Disbelief

It could be Christmas here, that is the only time my whole family usually gets together. That and hurricanes. I wish it were Christmas, that would mean this big, scary storm breathing down Nola's neck would be gone, history, because Christmas is definitely not in Hurricane season.

But Christmas, it is not. And Gustav is knocking on our door. We had evacuees arrive at our home at 4:30am last night. They didn't want to leave, but who ever does. They did, they knew it was best, like so many in the city of New Orleans they are scared. And I don't even live there and so am I. I'm not scared of my house flooding or being blown away here, I am pretty sure we are safe. I am scared because Nola will always be my home.

I also worry about the psychological impact this storm will have on so many Katrina survivors. After August 30, 2005 life became before Katrina and after Katrina for so many Louisiana and Mississippi residents. And now three years later it is happening again.

I have had friends calling and emailing me for days. "We can't do this again", " I can't believe this is happening again", "I am still so tired from Katrina". I'm not sure how much more these people can take. Please pray for those that are in the wake of this storm. I know firsthand how life changing this can be. I know what it is like to watch family members leave their home and nothing to return to. I have seen the deep, dark depths they can sink too. It's not pretty, not at all.

Because the world needs more people like him...

Filmmaker Michael Moore calls Gustav timing a 'gift from God'
by The Times-Picayune
Saturday August 30, 2008, 6:58 PM
Academy Award-winning filmmaker Michael Moore, best-known for his documentaries "Roger and Me" and "Fahrenheit 9/11" told MSNBC commentator Keith Olbermann on Friday that projections that Hurricane Gustav could hit near New Orleans on the opening night of the Republican National Convention "is proof that there is a God in heaven."
Olbermann led into the interview with Moore noting that President Bush was presenting John McCain with a birthday cake when Hurricane Katrina flooded New Orleans on Aug. 29, 2005.
Moore responded: "I was just thinking, this Gustav is proof that there is a God in heaven. To just have it ... planned at the same time, that it would actually be on its way to New Orleans for Day One of the Republican convention, up in the Twin Cities, at the top of the Mississippi River."
Moore then quickly added that "I certainly hope nobody gets hurt; I hope everybody's taking cover."
You can watch the YouTube video here.
Rep. Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson, issued a statement calling for Moore to apologize for his remarks.
"I demand an immediate apology from Michael Moore to the people of south Louisiana for his offensive and inappropriate comments," Scalise said. "People in Louisiana, regardless of political affiliation, are making plans to leave to protect their families from this serious storm, and the God I know would not share Michael Moore's glee for our plight."
For complete convention coverage
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I already thought Michael Moore was an ass, he just proved me right again. Some people should just keep their mouths shut, he is one of them. I'm sure the democratic party would agree as well.

I know that it is normal for people to wish hurricanes to hit elsewhere than where they live. I truly wish it would make landfall directly on his home. I know this isn't possible, but I'm a dreamer.

Preparation is key

Last night Meredith held a meeting with all of "her people." She briefed them on evacuation routes and emergency preparedness should Gustav come this way. It went well, I am pretty sure all the princesses and friends will make it.

The story of the New Orleans Evacuee

Its mid work week and there is a tropical depression in the Atlantic, the evacuee catches the news and moves on. It's only a depression, its pretty far away, nothing to worry about yet.

Three days later the depression is a storm, a hurricane and it is quickly crossing Florida or Cuba and heading into the gulf. The evacuee starts to watch, to hope that this thing goes somewhere else and becomes someone else's problem. They don't care where, just somewhere other than here.

The next day the projected cone comes out. The evacuee who was once in the clear in now in the cone and has to flee. They start calling hotels a few hours up the road, chances are there are no rooms in that town so they start calling in the next city up the road.

They never put down the phone. They call the Ramadas, the Howard Johnsons, the Best Westerns, the Hiltons, the Marriots, the Motel 6's and everywhere in between. When it comes to getting out of harms way, they don't care where they stay they just dial. The evacuee finally finds a reservation, six hours away. They reserve a room for themselves, one for their in-laws, one for their Aunts and Uncles, another for their neighbor and her mom and so on. The list is endless because in New Orleans, everyone is family and you never leave family behind.

