$12 Parking + $30 in Snacks = $42. Family Time = Priceless

Brian's been wanting to take our family out to The Ballpark for a Rangers game.

I will allow him to write all over my pregnant stomach in permanent marker and then televise that bare stomach to the entire D/FW metroplex in the name of love. And, admittedly, because I do enjoy basketball. The constant running back and forth and scoring is entertaining.

But sitting in a little plastic chair during a game that lasts five innings too long and has very little to offer in the way of visual stimulation is not what some would call my love language.

Unless the tickets are free. Free usually speaks to my soul. Even so, I'm unsure I'm a truly willing participant when it comes to baseball.

But, in the name of love, and due to the free tickets Brian's brother generously passed on to us, we found ourselves heading to a Rangers vs. Angels game. (I sat in that hard plastic chair for seven innings and yet I cannot promise that's who we played).

Knowing that the length of the game and sitting so far from the action would lead to boredom for the boys, we settled on the idea that we'd constantly have to feed them snacks from the 4th inning until whenever Brian decided to call it a night. This is after we'd already fed them a nutritious meal from McDonald's on the way to The Ballpark.
I believe we made it through exactly two innings before we broke down and bought a bag of cotton candy. $3.50 for a bag of pure sugar.

And, thus began the feeding of the boys that made me think of the Incans and how they used to toss their children into volcanoes to appease the gods. It was as if the only way we could appease our children at a game where the players looked one inch tall was to throw sacrifical junk food their way for six straight innings and pray they would stay contained in their seats.

However, there is no logic to the notion that if we fill up our children with sugar for six straight innings, they will sit still. Which is why we left in the seventh inning. Lord o' mercy.

Blessed unappeased mini volcanoes. Saved me from two innings.

But, I have to admit, this little moment and just being together as a family made me happy.

Because, someday too soon, I'm aware that family times could turn into outings where every member spends the entire time on their cell phone like this family in front of us.

Their entire Ballpark experience, though I'm sorry to judge, was spent on facebook and texting. I found it both a source of amusement and sadness.

As for the boys, while their Ballpark experience had very little to do with the actual game of baseball and more to do with a feeding frenzy, it included getting to ride a shuttle bus...

Daddy's shoulders...

and some escalators...

all in one priceless day.

And that simple joy is a language that speaks to my heart.

Dandy Day (Prepare for a Plethora of Posted Pics)

"We made a big, big, big, HUUUUGE mess!"

Tyler's first words to us this morning, right after he piled onto us and created a spontaneous group hug.

But, I promise, it did get better from there, big, big, big, HUUUUGE mess or not.

This is the first Saturday in forever that I've been able to sleep in. I had a sub at work and the boys did an awesome job of entertaining themselves while B and I slept.

Of course, it helps that making a triple big, h-quadruple u-ge mess kept them busy. But, it turns out, there are some things I'm willing to trade for the luxury of sleeping in.

Also, Noah presented us with cards, complete with pencils taped to each.

Who wouldn't have a great start to the day with that?

And, as it has been so long since we had a fun Saturday together, we decided to live a little and do some things we don't ordinarily do. We decided our day was going to be totally awesome.

We started with a trip to Allen for some Freebirds.

You cannot know the beauty of a burrito until you have tasted Freebirds. Brian and I began our love affair with The Bird even before we began our love affair with each other. Til death do us part. If you think you love Chipotle, it is as if you could have held the wind in your hands and you settled for a fart in your face. It is not even fair to compare the two.

(Dear Beloved Freebirds, I am sorry I used the phrase, "fart in your face" in the same paragraph where I spoke your name. I had a strong point to make and I also absolutely adore alliteration. Feel free to forgive. See? Alliteration just adds pizazz. So does rhyming.)

Afterward, we stayed in the Village at Allen and played in the train depot area, where there was also a Texas-shaped maze we had fun playing hide and seek in. Well, I had fun until a kid spit on Tyler - twice - and I thought Brian was about to get into a fight with a preschooler. Papa Bear came out. I found it kinda sexy, but also thought him being thrown in jail for assaulting a kid, spit or no spit, could quite possibly ruin the flow of our easy-going day.

Shortly after Brian nearly drop-kicked a kid (which had not been in our plans for our totally awesome day), we made our way over to Collin Creek mall to check out the Butterfly Festival. Hundreds of butterflies filled a large tent in the middle of the mall. As we entered, we were handed cotton swabs with gatorade at the end to attract butterflies. The boys were fascinated. With the butterflies. Not the cotton swabs.

