Where's Jamie?

Sunday afternoon I picked up my best friends niece from the airport. She is here in Austin for the first time for a volleyball camp. So we were able to spend some time with her before the camp started. Lets just say that Gwen has found a new best friend. All this morning she was asking where Jamie was, and if she was taking a nap. She was actually sleeping, but that is because it was 7 am. So before we dropped her off on campus, we went to one of our favorite lunch spots.

Here is Jamie trying to pose with Gwen. A typical photo session around here. Gwen not looking at the camera, or trying to get away.

Ahhh finally looking at the camera. And telling me something like I said cheese.
Jamie made a triangle out of her napkin for Gwen, and she went crazy over it. So then Jamie told Gwen she would show her how to make one. So as she did, Gwen had her napkin on her lap and she really did try to do it. I though that it was really cute.
They also played on the playground and Gwen wanted to sit next to her as they ate their ice cream, and in the car, and if she had been awake when we dropped her off, I know that she would have been really sad. Instead she just asked me " Where did Jamie go? I don't see her." all evening.
And our good friend Harrison was just hanging out with a smile happy to be outside, like always. It was really fun to have a visitor, so if you are feeling like a vacation somewhere, you know that we always love to have guests. Oh and if you are wondering why all of the faces are tinted red, it is not sunburns, it is just the red umbrella over our table.

what is blue and...

What is bright blue, sticky, and stains the carpet?



that would be the entire picture of blue kool-aid that Harrison single handedly pulled onto the floor last night. I tried to get a good photo of it, but it just comes out greyish. Which is still yucky, but not quite the effect I was trying to show. Who would have thought that a 8 month old, sitting in their high chair could have been able to do all that damage...probably any mother. I don't think that we will be having colored drinks here anymore, well at least for a little while.

play time

There seems to be something keeping Harrison from reaching in the bucket...oh its just his head.
With these two moving around all the time, one is never far from the other. They do make nice playing friends.

What is this, both kids looking at the camera and smiling...it is a miracle.
Gwen decided to take pity on Harrison and help him get the blocks out.
Gwen was showing me how she could climb into this playplace bubble all by herself. She totally surprised me.
She made it in, and she posed! What! Who is this kid? I guess that sometimes playing is so much fun it is okay to spare a smile and pose for the camera. Maybe it was the chocolate milk waiting for her at the table that made the difference. Whatever it may have been I'll take it.

Kiddie Acres take two

Forget flying kites, how about a pint sized airplane instead. Wednesday I went to Kiddie Acres with Sierra and her girls Abby, and Hannah. For a mere $10 we were able to fly the planes,
Ride in the boats. Abby and Gwen talked and drove around, and at one point Gwen had stopped steering her side of the boat and Abby reached over and put her arm around Gwen and then pointed to the steering wheel, so then Gwen started to drive again, and it was back to business.
I have to say that I feel like the boat ride was a really good one, I think that the girl who was in charge of it let them go for what felt like 10 minutes.
Harrison chose this time to nap, naturally. But Hannah was a real trooper and rode on the planes and Ferris wheel.
Driving some jeeps. Real off roading not allowed. too bad. We rode the train after this one, and then...
The pony's. Abby had been talking about them all day, even in the car. I didn't know if Gwen would really go for it, but I was wrong. The girl that was helping her was great, she let her pet it and then asked her if she was ready to get on, and as she was strapping Gwen in she said that Gwen looked like a real cow girl, and then Gwen let out a "Yee Haw!" Just like that.
And they rode around,
And around,
And around. Gwen even spotted the one donkey that they had there, and then we learned that its name was Rosie, and Gwen's horses name was Red. And it was a huge highlight of the day. Then we rode the Ferris Wheel, and by the end of all of that we were ready for some lunch. As my friend Gwen would say Yee Haw! What a fun adventure.

