Vegas Baby

For Labor day weekend and Shannon's birthday we took a trip to Vegas...it was so much fun, but really...exhausting. We are walkers, and we didn't realize just how DIFFICULT it is to walk the Vegas strip...the cars, the people, the sun hitting us from the blaring skyscrapers...damn Wynn Hotel, I curse you. But, we had a great time. The vacation was ALL about the kids, pretty funny considering we were in a city with the name "Sin" in it's catch phrase. Being the frugal king and queen that we are, we decided to partake in one of those "Resort Time Share Presentations." It was an ordeal, but, after all was said and done, we walked away with $150 in Visa Gift Cards, 2 Tickets to The Secret Garden, $40 Cash, and they provided Breakfast and Lunch and VARIOUS coupons.

My grandmother was a gambler...she loved the slots. She was a winner, she ALWAYS won. When she passed away in May, her slot machine (yes, she had HER OWN slot machine in the local tavern that was dedicated to her....only she played it, others would play it when she wasn't around, but if she was in the bar, you had better not touch it!) Any way, her slot machine had a MAJOR malfunction. My mom and grandpa were in the bar and it started to go off like it won, then the screen went black and the ticker tape started spewing tape out....it still is inoperable. I think it was her way of saying, "If I can't play you, NO BODY CAN!!!!" Well, getting to my point. My mom gave me $5 to play in a slot for my Grandma. On the second day in Vegas, I had Trinity pick out a machine for me. It was a tall, flashy machine with a huge red circle and big pull on the right hand side. Perfect. I walked over, put in my money, and told my Grandma that this was for her. I won $100 on my single pull. Thanks Grandma. That $100 paid for our fun that you are about to read about.

We loved visiting Cesar's Palace...FAO Schwartz was a hit. We spent half the day there, just meandering through all the toys. We discovered that little t LOVES vintage tin toys just as much as his mommy and that Trinity is addicted to stuffed animals. I also discovered that some parents will pay insane amounts of money to impress their children....ridiculous amounts of money. I am a SAVERS kinda girl, so, the price tags made me want to poop in my pants. Luckily, I refrained from looking at them, so, no worries in that department.

The M&M store was an amazing chocolate overload, all 4 STORIES of it. I swear, I opened our suitcase, and the dirty clothes bag smelled like chocolate...I guess it could smell worse. We caved and bought a bag of mixed MMMMMs (as t calls them) and they were divine. We also picked up a new tennis ball for Dakota, a lovely green ball with an M on it....it's already been destroyed, so, I would say that was a hit too.

The best time was spent just hanging out in the hotel room. We loved it. We stayed at Circus Circus, in the newly renovate West Tower. I HIGHLY reccomend this place. It did NOT smell of smoke, smoking was not even allowed in the hotel portion of the buildings. They had really comfy beds with luxurious linens. The bathrooms were big, and the tub, albeit small, was big enough for the kiddos to splash around in. They had a flat screen TV, and a WONDERFUL view. We were on the 32nd floor, so it was pretty amazing at night. It stormed really hard one of the nights, and the lightening show was beautiful.

In the lobby of the hotel there is, of course, a casino...but, to the left of said casino is an amazing place called "ADVENTUREDOME!" that word personifies the experience to a t. It was FULL of adventure, but, we just played carnival games. Trinity is quite the little winner, she actually got that glazed over look that you see on the gamblers face...she was addicted to winning...I can't even tell you the amount of stuffed animals that she came home with, and we only spent $20 in games. The carnies loved her....She was playing all the favorites, balloon pop, fishing, the water gun race, it was quite the site to witness.

All in all, this was a trip to remember...I loved our time that we spent together, the buffets, the sites, the lights, the music, the weird people, Trinity conquering the dreaded escalator, all of it rolled into one package made for a really great family getaway...even if just for the weekend.

Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde - - man

Lately little t has had such a wide range of emotions, we welcome them of course since this is a HUGE breakthrough for his diagnosis. He is telling us (the best way he knows how) when he does and doesn't like something, he is trying to use more signing and grasping for more words to let us know when he needs something. I had to share this picture series with you though...it was on Saturday after a long hot soccer game. He was happy, then all of a sudden...BAM...it was like "GET ME OUT OF THIS STROLLER NOW WOMAN!" At any rate, I still think he is adorable, even with the Dr. Jekyl-ish face. Gotta love it.

G O A L!

Trinity started soccer last Tuesday. I thoroughly enjoy watching all the little girls run around, arms bouncing around while they unsuccessfully try and score a goal. They are too cute. Some of the little ones have some serious skills, but mostly, just like little ants on a log, they all go after the same thing. We had her first Soccer Game this Saturday and let me tell you...there are some competative parents out there. The team that we were playing were called "Orange Crush"...they were big for 5 year olds...I still say they were juicing...at any rate, they whooped our butts. But, the good thing is that our sweet girls had no idea. The league that we play in is AYSO and they really have their stuff together, our girls are "The Blue Rays". We have a nifty uniform, they don't really keep score, it is only 3 on 3 and EVERYONE on the team gets field time. It is not competative, and at the end of the season, they all get a trophy. Trinity gets along with all of her teammates and she really loves playing. Oh, and even when you lose, your coach still gives you cookies...that's a major plus in T's book!

Stay tuned for more news from this newly promoted Soccer Mom...hahahaha, like that will ever happen.

I would like to thank the academy.....

I would like to take this time to give thanks for the many things that make my life so FULL....you complete my insanity...so, thank you.

Thank you "Baby Alive"...because of you, I now have to change the diapers of a real baby and you. Did I mention that you wear cloth diapers??? FUN.

Thank you prune juice..you know good and well what you did to me.

Thank you chocolate layer on the back of a supposed healthy kids snack. I will be scrubbing you out of my daughters jeans tomorrow...and the car seat....and the carpet.

Thank you "Littlest Petshop" toys. Because of you I am constantly following little t around with my hand out spouting the words "Let mama see...let mama have it please...." I swear, if you choke my child, so help me God....

Thank you wheat. You devil in a flour sack. Thank you for all the many blowouts you have caused....you are a tricky little pickle, you hide in everything and go by many alias'. "Modified Food Starch" my butt....just call a spade a spade will you...for the sake of my little ones bum and his stroller...and carseat...and carpet.....

Thank you Lylah...you are a beautiful dog...but WHY OH WHY must you pee in my house???

Thank you lady at the supermarket. You are the 175th person to tell me my Tristan is such a cute little GIRL....Seriously??? He is wearing a football shirt....that's blue....with camo pants. It's just a ponytail...get over it.

Thank you Transformers. Because of you, my office is a shrine, an omage to all things TF. I have to stare at you as I type...right now...quit looking at me Optimus Prime...

Thank you Qwest. The extra hours that you steal my husband away from his family every day are just great....though I appreciate the paycheck, we are missing him terribly.

Thank you almost 5 years old. Because of you, my daughter has perfected the hand on hip eye roll that I adore so much.

And thank you crazy rambling mind...because of you I could post this silly blog.

Creepy House

Not to get too much into it, that will come in a later post...but, we have been looking around for another house.

