my FIL off to another person who had a difficult time but finally told us...go back to 620 and make a right, turn right on Pecan Park, and then we are on the left. OK, cool...we just must have past it up as we were all looking the other direction, right?

I just wanted to ask them "HOW DID YOU GET TO WORK TODAY?" Even if you do not know the names of roads, you have to notice points of reference, right? Or is our youth of today that oblivious to their surroundings? I digress. We follow the directions and when we get there, we are in front of the mall. No one ever said anything about being inside the mall. If someone would have just told us that the store was located INSIDE THE MALL we would not have been driving around in the pouring down rain for 30 minutes looking for this place. Like I said, we should have met at the other coffee shop.

When we get there, we are only the second ones to arrive because no one else new the Coffee Beanery was located inside the mall either and when they called to ask for directions, no one ever said "we are located in the mall near Macy's." How hard is that, really? Does it take a genius to figure it out or maybe it takes a genius to look up the right directions? Whatever the case, it astonished me that someone could not give simple directions. My five year old can direct you all over town and that is because she is observant.

And No, I rarely go to the mall so I had no idea that the coffee shop was even there.

Do I WHAT?!?!

Should I slap your face or laugh at you for trying to talk like some "cool teenager". I mean for real, you are a grown man. What in the world do you mean....Do I grok? "Do I WHAT?!?!" And don't look at me like I am suppose to know the meaning of the word because I can turn into crazy woman and knock you into last week so you can rethink what you are going to say to me. Not really, but of course the thought races through my mind very quickly as I am annoyed by what my husband has said to me just because I do not understand.

So I investigate...
I find that grok is not some new teenage fad word, but it is actually a 1960's word...go figure, eh? The meaning of grok, according to the dictionary, is

–verb (used with object)

1.	to understand thoroughly and intuitively.

–verb (used without object)

2.	to communicate sympathetically.

It is also used in the IT realm. Well since I am not in the IT workforce and in my line of work...child rearing...I usually use words like: "do you understand?"

Since my husband has banished me to the couch, I often hear him on his phone interviews even though I try to tune him out, my ears perk up when I hear him use the word GROK. I often wonder if the person on the other line understands what he is saying, especially if it is an older person.

Did you know that the word Grok orginated in a movie? In Robert Heinlein's science-fiction novel of 1961, Stranger in a Strange Land, the word is Martian and literally means "to drink" but metaphorically means "to take it all in," to understand fully, or to "be at one with." (My reference is Google.)

Have you ever heard anyone use this word? Leave it to my husband to use it....I say with a giggle and smile.

Now I am wondering, Do you Grok it?

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No Daddy, that is not it's name

My girls love horses including My Little Ponies, but within the past couple of months the got Pasture Pals by Melissa and Doug. They are twelve miniature horses and on the back of the case the horses are pictured, named, and described. Within a week of having them the girls could identify all twelve horses. I was impressed. The different horses are Mustang, Hackney Horse, Shire, Clydesdale, Quarter Horse, Lusitano, Appaloosa, Thoroughbred, Standardbred, Saddlebred, Pinto, and Arabian.

I have to admit, I did not know several of the horses...never heard of them...so I had to learn them in order to teach the girls which ones they were. Since Jason has had a little more time to play with the girls lately, he has gotten to experience the horse play and has been reprimanded for not knowing the correct horse. "NO, Daddy, that is not Appaloosa, that is Pinto!" While playing with horse in hand and talking for the horse Lou says "I am not Standardbred! I am Saddlebred!" "Daddy you need to say the right name!" Jason shoots me that look as if to say "How in the world can she tell the difference and how do I learn which is which?"

So he tried to make a game out of learning the names but the girls would not have it...either he knew the names or he just listened and played along. They even began to tell him what to say. "Daddy, say Hi Shire." He tried to get them to teach them all the names, but he is Daddy why wouldn't he know something, right. Lou and Rae got frustrated because they had to keep telling Daddy which horse was which and when he gave up they got even more frustrated. All they wanted to do was play why did it have to be so difficult.

If only they knew that Mommy and Daddy really do not know everything...

