Handy Manny Meet Handy Stevey

My Dearest Steve,

         My mother loves to tell the story of long ago when you and I were first dating. My mom asked you to  hang a mirror for her.  Of course, wanting to show off your mad-manly skills you said, "yes, I can do that!"

        I wasn't there for the now-infamous mirror hanging so I can neither confirm nor deny the events. But, as Mom tells the story, you started your handy-man services around the time 'Friends' came on t.v.  Friends ended....another sitcom had begun....the drilling continued....she finally opened the bedroom door and found your drill in one hand, screws in the other, shrapnel-like holes on the wall where multiple screws had been both drilled and removed, pencil lines connecting the holes like a dot-to-dot puzzle, a level thrown to the side (along with screws, nails, and several tape measures), sweat pouring down your face, AND the mirror still leaning against the bed. (You deny all of this, except for the sweating part, you said it was hot as hell and Polly wouldn't turn on the air conditioning.) The mirror did eventually make it to the wall, although I think it required the intervention of Mom.

Steve, my love, you've come a long way, baby.  You single-handedly turned  multi-painted, and weathered floors into their original beautiful condition.  I'm so impressed with your crazy, mad skills!  You make living in a remodel a total pleasure (sarcastic font inserted here.)  Almost married nine years and our favorite show has gone from The Sopranos to This Old House. 

     I'll continue remodeling you and you continue remodeling houses.  Deal?  Deal.  By the time we're done with our adventures where I live and who I live with will both be transformed! 

                                                            Love,
                                                              Gretch

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Pigeon Forge

 

I would love to tell the truth for why we made an impromptu visit to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, but I'm not sure of the statute of limitations. Rest assured I will share the story one day and it's worth waiting for, but for now I'll give the same reason for the trip we told the kids--to celebrate Harrison's 6th birthday, of course! 

We stayed in this awesome cabin!  In addition to all the comforts of home it had a hot tub on the upper deck and two huge jacuzzi tubs. 

Pigeon Forge is like a kids Las Vegas in the Smoky Mountains.  There are endless family activities, we only sampled a small portion of what the area had to offer. 

The ducks were so friendly they would eat the food from your hand.  We fed and fed and fed the ducks until they were so stuffed they turned away to swim off the calories. 

Exhibit A:  Cheesy family activity.  A Jurassic Park ride with dinosaur animatronics.  Bored me to tears, but the kids LOVED it. They begged to go again and again....I begged to wait in the car.

I loved going to the Smoky National Park.  I've been channeling my inner-outdoors-man lately and I'm loving it.  Don't get me wrong, you'll never find me backpacking anything, but I'm more than willing to venture within a day's walk from a heated cabin.  I'm even thinking about becoming straight up Griswald-like and try to visit all the National Parks.  

A lovely family photo with the Cataract Falls as our backdrop.  Although last minute, it was a much-needed family vacation. 

Green Outfit

This is Steve, in green sailor pajamas, less than a month old. Adorable, I know. 

Kinda looks like three other little boys I've held before.

Harrison Lee- about 1 month old.

Steve's mom saved the green outfit and I'm so glad she did because when Harrison was born I thought it was special to put him in the same outfit around about the same age.  He was such a serious baby.  I remember trying to get him to smile and this was all he'd give me. 

Gavin Paul- about 1 month old
So when my next one was born we had to get out the green outfit again! Gi-Gi Gav, my little ham.  Definitely my most smiley, giggly baby to date.  I remember taking about twenty pictures trying to get a serious one like his older brother.  Gavin just kept smiling and cooing making us all laugh.  He has continued to fill the role of the family joker.

Cannon Smith- 2 months old

I almost waited too long to put Cannon Ball in the now infamous green outfit.  He turned two months old in the midst of getting our house ready to go on the market.  It was late at night and Cannon was grumpy, but I wasn't even able to snap the legs together so I knew we had to get the picture STAT!  I couldn't let my third baby be the one that was overlooked, he's special just like my other two.  It was like Cannon knew how important it was to me to get this picture because he fussed up until the camera started snapping and once Steve said, "okay, I got it."  he started fussing again.   

Steve and I almost got teary looking at our three boys' pictures side by side (okay, so me way more than him) I remember the day I took all three pictures and how I felt looking at my babies.  Whether it be from an outfit that's almost forty years old or familial similarities that's shared, it warms my heart seeing what binds us together and makes us family.  