Children's museum in Austin

This Tuesday we had the chance to do something new to us in Austin. We went to the Children's Museum downtown. It is a really fun Green building that is fun for kids of all ages. As we walked in Gwen found this train table and invited herself into the game with these kids.
Then we were able to play all different kinds of musical instruments, here is Gwen trying out some Marimba tunes.
They had this little store that had all sorts of play food and drinks and there was a little cash register to check out your items. Gwen was shopping for veggies in this picture. And on the other side of the store was a little diner type kitchen, with a wrap around counter where the kids could serve up the food they bought and made. It was really cute.
They also had an area just for toddlers and babies. I think that Gwen was just as pleased with this area as she was doing everything else. She found books to read and a little slide, I don't know how well you can see it, but all the way on the back wall/fence, there are creative activities that show the mechanics of things like what is inside a rattle, so you see what makes the sound, and there are little places to put a golf ball and you can watch it go down a track from level to level until it is spit out at the bottom. Gwen really liked those ones.
Even something for the babies to do. Plush toys, and a padded play area with a fun mural on the wall and a wrap around mirror for them to see themselves. Nice.
On the second level there was this construction site area where the kids could build with big wood blocks, or right next to it put on construction gear and build with bolts and different shaped building stuff. Here are the "kids at work". Hannah and Harrison did some supervising work.
Then when the hats fell down, the fun was over. Right around the corner from this was another little set of stairs that lead up to a giant tube slide that went from the third floor all the way down to the first. But you had to be at least 5 years old to ride it, and that stopped us right there.
As we were leaving there was this mock up version of a city bus that the kids drove and played in. What a great place this was. Gwen made herself right at home and discarded her shoes every chance she got, and was crying when I told her that we were leaving. I had to drag her on the elevator, I am sure that there were more than a few parents that were questioning my maternal instincts and skills during that moment. The fun didn't stop there, we made a little trip to Whole Foods for lunch and ate on the roof top where the kids ran and played around some more. And we didn't even get lost! Ha! All in all a pretty great day.

And then there were two

This one may look like he is all innocence, but Monday morning he unleashed a surprise that I was not really ready for. And it included speed.



Harrison is mobile. And he is just as into cell phones as the next kid. I think that mine is still airing out the slobber from when he caught it.


Now the dynamic duo are basically unstoppable.


What will this crazy boy of 8 months do next, well your guess is as good as mine. But as for now we are just trying to keep up.

the tag game

I have recently been tagged and I thought that maybe since there are a few new questions in this one it could be fun to share some random things about myself. So here we go,

3 JOYS
-Taking a nap when the kids go down for theirs. I love naps.
- Taking long showers.
-Spending time with James. Especially when we don't have the kids.

3 FEARS

- Spiders.
- Scary movies.
-Losing one of my kids.

3 GOALS

-Find the DVD remote.
-Vamp up our food storage...our HT came yesterday and that was the challenge.
-Fold the laundry.

3 CURRENT OBSESSION/COLLECTIONS

-Quaker squares cereal, for breakfast and to munch on.
-Facebook.
-Finding the DVD remote.

3 SURPRISES ABOUT ME

- I hate going to the grocery store.
- I like to watch cheesy movies.
- I love sandwiches. I would eat them every meal of the day if I could.

Alright now that I have taken forever to fill this out I will tag three more people and you know what to do. Paige, Sierra, and Becky Allen.

little buddies

On Thursday morning Gwen and Harrison were playing this funny little game where one of them would reach out their hand and the other would grab it, then they would just hold hands for a few seconds, and then start over again. It is really fun to see Harrison playing along with Gwen. I am pretty sure that he thinks that he is 2.
Later that morning we were able to go and play in Sierra's pool. Abby is taking swim lessons and she showed Gwen some tricks. Gwen didn't quite get it. But she did do tons better in the water.
As you can see here she is climbing and jumping about. Getting in and out of the pool and spa all alone. She wanted to do it all.
She was playing in the water pretty much the whole time we were there, she did escape to play in the dirt a couple times, but that is typical Gwen. Now all day long she talks about playing in the water with Abby and Hannah. We sure do love pools in the summer.

the power of floss

Early this morning I made a trip back to the dentist's chair for a cleaning/checkup. Besides the emergency visit to the dentist I had not been for almost two years. Due to moving, changing insurance etc. So when I went in this morning I could tell that the girl (Nora) that was cleaning my teeth was expecting some seriously bad teeth. However I would like to report that I have zero cavities, and apparently some pretty good looking gums.

When the dentist came in to do his little assessment, upon hearing the report of healthy teeth he sounded really disappointed that I was not going to need anymore work. I think after the last time I was in he thought he would be able to pay off his summer home from me alone. Not today sir! I would just like to say that I think that my small love of flossing has saved me yet again. Hooray for dental floss.

did you know...

Seeing as yesterday was Fathers Day, I thought that I would tell you a little about James. I could tell you lots of lovable and mushy things, but I felt like it would be more fun to let you know the hidden James. So the next time you see him, pat him on the back, and relish in the fact that you know him better without having to even enter a conversation with him.

1. The man loves broccoli. You read that right, despite his attempts to avoid eating it his entire childhood he really does love it.

2. He has never met a peanut butter treat that he didn't like.

3. Since he returned from his mission in Chile, he has not liked red meat...until we moved to Austin, and now he could eat it every meal.

4. James is one of those people that like to see how long they can drive the car on empty. He will go days and days on empty, and he is lucky enough that he has not run out of gas, or been stranded yet.

