I wonder where he gets it from?

South Texas Maze

We thought the maze was our one and only chance to ditch the kids but they just kept following us. Just kidding, but Ethan was ready to ditch us because we weren't moving fast enough for him. He was running down the trails and anytime we would get to a fork in the road he would direct us the right way to go. "This way Mom". We just kept following him and he was pretty much right till we got to about halfway through and then that is when the two year old kicked in and was ready to play swords with the stalks than actually complete the maze. It was also about that time that I tried to bribe one of the workers to give us the direct way out but they just showed us they next clue. Even though it is almost October, it was still pretty warm outside. Yet, Ethan was hell bent on wearing his favorite black pirate shirt. By the end of the day he was sweating his butt off. He loves anything that has to do with pirates and since the beginning of September has been asking to be one for Halloween. He enjoyed playing with all of the stuff on the farm especially the corn gun. He could of done that all day if they let him.

Gracie in front of the pretty flower garden

Our little flower

"Let me see, which one should I pull"

Tube slide

Ethan as a sheep and Dad as a horses a..oh wait a goat.

This is what we saw while we were in the maze

Barrel Train

They call this the corn popper

Why we like Dora and Gracie getting a little too excited

The redneck version of Ethan

I guess I need to work on my facial expressions

Ethan and I were playing a game and out of no where he ask me "Is that your happy face or your angry face?"
Mom: What? Where did you learn that?
Ethan: IS that your happy face or your angry face?"
Mom: This is my happy face!

However, when he is acting up or when things are going crazy around here he always stops to ask me if that is my happy face or angry face. I tell him it is my 'I need a drink' face.

I just love how she puts it!

"Call me crazy, but I'd rather raise my kids in a happy, loving household with Dora on the tv and Cheerios on the dinner table than to have them grow up in the presence of an uptight, judgmental mom with her shoulders up to her ears and no ability to distinguish the grey areas that comprise 90% of life." I love her blog and I just can't put my finger on it but she reminds me of someone I know.

Camping at Canyon Lake

We were super excited to get a chance to go camping at least once this summer. Eric and I have always liked camping and we both have great memories camping with our parents. Therefore, it is really fun to take our little ones and hopefully they will enjoy it as much as we do. However once we get to the lake, the clerk notified us that our site was being renovated and we got upgraded to a cottage (furnished trailer). Normally any person would be happy with that but for us that isn't really camping. It was just basically changing houses. The lady was looking at us like we were crazy and kept reminding us that it had AC, bathroom and a kitchen all at no extra charge. However, since all the other sites were booked in the recreation area we had to take it. I overpacked just like any mom would but since we were just switching houses we ended up with way more stuff. However, we did have a lot of fun fishing, swimming and hiking around the lake. We walked upon a herd of deer which was really cool because there were some fawns and then the next day Ethan and I almost got attacked by some crazy geese while we were feeding them. Gracie really enjoyed splashing in the lake and laying out on the sand. Ethan really liked the campfire and the fact that there was no nap time or bedtime. It seems fall will be busy time for us so I don't know if we will be able to go again, although we would love to.

Hanging out at the lake

Learning how to skip rocks

This trail was Eric's idea

Gracie and I goofing around while the boys fished

Ethan losing his concentration

Hopefully they catch something we can eat!

Thankfully, Mom brought food just in case.

A camping staple

Thermals for breakfast, what a fashion statement.

Gracie is always ready for breakfast.

Swimming at the lake

and it all ended with one exhausted baby who fell asleep during dinner time.

The Biting Dinosaur

Bubble Bath

Too much flash Mom! I was busy trying to make sure I got only head shots that I forgot to turn off the flash. At least you can see his beautiful green eyes.

Gracie loves bath time and it is the only time her hair stays down

Miss Giggles

Weekend Fun

After all of the times we have been to the pool I am barely putting up pictures of it now. A little late in the game seeing how the summer is coming to close. Thankfully, here in Texas summer weather tends to linger. We enjoyed this weekend by hanging out by the pool.

This is the life for me- notice how she has her feet all propped up

Ethan in a mid air jump

Lounging with Mommy

Mom can't do this!

