Fuzzy Tacos... And Uh... Hi?

Hey there, remember me? Yup, I'm still alive.

And despite my absence in the blog world, my kids have still been doing ridiculous and funny things, so I've got my work cut out for me in catching up.

Most recently, we traveled to the LARGE state of Texas for a little family reunion action, long overdue friend time, and of course, copious amounts of good food. 

Towards the end of our trip, we visted a place called Fuzzy's Tacos.  The kids, being taco fans, were excited.  I, being a food fan, was elated.  Shaun, being a Mexican food fan, was hungry.

Caly (3), ususally our picky kid, was being oddly enthusiastic about this outing, "Mommy! Mommy! Are we at the fuzzy taco place?  Are we at Fuzzy's?" Over and over.

She asked to use the bathroom when we got there, (a habit that drives me bananas... what is it with kids needing to see every public restroom we visit?  Because she sure as heck didn't need to pee that bad).  While she was stalling, (haha, no pun intended.  I crack myself up), I said, "Ok Caly, we need to hurry up so you can eat your dinner."

"Yeah!  I'm gonna eat my taco!  And then I'm going to pet it!"

"What?"  Yes, I know I talk to my food and my kids occassionally follow suit, but we never um, pet it...  Caly looked up and said,

"My fuzzy taco!"

Ohhhhh...

"Er, Caly... the tacos aren't going to BE fuzzy... they're regular (delicious) tacos. Fuzzy's is just the name of the place."

She stared at me for a second while hiking up her drawers... then she said, "OHHHHHHHHHH!" rolled her eyes to the ceiling, grinned, shook her head and exclaimed, "Oh Mama, that's SO silly!"

Yes... yes it is.  But oh my, so is she.

By the way... Fuzzy's Tacos?  DELICIOUS. Feta cheese on a taco! Best idea ever.

I'm Alive... I'M ALIVE!

My Mom left me a message today that said, "Ohhh JEN!  Where arrrrre you?  Maybe you should just text me and say, "I'm alive!"

(I have to say, the message cracked me up.  Though I was half-tempted to email her and say, "I'm ALIVE!  But I've been kidnapped by a group of Nigerian terrorists and all you have to do to set me free is send your bank account number and they will wire the sum of $42,203,234 to your account... then, they will transfer it out and in exchange, my freedom and 20%!"  Heh.)

Anyway, I am alive and well and pregnant and all that.  Shaun whisked me, the kids, the dogs, and the majority of our household possessions into the family vehicles and up into the mountains for a little family vacation.  In exchange for the getaway, we sacrificed cell and internet service.  It was actually really nice!

But we are glad to be home.

With 549 pictures, 2 pounds of sand, and 470 acorns to show for it.

But the pictures, in particular, will have to wait til tomorrow.  Right now?  I have a date with my bed.  Shaun's at a soccer game.  I think I got the better end of this deal.

Either way... here's one to tide you over :)

Sassy little monkeys, no?

Just Beachy

Wow, it's been quite awhile!  We broke away from the busyness and headed off to the beach for a few days.  I'm in the midst of getting back into the swing of things, but here are some of my favorite shots from the trip:

 

 

More soon!

Taking A Toddler to Pee on an Airplane - An Instructional Manual

Step 1:   Toddler squeals that she has to use the bathroom right as you begin your decent into your destination.  This is despite having been warned of the dire danger of even thinking about unbuckling your seat belts before the plane has come to a complete stop at the gate.

Step 2:  Ask toddler if she can hold it. 


Step 3:  See toddler look at you as if you're insane and begin to gear up for a whine.  Realize that you're asking for trouble.  Sigh and throw a furtive glance around for the flight attendants.  Quickly unbuckle the toddler and yourself and head army-style to the nearest restroom.

Step 4:  Attempt to wedge both of you into the closet sized room and close the door.

Step 5:  Realize this is impossible.

Step 6:  Hoist toddler onto the sink and reach behind you to close the door.


Step 7:  Briefly consider letting toddler pee in the sink.  (No, I DID NOT, I DIDN'T!)

Step 8:  Wedge your body against the wall and the sink, and hoist your foot up against the back wall so that you can help hold the toddler over the germ infested toilet.


Step 9:  Stumble as the plane hits sudden turbulence and hope toddler hasn't peed on your shoe.

