Still here...

Just wanted to let everyone know that I'm still "here", even though I haven't blogged in awhile. I have been so busy taking care of the kiddos I have had a hard time getting ont he computer. I am hoping to get a lot of new posts up this weekend, so be on the lookout!!!

Happy St. Patty's Day

So my day wasn't spent drinking green Irish beer or anything even remotely close to that...instead my day was spent with these two crazy little leprechauns, and I wouldn't have it any other way!!!

Tristan being shy in front of the camera

Forget shy...check out my grin and my leprechaun shirt

Who cares about your shirt, look at my shirt and my tongue too!

Look how big my hand looks when I put it right in front of the camera
Oh, Mommy cut my hand out of the picture on this one, darn!!!

Parker's signature pose...seriously, I think I have a million shots like this with something in his mouth and he's staring straight at the camera

Hope everyone had a lucky (and green) day!!!

Ducks!!!

My friend Melissa and I took the kids (her two, Kaeson and Kolby, and my two) to the the park the other week to feed the ducks and hit up the playground since it was like 85 degrees and gorgeous outside.

Tristan and Kaeson had a great time feeding the ducks, even though the ducks weren't all that interested. I think since the weather had been so nice that a lot of people had gone to the park with the same idea and the duckies just weren't that hungry...maybe we'll try going on a dreary, ugly day next time!

Anyways, the ducks weren't that hungry but the big giant geese are ALWAYS hungry and immediately swam right over for some food. Tristan, having no fear as usual, decided to feed one of the geese straight from his hand, and I happened to catch it on video (which I posted below)...hilarious because he didn't get bit, but a little scary afterwards. I had to tell him afterward that we only throw the bread in the water because ducks bite. He just looked at me with this look of why on earth we don't feed them straight from our hands!!! The funniest part happened later that night when Victor got home from work and asked Tristan what he did he today and Tristan told him "ducks bite"! He's really starting to remember and process what we tell him.

After the kids fed the ducks for a little bit we headed over to the playground for them to run around like maniacs. All in a day's work for this Mommy!

Tristan and Kaeson waiting for the ducks to swim their way

Of course they had to get on the bridge

Kaeson snacking on some bread...I guess he figured if the ducks didn't want it, he'd eat it

Tristan got bored and decided to look for rocks to throw

Tristan's duck feeding video

Parker and Kolby looking on from a short distance

Parker was content eating his snacks

Tristan and Kaeson on the playground

My very own monkey

Fun Quiz

Hey everyone, I just took this fun, short quiz and aparently I am a Bette! There's a couple of things that don't mesh, but there are a bunch that definitely ring true!!! Leave me a comment and let me know what things you think are spot on and those that aren't for me and then try it out for yourself.

You Are a Bette!

You are a Bette -- "I must be strong"

Bettes are direct, self-reliant, self-confident, and protective.

How to Get Along with Me

• * Stand up for yourself... and me.


• * Be confident, strong, and direct.


• * Don't gossip about me or betray my trust.


• * Be vulnerable and share your feelings. See and acknowledge my tender, vulnerable side.


• * Give me space to be alone.


• * Acknowledge the contributions I make, but don't flatter me.


• * I often speak in an assertive way. Don't automatically assume it's a personal attack.


• * When I scream, curse, and stomp around, try to remember that's just the way I am.

What I Like About Being a Bette

• * being independent and self-reliant


• * being able to take charge and meet challenges head on


• * being courageous, straightforward, and honest


• * getting all the enjoyment I can out of life


• * supporting, empowering, and protecting those close to me


• * upholding just causes

What's Hard About Being a Bette

• * overwhelming people with my bluntness; scaring them away when I don't intend to


• * being restless and impatient with others' incompetence


• * sticking my neck out for people and receiving no appreciation for it


• * never forgetting injuries or injustices


• * putting too much pressure on myself


• * getting high blood pressure when people don't obey the rules or when things don't go right

Bettes as Children Often

• * are independent; have an inner strength and a fighting spirit


• * are sometimes loners


• * seize control so they won't be controlled


• * figure out others' weaknesses


• * attack verbally or physically when provoked


• * take charge in the family because they perceive themselves as the strongest, or grow up in difficult or abusive surroundings

Bettes as Parents

• * are often loyal, caring, involved, and devoted


• * are sometimes overprotective


• * can be demanding, controlling, and rigid

Take Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz at HelloQuizzy

Weekend Fun, Part 2 - Train Show and the Riverwalk

A couple of weekends ago we headed to downtown San Antonio to check out the traveling train show (thanks for the info Courtney!). There were lots of exhibits full of super tiny, medium and large scale trains and even a little Thomas the Train ride for the kiddos, although Tristan did not ride it...he was content just watching th other kids on it!

