Chongos

Ok, so Mia's hair is getting way long and out of control! So, I went and got some rubber bands or "TEX-MEX"- Chongos, which in tex-mex can also mean the actual pony-tail. After lots of fooling around with it, this was the outcome. Ok, to my defense she is still only 4 1/2 mo. and super wriggly and squirmy. I've got it down now, but had to post my sorry 1st attempt at Mia's first chongos. Her hair is actually longer now and curls over.

Paint can craft /Paper bag photo book craft

I've been wanting to post this for a while, well, since the last day of school obviously. Every last Tues. of the month John's lodge has a stated meeting with all of the Masons and their wives. After we all eat dinner the men go up to their meeting room and the women stay downstairs to work on a craft which we've usually pre-paid from the meeting before. My first craft was this paint can. It is so cool and can be used for MANY purposes. The first one we made we gave to my MIL for mother's day and called it her "Abuela Can". We filled it with goodies and grandma stuff. A friend of mine told me she went to a bridal shower and made a "Newly-wed SURVIVAL kit", she filled it with kisses, a pregnancy test, a happy massager, and just a bunch of funny things I can't remember all of them. So, this is the one we did for Bash's teacher, but you can also do baby showers and fill them with baby stuff.

The second craft it super stinkin cute. It is 3 paper bags, you can use white, decorated one, or brown like this one, and you arrange them oppostite ends, and then bind them with a hole punch and ribbon, or rings or whatever, then decorate and add pics. I made this one for my mom cause she claims that I use the blog as my picture giver and never give them paper copy pictures. So here it is. Hope you like it Mom!

New Children's Museum

Thanks to Jenna, my SIL, we finally got to see the newly remodeled Children's museum. We met them there and the kids had a blast. We definitely have more to see as we went on a school day so we couldn't stay that late, but we have plans to return soon, any takers?

Memorial weekend 09

Memorial weekend was FABULOUS in more ways than one, and couldn't have come any sooner! My mom and Joe came up with my nephew Tony and his daughter Sicily(my great-niece / I AM the baby, 8 years younger than my eldest sibling).

The two cousins were so exited to see each other. Sicily was super sweet and always softing Mia on the cheeks and arms. They woke up together, ate cereal together, and even bathed together.

Bash was stoked that my parents finally got to see one of his soccer games, they hadn't been to one since he was three. He scored a goal and had alot of great attempts, including one where he bent it straight in and up against the top of the goal. I'd like to take credit for teaching him that one if I may.

What Memorial Day weekend would be complete without a JUMBO watermelon that my parents bought somewhere between Corpus and here? This coming from someone who can't even stand the smell. I remember I OD'd on watermelon at my grandma's when I was like 4 or 5 and have never been able to stomach it since. But everyone else I know is crazy about it. Well, we all got to together at the park with the other cousins and ate watermelon & played tag and soccer.

Sunday morning we took the kids out and watched John put up the flag. John's never been one to be super patriotic with the exception of marrying someone named "America", but patriotism has always had a special place in his heart partly because of his father's admirable service and career in the Navy, and now his brother having just graduated from the Navy Seals. Afterward, we all wrote special notes to our family members who served in the military and have passed on. I had gotten the idea and planned to put these notes inside red/white/& blue helium balloons and take them to the Veteran's Memorial Cemetery where, my late father-in-law is buried, and let them go. At first the idea was for the kids to write these to remember and honor their Papa, but everyone began writing little notes and drawings, including my mom whose father was an MP in the army. It was really special, til the storm came and we couldn't drive out there. Well, I saved everything and John and I will take the kids out to let the balloons go this weekend. So look out for that post coming soon... TBC

Then as my mom and Joe were leaving, we got a visit from my dad and his wife Elva. This was soooo cool! All of my parents together even if for just a brief moment, one which I won't soon forget, and we took this picture to remember it always. I'll never forget all the sweet and precious moments that made up this wonderful weekend!

Not without a BRACELET

Ok, so we get all dressed up for the some fun in the sun at the community pool. Bash is SUPER exited, first day back at the pool, until we get there. There are these two teenage life guards standing at the gate with a clip board. As we walk in they start corraling us to the corner saying "you can't get without a bracelet" and I was like we have ours from last year, and the office is closed on weekends so we couldn't get the new ones, can't we just use them this one time, until Mon. The kid was like, Uuuuum, no not without a bracelet. After arguing the fact that I literally live ONE street away, and that this was ridiculous not letting an eight year old kid who recognized all of the life guards from the previous summer, swim, I realized it was pointless arguing with a 16 year old kid with his clipboard. So, rather than conjure that super "Barrio" temper of mine, I just grabbed my kids and went home. My mom always use to say "when life hands you lemons, make lemodade" So, that's exactly what we did. Brought out the ole sprinkler on the front lawn. Ok so the "Barrio" still came out, but at least my son was happy. They don't care where the water comes from as long as they get wet! Later on I realized that we are members of a gym with a pool. So, thats where we've been going because now I refuse to go back to our community pool.

Losing it

I just had to do this post. My parents have thousands of pictures of me CRYING. Seriously, so I couldn't pass up this opportunity. Mia was throwing a fit because I was cleaning the kitchen and she wanted to be right next to me. So, you'll see the series of pics leading up to when she loses it. First its whining then crying, then when she gets what she wants, THANKS TO THE BUMBO, she's like "Gosh, I didn't mean to be any trouble, but this is nice"Losing it
Losing it
Losing it
Lost it
See mom I can help, hand me that sponge