They begin to gather things they can't live with out, important papers, insurance information, bottled water and things necessary in a crisis. They learn from Katrina that this is truly a crisis. A crisis knocking on their door. They mentally take inventory of what they have accumulated in life, what can they live without, what can they leave behind. They now know this is a real possibility, they know that there are some things they may leave behind and never see again. They know, because Katrina taught them that.

They go to work, they watch the news, they see the fear in the local news casters eyes. After all they have been through this before. They now know what can lie ahead, Katrina taught them that. They watch the weather channel, they see the excitement on the meteorologists' faces after all they aren't the ones leaving everything behind. To them it is a job, the next big one.

Two days before landfall, their city calls a mandatory evacuation, they lock their door and walk away. They have no choice, it's just things and they know staying is not an option. Last time it was mass chaos, like a scene from a third world country, they can't deal with that again they have no fight left. They get in their car to drive to their destination and the journey begins. The journey that takes there breath away and is so heavily laced with fear. The journey that may change their lives forever because they know that when and if this storm hits, things will never be the same. Their city is already in ruins, how can it survive another storm. But this is the gamble the evacuee takes by calling this city home. This city that is so unique and like no other in this country. This city that is their family.

They drive and they drive. What normally takes 2-3 hours has turned in to 12-14 hours or parked on some interstate and not moving at all. That is the journey for the evacuee. They finally land in their hotel and they laugh with their friends, their family, their neighbor. Its a laugh, but a worried humor. They talk about previous storms and previous evacuations. They eat, they laugh, they drink, but in the back of their mind they worry. What will happen? What will survive? Will it turn at the last minute? Will it destroy my home? They know these worries, these questions to ask themselves, Katrina taught them that.

It's 12 hours before landfall and they are glued to the weather channel. They watch as Jim Cantorie is standing outside of their hometown, because their hometown isn't safe enough. They watch the wind and the water and the rain and they wait. And wait. Because at this point that is all they can do. They know in a matter of hours that their life can be turned upside down and that things may never be the same. They know that they will once again "adopt" a new normal. They wonder and worry about their home, their job, their family, and their city. That is what they do, Katrina taught them how.

To all the family I left behind in my city, I am praying for you. I pray that Gustav spares you. My home and heart is open to you all.

Do we look alike?

My mom dug out an old picture of me today. Okay so she pulled it out, she lost all of our pictures in Katrina and this in one my aunt gave her recently. I know it is very sad, anyway....what do you think? Am I her mother?

Meredith at 2 1/2 years old Me about 3 1/2 years old

What she says...

While we are all riding in the van and Josh and I are talking in the front....
"Mom I having a wittle com-ba-say-shun with dad!"


While I am telling her to hurry up so we can go in the morning...
"Mom, Mom chill....just chill"


To her little two year old friend while playing in the sandbox...
"Take off my shoes"


On our way to Walmart....
"Mom I no love Walmart, I love Tarrrr-get!"


At church on Sunday, standing on the pew while eveyone is silent....
"JESUS, Where Are YOU?"


In a public restroom....
"Momma da lady made a toot!"

Her very first day of preschool

Today was a very big day for my baby girl. Today she started preschool. She was so excited to meet her teacher, Mrs. Jenny, and to do all the wonderful things she would do at school. She did so well. There were a few tears as I dropped her off, but by the time I paid my tuition and came back to peek and check on her she was all smiles and playing. I think she is going to have a blast. I picked her up in the carpool at noon and the first thing she said when she got in the car is "momma I want lunch!" followed by "take out your pony momma" - I had no pony tail in when I dropped her off and had one when I picked her up - she is such a smart cookie. Mrs. Jenny said she did great today, she did lots of playing and had no accidents - she is the only one fully potty trained in her class! After school we went to McDonald's with some friends.

I am so proud of my big girl!

Her first day of school breakfast, cinnamon rolls that her daddy made! She loved them. (he then ran to the pediatric clinic and got her immunization form for me - thanks Josh!)

Here she is all ready to go! "Come on Mom lets go to school!"
My two bugs!

Oh how No-wee and I will miss you today Meredith! who will make us laugh?

Not so sure about this whole school thing... You want me to go where lady?
Carrying her bag like a big girl. I swear there were only an extra set of clothes in it, not bricks!
So proud and happy in her classroom. See her bag hanging by her name!
Already busy in her new school!
Loving all the new toys!

