Happy (Late) 4th!

I'm emptying out our memory cards in preparation for my trip to Hawaii tomorrow and came across our 4th of July pics.

This year we couldn't fireworks nearby, so we decided to skip it and just BBQ and swim at my parents.

On our way home, though, we passed a church and it looked like people were parking for a fireworks show, so we did the same.

We waited 45 min in the smoldering heat. Luckily, there was half a watermelon in the car and we dug up a plastic spoon from somewhere and snacked on that while waiting.
After the fireworks started, Mark and I got nervous that if it took us to long to load up we'd be stuck waiting for half an hour.

So, in the middle of the show (or probably 2/3s the way through it) we told the kids they could watch the rest from the car and just booked it out of there. We both felt a little bad, but it was awesome to have A/C after waiting that long in 110 degree weather. (Yeah, just b/c it's dark outside does NOT mean the heat has subsided.) I was even wearing my bathing suit and my hair was still wet. Jeez.

Anyway, the kids LOVED it and I'm glad we stopped. It doesn't get much better than watermelon, swimming, and fireworks on the fourth of July!

*(next up, my trip to Hawaii!)

Big Brother

Jaxon is a really sweet big brother.
Just now I went in to check on him and his brother. They were both snuggled up on Jaxon's twin bed. Asher was asleep on the pillow, Jaxon was kind of smooshed against the wall.

Jaxon was holding Asher's hand, had moved Asher's bear up by his face, and put a crown of baby toys on his head. He also gave him a kiss and "did everything to make him so happy when he wakes up."

So cute!

Top Six Things that Don't Inspire Confidence in A Babysitter

Mark and I have had pretty good luck with babysitters. Most of them are excellent, they clean the house, leave gifts for the kids, and are very attentive. But, we've had a few odd experiences, so I thought I'd pass them along. (Note, some of these babysitters we still like and use.)

Top Six Things that Don't Inspire Confidence in A Babysitter

6. The last thing you see as you leave the house is her looking down at her phone, texting. "Uh, bye." she says.

5. You get home and the house looks like it's been inhabited by chimpanzees: a bag of Doritos crumbs strewn across the floor, clothes hanging from odd places, toys that I didn't even know we had piled up everywhere.

4. The babysitter calls and asks if you have a cat because there's something scratching on the garage door. "Um, no cat, and really, you're not scared?"

3. As you leave, and when you get home, the kids are watching a movie and the babysitter is reading a book. It looks as though the kids have ruled the nest for three hours.

2. She says, "Fine." When you ask how babysitting went. Really? That's the best you can do?

The number one thing that makes you lack confidence in your babysitter is when you find her asleep on your sofa (not a big deal by itself) at 10 pm. Then, you take pictures because it's so cute and she doesn't wake up. Then you talk loudly so she'll wake up, and that doesn't work. Then you shake her and she finally wakes up, but not really. So, you take her home in a complete daze (she doesn't know who you are and won't remember it in the morning). That really makes you nervous.


Do you have any babysitting stories?

Pretty Darn Lucky

So, Mark is a pretty good husband. One of the best, actually.

Next week (exactly a week from today), he is taking 8 days off work to watch our kids while I go to Kauai with my cousins.

I'm going to be gone over Jaxon's birthday, and we'll have a family party before I leave, but Mark is going to handle Jaxon's party by himself! What a stud.

Also, I've offered to grocery shop and meal plan, but he's told me not to worry about it (perhaps he'll get some help from Mr. Ronald McDonald).

In fact, my traveling while Mark stays with the kids is actually his idea.

Isn't that awesome?

Oh, and his butt looks really good when he does his P90X workout.

Pretty much the perfect husband, aren't you, HoneyBunz?

Today's Revelation: Picky Eaters

Like a good mother, I've always insisted that my boys eat what is offered at dinner, or not eat until breakfast. They must try one bite of everything I serve. I'm not forcing them to finish all the food on their plates, as that points to later bad eating behaviors. However, I don't want them to be picky eaters, so I refuse to be a short-order cook.

So, why are my kids such bad eaters at dinner? They eat fine at their other meals, and that's when I realized that I'm a HYPOCRITE!

I am totally a short-order cook throughout the entire day.

Breakfast can be cereal and Carnation Instant Breakfast for Asher, eggs and toast for Jaxon, and yogurt and fruit for Finn.

Lunch is leftover mac and cheese for Finn, veggies and PB & J for Asher, and Turkey and Cheese sandwich for Jaxon.

And I also whip up snacks on demand, like today when Asher brought me the oatmeal tub and I made him oatmeal with apples and cinnamon on the stove.

So, when dinner comes around and mom doesn't give these little guys exactly what they want, they refuse to eat.

Who's fault is it that they're picky eaters? Geez!

Mark, I Love You, But . . .

Right now I'm eating that juicy steak I bought you for your P90X diet.

It is delicious. Hot off the grill with spices and Heinz 57 sauce.

Mmmmm. So good.

I really meant to cook it for you, but it was past it's expiration date and I didn't think it could wait six more hours for you to come home.

Please, will you forgive me?