"The day after this day I will be a good listener." Ava Martinez
After waking up so early that it doesn't qualify as morning and refusing to stay in her bed or go back to sleep with an accompaniment of shrieking.
Good Morning indeed
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Ava translated
Carnivore - The place you go to ride rides and eat cotton candy. Otherwise known as carnival. "Mom are we going to go back to the carnivore this weekend?"
Fur - The stuff in her orange juice that she was horrified to find and blamed me for this afternoon. Otherwise known as pulp "Mom why did you put fur in my juice?"
Fur - The stuff in her orange juice that she was horrified to find and blamed me for this afternoon. Otherwise known as pulp "Mom why did you put fur in my juice?"
Saturday, March 21, 2009
The Debut
Alex really enjoyed spending his Spring Break at camp at Zach Scott. He was really proud of himself with good cause. He practiced his lines and really cared about being funny and doing a good job. So without further ado...here is Alex in his stage debut...
I give you Attack of the Hula Girls?
Don't forget to scroll to the bottom and turn off the music before hitting play
Alex first appears at 5:30
I give you Attack of the Hula Girls?
Don't forget to scroll to the bottom and turn off the music before hitting play
Alex first appears at 5:30
Bald is Beautiful
Today was the day for Eddie to participate in the St. Baldrick's head shaving fundraiser. He left this morning looking like this
and it wasn't too long before Ava was inspecting the job they had done
They guys were great sports and are truly bald and beautiful if nothing else for raising more than $9,000 for children's cancer research.
And here is my bodacious beautifully bold husband in all of his bald glory (2nd from the right)
Thank you all for your support and good wishes. Maybe I will sign up next year...
and it wasn't too long before Ava was inspecting the job they had done
They guys were great sports and are truly bald and beautiful if nothing else for raising more than $9,000 for children's cancer research.
And here is my bodacious beautifully bold husband in all of his bald glory (2nd from the right)
Thank you all for your support and good wishes. Maybe I will sign up next year...
Hair Experiment
Until a few weeks ago I had been letting Alex's hair grow out. Boy child has some awesome hair that has a mind of its own and I figured it was as good a time as any to see if he liked it cut nice and short like Daddy or a little on the longer side.
We were sitting in a cafe and I was running my fingers through it absentmindedly while we talked and when I looked over at him his hair had taken on a life of its own.
When we got home he took a pair of scissors to it himself requring corrective action. I am guessing he is opting for the shorter version of things, but I think he may change his mind again someday.
We were sitting in a cafe and I was running my fingers through it absentmindedly while we talked and when I looked over at him his hair had taken on a life of its own.
When we got home he took a pair of scissors to it himself requring corrective action. I am guessing he is opting for the shorter version of things, but I think he may change his mind again someday.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Who loves the dentist? Me me me me!
I live in the nether regions of South Austin. So far South that to "cross the river" is usually a day trip. I like it here. As our bumper stickers say
"South Austin...we're all here 'cause we're not all there"
Feel free to come visit.
For those of you not from around here schleping to Cedar Park from South Austin is the equivalent of a full day excursion. Okay maybe not for everyone, but definately for me. We usually pack a picnic and everything. Why you might ask do I have a dentist in Cedar Park. The one place so far away that Eddie refuses to take the kids. Well the answer is easy
The Doctors Hoppe
The Doctors Hoppe are awesome. Kid you not angels singing awesome. Jennifer treats the kids, Chris takes care of the grownups. In a past life I worked with Carla (the guru of all things dental) and Chris so when the time came for me and my little tax deductions to see a dentist after I left the comforts of working with a gaggle of them I schleped to Cedar Park.
I swear it is like Cheers for me. I walk in, they know my name, they like my kids, we have some witty conversation, they take good care of us, the insurance pays for it and I get a new toothbrush (Okay maybe the last part isn't like Cheers, but you know what I mean). Seriously what more could you ask for.
That was a rhetorical question because yesterday I figured out what more.
I packed a picnic and the kids and we began the drive. Everyone happy as Alex read to us. I think there might have even been some birds chirping, but I digress. We arrived and the kids promptly began playing in the waiting room aka kid heaven. The time came and we all shuttled to the back to get checked out. Ava, who has of late been trying to convince me she is shy, climbed right up into the chair brave as can be and marveled at the suction straw and its magic spit sucking abilities. Alex was due for x-rays so I peeked in on him as they went through the process and then we all gathered at his chairside while he got his teeth cleaned. I prattled on with my questions about his grinding habits and when we would need to start seeing the orthodontist and when we were done with all of my questions Dr. Jennifer broke the news...Alex has two cavities that need to be filled. *sigh* I knew this day would come and it looks like his propensity for cavities is one of the less desireable traits I passed on to my lovely son. Dr. Jennifer pities the distance I travel to see her and agrees to fill then while we are there and save me a return trip.