She had such a good day and I missed her terribly. She is ready to go back though. Mrs. Margie my neighbor kept Noah while I dropped Meredith off at school, he did great too. Mrs. Margie didn't want to give him back.

The Winner is....

Head over the Regrets Only Stationery blog to see!

Objects in the mirror are closer than they appear

Today was a bad day. I should just leave it at that, but why not share it all with you. You know those days where you should of just stayed in bed. That was my day, except with motherhood you get no days off, there are no sick days, vacations days or mental health days. And wow do I need a mental health day.

My kids slept in until 7:00am. That is pretty late for us. We woke up and did our usual breakfast and morning routine and I thought, oh gymnastics isn't until 10:30 we can take our time getting up and out this morning. Then the phone rang...

"Hi Mrs. So and So, this is electrician so and so. Your husband called and asked me to come install some fans for you"

"Yeah, he said you were planning to come one day this week, what day were you thinking?"

"Uhm today, right now actually, is that okay?"

"Sure (let me just brush my teeth, shower, put on a bra, clean up and rearrange my whole day) Yeah no problem at all."

I then raced to the shower, semi-cleaned up breakfast, and then by the time I showed him where I needed the fans, how to get attic access, picked up everything I didn't want covered in sheet rock dust and got two kids dressed and ready for gymnastics, my leisurely morning of taking our time to get ready was over and it was time to go.

We headed home from the gym to find the electrician was still on the job, but at lunch. I looked around and didn't see any fans hung and thought, wow this will be a big bill as Mr. Electrician man is charging by the hour.

At 4:30pm Mr. Electrician man knocked off for the day, he will finish his estimated 4 hour job sometime tomorrow. And $$$ are flashing through his mind. At 5pm we headed out to dance class and as I was backing out of the garage I took of my side view mirror.

Josh laughed, I didn't think it was funny. He laughed all the way to the gym and told me he was pretty sure some grey tape would fix that bad boy right up. Yep some tape and a few hundred bucks I am sure.

Tonight we tucked them both in and finished the gazillion stationery orders I have ( which is a really good thing....I have a mirror to fix.) We hyped up the start of the first day of preschool tomorrow and although a part of me is thrilled a part of me is so very sad! I will miss my bug so much.

I then headed downstairs to read over her papers that I got in the mail a few weeks ago and filled out. School bag packed - check. Sippy cups packed - check. Extra clothes and panties packed - check. Registration papers filled out and ready to go - check. Vaccination forms ---- Oh crap! Vaccinations forms? How did I forget the damn vaccination forms! Really I knew tomorrow was the first day of school, but in my mind it seemed much further away than tomorrow.

So I have one of three options, I can keep her home which would devastate her, but let me hold onto my baby one more day. I can bring her without the form and play the dumb mom, but what kind of message would that send to the school and my daughter - rules...who needs rules. Or I can wake up at the crack of dawn to rush to the pediatricians office to get the forms and then rush Noah to the babysitter and then rush Meredith to school.....I guess I will go put on my running shoes right now!

See you guys tomorrow and will let you know how all the running goes.

And how the first day of school goes.

And how long it took Mr. It will only take 4 hours to complete the job.

Tomorrow will be better and remember objects are always closer than they appear!

Halloween

I know you are thinking.....whoa slow down, it isn't even September yet! I can't help myself. Halloween is my absolute favorite holiday! I would trade in that man in a big red suit for two halloweens if I could! I love everything about it. I LOVE the dressing up part. I LOVE the candy part! I love haunted houses, halloween decorations, having a halloween party, going to a halloween party. I love it all, but what I LOVE most these days is watching the 2 cutest tikes in the world dress up. I had other costumes in mind, but when I saw this one I knew it was the costume we would be choosing. Before I even showed it to her I could have ordered it. I had another cute costume in mind, but she was dead set on being Jessie. So ladies and gentlemen here are our Halloween costumes for 2008.....

Meredith will be Jessie!

And Noah will be Bullseye!

This year we will be in Disney the week before Halloween and get to do "Mickey's Not so Scary Halloween" there. I think there costumes are very fitting for them and for Disney! Won't they both be so cute! The costumes should be here this week, I can't wait!

