"Put Your Toots In The Potty"--Jeff

Oh, the things parents say! You just never know what's going to come out of your mouth (or theirs) next! It's part of what makes parenting fun. Y'all have a great weekend...and please, put your toots in the potty!

Anything You Want To Be

Childhood is such a magical time. Not only do you have the potential to be anything you want to be, you can actually be anything you want to be. And, you can change your mind every day, or every 10 minutes if you want. Yesterday, Ruth was a deck painter, and simultaneously a doctor. Later in the day, she was a ballerina/gymnast. Today, she was a photographer--complete with working camera and backdrops. She would get the background set up just so, then position Weston the way she wanted him, and then ask me if there was any particular pose I wanted for him. It was so cute...and so real. I love this time of life. It's just so wonderful!

Thanks For The Push

Close, But No Cigar

...And no hot tub. It seems the lady didn't want to deal with someone who needed to "make arrangements," so she gave the hot tub to someone else. This will not deter me in my quest for a free hot tub. Eventually, everyone in Austin will have one but me, and then you can bet it's going to be my turn!

Getting Warmer

I'm as close as I've ever been to aquiring the free hot tub of my dreams. I've actually had someone respond to one of my e-mails...and she said the hot tub is still available! We are currently playing phone tag, trying to set up a time to pick it up. I guess we also need to locate a truck, trailer and some friends with muscles, but those are all just details.

Waving Weston

Weston has learned how to wave and it is sooo cute, if I do say so myself. He hasn't really figured out that he should open his fingers, so he kind of waves with his fist, but he does it enthusiastically. The cutest thing was tonight at church when our friends came in with their three-month-old little girl. As soon as he saw her, he started waving to beat the band. I don't know if he just realized it was another baby, if he saw her toys or her pacifier or if he was just flirting, but he was certainly excited to see her. It was so sweet!

Ruth's Chocolate Milk

This morning Ruth was making things in her kitchen. Today's special was chocolate milk. She gave Jeff a glass, and he declared it to be the best he'd ever had. Then, he asked how she had made it. She proceeded to give him this recipe:

Chocolate Milk

1. 4 cups of boiling water, stirred well.
2. Add 3 cups of sugar. Stir well.
3. Add 1/3 cup of flour. Don't stir.
4. Add 2 cups of white chocolate chunks. Mash up mixture.
5. Add 6 cups of dark, dark chocolate chunks.
6. Add 1/4 cup of grape juice. Blend up mixture in blender.
7. Shake well. Serve chilled.

Serves 10

Little Boys

This evening we had dinner at Central Market, which meant plenty of playground time. So, I was wandering around on the playground trying to keep up with Ruth, when this little fellow--maybe three or four--just dropped his pants and let it rip. Moms all over the playground were gasping and chuckling, and just about the time the kid finished up, his own mom came running over and was completely mortified to find out what had just happened. That's when it hit me: this will happen to me on some unsuspecting day in the future. Little boys are just wired different--in so many ways--than little girls. And I guess when you gotta go, you gotta go.

Why do I Even Bother?

Thursday is "floor day" at our house--at least in my mind. In actuality, sometimes I get the floors done on this Thursday and sometimes it's a future Thursday. Today was a good day, so I got the floors vacuumed and mopped. I must admit, I was very proud of this accomplishment. Plus, it's just such a bonus not to stick to the tile every time you take a step. I even managed to pull it off without any children underfoot since they were resting. Then, after dinner, I looked around, and it was almost as if I dreamed this accomplishment. Aside from the faint smell of floor cleaner, there was little evidence of my hard work. Oh well. That's just life, I guess.