Alex is a funny kid and if you are a fan of his humor then I highly recommend seeing the show while he is breathing nitrous oxide. Let it suffice to say there was much snorting and fart noises to be had.
They were mid way through the numbing injections when Alex forgot to breathe through his nose (where the nitrous is) and promptly began to freak out. He was crying and holding my hand while Dr. Jennifer and her assistant talked to him gently and wiped his tears. I kid you not, she wiped his tears all the while reminding him to "breathe through your nose".
When the shots were all done we kicked back while he numbed up and then they got started. This time he remembered to breathe through his nose and I think he actually dozed off for a few minutes.
(Crappy cell phone picture of Alex getting his first filling)
Fillings complete. No more sugar bugs camping in his mouth. We took their tent down and threw it in the trash.
And to top it off somewhere in there I got my teeth cleaned too.
Alex is feeling great this morning and was uber diligent about brushing and flossing. I can't decide if he just listend to the lesson about brushing all sides of his teeth or if he just doesn't want any more fillings. Either way I am happy with the result and happy to drive back to Cedar Park...in another 6 months.
What more could you want in a dentist than someone who can shoot your kid up with drugs, wipe his tears, use a drill on his teeth and still have him coming back for more. All the while knowing she really hopes she never has to use the drill on him again. Just reminding him to brush and floss a little better will work just fine.
Oh, maybe I could ask for a beer. It is my Cheers after all.
"South Austin...we're all here 'cause we're not all there"
Feel free to come visit.
For those of you not from around here schleping to Cedar Park from South Austin is the equivalent of a full day excursion. Okay maybe not for everyone, but definately for me. We usually pack a picnic and everything. Why you might ask do I have a dentist in Cedar Park. The one place so far away that Eddie refuses to take the kids. Well the answer is easy
The Doctors Hoppe
The Doctors Hoppe are awesome. Kid you not angels singing awesome. Jennifer treats the kids, Chris takes care of the grownups. In a past life I worked with Carla (the guru of all things dental) and Chris so when the time came for me and my little tax deductions to see a dentist after I left the comforts of working with a gaggle of them I schleped to Cedar Park.
I swear it is like Cheers for me. I walk in, they know my name, they like my kids, we have some witty conversation, they take good care of us, the insurance pays for it and I get a new toothbrush (Okay maybe the last part isn't like Cheers, but you know what I mean). Seriously what more could you ask for.
That was a rhetorical question because yesterday I figured out what more.
I packed a picnic and the kids and we began the drive. Everyone happy as Alex read to us. I think there might have even been some birds chirping, but I digress. We arrived and the kids promptly began playing in the waiting room aka kid heaven. The time came and we all shuttled to the back to get checked out. Ava, who has of late been trying to convince me she is shy, climbed right up into the chair brave as can be and marveled at the suction straw and its magic spit sucking abilities. Alex was due for x-rays so I peeked in on him as they went through the process and then we all gathered at his chairside while he got his teeth cleaned. I prattled on with my questions about his grinding habits and when we would need to start seeing the orthodontist and when we were done with all of my questions Dr. Jennifer broke the news...Alex has two cavities that need to be filled. *sigh* I knew this day would come and it looks like his propensity for cavities is one of the less desireable traits I passed on to my lovely son. Dr. Jennifer pities the distance I travel to see her and agrees to fill then while we are there and save me a return trip.
Alex is a funny kid and if you are a fan of his humor then I highly recommend seeing the show while he is breathing nitrous oxide. Let it suffice to say there was much snorting and fart noises to be had.
They were mid way through the numbing injections when Alex forgot to breathe through his nose (where the nitrous is) and promptly began to freak out. He was crying and holding my hand while Dr. Jennifer and her assistant talked to him gently and wiped his tears. I kid you not, she wiped his tears all the while reminding him to "breathe through your nose".
When the shots were all done we kicked back while he numbed up and then they got started. This time he remembered to breathe through his nose and I think he actually dozed off for a few minutes.
