Living in the Big "D"

Greetings everyone! We have been living in Dallas for a whopping two weeks now and it has been fabulous to be together as a family. It was difficult on all of us to say goodbye to our daddy for two weeks at a time, over an eight month time period, while he traveled for work. Now, it's on to a fresh start!

Dallas is the fourth city we have lived in, in a two year time period. On the plane ride here, Rylie started to violently throw up for the whole plane ride home and then continued on for the next twenty four hours. Poor girl! The experience created a de-ja-vu feeling, until I remembered our move from Huntington Beach. Yes, the exact same thing happened! I even remember that Brielle and Zoey started vomiting a few days later and Ry grabbed our giant blue tarp and spread it across the TV room floor while we each held a vomiting baby in our arms all night long. Aah memories. Anyway, we have found a great after hours pediatric care center,within minutes of our house. All three girls are positive for strep throat and have been on antibiotics for several days, and other than that we haven't seen a whole lot more of Dallas beyond our backyard! The weather is less humid than Houston, but still hot. I guess this is just a little note to let friends and family know we are alive and almost well. Love you all. We'll update soon!

Killer Keiko

Keiko is our dog. In tribute to my new Memory Monday theme idea (We'll see how long it lasts). I would like to take you all back to when I was at least 30 weeks pregnant with twins. Animals are smart and it didn't take a genius to notice that I had some issues getting around. Keiko our 22lb Lhasa Apso already had the mentality of a lion, yet he took it upon himself to become king of whomever he deemed to be a threat. On this particular day our lawn crew had just wrapped up their yard work and were taking a lunch break under the shade of the trees in the park next to our house.

I opened the door and Keiko ran as fast as he could towards the closest group of men. I panicked and started yelling, "kick him, kick him!", but I wasn't too surprised when they turned to look at him and reacted something like this, "Oh, look at the little growling teddy bear."

I waddled over to them as quick as my body would allow, bent down to grab him just as his teeth caught hold of the back of one of the men's flannel shirts. Hysterical laughter was heard from the second group of men under another tree. Enough laughter to distract Keiko and send him on a dead sprint in their direction. If the dog could talk I'm sure he would have been saying in his best Steven Segal voice, "Keep laughing my friends, keep laughing."

Anyway, I waddled between groups as the men danced, trying to keep Keiko off of their ankles and laughing at whomever was being chased at the time. When I would get close to Keiko he would run to the next group. By this point, I was beyond livid. I looked in my driveway, the new phonebooks had just been delivered. With the biggest phone book in hand, I waddled as close as I could to Keiko and launched the phonebook at his rear end! The king of the jungle tucked his tail and ran directly back into the house. Yeah, Keiko was funny, but I am sure the real humor was the woman with the huge belly that couldn't bend over and pelted her dog with the phonebook!

 Squirrel Hunting

 Current update on Keiko. He (and Us) have been through dog training. Keiko has been a work in progress, but has seriously become the best dog. Will he rip someone to shreds if they walk through my front door uninvited? Yes, but I am OK with that.

Flying fur ball going in for the kill

Concrete Jungle....Top 10 Favorites!

10 Reasons Why I Love New York City

10. The bump and go. In NYC it is perfectly acceptable to tap the car in front or back of you while parallel parking and I could sit on the car horn, if I felt the need.
9.The Subway. The fastest, cheapest form of travel with the most diverse form of entertainment, especially if your a people watcher, like me.
8.Live Music and Dancing. The city's energy is almost palpable, it is so motivating.
7.Food is everywhere! One day I ate a peach at one corner, a shish-ka-bob at the next, and an ice cream at the next!
6.Time is Precious. Buying food or walking across the street, I love how even the small tasks are fast!
5.Crazy Cab Rides.  They're like a roller coaster, I love it.
4.Central Park. This beautiful park has everything! Lakes, hikes, artists, and playgrounds. It keeps the city's chaos in balance.
3.NYC's Mentally Insane. This visits winner was the Italian, Terrets, Secret Agent (it was hard not laugh when he kept plugging up his ear, cussing, then pulling his sun glasses down as he would scan the streets of time square.)
2.New Yorkers say what they think. Quote of the trip, "I don't care if you give me 500 dollars! Get this plane in the air!" This was loudly announced to the whole airplane when the stuard explained that the plane was overbooked and offered one hundred dollars as compensation to give up their seat.
1. This is the place Ryan asked me to be with him forever!

Ryan and I left our three little sweet hearts with Grandma Robyn and met up in New York City!Our journey started off a little bumpy when, in the airport parking lot, I had to snatch Rylie out of her car seat because she was choking on a hard candy (to cope, Rylie had to call and tell daddy, "It was really serious dad").  Then, on the plane I sat next to a lady who liked to sleep talk fight! Yet, I still felt I was going to go crazy not multitasking and counting heads every three seconds.

