Happy 30th Rustin. Welcome to the club.

Today is Rustin's birthday. We have been celebrating for 2 weeks. Last weekend Shayne, Amy, and Carter came to visit. They stayed with us on Friday night.

So, you know how there are times that you think your child might have an evil streak? I happen to have the proof.

(Carter in the background. Doesn't he look hungry?)

Saturday, I had a surprise gathering at the horse track with some of Rustin's buddies. Rustin won big so I'd say he had a good day.

This weekend we went to Surfside Beach with Josh, Alicia and their adorable kiddos - Grace and Brady. Jason and Hayley also came out to see us on Saturday and we had lunch with them in Galveston on Sunday.

Josh, Grace and Brady.

Reed having some water with his sand.

The nice view from the beach house.

The not so nice view from the beach house.

Rustin and Josh.

Alicia and I.

The kite that flew for 3 days straight. And yes, that is a water slide you see there. Well, 1/2 a water slide to be accurate. Surfside has plenty of renovation left to complete since the storm. Apparently, the water situation has not been at the top of the agenda. The water was yellow and you felt dirtier after your shower than before.

The only bribe toy we had left to get the babies stopped screaming after 5 hours in the car. If any of you are still considering the purchase of the Iphone, take your 2 and 1 year old on a 6 hour car ride without it.

Adalae has quite the mullet.

The kids and I had dinner last week with Leslie and Ally at Life's A Beach in Lewisville. This place is great! They have a huge sand box, seating outside by the sand box and Dos Equis on tap. What else could you ask for?

Today, on our way back home, we stopped in at the NASA center in Houston. Personally, I thought it was overpriced and overrated, but you can't put a price on wearing out your kids so they sleep for 2 hours in the car.














After their nap in the car (Thank you God), we all needed a break so we stopped at a random Dairy Queen off I45. I had a moment that every mother fears. Reed fell in the toilet while trying to potty. I might have vomited a little in my mouth but I knew I had a Reeces Blizzard to get back to so I toughed it out.

How times have changed

I've recently been thinking about how different Thade's pre-teen years are from when I was this age. For instance, I recently paid an $80 water bill so that Thade can take 2 showers a day (but not change out of his pajama pants for a week) and Reed can play in the shower for 30 minutes at a time several times per week. In contrast, I was allowed to finally take showers only when I had my own shower (and water bill) because taking showers used more water than taking baths and thus my parents were "conserving water". Secondly, I did not have a TV in my bedroom until I graduated from college and could afford one. We have FIVE, yes 5 TVs with cable in this house and Thade has his own computer that he constantly complains is "too slow". Lastly, my summers starting at 12 were spent at the Little League baseball park working the concession stand to make my yearly purchase of Nikes so I didn't have to wear the K-mart brand. Thade is on his 4th pair of Nikes this year and his 3rd vacation this summer. But yet he's bored all the time? Rustin and I picked him up from church camp on Thursday only to find he hadn't brushed his teeth since Saturday. At what point do kids notice the chicken remnants left between their two front teeth? I notice within an hour. Apparently my child didn't notice for a week.

Adalae is definitely a mommy's girl. If I'm within sight, she is stuck to me like a leech.

Mema came to visit us over the 4th. The kids loved it. Reed would wake up every day asking, "where's mema, where's mema". And Adalae just wants me to hold her.

We went to Bedford Splash the day after the 4th. We had a blast until some kid pooped in the pool and they shut it down to "clean". After the 3rd time my clever 2 yr old snuck into the contaminated pool and the lifeguard gave us dirty looks rescued him we decided it was time to go.

We had our housewarming party last weekend. I had a rare moment of domestication and made a fruit bouquet. I'm taking orders as long as you 1. don't expect it delivered 2. don't expect the fruit to be fresh 3. have no expectations at all except for fruit on a stick

My good friend Susan also had her baby on Saturday at 29 weeks pregnant. He is adorable and his name is Eli. He is 2 lbs 14 ounces. I got to be his guest for the day last Wed. Since then, he is off all oxygen and breathing on his own. Please keep Eli in your prayers for continued healing.

I know you are all wanting to know the latest disgusting cute trick my kids have up their sleeve. Reed loves to play with plastic cups which is totally cool since they cost 3 cents a piece. Here I found Reed spitting in his cup, drinking it and chanting "yummy water, yummy water".

I'm still alive, barely

My apologies to those loyal fans who have been going through wackygradke withdrawals. The last 2 months have been especially busy for our family so I'll hit the highlights.

