Did you write the book of Lauve…and other great tales from H-Town

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Well I must be on a roll if I'm posting two blogs in one week! This past weekend we went to Houston to spend the weekend with my old friends from college. There are 3 of the old group in Houston: Steven, Julie, Jill and her fiance Sergei, 6 of us left in Austin: Keith, Ginny, Laura, Chris, me and Daniel, Angela and Aidan live in Dallas and Lisa and Ryan, who weren't able to come, live in San Antonio. Matt & Heather were also unable to join us since they moved to Virginia last summer--we missed you guys! We all decided to have our reunion in Houston this time around. Our Houston friends managed to put us all up in their homes---Jill and Sergei graciously offered up their spare room to us.

We left for Houston on Friday night and made it in town to enjoy Jill and Sergei's favorite Thai restaurant, Thai Gourmet, which really was some of the best Thai food I've ever eaten. It even disproved Daniel's theory that the extremely spicy at Thai restaurants is some sort of conspiracy theory...I'll let him explain that one....we met up with the rest of the crew at Steven's and hashed out American Idol, the Beatles edition part I until we decided to call it a night and meet up the next day for some grilling at Jill and Sergei's.



The next morning, Daniel and I braved the hills with Sergei, who is a personal trainer by profession, and his sporty spice hottie, one of my best friends, Jill. It was a little tough but fun in the end and made me feel I deserved the naughty breakfast tacos we ate soon after. Laura, Chris and Steven did all of the grocery shopping (thanks guys!) while we all got ready to have some fun in the sun. It was a GORGEOUS day that took place at really swank pool setting. The built-in gas grill and pavillion were perfect---take a look at the pictures that prove it.

Even my cousin Teresa and her daughter Yenny came out to play with us at the pool making it a near perfect day for me. I can't think of anything better than being surrounded by so many loved ones. Blue Moon beer with orange slices was the choice drink of the day and my Simple, Summer Strawberry Salad was a hit! Ginny gave me the great idea to include the recipe in my blog:

Simple Summer Strawberry Salad

Salad:
1 lb San Juan Spring Mix
1 pint fresh strawberries (cut)
1 cup (4 oz) shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or toasted pecans
1 bunch green onions chopped

Dressing:
1/2 cup oil
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup red wine vinegar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced

Combine ingredients for dressing in large jar. Shake
well and pour over salad before serving.

After lots of catching up and some hot tub relaxation, we all decided to get ready and go out for a few drinks! We ended up at Sherlock's Bakers Street Pub. It was not too loud and even though many of us were tired from all the sun during the day, I think the good company perked us all up again and we got our second wind. Steven came up with the great idea to go to Michael's Outpost, a dive piano bar that our spirited crew soon took over, mostly due to our cruise director with amazing vocals!! Steven Knott wooed the whole bar (all the guys in the back really were wooed) and made singing by a piano in front of strangers so much fun.

It has to be said that one of my favorite parts of the night was when my husband, Daniel Lauve, decided he was ready to sing and brought down the house and brought up the lights (it was the last song of the night) with American Pie. He sang it so well and I know this sounds weird but was just another reason that I'm sooo incredibly proud to be his wife!! I love that he still has tricks up his sleeve...



We ended a great weekend with a trip to Cafe Malay for a tour of Malaysian food with Aidan and Angela. Aidan taught us a few things and it was yet another great adventure with our friends. Thanks to all of you for recharging my friendship batteries---I love each of you so much and I can't wait to start planning our get together in June!

Christmas 2007

 

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Okay, okay, okay...there is no good excuse for this tardy blog so I'll just say it quickly to make it less painful for all of us---this is the long awaited, much requested CHRISTMAS BLOG! Our first Christmas as married folk was really great. We started off by traveling through Beaumont on December 21st to visit the Comeauxs. Amber and I grew up together and have managed to stay close despite the fact that we now live four hours apart. I usually go by there while on Christmas vacation and Daniel was game, so we had our first Christmas and traded presents with Amber, Jed and their two girls, Kaylin and Madison. Jed cooked us a great shrimp gumbo that we ate once we got in even though it was 10:30PM!

