Still the One

Today is a very special day for me. Well, Kel and me.

You see, nine years ago we became "official" for the third and last time after a fun filled day at Six Flags Magic Mountain. We met in 2001 when I started working at McDonalds. I was 16, he was 18 and I didn't notice him since my high school crush was also working with us. But I remember meeting him like it was yesterday. It was Friday payday and he came running in the side door searching for his check. Sweaty, smelly, and dirty from just playing basketball with his friends, all I could think of was "what a great smile". I was in drive thru handing out the food and drinks, s we were able to talk a little in between orders. Aside from the typical "Hi I haven't seen you before" and the "yea I just started" , I don't remember what we talked about. But I must have made an impression because when Ice Age came out, he wrangled an invitation and managed to snag a seat next to me and hold my hand.

Ice Age holds a special place in my heart.

Nine years and two kids later, and we are still going strong. Yes we have had our problems, yes we have thought about throwing in the towel one or two times, and yes we've each made mistakes. But we Capricorns are a stubborn lot and we love each other too much to quit. Every time I think of "our song", I think of Shania Twains "Still the One."

For any who are curious, yes we have plans on getting married. At this point there is no date set, and I don't even have a ring or the proposal that goes with it. But the intentions are there. On both sides. As Kel says, when he finally pops the question, it'll be that much more of a surprise because he'll do it when I least expect it.

Besides, I love him.

With or without the ring. With or without the paper legally binding us together.

It doesn't mean that I'm giving up on changing my last name. It just means that I'm trying to just let go of the small stuff and enjoy what I have, in this moment.

We could be the next Goldie and Kurt. Right?

"Ain't nothin' better, We beat the odds together. I'm glad we didn't listen, Look at what we would be missin'. They said, "I bet they'll never make it".  

But just look at us holding on, We're still together still going strong.
(You're still the one) You're still the one I run to. The one that I belong to.  

You're still the one I want for life.
(You're still the one) You're still the one that I love. The only one I dream of. 

You're still the one I kiss good night.
You're still the one "

Remy They Were Not...

Have you ever seen Disney and Pixar's Ratatouille?

If not, I'll try to sum it up in one sentence.... Remy is a Parisian  rat who loves food and is a master chef and ends up becoming a famous chef in a restaurant. One too many "ands" later and I hope you've got the point.

What's my point?

Yesterday I found my own Remy.

Well, what I was hoping to be my personal Remy so that Kel stops complaining about my lack of cooking (hey babe give me more than Top Ramon to work with). Turns out, Remy is really Emile (Remy's garbage eating brother) and he brought along Jacques, the cheese thief. Yes, I am cross referencing two Disney movies and yes I am done comparing the two field mice who have been trying to break into my house (and succeeded at one point) to fictional characters. Especially since these mice were very, very real.

Did you notice my use of past tense?

Sadly, Remy and Jacques have met their demise. Or at least Jacques has. Remy has been heard but not seen and therefore I cannot confirm the quality of his life.

But not before C,D, and E had their fun. While C and E jumped right in and enjoyed the antics of the mice, it took a little coaxing with D to help him realize that they wouldn't be able to eat through the glass to come nibble on his toes. Their favorite activity was to play cat and mouse. They'd wait until they got close enough to the window and then start pounding until Remy and Jacques scampered away. Remy was a brave, feisty little goober who could jump higher than D. Jacques was Fatty McFatty who just came out for the cheese.  It was the cheese that eventually did him in.

Sigh.

Ms. C and I tried to make the  experience educational. We talked about where the mice lived, what they liked to eat, and how they were more than likely brothers. So D's been on a "You are my Mom, Dad is my Dad, C is my brother and we are a family" kick ever since. Which is really cute, but after the Trillion and one time, I've found my self just nodding my head and murmuring yes. I think of the three, C had the most patience waiting for Remy and Jacques to come out of hiding and the most fun scaring them by banging on the window.

So while we had our fun with Remy and Jacques (and pissed off  angered Kel in the process), I am happy that they are gone. Or are they? I've been hearing some scratching at a different wall that sounds like a little goober trying to get back in. Time for Kel and his friend D to play executioner again.

On a side note, don't you love the collages? Picasa allows me to put all of the photos that I want to share with you into one nice little montage so I don't have to spend an exteme amount of time editing and you don't have to get bored with scrolling through the numerous pictures. Thank you Picasa!

Growing Up

Saturday, C showed me something that I haven't wanted to face.

My littlest is growing up.

 

He's shed the majority of his "baby" look and now seems so much older than he is.

I tend to forget that he's not quite two. Drinking out of cups, using the correct utensils, taking off his clothes for shower time, putting on his shoes when he wants to go outside, beginning to tell me when he has a dirty diaper... all things that C has mastered before I even began to form the lessons in my head. Even though I know I shouldn't, I compare the boys. I had used D's milestones as a sort of time line of when I could start making sure that C has reached them.  Aside from his speech (which we are slowly getting on track), C has surpassed any and all expectations.

