All aboard... to OUR Christmas Break Madness!!!

Christmas 2008 came BIG and has now been wrapped up and put away until next year!  I am always ecstatic for the Christmas MADNESS to begin, that when it finally gets here, all I can think about is how it will soon be over.  :-(  So jump aboard the Crazy Train of Our Christmas Break!

We start off with a last minute trip to Dallas with Joey & Nicole.  We were lucky to get tickets to the Farewell Cowboy Game. (Thanks Dad)  Description of the game - Atmosphere: Perfectly FREEZIN and Exciting, Food: Greasy and Delicious, The Actual Football Game: Comically HORRIBLE!!!  Would it have been to much to ask for them to ACTUALLY play like they DESERVE the $ million dollars they are PAID every year???  I mean come on...

Anywho, we decided to leave at Halftime so we could go to... ICE!!!  Oh yeah, ICE, ICE, BABY!!!  We're talking 9 degrees and 2 million pounds of ICE people! A Winter Wonderland in TEXAS!!!  Whoo-hoo!!!  Here are some pics from the weekend...

You're never to OLD to SLIDE on ICE! (Thanks ~ Nicole)

Tuesday Night we had Christmas at my parent's house...

Christmas Eve at the Kraus House!

We spent Christmas Day with my Mama's Family...

 The Cox's!

Last, but not least, the day after Christmas we spent with my Dad's Family...  The Green's!

I was so happy to see Paige and Erin, (two of my GREATEST friends since 5th grade,) this past Saturday before they headed back home. It was great to be able to catch up" IN PERSON," which is so much better than on the phone! It was just like old times! Here is a pic, from our Great Breakfast, at none other than the International House Of Pancakes (IHOP)! Can't wait to see ya'll again!

As you can see Christmas Madness can be quite exhausting.  I am now ALL caught up on my rest and ready to BRING IN THE NEW YEAR!!!  Bring it 2009...   I am awaiting great things and LOTS OF 2009 BABIES!  Here is a shout out to all my fellow "Baby Bump'n Mamas" (Michelle, Katrina, & Ashley) our little guys will be here before we know it! 

Happy Holidays Everyone! 

Love, Amanda Laine

Just when you thought elections were over...

Alrighty people... I want to know whatcha think!  Take it for what it's worth... because usually "I DON'T CARE!" (just kidding :-)  No really, I am taking a gender poll which is located on the right side of your screen.  If you wouldn't mind please put your two cents in and vote!  :)    

Baby Bump Update...

So let me take you back to last Thursday.  We had another doctor appointment... which I find myself looking SO FORWARD TO these days!!!  Ha!  Who would have ever thought that a doctor's appointment would be the HIGHLIGHT of OUR month?   During this visit, we were going to get to see how our little miracle had grown since our 1st sonogram.  Our last sonogram was 6 weeks ago... remember the "Lil Kraus Blob?"  Anyway, Beep and I have been reading and keeping up with how the baby has been developing, but that still did not prepare us for what we saw.  I think that we both still thought we were going to see this blob with a fluttering heartbeat... again! 

"HELLO!!! There is a BABY in my TUMMY!!!"  A real baby... not a blob... A PRECIOUS BABY!!!  When the tech put the wand on my petite (lol) belly immediately we could see the BABY... I sat straight up (don't do that) to get a better picture of the screen.  I was then asked to lay back down and relax.  RELAX!!!  Are you kidding me... I wanted to say "look lady - - I haven't felt pregnant, I don't get sick, the only time that I truly know that I am pregnant is when I come here and you put THE WAND ON THE BELLY!"  I didn't want to ruin the moment :) so I kindly laid back down and strained my neck to look at the screen.  

I wasn't the only one who perked up... ole' Beep straightened that LONG BACK of his straight up.  I think that he grew 5 inches!  He thought it was amazing... to say the least!

As we peeked in on our little one... he was just chillin!  Laid out on his back... like "yeah, glad ya'll good drop in, this is where I stay!"  (Of course he talks LIKE HIS MAMA...)  We also learned that Baby Kraus (like his cousins) loves the camera and is very photogenic.  He laid there long enough for the tech to do all the measurements and then some.  We were able to see him: yawn, have the hick-ups and do some backward caterpillar rolls (look out Uncle Joey, you've got competition coming June :).  Apparently, we had stayed to long, because lil Kraus rolled over and showed us his bum... PARTY OVER... EVERYBODY OUT... and that was it!!!

