Monday, May 30, 2011

Keepsakes: Parking tickets, Mullets, and all



Keepsakes

Some of this past week's big and little moments I want to remember and keep tucked in my heart forever. No matter how silly.




-Airports.
Well, sort of.
Isaac arrived home safely from Las Vegas on Wednesday afternoon after being gone on a 'work' trip for four nights. I thought it would be fun to take the kids to the airport to pick him up. You know, watch the kids run into their daddy's arms, steal a peck asap after he exits the plane........ I think the airport scene from my favorite movie, Love Actually, is to blame for my high expectations.
Anyways.... we get there, I put several quarters in the parking meter, get both kids out of their carseats and into the airport, and quickly realize how tricky it is to keep two toddlers from getting into trouble at the airport. Charlie runs to the Starbucks counter and starts throwing the snacks on the floor, while Annette is trying to go up the escalator twenty feet from my reach. So, I bought a 6 dollar bag of dried fruit to try to keep them occupied, sit at one of the itty bitty tables that we had to share with a (thankfully) nice and pitying young lady, and waited about 30 minutes until Daddy arrived. Fortunately, his plane was on time. A true blessing, since I hadn't even considered if it had been late... or even thought to bring a stroller....crazy, spontaneous, silly me. The reunion of our little family foursome was great. We were all so happy to see each other. We just do better when we are all together. We hugged, held hands, got Isaac's bags, and got to the car just in time to see a police officer walking away from our car. Sticking a ticket under my wiper blade. Police. I guess I should have dragged both kids all the way back to the car so I could put in a few more quarters, risking our chance to see Daddy walk off the airplane.... Really?!?!? No. No. No. I'm thinking it was way worth the 15 dollar ticket.

- DateNights
We went on a date night on Thursday night. I was ready for some fun/quality/adult time after seeing all Isaac's iphone pics of fancy dinners/brunches and poolside entertainment and roof top parties in Vegas. My mom was free to babysit, so off to Sushi Cafe we went. We went to SO afterwards for dessert.....almost as good as going to Vegas with my hubs:)



- First Haircuts
Charlie got his first haircut on Friday before we left for the lake. I have attempted to do a little trimming myself, but he bucks his head and wails. My wonderful hairstylist, Kate, trimmed his hair for me. I was all prepared for him to scream and twist, forcing me to become a human straight jacket. To my total shock, he was more than decently still and didn't cry even once! I held him facing me and distracted him with a sucker. I'm still in shock, four days later, that she was able to do such a great job cutting my little squirmer's hair. It looks nicely trimmed, yet still a tiny bit shaggy, which I love and had most explicitly requested. and most importantly, he does not have a mullet anymore.

Pre-trim at the wonder place and at O'Mcdonalds as Annette calls it. We went on lots of outings to keep mommy sane while dad was out of town...

wow. see the hair growing loooong in the back?

love that he can do a straw now.



Wish I could have gotten a picture during the cut, but I only have two hands. So I took this when we got back in the car.




I can kind of sweep it to one side and make him look all clean cut, too:) Posing here with my very goofy father, grandad.




While I took Charlie, Annette got to have a special lunch with her Daddy at Franke's Cafeteria at the bottom of the Regions building.










- The Why Stage
Constance Annette is 'constancely' constantly asking WHY questions these days. Not just 5-10 times a day, but 5-10 times in five minutes. And because I'm a sucker for teachable moments, I usually try to give her a real answer every time. Which can get exhausting... while the answers can turn surprisingly deep. While at the lake with family all weekend, it was nice to see other people get a turn trying....umm, stumbling... avoiding.... or embracing... all of her why's. Funny to observe how everyone handles the limitless question-and-answer sessions differently.





-Family Dog Owners
Love that other people, including Isaac's parents, own dogs. Because Charlie is in love with the things, yet I do not need/want to add an animal to my already messy/needy household. Bonus--- my husband agrees--- for now at least. See Dolly Sue below.






- Sleep
Charlie and Annette both slept through the whole night on Saturday after a full day of lake playing. I realize this shouldn't be an unusual thing, but unfortunately it has been just that for the last year at the smith house. But for at least one night, neither one even made a whimper in their pack n plays. Which is especially nice when we all share a bedroom at the lake. Charlie was up by 6:30am each lake morning (like every morning) and Annette not far behind him, so I took them outside to play and for an early walk (still in pj's) while Isaac slept in a bit. Before some of you start thinking I'm such a nice wife, know that it was a trade off for getting to lay out and read in the sun for about an hour a day...kid free:) Thanks, Ike.


- Green Bean Snack Bowls
My kids will eat green beans like they are munching on chips. Hope that won't change anytime soon. I get these cool snack-cup ones at walmart (on the same aisle as canned veggies). I can't find them at my kroger, unfortunately. More packaging isn't good for the environment, I know, I know.... but it seems to make my kids more interested in eating veggies as a snack:) They are great for packed lunches or picnics...... or snacking on in the nude.




- Playground Milestones
Charlie mastered the Hot Springs Chic-fil-A playground this weekend. He can go all the way up to the top all on his own. If he doesn't get lost and end up in the car he will will even do the slide too. So big and brave. And he's just 14 months old. Excited he is learning new ways to burn off his abundant energy without wearing his momma out:)




- Boatrides
Granted, they were a little more relaxing pre-kids, but they are still a fun way to enjoy the summer season. Very thankful Isaac's parents have a place for us to stay and boat for us to enjoy. Watching Annette smile her biggest smile while riding on the boat wearing that big ole life jacket... I don't ever want to forget it. Witnessing childish joy and wonder. Wish I could bottle it up and save it for the future, to enjoy again later, or use it as a remedy in more stressful times, or learn from it.

Might be cool to see this immaterial keepsake become a material one. A little bottle of Childish Joy Numer 9 :)


























On this 'field trip', I got to show her new words like island and water skiing as we saw them in real life. Fun stuff. We both loved it.







my happy happy girl.
full of joy and wonder.... with her happy disposition and all of her why's.












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