70% Chance of Rain x 7

With a 7 day forecast of rain, eerily similar to the forecasts of the past 2 months, my friend Liz and I decided to take Grey, Hope, Holland, Faith and Xomie to the Children's Museum (the big one), because if Mama doesn't get out of the house soon she will need to be medicated. The museum is very hands-on and even if it wasn't, my children would still have their hands on the stuff. It was very busy, but they had a good time. Now I see why I have had such problems getting my mail.

Holland was naturally drawn to the shoe department of the Mexico exhibit. Her love of shoes goes deep.

I'm not sure about this particular exhibit. I believe it is some sort of cooking area. Very foreign to me and not just because it's a Mexico exhibit.

Xomie, Faith, and Holland getting some education in.

Grey talking to Hope via the video phone. This is one particular piece of technology I am in no hurry to see. Who wants to see me talking on the phone in my closet, because let's face it that's the only place you can hide from the kids and talk on the phone in relative peace...for 15 minutes anyway. And yes, I've tried the bathroom, but as any mom knows, as soon as you step foot in a bathroom, an alarm goes off in the kids' brains and they have to find you and ask you something RIGHT THEN, because they might forget in the 2 minutes before you come back out.

Holland likes to add a little drama to even the simplest tasks.

Grey discovers the importance of staying in school.

Seems like a sweet, peaceful scene, until you realize Grey is trying to devour Holland's duck with the Blue Duck of Death.

Both Grey and Holland really enjoyed painting and got along really well....possibly because they were not facing each other.

Trip To Mississippi-------Cancelled

If our plans had held we would be eating a nice plate of spaghetti in Mississippi right about now. But alas, we are not. Our trip that was supposed to include a visit to see Baby Nash, see Jennifer and Will, hit 2 Family Reunions, and even personally deliver a Happy Birthday to my sister-in-law had to be cancelled. Why, you ask? Well Holland has been sporting this rash on the tops of her feet and her knees that has progressively gotten worse. And then Grey started to get a milder version on his toes and knees. Since "rash" and "houseguest" don't mix, I figured I ought to have it checked out. The doctor didn't really give me a definitive answer. She said it could be an allergic reaction to something she has come in contact with. She asked if Holland had been running in some grass or woodsy areas. Now, if you know Holland, you know she doesn't run around in grass or woodsy areas. (Can I get a witness?) But the doctor did say it wasn't infectious which is always nice to hear. It's hard to maintain friendships when you're infectious. Anyway, we are going to keep an eye on it and hopefully it will go away on it's own.
Our second issue was that Holland's sinus/allergies are starting to give her problems. And 9 times out of 10, it turns into a sinus infection. So, the good doctor went ahead and gave us an RX to have if it turns that way. And I did notice this afternoon that her nose was getting that green, crusty look. No charge for the visual.
Now add those two problems together and you get one very CRABBY princess. I couldn't have driven 10 hours with the whining and irritability. I would have hated to call Mac and tell him to pick her up at The Cracker Barrel in Lafayette, LA because I just couldn't take it anymore. So here we are still in Texas, with a foot and knee rashed, crusty-nosed, crabby 4 year old. Consider yourself lucky, Mississippi.............

A Pearl Of Wisdom

I know I promised no pearls of wisdom. (see paragragh under "About Us".) However, I am going to make an exception today, because I figure sometimes it's better to learn from somebody else than to have to go through it yourself. Today is our AMC Summer Movie Camp. Basically the theater shows free movies on Wed. mornings all summer long. The movies are usually a year or so old, like Barnyard, Charlotte's Web, Flushed Away, etc. and the kids can get the Kid's Pack with popcorn, drink and a candy for $3.00. That makes me giddy all by itself. Ok, I'm getting off track. On to the pearl of wisdom.....

After the movie, we headed home and took the escalator down to leave the mall. Halfway down, the escalator grabbed Holland's shoe and sucked it off of her foot and down into the moving stairs. We were in the MIDDLE of the escalator. Fortunately, Holland was wearing her Crocs which have a lot of give to them. It still hurt her because it grabbed and twisted it off so fast. But she is fine. However she is none too pleased about losing her shoe, and I had a hard time telling if she was crying so hard because her foot hurt or she was so mad that the escalator took her shoe. So here's my pearl of wisdom: Have your child stand as close to the center of the stair on the escalator and still be able to hold onto the rail. And be extra, extra careful if they are wearing shoes with laces. I can't imagine what might have happened if she had had shoes with shoelaces (that I always doubleknot) on. Would her foot have gone into the stair and gotten trapped, twisted, or crushed? I didn't want to go there, but as a mom, I have to consider that possiblity. Needless to say we filed a report witht the mall and they shut down the escalator. So there's my pearl. Don't worry, I'll be back with nonsensical posts tomorrow.

