Everybody get their Ready-Freddies on!

Friday was the end of an era. These three have been in daycare together since they were 12 weeks old - including a mass exodus by all three families to a new daycare a couple of years back. But now, it's almost time for these babies to go off to school - sadly, to 3 different schools. Caden was the first to jump ship.  His last day was Friday. I can't believe they have grown up so fast.

There was a joyful but short-lived reunion Thursday night, as I got home just as the kids were going to bed. We celebrated fully Friday afternoon though. I picked them up a bit early and we finally went to see Finding Dory. It was Darby's second theater movie and Dalton's first (technically they went to The Minion Movie w/ Nana & Pa, but they left after 10 minutes, so I'm not counting that). They were actually very well behaved and only started getting antsy about 15 minutes before the end. The recliners helped as it meant they could take turns sitting on my lap.


Of course, we can't just go to a movie and leave like normal people. I think it took us a good hour to leave the mall after the movie was over. First, Darby begged to ride the elevator. Dalton flat out refused, so I had to bribe him w/ 3 Minion themed tic tacs. The joys of the moving glass box quickly won him over. I really don't see why people feel the need to go to Six Flags. The elevator at Vista Ridge Mall is free. They would have ridden it for hours if I'd let them.


Next we got our Stella on. The kids were in a little bit of withdrawal after Stella spent the week at the Bridges'. When we saw the displays at the Children's Place, we had to have a little photo shoot w/ a Stella stand-in. I need to figure out how to snag one of those...


Right after these pictures, Dalton spied the "vehicles" outside the store and he dragged us out for a ride.

And then of course, a wish in the fountain...

Even walking out to the parking lot took us quite a while as we had to spend some time on the obstacle course.  And people wonder why I'm late...  I will say though - Darby did coin my new favorite phrase as I hustled them into the car to get to the movie - "Everybody get their Ready-Freddies on!"

When we finally got home it was time for the real reunion with Stella. Darby was a bit more into it than Stella was.

Living the High Life in Exotic Buffalo

It's been a long crazy week for Mommy.

It started out with a lovely Sunday afternoon in the pool w/ Katrina, Benny and Jacob. Before they came over we hit the grocery store for supplies. It was a banner day as we got to use the purple race car cart. Dalton surprised us all when he pointed out that the ground beef in the butcher's case looked like small intestines. I have to admit, he was kinda right.

In swimming class the week before, they did a really smart thing and taught Dalton how to come up for air when he's swimming underwater. My little fish took to it like a champ and really wow'd me. He can now swim basically the length of the pool by himself. The funny part is that he's still in Preschool swimming since he's only 3 - he's not allowed to start regular swimming lessons until he's 5. I figure by then he'll have joined the swim team and won't need the lessons anymore...

Darby did great that week in swimming as well.  That was her first swimming session this year.  The ear issues have really hampered her being able to learn, but now that she can get started again, she's coming out of the gate strong. She never liked putting her face in the water, but now she's doing it like a...king.

After swimming we had a nice dinner and let the kids trash the house. The goodbyes were a little rambunctious.


After they left, Darby went on an inexplicable patriotic rant. Don't worry about Dalton's screams in the background. His bike was stuck on a crack in the sidewalk and I told him he needed to work it out. Drama ensued.

Then it was time for bed and time for Mommy to pack everyone up for her trip to Buffalo.  Oh for the days when I just had to pack my own stuff.  This time I had to pack for 4, including the dog. And the house stayed trashed the whole time we were gone.  It sucked coming home to an upside down house, but it is what it is.

My trip to Buffalo was crazy busy. The accommodations at the Holiday Inn Buffalo Airport were very plush though. The decor had a lovely vintage 1980's feel - as did the smell in the hallway. I did get my exercise though as there was no elevator. Unfortunately I was so busy that I did not get time to check out the retro arcade - an amenity I was surprised not to see featured prominently on their website.

We did get to make a fun little trip one evening up to Niagara Falls. It was a shame we didn't have our passports - as everyone knows, the Canadian side is better :-) - but it was a nice change for me as I'd never actually seen the American side.


It was funny, we went to dinner near the falls that night and my mom sent me a picture of the kids. Apparently they decided to drive up to Canada (often the destination of their road trips) and the bathroom was the car. I'm not sure who was driving, but it seemed a peaceful trip, so I guess they had it worked out.

