In the last 7 days…

School is almost out for the summer

School will be out next week.  In the last week this is what happened….

Husband home-yippee because kids and I had great fun

Rabbit in back yard.  Kids wanted to keep.  I worried about my carrots and green beans in the garden.  Does he not know about Bejamin Bunny.

Son caught fish that is now swimming in Tortuga sandbox in backyard.

White puppy got into backyard.  Sweet daughter cried when my hub told her doggy already had family.

Hub and I thought about buying an RV but we were just dreaming and woke up.

My daughter made the best strawberry rainbow frosting cake on the earth.

My son reached AR 10.

My husband edged the yard without me even asking.

Watched “Rise of the Lycanns” and liked the movie.

Reading “Bella Tuscany”.  Wish I was in Tuscany.

Made khaki shorts with dog print hem for son and he said “yuck”.

Had BBQ and cold Shiner Bock waiting for husband when he got home from the road.

My daughter wrote and song and made a CD at school (beautiful!)

Life is dolce……..

Houston teenagers looking for summer job check with City of Houston

Tons of summer job available for low-income youth in Houston this summer thanks to the American Reinvestment Act.  Here is the website for more information:  http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2009/05/11/story6.html or http://www.houstontx.gov/education/youth2009.html.  Call 1-888-469-5627 (City of Houston)  for more information about the program for youths aged 16-24.

Also businesses looking for youth workers this summer may qualify to receive funding if looking to employ those youth workers.  Goodwill Industries, Terry Seufert is looking for businesses looking for youth employees at this website:  http://www.goodwillhouston.org/

A great website to find you pick farms in the Houston area

http://www.pickyourown.org/TXhouston.htm

Mary Jo Peckham Park In Katy, TX Has Affordable Swim Lessons

I wanted to pass this along before it is too late.  Mary Jo Peckham Park in Katy, TX offers Red Cross swimming lessons for kids and everyone.  The slots fill up pretty quick.  Last year I had to physically drive over to the community center and sign up for the lessons.  Here

This is not the Peckham pool. Just a generic pool.

is the website: http://www.pct3.hctx.net/cc_maryjopeckham/activities.aspx.

My kids had a great time since it is an indoor pool.  Pretty much all the Houston parks have Red Cross swimming lessons but I live in Katy and that is what I know about.  More about the facility later.

Hurry and call before all the slots are gone.

Make a cake in a mug

Here is my lazy post.  Try it out and let me know how it turns out.

Make a cake in a cup

Another great recipe and cooking website with great pictures.  I get hungry just staring at the pictures.

http://www.chow.com/recipes/54/category

Boy Scouts Graduate

My son’s boy scout pack graduated this past Saturday at Mary Jo Peckham Park in Katy, TX.  We got rained on just a tad but still had a great time! 

Sometimes it is nice to just be a part of something bigger. I am so proud of the pack and my son!

Thanks to everyone involved with Boy Scout Pack 542 at Rylander Elementary School in Katy, TX.   Thank you for making my son and his family feel like a welcome part of your family.  He enjoyed every activity.

A big thanks to Patti Smith who called me back after I contacted her about joining the pack and welcomed my family with a wonderful smile.  Another thanks to the Ertons. Thanks for stepping up to the plate and leading our Tiger Den (plus serving the great city of Houston as officers).

Also another thanks to Mayas, Erton, Rajas, Oggeros, Kims, Sulemanji and Deese Tiger families. Thanks to all the other Den families.  My husband was so  disappointed he did not get to attend but I always made sure to text tons of pictures.  Even my daughter enjoyed the outings.

We got rained out at the park.

A great pack!

Hurricane Ike in Katy Texas

We made it through the hot night.  The kids slept like angels.  Power went out around midnight.  We have a battery operated radio, a power inverter (does not work), battery charger (which is running our 8″ fan).  Charged laptop before storm.  Tons of water coming in through windows on west side of house dripping down sheet rock walls and onto wood floors.  Luckily our piano did not get wet.

Thanks goodness the storm drainage located 125 yards behind our house did not overflow.  We are also lucky that we are together and safe.  Water can sucked up with dry vac.  Also, we have a gas stove and clean water.

Winds are picking up again and the water is coming down in sheets.  There was this rumbling howling noise at night.  I reported the power outage to TXU.  Now, it seems that most of Houston is without power (all except the medical center where the power lines are buried).

This storm was a little bit more than we expected.  As you know, I don’t like Houston anyway and this storm just gives me another reason to want to escape.  If anyone out there has a job for me away from Texas, please holler at me.

Hope the rest of the world is safe and sound.

Hurricane Ike and a Katy Texas Family on Saturday September 13th

Sky Day After Ike in Katy Texas

Mother’s Log:  Stardate September 13, 2008 at 12:43 CST

While writing this post at 12:43 my internet went down.  It is now 7:00 and we still do not have power.  Ironically, the entire neighborhood has power but when the power was finally turned on the transformer blew on my block.  Temp Inside House 83 degrees/outside 81 degrees.

Many fences and trees down all along Fry road from Barker Cypress to Westheimer Parkway.  Lots of people sweeping up tree limbs and trying to figure out how to push their fences up again.

The Walgreens at Fry was open.  I purchased only emergency supplies like Cheeto Puffs and Coke. 

Bright Spot:  We are together, hot and safe.

To all who commented.  I will keep you updated.  My laptop only will hold a charge for so long.  Thanks for responding to my posts.  Hope all are safe.

My husband got the power inverter working again so that I can boot up computer and wireless router.  The little 6″ fan that my husband chided me for buying two years ago is doing its best to cool my hot skin.

Yesterday evening, we drove to the Chase ATM to take out a little cash and the bank had already discontinued customer access to deposits/withdrawls.

Our  telephone land line is working but only because we are able to plug in the power unit to the power inverter.   Looks like everyone should hold on to their old-fashioned telephone lines for the next 1,000 years.  The power inverter is connected to our 12volt line in the minivan.

Houston residents have been told to boil water before drinking or not to drink water at all.  Power is still not restored and Centerpoint Energy is reporting that close to 3 million residents have no power in the Houston area. 

 It is raining continuously and it is very windy.  The storm drainage behind us is holding steady-not increasing nor decreasing.

According to local news, the Hurricane band is sitting right on top of Houston and not moving on to the north as expected.  It seems that the medical center has fared the best in Houston because the power lines are underground.

Kids are restless and hot.  Current in-house temperature is 81 degrees.  Outside temp 76 degrees and very humid.

I live in the Fry Road/Barker Cypress area and the power outtage seems to have effected every house in my visual line of site.  We erred in that we should have boarded up the windows on the west side of the house to stop the rain from blowing into the house.

I know that we are lucky to be alive and to at least have the cell phones and internet connection to the outside world.

One bright side to this weather imposed house arrest-I do not have to hear the incessant drone about politics on the t.v.

To my country girl self-things are really o.k.  I did grow up withou A.C.  Many times a thunderstorm would not out electricity for two to three days.   Sometimes in East Texas the pipes would freeze over for a week and we would have no running water.  So, really what is there to complain about in the world.  I am with my family and we are safe.

Hurricane Ike and a Katy Family’s Day

My laptop is losing power.  The inverter is working so that means that in the morning that I will be able to charge it up and also power the wireless router.

We will spend the night sleeping in a  AC’d friends’  RV. 

One of the neighbors gave us a cooler with ice so I may be able to save my frozen chicken breasts.  We all took showers being extra careful to keep our mouths clothes because of the water boiling alert.

Weather is dry.  Beautiful sunset with pink clouds.  Lots of intersection with flashing and dangling lights.  The area next to highway 6 and Bellaire was without power at 7pm today.  Tons of people outside BBQ-ing the thawing meat in their freezers.

The rain has moved away to the north.  It is very quiet after last nights howling wind.  All is left is to wait for power, sweep up limbs and assess shingle damage.

Have not heard anything about Galveston on the radio.  Hope those people are safe.  My thoughts and prayers are with the people in evacuation zones.  At least I know our house is intact.

We did drive around Clay rd, Fry and Mason today.  Everything appears okay.  People are at least out in their yards being neighborly.  Kind of makes me sad that we have to have a near disaster before we are forced to spend time with the ones we love.  It is nice to see neighbors outside and kids riding their bikes.  I guess on Sunday it will be business as usual.  Everyone driving around in air-conditioned cars, not waving, kids staring at video games and retail stores open 24-7.  All the things that distract us from being human.

My kids are confused but somehow are finding ways to have a great time.  Kids are so flexible.

Hopefully, power on Sunday.  I took enough pictures.

Good night and keep cool!

Hurricane Ike and Family in Katy TX on Sunday September 14th

Not prepared for flash flood last night. 

Update:  Cy-Fair ISD schools closed on Monday and Tuesday (check with school for confirmation of information)

Power out in Katy, Texas again.  The whole neighborhood is out.  Our power never came on because of the blown transformer in our backyard.  We spent the night in a friends’ A.C.’d RV.  I did not sleep very well after I heard all of the rain.  The kids of course slept like rocks and awakened early.

Check out KHOU for more information:  click

There are concerns about the Galveston Causeway  (I-45) being damaged due to Ike.  Residents of Galveston will not be allowed to return until Tuesday.  Wow!  This Ike is a monster.

Heavy thunderstorm and rains during the night not expected.  Drainage ditch levels up high again but no overflow.

Overcast and drizzling. 

Gas oven will not light but the pilots will.  Looks like I will be B-B-Q-ing today.  Everyone bring your chickens and steaks.

