9 x 2 = Happy Birthday Lauren & Mackenzie!

Nine years ago today, I saw these 2 sweet faces for the very first time (Lauren on left, Mackenzie on right). This was just a couple hours after they were born: May 25, 2000.

And this morning I saw these beautiful 9-year-olds! Happy Birthday Lauren and Mackenzie!

Because I see them every day, it's hard to notice the changes as they take place. So I grabbed a picture from every year of their life (most were taken on or around their birthday). So here they are ... Lauren and Mackenzie 2000-2008. (See above for 2009.)

I remember the day they told us it was twins: January 19, 2000. Some of the craziest news I have ever heard. I mean, we had 2 very young children at home (Nick was 2 and Austin was 1) and I was 5 months pregnant and they told us it was twins! I remember clearly when they put the ultrasound wand on my belly. I knew how ultrasounds went and I knew that I usually couldn't tell what was what. But the first image that popped up on that screen was very clearly 2 circles and the nurse smiled and I said that it looked like 2 heads. And she said that was exactly what it was (so either we were having a 2-headed baby ... or it was twins!). Marty was pale as a ghost and then we just laughed. What could you do at that point? We were nervous and we were scared but that was truly one of the best moments of my life! I could not imagine life without them. :)

They have grown up so fast and I am so proud of them. And although they are twins and will always share that bond, they have both developed into unique little people that are so cool as individuals. And now I'm getting all philosophical and teary when all I really wanted to do is wish them the best birthday ever! We're off to the Mexican Inn and Build-A-Bear by request of the birthday kiddos.

Here are some videos of Mackenzie and Lauren 2 days ago at their school luau. They were the coolest kids at the party!

And here is some music for ya! Colin Raye: One Boy, One Girl.

Like no time has passed.

I had to do some training in San Antonio this week so I called my old college roommate, Desiree. We graduated in 1992 and I have only seen her one time since graduation. So it was really great to see her and catch up. We had a nice dinner and then just hung out for a couple of hours and talked. Funny how you can not see someone for years but can pick up right where you left off. Here we are on Thursday night at dinner at the Alamo Cafe. I learned that tortillas are made of lard, water and flour. YUM!

And here we are in 1991 at a party at our apartment at A&M. Left to right: Desiree, Rick, Mindy, me, Bonnie and Michael. (I think we look better now. The 18 years has made us more distinguished, don't you think?!)

I'm pretty excited because I have to go back to San Antonio in May and we're going to get together again but next time, our other roommate, Bonnie, is going to drive down from Austin and we'll all be together for the first time since Bonnie graduated in 1991.

And we need some music from 1991. How about this one from LL Cool J? I can't even tell you how many times I listened to this song!

Go #9 ... Soccer Superstar!

So today it starts ... a new chapter in our lives ... we are now soccer parents!! Will it last? Who knows. Lauren has tried just about every sport out there and in the end always decides it is not for her. Let's see ... we have done gymnastics, ballet, cheerleading, basketball and baseball. However, this one is different. She is actually excited about it. I know it was just the first game but I saw something I had never seen in her before. She was into it! She was trying. She was listening. I could just tell that she WANTED to be out there playing. And she's really been trying at all of the practices. She asks every day how long it is until her next practice. So maybe this is it! Maybe this is her thing. And besides ... look how cute she is in that uniform. :)

As you can see in the pictures, Lauren is not the biggest girl on the team. OK ... you could say that she is probably the smallest but she was just as good as everyone out there and she tried her little heart out. Did I already say that I am very, very proud of her?!

Marty and I realized that we know absolutely nothing about soccer. We have some studying to do. We think that she is a middle fielder. Not sure on that. Going to have to ask her coach what position she is playing. Then we need to learn some of the rules of the game so we can help her. It's pretty sad. Anyway, enough with that ... let's bring on the pictures!!! She was a star today!

And here's proof that Marty and the boys and I were at the game. It was like a typhoon at the soccer field. The wind almost blew me over a couple of times. Not sure how Lauren and her 50 pound (fully clothed with wet hair) body didn't get swept away!