The next day Amber's parents showed up for breakfast, and it's always good to see them.  They have been busy repairing Amber's old dollhouse to give to the girls for Christmas.   I think I enjoyed playing with it just as much as them on this visit (as seen in the pictures) because it brought back so many memories for me!

 

We soon left for Mom and Dad's. Once we got to the house, it smelled and looked just like a Nunez Christmas. Mom spent most of the time doting on us by cooking our favorite foods and treats, Dad spent time with us at the park jogging and sharing bottles of wine, and my brother was especially anti-Christmas pajama bottoms! He did throw the football around in the yard with us for awhile---I caught it a few times and shocked the heck out of my Dad and brother.

Daniel got a special present from Dad. He bought him a basketball and new net for Brent's old basketball goal---such a thoughtful gift! We made the infamous sugar cookies on Christmas Eve and opened our presents together. On Christmas day, we headed to Vidor to be with our extended family for a big lunch, my Memaw outdid herself again. Most of the family was there so Daniel and I visited for awhile and then headed to Houston to have a Lauve Christmas!



We arrived at the Neely house on Christmas night in time for a delicious dinner and then opened Christmas presents. I learned that the Nunezes open presents the Neely way! The Lauves were sweet and opened each of their presents one at a time just to appease me. The Neelys had actually left for New Braunfels but it was the perfect meeting point for the Lauves. We stayed for four days, during which the Neely's returned so we had yet another Christmas! If you know me at all then you know that it was just fine with me! We rested, talked, read Harry Potter, visited with Daniel's grandparents, watched movies and played many rousing games of Wii boxing! Take a look at the crazy pictures of me and Cristina as we honed our rapid fire tactics and beat Daniel more than once. It was addictive and exhausting!



On the 29th it was time to head with only one last stop to make. We went to my cousin Teresa's house for a Christmas party. Teresa cooked the entire dinner which was delicious and her house felt very cozy and festive. We stayed for awhile and got to visit with Diane and Damon and my Aunt Audrey. Soon after winning a game of Mexican Bingo, we headed to home to Austin.

We enjoyed all of our stops along the way which extended our Christmas to a full week-long celebration. We are truly thankful to have so many people to see. Merry Christmas & Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!!

Here’s another clue for you all…the walrus was Paula

I chose the infamous butcher cover for this post because last week's American Idol featured some butchering of some Lennon/McCartney standards. For the most part, though, the performances were entertaining and impressive in many respects. Next week will also be from the Lennon/McCartney catalog, but giving American Idol contestants another shot at Beatles songs is kind of like giving your puppy another crack at your new shoes. So in the interest of avoiding train wreck moments like the one that claimed David Hernandez, I'm doing my part to help the final 11 with their song selections. So below are each of the eleven contestants, the song they sang last week, the song they should sing this week, and the song they will sing this week.

Syesha Mercado
Sang: Got to Get You Into My Life
Should Sing: And Your Bird Can Sing
Will Sing: Get Back

Chikezie
Sang: She's a Woman
Should Sing: This Boy
Will Sing: Lady Madonna

Ramiele Malubay
Sang: In My Life
Should Sing: Cry Baby Cry
Will Sing: The Long and Winding Road

Jason Castro
Sang: If I Fell
Should Sing: Michelle
Will Sing: Two of Us

Carly Smithson
Sang: Come Together
Should Sing: Oh! Darling
Will Sing: She Came in Through the Bathroom Window

David Cook
Sang: Elanor Rigby
Should Sing: Hey Bulldog
Will Sing: Rain

Brooke White
Sang: Let It Be
Should Sing: I'll Follow the Sun
Will Sing: Fool on the Hill

Amanda Overmyer
Sang: You Can't Do That
Should Sing: Little Child
Will Sing: Birthday

Michael Johns
Sang: Across the Universe
Should Sing: Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
Will Sing: You've Got to Hide Your Love Away

Kristy Lee Cook
Sang: Eight Days a Week
Should Sing: From Me to You
Will Sing: Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da

David Archuleta
Sang: We Can Work It Out
Should Sing: For No One
Will Sing: Yesterday