Kemah

We spent Saturday at Kemah boardwalk with the Lemmons. Despite threats of thunderstorms, and the ever-present heat/humidity that is Texas summer, luck was on our side and we had p.e.r.f.e.c.t weather- breezy and cool(ish).

 The kids were champs and we all had a great time. 

This next picture makes me laugh. Ethan has a major minor obsession with our friend, Kyle, and since I didn't have time to get the setting right, they are the only ones in focus. Doesn't Ethan look like he's in heaven?

If he wants to stay in Kyle's good graces, though, he better make some changes. During this train ride, he kept stealing smooches on Katelyn's (the 2-year-old next to him) cheek. She was not a fan. We had a good laugh. And then we had a talk about who we can kiss and who we can not. It won't happen again, Kyle. Not for 14 more years, anyway.

Drew spent some time cuddled up on his dad's shoulder. It's manly. He doesn't do anything that isn't.

Goofy smiles are also manly, for the record.

And while we're on the topic of manliness, tucking your shirt into your skivvies probably isn't.  But then again, maybe it is.

twins

Do you ever feel gypped that you don't have a twin? Cause sometimes I do.

 I will not lie. The first 3 years of mothering twins were rough. I never even saw the light at the end of the tunnel. It was just plain hard and I probably didn't handle it as gracefully as I wish I would have. But those times are behind me and I'm reaping the rewards tenfold. These two are best of buds and often times hours will go by and I realize I haven't even seen them. They get creative in ways I never could. Of course they fight and even yesterday Ethan told me he wishes he didn't have a sister (because then he could ride in the stroller all the time; life is hard for the poor guy). But those times are few. Usually, activity and creativity just flow for them. 

Like yesterday evening. It was sprinkling and an hour before bedtime, so I let them play in the rain till then.

They decided they needed head wear.

 Then they decided they would make boats with umbrellas and use spatulas as oars.

 

I can finally admit that having twins is pretty awesome. But don't tell anyone I said that. I'll deny it.

And well, this is a story I didn't plan on telling, but I think I should probably explain the outfit. Yesterday, a kind friend invited us over for dinner. Ethan fell in their wading pool, which was full of rain water. He was clothes-less and my friend only has girls. She found this outfit that seemed "boy enough." Ethan needed to make sure, though.

E: Are these boy clothes or girl clothes?

Me: Oh, they're for both.

E: Are they Kate's (the girl's name is Kate)?

Me: .... I don't know...

E: Does she have a brother?

Me: No.

E: Well, why do they have boy clothes?

I think I see a future in litigation for this boy.

 Me: Well, just in case some boy is here and he falls in the water and doesn't have a change of clothes.

E: Oh... Okay.

Okay, maybe not. He'll need to work on his gullibility. 
He didn't need to know that they were capris.
They were highwaters. Becase of the rain. Obviously.

I only wish this was the most embarrassing thing that happened to us while we were there...

Dance

Did you notice the cosmic shift in the universe yesterday? 

Sorry about that. That was our bad. 

We were experiencing excitement overload over here.

We'll try to contain ourselves next week.

 Avery was in her pre-school class last year and they are so excited to be in class together. 

Except for this guy. He had no problems containing his excitement. Brothers of mine, do you have any tips for him?

In case you're dying to know, she LOVED every second of class. The bug had a hard time, so I couldn't watch the whole class, but every time I looked in, she had a smile on her face. Sweet, sweet girl. I hope she continues to love it.

As a side note, many of you know that I was a ballet dancer growing up. Like hard core and it took over my life. But I LOVED it and wouldn't change a thing. I always swore I wouldn't force my daughter to dance, as it was never forced on me. 

But truth be told, I'm giddy.

stinky girl

Last night around 9pm, Kate started yelling for me. They go to bed at 8, so the fact that she was still up had me really a little perturbed. I storm into the room ready to throw some punches. 

"Yes, Kate?"

Wait for it...

"My armpit stinks."

Nice.

"Stop smelling your armpit and go to sleep."

I mean, I guess I should be proud that she's concerned about her personal hygiene?

So, every night in the bath I have them wash "bummies, bellies, and armpits." Maybe we forgot last night. Anyway, it's hilarious the things kids can think of when they're trying to avoid slumber.

This and that

• E and K are machines at doing the dishes.We might need to work on their loading skills.
• 

• Two of my friends here have the same birthday, so we had a little lunch party at one of our favorite BBQ joints. They have a playground, so the kids were able to play while the ladies chatted. Wasn't that nice of us to let the kids play in the 95 degree 95% humidity heat? We're such nice moms like that. At least we kept them hydrated. And at least we made them smile for a picture so they can use it against us one day when they tell us we're the meanest moms in the world. It was the least we could do. (You may notice Ethan's the only boy. There was another boy there, but his odds are pretty good)

• Whenever Drew hears an airplane, whether he's inside or out, he does this pointing thing, looks for the plane, and says, "Dee!"

• The last week and a half, the Packer fam has not shown its finest work. Every single one of us looked like this for one 24 hour period.

• Poor Ethan got lucky with a round 2. But he made his momma proud and became master of the barf bowl. Not a single drop outside of the bowl. (That's equivalent to filling up your sticker chart in my book. So, he got a new Disney car.)

Lots of indoor activities.

• And finally, I'm training for a 10 mile race in October. Pick your jaws up off the floor, you read that right. I, Lauren Secor Packer, am running. It's a race Andrea was going to run, so a whole group of us are running it for her. It's been kinda fun to get into. And so many of my friends here are already runners and they've been unbelievably supportive in my efforts to do this. I love my friends. Good people, they are. Wish me luck.

Oh yes, he did

Let's back up a bit. Or fast forward, even. To every birthday I've ever had and will continue to have from now until the eternities. The question is asked what I want for my birthday. I will always answer with something along the lines of really good food, nice restaurant, shopping, relaxing, no kids, focus being on me, me, ME. 

How did Greg answer that question, on this, the 33rd anniversary of his blessed birth?

Chuck E. Cheese's.

With the kids.

Really.

 And this is why he's the better parent.

 So clearly, there's a lot of reasons he's the better parent. But this is probably the main one.

 

He finds joy in having moments like this one on his birthday...

 What a guy.

Well, as usually happens, the night led to tummy showing, and we were asked to leave.

Even Chuck E. Cheese has standards.
A birthday can only be so much fun, anyway.

Happy birthday Greg! Thanks for being born!