Time is flying...

In the past week I have posted two comparison pictures of my kids at the same age. It amazes me and makes me so sad they are growing up, but at the same time I am so excited to see the little people they are becoming.

It also makes me realize how quickly time is. I don't know what is scarier the fact that a little over a year ago Meredith was Noah's size or that in a little over a year Noah will be Meredith's size. Either way I am going to embrace today and tomorrow and everyday after.

Go and hug your babies people!

Don't forget....

The contest over at Regrets Only Stationery will be ending tomorrow at midnight!

Hurry on over there and leave a comment to enter!

I will display the winner over there Tuesday morning.

Are you ready for some football....

Saints football that is! We are a silly family in deed. We got all dressed up in our jerseys and headed to Poppa and Mimi's house to watch the preseason game. Poppa had his jersey on too! We are ready for a little football. Here we are all decked out. All but No-ee. His jersey is on it's way. But we did let him borrow Meredith's that Ian's mom and dad made for her when she was 9 months old. See Jeff & Caryn your jersey is still going strong! My little "saints"!
Meredith sporting the jersey in January of 2007
Ian and Meredith watching as the Saint's lost in the playoffs.....darn it and we were going to the super bowl!

torn

I have to say I was a little torn about whether or not to address the comment by "anonymous" about my term of "poor kids" in a previous post. While the term "poor kids" may have "offended" some of you who read my blog, it is a term that is used in our society. There are rich people, there are poor people and there are millions in between. In school I was always taught to give to the poor. So no I don't' think teaching my two year old to give to the "poor" is awful, I don't' think that at all. I never came out and called you or anyone else poor. I never said anything about people who go to "goodwill" being poor. For all you know there could be some very poor children who live down the street from me that we gave some toys too as well as bringing others to good will. And while there may be some very frugal people who are very wealthy shopping at goodwill there may be some very poor people shopping there as well.

While you may have preferred me tell my two year old we would be giving her toys to "people who were less fortunate than herself" that would probably be way beyond my two year old's vocabulary and comprehension. And though you think teaching her that it was better to "share her toys with kids that don't have as many as her" that wouldn't be accurate, because when she shares things with other children they normally give them back, when in fact we were giving these toys away.

So please stay and read my blog, and feel free to comment. From now on though you won't be able to do that anonymously. Not if you just plan to attack me or my friends and other blog readers. To say that I "offended" you by something I said is ludicrous. Do I really have that kind of power or are you just empowering me?

mandi

Because sometimes it is okay to think the world revolves around you

"Momma I go see Meredarif in her pink-tard" meaning I go see my dancing pictures on the blog

"Okay, come on" scrolling through to the ballet pictures

"Awe look at Meredarif how bootiful" watching as I continue to scroll to Noah clapping

"Awe look at No-wee proud of Meredarif"

Although he could have been clapping for a millions reasons, today it is okay to let her think he is clapping for her. One day I will teach her the world does not revolve around her becuase she won't get anywhere in life thinking that, but this morning I will just let her think it does!

Purging

This weekend I am hosting a baby shower at my home. While that sounds fun, the process involved in getting ready for the event is not so fun. I like my home to be neat with every little piece of lint in it's place. Seriously. And while this is not a bad thing, it is when you are a total slob and also have 2 very small children who run wild and free throughout your home everyday tearing it apart.

Like most people I waited until the last moment to start the cleaning process....and yes it is a process. I mean why pick up earlier when the house will just be destroyed again 10 minutes later. So I waited until tonight to begin to straighten up my home so it can be cleaned tomorrow morning bright and early. Then I will just have to keep my little hooligans out of the house until the party....."who wants to go to Target and the bookstore and Mimi's house, who wants to eat out, who wants ice cream after dinner, who wants to ride around until they fall asleep in the car and then be carried into bed?" Okay so I am not going to do all those things, but that is seriously what it would take to keep a house clean for over 24 hours these days. And besides keeping the kids out, I would also have to lock Josh and I out until at least an hour before the shower began. We are that bad people.

