Bill-paying Blues

Surely you can imagine where I am going with this....

It's that time of the month where receipts are accounted for, bills are paid, and we see where I've gone over budget this month - usually clothes, gifts, or house stuff. It's not my favorite thing we do together at the Crack house but it has to be done.

This month, Chris decided to make it a little better. He pulled out his day of the week 'stashes he got as a birthday gift for his sister and put one on. Once I snapped a shot or two he demanded I sport the 'stash too. Needless to say, for those 10 minutes we weren't so concerned with balancing the books or double checking each receipt!

Next time you are in the midst of bill-paying blues, reach for a 'stash.

Crack's Black Thumb Organics

I can't imagine a better thing for two insanely busy people who kill everything in their yard (grass too!) to do than plant a huge garden in their back yard. We're those people and yes, we just planted a garden.

We've been planning on it for as long as we've been married. Recently we even started composting both to save on waste and to get some rich and FREE compost for our garden we'd have some day.

Well, we should have known that two sets of landscape-minded parents (visiting for the weekend) would take one look at the over grown weed garden and let our "Someday we'll have a veggie garden" dream become today's reality. My Dad and Sally pulled up our black weed blocker plastic. Chris and Dad rolled the boulders to under our Japanese Pear Tree. Then Chris and Sally took turns tiling the soil only to find out we actually had a really ideal soil set up.

So, Sunday it was off to Natural Gardener for some plants and seeds. We choose two healthy pumpkin plants with the hope of free Jack O' Lanterns this Fall, Sweet Corn seed, Melon seed, Cucumber seed, and Soy Bean seed. We got everything planted in the garden except the Cucumber as it can't be too close to the melon or the melon becomes bitter. We are seeding those (I say that like a professional but really am just repeating carefully the instructions from our friendly sales girl at the nursery) in separate containers so if you are in Austin and want a cucumber plant, I can give you one in a few weeks. Or if somethings don't make it in our garden, I can add the cucumbers.

We've heard it's a hot year and the battle with the squirrels is in full action. We had our own battle with them when our beautiful peaches were eaten by the rascals. Not to mention we've got many family to be intimidated by! Chris's Uncle Dave is a REAL Organic Farmer and his beautiful farm, Roots and Fruits, is perfectly kept and provides an amazing harvest each year. Chris's Dad and Ann have a veggie garden with tomatoes and other fresh salad veggies. Sally has a beautiful landscaped yard with flowers and plants. Chris's 93 yr old. Grandma does the flowers for her community. My parents have a Myers Lemon tree and also many plants and flowers. My Grannie Frannie has always grown all kinds of things well. With generations of green thumbs ahead you'd think we'd overcome our killing spree. What gives?

I will attach a few pictures. For those who bleed red and black, I can not even discuss the third picture. It was a gift from Chris's mom and while it makes me want to barf I also love that something longhorn related is scary to birds and squirrels and for now is a deterrent for the food sake. But, I am not happy about the Texas spirit behind that blasted gnome. And, for those worried about our watering, that is not why we have black thumbs. It's a redo of an old pic of me which I will also post. My mom loved that picture so we thought she should have an update...only I am not in a dress or near as cute. Love you, Mom!

Anyway, our first attempt could be a total flop but we're going to give it our best fight. With any luck we can have the long term goal of "Someday opening a neighborhood veggie market" I think I have a name for our "farm" that is all too fitting....Crack's Black Thumb Organics. Then again, if our parents will come to town again, they'll have us selling veggies on the driveway in a snap. I'll be posting updates of the garden from time to time...pray for the Crack Team garden and our black thumbs!

I heart Drama Queens!!

For much of my life I hated it when my parents would tell me how dramatic I was. I felt as though by saying I was dramatic it allowed them and others to discount my emotional reaction to whatever was happening and those emotions were real - even if slightly...ok ok...extremely higher or lower than others. Then one day I decided to embrace my drama tendencies as part of my God given gift set. After all, if Chris was married to a normal girl (whatever that is anyway) going to the movies would be boring. I scream, cry, and typically let most people in the theater know my reaction to all key moments. Or, if my parents had a normal girl (whatever that is anyway) they'd have a female version of my brudder. We like to say he is meat and potatoes and I am KING RANCH CHICKEN...spicy! Or, if you readers had a normal girl (whatever that is anyway) I would give some boring recap of the CNN headlines in a totally organized and brush-under-the rug perfect life. I've promised before and here it is again, It's always an adventure with the Crack Team and by adventure I mean messy, dramatic, and all that comes with that.

