The Giggle

I was browsing thru some old pictures, as I am very behind on ordering pictures for my scrapbooks...which means I am very behind on my scrapbooks. While I was browsing, I found some pictures from October that made me laugh out loud. There is something about JBS's laugh that is simply contagious. He laughs from his belly and he can't stop once he starts. I am not sure whose DNA his cute laugh came from, as neither of us can giggle like JBS. Since I haven't mastered the skills behind voice recordings, mostly because I don't want to, there is no way for me to fully convey JBS's contagious giggle on this blog. However, these pictures of JBS wrestling with G2, and Big Daddy show the progression of him laughing and I can just hear that silly little giggle and it makes me laugh out loud.

It's coming...

I can hear it, just can't see it, yet...

Now, he's going...

And all control has been lost...

If you ever need a good laugh, just get JBS started laughing and you are sure to lose your composure as well.

Measurin' Thangs

JBS is REALLY in to this house building thing. He is just discovering that the mobile home is not really where we are going to live and has stopped asking to go inside it to check it out. After the first day of clearing the lot I took JBS back over to the lot that evening to measure my backyard. I was very fearful of the size. So, JBS and I headed over to the lot with measuring tape in hand. I got my measurments and I am happy to say, the backyard will be small, but not as small as I had originally thought.

At least 3 times a day since Friday, JBS has asked me to take him by the house. When I tell him, "No, not right now." He'll say in his very confident and persuasive voice, "But, Moooooom, there's somethin' I need to measure." He's an in charge kind of guy, much like another in charge kind of guy in my family....the check-list man. JBS has learned a great deal from Big Daddy and takes great pride in following Big Daddy around with his rag in one pocket and the tool of choice in the other. The tool of choice these days would, of course, be the tape measure.

As a child, I don't think my mom was ever without her tape measure. We'd be at a store and she'd be wondering how big something is and phfffttt, there's she goes measurin' somethin'. So, like mother, like daughter, like son. We come from a long line of tape measure-ers.

Here Kitty Kitty

As an avid Diego watcher, JBS is mesmerized with unique animals. We'll be driving by a pond and JBS will enthusiastically say, "Look, Momma, I think I saw a red-eyed tree frog!" The first time he busted out with that one, I had to take a moment to figure out where the heck he heard of a red-eyed tree frog. It definitely helped that there was an Alpaca farm on the way to Grammy and Big Daddy's lakehouse. JBS would yell, "Llamas! Llamas!" everytime we passed the locally famous red roofed farm. I love Diego, not only because JBS loves Diego, but also because he really learns good things from watching it.

Since we moved to The Woodlands JBS periodically asks, "Are there pumas in those woods?" Of course, I say with a bit of condescension, "No, sweetheart, there aren't any pumas in those woods." I say this at least once a week, if not more. There are woods everywhere, so I can understand his concern. I tell him about the deer, the racoons, and all the Foxy Loxy's that are out there, but confirm that there are definitely no pumas.

So, as I was driving an alternate route to pick up the boys from school last week, I came to a stop at a "T" intersection. I had my left blinker on, I looked left, I looked right.....I nearly peed in my pants. I saw a very LARGE cat. Not a large cat in the sense of a fat house cat, one of the "large cat" breeds. I picked my chin off the floor of my little electric car and whipped to the right. (I am certain the person behind me did not see the cat and thought I was a terrible driver). When I drove the 50 feet to where I saw it cross the street, I could see that it had gone under the bars of a wooded neighborhood gate. The funny part is that it went into Carlton Woods. Carlton Woods is the nicest area of The Woodlands, but Babe and I get a kick out of it because it's sort of self-proclaimed. It has a guard that patrols....in The Woodlands. This is already the safest place in Houston...there is really no need for a guard, or a gate, for that matter. Not to mention, the only stalkers Carlton Woods has are cats. Can the guard, armed with a flashlight, really protect them against a puma? Soooo... someone in Carlton Woods looked out their back door and saw a very large puddy cat, as Big Daddy likes to say....most likely stalking their own precious little kitty kat.

