Ay Carambe. Muchas fiestas this weekend.
See how those four semesters of college-level Spanish are the gift that keeps giving?
Despite my best efforts I have only made it through half of the Fiesta so far.
Ayudame.
That means help me in Spanish. I actually learned that from “Go Diego Go”, not Spanish class.
But if I haven’t made it to your fiesta, I will. And I’ll also announce the winner of the new blog header around noon central time.
The main reason that I haven’t made it through all the fiestas yet is because Gulley and I loaded up the kids on Saturday morning and headed to College Station to take in a little Aggie baseball.
Caroline had been so excited for this trip that I truly thought her head was going to explode by Friday night and it would have been so tragic that after days of repeatedly asking, “IS TODAY SATURDAY? ARE WE LEAVING TODAY? CAN WE LEAVE TODAY?”, that she would have missed the trip due to head explosion.
It’s about a three hour drive from San Antonio to College Station if you make the drive without any children in the car. For us, it took about the same amount of time it took the Ingalls’ family to make it across the Northwestern plains in the dead of winter as they fought wolves, Indians, and the bitter cold.
At the halfway point we stopped at McDonalds so the kids could use the bathroom and order a Happy Meal so they could all have a free toy and eat a combined half a Chicken McNugget and four paper cups filled with ketchup.
Gulley and I decided we couldn’t stomach another meal at McDonalds. We are grown women. We needed something a little more sophisticated, a little more refined.
We made a run for the border.
Which for us is a true delicacy because Taco Bells are next to non-existent when you live in San Antonio, TX, home to over eight hundred and fifty-two Mexican restaurants.
In spite of the easy access to some of the best Mexican food in the world, Gulley and I still crave Taco Bell from time to time. Which just goes to show you can take the girl out of East Texas, but you can’t take the East Texas out of the girl.
We finally arrived at Gulley’s mama’s house with just enough time to change clothes and head to Olsen Field for the game.
Will really wasn’t up for the photo op. He’s a complex fellow and needs his space.
Poor Will. Why can’t we all just leave him alone?
He sent us a clear signal that he wanted to distance himself from the pack when he insisted he sit in a booth behind us at McDonalds, not with us. Because the age of three is filled with emotional turmoil. He needed a few moments alone to journal his thoughts on the side of his Happy Meal bag.
Anyway, once we arrived at Olsen, we bought about $150 worth of cotton candy, popcorn and snowcones and settled into our seats. For about five minutes. And then someone had to go to the bathroom.
But in between the trips to the bathroom, we saw a few fights on the field, three coaches get ejected, and an OU team that liked to meet on the pitcher’s mound and talk more than any other team I have ever seen. At one point Gulley yelled, “Take it to Starbucks, Ladies. We’re here to play some baseball.”
Because we are delicate flowers at sporting events.
In the end all that chit-chatting didn’t pay off because we completely demolished them.
It was a good night.
Until the kids realized they were exhausted and then muchas meltdowns ensued.
But Gulley told me to quit crying and get Caroline in her pajamas and put her to bed.
The next morning, we woke up to a veritable carbohydrate heaven consisting of Shipley’s donuts and kolaches courtesy of Honey and Big.
And just like that, it was time to turn around for the long drive home.
I would tell y’all about it, but I don’t like to use profanity.
All I can say is if our drive was any indication of what Ma and Pa Ingalls went through then I wouldn’t have been surprised if The Little House books contained this phrase, “…and then Pa kicked us out of the wagon, left us on the prairie and said ‘Good Luck’.”
Aahhhh, another Little House kindred spirit. It’s amazing how often that family pops up in modern day conversation!
And I found it ironic that you went to “Olsen Field”.
We went to a piano concert an hour and a half from home yesterday. We had our good friend Cyndee-dee-dee with us, so the girls were stone silent on the trip down. However, after SITTING, QUIETLY, for the whole trip down and for the hour of the concert (a friend’s senior college recital – it was superb!) and then inhaling LOTS OF SUGAR at the reception afterwards they were NOT QUIET (to put it mildly) on the 87 hour trip home.
They squealed with laughter and kept us all highly entertained with their sophisticated wit.
“Teddy went poopy on the seat!!” Squeal.
It was a looooooooong ride home!
We are the same person – I LOVE taco bell. I had to quit going so often when they started noticing when I cut my hair or got a new outfit! ha!
I love Caroline and the boys in those A&M outfits – so cute. Those maroon and white bows are too much!
Groovylady has a good point. I’m sure there’s some deep metaphor in there about you’re going to Olsen Field.
I’m glad that even Texans crave Taco Bell. I thought it was just because I was from Missouri.
So funny! I am at the opposite end of the Taco Bell spectrum–it’s the best representation of Mexican cuisine here in CT, so I often make a run for the border.
Gulley sounds like she’s great at talking some smack. I’ll have to impress my husband and use that sometime.
