Big Night, Not A Single Picture

I'm starting to slack off in my old age. First, I thought the festivities that happened last night were actually going to be tonight...then I forgot to pack my camera when I was told it was in fact last night. Sheesh...and it's all downhill from here.

Family and another couple went on the boat yesterday afternoon. The couple has a 3 year old girl and a 7 month old boy. That little girl just stole my heart away. She acts just like Princess did when she was that little. They got along great, they played mermaids the whole time in the water. We cozied up to a little area by the dam and poor hubby worked his tiny tail off to make us lunch. For some reason he decided to cook on the land instead of leaving everything on the boat...so he went back and forth, floating our food and grill over. Weirdo. But lunch was delicious...yummy hot dogs, chips and sweet tea. Then it was time to load up and head over to where the fireworks were going to be. I always love that...relaxing, watching the children pass the time, chatting, of course enjoying a super cold corona. Then the fireworks began. I asked my husband where the air horns were so we could blow it at the ones we really liked. He said they were so expensive at wal-mart. $20 for a big one $8 a little one. Sigh...cheapo. So, whenever we saw one or two that we liked, all the kids went "honk honk" really loud. Tadpole was so tired, and his "honk" was very pitiful...but it was there, the little trooper. The display was beautiful as it always is. When it ended and most of the people in a hurry to leave dissipated, we left for home. My husband has this uncanny ability to read the way the hills slop and certain landmarks to know exactly where he is on the lake. It's really quite impressive. Not so much last night. Somewhere in all the fun he left behind that sixth sense and we got lost....really lost. Princess and the little girl were in the cabin playing, the mother was in the cabin putting the baby to sleep, both men were standing there trying to figure out where the heck we were, and I was sitting on the back, a snoozing tadpole on my lap, wrapped up in a blanket wondering if I'd ever see land again. We eventually made it out, Princess and I sprinted hand in hand to the nearest bathroom, and we all said farewell and went our separate ways. We got home around 1:30am. But the kids held up surprisingly well, I was really proud (and thankful) of them.

Tonight's festivities include a fellow on the fire department that has invited us to his land. He's invited about a hundred people. He is providing free food, free drinks, he'll have two fire trucks parked in the field for the kids to climb around on. He spent $10,000 on fireworks for us to watch. Geez...who has that kind of money?? So that should be interesting. Then tomorrow after church I plan to take the longest nap known in the history of mankind. I'm getting too old for this.

Friends & Family

Yesterday was an absolutely lovely day. My friend Sonia came over to work on Treehouse stuff, and, let's face it...gossip :) Her and her PRECIOUS 3 boys came over around 10:30am, and didn't leave until almost 6. Time FLEW by. I had so much fun brainstorming with her, giggling, snuggling with her newborn, watching the kids play together. My daughter...good grief...Sonia's middle son came in asking if she had $.50...I thought that was odd...seeing as how we don't have a vending machine in the house, but oh well. A few minutes later her older son came out asking if she had $.75...okay, now I know somethings up...and I bet it has to do with that child of mine. I turned around and sure enough, there she was standing in the hallway waiting to hear the fate of the money. I asked the boy what he needed the money for and he said, "I want to buy one of Princess' pictures". Sigh. She has an "art gallery" in her room, and often it is a traveling art show. My dad has purchased a picture or two from her, and now, so is one of her best friends. So Sonia, being the doll she is, said they could scrounge around in the car to find some. Sigh...where in the world did this little girl come from? Really? Where?

Today we went to my grandparents house and I was greeted by one lovely person after another. My sister that lives in Florida was visiting with her husband and two children. Princess was beyond excited to see her kids. It was like they had never been apart. I love that. It was great being in their presence, listening to their stories. Then my other sister arrived and we kissed the grandparents on the head (they were too tired to join us) and went to the casino next door to eat. This was my first experience going to a casino. It was...depressing! That's the only thing I can say. I stood there while we were waiting to go into the restaurant watching these people sit there with this glaze look on their faces just hitting a big red button over and over and over again. I wondered how many of them this was just their daily routine. It was still morning after all. But, then I pretty much forgot about them when I saw the mecca of food :) It was...magical. Not only magical...but CLEAN. This was hands down the cleanest buffet I've ever seen. It was really delicious, but Tadpole was really sleepy and restless so we had to leave much earlier than I would have liked. Two days filled with friends and family...life is gooooood