 Ryan flew in the day before with a five hour layover in Chicago and got stuck in the New York hotel elevator, twice! I love the unknowns of traveling, it's an adventure every time. 

I couldn't resist taking a picture of the undercover cop car, but it's even better that the cop is smiling at the camera!
The first day Ry and I took the subway to Time Square, ate dinner at a little Irish Pub, and then saw the Broadway show Promises, Promises. The best part of that show was Kristen Chenoweth, the original Glenda, from Wicked. We saw her when Wicked was brand new on Broadway and had to see Promises, Promises as a tribute to her awesomeness!

Then we met up with Elder Steven Swan! He is my cousin serving a full time mission in New York. I love him and the Christ-like work he is doing. It will be good to have you home Steven!
Although I had dreams of jogging in central Park, I couldn't resist sleeping in the next day. Then I did something HUGE. I took the subway from Queens, where Ryan was in a meeting, to Saks Fifth Avenue........drum roll please......by MYSELF!
A few hours later, I met up with Ry and we went hiking in Central Park. The park is so big, I see a different side of it every time. Ryan took me to one of the castles as shown below. I love our flag on top!
Warning: this next story is funny, in a make-you-want-to-puke sort of way.
After hiking in the park, Ryan and I went into the bathroom. It was a typical public restroom experience. Don't touch anything. Graffiti on the walls and try to get out without touching the door handle. Upon meeting up with Ryan, I joked with him about my bathroom experience, only to find I had missed out on a truly artistic master piece. Apparently upon entering the men's bathroom, Ryan was greeted with a giant graffiti mural, painted in POOP! I started to laugh and gag at the same time. Then Ryan continued to describe the effort that it took to create such a look.......dipping fingers in to reapply the artists chosen hue of brown. OK, I'll stop you're probably gagging now too.



If you heeded my warning, start reading again HERE.
That night we saw La Cage, which was really funny, but be forewarned you will see a lot of men dancing in drag! We finished the night off watching the Celtics/Lakers game in the Hard Rock Cafe.

The next day was action packed starting with lunch at a little Colombian Restaurant, a bike ride in Central Park, Ryan laughing as Brooke pushed her bike around the taxi's, refusing to peddal, and thanks to our Verizon friend, we made our way over to the  METS vs YANKEES baseball game!

At the game we looked at every couple surrounding us, each one was rivaled against the other! It was funny considering Ryan and I were too. I was Yanks, Ry was Mets. THREE people were proposed to! One woman sitting by us wasn't even watching the screen and missed the whole thing. Her fiance made up for it though when he got down on one knee and then invited the whole crowd to their wedding.....we fully intend on going.
Blond moment. Brooke, "I can't believe Posada is only 20."
Ryan, puzzled, looks at the giant screen. "Hon, that's his number!"

Our last night down town we were left with a good laugh as a drunk lady made her loudest public announcement, "I am looking for a husband, three thousand dollars for a husband!" It was almost as funny as being asked if we were Jews, TWICE! I realize that a big portion of the white New Yorkers are Jewish, but really as a people, could we look any less Jewish?!

It is so puzzling to Ry and I, why we could love such a place like this? Especially when we are so passionate about the outdoors. On the plane ride home, we finally concluded we love places of extreme culture. Hopefully you enjoyed our trip highlights, like most of our trips, it was a last minute joy ride!

 

Amarillo by Morning

There are many country songs sung about Amarillo, yet Amarillo by Morning or should I say Amarillo by 3:00 in the Morning, fits us best! A week and a half ago, I buckled the three little girls, myself, and our dog in our SUV for a twelve hour adventure across Texas to Amarillo!
Crazy? I agree. There is just one thing in this world that could motivate us to make such a trip......Daddy! We had had enough of seeing him every two weeks and needed some quality time.

The girls were amazingly patient in the LONG car ride and it was fun to see the character in each of the little country towns we passed through. If I ever get the chance I would love to set foot in a few of those small town antique or country boutique's. I was especially intrigued by one called Boy George. Some of these little country towns had the most interesting names. Happy and Star Texas, cute. Watermelon and Raisin Texas, yummy. Ranger and Refugio, Texas,  all I can think of is Walker, Texas Ranger. Study Butte, Texas, close to college station? White Settlement, Negro Crossing, and Uncertain, Texas, Um mm...no comment!

We missed the lightening storm traveling to Amarillo and left hours before NINETEEN tornado's touched down in Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle! I am grateful to be safe with my three little ones and even more grateful for the quality family time.

This is the Palo Duro Canyon. It is the second largest in the U.S. It reminds Ryan and I of southern Utah, because of the Red Rock. Isn't it pretty?