(Crappy cell phone picture of Alex getting his first filling)Fillings complete. No more sugar bugs camping in his mouth. We took their tent down and threw it in the trash.
And to top it off somewhere in there I got my teeth cleaned too.
Alex is feeling great this morning and was uber diligent about brushing and flossing. I can't decide if he just listend to the lesson about brushing all sides of his teeth or if he just doesn't want any more fillings. Either way I am happy with the result and happy to drive back to Cedar Park...in another 6 months.
What more could you want in a dentist than someone who can shoot your kid up with drugs, wipe his tears, use a drill on his teeth and still have him coming back for more. All the while knowing she really hopes she never has to use the drill on him again. Just reminding him to brush and floss a little better will work just fine.
Oh, maybe I could ask for a beer. It is my Cheers after all.
Perks & Downside
There are perks to being the Mom of a 7 year old boy.
They are generally pretty easy going and like to help around the house. This is especially true if it involves being paid in legos or hot wheels.
They are better at video games that their moms (ie me) and make great team mates for game night.
They give awesome hugs and have not yet figured out that it isn't cool to like your Mom and want to give her hugs.
As is true with all things there are also downsides. The worst of which, in my opinion, is what you find in their pockets (and therefore in the dryer on regular occassion). I don't know if this is true of all 7 year old boys, but my son has it in spades. He is a hoarder. A collector of all things his mom surely won't want to find in the dyer and a putter of those things in his pockets to be forgotten until the emerge in the lint filter or tumble around noisily until someone extracts them.
After a particularly bizarre finding that involved a ring pop I began to compile a list. Behold in all it's glory.
The list of things I have found in Alex's pockets
(not all of which were discovered before being washed and dried)
Gum
markers
pens
pencils
crayons
chocolate
hard candy
rocks ~ all sizes, all shapes (seriously I have enough of these to open my own landscaping company)
lighting balls (things that I can't even find on wikipedia, but my mother swears are what happens to the dirt where lighting hits the ground. They look a bit like a petrified seed pod)
keys
money
notes
kleenex
chapstick (most often found just after the dryer so it has had time to melt and become unusable)
transformer trading cards
gum wrappers
ring pop (only the plastic part remained)
sticks
screws
plastic orange juice seal
giant ball of wax (i kid you not it was the size of a jumbo superball)
kids dental flosser
I will continue to re-post and update the list and in the meantime let me know what your favorite perk of your kiddos is and what bizarre things you have found in their pockets.
They are generally pretty easy going and like to help around the house. This is especially true if it involves being paid in legos or hot wheels.
They are better at video games that their moms (ie me) and make great team mates for game night.
They give awesome hugs and have not yet figured out that it isn't cool to like your Mom and want to give her hugs.
As is true with all things there are also downsides. The worst of which, in my opinion, is what you find in their pockets (and therefore in the dryer on regular occassion). I don't know if this is true of all 7 year old boys, but my son has it in spades. He is a hoarder. A collector of all things his mom surely won't want to find in the dyer and a putter of those things in his pockets to be forgotten until the emerge in the lint filter or tumble around noisily until someone extracts them.
After a particularly bizarre finding that involved a ring pop I began to compile a list. Behold in all it's glory.
The list of things I have found in Alex's pockets
(not all of which were discovered before being washed and dried)
Gum
markers
pens
pencils
crayons
chocolate
hard candy
rocks ~ all sizes, all shapes (seriously I have enough of these to open my own landscaping company)
lighting balls (things that I can't even find on wikipedia, but my mother swears are what happens to the dirt where lighting hits the ground. They look a bit like a petrified seed pod)
keys
money
notes
kleenex
chapstick (most often found just after the dryer so it has had time to melt and become unusable)
transformer trading cards
gum wrappers
ring pop (only the plastic part remained)
sticks
screws
plastic orange juice seal
giant ball of wax (i kid you not it was the size of a jumbo superball)
kids dental flosser
I will continue to re-post and update the list and in the meantime let me know what your favorite perk of your kiddos is and what bizarre things you have found in their pockets.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Dallas Ho!
Alex Ava & I took off for a quick overnight to Dallas. Eddie was working out of town and it turns out that one of my favorite authors Richelle Mead was doing a book signing. Voila...Road Trip.
I got a little cocky in downtown Dallas and managed to get us lost. Eddie's brother Michael came to the rescue and met us at a gas station and we followed him in the rest of the way. He has a gorgeous house on Turtle Creek and once we got everything settled in we took a walk with Brodie (Michael's dog).