My suggestion:  If you are returning to a house without power today in Houston then I highly recommend that you stop and buy a 12volt outlet cooler and 12 volt power inverter from one of the big truck stops live Luvs.  The inverter is the only reason I am able post on my blog.  We run an extension cord out of running auto to the the wireless router.  The inverter keeps the laptop charged and keeps a small fan running.

I did drive around the Lakes of Bridgewater and noticed that there was a lot of roof damage in that area.  Many people were trying to spread and secure tarps on their roofs yesterday.   Little did I know it would rain all night.  I really feel for those people with the damaged roofs.  Our roof is leaking but just with a couple of 15″ wet spots.

House is so humid and dank.  I lost most of the vegetables in my fridge.  Trying to hold on to toaster streudal, blackberries and chicken. 

Kids are squirrly.  They are clueless about what to do with themselves.  Thank goodness for Legos because all you need is imagination. 

We most surly will have to replace part of our laminate wood floors but better than having to replace our lives.

Centerpointe Energy came by and stared at the transformer but they did not fix it.

Heard on KPRC that some stores will be open at Fry/I-10. 

I will keep you posted as power allows….

Thanks to all of you for your stories and well-wishes.  If you see a request about a particular area of time that you know about, please feel free to leave a comment for someone out there who may be trying to contact a loved one.

Hurricane Ike and a Family in Katy Texas Monday

Cannot post.  At&t down and elec power still not up.  Hopefully, I can find a way to charge cell.

Driving around looking for inverter and generator.

Had to drive to wal-mart Sealy for gas.  Lines are at gas stations.  Most places out of gas. 

No ice anywhere.

Thanks to all!

Hurricane Ike and a Family In Katy Texas on Monday, September 15th

A miracle happened…..the temperature dropped to breezy and cool.  The heat is gone.  I can’t believe our luck.  The weather forecasters say that it tends to be hot and humid after Hurricanes.

My husband and kids slept in the borrowed RV last night.  I slept on the bottom floor with every window open in the house.

The kids see this little break as an adventure.  They cannot believe that they get to spend time on a mini-camping trip at home.  My kids do not notice the stinky smell coming from the refrigerator or that the Playstation stopped working last Friday.   Maybe we all need to stop noticing the “silly” stuff.

I would like to write that we got our electricity back and all is normal in the world.  Nope, we have no electricity today and I fear this may go on for quite some time.  As a family, we are closer because now we are forced to sit in one room together huddled around the battery-powered lamp.

We lost phone service sometime yesterday afternoon.  Also, the inverter stopped working around that time.  What that means is that we had no power to charge anything but we had the “power of love” (hokey-hokey).

Our neighbors across the street have electricity but on my side of the street we have no electricity.  It really kills the joy when you are sitting in your house listening to your refrigerator contents drip onto the floor.  Bye-bye blackberries picked over the summer in a field with my kids.

One of the neighbors with no electricity is very upset that not one of the neighbors with electricity has offered an electric cord.  I have thought the very same thoughts.  I am kind of sad about this non-neighborly behavior but maybe they would rather not hear about our 3-days without electricity. 

Today, we began our gas search.  Our first stop was Fry and Saums rd. where the line caused a backup all the way towards H-E-B.  We headed east toward the Grand Parkway and found several stations with bags over the pumps.  We then headed to Sealy, TX (located 40 miles from our house) where we pulled right into the Wal-mart and filled the tank until it burped.

Next stop, “Camping World” where we were able to purchase a 12 volt 800 watt inverter!!  “Camping World” has a large selection of generators that ranged from $1,000 to $4,000.  There were of couple of people buying generators who were preparing to head back to their homes in Galveston. If you are in need of a generator, hurry out to “Camping World” on I-10 west one exit after Katy Mills Mall and then u-turn onto the feeder.

As we drove home, I noticed that most of the major retailers are open once again.  The Home Depot is doing plenty of business judging by the traffic backup in the parking lots.  Wal-Mart is not fully stocked but you will find water and can goods.  No ice anywhere around Fry/I-10.  The best place to find ice is the HEB on the Grand Parkway and Fry Road.

There are still many fences on the ground.  There are many roofs with shingles missing down to the plywood.   I have heard from neighbors that some people had trees fall on roofs in the neighborhoods with mature trees.  I do not see any type of assistance trucks driving around Katy (not that I would know what they looked like) helping people remove debris.  I really don’t know if there are social service teams checking on people.

 From what I see Katy, TX fared pretty well if you are focusing on people lives in my opinion.  Some areas have no traffic signals.  Just dangling lights.  Many areas are still without power in Houston.

The people who are really affected by Ike are the ones in the southernmost parts of Houston.  There seems to be some type of conflict between FEMA and the Houston area.  FEMA was supposed to supply water, ice and meals but there was some type of delay in sending the trucks to the area.  I heard on KUHF radio that HEB stepped in and provided much needed ice and water.

Click here to read about the sad “Katrina-type” situation going on with the federal aid in the parts of Houston and also Galveston:  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26695458/?GT1=43001

Please someone help those people who are without shelter. 

The 3-1-1  information lines in Houston are open again.  If you know of a loved one needing assistance with water, food, ice etc, please contact the 311 lines for assistance.  There are supposed to be several ice/water distribution points in Houston but none of the locations I heard about are located close to Katy.

Katy ISD schools will be closed on Tuesday as well as most schools in the area.

Thanks to all of you who have responded to my posts. 

 Thanks to all of you who send positive thoughts to those who ended up in worse shape than anyone could ever dream.  I wish the media would spend more time on Hurricane Ike so that families around the world can at least see what happened in the area.

At least the weather is cooler in a place where temps normally run 98 degrees this time of year.

Hope you are having a great and safe day wherever you are…..

Pictures of Stores/Hurricane Ike Around Katy Texas

Pictures of damage to houses around Katy North and Highway 6/Bellaire.

Pictures of HEB on Sunday.  They had plenty of ice and plenty of checkouts open with a fast lane for ice buyers.  Yesterday, Tuesday, HEB was out of ice at the Grand Parkway/Fry Rd. location but they did expect to receive a shipment this morning.

• Kroger:  Ice available for sale at Kroger’s on Fry Road North/Park Row/I-10
• Sugarland:  Ice, water and MREs available at Mercer Stadium, Lexington across from First Colony Mall (source:  ABC13)

Here is the City of Houston website where you can find information about FEMA, ice, water and points of distribution (PODS): 

• http://www.fema.gov/news/event.fema?id=10570 
• http://www.hcoem.org/

Katy ISD schools will not resume until Monday, September 22nd

• http://www.katyisd.org/

Generators For Sale In The Houston Texas Area After Hurricane Ike

Generators are available at “Camping World”, which is located one exit down from Katy Mills Mall on I-10 West.

The Honda brand generators are priced from $1,000 – $3,199.

Camping World

27905 Katy Freeway

Katy, TX 77494

866-337-4809

Find Out When You Will Get Power After Hurricane Ike

NewsRadio 740 KTRH has a list of zip codes projected to get power during the next two weeks by CenterPoint energy:

KTRH

My power out here in Katy North is projected to be repaired by September 22nd.  Yea!

Generators Available For Sale At Sam’s Club

Sam’s Club (281-578-5585) 20424 Katy Freeway, 77449 on I-10/Fry Road has generators available for sale:

• 5250 watts/ $599.84
• 7000 watts/ $928.76

Hurricane Ike Photos

Click on this blog link to see some incredible pictures of Hurricane Ike.  The Texas community photojournalism blog is written by a Austin American-Statesman staff photographer.

The picture of the rides in Kemah is so sad. 

My heart goes out to the lady standing in front of her destroyed apartment.

http://jayjanner.wordpress.com/

Hurricane Ike, Katy, TX and Power on September 21st

No power yet.

Weather getting a little warmer and more humid.

We are still lucky.

Breakfast this morning:  muffins and Taco Cabana.

Too much money going to the food bill.

Checking the Houston Chronicle page for areas of power restoration.

Hurricane Ike, Katy, TX Family Photos

Early Saturday morning the CenterPoint workpeople pulled up and preceded to the power pole to check the transformer.  My family and I giddly jumped into our car for a breakfast run and a grocery store run.

We returned home to find the power status in the same condition we left it in:  off

Bright spot:  breakfast was great

Empty Fridge

Refrigerator empty but clean.

Transformer/power line not fixed yet.

Hanging clothes outside on the gazebo with no cover makes a great clothesline.

CenterPoint truck prepares to fix our lines.

Blown transformer ready to be fixed.

Hurricane Ike, Power, Food Stamps and a Katy, TX Family

These posts are not so much gripes but observations about my reality.

What a beautiful day in Houston.  There is even a slight breeze this morning.  The days are alright but the nights are not the most comfortable.

My family and I are very fortunate.  I really feel for the moms/dads out there with small children.  Disasters like Ike can wipe out any little financial cushion that you have.  There are many in Houston who cannot not work due to workplaces still being close.  Many people have jobs that pay by the hour and are not salaried positions.  These people do not have paid off days or vacation days from these type of jobs.   Forget about Wall Street and help the little ones.

Ten nights and no electric power.  No fan at night because the car battery is draining faster due to the warmer weather.

The drainage ditch is very stinky at night.  The mosquitoes are huge and vicious.

Every morning I check the Houston Chronicle site for information about which houses have restored power in the area.  I am hoping that those red points move closer to my west Houston zip code.  I also check the CenterPoint Energy  site for projected power restorations for my zip code.

Little by little the local media is ceasing to cover stories about Hurricane Ike and instead are moving on to stories about the buy-out of Wall Street.

I am buying about 3 bags of ice a day at a cost of $1.75 each.  There were never any PODS located anywhere near my house where I could obtain ice/water.  So much for trying to keep a budget.

