Brian's back for a Happy Birthday

In the 7 and a half years that Brian and I have been married, the longest period of time we've spent apart is 2 nights.  Yea, you read that right - 2 nights.  My friends can't believe it and some even laugh at me.  We've been very blessed that Brian's job just doesn't take him out of town all that often.  And since we've had the kids his guy weekends are just that - only a night or two away for the weekend.  And that rarely happens.  Oh man, did I just put that in writing? It's okay, he doesn't read the blog anyway :)

Anyhow, this past week Brian had a trial in Henderson, TX - roughly 4 hours northeast of here.  He left Sunday morning and came home late Wednesday night.  We have now doubled our longest time away.  And yea, I know that's still not that long but we REALLY missed him.  He was working or in court from before dawn til after dusk and the cell phone reception in the hotel was crummy.  So we barely spoke, or even texted.  That was the hard part.  The kids were wonderful, I kept them busy.  They stayed mostly out of trouble and slept well for me.  I just really missed talking with my husband. 

He came home just in time to celebrate his birthday.  And we definitely had a great weekend and celebrated his birthday the way he wanted too.  While he was gone he was talking to Carter on the phone one morning and I could only hear Carter's side of the conversation.  Here's how I assume the conversation went on Brian's side.

Carter - "I'm going to make a cake for you for your birthday"
Brian - "Can we put candles on it?"
Carter - "How many candles do we put on it?"
Brian - "Well I'm going to be 42"
Carter - "But Daddy, there's not enough room for 42 candles"

He wasn't being silly or sarcastic like I would have been.  He was generally concerned there wouldn't be enough room.  I laughed all day about that.

I spent the Thursday chasing down a good deal at Best Buy for a new HDTV for our bedroom as part of Brian's birthday present.  I had to go to the Woodlands to get it.  I did save more than I spent on gas, so it was worth it.  I told the kids I'd take them to the mall to play and ride the carousel.  Well the play area was being cleaned so we rode the carousel instead.  It was a boondoggle to say the least.  I get up to the carousel thinking I had cash to buy tokens, I didn't.  So I go to the ATM right there and get $20 cash plus a $3 fee.  But it didn't dispense my money or print a receipt.  So I did it again and made sure to press "Give a Receipt."  So another $20 request plus ANOTHER $3 fee and I realize, it doesn't spit out your money like the one I'm used too.  You have to open a door and get it.  Great. I just spent $6 and we haven't even bought tokens yet (which are only $1 a piece).  SO - then I get to the token machine and it says it only takes credit cards, no cash (which is the opposite of the one at Memorial City that we usually go to).  Just my luck.  All that ATM nonsense for nothing. 

Here are the kids riding the (essentially) $8 carousel. 

On Friday Brian took the much deserved day off and shot his new gun at the shooting range.  Then came home for lunch and headed back out and went disc golfing with some friends.  Then Mom, Dad, the boys and I met him at Pappasitto's for some yummy mexican food - Brian's favorite.

Here are the boys showing him the superhero card that sings that Carter picked out for Brian.  Carter still doesn't understand you're supposed to get a card the RECIPIENT would like, not necessarily what YOU would like. 

And this is of the boys making yellow cupcakes with chocolate icing, Daddy's favorite. 

Carter's new favorite game is a "show me your silly face."  He and Brian were goofing off at dinner.

And Cole was eating some quesadillas while Grandpa held the iPhone for him to watch a show.  Those phones are a saving grace for a decent meal out to eat.  It keeps the boys quiet and entertained. 

On Saturday we did some yard work and I spent the rest of the morning on the hunt for the larger plastic pool with the slide like we had last year.  Two Walmarts and one Academy later, I settled for the smaller one with the slide.  I didn't think there was going to be that big of a difference.  Uh, yea, there was.  The slide kept collapsing and the boys could barely fit there hips down it.  So we improvised.  Here's a video of the boys playing.



Mom and Dad came over Saturday night after  to watch the boys so Brian and I could have a date night.  But we were all so tired that we cut it a little short and went up to Buffalo Wild Wings for some basketball, wings and beer.  I actually ordered an O'Douls non-alchoholic beer.  Do you want to know what tastes worse than Miller Lite?  This would be it.  Horrible.  Horrible.  Horrible.  It was like watered down Miller Lite.  Waste of $4.  And I won't be doing that.  I'll just wait another 20 weeks and get a real one!