We walked around the whole convention center checking out all the exhibits with Tristan repeating "train, train" and "chugga, chugga, choo, choo" the whole time.

A little video of Tristan saying "chugga, chugga, choo, choo", at the top of his lungs, of course

Daddy and Tristan next to one of the trains

One of the neat trains

Tristan pointing out the trains above him

Watching very intently, both of them

Catching a ride on Dad's shoulders...a much better view!

Parker was not quite as interested in the trains, but was oh so good in his stroller!

Look how Tristan stands, hand clasped behind his back, such a little boy
The two of them next to Tristan's favorite train...

Here's the real reason it was his favorite, it had a mini roller coaster that was zipping around

We stayed at the train show a little over an hour and then went down to the Riverwalk and decided to take the kids on the boat ride that goes through the whole riverwalk. Now, I haven't been on the boat ride in at least a couple of years, but it seemed like it took forever, so maybe they have expanded it in the last couple of years or maybe it just seems longer when you have 2 kids with you. Nonetheless, they had a good time! After the boat ride we ate at a great Mexixan food restaurant and then headed home with two worn out kiddos!

Tristan and Daddy on the boat

Mommy and Parker

Parker's Ears

Just wanted to give everyone an update about my little baby and his ears. Not last Thursday, but the Thursday before, we had tubes put in Parker's ears to help with his chronic ear infections. It seems that our babies' eustachian tubes just don't drain well and have a propensity to build up fluid causing some uncomfortable ear infections. I really hope that his tubes help as much as Tristan's have...no ear infections the entire time the tubes have been in place!

So, that Thursday morning we took Parker to the outpatient surgery center about 6:30 and got checked in. We got started pretty much right away with the nurses doing their check in thing and then the anesthesiologist came by to give us the oral part of the anesthesia (laughing gas comes later once they take him back). We gave him his oral dose and viola, we had drunk baby Parker and the nurses came to take him back.

The surgery was fast and he was in recovery in no time, although he wasn't happy about it! They ended up letting me go back to the recovery area to nurse him since that was the only thing that would settle him down. He finally calmed down and they took us back to our personal waiting/recovery area where he pretty much nursed and slept. We got released a little before 9 and headed home.

So far his ears have been fluid and infection free, thus a happier baby. Unfortunately the tubes didn't miracously make him sleep through the night, which I had hoped, but we're working on that!

Here's a few pictures I shot before his surgery.

This is actually before he got his anesthesia

He just wouldn't leave that phone cord alone

Right after he got the first part of his anesthesia...still looking normal

A few minutes passed...getting a little loopy

A few more minutes...maybe Victor took some of that anesthesia too, he's looking a little goofy

Definitely drugged up

Even all drugged, he still wanted the phone cord!

Right before they took him off

Goofin' Around the House

Like I said in the previous post, we've stayed pretty busy the last couple of weekends when Victor is home from work, but that's not always the case during the week when it's just me. It is definitely much harder to get out of the house, and stay out, with two little kids versus one...someone is always eating or sleeping or at least in need of a meal or a nap!

So during the week we tend to stay at home a little more than we used to. We play with the gazillion toys we have accumulated over the last 2 years, play outside, have friends over to play and just try keep our (or should I say my) sanity!!! Don't get me wrong, we still go out, at least for an errand or something almost every day, we're just not quite as on the go as we used to be, but we're working on getting back to that point. For some reason, my kids are so much more well-behaved when we are out doing something versus satying at home...I really think they get tired of being at home. Sometimes we just make a trip to Target for the heck of it to get out of the house, and who doesn't like going to Target, right?

Parker and his rosey red cheeks

Big open mouth smile

Lovin his big Valentine's balloon from GiGi

I love this face

Hehehe, there goes the balloon

Aawwww, so precious

Coming after the camera

In order to eat the camera lens

This day he preferred his fist!

Moving...always on the go!

Stopped to bite the floor????

Relaxing with Daddy...okay so this was a day that Victor was at home and we actually stayed home

Isn't that sweet...it doesn't happen too often since Parker definitely prefers Mommy so I'm glad I snapped a picture!

Tristan playing with his airplane (a favorite word and sight for him)

Parker watching Tristan, with great interest

There's that hand again...definitely teething

Parker at his favorite place in the whole house

Tristan joined him

Tristan teaching Parker how to pull up the blinds...one of many things he will teach him I'm sure

Now he's got it himself