I called Babe immediately. He essentially blew me off. "I am sure it was just a dog, Penny." Well, it was as big as Toley, but this was a cat. It was stealthy and smoothe, muscular and quick. He (or she?) had small rounded ears. I am certain this was not a Mommy or Daddy cat, this was a teenager. He had laid out too late and was taking his walk of shame back home in the daylight! (gasp!)

Next call was to Big Daddy. That Eagle Scout would know. I told Big Daddy what I saw and he immediately said, "I bet you saw a cougar!" By the time I arrived at school to pick up the boys, I was giddy with excitement and told the teachers. The director said, "I believe you! I just heard a story on the Houston news about how the cougars are migrating to the east." It was true I saw a cougar! So, I went home to my trusty computer to look up and exact picture of a cougar. Wikipedia said a cougar is a mountain lion, is a panther, is a.....PUMA!! I had no idea.

Do you think JBS believed me when I told him I saw a puma? Of course not. He laughs everytime I say it, as I have been training him the last few months not to be afraid because there would never be pumas in our woods! I just made myself into a liar to my own precious child.

And you thought we moved to the "Big City".

It's About Time!

There was action at our lot today. We are FINALLY building a house! Day after day we have driven by our future homesite to find nothing going on, but today was a different story. Even JBS said, "I am so happy!" when he saw the bulldozer and all the tree stumps and dirt. Actually, he may have just been happy to see the tree stumps, the bulldozer and the dirt, but I was happy to see some action. JBS still thinks the foreman's mobile home is our new house...

When I saw the space they had cleared, I got a little nervous, as there isn't much room in the back. Evidently, when clearing a lot, I learned that they clear the footprint plus five feet. So, it's confirmed, I don't have much of a backyard. Oh well. I am so excited about having my own house again and being next door to a playground and just being able to "be" that I don't care about the back yard part. I am also pretty excited about the multiple trees that I will already have in my yard. The builders are slapped with HUGE fines if they cut down even one tree more than need be, per the rules and regulations of The Woodlands. And I will tell you I have seen it policed already here in the neighborhood we are in now. They don't mess around. So, I have several tall trees that will be there when we move in!

They tell me they can build this house in 120-150 days. So, mark your calendars, September 1st is 120 days. I have already counted...that will be THE day! The end is near....or maybe the beginning is near. Either way, we just can't wait.

The Smile

God bless him, but JLS just hasn't figured out how to smile when called upon. He has a beautiful smile when he's laughing and performing devilish acts on his brother or to my furniture. However, when we ask JLS to smile, he just doesn't quite have the spacial awareness to put the right muscles to work to give us his natural smile. Sometimes he gets really overzealous and busts out with a very strained smile, while sometimes it just looks like he is straining period. I have really tried to coach him lately to relax when I say, "cheese", so there has been some improvement...I think. Some day he will figure it out. We might have to do some training and therapy in the mirror in the future, but I am certian one day, the little toot will learn how to smile his own beautiful smile. In the meantime, I just want to eat those little cheeks up.

Pals

Clearly, the boys are tired of the new bike and Razor and have moved on to older and more unique toys to ride in the street....their favorite fire engine. It has been so loved that when I put new batteries in, the noises and lights don't come on anymore. So, it might as well be put to use as rolling stock!

It is absolutely amazing to watch how seriously JBS takes his role as big brother (most of the time). This morning, the boys were playing in back and I heard JLS crying. I peeked out the window and saw JBS ushering JLS up to the house with one hand on his back and the other hand brushing off JLS's shirt. When I went outside, JBS acted out the entire spill that JLS took off the edge of our sand pile (aka cheap plasic pool) landing on his back in the dirt. While he was demonstrating and telling me exactly what happened, he proceeded to position JLS on the bench on our patio, remove both of his crocs and dust off each of his feet and knock the sand of both of JLS's shoes. I just sat there on the other bench watching while JBS took care of everything. When JBS was done "taking care of business" he put his cute hands on his hips, examined JLS and bent down in front of JLS and said, "Now. Are you all ok?" JBS wiped his hands together, looked at me and said, "Mom, don't worry, he's going to be alright now."

I guess my job was done!

Great Scot!

