"Hell"oween

How is it possible that October is over and nearly Novemeber too? And how is it possible I birthed a child that hates to dress up. Ooooh sorry, I was trying to ease into that. When I say dress up I really mean wear clothes….ever. He hates to be bothered by uncomfortable things like cotton t-shirts, and pants. Everyday it's a battle of "too tight" and "itchy". I know what some of you are saying right now. My kid will never do that. My kid will wear what I tell them to wear. I invite you to come on over to our house and try to dress my child!

Ok soooo......I was really talking up Halloween this year. Months ago I pulled up pictures of costumes online and the two year old decided our family costume. He came up with it all himself. Monkeys jumping on the bed.  I would be the Mama naturally, Mrs. R the doctor, we would pull our two adorable monkeys in a wagon stuffed with pillows and blankets. I was really excited about it! Love an original costume idea. Props to Ol' Raleigh boy for coming up with it. Costumes ordered weeks ago. WEEKS! I felt so on top of things. Costumes arrived, they were your standard cheapy costumes....

I cringed a little. My mom made all of our costumes every year, I actually felt a little guilty not making the boys costumes. For like a hot minute, and then I remembered I haven’t slept through the night in 2 years and I got over that real quick!

So the costumes arrived. Raleigh was visibly excited when he saw the monkey picture on the packaging. We started singing the Monkeys jumping on the bed song. I put Ridge’s hat on first…truly adorable, those cheeks were made for baby Halloween costumes. And then to Raleigh.......Raleigh? That child flipped his sh*t. He actually took off all of his clothes and stood on the coffee table screaming. 

What a weird-o! 

I thought with time he would come around. I thought wrong. The costume aversion only grew stronger. And that’s when I really started to question if this was my child at all. I LOVE Halloween. Like love love! How could a child of mine not want to put on a ridiculous costume and prance around town??!?

And so three days before Halloween when Raleigh was still running from the monkey costume I knew I needed a new plan. His favorite show is Chuggington. The only show he will even consider. If you are not familiar, Chuggington is a train town with train characters and lots a train gadgets. I found a “Wilson from Chuggington” costume online but if he wouldn’t put on a monkey costume (basically footed pajamas) he wasn’t going to wear a huge stuffed body suit and tights. And that wasn’t an option anyways because we had three day people!

I asked myself….What would Kay Myers do?

The family “Monkey” theme was dead, and not being revived. Mr. R was just fine not dressing up as anything. Ridge was tolerating the monkey suit  and Raleigh was excited about being “Chuggington” SOOOOOO…. I did what any hell bent on Halloween mother would do, I painted a wagon façade and let him sit in his costume. It took me two nights and cost $0. Raleigh rode along happily in his sweat pants and shirt (as Wilson) with his monkey brother. I wore yoga pants, a hat, and a camera around my neck…..there was no costume, it was raining and I just broke my phone and had to carry around a big ass camera to document all the fun we were all having. Can you see the excitement?

Halloween 2015

Those cheeks!

Family traditions!

We hadn't started yet:)

Double Trouble....they look thrilled!

"What's going on?"

Urg! Next year will rock! So help me God we will have that child in a costume!

Happy Halloween!

6 months old...whoa!

Our sweet baby Ridge is 6 month old...yesterday. Happy 1/2 birthday Ridgey, Bubbie, Ridgelet, Bubs, Ree Ree....the list goes on.

Ridge has been the coolest kid. He is down for pretty much anything. Car rides, play dates, water parks, family reunions, late night birthday parties, hair cuts, school.

Baby boy sleeps through the night if you count waking up at 11pm and 3am sleeping through the night (jerk!). He is eating solids like he is been doing it his entire life. He loves everything, even kale! So on trend Ridge! He is sitting up on his own and loves to play with all of his brothers toys...none of that baby stuff. He is not crawling and hates tummy time. He might never crawl because I hate to hear him scream! He jibber jabbers all the time but it's hard to hear him over his two year old loud mouth brother. He laughs so hard he does the "nerd laugh". So stinkin funny. He loves a good bath, and of course, his best friend in the world is Raleigh....he tolerates Nelson...we all do....

He is just the happiest boy! I can't wait to see what he turns into.