The kids and I are eating out every day since we are not able to preserve food.   Double yuck!!!  I love to cook and I dont care too much for the fast food these days.

Katy ISD schools are not offering free breakfast/lunch for families affected by power outtages/Ike even though Houston ISD schools offered meals.  (Sometimes Katy ISD Administration can be out of touch with the population that they serve.  The schools need to realize that the demographic/income levels have changed and they must adjust accordingly.)

 I usually fix my kids lunch but because of not being able to preserve the food the kids are eating the school lunches.  The school lunches end up being much more expensive than the lunchkits I make.  My daughter does not like the school lunches and I fear that this may affect her energy  level throughout the day.

Disaster Food Stamps are being offered to families who qualify.  All you need to do is fill-out a two-page application.  No documentation is required at this time but you do need to tell the truth. 

•  Here are the locations to apply: here

 FEMA has opened some disaster recovery centers at three area Home Depots for people who need additional information about assistance:  http://app1.kuhf.org/houston_public_radio-news-display.php?articles_id=1222106610

Even though our power is out, we still had to make that $225 payment yesterday to the energy company right on schedule.

As a woman who grew up on a 200-acre fame in East Texas, I am realizing that our house was never designed to be without electrical power.  The builder did not design porches, cross windows or shade for the houses.  I grew up without AC so that is not a big deal.  The big deal is not having trees, shade and wind.  Houston is not prepared for a total power failure.   What will the U.S. do if we ever lose electrical power in the cities?

Hurricane Ike and a Katy, Texas Family

12 nights with no power.  It is so hot!

FEMA has left Houston.

Let me know if anyone else out there has had no power (if you have access to a computer).

Hurricane Ike: Search Sites For Photos of Cleanup and Aftermath

Search the following sites for pictures and information on cleanup  and aftermath of Hurricane Ike.

Flickr.com  search: hurricane ike

http://www.chron.com/hurricane/ike/

Hurricane Ike: Houston Power, Laundry, Roof, Ice, Food Stamps Information Sites

Some of you emailed me about the Food Stamp forms and hopefully this bit of information may help:

Food Stamp applications can also be dowloaded and printed from the http://www.hhsc.state.tx.us/GettingHelp_Assistance.html website.   If possible try to go to your local library so that you can print the application.  It could possible be a long wait at the offices and taking the application with you might save some time.

The short two-page application is only two pages and can also be faxed.  According  to the yourtexasbenefits.com website, you do not have to provide documentation (bills or bank statements) of income at this time.  If anyone was able to file for foodstamps or have additional information, please leave a comment so that others may be assisted.

You must apply by Oct. 17 by doing one of the following:

1. Visiting an HHSC benefits office.Download an application, fill it out and take it with you to the benefits office. English | SpanishThis is the fastest way to get help. If you can get benefits, you might get a Lone Star Card the same day.
2. Faxing an application toll-free to 1-877-447-2839.Download an application: English | Spanish
3. Going online at www.YourTexasBenefits.com.You will need to register to use the website to send in an application.
4. Calling 2-1-1.You can get more information about getting food stamps and start an application by phone.
   After you dial 2-1-1, press 1 for English or press 2 for Spanish. Then press 2 for “Information about food stamps.”If you can’t call 2-1-1 on your phone, call 1-877-541-7905. Both numbers are toll-free.

Listed on the  KTRH NewRadio  website is a wonderful list of resources for people in the Houston area: 

STATEWIDE ASSISTANCE

If you suffered damage from Hurricane Ike, you may be eligible for federal disaster assistance.

Help is available through FEMA, but first you have to register. Go online anytime to http://www.fema.gov/, or call 1-800-621-3362.  The TTY number is 1-800-462-7585.

Hurricane Claim-Filing Locations:

Congressman Nick Lampson mobile office – 11702 Galveston Rd. Call 281-240-3700 for additional information about the documents needed to properly fill out and register a claim.

American Legion Post 490, 11702 Old Galveston Road. The unit will be open daily beginning Wednesday between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Buses will be available from Ellington Field to American Legion Post 490.

FEMA also is offering lodging reimbursement for citizens who have uninhabitable homes. To contact the FEMA Help line, call 1-800-621-3362 or log on to http://www.fema.gov/

Open Food Stamp Offices
HHSC offices that are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday include:
Houston: 1100 Greens Parkway
Houston: 6118 Scott Street
Houston: 2110 Telephone Road
Houston: 12121 Westheimer
Bay City: 2010 Avenue K
Conroe: 608 N. Loop 336 East
Hempstead: 1739 13th St.
Huntsville: 306 Highway 190 East
Tomball: 29250 Tomball Parkway
Wharton: 404 N. Alabama Road

Water, Ice, and Food Distribution Sites (PODs)
(Most Harris County locations will open at 10 a.m. and remain available until 6 p.m. or however long supplies last.)
Harris County

Bay Area Community Center, 5002 NASA Road #1, Seabrook 77586
Baytown Courthouse Annex, 701 West Baker Rd., Baytown 77521
Church Without Walls, 5314 Bingle Rd., Houston 77092
Cinemark Tinseltown Jacinto City 11450 East Fwy., Jacinto City  77029
Clyde Abshire, Deer Park Football Stadium  710 West St. Augustin, Deer Park 77536@Center
Community of Faith    1023 Pinemont Dr., Houston 77018
Fountain of Praise Hillcroft Campus 13950 Hillcroft, Houston 77085
Harvest Time Church 17770 Imperial Valley, Houston 77060
Houston Community College SE    6815 Rustic Avenue @ 45 & Woodridge
Jim Fonteno Courthouse Annex    14350 Wallisville Rd., Houston 77049
Kipp Academy Houston    9634 Mesa Dr., Houston 77078
La Porte High School    301 E. Fairmont Pkwy., La Porte 77571
New Light Church    7317 East Houston Rd., Houston 77028
Ripley House    4410 Navigation, Houston 77011
Robertson Stadium, University of Houston    3600 Scott, Houston 77011 (Lot 12A)
S. Houston Community Center    1007 State St., South Houston 77587
San Jacinto Community Center    604 Highland Woods, Highlands 77562
Sharpstown Mall    7500 Clarewood, Houston 77036
St. Agnes Baptist Church    3730 S. Acres Dr., Houston 77047
Zion Lutheran    3606 Beauchamp, Houston 77009
Brazoria County

Alvin ISD Transportation Hub, 2780 State Highway 6, Alvin
Freeport Police Department, Brazosport Blvd
Angleton Recreation Center, Cannon Rd
West Brazos Jr. High, Roustabout Dr.

Montgomery County

Willis – Browder Trailer Road and FM 1484
South County -Woodlands – 610 Sawdust Road – Old Walmart parking lot
Oak Ridge North – Oak Ridge Baptist Church – Hanna Road
Montgomery – Montgomery Jr. High School
East County – Grangerland Community Center, West of FM 2090 on FM 3083 in Grangerland
Fort Bend County

Stafford: Southern Ice Cream Corp., 13755 Greenland Drive — ice, water, and food
Sugar Land: Mercer Stadium, 16403 Lexington Blvd. — water and ice.
Chambers County

Winnie Community Building (from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.)
Anahuac High School (from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.)
Barbers Hill Middle School (from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.)
Hankamer Community Bldg (from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m.)
Wallisville Community Bldg (from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m.)
Double-Bayour Community Bldg (from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m.)
Smith Point VFD

Galveston County

Island Community Center, 47th and Broadway, Galveston, 77551
High Island High School 2116 6th Street, High Island, Texas 77623
Hitchcock High School -6625 FM 2004, Hitchcock, Texas 77563
Jamaica Beach City Hall 16628 San Luis Pass, Jamaica Beach, Texas
McAdams Jr. High, 4007 Video Street, Dickinson, Texas 77539
Centennial Park -220 S. Friendswood Drive, Friendswood, Texas 77546
Ball High School, 4115 Avenue O, Galveston, Texas 77550
La Porte, 9700 Spencer Highway, La Porte 77571
Northway Shopping Center, 3729 N. 16th Street 77632
Open Parking Lot, 4100 Decker Dr., Baytown, 77521
Target Store, 225 Marina Bay Dr., Kemah 77565
Tiki Island, 714 Tiki Drive, Tiki Island, Texas
Pasadena Memorial Stadium, 2900 Burke
CLOSED: Texas Southern University, 3600 Rosewood at Scott (moved to University of Houston)

New Life Fellowship Church, La Porte
Baytown Courthouse Annex, 701 West Baker
Windsor Village, 6000 Heatherbrook
CLOSED: Raul C. Martinez Annex, 1001 S. Sgt. Macario Garcia
Football Stadium, 701 W. San Augustine
CT Church, 9701 Almeda Genoa Rd.
Willis Community Center, 600 Gerald, Willis; ice delivery at 9 a.m. Water tanks available at American Legion on 13054 East FM 1097 in Willis. Bring your own containers with limit of 10 gallons.
Red Cross Shelters

Brazoria County
1st Presbyterian Church
130 S. Arcola
Angleton, Texas 77515

Frontier Baptist Church
3133 N. Valderas
Angleton, Texas 77515

Chambers County
American Legion Hall
1704 S. Main
Anahuac, Texas 77514

Winnie Stowell
Community Center
202 S. Park
Winnie, TX 77665

Harris County
Bayshore Baptist
111315 Spenser Hwy
La Porte, Texas 77571

Auchan
6059 South Loop East
Houston, Texas 77023

Bear Creek United Methodist
16000 Rippling Water Drive
Houston, Texas 77084

Champions Life Center
3131 FM 2920
Spring, Texas 77388

Grace Fellowship UMC
2655 South Mason Rd
Katy, Texas 77450

Lindale Assembly of God Church
504 Caplin St.
Houston, Texas 77022

Memorial Baptist
611 Sterling
Baytown, Texas 77520

Richey Street Baptist Church
1010 S. Richey St.
Pasadena, Texas 77506

St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church
8301 Brandon St.
Houston, Texas 77026

Wooster Baptist Church
7007 Bayway Drive
Baytown, Texas 77520

Liberty

Calvary Baptist Church
816 Blair
Cleveland, Texas 77327

First Baptist of Dayton
202 East Houston
Dayton, Texas 77535

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Islamic Circle of North America
Islamic Circle of North America (INCA) Houston Chapter relief department (called ICNA Relief) and the Islamic Society of Greater Houston (ISGH) will be providing basic services to all the Hurricane Ike evacuees like place to stay, food, water, etc at three of ISGF centers, which will be open 24 hours a day.
ISGH North Center
11815 Adel road, Houston, Tx 77067
http://www.icnahouston.com/
http://www.icnarelief.org/

Salvation Army

The Salvation Army asks people who want to help those affected by the recent tropical cyclones to visit http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/ or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY.

