Rehoboth Beach: 10 Years and 2 Kids Later

I have to preface this post by telling you where I am writing it. I am babysitting for our darling next door neighbors. Their baby is asleep. I am listening to i-Tunes and blogging while Josh is at home feeding the boys dinner and putting them to bed without me. Who got the better deal here? When I left Sam was crying bloody murder to see me heading for the door. I hope they will eat for him and not just throw their food all over the floor. They do it just to make him mad - they seldom do it while he is at work.

With that out of the way, I got pictures of the beach! I had a stomach virus on Wednesday so Josh stayed home from work to take care of the boys while I went back and forth from the bed to the bathroom. He took them out to run some errands and developed the film for me. CVS sells cd's with your pictures on them so I do have them digitally.

Our trip to the beach was so fun. Cousin Lydia spent the night with us to help us prepare and drove out to the beach with us. She helped me pack and helped entertain the boys and pick up their toys when they threw them down in the car. They absolutely love her and miss her when we don't see her for a little while.

It's a 3 1/2 hr drive to Rehoboth, DE. About half-way there Josh said, "Now it feels like summer!" I think it is so important to get a change of scenery once in a while to remember where your routine stops and your life begins. We really got to relax and unwind, all in one day! Rehoboth is where Josh and I spent our honeymoon 10 years ago! Like most beaches, it hasn't changed at all. Same salt water taffy shops and grainy sand, but we have changed and have these 2 cuties to show for it!

I had imagined Sam and Michael calmly sitting in the sand, playing with the buckets and shovels we brought. That must be what 10 month olds do at the beach. They were running all over the place destroying other peoples' sand castles, stealing people's toys, and running into the ocean! We spent at least 30 minutes holding their hands and lifting them up out of the surf every time a wave came in. Michael was sweet and took us each by the had for a little walk up and down the beach. We love the feel of his little hands in ours.

Michael did take a long enough break to have this "con" (versation) with his aunt Debbie.
We were only there about 3 hours and were absolutely exhausted! Maybe it had something to do with the fact that I was up most of the night before (until about 4am) with Michael and his teething pain. It took me until the 3rd time he woke up to figure out what was wrong and give him some ibuprofen.
We stopped at Sonic on our way home, gulped down our enormous hamburgers and gave the tater tots to the boys. Sam was asleep before we pulled out of the parking spot and a few minutes later Michael was asleep too.
At home we actually got everything put away and, except for the laundry, it was like we hadn't gone to the beach at all. Not bad for one day! There was something so calming about just seeing the big, blue ocean and nothing else. I highly recommend it!

We continued the fun weekend taking the boys to see the temple Sunday evening. They were both impressed and kept pointing to it and asking us to tell them what it was called. You can see Michael was ready for bed by the time we left, but they loved it and love the picture we have of it at home. Sam pointed to the picture of the temple and said "happy!" Hearing that makes US happy!

Monkey

Meet Monkey. That is as creative as I get on names, so he'll have to wait until Michael can talk for a better one. After the boys were born their Aunt Sarah and cousins Rachel and Brooke sent us a box full of gifts. In the box was this stuffed animal monkey. I thought it would be rude to give it to Sam as he actually LOOKED like a monkey when he was born, down to the same hairline and pokey-outey ears, so Monkey was given to Michael.


I tried to get him attached to it last spring, but it was a one-sided relationship and Michael didn't pay any attention to him. (I can't get that picture to rotate around.)



Now, however, they are inseparable. Michael feeds Monkey, brushes his teeth, brushes his hair, and kisses him on the lips a hundred times a day with a loud "Mmmm!" Before bedtime and naptime we walk around the house together looking for Monkey and calling out his "name." When we find him Michael bursts into an enormous smile and reaches out for his little friend. He's had a few baths in the washing machine and is holding up well. So here's a long-overdue thank you to Aunt Sarah, Rachel, and Brooke for what has turned out to be a match made in heaven.

Michael dropped our camera a week or so ago so we haven't been able to take any new digital pictures. I am taking some pictures with a disposable camera we've had in the cabinet for about 5 years. I hope the film isn't too old. Anyway, until we fix it or get a new one, I'll have to use old pictures.

We're going to the beach with my sister Friday and hopefully she can take some pictures and share them with us. Wish us luck with no naps and trying not to burn the boys! I think they will be in heaven as water and sand are their 2 favorite playthings.

Cars, and Trucks, and Planes, Oh My!

This is Sam at his best. Josh's boss gave us this Richard Scarry book "Cars and Trucks and Things That Go" and we thought we'd see if Sam liked it. Turn up your volume and see for yourself! It's a little fuzzy because I standing far away and zooming in so I wouldn't distract him with the camera. It's a little long, but it's fun.

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First Haircuts

If you can't read that certificate it says, "This is to certify that Michael has bravely met all of the requirements of receiving his first haircut and has graduated from babyhood on the 16th day of May in the year of 2008. Ceremonies took place at: Senate Hair Care, Delaware & C St, NE, Washington, DC 20510."


We bit the bullet and cut of the curls. Not completely, mind you! We took Michael and Sam to the barber shop in the basement of the Russel Senate Office Building and Barber Dave Knight (no relation) did the honors. He's been cutting Josh's hair for 6 years and basically gave the boys the same cut.

Michael got through it with a fixed gaze at me or his dad in the mirror the whole time.

While Sam needed the distraction of his favorite toy ever, the Blackberry.


I don't know if I agree with the certificate that they've graduated from babyhood, I'm not read for that, but they are definitely acting like toddlers and even go off to nursery in a few weeks.

