playing hooky.

Two Fridays ago I got to skip work and hang out with the fam at Nana and Pa's home-away-from-home.

The boat.

I hesitate to say the word 'boat', seeing that it has a kitchen, dining room, living room, bathroom, shower, and two bedrooms.

Oh and there is a bar area as well.

Or a fully stocked cooler if you wanna be technical.

Whatever floats your...boat.

(you were waiting for that weren't ya!).

Ry took the kids for a dingy ride. 

Perhaps he went a little too fast.

Such weenies.

They survived.

Carsie in drag.

The most popular gal on the boat. 

Actually the most popular gal anytime...anywhere.

At least with these hooligans around.

moving on up.

There wasn't a doubt in my mind that this kid was going to love school.  I had no worries, no hesitations, and no second thoughts as I dropped her off that first Tuesday and skipped (okay, probably waddled, I was 9 months pregnant) all the way to Starbucks with my iPod, my book, and a smile that made my cheeks hurt. 

It was heavenly.

But what has been even more heavenly is to watch this little bean grow.

  She started out only being able to write the letter H.  She still went #2 in a pull up.  She was an only child.  She couldn't sit still for any length of time...and then listen...to save her life.

But all that is old news.

She has grown so much it's almost ridiculous.  And I'm not just talking about the fact that all of her shirts stop precisely at her belly button now, making her 'style' less Gap and more Britney Spears.

 I'm talking about her, and all the parts of her that matter. 

I could brag for hours. 

So much so, it would make you sick. 

 But I'll save you from having to administer any anti-emetics. 

 That's what Ryan is for (to listen to the bragging, not to give you your drugs).

Let's just say this...

 This kid makes me so proud that I need to wear sunglasses (is this a good excuse to get a new pair?).

She makes me beam so bright that I should probably put some SPF 50 on too.

She's a big deal around here right now.

I love her and all her little preschooler guts.

Monday, Wednesdays, Fridays...here we come.

They counted to 20, sang their ABC's, sang 'I'm a little teapot', and performed 'Skidamarink a dinky dink'.

Hadley had no part of the Skidamarink performance.

Her biggest fan.

All the kids picked what they wanted to learn about next year.  Pretty much every girl said 'Princesses and Cheerleaders' and every boy said 'Monster Trucks and Cars.' 

 Hadley said 'Numbers.'

It made me cry a little. 

Because she's going to be a 'mathlete'.

(Kidding...I loved it.  And it did make me cry.)

Class of 2029. 

Awkward family photos contender.

Celebratory sundae and smooch.

leave it to bieber.

Last night we had some of our favorite father's over for Father's Day.

At dinner I asked Hadley to say what she loved most about each one.

Me:  Hads, what do you love most about Daddy?

H:  I love Dada because he loves everybody at the table.

Me:  What do you love most about Baba?

H:  I love that he loves me.

Me:  What do you love best about Pop?

H:  I love that Pop is just like Justin Bieber.

But really old.

Being an old Justin Bieber isn't the worst thing in the world.

I totally see the resemblance.

dad's day.

Happy Pop's Day to one of the best.
Who learned it all from one of the best.
And I should know...because I was raised by one of the best.
You Dads.
You sure are something special.
Thank you.

blue plate special.

I will take a plate of Hadley with a side of Carson please.

And maybe a little 'patty cake' for dessert.

got him trained.

This one had a rough morning. 

Maybe he's teething.  Or has an ear infection.  Or never wants me drink hot coffee and eat warm toast (ever again). 

Or just got up on the wrong side of the crib.

He just wasn't having it this morning.

None of it.

 Until I pulled out the camera.

And then he was just like Pavlov's dog.

An instant smile.

How's that for well trained?

Oh, my little people pleaser.
You are awfully stinking cute even when you're miserable.

i'll take it.

Not a shabby way to spend a Sunday.

doctor. doctor.

Carson's six month check-up.

27.5 inches long (85%)

17.5lbs (40%)

We make 'em long and lean...and dense.

Dense as in compact...not dense as in dumb.  I will let you know if he is dumb by his one year appt.   

Sis was once again a HUGE help and could easily answer every question about him that was asked. 

Good thing I didn't have anything that I needed to lie about. 

She totally would have thrown me under the bus.

It's a weird thing...I often lie at Doc visits (even my own). 

It's like I am afraid to fail some secret test.

Got four more shots. 

I held her. 

Don't I mean him? 

No. 

I mean her. 

Hadley was sobbing in the corner when 'bruddy' got his shots because she didn't want him to hurt.

Aw shucks.

I think she's just sick of Carsie getting all of the attention.

Job well done Hads.

jump johnny. jump.

This kid loves his johnny jump up like nothing I've ever seen.  I'm talking true blue love.  It's the real thing.  No puppy love.  It's Carson and Johnny 'sitting in a tree' kinda love. 

I think, if I let him, he'd take it out back and get it pregnant.

I hope they use protection.

things i like about her.

She tucks her thumbs in her hands when I lotion her up after the tubby.  Lotion makes her thumbs taste bad.  And Lord knows how much she likes her thumbs to taste good.

Her sense of smell is insanely acute.  She will get the slightest whiff of something and stops whatever it is she's doing to ask "What's that stinky sfell?'

She still calls bibs 'aprons' and yogurt 'yogrit'.

The other night she asked for more ketchup on her lagina. 

 She meant lasagna. 

She sings to her babies when she's alone in her room.

She can navigate Ryan's iphone better than I can.

She eats peanut butter with almost every meal.

She says 'actually', all the time.  'Well actually Mama...'

She wants to always know what Carson can and can't do.  And she is always thrilled at the things he cannot do.  For example:

H:  Mama when can Carson have suckers?

Me:  Maybe when he's two.

She laughs.

H:  Ya hear that Cars, you can't have a sucker till you're two!

She thinks because she is four she gets four of everything.

She's big into making up words and rhymers.  She called me 'Mama-ho' the other night.  And had NO idea why I couldn't stop laughing. 

See why I really like her?!

not fair.

It's supposed to be like this this weekend.  A high of 75 degrees.  I hope it rains.  I will be at work.  And yes, I am very bitter about it. 

Getting them to each smile for a picture...TOGETHER...an impossible fete.

Hopefully this is not the last sunny day I spend with my kids while they are young. Dramatic, I know. But seeing that Crystal Mountain is still open for biz, I'm getting a little nervous that our sunny Seattle days are fewer and further between. But oh, how this city enjoys them.  I love how grateful we are for a little Vitamin D.

something she can check off her bucket list.

Honestly.

You have no idea how excited this gal has been for this boy to start eating some 'real' food.

They are a messy twosome.

But their cuteness wins out.

Most of the time.