We have very sweet new neighbors that moved here from Scotland. Their little boy, James, is JBS's age and they are buds. I LOVE to hear James talk, as his accent is beautiful. While the boys play, I sit on the driveway and read and eavesdrop. Occasionally, James will bring me a flower and tell me about his day. Of course, I encourage his stories, as it's so fun to hear an almost four year-old tell me how "lovely" his day has been. Sometimes, he tells me a little more than I think his "Mum" would like me to hear, but I am sure that may be the case with my boys some day...if not already.

We were getting ready for church on Sunday when JBS tells me he has to go tell James something. I knew that JBS was proud of his dapper outfit (with penny loafers like Daddy's) and he just wanted to go see someone. So, I let the boys go outside before we loaded up only to find James and his family riding by on their bikes. James' sweet mom says, "What a smaht family you have!!" "Smart." I love that word and to describe something not about our brains (of course we have all that, too), but about our appearance.
I love the Scots. I love James' lovely days. And I love it when he tells me about his trips to "Wol-maht". I especially like it that my boys are "Smaht".

Sweet Nothings in Your Ear

G2 is my nephew and has a personality much like his dad, Paulie. From the day Vin met Paulie, everyone that knows Paulie loves Paulie. He could quite possibly be the nicest person I have ever met. Paul is thoughtful and thinks through things before he says them. G2 is very much the same. G2 is a very sweet boy. However, G2 is 6 years old and doesn't grasp the meaning of silence, or extended silence, in a conversation, let alone, a phone conversation. Since being in Houston, I have been privy to a few more phone calls with G2. This is how they go:

Penny: Hello, Go-Go!
G2: This isn't Go-Go, this is G2. (his voice is so high)
Penny: Oh, I'm sorry, G2, how are you?
G2: silence
Penny: Hello?
G2: Hello?
Penny: How are you?
G2: Well.....(pause pause pause), well, (pause pause) fine.
Penny: What did you do today?
G2: silence
Penny: Hello?
G2: Yes.
Penny: Can I talk to your mom?
G2: silence
Penny: Hello?
G2: Why do you keep saying hello?

By the end of my conversation, or should I call it that? I was crying I was laughing so hard. I know G2 and I know that that "inappropriate" silence that kept me saying "hello?" was just G2 getting his thoughts together...or not.

So, last week, JBS had the opportunity to talk on the phone to Go-Go. When he was finished talking to Go-Go, I heard him ask to talk to G2. This is how it went from my end:

JBS: Hi, G2!
JBS: How are you?
JBS: Hello?
JBS: Hi.
JBS: How are you?
JBS: Hello?
JBS: Hello?
JBS: Are you asleep??

I took the phone and retold the story to Vin, who laughed as well. She said G2 really loves talking on the phone, but he just doesn't have much to say.

Really?

We Joined the YMCA

I remember as a little girl in Dallas what a BIG deal the YMCA was. Ours actually had a full gymastics gym where I took tumbling and trampoline lessons. I remember it well. I also remember a little girl in my class falling off the balance beam and breaking her arm. That might be why I didn't go on to have the grace and strength of a gymnast. I moved on to soccer and basketball, that were, of course, sponsored by the YMCA, and required less grace.

Here in The Woodlands, we have a brand spankin' new YMCA. Not only is it wonderful and new, it is less than a mile from my house. It has a climbing gym (that has completely scared JBS) with rock walls at least 50 feet high. I can go to the gym to do weights or cardio, plus a full machine pilates gym. Then there are several gyms that house classes during the week and "Y" basketball on the weekends. The child care is wonderful, but I think what takes the cake in our family is the pool area. There is a full size pool that is heated and then the pool of all pools if you have little ones, a splash pad. It is two feet deep with a huge play gym in the middle with water spraying, etc etc. When we walk in the building, both boys run straight to the back wall, which is all glass and marvel over the water park. They have huge slides, that I am not sure if we will conquer this summer, but I am sure definitely by next summer.

JBS is signed up for "Y" T-ball that starts in a month, as well as soccer and t-ball camp this summer. They just have so much to offer, in such a good location and it's fun for the whole family. In addition to fun, a great place to get in shape (definitely not on the fun spectrum).

