Recollections of My Friday

Ethan explaining to me that his strawberry smoothie, tortilla chips, and lemonade all tasted very cinnamon-y and that he was pretty sure someone was poisoning him.

Listening to Tyler cry for ten minutes because Ethan bit his car seat.

Playing "I Spy" and laughing hysterically every time it was Tyler's turn... he's seriously confused about his colors. One time he actually spied something that is, "Rumpelstiltskin." Is that a color?

Digging Tyler's underwear out of a public trashcan after Ethan threw them away.

Taking two 3 year olds and one 4 year old shopping.

While shopping- Tyler drinking shampoo TWICE.

While shopping- Ethan losing his shoe and cutting his toe.

While shopping -Tyler cutting his ankle.

While shopping- two women stopping me to tell me I have my hands full.

While shopping- questioning my sanity and starting to twitch.

Watching Ethan and Tyler kill ants with golf clubs.

Tyler holding my hand and singing me a "lullybye" when I took a nap this afternoon.

Watching Ethan build a "home" for his new pet beetle and watching him cry when Tyler accidentally killed it.

Experiencing a minor stress attack when I realized Ethan starts Kindergarten in 3 months!!!

Vowing to enjoy each day I have left with him.

We're back! The long awaited trip to the Grand Canyon is over and we had a great time. The two night trip was shortened to just one night after Ethan threw up all over the insides of our tent and covered our bedding at 2am with vomit in 35 degree weather...but I'm not bitter!
Really the kids did great and we had a great time. It was our first time seeing the Grand Canyon and let me just describe it - BREATHTAKING! It was amazing! The part that I loved the most was the silence...you would walk up to a look out point with all kinds of tourists and yet it was silent. I actually found myself shushing the kids - it was like there was an unwritten rule that you don't speak in the presence of such grandeur. I definitely want to go back again - hopefully with out the flu - there is so much more to see!

The Boys "Playing" Cards

The deer in our camp.

The boys making deer antlers

Try not to be jealous. Are you trying? I'll only tell you if I know it won't cause intense jealousy - OK I feel safe in revealing that I met STEPHENIE MEYER!!!! Now by met I mean stood a few inches from her and froze like a statue with a goofy grin on my face and possibly some drooling. She spoke to me and the best I could do was nod and resemble the mentally handicapped.I told you it was a goofy grin...I DIDN'T exaggerate!

Amanda and Katie got a bit star struck as well!

But aside from my embarrassing display it was great. She answered questions about Twilight, The Host, future books, and advice for future writers.

Afterwards we went to dinner- we were starving!! We went to a place called Z'Tejas and the menu looked nasty - Chicken with raisins, weird spices and it was PRICEY! What do three housewives do in that situation...take one more swig of their lemon water and RUN! That's right we ran from the restaurant...straight to TGI Friday's. Thank you - I'll take a turkey burger over a Raisin Goulash any day of the week.

There it is - The picture you've all been waiting for. You can't see it but she inscribed a special note to me on the adjoining page. It's so long I'll have to paraphrase it...she loves my style, thinks I have a future as a author or super model(which ever comes first) says I smell as irresistible as Bella, hopes that we can be Best Friends Forever, practically begged me to come on her book tour, loves my smile and doesn't think it looks goofy at all, gave me her phone number-address-and email and would love to stay in touch, and asked if she could use me as the inspiration for her next book. Wow - she's such a nice gal!

Just a little something that made me love little boys this morning...

Ethan found a water gun a few days ago and ever since it's been his best friend. He fills it with water and "cleans" all the windows outside. "Momma, I think we should make a chore chart and put on it that I am in charge of washing all the windows....isn't that a good idea Momma?" The water gun has been a point of contention as well...Tyler having no water gun feels very deprived.

So...this morning I was surprised when I saw the two of them running around in the backyard - both in possession of guns. Ethan had his orange water gun and Tyler had a new one. It looked wooden and he was making loud "Pshhhhh" noises because everyone knows that's exactly what guns sound like. Where did he find that little wooden gun? Upon further investigation I discovered that the gun wasn't wooden. No, Tyler was chasing Ethan around - having a blast - shooting him with a gun made of stale bread. Yep. He found a piece of stale bird bread in the back yard and well...that's why I love little boys.

Tyler came barreling into my room, tears flowing, and he was screaming, "Momma, Ethan hurt. Ethan hurt." He was panicked! I ran out and found Ethan's arm jammed in the treadmill. Luckily I kept a cool head but poor little Tyler LOST it. He just stood right next to the captive Ethan and bawled and reminded me every TWO seconds in a voice near hysteria to, "Get em out Momma! He hurt!"
This is a little boy whose purpose in life is to torment and tattle on his brother. If Ethan wants to watch Nemo - Tyler wants Cars. Ethan wants spaghetti - Tyler needs chicken nuggets. Ethan wants the light on - surprisingly Tyler now hates the light. As sad as I was to have to watch Ethan suffer in the treadmill I was actually happy it happened - they love each other!!! I guess I always knew it - somewhere deep inside - probably the same part of me that knows that one day my children will appreciate me, rise up and call me blessed, the same part of me that knows someday I will be able to take a shower with out someone throwing a toy inside or that eventually I won't have to beg them to wear underwear - you know that part that knows the truth but you won't believe it because it just seems to impossible!
Nothing - and I really mean nothing is sweeter than watching your kids love each other...and so this little experience today with Tyler hurting for Ethan was precious...too bad it ended within 15 seconds of Ethan's freedom!

San Diego

What do you get when you send two moms and four children 4 and under on a road trip?

• You get bone wearily tired. You fall asleep on your bed when you get home and don't wake up till dark.
• You get a little carried away with the desert options when eating out and find yourself eating some SERIOUSLY good mud pie.
• You get in the car after the mud pie and find chocolate sauce in your hair and under your wedding ring.
• People stop and stare and everyone feels the need to inform you that," You sure have your hands full."
• You take the kids to Lego Land...Have an Amazing time...and consider it a success when you only have to throw away Tyler's underwear - Hurray the pants could be salvaged, Hudson left naked but happy, there were only a few tantrums, Ella only ate a little dirt, and no one went missing.
• You find it completely normal that your breaking up fights over who saw the Rino first.
• You hear yourself saying things like, "Pick your nose in private." "You ALL saw the Rino..." "Stop poking his eye. Please stop poking his eye. If you poke his eye one more time..." "Sure, you can eat the chip off the ground."
  
• You get home, unpack your purse and find a cheeseburger, sunscreen, sand, an apple with a bite out of it, something sticky that smells like syrup, a book, and a pair of underwear inside.
• You go to the beach and FALL IN LOVE WITH SAN DIEGO!
• You lose a child at the beach and KNOW that experience took at least two years off your life.
• You eat and read more than you thought humanly possible.
• The floor of the van becomes the home to dirt, sand, Cheetos, coloring books, gummy worms, shoes, cups, chocolate milk, Dvds, sesame seeds, chunks of ground beef, diapers(hopefully all clean...but you never can be sure), Happy Meal Toys, and human limbs(just making sure your still reading.)
• You feel like a wild and crazy teen when you are still up talking at 9:30pm.
• You have a great time and realize that chaos can be fun!