Third Time is a Charm

We are so popular that we were invited to 2 pool parties last weekend but apparently "pool party" can sometimes really mean "a party by the pool." Shoulda known that before we told the kids two days in a row that we were going swimming and then had to deal with the aftermath of not getting to swim.

So this is how I made it up to them. I know...it's pitiful, but it is technically swimming.

Fathers' Day Fun

We had two free round-trip Metrolink tickets and have never ventured onto the train in our almost 5 years of living here so Fathers' Day seemed like a grand enough occasion to go for it. Although Jake has a deep and passionate love for trains he was extremely wary of the scheme. I think the unexpected one hour departure delay was a major contributing factor to his malcontent.

Notice in the picture what each child deemed necessary for a train ride:
*Libby - cell phone
*Danny - gun made from K'nex
*Jakey - power drill and bicycle pump.
Also notice: Danny's still rockin' the galoshes.



We rode for about an hour and unboarded in Newhall where we ate some rather interesting Mexican-ish food and celebrated our Dad. Couldn't find a "World's Greatest Dad"' or "#1 Dad" shirt for him but I think he still knows that he is loved.

Here we are, bored and waiting for the train.

Here we are really bored and waiting for the train.

In summary, trains are fun and Dad is the best! Happy Fathers' Day to you too, Papa!

Fashion is Exhausting

This is Dan's new look and clomping around in those things all day is apparently tiring, especially when you insist on wearing two left boots.

Libby is 2 and no Longer Flies for Free

I love to post baby pictures and show all the little stages on birthdays but without my computer it's alot harder to access all that stuff off of the external hard drive. Essentially laziness wins the day but don't tell Libby.

We are so glad we have a sweet girl! She is a joy and we are having a blast playing dolls and kitchen instead of trains, cars, guns and Spiderman. Libby is a true female in that accessories are always important to her. When asked to choose her clothes she will always pick "a pitty dwess" and a matching hair bow/clip/whatever. She has jewels, not jewelry, shoot for the stars right? She loves to help me put on make up and sometimes puts a little dab on herself.

A lady always wants to look her best right?


The cupcakes...turned out okay.

Jake thought they were ridiculous but was satisfied to learn that even if they were frilly and pink they were still entirely edible. Boys just don't understand the feminine need to decorate.

Equality?

So beloved Target always has these great little $1 finds at the front of the store. Recently we found these little flower kits and decided it would make a nice little science experiment. Here we are planting our seeds.

So I wasn't really sure if they would grow, I thought we would be lucky if maybe one sprouted. But I didn't quite consider what happens if two sprout and then one kid is left with an empty pot, as is the case.

And not just one little sprout each but several nice, tall plants are coming up. So poor Jake looks at his pot every day and asks with big puppy dog eyes, "Mom, when will my plant grow?" So now what? Do I just let him learn that life isn't fair or should I secretly perform a delicate operation which results in magical plants sprouting in Jake's pot in the middle of the night? Hmmm...

I'm glad we're talking about this now before a goldfish or something dies and we're trying to break into PetSmart at 2 am for a replacement fish.

The Last of Texas

We are having some technical difficulties with computers and thus blogging has been difficult lately. It seems the geeks at the Texas factory have repaired the damage and it is in transit. Yea!

It has been a couple of weeks since we got back from Texas but I have a few pictures my Dad's that were never posted so here we go. First priority of a trip is get family pictures and this is the best we could do. What do you think?
Number one, or...


Number two? Both very professional shots to be sure. Aside from our expert photo sessions we had plenty of time to enjoy the wildlife. Jake's life calling is apparently to work as a realtor for caterpillars and rollie pollies. He's pretty good at convincing them of the need to relocate by forcible removal. Jake's new comfort with bugs is extremely convenient for me as now I can have him relocate our lovely insect intruders without having to put on the "brave Mom" facade as I force myself to not shriek and hysterically jump around as I kill them so as not to teach the children be as irrational as I am.

Here is my sweet dad with his neighbor's 3 hour-old baby goat. Libby really didn't like the babies because they are loud but she thoroughly enjoyed feeding the bigger goats every blade of grass she could find.

My dad loves to tease and he teased Jake into thinking he would get to bring a kitten home. When reality hit that no cat would set foot near our house, the devastation was severe. Thanks Dad, thanks.
In true Texas style we had a blast with all things John Deere.

The Rest of Texas

I tried to post this several days ago but my computer was so astonished at my amazingly cute pictures that it couldn't handle it and died. It will receive a fun field trip in a box to the computer factory or geek warehouse or whatever it is for repairs. Interestingly enough, the geeks live in Texas.

So these are from my Dad's house and I think he bought a house in the country just for his grandsons and appeases their love of all thing John Deere by shopping at the tractor supply store for everything...including bicycles and probably toilet paper. Miss Libby is also showing a growing interest in John Deere as well...


I think Danny felt he was on OCC or something. So cute!

We got to play with 3 hour-old goats and the kids (mine) were not impressed because the kids (baby goats) were very loud and apparently wanted their mom.

I wanted a good shot of the kids with their grandparents but have decided such things are impossible. They all stayed together for about 0.25 seconds and these are the two shots we got. Which do you think should be framed?


Jacob discovered a love for the local wildlife and was highly disappointed when he realized we weren't bringing any of it home.


Oh Texas, how do I love thee...?

Libby vs. Kitten

The following portrait study was taken in Wichita Falls, Texas. The dedicated photographer selflessly sacrificed over 15 seconds of her life to capture these shots for posterity.