When Smoky Sings

Anna's obsession with Smoky continues in our trip to the park.

Taste of Spring

Had to spend as much time as possible outside yesterday, enjoying the perfect weather. I have about 122 photos of Patrick not smiling and then this one... he was thrilled to discover the sand and better yet: the little pieces of shredded tire mixed in for him to chew on. Yum.

Go Pioneers!

This one proves that Megan was opening her mouth and singing. Perhaps we will bore you with a brief video later. There is one that includes Anna laughing so hard I was afraid she would pee her pants.

I call this one Megan and her blurry partner
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Megan had her 1st grade program this week and it was all about pioneers. The parents were given a letter asking for all sorts of items to use in their pioneer studies and also ways we could help with this program. I thought for sure there would be some way I could be involved but no, not one. No butter churn, no old time story telling or fiddle playing. I don't even sew and I couldn't get a sitter on the day they needed help getting ready for the show. I was lucky to get the whole family there on time-- and Megan in a dress. She did ask to wear shorts under it and I noticed the boy she fears was within arm's reach of the music teacher at all times. Apparently I will need to renew my request to keep her out of his class next year too.

Complaints from the beach

Apparently I haven't been blogging or emailing enough and certainly not around to answer the phone (like I can find it!). Sorry Mom! I didn't want to post anything until Sean got back, but he had a fun 4 days in Vegas with some friends from residency. No need to advertise to my 9 blog readers that I was home alone with the kids... and my shotgun collection and pit bulls. Then I was hesitant to mention that Sean won a poker tournament and came in 2nd in another one. I know Stephanie, you are gagging... just what you want to hear. Would it make you feel better to know that our tax bill was bigger than his winnings? Oh and we just bought a ridiculous amount of plane tickets that cost so much I decided to hold Patrick on my lap? #1 downside to living in Kansas... traveling to go see family and friends.

Other random items:

Very excited to see the stoplight going in near our house that will make leaving during "rush hour" much more pleasant. It is such a pain turning onto the FRB that I used it as a reason not to put the kids in Catholic school. Hard to compete with the convenience of the school bus. I am in love with the bus. So is Patrick and it is pretty much his only word.

Hard to believe it has been 3 years since we found out we were moving here. Almost all our friends are gone from San Antonio now too but unfortunately none of them are joining us here. I tried to convince them it is better than most locations... I have yet to hear of a place Sean wants to go that is worth the hassle of moving to (no teaching hospitals for him).

Oh and the photo shows how I clean around here. Anything that doesn't belong upstairs gets tossed over the railing. Sometimes Patrick helps with this. Anna just asked me where I put the stuffed animals that she leaves on the floor. Hmm, check downstairs... which is where she is going to start sleeping soon because she is so freaking loud at bedtime that she wakes Patrick up.

Well, now that they are asleep I can enjoy the Bachelor in peace...

Above the rules

Someone thinks that rules don't apply to him since he is the baby. A bag of cereal on the new rug in front of the TV which he isn't even supposed to watch? Why sure!

Where's Patrick?

I love the age where they think you can't see them if they can't see you.

Supposedly HUGE spoiler released tomorrow

http://realitysteve.com/
He says he is posting the whole dramatic story about the Bachelor on his website tomorrow at 8am. Gives me 10 hours to debate whether I want to ruin the surprise... Do you want to know the final score before you watch the Superbowl?

Bach Chat

First and foremost, I need therapy. No one should be so excited for Monday nights. And I shouldn't be counting down the days until the finale... and the "unusual circumstances" that mandate a more intimate "After the Final Rose". Our Host Chris Harrison, what are you doing to me?? (By the way, he has a good blog over on ew.com and the recap on there is pretty hilarious.) The promos this season have been particularly cruel... leading us on from the very first episode with clips of Deanna returning... and then making us wait 13 more days to see what she says and why she is wearing such an ugly coat. Did ABC comp her ticket to New Zealand because that definitely falls into the good investment category, if indeed she does bring the drama. Oh bring it.

