If a picture's worth a thousand words...

how many words will this blog post be worth?

Lost of pictures here as an update on what we've been up to.  Em and Harper's first trip to the beach, me taking the kids on vacay, the kids just being cute and growing up.

We are slowing settling into the new job fog, which has not been easy because I work long hours, and it's not like Rob has any less to do than I do.  But we are making it.  Or, rather, right now we are faking it.

Em will be 2 years old in a little under 2 months, and Harper was 4 months old yesterday.  Somehow, even though things are more stressful than they have been ever before, I am enjoying the kids more and more. Perhaps because they are a great escape.

Enjoy the photo update!

The kids' first trip to the beach!

We went down for the weekend to help Dietz celebrate his birthday, 

though he might have had a more relaxing birthday without us....

I took the kids on vacation to see my family.  BY MYSELF. IN THE CAR. WITH TWO BABIES.

And guess what.  It actually wasn't that bad.  We had a really good time!!

First, to visit my grandma:

We also piled in on my mom for five nights, Tommy and Donna's house for dinner, and made a trip to the Children's Discovery Center in Gulfport.  It was a great week.

Tommy was so gracious and made us a yummy dinner.  We were stuffed.

 My new baby niece, Tailynn!

Tye and Em make Mud Stew.

My mom probably would have rather burned the house down than clean up the mess we left.

We tried to be neat, we really did!

Harper and Tailynn share-- like nice immobile humanoids.

Fun in the car:

At the Discovery Center-Tailynn and Harper hold hands in the giant bird nest.

Perhaps Tailynn is forcibly holding Harper's hand-she looks pretty serious about it.

Em drives a plane!

Harper is celebrating her Mexican heritage.  

You know, all that guacamole I ate when I was pregnant.  

Tye and his friend Keelyn.

The pretend hotel--too cute.

Em makes the same face that I make when I have to grocery shop.  

At least she hasn't learned to mutter under her breath,

"Get outta my way!  It's not a grocery arranging contest!"

...yet...

At the end of the day, everyone had shaved ice. Look how excited!

(I should note that two other adults accompanied me on the trip to the Discovery Center.  Do not try this alone.)

Some sisterly loves. Em loves her sister.  Sometimes.  And sometimes she punches her in the face.

Harper loves Em all the time, but I'm not sure why!

Em is quite the little grownup.  She wants to drink our coffee in the mornings, so I let her have chamomile tea.  

In other news, Em can quickly and efficiently do the following things:

1.  take off her pants (usually followed by peeing on the floor)

2. take the lid off of any container.  (usually followed by cinnamon/nutmeg/garlic all over the floor)

3. open most doors (sometimes followed by an escape).

She also helped me wash the cars this past weekend!  Now they no longer look like mudwagons that house the homeless.

Harper is practicing her sitting skills.  She is so sweet, and so patient. Em has always been a firecracker, even in utero.  I can't believe how differently the two kids are turning out.  It's funny how you love them both but in different ways.

Harper will be eating food from a jar soon!  Maybe we will try some this weekend.  And look at that gingery strawberry hair.  

Life is full of surprises

Today I am at my first day at my new job!  I got offered a full-time gig at Jefferson State Community College while I was traveling with my kids last week! It is for this year right now, but I have an opportunity to make it permanent once one of the other faculty members retires after this year.

More on our trip later-we had so much fun!

In about 30 minutes, I am off to teach my first class in Human A&P.  Fun fact about me:  I have never taken A&P.

Happy Monday!

Traveling Circus

This past weekend was $5 day at the zoo, so we went and met our friend Liz with her babies there!  She has two boys, ages 2 and 1.  And Rob and I took both of our girls.  We had a great time!  Liz and I met in graduate school, and I'm not certain that she always liked me.  But we have found new common ground (funny how that works...) and really enjoyed getting the kids together and catching up. Neither one of us mentions our rocky past :)

Anyway, we got one good picture of the whole day, the carousel!

Hey, look who made it to the other side of the camera! The mommas!

The next day, Em did not want to take a nap.  She did a lot of things in protest, including covering her whole bed in baby wipes.  It was hysterical.  After I cleaned that up, she finally fell asleep.  She woke up looking (and acting) like this.  See, not always rainbows and angel farts when you have a toddler. She came around after a while, though.

In productivity news, we finally have secured our bannister so that Em doesn't crash between the rails and die when she runs down the stairs to greet her Dad after work.  Because let me just be honest.  She doesn't give a crap about me unless she needs new pants or a cookie.

In Harper news, she is almost three months old!  Today I got out the BeBePod seat for her to try since she's been attempting to sit up for the past couple of days.  She loved it!

Taking it pretty seriously.

Em used this opportunity to push her around the room.  Harper is unsure.

Ultimately, no one died (even though Em is not technically pictured here...) and Harper had a blast.

I know I am a mom, because I use the middle of the day (i.e. naptime!) to make dinner for myself and others.  Result?  Dinner is done at 2 pm.  For me and for my friends, the Castello's.

Seriously this chicken smells so good-I can't wait for suppertime!

Have a great week everyone :)

Kerita (Roasted Chicken) Banana

What I did on summer vacation

So, this summer, when I have not been teaching, meeting with students, interviewing for a job, or doing a stupid homework assignment, I have hung out at home with the kids.  This has given me more time with them, and also some perspective about how I'm really not that important.

They are fun, though, and we've had the Castello's over to play once.  I think I will also make another play date for Em for next week.  Sheesh, this is not language I EVER thought I would speak.

Anyway, here are some pics of the other day:

Art Time. After two washes, the 2nd round of vaseline has not come out of Em's hair.

Harper chills with her bouncy seat friends.

Em entertains Mr Homie.

Harper does a lot of this. Kid knows how to relax, that is for sure.

This weekend is $5 day at the zoo!  We are going at 9 a.m. on Saturday with the kids, some friends, and their kids, so I'm sure I'll have some pics to share of our little traveling circus.