SO.....

"You spot it, you got it"

Lately I've been exposed to kiddos of my friends who are headed down the same path I was...drama. I'd love to call them my proteges but that is both presumptuous and let's be honest, a true Drama Queen needs no help. So for now we'll call them Drama Princesses. I have become fond of a few said princesses! Sophia Bare, Angie's daughter, is one of them. I love her and know she is a future DQueen because:

1. She tells great stories with dramatic emphasis

2. She has great facial expressions

3. She doesn't initially like change or ideas that are not her own

4. She loves pink and pretty things

5. She is sensitive

And that's to name a few....

So, Sophia's birthday was this past weekend and she was having a Hula Party. The invite was adorable and pink! Of course the perfect cake to compliment a Hula Party is a Hula Barbie Cake. My mom had made me Barbie cakes in my birthday years so I knew she could do one and she was thrilled to be able to pull out the Barbie stuff and make a cake for them.

Saturday morning Mom got up early to start baking the chocolate cake. Bless her heart. I was still pouting in bed from the firecracker episode and she's alone in the kitchen cooking away! Then after the cake was done we left it to cool for a breakfast at Einstien's while the cake cooled. We also wanted to stop by Michael's to see if they had a blonde Barbie. My cake Barbie was brunette so when we realized Sophia's Barbie wouldn't work we wanted to get a blonde cake pick Barbie to make it as close as possible. We luckily found one that seemed cute enough. After a quick hair job (she had Dallas hair that I tamed to a ponytail with a bow) and some earring applications from my scrapbooking pile she was as good as Sophia's only slightly bustier so the bathing suit was a little tight!

Then came the decorating and we all pitched in to help. It was soooo much fun for us to all work on this adorable project for Sweet Drama Princess Sophia. Naturally we couldn't wait to see her face. When the Bare's arrived we had Sophia close her eyes. I led her through the house to the kitchen which is a long walk with closed eyes but she did it like a champ. Then Angie picked her up so she could see over the counter and we said open your eyes. Like a pro she had the perfect face of widened eyes then a smile and finally lots of thoughts of why she loved the cake. It was precious, perfect, and priceless. I only wish I had my camera out at that moment to capture it all. Instead I'll attach the pictures of the cake decorating.... and one that Angie sent me of Sophia blowing out her candles.

Happy Birthday Sophia! We hope you loved your Cake!

Let Freedom Ring and stuff

Sally, Chris's mom planned a trip to Austin for the first days of July to include the 4th! Since she hasn't been here since the wedding, we knew she'd enjoy seeing all the changes we've made to the Crack House. We also were able to coordinate schedules with my parents for them to come up for part of the trip to see Sally.

Sally arrived Thursday night and my parents came up on Friday morning. Friday, Chris agreed to slow smoke a couple of chickens by putting a beer can in them and smoking them up. We also did a pork loin for good measure. We heard of some other folks (Brudder) trying to smoke some brisket but in case they didn't get to see a real 4th of July cook-off I'll attach a picture of our golden smoked birds and the cooking process. Side note about the pictures - Sally, is wearing an apron my dear Grannie Frannie gave me. It classicly reads "Bet your boots, I'm Texan." Since Chris's family always notices our State Pride, I couldn't think of a better way to welcome her to my kitchen. (Thanks again Grannie!) Needless to say hours later, with Chris's careful attention, our Freedom birds (who are hardly the picture of freedom) were super yummy! I also made a big salad, some potatoes, and a yummy fruit cookie dessert. We had a great meal.

We also played Wii. What a hoot! Side story - I've noticed that when it comes to texting, I am a nerd! I have to slowly type out what I am saying. I don't know the little codes like TTYL. I can't punctuate or capitalize the message. The college kids or younger can whip out a text message faster than I can type. I guess it's a sign that I am not on the hippest edge of text messaging. I share this so that I can have the freedom to say that while our mothers are EXCELLENT sports and had hours of fun with our Wii....they are to the Wii remote, like I am to text messaging. Yikes. But, we managed through laughter to play Rabbid Rabbits 2 and Tennis. So fun!