But back to my point (I won't say I digress because everyone blogs that term lately), my point being that as I looked around to begin the picking up portion of the cleaning process I wanted to scream. For the first time I realized how many toys we own and are taking up residence in this house. So many that we are literally shitting toys, I mean anytime you ass touches any kind of surface in this house you are more than likely to sit on something that squeaks, cries, rolls, moves or makes some other hideous noise. Really....has my life come to this, the house with too many toys? The mom who can't say no, the mom who gives in and buys crap, the mom who spoils her kids. Then I realized no that isn't me at all. I am the mom who cannot throw a damn thing away. Well I can, but not perfectly good, working toys that have all the pieces. And I also realized that while I did buy a large portion of these toys, an even larger portion of them were gifts. For the love of all things holy in the world.....DO NOT buy my kids anymore freakin' toys!

We have toys in every room in my house from my bathroom, to the kitchen and every room in between. The kids rooms each have at least 2 baskets fulls with more on the floor and the toy room looks like a toy walk in closet that you can't exactly walk in. The sight of the toys wanted to make me scream. So I did what any irrational, insane mother with too little sleep would do. I grabbed several large bags and started filling them up. I didn't even look back. I didn't care if the toy was brand spankin' new or 2+ years old. I didn't care if it had all the pieces or was broken in shambles. If I hadn't seen the kids play with it in the last five minutes it was history, okay so not the last five minutes, but the last five months. I filled up five garbage bags faster than rice cereal turns into paste.

I just started walking around aimlessly in my home throwing toys in the bags.

"Momma what you doing? Momma you cleaning up?"

"Yep, I'm putting these toys away!"

"Momma I want dat" trying to pull a random toy she hasn't touched in months out the bag

"Nope we are giving these to the poor kids" grabbing the bags from her toy crazed hands

"Da poor kids" trying to peek inside the coveted bags

"Yep"

"like Adayn"

"Sure we can give all this crap to Adalyn, I'm sure Mrs. Katey would love it"

So tonight my friends Josh and I picked up for over 3 hours and after several bags for the trash and several bags for the good will, my house and my soul are feeling much better. And again I beg of you, if you feel the need to buy or give my child a gift... how about socks, we can never find two of those that match!

Dancing

Meredith started dancing school this week. This year she is taking tap and ballet. I was a little nervous as to how she would do. She did great! She loves it! It is all she talks about all week long. I don't know if she will get this excited about things as she grows up, but I sure hope so! I will never forget how excited she was for her first dancing class and how that excitement lasted the whole way home and into the next day. This class is during our usual dinner time, that did not even phase her, she smiled and walked in like a big girl never looking back! She loved it and she loves Ms. Lori her dancing teacher. I think she is the equivalent of Cinderella in Meredith's eyes. She talks about Ms. Lori non-stop!

Here is my little ballerina before we left. Sorry no pics of her in the tap shoes!
(see Brownie in the bottom corner helping me take pictures) "Mom, we need to go.....Mom let's go to dancing school!"
(after attempting many shots and trying to get her to look, Brownie gave up, see her leaving)
Okay mom, one more and I'm not looking! I am way to excited to look, I'm ready to leave! She seriously did not want to sit still to take these. She wanted to leave and go, we were 20 minutes early!

Clap, Clap, Clap your hands

Noah's favorite new thing to do is...... Clap!
And he is so proud of himself when he does it!
Whenever I say "Yay!" or sing he starts clapping immediately. If anyone else starts clapping he will too! He loves to clap. He will clap to music while bouncing up and down dancing!

A Giveaway by Regrets Only Stationery!

Regrets Only Stationery will be hosting it's very first giveaway! (Seeing as this is a blog trend)

So if you would like to win the very sassy notecards below just head over to Regrets Only Stationery Blog and leave a comment on the post! All entries must be in by Monday August 25th! The winner will be announced August 26th. So rush over and leave a comment and good luck!!!

Aren't they very sassy!?!?!

Remember don't comment here, well you can, but you HAVE to comment over there to be entered into the contest!

Help!!!!!

I need some help and fast. For those of you who have been there and done that or those who have heard of this happening help me find a solution....

