Do you vacuum out your shoes?

I know what you are thinking, who would even think of such a funny thing as to vacuum out a pair of shoes...well let me tell you I know a girl that has mentioned such a thing to me and her name is Gwen.

It all started this past weekend, James was off running wild in the designated camping areas for young scouters, and I was at home with my kids, and a few extra. We had nothing but time to kill, so we went to a new park that Brooke found just a few minutes drive from our place ( well if you factor in weekend traffic it was about 20 minutes away).

Like Zilker Park this little play area has a sand box that has hidden dinosaur bones that you can dig up, but it is a lot bigger, and LOTS more sand, and swings and dirt, and mud, and since we have had a few storms lately, there were puddles too. And Harrison found them (lets just say that he had no pants, socks or shoes on for the ride home).
A little shovel here, a little sand everywhere else...
then move to the next spot for more digging and sand flinging.
India and Yale were great at finding the hidden dinosaur bones, Harrison not so much just a lot of sand flinging.

Gwen on the other hand was looking for buried treasure. And she actually found a little toy that was buried there, she was so excited I don't think that I could have planned it any better.
Harry and India making castles.
Ah yes and then one of the puddles, and Harrison with a wet bum. Great. It was right after this that Harrison climbed and fell off of a bench, scraping up his little face and head that we called it a day. I tell you what, he trips walking on a flat surface. Nutty kids. Well as we were driving home I asked the kids if they wanted to go trough a car wash, and they said yes, so we did and Gwen cried the whole time, then after she talked about it like it was the greatest thing that she has ever done, I just don't get it.
To try to make her feel better I was telling her it was like the car was taking a shower, and it had soap, and shampoo and then a giant hair dryer, she liked that. So I asked her if we should go and vacuum it out (thinking that I would be able to check it off my to do list while entertaining at the same time) to which she responded, " No, but maybe you could vacuum out my shoes, they are dirty."

Well I suppose that with all the sand that made it into hair, pockets, pants, and socks, I bet that the shoes could have used a good vacuuming out. I guess I will try to remember that one for next time.

blurry photos, and hail shmale

So I was tagged by Brooke, and the rules were to post the sixth picture in your sixth folder...or something like that. Well that would be this one. Just a distorted picture of Gwen that probably did not make it onto the blog before, because well it just looks funny.

So now that's out of the way, we had a tornado/ severe weather warning throughout most of Texas today, and it was pretty overcast and breezy for most of the morning, I was staying posted during the afternoon because they were actually evacuating some places as the storm moved, so I wanted to know when it would be coming over our area, it was so crazy the weather outside went from just overcast to rain, to heavy rain and strong wind, to immediate hail ( the size at our place was about the size of a nickle- a quarter) and crazy wind (like 40 mph). All in all the storm passed over us in about 15 minutes, but it was really intense. I thought that the kids would be scared of how loud and quickly the storm came on, but Gwen was screaming with delight when she saw that the hail was turning the grass "white", and the "thunder was bringing the rain". I had no idea that she would enjoy the tornado warnings so much, maybe she will be a storm chaser?

While we were in the safety of our home James was driving home ( naturally it would hit during rush hour) and he was stuck at this light while the hail plastered the car, he thinks that we will have some dents for sure. Yikes. While we were watching the storm pass and staying updated with the local news coverage one of the members of our ward submitted some pictures of the hail that they had at their house...the size of a racquetball...a racquetball people! That is nuts. Well the storm passed and all is well now, but I have to say that is one thing that I do not love so much about spring in Texas, tornado season. Not something that I would be able to handle well, I would probably be the crazy lady that was trying to go to the store during it. I have some pictures of the hail that we had here, but I will have to post them later. It appears that blogger is having a scheduled outage, maybe I should have read that little warning before doing all the typing, whoops.

see kids run...see kids play

Gwen got this kaleidoscope the other day and she was on the lookout for funny things that might be going on around our house.
Here she is standing on her stool taking in the scene.
Yep that is a pretty funny looking kaleidoscope. It is actually a blimp that is promoting the kids choice awards for Nickelodeon. Hmmmm interesting product placement.
But it sure does get the job done.
I looked out the window and the kids had taken their stools outside and were sitting side by side talking, it was so cute. Look at those little heads just peeking over the window.
Then the kids were playing this funny game where they climbed on the railing and tipped their heads backwards and laughed and laughed and then repeated the process...and I learned in this little game that Gwen is not nearly as flexible as Harrison is.
Look at that kid, he is practically doing a back bend. Way to go Harrison! maybe you can be the next Paul Hamm in the Olympics. I wonder if James would mind if his son went to gymnastics and ran around in the male version of a leotard?

in honor of spring

This first picture is for Becky and Ryan. When they were here last week we saw some squirrels resting in funny positions, I thought this might make them laugh. If you can even see it.

