Thursday, December 4, 2008

Christmas Past

In honor of the fact that I am reading 
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
to the children this holiday season
(good mother applause in the background)
Here are a few photos from
Christmas Past
in the Land of McBride
(in no particular order)
Lily's 1st Christmas Eve pj's 2006
Noah 2006
Austin 2005
Bubba 2004
Nannie, Poppy & Uncle Rob visit Austin 2005
Disney World Christmas 2007
Disney World Christmas 2007

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

To help with your shopping

My friend Vicky
who I met when the husbands were at 
Carnegie-Mellon
and who we found out after talking 
is the daughter of my dads
best friend from high school
(it's a small world after all)
Anyway...
she is crazy talented
drew some darling pictures of my kiddos
(I would post a picture, but am too lazy)
she made the cutest puzzles 
Target now sells them
check it out...

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Top 10 Christmas Song in the Land of McBride...

1~Let It Be Christmas Alan Jackson
Hear Something Country Christmas 
2~Breath of Heaven (Mary's Song) Amy Grant
Home for Christmas Holiday 
3~Where Are You Christmas Faith Hill
Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas Soundtrack 
4~Winter Song Sara Bareilles & Ingrid Michaelson
The Hotel CafĂ© Presents Winter Songs 
5~What Child Is This? Sarah McLachlan
Wintersong Holiday 
6~Silent Night Sarah McLachlan
Wintersong Holiday 
7~Song for a Winter's Night Sarah McLachlan
Wintersong Holiday 
8~O Holy Night Tracy Chapman
A Very Special Christmas, Vol. 3 
9~Christmas Canon 4:16 Trans-Siberian Orchestra
The Christmas Attic Holiday
10~God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen Barenaked Ladies 
Barenaked for the Holidays Holiday

Monday, December 1, 2008

Here I go again...

To all my adoring fans...
I'm back!
I am going to post every day this month
if your lucky then it will be more than once ;)
more for posterity than anything 
Tonight for FHE we went to 
the kids picked out their annual ornaments
It's a cool tradition I stole from my Aunt Julie
thanks Julie!
Ali got a Snoopy dressed as the 
Statue of Liberty
Noah got a snowman dressed as
a cool guy with an ipod
McKay got a NYC subway car
Lily got Sleeping Beauty
Next it was off to 
Starbucks 
for hot cocoa
Then into 
for Peppermint Bark
heaven in a box
Topped off with decorating one of our trees
Yes, I said one
I have two trees this year
One for cute, and one for pretty
if you know Rhonda aka my mother, it will make sense
What recession I say?  This is the time to spend...
Kidding big Daddy 
just kidding
Lest you think it was the perfect night 
here is a dose of reality:
Lily going to bed screaming for 
"seepin buty"
The Joy of the Season

Monday, November 24, 2008

Ok, already...

I will be back soon with my usual witty blog posts...
or some other kind of shizz...
I promise!

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Best thing ever...

So next to marrying Jerrod...and bringing Hector into my life...this has been the best thing I've ever done.
My friend and I get together every month and make 10 freezer meals.
Here is a list of what we made today:
1-Beef Barley Soup
2-Taco Soup
3-Carlson Enchiladas
4-Chicken Cordon Bleu
5-Beef Enchilada's
6-Chicken Pockets
7-Calzone
8-Stuffed Shells
9-Meatloaf
10-Chicken Enchiladas

Who says I'm not Martha Stewart?

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

I hate D.C.

Big Daddy is in D.C.
again...
You have to know how freaking much I love this man
I miss him way too much when he is gone
I do stupid things like eat pumpkin chocolate cookies
and drink diet coke for breakfast, lunch...and dinner

Come home soon Big Daddy


Friday, October 24, 2008

Why I love 2 year olds...

I am now officially called Lola
Miss Lily is now Charlie
Do not try and correct her
Lola is a pretty freaking cool name
I think I may keep it for a while

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Halloween...