Not that I know any of them, but it appears to be "The" place for everyone to go. Of course, we have to be at "The" place...ha. It's kind of nice catching the view from the outside, looking in.

Wrinkles, Pores, and Sunspots

Those of you who know me well, know that I LOVE my chemical peels. I started getting peels about 10 years ago and with the exception of the 18 months of my life that I was pregnant, I have been getting peels every 6-8 weeks. I love them for what they do to my complexion, my brown spots (from the sun), and I love them most of all because I LOVED Sherry.

I have told many Tulsa friends about Sherry and those many Tulsa friends now go to Sherry and love her like I do. I miss Sherry terribly.

My best friends go to Sherry, my mom and sister see Sherry, my neighbor in Tulsa sees Sherry. We all love her. Now, in Houston, I am without SHERRY! It has been devastating. I had almost deceived myself into thinking I had outgrown bad skin. After several months in Houston without my regular chemical peels, I discovered I still had adolescent skin and probably will until I am 96 years old. I have researched a LOT here in The Woodlands, as there are a LOT of cosmetic centers to research. One thing I will say about The Woodlands is that it is the land of the beautiful people. I would say a large portion of the women here have been nipped, tucked, boosted, botoxed, lipo'd and everything else you can do today. Cosmetic enhancing is at my fingertips. It is kind of sad. BUT then it becomes very sad for my au natural body in comparison to those who have had a great deal of help.

So, I finally found a place that I felt comfortable with getting a chemical peel. They really knew their stuff and I was very pleased with the results. One thing I had never had before was a Complexion Analysis Report. It took pictures of my face....deep pictures, into the depths of my oily pores and determined where my face ranked compared to the majority of women my age. I have shared my pics today, simply because it was phenomenal and depressing all at the same time.

The first picture up there shows my beautiful crows feet that are forming. She said the location of these is typical for anyone who has been in the sun a lot. I painfully admitted to her that I grew up in the sun....hours and hours and HOURS playing tennis and at the pool and never ONCE did I use sunscreen. BUT I do rank 47% better than other women my age.

The next picture would be sun spots that have already surfaced. While I faired better than 76% of women my age, I think that is a generous number. I have been obsessed about my brown spots for about 6 years now. Please, Lord, take them away!

The black and white (and disgustingly ugly) photo was deep into my skin. THOSE are all the UV spots that will eventually come to the surface of my skin as I age. I was completely surprised that I fell within normal range here, too. Normal goes up to 250.

Aside from aesthetics, I am a huge proponent of chemical peels because they have been proven to prevent skin cancer. This makes sense, as it regularly removes the top couple layers of skin and keeps the abnormal cells at bay.

So, if it is within your means, I highly recommend getting regular chemical peels...and wear sunscreen EVERY day and every moment of your life! It's amazing what a difference you can make just using preventative measures...

If you live in Tulsa, go see Sherry and tell her she is still my favorite!

There is a God in Heaven

Not that I ever doubted there was a God, MY God, in heaven. It is just such a glorious feeling to think that, well...There could be something brewing at my house that involves what's in this picture. Eight months, folks, since we sold our home last, or should I say first? I just don't want to talk too much about it, as you know, we have been burned in the past. So, hold your breath until June 17th for us....can you make it that long?

Like a Thief in the Night

Many moons ago, I discovered that JBS was becoming fond of my tank tops that I sleep in. Smart boy, as I love them, too. They are ultra soft lycra Banana Republic tank tops that I bought well before I was even married. I think most people wear them as a layer, but I prefer to sleep in them. Well, I started finding them in JBS's bed when he woke up in the mornings. Evidently he would sneak in my room and take one to snuggle with each night. And every morning, I would bring it back to my closet.

Well, the perpetrator has returned, but the ante has been upped. When Grammy was here, I was tucking JBS in and I felt something soft. It was dark, so I asked the little criminal what it was and thru giggles, he said, "It's Grammy's". I turned on the light....and it was her bra! Yes, it's true. A very soft bra. I told him not to take Grammy's things from her room and I returned Grammy's underwear to her in complete hysterics. The next night, Grammy had packed her bags for her return home the following day. After the whole house was in bed, she went in to her room and discovered that someone had rustled thru her bag....and thieved her bra! I wonder who?? At this point, JBS was sound asleep, so she let him sleep in peace.