5. He is a movie percentage junkie. Before watching a film, any film, he has checked the critiques and success of the movie. Probably reading information on the film that most people never knew was out there. I think this is the reason that he is so successful at movie trivia.

6. He is pretty much the only person that I know of that will drink Austin water straight out of the tap. (I think that it tastes like dirt)

7. Speaking of drinking, he has a funny issue with the last of the milk, in his glass or in the jug, he just won't drink it.

8. He hates rough toilet paper. I think he considers himself to be rather knowledgeable on the subject.

9. He has really, really, really ticklish feet, sometimes I fear for the safety of the kids when they accidentally touch his feet. He kicks as a reaction. Yikes! However he is not too ticklish for a foot rub.

10. He has not had a cavity, or any teeth related problems in the last 10 years. And he is not one to floss, some guys have all the luck.

11. He just won a really impressive award at work that is handed out each year to only one employee out of all of the offices, including the home office in Chicago. Nice work James.

12. His favorite movie is Rocky. (that means all of them except #5, who likes that one anyway)

13. James was in a show choir, if you ask nicely he may bust out a few dance moves for you.

14. He learned to play the guitar just to impress girls. It worked because he has a long list of girlfriends.

15. He also built a large lazer when he was a sophomore in high school, which was later used to shock people. Typical high school move.

16. He holds the record for worlds greatest player of Settlers of Catan, and close friends call him lord of Catan.

17.

18.

19. These ones we can't mention.

20. The human body has 206 bones, James had 207, and he broke the extra one in his foot.

21. He wrote a song and got to play it on the radio, it was called "happy girlfriend land".

22. Going along with the music theme, he can remember pretty much any number but fails to remember the lyrics to his favorite song. As far as lyrics go he makes up his own, and he thinks that his sound way better every time.

23. Has been known to switch phone carriers just because he wants a new, better, amazing phone. I have heard these phone tactics many many times.

24. He took fourth place in a spelling bee, all because he lost to the word usurp.

25. He was in a car accident involving a semi truck, and he was able to come out of it completely unscathed. That is some impressive driving. Feel free to ask him about this one, I know that he doesn't mind telling the tale.

Well I hope that you have learned a few new things about Mr. Barlow. I am sure that he is going to have a good time reading these. Just wanted to let you know a little of the great and funny man that he is. I love how talented and understanding he has been with me. Thanks babe-ah.

daddy's day

Just a simple fathers day for James. We had this really yummy Asian Sesame chicken dish for dinner. You know anything that falls into the Asian food category is a winner with James.And Gwen made this little tie for him in nursery today. James was so proud he wore it all day long, even when he took a nap, and all through the finals game. Maybe it was a good luck charm. It used to have little butterfly stickers on it, but those didn't last too long. You know stickers on felt, not really the makings of a great long term relationship. But it really is the thought that counts, and I think that I have found almost all of the stickers in one place or another throughout the day.
Gwen was so excited to wake James up this morning and tell him Happy Father's Day. It was really one of those proud moments as a parent. You know, the kind while your kids still like you. It has been fun to spend the day together. We finished off the evening with some chocolate chip cookies, and a little basketball. I'd say its been a pretty good day. It is kind of late but if you check back I think that I am going to post a few quirky things about James, in honor of Father's Day of course.

water wonder

We took a little adventure to play in the pool with London, Maddie, and Leslie on Friday. It was business as usual for Gwen. Play around the water, with the occasional dip of the hands or feet.

Hanging out by the side of the pool, catching some sun, eating cheetos. Watching everyone else play in the water.

I was trying to get Gwen to go in the water, and holding her hand as she jumped in and out of the water. It seemed to be going well she was laughing and having a good time, until I went to put Harrison down so that we could play better, I took her to the steps and she slipped and her head went in the water. I expected her to scream and cry, but instead she just coughed and went about her business outside of the water.
You know playing with the tubes on dry land. Playing in the dirt.
Hanging out with Harrison. But then something crazy happened, she saw Leslie lifting the twins in the deep water and then shuttling them back to the steps. I was getting Harrison a bottle and when I turned around this little miracle is what I saw...


Leslie had just become my hero. Gwen was asking to jump to her over and over. Each of the girls were taking turns and laughing and giggling as they waited for their turn. I was almost in tears. I thought that after the head under water incident she would never go near the water again, but today was different. I quickly put Harrison in his seat and he fell asleep. So I had the chance to play with Gwen in the deep water for almost an hour. It was glorious. Thanks so much Leslie, I can't tell you how much that meant to me. I guess that our pool days are not over.