The zoo

On Saturday we took the boys and Jessi to the zoo. We arrived as it opened in hopes to avoid the heat but it was soon scorching anyway. We all seemed happy to hover for however long the boys wished to play in anything involving mist or air conditioning.

Ben enjoyed the carousel or merry-go-round as Jess argued. I haven't had a chance to look up the difference but I am leaning towards me being right. I sat on the stationary manatee so that I could take pictures and the sweet gentleman running the ride came by to say that while he was a magnificent creature, he wouldn't be moving up and down. I thanked him and appreciated in him the character to do a job well, no matter the job.

Jess and Joshy paid to watch the machines that mold the hot wax into a figurine. These are their faces when the mold opened to reveal the giraffe.

We were lucky to catch a worker sitting out with a live alligator for the kids to pet. Joshy was hesitant after he was told to avoid the head so he wasn't bit. Joshy looks at the back warily and asks the keeper if the back will bite him too. He was still hesitant as he rubbed his hand down the rough scales but not Ben. Ben dived towards the alligator from Jessi's lap.

The one place Joshy was adamant about seeing before we left was the gorillas. Every time he would ask he would beat his chest to make sure I knew what he was referencing. We made it there last, rather tired and rather sweaty. Pushing a double stroller up a hill is hard work. You almost need someone behind pushing you.

Ben has a stuffed gorilla at home that he loves. As soon as he saw these pictures, he walked up and, well, I would like to say gently ran his hand along the picture of the face, but it was more a beating really. Still, he had a smile, so I am certain he was slamming it with love.

After three hours we were done. There was little steam left as we drug towards the exit, the 100 degree heat zapping more energy than the walking. As I turned to check on them, Ben was laying his head on his brother, both their faces signaling the readiness for a nap. The great part...after yesterday they slept until 7 this morning. Clearly they need to be zapped by the sun more often...

Quote of the Week

An intellectual snob is someone who can listen to the William Tell Overture and not think of The Lone Ranger. - Dan Rather

Media Overload

I am so aggravated with the media and the ridiculous coverage of the Gosselins. I am angry at the spin the media puts on these stories and aggravated that I let myself be sucked into the black hole of the pop culture underbelly by caring. I am frustrated that the parents didn't quit the show or act like normal boring people that wouldn't be worth the media frenzy. No one cares about the quiet dad who rents a one-bedroom in the next town where he can get a job so that he is close to his family. People care when you are holding hands with some chick a month later in France. I don't look at the People Magazines for this. I look to see pictures of Harry Potter cheating at monopoly or Edward buying Bran Flakes and yes, I am apparently 13, but that doesn't ruin lives. There is fluff, the Halle Berry blows bubbles with daughter, the dessert for the brain. That counteracts the weighty stories of merit. The economy, the war, health care initiatives. The Jon and Kate mess, that is somewhere in the middle. It is the rubbernecking of pop culture and they are hiding the wreckage in my ice cream sundae. I am left to swear off frozen delicacies or eat around the unwanted pieces, frustrated to have to make the choice. When I pay for Ashton watching soccer, they are paid for the carnage all the same. Yes, the Gosselins put themselves out there but the world didn't notice until the lightening struck and who do you blame for the devastating wild fire, the dry grass or the wind? If you know the answer, you're a smarter person than I and probably have an interesting take on the chicken and the egg.

Reunion 2009

I have been putting off blogging about the reunion as there are a gazillion (actual figure...I counted) pictures and with the obligation to post at least one from each segment of the weekend, while considering the fact that I can only upload a few at a time, well, you are getting a picture of the time investment. But, excuses aside, the weekend began with a boat ride out on Greenleaf Lake Saturday morning. It was much cooler than the year before, so instead of baking in the sun, we were figuring out what we would be doing for four hours on a boat having forgotten the fishing equipment and in no way wanting to get in the freezing lake. I would like to tell you what was done for four hours but I remember laying down and covering my legs with a towel and that is about it.

I rely on Jess as photographer for all the moments I miss. It is funny because her obsession with taking pictures of herself doing this or that or with "fill in the blank" works both ways. Yes, we all laugh about her autobiography in pictures but how do you think I have so many pictures of the boys? She is the one out there on the lawn or taking pictures of them getting stick on tattoos. All of those silly little moments where you think, how did you think to capture that. I didn't. I just habitually download Jess's memory card.

My husband, the skipper.

As I said, it was freezing and this was as far as Joshy wanted to get into the water. If it were me holding him instead of my dad, it would have been a much shorter or much wetter experience for him.

