Looking at Boats, Sharks & Snakes

I remember spending lots of time down on these very docks and was excited for Carter and Addie to see all the boats. I was hoping we would get to see the afternoon fishing boats come in for the day with their catch but we were too late. Carter kept asking if there were sharks in these waters??

As we were exploring, we came across a coiled up snake. This was the reaction when they figured out it was plastic.

 

Looking for boats coming in and of course, for dolphins! 

Jackie Kennedy said it best.

Tonight after putting the kids to bed, I was catching up on some blog reading and could hear Carter talking to himself nearly 30 minutes after we had turned out the lights. Most evenings, I would have quietly walked in there and sweetly reminded my little rule follower that it is time to go to sleep. Factoring in the aspect, his daily sheet from school had written across it... "NO NAP TODAY", I should have probably not said it quite as "sweetly." However, a thought came into my head that I wanted to interview my little man and what better time than 9PM on a Monday night.... right?

Mom: Carter, what's your favorite color?
Carter: "Green mom."

Mom: What do you like to eat?
Carter: "ICE CREAM!!! Sometimes, at school, we get it for surprises. And cupcakes AND chocolate... YUMMY!!"

Mom: Who is your best friend?
Carter: "Cash and Vincent. And Nate. Hey mom, did you know that Nate starts with a "N?"

Mom: Where is your favorite place to go?
Carter: "Chuckie Cheese!"
Mom: Really??? You have only been there two times in your life and you cried both times when the big mouse came out.
Carter: "We go there if it is some body's birthday and MOM, there are games there!!!"

What is your favorite thing to do?
"Play.... and and (thinking) SWIM!!" Yes SWIM!!

Tell me about your favorite toys.
"Batman and Spider man. I love them."

What is your favorite show to watch?
Smiling at me, "Batman and Spider man."
After I tell him, "Silly... you have never even seen a Spider man show."
He says, "Mom, I think we need to get a Spider man show."
Get a Spider man show? How Carter?
Carter quickly looks over my shoulder at his piggy bank on his dresser and says, "I have money I have been saving mom."

Why do mommy and daddy go to work every day?
"So you can get money to get beautiful stuff."

What do you want to be when you grow up?
"I want to be what daddy is."

What makes you sad Carter?
"When Addie hits me."

What makes you happy?
"When Addie kisses me."

If we could go anywhere tomorrow morning, where do you want to go?
"HEB to get a toy like a race car or a backpack."

What do you pray everyday for Carter?
"Jesus... mom, is he strong? Why is he up on a cloud mom? Is he in outer space? I pray for daddy on an airplane and for Addie and I thank Him for mommy."

Carter, is there anything else you want me to think about when I think of you at 3?
"I am smart. I am... uhm..... sweet and I think I am loved."

With that unexpected last answer and a tear of happiness in my eye, I laid in bed cuddling with him and told him over and over, he is loved and never to forget that, no matter what!

I thought to myself how happy I was that I didn't come in here tonight and sternly tell him he had better go to to sleep because instead, I learned how much he takes in from me and the magnitude of the fact settled in that I can help mold this perfect new form of a human into a loving, sensitive and hard working man with every action and word that he sees and hears from me. Wow... what a job that is and one that I promise I won't mess up on (too much!)

I then suddenly remembered a quote I once read from Jackie Kennedy that I saw in a whole new light tonight, "If you bungle raising your children, I don't think whatever else you do matters very much."

Back To The Beach.

Early mornings are our favorite... we have the beach to ourselves. We get to choose the very best spot and just take it all in. I have to say that the beach is one of the "easiest" places to be with our 2 babies. No bickering or getting on each other's nerves, tons of different activites to do and at the same time, really nothing at all to do but enjoy each other. We really didn't have an issue of them wondering off and Addie really does a good job of not wading out into the water up to her head anymore. ;)

Something Different About This Video????

I know... I know... I have been posting a ton of videos of the kids swimming but this one is pretty different if you look closely...

Since last weekend, BOTH Addie and Carter, can walk up the huge flight of stairs to the top of the slide, have learned how to wait in line and then for the Life Guard's command at the top, to tell them they can go down. Blake and I are so proud of this little accomplishment they have achieved in beginning to learn how to be independent little people.

