Tropical

Have you ever in your life seen a cuter kid?

I didn't think so.

Me neither.

This is Nico's "this is way too cool" face.

The face he makes when he's looking at parrots.

Nico loves parrots.

And, apparently, parrots love Nico.

But some parrots don't so much like their pictures taken.

Sorry.

Two notes:

1. The parrots are not native to or wild in Key West.  They belong to a very nice lady who rescues them from people who think it would be neat to own a parrot.  Illegally.  She takes them in and loves them at least as much as I love my children.

2. I know you're all coming here to see beach pictures.  And we have them - boy, do we have them.  Except remember when I mentioned that my computer died?  And now I have to use Dan's work laptop?  Well, the dumb computer can't seem to read the camera I've been taking to the beach, the pool, etc.  Seeing as how I've already dropped it in the sand while trying to stop a certain five-month-old from eating a fistful of sand, I'm thinking the good camera will continue to stay home.  And I'll continue to bug Dan about my computer woes.  All this to say, yes, we do go to the beach - often.  And I'll try to share the proof.  But don't hold your breath.

Debut

Remember when I said we love the Red Trouser Show?  And then I didn't tell you why?

Well, this is why:

You see that grin?  It showed up about half a second after Tobin (that's right, we're on a first name basis around here, whether Tobin and David know it or not) called him up.  And it hasn't faded since.

My boy had his Mallory Square debut.  And he earned $6 in the process.

Like I said, we love the Red Trouser Show!

On Mallory

We enjoy spending evenings at Mallory Square, where we watch a beautiful sunset and thoroughly enjoy the street performers that come out to play!

There are always guys on really tall unicycles.  Most of them juggle.

This statue scared some boys I know when he started moving...

There are the dangerous shows that just plain make me uncomfortable.  I'm supposed to be pretty impressed, but honestly, these aren't my favorite acts.

This cute "little" juggler is way more my speed.

As is the crazy cat-man.  He is wonderful.  And deserves his own post.  So... moving on.

What would one of the greatest gatherings of street performers in the world be without a toothless Vietnam vet swallowing swords?  

But here's the thing.  We enjoy them all.  But to be perfectly honest, we have a favorite act.  They're called The Red Trouser Show.  For obvious reasons.  And we love them.

Not because stuff like this is just their warm-up.  Though that's pretty cool, huh?

Or because they are fun and hilarious.  Cool, too, though!

Not because they can juggle fire while standing on each others' shoulders...

and throw that fire across the square.  And catch it.  And keep juggling.  Cool too, but not why we love them.

Oh, and it's not because they juggle knives while standing on one foot on top of each others' heads.

Or because they can do awesome stuff like this.  That's awesome, right?!

It's not even because they can hold themselves sideways on a ladder.  Did I mention the ladder is held up by four audience members?

So like I said, yes, these Red Trouser guys are our favorite act.  And they do amazing things.  And make me happy.  But our love goes way beyond any of that...

Tune in tomorrow to find out why we're red trouser fans!

Egg 2012

We may not be anywhere near family.  We may be far, far away from any Egg Celebrations.  At least those involving throwing eggs at loved ones and over three-story houses.  But we can still Egg.    

 Just not over the house.  The golf course is behind the house.  And the old men might be alert for stray golf balls, but I don't think they're looking out for the wayward egg.  Plus, I would never remember to yell, "fore."

But who am I kidding, the closest I've ever come to getting an egg over the house was the time I smashed it right into the front wall.  Yep.  True story.

Anyway, we had a blast throwing eggs at each other on Easter.  And I'm pretty sure the neighbors had a blast watching us through the slits in their blinds.  We're nothing if not entertaining.

Both big boys chose their daddy as partner for the egg toss.  This probably had something to do with the whole "egg into the front of the house" incident, but I can't be sure.  I like to think maybe they just wanted to make sure we got good pictures of the event.

So I took lots of pictures.  I couldn't let my boys down, you know.  

Also, they make cute faces when they catch flying eggs.  

And they're mighty handsome, too.  Somehow, without my encouragement or permission, these boys keep growing up.  I don't get it.  It's like overnight they went from cute little chubby-wristed toddlers to big, handsome long-legged boys.  Huh?  

Oh, and just so you know.  We don't really "toss" the eggs.  We huck, launch, and pitch the eggs.  Our method may not win any Egg Tosses if you're looking for unbroken eggs, but we like it.  We did end the day with a winning egg.  And spent the next three days carrying it around Key West.  It's gone now.  But don't mention anything to Camden.  It went away while he was sleeping.

And in case you were wondering about the oldest and youngest children...

They were both on the sidelines, hoping we'd give them a chance to put an egg in their mouths.  One of them ended up eating about half a dozen eggs.  (No worries grandmas.  It wasn't the youngest.)