Noah wants to be Obama for the ward trunk -or-treat.
Hot Momma thinks it would be funny.
Big Daddy says that would be like dressing up as the KKK 
and going to a southern baptist trunk-or-treat.
We don't think he can handle the freak-out that may come.
Sad...but true...

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

I heart early voting...

Monday, October 20, 2008

Join Me...

So now that I am all about creating..
I would love some people to discuss with...
Register to take this cool (free) class with me...


Sunday, October 19, 2008

Creating...

I have been so excited since hearing
How amazing...for us as women to be counseled to create.
I mean really create and on a daily basis.
I have been thinking so much about what this means to me:

When I:
Volunteered~
I helped create a stronger school
Did laundry~
I created a more peaceful home
Kissed Big Daddy~
I created a better marriage than yesterday
Helped Lily change her clothes for the 8th time~
I helped her create an imagination
Laid in bed with Ali when I wanted to watch T.V. :)~
I created more of a bond between a pre-teen and her mother

Here's to all you creative women who influence my life!


Friday, October 17, 2008

Pretend I am 10 years old...

You Are Megara!

Image hosted by Photobucket.com

Charming and witty. You are always the first person to come up with a wisecrack. Sure, you have an attitude, but that's why people love you. You keep them on their toes. Sometimes you can be misleading, but always end up doing the right thing for the people you love.


Which Disney Princess Are You?

I'm a good Mommy


"Big Daddy, when you went to work this morning, how may donuts were left?"
"There were 5 left."
"Did Miss Lily have any for breakfast?"
(Why do I not know this?  Because I was sleeping...yes he gets the kids ready for school while I sleep.  Judge me not people, judge me not)
"Yes, she had two.  But I did make her have some eggs for protein...Why?"
"Because there is only one left now"
"Holy Crap, that means she has eaten 6 donuts in the past 2 hours!"
"I am going back to bed."

Thursday, October 16, 2008


Have I mentioned that I am the PTA queen?
Because I am. ;)
I just got back from the school.  We are starting a very cool program called:
It is a program designed to get fathers more involved at the schools.
I highly recommend that you check out the link and forward it on to your PTA's or school administration.
Big Daddy is all signed up to spend a full day at the school.
He is very excited to wear the cool T-shirt! :)


Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Thought ya'll might want to know what's being read in 
The House of Big Daddy right now!



Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Olive Garden Soup




In honor of my sister The Slacker Wife I am posting the recipe for the soup we had tonight.

This makes a huge amount so I usually split it into 4 diffrent meals to freeze.

Olive Garden Pasta E Fagioli Recipe


Sunday, October 12, 2008

Confessions...

My name is Hot Momma and I have an confession...
I have a housekeeper.
My friend Vicky came over at the beginning of summer.  She was leaving to spend the summer in Taiwan.  So she says to me...
"You to take my maids for the summer"
"No Vicky, I think I am morally opposed to the whole housekeeper issue"
"You see you house?  You could use the help."
"Dang it Vicky, it doesn't look like this all the time"
"It looks like this lots, you need this."
Reason #1 I love Asian women...they are very honest when they love you
So I decide to help a friend out and keep her maid spot for the summer.
2 weeks before Vicky returns I say to my man Hector and his wife...
"You can never leave me Hector"
What I have given up for Hector:
 eating out...mostly
new clothes for the children
new clothes for Big Daddy
I walk to the school instead of drive

Who ever said Hot Momma doesn't know how to sacrifice?




Happiness...



We just back from a trip to Corpus Christi.  We had a fun time getting together with Big Daddy's Mom and Grandma.
On the way back we made the kids listen to John Denver in honor of our car trips when we were both little.
I love John Denver...even attended his concert once.  
Big Daddy thinks he wants to call me Mountain Momma now...told him he is welcome to when he builds me a mountain vacation home!


Girlie Wisdom...

