The Loves and Hates of Laredo

This is one of the best things about living down here:

Look at that beautiful sunset!  I don't know how many times I've just stood and watched them out my window.  I saw this one when we were leaving Lowe's the other night.  Did I get some weird stares for taking pictures in the Lowe's doorway?  Yes.  Yes, I did.  Do I care?  Not in the least.  :)

On the completely opposite end of the spectrum of things I do not love about living here... I was talking to my neighbor today, and she said they've found a gazillion scorpions in their HOUSE!   THEIR HOUSE, PEOPLE!  (okay, she really said like 7 or 8, but in Johanna terms, that means a gazillion.)  She also said they've found rattlesnakes in their yard.

WHAT THE CRAP?!  I thought all I had to worry about were tarantulas which are bad enough, and then I find out this?!

I solemnly swear that if I find any of the previously mentioned creatures that I will grab my kids and leave my house immediately.  *shudder*

Okay, I need to calm down.  I'm looking at the sunset picture and breathing deeply.  Whew.  Better.

Scary creatures, please stay away from my home.  And I'll continue to enjoy the pretty sunsets.  Thanks.

Halloweeeeeen!

I'm kinda jealous of everybody else in my neighborhood b/c they all have really cool Halloween decorations.  I got out my Halloween decorations, and they are severely lacking.  I got most of mine from my mom's stash of decorations from when I was a kid.  I love, love them b/c there are so many happy memories with them.  The problem is, they're all indoor decorations.  I HAD some outdoor decorations but when we had our things in storage in my Dad's barn in Alabama, mice (or ROUSes) had eaten them or pooped on them.  I threw those things away.  Obviously.

So now all I have in my yard is a lonely pumpkin windsock...  but it's pretty cute.  And it made my kids giddy with excitement that WE had Halloween decorations, too.  I'm glad they're not old enough to realize how lame they are.

I really love Halloween.  I can't wait to see my kids all dressed up in their costumes.  I'm hoping that my son won't be deathly afraid of the houses with decorations like he was last year when we went trick or treating.  He's going to be Mario, but I haven't decided on a costume for my daughter yet.  Ideas?  Anybody?

And what about me?  What should I be?

This is one of my favorite years of costumes for our family:

My son was Quail Man.  My husband was a UPS guy.  I was pregnant, so I dressed up as a redneck with a beer gut.  Good times, good times.

I'm wondering what Halloween will be like for us here in Laredo.  Hotter than in north Alabama, probably.   I'll be sure to post about it after it happens--complete with pictures of our rockin' costumes, whatever they may be.

Happy Early Halloween!!

Story Time at the Library

Since I found out about it, I've been taking my kids to story time at the Laredo Public Library.  The full schedule for all events is on their website, but we go to Toddler Tuesdays and Pre-School Thursdays.  Both of them are at 10:30am.

It's been so fun to watch my kids participate in story time there.  The ladies that read the stories are really fantastic.  They can get the kids to listen and participate in a way that seems like magic.  I wish I could get my kids to be quiet like they can...  How do they do it?!

On both Tuesdays and Thursdays they start the story time with a song.  They give all the kids instruments and let them play.  Boy, does it get loud!  Not my usual interpretation of a quiet library, but the kids love it!  After they're done with the song, the kids put the instruments up.  I've been amazed that my kids have not once cried because they couldn't keep the instrument.  Incredible.

Either day is great for your kid to go.  If your child is not the right age, they're not going to turn you away.  I mean, that would just be rude.  :)  Toddler Tuesdays is obviously geared to a much younger audience.  The reading part is shorter, there are more songs, and the craft is simpler.  It's also a lot more crowded.  Pre-School Thursdays has more reading, less songs, and a more difficult craft.  But my kids, 3 & 1, love both of the days, so either one will work for your child.