So here is our "STAR of the Show!"  I have also posted little labels for those of you that do not know what you are looking at when looking at sonograms!  No need to thank me!!! :)

Yes, I feel the need to explain that I do STRONGLY believe that this child is a little boy. Whoo-hoo!  I actually do not care the sex... it will just be great to know what IT is.  So when referring to Lil Kraus I naturally just say him. Hmmm... maybe we need to start a gender pole!  I will get on that!!!

Gobble... gobble... till ya wobble... wobble!

I hope that you all had a Happy Thanksgiving!  I gobbled... gobbled... FO SHO!  The night before Thanksgiving we always head over to the "Kraus House," to help out with the big FEAST... wait... DON'T GET ME LYING!  The BOYS help make a mess, in Flipper & Frannie's kitchen... while the girls play with the babies :) and watch SCARY clay-mation Christmas Movies!  It's all big fun really!  If you know the Kraus Boys AT ALL... you know that when they get together they always invite: Jack... GIN... and Mr. WINE-O! These three pals always seem to make the gatherings get "a lil HOT," which makes the Kraus Boys LOOSE THEIR CLOTHES...  

                                        

Example 1:

Now you know these boys were raised better than that!  Sitting at the table, preparing Thanksgiving dinner, with their shirts off didn't last long!  No worries... Flipper was happy to share his "Beach Tanks" with his boys... even Carson Grant got one!

Example 2:  

Thanksgiving Day, we continued our "Eat-athon" over at the Kraus'.  I ate like it was my last meal... to give you a visual on how full I was----> I know that you have all seen those Great White documentaries.  Okay, well you know when they show the Great White PIGGING out on a Whale carcass, and the Great White eats so much that it becomes drunk and begins to float on its back.  BINGO!!! THAT WAS ME!!!  I am sorry to disappoint you, but I do not have a picture to illustrate!  :(  

I do have a family picture that I managed to get, after our YUMMY meal!  Thanks again Flipper & Frannie for a great Thanksgiving!  Love ya'll!

Did you think that our Thanksgiving was over???? Heavens NO... we still had to FEAST it up with my family!  This year we did things a little different... I couldn't have planned it better myself! If I was to imagine a perfect Thanksgiving, this is what it would be... DRUM ROLL!!!!

Me, Beep, Hunter Jacob, Grandmama, and my Mama and Dad loaded up and went to Cracker Barrel! Whoo-hoo! It was perfect and shockingly NOT CROWDED... perfect timing they said! :) I know that you are wondering how could I have possibly eaten MORE FOOD, when less than 3 hours I was floating upside down at the Kraus'... I am telling you it was a miracle, when they brought out all that MAC & CHEESE, I was hungry ALL over again! :) Amazing!

The festivities didn't end there... we left there and went to SANTA LAND! OMG This is like one of my most favorite places... what is better than blaring Christmas music and looking at more Christmas lights than you eyes can handle? Oh, did I mention that my Dad bought us all these 3D glasses, so that when you saw the lights they turned into snowflakes, even headlights on cars? ;-0 GROOVY!!!

Me and my Mama enjoying all the LIGHTS!!!

Hunter & Beep... Trippin on some Snowflakes!!!

Thanks Mom and Dad for helping make my Thanksgiving so special and fun!

My life has truly been blessed and I have so much to be thankful for...

Hope that you all had a Happy Thanksgiving!

Love, 

Amanda Laine

R.I.P "BB-Ring"

Dearly beloved,

We are gathered here today to mourn the loss of my friend "Pinky" the BB-Ring.  For many years she graciously, helped "ICE*OUT" my belly.  She had everything... from ATTITUDE to BEAUTY!  

I remember the first time I met "Pinky"...  I was in a "upper class" tattoo shop, in South Longview (lol), signing my life away, so that some random "SCARY MAN" could put a hole in my belly.  I was taken over to a display case that was full of BB-rings - when I saw her.  She was BLING-UTIFUL and PINK... Perfect for me!  I knew that she and my "INNY" would be a perfect match.  They hit it off immediately!  

Pinky, was always so supportive, never complaining after ALL those HOT summer days I would BAKE in the sun and HEAT her up.  She never skipped a beat just kept on SHINING!

We have been through so much together!  She helped me get through college.  She traveled with me through Europe.  Pinky, was even there when I walked down the aisle and became Mrs. Kraus!

October marked the beginning of the end.  This was when "Pinky" got the news.  She was a fighter and fought till the end, but the END was inevitable...

