I Messed with Texas

My friend and close-as-can-be neighbor, Buffy, moved away last November. I'm still not over my friends leaving me, but I'm trying to make do. Well, a few months ago I got a sneaky little email from Ian, Buffy's husband, and he wanted to fly me out to Texas and surprise Buffy with a friend. Sweet husband, huh? "Heck YES!" was my reply to his email. After months of emailing back and forth and being so stealth, the flight was booked.

Ellery and I jumped on a 7am flight (got up soooo early) and headed to Texas. I was kind of nervous to fly by myself and I was a little more nervous to fly by myself with a baby. But we did it! She was pretty good, and aside from the man next to me trying his darnedest not to notice me nursing her, the flight was very comfortable. Does anyone else feel like they're nursing in odd, uncomfortable places all the time?

Ellery and I had no idea what Texas was like. We thought we had it all figured out when we stopped in El Paso for a minute and looked out the plane window. Dusty, Texas dirt all over the place, funny, little dirt-pile "mountains", cowboys roaming around on their horses. "Yes, this is Texas," I thought. I wondered what we would do there with all those cowboys. I don't know how or why, but I imagined Texas, all of it I guess, to be like an old Western movie.


When we landed in Dallas I realized I was wrong. For those of you who thought like me, Texas (Dallas at least) is just like Utah, except for there's no mountains and it's HUMID! I felt like my dark jeans were snow pants when I got off the plane. Ian met us at the airport and after complaining about being hot the whole ride home, we were pulling into their driveway just as Buffy was walking to her mailbox.

Her face was priceless. At first she squinted at us and was thinking, "Who is that woman in Ian's car?" And then she kind of did this confused smile. And then her jaw dropped and she started jumping around. Oh it was so fun to do that to her.

We were both very happy to see each other and had such a fun few days hanging out.

This is their darling daughter Peyton. We joked that Ellery could eat Peyton. Even though she's two months younger, Ellery has about four pounds on Peyton. It was cute to see them together. Peyton, who is a thumb sucker, was obsessed with taking Ellery's pacifier and it kept them both entertained. When we got there I noticed that Ellery was kind of fussy and showing teething signs. Sure enough her second tooth was poking through. Peyton was nice enough to share her teething rings with Elle and she was a happy camper after that.


And who's this little Texas princess? This is McKay's old pal Riley. Let me just tell you about her. We of course did some Texas shopping at a HUGE outlet mall. We were there for about five and a half hours, not including driving time, and this little girl was amazing! She didn't complain, didn't have a tantrum, didn't need to be entertained or distracted, didn't need snacks. She didn't need anything. It's like Ian and Buffy have raised this super-shopper child. McKay would have lasted about an hour...maybe. I was just blown away. She is such a little sweetheart though and I really enjoyed getting to know her again. We're already planning their wedding.

Shopping is one of my favorite things about vacation and Texas did not disappoint. Brian was glad that he missed it all when I showed him all my goods. That is the one thing we forgot to take pictures of- shopping. Lets just say we were wondering if all my new stuff would fit in my suitcase. It did, thankfully. Also, why is it so much easier shopping for your kids than it is for yourself? When did that happen?

Maybe my favorite thing of all was our nightly bowl of ice cream. Has anyone had or heard of Blue Bell ice cream? I have known people who go on and on about Blue Bell ice cream and how amazing it is. You can't get it in Utah, and Texans seem to be very passionate about this treat. Well, let me tell you they are SO right. It is heaven. Buffy had me pick out a flavor to buy and first of all, we stood in front of the freezer for about ten minutes. I have a really hard time deciding on an ice cream flavor...and especially when there's this pressure attached and about three dozen choices....it's really hard! Anyway, we finally settled on Cookie Dough. It was so good. It was incredibly creamy and the cookie dough really tasted like cookie dough. And you got a huge ball of it in practically every bite you took. I don't know if I'll ever be the same. I think I've been ruined.

While I was there I experienced a Texas tornado. Well, Buffy experienced it at least. And it probably wasn't a tornado, but that's what it felt like so that's what we're calling it...you know, for dramatic effect. Now, the pictures you are about to see do not do Buffy justice.

We hopped in the car with all the little girls to do some shopping. After about two minutes in the car it started sprinkling. We were headed to the gas station to fill up and by the time we got there the rain was pretty heavy. Buffy got out to pump her gas anyway and made sure to bring her umbrella. I was sitting in the car with the girls, thinking Buffy was peacefully filling up when I hear this thumping sound coming from the back of the car.

I looked outside and this is what I saw. Buffy was hanging on to the back of the car for dear life, soaking wet, and banging on the window to get my attention. She wanted me to know that she was in distress. She wanted me to help her. She wanted me to save her. So you know what I did? I started laughing...really hard...and then I got out my camera.