Other thoughts: I loved Jillian but did not need to see her audition tape for "hot tub soft core porn". She must be mortified especially after he gives her the friend card on her way back to O Canada. Was Melissa wearing an Irish Princess dress? Does she know what her weird ponytail looks like from behind? And Jason may love Molly's eyes until he correctly identifies them as CRAZY EYES. Just because she is reserved doesn't mean she isn't hiding some crazy in there.

Bottom line: what could be so POTENTIALLY emotional and difficult that they can't include a heckling studio audience at the ATFR? And then there is another ATFR on Tuesday night? OHCH is confusing me (and if my abbreviations are confusing you, congratulations! that means you do not read all the recaps on various bachelor websites...). The only unusually circumstances I am thinking of are one of the "losers" showing up pregnant or Deanna actually getting that final rose. Well played, ABC, well played. And this is why this is the only reality TV I continue to watch. Come on Mondays!

ps Jillian is too good for Bachelorette... but Molly or Melissa are perfect... perky and looking for attention.

bachelor, anyone?

I lose track of who else is addicted to this fine fine entertainment... so pipe up if you read this so we can discuss.

Per Request

This is for Katie, the rest of you can be bored to tears. Looks better in person, nice and thick. And it's wool so when the kids puke or pee on it, nothing soaks in.

Thanks to the Presidents!

4 day weekend for us here so we are taking it easy. Sean was in Austin last weekend and this week he goes to Vegas (all for fun), so I knew Friday was the perfect day for me to take him to KC for some rug and furniture shopping. I normally don't take him shopping since he has zero interest in making those decisions (he knows he is just a "yes man") but since we have a sitter who comes on Fridays, thought we should take advantage and at least get out for a good lunch. I hadn't gone further than Topeka in over 3 months so I was due for a good outing. I did find a rug that goes better with the new painting and when Sean questioned the price I mentioned how much it was going to cost just for him to go along with his Dad on his birthday trip to Pebble Beach this fall. Plus, the poor salespeople were so desperate for a sale that if I didn't find something I was going to end up putting some lunch money in their suit jacket pockets because I felt so sorry for them. I didn't even have to do anything before the guy started offering me additional discounts too, it's just that bad out there. I guess I can't complain about Sean's excessive job security...

Yesterday we took the kids to the zoo for 15 minutes to see the baby chimp climb around. Really, that is the perfect zoo visit, short and entertaining. We do miss the San Antonio Zoo but I think half their animals are some sort of deer or antelope and let's be honest: those aren't interesting unless they are in your backyard. Then it's a novelty and you take photos for your blog. After that we went to some Freddie's Steakburger and Custard place. It is a new discovery for us but has been open since November they say. I don't normally take the FRB so far east but we will be doing that more often. Unhealthy food the whole family enjoys! Next time we will go by the smallest house in town and see if Megan is as disappointed as Anna was by it. Anna was thinking of a Polly Pocket sized house, not a real people house that happens to be really small.

Today Sean took the girls to see some Coraline movie. Anna is creeped out by it still and Megan has a headache from the 3-D glasses. I suppose I should feed them now... they are circling like vultures.

Napping Weather

Well, today is napping weather at least. Yesterday was park weather, 75 and gorgeous. The snow/slush is melting now but we will still take it easy today. Anna built a nest on the floor for Patrick this morning and then I got some shots of him during his nap yesterday (I had to wake him up for preschool pick up, may as well do it with a big flash). He is growing so fast and climbing all over. Today he climbed on the table in the laundry room and then stood up on a stool all by himself in the bedroom. Time to get rid of some furniture.... he also started pushing around this cheap Pier 1 chair I had in the living room as a temporary thing. Definitely time to replace it now that he wants to use it to scale the stair railing.

