A Hillbilly and a Home Office

Owen told me to close my eyes while he picked out his own outfit for church yesterday. This is what I saw:

Um...that's my boy? I like to think that I'm flexible enough to let my kids express themselves, and if we were hanging out in the house (read: no one would see me out with this kid), I'd have let him keep it on. For public consumption, we kept the WORLD SERIES bound Rangers shirt and new shoes and ditched the golf hat, bubba teeth, and jean shorts. We did put on long pants, for those who read things too literally.

Yes, these bubba teeth were a PRIZE from the treasure chest at school. Maybe it was for knowing facts about dental hygiene?


We are BLESSED with a 3rd bedroom, which we use as a playroom/home office. Sometimes I play when I should be working, and sometimes June works when she should be playing.


I know, for someone as particular as I am, you'd think my workspace would be neater. And yet, I share it with children. I'm dealing with it. Deep breaths.


I tell you, though, she does a better job connecting with residents than me on most days of the week, so keep up the good work, June!

It's fall, our kids are mostly out of cribs, and they don't put everything in their mouths anymore. So what are two families with young kids to do? Go camping, of course.

So, the Cruiser headed west this weekend to join up with dear friends. Michael and Scott took the big boys on an overnight Father/Son campout. S'mores were plentiful, but sleep was not. I think the dads secretly recruited extra families to fill up the campsite because by the time the moms came out with the babies Saturday after lunch, the state park was full! Hmmm. Next time, advanced reservations will be in order. For this Type-A person, I was actually proud that we took a last minute trip, so we made the most of the day anyway.

We had a full cooler, so we parked at the picnic areas and made a day of it. Big boys fell asleep on the way home, babies fell asleep within minutes of the mattress, and adults fell asleep in the living room trying to watch this week's Office. You know you're tired when Andy Bernard can't keep you awake.

So, here's the mega post of pics for grandparents and us:

June, looking forward to the Father/Daughter campout


Gathering firewood, high steppin', and chasing an armadillo



Pile on Michael, girl time with June and Wendy




Sibling love and belly buttons



Bocce ball boys



Keeton joining in, an accident waiting to happen, and their own personal court jester



More play, more play, and June's typical eyebrow face (and that's after Wendy shared)




Boys with food and sticks...no additional entertainment needed




Sibling love!


What I didn't get enough pictures of was the cross-family sibling love. Keaton following Owen everywhere and Casen being so gentle and sweet to "Juney-boy". Yes, he just realized this weekend that she is a girl. The short hair and angry eyebrows negate her pink high tops and outfits everytime.

We had a great time, and it was nice to travel with like minded parents who know that a little dirt never hurt anybody.

Exhibit A:


Exhibit B:




Exhibit C:
Would be a picture of the nastiness floating at the bottom of the bathtub after the 4 bathed together Sunday morning...but that would be nasty and might have the health department visiting Wendy's guest bathroom


One thing we learned: let the boys clean each other's faces. Casen definitely had the more difficult job and Owen's t-shirt might have to be used as a garage rag. Wait, we don't have a garage. Well, you get the point.




Our favorite family (and ACU's too):

(I would have included more pics of Chef Scott, but this is the only one where he did not dare me with his facial expressions to publicly humiliate him by posting his pic...don't worry, Scott, that time will come!)



Tired, but happy! That about sums up the weekend. Here's to next time.

Self-Interests and Sweaty Socks

A major decision was to be made at our house last week. All parties had evident self-interests at play.

• When one member of your family has suffered a traumatic brain injury, he may tend to be cautious about certain aspects of child safety.
• When one member of your family is primarily in charge of putting children to sleep, she may tend towards keeping children in their cages, I mean cribs, for longer.
• When one member of your family shares a room with his sister, he might see this as the long awaited opportunity to also share a bed.
• When one member of your family is tired, she doesn't care where you put her to sleep.
  

That being said, one fall out of the crib was one time too many at our house, so say goodbye to one more piece of childhood:



Nope, it won't go lower than that. The crib Owen had lasted much longer, but it was left behind in Fresno to a dear friend. This second-hand crib is now dismantled on the porch. Any takers?

It's been a week since the dismantling. I'll confess to doubting June's readiness (15 months?!), but after a few days of catching her asleep at the door or off the mattress, she's figured out that the bed is a lot more cozy than apartment grade carpet...or brother's pee pee sheets.



Yes, these are the pee-pee sheets that were in that black hamper awaiting their laundering. Oh, and those are also his sweaty socks. You see, some mothers perfume their child's sheets so that their child will be comforted by their scent. Evidently, June misses Owen so much while he's at kindergarten, that she too must find some remnant of him to cuddle with. Maybe this is a sign that I need to bathe Owen more often if eau de sweat socks and urine is his signature perfume. BLECH!


Even Hello Kitty rolled over in disgust! But I say, sleep on sister!

As for me, it's naptime here, so I'm off to do some laundry.

For those concerned: we will be covering up the electrical sockets soon and getting a bed frame for Christmas. :)

3 Cheers for Pre-Arranged Friendships

My east Indian neighbor and I had a conversation recently about my love-match and her arranged-match. She had questions about how Michael and I met, our wedding, and how our families got along. I wondered if she did the traditional week-long wedding and how her family knew his. All that to say this, I'm all for arrangements. For example, here are Owen and June with their arranged friendships.



Now, Casen may not be thrilled by the idea and Keaton is hiding his head in shame, but Owen seems delighted with the arrangement and June is looking longingly at my best friend's boys. You will all be friends, like it or lump it.

June, chillin' in Abilene with her boys.


I put another one in just so you could see that Keaton isn't so upset about the idea. And in Casen's defense, he doesn't always wear a helmet to swing. Sometimes it's difficult to decide to swing or to bike; leaving the helmet on gives you options. He's clever like that.



Speaking of helmets, who can come to our house without putting on the Darth Vader helmet? You have an open invitation to come over and test your will power, but I warn you, "Your powers are weak."


Casen and Owen dual it out.


Victory!!



Crazy girl! Walked 6 steps this week and crawled (fell?) out of her crib. We are on the move and going to level orange on baby proofing the house.

How Did That Happen?

How did that happen? #1

PBS: said something about being an American
Owen: chortle
Mom: What's so funny? You're an American.
Owen: No I'm not. I'm a Texan.

For my non-Texan friends, we don't intentionally teach them these things...they just know.

How did that happen? #2

Ten years of being married to this guy:


To be fair, he was following through on his disc golf shot in this picture. No, don't call it Frisbee golf...that would imply that it's a juvenile hobby.

Seriously, 10 years?

How did that happen? #3
We hadn't been away as a couple more than one night since Owen was born (that's 5.5 years!).
So, for our 10 year anniversary, we took a road trip down to San Antonio.

Thank you to Priceline hotels and a compassionate concierge for a great stay at the Emily Morgan Hotel, right across the street from this beloved Texas landmark:


That's the hotel (with the flag flying at the top):

We caught up on movies, went to Schlitterbahn, went disc golfing, and ate so much that I couldn't button my shorts on the last day. Let the workouts resume, I mean, begin!

My main squeeze and I out on the course.

Me, the night of our best meal in a LONG LONG time.

A filet with a chimichurri, fried plantains, deep fried jalapenos, and shoestring potatoes.

I'm so spoiled, I know. Here's to less than 5 years before the next big trip!