Happy 4th to All..

We had such an incredible weekend for the 4th of July that I have been super bummed this week to have been forced to join the “real” world again.  After a mysterious illness on Tuesday for Pate Man (his only symptoms were a mild, low-grade fever and constant SCREAMING.) We decided to head to Dallas, to my sister’s house, late Wednesday afternoon.  Todd was working that night, so the thought of having some extra hands was too tempting to say “no.”  

We hit the pool the minute we could change clothes and, basically, stayed there ALL weekend.  Thursday was followed by some more swimming and a little shopping.  We then took the kids to Great Wolf Lodge to meet my sister in law, Samantha and her boys, Colton and Austin.  

I have to admit that I didn’t quite know what to expect about the Lodge…we chose not to book for the nights as my kiddos are still a bit young to be expected to fall asleep in the same room.  HOWEVER, I am totally planning on taking that risk come fall.  That place is AWESOME!  I didn’t manage to fire one camera shot b/c I was way to busy playing.  The kiddos had an awesome time playing in the huge fort and the smaller pool, and I even got to sneak away for a few minutes to ride some big rides with the boys.  I LOVE that stuff.  We are totally planning on trying to get everyone together (including you Grammy and Pappy) to go this fall for some family fun.  That way, Glen will get to come too.

The rest of the weekend was the Lakewood parade and more swimming and grilling.  It really was such fun.  

Thanks Donna and Jim for letting us crash your house for so many nights!

Love you….

 

Pate watering the plants...and US!

 

Pate and Aggie waiting for the parade...

I know it looks like we didn’t dress Pate appropriately, but I just didn’t start looking early enough for the perfect BOY red, white, and blue outfit!

 

Pate having some parade candy and waiving at the people

Insomnia??

I need HELP.  My always slept beautifully little girl has taken a 180.  She gets into bed and PLAYS for at least 2 hours.  Now, mind you, we have tried to both give and take away books.  Same thing with lovies.  We give her music to help calm and give her a time frame.  She just CAN NOT settle down. What does one DO for hours with NOTHING in the room?  I mean, really, I do NOT get it.  

I wouldn’t be concerned except that she is TIRED….which translates into a GRUMP…which translates into grown-up GRUMP.

We’ve tried earlier bedtime and later ones.  No change.  

Someone told me to look into Melatonin.  I did some VERY preliminary research and am a bit concerned.  I didn’t find a ton of “studies,” much less those related to pediatrics.  I also read that though it is touted as “all natural” it is actually synthetic.  Dosing issues combined with times issues…I don’t know.  You guys know I rarely take ANYTHING and am hesitant to give it to Ags.

HELP!

Can I Get Another…???

So, even though we have TWO sinks and TWO stools, you KNOW the kiddos fight over them.  So this morning when Aggie had to move she said…

“Mommy, I need a new baby.”

“Like, you want Mommy to have another baby”?

“No, like I want you to take him back and get another one.”!!!

I explained to her that they do no take babies back, especially when they are almost 2 years old!

So she says……”Don’t you work there”?  I could hardly contain my laughter.

Yes, baby, I have some serious connections.  It’s the Walmart of babies.

Budding Ballerina

Aggie started ballet on Tuesday.  She was BEYOND excited and can’t wait until the next time.  The class is going to be small this summer, and will pick up in the Fall.  However, Aggie was the only one this week!  She already had her first “private.”

I didn’t stay, but got the lowdown on the first lesson.  Aggie demonstrated all her new moves.  Let’s just say that she was diggin’ the mirror.  She performed the length of the studio, but never took her eyes off of, well, HER!  Too funny.

Her instructors told me how great she did, and how polite she was AND that “I was doing a great job.”  HMMMMM maybe some of it IS sinking in!

Love you LULU!

 

Ready to go

Ballerina "do"

Summer Splash Fun

So I had heard about this little splash pad in Crowley, but had never really researched it.  So today, we struck out.  We found it after several phone calls.  Turns out the drive is only 10 or so minutes from our house and it was super cute.

We got there, got the kids dressed, got out…..and the sun ducks behind the cloud and stays that way for our WHOLE visit.  The kids played for about 30 minutes before they were shivering and ready to go, but we had FUN and need some fun friends to go with us next time!

 

by the "shark tail"

 

Pate was a bit hesitant for about 2.3 seconds!

 

Her turn the "coggles"

 

The aftermath of our mooched Cheetoh!

Pate Man

I think Pate is just as funny as Ags…..He is constantly giggling and is adding to his vocabulary by the second….thank goodness b/c his speech pathologist Mommy was about to enroll in full time therapy (i’m totally sorta kidding.)

So today before nap I say:

“I love you.”

He repeats, as is our game, but ever trying to increase his word phrases I add “Mommy.”

So he answers so very proud…

“I love you, (pause) Pate.”  giggle giggle giggle!!!

yup, really…

Aggieism

So, I think Aggie is sooooo funny.  She has been able to make me belly laugh from the first moment we met her and she continues to do so.  She just has a natural sense of funny and uses her language and body language incredibly…..maybe that means Hollywood…..hmmmmm……or just a really, really, fun person.  I’m so completely happy either way.

BUT she doesn’t always MEAN to be funny:

So I gave Aggie her corn on the cob with a bit of butter and a sprinkle of salt…

“Mommy, I did not want salt on my corn…..I do not like it.”

“I’m sorry Aggie, you are usually asking me to use it.”

“Well, I do not like it.”

“Do you want me to wipe it off?”

“No, I’ll just lick it off and then eat my corn….cause I don’t like it.”

She ate ALL of her corn and the rest of Pates’!

Funny girl!

I Told You So…

Aggie can be a bit dramatic……can’t imagine where she gets that, what with her very calm, shy parents….

We are dressed ready to go and kiddos are strapped in the carseats when I realize that I had forgotten my lunch box inside.  As I was running in, Aggie says, “Mommy, I don’t feel good……”  Now this is an often muttered phrase when she needs a little snuggle.  However, today I get back in the car and she fairly calmly points out that 1) she had thrown-up and 2) she DID tell me!

I feel like the worst parent ever about now!

We are now sitting on the couch watching movies and sipping Coke!

Fun Pictures…

I know that I haven’t blogged in a while….sure you are checking on a minute by minute basis, though…wink…wink…

We recently went to a great friend’s birthday party and another great friend took these great shots.  These are just a few, but they were all so fun!

We are taking pictures this Saturday, so be on the lookout for some fun “Spring” pictures.  Yes, I DO know it is the middle of May!

 

On Your Mark.....

 

GOOOOOOO

Cutie Pie

 

Monkey Man

At Last……..

Well, we did it.  We finally bit the bullet and cut Pate Man’s hair.  I waited until Todd was gone for a conference b/c he was just as adamant as I about NOT cutting it!  I did tell him though even though his story is different!

I took Pate to Dallas to let my stylist cut it.  I wouldn’t have trusted anyone but Tommy.  Pate did quite well.  We tried to leave the curls, but after the first cut it flipped into the most beautiful flip ever…IF he were a SHE!

So, while I mourn the curls, he DOES look pretty stinkin handsome!

 

Pre-cut with Uncle Jim

 

Last look of the curls

 

You know it's time when you need a chip clip

 

Still going

 

Finally

 

Back view

It still has a bit of funk and a bit of curl…..I’m happy!