Determined Mom = Utter Embarassment

Oh, don't we just want to kick ourselves in situations like this? We think: "Gosh darn it, I am DETERMINED to do ______. Being a mother doesn't define me, and I can fit my child into my life instead of my life fitting my child." Then anarchy ensues and you end up looking like a fool. The joys :). Fill in the blank with "vote" today and you've got my morning.

I was "determined" to vote, and vote early to avoid the crowds and my schedule inevitably filling up between now and the big day. No way was I letting another election go by without doing my civic duty! Today was the day, and I'd nestled my voting time right after pre-school and just before nap. Perfect! Umm...

Library was a little busier than I'd hoped, but still only 3 in line before me. B seemed content to hold hands and was low on the wiggle scale. I got signed in and then shuttled to the next table to actually sign my name sticker. Cue anarchy...

B broke free and darted off to an open voting booth just as it was my turn to provide my signature on the designated sticker. Blerg!! I raced after her, nearly toppled over two chairs, but had her back at the table within about 10 seconds. Just long enough for someone else to sign on MY signature sticker. Again, blerg!

Thankfully I noticed and alerted the volunteer. He was a wee bit crabby, to say the least. The woman who'd accidentally signed the wrong sticker was much more understanding...she, too, has a 3 year old but luckily had her's at daycare. Oh, to be that privileged. Hahaha!

Long story and what I'm sure were many pairs of stink eyes pointing in my direction later, I cast my vote and went to get B the sticker I'd pumped her up about. They were all out :(. Thank goodness she's not one to throw a tantrum about that stuff...so we got much deserved Slurpees instead and headed home for snack and nap (both overdue for her!). Yes, I didn't punish her for the voting fiasco. Who's the one that decided to take a 3 year old to vote? Time served.

Sheesh! You'd like to think I'd learn a lesson one of these days, but a determined Mommy is determined to make it work...determined to make being determined work! I'm just glad we got to go together and do our duty as American citizens. And we survived!

But y'all, why does the system have to be so susceptible to mistake?! So many ways things could have gone wrong today at the polls. Not to mention the confusing computers they used at my location. And I'll just say it: I'm not the dumbest person who'll go vote and I still had to really read the directions!! A skeptic like me can have a field day with a system like this...

Happy voting!!

In Memoriam - Big Tex

To know me is to know my love for the Great State Fair of Texas. That being said, today is truly a sad  one for not only me and my little family, but also the entire Williams clan, our extended group of Fair-loving friends, and the entire state of Texas. I know some may think its silly to mourn such a goofy pile of sticks and plaster,  but to people like me Big Tex was a symbol of a joyful place and time where families and friends join together in merriment and good, old fashioned fun. Not to mention the fact that my family and friends buy plane tickets to Dallas for the express purpose of visiting the Fair every year. It's a big deal to some of us, people. 

Big Tex was "born" in the summer of 1952, the same year as my parents. He began as a awkward statute with one winking eye and a crooked nose and continued to evolve over the course of his time as the face of the State Fair of Texas. Somehow, though, through all the changes he still managed to keep that awkward and goofy feel about him. This year marked the 60th anniversary of Big Tex and he was set to be retired for the year just two days after the fire that burned him to the ground. 

Here he is in his inaugural year: 

And here's what he looked like until this morning: 

This just makes me sad:

Regardless of how I felt when I heard about the fire (said to be an electrical shortage), I don't doubt for a moment that we'll have a new Tex to say "Howdy" to next year! And you can see from these pictures of Bridget though her years at the Fair that he really does change a little each year anyway. I'm not even telling her about the fire because she won't understand. You guys - she was OBSESSED with Big Tex this year and he's pretty much all she cared about during each of our 3 trips we made this season. She even sat peacefully in her stroller for 15 MINUTES (that's right, I said PEACEFULLY for 15 MINUTES with NO SNACKS) while she demanded to wait to hear him speak. I wish I'd gotten her sweet, "Goodbye, Big Tex!" that she spoke on Tuesday morning during our final visit for the year. At least I have it as a wonderful memory!

Bridget's First State Fair trip - 2009 

(she was two weeks old and it was drizzling and about 40 degrees...seriously, we are hard core about the Fair)

Us in 2010 with great friends (beware! I'm HUGE!)

A pic of me and J in front of Tex in the rain - B with Mimi and Daddy enjoying free ice cream (2011)

Me and B with Tex this past Tuesday morning on a spur-of-the-moment trip organized by my Mom (2012)

Can't wait to meet the next Big Tex in Fall of 2013. Yet another great reason to visit the State Fair of Texas. Look forward to a fun, picture-filled recap of our THREE fabulous trips we managed this year. 