ITZ Fun

As you may know, Mac travels all throughout the city for work and quite often he finds new and different places for us to check out. This week we checked out a new place called ITZ. And I have to say it was quite fun. It had some indoor rides, games, bowling, bumper cars, and all the pizza you can eat. (Oh, just check out the link.)

Our first ride was the DISCOZ. (see spinning disk in the picture on the side.) Mac and Grey got on and fastened in their seats and waited for a few others to get on, and then Grey cracked and had to get off. Mac, however, rode without him. After Mac's ride, we tried to get a credit back since Grey got off before the ride began. They couldn't accomodate our request. Since I don't like to waste credits, I rode it....ALL BY MYSELF WITH NO ONE ELSE ON THE RIDE. I am convinced that rides that spin at high rates of speed are not for people over 30, especially if that person is riding by herself. Next time, I'm just going to let that credit go, just let it go......

The kids rode this bouncing jeep. There was a lady in the jeep in front of them riding with her young daughter, and I noticed everytime she went by, she was either holding her stomach or had her hand cupped over her mouth, sure signs of someone over 30.

The kids also rode the mini roller coaster and jumping Monkey ride.

Our favorite was the Mini Bowling. My first couple of frames were dismal, but I rallied at the end to beat Grey. And I raised the roof in victory. Holland wasn't really competing with us. I'd like to think she was in competition with herself, you know, beating her personal best. It's what I like to think. And Mac? (sigh) He always beats everybody by a ridiculous amount so we don't even count him.

The Fourth of July

We enjoyed our Fourth of July. We went to our town's local Fourth extravaganza, (the term extravaganza may be a little exaggerated, but I like the way it sounds.) Anyway, we ate dinner, then went out to the "Town Center" and checked out the booths, scoring some "free parking at the airport" coupons, enjoyed some free diet cokes, and listened to the band, who were really great, and that is no exaggeration. It's nice to see and hear my tax dollars at work. Holland especially enjoyed the music and did some of her freelance dance for us. And then we watched the fireworks, and nobody got burned by a Sparkler this year which was nice for a change.

We dined at The Olive Garden. (That's Denny, our waiter in the back.) And, yes, we ate Italian on America's Independence Day. I think we've already established we have no shame.

Our friends and neighbors, Holland, Hope, and Faith.

You know the folks on the left. On the right, is Faith and her dad, Mr. Derek.

That's a lot of stripes for any occasion.

Dining out with the family, from my perspective.

Knows when to yell for help-----check

Grey and Holland finished their 2 week session of swim lessons. They've got the certificates and report cards to prove it. Grey's certificate says Preschool on it, and he wanted me to be sure and clarify that his instructor used the wrong certificates for his class. He was in the Youth program. To a 7 year old boy that is a very big clerical error.

As you may recall, I was banned from the actual swimming pool area for Holland's lessons. My presence was a distraction to the point of being a hindrance to Holland's progress. So I was very interested to read Holland's report card. She had lots of checks on the various skills and a blank on one or two others. What I really wanted to share with you were the Instructor's Comments from Holland's report card. "Holland has become more confident and has made it through some lessons without crying."
Well, I'm just pleased as punch to read that. And if you know Holland, you are, too.

Poolside Chats

I remember in college going to the pool. I took a beach towel, baby oil, and a good book. You remember those days, when skin cancer, cellulite, and stretch marks were the problems that afflicted old people, you know, people in their thirties.

I'd spend 3-4 hours, reading, dozing, and faithfully flipping from stomach to back to maintain that nice even tan. I'd discuss inane topics with my fellow sunbather and invariably one of us would ask what time it was, as if we really cared.

Pool trips are a little different now. Skin cancer is my nemesis. Nowadays I apply sunscreen, SPF 50 or more, like I'm basting a turkey. The kids actually cringe when I'm armed with a bottle. No bad sunburns, not on my watch. And cellulite and stretch marks, well let's just not even go there. Then there's the stuff I have to pack; 2 intertubes, 4 towels, (always take a spare everything), floaties, waters, snacks, lunch, coverups/t-shirts, comb, goggles, plastic tea set, dive rings, cell phone (in a ziploc bag), and a watch (because I really do need to know what time it is). It's a good thing reading is not even remotely an option, because there's no room for a book in my bag anyway. And when I go with my friends, we discuss everything from health insurance to potty training, practical life topics, free therapy, I like to call it. And I wouldn't trade any of it.

Week One/ Summer 2007

Week One of Summer 2007:
Grey has basketball camp from 9-12 everyday, and then swim lessons in the afternoon.
Holland has swim lessons in the morning. If you'll recall our last round of swim lessons with Holland ended after the 3rd lesson with me waving the white flag. This time around, I'm hoping it will be more successful because:
1. She has been in the pool a few times already so she should be fairly comfortable with the water.
2. I scheduled her lessons so that her good friend, Faith, would be in her class.
3. I sit outside where I can see her, but she can't see me.
But after seeing her wrapped around her instructor in the King Cobra death wrap, I'm not sure any of this is going to work. We shall see.....