Boys Gone Wild

I left Shawn and Roanin alone when I went out of town to have girls night out with Amy and Steph. This is a great thing. Shawn is a fabulous Daddy, and there is nothing Roanin loves more than Daddy. When I called to check on them (after approximately 3 hours of being gone) I was informed that they had to make a quick run to Toys R' Us because "Roanin needed a sword."

After being left on their own for another 24 hours, I came back to find this little cowboy on my front porch. Looks like Daddy decided he needed a proper cowboy hat. Shawn said the girls at the western store where they got the hat were going crazy over the little man. Who wouldn't?

"Looks like the herd is loose, ma!"

Come on, how could I be mad at the wild shopping spree sans Mommy?

I haven't been able to get a picture of the sword (and dagger that apparently was necessary as well). The reason: he totally gets that you are supposed to stab people and things with it and the camera and Mommy have no chance at getting close for a picture. Maybe in a few days...

Gotta' See Bill...

So, today was a big day. Today, after all, is when the library is putting on a production of Pecos Bill...the famed cowboy from the West. Due to the fact that the story of Pecos Bill has been one of Roanin's favorite bedtime stories since he was born (and his Dad's too, for that matter), we were all pumped to go see the show. RoRo was especially excited to wear his new cowboy hat. We made plans for Daddy to meet us there.

Roanin and I had lunch with my dad (Papa) beforehand, which was fun. We chatted, Roanin ate noodles and chicken, blah, blah, blah... Everything was normal. After lunch, my dad offered to carry Roanin to the car. We walk the 30 feet to the car, and my dad goes to give me the kid-handoff. As I grab Roanin, I suddenly catch an odor in the air (despite the breeze outside). It is NOT A GOOD SMELL. Have you ever lifted a child up in the air to put their bum near your nose so you can verify what is usually bad news? Well...imagine doing this and being greeted not only by much larger quantity of the VERY BAD SMELL, but also wet pants coupled with a curious liquid streaming down the leg of the airborne child. Yep...exactly what it sounds like. The worst type of diarrhea. By this time (and by that I mean the 3 minutes that it has taken for this all to happen), his shorts are soaked, it is running into his shoe, and my dad even has a little on his arm. His explanation is "I thought I felt something wet..."

Now...keep in mind we are about 7 minutes away from the start of Pecos Bill and about a 10 minute drive from the place. I lay Roanin down in the seat of the car (no changing table in the restaurant...gotta love those places) and realize that the stuff is so runny that it has now spilled out the top of his shorts and soaked his shirt AND the seat of the car (didn't put any sort of mat down...gotta love moms who do that). A good mother would have a quick change of clothes in this type of situation, so that Pecos Bill would not be missed. A good mother. Me...I prefer to fly by the seat of my pants...and Roanin's pants in this case. If that good mother perhaps had an off day and forgot the change of clothes, she would probably skip Pecos Bill and take her feces-covered baby home. Again, not me.
After both my dad and I tearing up from laughing at this circus in 100 degree Texas mid-day heat, I give a naked Roanin to my dad to hold in the scorching sun while I run back inside the restaurant to rinse his clothes out in the bathroom sink. No dryer in the bathroom (not that I had time for that anyway) so I decided the best option was to actually roll his clothes up in the windows of my car, and let them fly like flags of poor motherhood in the wind on the way to the library. Upon getting there, they were damp & mildly stinky, but I shoved the poor kid into them anyway and we were off to our date with Bill. Daddy acting like he doesn't feel the damp clothes or smell the stinky evidence. Roanin with his denial face on that he is wearing the damp clothes and created the stink.You can see a wet spot on his little shorts (or capri pants...whichever you prefer to call them).We all agreed that by just acting like the smell wasn't coming from us, that maybe people would be fooled. We also opted for a back row spot. Roanin playing bashful with the stars of the show, or perhaps attempting to conceal evidence....

Thanks for putting up with my stinky bum, Mommy...you are the best.

ps. the Pecos Bill show was not that good, which kinda was the icing on the cake.

