Friday, August 29, 2008

Pix

On the Riverwalk.

Super duper shot of Noah & me riding Shamu coaster. We're the ones on the end.

Noah in bad mood at Sea World, Dillon just happy to be there.

Side shot (sorry!) of Dillon, quite pleased with himself in new double stroller.

Noah riding the lion in the entrance to the S.A. Zoo

Me, carefully explaining how to feed a goat while Noah is horrified and goat looks on.

They had this great little "mock" beach at the zoo in the kids area.

Noah playing in the sand & surf



August

Hi again. I know I've been remiss with this thing...but you take what you can get when you have 2 children under the age of 3. Speaking of which...I am typing under a palpable cloud of exhaustion that has set in after Dillon has decided, for the past 4 or 5 nights in a row, that 3:00 AM is a terrific time to party. He wakes for a couple hours and then goes back to sleep, and I'm getting a wee bit tired of it. He's getting about 3 teeth at once...I think that accounts for some of it. Good times.

Enough with the whining. Here's what's been going on:

--We went to San Antonio on the 4th of August through the 7th. We drove there & back, takes about 7 hrs each way. Boys were surprisingly good in the car...there was one time when one of them started to scream and cry, but I just told him, "Jeff, if you keep that up we're going home" and he stopped. Oh, but seriously...

We stayed in the Sheraton Guntor which is this really beautiful old hotel that Sheraton bought & rennovated. I had TERRIFIC sleep while there (I should say the baby had terrific sleep and therefore I did), may have had to do with the dark curtains & the fact that we kept the room near freezing. So that was a real bonus. (It occurs to me that some of my 'kin' and I spend quite a lot of time talking about our sleep, or lack of it, when we should know that nobody really gives a flying truck. It's only important to the person who's losing the sleep. So I will endeavor in the future to ensure that I don't do this anymore. Yeah, right.)

We went to Sea World on the 1st day...the San An. Sea World is big on roller coasters and short on actual Sea stuff. That's because San Antonio is probably about 500 miles from the nearest ocean. So that was kind of so-so. We got rained out by the tropical storm coming into Galveston, and Noah & Dillon were kind of grumpy. I think they're a little young for that park yet. But I rode the Sea Eel ride of Doom, which was fun. Had to do it alone, while Jeff watched the kids. Thanks honey.

A highlight of the trip was going to the Riverwalk. Whoever designed the thing did a good job...seems like all these old trees are still there, a couple stories high some of them, all along the river. And these businesses are all operating along the waterfront on either side, mostly restaurants. We ate at the Hard Rock Cafe there, to get a Hurricane glass; I drank the hurricane, Jeff collects the glasses. Everyone goes home happy. (He's got the glasses from all over the States). Anyway, it's a beautiful thing, the Riverwalk. You should go if you can. San Antonio is a really pretty place, from what we saw of it.

We also 'did' the Alamo & the zoo. We met up an old friend of mine, Richard, with whom I used to live at the School. His wife & two kids were there & we had a blast. Thanks for meeting us, guys, it was good seeing you.

So all in all a good trip. Our first, as a family, with no one else along.

--We had a new kitchen floor put in, more wood laminate. Like the sleep, this is the sort of thing that is riveting to the person involved and not so much to everyone else. But it rocked my world for about 3 days.

--Dillon has learned to crawl & pull himself up hanging onto things & will even walk a few side shuffle steps while holding on. He's the proud owner of two bottom teeth & so has ushered in the super-fun era of "the Biting of the Boob". His two top teeth and at least one other bottom one are all coming in at once right now, so he's a real barrel of laughs. I am trying to potty train Noah for, like, the 12th time, and he is duly made to ride the potty train, kicking and screaming all the way, for as many times a day as I can remember. If anyone has a tip for me, let me know. He won't be bribed & I don't want to threaten, so anything besides those two.



And that's all, folks. Pics to follow. Hope you've been healthy, happy & prosperous.

Friday, August 8, 2008

Birthdays and Anniversaries "R" Us

So I wanted to do a little shout out here to 2 very special people to me who have their birthdays on the same day, the 7th. It's a little late, but I wanted to acknowledge them:

1st: Abi, my youngest sister. I love you sveetie. Haven't seen you in a coon's age, but I hear things from time to time and know that you seem to be doing well. Can't believe that you're already 19...crazy how time flies. You have the sweetest disposition & I'm so proud of you for all you do for others. Bless you, my child.

2nd: Paula, my mother-in-law. I love you too! You're a terrific mother, as is evidenced by your son(s) & daughter...and I feel blessed to know you. Thank you for all the love & care you show Jeff & I and also our kids. We miss you!
Happy Birthday!

And Happy 4th Anniversary to Jeff & I. Four good years, baby. I think we made some good choices. You make the magic happen for me. I love you.

Saturday, August 2, 2008

Happy Birthday to me

So tomorrow is my birthday. I know, I know....I'm like a 5 year old. Seriously. I really thought that once I got "upwards in years" (I'll be 31 GASP) I would, like, stop not being able to sleep the night before in case the birthday fairy came or something like that. Or stop expecting everyone I know to show up at my surprise party with presents and cake. But, here we are, 31 years later and still going strong with the delusions of childhood. Oh well. I guess I can take comfort in the fact that I distinctly remember Tom (of Eva) at the office house where I lived when I was 7 creating this gem:
"Oh little town of Cleveland,
How still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The husband of Maggie (his wife at the time)
The father of Tina, and of the twins....
(And I can't remember the last line)"
It was a song to be sung on the eve of his birthday. I imagine he was in his late 30s. Of course, at the time I thought he was in his dotage. And because we're really digressing here, I remember that Mom's birthday, which fell right after his, was forgotten because we all got so much into Tom's. And she felt bad about it which consequently made me feel really bad, and so I've carried the burden of guilt for that to this day. Thanks, Mom. (Hee hee hee)
So I guess I'm not the only senior citizen in the world who still feels like a child over their birthday. So sing with me:
"Happy Birthday to me,
I live in El Paso
Which looks like Mexico,
But without all the cleanliness and greenery."
Thank you.
Also, if you would like to get me a present, a house in California would be nice. They're on sale now, I believe.

About Me

I was born and raised in Japan and moved to the US about 15 years ago. I met my husband in California and we moved to Texas 9 years ago. We have lived in El Paso and Hewitt (near Waco). We are blessed with three beautiful children, Noah, Dillon and Zoe. I am currently an undergraduate at Baylor University majoring in Social Work.