So, I promise... no more slide videos! :)

One Of Those Rare "Kid-less" Nights Out...

A trip to Vegas, only with out the flight, expensive hotel or smokey casino area. It was so much fun sitting at a black jack table getting a glimpse of what our lives' were like a short 3.5 years ago. We all are so blessed and to have our 4 healthy babies and occasional nights like this add the exclamation point to that fact!

Thank you M&M for a fun night!

The Best Conversations Happen...

...on the potty.

I don't know why it is but recently Addie has been doing everything and anything possible to delay getting in bed. She will sit on the potty forever and I noticed over the last few weeks, we have started to have some great little 2 year old conversations.

I remember my high school friend, Robyn, told me 6 months ago to post more videos of her talking... so I finally remembered to tonight... the trick is she can't know I am recording or she will purposely not say a word. Little Stinker.

I am glad I caught a few conversations like this to look back on in 30 years... Tonight's conversation started off with what she wants to be for Halloween....

More Summer Fun!

This might sum it up... lots of water time and Popsicles. We are averaging about 10-12 hours in the pool each week and loving every second!

Carter got the meet the Spurs Coyote but more importantly the Spurs Coyote got to meet a future Spurs basketball player. ;)

The kids and I packed up for a morning at Sea World this past weekend, I let them look at the map and decided any where they wanted to go....

Of course, they chose the water.

Sunday night, we got a special treat and got to have pizza at the pool with YaYa and MeMa and show off all their new swimming under the water tricks!

Like I said, it really does seem like WATER has taken over EVERY aspect of our lives this summer and we LOVE it!

The Bond Broken?

I remember fondly the days I wrote about the bond Carter and Addie were developing. We have been blown away by the success of the first 25 months and owe 90 percent of it to Carter's gentle and patient personality. Well, about 3 weeks ago, that BOND came to a screeching halt when suddenly the 2 of them could not be in the same room as each other with out scratching, hitting or screaming, ultimately ending in a major breakdown with both of them. Blake and I were at our wits end wondering what went so wrong? Thank goodness 10 days later and separate baths and everything else, they just as suddenly snapped out of it... thank goodness! (But I did get a sneak peak at what the adolescent years will look like with these 2!)

After we got home one afternoon, I was unloading the car and came in the kitchen to find this sequence of events happening. Addie talked her "Bubba" into helping her get a specific pink sippy cup she wanted out of the cabinet. She proceeded to open the refrigerator all by herself, get out her TWO different cartons of soy milk we mix together and evenly poor her own combination of milk. She was so focused on the task, I seriously don't think she had a clue I was behind her documenting all this.

When she wants her "milky," she is serious. A very determined and self sufficient little girl.

Just some sweet & random pictures over the last week of them back together not trying to kill each other...

We are so thankful that the love is back.

Some Days All You Need...

is a hug from one of your favorite pups...

Some Days...

are rougher than others when you are 2 years old...

Then and Now

With the thousands of outfits Addie has, I don't know why I get such a KICK out of purposely holding on to certain outfits just to see her in them much later on. This was a 6-12 month old shirt that I knew would fit her this summer, 15 months later at 27 months!

Just 6 More Months Of This....

Based on my memories with Carter, the days of Addie proactively running up to me and saying, "Mama pick up!" are numbered. I can't remember Carter wanting to be carried around for no reason a few months shy of turning 3. In the last month, Addie, has wanted to be carried and hugged more than ever and I am trying to always STOP what I am doing, NO MATTER WHAT, and enjoy these moments while they last...

My babies are growing up so fast and I am committed to taking every moment in and with the help of this blog, when I am 80, I can always look back on these little memories...

MeMe in San Antonio = Fun, Water & Sun!! (Part III)

Addie showed off to MeMe with her "flying!"

The dads and girls on top of the BIG ROCK!!!

Then us 4 gals chilled and floated down the river...

We had the BEST, most fun and relaxing weekend with MeMe! Thank you for coming all the way to see us!