Buffy figured out I was not going to get out of the car and that she had to brave the tornado by herself. I was snapping pictures of her the whole time, and laughing. She was kind of laughing too, I think. One of the funniest things to me was every time Buffy went past the side of the car, her baby, Peyton, would let out a terrified scream. The sight of her drenched mother being tossed around in the wind and rain was kind of scary. Don't worry, Peyton only cried when she could actually see Buffy. Once she was out of sight she would stop.


See. She's okay. She made it through the tornado. But look at her umbrella. She had to throw it away because unlike her, it could not handle storm. Buffy was soaking wet. We had to forgo our plans and go back home so she could change every article of clothing she had on and we could wait out the tornado.


On the way home this is what we saw. All over the neighborhood fences were blown over. We even saw a trampoline blown against a house with a big barbecue grill dangling from it like an earring. This made us laugh even harder and made Buffy quite proud of herself for staying alive. (I just laughed hysterically all over again as I typed this)



Another memorable experience we had in Texas was getting pedicures. On our way to the salon I told Buffy about how the guy who did my last pedicure was excited to give me a free flower. He sure did give me a flower. He gave me three on each big toe! And they were huge. I hated to do it, but I asked him if he could just narrow it down to one flower and remove the others. He hated me, but he did it and I was happier. We wondered why nail people sometimes go crazy with embellishments. But then we forgot about it as we relaxed and talked in those massage chairs.


We must have impressed these nail ladies, because they too generously gave us free flowers...except we didn't even know they were doing it. At first I noticed that she had given me a rhinestone. "Okay," I thought, "one rhinestone would be fun." Then she pulled out the white flower...then the black dots...followed by more white dots. They did a similar thing to Buffy's big toes. We could hardly contain our laughter as we remembered the discussion on toe flowers just a few minutes before. This time I didn't have the guts to say anything about the lovely flower, and yes, I am aware that I have a very large big toe. Brian teases me about it all the time.

So here they are. We call them our "jazzy" Texas toes. I complimented Buffy on how cute her feet were, this was before our pedicures, and she looked down at mine and said, "...because they look exactly like yours." Don't they look really similar. This reminds me of having "who's feet are cuter" arguments with Katie. I didn't even know Buffy was my foot twin, but aren't her feet cute? ; )

On my last day there we went to their neighborhood pool and afterwards had a fun photo shoot on the lawn. You know I always love a good photo shoot.

I had so much fun with these two! Buffy and I stayed up late every night talking and catching up on SYTYCD and The Hills. We had some good food, besides ice cream, and I loved seeing their house and their cute little town. It definitely made me realize that I could maybe move somewhere else.

Thanks Ian, for this fun little trip. I had a blast. Thanks Buffy, for being my friend. I am so glad that I needed honey that one day. Do you realize that I needed honey for the pizza that I made while at your house. Full circle. I'm glad like a couple of litlte girls we realized that we could actually be "friends forever". (It's true, we had this discussion...and I love it!)

Look at this sweet sad face. She got really upset when she found out I was leaving. It was so precious. It made me so sad to leave my friends. I love them all and I'm so glad I got to go spend time with them. Except there's one bad thing that resulted in my visit. Now I'm sad all over again that they're gone...

...and also I am now an ice cream snob...

Nice Weekend

On Saturday morning our upstairs neighbor's water heater had a leak and flooded our utility closet and carpet. We got to use every towel we have to sop up water and then fall asleep to the buzzing hum of the fan while it tried to dry out our soggy mess.

Speaking of the fan...McKay tipped it over while running past it and it slowly sputtered to a complete stop. Brian spent the next hour taking it totally apart to fix it and putting it back together.

On Sunday while I was feeding Ellery, McKay brought me a gallon of milk because he wanted a drink. That sweet little boy handled the heavy gallon like a champ, until he tried to climb up Ellery's dresser and accidentally tipped the milk over which he had put on the floor. I was putting Ellery in bed and heard McKay yell, "My sock! My sock is wet!" Before I turned around I knew what I would find. Yep, half a gallon of milk soaking into Ellery's bedroom carpet. Great. I sopped up more milk than I did water from yesterday. Ellery didn't get a nap because of the disaster in her room, McKay had to take all his clothes off because of his wet sock and I was one cranky momma before church.

Hope your weekend was better than ours.

His Favorite Day

I get kind of embarrassed when Brian tells people that Orem Summerfest is his favorite day of the year. I mean really, Christmas, a birthday, 4th of July? Nope, Orem Summerfest tops them all. And in recent years it seems like he's declaring this to more and more people. I just let him and then roll my eyes when he's not looking. No really, I love the day as well, but I'm a 4th of July girl myself.

