Joe-isms

Joe not wanting to go to bed last night:

"I get up!"

me:  no, Joe, it's bed time. 

Joe:  no, I get UP!  I go tickle Daddy!

me:  no. 

he crawls to end of the bed and looks at me and says "I frow my blanket!"

me:  Joe, if you throw your blanket, I am not going to get it.  AND you are not getting down, do you understand?

Joe throws the blanket

Joe:  MY BLANKET!!!!!  I WANT MY BLANKET!

Me:  No.  no blanket. 

Joe then throws his giraffe.  you see how this is going. 

I tell him that I am going to leave him in the bedroom all alone for a little bit. 

About five minutes later, I go back in and he's sitting very demurely under the covers with his paci in. 

joe:  "I'm ready to listen"

me:  you want your gigi?

Joe:  yes.

I go to get in to snuggle with him and get under the covers and he says...  "my blanket"

so I get him his blanket

Joe:  "fank you... I not frow it!"

then this morning:  I tell him

"whatever you do, do NOT come over here and get dressed! "  You are NOT to get dressed, do you hear me?

Joe:  I'm having fun mommy, with a mischevious little grin. 

me:  don't you come over and get dressed.

he comes over and giggles the entire time.

then my phone rings... 

I am talking to my sister and he stands in front of me with hand on hip and says.

"I'm READY mommy!" 

three year olds.  Gotta love em!  :)

Swimming with Ms. Kristina

about a year ago, my friend Meg introduced me to Mr. Bobby and Ms. Kristina.  They live in Keller and offer swim lessons out of their swimming pool behind their home.

Our very first session was about a year ago and I had to drop Joe off and leave him there for 30 minutes.  He cried the entire time but came away from it swimming.  That was his first video.

Then, this year we did a refresher with Mr. Bobby and that link was his swimming video back in April.  He learned more about back floating and how to flip and move his arms in freestyle motion.

Then we decided to do one more class, this time with Ms. Kristina again and it just solidified all that he had learned and this time he didn't even cry the whole time.  But, I could also sit and watch him since it was his third time going.

But he does sooo well and that is 100% because of the wonderful teachings of Kristina and Bobby!  They are wonderful with the kids and the peace of mind that comes from him knowing how to float and swim to his safe place is worth more than the price I pay and truly worth it's weight in gold.  They have given him the tools to save his own life.  That is ..  priceless!

thank you Kristina and Bobby!
I look forward to further lessons.

End of vacation

Wednesday night while I was putting Joe to bed, Cindy and Veronica took pictures of the girls looking happy and sad and mad.  I personally love mad. 

Then there was a random facebook picture

 which Crissy posted while Cindy was taking Sarah to the bathroom.  It just makes me giggle and giggle.  So, then we tried to do a close up picture of all of our noses and it didn't work so well. 

there might have been alcohol involved. 

 Thursday morning, Joe had gotten up quite early.  I don't remember exactly why he was "summering" so early but I do believe it involved a time out.  :-) 

Thursday was the lady's day to go shopping since the guys had already gone golfing.  We didn't bring our camera's but we did come home with a lot of goodies and one picture... 

When we arrived home we had some lunch, hung out and then headed out for our last dinner.  We decided to go back to Paradise since it was so kid friendly and we could boat there.  

We had a great time and so did the kids.  There was even a band that showed up which made it all the more perfect. 

We finally managed to get all of the kids together for a picture with the Captain...  Joe wasn't smiling and Jacob had his hand hangin but... hey, at least they were all together.  :)

There was picture taking, dancing and running.  

more hoopa luping.  

more boating

this was our hacienda.  :)  

Friday morning dawned EARLY and we were back on the road by 7:00 am headed for Texas.  

One stop at mcdonalds, a what NOT to wear and a busted lip and we were back on the road again.  

And about 6:00 pm we pulled into my driveway.  

A bit of playing and eating to be done.  

and that, my friends was all she wrote.  :)  

Thanks Stanards and McMichaels for another fantastic vacation and helping to make wonderful memories.  :) 

Day 4 & 5: Golf, beach and relatives, oh My.

On Tuesday, the guys went golfing.  So us girls and the kids had the first part of the day to ourselves.  We went for a walk but after a few skinned knees came back home.  We hung out at home, took a few naps (well the kids did, we "summered" and then the guys came on home.  We had a low key day... well as low key as five kids under three can be. :) 

On Wednesday Scott's sister and brother in law came down from Jefferson (I think) and then that evening John's sister and niece came down from Columbia.  We took the kids to the park and had a big spaghetti night at home.  

John and I were Mama and Papa razzi. 

I love love love this picture of Miss Sarah.  I think she just looks so grown up yet so innocent all at the same time.  

This picture was hard to come by.  These kids would hang out all the time but getting all three to sit next to each other and to actually smile is IMPOSSIBLE.  

it was much easier when they were like this.  

Or maybe not.  :-)
or even better:  this

It is SOOOO hard to believe those are the same kids. :)

Life... is... good.