There is a great exhibit at the Museum of Natural Science called the Terra Cotta Warriors, and Lance and I went to see them last night for our date night. We have been dying to see the Warriors in person since first seeing them on the Amazing Race a few years ago. Since I won’t leave the boys for longer than a weekend, this is the closest we’ll get to the warriors.

This exhibit is incredible. It is fascinating to think that the first emperor had this built, but also disturbing when you realize that approximately 700,000 convicts or enslaved citizens were used to construct his necropolis which included over 8,000 handmade warriors and other life-size figurines. Here is a National Geographic video which gives you some details:

I strongly recommend visiting this exhibit and buying the $90 coffee table book they have there. Then again, it is easy for me to recommend buying a $90 book when I’m hoping to get it for my birthday so that I won’t have to pay for it.

Goose and Baby Hulk each have a favorite shirt. Goose’s favorite shirt is a hand me down red shirt with a goofy blue and white dog on it. When I saw the shirt, I placed it in a bag to donate, but somehow Goose saw it and immediately decided he had to wear it. That was a year ago. He wears this shirt every week no matter how much I discourage it. I can’t stand this shirt. When we were on vacation I had visions of perfect pictures in the mountains. I had the outfits picked out, but Goose wanted the dog shirt. Baby Hulk seems to have better taste, although I am getting a bit sick of this puppy shirt from Gymboree too.

It’s good that the boys are so independent, right? I think we are going to lose both of these shirts very soon. There is no way I can handle seeing these shirts another summer or on another kid in a year, esp the red one.

1. Today is Squirt’s birthday! To celebrate we went to Double Dave’s with the family. Here is a picture of our favorite dessert, the chocolate chip pizza. The manager couldn’t believe we ate the whole thing.

2. Look who is standing:

3. Friday was my dad’s birthday. We went to Pappasito’s with the young kids while Lance and Squirt went to the 8th grade graduation banquet. My poor dad had to wear a sombrero while the waiters sang to him. If anyone knows my dad, this is SO not him, but he was a good sport since the boys were with him.

4. The Rockets won their game on Thursday, and we were so hopeful about today’s game. So hopeful that the whole family wore red today. Then reality set in and the kids ran away because dad was scaring them.

5. Baby Hulk has now decided that he can pick up Kobra just like the rest of us. The only problem is that he picks him up by his neck. I just informed Squirt, and he is so angry about this. Squirt is so protective of his younger brothers and people picking them up. He gets really uptight about it so much so that he pulls me aside to discuss the situation with me. And when I use the word situation, I am not exaggerating.

6. Goose and Baby Hulk were playing together, and I could hear Goose being really bossy with the Hulk. Soon Baby Hulk was crying, and I asked Goose what happened. He paused and I reminded him to tell the truth. He said, “fine, but are you going to yell at me?” I promise I am working on the yelling thing.

7. Baby Hulk’s cute new move is to yell “mama, mama”when I’m talking to someone. Once I turn to him, he says, “I love you!” He’s a smart one.

I asked Squirt how his trip went and the first thing he wanted to tell me was that he held hands with a girl. On the one hand, I am glad that he shares this kind of thing with me, but on the other hand, I am so not ready for him to date and have a girlfriend.

We returned from our trip last night. We had a great time relaxing in the mountains and then spending time with friends in Atlanta. We rented a cabin in Blue Ridge about thirty minutes out of town, up in the mountains. We were so excited about our cabin because we were on the river.

109 steps from the cabin to the river. At about 35 steps, you realized you weren’t even halfway done climbing, but the view was worth it.

We found the cabin on the Internet and talked with the owner several times before our trip about the different amenities. When we planned this trip, we weren’t worried about basketball, but then something happened: The Rockets made it out of the first round of the playoffs for the first time in twelve years. Wednesday night was game 2 against the Lakers. No biggie we thought, the cabin has satellite. When we finally made it to the cabin, we had about thirty minutes before game time. We saw the satellite dish outside, and Lance went to get the channel ready, but after thirty minutes he gave up. We weren’t going to see game 2.

Turns out the owner had turned off the satellite because it only worked in winter when the leaves had fallen. I can’t describe how mad Lance was. He declared the trip a disaster, and we hadn’t even been gone a day. Our cell phones did not work, we had no Internet and no TV. I realize most people wouldn’t need TV while on a relaxing vacation, but this was the playoffs. Turns out the game was incredible with players getting kicked out and technicals galore. A new rivalry has been born, and we missed it, oh and my husband talks about this kind of thing for a living.