Here's out little cutie taking a well-deserved break from the game.

I didn't take any video today because it was really windy and all you would have heard was the wind noise. But if you really, really want to see Lauren playing soccer, I will not disappoint. Here she is at her very first practice. That's Lauren in the black pants and white shirt with red sleeves.

And, in case anyone was wondering where Lauren got those awesome, muscular, well-defined, power legs ... take a look at her Mama when she was the same age as Lauren. Yep, that's me in about 1979.

That's it for now. Here's some music for you. I said Lauren was a star today so here's Will.I.Am: She's A Star.

King Tut, Steak and Cheesecake!

Marty and I had a great Valentine's Day. Well except for my initial reaction to Marty's big surprise. He was so sweet and had the whole evening planned. So on the way downtown, I asked where we were going and he said, "To the King Tut exhibit at the Dallas Museum of Art." To which I replied, "No REALLY, where are we going?!" He just laughed and said that was where we were REALLY going. Oops! But it was all good. He tries to culture me. But I'm a museum moron.

So anyway, we got to the DMA and you would not believe how many people were in line for the exhibit! And these were all people with tickets! Luckily I was running late (how unusual) so our ticket time was 4:30 but we didn't make it til almost 5 and the 4:30 people were still waiting to get in. Anyway, after about 20 minutes, we got in the exhibit. Of course there were no cameras allowed. Well I have to say that all the Tut hype was way overrated! And Marty agreed with me. I mean the stuff was cool and all but you see one pharoah, you've seen them all! But we had a great time watching all of the people listening intently to their little speaker things and trying to look all intelligent and interested. That alone was worth the price of admission!!

After we were done with the exhibit, I tried to take our picture outside by the big statue of the pharaoh. As you can see, I was not very successful. But I think the pictures are funny.

And then it was time for dinner. Marty knows me well in the food department. I mean is there any other choice but a steak restaurant? He took me to The Capital Grille and oh man was it good! I got a big juicy filet and Marty had salmon (crazy ... I know!). We also had some lobster and crab cakes and lobster bisque and salad. Then after dinner, I was stuffed. But NEVER too full for dessert! And let me tell you, they had the BEST cheesecake! So worth all those calories!

Thanks for a great day Marty!! I love you.

Let's see ... we need a love song or something for this post. Oh wait! I think I'll go a different direction. Here's a classic ... Steve Martin: King Tut.

AC/DC Concert

Marty and I went to the AC/DC concert on Friday night at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. It was an awesome show! Here are a couple of pictures I took during the concert.

My favorite part of the show was when they had the big blow-up chick (Rosie) riding the Rock N Roll Train. I took this video at the concert. They were playing "A Whole Lotta Rosie."

Concert Review:

Talk about an explosive opening. AC/DC began its blazing gig Friday night at American Airlines Center with a video, an animated doozy of a clip (see video below) featuring guitarist Angus Young as the devilish train operator too tempted by the female persuasion to keep his locomotive from crashing. When it does jump the track, it ends up center stage in a ball of smoke. It's equipped with the band's trademark horns and logo, of course.

"Rock N Roll Train," from the band's comeback smash Black Ice, started it all and for the next hour and 45 minutes the group never let up. For an entity that's been together since 1973, these five rockers still perform as if they have plenty to prove. The 18-song set featured five from Ice, three from 1980's seminal Back In Black and pretty much every other AC/DC anthem you can think of.

Anthems are key here. For AC/DC, rhythm-heavy rock tunes need a chorus the crowd can chant. The packed house did just that time and again. Let's see here: "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap," "Thunderstruck," "Hells Bells" and "T.N.T.," to name a few.

During "The Jack," a bluesy number from 1975's T.N.T. album, the unpredictable, unstoppable Young launched into a striptease, removing pieces of his trademark schoolboy uniform until he revealed boxers with AC/DC emblazoned on his backside. That was one of many memorable moments.

It really was a great show and Marty and I had an awesome time. I'll close with my favorite AC/DC song. It wasn't played at the concert. From their Back In Black album, here's "Let Me Put My Love Into You."