Step 10:   As you try to blink with your head against the paper towel dispenser, as toddler if she's done.

Step 11:  Try not to keel over as she tells you she has other "business" to attend to.

Step 12:  Help toddler finish and realize that you're going to have to lift her over your head to get to the sink.

Step 13:  Nearly fall into the toilet as the plane hits more turbulence.

Step 14.  Calm toddler when she freaks out about the massive sucking sound coming from the toilet as it flushes.

Step 15:  Hold toddler under one arm, push water button with the other, and dispense soap with your toe. 

Step 16:  Realize that no one is getting clean and decide to head towards the hand sanitizer in the overhead bin.

Step 17:  Briefly attempt to assemble yourself in the mirror before giving up completely. 


Step 18:  Fiddle with the latch on the bathroom door.  Get completely frustrated that it won't open.

Step 19:  Rest head on bathroom door in exasperation and fall outwards when the door mysteriously opens. 

Step 20:  Gather last shreds of your dignity and the toddler and head back to your seat.  Ignore dirty looks from flight attendants as you strap into your seat belts 2 minutes before the plane actually hits the ground. 

Homeward Bound

We're packing up to head back home tomorrow morning. 

Ever wished the world would shrink enough so that everyone you love could be in the same place? 

(Well, not the exact same place...  that'd be a little uncomfortable).

But yeah, it's like that.

Anyway, we'll be back to our regularly scheduled programming come tomorrow.  Or maybe Sunday.  Well, hopefully soon.

Have a great weekend :)

Ah, Texas

In the last post, Julie questioned whether I was poking fun at Texas and how flat it is here. 

No, not at all.  I really do think it's rather pretty here.  And there's absolutely nothing like watching a thunderstorm roll over the plains.  It's very different from home, but I like it.  (Though I do have to admit that I truly wondered at how on earth squirrels lived here in Texas...  all in the same one tree?)

But this?  This I have to poke fun at:

Only in Texas are Vitamin Waters considered "new age" 

I know they say "Don't mess with Texas."  I'm not messing...  just poking fun :)

As Good A Reason As Any...

Still posting from my phone, slightly twitchy from three days with no internet access.

(No, I don't count molassass slow connections from my cell phone as internet... that's just torture).

Anyway, we're back on the road again, heading to friends' houses and to one of Shaun's grandmoms.

That's literal... I'm in the car with Shaun, rolling over the flatlands of TX.

Bean is utterly fascinated with the scenery. The particular road we're traveling on runs parallel to a train track so she's getting her fill of wide-eyed looks at trains.

She's also back there playing our "I Love You From...." game where we pick landmarks and say things like,

"I love you all the way from this car all the way to that big tree."

Generally, the locations are pretty benign. But today, she said this one:

"Mommy, I love you all the way to... GUACAMOLE!"

I don't know where she spotted it, but I'm hungry and I want some.

(and yes, that's a lot of love)

Travel Thoughts

Blogging from my phone in the midst of Denver's airport.. not as complicated as I imagined. Which means my blog is even more accessible than before. Dangerous.

So far, my thoughts:

1. Either people here are very friendly or my I have spinach in my teeth. Everyone smiles at you. I LOVE it! (unless I have spinach in my teeth and no one is telling me... then I might reconsider).

2. A few minutes ago, airport authority paged M.C. Hammer because he hadn't checked in at the gate. Apparently, keeping "hammer time" makes you late for your flight.

3. Not telling me that we have a 3 hour layover with two hungry, tired kids is probably wise if you want me to sleep the night before.

4. Colorado mountains are breathtaking. Even through a fingerprint stained airport window.

5. People will not only buy overpriced airport fast food, they will growl at anyone who gets in their way. Travel induced hunger is a force to be reckoned with.

6. I really hate peanuts.

ok, off to find some semblance of substantial grub.

next stop, Amarillo!

Mini Vacation

Things have been quiet around here because for a couple of days, C and I went away for a girls' weekend with some of my oldest friends.  It's been going on 12 years that the 9 of us have been friends, (some longer!), and the weekend away has become a tradition. 

It was refreshing.  (Albeit tiring as my sweet little C decided she didn't really like sleeping away from home).  

Anyway, I'll be back with some regular scheduled craziness tomorrow. 

For now, a picture from this weekend:

 

I love those girls :)