My trip home from Buffalo was kind of remarkable. The trips up there have been notoriously awful - not helped by the fact that there is no direct flight from DFW. The Project Manager for this project was supposed to fly in late Monday night (the rest of us got there Monday evening) but his flight got delayed 11 times and then at 1:30 in the morning got cancelled - he was stuck in DC. That actually kind of worked out for me as I got to run the Design Charrette myself and the client was really impressed. Brownie points for me.

So on Thursday, we finished our follow up meeting very early at 12:30. I had a 6:30 flight through Philadelphia, so I figured I would try to go standby on the 1:30 flight. I went to the counter and at first the lady said she couldn't get me on the earlier flight standby. She couldn't do it unless there was "weather". But she told me and the 2 guys that showed up behind me to "hang-tight". Anyway, I don't know what happened, but eventually she came over and handed me a ticket. I didn't question it. As I boarded I heard her tell the first of the 2 guys that showed up behind me that he got the last seat. The other guy didn't get on. When I got to Philadelphia, I got off the flight in Terminal F. I looked at the board to see if there was an earlier flight to DFW but it showed no flights to DFW at all. So I sat down in the hold lounge to log on to AA.com. Their system was down and they couldn't load any flights. Then I headed down the concourse and happened on a rebooking kiosk. It showed they didn't have a reservation for me. So finally I decided to go find the AA terminal.  I walked there and found out there was a flight going out of C. When I got to the gate there was about 800 people there and the standby list was totally full. Apparently the flight was oversold on top of the fact that weather had screwed a bunch of flights. So I resigned myself to getting back on my original flight, but was concerned that something had happened to my reservation. The girl checked for me and sure enough, the girl in Buffalo had cancelled my second leg when she'd put me on standby. That turned out to be the best news of the day though, as, since it was their screw-up, she put me on the standby list for the early flight, and bumped me to #2. So I got on the flight after all. The cherry on top: I was assigned to the middle seat, but when Mr. Window Seat arrived he asked me if I'd like the window seat. I have no idea why, since he didn't know Mr. Aisle Seat, but again, I didn't ask questions. So I arrived at 7:30. At least 3 hours earlier than scheduled.

While I was gone, the kids totally rocked their swim lessons. This is them waiting anxiously for the lessons to begin.

Little Brothers Are Not Her Style.

So here's where I am - I think I saw the hearse escort for one of the Dallas Police Officers last evening. I don't know for sure, but it was on Woodall Rodgers, and based on the number of police cars and police motorcycles, it is hard to imagine it was anything else. While I was writing this I was watching coverage of a potential threat at Police HQ. I just don't even know what to say. The best I can do right now is throw out cute pictures and stupid stories of my childrens' antics. I watched a video on FB yesterday of Stephen Colbert telling the story of how he met his wife, and I have to say, it did help me. There is so much angst and sadness here right now, sometimes it just helps to hear a little bit of happiness...so here's what I've got.

This week we went to Darby's gastroenterologist. My favorite part was when we were in the waiting room.  She asked me if I wanted a magazine.  I said - no thank you - so she got one for herself.  She spent about a minute with it and then told me - "Magazines are not my style...".

When we got into the exam room, the pressure was on. I really should study up on my Advanced Anatomy before each appointment. The doctor has this great book in there and each time we go in I have to explain the intricate workings of the body until the doctor arrives. Don't be fooled by this video.  This was page one of the lesson. We got to page 5 or 6 by the time the doctor came. The pages get harder as you go on. Every time the doctor arrives my response is "Thank God - I was at my limit!" I believe we had just arrived at the Endocrine System this day...

The appointment was inconclusive (as usual), but we went for frozen yogurt afterwards (dairy-free). It was a rare treat and they took full advantage. I almost had to stop Dalton from eating the bowl. Darby serenaded us - which meant we had to sit and wait for her lonnnnng after we finished eating. We eventually had to take hers with us.

Friday we ended up at the Bridges. Eating ham and watching Gymnastics Olympic Trials - just call us party animals.