Easter was good.  We missed being with the family, but had a sweet day together, celebrating Christ's gift to us.  And chucking eggs at each other.

Bad Blogger

 Okay, here's the thing.  I used to be a good blogger.  Now, however, I am a bad blogger.  And every day I think, "today I'm going to post on that ol' blog of mine."  And every day I don't.  The creative juices just aren't flowing lately.

But I like to post on this ol' blog, and I know my mom likes me to post.  She just wants to see pictures of the grandboys...  And I think maybe - just maybe - if I force myself to just sit down and do it EVERY DAY, maybe those juices I like so much will begin to flow again.

So here's to fresh new starts.  And here's to cute boys.  

Who happen to be driving me positively batty today, by the way.  Okay, just one of them.  I'll not mention any names, but he might be seven and his name might start with a C and rhyme with ... absolutely nothing.  Just being honest with y'all.

Are you ready for this?  "Cause I've got lots to share, and maybe I'll actually start doing it.

Because I'm Awake

It's the middle of the night and I should be in bed.  I had every intention of going to bed on time - early, even - tonight.  I was in bed, husband, dog, and two-thirds of my children asleep.  But when the last kid finally let out his final yawn - the same yawn he's enjoyed immediately before giving up the fight every single night for the past nine years - and I got up to make my nightly rounds, somehow, after touching each one to make sure they were in fact breathing, I ended up downstairs at the computer instead of upstairs in my bed.  I've been sitting here for longer than I care to admit, not doing much of anything really.  Occasionally the thought flits through my sleepy little head that if I'm going to be up, I could at least straighten up the house.  It's a real mess tonight.  But I don't.  Because you know what?  Sometimes Mama needs a little down time.  And if that means sitting in the dark living room surrounded by the mess in the middle of the night, then so be it.  That's what this mama's going to do.

In other news, we've been sick.  And my computer died.  Let's have a pity party, shall we?  Thank you.  Now I feel better and we can all move on with our sweet little lives.

Because you know what, life is sweet.  I live in the land of perpetual sunny, 80-degree days.  With an amazing husband, three perfect boys, and a totally neurotic dog.

In between sick days, we have actually gotten out to see a bit of Key West.  And now that I'm set up on Dan's stinky computer, I can share a bit of this exciting adventure with you.  Lucky you.  Oh, but not today.  Because it's the middle of the night and I should be in bed.  So you know what, that's where I'm headed.  Straight past the mess that will for sure greet me with open arms in the morning and over my dog to get into my bed.  Have I mentioned the size of our current accommodations?  That's a post in and of itself.

So nighty-night, and sweet dreams.  Mine are calling.

Good Morning

I think the world would be a happier place if everybody got to wake up to this face every morning.

On the Bright Side

We've been in Key West for twelve days.  And in that twelve days, we've been to the doctor four times.  Yes, you read that right.  Four times.  It just doesn't seem right that we made it through almost an entire winter in Virginia - healthy, which for us means "no strep" - only to move to paradise and come down with - you got it - strep.

But, looking on the bright side, at least the view from the pharmacy is pretty decent.

Neighbors

While in Key West, we'll be living in two different houses.  The first - or, the current - house is in a golf course community.  Now, I want you to think about who might live in a gated golf course community with tiny duplex homes in Key West in the winter.  Any ideas?  That's right, we live with the snowbirds.

We do, however, have several neighbors under the age of eighty.  And like most things in Key West they are, I guess you would say, colorful.

Just keep alert.  That is one sticky web!

Thank goodness for google.  The spiny-backed orb-weaver is harmless, beneficial, and does not want to come in the house.  Phew!

I showed them.

You know how most of the time you feel like a pretty smart cookie.  And then one night you go out to Cracker Barrel with your family and your children get all the way down to two or three pins left in that addicting little pin game.  This means they're geniuses.  It says so on the game.  And you all start talking about how funny it would be if someone got stuck with "like, ten or something" pins.  And you all laugh.  And then you take the game from your seven-year-old 'cause you're going to show everyone just how smart you are.  You're going to whup up on that game.  And then you realize you're stuck with ten pins left.  And the board doesn't even tell you what this means.  But it can't be good.  So you laugh.  And you celebrate your accomplishment.  Because, well, what else can you do?

My children are smarter than me.

Oh, and P.S. Please don't judge.  This is what I look like after a long day of traveling.  Sitting in between two boys on the third row bench seat, feet resting sometimes on, sometimes under the dog's back end, leaning forward to tickle/plug/soothe the baby.  I may not look so good, but it was a good day.  And I got to eat french toast at the end of it.  Yippee!

In the Corners of Hogwarts

Sometimes, we forget to listen and end up in the corner.

Even at Hogwarts.

That's right.

We went to Hogwarts!

And it was awesome.

This beauty was the best family photo of the day.

Thank you random lady who I trusted with my camera.

I'm thinking Christmas card material, here.