Hurricane Ike and a Katy, Texas Family on September 27th

No power for two weeks and 1 day.  CenterPoint arrived around 4pm and told us we need to contact the Texas Public Utility Commission.  There is something wrong with the transformer load.

Mosquitoes are huge and vicious.  My legs look like a strawberry muffin with all the red raised lumps. 

Read on KTRH site  that Houston is doing aerial spraying for the mosquito infestation.  Wonder does this extend to the outer Katy area?

My husband is home off the road this weekend.  At least we are all together.

Red Cross shelter at Bear Creek United Methodist Church on Highway 6 (Rippling Water) next to Wal-Mart neighborhood market.  They are assisting families and accepting donations of dry food goods.  They also need overnight volunteers at the church.

I do not attend this church but they are also the church that helps with the boy scout pack for my area in Western Katy.

Site:  http://www.bearcreekumc.org/details/AnnounceDetails.aspx?AnnounceId=1696

Good thing:  Weather was nice and sunny.  No rain.  Able to hang clothes out to dry. 

All the kids on the block are so cheerful about this turn of events.  They are still laughing and happy!

Power Restoration in Progress…..

Mississipi Alltel

We have power….Thanks Missouri PLC crew.  It took 6 trucks and about 9 crewman.  Now, I don’t want to turn on the AC because I am used to humidity.

We are definitely changing the way we live.

Houston/Katy Photographers’ Beautiful Portraits For The Holidays

Update:   Mention to Mr. Diaz that you saw this post about “Watch Me Grow Portrait Studio” on this website and he will provide a free sitting fee plus a 8 x 10 portrait.  Stop by his studio and take a look at all the beautiful portraits of families.  Book early before the Thanksgiving and Christmas rush.

These beautiful family portraits were taken by photographer, Martin Diaz of “Watch Me Grow Portrait Studio” in Houston.  The studio is located on the Grand Parkway next to HEB grocery store in Katy, Texas.  Here is the “Watch Me Grow Portrait Studio” contact information:

6711 South Fry Road, Katy, TX 281-574-4422.

It is not too early to start thinking about Christmas portraits for the family.

Up until last year I ran around to all of the ”plain” picture taking places like Sears, Picture People and Penney’s.  Never again.  I used to make an appointment over the phone, spend two hours getting my kids all pretty, rush to the mall and wait, wait, wait………..   By the time it was my families’ turn to take our pictures the kids were grumpy and there was no way any photographer was getting a smile from the kids.

The studio is quiet and private.   Trust this photographer because he knows about what poses, props and backgrounds look best for the family.  He is very warm and friendly which comes in handy when the kids get a little inpatient.

All photography is the property of Martin Diaz.  Please contact Mr. Diaz for permissions.

Houston Girl Scouts and First LEGO League Robotics Competition

Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council Houston organizes several teams of girls to compete in the First LEGO League robotics competition in January. There is much more to Girl Scouts than cookies and camp outs.

Guess what!?  I am one of the coaches (I know, I am surprised too).  My daughter loves computers and LEGOS so why not get her involved with a group of girls who have the same interests.

Since science and technology are not one of my strongest skills, I am using a book entitled “First Lego League the unofficial guide” written by two young science wizards named James Floyd Kelly and Jonathan Daudelin as a tutorial guide.

Although the book is very helpful especially when it comes to  team formation and organizing the league, I do wish they could have dumbed the robotic construction detail down a little more for people who want to learn about the gears but in tiny baby steps.  Also,  they could have added a few more pictures.  Overall the book is helpful and I will continue to keep you updated on how I am using the book in preparation for the competition.

As the coach, I am learning all of these new robotic programming skills about 48 hours before the girls learn the skills themselves.  I wish that this program was in every elementary school in the United States.  Kids need to learn about science and technology in an environment that encourages creativity not rote memorization.

My smart team of Girl Scouts will not only compete in an robotic programming tournament but they are also responsible for preparing a report that proposes solutions to the climate change problem that currently exists in Houston.  The girls are learning about science in a fun creative way without the restrictions of a classroom environment where students are punished for making a mistake.  The team learns from their mistakes and turns them into opportunities to teach themselves what to do better as a team.

My son is only 6 years old but he has tagged along to the team meetings and seems to have the talent of robotic programming.  The FLL has a competition for 6-9 year-olds too.    If you are a parent who is interested in having their 6-9 year old compete in the Junior FLL, please leave a comment and we will form a team.  There are many schools and home schooled kids who train all Fall for the competition in the Winter.

The robot/software/kit can be purchased at any time for kids or adults (my husband loves to experiment with the gears). The robot and the software called “LEGO Mindstorms” can be purchased at the Baybrook Mall LEGO store or you could order the set on line at LEGO.Com.   Here is the website link:  http://mindstorms.lego.com.

Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council will also be forming a Robotics interest group in the next few weeks.   If you have a daughter who loves or even dislikes science and math, this is the perfect opportunity for her to learn plus have fun at the same time.

Here is the website:  http://www.gssjc.org/ or contact Julie Deeter at jdeeter@sjgs.org 713-292-0203 for more information.

Wiis and Christmas Shopping

Best Buy on Fry in Houston just got a new load of Wiis.  I took the bait and bought one.  They look like tons of fun.

I am going to start posting about by Christmas shopping.

My list will include:

LEGO Mindstorm- make your child an engineer!  Better than some overpriced XBOX which requires no imagination whatsoever.  Take a look at the UK website for Mind-storms.  They have extra accessories than what is offered in the States.

Girls Gourmet Cupcake Maker- Sam’s Club and Learning Express carries these cute little appliances which will appeal to anyone who loves watching those cake decorating shows on HGTV (I will review with pictures.  A group of girls is visiting my home next week.  Let’s see if they love this creation.  It really reminds me of the Easy Bake Oven I had as a kid.)  I think the girl scout troop should think about selling customized cupcakes that they make with the Gourmet Maker instead of those cookies.  People would like up for miles for a customized cupcake for that special loved one.  Just a thought……

Retailers are starting to go back in time to really see what kids really enjoy.

Christmas is coming and this year it will be on the cheap.

Rachel Ray’s magazine rocks!  Take that magazine to the store when grocery shopping.

I wish it snowed here in Houston.  I would love to spend Christmas somewhere in a cabin blockin in by a blizzard.  I am so tired of 80 degree weather.  I want to be in the mood to make French Stew.  Please someone help make my dream come true.

Have a good week and buy toys that really matter to your kids.

Girl Scout Troop Being Formed At Rhoads Elementary in Katy Texas

A Girl Scout troop is being formed at Rhoads Elementary in Katy, Texas.  The school is located on Clay Road next to Fry road.  There is not a lot of parent involvement in the school because of the demographic and because it is new.  If a business or company can help the school form more of a community, please contact the PTA and help us out.  There are so many students who would benefit from an after-school program.  These are kids from under middle-class families who need an outlet.

Please Obama.  Please make every school have an after-school enrichment program.  These kids should learning how to dance, sew, make art, skate, fix computers, gardening, learn other languages etc.

Katy, Texas is just like any Title I area.  The parents need help and the school needs help.

I would love to start an after school robotics program but I need help from area businesses and other parents.

All schools need after-school enrichment.  The education system needs to be over-hauled with technology….just my little opinion.

I plan to apply for a job in Obama’s cabinet as some type of educational aide.  Good luck to me and to the world.

Free Portrait With Holiday Christmas Family Portraits Sessions in Katy, Texas Area

Love the swing.

The best time to make  Christmas portrait reservations is now. Mention that you saw this advertisement on Katy Kids when you call to book your appointment.

Thanksgiving is in three weeks.  The week before Thanksgiving is the perfect time to book family portraits.  Cut the kids hair now so that it does not look so choppy.  Buy the little outfits now.

The studio is private and you will receive excellent customer service.  The photographer and owner are one and the same.  He is not just a worker but a worker with an investment in quality.

Call this number 281-574-4422/281-392-2202

Go here:  6711 South Fry Rd (Grand Parkway/99)

www.watchmegrowportraitstudio.com

1. All photographs are the property of Martin Diaz.  Please contact him directly for information regarding copyrights.

Mary Jo Peckham Park….Free Put-Put Golf West Houston Katy

I will post directions, maps later.

Great park to take a family especially on days like today. Mild and sunny.

My compute is being devoured by a big ugly virus and I am too busy to re-install everything.  I need my bookmarks.

