Grandma D and Grandpa Spencer Visit!

I have a good reason for the lack of posts.  I really do.  My parents were in town.

It renders me physically incapable of posting on my blog.  

We were just too busy having fun that I barely sat at the computer all week (except or to play poker online with my dad).

I think we jam packed a months worth of activities into 10 days.  It was a blast.

The kids were completely over the moon to see their Canadian grandparents.  HP was constantly sitting on Grandpa Spencer's lap or holding his hand, and The Dude had a constant play pal in Gramma D, who were always playing kickball, feeding the creatures or chasing each other around.  Even though they don't get to see my parents as much as we'd all like, the kids had no qualms and were completely smitten the moment they walked through the door.

Here are a few pictures from our wonderful visit...

Batman and Princess

My parents live in Canada.  We try to talk on the phone every few days.  Recently, we purchased a new Apple computer.  My parents also have one, so we have been enjoying using the ichat feature to communicate.  The Dude and HP like it because they can 'see' Gramma D and Grandpa Spencer.  Both kids look forward to time spent talking to the grandparents "on the computer".

My mom and dad mail care packages for the kids all the time.  Usually, the kids rip open the packages as soon as they get delivered and then I relay their reactions to my parents over the phone.  

Now that we have the ability to SEE each other we decided to switch up our present opening so that my parents could take part.  My mom had a batman costume (for The Dude) and a princess costume (for HP) mailed to our house.  Unbeknown to the kids, I took the package and hid it in the room where the computer sits.  That night, when the kids were chatting with my parents, my mom and dad were able to surprise the kids by sending them on a cyber-hide-and-seek until they found the gifts.  Even better, they got to watch the chaos as both kids were naked and changed into their new costumes in 2.5 seconds.  The pictures showcase The Dude and HP strutting their stuff with their friend in the backyard (exactly 2 minutes after opening their gifts!  Thanks Mom and Dad!

Edited to say:  I have no idea what The Dude is doing in the last picture.  He is supposed to be making a 'funny face' but instead looks like he is constipated.  Maybe Batman had to go #2...

Happy Mother's Day!

Why my mom is awesome (by Rikki):

-She has the uncanny ability to take a phrase that everyone knows and make it her own.  My favorite: "If you can't say anything nice, shut your face!".

-No matter how hard she tries she cannot say aluminum or linoleum correctly.  Why is this awesome?  Because in order to get my mom you have to be fluent in Momanese.  The woman has her own special language that makes her endearing.

-She takes care of herself.  My mom is the poster child for turning your health around.  She went from being unhealthy and inactive, to a woman who walks daily, does yoga, plays racquetball and has just started RUNNING!  She is also world renowned (okay maybe that is an exaggeration) for her kick-ass salad making skills.  My mom is going to be around for a LONG time. 

-She is SUPER creative.  Every year on my kids birthdays, my mom makes them "Birthday Posters".  These gigantic posters (which she sends early enough for them to be here for the kids' birthday parties) are picture collages from the kids' most recent year of life.  We usually leave the poster up long after the party is over because they are so much fun to look at.  

-She makes a long-distance effort to get to stay connected to her family in the states.  Every time she sends a package to her grandbabies, she puts a picture of her and my dad in the return address.  Even though the kids can't read, she wants them to know they are loved.  

-She likes to have fun.  The last time my mom came to visit, I took her to a OHS basketball game.  You would have thought we were at the NBA finals!  She whooped and hollered and was in awe of all the pomp and circumstance surrounding a small-town high school game (NOTHING like the games at home where cheerleaders and bands are nonexistent).  Everything is fun with my mom.  And although she loves to eat healthily, she likes to have a beer and a burger even more (gotta love her for that!).

-She is cool for her age.  She rides a scooter to work.  Enough said.

-She does the best stockings.  For real.  Growing up, my brother and I would be more excited to open our "super colossal" (another momism) stockings on Christmas morning then we were the presents.  These giant stockings (they were so big that we have a picture of HP in one of them for her first Christmas) would be bursting with magazines, socks, liquor, condoms (my mom said "if you don't need them, give them to one of your friends that does"), chocolate, bath stuff...the list goes on and on.  It would take us a good hour to get through all of the goodies. Starchy loves his super colossal, and I am sure my brother's girlfriend Chipmunk (not her real name, and in NO WAY does she resemble a rodent, she is actually gorgeous, but just really good at saving, hence the moniker) does too.

-She loves her family first and foremost.  There are certain people that like their family and love their friends.  There are others that put up with their family, but couldn't really care less if they stayed connected with them or not.  My mom's #1 priority is her family.  And THIS is why she is the best.

Happy Mother's Day Mom!

Love you! xoxo