Monday, March 28, 2011

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 :)

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