Brusha, brusha, brusha!

TJ has discovered that brushing his teeth is fun...

OK, so what he really likes is holding the toothbrush under the faucet and then sucking the water off over and over...

You gotta admit- that's a super cute little blondie boy!

Lord Help Us!

I've been teaching Alli some songs that we used to sing as kids in church. One of them is "This is the Day that the Lord has Made." You know how that one goes- "I will rejoice and be glad in it..." She really likes it and has been requesting

that I sing it lately.

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So, the other morning at the breakfast table (seems like a lot of my stories happen at the breakfast table), she starts singing loudly without being prompted and it went something like this...

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"THIS IS THE DAY... THIS IS THE DAY. LET THE LORD HELP ME"

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I cracked up. Isn't that just so perfect. Yes, He has made every beautiful day and we should rejoice and be glad in it, but sometimes we need some help to get through it, don't we? Wisdom from the mouth of a 2 yr old confusing the lyrics of a song- couldn't have said it better myself. Gotta love it!

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And, just because I feel like I can't have a post without a picture, here's a cute pic of the kids after their bath...

Alli insisted we take this picture of them and she insisted on this particular location (I would have picked something better, but that's ok). They love these towels.

Catch up

We did a lot of fun stuff in the last month or two only some of which I have posted, so now I'm taking the time to catch up! So, here goes.

August and September 2007 in no particular order...

My entire world sitting on the kitchen floor

After sitting herself down with big and little Elmo, she insisted I take a picture. "Get the camera mama"
Monkey see, Monkey do!
After delivering a present to each Elmo, Alli sat down to read them a story. She is very much into taking care of her dolls and stuffed animals right now.

Alli and TJ looking so cute at a birthday party we went to.
She was REALLY enjoying all that the party had to offer.
And, TJ was really enjoying that music. Spinning is one of TJ's versions of dancing (the other is bouncing).
Alli's first pinata experience. We're gonna do what to Dora? Surprisingly she didn't hesitate at all to whack Dora with a stick, nor did she seem bothered when Dora was beat to pieces. I guess it's hard to worry about that when there is candy to be had.
Another first- a lollipop for TJ.
Swimming, a clown, Dora, a pinata, bags full of candy, cake, borracho beans (there was also other yummy food, but this was the kids favorite), music and friends- Alli must be thinking "We should really do this more often!"

Alli helping us clean the boat for our Lake LBJ trip.
Who says it's not OK to play with your food. Not sure exactly what was happening here, but I do know the lizard was one of the things she took care of for awhile. I guess he was hungry for a banana and some fruit loops.

Alli not too comfortable with Pete the penguin at Sea World.
Mom and TJ feeding the Dolphins
They both really had a lot of fun at Sea World (mommy too) and even sat still for the Sea Lion show. TJ kept pointing every time they would come out or do a trick. Lots of pointing.

"Can Jack come over?"

So she didn't say it quite like that, but Alli invited a friend over for the first time this past week. It went more like this. We were sitting at the breakfast table eating luch. Alli looked out the window and said "There's my pool."

I said "That's right. Would you like to go swimming this afternoon?"

Alli responds "Yeah" followed by a brief pause and then "Jack is my friend."

Thinking that was kinda random I politely say "That's right." Then she says "He's gonna swim with me." Now I see where this is going. So I explain that we have to call his mommy and if they are not busy, then maybe Jack can come over to swim.

Well, needless to say it worked out. It was a beautiful day for a backyard swim. We're trying to get as many in as possible before the Texas summer is truly over. Here are some pics of the day...

Alli flies down the slide in a somewhat out of control fashion.

Jack on the other hand carefully sits at the top of the slide before easing himself down, shoes and all.
The fancy red watering can was a very popular toy that created a little bit of a sharing issue.
TJ joined in the fun too.
It's good to have friends!

Stolen Blog Post- thanks Steph!

Until I get a blog post up for our Lake LBJ trip (or more likely in case I don't), visit Steph's very thorough post at: http://stephandcorrysbabygirl.blogspot.com/2007/09/lbj-trip-part-2.html
I think one of the only things she forgot to cover was the deadly amoeba that we were all careful to avoid- no swimming :-(
Thank goodness for that slide!!!!