It's Happening.

 

How fitting is was that Harrison picked this book up from the library at school the same day Steve left for South Carolina.  I smiled when I read the title and smiled even more when I saw it wasn't a bazillion pages like the 'Curious George' book he brought home the day before.  That monkey is entirely too curious for entirely too long in my opinion.  

I still can't believe this move is really going to happen. This is real.  It's really happening. 

The kids miss their dad although probably not as much as I miss my husband.

 

Sledding Texas Style

After working hard in the garden we spent the next day with fun and relaxation.  We started at the Fort Worth Car Show (the Honda Odyssey--amazing!) and ended up at the park for some Spring sledding Texas style. It's a simple concept of finding a really steep hill and a nice, flat piece of cardboard, race to the top of the hill and slide down. 

If you don't have cardboard or just don't want to wait your turn, it's a lot of fun to just run down the hill as fast as your little legs can take you while trying not to tumble. 

Wearing play-clothes is a must because you will end up covered in grass stains and dirt.  

I can't wait to try this for a Tuesday play group.  I think all the little kids will have so much fun racing down the hill together. 

A Birthday Celebrated With The Birth of a Garden

When I asked Steve what he wanted for his birthday I was really surprised when he responded with, "I've always wanted to plant a garden."  To me, this sounds like more work than enjoyment, but it was a simple enough request, so a garden he shall have!  He enlisted the help of his boys' and even recruited Justin to come from Austin to help.  It was a family affair.  No 'The Little Red Hen' here!

The attention span of our children, while normal, leaves a lot to be desired.  It wasn't five minutes into working before......

Harrison asked if it was time for a break!

It took some investigation finding the perfect backyard spot.  Time will tell if we chose wisely.

I told Justin he looked like the creepy man next door with this get-up.  What is it with guys and tools?  I think getting to cut the rebar was a highlight for Steve and Justin both.  

Stay away from 'Ol Man Smitty who lives next door. And, seriously, what's up with the hat??

The kids were excited to have someone to play with them while the guys worked.

Steve and Justin can make a game or competition out of anything.  Emptying forty bags of dirt into a raised bed?  Boring!  Trying to cut the bags with a kitchen knife while being tossed into the air like a Ninja?  Thrilling and excited while being slightly dangerous, a mans dream come true!

This boy is our family clown, even down to this half smirk he's recently adopted.  It quickly can morph into a great pirate impression--a family favorite!

 Tomatoes, squash, peppers, strawberries, watermelon, and blackberries--grow baby, grow!

We taught Harrison the three things required for plants to grow; dirt, sun, and water.  And after being covered in the dirt and sun all afternoon nothing feels better than being drenched in water.  I think the plants and our children would both agree......

A very happy birthday to my love.  I hope your garden is a gift that keeps on giving.

It's A Numbers Game

Hours of sleep I had before the first puking child came into our bed :1

Hours between the first upchucked child and the second pukey child climbing into our bed :1

Total number of times Gavin barfed :6

Total number of times Harrison ralphed (Yes, I am trying to list all the different names for vomit. Really, I have a tab opened with a list of all the names) :3

Number of Wal-Mart sacs sacrificed to catch the spewed chunks :4

Amount of laundry in need of washing :4 bath towels, 3 sets of sheets, 8 dish towels, 5 blankets, 3 sets of pajamas, and 2 pillows.

Total number of hours of sleep I got :5  (this may be enough for some, but not nearly enough for me)

Total number of hours of sleep for Steve : a lot more!  Somehow, after the first couple rounds of chum he managed to sleep through the noise and commotion.  One day I hope to be as talented as Steve.

After the final blow-out the amount of prayers I said that the sun would rise to bring a new day free of the regurge :okay, so,  I don't really know this number, but it was a lot!  I'm thrilled to report my prayers were answered!  What little food was eaten stayed down all day.

Parenting is made up of the good, the bad, and the oh-let's-not-do-this-again.  This night was definitely the latter of the three.

Earmuffs, Please.....

The dialogue you're about to hear is offensive, this is video of Steve catching his first shark.  But, before watching, you must be warned:  this was a testosterone-charged  boat, so the language you hear is crude and foul.  I personally didn't think this video should be on my PG blog, but Steve insisted, "Gretch, this was a huge accomplishment, people are going to want to watch this!"  Okay, buddy, who am I to rob you of your time in the sun?