I really told myself I would post a bunch of pics for a half birthday but I could not resist. He was cracking me up with all of his faces.

Who me?

Oh little boy! Stop growing up so fast!

Rals is 2!

Dear Raleigh, two years old yesterday! When did you get so big? You have been such a trooper this year. You have become the best big brother, you got moved to the big kid room at school, you have learned about 1,000 words and talk non stop, you started swim lessons, you want to wear a baseball cap all day, and you have found your one true love...lawn mowers. Everyday you make me laugh. You have such a silly personality. I love to watch you "work" which you do all day. Mow the lawn, sweep, water the plants, wash your car, spray and wipe down the cabinets....all before breakfast. You are my little worker bee! 

I love that you are completely filthy 85% of the time....or naked. You love to be outside and would probably sleep out there if we let you. Your favorite thing to do is watch the lawn crews on Saturday morning. You mimic them and give thumbs up when they finish. I honestly think you believe you are apart of the crew. I, or course, egg this on because I think it is so cute. Any man doing lawn work is a Mow Mow Guy.

You are all boy and love tractors, trucks, and animals. In the car you just keep asking for things, like I can make them appear on the side of the road. Mo' moo moo cow, please mama. 

You have finally started playing with toys! Legos, cars, and Little People. You are such a sweet brother and set them up around Ridge so he can play too.

I love to hear your little voice. Some of my favorite things you say are....
Whatcha doin' mama?
Mo' milk please.
No please.
Mo' tractor please, mama.

I love that you sign I love you and you do it without prompting. You are just turning into a little man. Every night we pray to be humble, hard working, and kind. I love you Raleigh boy, Happy birthday!

Love, Mama

Two years old!

Raleigh wanted a MOW MOW party. I though really hard about it and wanted it to be fun for him and easy for me. After last years guest list of about 70 we scaled down a bit. His favorite thing to do on the planet is play in the front yard with our neighbors and cousins and that's what we did. It was a very happy morning! Just a few pictures from the morning birthday celebration. I cannot tell you how happy my heart felt watching our neighbors walk out their front doors and down the street to see our boy. We are so incredibly blessed to live on this street!

These two....#raleighandcaroline

Raleigh loves those Bacsik boys!

Donuts, coffee, mimosas, and fruit....doesn't get much easier than that!

These beautiful ladies have really made me year! So happy they let their beautiful little girls tromp around with my stinky boys. Neither of them had a choice, I saw they had a baby and forced them to be friends with me!

This photo is hilarious because Ava is normally smiling ear to ear!

Our newest friend and neighbor Logan

Our next door neighbor Papa Don. Raleigh's lawn mowing bestie!

Raleigh loved blowing out his candle so much we sang twice! Crazy kid. Please notice how dirty he is already! This kid, I swear!

Mary Grace, Sue-Sue, and the Ridgelet

Sweet Caroline!

Oh Lordy! The awkward flirting begins.

Sweet Ava!

Traveling with two....

You know you are a grown up when you take a family vacation. No grandparents....no cousins for distractions...just us....together....with our kids....in a foreign land......eeeeerrrrrr San Diego. It wasn't technically a vacation because Mr. R was attending a conference and we tagged along. Most of the day I was solo with my two littles.

Preparing for our trip I wandered through that magnificant interweb searching for the perfect "mommy blog" that would ease all of my fears about traveling with my children. And you know what, I didn't find anything that wasn't trying to sell me aquarium coupons or car seat bags or whatever...

Balboa Park

Flying with my children.
Certainly I am not the only human being who has thought of this....what if airlines offered "family friendly flights" OR "adult only" flights for that matter. That way when you board a plane you either know you are amongst friends OR you can order a vodka tonic. For real, let's do this. I would have been so much more relaxed if I knew everyone on the plane wasn't cursing my family for 3 hours. Lucky for everyone, my kids pretty much rocked both flights. I mean I had an arsenal of distractions. For Raleigh....stickers, lots and lots of stickers, a small little journal for him to stick them, crayons, one small coloring book, all kinds of snacks in the tiny plastic snack bag....landing treat was gummy bears since he can't chew gum, and we introduced for the first time....dunnnn dunn dunnn....the IPAD. It kept him busy for like two minutes. It took the entire trip for him to understand how to actually play a game. Raleigh is almost two years old and he could have sat in our lap but I decided last minute he needed his own seat. Best decision ever. We opted not to bring the car seat on the plane so he could sit between us. One minor milk spill (on me) but for the most part we did just fine. I told Mr. R we didn't have to have the best kids on the flight but they couldn't be the worst. And thanks to Sally McEarinfection in row 15 we weren't the worst! For Ridge....two boobs and a pacifier.

