A Big Surprise!

The surprise I had planned for Erik started at 8:00 a.m. and didn't end until later that evening. This surprise actually took me by surprise too! It was suppose to be a day that I had planned for Erik! I had bed in breakfast planned, date idea, Chuys, & Mario playing. You know: The perfect Erik day planned, but Lauren would be supportive along the way and not have to drag her heels into the sand! However, it turned into something much different :) I got this idea from making his bed and breakfast. I decided to take him to buy him his birthday present! Everyone who knows Erik knows his bday was in July! (Before you report me to the bad wife club)He didn't want a bday present, and I felt guilty for not buying him anything. So, I decided to go all out this year.

Here is the bed and breakfast I gave him :)
Eggs,Toast, and His favorite Football logo napkin(simply delish)


Use this in eggs and all sorts of yummy deliciousness
Truffle Salt found at Dean & Deluca or if you get lucky Sur la Table/Williams Sonoma


I came in hoping he would awake with the aroma, but I had to be evil and turn the light on! This is what I saw


Here he was all bright eyed and bushy tailed


Cooper himself wanted breakfast in bed


After, Erik and Cooper were done eating I decided to reveal my bday present idea!
I sweetly and cutely ( I might add) told him I would love to be able to go get a HD T.V. for the bedroom. Of course, he asked if I had motives! I answered with a smile and a simple "nope." He thought about it then he got up and headed to the computer room. Ok, if you guys know Erik this is the part that he spends hours upon hours "looking" for the best deal he can get for the best whatever. So, it was my cue to go get dressed and turn on HGTV because I knew it would be awhile. Note to self: I should have surprised him with a T.V. in my car bc I knew this would be a long process.

Lauren's method: Find out what Erik likes, seek it, buy it!
Erik's method: Tells Lauren what he wants, searches 99 million places and ads for it, waits until that stupid item (exact match or better) goes on a good sale, buys it.
hum....I vote my method! Fun, spontaneous, and efficient! Bam Boom and you're done! Still enough time for Fun!

Finally, we HIT (frys, best buys, conns, Sears, Target, & Walmart)
This whole time this is what Erik is doing



The last store ( Conns of all places) he finds "The One" ( like I said this could have been done in an hour then enough time for our date idea)
He is getting in touch with the t.v. :)


8 hours later we finally bought his bday present!
...Part 2 is tomorrow...
Yes, this adventure still isn't over
I was crazy enough to suggest this idea

I blame HGTV and my parent's genius idea for their corner T.V. solution

Never go shopping when you're hungry...

I didn't notice I had a problem until I was starting to put up the groceries.


Do you see nothing but junk food in this picture? Attention authority figures: It is time to turn me in to the bad wife club because I bought nothing with nutritional value whatsoever.

Everyone is innocent before proven guilty, right? Well, let me explain my side of the story. It all started before this picture. Sure, everyone tells you "Never go to the grocery store hungry" and I never agreed until this grocery store run. Erik and I did our favorite past time (sleeping in and made breakfast together), so we got a late start to our Saturday morning. I have a tendency for making food and not eating because I am infused with the aroma of food, so I normally skip out. While Erik is enjoying is homemade toquito( recipe at the bottom) and I got ready.

We head out to do our Saturday ritual(errands and grocery store). We do our Target run, pet co, and now headed for Kroger. My stomach starts to talk to me. I mean really talk to me: where I am looking at Erik as my entree. I try to stay focus by grabbing the list, ads/coupons, and my pen.


We started with ordering deli meat, produce, and then it hit me I am in a grocery store. I tell myself" Lauren, you aren't going to eat here bc your eyes will be bigger than your tummy." Erik is being such a trooper and takes the list to help me out bc at this point people are starring at me bc my tummy is being so loud. I don't know what happened, but something snapped inside of me. I start putting all sorts of stuff inside the basket. (cereals, kid snacks, chocolate milk, and of course chips.)Erik comes back and looks at me. At this point, I didn't think anything of it until I got home. Erik was unpacking the groceries while I was putting up. I noticed I bought ding dongs and thought wow I haven't had those since I was in jr. high. Then, I saw twinkies and more. I took all groceries out of the bags and lay the groceries on the counter. Erik comes in and told me "Lauren, you bought a lot of junk food." I thought to myself "you think" ugh...how are going to eat all this junk food? We just sit back and laugh bc I learned a very valuable lesson. Never go to the grocery store hungry bc you will buy everything!

of course, Cooper was helping in ways of his own by putting up the grocery bags...
Paper or plastic, I think he wanted his treat mommy threw in the mountain of bags!


