taking back the house

Alright here is what we started with the morning of Tuesday the 25th.
this is during the priming stage.
Here we have a little helper that was so excited to paint. And to stand on the step stool.

Ryan's flight was canceled and so he was here to see the final outcome. Also we had a whole can of this nice olive green and so we took a chance and made a change, and I have to say that I am really liking it. So the Barlow men take to their computers as soon as the paint is dry.
And I reclaim the kitchen and dining rooms. Welcome to our almost normal home.

play by play

Here is an excerpt from Ryan's play by play of the events surrounding Saturday's shoot.
If you want to hear more you can visit his blog.

"Start the day with unexpected rain. We modify the script to include the rain. Get ready to film...the rain stops. Damn that nature.

Offered narcotic pain killers (on various occasions), being condemned to hell, and witnessing multiple drug deals taking place doesn't even begin to summarize our day on Guadeloupe. The disgruntled street vendors, upset over our being there before them, began to be somewhat belligerent. One (who we like to call Mitchell) threatened to call the cops (because we were on a public sidewalk) and destroy our equipment because of our “unconsideration”. Unable to predict the behavior of his mental instability, I was ready with cat like reflexes to tackle him to the floor and crush his sternum, if he even dared try to break our equipment. After his backing down, I couldn't help myself but laugh at his empty threats. I feel bad for the unstable. Many other curious homeless people cruised the side walk. One in particular, we saw walk back and forth for 12 hours straight (we liked to call him Carl). A one legged man, with a wheel chair and crutches (not sure why he had both), decided to fall into the road during our shooting. Jumping off my suitcase (which I was miming off of), I quickly ran to his aid and helped him back in the chair and wheeled him to safety (at a bus stop). This of course was a hey day for a group of photographers attending photography workshops at the University of Texas. A mime saving a one legged man. Well over 100 photos were take of me today by the photographers and random people. Interesting that a tourist ended up being a tourist attraction.

The day continued to get even more interesting, when the rain pulled a “I'm going to screw over your whole project again, by starting when you don't want it, and stopping when we do want it”. Damn that nature...again.

My favorite part of the day was filming myself miming to speeches of Fidel Castro. This got very interesting, when the “Jewish Defense League” (http://www.jdl.org/) , who fight Hate Crimes paid us a visit. Someone had sent them a complaint about my performance (was I really that good?). They showed up in a very cop looking car, and watched us as we filmed. Once they realized that I was just acting, they left. It just doesn't get any better than getting a visit from the JDL.

A few other occurrences: A fire engine interrupted our shooting, firefighters were running through our set, all rushing to the aid of an old man who fell off his bike. Not sure why the fire dept. was involved, the ambulance was just as timely and attended to the fallen man. On over 8 different occasions was marijuana distinguished as the dominant smell. A group of police officers in short shorts, and bicycles made their way through the set, but funny enough, not one druggy was even looked at."

come rain or shine

So the bummer about shooting outside is that you can't control the weather. But these little troopers stuck it out. It was pouring so hard in the morning but cleared up long enough for a few adventures and encounters of interesting people and some great footage.
Here is Ryan's character Vermont, meeting and speaking to Mary for the first time. How cute.


Pulling out all of the big time equipment for the sake of good quality film.
This is at the end of a really long and crazy day. Everyone met up at Dirty Martins for some really greasy, but good food. It was the last day to shoot with Katina so it was really nice to sit down together and just talk. But for the rest of us we are a long ways from being finished.

corn on the cob

I don't think that you can have a Summer without a few key items, such as corn on the cob, watermelon, and lots of ice cream. So here we are preparing Gwen for the Summer. She really chowed down on this little cob. I had no idea that she would like it so much. But then again who wouldn't like something that is slathered in butter and salt?

take two

Day two of shooting took place in a little market. Also we introduce to you Katina. She is from Houston and you may recognize her from Friday night lights, the t.v. series. We really like her and think that she is doing a great job. Everyone had to get up really early to shoot in the market before it opened, so that afternoon was full of well earned naps. Naturally after that it was back to work.

films are us

James is at it again, and that means that I have given up my home and everything that is in it. Here James and Mike show us their working side.
Meet Ryan Barlow, who has joined our filming crew and sacrificed himself for the leading role.
Yes this is my living room, Oh you didn't recognize it? Neither did I. I happen to come home one day and it was repainted and a little ghettoish.
I repeat ghettoish!
These guys mean business and that means they work well into the night...I think that we will see the effects of this on our electric bill.