We bought a new house. I love it and call it my "grown-up house"



Which is good because I guess I'm officially a "grown-up". My posse at work took me for sushi on my birthday and decorated my desk. I have a colleague turning 50 on Thursday so I suggesting getting her a gift basket with Depends, hemorrhoid cream and replacing her desk chair with a wheelchair. Surprisingly, HR vetoed that idea.



I got a haircut. I don't know how many "inches" but I would estimate 2 feet? All I know and care about is that I can fix my hair in 4 minutes each morning.

Oh and Rustin and the kids did great for my birthday. I got new flip flogs, a bag and some jewelery from Anthropology!



The boys attended yet another torture session baseball game without me.


Thade at Main Street Days festival.




Reed just chillin.

My new fireplace! Oh yeah, and the kids.

Adalae's new digs courtesy of PJ

So... my grown up house also has a grown up shower which Reed loves to play in. The best thing about this is that he can be left in there for short periods of time without the fear of drowning. Rustin, of course, would never dream of leaving him in the shower unattended. However, in a moment of desperation this past Saturday while Rustin was frolicking on the golf course, I left Reed in there for 5 minutes to tend to Adalae. This is what I found upon my return:

Now you all know I wouldn't waste my time with a post that didn't have something totally inappropriate so I hope you don't have a weak stomach today!

I hope you all have a Happy 4th of July!

Hair and house

Tonight after dinner I thought I would perform a "quick trim" of Reed's hair.







I should have known I'm no match for a squirming 2 year old. Reed's cut went from a "trim" to "mullet" to "bowl" to "take a little more off the back" and then finally "give up":





I'm so sad. I feel like I amputated some vital part of my poor son. I know it will grow back but not soon enough as far as I'm concerned.

On a positive note, Rustin and I made an offer on a house that was accepted today. We are very excited and expect you all to visit us this summer. In addition, we are about to venture into landlord territory and lease our current home. If you know anyone looking for a 4 bdrm house with pool in Bedford, send them our way!

2 birthdays + infectious disease = a weekend at the Gradkes

In my 30 years on this earth, I may have unconciously come to the conclusion that many ailments my parents warned me about were myths. I've never had these ailments nor have I known anyone to be affected. Two of them are poison ivy/oak, and infected cuts/scratches. I never really believed all those times I played in filthy creeks and bacteria infected forests that I would contract poision ivy. Nor did I ever think subjecting myself to the awful burning of peroxide would prevent infection.

So yesterday Thade and I are hanging out on the couch watching the Wiggles or some such when Thade casually starts scratching his arm. After a few minutes he pulls his sleeve up and asks, "Mom is there something on my arm?" This is what I see:

Ummm, yes, there is something on your arm! So gross. Immediately I packed up all 3 kids, called Rustin to cut his golf game short and headed to CareNow. In addition to this infected cut, Thade has a dozen more infected scratches on his legs, plus a bad case of poison ivy with a lovely rash all over his neck and chest. (Which by the way he never noticed until I pulled his shirt up in the Dr. office) He started a steriod pack and is taking 2 different antibiotics. Today it's worse but we are hoping for improvement tomorrow or we have to go back to the Dr.

Saturday I survived the 2 birthday parties. It drizzled most of Thade's party but the boys didn't care. They played football in the mud and had fun. I can't believe he is 12. I know its cliche but the time really does fly.
Here I was desparately trying to keep one of the 12 candles lit thought the Happy Birthday song. It never did stay lit.

Adalae's party was fun also.

Aunt Barbara brought this adorable hat for her to wear. Although she absolutely hated it on, we did get a good picture or two.

Reed enjoyed eating her cake........

And opening her presents.....

>


Reed's blankie isn't the only thing he likes to put up his nose.

So, what do you think, are these kids related or what?

Reed and I had a tea party tonight with Adalae's new tea set and real tea! (decaf obviously, I'm not a complete nitwit)

Happy Easter!

After a friendly reminder from my sweet mother-n-law and Aunt Ann of what a blog slacker I've become that some do enjoy reading my blog, I'll highlight the last 2 months in Gradke land.

Adalae:
Now blows kisses, walks, is a mommy's girl, and will continue to eat anything and everything until she reaches the point of regurgitation.
Reed:
Talks ALL THE TIME (as evidenced in the video at the end), now sleeps in a big-boy car bed with Elmo sheets, loves to sit on the potty AFTER he pees in his diaper, is a daddy's boy, and only eats french fries and pretzels.

This is where we sometimes find Reed sleeping after an especially tough night of our failed attempts to keep him in bed.