Here's the recipe for Taquitos! Best well prepared by 2 people who are in love.
Warning: Bonding will occur during cooking

Lauren & Erik's Breakfast Taquitos:
Serves 2-3

Ingredients:

-6 eggs
-1 package of bacon
-1 container of hot sauce
-1 package of cheese
-1 package of Tortillas( HEB has the best homemade ones)
- 1 Tsp or so Cayenne pepper
- Salt/pepper or Truffle salt is what we use from Dean & Deluca, William Sonoma, or Sur la Table
- 10 or so toothpicks

Directions:

Gather ingredients up!
Cook eggs as you would prepare scrambled eggs. I add truffle salt and cayenne pepper to give it flavor. (set aside in a bowl)
Next, fire up your griddle (if u dont have one microwave bacon with plate for a couple mins) (set aside)
Get tortillas out and place on plate.
Grab a handful of cheese,egg, and bacon and put on tortilla. Roll the tortilla up like a taco. Once, it is rolled up pin each side with a toothpick to secure all goodness inside. Do all of them until ingredients are gone.
Eat and enjoy!!

Best served with Mimosas or orange juice!

I am a BIG helper :)

I love to spend time with mommy! It doesn't matter what she is doing around the house. Daddy calls us The Dynamic Duo :)

Cooper's Prints:
Note to Mommy-We need a cute picture of us "The Dynamic Duo" to put on the blog.

Yes, we are the dynamic duo and we do everything together from cooking, watching shows, playing, or cleaning. Mommy is very appreciative in ways I try to help.
I was trying to surprise mommy by drying the dishes off and show her what a great helper I can be. I watched for her to put the door down and then daddy was calling. This was my chance to surprise mommy while she was out of the kitchen. Well, she caught me red handed( something humans say) when she noticed what a big helper I was being.

Proudly, she took pictures to show daddy what a great big help I was :)






I hope mommy knows I enjoy helping her out because I love her so much, and we are the perfect dynamic duo.

TGFW( Thank God for Weekends)

What is it about The Weekend that makes you so giddy,happy, and in the best of moods? It is like waiting for Christmas each week as you count down the days until it is FRIDAY!

Each weekend a member of our family gets to choose what he/she wants to do and the rest of the members participate and support whatever he/she chooses without complaining.

Example:
Erik's weekend- sleep in, make breakfast together,ride bikes, watch movies, & make dinner together
Lauren's weekend-sleep in, bed in breakfast, shop, go to the movies, and go out for dinner
Cooper's weekend- sleep in, treat given just for being cute, take a walk, play with mommy & daddy, and look for food that drops when we cook.

It can be anything! Our weekends can be something small to something huge like going on a surprise trip :) we love, support, and participate in each other's interests!

This particular weekend was MY weekend :)
So, I wanted what I have been craving the past few weeks :) Freebirds and snowcones
Weird combo and NO NO NO I am not pregnant, I do not want to get emails asking me :) Thank Heavens

Anyways, Freebirds(build your own burrito restaurant)It is like a beacon calling you home!


You start at the beginning and you build, build, and BUILD your burrito.


This menu has all the different ways you can have your burrito! Of course, I keep it plain and full of deliciousness because I am so persnickety


of course, I provided entertainment for us as I always have a camera in my hand.



The next day after church we started our adventure hunting for a snowcone stand!
Do you have any idea how HARD it is to find a snowcone stand in The Woodlands? You would think...hmmm it being at the 100 degree mark they would be they sell HOT coffee, but a simple sweet and perfect blend of juice and ice is hard to find( go figure)

Alas, we found one... FYI it is located in The Portofino Center


As we drove up I was searching all over that stand for an OPEN sign! Hip hip hooray the O-P-E-N word made me the happiest girl there


There were over 36 flavors to choose from, so we learned quickly that we would not agree on the flavor.