Relaxed Gracie

The video below is of Gracie in the morning right after waking up. Notice the free flowing hair.

Our little rock star! At our house you can hear anything from Johnny Cash to Gwen Stefani to Meat Loaf but Ethan is a fan of only Taylor Swift and Sugarland. What have we created?

Bedtime

Please send me to time out!

Ethan walks into my room this morning while Gracie and I were getting ready so that we could all go to the pool for playgroup. It cracks me up what comes out of his mouth.

Ethan: OOOOhhhhhh, Mom you are in trouble! Dad is going to put you in time out.
Mom: Why am I in trouble?
Ethan: Look at this mess!! (while holding both hands in the air) You didn't make your bed.
Mom: Yup, Dad will have to put me in timeout but it will probably end up being more of a punishment for him with you crazy kids.

So easy a caveman can do it

I want to know how come a man running for office never gets asked how his job will affect his role as a father or vice versa. However, once a woman starts running for office, people question whether she can do both. The last time I checked woman have been incorporating both roles successfully for sometime now. Or is it that a man can immerse himself into his job more because he knows the mother of his children is there to pick up all the pieces including the “little job” of raising the children. Why does the fact that you know how to reproduce have such a bearing on whether or not you can do your job?

Growing way to fast

This weekend Eric and I just couldn’t stop talking about how big Ethan is getting. He is so funny and constantly keeps us on our toes with some of his questions. He loves telling knock knock jokes and playing freeze tag. His big thing is watching other kids ride their skateboards. He wants one really bad but I just can’t stomach my daredevil child on one. Every time we go to the store he likes to go check out all the skateboards and stand on them. If you ask him when he can get one, he will reply with “when I am four” while holding up his fingers. That is also his answer on when he can play soccer. We pass soccer fields all the time on the way home and he really wants to play but he is still too young. We found out that here he can play once he is three which should be fun. He will go up to Gracie and tell her to watch him as he makes a slam dunk or makes a big jump. She of course thinks the world of him and loves being his audience. He is such a good eater and will try anything once but really likes pizza and cheeseburgers. He enjoys spicy things just as much as Eric and I do. He is at the age where he wants to hang out in his room more than the living room. It may be due to the majority of his toys are in their now that Gracie is roaming for objects to put in her mouth. He is in the phase of building new things with his toys and thinking up new ways to play with him. He has a great imagination. When he turned two I thought temper tantrums were forever but he has started to understand that if he just talks to us and explains why he is upset, we can either find an alternative or explain why we said no. Thankfully they are few and far between now. Him recognizing the time out timer usually whips him back into shape. Other than that he can always bring a smile to my face. When we were at the doctor’s office for Gracie the waiting room was full of little girls his age. Ethan was just dancing away and showing off his moves. It was so funny and he enjoyed all of their attention. My little showoff!

Now Gracie is just a handful, more than Ethan was at this age. She loves to be held and will whine until you pick her up. If she is in the saucer and you are walking towards her she will pick her hands straight up just hoping you will pick her up. If you just walk by and don’t pick her up she will make it known that she is very upset with you. Her little lip quivers and it makes a sucker out Eric every time. She eats anything and everything! I have never fed her to the point where she turns food away. Of course the fruits and desserts are her favorites and peas and green beans have to be mixed with cereal or she won’t touch them. Even some 12 month clothing seems tight on her. She is not interested in crawling; I think she realizes being carried is much easier. She still has that wonderful gummy smile so no teeth have made their debut. We are sure Gracie will be a opera singer because there will be some nights where Gracie will wake up at 4:00 in the morning loudly sing for a couple of minutes and then quickly fall back asleep. We have gotten in this bad habit of giving her a small blanket while she goes down because she like her father and brother enjoys something touching her face. As soon as she passes out we take it out but it is like she always seems to know. She will wake up and cry till we give it back to her and then she will go back to sleep like nothing has happened. She is a happy baby and no matter what time we go and get her from her crib she is all smiles and just happy that you showed up. Her bed time is at 8:00 the same as Ethan and she will usually sleep till 7 o’clock.