Busy with my LEGO team.  We are having a air quality expert speak to us on Sunday.  I worry that some parents who want their kids to be on the team are really over-booking their kids.  They are still great parents but maybe the kids need to concentrate on just 3 things/groups at a time not 10 events a week.  But everyone is sweet and nice.  I love working with the robot and learning.   The kids are making me feel like I am 11 again and for once that is a positive feeling.

Great Healthy Snacks to Take to Meetings, Team and Scout Group Get -Togethers

Mandarin oranges. (cuties) They were a big hit at the LEGO GS team meeting.  They are on sale at Randall’s for about $5.00 and are a total of of about 20 or so.  My kids like sticking straws into them and being messy.

Just passing on information to the those parents who always have to take a snack to some type of kid meeting.

Recyclable Capri Sun Bag Make Great Gifts

Capri Sun Recycled Lunch Bag

I seem to get plenty of views on this bag in my Flickr account.  Why?  Are people looking for ideas on how to recycle or they simply love my daughter’s lunch bag.

If you are looking for a Christmas gift, I would be happy to sew one up for you.

I have even thought of using those coffee bags that coffee comes in.  Surprisingly, the bag has held up great.  I even sewed in a little pouch on the side for the ice pack.

Recycle.  Save the earth.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to all.  We made it to another year.

First LEGO League Robotics Competition, January 10th, Go Girls Go!

Go LEGO Girl Go

My fabulous team of  sweet, smart girls  will be competing in the First LEGO League Meet on Saturday, January 10th.  I am so excited and tired.  The girls are ages 9-14 and they are happy to get the chance to compete as scientists.  We had a ton of fun and I am glad that my daughter made new friends.  The girls were in the drivers seat.  I was just a spotter directing them where to park.  (I think it would have been cool to name our team the Sara Conners or the Camerons–only you Terminator fans will enjoy the joke)

As a coach,  I am completely hands-off on Saturday.  What a big relief because I can be a parent again.  I really don’t consider myself a “coach”.  Just a mom who tried to learn robotics and encourage the girls to try something new in the world.

I do wish that I would have planned a sleep-over on Friday night.  I think it would have contributed to team bonding but this is the big return-to-school week and parents are tired.

A big thank you to the climatologist at HARC who took the time to visit with us and discuss climate change here in the Houston area.  An even bigger thanks to Girl Scouts of the San Jacinto Council.

Hopefully, public schools and non-profits will encourage participation (plus fund)  from student groups in the LEGO competition.  I don’t think the event is open to the public but there are tons of competition videos on Youtube.com.

It really is not about winning but working together on a goal.  Go Girls Go!

Back To Blogging About Kids and Stuff To Do

I am throwing my leg back onto the blogging horse.  I am ready to share with the world all the really nice resources around Katy, Houston and the world.  I don’t know how much longer I will be a able to stay at home and take care of my kids.  One good thing about the economic downturn,  it is forcing me to really see the value of money.  No standing around in WalMar or Targ.  Everything has to have a purpose.  America will be okay.  We just need to realize we were living in Want World not Only What is Necessary World.

I’ll start off mentioning Boy Scouts.  My son and his little wood car competed at Rylander Elementary in the Pine Derby Races for the boy scout.  Here is a picture of what a little wood car looks like:

Pinewood Derby Races

The cars are so cool!

Parents, please step up and lead a pack/den especially men.

Tonight The Kids and I Stood Outside And Waved At The Space Shuttle

Houston, we have made contact…..from my backyard.

Last night, Wednesday the pigs (my kids) and I ran out to the play fort in the backyard to watch the sky at around 6:55pm CST in Houston.   We got to see the space shuttle and the international space station fly over. Awesome.   There was this bright point of light with a little bit of an exhaust tale drifting across in a southern direction.   The moon winked and there were  a little more air traffic flying in the night sky than usual for the area.  The shuttle  looked like a star that had pulled itself free from the universe and decided to go for a stroll in the night cosmos.  The whole experience lasted for about 5 minutes.    We were making so much fuss that the neighbors (the people who do not talk) opened there doors and peeped out.

I hope the kids remember that moment and one day they take their kids out to see the night sky and to waive at the astronauts.

And….it will happen again Thursday night! According to space shuttle fly over information there will be another flyover on Thursday night at 7:25 pm in Houston if the night sky is clear.

I am pretty sure we saw the shuttle and then the space station follow it across the evening sky.  Houston’s weather has been clear and  cool so the sky was crystal clear.  Perfect conditions for a little space viewing party.  I plan to see it again on Thursday.  Hope you do too.   Space and the universe are still free to be gazed upon.

Decorate Your Home With Enlarged Photos of Your Kids

Here is a picture of our romp room (game room) where I blew up a photo of my daughter at 3.  I mounted the picture on a piece of foam board.  You can also purchase mat boards and have it cut at Hobby Lobby.  I paid about $15 to have the picture blown-up.  You scapbooking moms out there could also decorate the border area with all kinds of snazzy stickers.

People always ask me about the pictures.

Here is a picture of the beach that I took when I first traveled to California.  This photo was enlarged and printed on a canvas type material at Kinkos.  This photo hangs above my bed.

Husband Travels and Sends Home Pictures to Kids

My husband is a CDT and sends home pictures of his travels.  Right now, he is in upstate New York.  Lots of know on the ground.  This morning he tried to open his truck door and it was frozen.   The kids love getting emails from their dad.  We all feel closer to each other.

Katy Residents HEB At Fry Rd/Mason Ground Beef Recall

If you bought ground beef at the HEB grocery store at Fry Road and Mason, please return to the store asap.   According to the article in the Chron, there could possible be metal pieces in the meat.  Thanks to Alison who Twitters on Twitter for the FYI.

Check out his article in the Houston Chronicle http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6263637.html.

Sewing A Winter Jacket For Your Kids….Or At Least Tries

Daughter's Jacket

Here is a picture of the jacket I am working on for my daughter.  She loves the color red.  The pattern is from Burda.  Trying to save as much money as possible in these lean times.  What do you think?  Drop me a comment and I will email you the pattern number and other helpful hints.

Clover In My Lawn on The Gulf Coast (Houston)

Why is clover grass seen as an enemy to a front lawn?  The clover is really quite green and lovely as opposed to the grass next to it.

Our grass never really grows.  It is either dead or dominated by ugy weeds here in Houston.  I think it is a complete waste of time to install a sprinkler system that waters grass.  Everyone should be watering only flowers and gardens with vegetables.  We spent over $500 on grass sod after moving in and now our yard is dead.  My neighbors spend at least $100 on fertilizer and weed killer every year not including what they end up paying on their water bill.  Besides, it is too hot in Houston in the summer time to even go out and sit on the grass.

I like the clover.  It is the only thing that is green and kind of flowery growing in our front yard.  We are following the rules set out by our homeowners association and pulling up the green clover so that our green lawn can sprout anew.   The grass never sprouts.  The weeds sprout and we spend the summer mowing weeds.

I like the green clover.  I wish my lawn was covered with the stuff.

Best Houston Family Magazines

Houston Family Magazine

Parents, if you are looking for daycare, after-school activities or family fun resources then run down to Kroger’s or Fiesta and pick up “Houston Family Magazine” and “Katy Parent”  Magazine.  The magazines are free and the content also can be accessed online at Houston Family Magazine and Katy Parent Magazine.

Every month in Houston Family Magazine there is a contest sponsered by the magazine to win the month’s in-demand children’s item.  This month the magazine features a contest where families can enter for a chance to win two DVD movies.  Go to www.houstonfamilymagazine.com for your chance to win “The Great Wall’ and “The Chinese Market” DVDs.   In addition, there is the opportunity to win a family four-pack of passes to a special screening of “Monsters Vs. Aliens”.     The February issue of HFM also includes a camp directory for those parents who are already thinking about activities for their kids during the summer months.  If you do not have time to run by a grocery story and pick up a free copy, you can purchase a subscription for 12 months or 24 months.

Katy Parent Magazine is also a free magazine packed with tons of fun family stuff to do in Katy as well as the Houston area.  I found my children’s dentist Dr. Ingrid Duebbert of Kingsland dental group, P.A.  in the Katy Parent.  Every month the magazine lists a Fun-Time Calendar with events, prices, times and locations around town.  There are plenty of discounts for parents with the “Mention This Ad” tag for activities like “Times Square Entertainment” on the Grand Parkway.  The magazine does a great job of listing events and daycare centers that are located  in and near the Katy area.

Pictures From Syracuse, NY

February 24, 2008/Houston, TX

My husband sent pictures from New York.  They are having record snowfall in the Syracuse area.  Compare that to the balmy, breezy just right weather here in Houston, Texas.

February 24, 2008/Houston, TX

Save Money On Groceries Without Having To Cut Coupons And Run Around Town

Houston Grocery Ads

Did you know that Wal-Mart has a competitor’s price match guarantee on all items in the store? Here is how to save money on items you shop for every week at Wally Mart.  I am not in any way endorsing Wally Mart but am only trying to pass this helpful money saving tip along to others.  I think a bunch of other stores need to pay more attention to Wal-Mart’s marketing strategy.  I have some opinions about WallyM but now is not the time to express these thoughts here.

1.  Save every advertisement paper that arrive free every week in the mail: grocery store (Food Town, HEB, Kroger, Brookshire’s, Fiesta, Randalls), drug store (CVS, Walgreen’s), hardware store (Home Depot, Sears, Lowe’s, Best Buy).   Remember to check out the Target ads in Sunday’s paper too.

