My Dad's birthday

Tuesday the 28th would have been my dad's 68th birthday. I didn't realize how young he actually was to have passed away almost 6 years ago. But there were so many times that he'd been in and out of hospitals due to diabetes complications and we all wondered how long he'd last. Even after several amputations he went back to work. I remember when he first had his toes amputated he said he sometimes felt 'phantom pains' like they were still there. I remember when he had his leg amputated and woke up from the surgery pissed...a few times, re-realizing he lost his leg and yelling at my mom for letting them lol. He always adapted and even used a prosthetic for a while, although it did result in a car accident--not fatal and no big injuries.  He spontaneously bought a scooter at the AV mall and would ride it around the dirt roads we lived on. It was cute. He'd smoke his swisher sweets and cross his stub over his other leg. He was even able to make our back porch enclosed--just he and my brothers. (this was after I moved to NY) He often made light of his stub (his leg was amputated just below the knee).--and to John's delight, he called it his 'summer sausage.' :) I miss him a lot. Things would be so different if he were still alive. It would have been so adorable to see Lucas and Olivia play with Grandpa Jim.

A Walmart Confrontation...

(How could you not love these two?)

Last night after John got off work we went to do our weekly grocery shopping at Walmart in Kemah. We rotate between Target, Walmart, H-E-B, Kroger, and sometimes Sam's Club (mainly for diapers and meats) and I am compiling a comprehensive price comparison chart but temporary sales always screw me up and there's always a few things that are great prices at each place, or our preferred brands from various places, so we'll have to see if I can figure out the best deals.

  Anyway back to the story at hand. I was hurrying so we could have dinner and John could have a little time to spend with the babies before bed. We were almost done so I let Olivia and Lucas out of the cart to walk with daddy while I picked out some produce. Olivia squealed with delight to be out of the basket and playing with her brother. NOT crying at all, just a little excited squeal. All of the sudden this butch lady about 5 feet away from us starts talking loudly on her stupid cell phone saying,

"Who's squealing!? ugh. some kids are screaming and apparently their parents don't care."

 I was going to let that slide. BUT she continued bitching about my kids and my parenting to whatever loser was on the other line eagerly listening to her walmart happenings. Mind you talking loud enough for many other people and employees in the wide open produce section, indirectly calling us 'rude.'

I lost it a bit, but I am glad I didn't say anything hateful as I was in the mindset to.

I just said loudly,

 "Yeah, it's not AT ALL rude to have an annoying loud conversation on your cell phone, like everyone cares to hear you."

To which she turned around mullet and all and predictably said "excuse me?"

Lol. It's on. I said, "Oh no! excuse ME! It's not rude for you to talk as loudly as you can so everyone can hear you. YOU'RE an adult---these are babies! They are going to make noise! What would you have me do!?"
She said in her hick tone: "DISSAPLIN THEYM!"

"WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO SPANK THEM RIGHT HERE IN FRONT OF YOU? THEY'RE BABIES AND THEY WEREN'T EVEN CRYING! ......"

LADY YOU'RE IN WALMART NOT WIMBLEDON!

ugh...then John stepped in and said something about the couple in Corpus Christi who were just arrested for spanking their 2 yr old...she just walked away still talking on her phone about us not disciplining our 1 and 2 yr olds.

Some lady came over and told us not to feel bad her kids are the same way, and some employee asked me if we were alright. lol. It's always been annoying to me, when people cannot be without their phone, or not having an utterly useless cell phone conversation in public to bore everyone around them. And I guess she just thought I wouldn't say anything as she continually and loudly and indirectly scolded me because she had nothing else to talk about at that moment. I remember seeing Olivia and Lucas standing there confused, holding daddy's hands quietly and wondering what this interaction (argument) was. Which is why I am glad it didn't get out of hand, and that I didn't attack her personally (although she made it soooo easy to).  John laughed and applauded me as we left. I am not always confrontational and John never is, but I try to pick my battles carefully and the fact that this lady couldn't deal with a 1 and 2 yr old squealing in walmart, just sparked my "mama grizzly" instinct..well, maybe that metaphor wasn't necessary lol. I just felt I needed to let her know she needs to mind her own manners. It also felt nice to feel united with my husband, however dumb an issue. :)

