Princess Sleepover

Mom and Dad found us all sleeping peacefully tonight after I read my girls a story about Peter Pan.

Spirit Week

To celebrate the last week of summer school, before heading to big kid VPK, we had Spirit Week! My favorite was Crazy Hair Day- because we added flair with rainbow sparkly nails. Ryan skipped hair and nails to stay home for a Mommy Day since he threw up all over her the night before. Sports Day was fun, too, with my new Texas cheerleading outfit. The Co-op sent the wrong size, but we decided to keep it because my parents don't want to encourage the skimpy tight look.Now we're all ready for the Longhorn football season.
Hook 'em Horns!

Dentist

My first dentist visit was awesome. I got to wear sunglasses and headphones and watch a TV in the ceiling that played a cartoon called Tom and Jerry. Never heard of them. She said my teeth look like sparkly princess jewels. I'm teaching Ryan to be a good tooth brusher, too!

Funny Girl

We know how to have fun around here! We love Dad...And his iPad.

Bruiser

Just wanted to document 2 head traumas that Ryan acquired in one short day. The linear bruise across his left eyebrow happened when Mom bumped into him coming around a corner, sending him flying face first onto the edge of the book shelf (Mom was more devastated than him). The rug burn up his nose and forehead happened at school when he tried his first somersault. He felt much better after I patched him up with a Snow White band aid.

Just Like Mommy

The other day I decided that I want to be a doctor because they make little kids feel better. I like it when Mom tells me about her patients after work (especially the gory details about stinky throw-up or belly tubes). Luckily, Dad is a very good patient. He doesn't cry when I check his ears and give him shots. Sometimes I think I want to be a vet instead, to help dogs. Ryan hasn't committed to a career path yet, he's leaving his options open. Stand-up comedy is probably on the table, as well as anything that requires lots of talking or strong hair pulling.
I would also be a great fashion model. I'm really good at finding stylish matching clothes in Mom's closet. She said I can wear her pretty clothes when I'm bigger.

Ta-Tay

Who needs an alarm clock when you live with this little chatterbox? Ryan "talks" constantly these days, and my favorite is his version of my name- Ta-Tay: Wake Up Ta-Tay
He wakes up in the morning demanding waffles "wapa", plays with his "bawl", says "hii" to his favorite dogs "maga" and "ma-tay", picks up my purse and waves "bye bye" to us. He loves his train book "chick-a-chick-a-chick-a-chick-a-woo-woo", animal books that have monkeys "ooh-aah-aah", fish (kisses the air), and any farm animal, especially sheep "BAA!".
He is ridiculously adorable at night or naptime when he lays face down on his favorite blanket, sticks his bottom in the air, then looks up and smiles, whispering "nigh nigh". He's definitely an extrovert, curious and friendly to everyone, and only needs a minute to size people up (like our babysitter Miss Mabel) before he's ready to bring them a book or ball to play.

Anna Maria Island 3

Mom and Dad realized quickly that the definition of "vacation" changes when 2 young children are involved. Parents of said children actually come home more exhausted than when they left. The silver lining comes in the form of precious little moments, like the night Mom and I walked down to see the sunset. See the tiny orange spot in the background? That was our sunset. Booooring.... So, I chased a freaky bird down the beach. We had some good times, like our early morning walks to the pier. This week Ryan decided that 5:30am was a good time to wake us up in our shared bedroom. We were irritated at first... until he stood at the side of his pack-n-play and said "Mama?" for the first time. Thirteen months and he already knows how to melt Mom and get whatever he wants. One morning Dad waded out under the pier to cut fishing line to free a tangled pelican. It was exciting, not just for all those fishermen to see Dad's hairy chest in the sunrise, but to see that pelican turn and try to attack him!
There were some challenges through the week, like Ryan's ear infection (made him a miserably sad baby), my throwing up on the last night (cheese pizza strikes again, just like Cape Cod!), and the day Ryan tried to give Mom a stroke by running out the unlocked back door onto the second story set of ungated Stairs From Hell. Thank goodness for the laughs: the wounded soldier water bottles every morning, the haunted coffee pot, the fact that the girl (Julie!) caught all the big fish on the fishing trip, and the jigsaw puzzle. Honorable mentions: entertainment from our little ham: Ryan Can't Stop Spinning,discovering the magic of Wii: Kalyn and Kelsey Dance Party, the pirate map that lead me on a treasure hunt to little prizes, like this Merida wig,and, with a Date Night, it became a great family vacation!

Anna Maria Island 2

Mark Twain said "There ain't no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them." Lucky for us- we LOVE them! Our favorite part of the week was simply getting to hang out with some really cool people. Ryan was especially curious about this crazy bunch, it was his first chance to get to know his Boston family. It was no surprise that he fell in love with Kalyn instantly! He was generous with his attention, spending quality time discussing the finer points of the London Olympic games with Nana, espousing the benefits of footy pajamas and Stella Artois with Papa,
debating Ignatian Spirituality and kickball with Godfather Big Mike,
giggling over microwaved bean explosions and jarred pickle brands with Godmother Joy Joy ,
and marking his territory when I tried to snuggle up with Kalyn. Have I mentioned that I LOVE Kalyn?!

Anna Maria Island

Summer vacation 2012! We just spent an awesome week with my Boston family in Anna Maria Island, a quaint little paradise on the Gulf Coast.
The beach was perfect, with shallow water for 200 yards. We could wade all the way out to play along the shark feeding grounds. The whole crew enjoyed fun in the sun. I was ecstatic to be permanently attached to Kalyn while Little Man was learning how to manage the vicious waves. Dad was MVP for lugging the canopy back and forth to the beach. It was critical since the beach this time of year feels like the surface of the sun.
All ten of us were able to squeeze into the glorious 5 square feet of shade.
Mom's only regret during this trip was not being able to take her usual paparazzi style pictures. Apparently traveling with 2 kids keeps you so busy that you become a slacker in all things. The good news is that she captured Papa's new kick butt shades.
And the sweet shots of exhausted kids sleeping after a day at the beach.
Those are two salty girls on the couches, and one salty Mama on the porch.