The Usameum

A couple of friends and I took our kids to the San Antonio Children's Museum (or the usameum as Alli would say) recently. What a fun place! Three floors of super cool interactive exhibits. The kids stayed busy milking cows, sleeping in a pioneer house, digging for artifacts, riding a trolley, brushing giant teeth with a giant toothbrush (the germ infested toothbrush that Alli's friend Carson decided to put in his own mouth- YUCK), working farm equipment, hanging out in a tiny room surrounded by aquariums, standing inside a giant bubble (or popping the giant bubble that the mommies were trying to form around them for the perfect photo op), and just running wild and being kids. (Shhhh don't tell anyone, but I think some of the time the mommies were having more fun than the kids-mainly in the bubble room).

And, that was just on the two floors that we visited. We never even made it to the third floor before the kids started melting down and acting as though they were dying of starvation. Sounds like we'll have to finish on another day!

The day was wrapped up with lunch at Chili's. We all knew that it was really pushing it to try to take 4 overtired, hungry kids out to eat but we did it anyway and it was fairly successful. I wasn't there to see the look on the hostess' face when Brandi and Melissa said "three adults and four high chairs please." As most people know, that's not a good ratio. And, that was before Alli's friend Jack pee'd in the waiting area- "mop please!"

At that point, Jack had to go commando 'cause his poor mommy had already used his other two extra sets of clothes for his other pee accidents at the museum. Yes, that's right, but at least the 1st one was a very near miss in the restroom. The second, not so much. "Mop please!"

Sorry, Melissa, but you know I had to blog that. Too funny not to share. Funny because it was you and not me. I was so terrified that Alli was going to have an accident right after Jack. You never want to be the second person to ask for a clean up.

So now, Carson's mom Brandi who has not really started potty training has had a little glimpse of what the next year or so might have in store for her and I'm sure she's wanting to run the other way. Try not to let it scare you too much Brandi (yeah right).

I suppose all moms have to go through it and they all get through it. So far, my experience while often frustrating has been fairly embarrassment free- no public accidents. KNOCK ON WOOD!!!

OK, so I think this post was supposed to be about our trip to the museum, right? Now for the pics...

Is she cute or what?

Is he cute or what?

I'm not a proud mom or anything :-) C'mon, you gotta agree- look at those blue eyes and that hair and that smile... on both of them! Alright I'll stop now.

Mirror, mirror on the wall

Jack and Alli in their cow-milking costumes. The lesson of the day is that dairy farmers actually dress like cows while milking cows- who knew?

Carson posing for the camera

The whole gang being saved from starvation.

Back on the farm.
That's a tasty thumb! And I'm sure it's not dirty or anything after everything he's been touching. I try not to think about it. I know I did it when I was his age and I think I turned out alright. I think.
Vegetables anyone?
Night, night Jack. Try not to pee in the bed :-)

Finally!!! Alli's in the bubble!

So, I know that was a LOT of pics and a LOT of words, but I didn't want to leave anything out.

De Plane, De Plane!

TJ has a new trick and he shows it off every chance he gets. ANY time a plane flies over (and anytime he hears something that sounds similar to a plane) he points up and exclaims "pa! pa!" usually before it is even within sight. He is very proud and makes sure that we notice him when he does it...

Just a few recent examples caught on camera.

This particular day we were at a pool party that was just under the flight path of commercial airplanes so he got LOTS of practice (like every few minutes).

"Wait mommy, can't look now. There's a plane overhead!"

El Mercado

We took a family fun trip to the Mexican market street in downtown SA on Saturday and had a great time. We dressed Alli in a traditional Mexican house dress that my parents bought during their cruise to Mexico. The dresses are in just about every shop, but apparently people don't usually wear them while they are there cause she drew quite a bit of attention. I must say, she did look very cute.

Daddy bribed her with candy to get her to keep the hat on for the picture. Worked like a charm. That's parenting 101 for ya! And she made sure he held up his end of the deal. "I get candy now right Daddy?"

Too bad TJ's still too young to bribe :-)

We left with a new fancy dress for Alli, a guayabera for TJ (mexican style shirt), a pair of maraccas which the kids love, and some good memories!

Pics, pics & more pics!

Some recent pics...

One of Alli's new favorite activities.

I can dress myself! Sort of.

Below is the result I got when I said "say cheese" so I tried "smile pretty" and this is what I got. A little better, but still not quite what I was going for.

Mommy and Alli enjoying the pool.

The water hose is great fun. Yes, they are both in their pajamas. Who needs swimsuits anyway?
Alli "getting" TJ. He has much more fun when he sprays himself with the hose.
Gotta have camo!
Crazy boy!!!
Alli says that she loves cupcakes, but what she really means is "I love cupcake icing"