Ben loved the life vest. I put it on him in order to be in compliance as we were leaving the dock but figured that I would take it off when we were just floating in one place. When I went to remove it, he started screaming. He couldn't even move with that thing around his neck. Barely drink. But I left it on and he wore it until we stepped back off the boat.

2007

2008

2009

Water balloons. John and I were called out of our cabin by Jess and Joshy, who were standing there with hands behind their back. In the world of water balloons, it doesn't take much to start a war.

We asked Joshy to help Ben get back to the cabin while we grabbed the rest of the water stuff from the car. Joshy grabs Ben's arm and what you are not seeing, is seven adults dropping gear to grab cameras and follow them taking pictures. Well, seven may be an exaggeration (see: gazillion) but it was borderline paparazzi.

Saturday afternoon we went out to the softball field for a pick-up game. It was over 100 degrees, easy, but, for the most part, there was no digression to sitting in the outfield with a "I'll catch it if you hit it to me". Joshy wanted to take a turn at bat. We only had the one bat, which was almost as tall as he was and not light but he choked up on that thing and actually hit the ball pitched to him. You would never guess he was his Father's son...as you can see from the bat to ball distance in the picture below.

Years: 3 Hits: 0

Eventually, I looked over to see John and the boys just playing in the grass. So he can't hit a ball with a bat...I think that he makes up for it and then some in the arenas that actually matter. His boys love him.

On Saturday night, there is a pool party for the whole family with swimming, miniature golf and dinner. Carolyn mans the grill and makes these amazing enchiladas. Not a small chore when the "whole" family is over 70 people easy.

On Sunday, we all get together for the official reunion lunch. Everyone brings something and we eat. There is a park near the pavilion for ancy kids and after lunch, we hold a raffle and then part ways.

This started as Joshy and his Papa roughhousing and ended with a full on siege. Where is Bobby? Oh, he is in the corner attacking Donald. Joshy loves wrestling around with Dad and Dad enjoys it too. I think that he is making up for all the time spent doing ponytails. Perfect ponytails with no bumps and eyes that now look Chinese.

Joshy won in the raffle.

Group pictures are always impossible but our shirts look great! Mom, Jess and I spent a Tuesday night designing them. Plus, you can always shorten them and wear them again...

Bring out your Dead

Today I have the privilege of being sick with...well...that kind of sickness where you need to be near a bathroom, preferably your own. (Thank you Benjamin) I had meant to close my eyes for just a moment around 1:00pm and then woke up at 6:15. Okay, so maybe my body was tired. I stumble downstairs, still groggy, and seeing Joshy, start to walk up for a hug when he yells, "DON'T HUG ME". I just look at him when I hear John in the background. He had told them that I was sick and if they got near me and got sick that they couldn't go to swim lessons tomorrow. I feel like a leper who should be screaming "unclean" while walking along the street. Luckily, Ben, being blessed along with me, had no warnings against clinging to my leg at sight. I suppose that he and I will just make our own leper colony together. So what if you all are having fun on this Friday night. Ben and I are sitting in a cave waiting for a finger to fall off. Beat that.

Isn't it ironic...

To all of those who define ironic as insects in wine and hard to find silverware, you have never come home from work and decided that you would go ahead and shower and straighten your hair, only to finish and sit with your son who proceeds to vomit a day's worth of food and drink while in your lap. Ironic. Don't you think?

Harry Potter and the Lizards of Hogwarts

Tonight we were watching a bit of the Harry Potter movies that had been showing on TV in marathon after marathon building up to tonight's opening of the new movie and in this particular movie, there was a Hippogryph that Harry bowed to and was then able to ride. Malfoy, or whatever his name is, marches up and gets clawed by the animal. That is when Joshy explains that Malfoy got hurt because he didn't show the Hippogryph respect. It just sounded so old coming out of his mouth. Especially after spending 10 minutes trying to figure out what the "Lizard" movie was that he wanted to watch. The best part is that as soon as it comes on he yells, "Yes, this one. Harry Potter". Really? You knew the name Harry Potter and the best clue you could give me was "lizard". You know, the lizard movie. The one with all the LIZARDS.