Meredith has been potty trained for over a month now. When I say potty trained I don't mean training, I mean out of diapers and going on her own. In that month we had no accidents, zero, zilch, nada! We went to a Wiggles concert in Nola...no accidents, we went to Gulf Shores on a 4 hour drive...no accidents, we shopped at the outlets one day....no accidents. Her Poppa bought her a jeep for doing so well. Then Saturday we ran into friends who were amazed at her being potty trained, amazed that she got out of a pool to tell us she had to tinkle. Amazed that she hasn't worn pull-ups to bed at night and only had one accident!

Then Sunday morning rolled around and we had accident #1. Just some tinkle in her panties. Then accident #2 followed by #3. I was so upset, so confused. And it didn't seem to phase her at all. So last night I put her in a pull-up, which she normally refuses to wear. She put it on and woke up dry! So today we tinkled and pooped before gymnastics and went on as usual. Well at gymnastics or on the way home or walking to the car....I'm really not sure she had accident #4.

I came home and put her in time out, she cried and said she was sorry. I took her Woody and Jessie doll away and she pitched a major fit! So tell me is this normal???? What do I do???? I threatened to put diapers on her and she didn't care, I threatened to take away her snacks and she had a meltdown.....help me please!!!!!!

And Mr. Zack if you are reading this and the accident happened in the gym, I am so sorry. I was so not aware until we got home!

A typical Sunday morning, not so typical parenting skills

This morning at 6:30am my little human alarm clock woke me up. Wow is it 6:30? Wow is this the first time he woke up? Wow 9 hours of sleep!....are just a few of the things that passed through my mind. I then told Josh I would give him $5 if he went upstairs and got him, he did and I didn't give him $5. When he brought Noah down I was hoping against the odds that I could nurse him and then snuggle him back to sleep in the bed with us. But see Noah doesn't do well when he is in the bed with us, just like his big sister....he thinks mommy's bed means playtime. Can you tell they never sleep with us. So my thought of snoozing a little later were slim and none. As I was nursing Noah my better half was snoring again. So I nursed him, laid him between us and then nestled my head back on my own pillow. Noah started to laugh and coo and then came "dada....mama.....dadadada.......momom....gagagaga.....dadada." So I rolled over and instructed my snoring better half to give him something to play with. He did and it kept him quiet for about 2 minutes. I then rolled over to find whatever object my other half had given him and retrieve it and I was a little shocked....a remote.....seriously.....a remote control without a back on it and missing batteries.....

"JOSH, did you take out the batteries or did Noah eat them?"

"Don't worry, I took them out"

"Good" and then I handed him the remote back and settled back into my foggy slumber.

Two minutes later more whining, "Please Noah five more minutes, here take this" as I handed him the video monitor and then sent the evil eye to my snoring other half.

Two minutes later more whining and kicks to the belly and ribs and backbone.

"Okay Noah here"... reaching onto the nightstand furiously looking for anything.

"Ahhh-ha, here little guy go back to sleep" as I hand him a pony tail holder and then roll peacefully back into my pillow.

Then the red lights went off in my head.....DID YOU JUST HAND YOUR SON A TINY RUBBER BAND TO PLAY WITH!!!!

"Okay Noah you win, let's get up!" and I got up and headed out to the living room sending my evil, laser beam eyes over to my pretending to be snoring other half....men!

You would think 9 hours of sleep was like hitting the jackpot and would surely be enough, I guess not so much, I only have 9 months worth to catch up on.

A Revelation of sorts

Today I was outside pushing Meredith on the swing when out of the blue....


"Momma my name is Mere-da-rif"

"What?"

"my name is Mere-da-rif!"

"Yep, your name is Meredith, good job bug!"

"No momma, my name is Mizzie"

"No your nickname is Mizzie, your name is Meredith"

"Mere-da-rif, Mere-da-rif, Meredaaarriiff"

"Yes it is Meredith, great job, now try Mere- ra- dith"

"Mere-rrrra- ddddiff.........Mere-da-rif!"

"Great job bug! I love it!"

"I love Meredarif too!"


I think her days of calling herself Mizit are over, I will miss them. She is still holding on to Mizzie though. I think Josh is going to be saddest of all. I secretly think he wishes he named her Mizit himself. Mizit Grace, it does have a good ring to it!

Do they resemble one another....

These are two of my all time favorite photographs of my children. I have an 8X10 of each. I am thinking of framing them to go in my bedroom (I have pictures everywhere throughout my house of my kids.) These are two that I can never part with and never put away. I love them.

