Everybody's A Critic

Has anyone seen the TV show "Don't Forget the Lyrics?" It is basically a Karaoke game show where you win money if you know the words. I was watching it the other day and singing along, loudly, and criticizing the contestants who didn't know the obvious lyrics. Because I never get the words wrong. OK, once in a while I miss a word here and there. Alright, so I rarely know the words but like to sing along anyway. Brian has forever made fun of me because when I don't know the words, I just make them up. In fact, I am realizing that I have been singing a lot of my favorite songs wrong for 20 years. They make a lot more sense when you know the real lyrics. I digress. Anyway, Austin and his dad were playing on the computer in the office right off of the living room where I was while I was doing my rendition of Piano Man with the contestant on the TV. Austin asked his dad if he likes singing, Brian said he guessed so. Austin said he didn't, and shut the door. He SHUT. THE. DOOR. On his mother's singing. Every one's a critic...


Note: I know my mom is laughing right now, and saying "what goes around comes around". We didn't appreciate her singing as children either.

At the Pool

Here are some pictures of our recent outing to the pool. Daddy Austin loves going down the slide, over and over and over again. In fact, whenever it is suggested that we go to the main pool and play, Daddy Austin says no, that he would rather go down the slides some more. He started the day going down on daddy's lap, but by the end he was able to go down by himself and get 'caught' by the lifeguard. Daddy Austin didn't want to leave the pool that day, and had to be promised that we would come back soon to go down the slides some more.

Even Aubrey went down the slide with mommy, she loves the water too!

But she was tuckered out after an hour or so, so we spent a lot of time just watching the boys and getting a tan (or at least some resemblance of color to my otherwise pasty white legs. I am sure passersby were blinded).

More T-Ball

Austin had his 3rd game tonight. All of the kids have improved so much in just three short weeks (I am sure it is because of Brian's expert tutelage). No one ran after the ball that they had just hit, and they are getting down the order of the base running. Most of the kids even know now what hand to wear their gloves on...like I said, improvement. Austin hit two way out past the outfielders, and could have had home runs if they could take more than one base. He got to play first base tonight and fielded really well too, scooping up the ball and running to first get the player out. He is so focused and excited to play. He counts down the days until the games or even practices. Most of the other (normal) kids are just happy to be outside, running around and waving to their moms and dads, or picking grass/flowers/dandelions/noses. It is so much fun to watch them, they are all so adorable. But my son is the cutest of all of course. He will be sad when the season is over.

Censorship

Austin has always been my little censor. It is sad to say I usually need one, as sometimes the things that come out of my mouth are not so "child friendly". Austin is a good censor. He lets me know immediately that "mommy, we don't say that". He is so good he has even banned words that aren't really bad, such as bummer and ridiculous. I found out yesterday that 'crud' is also bad word. He listens for things to ban and asks often if certain words are bad words so that he can ban them too. The other day I dropped something or stubbed my toe or did some other stupid ('mommy we don't say that word either') thing that made me say a not so choice word. Of course he called me on it. So I asked him what are good words that I can say instead. He said I can say 'whoops' or 'uh-oh'. Huh...somehow I just don't think "HOLY WHOOPS" is going to cut it. I can just envision myself driving in morning traffic with the road rage I get telling other cars to get their "uh-ohs" out of my way. Doesn't quite have the same effect...

Arrrrgh!

My swashbuckler.

My littlest pirate.

My Dad

When I was in high school, I got to fish the Crazy Woman Canyon in the Big Horn Mountains with my dad. It was several hours of just me and him, fishing and talking (mostly me talking because those of you who know my dad, know that he is quiet and doesn't say much). I remember feeling like it was a "right of passage", because my older sister had gotten to do it with him a few years earlier, and I couldn't wait until I got to go too. He was so patient with me, untangling my fishing line countless times from tree limbs, logs and rocks, waiting for me to rest and catch up, and teaching me to find the best quiet spots in the creek to fish. To my dad it may have just been a few hours of fishing, for me it meant the world.

My dad has always been the gentlest, most patient man I know. He hardly ever yelled, and he always took the time to explain things to us when any other parent would just say "because, that's why". My sister and I would fight after baths to see who would get dad to comb out our long tangled hair, because he would take his time and be so careful in combing it out. He could spend hours helping us with our math homework, explaining it several different times in order for us to get it and keeping us from getting too frustrated. I remember taking a field trip in grade school to one of his rigs, and he had to explain to my class all about the workings of an oil rig. I don't remember anything he said that day, only how proud I was that he was my dad. I still am.

I am so lucky to have such a wonderful Dad. He has always been my hero, and the standard to which I hold my husband--which hasn't always been fair to my poor husband. He has always put his family first and worked hard to provide for us. He taught us to work hard as well for what we want, and to appreciate what we have. He is honest and genuine, and anyone who has ever met him likes and respects him. Happy Father's Day Daddy, I love you.

Happy Father's Day

Just wanted to say Happy Father's Day to my wonderful husband. I can't imagine my life without you, and I can't think of anyone else with whom I would rather raise our two beautiful children. I picked a good daddy for my kids, (even though they are 'doomed' to have the Red Sox addiction too). I love you.

T-Ball

Austin had his first official game last night. He did so good, and had so much fun!! Truth be told, I think I had more fun watching him than he did playing. I tried not to be one of those annoying parents who cheered loudly for their kid and made spectacles of themselves, don't know if I accomplished that or not. But I must not have been too loud because Austin said he didn't hear me...whew. Coach daddy did a great job too, I knew he would.

Here are some pics from his game:

Austin getting ready to hit, while coach daddy is looking on.

He made it to first, now off to second!

Crossing home plate, he ran fast!

Austin was a great catcher!

Here is Aubrey watching her big brother play ball, she can't wait until she is old enough to play with him!

Sleeping, Or Not...

We have been a 'co-sleeping' family since having children. It is something that was on my "I will never do" list at one time; I had thought that I would never let the kids sleep in bed with us. But after they grew out of the bassinet that was right next to my bed, I wasn't ready for them to be in their own room so far down the hall from me. Not to mention the discovered convenience of having my babies in bed with me rather than getting up several times in the night to console, put the piece (pacifier) back in or just check to make sure they were ok.

That being said, we decided it was time to make the big move. Here is my little girl, sleeping in her own crib, in her own room. She has done much better than I have with the transition. She is such a good little sleeper. However,the first night in her own room, as was the same as the first night Austin spent in his own room, I didn't sleep well. I was up almost every hour checking on them, wondering how they could sleep so good with out me there!! It is such a bitter sweet part of parenting.

Austin got a new bed too. He was in the toddler bed, which was the crib. Since we converted that back to a crib for Aubrey, he had to get his own big boy bed. And it is C-O-O-L. We got him a loft bed. He loves it. He loves the "tent" underneath. We put up a blanket over the opening and it is like his own little fort under there. Secretly, I am a little jealous-the little girl in me really wants one too. The other night he and daddy slept in sleeping bags underneath in the "tent" for a camp out. Austin loved it. Daddy said it was the worst night's sleep he has had in a long time. Now he knows how I feel...

Look At Me!!

Aubrey is standing up on her own now, for several seconds at a time. She hasn't yet had the courage to take any steps, but it will happen soon enough. Hard to believe she turned 10 months yesterday...