Quote of the Week

"Everybody lies, but it doesn't matter because nobody listens." - Nick Diamos

A Night Out

Last night, thanks to my gracious husband, I was able to go out with a friend to dinner and a movie. It was really in honor of both of our birthdays which happen to only be week a part and being a fellow chick-type person, I knew she would be a perfect companion to finally see The Proposal with. In thinking about the movie, I had decided that nothing sounded better than scrunching down in a semi-comfortable seat in a cool theater and eating a slice of cheese cake. Thinking of nicer theaters, I knew that they were against the outside food thing. So, in comes the plan. We swung by Cheesecake Factory and picked up two pieces of cheesecake for us to smuggle into the theater. I had figured that if I removed everything from the bag I could fit two of their cheesecake containers. Of course, I order the 20th anniversary thing just to try something different and instead of a cheesecake container it comes in this huge platter size dish. Great. So, my friend is on her own with her cheesecake because I have to figure out how to fit a dinner plate into my purse. I empty out the purse completely and begin to stuff, at this point paying little attention to the cake/cheesecake bouncing around in its box. Once I finally get it in there, bend the plastic edge over and zip it up, my purse is a perfectly defined square. She and I were so proud of ourselves, walking outside the line for the sake of cheesecake. Deciding it would be easiest to go to the closest theater, we went to an older theater located in the nearby mall. We walked up to the booth to buy tickets, teetering on the edge of the law and were given two tickets and told to enjoy the show. No one searched our bags or even looked at us suspiciously. Not even a second glance. I clearly could have bought tickets wearing the cheesecake on my head. No one checked our tickets or seemingly cared if we were just walking in to take a movie for free complete with a buffet brought from home. It was entirely disappointing. Breaking rules is no fun if nobody cares.

I love that boy

We all have love in our lives in various forms from various sources but there is a love that I never knew until I had my boys. It is this crazy love that makes your heart want to explode if you don't act on it immediately. Tonight I was sitting on the couch when I can hear the sound of one of Joshy's Christmas books playing O Little Town of Bethlehem while he made up words to the song. After hearing his sweet falsetto voice sing a verse and a half, I couldn't stand it and took off from the couch, ran upstairs and tackled him in the bed. I give him this huge bear hug and tell him that his singing makes my heart smile and he just looks at me and says, "I love you all the time". Of course, he also loves flashlights, sprinklers, eating snacks and whatever else he is trying to get us to give him (Mom, can I wear my new shirt? Not right now...you can wear it tomorrow. But I love new shirts. Good, you can wear it to school tomorrow. But I love it right now.). Even so, it is nice to be on that list.

4th of July

On the fourth, as we always do, we made the trek to Choctaw to spend the night setting off fireworks at my parent's house. The thing we haven't done before is sit inside while a monsoon rained us out. The boys were so busy playing, it made little difference and as far as Joshy was concerned, getting to do poppers and the like the next day was more than sufficient. I did miss sitting out on the lawn and watching the boys light as many as they can at the same time and then sprint off in the other direction. There is always the one that falls over or shoots straight into a tree but you take the hand exploding off your arm risk to make it to the finale. Yes it is fun to hold a tube that explodes fire balls or four tiered sparklers but nothing beats the oohs and ahs of watching the sky light up in quicker and quicker succession until they merge together in a bittersweet finale. You can imagine sitting on the ship, the rockets lighting a glimpse of the flag. You can imagine how long you will be scratching because you forgot to put on bug spray. Where do all these mosquitoes come from anyway? Is there a frog shortage I don't know about? I thought that is what they ate.

Joshy and my dad played pirates with the new foam hats and swords I had bought the boys. The more the cherish the art of fighting, the more I gravitate towards toys with give. Joshy and my dad have a special bond. As soon as he sees him, he runs and punches dad in the stomach, ready to pick up wrestling where they left off.

Prior to the rain clouds rolling in, the boys spent some time playing in the water. Joshy is a good teacher and Ben a quick study.

I don't know...do you think Ben is enjoying himself?

Joshy had stumbled into a pack of Wolverine tattoos and wanted one on each cheek. He loves the superhero movies and he LOVES fake tattoos. Need we revisit the pictures from when Jessi babysits and we come home to a boy covered from head to toe.

I hope that everyone had a Happy Fourth.

