This is what Mash's mullet looks like in the mornings.
Isn't it great?
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
Proud Parenting
Last Saturday we went to a surprise dinner. Everyone in our church was assigned to a group and you showed up to someone's home not knowing who was going to be there. Our group was a hit. We reconnected with some, met others for the first time, and ate delicious barbecue. Brian and I left saying that was really fun!
But let's rewind to the middle of the dinner. We were outside eating, visiting, laughing. Kids were running around the yard entertaining themselves. Then we heard a commotion amongst the children, a few sounds of disgust coming from the older girls. Out of the corner of my eye I found the cause. I sat shocked for a millisecond as my brain processed that my son's pants were down, his little pot belly stuck out as he leaned back, and an impressively large arc of pee was spraying out into the middle of the yard.
I jumped up from the table and ran to him but my intervening did nothing to salvage our dignity.
Oh, um Silas! Sweetie, we don't pee outside. I see confusion in his face. Well, we only pee outside at our house. He feels the need to clarify. Mommy, we pee pee and poo poo outside at my house. Yes, that's right. Clearing my throat, so thankful for his thoroughness. But, Silas, when we are at someone else's house we only go potty in the toilet. Everyone graciously laughed and I informed our host that her lawn had been christened.
But yeah that's right people. Our potty training son pees outside and on particularly constipated occasions is allowed to poop outside. Something about being out in nature gets his bowels moving. And when he hasn't pooped in six days, desperate times call for desperate measures. I just hope the neighbors understand that when they look over and see our naked son walking around dropping baby ruths.
But let's rewind to the middle of the dinner. We were outside eating, visiting, laughing. Kids were running around the yard entertaining themselves. Then we heard a commotion amongst the children, a few sounds of disgust coming from the older girls. Out of the corner of my eye I found the cause. I sat shocked for a millisecond as my brain processed that my son's pants were down, his little pot belly stuck out as he leaned back, and an impressively large arc of pee was spraying out into the middle of the yard.
I jumped up from the table and ran to him but my intervening did nothing to salvage our dignity.
Oh, um Silas! Sweetie, we don't pee outside. I see confusion in his face. Well, we only pee outside at our house. He feels the need to clarify. Mommy, we pee pee and poo poo outside at my house. Yes, that's right. Clearing my throat, so thankful for his thoroughness. But, Silas, when we are at someone else's house we only go potty in the toilet. Everyone graciously laughed and I informed our host that her lawn had been christened.
But yeah that's right people. Our potty training son pees outside and on particularly constipated occasions is allowed to poop outside. Something about being out in nature gets his bowels moving. And when he hasn't pooped in six days, desperate times call for desperate measures. I just hope the neighbors understand that when they look over and see our naked son walking around dropping baby ruths.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Double Rainbow Week
I just had one.
It all started with Brian taking a week off from work. It was really nice to have him home. We think he might go ahead and retire.
Then two of my favorite people in the world (Nikki and Emily) brought their kids and came to stay with us for the weekend. These gals are my dear friends. Brian is quite fond of their husbands as well. I'm sure those are the words he would use. We met in a life group almost 9 years ago and over the years they have become like family. When we're together we laugh off about 10,000 calories and I leave the presence of these women feeling understood and encouraged. Here's the fun we had:
We ended Brian's staycation week with a bang by taking the kids to a waterpark. They liked it. We liked it. We got there when it opened and stayed until they closed. It was one of those times when you sit back watching your children laugh in excitement and think, I absolutely love having kids. I think I want 16 more. But then it would cost $600 to go to a waterpark so that wouldn't really work. Darn those waterparks. They ruin everything.
And napped in the heat.
Silas found some slides and played there all day.
He only took a break to try the wave pool.
This is what happened as we drove out of the parking lot.
It all started with Brian taking a week off from work. It was really nice to have him home. We think he might go ahead and retire.
Then two of my favorite people in the world (Nikki and Emily) brought their kids and came to stay with us for the weekend. These gals are my dear friends. Brian is quite fond of their husbands as well. I'm sure those are the words he would use. We met in a life group almost 9 years ago and over the years they have become like family. When we're together we laugh off about 10,000 calories and I leave the presence of these women feeling understood and encouraged. Here's the fun we had:
Painting with chocolate pudding. Silas got a tummy ache when he tried to finish off the entire bowl. The boy loves chocolate more than a 40 year old woman after a stressful day.