1. A friend of mine confused her Valium with her birth control pills... she has 14 kids but doesn't really care.

2. One of life's mysteries is how a 2-pound box of chocolates can make a woman gain 5 lbs.

3. My mind not only wanders, it sometimes leaves completely.

4. The best way to forget your troubles is to wear tight shoes.

5. The nice part about living in a small town is that when you don't know what you are doing, someone else does.

6. The older you get, the tougher it is to lose weight because by then, your body and your fat are really good friends.

7. Just when I was getting used to yesterday, along came today.

8. Sometimes I think I understand everything, and then I regain consciousness.

9. I gave up jogging for my health when my thighs kept rubbing together and setting fire to my knickers.

10. Amazing! You hang something in your closet for a while and it shrinks 2 sizes!

11. Skinny people irritate me! Especially when they say things like...'You know sometimes I forget to eat!' .....Now I've forgotten my address, my mother's maiden name and my keys, but I have never forgotten to eat. You have to be a special kind of stupid to forget to eat!

12. The trouble with some women is that they get all excited about nothing and then they marry him.

13. I read this article that said the typical symptoms of stress are eating too much, impulse buying, and driving too fast. Are they kidding? That's my idea of a perfect day!

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Joy


moon at night 2
I took a walk on the beach with my kids tonight. As they were playing in the sand, chasing the waves I started thinking about something I read recently...
When asked when you get old, "what you did in 2008 when the second great depression happend?" what will you answer?
I hope to say I did what mothers through time did whenever anything beyond them happend...I hope to say I helped create joy in the lives of my children. That I kept life as normal and happy as possible, that I changed diapers, helped with homework, gave kisses, took late night walks on the beach. All to help keep life Joyful for those I love.
I hope...

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

And so it starts...

Ali McBride for student council!

This is what her poster looks like, photo and all, in her quest for student council.  
(With lots of cute stickers, glitter, etc of course)
So they were hung in the cafeteria yesterday and this is the feedback Noah got.
Noah sitting amongst all the 4th grade boys...
"Dude, I think I want to go on a date with that girl."
Dude, that is my sister"
"Dude, sorry, but your lucky"


Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Carla taged me...Big Daddy says he's the only one that can do that, but whatever...here goes:

8 TV SHOWS I LOVE TO WATCH

The Office
Army Wives
Frasier
Friends
Project Runway
Grey’s Anatomy
The Cleaner
The Daily Show


8 FAVORITE RESTAURANTS

Chuy's
Pei Wei
Cheescake Factory
PF Changs
El Rancho
Kirby Lane
Eddy V's
Sonic 
(Dt. Coke with Lime easy ice)


8 THINGS THAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY

Bubba threw up 6 times
(Mind you this started at midnight)
Cleaned the downstairs
(Yes sisters, I still clean even though I have a maid ;)
Volunteered at the school
(I am the PTA queen you know)
Talked Ali into running for Student Council
(When you get nominated you take it girlfriend!)
Took Noah to scouts
(Ohhhh I just love cub scouts)
Helped Lil change her outfit 10 times
(Not lying here folks)
Worried about my dad
(He has too many emotional daughters to be sick)
Drank all of Big Daddy's Mt Dew
(How the hell do you think I got through the day?)


8 THINGS I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO

No Puke
General Conference
Cool weather
Cleaning out my closet
Going out alone with Big Daddy
Going to the beach next weekend
Getting this freaking election over with
The impending Great Depression ;)


8 THINGS ON MY WISH LIST

Because I am reading a book by Mother Teresa I will channel my inner saint and say, "There is no more that I need, than what I already have."
~FYI, that is my quote not hers, obviously...she would say she needs nothing material, but I have a lot more saint channeling to do before I get there :)



Saturday, September 20, 2008

Ali's Birthday

My little sister T said that my blog sucked because I never update...I wanted to post a photo of me flipping her off, but I would hate to make anyone think any less of me! ;) 

So here are some photos taken on Ali's birthday with her new camera...
She didn't even want a birthday cake...I got off easy this year
Her favorite dessert, Strawberry Shortcake
Her favorite restaurant...and Big Daddy's least favorite
Self-portrait with her new camera
The man who spoils her way too much!
(Who am I to say...:) 