2.  Go through every ad circling all the items with a big colorful marker that you buy every week like milk, deli meats, sugar, onions, strawberries, Capri Suns, grapes etc.  I buy at least three bottles of Zyrtec every month for my daughter’s allergies so I am always on the look out for sales on Zyrtec. If you need a coupon at the competitor’s store to purchase at a certain price you cannot get the same price at Wally Mart.

3.  Make a list with the name of the store, the brand name, the weight/packaging size and price.  If you do not have time to do this then just throw the ads in your car just in case you happen to stop by Wally-Mart.

4.  When you go to Wally World take your stack of ads for the current week inside along with your itemized list.  You must have the ads in your hot little hands.

5.  Make  very sure you select the matching brand, quantity, size of the product that matches the competitor’s ad.  Sometimes Target will have the same brand at a better price but the packaging quantity may be different.  What this means is that you cannot price match.

6.  Go to the full-service check-out with your full cart, circled ads and list.

7.  Separate the “matching price” items on the conveyor belt from the non-competitors’ ad products.

8.  Before your cashier begins ringing up your items tell her/him that you have the matching ads for some of the products you are purchasing. Make it easier on the cashier by grouping the products together.   Be courteous to your cashier.

9.  Be prepared to show the cashier  the competitors ad.  Tell the cashier the competitor’s price. (Some cashiers merely glance at the ad and keep ringing up your items while others stop and examine the ad plus the product to see if it is the right size and if your competitor’s ad is for the current week.)

You will save money.    Let me know how this works out for all of you.

Houston Grocery Ads

Cheap Life: Made My Son A Back Pack

Made my son a backpack in three long hours.  Cost:  $8.  Took me three hours.  Surpringly, he loved it.  What do you think/

Boy Scouts Will Be Selling Scout Fair Tickets At Wal-Mart On Fry Road

The Boy Scouts will be selling scout fair tickets today, Saturday, February 28, 2009 at the Wal-Mart on Fry Road/I-10 from  8am-2pm.  Scout Fair is a family event where boy scouts display hundreds of exhibits about camping,  woodworking, aviation and Indian lore.  The fair this year will be April 18th at Reliant Arena.

Buy a ticket from a boy scout so that they can raise money for fun acitivities and then become a leader.   The boy’s sell tickets so that they can attend summer camps and other boy themed events for the year.  This year’s theme is “Celebrate the Adventure”.

Here is information about the Sam Houston Area Council.

Gardening Supplies and Plant Places Near Houston

Peanut Patties

Dilorio Farms Lawn Furniture

Dilorio Farms Lawn Furniture

Peanut Patties

Everyone is trying to save money these days on food .  This year how about growing  your own vegetables in your own backyard garden?  Today my husband and I took an unplanned trip to Dilorio Farms in Hempstead, TX to buy soil and seeds for our garden.Here is the weblink to Dilorio Farms located about 45 minutes west of Houston of 290.  Dilorio’s stocks all kinds of bagged soil along with seeds, seedlings and plants.  They have tons of locally grown garden produce along with jams, jellies and fresh peanuts.   I was very surprised to find locally grown rice and beans.

We purchased compost soil, top soil and my husband’s favorite cow manure from Hempstead market place.  We also purchased potato seedlings, onion seedlings, corn seeds and beet seeds (I love beets!)  The open air store  has  bunches of different yard ornaments like cute two-story bird houses, unpainted wood lawn furniture and  octagon picnic tables like the one pictured above.   The store also sells fresh roasted peanuts.  Check out the Dilorio Farms website for directions from 290 and check the store out in the summer when they start selling those red, ripe Hempstead watermelons.

We really need more dirt than the dirt we purchased at Dilorios for our garden.   So far the only thing we have been able to grow in our Katy clay soil is Rosemary.  A big giant rosemary bush.   Wish us luck this year with our veggie garden.

I will keep you posted on what actually grows in the Katy, Texas clay.

Gardening: Spring Break Stuff To Keep Kids Busy In Houston March 16th-20th

Plant A Garden

How to keep kids busy this week:

Step 1:  Purchase seed packets of your favorite veggies or flowers.   Wallmmart has cheap packets.

Step 2:  Purchase clay pot from $1 store or use a clean plastic container around the house.  Poke holes in bottom before planting.

Step 3:  Have kids decorate plant container with stickers, markers, foam letters or tape (whatever you have around the house).

Step 4:  Have kids go outside and fill plant container with dirt to about 95% from top.

Step 5:  Kids make a hole and plant seeds according to seed packet directions.

Step 6:  Cover seeds very lightly and sprinkle water on dirt with hand.

Step 7:  Put pot in sunny window or place outside in full sun during the day.

Step 8:  Kids sprinkle water pot everyday and wait…..and….wait

Step 9:  When kids say they are board this week tell them to go watch the garden grow.

School Spring Break Kid Stuff To Do This Week: Free Computer Game Sites

Free Entertainment for Kids on Spring Break “Stay-cation” 
10 Web Sites to Keep Your Kids Entertained and Safe

In these tough times, a lot of families are opting for Spring Break “stay-cations” instead of big holiday trips. But if you’re staying home, it can be hard to keep the kids entertained and out of trouble. Many parents are naturally cautious about letting their kids loose on the Internet, but there is a lot of good, free, appropriate content available online – if you know where to look. Here’s a list of 10 web sites to bookmark that can help your kids beat Spring Break boredom if they’re staying home.

Best Set-and-Forget Web Environment for Kids

· KidZui – KidZui is actually not a Web site at all – it’s the Internet made just for kids. It gives kids access to millions of Web sites (including all of the below), YouTube videos, games and photos that have been vetted by a team of parents and teachers. Kids love the cute little avatars they can create and the safe social networking features, and parents love the fact that there’s no chance of enquiring minds stumbling across anything inappropriate.

Best Web Sites for Kids

· Club Penguin – A snow-covered virtual world where children play games and interact with friends in the guise of colorful penguin avatars.

· Lego.com – Ideal for the Lego fan, your child can watch Lego comics and movies, play games and construct their own Web page to show off their creativity.

· Nick.com – Your child can pledge to save the world, play games, check out the latest news on SpongeBob or create a virtual life on Nicktropolis.

· PBSKids.com – With games themed around Sesame Street, Clifford, Curious George, Arthur, Barney and other kid classics, your kids will have fun “interacting” with their favorite characters.

· Poptropica – This virtual online world lets kids create a character, play games, compete with other kids and travel between islands on a blimp to explore new areas.

Best Online Game Sites for Kids

· Cartoon Network Games – With more than 200 games featuring favorite cartoon characters, your kids can hunt monsters with Scooby-Doo, play Ninja Survival or follow the Path of a Jedi.

· Funbrain – Part of the Family Education Network, the site provides educational activities for parents and teachers, as well as interactive games to help your kids with math and reading.

· Funschool – This site, provided by Kaboose, is designed for elementary-age kids and offers free educational games as well as printable activities, coloring sheets and craft projects that will help your kids learn while having fun.

· Hot Wheels Games – For car fans, Hot Wheels has dozens of vehicle-related games that let kids drive through mazes, race friends and solve puzzles.

KidZui’s Cliff Boro believes that parents needn’t be afraid of letting their kids use the Internet. “The Internet is a wonderful tool that, when used appropriately, provides endless hours of free entertainment for the whole family,” he says. “And more than that, it’s a great way for kids to learn and discover new things without even realizing it!” And what parent wouldn’t approve of that?

Story Credit:

Free Entertainment for Kids on Spring Break “Stay-cation” 
10 Web Sites to Keep Your Kids Entertained and Safe

In these tough times, a lot of families are opting for Spring Break “stay-cations” instead of big holiday trips. But if you’re staying home, it can be hard to keep the kids entertained and out of trouble. Many parents are naturally cautious about letting their kids loose on the Internet, but there is a lot of good, free, appropriate content available online – if you know where to look. Here’s a list of 10 web sites to bookmark that can help your kids beat Spring Break boredom if they’re staying home.

Best Set-and-Forget Web Environment for Kids

· KidZui – KidZui is actually not a Web site at all – it’s the Internet made just for kids. It gives kids access to millions of Web sites (including all of the below), YouTube videos, games and photos that have been vetted by a team of parents and teachers. Kids love the cute little avatars they can create and the safe social networking features, and parents love the fact that there’s no chance of enquiring minds stumbling across anything inappropriate.

Best Web Sites for Kids

· Club Penguin – A snow-covered virtual world where children play games and interact with friends in the guise of colorful penguin avatars.

· Lego.com – Ideal for the Lego fan, your child can watch Lego comics and movies, play games and construct their own Web page to show off their creativity.

· Nick.com – Your child can pledge to save the world, play games, check out the latest news on SpongeBob or create a virtual life on Nicktropolis.

· PBSKids.com – With games themed around Sesame Street, Clifford, Curious George, Arthur, Barney and other kid classics, your kids will have fun “interacting” with their favorite characters.

· Poptropica – This virtual online world lets kids create a character, play games, compete with other kids and travel between islands on a blimp to explore new areas.

Best Online Game Sites for Kids

· Cartoon Network Games – With more than 200 games featuring favorite cartoon characters, your kids can hunt monsters with Scooby-Doo, play Ninja Survival or follow the Path of a Jedi.

· Funbrain – Part of the Family Education Network, the site provides educational activities for parents and teachers, as well as interactive games to help your kids with math and reading.

· Funschool – This site, provided by Kaboose, is designed for elementary-age kids and offers free educational games as well as printable activities, coloring sheets and craft projects that will help your kids learn while having fun.

· Hot Wheels Games – For car fans, Hot Wheels has dozens of vehicle-related games that let kids drive through mazes, race friends and solve puzzles.