The kids enjoyed rafting with Mr. Brian.
The older ones swam for at least 16 hours over the weekend.
Look at this handsome group. Mollie decided to show her best side.
We ended Brian's staycation week with a bang by taking the kids to a waterpark. They liked it. We liked it. We got there when it opened and stayed until they closed. It was one of those times when you sit back watching your children laugh in excitement and think, I absolutely love having kids. I think I want 16 more. But then it would cost $600 to go to a waterpark so that wouldn't really work. Darn those waterparks. They ruin everything.
Mash splashed, stomped and explored.
He only took a break to try the wave pool.
This is what happened as we drove out of the parking lot.
Brian does it bother you when I photograph you driving?
Yes.
Is it still bothering you?
Yes Angie.
Ok just checking.
Today we had a "lay around" day at the house to recuperate. I asked Silas what he was thinking about as he quietly ate his lunch. Oh, juss thinkin about da wadapawk. Da owange swide and yewow swide and da bwue swide and da waves. I was doing the same thing.
Feeling blessed.
Feeling blessed.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Monkeys are Scary
During the dead silence of last night a screaming Silas burst into our room. Unfortunately this is not unusual but I must have been in a deep sleep stage because I woke up startled not knowing where I was or who was screaming. When I came to I quickly became focused on comforting my child. His chest was heaving as he clung to his daddy. This wasn't the typical night waking. He was reeheeheeheeally scared. I could see that Brian was in "Brian-sleepy-zombie" mode because he was actually still asleep while he sat up holding Silas. I stepped in.
Did you have a bad dream sweetie? (rubbing his head)
Yes!
What was your dream about?
A big monkey! (interesting I thought)
What did the monkey do?
The monkey tickled me then the monkeys got me. The monkeys were big and had lots of eyes and were HAIRY! They were big and they bumped their heads (he points to the ceiling). They were mean monkeys.
They came in my room and got me mommeeeeee!
I turned on the lights and rubbed his back saying, look Silas, you're in our room, there are no monkeys, you're ok (bringing him back to reality).
After I got him calmed down I slapped Brian on the back of the head and said wake up chump! He did and carried Silas back to his bed to help him go back to sleep.
But suddenly I wanted to be there with them and not alone in our bed. Silas was a little too thorough in his description of the monkeys. If you stop to picture a big hairy monkey with lots of eyes all up in your face and you have a problem like me where you tend to slip into scary fantasy worlds and think they're reality you would get scared too. I have to get soap in my eyes when I wash my face because if I close them I know a scary man will be standing behind me when I look up. My plan is to grow out of this when I turn thirty because you can't be thirty and still be scared of these shenanigans.
Did you have a bad dream sweetie? (rubbing his head)
Yes!
What was your dream about?
A big monkey! (interesting I thought)
What did the monkey do?
The monkey tickled me then the monkeys got me. The monkeys were big and had lots of eyes and were HAIRY! They were big and they bumped their heads (he points to the ceiling). They were mean monkeys.
They came in my room and got me mommeeeeee!
I turned on the lights and rubbed his back saying, look Silas, you're in our room, there are no monkeys, you're ok (bringing him back to reality).
After I got him calmed down I slapped Brian on the back of the head and said wake up chump! He did and carried Silas back to his bed to help him go back to sleep.
But suddenly I wanted to be there with them and not alone in our bed. Silas was a little too thorough in his description of the monkeys. If you stop to picture a big hairy monkey with lots of eyes all up in your face and you have a problem like me where you tend to slip into scary fantasy worlds and think they're reality you would get scared too. I have to get soap in my eyes when I wash my face because if I close them I know a scary man will be standing behind me when I look up. My plan is to grow out of this when I turn thirty because you can't be thirty and still be scared of these shenanigans.
In the meantime let's pray that we get no more nightly visits from this guy.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Silas These Days
Wears a baseball cap because the sun is too bwight.
