Had to get out...and the consequences

Some of you may have caught my last really whinny post before I had the good sense to delete it and replace it with the Super Spy post. I went on an on about needing to get away and to get away from my kids. Well wouldn't you know that I got both my prayers answered this week. Saturday I persuaded Jeff to take us to Tulsa, about a two hour drive each way, to go to their zoo. I could tell that he didn't really want to go, but being the loving husband he is, he understood that I needed to get away. So off we went. It was a fairly uneventful trip. The kids did well and we didn't even need to turn on the dvd player til we were almost there. The one unfortunate part being that Mae refused to nap along the way. The zoo was fine. As many of you know I LOVE zoo's and so am a bit picky. I enjoyed myself, but the place really needs some TLC. (And lots of cash.) I think from now on we will stick to the Oklahoma City Zoo which is just an hour further away and way better. One really nice part of this trip was that for the first time Max actually enjoyed seeing the animals. He has just whined or only been interested in the playgrounds in the past. This time he was looking for animals and pointing them out. One thing going for this zoo was the reptile house. I usually don't like this area of Zoo's since I hate snakes but this zoo was heavy on turtles and low on snakes, just the way I like it. Mae did okay considering she hadn't taken a nap, but she when she decided she was done she was DONE! Luckily the zoo was so small we got to see it all before we had to leave which was also the time it started raining. We didn't get to ride the carousal because of the rain, but I wasn't too heartbroken cause 1. No carousal can top the awesome one at the Little Rock Zoo, and 2. As we got closer we realized they were blasting Miley Cyrus music from the thing, Now I am a actually a closet Miley music fan, but it just seems wrong for a carousal to play non- circus/old-time/ carousal music.

The trip back was long as it always is, Mae slept til we had to slow to pay the tolls. We stopped at the Taco Bell in Siloam Springs, (BTW Siloam Springs will be #1 on my next list of things that must go.) It was cute to see Max feed Mae rice. They can be so cute together. We got home around four in the afternoon and I started throwing up around six. I continued to have nasty vomiting for the next twelve hours happening like clock work about every two hours. Good Times. Poor Jeff didn't even want to go to the zoo and then had to take care of the kids all day Sunday. It was no wonder that he got sick by Monday evening. So in a way I did get an entire day away from the kids. I am saving up my thoughts on why this happened and how everyone reacted to the situation for my next post. Until then enjoy the pictures and be careful what you pray for.

Super Spy

The adorable picture comes from a birthday party Max attended last winter. The theme was spy games. They made badges for all the kids. Max's was so super cute I had to share.

BOOTS!

We love boots in this house. (Or at least boots for the kids. I have always had an unusual foot to fat calf ratio that prohibits the wearing of boots.) The great thing about boots is they are so fast and easy for the kids to put on, and yet unlike sandals can be worn year round and protect the feet. A few years ago we found some cow boots for Max at Target in the spring garden section. We bought them really big and he has worn them for years. Everybody loves the cow boots. They are real crowd pleasers; winning him compliments every time he steps outside in them. They also add to his yearly Chick-fil-a costume. The pirate boots came next. I found these on clearance at Gymboree and they have also been loved, more by Max then anyone else. People do love the whale boots though. I bought these online from some, group discount- limited time offer deal that made them almost free! They haven't held up as well as the cow boots, but we still like them. Today at the associate store we found Monkeys! Now yes, he has enough boots, but we just couldn't resist. Boots are just so great.maxmax

One Convert at a Time

Not a lot of traditions in the Tobler household growing up, but one of my favorites was eating strawberries. My mom taught us the truth that strawberries are best eaten dipped in sour cream and brown sugar. Now some people seem to think this sounds disgusting, but I assure you that this is NOT the case. It is the world's most wonderful blend of flavors that dance together in your mouth creating a fresh spring feeling. I even prefer them to strawberries dipped in chocolate. This spring I taught Max this secret and he is a big believer. We have eaten a whole package of strawberries this way and will possible go get some more. I love spring.

In the Shadow of the Belly

Happy half birthday Mae! Miss Mae is a rascal and a cutie pie bubbles. She has to get into everything and but offers an adorable smile while being naughty. She has a mind of her own and is stubborn to the end. Sadly she hates fruits and veggies and would rather die then eat what mom and dad tell her to eat. She loves scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, chocolate and goldfish. Like her brother she starts off her mornings with a frozen ego waffle. Go figure. She knows 6 words, Mama, Dada, stinky, shoes, socks, and uh-oh. She adores her shoes and socks; she plays with her shoes all day long. She and Max play together several times a day for a few mins. They are usually chasing each other. She has just discovered Max's old pull toy this week and thinks it is a great companion. She doesn't watch much t.v., but she wants it on constantly. When we came home from church last Sunday she ran to the living room and brought me the remote. She also knows when the baby Einstien videos have come to the credits and makes sure I know too. We have taken to showering together and her favorite spot is right under my baby belly. She likes that it keeps her from getting wet, but still allows her to play in the water. As I type this she is pretty steamed about something but I am not sure what. Happy half year baby girl.

Out like a lamb

This is what happens when you wake up at 3 a.m.

In like a lion

So true for us, March has been a doosey. Shall we start with the Mazda. In the past 2 and a half weeks we have had to replace the transmission, the battery, the front tires, the CV joint and the front axel rod. Luckily half of that was covered by our warranty, but we still paid a pretty penny and we were stuck with one car for about a week. Shall we turn to health matters. Two weeks ago we all came down with nasty nasty colds which the kids both still have. They have those disgusting honking coughs that sound like they are working the flem up from their toes. Jeff had to take a day off just to take care of us because when I get a cold my eyes water and I literal cannot see anything. When I was a kid it sucked cause everyone always thought I was crying and now it is dangerous cause I cannot keep an eye on my kids. Forget trying to drive anywhere. (Not that I had a car.) Then last week Jeff woke up Thursday with a 18 hour vomit bug. I got it on Saturday and had a worse case with other unpleasant symptoms. I have never been that sick while pregnant. It is hard to find comfort on the bathroom floor with a big belly in the way. So we had about two days where everyone was good, then Tuesday Mae had a fever and after a 2 hour Dr visit Wednesday we learned she had double ear infections! Poor thing. They gave her a shot of antibiotics and she seems to be on the mend, a bit crabby, but on the mend. Then this morning around 3 Max woke up in a pool of his own vomit. Poor kid. I am not sure whether he has what Jeff and I had or whether he just threw up from all the flem in his tummy. Jeff and I were way sicker and Max is jumping around playing video games. So who knows. So the rest of this month has to go well right? Maybe I should buy some powerball tickets cause my luck should change. But despite all this we are in surprisingly good spirits. On the positive Jeff was called to cub scouts, along with his primary calling, and has been enjoying his new opportunities. We scheduled Spike's arrival for June 30th. I had the choice between that and July 5th and decided not to risk going into labor during the holiday weekend. Included are some pictures from this morning. Mae is not really improving in her dining skills.