And next we have some things that I really like about the spring time. First off playing outside with dad after dinner...because it is still light outside and dad is just more fun I think. Everyone is in the sand volleyball court, which is like our own private soft sand beach...so I tell myself.
James helps Gwen to cover up her feet.
Ta-da the missing foot appears.
so lets do it again.
Harrison tries to uncover his foot before realizing that he can just step out of it. Good work Harrison. He was a tricky one to get to stay in one spot. Are you surprised? I'm not.

Then there is another thing that I really like about having spring around, this tree that is right outside of our patio, and it smells sooooo good. *sigh* I do love spring.

In addition to fun outside and sunny weather and nature springing forth, I also love that my favorite ice cream flavor is now back on the shelves (birthday cake, made by Blue Bell), I am wearing my favorite shorts, and the summer kids clothes are out and oh so very cute. Spring dresses and little sandals and flip flops for the kids, thanks spring for coming our way.

everyone LOVES Gwen

It is fun to take Gwen places because she always seems to get the right kind of attention, "goodies" attention. For example she would always get a free cookie when we would go to sandwich shops, or stickers and treats when we would be at the post office, or grocery store. I think that people just kind of like Gwen. Maybe it is because she is more than willing to talk your ear off even if you don't understand what she is talking about.

Well yesterday was the "big" dental surgery day for Gwen. She went hand in hand with her dad to the surgery center at 5:20 in the morning. She was telling me the entire day before that she was going to see the dentist with her dad. Yep, because that is what dads do.

So while James and Gwen checked in and got all settled in for the long morning of x-rays, fillings, cleaning, and sealants for her bitty teeth I waited at home just hoping that she would live through it all, while I was waiting James sent me these...


Look how tiny she is in the "kid" clothes. And those little red socks, Oh I could just eat her up. But then I saw that James sent another picture...


Oh she is just too little to be going through this, but at least they knew that she was a lover of stickers, she puts them in the same spots every time, arms, tummy, legs, and holding one in her hand. That is my girl.

After waiting a really long time and bugging James with lots of phone calls, and messages he let me know that she was out of the surgery, in the recovery room, and she did great, but then he told me about all the work that she had to have done. I wanted to cry. It turns out that in the two months that it took for us to finally get Gwen in to have the dental work done things went from no good to worse, in the x-rays they found more trouble, and lets just put it this way for the amount of money that we will pay for the dental work we could have had another child! And the poor little thing had more work done than James and I have had done combined!!

When she finally got home she was still a little tipsy and not quite herself, and her poor little lip was super stretched out from being propped open so long. So here is Gwen's imitation of the octa-mom.
Pretty good Gwen, pretty good. I love the groggy eyes.
She was super tired and all she wanted was the binki and her new toy zebra. I was trying to tell her that the binki might not be the best idea with her giant lips, but she was so sad that I gave in and quickly after this is what happened.
She was in and out of this world so I laid her down, and the binki just couldn't stay in because of those major plump lips. Here is a shot of that.
After the work was done and Gwen was sleeping off the rest of the meds the five star treatment for Gwen kicked in. The deintis office felt bad because the surgical center didn't have some of the things that they use at their office so they brought them to me...at my house!! Hello dental delivery! At MY HOUSE!! That was awesome. And they also brought Gwen a stuffed animal, and new toothbrushes and some things to make her feel better. Later that evening our dentist called to check on her... she was in Colorado on vacation, but wanted to see how "little Gwen" was, now that is some special attention for sure. I thought that would be the end of it, but this morning the office called again to see if we needed anything for Gwen, then the surgery center called to make sure that "miss Gwen" was doing alright and see if she needed anything, I should have said college tuition, but I didn't.

Well Gwen I hope that you are able to keep up the charm that you have on people when you get older, I am sure that it could come in handy. Oh what is that you say Gwen? You want some new shoes, well alright whatever you want. I am more than happy to comply to your demands, even when the dentist office stops calling. Turns out that James+Lonna = not so great teeth. Yikes!

A Brothers Betrayal

There are just some lines that can't be crossed in the brother /sister world. Things like reading journals, invading personal space, bugging or intruding while with friends, and then there is the big one, touching favorite personal belongings. Totally off limits!!


Now knowing and understanding these rules I am about to tell you a sad little thing that happened at our home the other day.

Typical day as far as Mondays go, Gwen and Harrison play together, fight, sit on each other, a few time outs involved, naps, lunch blah blah blah, business as usual. But while I was fixing dinner (don't ask me why trouble always happens during that time) and the kids were actually playing really nice, they had their little boxes that they use as cars, and they were moving them from room to room, I could hear them in my room, and then in the bathroom for just a minute then they came back to the front room and were reading books and hanging out in there, ahhh so delightful to have them as friends.

I had just a few minutes before I had to take the pasta off the stove and the chicken was still cooking so I thought that I would run to the bathroom really quick, so I run in there and lift up the toilet seat (we have to keep them down and covered because of Harrison) and I found a sad and shocking sight...







Gwen's favorite little blanket, her side kick and comfort buddy thrown in the potty soaking up the toilet water. I pretty much shrieked and then there was Harrison right at my side with a little smirk on his face, he just looked at me then looked in the potty then looked back at me and walked out of the bathroom. I was baffled and my mind started moving again slowly thinking, Will it ever be the same? Should I throw it away? Its a good thing James isn't here. How could Harrison do this to Gwen? That little sneak. Should I take a picture? I better bleach it good.