Loves his giraffe.
Plays with his hands (right hand is "Big Hand" and has a deep voice, left hand is "Little Hand" and has squeaky voice)
Is fascinated with manly vehicles (semi-trucks, anything with a trailer, trucks with campers, car haulers, dump trucks, cement trucks, tractors, you get the picture.)
Asks, "Can I watch you go away?" when people leave.
Has stinky feet.
Eats a "peanut honey" every day for lunch (almond butter/raw honey sandwich.)
Says I love you in sign language by giving a peace sign.
Scratches my back for 1.9 seconds when I ask him to.
Says "you make me funny" instead of "you make me laugh."
Watches Mr. Rogers. Alot.
Say's goo goo ga ga and crawls whenever we give Mash attention.
Is very in touch with his and others' emotions.
Refuses to use toothpaste with fluoride (iss too hot mommy!)
Calls my purse a person.
Loves music (almost always singing, playing piano, dancing, and/or drumming.)
Asks every night at 8:30 if it's morning time (wishful thinking.)
Always always wants to help.
Likes to play karate chops, chase, and hide and seek.
Keeps me on my toes.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Quality Family Time
Meet the Miller Traveling Band. All we require is a complete Rock Band setup (to accentuate our raw talent) and that nudity be allowed.
I don't know why he's naked. I never do.
I don't know why he's naked. I never do.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Parent's Retreat
This weekend we packed up grease lightening, dropped the kids off with mi madre and headed to San Antonio, TX for a little lover's getaway. You see, we haven't been lovers lately. We've sorta been fighters. So we needed a getaway.
We stayed in a hotel by the Riverwalk. Saturday we slept in. As in, didn't get woken up by a whiny 3-year old at 6:45. Yes Silas if you read this one day, you were very whiny in the mornings. Let's say that again because it feels so good. We slept in. Ahhh.
After sleeping in we headed to Schlitterbahn. It's a water park and it was Saturday. And it was a "promotional" Saturday. So there were only about 3.2 million people there. That equaled waiting in line for 2 hours to go down a slide. And even though we only went on a total of 3 slides and around a few rivers, the day wasn't lost. While we were in the first line I decided we should play 21 questions to pass the time. Of course we had to come up with a wager for whoever had the most wins at the end of the day. I wanted a world-famous Brian foot rub if I won. I rarely get them. And I wanted a really long one that would make him sweaty and his forearms sore the next day. Then Brian informed me he wanted a new chip for his truck that would make it get better gas mileage. It only costs $200. Oh that's all? Sure. I agreed because I knew I would win. I have ESP with Brian and I'm about 100x more competitive than him. So the game commenced.
The tournament was heated. Every time a round ended, the victor would scream and cheer and I would look up and see crowds of people smiling at us and realize that we were entertaining everyone in line. We should have charged Schlitterbahn for our services. And Brian was sweating bullets the whole day because of this game. Who knew he wanted that dang chip so bad? At one point he lovingly grabbed me by the neck when he knew he was about to lose yet another round and said, but I need that chip! I said well then you better start coming up with harder subjects and stop insulting my intelligence with things like a monkey! He eventually upped his game and made a comeback. Some of the more memorable games involved tree bark, the Liberty Bell memorial, Mary Poppins, creme brulee, Dwight Schrute, and nipple hair. Brian was fuming when I used my powers to guess his eel in a record 8 questions.
Throughout the day I would find myself thinking as we stood in eternal lines, Oh yeah, we're at Schlitterbahn! The game was only interrupted by the total of 45 seconds we spent going down slides.
That night the game was put on the back burner while we spent a wonderful dinner by the water on the Riverwalk. It was a really nice night. Followed by another morning of sleeeeeping innnnnn.
