X Marks the Spot

Lately Reina and I have been butting heads. Like goats. Which wouldn't be too bad if Liam hadn't also decided to fully embrace both his twoness and his boy-ness at the same time. I'm not sure if it is related to summer heat or lack of structured schedule, or due to Bill working 6 weeks of nights in the month of July (who's exaggerating?) but we've been going through a rough patch, these angels and I.

For example: recently, in a store for 20 minutes, Reina threatened me with bad behavior if I didn't give her a sucker at checkout (really? threats?). Needless to say that was the end of our outing which escalated to the point of me grounding her to her room instead of lunch (gasp) and with her screaming about giving me a spanking the entire drive home. I was actually pretty proud of myself about not calling names (spoiled brat came to mind) and being fair minded...that is until Reina came storming out of her room holding a picture of Bill and I. She had taken her bright pink marker and drew an X right over my face, soooo angry with me! I hurried her into her room while trying my best to disguise my snickering, then wiped the marker off the glass.

The most gut wrenching part of this drama is afterward when she cried and cried with remorse about ruining the picture and how we had a terrible day and how to make up for it, she should sleep in my bed. Uh, no. We did have a slumber party together in the playroom, which instead of curing the behavior only created a daily "argue with mom" all day followed by "beg for sleepovers" at night time routine.

Things do seem to be getting better, I've tried to keep the kids better occupied and diffuse tantrums in different ways, so I'm not about to anything drastic, Bill did send me away one afternoon for a massage, woo hoo! If you do have comments regarding the previous, please keep them to "it's just a phase" vs. "wait till she's a teenager." Not sure I can fathom bad teenage years right now. Thanks.

Along the lines of keeping better occupied, I signed us up for some mandatory fun yesterday. Pirate Cruise on the Belle of Cincinnati. Complete with tattoos, plank walking and even booty like only Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky can deliver. A good time was had by our crew and Liam now loves being a "pie-at" and covers an eye with his hand (instead of eye patch). Argh!

Hot Fun

Liam and Oliver, one of these boys is potty trained...

If it isn't sweltering, it's raining, but we're prepared.

Driving the boat at Hueston Woods, weather eye on the horizon.

Capn' Liam

Learning the finer points of lake swimming.

Too many capn's.

Fire and Flexing

S'mores

S'mores

Zooing with Liam

Slip Sliding Away

Time has been flying this summer and I suppose it is due to the boatloads of fun we've been having. I mean, yesterday, we went to CLEVELAND! Let me tell you, it rocked.

Really, we have been having fun, unstructured, grab-it-while-you-can-because-Bill's-only-off-work-for-24-hours kind of fun. But fun. Bill has been working a lot, or at least his odd hours have gotten odder which makes it odd to not see him at the usual odd times. Odd.

The good news is that someone seems to be noticing and Bill's good job performance is being encouraged and rewarded by even more responsibility, and some extra Reds tickets (see above more fun category). I am thankful for our blessings even though I grumble over hours.

And although our summer vacation trip to Kiawah with my parents, aunt and uncle isn't planned until September, we've already done a fair bit of traveling. Yes, including a round trip to Cleveland. In early June, Bill and I went to NYC over my birthday and had the most ridiculous seven course dinner in a floating restaurant underneath the Brooklyn Bridge with a view of the sunset and night sky of Manhattan. Then, for Bill's birthday, the kids and I kidnapped him for 2 nights at Hueston Woods Lodge, an Ohio State park not far from us. Pontooning and smores. Star Wars and pizza delivery. A great family battery charger.

Our garden has started to be fruitful, with zucchini lurking under every leaf and the promise of tomatoes (seedlings planted late) hinting they'll be here soon. No sign yet of our favorite ring-tailed varmints but I assure you once the corn is a day from picking those bandits will return. I wonder if they eat chickens...maybe that would convince Bill we don't need to add poultry to our household of kids, dogs and cats.

Reina has completed a week of zoo camp and the most important factoid she has retained is that manatee poop is fuzzy (?). She and Liam are continuing with their swimming lessons as well and are the core team members of our family racing unit. We are still training for the Disney Marathon in January and despite me taking 2 weeks off for an "overuse injury" we are still on track. Last weekend we ran 8.5 miles, the longest distance I've ever run in my life. With the help of only one dose of ibuprofen, I was functional the next day. The heat lately has made it difficult to get out to run without actually dying, but ample sunscreen on the kids plus special running granola bars has kept them mostly happy in the stroller.

Liam is coming into his own this summer. A full fledged big boy, he uses a big boy voice to tell you "no tiny, I BIG!" He also taught himself how to pee standing up into his training potty. So proud. Though no where near ready mentally to potty train, he could do it if I pushed it. It would certainly boil down to a battle of wills at this point, however. For now he's content to use the potty only before bed/bath and wander off to hide while he poops in his pants. We'll see how nature takes its course on this one...

I took the kids to see Liam's first movie in a theater yesterday, Cars 2, in 3D no less, and he was awesome. He certainly has fallen in love with the typical boy stuff, vehicles, mainly. He says they're "wow cool". He'll still play extensive pretend games with Reina, however, calling her Miss Reina, or staying in character as the daddy. He is far more physical than Reina and he loves to enter a room full throttle then jump to a stop at your feet. And he dances like Forest Gump does Elvis, a whole lot of shaking going on. Yet, my sweet boy will often be found in a quiet chair or on a pillow on the floor just reading a book, often sneaking a stolen hit of binky at the same time. Another battle I'm not gonna fight with my baby just yet.