Oh and here is just another picture of how trashed my poor little home is. I sure do hope that we get back to some kind of normal soon. We shall see.

birds of a feather

I have heard it said that birds of a feather flock together, but what about bathe together? James, Mike and Ryan are filming in our apartment so that means that Gwen and I are displaced. So Kim was kind enough to let us get ready for bed at her house. So here are Megan and Gwen having a grand ol' time in the tub.


I think that it is more fun to share your toys in the tub. And everything seems more fun and silly when there are two in the tub instead of just one. So if you have an open bathtub let us know we may just stop by.

2007 Blues on the Green kick off

Last night we attended the Blues on the Green concert at Zilker Park. It was really fun. While we set up Gwen was hanging out on the blanket and watching all the little dogs that were around us. Ruthie Foster and Band were the live band and they were really good.
Here is where we sat, pretty close to the stage, but not really a kid friendly spot.
After the first little while of being trapped on the blanket Gwen would scoot all the way to the edges and just stick her feet in the grass, but it didn't take too long before she was just blatantly squirming and running to get off the blanket and onto somebody else's stuff. We learned some really good tips for the next show though, so we are excited for that one.
If anybody wants to know about it, the concerts are every other Wednesday night and they start at 7:30 pm. They are free and you can bring your own food, or buy some there. I have to say that it is a really fun outdoor family activity. Oh and did I mention that it is free. You can't beat that.

all aboard

Gwen is all about loading everything around her onto whatever she is sitting in/on. So here she is gathering her goods.
Oh and don't forget the remote control, or Leo the lion hand puppet...
We will surely need all of dad's shoes as well.
Now everyone to the boat. Since Summer is here and we have been to the pool a few times the pool toys are the best things ever. So naturally she will need to pack up the boat with all the treasures of the front room.
Yep that means pillows from the couch too.
Have no fear she is able to get everything in, by stuffing the smaller things under her legs and balancing shoes on top of pillows and then by holding the ball. How clever. I think that she may need a bigger boat...Or maybe just a few less things to take with her.

driving skills

James was in need of a new hard drive and so we took a little trip to the computer store. While James was picking the perfect one Gwen was just driving around and all of a sudden she got a phone call, so she pulled over and parked so that she could answer it. What a thoughtful driver. I do have a sinking feeling in my stomach that she is going to be quite attached to the phone at a young age...Oh wait a second she already is. I suppose that I should have seen that one coming. Well she can use all the minutes that she wants, because James and I don't really use that many. I think that is a good plan. So don't be surprised if you get a little call from Gwen.

sing-along with the Barlow's

Well I have to say that there is no such thing as "too close" to the screen when Grandma and Grandpa Barlow are singing to you. James' parents sent us a little video of them singing some songs and talking to Gwen so when they visit in July she will be prepared. From the moment that we put the video in she was totally into it. So here are some photos to prove that she loves it. I think that since we have had the video she has watched it at least 50 times. She loves the fun little signs that Sylvia does with the songs. And it is great that she already loves the guitar. I think that she will be so excited to see them in a month, but she may be expecting them to sing all the time, and we don't mind that. Oh yeah the reason that she is in a diaper...she was watching as we were getting ready for the day.

lazy summer days

Earlier today I told Gwen that we could go to the pool after we ate and cleaned up lunch, so she was all ready in her suit and watching baby Einstein in her boat.
Since she was doing such a great job waiting for me to make lunch I let her eat in the boat. she was just fine with that. She has a funny face because she just put some sandwich in her mouth.
So after lunch we did go to the pool, but it is kind of tricky when she wants to swim but can't so then she is just really squirmy. We did have a good time though, and there were a lot of kids out today so that makes it interesting. I put this last picture up because she has a really cute little pony tail that I have tried to get a picture of for a while, and today while distracted by the farm animals we got it! Whatever it takes right?