July 2012

I can't believe I missed out on the opportunity to blog about our annual visit from the P family! This annual visit gets more and more exciting each year. As the kids grow up and can really appreciate on another, it gets more enjoyable to see the interactions between them all. The girls, K & B, love to challenge on another for 'top girl status' and the boys just seem to have fun playing. Of course we went on many adventures and even caught up with another SMBC from Canada :0)

This month also marked a huge milestone....M gave up his soother!! I know, about time right!? I had decided that I wasn't going to buy any more and when his supply ran out, that would be it. During the P visit, we were at the mall and M got frustrated with me. In response he took his soother and threw it...right into a mall trash can. I told him he threw it out and we walked away...and that was the end of sue-a (M's pronunciation)
 

Day #7 & 8

Again, no pictures taken :0( . Day 7 was spent driving back to Houston. This time we were all tired and grumpy. Poor M had reached his breaking point and cried for about 30 minutes of it. We got home in the afternoon and kind of crashed for awhile. We later went out for our final diner and spent our last night together.

Day 8 was up early and to the airport. This airport was HUGE compared to what we flew out of and depite getting there over an hour before our flight we barely made it - thank goodness for three kids and a stroller that put us in a special security line or I don't think we would have made it on time. We had to take a train to another terminal with lots of walking.

Of course we did make it and our flight back went as smoothly as the trip there. It was bittersweet to be home. We were happy to be in our own home and own beds, but we already missed the P's. Already making plans for next years visit. We soooooo wish we lived closer. I am working on J to move here ;)

Day #6 Part Two

SEAWORLD!! Okay...we had a lot of fun...but it was frick'in hot. Like really frick'in hot! There were several times I pulled the kids into indoor exhibits or restaurants and we just sat there. I felt bad about it, but OMG. Did I mention it was hot? We all, well, mostly me, left the park with a raging sunburn. But, I guess in the end it was all worth it.

Day #6 Part One

We woke up early Monday to get our annual group photos of the twins. I was able to borrow some beautiful dresses from a friend of mine and we dressed the boys alike. As usual there wasn't a single picture where they all looked 'good', but we were satisfied with our results.

When I arrived back to the hotel room to prepare for SeaWorld I received a call from my bosses. Every year my state chooses 100 nurses to specially recognize for excellence in their field. I was one of those chosen! Pretty cool! I get to go to a Gala and my work will also do something special for me. What a nice bit of news while on Vacation.

Day #4 & 5

Day #4 was spent low key. J was sweet enough to host a Scentsy party for me while I was visiting. So Saturday we had a Scentsy party with great food and great company. J did really well and earned some great rewards. Surprisingly not a single picture was snapped.

On Day #5 we began our 'trip' to San Antonio. J had arranged for us to spend two nights in a nice hotel. We would travel today and then tomorrow head to SeaWorld for the day. It took about 3 hours to get there and despite some crummy GPS directions we found the hotel. It was a gorgeous place with a beautiful water park. I would have loved to stay there for DAYS!

View from our room

If he's doing this at 20months do I have any hope when he's older?

Day # 3 - Splash Park!

Today we went to a local Splash Park. Another FREE and fun event for us. The kids splashed away in the Texas heat. Another great activity with lots of fun and playing.

Day # 2 - Children's Museum

In an effort to keep things low cost, we decided that except for our big trip on the weekend (more details to come) we would do free or cheap things. We are both single moms on a tight budget...and did I mention that two days before we left I had to replace my hot water heater?? (Grrrr...)

Our first 'event' was a trip to the Houston Children's Museum for free night. While this museum was way cool and I could totally see my kids spending hours here, I believe everyone in Houston was there that night! It was insanely crowded and a little overwhelming. We did spend over an hour there and I think everyone had fun. M even found the one solitary mud puddle to sit in!

After the Museum it was off to McDonalds for dinner and then back home for the night :0)

Mook using the phone that the Smurf is holding...he's such a nut :0)

Our Yearly Tradition...

But this time we traveled....to the P family!!! The past two years the P family has driven from Texas to come visit. This year it was our turn to travel. Since the drive was going to be about 20h and since I only had to buy three plane tickets, I decided to fly. Although this decision was the most intelligent one, it created a lot of panic and anxiety in me. I HATE flying. I get very anxious and very sick. I worried about it for weeks, but in the end, it was only slightly stressful and things really went pretty well.

We got to Texas Wednesday afternoon and spent the rest of the day just hanging out. It was super cool seeing our best friends again and we could tell the kids had missed each other from the year before.

I took a ton of photos but I will try to limit my uploads to one of two favorites of each child :)

Our Last Day Together...

So bitter sweet...

Rub a Dub Dub

How many preschoolers can you fit in a tub?


Today was rainy and gloomy so we mostly spent the day inside. I think everyone needed a low key day after the marathon of activity we have had the past week. J and I, along with the twins and M, did make it to some children's clothing stores to find some outfits for the kids to wear tomorrow when we take some group pictures. We did pretty well hitting sales and clearance racks!

N with the boys

Tomorrow is our last day together :( We are going to go to the local gardens to get some pictures and maybe something other low key. I think the weather is calling for rain again tomorrow afternoon so we will head out early to beat the bad weather.

Another Fun Outing

Today we went to a new spray park that just opened this summer. It was a super cool area with shooting fountains, water guns, spraying rainbows and much more. We met up with another set of friends which also include another set of 4yo twins. So three sets of boy/girl twins...we were quite the presence!

The kids had fun running around and getting wet, but only for about 40 minutes. Then everyone was tired, hungry or hot. J and I didn't mind packing up because dopey us wore a shirt and jeans and felt over heated from the moment we arrived.

After the spray park we headed to the bowling alley. Our friends joined us so we were bowling with 3 sets of twins, an additional 2yo and a baby. After one round of bowling, some eating and the twins deciding it would be fun to shoot 2 or 3 balls down the lane at once...we figured we better leave before being kicked out.

We headed back home where Max and I got in a quick nap followed by a yummy dinner out at our favorite Mexican Restaurant and then a shopping trip at Walmart. Let's just say that where ever we go chaos ensues. We are both crazy for attempting anything, but the kids seem to be having fun...and that's the most important thing...right??

The Chaos is Gone...for Now :)

The P family packed up this morning and headed to NYC for a few days. Yes, you read that right. J, who drove 18 hours here, then spent a crazy weekend at GWL, is now driving another 10 hours. She is doing this for her older three children who have wanted to visit NYC...isn't she an amazing mom?

I can't believe six people, five of them being kids, were able to get up and out of my house this morning without waking us! I think we are all just so worn out. This afternoon the twins and I laid down for a nap at 1:30p and woke up at 5p!! We really must have needed the sleep!

The P's will be back Thursday and the fun and chaos will begin again!!

The Texas Crew is HERE!

That's right, the P family from TX has once again graced us with their presence! I don't know how J does it. She drove from TX to here, over 18 hours, with five kids in tow! She arrived here Saturday night and we have been going non-stop since!

On Sunday we all headed to GWL for a great mini vacation. Yes, poor J had only partially recovered from a two day drive and here we were hitting the road again. I think it was worth it though as this themed hotel is such a cool place. Rooms with little cabins for the kids, HUGE water park, arcade, story times, games, restaurant...etc. Both the big and little kids had a blast. This is definitely a place we will go again.

FYI for those thinking of going...a Paw Pass is a great idea and DON'T eat at the restaurant inside the hotel...very pricey! You can easily stay two or three nights if you have the cash.