You can check your car seat or free. They will try and sell you a car seat bag for $15. Large trash bag works just as good and take up zero room in a suitcase.
Luggage carts cost $4 and you will need one...or two! 
I carried on a backpack with diapers for both boys, two extra outfits each, an emergency shirt for me, snacks, sippy cup, etc (this acted as my diaper bag for the entre trip).....Mr R had the rest of the luggage and TWO car seats. I read on a blog that when you rent a car and request a carseat they were nasty. Let me tell you something, lugging two carseat through two airports and in and out of shuttle buses was the worst. I'm taking my chances with a rented carseat next time....that sucked!
You need both hands. I wore baby R in the Moby wrap and toddler R rode in the umbrella stroller which we checked at the gate.
You need birth certificates for the babes. And if you live in Dallas enjoy your morning picking that up at City Hall.
Southwest Airlines does not have milk as a drink choice. Come on SWA....people drink milk! Like little tiny humans. I had to do some advanced parenting and add water to my small milk bottle we brought from home.
If your 4 month old is crying just nurse them....like the entire flight. It's fine to pull up your shirt and show it all. No one can really see if you are at the window anyways.
No one feels sorry for you. Unless of course there is another mom on the flight. She will lock eyes with you and silently encourage you with a raise of an eyebrow and half smile as you are changing a blow out diaper in a milk soaked seat at 35,000 feet.
Plan for the worst and hope for the best. And remember you just can't be the worst!

Hotel with my babies.
I still can't believe we didn't get kicked out. You don't realize how much noise your children make until you are stuck sharing two walls with strangers....at 5am. Hyatt Regency Mission Bay in San Diego ROCKED! Free drinks for kids at the pool, which I slightly took advantage of because my child loves milk! I was not one bad thing to say about this hotel. Great location. Great staff. Beautiful room, pools, view, food, landscaping, etc. Stay there!

San Diego.
I hate to be negative about a beautiful city but your airport is poorly designed and the homeless population is out of control. Everything else....wonderful! Keeping doing you SD!
We got to have dinner with one of our good friends who recently moved there. It was so nice to catch up. Dearest Nick, please buy a very large house so next time we visit we can stay with you...for a week!

YAY Nick Hurt!

What we did.
Balboa Park, Natural History museum, Beach, Hotel pool, lots of little parks/play grounds on the bay, Sea Port Village, and Played LEGOS and Little People:)
High light of Raleigh's trip....watching the city landscaping crew aka "Mo Mow guys". For real, he is still talking about it. Highlight of Ridges trip....sleeping in a cozy bed with his mama. Highlight of my trip....drinking coffee on a balcony with a great view, holding two babies. Oh wait, actually the best part was after we finally landed, got our mountain of luggage, fought our way onto an Alamo shuttle bus, loaded two carseats two babes and luggage mountain into a mid sized sedan, we ate at Big Kitchen. Go there, eat there, listen to the saxophone player and watch people walk their dogs in breezy 80 degree weather.

Mission Bay

Pool time!

Sea Port Village Pier

Mow Mow!

Sea Port Village

What I wish I would have had while "tripping" with my children. A small bottle/packet of laundry detergent. More snacks for hotel room. Tiny bottles of wine...or liquor. This sounds weird and I don't even know if it exists but a portable clothes line. We couldn't hang our wet stuff on the balcony and it became a soggy humid mess of dirty clothes.

Things I'm glad I packed.
Toys for hotel room. Legos and Little People fit great in large zip lock bags and can also be bath toys in a pinch. Sound machine. Extra blankies for snuggling.

We survived and we all came home in one piece. And now that we have done it we aren't terrified to travel again. Our next adventure will probably be New Orleans....without children, I need a drink!

Happy Traveling!