I am just waiting for the day they want riding lessons. Have I mentioned horses make me a little nervous...they are such large animals and I have never really been exposed to horses unless you count the Kentucky Derby.

Happy Trails to you....

Accidents Happen!!!

I really can't say much. There was playing and laughter then screaming and crying. Then a frantic Mommy and a calm Daddy, who between them both in a split second decided the best thing was to rush Rae Rae to the dentist.

Now she is missing her first tooth at 3 years old...very sad. But the Tooth Fairy was very generous because it was her first tooth and it was lost by an bloody accident...there is still a blood stain on the carpet.

Oh and the picture does not do it justice because you cannot see the grossness under her lip.

Ring Toes! Ring Toes!

"Ring Toes! Ring Toes!" Is what the girls excitedly exclaimed as they eagerly piled out of the vehicle and ran up the wooden ramp to the quintessential beach style shop. During our spontaneous vacation to Port Aransas, we just had to stop at this toe ring shop. It is called Popsicle Toes and the owner was very friendly and fun. She was very patient with the all four of the girls being in the shop and she actually thought it was awesome that we got "ring toes" for our little ones. Nicole and I had to get toes rings too...I kept it simple, but Nicole got an awesome three ring toe ring...very sexy and hip. She is one cool momma.

Rae loves her "ring toe", but Lou is very particular about her feet and does not wear hers all the time. I find myself looking at my toe ring on my nicely tan foot and thinking that it looks pretty good...for a foot of course. Feet are not the most attractive part of the body unless you are a baby or a child with cute feet. Lou and Rae asked if Daddy was going to get a "Ring Toe" too. I laughed and said they don't make toe rings that big...besides Daddy is a boy. They gave me a look of confusion as if to say why does it matter. And it just dawned on me...Jason has both his ears pierced so to them jewelry is not just for girls.

Even though I love my crocs, I have now started wearing my flip flops more often so I can sport my toe ring. I guess when you get older simple things like toe rings can make you feel good...especially since I can still see my feet...I think? Maybe I am just thinking I can see my feet beyond my growing belly, lol.

Anybody interested in a toe ring party???

Spontaneous Vacation

On Monday night my husband decided that it was time to take a spontaneous vacation. He has been working long hours, 12 to 18 hours per day, and at least 6 days a week. So Monday he finds out the only other tester there put in his two week notice. With that looming, he decided that taking a spontaneous vacation would be great since he would be the only one doing the testing for some unknown length of time.

At midnight we made reservations to go to Colorado. Called a friend that lives there and made plans...it was all set. Until we came to our senses in the morning realizing that I am high risk pregnant woman who should not be flying...which was confirmed by a phone call to the maternal and fetal specialist I see. So we asked if we could go to the beach and I got the doctor's approval.

So here I sit in this cute little cottage at A Laughing Horse Lodge on Mustang Island. We take our time getting ready in the morning, I sit on the beach for a few hours while my husband plays with the kids and dogs, and we come back get cleaned up and take a nap. So I am still not doing much, but I am having a relaxing time and laughing with my husband. The girls are very happy to have this quality time with Daddy and for those that know Jason, understand that he is all about having fun with his children. It has really been a nice time, except for the fact that Jason got laid off while we were here. Yes, his CEO called the cell phone and told him because he had told the rest of the team face to face already that day.

Initially we were freaked out since we are expecting a baby, but we gave our burden to the Lord and we are enjoying our vacation. We will be provided for and we Jason will get another job....the right job, in the right timing. Contacts have been made, feelers have been put out and prayers are being said.

I ended up having so much fun at the beach I did not finish blogging. The Dossey's came down to join us for a mini vacation and we had a great time. The girls enjoyed playing together so much. Lindsey and Autumn were fearless of the water and wanted to be in it every minute and Olivia and Amber enjoyed building sand castles away from the water. They all enjoyed looking for seashells, which unfortunately ended up getting lost in our rush to get back to the cottage to get ready to head back home.

This blog will have to be in two parts or it will end up being a novel not a blog post.

I recommend being spontaneous every once in a while...you'll be amazed at the fun you can have.