Finally after a long day we were ready for bed. The only problem was that our neighborhood allows fireworks so every few moments there were loud popping noises booming into the sky. This was fine until midnight but shortly after that I was a little annoyed. Is this another sign of not being hip? Maybe. But, later the line was drawn in the sand. I finally drifted off to sleep with a happy full belly and a day of wonderful fellowship with family.

Then it happened. A few hours later that is. I think the clock read 4:30a. Like a drive by shooting, some kids on the street behind us decided it would be cool to set off another round of fireworks all at the same time. Ever seen the movie Jack @ss? In one prank the guys put all these fireworks in a trashcan in their parents master bedroom. After quietly lighting them and leaving you can imagine the expletives, screaming, and hysteria that followed. I must confess that when I first saw the movie (in college with a theater of mostly guys, what the heck?) I thought this was HILARIOUS! I had multiple day dreams of doing the same thing in the middle of the night when my parents start their deep-sleep-snoring orchestra (sorry Mom, I know you think it's just Dad but it's not). I would laugh at myself just imaging it but realized my parents would probably disown me since it wouldn't be the cause for a major motion picture. Anyway, somewhere between the good old Tech days (only a mere 6 years ago) until now it must have lost its humor. As I shot up from bed, scared for my life, I was furious at the least of my emotions. I was thinking of our sleeping parents hoping this wouldn't wake them. Then I had to use the restroom as I almost lost it on myself. Then I started having dreams of blowing air horns outside their windows at 9am. Ugg. Finally, I spent the next hour trying to sleep and wrestling with the unsettling reality that I had gone from laughing at a similar humorous prank to being more like the unforgiving parents. Yikes. I've got to do a prank before the end of the summer to ensure I'm still hip. Beware loved ones...and stay tuned faithful Crack Team Chronicle subscribers.

Happy 4th, Let Freedom Ring, and please use fireworks with others in mind!!!!!!

Dos anos...yeah baby!

For the Spanish challenged out there...Dos anos = 2 years.

We can barely believe how fast our 2 year anniversary has come up! On one hand we've had so much fun being married that it seems like it was just yesterday. In other ways, we've learned so much about each other in these two years it seems like it's been 100. Either way, we're in it for the long haul.

We decided that we would take turns planning our anniversary trip and this year it was my turn. Whooo Hooo! We had lots planned for the week of our actual anniversary including both families being in town. So, I decided we'd go the last weekend in June.

Saturday morning we got up and had a breakfast at home. Then we drove to San Marcos to the amazing outlet malls. Since traditionally cotton is the gift for second anniversaries, we decided we each buy each other a new pillow for our bed. We didn't want just any pillow though. So, we went to Pottery Barn at the outlet for the super, wonderful, down filled, Egyptian cotton lined pillows. We checked out all of the rows of pillows and even opened some up to feel them. Then we decided we should have a pillow fight in the aisle to see if they were good. But, we decided against it as we didn't want to get kicked out and banned from buying our super, wonderful, down filled, Egyptian cotton lined pillows. Needless to say I've been enjoying the new pillow every night since.

After the shopping stint it was off to New Braunfels. I had booked free night with our points at the Hampton Inn. We checked and and got our stuff settled. Then we headed to a snow cone shop....I LOVE snow cones. Really my favorite snow cone place ever is Bahama Bucks but since those don't seem to be around here, we settled for a Mr. Ice or something like that. Anyone in Austin who wants to be my hero you could open the Lubbock Based (get your guns up) franchise for a few hundred thousand dollars. I'd be a faithful customer.

Anyway, after the non-Bahama snow cone it was off to White Crane Massage. It is a historic home in New Braunfels that they have transformed into a charming day spa. We LOVED the garden. Then once inside the home we loved the peaceful ambiance. We had a couples massage that was FABULOUS! We both thought it was the best massage we'd ever had. It was super relaxing and energizing at the same time. LOVE LOVE LOVE White Crane. We'll go back one day....and we recommend it!