The girls walked a two mile hike with us. Not bad for two, two year olds and a four year old! However, this was taken towards the end of the hike and Brielle had had it with pictures. Note the finger scolding daddy, "no,no daddy, no more pictures!"

 Ellie hiked into a mud hole then attempted to take a step and fell hands first in the mud. To top it off, she lost a shoe as daddy pulled her out!

The time seemed to pass so quickly. The girls LOVED Dad's little vegetable garden. We had a great time cheering on the Amarillo Venom (football), but the best part for me was just being with my family and being temporarily relieved of daily responsibilities.

Peanuts!

Like most children, three years old, Rylie has taken interest in the differences of the male and female bodies. Hopefully you can see where I am going with this........so, here are a few humorous experiences. Enjoy.

Rylie, "Mom! help I can 't get off the toilet."
Brooke, "Why are you sitting on the toilet seat backwards?"
Rylie, " I wanted to pee in the toilet like Dad."

Several months ago;
Rylie, "Mom, what is that on Keiko(our dog)?"
Brooke, "What?"
Rylie frustrated,"That...where he pees?"
Brooke, "Oh, um that's his penis, you know where boys go potty."
Rylie, "Oh his peanut."


A few weeks later in the grocery store.
Rylie whispering, "mom, does he have a peanut?"
Brooke, "Yes, honey. All boys have peanuts?"
Rylie," What about him?"
Brooke,"Yes."
The remainder of the shopping trip, as a boy is passed. Rylie pointing,"And him.And him. And him."



In the grocery store with Ryan after preschool.
Rylie singing with hand motions, " You put you right hand in. You put your right hand out. You put your right hand in and you shake it all about. You do the Hokey Poky(and so on)"
Rylie still singing, with hip motions, "You put your peanut in. You put your peanut out. You put your peanut in and you shake it all about!

A few weeks ago a cute cocker spaniel decided to follow my girls home from the park. I am a sucker for stray animals. Despite my emotions, I used some common sense and did not take on another responsibility. I posted a lost pet ad in our online community website and went back to work. Two hours later the girls went out the front door and guess who was waiting for them?
"Mom" asked Rylie, "can we call her Sammy?" "
"Sure hon, but Sammy needs to go back to her family." By dark, Sammy was still hanging around. So, after giving Sammy a good belly rub and discovering that she was a he, Sammy became Sam and I coaxed him into our back yard, gave him food and water and shut the door. The next morning, I hurriedly buckled all three girls in their car seats. I ran back in the house only to return to find that Sam had joined the girls in the back seat! I was in too big of a hurry, so the dog stayed. At my good friend, Erika's house, I jokingly mentioned that I had a stray dog in the car with me. Instantly, she happily offered to take him while we waited to see if his family replied to the lost and found ad. I thought the match was heaven sent for this little pup and my friends family. Yet, disappointingly for them, the vet found a chip implanted in him. The chip contained the family contact information and his real name.
"Guess what Rylie? Sam found his family!" trying to sound excited, I continued, "His real name is Peanut!"
I wish I had a picture of the puzzled, confused expression on her face as she wrinkled her nose and repeated, "Peanut?!?"
It took some serious, parenting back-pedaling to try to explain this one!

"Wicked" witches and black kitty cats!

This little "wicked" witch refused to be anything else this Halloween. When the question was asked, "what are you going to be for Halloween?", a simple "witch" was not the right answer. Rylie was a wicked, witch. Which, in her mind meant, not a fairy witch, like Glenda, but a witch that cackled and flew around on a broom stick! And that is exactly what she did ALL night long. Each trick or treater received the same greeting, "Hi! Happy Halloween, I am a wicked witch, ah haha haaaaa!" Of course , she did get off of her broom stick to hold her sisters hands or help them pick out the right piece of candy!

Rylie with her witch pumpkin that she picked out and daddy carefully carved.
What is a witch without her black cat or cats?

These three were happy just to dress up. They would have boogied the night away by daddy's fog machine, dancing to the Halloween music playing at our front door, and giving out candy to the trick or treaters!

I love Zoey's 'say cheese' face here. This Halloween was full of sweet moments watching the girls faces light up. Few things bring more joy than watching your little ones experience something new for the first time.

Fillmore Fun!

This was an unexpected trip to Utah, but sometimes it's the spur-of-the-moment adventures that are the funnest!

The twins' personality is really starting to shine. Check out my driving diva Brielle, smiley Rylie, and roller coaster Zoey.

My mom's back yard has apple and peach trees overflowing with fruit. You would rarely find one of my girls without a piece of fruit in hand. The picture above is Zoey. She loved picking apples, eating a few bites and then throwing them to the horses. Below is Brielle and Grandma Mary with the colt. I love it when my girls get a taste of some of my happy memories as a child.