After much thought, "INNY" and PINKY decided that it was time to part.  "INNY" explained to PINKY that BIGGER things were in the near future and that over time he would most likely become an "OUTIE," involuntarily of course. 

November 21st, at 8:15, Pinky was unscrewed and taken out of "INNY."  It was a planned and peaceful ceremony.  She was cleaned and laid to rest.  

PINKY is survived by: INNY, her partner of 8 years.  Best Friends: Mrs. Wedding Band, Mrs. Diamond Earring, and Mr. Toe Ring.

Summer 2000 - November 2008

Coming June 2009

Last Thursday we went to the doctor to have our 1st sonogram. Yea! We were able to see our little "Blob Baby" and it's heart beat. It was AMAZING to say the least! 

Things that we learned:

*There is ONLY 1 baby :)

*Our baby is 1.3cm long (size of a blueberry)

*Heartbeat was 159 bpm (Does this imply a BOY or GIRL?)

*The Due Date is... June 20th (Grandma Joan's B*day!)

Ladies & Gents we are proud to SHOW-OFF... 

"Baby Blob Kraus!"  

Check him/her out.. :)

It was a Trick-or-Treat FO SHO!!!

Our house was FULL of "A LIST" Celebrity Craziness this Halloween...

The guest list included: Michael Phelps - dressed in a lil more than just his gold medals; Sarah Palin - who was still trying to win over some last minute votes; The Cutest Polar Bear in Town - who chased Bailey Boo "the BUG" all night long; JOEY - yes you read correctly, Senator came dressed up as JOEY.  Live entertainment was provided by a "local musician" that is still hoping for his BIG BREAK!  Ahhh yes, Beep and I too dressed up, FRO and all!  :)  Beep was a "70's Flipper Flashback," and I was an "80's HOTTIE" of course! lol  

From the moment that our guest stepped into our house they were playing a game - - and didn't even know it!  We changed ALL the pictures; in our house, to "CLUES" that TIPPED off a few and CONFUSED one or two.  It took some longer than others... but there was one clue that made it all so CLEAR "it was as if it were written in the sand!"

Thought that you may like to see some pics from the Halloween Bash!!!

Whoa Baby!

One of my good friends found this website (makemebabies.com) and I just had to dabble in the fun!  This website takes your picture and your spouse's and morphs them together to make a baby.

Prepare yourself...  Ladies and Gentleman I would like to introduce you to the next generation of Kraus'.  HA*HA*HA! 

Of course we must start out first, with OUR curly headed little boy...




Next is OUR little girl! Hey, I can dream can't I... who knows it could happen! LOL




Let's be honest these children look a little devilish!  They look  angry as though they are plotting something against their make believe parents!  Scary!!!

Hope that this made you laugh as much as it did me! Alright, I will wrap it up now... because I know that you are already thinking of what pictures you can use to see what the future holds for you! Happy Baby Making!

Who's got JUMBO BLUE STRAWS?

I know that you are probably thinking, "WOW Amanda must be desperate to blog if she is posting pictures of STRAWS!"  Well, I am not desperate... but, yes this post is about STRAWS!  Let's begin...

Beep and I went to Burger King to grab a nutritious supper, in a sack.  Along with our dinner, we ordered a dessert to share... a Oreo Sundae Shake (like a blizzard.)  I was driving and Beep was holding the food, which is never good because then 1/2 the fries are gone before we get home. Moving on, Beep couldn't wait any longer and dove right in, literally, to the Oreo Shake.  He then discovered that we had just been given "THE BIGGEST STRAW," in the WORLD.  It was a scene straight out of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory", you know when Charlie finds "THE TICKET." This "JUMBO BLUE STRAW" was AMAZING... Blizzards have been around for years... why hasn't anyone ever thought of JUMBO straws?  (Another one of those things that you say "Dang why didn't I think of that!)

To give you some idea on how big this straw is compared to an average drinking straw... check out these pics!!! I am not kidding this straw feels like you have a "garden hose" in your mouth.  Have you ever been slurping on a Oreo Blizzard and all of sudden your eye balls feel like they are going to explode, because you were sucking so hard, and a big piece of Oreo got stuck in the bottom?

Problem: Your straw is TOO small. 

Solution: GET A JUMBO BLUE STRAW FROM BURGER KING!!! (Have you learned anything?)   

You will never have to stop slurping and move your straw around, in your cup again, because of a clog! Nope, no need for a spoon... "JUMBO BLUE STRAW" will get ever one of those pesky little Oreo chunks!

