Weekend getaway

If you've been reading my blog since I started it (in other words, if you're my mom or my cousin Karen), you may have noticed I've never posted about going on vacation. That's 'cause we haven't had one in YEARS. I'm a firm believer in at least annual vacations, probably because my parents were big on vacations. We didn't have many big expensive vacations when I was growing up, but we did always have vacations. My parents believed vacations were an investment in memories & I completely agree. But our last trip (it was really just a weekend away) was in May of 2007 when I was pregnant with Cooper, & our last real vacation was almost 4 years ago. Needless to say, I was in desperate need of some kind of vacation. Since we didn't have the time or money for much, I hopped on the internet & found a deal on a weekend at a hotel 30 miles from home. Not Jamaica, but it had a pool.

Me & the boys having breakfast in bed.

Cooper was almost as excited about the pool as I was.

Dexter has discovered that he can bang his hand & make noise & he loves it. John & I have joked that he'll probably be a drummer today. Judging by this picture I'm thinking it'll be steel drums in a Jimmy Buffett-esque (Jimmy Buffett-y?) band.

John, Cooper, & Ba-lock (get it? Barack + block? John's pun, not mine. You know it's a good joke when I say, "get it?") at Legoland.

"It's not scary, Daddy. Right?"

Cooper reading to Dexter. (It's a Stephen King book.)

Going to the park with Mommy... and showing off

Geez, apparently the quiz in my last post was a little too obvious. What gave it away? Was it the unprotected heads just waiting to be scorched by the sun? Or Cooper perched miles high and ready to plummet to the ground at any moment?
Yeah, okay, I guess it's possible I'm overreacting just a bit. Here's pictures from a trip to the park with (uptight) mommy:

Cooper at a much more acceptable height

Hmm.. he's getting a little high... (Kidding. I'm not quite that crazy.)

Aside from protecting bald heads from the sun, hats are just super cute on babies.

Cooper showing off. I've never been able to master walking while drinking (yes, I'm saying I will stop walking to sip my water; I could never run a marathon), but fortunately I didn't pass that gene on to Cooper. He repays me by flaunting it by balancing on a beam at the same time.

Worn out & napping in the carrier.

Oh Spring, I've missed you so...

Welcome back Spring! I love you & I've missed you!
We visited Lake Catherine today for their St. Patrick's Day waterfall dyeing with the "nursing moms" (the moms I met at my breastfeeding group) for the second year in a row (see last year here). Since most of us had a second child this year, we had twice as many kids with us this year. Yikes. The babies spent most of their time in strollers or being worn by their mommies, but next year they'll all be walking so look out.

Cooper "smiling" for the camera

Then Cooper, Dexter, & I had a picnic.

Dexter did this to himself. I moved it off his face & he did it again. And smiled. Weirdo.

The ankle- (and face-) biters

A dog that intends to bite does not bare its teeth.
-Turkish Proverb

I learned this one the hard way. Cooper's bitten me several times, but not recently and usually just when he's teething. I think he's bitten John once or twice. He's never bitten another kid. Until last week.
We spent a few days with my parents, Dayna, Zak, & Caycee. Within hours of me & Cooper arriving, he & Caycee had a small tiff & suddenly she was screaming. I had no idea what happened until I saw her face start to turn red. Yep, he bit her on the face. What is wrong with my child? He bit several more times, & made several attempts. Time-outs didn't work at all (he laughed & played), so he got swatted on the butt a couple times. That seemed to get the message across at least. Luckily, Zak & Caycee (& Dayna) were very forgiving, although Zak & Caycee did yell, "Don't bite me!" when Cooper would chase them. I guess I can't blame them.

Coolest park ever

Caycee having fun, despite the large bite mark on her cheek.

Caycee & Zak with "babies" just like their mom & aunt

Spring!

The first day of spring is one thing, and the first spring day is another. The difference between them is sometimes as great as a month. ~Henry Van Dyke

It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade. ~Charles Dickens

It's spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you've got it, you want - oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so! ~Mark Twain


Okay, it doesn't feel like it, or look like it, but it's here. I started searching for Spring quotes & just couldn't stop myself. Spring is my very favorite season.

Cooper & I enjoyed some lunch out on the deck.

"ChEEE-ZZZZZ!"

Geez, it's just too bad the kid is so camera shy...

One last one.. I couldn't resist:

If I had my life to live over, I would start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall. ~Nadine Stair