Pause makes me sad...

After another brief hiatus we're back on the blogging bandwagon... What is/was supposed to be a monthly update has turned into quarterly. Our sincere apologies to all 4 people who check-out this blog =). Really, a lot has gone on since a late May posting! (Geez, I can't imagine if we tried to "tweet"... Not only would nobody follow us on Twitter but they'd get updates only at major lifetime milestones - 'Cooper & Lucy graduated!', 'Lucy got married', 'Cooper got a job... finally (just kidding, son)'). Anyhow, here's to blogging re-commitment - again!


Well, what to report? The first big report is that Julie now fully understands the plight of parents worldwide when they say "summer, ugggh... what are we going to do?" Add one of the hottest summers on record in Texas history (I think we've had in excess of 50, yes 50, days hotter than 100 degrees) and you can start smellin' what I'm cookin' over here! We've had a terrific summer but it's been a challenge to figure-out how to entertain two-and-a-half-year-olds all day, every day. Crazy props to mom for doing that!!!!


Now before anyone contacts Child Protective Services let's settle one thing - our kids have had an amazing summer! They've played in a sprinkler park, gotten wet at the Galleria, gone shopping, played on numerous playscapes, had an infinite number of play-dates, jumped on bouncey-castles, gone to Hopping House, enjoyed countless kisses from mom & dad, spent a month on Lake LBJ with Granny & PaPaw, Margaret, John, & Baby Ovler (sic) (more on that later), and even enjoyed an Ice Cream Festival. All that spells exhaustion for a Mommy....


Hence the beginning of Julie's First Annual - Mother's of Multiples, 'Let's Get Away, Have a Nice Dinner, Get a Massage & Stay at a Nice Resort for a Night' retreat. I think that's 'MMLGAHNDGMSNRN' for short... Or something like that =). In any event after a long summer Jules was able to get-away to a short stay at the Hyatt Lost Pines with 3 other moms (two of whom have twins) so that she could relax, eat without concern for anyone other than herself, get a massage, and generally regain some sanity. Needless to say - Jules is a firm believer in this being and annual tradition!


I suppose that the lakehouse has been the most significant part of the summer. Not only did we "break-up the monotony" of summer but Jules, Cooper & Lucy tested the bond of blood by spending the better part of July with Granny & PaPaw, Margaret & John & Oliver in a 2,500 sq foot lakehouse... And we all still love one-another VERY much! Whew!!! (Oh, in case anyone was wondering... considering that D was the only person that had to punch a clock for the summer I was cordially invited for long weekends provided that my visit brought hot Chick-fil-A and cold milkshakes). All told, despite our creepy-crawly friends (code for 'cucarachas') we had an amazing time of fellowship. We played on the water in Hanks luxurious new boat, Pearl, went fishing, cooked meals together, played board games & cards & had an all-around great time. Needless to say we were sad to pack-up and go & have plans to go-in on a lakehouse with friends... Anybody in?


Other than that the general note is that Cooper & Lucy continue to amaze us with their grasp of words & concepts. They are speaking in full sentences and even have a sense of when they are being funny! Cooper, for example, got to watch some TV because he was sick... Mommy put it on pause for a minute and he promptly replied - "pause makes me sad, mommy". on another occasion he even went so far as to correctly use an adverb - "that red water boat is going slowly, daddy". 'Slowly'!? Really!? Coops & Lucy now know their ABCs, colors & sing songs ALL the time... at the top of their lungs... (especially 'Mary had a little lamb' & 'Jesus Loves Me'). They love to take baths and I (daddy) particularly love to give them mohawks with the shampoo in the bath. They've even discovered our jacuzzi tub (pictures above).


OK, before I get too far down the 'my kids are just so special' road, a quick parenthetical comment... I can completely see why parents think their kids are just brilliant... Kids just learn, change and grow so quickly it's absolutely astounding... (I wish I could do that). I think any parent is tempted to think 'Oh my gosh - this kid is brilliant!' While we're proud of the growth in Cooper & Lucy's intellect we don't have illusions that they are "Einstein-esque"... They could be mind you - we just don't know. Seriously, though, our endeavor is that they would have amazing character moreso... While we've had our share of "obey mommy & daddy" moments the kiddos are continuing to learn to be under mommy & daddy's authority. But a big credit to mommy here... They're learning to be little people of character. That's really cool isn't it?


Until next month - er, quarter's - update... Hugs and kisses to all 4 of our blog readers! =)