KidZui’s Cliff Boro believes that parents needn’t be afraid of letting their kids use the Internet. “The Internet is a wonderful tool that, when used appropriately, provides endless hours of free entertainment for the whole family,” he says. “And more than that, it’s a great way for kids to learn and discover new things without even realizing it!” And what parent wouldn’t approve of that?

Story Credit: Elliote Gillmore, Atomic PR

Relaxing Music In The Carpool Lane: Corneille CD

Corneille CD

There you are in the carpool lane waiting in line to pick up your kids at school or there you are in the bathtub relaxing after puttting  the kids to sleep for the evening.

What music do you listen to after a long day of parenting??  I suggest the  music CD by the singer Corneille to relax to when the days finally slows down.

Corneille’s vocal sound reminds me of Seal’s sound (“Kiss From a Rose”) and strangely the vocalist from  the band Maroon 5 (“This Love”).  I would put his music in the category of easy listening+romance ballads+light r&B= international soul.   The singer sells out arenas in other parts of the world and usually sings in French so he has the romance sound down pat.

The Canadian singer  and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador’s new album “The Birth of Cornelius” is his first English language CD.   Check out some of his French language music videos on Youtube.

All of Corneille’s music tracks are made for background music at a dinner party or times when you want relaxing sounds but not a ton of distracting beats or loud lyrics.   My favorite track is “Back To Life” (track 1) because of the laid back uptempo beat of the song and the plea in his voice to a woman to love him back to life.

Foolish Heart (track 6) reminds me big time of 80s song artist Lionel Richie’s “Hello”.  Corneill’s romantic vocals against the soft piano is a soothing combination.

I am a big music lover and it is nice to here not only new music as a parent but something other than the song ”Who lives in a pineapple under the sea….”.

Check out Corneille’s website here or http://corneillemusic.com/.

Houston Family Fun: Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo March 3rd-22nd

Reliant Stadium

Lots of cowboy and cowgirl hats for sale. Love the sequins.

Tractor Showroom

Beautiful quilts in the contest!

Rooster Alarm Clock

Goats, Alpacas and Assorted Animals

Cowboys and Cows

Purses made out of boots.

Those pants that cowboys wear.

People Get A Chance to Dust Off Boots and Hats

Quilt Merchant

Mesquite Leather Bedroom Headboard-Only in Texas.

One of two ferris wheels at the Houston rodeo

Cowgirls and Their Boots

Chickens Going About Their Life

Fried Oreos-I never want to try those!

Cows Inside Exhibit Building

Reliant Stadium

 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo March 3rd-22nd website

My six-year-old son won 4 tickets to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (March 3rd-22nd) when he colored a picture of some cowboys and entered it into the rodeoart contest.   We attended the huge county fair last night (Friday) and we had tons of fun despite me getting separated from the rest of the family for an hour and a half (no cell phone reception in the area).  Here are just a few photos from the Exhibit Hall where tons of merchant, animals and farm equipment was on display.  Enjoy!

 

 

Mesquite Leather Bedroom Headboard-Only in Texas.

 

You Have Not Really Gone Green Unless You’ve Seen Your Undies Blowing On A Clothesline

The Wind Beneath My Undies

I don’t think my neighbors care about the clothes drying in the backyard.  I only have neighbors on one side of my house since our house backs up to a drainage ditch.  I hang undies on a low line out of the line of vision of passerbys.

I have been unplugging all of the outlets in my house when not in use.  I’ve even unplugged my microwave and washer/dryer.  The electric bills in Houston can get over $200 in the summer and about $100 in the winter even without the A/C.  Let me know if you have started unplugging and line drying at your house in order to save as much as you can on your next energy bill.

Easter Egg Hunt In Katy, TX April 3rd

City of Katy Egg Hunt

City of Katy Easter Egg Hunt happens on Friday, April 3rd, 4:30pm-6:00pm.

April Easter Egg Hunt Events In The Houston Area

Easter Egg Hunts

Updated April 9th, 2009

If you know about an upcoming event and would like it posted, please leave me a comment and I will reply.

Please call and confirm details before attending the following events:

• Earth Day Houston, April 11th, Downtown Houston at the Discovery Green, free, “A living festival that educates Houstonians about conserving, preserving and enhancing our city and Earth.”  Saturday, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM.
• Dyeing eggs using natural materials also at Jesse H. Jones Park and Nature Center, April 11th (see above listing), Humble, free for all ages,  1:00 PM – 3:00 PM, www.hcp4.net
• Second Baptist Church, April 11th, free Easter egg hunt (for kids through 4th grade) and evening service,  Berry Center, 8877 Barker Cypress Road (at West Rd.), 6:00 PM. 713-365-3479
• Kemah Boardwalk, April 11th and 12th, kemahboardwalk.com.
• Moody Gardens, April 12th, free non-stop egg hunt, Easter bunny pictures and  Easter celebration.

Rabbits!

• Discovery Green, Downtown Houston, www.easteratthepark.com,  April 12th, free, public, open to kids Easter egg hunt sponsored by St. Lukes United Methodist Church, 11:30 a.m.

Easter Bunny Photos And Spring Carnival At Katy Mills Mall

Chocolate Bunny

Katy Mills Mall, located a few miles west of Houston at 5000 Katy Mills Circle, Katy, TX 77494 will have the Easter bunny there to take those annual Easter photos with the kids.

Hours:  Monday-Saturday 11:00am-8:00pm/Sunday 12:00pm-6:00pm

The mall will also host a spring carnival in the parking lot next to Sun & Ski Sports  from April 4th through April 12th, 2009.

Art By My Daughter

Family Art-Our family according my 9 yar-old daughter. She loves to draw and I am always trying to be encouraging. I hang my kids' art up in the dining room of our house which I call "The Gallery".

My Son’s Art-Do You Know What It Is???

Son's Art

Bravo to my 6 year-old son.  He is a great artist!  I told him that I would put his art on my blog and he told me maybe people will buy it.  I remember how frustrating it was as a child wanting to contribute to the family budget but not being able to help.  He just wants to help mom and dad like every other kid.  I am very proud and lucky to have great kids.

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter from my family to yours.  Hope you get a chance to spend the day with the ones you love.  If not, I hope you still get to talk to the person you love.

Earth Day: Unplug And Save Money On Electricity

In honor of Earth Day, April 22nd, here is my post about saving.  For the last month and a half I have unplugged the washer/dryer, all televisions, lamps, microwave and computers when they are not in use.  Total savings to date $15.00!  I am not kidding.  My TXU electric bill was cheaper than my Centerpoint gas utility bill.  Wow!  I am shocked.  Here is the evidence:

Katy ISD Summer Programs For Kids And Adults

Katy ISD is offering a recreational sports summer program this year featuring the following:

Swim Lessons and Recreational Swim: Kindergarten—Adult

Registration begins May 13 Swim sessions begin June 8

$100/Cost

Location:  Taylor High School

Tennis Camps and Recreational Play: Kindergarten—Adult

Registration begins May 13 Camp sessions begin June 8

$100/Cost

Basketball Girls and Boys Leagues: Incoming 6th—Grade 12

Registration by mail before May 15 Leagues begin Week of June 8

Volleyball Girls Leagues: Incoming 6th—Grade 12

Registration by mail before May 15 Leagues begin Week of June 8

$100/Cost

Various Sport Camps

Wrestling, Softball, Basketball, Volleyball, —Incoming Kindergarten—6th grade

Registration by mail before May 22 Camps are June 9-11

Go to http://kisdwebs.katyisd.org/Communications/Pages/CommunityFlyers.aspx and click on the “community flyers” page for additional information.  Looks like space is limited.

How To Plan A Kid Birthday Party In The Houston Area In 20 Easy Steps

My son’s birthday party was today and I am too pooped to upload pictures.  Here is my homemade  milk chocolate cake from last Friday night. 

 It was a great party.  You know cake, moonwalk with a slide (Big Ups to Lonestar Moonwalks and Party Supply), sherbert party punch(did not go over well), pinatas (one of the best things about the party), pizza, goody bags, party website..the usual stuff.

This week I will give you the tips you need to save money and throw a party that looks like tons of trouble but is not really that darn much.  During this economic slowdown in the country parents are looking to save money on a birthday party but they are not willing to just not have a party.  People will always scrap together two cents to either pay for a kids birthday party or pay for a wedding (of course in Texas I will include the Quinceañera party for young ladies too) no matter how broke they are or what bill needs to be paid.

By the way,  Lonestar Moonwalks and Party Supply is offering a 10% discount to parents in the Houston area who mention they saw this post on the web.  More about my pleasant experience with this company later.

Coming on Monday, April 20th.

Birthday Party Planning Step One: Cakes or Cupcakes and Moonwalks

Sponge Bob Cupcake Cake

Step One:  Determine the number of kids at the party. Order the cake based on that number.  Remember to add a few extra numbers for little sisters and brothers. No kid likes to see other kids chowing down on something sweet without being included.  I would come up with a number.

Let’s say you expect 10 kids for the party add extras for the parents/siblings.  In this case I would order 24 cupcakes for the party.

I purchased this cupcake cake at Kroger’s for $19.99 (Wal-Mart had the same designs as Kroger’s).  I think cupcake cakes are the best darn invention since straws.  At my son’s party, all I had to do was hand each child a over frosted cupcake.  No knives or bowls of water needed.

I do think that I would have gotten a better deal at Sam’s Club for a cupcake cake (around 14 bucks) but Sam’s Club designs are limited.  Yes, I can make a mean cake but do I want to be stressed out?  Yep, I would have saved close to $16 but I think my time is more valuable than the bucks required  for that store bought cake.

What do you prefer cupcakes or cakes or one of those big ole cookies?