The game ended Sunday morning as we stood in line for world famous tacos at the Taco Taco Cafe. After a few rounds we were still tied. But then he guessed my place: Chipotle (It's easy I know. I had a moment of weakness because of intense hunger pains). If he could stump me he would win the whole tournament. I wasn't scared. I had him. I started guessing. Narrowed it down to a place in Las Vegas. Had 7 guesses left. Cake walk. I started guessing. Bellagio. MGM. New York, New York. Circus Circus. Mandalay Bay. Is it one of the big hotels? Yes, and you have one guess left. Oh dang. No problem, I will just use my powers. I closed my eyes and cleared my mind. The pyramid with the beam of light came into focus. That's it! The Mirage! I yelled it as everyone watched nervously. Nope! It's the Luxor! I win! I win! I get the chip!
It was a low blow to my gut when I realized I had the right hotel but said the wrong name. So disappointing. What a way to end the game. But it was fun to see Brian so happy to finally beat me at something. It's only taken him about 13 years but he finally did it.
All in all it was a great weekend. We had important deep discussions during the drive, spent quality time with God, and had alot of fun. We are refreshed.
But most importantly, Brian can now be united with his beloved chip.
We stayed in a hotel by the Riverwalk. Saturday we slept in. As in, didn't get woken up by a whiny 3-year old at 6:45. Yes Silas if you read this one day, you were very whiny in the mornings. Let's say that again because it feels so good. We slept in. Ahhh.
After sleeping in we headed to Schlitterbahn. It's a water park and it was Saturday. And it was a "promotional" Saturday. So there were only about 3.2 million people there. That equaled waiting in line for 2 hours to go down a slide. And even though we only went on a total of 3 slides and around a few rivers, the day wasn't lost. While we were in the first line I decided we should play 21 questions to pass the time. Of course we had to come up with a wager for whoever had the most wins at the end of the day. I wanted a world-famous Brian foot rub if I won. I rarely get them. And I wanted a really long one that would make him sweaty and his forearms sore the next day. Then Brian informed me he wanted a new chip for his truck that would make it get better gas mileage. It only costs $200. Oh that's all? Sure. I agreed because I knew I would win. I have ESP with Brian and I'm about 100x more competitive than him. So the game commenced.
The tournament was heated. Every time a round ended, the victor would scream and cheer and I would look up and see crowds of people smiling at us and realize that we were entertaining everyone in line. We should have charged Schlitterbahn for our services. And Brian was sweating bullets the whole day because of this game. Who knew he wanted that dang chip so bad? At one point he lovingly grabbed me by the neck when he knew he was about to lose yet another round and said, but I need that chip! I said well then you better start coming up with harder subjects and stop insulting my intelligence with things like a monkey! He eventually upped his game and made a comeback. Some of the more memorable games involved tree bark, the Liberty Bell memorial, Mary Poppins, creme brulee, Dwight Schrute, and nipple hair. Brian was fuming when I used my powers to guess his eel in a record 8 questions.
Throughout the day I would find myself thinking as we stood in eternal lines, Oh yeah, we're at Schlitterbahn! The game was only interrupted by the total of 45 seconds we spent going down slides.
That night the game was put on the back burner while we spent a wonderful dinner by the water on the Riverwalk. It was a really nice night. Followed by another morning of sleeeeeping innnnnn.
The game ended Sunday morning as we stood in line for world famous tacos at the Taco Taco Cafe. After a few rounds we were still tied. But then he guessed my place: Chipotle (It's easy I know. I had a moment of weakness because of intense hunger pains). If he could stump me he would win the whole tournament. I wasn't scared. I had him. I started guessing. Narrowed it down to a place in Las Vegas. Had 7 guesses left. Cake walk. I started guessing. Bellagio. MGM. New York, New York. Circus Circus. Mandalay Bay. Is it one of the big hotels? Yes, and you have one guess left. Oh dang. No problem, I will just use my powers. I closed my eyes and cleared my mind. The pyramid with the beam of light came into focus. That's it! The Mirage! I yelled it as everyone watched nervously. Nope! It's the Luxor! I win! I win! I get the chip!
It was a low blow to my gut when I realized I had the right hotel but said the wrong name. So disappointing. What a way to end the game. But it was fun to see Brian so happy to finally beat me at something. It's only taken him about 13 years but he finally did it.
All in all it was a great weekend. We had important deep discussions during the drive, spent quality time with God, and had alot of fun. We are refreshed.
But most importantly, Brian can now be united with his beloved chip.
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