Boys and Girls

Here you see Addie in William's bed pretending to be the baby while Ila is tending to her needs as the mommy. Meanwhile, William and Robert are just being boys.

The Most Confusing Potty Book Ever

Last week at out trip to the library down the street, I saw a few books about going to the potty and tossed them in the basket with the others. It wasn't until "Once Upon a Potty" became her favorite book that she wanted to read over and over again, that I realized a couple very disturbing things about this book. First off, the little curly haired child on the front cover was actually a BOY and it turned out it was a book for BOYS learning to go potty. I later saw the tiny print at the bottom, but my first realization was his wee wee. My next complaint is that the potty looked like a giant tea cup. Did they not think about the combo of using a giant tea cup as a potty and then illustrating the poo poo to look like chocolate soft-serve?! I think we just set Ila back in her potty training a few months. Lesson learned: fully inspect books you bring home from the library before it's too late.

* I would also like to apologize to her babysitter that night who was the first to read this book to Ila.

Now That's a Lot of Turkey

After traveling to Virginia Beach for three thanksgiving meals with families, then to Rodanthe for the weekend with friends while enduring an ear infection and very little napping going on, I think I might need a full month to recover. But oh wait, then it's Christmas time and we get to do it all over again! Ok, ok, I know I have a LOT to be thankful for, but right now I'm thankful I survived. Bring on the holly and Christmas cheer!

Thanksgiving at Grammie and Jake's

Hayride!

Then to Pappy's house ... Ila taking a bath in the tub I bathed in starting at 3 years old!

Pa Pa carving the turkey.

Oysters at Thanksgiving? of course! Don't eat the crabs now

We spent a lot of years on this trampoline - and you can tell by looking at it too. 

Who's that bearded lady?

Me Ma

Nice hair

Then to the Byrd's... I apologize I was a bit pictured-out by this point.

Auntie Ca Ca made a beautiful turkey!

Who's happy to be back in Rodanthe?

Ila loves baby feet.

Summer!

The godfather.

Thanksgiving again!

"I've Never Seen So Many Dominican Women with Cinnamon Tans!!"

Thank you Will Smith for your insightful lyrics.

Ross and I celebrated our FIFTH wedding anniversary on the 12th and got to stay 3 whole nights away in Miami. I cried on and off the whole day before we left in anxiety about leaving Ila, but once we arrived and saw the amazing hotel and felt the 80 degree weather, I was more okay with it. We relaxed by the pool, walked on the boardwalk/ beach, and ate some amazing food. Ross kept thinking he was seeing Kim Kardashian because everyone at our hotel looked like they were famous. (He doesn't know what she really looks like). So I kept saying, "No no, she is WAY more voluptuous than that."
It felt like we were gone for a month having no responsibilities and getting to sleep in and do whatever the h we wanted. I also realized how important it is to take time away from kids to have uninterrupted quality time together, and that it will always be best for our kids to put the marriage first. (We only have one kid right now). We came back so refreshed and revived on multiple levels. Thank you Miami!

Disclaimer: These photos were taken from either my iphone or crappy digital camera that I will never use again in effort to save space.... but you still get the idea...

 The "Fountainebleau" (We later realized everyone calls it the Fountain Blue and we had been saying it with a french accent). "Take us to the fontaine bleauuu please!" "The fountain blue?" Those hillbillies.

 I was impressed our room had it's very own imac. 

 Our Anniversary dinner. I thought we looked pretty damn good despite the sucky camera.