Well, June 14th came and June 14th went and it was packed full of activities. We started the day off bright and early at the Orem Firefighters 5K race. Brian and I have been running together for the last couple months to get me ready for it. I am trying really, really hard to like running. And honestly I like it more now than when we started, but when I run my teeth feel weird, my ears get cold, I can't take a deep breath and my face gets as red as a tomato...a really ripe tomato. Why would I want to go through all that? Well, because I want to be healthy, I want to lose the tummy flab my babies have so generously left me with, and I really do feel good after I do it. So I made a goal to run this little race.

We dropped the kids off to Brian's mom and we were ready to go. I wasn't really nervous for it because first of all I had trained, and second, three miles is not intimidating to me. I could speed walk three miles if I had to. Luckily I didn't. Brian's only requirement was that we weren't last. I only had to walk for about a minute during the race and my sweet marathon-running husband stayed by my side the whole time. The only disappointing thing was during the run there was this girl who had a really sloppy, loose run and I hated running behind her. It was just not a pleasant sight. We tried to make it a goal to beat "Sloppy" and we almost had her at the end, but when I picked it up, so did she and I was just a few yards too slow for old Sloppy.

Now that I've just written a book on the race, how about some pictures:

Pictures were kind of an afterthought because we're such serious runners.

Sorry, no pictures of my red face. Maybe some other time.

One of the best parts of the race was the prizes we won. Basically everyone who ran the race got a prize. I won a big old backpacking backpack. Just what I need around here...another big backpack. But Brian won this little tent, perfect for Bear and Dog to camp in, and this little shark hat. That's more like it.

Everyone Loves a Parade

After a nap for Elle and one desperate attempt to get McKay to take a nap (didn't happen) we went off to the carnival and finally the parade. I'll stop being so wordy, which is really hard for me, and just let the pictures tell about it...with maybe just a few words.

Checking out the firetruck. I thought this was pretty cool.

Who knew that a silly little ride would make him so happy. I think he really thought he was operating this boat. And he had to be aggressive to get that bell rope away from that other little boy. He was a rope bully.


It was so extremely hot that while Brian went to get us something cold to drink the kids and I sat under the big tent where the Hale Center Theatre was performing songs from Little Women, in full costume. What is it about McKay and people in costumes? He was frozen watching them sing and dance around. The only thing that distracted him was getting a snow cone all to himself. This picture was us leaving the tent to head over to a family BBQ.

Here's the family waiting for the parade to start. Last year McKay's obsession was the Owl from the Orem Owls...or is it Owlz? This year- Captain Hook. He came right up to McKay and shook his hook. It was very exciting.

I just love the cute summer faces of these two cousins.

Ellery was quite bored at the parade. It was bedtime and she was not about to be excited about floats and marching bands.

Front row seats! Love the motorcycles.
Brian, McKay, cousin Elise, aunt Missy.

And Finally...

After the parade Brian's brother Darrell impressed us all with his tissue paper hot air balloon. We gathered in the park and he launched two of these babies.

It was a family effort to fill up the "balloon".

With a great audience.

There it goes. Pretty cool, huh?


Did you know I am married to a kite runner? After the second one was launched I looked around and saw Brian running off into the distance. He'd decided to go find the balloons in the streets of Orem. Okay. He actually found both of them, and one was intact. A little boy had discovered it in his front yard and he and his dad were looking at it like it was a UFO. This picture is actually of Marilyn running after it.
And by the way- I totally recommend that book...The Kite Runner, I mean.

The day wouldn't have been complete without a glow necklace or two.

And now for the fireworks. I took this on my camera's firework setting. I figured since there's only fireworks about twice a year I better use this very specific function.

Me and Mack settled in the back of the car to watch the show. He was as chipper as can be at eleven o'clock. And Ellery, she would not fall asleep and insisted on watching the fireworks from her car seat. Little stinker.


Go to sleep, Ellery!

The roof gang. It was tricky to keep McKay from seeing the girls up there. I knew if he did that he'd think he could ride up there all the time.

And that concludes Brian's favorite day of the year. Maybe I should start capitalizing that for importance. That concludes Brian's Favorite Day of the Year. That's better. Happy Summerfest!

Lets Get Mushy

Brian and I aren't really the ooey, gooey romantic type. I love him like crazy, but it's not really something I usually go on and on about to other people. But...it's Father's Day...so I figured I can get a little sappy on behalf of my kiddos and tell him (and you all) why he's such a great daddy. Here's what I love about him:

• He always checks on our kids every night before he goes to bed- without fail.


• He makes up silly songs about us when he plays his guitar. McKay's adoration is plastered all over his face when Brian sings these songs. It's pretty much precious...and the songs are really funny too.



• He is so excited to have a boy to go camping with and play sports with and do "boy" things with. McKay already shares the same gusto for camping as his daddy. It's cute to see the two of them already doing father/son things together.