On our "journey" we stumbled across this house

This house will be forever embedded in my psyche. From the outside it is idyllic...beautiful stone facad, lighted garage door, river rock, upgraded screens. The backyard boasts over 100K in upgrades from the pebbletec pool with waterfall, raised jacuzzi, and slide to the flagstone extended deck with beehive fireplace, built ins for a barbeque and a lighted waterfountain feature. The price was so attractive...only $191K for over 3800 sq ft! That doesn't happen....Once you enter the home though, it was an ENTIRELY different scenario...think Psycho. But let me backtrack. Before going inside, I went over to the neighbors house to ask them about the neighborhood. I looked online before visiting, but couldn't find much. In retrospect, I should have been able to see through his elusive answers to my questions as a warning.
ME - *Knock Knock on the door.......No answer....Ringing the doorbell*
Man - *Opens the door....but, is just staring at me*
ME - "Hi, I'm sorry to bother you, we are looking at purchasing the house next door, I was wondering if you had any information on the house or the area that might help us with our decision."
Man - *stoned face, no emotion, monotone* "Are, uh, you the new neighbors?"
ME - "No, we just wanted to see if we could find out some more information before we get too attached...you know, some research if you will."
Man - *just staring at me....* "Uh, yeah.........that house has some history."
ME - "Anything in particular you could share with me???"
Man - *looking a bit perplexed....long pause* "The people that lived there........they were crazy." *shuts the door in my face*

Ok, that went well. Our realtor gets there and we head inside...before we turn the key and even see the inside though, Trinity says "This house is creepy." Now, let me say that my T never uses the words "creepy"...and she didn't see the inside yet, so, there was really no reason for her to say it...at least I hadn't discovered it yet. The first thing we notice when we go inside is the sick amount of black mold covering the walls, carpet, baseboards, toilet....you name it. I was terrified. Shannon was holding Trinity and I was holding Tristan...there was NO way they were getting down. We decided to leave, but on the way out I noticed that there was something funny on the stairs, looked like bleach. When I got closer, I uncovered something so gruesome, something that you would see on those CSI shows. It was indeed bleach. The bleach was poured on the stairs in an attempt to cover the BLOOD that was splattered the entire rise of the stairway. No, I am not kidding. I was intrigued...I know, but that little part of me that enjoys those scary movies and forensic shows wanted to know more. I peered up onto the landing and saw what looked like the bloody trail of a dead body being pulled down the hallway and thrown down the stairs...NO, I am not kidding...and YES, we left immediately.

Saying Goodbye is Hard to Do

Daddy Puppy. Those two words warm the heart of my daughter. He was her beloved stuffy. Shannon got him for her when she was born. A beautiful black lab, soft and squishy. His simple red collar and silver bone tag with the word "SPIRIT" on the front. He went EVERYWHERE with us. All of our vacations, he was there too. Any bumps and bruises, he was there. Doctor's checkups, stuffy noses, vomit and even in the bath...Daddy Puppy was a permanent fixture in our lives. Vegas put an end to Daddy Puppy. On our last night there, a very crowded tour bus of Japanese sight see-ers entered the lobby just as we were retiring to our room for the night. T and t were already fast asleep and we were carrying them to the elevator. Daddy Puppy was stuffed tightly in Shannon's pocket...that is, until the hoards of people knocked him out. We were up to our room on the 32nd floor before we realized that he was missing, 5 minutes was all it took for him to be kidnapped. Gone forever. We went to security, lost and found, I even walked through the lobby peering into peoples bags, staring at little children to see if they had scooped him up. I asked the patrons if they would keep their eyes peeled and let the concierge know. People looked at me like I was nuts....and I was. I was going crazy trying to find him. After 3 hours of looking, I gave up. Shannon was a mess. The thought of telling Trinity in the morning was eating him up. I will admit it, I cried. It is only a material item I know, but the memories attached to that stuffed animal all irreplaceable. 8Am rolled around and T was still asleep. Shan wanted so badly to wake her just to get it over with, but he realized that was selfish, and he waited. He bought her donuts to try and help lessen the blow. Her big brown eyes opened around 9AM and she was a smily fool as always. Excited about her donuts she began to scarf one down. Shannon let her finish, then he pulled her on his lap and told her that he had to tell her something.

Shan - "Hey cutie, I have to tell you something."
T - "Sure Daddy, what is it??" *excited like he had a surpise for her.*

Shan - "Well, it's not a good thing, it's a sad thing."

T - *her face getting serious* "What??"

Shan - "Last night, when we were bringing you to bed...."

