This is what I woke up to:

I love that Keith labeled the hand prints!

Mothering

I have been reflecting on what it means to be a mother lately. So many people I know don't get along with their moms, some for good reason, others because of petty grievances. How horrible and hurtful it is to resent a mother for her actions or child raising abilities when in all likelihood, she was just doing the best she knew how.
Keith and I are both lucky to have wonderful mothers. I strongly believe that the similar manner in which we were raised has helped us build a more solid relationship with each other AND their example has helped me to be a better mom.
Over the last few weeks, my relationship with Remington has become even more clearly defined. I'm no longer just his food source. He treats me differently than he does other people, even if that means he gets more frustrated with me. He knows who I am, clings to me a certain way, and is always happy to hold me when strangers are around.
The decision to become a stay-at-home mom was an easy one for me. I'm so glad Keith was on board to completely take over bringing home the bacon. While it is the hardest job I've ever had, it is by far the most rewarding. What I'm doing now as a distinct impact on the future, unlike filing paperwork or cashing checks, the mundane work I was doing before. For the first time, I'm my own boss and I love my job, even though I have one of the most demanding clients ever! Can't wait to add more clients!
Happy Mother's Day!

Bye, Gigi

Here are some pics from your visit! We miss you already!
The best picture I could get at the DMB concert without the camera Nazi catching me:
Ikea fun:
Beach fun:
Goodbye:
Even if we don't get many pictures, we always get a final airport shot:

Running ragged

I have been a bad blogger due to the fact my sister, Piper Gigi, has been visiting for the past week. Activities were as follows:
Red Curry Thai
Target
Played Dr. Mario and various other Nintendo games
Galveston-The Stand, swimming, steak
Ikea
Dr. Mario
Aunt Vicki's
Loehmann's
Dr. Mario
Remi's photos (at Target)
Dave Mathews Band concert
Dr. Mario
Target
Hosted a dinner party for the Piper's
Target
Deerbrook Mall, Old Navy, Show Carnival
Houston Premium Outlets
Italiano's
Dr. Mario
More Galveston-The Strand, dinner, the beach
Dr. Mario

I don't know which we like more, Dr. Mario or Target.

What a fun visit. Gigi is great at entertaining Remi (if he'll tolerate it) He even gave her his version of a kiss today. I'll post pictures soon. We miss you already, Gigi, even if you did steal my Banana Republic jeans!

Tomater

The fruits of our labor have started to pay off! Look what I discovered yesterday morning!That's two, count 'em, two little tomatoes.

Left Wing Intolerance

At the Miss USA pageant one of the top five contestants, Ms. California, was asked a question from a judge named Perez Hilton. If any of you do not know who he is consider yourself lucky. He is a gay "shock jock" type that runs a celebrity paparazzi website. The question he posed was (paraphrasing) "What is your position on states allowing gay marriage?"

Ms. California's opinion is the same opinion as the President of the United States and the same opinion of the vast majority of our population. She said "“In my country I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anybody out there, but that’s how I was raised.” Sounds like a reasonable, honest answer, right?


?MR./MRS.? Perez Hilton posted an online rant after the show calling her a "Bi%ch". He also said that in his opinion she lost because of her answer.


What is happening to this country when a Miss USA contestant expresses a view that is completely in line with the majority opinion, even Obama's opinion, but happens to offend some in the gay community and LOSE a competition because she dare express her belief. This wouldn't be so bad if it was just this clown Perez Hilton speaking out against her. The directors of Miss USA, and many other celebrities and commentators were also offended and shocked by her comments. What!?! The group demanding the most tolerance has absolutely NO tolerance for people who disagree with them.

There is an intolerance and totalitarianism on the side of the Left that is very, very frightening.

I'm proud of Ms. California. She was runner up but in my opinion she is the real winner. She held firm to her beliefs even though it was the more difficult decision. She is a good example to us all. Beware the liberals.

Some of you may not care about protecting marriage or other traditional values that are under assault. I am reminded of a poem attributed to Pastor Martin Niemöller (1892–1984) about the inactivity of German intellectuals following the Nazi rise to power and the purging of their chosen targets, group after group. My words are the bold.
"In Germany, they came first for the Communists(Conservatives), And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist(Conservative);
And then they came for the trade unionists(Talk radio hosts), And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist(Talk radio host);
And then they came for the Jews(Christians), And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew(Christian);
And then . . . they came for me . . . And by that time there was no one left to speak up."

I can't contain my excitement!

Anyone that knows me, and I mean REALLY knows me, knows of my love for grilled cheese sandwiches. Imagine my delight when I discovered that April is GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICH MONTH!!! Keith will be mad at me for bumping down his San Antonio post, but I had to share some grilled cheese in all of it's glory.

New York Magazine article on New York's finest (and might I add expensive) grilled cheese.

Tillman's in New York even has a gourmet grilled cheese menu!

Tomato Soup Grilled Cheese by Pithy and Cleaver. The soup IS IN the sandwich!
Fresh Tomato and Basil Grilled Cheese by ~Rita~ photo by ncmysteryshopper
Ooey Gooey Grilled Cheese by me, recipe available on RecipeZaarGrilled Cheese, Diner Styleby Dawnab, photo by bernrome
Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Mango Chutney courtesy of Closet Cooking