Actually, my 1 year old just likes to run around and pull books off the shelf and climb behind computer desks or any other place she's not supposed to be.  Yeah, that's my kid--the one you're wondering why the parent can't get some control over her.  :)

Seriously, though, my kids adore story time.  Also, BONUS!!  Your kids can get their own library card complete with a picture!  I can't tell you how excited my little boy is to carry around his very own library card.  Shoot, I'm excited for him, too!  It's so adorable seeing his little face on the card.  Soon it will be his face on a driver's license... *sigh*

So, yeah, if you've got small children at home, bring them to the library!  I'll probably be there, too, so come chat me up.  I could use a friend or two.  :)

Registering Your Car and Getting Your License in Laredo--Learn from MY horrible experience

We had put it off long enough.  I HAD to get my Texas driver's license because we needed to give our bank our new address, so we could order checks to pay bills, and we could ONLY do that by showing them a driver's license with the new address on it.  I dreaded doing it because I had heard what a pain in the butt it is.  Luckily, my sister-in-law had already done it and was able to fill me in.  I'm grateful for her sacrifice because I imagine that yesterday would've been much more frustrating without her help.  I'm also grateful that she and my other sister-in-law watched my kids for me while I did it because... well, it was just ridiculous what all I had to do and adding kids into the mix would've been pure... heck.  :)

I started out that day confident that I had everything I needed and would be back by lunch time.  Instead I left at around 10am and didn't get back until after 3pm.  *sigh*

I don't know if I want to go into full detail about what all happened that day because it's just plain ridiculous.  What I DO want to do, however, is help out all you other new people by telling you EXACTLY what you need to do to ultimately get your license here in Laredo.  I don't know if the process is the same in all of Texas, but I would assume it is.

So here ya go, in an easy-to-read bulleted form--how to get your freakin' license in Laredo if you've moved from out-of-state.  Oh, and I should mention that this is how you do it if you own a car.  If you don't own a car, I think the process is different, but we didn't do it that way.

Registering Your Car

• FIRST STEP:  Important!  Get your car insurance changed over to Texas insurance.
• You can't do anything else until you do, so do this as soon as you can
• Get your car inspected
• Items needed: Proof of insurance, license, approx $15
• List of Inspection Stations in Laredo
• Make sure there are NO flaws or alterations on your inspection report.  (I had to go back to the inspection station because they wouldn't accept my inspection report at the DMV. Learn from me!  Double check!)
• Don't go if it's raining or has been raining.  They'll tell you they can't do it.  (Happened to me.)
• Get your tags and title
• Items needed: car title, proof of insurance, inspection report, license, cash or local checks, change for parking meters
• If you don't have a local bank, be SURE to bring cash.  (I had to leave to go to the bank and get cash. )  Our mini-van cost around $170 to give you a rough estimate of what you'll need.
• Go to the Webb County Tax Assessor's office - 1110 Victoria St, Laredo, TX 78042-8128
• If you want to add a spouse to your title, they must sign the paperwork, too!  Either bring them with you or pick up the form and go have them sign it.
• TIP:  Go in the morning.  It was much less crowded and hardly a wait when I was there early.  By the time I finally had everything I needed, it was after lunch, and the wait was really long.
• TIP: If you're not sure where to go, there should be some guys in red shirts walking around that can direct you.  

Getting your Driver's License

• Items needed - Registration, proof of insurance, driver's license, birth certificate, social security card, $25 cash or local check
• Go to the Texas Department of Public Safety - 1901 Bob Bullock Loop, Laredo, TX 78043-9771
• TIP: Double check the information on your temporary licence before you leave because they can mess it up
• TIP: Make sure you look nice because no one wants an ugly driver's license picture.  :)

I hope this helps at least one person avoid the frustrating day that I had.  Oh, and I have one more tip... listen to some calming music while in the car because I know I sure needed it.  I suggest Brahm's Waltz in A Flat Major... ah, so calming.  :)

Oh, and P.S. to Texas... why are the temporary licenses a 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper?  How am I supposed to fit that in my wallet?  But I guess as my sister said "Everything IS bigger in Texas."  But if you're going to make it that big why not, as my sister-in-law suggested, make it in the SHAPE of Texas?  That would be infinitely more awesome, and I would proudly carry that thing around.  :)