Monday, September 15, 2008

Whew-been way to long since an update here in The Land of McBride.  Here goes:

*Got totally ready for Hurricane Ike only to get 3 freaking drops of rain.
(The Walters need to move back to Huston so we have some evacuees to house)
*Ali's 11th birthday
(Will post photos soon)
*Bubba started Coach Pitch Baseball.
(Big Daddy says I am on probation because I am a little to vocal at the games)
*Getting ready for Rusty and Ann who will be here for a 2 week visit.
(Hoping for a trip to the spa while they are here :)
*Finding the bridesmaid dresses for T's wedding...with no bloodshed.
(OK a little bloodshed, but I need to look good dangit!)
*A huge beehive being disturbed in the neighborhood, prompting the kiddos to be locked inside the school until parents could come get them.
(I think kids these days are wimps:)



Monday, September 8, 2008

1st Day of School

So people (mostly my sisters who love my children) have been asking for the back to school photos of the kids.  

The answer is this...Took them of the older 2, and by the time I got to Bubba, the damn battery died.  
Ask me if that is not the story of his life, Big Daddy said the other day that he has a hard time remembering him as a baby.  I gasp, acted horrified, and then admitted that I didn't remember much about our time in Pittsburgh either.  Bubba was 4 months when we moved there. 2 years of an MBA program with 3 small kids is akin to a nightmare.  (Hey we are nothing if not overly honest here!)
So I am taking his photo tomorrow morning, and years from now he will think it was the first day of school.  Who cares if we don't remember much, the crap we make up to tell him will be even better than the truth!


p.s. To all my Pittsburgh friends...give me some memories would you...for Bubba's sake? ;)

Friday, September 5, 2008

Bubba-ism

So Big Daddy took the kids to the LBJ Library here in Austin this week.  It was all about President Johnson.  When they got to the part about JFK being shot Big Daddy asked them if they had ever heard of President JFK.  

Bubba says, "Yeah, I've ate at his restaurant."  
"What?"  Says Big Daddy
"You know the one with the chicken"
"I think you mean KFC son"

We are all about American History around here.

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

We have a winner...

Thanks to everyone who participated in the auction for NieNie!

Its great to see people pull together to help someone they've never met.
Details at Carolyn's blog

Friday, August 29, 2008

Dream...



This reminded me of my family.  
There are 4 girls and 3 boys in my family...so the last scene around the dinner table is how 
I imagined my brothers wished their lives would have been. 
Bless Rhonda for raising such opinionated girls! :)
*Love you brothers*


Thursday, August 28, 2008

A little Charity...

Once in a while something you read hits you...makes you think...forces you to open yourself up to scary and sad realities.  That is what happened Sunday night when I read about NieNie and her husband.

Big Daddy (my own Mr. Darcy) had just left on a plane to D.C. as I started reading her blog.  I was just sick as I read...what a beautiful family, what a horrible thing to happen.  Then I read about her 4 gorgeous sisters who came to rescue her children...just as I knew my own 4 gorgeous sisters would for my babies.  
The prayers...the faith...the family, everything a person needs to survive a life changing event. Everything I know I have been blessed with.
Now with the help of my sisters and amazing parents we are adding our little bit of help to this family by holding a silent auction.
Go to Carolyn's blog to bid...

Thoughts...

So the story of this very cool chick has put me into a tornado of thoughts...

so sad, and so inspiring all at once.  Seeing how her family has pulled together in support of the children...and each other. I think it struck me because of the similarities in our lives...amazing husbands, 4 darling children...a passion for motherhood.  It has made me want to refocus on my hottie, Big Daddy and the kiddos.  You just never know...
Here is the place to donate to their recovery:









Monday, August 25, 2008

We miss you Big Daddy...


...mostly I miss you.  It is 12:16 a.m.  I can't sleep when your gone.  School starts tomorrow, I wish you were here to see the kiddos off with me.  Maybe with the kids off to school I will have the house clean when you get home...I said maybe.  