Even the big boy. Let's see how many body parts we can cover in monarchs.

Anniston even got a special butterfly.

Later, we took the boys for a spin on the train inside the mall. Tyler went first since Noah wanted to ride by himself. Because, you know, "there just isn't enough room" for two boys in a four-seater engine. And, when it was Noah's turn, he made a complete goon of himself. I wondered if he'd snuck a few licks of the sugary gatorade. I guess he was just so giddy over the fact that he got to ride the train all by himself. Before we ended our trip, we got coupons for free Chick-Fil-A ice cream. CFA, could you be anymore endearing? YUM!

On the way out, Tyler hitched a ride on Daddy's shoulders. MUCH better than any ol' train ride!

Then he crawled onto Daddy's chest for a good nap as soon as we got home.

Meanwhile, this guy enjoyed welcoming our newest family member to the house, the pupae named Luke Chipsy.

Luke. Chipsy.

I have no idea.

I supposed sugar was still streaking through his system when he selected a name.

Silly son.

Just Another Manic Thursday

Part Uno

I chose the most humid, windy day to get my driver's license renewed.

Incidentally, when did they start calling organ donation an "anatomical gift?" Creepy.

After spending some extra time getting ready because, you know, these things are part of your life for six whole years, I walked out of the house to about the thickest humidity and wind combination you can imagine for October.

I'm still trying to figure out this concept called "plan ahead."

I have a feeling I'm going to regret my lack of foresight when I get my new dl in about six weeks and I look like Nick Nolte's long lost love child.

For the next six years. Awesome.

Little known fact that he got passed up for the role of Han Solo. That went to Harrison Ford instead. But maybe he was the hair inspiration for Chewbacca, so I guess he didn't really lose out in the end. Chewbacca rocks.

Anyway, I walked in to the DMV to find that, GLORY BE, I was first in line. I'm not sure what was the greater shock: that the DMV was line-free or that I got somewhere before anyone else did.

As I stood at the front of the line, I glanced around and noticed a bathroom. I then had to wrestle with the question of whether one last mirror check was worth risking my place in line. Since no one else followed me in, I decided to tempt fate and walked into the bathroom to see about a mirror.

And one glance in that mirror affirmed my decision to check things out. Glory be, it is amazing what walking through a blanket of humidity will do to your hair.

It was then that I saw in the reflection a hand dryer...

The fates then turned the tables and decided to tempt me. And, I, the girl who is lucky to walk out of the house with matching shoes and, I, the girl who applies make up at stoplights, found myself feeling a little self conscious about being hair twins with Chewbacca the next six years.

So, I eyed the faucet, then eyed the dryer and then the faucet again.

Well, you know what I did.

Oh yes I did.

I took that glorious stream of water and ran my fingers through my hair to get it just damp enough to work with. It was like my own little Regis Salon, only with a commode just feet from me. And the possibility of being caught in my embarrassing state of vanity if another person walked in.

But, there turned out to be enough risk taker in me and, after some hurried primping, I walked out to find that in about two short minutes, I was suddenly the third person in line. And, though there were employees buzzing all around, that is one place where a lot seems to be going on, but nothing productive appears to be happening.

Sort of like my daily routine as a Mom. Sometimes I feel like I couldn't be busier, but then I look around and wonder what the heck I've accomplished.

Anyway, who knows what my hair did before I actually got to the front of the line and had my picture snapped. We'll see in a few weeks, I guess.

Well, I will. There's a high probability you never will.

Unless we are trying to one-up each other in who looks most like a Star Wars character in their ID.

In which case I win. And I have the photo to prove it.

Part Dos

I had it in my mind that I had some shopping to do that same day. Thursdays are my best errand days since the boys are in school. I had a couple of stops to make before going to a local grocery store's going out of business sale. I was tempted to go home, though, when the downpour that brought on all that humidity finally arrived mid-morning and left me with little ability to see very far. Once I made the mad dash to my car, I hurried to roll down my windows to clear them, wiped my mirrors and used the back of my hand to wipe my windshield so I could see through the fogged up window. I nearly re-parked, though, when I realized I could barely see. I had never seen it rain so hard I couldn't even see the road right in front of me. Glory be, it was bad.

It was then that I finally realized I didn't have my wipers on.

You know, the things you turn on FIRST when trying to see through rain.

I think the fates came back and taunted me for giving in to their earlier temptation at the DMV.

Nonetheless, I made it to the grocery store, where I saved 71%, but also stocked up on things I am not sure I would normally buy.

I was, however, excited to score a great deal on some dried fruit (raisins, cranberries, cherries, etc.) Until I noticed the Use By date was January.

