Weekend

A perfect summer weekend despite the stifling heat. Yesterday all 4 of us were swimming in the ocean having the best time ever. Murphy beach week(end) was a fun group and the kids were happy playing with Joey, Caroline and the big Tejera kids. 

Rascal

As I was racing out of the house this morning I heard what sounded like somebody falling out of bed. I went up and saw Lula was awake and had come into our bed. Pat was in with arthur after a 2 am scream fest. 

I had to hustle out to work but didn't want to wake up the boys so I gave Lula my kindle. I rented 1 show and told her to watch that, and only that, until daddy got up and then he would read to her. 

When I come up out of the metro I suddenly get a bunch of emails from Amazon confirming the purchase of a number of shows like monster high and Barbies Christmas. Each with an attendant price tag! She must have been watching the first 2 minutes, deciding she didn't like the show she picked and chosen another!!!  I was moments away from calling Amazon to put a hold on my

account when I got through to pat and asked him to remove the kindle from Lulas hot little hands. 

Later he tells her that she is not allowed to choose her own shows or order anything on my kindle. Her very serious response was, "how did she know?" 

Because I know everything Lula. Don't you forget that. 

Ice cream man: Bethesda

Last night as I laid in bed w Lula reading I heard the faint music of the dreaded ice cream man. It was 7:55. I tried to read louder so she wouldn't hear but i wasn't loud enough. She asked me what the sound was and i had to admit that it was the ice cream man. It didn't sound like it was on our street - maybe one street over? We hopped up, grabbed my wallet and raced downstairs. We waited excitedly discussing what she would choose. We waited and waited and soon we didn't even hear the faint noise anymore. Eventually, I took a sobbing Lula back upstairs and promised her that we would try again tonight. 

Cousins

You'd think it has been years since these four had seen each other the way they cheered and hugged when we came in. It's very cute to see how much they love each other - even when Arthur is ruining Bridget's toys. 

Diggerland!

Yesterday was a magical day at digger land! It was nice weather, not too crowded, and just the right size for my 2 and 4 yr old. There wasn't too much Arthur couldn't do because of his size and nothing that was too babyish. We had a midday break to eat a picnic in our car but other than that they ran and played and drove all day. Not surprisingly, it was about 6 minutes after we got into the car to come home that Arthur was passed out. Lula wasn't far behind him. 

Of course, because they had car naps they did not want to go to sleep at 7:30 as I hoped. Around 8:30 I heard Lula tell Arthur to stop shouting mom and dad and. Start screaming "ouch." That way, she explained, they'll think we're hurt and come help us. Tonight's bedtime story will be some version of the boy who cried wolf! 

Leighton road trip day one

We set off Sunday afternoon only telling the kids we were going on a secret mission. I bought some junk food for the road trip and we left Bethesda around noon. Everybody ate their lunches, were totally amazed at the trains and ships as we drove through Baltimore, and then had little naps as we eased into jersey. 

We got to our hotel around 3, went for a little walk at the chaconas state park (no Arthur, STATE park, not skate park), and then had a gross meal at the Applebee's next to our hotel. We snuggled up and watched Norm of the North and went quickly to sleep afterwards. 

New park, new tub

We're enjoying lots of different things about living with Grammy and Pop Pop. The park here and nice clean tub are just two of many....

Construction

Lula, for one, is totally delighted about the construction at our house. She doesn't care that we have no kitchen sink. Arthur is still delighted by the open air toilet (behind the blue tarp). 

Ice cream man

This weekend my kids learned what the ice cream man is! Obviously, they were not disappointed when their aunt Deirdre decided to flag down her neighborhood ice cream man and treat all 17 cousins to ice cream. Nellie berman got an entire pint of ice cream. I bet she hasn't gone to sleep yet...

Jack the Catholic

We had a lovely day at Jack's baptism. He was a perfect angel all day and my two angels behaved during the mass too!! 

After mass we went back to the hinkle's for a paaaaarty. Lula was delighted to hang with her buffs Cece and KayKay. 

We introduced Arthur to a hammock. It was love at first rock. 

Summertime fun

I bet Grammy and pop pop didn't know we were nudists when they said we could stay with them during construction.