It is all fun and games until someone calls you on it

Okay...so, you know how when you are talking with someone about them buying a house and instead of a gift, joke that you are going to paint them a painting that they have to hang over the mantle and it becomes this sort of running joke? You do? Great. Well, this is my warning to avoid it at all costs. Spoiler alert...it ends bad. Oh, it seems like innocent fun at first but then they actually get the house and you have been joking about it so long that they state that they now require the aforementioned painting and you sit down to paint something ridiculous, get overpowered by your overactive perfectionist tendencies and proceed to spend 10 hours painting and repainting and repainting again. I started with a huge canvas that was painted various greens in straight strokes that was then covered with a background of various greens made with sweeping strokes. The difference? No difference. Just the evil voice in my head telling me that something just seems off. Evil voice aka Black Hole of Time. The background debacle then devolved into visions of 3 dimension and in turn, taking to a melamine wine glass with a jig saw and belt sander. Yes, that was me in the back yard sanding my $1.50 cent plastic cup. We will just skip right over the attempts to make wine using acrylic water and food coloring with foil as the container. I went through two small canvases on the big green canvas and then one small canvas on a medium one painted purple. I had a wine bottle on the small canvas along with 4 layers of yellow paint covering my attempts at painting a cup. My first cup looked amazingly like glass. The problem? In my attempt to attain the "how" of painting glass, I forgot the "how" of keeping things in proportion. When I stepped back, my wine glass was ginormous in comparison to the bottle. So it was double the width...it looked like glass! My attempt to fix the goliath cup is a fuzzy memory but what is clear is that editing at midnight is never a good idea. I woke up this morning and did not remember it looking that bad last night. Final solution...bottles. Big on coverage, little on detail. No matter what color or shape you end up with, calling it intentional, with bottles, works. All I have to say is that I am entirely thankful to be done, she so owes me for this and that there is this joke about a human size vase for a wedding present that I fully plan to nip in the bud tomorrow...

Clearly it is not Picasso but for my first completed painting, I consider the fact that you can tell what they are to be success in itself. Trust me, the attempt with the stick figure holding a full color wine bottle did not fall in this category.

Brothers gotta hug...

Today Joshua was in trouble and had to sit in time out. Soon enough, Ben was in the corner sitting with him. Quitely keeping his brother company until it was time again to play. It is amazing to me how much he already loves his big brother and wants to be like him. John and the boys built a fort out of blankets and I could just hear Ben and Joshy crawling in and out and laughing. Joshy steps on Ben, Ben hits Joshy. Joshy says sorry, Ben gives Joshy a hug. They fight with swords, they fight with pretend webs from their hands. They walk around the house hitting things with plastic golf clubs and sit on the same couch cushion to watch TV. Joshy yells for us whenever Ben goes near the stairs, Ben cries when Joshy won't let him steal his toy. One says "mine" while the other, "Ben won't share". Ben drops his drink, without a thought, Joshy picks it up. If Joshy gets hurt, Ben rubs his arm to tell him it is okay. Somehow, outside of my notice, a brotherly bond has formed beyond what I could have hoped for. I suppose it is a fact of life. Brothers don't shake hands, brothers gotta hug.

I hate the dentist because...

I decided to try a new dentist due to their proximity to work and figuring that no dentist is really all that different from another. Perhaps that is true for dentists but hygienists? I found out too late that that is an entirely different story. The first thing she noted was that my wisdom teeth were impacted, meaning they are there but haven't cut through the surface. Ominously said, she made impacted sound like an incurable disease...teeth growing into the back of my skull. I am sorry doctor, we tried to save her but her wisdom teeth were...impacted. So, off we go to the x-ray machine that takes a lap around your head to get the full picture. I had to remove my glasses for the x-ray and once complete, I turn around to hear her already half way down the hall telling me to come along, my glasses in hand. Um...I really can't see without my glasses. The white walls and white floors creating a blur of white as I move forward. With a laugh she comes back and grabs my wrist with one hand, as if to lead me, and hands me my glasses with the other. I put my glasses on, but am still being led by hand through the hallway. I can see fine but I don't want to yank my hand away, embarrassing her, and so we walk, hand in hand, back to the chair. Sliding into the reclining seat for the cleaning, I have a general sense of what to expect. My personal likes and dislikes of the cleaning process. I am not a big fan of the pointed scraper as it stands, but after having her Nazi hands wield it against my mouth, I have pretty much developed a full fledged phobia. She would mention that my gums were swelling as she seemingly took chunks out at will but that she hoped that it wouldn't cause too much pain tomorrow. That she hoped she didn't hurt me too bad. Oh, don't worry...I make those twisted expressions of agony all the time. It has nothing to do with you stripping away the outer layer of gum tissue. We all need to just face the facts. I shouldn't be allowed around a blow torch (almost lit myself on fire trying to light the grill manually tonight) and she, anything that comes to a point. At the end of the cleaning, I get sent to make the appointment with the oral surgeon, which is an entirely new set of fears regarding all things general anesthesia. I have never been put under and am fairly certain that my first time will end up with me waking up half way through the procedure. Still better than not waking up at all but really, neither seem favorable. Outside of braces in high school, I have had a pretty boring teeth history full of dentists that did Donald Duck impersonations and smiled with you and managed to clean your mouth without grabbing hold of your bottom lip to reposition your mouth. That is, in fact, not a nerve free zone. That said, after today, I finally realize how people can end up terrified of dentists. If I had had her clean my teeth when I was little, I would have sworn off dental hygiene long ago.