Scaredy-cat mom

I'm not exactly what you would call an adventurous person. I get nervous around heights. I get frightened watching even mildly scary movies. I also get physically ill at the thought of going on roller coasters.

I still remember my first experience on a roller coaster. It was at Kings Dominion on the Grizzly. I had no idea it was an old rickety wooden coaster. I didn't know it would go up a HUGE hill, only to go DOWN a very steep hill seconds later. I screamed like a baby and thought I was going to die. A family friend laughed his head off when he saw me stagger off the platform at the end. There was also another trip to KD in which I stupidly went on one of those swinging boat things and then a spinning room thing. I threw up when I got home.

This past weekend, A's mom and I took the kids up to an amusement park about an hour away for my company's annual summer party. My husband wasn't able to come, but I figured, "Hey, we survived four days of Disney World with the kids. We can do one day at a park." And actually, it went pretty well. The kids kept the whining to a minimum, which was a welcome relief. It was only about 80 degrees, so we didn't swelter in the heat.

There was, however, an incident with a new ride called the Jumping Dragon. It pretty much goes around in a huge circle, faster and faster. Then it slows down and then goes backwards, faster and faster. The kids were all chomping at the bit to try it out. My mother-in-law braved it the first time, and looked a little worse for wear afterward. At the end of the day, the kids wanted to go on it one more time. S had already discovered that I don't love twisty roller coasters (mostly because I talked her out of the Ferris Wheel and swinging boat thing). But since I didn't want to look like a baby in front of my kids, I agreed.

What S said to me while in line for the Jumping Dragon:

S: Mom, I really don't think you'll get sick on this ride. It doesn't go that fast. Really, it doesn't. And when it goes backwards, it's not too scary, I promise. Ok, Mom? Ok?

What she yelled during the ride:

S: Mom! Are you ok? You're not scared, are you? Mom?!

Nice picture this poor child has of her mother. Although, I have to say that forcing myself to go on rides I wouldn't normally go on—just because my kids want to—has been a good thing for me. Nothing like laughing up the mildly scary elements of the Haunted Mansion ride at D-World so that T (and me, too) don't get scared.

And yes, I hated the Jumping Dragon. It gave me a horrible nausea headache that lasted for two days.

T last year at the park. I know the feeling, bud.

T-ball boy

I realized recently that I never posted about H playing t-ball last year. I guess I was too busy complaining about being pregnant with twins to remember to do it. He's playing again this year and loves it, of course. For H, baseball pretty much is life (well, in addition to legos and superheros, too). He'll even watch baseball with his dad for a lot longer than I ever do. He's on a great team this year and he's been smacking balls as usual. Plus, he gets to work on his catching and fielding skills, which is a good thing. My husband always frets that playing t-ball makes H forget how to hit the ball normally, but then they'll go out in the back with just a bat and ball and H will hit the first one out of the yard. Yeah, I think he's still got the general idea down. Way to go, H!

Climbing monkey

While his sister has been busy mastering walking (actually, walking whilst holding a toy or maybe even chewing on a book), A2 decided he really needed to explore more of the house on his own.

In a 24-hour period, A2 climbed up onto our entertainment center (it's somewhat low to the ground), climbed out of his high chair onto the kitchen table, and climbed onto the couch via a kid-size recliner chair. He also enjoys turning the stereo system on and off, and on and off, and using his pudgy fingers to try and move the gate at the bottom of the stairs so he can scamper up.

I definitely think it's a good thing this kid isn't walking yet. Crazy little monkey.

Maybe I will try this walking thing.

Look, Mom! I can walk and hold this bigger-than-me light saber at the same time!

Dad

When my sister Brooke had her twin boys last February, my mom decided that my dad should come out to help for a week. My dad was a bit nervous, ("I'm really good with two-year-olds. Newborns? Not so much.") but he came anyway. And he was a fabulous amount of help.

When my twins were born, I was thrilled that my dad wanted to come and help for a week. And he was awesome. Like me, my dad likes schedules and order. Perfect for helping take care of two little babies. And he played baseball in the backyard with H and T. The best part, though, was that he happened to visit during the height of the Presidential election, which made for some excellent conversations in our house every night.

I love my dad. He's the coolest old school conservative I've ever met. I love that even though he's a "guy's guy," he still gets emotional whenever he hears certain Primary songs or even just when he gets a particularly excellent Ronald Reagan gift for his birthday. And when he cries, I cry.

Happy Father's Day, Dad. Love you.Mom, Dad, and the five girls—2007

Frosted nostalgia

Recently, I've fallen in love again with frosting graham crackers (although, I don't think I ever really fell out of love with them.) If you have no idea what I'm talking about, then you had a sad childhood indeed. Frosting graham crackers come about when your mom has frosting left over from a birthday or other holiday. She spreads the frosting on one graham cracker square, slaps the other side on the top, and voila! A delightful and tasty treat.

Lately, I've even gone so far as to make double the amount of yummy frosting, so we can have extra amounts of deliciousness afterwards.

Eating these with my kids after lunch makes me think of a hundred different times when I did the same thing growing up. I'm so glad that my kids can grow up with some of my favorite childhood memories.

Angie's frosting
½ cup shortening
½ cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 cups powdered sugar
2 Tablespoons milk
Cream together shortening and butter, then add vanilla. Add sugar, one cup at a time. Add milk until light and fluffy.

We have a walker!

After a few weeks of taking a few steps here and there, N really took off over the weekend.

I have mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, I'm not sure if a tiny-for-her-age 10 1/2 month-old baby has any business toddling around. But on the other hand, it is SO cute when she throws her arms up in the air, giggles crazily and takes off. And she always looks around to make sure people are taking note of her achievements.


Whenever I start to fret that N keeps passing milestones before her brother, precious A2 gives me one of his trademark grins, as if to say, "No worries, Mom. I'll do it soon enough. And if she keeps (not) eating like she has been, I'll still be able to knock her down for a long time to come."