The next day we realized we could receive texts if we stood in a certain area of the cabin. So that is how my husband found out that the Rockets lost game 2 and how exciting it was. What was funny is the different versions we heard about the game. It reminded me of that game you play when you are a kid where you have a big circle and the first person tells a secret and the info is whispered all the way around the circle. By the time it gets back to the beginning, it’s a total mess. We heard six guys were thrown out of the game, when only two were actually thrown out, (I think). Lance got over it and even managed to have a sense of humor about missing game 3 and game 4. Right now the series stands at 2-2 so he will be able to watch at least two more games.

Lance and I are not what I would describe as outdoorsy people, but we love the mountains. I love to hike so even though very pregnant when we came here last year, I thought we would hike and see all the waterfalls in the area. We saw two snakes within five minutes and decided against that. This year, it was the same. Lance saw a dead snake on the side of the road and that stopped us picnicking by the river with the boys.

My favorite discoveries on the trip had to do with food, of course. Mercier Orchards had the most amazing fried apple pies. Yes, something you might find at McDonald’s only better. They were so good we stopped again before leaving for Atlanta. I might order these online. The other hit was a frozen dessert we found at the grocery store. I could not believe that Edwards Turtle Pie was so good. Thankfully, Edwards is carried in our local HEB so I don’t have to order that online.

On Saturday we stayed with my Goddaughter. She is 8 years old and just amazing. She loved Kobra and Baby Hulk really liked her. I love my Goddaughter so much. I have only seen her a few times, but each time I see her I am so proud to have her in my life. She is smart, kind and was interested in me and my family. One of my favorite things that she did was ask what I liked to do at home. She also gave me a Pandora bracelet. She has the same bracelet, and we have a matching charm, the Bible. She was really excited because as our charm collection grows, she thought we could continue buying matching charms. I thought that was so sweet. I wanted to see the pandas and gorillas so we took the kids to the zoo. I could have sat there watching the gorillas all day. The new baby panda was pretty cute too.

My Goddaughter received her First Communion on Sunday. This was a beautiful day for her, and she was so excited. She looked gorgeous in her dress and veil. I remember when she was baptized. She wore an amazing gown that has been in my friend’s family for years. In fact, I think the original is in a museum. It is so special for me to witness these events in her life. I hope she knows that I pray for her always and just how special she is to me.

This trip was such a blessing for me. I had time with my kids and husband, and then had the chance to catch up with a dear friend. I hate living so far from the people I love so I am so grateful for the times we do see each other.

Last week we heard Goose singing while his brother was playing the guitar. We only had him start over 3 times to get this on tape.

Today I went to my niece’s First Communion. What an amazing day for her, but probably more amazing to me as an adult. I remember my First Communion, but I don’t think I realized the importance of that day. On Good Friday, I tried to explain to my 4 year old this gift, but I think I just confused him. Maybe not, now during daily Mass, he points and says, “look, the Body and Blood.” My niece looked so proud and happy today. I pray that as she grows older, she will truly realize the beauty of today. My oldest son is starting to realize this. He is a bit like me when it comes to religion: follow the rules. So during the Mass, his main concern was that none of the kids were partaking of the consecrated wine. I noticed too, but was not going to say anything. I had to make him promise not to make a comment about it to the rest of the family. He was so upset that these kids did not fully participate. I tried to explain that they did fully participate, but I don’t think he really believed me. (The joys of a having a teenager, they know EVERYTHING.) Although like him, I think they should have had the consecrated host AND wine.

It seemed like all the kids on our side of the church were girls. Beautiful girls wearing their white dresses and veils. And it made me so sad for our girls. I’m not emotional at all, but today it hit me: Our lost girls. I know I’m supposed to be happy to have kids in heaven, but really, I’m not. I’m selfish and want my girls here on earth. I want all the things these moms have with their girls. I love the family we are raising, but I miss the other kids we should have had as well, and today, I especially missed the girls.

As I was feeling sorry for myself, I was reminded of the girl next door. The beautiful 15 year old girl next door who asked me to attend a mother/daughter luncheon with her. Her mother passed away when she was very young. She has an amazing father and extended family. She has other women to look to, but she picked me! What an honor. This girl is amazing. She loves my boys and will come spend time with each of them. On her birthday this year, she took Kobra from me and showed him off to all of her friends. Frankly, nobody wants to hold him because he spits up nonstop. She knows this and it didn’t matter to her. And when he did spit up on her, she just got a new bib and kept holding him. She will take walks with the boys and chase after them for me, talk with me while I bake and call me to talk about her boyfriends.

I can never take the place of her mother, but I am blessed to have this almost woman in my life. And so very honored to have her include me on a day that must be very difficult for her. Maybe my little saints in heaven are smiling down on me.