Thade:
Recently came home with his first black eye, doesn't care much for mommy or daddy unless he wants something (not really - he is still a sweet boy most of the time), and eats like a full grown man.
Rustin:
Was in CA all last week for work. This is all that comes to mind as during this same week I played single mom -- the babies started swim lessons, Thade got in a fist fight, and Reed got double ear infections.
Side note: Adalae's baby dedication was also last week. I almost didn't mention this part since I felt super guilty for not going but at this point I'm over the guilt and content with survival.
Me:
I got a new Tahoe. And it's black! I started a new job. I plan to start grad school in the fall. And I might very well be insane. The new job has seriously put a hamper on my blog posting ability for 2 reasons.
#1. I like what I'm doing and would rather be doing my actual work while at work.
#2. Blogs are restricted sites.

Other notes of interest, this Saturday I am throwing 2 (yes TWO) separate birthday parties. This weekend will raise my party host tally to 6 in the last 2.5 months. Thade will be 12 and Adalae is 1 already! Obviously, I tried talking Thade into sharing his party with his sister but I guess "cool" doesn't involve Baby Einstein when your 12. And Adalae WILL be having a Baby Einstein party because I saved all of Reed's decorations from last year. I even saved the Einstein candle that was on his birthday cake. I am not above reusing a candle!

About this time next month, I will officially have been on this earth for 3 decades.

Ok, that covers the major stuff. Now time for pictures!

Easter at Mimi's in Atown.



MeMaw and Adalae



I got one out of three possibly looking at the camera but all 3 are looking in the vincinity of the camera. I'm liking it!





Spring Break vacation - 20 something hours in the car later





The beach






PJ and Adalae

Grandpa, Reed and Peaches

Mimi's great grand children

Reed takes care of bidness!

I have the greatest husband in the world. It's 9:30 on Sunday night and Rustin is at the grocery store for me. I am blessed!

Are you starring in your own movie?

My Sunday trip to Wal-mart was an annoying reminder of how oblivious people are to their surroundings. So, in an attempt to do my part in the betterment of humanity, I will point out 10 annoyances that sign you think you are starring in your own movie while grocery shopping.

10. Rather than taking the most direct route from the exit to the parking lot (or vice versa), you leisurely stroll diagonally while simultaneously pushing your cart, talking on your cell phone, smoking a cigarette, and dragging your toddler behind you.
9. While scoping out the cereal, you leave your cart parked directly in the middle of the aisle. If you are especially annoying, the cart is parked horizontally. Even after three "excuse mes", you still don't notice that someone is trying to get by until the cart is "accidentally" rammed bumped into you.
8. Chancing a hungry vagrant might be grocery shopping that day, you leave your child's half-chewed chicken nugget in the middle of the bread aisle.
7. Express check-out = 15 items or less. Self check-out = ASSUMED 15 items or less.
6. Ooops! I forgot just one thing! Or, ooops, I left my wallet in the car! Need I say more?
5. Kids on wheels. Really? Must your child skate down the aisles in his Heelys pushing your cart 30 mph while you obliviously decide between Cheddar or Swiss?
4. You have not recognized we are in the 21st century and write checks. You are especially annoying if you begin the actual check-writing process after every item has been scanned, bagged, and placed into your cart.
3. Checkout belt hogs. Your items should be placed on the belt as close together as possible, and non-breakables stacked. If you have placed your items on the conveyor belt, MOVE out of the way.
2. Your milk selection process goes like this: you prop the door open with your cart, thus blocking the way for any other potential 1% milk buyers; You then proceed to dig through your purse for your reading glasses; Once you find your reading glasses, you pull out the front 2 milk jugs from every milk slot to ensure you find that one jug that expires 2 days later than the rest.
1. You sneeze something into your hand, proceed to examine it, wipe it on your pants, then sift through the zucchini with the same snotty hand.


Other than the dreaded weekly Wal-Mart trip, we had a great weekend.
On Saturday, we saw "Deep Sea" at the Omni Theatre in Ft Worth. Correction, Thade, Adalae, and I saw "Deep Sea". After 5 minutes, Reed was freaked out so they spent the rest of the movie outside climbing up and down a flight of stairs (love ya Rustin!).

Warner is so right about how differently your Valentine Day is celebrated once children come along. Saturday night for the Gradke family was spent at a nail-biting 11 year old basketball game, then a romantic dinner at Taco Bell drive-thru.

Rustin was so sweet and delivered flowers to my office on Friday for Valentine's day. Saturday morning, I gave Rustin his V-Day card and a box of chocolate. 20 minutes later, after I showered, I came into the kitchen to find my V-day surprise. Along with a sweet card, Rustin re-gifted the box of chocolates I had given him 20 minutes before.

Should I say, "It's the thought that counts."?

Or should I teach my husband proper re-gifting etiquette?