I have had to read the Little House series to numerous children over the past 10 years, and the story of Laura and Mary sitting quietly in the back of the wagon and not whining all the way across those prairies never ceases to amaze me.
But don’t you think that story may have been a wee bit different if Ma Ingalls had been telling it?
So So funny… yet again. Pretty sure this is my favorite line today- At one point Gulley yelled, “Take it to Starbucks, Ladies. We’re here to play some baseball.”
Glad you had a great weekend.
I LOVE Caroline’s bows. So festive!! Yeah, I hate a trip home, too.
I HATE that I can’t eat at Taco Bell anymore, delicate 40 year old stomach!
What a great weekend for Aggie baseball! Have you ever seen weather so perfect in Texas?
I too miss the regular sight of taco bell as I am searching for my fast food options. There’s just nothing like a bean burrito to fill you up for less than a $1.00 and leave you feeling happy.
It’s about three hours from Fort Worth to College Station, but it used to seem longer when the kids were younger. One of the things I’m proudest of in terms of Aggie athletics is that it’s not just the men’s sports that get the attention. Guys turn out for women’s sports in DROVES! In fact, I read that Aggie Women’s soccer has the highest student attendance (men love it) in the Big 12 Conference. And women’s basketball? Just try keeping the fans away. Next year, with two sons attending, I’m sorely afraid that studying is going to take a huge hit in favor of anything that involves a ballfield or an arena. I’ll let you know.
Also? Did you happen to notice that the old Egg Roll House is still standing? Empty…but standing.
What’s the point of going to a sporting event if you are not going to yell??? The road went on forever but the party never ended!
That sounds like such a great weekend, in spite of the car ride craziness.
in honor of the fashion fiesta vote today, wh i cannot win bc i have no blog and thus no fiesta altho my bff of 30 yrs and i want to start a blog this summer, i am wearing a black 2007 fiesta t-shirt and grey yogas.
i will celebrate with a taco supreme and possibly an enchirito. and no one will be able to see the hot sauce stains on my shirt today. HA!
btw, you are hilarious.
I cannot wait to use that Starbucks line in conversation.
Shipleys, kolaches, very loyal Aggie fans…OH Texas! How I miss you!
Having also travelled across country with kids in tow, I can easily read between the lines of your story and fill in the gaps.
The first summer after my husband and I married and blended our families, we piled his 8yo and 15yo, along with my 6yo and 14yo into the Chrysler Minivan, and headed for the Rockies. Ah, the joys of driving kids on vacation…NOT!
I swore to my husband, NEVER AGAIN. At times he had to restrain me from tossing them off the mountain cliffs. At times he had to restrain me from jumping off the mountain cliffs. Good times.
I love Gulley’s line! I will need to use that at our next baseball game. I may have to knock on wood before I say this. For the most part my boys are pretty good in the car on extened travel. They both have their DS’s and DVD’s. Those two things alone are the biggest life savers!
You and Gulley are brave women venturing in to the wild that way with 3 hungry, untame natives! Glad it was a fun trip. I always grow nostalgic when revisiting my college home.
Oh, I LOVED Gulley’s outburst over the conferring on the pitcher’s mound. That’s REALLY what baseball’s all about, isn’t it? The wise-crackin’ fans and spectators.
Gulley sounds like FUN! You might explain that you arrived at Olsen field at A&M, lest your Little House reference lead someone else to Olson’s store.
But the question I have is did you have a Freebirds???
Also, yesterday we discussed the pitching day at Olsen field with the radar gun–and Chris’ unfortunate throwing skillz…so we had A&M on our minds
Have a wonderful week, Melanie. I’m praying for you!
holly
I guess that’s why kids are so cute – so that one can tolerate the gazillion bathroom breaks and such.
And I agree with Kellie – I’ve gotta use that Starbucks line in conversation at some point.
I loved the part about the half a chicken nugget & four paper cups filled with ketchup because we have that going on here.
I have watched my daughter eat ketchup with her finger – she too is a delicate flower!
P.S. Ask Gulley if I can borrow that “Take it to Starbuck’s line”…that could come in handy in a myriad of situations.
We were watching the game from home and I wondered if you all had made the trip. Can I tell you just how very jealous I am that you got to have Shipleys? Mmm. Gig em!
Your outings with Gulley are always a riot.
“Take it to Starbucks, ladies” is my new motto.
Sadly enough, this post reminds me of each and every single time I take my Starlite leaders out of town.
“You need to go to the bathroom AGAIN? Well, here’s an empty cup. Use it wisely.”
Sounds fun! (smile)
It sounds like a beautiful weekend, car ride home not withstanding. Oh the one nugget to 4 containers of dip ratio. I know it well. Only my Princess would never touch ketchup and always asks for honey. Isn’t that a joy to clean up?
What a riot! I can relate to the half a chicken nugget and four cups of ketchup. For lunch on Saturday, my 4 year old daughter dragged her finger through her ranch dressing and called that lunch.
