.: angilou and tucker too :.

beach pictures

spent some time at the coast in galveston with the kids.  it was bonden's first time at the beach.  a couple of pics, testing it out in slideshow mode:

summer nights

i haven't posted in a while and i'd like to blame it on the hot texas heat.  i am positively miserable in this 100+ degree oven, but somehow, life still goes on.  last night cal read his first book (a hooked on phonics book), and his prize was he got to ride his new bike.

we took to the streets with cal's new bike and helmut, and putter followed with his tricycle.  we left the training wheels off, but cal was still game to give it a try.  after about half a block, the novelty started to wear thin, and putter said "my turn!", smacked the helmet on his head and took his crack at biking.

across the street from our house is a giant tree stump, recently made when they chopped down a dieseased live oak.  it was an old, majestic tree and so big that the two boys sprawl comfortably across it.  they peer down the fissures and have discovered that a small family of frogs live in the tree stump, so every time we go for a walk, we visit the frogs and say hi.

despite the sweltering heat, i couldn't help but smile as the boys talked to the frogs, then skipped down the sidewalk back to our house.  it was quintessential americana, and it was as sweet as lemonade. :-)

hello picasa

hey, that last picasa album post went pretty well, so here are a couple more:

cal's 4th bday

thanksgiving 08

just for fun

 

things we have noticed

WARNING: contents of this post will only be of interest to doting grandparents, great-grandparents and aunts.  all others should be prepare for boredom...

• cal will easily fall asleep in the car; bonden refuses to sleep in the car and will only do it under extreme duress
• cal used to spit up all the time; bonden has probably spit up five times his whole life.  (i know this because i had to wash cal's crib bumper all the time and i can't remember the last time i washed bonden's.)
• cal always had to be burped (see above); bonden never needed to be burped
• we read to cal every night; bonden won't sit still for a book
• cal never had an ear infection; bonden's had 6 in the last six months, enough that he had to have tubes put in
• whenever we told cal to say "hello" or "goodbye" to someone, cal would always duck his head and look away; bonden will happily wave to any receptive audience

christmas talk

after a discussion about decorating the tree:

"mama, we have to decorate the house, so that santa knows to come here"
"well, that's why we have the tree and lights outside."
"noo, that's not enough!  we need decorations inside so he'll come inside!"

talking about putting out cookies and milk for santa:

"...and we better make sure trixie doesn't eat them."
"we can put a stop sign on it!  that way trixie won't...we should put them funny side up!  that way she won't know they're cookies!"

and:

"do we have a fireplace?"
"no."
"well, we better get one quick!  for santa!"

future blackmail pics

everyone has to have those embarassing naked pictures, so as to mortify one's teenager/young adult with their dates...please note how  "drinking problem" bonden has spied a cup and of course is proceeding to drink dirty bath water...

taos vacation

finally!  i got these uploaded.  you can check out the album to the right, or click this link.  here's a favorite of mine:

bonden is putting out a very rat pack vibe...

getting dressed in the morning...

Cal: "What is that?'

Me: " This is a bra."

"Is it for your nipples?"

"Yes, that's what it's for."

Pause.  "Can I have one when I'm older?"

"You could, but only girls wear bras."

"Oh.  Ok."

two is one today!

bonden turned one today!  rather than have a party for him, we decided to mooch off another kid that was having a birthday party.  not really, well, kinda.  cal's best friend from daycare, john, was having his birthday party, and we decided to wait until next week to have bonden's party.  so we did kinda mooch.  here's some pics from the party ...