The Threesome Visits the Twosome

This past weekend, Stephanie, Amy and I (best friends since 3rd grade) got together for a little BFF bonding. The day started with Stephanie and I meeting up with Amy, Kyle and the twins at her parent's house. The girls had grown so much since the last time I saw them...they were adorable as usual. Me holding Ripley, Amy holding Nixon, and Stephanie explaining a magazine to Madison. Way to maintain being a great Mommy, Steph, even in the middle of a photo shoot.Stephanie's little cuties, Kaitlin and Madison, holding Ripley.Kyle working his daddy-magic on one of the cuties.The proud aunts fighting over one of the munchkins (I am secretly pinching Steph in the back so that she will let the baby go).The three musketeers getting ready for "girls night out" which loosely translates to three thirtysomethings taking pictures of themselves at a table at TGI Friday's and laughing about stupid boys from high school followed by thirty minutes of yawning at a bar talking about how tired they are. The girls posing with the girls.

We actually talked the waitress into participating in our picture shinanagins...she actually told us (unsolicited) how pretty and YOUNG we looked...obviously looking for a big tip. Needless to say...it worked.

Paris and Lindsey watch out...

The next morning, Maddie looked like I felt.

Kitten Love

Roanin LOVES the two new kittens we got several weeks ago. Each time he sees them, he cannot be distracted from a serious pursuit. He is pretty gentle with them, although occasionally he gets overwhelmed with love and hugs them a little too tight. Just thought you would like to see how much the kittens (and Roanin!) have grown. And yes, in case you were wondering....he is naked in all of these photos. Roanin loves only two things more than he loves the kittens. Being outside and being naked. Preschool should be hilarious....

Don'tcha Wanna Know?

I found this and thought it would be fun. What would be even more fun is if you would cut and paste this and do it on YOUR blog (hint, hint...Ashlee, Amy, Steph, Celena, Kerrie, Krista, Heather, Ginger...). You must answer each in two words.
1. Where is your cell phone? never know
2. Where is your significant other? at work
3. Your hair? sweaty ponytail
4. Your mother? with Jesus / in Colorado
5. Your father? busy building
6. Your favorite thing? Shawn Juan
7. Your dream last night? delivering baby
8. Your favorite drink? diet coke
9. Your dream/goal? loving family
11. Your hobby? cooking & exercising
12. Your fear? bird attack
13. Where you want to be in 6 years? at home
14. Where were you last night? watering garden
15. What you're not? patient enough
16. Muffins? blueberry / bran
17. One of your wish list items? new camera
18. Where you grew up? Burleson, Texas
20. What are you wearing? running clothes
21. Your TV? Sesame Street
22. Your pets? too many
23. Your computer? always slow
24. Your life? mostly boys (Shawn, Roanin, Ickabod, Professor, Tuesday, Fatboy, Roanie)
25. Your mood? coffee buzz
26. Missing someone? Arlene Catherine
27. Your car? dirt covered
28. Something you're not wearing? nail polish
29. Favorite store? Target / HEB (that is sad…)
30. Your summer? with Roanin
31. Like someone? my man
32. Your favorite color? kelly green
33. When is the last time you laughed? minutes ago
34. Last time you cried? minutes ago (you know Sesame Street brings out the best and the worst in me…)

"L" is for Losing It...

This is just a little entry to let those of you adults who haven't been frequenting the Sesame Street scene lately know how great this show is. Of course, I remember Sesame Street from when I was young. Cookie Monster, Oscar the Grouch, Burt and Ernie and Big Bird were the stars of the show...and they still are. But I never realized that this show works really hard at providing at least a few smiles to the moms who are staring, bleary eyed with coffee in hand, at the familiar characters. Most of the handy work centers around the "Letter of the Day." (Who knew the alphabet could provide so much entertainment?) In the last week, I have watched "K's Anatomy" (a take off of Grey's), "Law and Order" (featuring the missing Letter M), and "American I" (a take off of American Idol). Maybe it is sheer exhaustion, but I am AMAZED that they actually make the puppets to look like the characters on the shows that they are copying. Not only have I been mesmerized and contemplating DVR'ing the show because of these little little snippets, but I have also been delighted by songs performed by Chris Brown, REM, Tricia Yearwood, and Taylor Swift. It is like I am watching MTV, only I feel like I am on some weird kind of drug that is causing everything to move about 3 tempos too slow and everyone singing is accompanied by furry puppets. What scares me is that I am starting to prefer this version....