I'll get pictures up here soon...promise.

A Running Fool

With a few stops and starts, Spring seems to have finally sprung around here (at least today where it is 72 and sunny). I sure am excited about the May flowers we can expect after those April showers. Sheesh. At least our basement has stayed dry, our roof intact and our yard only moderately swampy. I'm looking forward to warmer weather and some outdoorsiness ahead. On that note, I might as well tell you about our recent hobby of questionable sanity. Bill has convinced me to do what I have sworn for years, if not decades, against. We have begun running with the serious intent of running a marathon.

So those of you who know Bill may know he's already run 4 marathons and that he has a penchant to sometimes dream bigger than is recommended. You may also know I don't particularly like to sweat and have a history of athletic prowess equivalent to a potato. And I only run when chased. Forget all that. During the month of April I went from couch to an average of 10 miles/week. So far in May, I've already logged nearly 22 miles and still feel good. I feel better than good in fact, more energy, better appetite and the kids are getting involved as well. We have a double jogging stroller that they are both getting quite comfortable in, which allows me to get out to run even when Bill isn't around. Abundant snacks and ipod speakers help as well. Reina was reluctant at first, however, each run is different and sometimes we spot cool animals (a barred owl catching a snake) or stop by a playground afterward. Liam has even drifted off to sleep a few times.

Have I mentioned to you when/where the marathon will be??? Perhaps the ONLY marathon on earth that could entice my sloth into action...Disney World! We are beginning to plan our trip for next January, plenty of time to train and are hoping to gather a few extra folks to join us, running or not. My dad has been diligently running and charting his progress along with us and has a goal of "wearing numbers" in a race, an additional source of inspiration to me. Mom is always on board for Disney and graciously has offered to lead the cheering squad on race day. Gina-mom has been running as well and is considering the trip. And since the race is IN Disney World, the kids are involved as well, Reina plans on running in the 5 year-old division race and earning her own medal. While I cannot yet commit to running in a princess costume, I sure as heck am excited to be cheered on by favorite characters. Are you one of them?

Can you just hear that watermelon slluurrrpp? Jedi can.

Daddy finally got his garden in on Mother's Day. Ready for tomatoes!

Beautiful Easter dress by Reina's (fairy) Godmother, Aunt Kristin.

Funny Bunnies

Bunny Hop

The Coast

Hello out there? Echo....Yes, we're still alive and having blog-worthy experiences. Time seems to be getting away from me per usual but at least I can upload some pictures from time to time. The following are from our spring break trip to The Coast, where we were graciously given run of Gram's beach house, toys and company. We also were able to drop in briefly on Kristin and the kids, meet Gabriel and skidaddle in a span of too few hours for a proper visit. 

While the weather was too cold for swimming, we had some good quality family togetherness time. Liam slept in a big boy bed, we ate lots of Gulf seafood without any ill effects from oil spills and Reina discovered the beach has unpredictable "crazy water" which offended her orderly sensibilities. Per usual for us, we arrived home and are already planning our next vacation(s), but more on those later. 

Smell ye some briny salt air. Argh.

Best of many shots, wind and kiddies not cooperative

I'm Two. In every sense.

Bill and Reina checking out the granite jetty. High winds and uneven footing over crashing surf while carrying a two-year-old was not my idea of fun. Ask Reina sometime about the bathroom situation out there.

Fishy faces at the Texas State Aquarium. Awesome dolphin show, too.

Crazy wind and surf at the fishing pier.

Buddies?

Yup.

Again with the cooperation.

Seriously.

Liam is a great straight man.

Comida mexicano delicioso en el Camino del Rio.

Liam the Birthday Boy!

Liam turned two on the 12th and although I've been un-bloggy since I got home from Honduras (in January) I couldn't let his birthday slide by without mention. Liam is becoming as much of a character as his big sister. He loves to sing and attends music class once a week with Reina and I. He knows almost all of his letters, his vocabulary grows by several words a day and our mommy and me swim class is a favorite activity. He also is fully embracing his two-ness by exercising his "no" muscle and his right to not eat anything. He is still a little guy for his age, but not slowed down by the fact. He gives great hugs and kisses, mimics everything his beloved Reina does and adores books. He is obsessed by any kind of vehicle, which makes living a block from the fire station a constant entertainment. To mark the occasion of Liam's 2nd birthday, we were joined by my parents and Bill's mom at the local model train display and train themed playground. We followed up the celebration with a visit to Daddy's helicopter and cookie cake. A great day to be two. I love you buddy.

A passle of cousins in STL while I'm in Honduras. Ducking a goose I believe.

Me and my other kids, and their mural. A great group and they just painted our basement Sunday...now if only we had a floor in there as well.

exploring

Two Awesome WAKs on a day for TWO!

Gina-mom and Liam and a ya-yoo fountain

Growing, a little. Still only 7th% for weight, 37th% for height

Trains and a real helicopter for his birthday, happy boy.

And cookie cake

My Big Boy