2009.

Nine months ago.

Glory be. I think I see why they went out of business.

Part Tres

Picked the boys up from school only to learn that Tyler had found other "activities" to pursue during nap time. His teacher told me four of the kids, Tyler and three girls, were placed in one area for nap time. Somehow, all four ended up with their heads in the same corner where all their nap mats met. His teacher then noticed that Tyler was stroking all three of the girls' hair and giving kisses to one little classmate, Julia. It's like he has a harem now.

And when I think harem, I no longer think "Casanova."

I think..."Hugh Hefner."

Glory be.

If You've Got It, Phlaunt It

I strolled around the Square the other day, something I rarely do. I had special ordered something for B's birthday, so I decided to kill some time while the welder was at work.

I could afford shopping on the Square if we could just stop feeding our kids just adore the Square. I love the atmosphere and the chance to browse in such a charming part of town. I can feel myself relaxing as I slowly stroll in and out of the stores there. I do enjoy a good window shop, even if I don't buy anything.

I stepped into one whimsical looking store and noticed this belt buckle...

Which, I guess if you're going to carry around some baby fat, you may as well own it and bling it up. Shake what 'cha baby gave ya!

And, I've decided to start addressing my baby fat as baby phat. I did go to high school in south Dallas, so I like to think my fat cells have a little hip hop in them. They are just in there, dancing around to some Will Smith. My mid-section is getting Jiggy With It.

I found out later that Baby Phat is actually an upscale urban clothing line. I thought this buckle was just a clever way to own your belly phat. I guess when your clothing line comes from Old Navy and Target, you kind of lose your hip hop fashion knowledge somewhere along the way.

Incidentally, we've been needing a new toilet paper holder. So, here is what the welder made for Brian.

We will, of course, be mounting that upside down as pictured. The Aggie Spirit is alive in our house. And in our bathroom.

So, holla. And, Gig'em.

Friday Night Lights

Boyd had its first football game last night and we made plans to meet up with some friends for the cross-town showdown. Boy, what a difference a year makes in the boys' ability to sit through an entire game! It helped, too, that there were five other kids to entertain them (and nine other adults to corral them). Wise rule of thumb when venturing out in public - always outnumber the kids. Also, bring lots of food to keep them distracted. KJ, I've already made a note to bring a cooler full of water for you next game, you precious, thirsty boy whom I love.

They look so sweet (and seated) here, but this was just the first quarter.
Jake found a friend in Kalli and I approve. She is an awesome girl and doesn't seem to mind sticky lollipops on her legs. That's always a bonus in a girlfriend.
I just love this pic for KJ's Boyd fever (he's putting his Bronco sign up), my boys' love of the Aggies/distain for the longhorns and Kendyl's love for America. Yes, she stood at solemn attention with her hand over her heart the entire Boyd school song.

We had such a great time playing with the kiddos even though I think I only watched about seven plays of the game (that part hasn't changed in a year). And the great thing is, we love their parents, too.

Aside from the crickets dive bombing the fans, it was a perfect night. Those crickets must've had some Japanese in them, considering the way they would suddenly go kamikaze and plunge out of the dark sky. It was so odd. And also, so creepy. I imagine this is how the Egyptians felt when the bug plagues hit. Except they weren't watching a high school football game and eating popcorn. And their locusts weren't from the Orient.

Still, the weather was comfy and we actually had a little breeze. Awesome and unexpected for August in Texas. Our little fan section got to see the Broncos stomp the McKinney North Bulldogs 28-7. What more could we have asked for?

As for our sons, they had a blast spending the fourth quarter collecting crickets in empty water bottles. That was definitely their highlight moment (mine came when we finally convinced them to release them the next morning). Another big moment for the kiddos was meeting the Boyd mascots. Kennedy and Jake - we'll have to get y'all in this next game! I'd heard the names of the students underneathe the equine garb, but one of them could go either way as far as gender. The following, however, left no doubt as to what gender the mascots actually are...


Clearly, I could've been a mascot in a past life because I totally relate to their desire to have some girl time even as our team is on the field and about to score. I think that's what's so fun about Texas high school football when you've been in a town awhile. It's fun to get together with people you like and just, you know, horse around.

(Tee hee!)

Oh, and watch football, OF COURSE (in case Brian's reading this).

We'd love to make it a tradition to meet up with friends for football games now that our guys have shown they can make it through a game. Come on out if you're looking for something to do on a Friday night. We'll bring the snacks and KJ's beverages, y'all bring the bug spray!