Part of Brian's birthday wish was to go to the beach sometime that weekend.  So we got up and left by 8 on Sunday morning and headed to Galveston.  The kids love it and Brian even more so.  I don't like getting in the water, I'm too afraid of fish and sharks.  Particularly at Galveston because you can't see your feet.  But we brought a bunch of sand toys, Monster Jam trucks and other things to keep us busy on shore.  Brian and Carter headed out to jump in the waves and Cole and I walked the beach. 

We weren't there but maybe an hour when we all took a walk and spotted several jellyfish washed on shore.  It must have been high tide or something because it brought in lots of seaweed as well.  While we were walking a bigger than usual wave came in and washed a jellyfish right on Cole's foot that got stuck on him because he was standing in seaweed.  It stung him pretty bad on his foot.  I've never heard him cry and grunt like that.  I carried him and ran up to the Lifeguard station only to find no one there (we were at Stewart Beach which was a manned public beach park).  I banged and banged and couldn't get anyone.  20ish minutes later I finally found someone to help.  He sprayed some vinegar on it to neutralize the sting and said he should be better in 30 minutes but not to get any sand on it.  Uh, kinda hard to do at a beach.  So we packed up and came home.  He was better after sleeping the whole way home and today only has what looks like a rash on his foot, but it isn't bothering him. 

We just spent the rest of the afternoon playing in our makeshift water slide and pool.  And Carter convinced Brian and I to fix the hole in the Slip 'N Slide and they played in it.  Although the don't understand the concept of running then sliding.  So it became a "Shove 'N Slide" with Brian shoving the kids down the plastic.  They loved it.  Though Brian might be sore today :)

We don't need a holiday to celebrate and have fun

We always seem to be having a great time in our house.  We don't always need holidays, parties and special things to have a celebration.  Sometimes it's the every day, what some would call "mundane" things we do that can be lots of fun. 

Case in point - a library trip.  The weather has been so great around here that I've been taking them outside or to the park instead of the library.  But last week during Spring Break we had a thunderstorm kinda day that just screamed "Go to the library" and we did.  Once the rain had passed (or so I thought), we headed out.  The Cy-Fair college library got new kid computers with touch screens.  Cole was so excited that he could play now too; Carter loves to play on their computers and Cole just has to watch.  Not anymore!

I think the checkout terminal is now Carter's favorite part.  He's a master at that thing.  He knows what buttons to push, where to place the book, and how to scan the bar code. 

The rain did come back.  Just as we were walking to the car, a deluge of rain poured on is.  The kids thought it was hilarious.  Me, not so much.  It's not easy buckling two kids into car seats, plus a stroller and 40 pounds of library books.  I was drenched.  My socks and bra were wet - absolutely ridiculous. 

This was at lunch afterwards, he was trying to put his crayon behind his ear like my Dad does but it wouldn't stick.  So he thought he'd just stick it in his teeth.

I hesitated putting this picture on the blog, but I blacked out the private portions.  The boys were laying down in the bath tub as is shown, and it looked so posed - which it wasn't. So I had to snap a shot.  They look so tall.  Or maybe we just need a bigger bath tub!  I can't imagine what we'll do when we have three!

Speaking of the third.  This poor little thing barely gets mentioned.  I sure hope that isn't going to be the case when he/she is born!  Our ultrasound is on April 5th (Mom's birthday), and we're hoping to find out the gender.  Part of me would like to keep it secret, but Carter is insisting I give him a baby sister.  Specificly, a "teeny tiny baby sister."  So I need to know ahead of time to prepare him in case it's a boy.  I probably need to prepare ALOT of people in case it's a boy :)

Here's a photo of Carter showing off his Lego zoo he made with Sissy when she was in town a few weeks ago.  She refused to be in the shot - but I promise her creativity was at hand.

And lastly, our neighbor Johnny is starting up his own photography business and took a few pictures of the boys.  It was in December, hence the brown grass and dead flowers,  and I wasn't even home.  The kids were playing in the backyard with Brian and Johnny peeked over the fence and asked if he could snap a few shots of the boys.  Their hair wasn't combed and the weren't "dressed up" but they are still the cutest little boys ever.  He gave me a copy of the few good ones he got ... finally :) 



Spring Has Sprung

It's officially Spring, but those of us in Houston have known that for awhile.  My yard is loving this weather, as are the boys.  We've been taking advantage of cool breezes and tons of sunshine.  We may be in a drought but I'd rather water my lawn every day then be cooped up in this house during a thunderstorm.  Besides, the boys are great sprinklers.  The have hose fights, water gun wars and I'm hoping to make it to Walmart in Dad's Suburban some time this week to get our yearly big plastic pool. 