Saturday we had to be functioning way too early - and by that, keep in mind we get up every day about 5:45. Although usually we can stave off real clothes on "S-days" until at least 11.  We just made it to Dalton's soccer game.  He played well, as usual. I love the picture in the top corner.  It pretty much sums up kids sports. There are some kids who are really into it and some kids that would rather sit on the field and play with their shoes - my kids have done both. Although currently, Dalton is the former. While the play is going, he is usually laser-focussed on getting the ball. When waiting for kick-off he just wants to pick up his fellow players and say "Doodie-butt".

Afterwards, they spent some time w/ Nana while Mommy went to a play.  We were supposed to go straight from there to a birthday party at the "Rainforest". Considering the 70mph winds, lightning and rain, that kinda didn't happen...Bad behavior ensued.

Last night Darby was relegated to her room. When she complained she had been in there "forever!!!" (3 minutes) I informed her that she needed to get used to playing alone, because very soon, if she continued to treat he brother the way she had been treating him, he was going to need to get used to playing alone. Tough love little diva...

At bedtime they decided to wear the "nightshirts" Daddy got for them.

They were playing nicely again by then, but I think these pictures tell the whole story...

Goodnight little monsters...

Flags, Fireworks & a Visit from Elvis

So, after the craziness of Saturday & Sunday, we started the 4th of July off slowly.  Watching TV & slowly cleaning up our decimated house. I will spare you the 3 1/2 min. video that Darby insisted on filming where she makes up her own song & "accompanies" herself on piano.

For lunch we went over to Nana and Pa's for some good old American hot dogs. The kids have a catch phrase they like to spout during meals - I assume they heard it at school - "Less talking, more eating". Yeah, that works as more of a "do as I say, not as I do" idea for them. So lunch took a very, very, very long time...

After lunch we decided we really had to find time to get Dalton's hair cut.  On the way we passed our local fire station where they had erected a giant flag.  We did a couple of drive-bys for fun.

When we got to the haircut place, Darby insisted that she get her hair cut too.  I argued with her for a while and then thought - Why do I care? So she got her haircut too. Looks really cute. Elvis just got a bit off the sides.

Finally we made our way over to the Castle Hills Village Square where we met a bunch of our friends from school.  

Darby rode in cars with boys,

and Dalton strolled w/ his girlfriend,

We did bounce houses, sweated, ran around, played w/ 800 varieties of glow-in-the-dark items and ate a lot of junk food. Elvis seemed to enjoy himself and was sporting his own patriotic outfit. Darby even managed to find some tiny puppies to pet. I'm going to save this picture for her for when she's begging her Daddy for a puppy in a few years. Who could turn down this face?

And finally the fireworks began. Darby's been working on her photography, so she took some fireworks pics as well. 

A great day was had all around.

Darby Loves Her Some Sparkle

Sunday started out slow - there was a lot of unpacking to do, and we had to get back in the swing of being home.  I had gotten the kids a Lego table so we had to break that bad-boy in. And Darby has taken to the frightening hobby of stacking dish towers while doing her 5 year-old task of emptying the dishwasher.


That afternoon we met Ms. Elizabeth, Ms. Jamie, Eva, Jordan & Bailey at the McDonald's playground - a necessary evil in Texas during the summertime. We did get to ride in Ms. Jamie's new mini-van. Very similar to what will soon be our new mini-van. The delusion of coolness is now officially over...


Afterwards we picked up Mr. Jeremiah and headed back to our house for an impromptu pool party. I get made fun of a lot for keeping  too much food on hand, but we ate pretty well that night out of what I had (plus Elizabeth's hot dogs). We had burgers (oval-shaped to fit the hoagie rolls), chicken, hot dogs, baked beans, pasta salad, tomatoes, cucumbers, chips & salsa. 

After dinner we had a fantastic sunset swim in the pool. Dalton went off the diving board about 5-6 times. Darby serenaded us, Eva showed off her swimming skills in her mermaid tail, Jordan wowed us by swimming really well after refusing 2 weeks of lessons just a week ago and Stella showed off her spot-on volleyball skills.

We capped off the evening with some sparklers I have been hoarding for the last 2 years. The kids were full of surprises - cautious Darby was first to volunteer to try them, safety conscious Jordan was second, and Eva Knievel didn't want to play (to her credit it was super late and she was tired). The rest loved them.

I love this picture. I know I'm alone. But I think it's the lover of an edgy 80's teen movie in me.