Not My Day

I decided to take a box full of clothes the children have outgrown to a consignment store this morning, thinking only of cash in my pocket and not anticipating anything unsavory. Well, just as I was pulling into the parking spot, Ruth said something--which, for the life of me, I now cannot recall--that totally distracted me, and I nudged the vehicle in the next spot ever so slightly. This woke up Weston, who began crying in earnest and never went back to sleep. It also disturbed the lady that was sitting inside said vehicle, and she got out to investigate. This big, white, Dodge truck belonged to her daughter, she said, who was just inside the store and was expected out momentarily. As if on cue, said lady appeared and announced that she "just got this truck." Great. Couldn't have been pulling in next to the 20-year-old clunker, could I? So, after leaving her all my important information, I headed out for my next errand. At this point, I'm desparately needing a strong drink, so I make a beeline for the Coke machine. This reminds Ruth that she, too, is thristy. I put a dollar in the machine and out pops Ruth's bottle of water. The next dollar goes in, is cheerfully accepted by the machine, and what do I get? Jack Squat! The machine ate my dollar and gave me nothing in return! And did I have anther dollar in my wallet? No, sir. All I had was a $20. Unbelievable! Finally, with the shopping trip behind me--and you can bet a potty break was demanded when we were nowhere near the restrooms--I made my way back to the consignment store to pick up my cashola. What was this day worth to me? $3.75. Should've just stayed in bed!

Farewell, Fat August

August was lots of fun. We attended Campmeeting, where we ate (and ate) the yummiest food ever. We celebrated my birthday for weeks, and every celebration brought with it another great dessert. We celebrated our anniversary, without even thinking about the calories we were consuming. And finally, (even though it wasn't August anymore) we celebrated the Labor Day holiday at the Watts'--need I say more?! It really would be wonderful if the party never had to end, but if it doesn't, I'll have a tough time squeezing into Jeff's jeans come Thanksgiving! So, adieu, pounds of raw cookie dough. Ciao, lobster tails dunked in butter. Adios, my beloved Mexican food. Hello, walking shoes and rice cakes. The time has come to put Fat August behind us.

Holiday Weekend

Here's the short version of our weekend:

Friday: Ruth had her first swim lesson and we headed to Jeff's parents' place at Lake Buchanan.



Saturday: Climbed Enchanted Rock and did a little shopping.



Sunday: Saw a real castle and a real teepee.


Monday: Visited Longhorn Cavern, ate the biggest pork chops ever and then came home.

Now That's Good Parenting

Ruth had her first swim lesson today, and it went very well. So afterward, I offered to take her out for a special lunch at one of her favorite places--Costco--and knock out some shopping while I was there. (Now, I must preface what follows with a reminder of yesterday's blog and the intolerable pickiness we've been enduring). So, we get to Costco, and Ruth orders up her favorite thing--cheese pizza. The slices there are huge and I knew it was unreasonable to expect her to eat the whole thing, so I cut it in half and told her she just had to eat half of it. She took about two bites and told me she didn't want anymore. Based on the week's behavior at eating times, I pressed her to finish just the one half. Costco has earned it's top ranking on Ruth's list of stores because they give out free samples, so I told her that she couldn't have any samples unless she finished her lunch. So, she trudged through the pizza, all the while complaining about having to eat it. Finally, she finished and plunged into her first sample. About five minutes after that, she started coughing and making gagging sounds and saying she was "throwing up"--which is a special trick of hers to get our attention from time to time. I told her once that she needed to stop but she did it again, and before I could correct her a second time she did in fact do just that--and not just a little either. They pretty much had to close down that aisle for a while. Minutes later, she says, "I'm fine. I just ate too much pizza." Ouch! That's going to leave a mark...and a stench!