Josh got his hair cut when the boys were through and I tried taking them up to my old office to say hello to a few folks, but everyone was already gone for the weekend. I was smiling the whole time we were there because I am so grateful I don't have to work there anymore! No offence to the Senate, I am just so much happier doing what I love most everyday: taking care of Michael and Sam, up to my elbows in laundry, diapers, and hugs and kisses!

Something Borrowed . . .

Last Saturday Josh and I went to the wedding and reception for his former co-worker. It was a beautiful event downtown and we were planning how to attend for months. The wedding was at 2:30 pm and the black-tie reception was at 6:00 so we had to get babysitting arranged for the daytime as well as the night. Since it was the same day as prom, we got 2 14-year old girls from church to come from 1:30 pm until 11:00. I think they had an experience of a lifetime!

The wedding was held at St. Matthew's Cathedral in downtown Washington, DC. We'd never been there before and it is gorgeous! I was distracted by all of the mosaic artwork and Josh had to jab me once during the actual vows to pay attention to the wedding instead of the cathedral! I think it's where JFK's funeral was held. The bride arrived in a white Rolls Royce and wore a rented necklace of 20 or more carats of diamonds.

I had been stressing out about what to wear to the reception for months. Black tie in the spring? At a wedding? For a Mormon? I bought 4 things and returned them all. I tried on 8 dresses from friends and settled on one that looked pretty, young, and modest all at once without looking like a prom dress, a mother of the bride dress, or a bridesmaid dress. Josh helped me look for dresses online for hours and finally said, "You are going to look so different from every other woman there. I am so proud of you." That's all I needed to hear to feel good about being the only modest woman at this party. During the wedding ceremony someone read out of Romans about respecting the body and not heeding the dictates of the times'. It was ultimately a passage about love and I would post the reference but it wasn't in the King James Version language so I'm not sure where to find it, but I felt very good about being modest again.

The reception was fun. It was held at the elegant St. Regis hotel with cocktails in an outdoor courtyard surrounded by azaleas and pink and white blooming dogwood trees. The flowers in the centerpieces alone must have cost thousands of dollars. The bride wanted a "pink explosion" and I think she got one.


We knew a lot of people there that Josh used to work with and we had a nice time. We all left saying we need to get together again soon. Dinner was corn chowder with a miniature crab cake, fois gras with a carmelized mango sauce (disgusting), Chilean sea bass with cream ginger sauce, steamed carrots and asparagus, a small filet mignon with truffles scented mashed potatoes and green beans garnished with tempura scallions. All this is from memory! It was a delicious change from Costco chicken and tuna casserole.

After dinner there was a live 80's band and Josh and I danced for about 15 minutes. This is the first time I've ever actually seen Josh fast dance. He was good and, of course, funny! We had a blast. I fell in love all over again with my 32-year old husband in a tuxedo. When we got married he didn't know how to put on a tux and now he looks so comfortable in one. Never pretentious, he just knows how to be himself.


It took a lot of preparation for us to leave the boys and get dressed up, and it took some time to recover! The boys were very clingy the next couple of days, but it was worth it. I felt like my smile was going to crack my cheeks and that I would start crying tears of love for this man who took me on as a work in progress and has patiently helped me grow up . . . just a little!

Until next time, "Walk Like an Egyptian!"

Michael for President!

Since we are less than excited about our options for the next President, we offer you a new, fresh choice . . . Michael! We went to the White House Easter Egg Roll on last Monday and Michael was pulling on this fence trying to get in. We can only assume that he has a few suggestions for W. or that he would like to live there someday. (Actually, he was enjoying the toe-tapping tunes of the military band on the balcony, the little music lover).

It was cold and the boys missed their afternoon nap to be there, but we didn't even have to wait in line for our tickets and we couldn't miss the opportunity. Here we are with the Easter Bunny. Sam liked pulling on his whiskers but he didn't seem to mind!


The boys got to color in their own bunny ears but were more interested in eating the crayons, so we didn't do that for very long. The actual Easter Egg Roll requires children who walk in a straight line. We didn't do that, but let them run around on the lawn. Sam made a bee line for the White House itself and both he and Michael danced to the music of the band on the balcony.


This year's theme was literacy and we were going to stay to hear the Secretary of Agriculture read a book to the kids, but we were starting to get looks from people wondering why our kids were crying, so we left. In our goodie bags we got the famous collectible Egg Roll wooden eggs and a book for each of the boys.


Here I'm explaining to my little boy that, unfortunately, he has to wait until he's the legal age to run for president and live in the big white house with his own band to dance to whenever he wants. For now he'll have to settle for my Ray Charles cd in the family room. Sorry, Bud.


But if you're left without a candidate in November, consider writing in Michael's name and hoping for some fresh ideas in the big, White House!

*Adorable Easter outfits courtesy of Grandma and Grandpa O. Thank you!

Four Car Seats, Three Moms: A Trip to the Zoo

A couple of weeks ago I went to the National Zoo with 2 friends and their babies. It was one of those days near 70 degrees and we just couldn't fathom staying inside. I love the National Zoo. They have a lot of animals I've never seen before. The monkeys are outside once in a while walking above the sidewalks between two parallel hanging ropes. Here are some highlights.

Have you ever seen a real, live panda? There are three at our zoo. A daddy, mommy, and baby, of course. They are great fun. Once we saw the baby up in a tree scratching its leg. I don't know how it was going to get down from there. This is the daddy panda eating some bamboo for lunch.

For the Sandra Boynton fans, here's "But not the Hippopotamus." They are enormous!


Our friends with the boys in front of the flamingos. It's getting a little harder to keep the boys happy in the stroller these days. Since they started walking they want to get out and go where they want to go - always 2 different directions, of course.


We got to see them feed the elephants before they went back out to enjoy the sunshine.