The kids got to bed and Michael and I drank a bottle of wine catching up on all the things we never get to talk about when things are rushed.
I woke up at the bottom of an Alex and Ava snuggle pile and couldn't have been happier.
Breakfast at Breadwinners was tasty and then we took a trip on the Dallas streetcars. If the driver is to be believed we were riding on the oldest operating streetcar in the US (this one had been retired from use in Portugal and San Francisco before going to Dallas). I believed him after a bump in the road jerked the frame of the entire thing and sent the windows crashing closed. Thankfully Uncle Michael had seen that one coming and closed our windows before the aforementioned bumpy stretch.
We went to the park and fed the ducks and tried to avoid the homicidal geese that were assaulting each other (just glad it wasn't us they were after).
Alex found a tree stump and pronounced it to be "the oldest tree I have ever seen, it was more than 17" as he counted the rings.
We packed up again and bid our farewells to Michael and Brodie and worked our way to the book signing. Thank you very much I didn't get lost once this time. Humility had found me after the debacle of the night before I guess.
This is the first book signing I have been to, but Richelle said this was the largest turn out for an event she was doing alone. I think the guess was around 70 people. It was wonderful to learn more about her and publishing and being a writer. She told the group about when she was a little older than Alex she would take paper and fold it, staple it and write books. Alex's eyes got as big as saucers and he leaned over and whispered to me "I write books like that too Mom." While we waited in line to get our book signed he asked if he could tell her about his books and his plan to sell them to his friends at the 2nd grade market next year. Of course he forgot once we got up there, but he did get a cool color changing pencil from her and I promised to email Richelle for him and let her know. I didn't expect the kids to have fun (and they had their moments of impatience for sure) but by the time we were heading home they were jabbering on about how much fun it had been. Yeah!
We stopped in Temple on our way home for some quesadillas with Nana & Papa George.
I was feeling particularly indulgent when I woke up this morning at 7:30 ~ woo hoo I got to sleep in. Then Eddie told me it was daylight savings. Drat. Well at least I got a full nights sleep even if I didn't really sleep in.
I got a little cocky in downtown Dallas and managed to get us lost. Eddie's brother Michael came to the rescue and met us at a gas station and we followed him in the rest of the way. He has a gorgeous house on Turtle Creek and once we got everything settled in we took a walk with Brodie (Michael's dog).
The kids got to bed and Michael and I drank a bottle of wine catching up on all the things we never get to talk about when things are rushed.
I woke up at the bottom of an Alex and Ava snuggle pile and couldn't have been happier.
Breakfast at Breadwinners was tasty and then we took a trip on the Dallas streetcars. If the driver is to be believed we were riding on the oldest operating streetcar in the US (this one had been retired from use in Portugal and San Francisco before going to Dallas). I believed him after a bump in the road jerked the frame of the entire thing and sent the windows crashing closed. Thankfully Uncle Michael had seen that one coming and closed our windows before the aforementioned bumpy stretch.
We went to the park and fed the ducks and tried to avoid the homicidal geese that were assaulting each other (just glad it wasn't us they were after).
Alex found a tree stump and pronounced it to be "the oldest tree I have ever seen, it was more than 17" as he counted the rings.
We packed up again and bid our farewells to Michael and Brodie and worked our way to the book signing. Thank you very much I didn't get lost once this time. Humility had found me after the debacle of the night before I guess.
This is the first book signing I have been to, but Richelle said this was the largest turn out for an event she was doing alone. I think the guess was around 70 people. It was wonderful to learn more about her and publishing and being a writer. She told the group about when she was a little older than Alex she would take paper and fold it, staple it and write books. Alex's eyes got as big as saucers and he leaned over and whispered to me "I write books like that too Mom." While we waited in line to get our book signed he asked if he could tell her about his books and his plan to sell them to his friends at the 2nd grade market next year. Of course he forgot once we got up there, but he did get a cool color changing pencil from her and I promised to email Richelle for him and let her know. I didn't expect the kids to have fun (and they had their moments of impatience for sure) but by the time we were heading home they were jabbering on about how much fun it had been. Yeah!
We stopped in Temple on our way home for some quesadillas with Nana & Papa George.
I was feeling particularly indulgent when I woke up this morning at 7:30 ~ woo hoo I got to sleep in. Then Eddie told me it was daylight savings. Drat. Well at least I got a full nights sleep even if I didn't really sleep in.
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