Ahhh, road trips. Just the thought sends chills down my spine. In our house, we load the kiddos up around bedtime in their pj’s and drive through the night, sleeping in shifts. And it’s actually worth it!
No Taco Bell?? Do you have Taco Bueno? (Around where I live, there’s a big Taco Bell vs. Taco Bueno debate. Sort of a character-defining thing.)
I’m so smart….. I thought Shipleys was local. We had doughnuts and kolaches for breakfast here Sunday morning. I need to break out of my little world in Birmingham. Shipleys in Texas…….. WOW!
Well, I personally crave Sombrero Rosa. Is it still there? I guess I’ve come to take Taco Bell for granted here in north TX. Perhaps I need to show it a little love today.
We’re headed to Aggieland for the Army game in September, kids in tow.
Good times. Good times.
Oh my word, Tammy H.! My dad used to drive to College STation to get the Shipleys. The fact that I was there was simply a very small side benefit. I *heart* Shipleys.
Gulley is a fount of wisdom. I’m sure the Aggies were sorry to lose her when she graduated.
(She did graduate, right? She wasn’t just forced from campus?)
Caroline’s hair bows are a terrific fashion statement. Don’t tell her that little old ladies love them or she will disown bows. Taco Bell is our restaurant of choice when we are feeling in the mood for cheap food. It tastes great, fills us up and leaves some change in our pockets.
And I am still so proud that you got Taco Bell instead of the McDonalds Premium Select chicken strips!!!!!
We loved every minute of this weekend and can’t wait until the next adventure….come back soon!!!!!
Love,
Honey
lololololol!!!!
Clearly you are two very refined women.
That sounds EXACTLY like our every trip to Aggieland, which is why we only go down for football games. Aggie football makes the whining worth it, and even moreso if they win.
Adorable children!!!
I think it sounds like fun, and a memory you’ll all have to share!
Tell me you took the obligatory trip to Dave’s or the Chicken Oil or something… Freebirds, maybe? I miss Aggie baseball… “Touch his butt!!” Ahh, good times, good memories. Glad you had a fun trip. Hope you still have some hair in your head. We’ve yet to take our kids on the trek from DFW. Looking forward to the day though.
I teach softball at a local college and CAN NOT WAIT to use Gulley’s protest: “Take it to Starbucks, Ladies. We’re here to play some baseball.”
Of course, this is after I tell them that “there’s no crying in baseball.”
Yes, a free toy and consuming half a mcnugget, my kids’ life exactly! My in-laws brought McD’s when they came to watch our kids last night. My husband told them to bring a value meal to share, they have plenty of the happy meal toys. But what grandparent can do THAT? They even brought the baby a toy. Geez.
You should do a post where everyone lists their best baseball line. My hubby almost fell out of his chair he laughed so hard when I told him Gully’s comment. We were at the Astros game yesterday, what a beautiful day for a ballgame! The best line I heard was “You’re missing a good game ump!”
Take it to Starbucks, Ladies. We’re here to play some baseball.”
Aww…Olsen Field – what memories!
Ok.
First off, I want to take a road trip with you.
That being said, you even got a “snort” and a “guffaw” from the hubster on this one.
Truly. You have arrived.
ahh the joys of driving with kids we drove on a 16 hour trip to Idaho once and my son sang the WHOLE time! yup his abc’s and twinkle twinkle little star…. it was agony =)
Take it to Starbucks, Ladies….
That’s the best thing I’ve heard in awhle. Hilarious!
*sigh…*
I miss College Station. My husband went to school there (’03) and I have such happy memories of things we did together there. There really isn’t a better place to eat than Shipley’s, is there? Unless it’s Freebirds!
But alas, we live in Amarillo. And it takes FOREVER to get there.
*sigh…*
I can’t wait for Gulley to yell the same thing at a T-ball game!
Oh, do I feel your pain!
Thank you so much for sharing your humor through the podcast & blog. I am a new reader, but you are so funny! I had to read my husband this post to show him how funny you were to get him to understand why I would read a total stranger’s blog. Love it. You made my day.
Taco Bell, Caroline in those bows, and Gulley laying the smack down–it’s really almost too much goodness for one post!
I’m still puzzled as to why you didn’t take those cuties to Northgate? I mean, it is high time they learned about The Chicken and all that kind of stuff.
I have been wanting to take the kids to an Aggie baseball game. I want them to see and smell Aggieland. I should be horsewhipped for not making the trip by now. I have always rationed that 3 hours was too far when they were young. Of course, I have sat for two hours in the ferry line to Galveston for Moody Gardens, Schlitterbahn, or the Rainforest Cafe! Logic…what a waste on me.
Anyway, I’m going to the A&M website to search upcoming games on my kid weekends.
Didn’t know you were in town!?!
) Enjoy reading you from here in Aggieland! Glad you had a great visit! Whoop!
Oh man! My stomach hurts from laughing so much. You gotta way Big Mama, you gotta way.