My son told me that the best things about his party were the moonwalk, his friends attending and that fabulous pinata I purchased from a  Latin mercado/meat market/taco stand store on North Fry Road (which I will tell the location as soon as I drive that way because they had unique pinatas plus they were cheaper than WallyMart).

Of course, let me mention the 4-in1 combo moonwalk again because it totally rocked.  The delivery people dropped it off at 10:30 a.m. and returned to pick it up around 7:00 p.m. which was the right amount of time because all the kids were too pooped to jump anymore.

Chance at Lonestar Moonwalks and Party Supply was really helpful on the phone.  Mention you saw their moonwalk on this blog and you get a discount.

Lonestar Moonwalks

Here are a couple of more pics of the party:

Inside Moonwalk-Obstacle Course

Hit that Spongy

Check out my Twitter if you would like to add more ideas.

Visit Hermann Park Before It Gets Too Hot..Free Theatre Performances For Kids

Miller Outdoor Theatre

See that whale on that building?

A stage..

Big oak tree since I have none in my yard.

My daughter had an appointment in the Med Center.  Afterward, we hit the cafeteria in the basement of Texas Children’s Hospital for some lunch.  She picked a chef salad ($4.45) and some strawberry swirl cheesecake ($2$$).  I picked beef tips over rice with green beans and a big old piece of cornbread.  My dessert of choice:  pecan pie.  The restaurant has everything:  pizza, salad bar, one meat/two veg plates, hamburgers, pizza, sandwiches and tons of desserts.  It helps if you have already paid for parking and just happen to be in one of the medical facilities in TMC.  I learned about this place when in the hospital about 10 years ago.  My husband and I ate at the Bertner cafeteria moments before we went by NICU to take our daughter home.  It was our last meal as a couple (of complete innocent lambs being led to the parent slaughter).  To be honest we have never really had any kind of couple meal time in 10 years.

We headed to Herman Park with our grub on that humid day last week.  After enjoying our lunch in the park, we headed up that big hill and strolled around the  Miller Outdoor amphitheater.  What a great day for mommy and beautiful daughter time.  I wish that moment lasted longer.   Time with my kids rushes by me to darn fast.

Here is a link to the directions, times, free performances and happenings at the park:  http://www.hermannpark.org/index.html and http://www.milleroutdoortheatre.com/default.asp?id=177

There is also a new red train at the park.  The train looks a lot safer than that old one I used to climb on with my babies.  Hurry, before it gets to hot and humid.

Katy ISD Last Day of School For Students is June 4th

Last day of classes for students who attend Katy ISD (according to the Katy ISD. Org website) will be June 4th with early dismissal on that day.

My kids are excited about the summer.  The kids do well in school but I know they also enjoy sleeping-in and staying up late during the summer months.  I am a little sad because this may be the last summer that I might share with kids before heading back into the trenches to work once again.  I am not looking forward to 2 1/2 commutes and hurried days.   We Americans really need to get the emphasis back on families not on jobs as a measure of ones worth to society.

“The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.”

Katy ISD Closed Today, April 28th, Due To Overnight Flooding

On the way to drop the kids off for school I noticed that the only place I saw flooding was Clay Road at Fry where a low place at the intersection was almost impassable.  Imagine my surprise when we pulled up to a deserted school with only a sign that said “School Closed”.  My kids and I did not notice this morning that the buses did not pass by the house.

We had a vicious thunderstorm last evening with high winds and pounding rains for a couple of hours.  I checked the weather because I worried that we were having a mini-hurricane.   The electricity flashed on and off about 12 times.  Each time I breathed a sigh of relief after the power was restored.  I don’t want to go without power for 17 days like we did during  Hurricane Ike last fall.

Today was an important day in Texas schools because this was supposed to be TAKs (state) testing day. Many schools in Houston are either closed or have delayed start times.  After watching several local news stations, looks to me that the delayed start time schools need to close completely due to the usual flooding areas of the city.  One bright side of the plentiful rain is that the drought is now over here.

My kids are in hog heaven because of their unexpected vacation day from school. It only took them 1 hour before they started their daily fighting.

We are very fortunate that I am able to be at home today with my kids. My husband is somewhere on the East coast. I am happy he is not stuck down here in his truck on some freeway. I am thankful that we are together and I am not stuck somewhere cross town in traffic.

We in Texas consider this one of our snow days since everything has come to a dead stop. The flooding is more due to the infrastructure of Houston than with the storm itself. After all Houston was built on a swamp so what can we expect to happen.

One thing that is really yucky is all of the big long cockroaches running around out on the sidewalk after being driven out of the storm drains. Yuck! The roaches were also crowded around our front door trying to piggy back on our backs into the warm house. We checked each others hair and backs after rushing through the front door.

My daughter took a picture of sky during rain storm last night.

A Mom’s 2 Cents: Swine Flu, Houston Schools And My Kids

Bear Flu?

This is an ongoing post I plan to update as thoughts run through my brain.

Update:  More schools closed in the area but not in my area.  My daughter has started to cough and sneeze more. I know for sure it is her allergies.

The school had a movie in the gym tonight but I did not want my daughter to cough and everyone start staring.  I am still not worried and nor should you parents.

My son has had a cold for the past two weeks.  My daughter is sneezing and has a runny nose.  Two students in central Houston has been diagnosed with Swine Flu which have been closed.  One student in another area high school has been diagnosed with the flu and that school has been shut down.

A flyer came home in the Tuesday folder from school advising parents to keep the kids at home.  The flyer also advised parents to advise kids to wash hands continually which is weird because I have noticed that the school does not even have the schools wash hands before lunchtime.

I really am not worried about my family. I do wonder about my neighbors who are from and have family in Mexico.  I bet they are so worried about the situation down there in the south.

My husband (the big bad other trucker) called from Illinois and told me not to send the kids to school because he heard of a school district shut down in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area.  Texas TAKs tests are this week and I think that the area school officials are reluctant to shut down Houston area schools because they place a high value on the state tests.

What are parents to tell their employers in a time of downsizing and layoffs?   I am not working now (involuntarily because I need a job dude) but when I was employed I was reluctant to call my boss about missing work even when I was 4 months pregnant and in the ER the night before.

I am still processing all of this as a parent.  I do think that the biggest fear lives in our minds and in the television set.  Sometimes the news tries to add fuel to our nightmares.  We should be an informed public but what is to believed because we don’t know what everyone is getting out a crisis until it is all over.

Swine Flu case found in Katy ISD school

Beckendorff Jr. High School will be closed next week because a student was diagnosed with swine flu.  Check out the Katy ISD website for more information.

Money Saving Blog By Houston Mom

Erin's Great Money Saving Caper

Check out the following  blog about saving money written by a mom here in the Houston area.

She has tons of wonderful tips and techniques for saving money.  How to buy, when to buy and what to buy.

Great Blog Erin!

Her website:  http://jane4girls800dollarannualbudget.blogspot.com/

Great home decor, fashion and pretty doodad websites to browse on the webom

Here are a couple of blogs I like to visit every so often only because the bloggers seem to have such dreamy realities.  I love looking at pretty clothes, shoes and places too!.  I try not to look too much because too much sugar is not so good.

Enjoy!

Searching For A Tooth Fairy Kit Online

Perfect for the tooth loosing kid!

My daughter lost two baby teeth in the last two weeks.  I totally messed everything up.  I went to bed and forgot to slip that lucky coin under her pillow.  Now, I have started lookin gonline for some type of mail order tooth fairy kit.  Here is what I found:  The Official Tooth Fairy Kit with chart, deposit envelope and a little certificate.  The total cost is $16 which is a little steep for me but if I could somehow find a service that will send the money and certificate in the mail that would be great.  That way I can explain to my daughter that the tooth fairy has gone high tech because of the tough work schedule she is under.  I mean kids are really sucking down tons of sweets these days.

I plan to keep looking for a delivery service.  I will keep you posted.  What do you think about this kit?

Summer childcare in Katy, TX

A really great mom is taking care of kids in the Houston area this summer right here in Katy.  Leave a private comment here and I will pass it along.

Skate parks in Houston, Texas

Where to find city skate parks in Houston, TX:

http://www.houstontx.gov/parks/skateparks.html

Summer Free Family Movies In Houston At Edwards Marq*E 23

*Update:  Here is the FAndago website where you can get more information by city:  http://www.fandango.com/
Free Summer Film Festival This Summer in Houston at the Edwards Houston Marq*E 23. 
The nine-week festival takes place on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings at 10 a.m. 

Free films showing this summer include "Hotel For Dogs", "Kung-Fu Panda"  and "Shrek The Third".

The free films begin on June 2nd.  The movie theater will also offer a special price on the "Kids Reel Meal"  combo pack.

The Edwards Marq*E is 

that big movie theater located at I-10 and 610 next to IKEA at7620 Katy Freeway Houston, TX 77024

Here is the website: http://www.fandango.com/edwardshoustonmarqe2326imax_aaojh/theaterpage?wssac=58&wssaffid=11481_REGWebsite

Payless Halloween Shoes And My Fabulous 41 year old legs

Gwen Stefani Payless Shoes

Today, I bought some cheap summer canvas shoes for the kids and me at Payless.  My daughter pointed these out and told me to try them out.

Who would buy these shoes?  Where would you be going?

I am 5′7″ and I was feeling like a giant girl.  These are the type of shoes you wear in a music video for about 5 minutes with a Harajuku girl.  They would be cute as part of a Halloween costume but I have never had to wear any type of costume that matches that kind of shoe.

You should have seen the Giraffe flats.  They were so cute but I have nowhere to wear them plus they are not practical for cutting the yard and killing fire ants.