Little Miss Picky Pants

You all remember my bragging about Ruth's alarmingly excellent behavior last week and my claim that it probably wouldn't last? Well, usually I love to be right, but not so much this time. We've butted heads quite a few times this week, and she's had a little rebellious streak that's been kind of hard to break. In particular, she has decided this week that she is going to be a picky eater. And she made this decision with the full knowledge that that is strictly prohibited in our house. If you don't eat what's put before you at dinner, you go to bed hungry and then you get to try again at breakfast; if you don't eat it for breakfast, it shows up again at lunchtime, etc. So, this has been our week. Tonight at dinner, the same thing--even though I tried to assuage the battle by making something I knew she liked, that she picked out herself. (She is stubborn like her daddy, what can I say)?! So, after Jeff and I had finished our meals, Jeff called me into the playroom for a parent conference. "What shall we do?" "Where shall we go from here?" We have newly papered one wall in there with maps, and I have to tell you I felt like a general in a strategy meeting trying to figure out how to take over the world. We may not take control of the world, but we do fully intend to take control of one stubborn little girl. So, who's up for quesadillas for breakfast?

Lonsome Dove

So, I know we're about 20 years late, but Jeff and I have spent this week--literally the whole week--watching Lonsome Dove. We laughed, we cried (o.k. so I cried) and generally enjoyed it very much. I was very bummed that Gus died, because he was definitely my favortie character. And I was very thankful that I was not around during that period of time. I would definitely have made a poor pioneer woman.

Girl's Night Out

My friend, Angela, and I had a little girl's night out tonight, and it was really great. We got pedicures, ate at Freebird's and did a little shopping--all while the Daddies entertained the kiddos.

I must tell you that I've had this little pedicure fear--really just a self-consciousness--for a few years ever since a nail tech laughed at my little pinky toes (that's right, laughed). But, I think I'm finally over that, and I may be able to visit the nail salon more often. Thanks, Angela.

Nine and Fine

Weston had his nine-month check-up today and everything looks great. He weighs 18 lbs. and 13 oz. (20th percentile) and is 28 1/2 in. tall (55th percentile). He didn't have to get any shots this time, so that was really great. The only problem he had was that something apparently stung him on his foot between the time I gave him a bath and the time I got him out of the car at the doctor's office. Dr. Ellis thought maybe it was a caterpillar based on how it looked, but I have not seen any caterpillars in my house, so I'm not sure. Basically, the whole pad of his foot has this raised, red, blisterish looking mark, but it doesn't seem to be bothering him too much so I guess he'll survive.

The Sky Is Falling

Oh my goodness! There is something unrecognizable falling from the sky! What can it be?! It's getting everything all wet! Oh, it's rain! What a sight for sore eyes! And the temperature is only 91! If it drops into the 80's we'll count this as our official day of Fall. When the kids wake up from their naps, we may just have to go puddle-jumping.

(I was going to post a picture so you would all believe me, but Blogger is having a bad attitude so you'll just have to take my word for it).

Anniversary, Celebrated

Jeff and I officially celebrated our anniversary last night and today in Gruene, TX--just outside New Braunfels while the kids stayed with my parents. (This was Weston's first time to be with someone else overnight, and he just did fabulous)! We stayed at the Gruene Homestead Inn in this adorable cabin built for two.
We ate dinner at the Gruene River Grill, overlooking the Guadelupe River. This morning we got up and had a wonderful breakfast at our B and B, and then made our way to the river for a little float trip. We relaxed in our tubes for two hours as we slowly made our way downriver. It was beautiful and wonderful. We saw a row of turtles in every size sitting on a low tree branch over the water as well as a hawk and lots of fish.

After drying off and changing clothes, we spent several hours in historic Gruene eating lunch at the Gristmill and visiting all the neat shops. We stopped in at Buck Pottery and bought the cutest little breadwarmer in honor of our "pottery anniversary." It was a wonderful time and made us feel like we were worlds away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Playing Catch-Up

I want to report that I am making progress on Weston's scrapbook. I am just about to put in his 3-month picture, which means I'm only about 6 months behind--if you don't count all the scrapbooking I didn't do between the time Ruth was one and now. I'd say overall, I'm on the right track. Scrapbooking is just one of my favorite things and with my new desk, it is really a joy instead of a burden. If only the seelf-cleaning function on my house weren't perpetually broken, I would have a lot more time for my hobby!