Week of Fun: Part Deux

Remember that "Week of Fun" I blogged about several weeks ago? It included seeing the world's crappiest "aquarium". Well, it has been brought to my attention - by my sweet, yet at times anal husband Rob, that followers of my blog will never understand the complete bliss that came from our week of fun, due to the lack of chronological order. So, for all of those who don't understand levels of fun - unless they are chronologically documented, it was a FUN week, and our zoo trip was included.
That being said, here are a few snapshots of our FUN trip.

I learned a few things on this trip. Not only am I scared of moths, but apparently I am also scared of butterflies. After this shot - I had to leave the exhibit because I was so nervous. The "let me tell you all about butterflies" lady thought I was stupid, and literally said as I was running out the door, "They're not going to hurt you." I guess she's never been fluttered to death. I on the other hand have had several close calls.

I also have a fear of peacocks that are running around without leashes. This one thought it would be funny to eat Maddie's hotdog. I thought it would be funny to take it into a taxadermist. All of this was going through my head as I was running away - sorry the picture is blurry.

"Misty, Water-Colored Memories, of the way we were..."

Playing Dumb: An Untapped Genius

I stopped by the grocery store yesterday afternoon to grab a few quick items. I was there for milk, and Rob's "Crew" Pomade. On the way to the pomade, I saw some grapes that looked very tasty. I grabbed a bag and went on my way. Three items later, I found myself at the check-out stand. Just me, three items, and the checker.
He grabs the grapes and asks, "Wow. How do YOU know about these?" Baffled by the question, I answer, "They were just over in produce." "No," he responds, "how you you KNOW about these?" Hmm. same question, emphasis on different word - I still don't get it, so I stare at him blankly and say, "I just like grapes." I start searching through my bag for my wallet when he begins on being a cancer survivor. I think that is a fantastic accomplishment, so I tell him so, and continue to look through my bag. It's been a few minutes since I got there, and a line is starting to form behind me when he starts talking about how he was only cured by health foods. These grapes being one of his main sources of...this is where I start to fade out and look at magazines. I also notice that only ONE of my items has been scanned - and two are still sitting on the conveyor belt. I remember him saying something about writing a book next year, not being educated (but still smart), and starting his own Power Bar. He then drops the words Photosynthesis, Cranberries, Blueberries, Grapes, and says, "So you should only eat food that stains." Realizing that now is my chance, I say, "Oh - like Kool-Aid?" He scans my other two items, I pay - and I'm off.
I can only hope that as I walked away he thought, "Wow. That is the dumbest person alive."

For Stef

Today my darling friend Stefanie posted a picture of Geena Davis and asked..."Do I really look like her?" Stefanie's answer - No, not at all. You have BIG BEAUTIFUL blue eyes and no similar features. I think it's the red hair. So - here's mine - I have been stopped by strangers for this...
DO I REALLY LOOK LIKE HER??

Lost in Translation

No joke, this is ALL she says ALL day - and she gets terribly upset when we don't understand her. Apparently, this is EXACTLY what we sound like to her.

Intervention

I usually post the cutest pictures that I can find of Maddie, but I think it's time that I revealed her true side. This is Madelyn after one of her "nights out." I'm worried that her drinking is becoming a problem.

Week of Fun

Rob's work has spent the week in office limbo - so he spent a lot of time working from home. Lucky for us, it was a slow week at work, and we were able to do a lot. Our first adventure was the "all new" aquarium that for months I had begged Rob to go see. If anyone out there is also considering visiting the aquarium - let me strongly advise against this ridiculous idea. I do realize that I am from Chicago, and have been a bit spoiled with luxurious museums, aquariums, and planetariums - but never have I been SO fooled. We drove thirty minutes to get there, and my huge smile and dancing feet faded when I had to ask Rob, "Why is the aquarium in a strip mall?" I kid you not; they replaced what looked like an out-of-business Chuck E Cheese with an "aquarium." We then paid seven dollars per person to walk through two hallways of tanks. I've seen better fish at Petsmart. There was one cool thing - they have a bunch of sting rays that you can pet (see pictures). Twenty minutes later - we were on our way back home. At least we'll always have the laughs!

And then she decided to walk

One day she was a crawler, the next she was a walker.

Fire in the Sky

A few weeks ago Rob and I decided that this year's fourth of July was going to be AWESOME. Ironically, it rained that day - and we went out for Japanese food. Not exactly what we had planned. But in accordance with our original idea, we took a road trip to Wyoming to purchase some "not quite legal" fireworks. I picked out a few cheesy sparklers, and some noisemakers. Rob on the other hand had a cart full of HUGE boxes. Being the fireworks idiot that I am - I just thought, "well, we came all this way - and it is buy one get one free..." Needless to say we ended up with a RIDICULOUS amout of fireworks that were much more illegal than I originally had planned. So last Saturday we had a 45 minute light show in our back yard: roman candles, artillery shells, M150s, and tons of multi colored - seen only at baseball games - fireworks. I literally winced after every explosion just waiting for the police to show up. I had no idea that you could purchase such HUGE fireworks...I thought they were only sold to dealers and firefighters.
The 45 minute show was only the first half of the fireworks, and the police never came. The second half were lit at my brother Derek's block party - where the police DID show up. Luckily, it was right after we had done the grand finale, and just as Rob and I were driving away. The cop asked Derek if they had any illegal fireworks, and if they were finished. Derek's answer was "we're finished." Derek's next door neighbor then joined in the conversation and said, "Sir, I can honestly tell you that no one here owns any illegal fireworks." I must say it was the best Saturday night we have had in a long time.

It's all Fun and Games Until...

Madelyn has decided that her favorite thing to do in the tub is drink the bath water. Rob and I try to stop her - but she's REALLY determined. Here she is taking a gulp.

This is when she stood up, and peed in the bath water.

And this is when she sat back down and started drinking again. I wanted to vomit...that is, right after I took a picture!

A Day With Chuck

Maddie, Abby, and Sydney enjoyed a day of over priced pizza, horrific singing gorillas, and broken skee-ball. They had a gay old time.

Day of Milestones

Although Madelyn can practically sprint along side the couches, she doesn't seem to want to walk on her own. So yesterday (only FIVE months after pulling herself up) she took her first steps. We knew that she could, so Rob put her in the middle of the room - and she took about five steps to him. She's taken a few more today, so hopefully she'll be full on walking by the time she's six.
Rob and I also had our first doctor visit for the new baby. He quickly found the heartbeat, and said we have an incredibly active and healthy child. He also said that the baby's heartbeat was high, and according to "baby mumbo jumbo" that would mean we're having another girl. Although nothing has been proven just yet, I've been saying "girl" all along. We'll let everyone know when we find out!

Happy 1st Birthday Madelyn

Madelyn did not appreciate all the effort that I put into her first birthday cake. She cried, wiped it all over Abby's shirt, and threw it on the floor. Not one bite entered her mouth!



We then moved on to opening presents - another chore. She was mad that we wouldn't let her go off and play, and by the time we were done, she only wanted a plastic tube that she found on the floor.

But things finally turned around when we got home. We opened up all her toys - and she was thrilled with them. She did the typical toy introductions (they all met eachother), and then she played for over an hour. She took her first bike ride, and also had her first accident. Overall, a good day for pictures. One day she'll appreciate it all!