Ok.. So it hit me like after the fact.. I only thought I would never get another Spring Break once I finally realized that college really isn't meant to be a permanent residence. Now I get to celebrate them all over again w/ our kids. Woo Hoo!! Only this time around it's way harder cause it's up to me to keep the kids entertained and on track in order to prevent the destruction of the home we have plumped our rumps in. And believe me, just leave these little weapons of mass destruction alone (or worse in pairs-better to out number and out maneuver you) and the home will turn into a battlefield w/ unrecognizable features. So I opted to keep them so busy they would just fall asleep standing up...the theory being they would be too tired to fight or argue.
Interestingly enough, those who know me know I couldn't get out of high school today if my life depended on it cause I couldn't get thru the math. How in the world did I now recognize that theory and hypothesis' would one day come back to bite me on the ass.. well isn't that something? Mrs. Mayer really did try to warn me with the fact that those lessons might prove to be needed one day.
First two days were supposed to go as planned.. Camping the backyard due to work and scheduling w/daddy. Wouldn't you know it.. We got over 3" of that stuff they tell me is rain. Honestly, it's been so long since I have seen the stuff I will take their word for it since my memory fails to recognize the stuff. Pretty soon.. it too will be categorized along w/the fabled snow in Texas.. So Praise God for the rain.. and halleluia for livingroom campouts (ie. staying up late and watching Boomerang tv. and house construction shows).. And did they sleep in the next days?
I won't even answer that one..
We then discovered an awesome watering hole at the famous Zilker Park. We have found our summer destination to play in the water safely w/ two little rambunctious kids. Failure to realize that the state highschool boys tournament, Austin rodeo, South by SouthWest Music fest and film and internet fests were also going on. I'm certain I just left out about another 20,000.. Needless to say, Austin was packed. It took us an hr. to find a place to park. But it was well worth it. The kidsa had a blast. It hit me while there tht I don't think I will ever be able to fully enjoy that park setting. The park is large and the place is always packed. Naturally, thekids don't want to stay together and will do the "panic split"-where mom flips out cause she can't locate her babies easily. Now rationally I know I can't recall a single incident where a child was abducted or harmed.. But in this case..too much knowledge is well--- just too much knowledge!! But we did have a great time..Raising kids has become all the harder these days w/all the dangers..
Next daddy took off half a day and we made a road trip to the San Antonio Zoo. John reminded me that we had been there before. It wa somethng I had wanted to do ever since they were born. Each child picked out which animal they really wanted to see.
Rachel had to see a lion and Marshall had to see the owls. Naturally, we didn't get to them until later in the day. I'm bummed since I have misplaced my camera. We used a disposable one so hopefully we got some good pix. Zoo trips for me have consisted once to the Houston and now twice to the San Antonio one. It hit me the other day that the reason I don't recall the actual trips and animals is because the zoo is unsettling to me. It's enjoyable to walk around in the blistering sun taking in animals and fish that we would never be able to see anywhere else. Painfully though, it always leaves a sour taste in my mouth. Why can't they get each species at least 2 so they can keep each other in their captivity? Is that too much to ask? Those poor animals look so sad and troubled. Days here have been like that but truth is always there that I can always leave. No.. not those sanimls. All that concrete and fake scenery.. like that makes it alright to those poor trapped souls?
So we saw a great arrdvarrk that I really wanted to smuggle home to abolish our fire ants that have descended into our vegetable garden. He was in Texas so I figured those ants would just be a little more spicy like a good salsa. And the new black panther was quite frightening. I swear if he could have attacked someone he wold have.. those eyes were locking on mine and it sent chills down my back in the high heat. Unfortunately, we couldn't get the rhinos to break out into song and dance into "Rhinoserus Tap" (Sandra Boynton-"hit it Max")!! Now that would have been worth the price of the whole break.. The kids enjoyed it and John fielded work calls all day as this is his busiest time of the year.. So the trip was nice. In conclusion to the zoo: it might be the proverbial trip to dream about when you have kids. Just as the proverbial wedding gift: toaster/can opener..
The next two days included trips to grandparents homes. It was nice to see them and spend time, but as usual the time just flew by way too fast. And keeping them on a tight schedule was mandatory if I were to survive and they would be prevented from harming each other to the pt. of a trip to the awesome new children't hospital.
The highlight of the week was when PawPaw Jimmie was working on the excavator his company has to load dirt for the cement jobs they install. We met him out at the dirt pit and Marshall got to sit inside and actually work the levers, buttons and horn. My heart ached for a camera to get some photos of the two. It was so heartwarming to see Jimbo patiently and lovingly showing Marshes the ropes. I'm not certain as to who looked more poud_all I know is it is a memory I never want to forget. All the while, Rache sat in the Hummer just dying to get on that spinning equipment. When it finally came her turn the minute her feet hit the height of the cab she begged to be touch ground again. It was just too scary for that tomboy.
We finished out the break w/a trip to the park w/some friends and camping out in the backyard. Ok.. by the time camping became a reality this chick had had enough bonding, outside and kids. So darling hubby took over. Yea Dad!! Again.. where is my camera.. What a great break.. tiring break..now I need a vacation!!
And I will start to plan the next years break early so I can rest and prepare as if it is the birth of a new child cause I firmly believe one needs more sleep and energy just to keep up w/those two. And I still stand behind the mantra that
"motherhood done right Can kill you"..
And it's sad to report that the cleaning fairies didn't come to our house and the dust bunnies magically mulitplied into dust bears.. Help!!
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