Aaaaayyyyy...

Roanin channelling Fonzie from Happy Days (seriously...he has got the thumb action and everthing). I wish I could have had him on video...he was even doing the "Aaayyyy.." and trying out pick up lines on girls we were driving by. It was awesome.

Let Me Make a Correction...

In a previous entry, I was explaining that in Roanin's thrilling development, the 45 seconds that we previously had to follow Roanin into a room before he got into trouble had been reduced to about 6 seconds. I am officially on record now as saying it has been reduced to about 3 seconds.

Gotta love toddlers.

Dunsmore Garden of Eatin'...

I know, I know...that title was almost too much. I think I saw the Garden of Eatin' part on some cheesy homemade yard sign at some craft store -- but I couldn't think of another title. Give me a break...I am three weeks into the most insane teething session on record and a little boggled. Poor baby RoRo had just finished breaking his top molars in, when the bottoms decided to follow along with two little chompers on each side of his two little bottom rabbit teeth in the front. I am now considering bottling drool as a side business. Wow...the rhetoric on this blog entry is getting scarier and scarier. I better stop while I am ahead (if I am even still ahead anymore).
Just a little update on my garden for a few of you who have asked. It is coming along great. We are enjoying eating squash, jalapenos, okra, corn, tomatoes, and cucumbers. I even got crafty and made some pickles with the dill from my herb garden and some cukes. The bell peppers, carrots, sunflower seeds, cantaloupe, and beans are almost ready. Pumpkins are about to go in the ground for the fall...
The first of many cantaloupe.

Before.

After.

Just Beachy...

We took a long weekend vacation to Port Aransas to meet Uncle Josh, Aunt Kritter, and Cousin Sophie. We had a great time....tons of laughs, games, diapers and swimming. The pictures tell the story.The first morning we were there, Shawn and I took Roanin out to the water just to show it to him (no bathing suits because there were no plans of swimming). As you can see, Shawn had to break into a sprint when we set him down to avoid him going in too far. He made a b-line to the water and loved every minute of it.This picture is really how it was. Roanin was laughing hysterically (with a half-gummed Twizzler in hand...and yes it was 9:00 in the morning...no judgement....we were on vacation) while running full force into the waves. He was soaked within about 2 minutes (as were we) but didn't let go of the candy. Soccer outfit turns wetsuit.

Enjoying the morning sun and surf.

A little breakfast for the kiddos while watching the Price is Right.

Sophie: "Five dollars! Five dollars! Is that lady crazy!?!??!"

Roanin: "Oh no she didn't...."

The Ritzmanns taking little Sophie in the ocean for the first time.

The family sneakin' in a little love on the beach.

Roanin (aka: Bigfoot) wondering what the heck Sophie is actually doing with that toy.

A miracle...both babies actually looking at the camera.

Roanin sharing his daddy with Sophie for a minute (perhaps the cookie he has smeared all over his mouth helped convince his sharing was a good idea).

Me beaming while holding the two cutest munchkins around.

Shopping....I'll take the boy and the girl. So darn cute...

Mommies and the pumpkins. Come on Sarah....can you take a picture without the hat?

We caught a lady....I mean man-bug in the pool. We got Roanin to give Sophie a kiss while were there. Here is the approach....is Sophie ready or what?

A big smooch...right on the mouth! These will be the pictures they will HATE when we pull them out when they are in high school. I love being a parent.

The men, the floaties, and the floaters.

Sophie: "Do you feel like ditching these lame adults and heading over the pool bar to see if they serve milk?"

Roanin: "Sounds good. Just one thing...do you know how to get outta these things?"

My boys checkin' it all out.

Shawn humoring me by taking a picture of the crafty lettering in the sand that only took me about half an hour due to 2 washouts.

MESSY dinner at the Boiling Pot in Rockport. Why do the adults have on bibs but the child (whose mouth looks like he just drank a quart of spaghetti sauce btw) does not? The parenting on vacation was marginal at best....

Mr. Independence trying out feeding himself with his spoon. Again...bib anyone? Needless to say...Roanin ended up going to bed that night with pasta sauce in his hair, sand in his ears, hair and toes and a HUGE smile on his face. I LOVE VACATION!