My mom made SIX total trips to the Fair this year. THREE of those were between Tuesday - Thursday this week. I wonder where my love for the Fair comes from?! And just think, my mom is from Iowa. 

I'll close with a quote:

"Get ready next year, because he's coming back bigger and better than ever. And I'll be his voice." 

- Bill Bragg, iconic voice of Big Tex 

(did you know all Tex's annoucements were made live? Mr. Bragg had just started his beloved "Howdy, folks" to be followed by notes for today's fair goers when someone knocked on the door to tell him smoke was coming from Tex. Mr. Bragg said he came out to see what was amis and watched the whole thing with tears in his eyes...)

Meeting Baby Jack!

I was so excited to get to meet Baby Jack (John Eric, III) last week and bring Bridget along with me. What a precious treasure new babies are to the world! Though the lead up to his delivery was suddenly very frightening, the delivery went great and Mommy and Baby got to come home pretty quickly. Not to mention how laid back Jack already seems to be! Sleeping like a champ already! I can’t say I’m surprised, knowing how chill his awesome parents are on a day to day basis .

B was a wee bit unsure when it came to Mommy holding Jack, but she did a great job when it was her turn! Daddy Jay took B out back to play with the three dogs (we all know how neglected dogs are when new baby arrives…they were thrilled to have a playmate!) so I could have some time to chat with new Mommy, Lauren, and hold this sweet angel for a bit. He was so darn cuddly!

 

She was VERY interested when she realized he had a rocker. Thankfully, he slept right on through her gentle rocks…

I was pumped to have my first real opportunity to do “the best new baby visit ever” thanks to what I read on my friend, Meagan’s blog about a year ago. I brought my few bathroom cleaning items, snuck into the room to let B had a potty break, and did a good quick clean of the space. It really made a difference! I hope they enjoyed having one less thing to do during the first few weeks of parenthood. Of course, I brought tons of food. My two faves to bring? Muffins (enough for the freezer, too!) and Lean Pockets. I don’t know about you, but breakfast and lunch were nearly impossible for me! If it wasn’t ready in under 1 minute, I wasn’t eating it.

Don’t Jay and Lauren look so sweet? They were both just beaming with pride getting to show off their handsome son. I’m so happy for them! And sweet Jack even opened his eyes just as we were giving our goodbye hugs. No crying, no tears. Just peaceful observation. I. Love. New. Babies. Well, ones that remind me of my easy noodle doodle, that is .

In fact, I’m ready to go back and visit again!!!

October = Pumpkins, Pumpkins, Pumpkins!

Though I was super excited about our annual Oktoberfest gathering this year (post to come), I was certainly even more pumped to decorate the house for FALL – my favorite season of all! (Christmas doesn’t count…of course that’s my real favorite)

And when Fall décor comes out, that means PUMPKIN OUTINGS! We are hoping for good weather this weekend so we can go to the pumpkin patch with the Adamo family…but luckily we had an early October chance for pumpkin fun last weekend. A delight!

Calloway’s Nursery does a free kids Fall Activity Day at most of their locations and we since it was put on the calendar far enough in advance (thanks, Jill!), we were able to make it this year. It was a blast! And completely full of silliness, thanks to my little goober:

Sweet Alexandra is always a fabulous helper to my Bridgey, and when B was much more interested in using the scissors than decorating her pumpkin, Miss A happily stepped in to finish the job:

Then there was plenty of time for running around, hand in hand:

Followed by more silliness:

The girls planted their own grass seeds:

And I got to enjoy looking at the cutest baby angel ever to grace this world – Baby Josephine! I can’t get enough of her!

A more hand-in-hand silliness:

Spending time with our dear friends, Jill and Alexandra, never disappoints and I love how Jill and I just “get each other”. Aren’t friendships like that so refreshing? We always seem to make the most of our brief opportunities to spend quality time together. But as the temperatures dropped, our time with the Fabulous Fair Females came to an end…

 

…just as Abby and Julie arrived to enjoy the festivities! Since B and I had arrived late (shocker!), we had more time to play with the McCauleys so were able to stick around a little longer. We found even more fun activities to enjoy!

Cutest spot of all! Apparently the silly bug was contagious:

Great idea, Calloways! Loved using the chalk station:

Love these two! How cute are they in these when each looks at the other to see the silly faces…

Started the day with silliness, so its only right that we ended it that way, too. BTW: my request as photographer for these was “your prettiest smile”…oh, the joys of this stage. I just keep chanting my motto – this, too, shall pass. And I won’t lie, the silliness makes me giggle (most of the time).