My Secret Obsession

I guess now it won't be so secret...

I was doing research on the first time homebuyer's tax credit for us and for my little sister. I started reading IRS publications trying to make sure we did everything we needed to, included the right paperwork, and knew what to expect. Then I found myself reading other IRS publications and studying tax forms. I was understanding WAY more than I should, so I read some more. Pouring over IRS publications quickly melts away 3 or 4 hours. I took copious notes on the important points for me. Then I decided I wanted to do our taxes myself. We had them done by a CPA last year because we had some weird stuff, and I had a couple of questions, and I was going to send them back to her again this year...until I became obsessed with reading tax publications.

In the end, I used TurboTax to do our taxes. I have used HRBlock in the past and refuse to ever go there again. Two years ago, we received a coupon in the mail to have our taxes done by a tax professional for $50. Great...I had questions anyway. I took all our stuff in and met with someone. Then the office lost my coupon and wanted to charge me $300. The corporate office said they had never heard of such a coupon being given out. Grrrr...It all worked out, and our coupon was found, but I will never go there again. I feel TurboTax was more comprehensive, and they did all the mathmatical calculations for me anyway. Never would I have dreamed that I would become slightly obsessed with learning about taxes.

Baby A--5 Months

Asserting her independence and holding her bottle on her own.

Taking lessons from cousin Mini-J on stellar picture-taking.

Pushing up on her hands, enjoying tummy time, and exploring everything around her

Reaching and grabbing for things...what a grip!!

Not pulling up to sit up yet, but sitting unsupported (until she gets too excited and leans back)

Showing her 2 bottom teeth!

Getting some Aunt Dana love

Top Ten Thursday

Top Ten Thursday during the month of February is dedicated to things I love love love!


This Week: States I would love to have on my visited in 2010 list

10. Washington D.C.--Granted, not actually a state, but still. Plus, I have already been there this year. :)

9. Maryland--The ride to/from the Baltimore Airport is much more exciting in an Escalade than the backseat of a taxi

8. Massachusetts--because I have been there every year since 2006, and I am starting to miss Stop 'N Shop where I could scan my groceries as I shopped.

7. Rhode Island--I miss the weather, our church, our friends, and the cute kiddos.

6. Minnesota--Home to the cutest blonde twins, my BFF birthday mate, and Mall of America.

5. Wisconsin--It's next to Minnesota, I've never been there, and I was promised that on my next trip I could go to there.

4. Illinois--It's home to Chicago and the site of a weekend girls trip with my gal pals from Rhode Island.

3. California--My little nephew is all grown up and graduating high school!!

2. Alabama--The dome home keeps progressing, and my aunts aren't diligent about sending pictures. I will probably just have to go see it in person. :)

1. Washington--The actual state...I've never been there, but it's the Mecca of glass, so it's inevitable I will find my way there sometime soon. Why not this year?

Happy 5th Birthday, Nicholas!

Okay, so Nicholas is older than 5, but this is the 5th year we have been "together." He is really 29...almost 30! We had brunch at one of our new favorite restaurants, South Congress Cafe. Nicholas had carrot cake French toast and wild boar sausage. I had eggs Benedict, crab cakes style with a spinach quiche on top of lump crab cakes and chipotle hollandaise sauce. Everything, as always, was DIVINE! Then Nicholas spent most of the afternoon playing video games on our new TV. I surprised Nicholas with a new grill but made him help pick it up at Home Depot.

For dinner, we met Nicholas' fam at another of our new favorite restaurants, Jack Allen's Kitchen. They have been open since late December and have had a wonderful response. We made reservations for a Tuesday night!

Nicholas even got a candle in his dessert.

Nicholas received many wonderful birthday messages on Facebook, email, and calls. My personal favorite was the happy birthday call from Mini-J "Happy Birthday, Uncle Nick!" Happy Birthday, Sweetheart. I hope you have a fabulous 29th year, that you settle into life out of school, and that you continue to make beautiful art.

Asthma Through a Transparent Body--The Opening

In honor of Nicholas' birthday, I thought I would blog about him. The opening for Nicholas' first show in Austin, Ideas of Mountains, was on Saturday, January 23rd at the Creative Research Lab.

I have already blogged about the initial prepartions for the work Nicholas made. After making an initial plaster cast of Matthew, Nicholas then created 5 molds he used to make glass torsos. 4 survived to be displayed to Austin.

The opening was the first time Matthew saw himself immortal. His first question was, "Which one is me?" What...all of them?!?!?

Nicholas also participated in an artist discussion on January 28th which really ended up just being an artist talk to a bunch of UT students seeking extra credit.

The show runs through February 6th, and the gallery is open Tues-Sat 12pm-5pm. Go check it out! Thanks to everyone who came to the opening! Nicholas really appreciate the stellar (and amazing turnout)! Also, check out the art review (Nicholas' first as a professional artist) in the Austin Chronicle.

I Want to go to There--Bowling

I wanted to do something with Mini-J other than going to the park because a)it was really cold yesterday and b)the park gets boring for Aunt Dana.

So I thought bowling would be a great idea. I love bowling. I used to be in a league. I have my own ball and shoes (neither of which I had with me).

Mini-J was pretty excited. She had been bowling in Germany and used the ramp that you stick the ball on and it is able to gain momentum before hitting the lane. We didn't use the ramp this time...just some good old fashion Granny bowling.

Mommy started out by helping Mini-J, but once she got the hang of it, there was no NEED for help. Mini-J is a big girl and likes to do things by herself. She behaved really well (read that as was interested in bowling) until about the last frame when she was more interested in Mommy's nachos.

One game was enough for this bowling crew. Aunt Dana needs to get in some practice! I gave a pitiful performance that pretty much shows I haven't bowled in several years. I'm blaming it on the 3 year old. I didn't want to show-off too much.

Top Ten Thursday...on Friday

This week's Top Ten gets a little personal.


5 Things that most people know about me:

1. I have red hair, and it's very real. Call me Captain Obvious.
2. I love to organize and plan stuff, and I'm very good at it. The Container Store makes me smile.
3. I adore kids, especially babies. I think the red hair is pretty intriguing for the babies.
4. I love to travel, as evidenced by my blog.
5. I love clothes, shoes, and jewelry but hate to shop for them.

5 Things that most people don't know about me:

1. I was born with a blood clot on my brain and spent my first year in and out of the hospital until it just went away.
2. I am incredibly shy. Going to new places and meeting new people is excruciatingly painful.
3. I love to watch movies by myself that make me cry so I can cry as much as I want.
4. When I was little, I had a Georgia accent, not a Texas accent.
5. I was very upset when my family moved the summer before I started 6th grade. I blocked out most of that year. Now I know it was one of the best things to happen to me.