You see people... Blizzards with Dinky little straws are soooooo YESTERDAY!  It is time to UPGRADE guys...  Let's enjoy these OREO shakes the way it was intended...  

This advertisement was brought to you by: "Jumbo Blue Straws!"  GO BIG OR GO HOME!!!  

  

1 WEEK DOWN...

Zzzz... Zzzz... This is what I looked like Friday,  when I put my last little friend on the bus! Hanging out with 20 five year olds, for a week, can really put a number on you. I forget every year how tiring it is... physically and mentally. I have done more squats this week than I did, in 6 weeks of Boot Camp! This is no joke! 

Side Note: Did you know that Wipe containers (the tube kind) are dangerous? Oh yeah, I almost lost my middle finger Thursday afternoon due to one of these. 

Explanation: One of my lil friends was celebrating their birthday, so we were all eating cupcakes. It was getting a little messy, so I thought I better start passing out some wipes. It was a new container, so I had to push the first wipe through the hole. After pushing the wipe through the little (X) top, I went to pull my finger out... OUCH! My finger was caught, and the plastic was digging into it! (I starred at my finger, seriously does this kind of stuff ever happen to other people.) "No way this is not happening!" I thought.   At this point my finger is swelling and turning different shades of purple and red. I kept trying to tug on my finger, which shoved the little plastic corner deeper into my finger - PAIN, PAIN, MORE PAIN! I then decided to calmly walked out of my room (yes, I left children in the room alone - believe me they never noticed they were still gobbling up their cupcake) and across the hall to V. Neel's room. She was on her computer, with her back turned, when I told her I needed her help. You can imagine her face when she turned around and saw that I had a wipe container attached to my finger. :) (I can laugh now!) It took awhile... nothing was working! How embarrassing would it be if I had to go to the emergency room with this plastic container hanging from my arm? I can see it now, "Coming through, we have an emergency, lady with the wipe finger!"   Then V. Neel did the unthinkable she sacrificed her own finger and shoved it up underneath right by mine. It made the opening large enough for me to pull my finger out! I WAS FREE! I couldn't feel the tip of my finger... BUT I WAS FREE! The length that friends will go to! Thanks V. Neel, you saved my middle finger and I owe you! 

Reflection: Do you think that God was punishing me for using my middle finger for purposes that it wasn't intended for? Lesson learned.  You will all be happy to know that... I have retired these sign-language gestures, (so if you cut me off etc., I will just do absolutely nothing.) I love my middle finger and I am glad that it is still attached to my hand. I can happily announce that I have been doing finger therapy and have regained ALL my strength back. 

As mentioned earlier, I made it through my first week and I am still in one piece.

How many more weeks till Thanksgiving Break?  Just Kidding...  Hope all of my fellow teachers "got their groove back" and had a great 1st week. 

Who's ringing... I mean POPPIN?

You watch... you be the judge... and then come over so we can try it! (LOL) I love stuff like this!
Thanks Mom

It's been a while...

August 6th was my BIRTH-DAY... I turned a whopping 26! Anyway, we celebrated and went to the Ranger game (vs. Yankees) where we met Michelle & James.  I will be honest, going to see the Rangers and sitting in over 100 degree weather, really isn't my idea of fun. Our tickets gave us access to the Cuervo Club and our original plan was to hang out pre-game and then head outside to sweat to death. Fun right? What actually happened... Pre-game trickled into game time, and before we knew it, the game was over and we were watching 45,000 people (seriously) scurry up the bleachers and out of the park. We decided what was the hurry.. so we sat in some PHAT leather seats and watched them clean up the field... very interesting actually! The moral of this story (Yes there is one) even I can have fun at Ranger Games... I just had to do it "my way..." (as Frank would say) ---> Dressed up, sitting at a table INSIDE, with one hand dipping chips in cheese dip and the other... well holding a Long Island of course! Oh yeah...GO RANGERS!

Tune In...

I had to share... For those of you that have XM Radio, Channel 51 is doing a Coldplay Marathon for the next 30 days! Yeah, I know AWESOME right! I love them... just thought that I would let my fellow Coldplay "Lov-uhhhs" (as Carey Bradshaw would say) know!

P.S. It has been brought to my attention that some of you can not see (located on the right) my bloggin buddies, past posts, or my playlist. It appears perfectly fine on my computer, so I was unaware of this problem for quite some time. Please leave a comment and tell me if you see these things or if you TOO are missing out!