Morning Walk & Lunch by the Pool

Today we went for a morning walk at another park close by that we've never been to. It had a trail parallel to the road, and a fishing area. I was able to fit the wagon in the trunk so we had a nice trip, although it was very hot and humid...about 93 degrees so we only went about a mile. Once Olivia's face got real red I decided to pack it up and go home. We will have to go earlier next time when it's not that hot. I gave them lots of fluids and they tried apricot for the first time--and loved it.
The trail had these little workout stations--I thought it was funny that they had a cartoon of an older, fatter woman doing the exercises. You rarely see that! i tried some of them which entertained the babies but the seats were hot!

Lucas reading about fishes in this area.

Taking a break, and a drink.

Then when we got home, I said "naptime!" and it was the first time, they both hurried into their beds for a nap! Guess that tired them out!

  Then when they woke up we went for a swim and had lunch.

 Here's a cute video of them. Lucas counts for me, and Olivia sings and tells me she farted:

Kemah Fireworks

Kemah has fireworks every Friday night, but I only go to Kemah during the weekdays because the parking is free and it doesn't get ridiculously crowded...but I did really want to take them to see fireworks. So when our neighbors Tina & Karl invited us I decided we'd do it! John came home from work too tired so he ate dinner and went to sleep. It was hot and humid and crowded but we finagled (?) our way into free parking....and got to see the fireworks over the water--and there were lots of little boats out there too. Karl had Lucas on his shoulders most of the time--you can see Lucas enjoyed that--even threw his hands out like he was controlling the fireworks--so cute! Here they are enjoying everything, including some of Tina's turkey leg (yum!) and dancing to Cee-Lo's "Forget You". Thanks Tina & Karl!

Lucas had a great time with Karl---he just was really sleepy right here..about to fall asleep on his shoulders...it was getting pretty late :)

Twas Bound to Happen...

We are potty training the babies...sort of. Lucas pretty much goes pee on his potty when we ask him, not sure if he knows to tell us when he needs to. As far as poop, well not-a-one yet. I noticed that when we came in from swimming, Olivia would always come in and pee on the floor so I put her on the froggy potty and she went pee! That was the only time though. She won't sit still on it long enough even when it's right in the living room lol. So I put her on it yesterday morning. I am cutting strawberries for a smoothie and they both come in to eagerly wait for me to turn the blender on...and I smell it...hmm these strawberries don't smell good....next even stronger whiff...okay, who pooped!? I turn around and see this:

 Here's Olivia admiring her trick:

She laughed and pointed..I'm not sure she knew it came from her ! Thank God none of us stepped in it...UGH! Can't wait to be done with diapers..I just realized that I have changed at least 3 diapers a day for the past 2.5 years...

Lazy Day

What other kind of day is there?

I swear I could make a collage of all the pictures of John sleeping on the couch over the years....lol

And this is what I came into see the next morning...Guess his huge pillowtop Queen size mattress wasn't doing it for him...

Olivia's Twin-Cousin

I sent this in an email, but it's so cool I had to post it here too! Lucas woke up from his nap a little crabby, so I decided to get some old pictures out to share with him. He was very interested in them and although he seemed to recognize me or daddy or susan etc, his face was a little confused at how different we have looked over the years and as kids. Anyway, I got to this picture of me and this adorable little baby girl....at first sight, I thought it was Olivia...then I realized it was taken 7 yrs ago in 2004! It was just after John and I married, and his brother Kevin and his kids were visiting. This little girl is my niece Chae-leigh, who on my birthday, will be 9 yrs old this year :)

Olivia actually resembles Chae-leigh more than she does me or John! Those are some cute cousins huh!?
Here is our re-inactment from today--7 yrs and a few pounds later:

Rock the Dock

Took the babies to the Kemah Boardwalk where on thursdays they have local bands entertain for free. It was pretty hot, so it was nice that the concert was at the water play area. Olivia was pretty shy around all those people so she preferred to stay in the stroller--which was good because it would've been impossible to keep my eye closely on both of them in all those people. Lucas loved dancing for everyone and running around in the water. It's so funny when they dance holding their bellies and shaking their butts lol...if anyone needs to hold their belly when they dance, it's me!
   There was also a very talented juggler with flaming hula hoops and torches and balancing acts---in that heat especially, i dont know how he did it!

And these are the babies new bathing suits--they love them!

Lucas Remembers Animals

He found this book after not seeing it for a while and surprised me with how much he remembered---he isn't pronouncing things very clearly yet but has been improving everyday!

Black Hole Sun

"Black Hole Sun" was one of the best videos of the 90s---and my babies like it too! This was their first time watching it (it has since become a favorite). It was so interesting to watch their reactions--especially since Olivia NEVER sits through and watches anything longer than a few seconds. It's especially fun to watch Lucas as his facial expressions indicate that he is figuring out that it's a little creepy! Olivia likes to bang her head to it too :)

Swimming

We have been swimming so much lately since it's been hot and the pool is so nice and close and FREE lol. The babies love it--and so do I...John has to be bribed still :) Lucas is doing very well on his own with his vest and arm floats. Even kicks his feet to swim sorta. One of the reasons its nice to rent an apartment. Lucas has even gone under a few times but I don't think he knows to hold his breath yet.

Daddy got a wierd funny sunburn...last weekend he went fishing with a co-worker (who he also worked with in the Navy) and they went around Galveston. His friend had all the equipment so John learned how to do everything and they fished with store-bought bait, shrimp as bait, and caught small fish as bait but didn't get anything big enough to take home. John also caught a blue crab! (No pics since I didn't go..maybe next time he'll bring the camera)

 Here's some video of them swimming and jumping :

And I just thought this was cute because we told her to wash the baby and she grabbed the washcloth and did it! She is learning too fast :)

 

I love the 90's

Them Are Cheap

Every time John has his long weekends, we find fun cheap stuff to do with the babies. Last weekend we went to the dollar theater and saw "Rango" which Lucas sat and watched intently from start to finish. Olivia slept a little and then munched on snacks going from the stroller to John and back to me throughout the movie. This weekend we watched "Mars Needs Moms" which is a book I used to read to Lucas when he was a little baby. :) Lucas watched excitedly from beginning to end again, while Olivia wandered around a little and ate EVERY snack we brought. The movie was actually really good and had a good message. It was pretty funny. They made Seth Green's voice higher for his kid part, and they showed in the end how they animated the characters around the true actors features/movements.

   And then we went to this "Rainforest Pet shop" to look at all the pets. Didn't get any pics because it was a very small place and I had to keep Olivia from getting inside all the cages/aquariums! But they liked the prairie dogs, bunnies, snakes and of course the fishies. Actually Olivia like the birds--so did I. Then we took them to this other Challenger Park (everything is NASA out here) and it was fun, but even with the canopies they have over their playgrounds, it was way too hot.

 Olivia with a new friend :)

 Lucas proud of himself for climbing this--pretty strong!

 Lucas predictably angry that we had to leave the park...

   We went home took naps and then swam in the pool. Lucas is doing pretty well in the pool with his lifevest and arm floats---I can let him be on his own a bit and he moves around as he pleases. Olivia likes relaxing in her ring, but eventually wants to get out and swim on her own which she doesnt understand she can't do yet...she leaned forward a little too much in her ring and got some water in her nose and screamed. So glad we have a pool on these hot days though. I know it's not nearly as humid as it will be, but in the 100's is too hot anyway. It sucks to feel trapped in doors for most of the day, and the car takes so long to cool off! Ahhh...and it's only JUNE!