Ethnic Shopping

I love the local Hispanic grocery store down the road. I know in different cities in different states they have communities where they can get authentic Indian fare, Asian, or Italian. In my neck of the woods it's Hispanic. Right by our neighborhood grocery store is a Hispanic super market called, "la mora"...it is AWESOME. I don't like to go there by myself because my Spanish is horrid...however it IS better than my husbands, but after he tries to communicate how many ponds of chicken he wants I love hearing him say "oh, mas...mas...si! Gracia's"..it's hysterical...even the employees get a kick out of it. There's nothing fancy about it...in fact, it's always really cold in there and a little creepy. But all the employees are super helpful, even if they can't understand you, and very helpful. Their meat department has some of the weirdest things I've ever seen. Next time we go I"ll have to take my camera. Their produce is SO cheap...I take that back...EVERYthing is SO cheap. It's awesome. My mostest excellent scrumptious thing...is their marinated chicken. It is already sliced, marinated, mixed with peppers and onions...take that puppy home, grill it up, slap it on a flour or corn tortilla, pop open a corona with a lime slice and you're eating what feels like take out! Awesome. So...go visit your local ethnic grocery store for a change! You'll be glad you did!

The Show Must Go On

So hubby is almost completely recovered, bubby still isn't quite back to himself, but he was more himself than he has been all week (thank you LORD)...but I woke up this morning achy, tired, chest hurting...oh lovely. No time to lay in bed and feel crappy...it was baby bear's birthday! So we three slugs got around, made some breakfast and played with toys. Then my mommy came over, we had a superior lunch thanks to kabob making extraordinaire husband, then it was time for cake. He basically could have cared less...I think the candle kind of scared him. He still isn't that interested in the cake. Maybe tomorrow. THEN it was time for the grand finale...the truck. He got a Chevrolet silverado pick up. He loved it!!! It took him a little bit, but he finally figured out how to push the "gas" pedal with his feet. He still doesn't have the concept of steering...he crashes into the fence, then we back him up, turn him around, and he crashes into the other side. His sister, who was with her dad, walked down to our house to wish her bubby a happy birthday. I told her I wanted her to drive his truck to show him how to do it. She got in and drove him around the backyard in a circle for about 20 minutes. She loved it, it almost lulled him to sleep. So, even though we were all dragging in various stages of dragdom, it was a great day, a great day to celebrate a great little guy.

Happy Birthday My Cheeky Little Monkey

I love you son. I can't believe we've only known each other for 2 years. Time goes in circles. I can't believe you're already two, I can't fathom a life without you in it. You and your sister are my greatest accomplishments. What a privilege to be your mommy, what a joy to watch you grow. I love you sweet son. Happy birthday!!!!

Verdict Is In

It's bronchitis :( I begged...seriously...short of dropping to my knees, begged to give him a shot so I wouldn't have to give him medicine. She considered it, but then decided against it...sigh. It was awful...just like I knew it would be trying to hold him down and give him 2 different kinds of iffy smelling medicine. After that we just both laid down and cried each other to sleep. Praying tomorrow is better! Daddy picked up a really awesome Chevy Silverado powerwheels truck for tadpole's birthday...i hope he's better by his birthday Sunday. I can't wait to watch him drive it!!!

Lives On Hold

Nobody in this house has slept all week. I feel like those zombies they have in the movies. I thought the boy for sure would be better by today. In fact, there are moments throughout each day we see a glimmer of the regular boy...but it is soon replaced by non stop crying and the need to be held by NO ONE else but mommy. I can't leave his sight. If he falls asleep and I sneak out, within 10 minutes he is up crying looking for me. He goes to the bathroom with me. Yeah, I admit I just had a minor breakdown while trying to navigate through the kitchen to make breakfast, and most importantly COFFEE. My SWEET, WONDERFUL mommy came over yesterday to help out. She must have sensed my desperation via e-mail :) It gave me a chance to sneak out of the house with Princess and go to wal-greens to get provisions. Even though that was the only place we went...it was SO nice to get out of the house for a glimmer. I sat in the car and took a looooong sigh. Husband was nice enough to sleep with him, but I was awake laying there listening to them wrestle the night away. We did find some fever suppositories yesterday at the drug store...I didn't even know those things existed!!! It was magical. Who knew finding something to stick up a tiny hiny would make me jump for joy, but it did!!! It reduced his fever, but he's still miserable, EVERYbody is miserable. We called to make an appt. with his pediatrician, but found out that he moved to Tulsa!!! Again...a good cry. This is doctor number two this year that has moved :( So, new doctor that I already don't like as much as Dr. James at 10. Maybe he can prescribe us all some sleeping pills? Yes? Maybe?