At the park - Cole can now climb up this curve ladder. Carter used to drive me crazy because he'd run over to it and start climbing on it and show it to Cole, knowing full well he couldn't do it himself.  Therefore, making me get off the park bench and help him do it.  We've now hit that stage where I can sit and relax in the shade while they play.  Hallelujah!

And Cole will now go down the slide on his bottom, not his tummy. 

Carter's new addiction is Monster Trucks.  Brian took him to the Monster Truck show back in February when it came to Reliant Stadium.  Ever since, he loves watching the TV show on the Speed Channel and he's trying to collect all the different trucks.  Fortunately he had a pretty good start that he didn't even know about from a birthday present a few years ago.  We take them everywhere.  Here he is at the park.

And of course Cole needs in on the action.

Carter also likes to line up all his Matchbox cars and run over them with his trucks like they do on TV

During Spring Break we had the opportunity to visit with some friends we don't normally get to have play dates with anymore due to school conflicts.  We went out to Joanna's house, were fun is always around.

Here they are playing with the Barbie Jeep. 

I need one of these, this way Cole won't have to actually learn how to pedal :)

We all took a walk down to the pond where they threw a bunch of rocks in.  Throwing (anything) is Cole's favorite thing to do.

And a visit to Rancho Alvarado wouldn't be right without visiting the horses, and Fudge, their miniature pony.

Another outside activity we love besides water hoses and squirt guns are bubbles.  They love bubbles.  Companies now make these automatic ones were you just push a button instead of actually blowing so Cole has a great time.  Check out his tongue, he always sticks his tongue out.

I call this one "Bubble Head"

Another outdoor activity we seem to do alot of around here is soccer.  Carter is playing for the Y again this season, and he's four now so they have a practice during the middle of the week, so at least two days a week we are playing soccer - not to mention in the evenings in our backyard.  Here he is in his uniform at a game.

He loves to play goalie.  But lately it seems whenever it's his turn, the other team never has any shots on goal, so he gets a little bored ...

Brian normally takes Carter to practice and I stay home with Cole. Otherwise, we're chasing Cole around the soccer field. He really wants to play with the big boys.  You got another year kiddo, sorry :)  If we all go, Brian will play with Cole.  Now that it's Daylight Savings, it's a little easier to watch him.

And what would Houston in the springtime be without some outdoor lunches.  Cole and I went to Pei Wei together last week, just the two of us.  He loves Chinese food, as did the birds who cleaned up the rice mess on the patio ...

"I want to ride a buffalo"

It's Rodeo time in Houston.  Has been all month actually and we've been celebrating it . Carter's school does a Rodeo Day where they transform the gym into a rodeo.  I didn't take pictures this year of the gym, but here are a few pics from last year to give you an idea of what they do.

Pretend Cow Milking

Chuck Wagon Races

Gold Mining

Here are Carter and Cole before Carter left for school dressed in his cowboy attire.

My friend Kelly had last minute free tickets to the Rodeo one night to see Sugarland.  And while I'm not a huge fan of country music, I love free tickets :)  She took her four year old, Grant.  And I took Carter.  We decided they'd make better dates than our rock loving husbands.

Here are the boys looking out of the huge Ferris Wheel. 

And me with them and their huge sausage on a sticks.

Since it was a last minute trip we didn't have time to do much and I knew Cole would love to go - so we needed to go again.  Plus, Carter was SO disappointed that he couldn't ride a buffalo.  He meant "bull" but still keeps calling it a buffalo.   So Mom and I took the boys to the Livestock Show and Carnival.  I knew Cole would enjoy it, but he had more fun than Carter - if that's possible.

Here they are camel riding.  I thought Cole would be timid - not at all!

Playing with a kangaroo in the petting zoo.  That thing just kept hopping away from them and they loved it.

The baby goats were adorable.  They were so tiny.

And instead of petting the animals, Cole liked putting mulch on them.  Silly kid.

The Birthing Center was Mom and my favorite.  There were cows that just gave birth the day before, one that was due any minute, and several that were a couple days old.  They also had sheep and pigs.  Carter liked watching all the pigs fight and squirm to eat.

They had a worm digging station and many other neat things that the kids enjoyed.  Carter held up his worm for a while and when I finally got the camera out, I guess it squirmed and he freaked and dropped it.  Hey, I wouldn't have even touched it - so that's saying something.

They had a mattress exhibit, kinda weird - but I really liked checking out the Tempurpedic too.

 And a rodeo/livestock show trip would not be complete without

The battery on my camera died, so I resorted to my iPhone for a few last shots of them.  Cole absolutely loved all the carnival rides, he was just tall enough to ride them without me (thankfully since I'm pregnant :) ) 

And his second favorite thing was milking the pretend cow.