Thanks for all your help.
Happy Listening!

Kranky's Beach Bash!

We're Back! We spent a whole week on the beach in Navarre, Florida. Oh my gosh, it was amazing... & much needed might I add!

First off... Beeper & I want to thank Uncle Kranky & Aunt Sarah again for their generosity & including us on their family trip! You made it all happen & I hope that you know how much we appreciate it! While I am thanking folks...

Let me just break in down...

HERE'S TO...

Flipper & Frannie - Who shuttled, not only Beeper & I but... ALL OUR STUFF! Who is never without a Lionel CD when it is time for the "Annual Kraus Suburban Concert." Also, thank you for cooking literally every meal - breakfast, lunch, and AMAZING DINNERS! Hey, who wants some CHICKEN SALAD? --POINT--

Jeff (Prissy) - Who never forgets to bring all his "lil monsters" (lol), & is always coming up with "new material" & most importantly... never lets me down when we are going over the PENSACOLA BRIDGE. :)

Carson Grant (Diggy) - Who showed us how to act like a GORILLA, & "dick'n" everyone involved with all your entertainment!

Lauren Brooke (Sissy) - Who always was in good spirits & never hesitated when I would ask her to be my photographer. Thank you again for all your help!

Jennifer & Sean (Senator) - Who brought the Wii that kept everyone entertained ALL WEEK! Who helped me check off two things on my 'bucket list!" Who lived it up at the Juana Club, danced, and camped out on the beach with Beep & I! Thanks for the memories... That was AWESOME! (I wonder if the 'Lil Gnome" is still sitting on his perch?)

Chase (Wheeler) - Who was a great roommate - thanks for not snoring! Seriously!!! And who continues to keep us laughing his contagious cackle.

Jordan - Who came into this BIG KRAZY family and gave Flipper someone else to make fun of besides... ME! I really do appreciate it!

Uncle Kranky & Aunt Sarah - Who ventured out into the treacherous waters with me and Beep! Who provided us with a memorable trip, vermicelli, & wine tasting, at its finest! Thanks again for everything!

Another good trip with FAMILY! It doesn't get better than that!
Enjoy the pics... you know I only took A FEW!

Love you guys!

2 GiDDy BeaCh BuMs!

Let the count-down begin, in less than 30 hours Beep & I will be in a packed suburban heading to the BEACH! Whoo-hoo! Oh my geezzzzz.... We are stoked and are happily welcoming the eight hour drive! :) Well technically for me it is roughly a 4 hour drive... I tend to fall asleep sometimes, (lol) oh alright...EVERYTIME!
Hey, guess what Prissy, I MADE PUPPYCHOW! Should have known not to make it today, Lil Beep can not stay out of it... he is such a SNACKER! Anywho, I will be making some more tomorrow... HERE'S TO VACATION! This pic goes out to "All My Rowdy Family," R U Ready 4 A "GOOD TIME" & R U Ready 2 "PAR--TAYYYY!" Can you tell who started their Pre-Party already? (POINT!) SOMEBODY GET US TO THE BEACH!!!

KraZy KraUS BOYz!

Anytime you head over to the "Kraus House" you know that you are in for a GOOD TIME and last night was one of THOSE nights. Like always, we began the evening with a feast of scrumptious food (thank you Flipper & Frannie). Afterwards, we planned on playing some "family" card games, you know, any game that the BOYS can cheat at works. During cleaning up and getting all the "Lil Kraus Boys" down for the night... the "Big Kraus Boys" began to get bored. You all know what happens when BOYS get bored... well they find things to do! After hearing "POINT" for the 13th time... I knew that I had to take a peek. This is what I found...

Everyone knows that when MOM is not around... you tend to do things that you WOULD NEVER do in her presence! No one worries about the Dad's.... nope, because they are right in the middle of it... as illustrated PERFECTLY by... Flipper.

My New Fav...

Okay, so today I was cleaning the house and you can not clean without loud music, at least I can't! I rarely listen to CMT, but today VH1, MTV, BET etc. wasn't playing music so last resort was CMT. Anywho... CMT was doing there weekly countdown when I heard my new favorite song with a slammin (how you like that) SUMMER VIDEO to go with it. I am sure I am behind on the lastest country hits, but I just had to share! Hope that you enjoy this video as much as I did... I can not wait to hang out on the beach, with Beep & the ipod, and soak up the sun, while jammin to "All I Want To Do!" Here's to summer... Whoo-hoo! I LOVE SUMMER!!!