For dinner we went to Myron's Steak House. I had read about this place a few years back in my Tech alumni magazine (get your guns up, again). The owners were Tech grads and it was a top rated steak house. It was quite a splurge for us but REALLY WONDERFUL! The raw seared tuna appetizer was melt-in-your-mouth terrific. Then we got a wedge iceberg lettuce salad with baked onion strips, blue cheese, and a house avocado and tomato vinaigrette dressing. We could have eaten our weight in the salad! We each ordered a fillet and both were the best steak's we've had this year (and we've been to Ruth Chris this year). We got two sides - garlic mashed potatoes and broiled beef steak tomatoes stuffed with Gorgonzola cheese & chives. Both were fabulous but the tomatoes were scrumptious and probably my favorite of the two. Finally they brought us a berry topped cheesecake on the house in honor of our anniversary. After the most fabulous meal ever I had only three very dignified words for my groom who was in much anticipation of the rest of the evening..."roll me out." Seriously, I was stuffed.

On the way out I got to introduce myself to Bill Bean, the owner. We talked Tech (yep, you got it...GET YOUR GUNS UP). Of course that included Bobby Knight, Football, and Kliff Kingsbury. If you watch The Office, I felt much like Andy, in the episode where Jim, Kevin, and he take a client golfing and like a geek he introduces himself as "Andy Stanley, Cornell, Class of 86." But, it's always fun to reminisce.

Sunday morning we got up early for our free breakfast. We heart the Hampton Inn and their free breakfast. Then we were off to Schlitterbahn!!!! We got there at 9:30, parked in the front row, claimed a picnic table, lathered in sunblock, and were in line for the gate opening at 9:55. When the gate opened we ran in pushing past innocent children to be early in line for Dragon's Revenge. We grabbed our tubes and headed up the stairs. The water was FREEZING but if you scream the whole ride for fun (me) it not only warms you up but scares all the kids who are on the fence about that ride and then the line is shorter for you to RIDE AGAIN! Then we headed over the the Blastenhoff side of the park to ride the Best Ride in America for 10 years straight, Blastenhoff. Needless to say, it was TOTALLY AWESOME. And sadly, on this ride my screaming tactic didn't work.

Ok...I could annoyingly write a review for just about every ride we did in the park....but who wants to be super jealous of our fun Sunday at Schlitterbahn? SO, if you are headed to New Braunfels anytime soon, let me know, I'll tell you what you could do with out and which rides you can't skip.

The weekend was a perfect balance of classy relaxing fun and silly acting the fool adventure. So apropos for the Crack Team, wouldn't you say?

Getting what I deserve...

So there we were...husband and wife....tucking in for a night of sleep.

Let me preface this post with a back story. Chris and I have this on-going debate about the best toothpaste. There is one kind that I like but Chris doesn't think it freshens our breath. However, his choice toothpaste, in my opinion doesn't freshen our breath. So, we cycle between his toothpaste and mine. Because we're (really me and Chris just keeps up) dramatic types, we've escalated our difference in toothpaste beyond fresh breath to flat out bad breath. So, when we are on Chris's toothpaste I complain about his bad breath and visa versa.

Ok....so there we were....husband and wife....tucking in for a night of sleep.....with our teeth brushed with CHRIS'S toothpaste. So, as he gently starts to kiss on me, I kick in with my nightly reminder of the bad breath his toothpaste causes. Playfully Chris rolls over to pout and I start to kiss on the back of his neck. Suddenly I realize something still smells.

We both love garlic and garlic DOES NOT love both of us. We're the peeps that carry the garlic smell for hours after eating it. Drat! Our kids have no hope.

So, I realize that Chris must have eaten garlic. The stench is well beyond the toothpaste. It's creeping out his pores and engulfing our bed. Because I haven't eaten garlic I am highly aware of the smell. After teasing Chris about this for a few minutes, I realize I can't take it.

In the dark of our room, I get this brilliant idea. I will put my bath and body works yummy smelling lotion on the back of his neck so I can cuddle him and drift off to sleep with the garlic and toothpaste masked by Pearbeary!!!!