T - "Yes"

Shan - "Daddy Puppy fell out of my pocket....and now we can't find him."
T - *Quiet*

Shan - "Boo boo...I'm sorry, we looked everywhere. We told the security..."
T- "Did you check lost and found??"
Shan - *nodding*

T- *Quiet*

Shan - "I know that you are sad...so are we, it's ok to be sad."
T - *Holding back her tears trying to digest what he just told her."
Shan - "Boo boo...it's ok to cry."

T - *Balling....squishing her face into her daddy"

ME - *holding on to her...*

LONG QUIET PAUSE...she composes herself.

T - "You know what? They may have my Daddy Puppy, but they can't have my memories...those belong to me, and they can't take them away."

I was amazed at the words that just came out of her mouth. How mature, and understanding to know that although someone took her beloved pet, they could not have her memories that they shared together. Shannon tracked down another DP, but he wasn't quite the same...we had another stuffy that was given to Tristan, and he didn't really care for it either way, so, we made him into the "new" Daddy Puppy. Trinity held him tight, and closed her eyes. I asked her what she was doing and she says "I am putting all of the memories from Daddy Puppy into this Daddy Puppy." We put a new tag on him that reads

Daddy Puppy

Belongs to Trinity

Our Phone #

MIA

So, I KNOW you all have missed our blogs LOL...(hey, it's an ego booster, just roll with it) We have been BUSY, BUSY, BUSY! I have a ton to blog about that you will be SO sick of reading that you may just opt out entirely...that's ok, I understand...really. We just got back from Vegas...that was SO much fun. Trinity's Chinchilla is missing. Tristan got 2 new therapists. We may be getting a new house..that's a LONG story. Ummm, what else.....stay tuned for new blogs.

Snuggle Puppy of Mine

This is why I love Weimeraners. They are the snuggliest dogs on the planet...well, our planet anyway. Despite the craziness the first 2 years, the subsequent years are AMAZING...and lets face it, they are cute. Trinity loves her dogs so much, and though you can hear her yelling "LYLAH! " all day long, she still cuddles with her at night...oh, and so does Shannon apparently!

So, have you hugged your snuggle puppy today?(poor Shy didn't know what was coming when Trinity readjusted...shortly after this photo we moved her so that Shyanne would not pass out LOL...)

His way of getting his voice heard

So, you know that Tristan is not very vocal...well, he makes TONS of noises, from rasberries, to fart sounds, singing to screaming...but words, words are not a strong suit for little t. Today, he amazed me. It was around his nap time, but I had to get a load of laundry in the dryer...so, I was going to put him down right afterward. I looked down at this little guy clinging to my leg, and said to him "Are you ready for your nap bubub?" Just a rhetorical question, then...it happened. He grabbed hold of my hand *this from a boy that DOES NOT hold hands...we are holding his as he is squirming away from us, but, he never reciprocates or initiates a hand hold.* Anywho....he grabs holdof my hand and starts to walk out of the laundry room...I stop what I am doing and just follow him, I was anxious to see how this was going to pan out. Sure enough, he walks me into our bedroom...right over to the bed, looks at me, then pats the bed as if to say, "Yes mama, I am ready for bed." I was so proud of him..he is communicating more and more with us, the best way he knows how. Until he finds the words, this is going to have to work, we will make it work!

What are 3 things you wish you'd known at 20?

My friend Katie posted this on her blog, so, I too am going to play! Thinking back to when I was 20, there are quite a few things I wish I would have known, we will stay away from the obvious "Lottery numbers....answers to midterms...etc., etc, I will give honest answers and hope you do the same! Oh, and for fun..here is a pic. ENJOY!

So what would you tell your 20-year-old self if you could go back in time?

1) Food and Nutrition is going to be a REALLY important class for you, so...STAY AWAKE.

2) It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks of you, you are amazing to at least one other person.

3) Prescription pain killers are the devil, no good for you.

Now, come on, tell me what you would say to yourself!

Because my BLOG needs more pics

...and little t has been exceptionally smily lately.....Here you go.