So do you think they resemble one another?

Here is my beautiful girl Meredith at 6 1/2 months old, just learning to sit up. Here is my handsome guy Noah at 7 months old, just learning to sit up.
I think my kids are gorgeous. Can you believe that Josh and I made two things so absolutely perfect, me either! Oh they are such beautiful babies!

Check it out!

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Just enter TWOTIKES when you checkout!

Thanks Tracy!

Boys will be boys!

So Noah decided that he loves to wear his disposable bibs on his head, he looks mighty cute in them too! Oh mom, I am such a ham!

His younger cousin Connor thought he was silly and hats were for girls.....here he is trying to take it off Noah.
Connor don't mess with my hat!
Or I'll bite you!
You better not bit me Noah!

Okay buddy I won't bite you......

I'll just suck on your big toe!
Hey mom, what is this guy doing?
Mom he is such a weirdo, look he is sucking on my toe!
What can I say my Noah man likes hats and toes!

I got home from the beach and look what was waiting for me.....

Oh how I love my husband.....be green with envy!

The Beach

We are home! Wow what a trip! We got home yesterday and today was a day for recuperating or at least I thought....Josh thought today was a day for cleaning out closets and cabinets. I just needed some rest. Taking a trip to the beach with a toddler and a baby taught me some valuable life lessons....of course I will share them with you in another post. Seriously we had a great time. We didn't do the whole week like the rest of the family, because let's face it....a women can only go so long without a full nights sleep. We came home early enough to still love the family we went with and not scar us from ever going again. Next year we will be ready for the full week.

Meredith loved the beach, Noah hated it! Meredith loved the sand and the shoreline, she was iffy on the whole gulf thing, which was fine by me. Noah hated the sand, hated the sun, hated the shoreline and HATED the gulf. He was very content to sit in the condo and be rocked by someone or to play with his cousin Connor.

I had a good time, the beach was not quite as relaxing as I remember it. I used to head out to the beach with my ice chest in hand in the late morning and stay until the evening. This year it was in and out in and out, potty breaks, snack breaks, diaper changes, nursing sessions.....oh the life of a mom. We also only used 3/4's of the clothes I packed for each of us. I didn't get a full night sleep at the beach because Noah and Meredith decided sleep was for adults and they were kids remember!

I made my family bring denim and white for beach pics, out of 200 pics we got a few decent ones. If people would only learn to look at damn cameras! Every year we laugh at everyone dressing alike and taking the pictures. This year we joined the silly people and laughed at ourselves!

I also hit the outlets and made my husband's wallet cry and probably my husband too. The outlet is way too far to return things with my buyers remorse, so he will be returning to work soon to pay for the loot.

All in all it was a great trip and I am already looking forward to next year's trip. We also survived and came home happy and exhausted with a minivan full of sand. I think in the end we could of toughed it out the whole week, but really I wasn't ready to lose my sanity just yet.

Here are my favorite beach pics.....

The three most important people in my life.


Noah and Connor in their cage....kidding...their pack and play!
Jumping monkey on the bed!
Am I not so handsome!
Stud muffin!
One decent pictures and my husband has his tongue out! Hello....are you like 2 Joshua???

My princess and her castle, well some other person's castle but a castle none the less.
My loves!
The best picture from all the outtakes!
Seriously....the best picture, mom if you would only look at the camera puhhhlease! I can't make the kids, but you would have thought the adults could do it. In the 100 pictures at the beach the at least one adult is blinking, laughing, looking at an adorable child, or making an insanely hideous face.
Okay this one isn't bad and everyone is looking.


Us, after 200 pictures, my husband bitching not so quietly under his breath, and me ready to pop him.....awe! aren't we cute!

The three cousins! Now they are cute!
Mimi is the light of his life, and he is thinking lady I better be the light of yours too!
I can do it Mimi let go!
Look mom one hand!

My favorite girl cousin....and her favorite thing! Trying to be artsy...trying, but not real hard. I really ought to learn about my camera and photo shop.

Mom I can do it I can catch the fwawter
I got it, I GOT IT! Shit there it goes again!

I'm gonna get you fwarter!

Yay Noah is at the beach and not screaming his head off, Not so sure about Josh!