It was a Grandparent kind of weekend

Our little bathing beauty!
This little ball of pudge gained a full pound in a week. She is now eating formula to keep her weight up, apparently mom was starving her, Oops!
Anyway, this little bundle of joy showed off to all the grandparents oozing cuteness and leaking love everywhere. When she smiles her whole facelights up and she was blinding everyone this time.
She is such a joy to be around because her temperment is so laid back and cuddley. If she has a bottle, someone to talk to, and a few things to site see, she is in baby heaven.

Grandma & Gwen and Grandpa Tom were able to stay with us a spell, and boy do they cast a spell on the kids. Gabe can't sleep or eat without his buddy Grandpa Tom, baseball and football filled his afternoons, and sports and GI Joe army toys were the themes for his toy buying extravaganza!
Ava was putty in Gwen's arms as she held, fed, and played all weekend long with grandma Gwen.
My laundry was also putty in Gwen's hands as she folded it like no one else can. My clothes have never looked so good! I owe her $30, five dollars a basket, all money worth spending!
It was a laid back weekend. Joe and Tom hungout and talked the night away like 2 old men on a front porch.Time well spent for the two. All in all a superb time as we enter into the fall season.

Note to all who care, this year there will be a Christmas card sent out earlier than February.
I am on it now. Fall is my favorite time of year and I'm in the photo kind of mood, maybe our sweaters will all match too, I dunno, I dunno if we'll have time!

Week-end with grand rents

And fun was had by all! We were blessed by Hurricane Wilma, a forced evacuation caused my grandparents-in-law to come toward us. At the same time the in-laws, Tom and Gwen, were up as well. We all got to spend an evening together and have dinner. What fun it is to hang out with Bob and Mary, and lucky for them Suzan was able to drive them to and fro away from the storm.

Sure their city is in a minor state of disarray, but God takes care of HIS people, so there is no worrying! Safety is always the key, and the family was safe, although a bit bored of their life in a hotel room.
We had some dinner time excitement as Joe caused some minor paranoia over eating fish. Apparently he has a theory that if you are away from a coast line your chances of getting sick from eating fish are greater. My attitude was "bring on the spewing and pooing" but Mary and Suzan were a bit more hesitant. I had fried Cod, a fat ladies delight, and grandma Mary had broiled Cod, a little ladies delight! We both like to buck the system, "the man" can't hold these two feisty ladies down.
Needless to say none of us got sick, but Suzan felt a bit woozy the next day. Hence the spread of paranoia was effective, thank you Joe, she had fried chicken.

Dear Mom,

Dear Mom, I am sorry that every picture of you was blurry or that my children resemble the crazies down the street. I guess my shakey hands need a tripod injection.
This is me admitting that every time you are here, there is never any evidence of you ever being here. No picture trail, no grandma!( here comes the empathy card) However, if it makes you feel better, my children will have no evidence that I ever raised them, because I am behind the lens, and daddy's version of photo art is usually disgarded somewhere in the kitchen.
Needless to say here is the best I have with the photos I captured.
Now, since we were working on affirming ourselves, here are a few lines that need repeating:
" You are so much better looking in person!"

"Wow, I didn't know you had younger siblings! You must be the best big sister!"

" Who is that somewhat blurred but all the more beautiful knock-out?"

" That camera lens just couldn't contain all that beauty. How do you do it?"

Repeat twice daily.
LaShay

Who is this FOXY lady? Oh yeah it's LaShay

A few curious minds want to know who this very witty and intelligent LaShay is? This is she, her beauty surpasses her wit. Admire.... Now stop!
LaShay is an African name care of my peeps from work, it means "sassy lady friend" I accepted this name humbly as my own as I realized that I have been ghettophied now that I work inner city. So be it... I carry my real name as the real prize and share the Hebrew meaning proudly when people ask if LaShay is my real name. Everyone learns something new each day. Now isn't that a "teacherly" thing to say.
Speaking of my African American heritage I am now listening to Air Supplies greatest hits, just getting in touch with my roots!
I'm lost in Love folks...
"You know you can't fool me, I've been lovin you to long... it started so easy, you want to carry on(carry ooooooon)
I'm lost in love, and I don't know much, cuz I'm thinkin out loud and fell out of touch (airy music, synthisizer,more airy muiZAC ), but I'm back on my feet, and eager to be what you wanted, ... so lift your eyes if you feel you can, reach for a star and I'll show you a plan, I've figured it out what I needed was someone to show me... (sing it background sangers)"
Air Supply greatest hits

femininity! I guess she needs it!

I am very tired of peope asking how old my adorable baby boy is... I always reply "SHE is 6 months!".
"Oh I apologize. she's cute," they retort.I think to myself, is she?

I've conjured these conversations and can only conclude that when I see women who look like men, I never say there goes a handsom man, and then back track and say oops she is really handsom... I am really thinking, yikes! there goes one ugly he/she and she should stop confusing folks!

So with this I blame myself for people mistaking baby Ava for a boy. What else are they to think when she's dressed in dark blue and green jump suits because I'm too cheap to go buy new girl clothes and dress her in Gabe's supposed nuetral clothing.
Ugh! I broke down and bought her some girly practical clothes. Isn't she cute folks now that we can identify her gender!


Speaking of identification, we have now identified the root of her drooling... tooth #3 has surfaced.

Be afraid, be very afraid

Gabe walked by me in these glasses and declared, "I'm Peter Parker." I greeted him with a happy hello and he proceeded to try to shoot me.

He is our little tactical SWAT boy!

Ahh yeah, ahh...

Ahh, yeah... what's going on? Ahhh, nothin?,... alright than. ahhh...

Isn't she precious

Isn't she precious folks! Our little girl will be 6 months in 2 weeks. I can't believe where the time has gone! She has 2 of her bottom teeth, I'm sure more are to come along shortly, and she is eating solids like she's at a buffet. Well fabulous for her, she is well fed.
She hasn't quite grasped sitting up, she's more like a weeble who does stay down. She prefers to stand and jump, so we utilize our Johnny jump up.
She finds her big brother irresistably funny, and so do I.
Joe got him some shooting goggles and a pretend SWAT tactical gear and now he's trying to peck us off one by one. I'm more annoyed than afraid for my life.
The funny thing about Avi is that she always sits with her mouth wide open just like her dad and brother. Every time I look over at her, it's like she's saying AHhh, yeah, ahhh!
She's always looking zoned. It's quite commical.