• He has a huge soft spot for his girl. I wondered how he would be with a girl and I can already tell that she's got him wrapped around her finger. And don't worry, Elle will totally be included in the camping/outdoor frenzy when she's a wee bit older.

• Family time is really important to him. I know that there's nothing that he'd rather do than spend time with us. He values time with his family more than his own free time, more than money, more than work. I always feel that we come first.



• He pulls his weight around here. He makes dinner just as much as I do...okay more? I don't know, I try not to keep track because then I feel guilty. But then I just feel happy that I got such a good husband who doesn't think he's above making dinner. And then I remember that he hardly ever cleans the house and I feel better about myself.
  
• He is very good in a kid medical emergency and I am so glad that I don't have to be the "medical" parent. He's always calm and collected...a good balance for me.



• He's always thinking of things for us to do as a family. Whenever we have free time he tries to plan something fun and new for us to do. It can be as simple as driving up the canyon to sit by the river or as fun as going to Disneyland, but he's really good at planning quality family time.




• He listens to me. Haha. That's most important, right? What I mean is he values my opinion as a mother and we're almost always on the same page as far as parenting goes.
  
• He's pretty cute and has given my kids some great genes. I'm glad that they look like him.




• He's not intimidated by parenting. Brian didn't have a lot of experience with babies when we had McKay but he took to parenthood right away. I mean, like, the first minute! He was so comfortable and confident that it was like he'd been a parent for years.




• He cares about his kids. What father doesn't, I know...but I love that he does.
  
• He plays with his kids. Like really plays. I am always impressed and happy to see him get down on the floor at their level and act like a kid. He's the best horse McKay's ever ridden. Is ridden a word? He really spends quality time playing with them and the best thing is he loves doing it.



• He's not afraid to tackle a dirty diaper...although he usually needs assistance with a blowout- I have to be honest here. He's not a superhero.


• He makes it possible for me to stay home with our babies and he does this because he believes it's what's best for them. I appreciate how hard he works.
  

Happy Father's day to our Daddy, and all the other daddies out there!

Remember Her?

I still have this little Miss despite the recent McKay saturation in my posts. She just learned to rock back and forth on her hands and knees and her first tooth just poked through. She's practically a woman. I kind of like her a lot.

Not His Mama's Complexion

Last August.

Last week. This tan line prevailed through the frosty winter.

I slather spf 50 on him every time he's out. He's just blessed with Daddy's skin.

And what a cute bottom...

What's Wrong With This Pirate?

Well, besides his homemade sword and his headband of an eye patch, this pirate has no hat.

McKay and I were at the mall the other day and saw another little boy dressed like a pirate. McKay was stunned for a few moments, and then immediately asked if we could buy "some pirate stuff". He then asked every sales clerk he saw if they had swords. Pretty sure the Nordstrom ladies have never had that question before judging by their faces.

When we got home I went to work and made the above pirate necessities to the best of my ability. He was thrilled with the items but we both agreed that something major was missing. For McKay it was a "sparkly pink pirate costume" that was lacking (thanks to Aunt Marilyn's dance concert) but I knew this rascal needed a hat and I didn't know how to manipulate cardboard and duct tape to make one.

Well, few days later I was shopping at Target (I could go there everyday) and I found this little treasure at the dollar spot. Actually, two for a dollar. Don't you just love the dollar spot? I bought four...you know, just in case.

Ahhhh...now he's complete.

I didn't get a picture of the wire whisk that he used for a hook. I was so excited to get this beauty for .5o cents and I now have one happy little pirate on my hands.

Actually I have two.

Jack Sparrow and Captain Hook (who is singing "Yo Ho" with a nice arm swing)

Photographs courtesy of Captain Feathersword

Brian Won

For the last couple months Brian and I have been disagreeing on the state of McKay's hair for the summer months. Brian wants him to have a buzz. We tried a buzz on him last year and I decided that it was even more upkeep than a regular hair cut. Sure, you don't have to do his hair at all, but a buzz grows out and looks even worse than an outgrown haircut. I can go well over a month without giving McKay a trim, but with a buzz he needs it redone about every two weeks...maybe three if Ireally try to ignore it. So we've been debating back and forth. Brian has been trying to recruit McKay and yesterday when I asked McKay if he wanted a haircut, he said, "Yeah! Like Daddy!" with so much excitement and determination that I knew I had lost. I gave in but I made Brian promise that he would be the one responsible when hair started sticking up all over McKay's head and annoying me. He agreed.


Before:

Goodbye old hair. I'll see you in the Fall.

During:

Such a serious procedure.

After:

Hmmm? I don't know what I think. He's cute because, well, he's my boy. But I keep looking at him thinking he looks like a little cancer patient. He likes it though. He keeps running around saying, "Feel my hair!"