Yesterday, C and I had some bonding time with my cousins. We went to Brandon's Buddies, which is an event that is organized for children with disabilities at Gates Park. Aside from the two playgrounds, misters, and swing sets, Brandon's Buddies offers arts and crafts, baseball, face painting, and refreshments. While the playground is open daily, the Brandon's Buddies events runs from 11 to 1 on the  first Saturday of every month.

The park offers a playground for toddlers that C enjoyed for a little while.

He liked that there wasn't a step higher than his knees and slides that weren't ten feet in the air. But he quickly got bored. It didn't help that he was one of three kids on the playground.

So we moved up to the big kid crowd. C had an absolute ball.

Running to and fro...

Climbing the rock walls...

Both of them...

and sliding down the red rolling slide...

I could barely drag him away from the playground long enough to get a drink of water and a quick picture with his cousin.

 
We spent an hour playing chase, giving me heart palpitations, and enjoying our special one-on-one time.

Thank you for inviting us M, M, and H!

Somewhere Over the Grapevine

Yes I did sing the title of this post in my head to the tune of "Somewhere over the Rainbow".

Don't judge.

While Kel was away, the boys and I were fortunate to have an impromptu visit with Nana. It was very last minute, and could not have happened without the help of my wonderful aunt. One minute I had the idea in my head, struggling to find a way to make it happen and the next I was packing up my aunt's car. It was a long night Wednesday, trying to make sure that I had everything on my own, and didn't go to bed until close to one in the morning. Waking up at five was not as hard as I thought it would be. I had the excitement as if we were going to Disneyland for a week. I was that happy to just be getting out of the house. I thought for sure the boys would sleep the majority, if not all, of the car ride there, but I believe that they were as excited as I was to be getting out of dodge and onto greener pastures. Even for one night.

 We arrived at Nana's house a little after seven in the morning. We scared Nana. Apparently, I am not known to be a morning person so am not expected prior to ten. Sigh.  The boys ate breakfast while I guzzled sipped my coffee. Nana and I thought to take the morning at a more relaxing pace while D had other plans. Going back and forth between the bathroom Nana was getting ready in and the bathroom I was getting ready in, D was heard saying "come on let's GO!" and "Nana you aren't taking me anywhere today because we haven't left yet." Four year olds and their patience. Or lack thereof.

 We started the day off with an early lunch at a lovely food court. The boys had fun playing hide and seek behind each of the pillars, running along the storefront playing tag, and trying to see how many stores they can get into before I stopped them.

After lunch we treated the boys to a strawberry milkshake at Johnny Rockets. In D's words it was "Delicious and Delightful!". Man, I love my boys.

We stopped by the fountain before we left to try and take some pictures. While it wasn't exactly what Nana and I had hoped for, I still snapped a few cute ones.

We tried taking the boys home for nap and "rest" time after lunch. That was a disaster. Which really surprised me as D was going off of four hours of sleep and C always has at least one nap during the day, by his choice not mine. But alas these boys were OVER tired and bouncing off walls, whining by the door, and head banging into Nana's bed. Silly boys.

To save great papa from the rambunctiously, overly tired, too loud, crabby Walker boys, Nana decided to take us to her new Target. Of course, a block away I glance back to find both boys are fast asleep. Little stinkers. We waited for about ten five minutes under some shade and decided that we were just going to wake them up and see what happens once we get into Target. Nana had promised D a present if he took some pictures with her (which I think turned out really cute but am forbidden to post). We gave the boys some time to wake up and shared some pretzels, slurpees, water, and a Java Chip Frappacino (Nana and I shared the last one, not the boys).

Target was fun, as all Targets are. But our adventure in the wading creek behind the Target was the highlight of the day. And of course I didn't have any type of photo taking device with me. Boo. It took D a little bit to warm up to the water, but C was once again my fearless boy and jumped right in. We played for an hour, splashing each other, wading down the creek to join some other kids, and having mom turn into a personal twirl-a-whirl. This was a definite favorite among all of us and we can't wait to go back there with Dad one day. What was interesting was finding the boys covered in gold dust once we were able to drag convince them it was time to head back.

The night at home was relatively quiet. Some dinner, a little coloring, a few TV shows, and a lot of fighting sleep (thanks C). We wore Nana out with all of our running around, so D kept her company while showing her some of his favorite shows while I tried to wrangle C into his play pen for the night. It was a long night for mommy, but both boys were finally asleep by midnight.

Only to have C wake up the next day at four thirty. AM. Sigh. We made a quick morning of it. Had some breakfast and driving time (D loves to pretend to drive Nana's car) before going to the post office with Nana and heading home. It was a great trip, if short, and I hope to go back soon.