Last night, I was in bed early...9pm. It was beautiful. JBS had been tucked in bed for at least an hour when he appeared in my room and shared with me that he needed to go to the potty. Of course, I said that's fine, just turn out the light when you are finished. About 5 minutes later, I could see his shadow leaving my room (I can't see a thing without my glasses) with his hands behind his back. I immediately told him to come back and let me see what was in his hands....my bra! A really soft one at that!

Moral of the story, if you come to visit my house, keep your underwear in a safe place because JBS has a fetish right now. An innocent one, but it just might grow into disturbing if it lasts too long.

Grammy's In Charge

I failed to mention that Grammy was actually in charge for a day. I had to make a blazing trip to Tulsa to see my favorite doctor for a doctor's appointment. I was there and back in 14 hours. It was a very speedy trip and I regret that I didn't have any time to see my friends. I did however, have time to breeze by my house (that hasn't sold) and pick up a few needed items. That was very nice.

Grammy was a champ. Not only did she get up at 5am when I left (for fear she would oversleep), she got the boys ready for school, deposited them at school and found her way around The Woodlands with our GPS. Most people might think that is cheating, but in The Woodlands, it is necessary if you aren't familiar with the streets. It is very wooded and nearly impossible to navigate if you don't know your way around. On top of that, the GPS is very technical, so in the event that Grammy rebelled against technology, I also made paper directions for her. BUT she loved the GPS and found her way to Target and even the mall....alone! When I got home at 7:30pm, dinner was ready and Grammy was pooped. Now, she knows why I go to bed at 8pm.

Between school and dinner, Grammy took the boys to one of the 108 parks (it is true!) in The Woodlands. There are so many awesome parks with wonderful play equipment. They are all nestled in the trees in the neighborhoods...including one right next door to our new house. Whats really great is that there is exactly 155 miles of hiking and biking trails around our little town and each of the parks are along the trails.

As I have mentioned before, it really is a Utopian society. We'll take it.

A Day in the Life

When Grammy was here, she took lots of pictures of the daily life she was so lucky to experience with us. If we don't have other obligations in the mornings, we play outside. Have I mentioned how much we LOVE to play outside? I get to read and relax in my chair while the boys play in the street and chase cars. (They do try to chase cars, but I don't let them!) We play on our bikes and big wheels and scooter. We play with chalks and bubbles and in the sand. We drink Capri Sun (the water kind) and have picnics. There is just TOO much excitement at our house to contain ourselves.

We sure loved having Grammy here for a week! Right now she is sitting at the lake in peace and quiet (with no computer) and I wonder if she misses us as much. No early rising, no chaotic mornings, no yelling boys, no changing diapers or giving baths, no crying and fighting... Nope. She doesn't miss us.

What a dream...PEACE and QUIET. Say it with me, now. PEACE and QUIET. That is almost as beautiful and sacred to hear as JOY and PEACE at Christmastime.

Can we trade places, please? Just for a day? It would be so much fun!! My boys really know how to entertain...

Bluebonnets

I was so excited when the bluebonnets started popping up the week before Mom and Vin arrived. By the time they were here, the bluebonnets were thick and beautiful along almost every road in The Woodlands. They were especially pretty over by the house we are building (if it would ever get started!). So, Mom and I courageously set out to take pictures of the boys in the bluebonnets. Isn't that what everyone in Texas does this time of year?

Upon our arrival to the perfect spot, JBS wouldn't sit down because "my daddy told me there were snakes in there." Thanks, Babe. JBS takes everything to heart, so even a word of caution is the word of truth. So, we rigged JBS to sit on the sidewalk right behind the bluebonnets. It was perfect, as I couldn't see the sidewalk in the pictures. However, JLS would not let go of Grammy's legs. He wanted no part of the event (of course). So, we left the pretty flowers and potentially great pictures with about the same product as our Christmas pictures.
The best picture I got that day was actually in the boys' favorite spot...their own chairs in our driveway. So much for the bluebonnets.

This is why I will be paying a photographer in May.
It will be worth every penny.