So I grabbed the camera took a picture of the devastating news that I would show James when he got home, and then I took care of the blanket. Straight to the washer and into a lovely concoction of lots of baby detergent and bleach.

Good news, by the time we finished baths and were ready for bed, the blanket was safely back in Gwen's hands. And smelled like little newborn baby clothes too. Thank goodness that is over, now she will have the nice clean blanket just in time for her dental appointment tomorrow morning...unless Harrison takes the scissors to it later today, or something else.

negotiations and such

This morning when I was getting a yummy breakfast ready for all of us (meaning waffles with fresh strawberries, for the kids and I), Gwen asked me:

Gwen: Can I have a cookie?
Me: How about some breakfast it will be really good, it has strawberries on top.

Gwen: I just want a cookie.
Me: What about after you eat your breakfast, then we will see if you still want one.

Gwen: Well, how about just a little piece first?
Me: How about some waffles.

Gwen: I could just bite it.
Me: Who told you this was a negotiation?

She just smiled and waited for a cookie. Nice Gwen I wonder if she has tried that one on her dad.

Here are a few pictures from this last week. First off Gwen had a physical to make sure that she was healthy enough to have her dental work taken care of. Here are the kids playing in one of the kids waiting rooms at our Dr.s office.


Here is one tired kid who didn't even make it through his lunch. And also showing us how real men eat meat. Rudy's meat.

Also here he is showing a little of his skills in fixing the box that he sits in, I suppose that he may just come in handy for car repairs when we may need them.

Good work Harrison. Glad to see that you are prepared to pull your own weight around here.

Outing #2 with Becky and Ryan

The science and nature center at Zilker Park is one of our favorite places to go. You could spend a whole lot of time there and not even realize it because there is just so much to do. Learning about birds is pretty fun...
Seeing all the animals that they have there is fun too. We also took some time to see the reptiles and overlook the dino pit. But then we had to book it out of there to meet up with some really important people for lunch at Phils.
James and his brother Ryan met us for some really yummy hamburgers, fries and ice cream. While we waited and ate the kids found lots to do to stay entertained. The cows have recently been painted actual cow colors instead of green and yellow.
They have added some new toys to the play area. This one is like a merry-go-round for one. It spins pretty fast, Harrison found out the hard way after he got off he just tipped right over and stayed down until he regained balance.
Gwen also thought that the new toys were fun. She can do it all by herself, as she stated to us many times. After lunch is the treat part, Amy's ice cream. Mmmmmm.....
Becky and Ryan shared a little treat.
And Gwen did not share, but she had a treat too.
So good it just melts right down the cone and onto your hands. Sprinkles and all. When we finished lunch it was home for little naps and then off to meet Leslie and crew at the Extreme Fun inflatable place.
Where we drove police cars, climbed up tons of steps and rode down LOTS of slides. Harrison is a little bit of a daredevil. He love the slides and was all about doing them by himself, I can't say the same for Gwen. She always had to go down with someone. Maybe she is just a big chicken, so what.
The foam pit was great. Ryan and Becky jumped right in with the kids and Ryan would end up covered in the blocks, and wait for the kids to get in then burst out and scare them, it was so funny. We played hard for about an hour and a half then went for a light dinner at Whole Foods where James met up with us and it was fantastic.

Becky and Ryan have moved on to the next Barlow house in Austin, and are staying there for the remainder of their trip, but if you want to see what they may have done there here is a link to my sister in law Leslie's blog. ( just click on her name)
I am excited to see what they have been up to today myself. Thanks for staying with us Becky and Ryan. We hope that you had fun, I know that we sure did. It was a real treat to have you drive half way across the country to spend some time with us. Thanks so much and good luck on the drive back.

what a way to start the week

We are living the life. On Saturday night, kind of late, James' sister Becky and her husband Ryan came into town to stay with us for a little bit. On Sunday we got to relax with them and play some games. Then yesterday we dove right into the local scene, and started with Zilker Park. We played on the playground, and the fire truck too.
Becky showed everyone how to drive the fire truck, she is a really good driver.
we played in the interactive music part of the park, that was fun, but it was nothing compared to the train ride. Leslie and her crew met us there and we all rode the train around then lunch and more playing.
After all that playing we needed naps, but sadly they were not very long, but we had so much to do. We met James for dinner and then went and climbed Mt. Bonnell.
Turns out that Harrison is a really great climber.

We saw the lake, had some time to catch up a bit, and watch the kids play in the dirt and "jungle" as Gwen called it.
Here is a little where's the Barlow's picture...
Ah yes, there they are.
It was such a nice and warm day, perfect for spending time outside. While we were at the park Ryan checked the weather on his phone and it was snowing in Utah, so I guess they picked a pretty good getaway spot. Becky even got a little sunburn, that will be a nice treat to take home. We are having so much fun I feel like I am the one on vacation. Can't beat that.