Sunday, August 24, 2008

Wyoming Highlights

*Halie fixing the horrible haircut that I had within 30 minutes of me arriving in S.V.

*Making it in time for Uncle Todd's wedding, and being able to see all the Robinson's.
*Seeing McKay and Tanner not wear shirts to the wedding...they didn't want to stop wading in the creek! :)
*Playing around 15 hours of Pinochle in 2 weeks.
*Finally figuring out that Big Daddy & my Mom can play cards together.
*Seeing Big Daddy face his fears and ride a horse.
*Teaching Lily to drive the 4-wheeler.
*Watching Ali drive dad's pickup all by herself.
*Lily saying sh*t and dad laughing, and encouraging her.
(Things like this go on in Wyoming)
*Eating Grandmas taffy.
*Having a bonfire 4 nights in a row.
*Noah eating 9 smores in one night.
*Spending Sunday evening at Grandma & Grandpa's.
*Ali getting to work in Nanna's store with Aunt T.
*Changing pipe with dad.
*Going on a 1.5 mile hike that turned into 10 miles round trip.
*Eating at the Red Baron.
*Big Daddy making up new names for T-bag.
*Finding out Johnny is more like Big Daddy than we thought! :)
*Having Carla take photo's of the kiddos.
*Loving on my cute freaking nephews and nieces.
*Buying 2 acres of land and dreaming of the summer home we want to build!


Spoiled


IMG_7831
Originally uploaded by big daddy & hot momma

Road Rash


IMG_7891
Originally uploaded by big daddy & hot momma
Ali took a header down the mountains of Wyoming. Poor little thing, her arms and legs looked worse than her face!

lily and noah


lily and noah
Originally uploaded by big daddy & hot momma

Friday, August 8, 2008

Wyoming or bust...

We are sitting at a gas station in the middle of Kansas.  Thank Heavenly Father for the gift of Wi-Fi from the nearby hotel.  

We stayed in Dallas last night.  We went to the Rangers/Yankees game.  It was hot as h*ll.  Really, I think h*ll just may be that hot.
We are shooting for a 15 hour drive today...9 hours down.  
Big Daddy is bemoaning the loss of the old fashioned car trip.  He tried to sing a few John Denver songs reminiscent of his childhood.  Of course no one could hear him as we all had on our individual head phones connected to various electronic devices. 

Wyoming here we come!

Monday, August 4, 2008

Now we feel bad...



Sunday morning I wake up to Bubba (we called him Bubba way before this) saying,
"I think there is something wrong with my face. 
We just found out that he has some sort of infection.
Now he has to be on antibiotics 4x a day for 10 days.
Of course we have gotten some  laughs out of this because
Big Daddy thinks he looks and sounds like Benjamin Buford Blue from Forrest Gump!

Sunday, August 3, 2008

Lucky

Click here to go to a post that made my night!  I love my dad, and love that my kiddos have a father that is just as fun, and cool, and loving!  I have been very blessed to have such amazing men in my life.

Saturday, August 2, 2008

Week in Review

Highlights from the Land of McBride:

*Big Daddy worked a lot
*McKay had 8 teeth pulled...yes I said 8
(You want funny?  It's watching a kid try and eat with about 5 snaggle teeth :)
*Lily got into the eggs 
(That's all I am going to say about that)
*Victoria Secret now sells bras in my size
(Though I find it offensive when I leave the store with a huge shopping bag and my friend has a tiny one for the same number of bra's)
*Big Daddy rode his bike to work every day in 100+ heat
(The kids made him promise to never wear spandex)
*Noah built a Lego ship using about 300 pieces of Lego's
(I hate Lego's by the way, they hurt freaking bad when you step on them)
*Ali had 3 sleepovers and 4 other play dates
(Yes, that is way to many for a 10 year old)
*I bought the new Twilight book at midnight last night and read until 3:30
(No, I am not 16 years old)

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Potty Training

She thinks her new panties are for her head...guess that's a sign she's not ready.

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Our Boys