Of course Chris would NEVER consent to this. So, I slowly, carefully, quietly, reach behind me to the bed side table. I feel around for the lotion, quietly pop the cap open, squeeze a little of the lotion to my hand, close the cap, and roll back. I reach up to the back of his neck and quickly rub in the lotion.

Chris: (shooting up) WHAT THE.....?!!

Karen: (laughing) Just a little lotion

Chris: (also laughing) Are you kidding me?

Karen: (now rolling) I just wanted a break from the stench

We lay back down...still in the dark this whole time....and I cuddle in. My arms slip around his waist. My legs fit into the backs of his legs. I nuzzle my nose in with full excitement for the pleasant aroma of Pearberry. I take a deep breath and...........gag! What the heck? I know this smell. It's NOT Pearberry. It's IVAREST, my poison ivy cream. DDDDRRRRAAATTT!!! Peels of laughter ensued, naturally.

It's one of those times in life where I get what I deserve.

A life well lived...

I still have some catching up to do but wanted this post to be live as soon as possible. This past Saturday, June 28th, we lost a friend in a tragic accident. Chris had been in small group with Michael Argall. To say he lived his life well is an understatement. I'll paste below the bio that was written for him.

We're in the midst of grieving, processing, and leaning into the Lord. We know that God doesn't want suffering for us. Somewhere I read that Michael had a post it note on his desk with the scripture from Proverbs 3 - "Trust in the Lord with all of your heart. Lean not on your own understanding." It's so Michael that in the midst of something hard, he'd be a ray of encouragement.

We ask that you'd pray for his three kids and his girlfriend (soon to be fiance') Cecilia. Also, today is his funeral service. I suspect there will be many people in attendance. Please pray that God be glorified through the service.

Here is the Bio:

Michael Lloyd Argall Biography

Michael Lloyd Argall was called to ride the roads of Heaven on Saturday June 28th, 2008. He left our world doing what he loved, cycling! Michael was born in Spokane , Washington on March 3rd, 1963. He graduated from Crockett High School in Austin TX in 1981. He then joined the US Air Force where he served for 20 years in active and reserve duty. He is a Desert Storm War veteran. In 1988 he joined the Travis County Sheriffs office where he most recently worked as a safety officer for the Corrections Bureau; he was known as the heart of the unit. Everybody at the Sheriffs office knew, loved and respected Michael. He was always cheerful, content and willing to step up when needed. In the past, he was known to minister and pray with the inmates at the Del Valle facility. Michael always participated with the Brown Santa Christmas program and the Texas Police Games where he was a frequent medal winner.

Michael never knew a stranger and loved you before he knew you. He had a unique sense of humor, often smiling or laughing even at his own corny jokes. He found joy and humor in the simplest things in life.

Michael had several great and encompassing loves in his life. First and foremost, he was the loving father to his three children. He was a devoted Christ follower and compassionate servant to the Lord who gave willingly of his time. Michael had an ardent love for cycling, which started in high school. He found his greatest passion as a fitness coach for cycling and running with Rogue Training Systems. He was a very encouraging and inspirational coach to those he trained.

Michael is the oldest of two children and the big brother to Kris Argall. He was a loving and devoted father of three children Sydney (21), Nathan (18) and Daniel (15). He remained close to his ex-wife, Shamayne Argall, and her family and was soon to be engaged to Cecilia Turrin, his long time girlfriend whom he loved dearly. Michael is survived by his Grandmother, Helen Argall, Aunt Dionne and Uncle Gil Kempenich and many cousins. Michael had countless friends whom he touched over the years.

Michael would want us to celebrate his life. He was a loving man and a man of God.

Visitation reception at 6-8 PM on Tuesday July 1st at Cook-Walden Chapel

Please join us as we celebrate his life at 2 PM on Wednesday July 2nd at Gateway Church ( 7104 McNeil Dr Austin , TX 78729 ). There will be private Graveside Services immediately following for family and close friends.

On Saturday July 12th, there will be a Bicycle Ride in memory of Michael details to be posted soon at www.roguerunning.com

To honor Michael, type in his last name at www.mem.com to share your thoughts and experiences with his Family and Friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Helping Hand Home for Children or Mission Possible Austin's Camp Nikos Program.