This Won't Get Him Husband of the Year

Steve slapped down the "A thousand fantasies" Victoria Secret catalog on the table.  

Steve: "Well, let's see if any of these women have your Mom haircut." 

Steve: "Nope, not this one. She's got long hair."

Steve: "Long hair"  flips a couple more pages "long hair, again" 

Steve: "Long hair, long hair, long hair!"  "See what all these women have in common?"

Me:  Very sarcastically, "Their hair is not the most common attribute they share."

I suppose I shouldn't be surprised he doesn't love my hair.  When I came home from getting it cut he said, "it's not bad, and if you don't cut it again it will grow back."  The honesty in our relationship is so refreshing!

Bathroom Breaks?!

A conversation between Steve and I as I'm getting ready for work Saturday night.....


Me: Steve, you should take the kids to do stuff on the weekends while I'm working.  We have zoo passes, museum passes, there are parks, and a backyard full of toys.  It's a shame all weekend is spent doing the same thing.

Harrison interrupting : We do lots of stuff on the weekends, Mom.  We go to the McDonald's drive-thru, play video games, wrestle, watch t.v., go to the bathroom, play with cool toys.

Steve: Yah, Gretch.  Listen to all the cool stuff we do!

Me: I'm sorry, did I catch "bathroom breaks" listed as one of the weekend activities?!  Oy vey!  I suppose child-enrichment activities will remain in the Monday through Friday time slot.

Lemonade Out Of Lemons

On our way home from the Bahamas our flight was delayed....then delayed again, leaving us stranded in Atlanta, Georgia. 

How much did I regret not paying the extra money and having the nonstop?

Oh, and how much did Steve enjoy giving me a big, fat "I told you so"?  A little too much if you ask me.

We decided to make lemonade.  A big, heaping pitcher of it. 

The Omni hotel downtown Atlanta had great views!  A bonus being attached to the CNN headquarters!
Never have I felt closer to my boy,  Anderson Cooper.

Delta gave us cute little overnight bags including a toothbrush, deodorant, and soap.  Unfortunately, it didn't include our luggage!  It's a yucky feeling to put back on the same clothes worn all day the day before. 

 The Centennial Olympic Park downtown Atlanta.

 

 The Coca-Cola museum.  

Steve loved getting to try all the different drinks Coke makes around the world.  Seriously, sometimes it takes very little to thrill him.

 

 Just your everyday conversation with a bronzed soda-jerk.

Bahama Vacay

Atlantis.  Paradise Island, Bahamas.

For the small price of $25,000.00 a night you can have the bridge suite connecting the two towers. 

Unfortunately, it was already taken when we asked for it.  I guess you have to call months in advance.  

 

I would like to take this minute to note that these three children are happily playing together.  Playing that involved no screaming, hitting, crying, or tattle-telling.  It was wonderful.  And, it lasted quite a while.  Paradise.

Honestly, I think Steve enjoyed looking for shells more than the kids.  He was anxiously awaiting the moment he could yell, "eureka!"  It didn't happen.  Next time, baby. 

Some local Bahamian entertainment.  I was particularly impressed with the sound the teeth of a saw could make.   

The kids loved adding their own beats to the music.

Gavin mostly loved changing his hat.  

 

I think G-Jo had a good time, too!

Ava, Geedge, and Harrison just relaxing in a giant chair.

 

 A family photo with four smiles is nearly impossible to come by.  

 

 We spent a long time looking at the lobsters.  Oddly, both my boys have an intense fascination with these sea creatures. 

 A little creepy, no?  This was over your head as you walked through lobster alley. Ew.

 

 The Atlantis aquarium was a hit! 

 

So, clearly, black and white is the color of the season!  Can you match the mothers with the daughters?

 

 Gavin can furrow and frown with the best of them, so I love pictures where he gives up his adorable smile!

 

 Harrison and Ava have been playing together since birth.  Harrison loves Ava. Not kidding, I overheard a conversation between them at the beach where Ava was calling for Harrison, he replied with, "What, my love?  What?"  O-M-G! 

 

Making a bit of a habit of vacationing with these guys. 

Wonder where we'll go next year....

 

 How can you feel anything but peace when looking at this?