Mr. Snowcone even though you were almost eaten...


You sure did give me a purple tongue and make me happy!

Cooper Pawprints...

Communication is the key to any relationship is what I hear momma and daddy say all the time, so I thought I would get on our blog and communicate in the best way I know how (since obviously they don't get what I am saying when I bark 99 times). I will call them Cooper Pawprints( get it: snicker snicker PAW (I have paws) PRINTS (words)

I am sure you all know momma, daddy, and I all went to Goo ma and Grandpa's house for some time. I got to spend lots of time with my cousin Sammi. I had so much fun playing, sleeping, and exploring their house while mommy and daddy took care of everything. I was on vacation, but still learned a few things.

Momma and daddy if you are reading this: Please pay attention because these things are important for me and will keep me a happy pup from here on out.

Cooper Pawprints:

1)I really enjoy car rides with you guys, but please don't feed me minutes before we depart or it will lead to a messy car memory and mad mommy

2) I love bath time with you guys, but I do not like the Pool. Please keep me in a bowl where I can reach the bottom.

3)I really can entertain myself if you just give me a treat or a twisty stick,so no worries mom I am not bored

4) I can NEVER EVER have enough toys

5)I love belly rubs


Even though, I was on vacation at Goo ma and Grandpa's house I really didn't spend a lot of time with my parents. I want them to know I have forgiven them for being so busy during that time.

Well, see yas soon everyone! I hope you leave lots of "PAW"sitive (snicker snicker) comments and have a great day.

Lots of Love,
Cooper

Adventures await us...

During my absence of blogging Erik, Cooper, and I have been working very hard house, horse, and dog sitting my parent's home while they were in London/Scotland for 2 weeks.

Let me give you the low down on what a rewarding challenge it was for all of us to adapt to my parent's duties and responsibilities during that time. Let's see where do we begin our journey....

Day one:

oh no fellow blog readers that is not snow. I am afraid that was my parent's pool pillow that their new puppy Harley tore up. It took us some time to gather all fluffing, but we were glad it was done!

or so we thought... look closely that is PEE from the puppy


Day 2-5 we did not take pictures of bc I found out quickly I was highly allergic to horses and hay. I was on a lot of Allergy meds, so Erik had to take over from here. Then, the latch to the horse's stall broke TWICE. so, we took a journey to the nearest Feed store and found some latches and bought a few extra just in case those horses decided to test us again.

Day 6-15 After that it was just our waking up at 4:45 a.m. every morning and doing the duties until about 8ish that kept us all busy. Even Sammi and Cooper got along

After day 14th, we were exhausted and mentally drained. We wanted to end their trip on a GREAT note, so we all cleaned the house and did laundry for them to come home to.

Erik, Cooper, and I really did miss everyone! So, we made them a welcome home card and all signed it using our prints. It too...was a challenge to take a picture with all of us smiling so proudly.
Take 1:
Take 2:


and finally take 3:


We were challenged beyond our imagination, but our little family got through it! We were so happy to have helped and so blessed to have family that loves us unconditionally.

WELCOME BACK HOME MOM,DAD, RYAN, & Alex!! We love you guys :)

You Give me Fever....

Yes, I must admit since Erik and I brought Cooper home we haven't had much time for each other or date nights. So, we decided to treat ourselves to a date night we would never forget. We purchased Michael Buble tickets back in January, so it was such a treat to know they were already paid for!

We started out eating and drinking at a little Mexican restaurant located on I like to call "Restaurant Alley." The classiest Mexican restaurant I've been to. they have such a fabulous selection in wine and the food and decor are amazing!


We had the Tamales for two and that was just enough to make our tummies happy! Of course, we got a few shots ourselves before we left for the show.


Headed to Michael Buble show or as Erik likes to call "The Bubble Man" show.





We had a blast and Michael Buble was so down to earth and down right funny! He even got in the crowds with his fans