This Reminds Me

Archive for the ‘Serendipity’ Category

I’ve been fortunate to see a lot of beauty in my lifetime.

The Hermitage in St. Petersburg, Russia

My newborns

The Houston Azalea Trail

Woody’s Beach in Dominica

Ghandi’s Ashram in Maharastra, India

Fall in Indiana

And Julia’s most excellent long basket today. 

The administration of the first elementary school attended by Rachel and Lois – Mark Twain Elementary in Houston – was a master of fund raising.   Each class created a project for the annual auction.   We liked Rachel’s first grade class project (1998) so much – we bought it.  Crept into her room that night and hung it.  So when she awoke in the morning, she saw her class’s mural:

Each first-grade student painted one fish….

….including Rachel’s upper-left corner creation.  You should have seen the quilts they did the following year – gorgeous!  And way out of our price range.

That mural has hung in the short hallway between Hannah’s/Julia’s bedroom and Lois’ bedroom since we moved to San Antonio in 2000.

We replaced it this week with:

Look familiar?  It’s was patterned after one of my favorite cruise photos from last Christmas.

Julia on Crash Boat Beach – Aguadilla, Puerto Rico

….as Rachel explains.

Keith and I are both creative, but possess zero artistic talent.   Rachel’s talent fascinates me.

It’s a gift.  And this is the season for them.

Thanks, Rachel, for this early Christmas present.  You or Julia can have it when you move out.

Maybe.  Because I really, really like it.

Christmas last year:

Christmas this year…..well, I’m afraid this is the closest to the beach that we’re going to get:

Let me just say it so you can be green with envy:

We’ve saw Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part 1) at the midnight premier last night!   What a rush!  And if you’ve not read the books and only see the movies:  Spoiler Alert.

Keith bought our tickets within minutes of their going on sale September 30, then later upgraded to D-Box.  Reserved seats, so no getting in line at 3 p.m. (as many of our fellow viewers did.)

We’re normally “stick a Diet Coke in your purse” kind of moviegoers, but not last night – popcorn and drinks for everybody.  Keith caught a Living Social deal for half-price concessions this summer.  If you’re not doing the daily discount deals – you’re missing out.  And crazy.  Our faves are Groupon, Living Social and Mamapedia.

Harriett’s #1 – #4.  Harriett #1 boasts the forehead scar.  Harriett #2 is also wearing her Hogwarts shirt.  Lots of costumes at the movie  last night – Beaters, Death-Eaters, Hogwarts students, wizards, etc.  Made me wish I’d brought a broom. As a reward for reading the first two books this summer, Harriett #4 got to go at midnight, too.  In times past, I’ve stayed home with her.  We all had evening naps, and we all slept late this morning.

We were all surprised at the range of motion of the D-box seats.  We expected little bumps, maybe a shake or two.  Oh, no!  Hannah actually got motion sick.  They rattle and roll you, lean you forward, push you back.  Fabulous!

The Paladium theater has the only Coca-Cola 100-Flavor Interactive Free-Style Soda Fountain in San Antonio.  Huge fun, as evidenced by Rachel’s 2:30 a.m. Facebook post below.   Keith chose a Diet Cherry Vanilla Coke; I sipped on the wild side with Raspberry Diet Coke.  The girls….well, after seeing what they chose, I declined a taste.

The Deathly Hallows movie was far more true to book than were the first six films.  Not that any deviated horribly.  Just this one was more accurate on the details.

Everyone had a different favorite part, but by far the most memorable – Dobby’s death.  Bring Kleenex.  Lots of them.

Here Lies Dobby – A Free Elf (sob)

We’re all soooo ready for Deathly Hallows – Part 2.

Voldemort invited us when he raised the Elder Wand to the stormy heavens.

We know the date – July 19, 2011.

We’d offer to save you a seat…but….Keith is taking a vacation day when the tickets go on sale to make sure we get good ones again.  After all….

All’s fair in love and war, and this is a bit of both. Ron Weasley