I have been expecting the terrible twos to start at 18 months like it did with the girls so this is no surprise, a month to go until it is full blown. He also loves to get into the pantry and thankfully he can't open it on his own yet but he does manage to find it open frequently (thanks Anna). He just keeps pointing at things he thinks he wants... the popcorn, the falafel mix, the world's biggest juice box (or so he thinks, it is chicken broth and one of these days I am going to find him with a big straw in it). I am currently letting him tear apart a cereal box so I can have a minute on the computer. Thank God for the laptop, it can follow him anywhere...

Safe and Sound- Welcome Home!!!

After 15 extra long months, Bridget is finally home safe and sound from Iraq. Sean missed the big homecoming ceremony but he made it in time for dinner that night. It was supposed to be a surprise but a reminder popped up on Sean's Dad's blackberry (to remind him that his oldest son was arriving in 2 hours?!) and Bridget saw that. At least I wasn't the one who ruined it as Sean thought I would when I was IMing with her during her layover in Ireland. Anyway, she is back and enjoying great food, great company, CENTRAL MARKET (do NOT forget my tortillas, Sean!!), and a real haircut. Now she needs to go buy a car and probably a lot of clothes. She is going to live with a friend who has a full load of household goods until she moves to DC this summer, after which she will have to buy some furniture of her own. A good thing she didn't have anything to spend money on the past 15 months... It sounds like she may even come visit us next weekend since it's a 4 day one. I'll have to start thinking of some fun stuff to do around here... I bet she is anxious to cook! I may have to put her right to work.

ps I think the photos are from a phone, hence the quality. I do see the good camera there so I look forward to more shots soon!

Texas Style Weather

It was less painful to stay home this weekend since we had a nice break in the temps, 70s and no wind yesterday, shocking. So we played outside of course. It is very hard to take photos when the kids are running non-stop, but I tried. Notice the frisbee in mid-air by chance in one shot. Megan was at a party elsewhere, I wasn't just neglecting her.

Best Layover Ever

I just chatted with Bridget who was enjoying half her ration of beer in Ireland before catching her next flight to the US. Yes, she is out of prison, I mean, Iraq and headed home after 15 months!!! There is going to be a lot of celebrating going on in Austin this weekend and I am so sad to miss it but will get to see her in DC next month. I'm hoping for some photo updates from the FIL when they see her and will post them if I get 'em.

Speaking of real bombs...

In Sean's quest to get medical licenses in every state he had to show up in person in Arkansas before their medical licensing board. So, he met with the man whose SUV was blown up by a bomb this morning. According to the media no one has any clue why the head of the medical licensing committee would be a target. Hmm... as Sean said, let's start with the people who have had medical licenses revoked recently... We get newsletters from a lot of these state medical boards and they all list various offenses people have done to get their licenses taken away. A lot of drugs involved...

Shook with Freedom

We are pretty sure our street takes the brunt of the bombing sounds and vibration from Ft Riley as we are up on a ridge on the southwest side. Today was a shaking day and somehow Patrick napped through it and as usual I was just happy it is practice bombing and not someone aiming at us (also happy to not be out there doing the bombing as it's chilly). A friend calls it "the sound of freedom". Anyway, I came home from an hour of shuttling kids and found this scene. It's enough to make me double secure the new painting above the fireplace. It's oil on glass which sounded cool at first but now it makes me very nervous. I was also happy to not hear this commotion, I'm wondering if Jen or Nancy heard this fall after a big boom? And do you think a more dangerous piece could have fallen off the wall?!

I don't know where

He gets his laptop obsession... I am way more happy to see that Megan has a new found interest in having her room nice and neat. I had a good long laugh when she was complaining bitterly that Anna and Patrick messed it up just 2 minutes after she cleaned it. Yes, welcome to my world. I don't think it will take much convincing to get her to move into her own bedroom downstairs at some point.

Just wait until she can babysit

But for now I am happy when she entertains him during the witching hour.