The pool is open

The Stiff Country Club is open for business.  Thanks to a well spent $35 and our least favorite activity imaginable (venturing into a Wal-Mart on a Saturday), we were set up and ready to swim over the weekend.
Fill er' up
I don't believe this will shock anyone:
Built-in slide? I mean, we don't spare any expense for our children...
Guns.  Fun for kids of all ages.
Stop taking my picture and let me go down the slide already...
Perhaps a bigger hula-hoop is in order
Throw up some gangsta signs if you prefer playing outside the pool vs. inside the pool:
Ryan....the anti-water queen
And my favorite pic of the day....
The Reesers learned the Stiff Snack Shack won't open until Memorial Day and she was not pleased....to say the least.

Friday catch up

Long week.....sorry for the absence.  I know it pains you all.  Here is life in assorted randomness.

Ryan has allergies. So on our last visit to the allergist she had the pleasure of meeting the 'catepillar' - the lovely contraption that pricked her back 4 times (8 pricks each for a total of 32)  to test for all sorts of reactions. Basically the girl is allergic to all things outdoors. Which perhaps explains her vampire nature.  Anyway, she was a trooper - whimpered a bit but didn't throw any big fits. Of course she was rewarded handsomely with a trip to Tar-jay for a 'zerbert' afterwards.
We passed the 15 minute waiting time doing crafts with my planner.
PS - I'm always amazed how far medicine has come since we were all kids - my mother was recalling how my brother had to have 150+ shots (individual shots) in his back to test for every allergy under the sun. The 'catepillar' Ryan got was a small prick, didn't really hurt as much as just scared her. 
She and her dad shared silly faces via text.....he helped lighten the mood even from his office. You can see the dark circles under her eyes - the doctor can spot children a mile away by the 'allergy eye'.
Moving on....we discovered that leaving chalk in water creates a fun paste to finger paint with. Also comes in handy when trying to morph into a Smurf.
Ryan had her end-of-the-year school field trip to the library and the custard station.
Reese was invited too....although the story time portion at the library may not have been a great idea. Somebody has an aversion to sitting still. Imagine a 30 minute story time in a quiet library. I'll let your imagination take you there.
iPad mania - the girls were lucky enough to receive Ella's very first iPad as a little gift. To say they love the thing is an understatement.
Naked Reese and electronics....the girl is in heaven
Reese has recently taken to lounging, Hugh Hefner style, in her robe after a bath. Pajamas are forbidden until she deems herself ready.
Dressing around these parts is still a mismatched assortment of terrible. And now that Reese has joined the opinionated club, it's a gamble as to what we'll leave the house looking like.
Our collective guilty pleasure is grabbing a few munchkins (and coffee for mom) and hitting up the park before 9am.
We went to the zoo earlier this week - just us three girls - they felt right at home here:
We rode the carousal
Reese was in her usual goofball mode and vacillated between this (eyes closed):
and this (faux serious) for most of the ride:
but I busted her and caught a smile.
We threw in an elephant for good measure:
Of course Ryan's school picnic ended with Reese like this:
Ryan was channeling her inner prison guard and jailed her sister and Amelia:
Instagram pics from the Reesers and I park visit on Mother's Day:

From May 2012

Happy Friday!

Mulch Mania

Hope you all had a fantastic Mother's Day - I certainly did and all I can say is I'm very blessed to have two adorably fun girls, a husband who takes great care of us and my own mother who rocks.  Since I basically took the entire day off yesterday, I don't have any pictures uploaded yet......so I will save for another time.

Instead, lucky readers, you can stare at a mound of mulch.  It was delivered late Saturday afternoon and the Mr. spent a better part of 5 hours getting it all laid out so that he wouldn't have to deal with it on Sunday.....dia de mamacita.

Of course he had some helpers (we're not above enlisting the underage neighbor work pool):

Chillaxin

You know, when you're high rollers like we are you bust out only the best for your children.  Granted our yard could more than accommodate a nice pool but who needs such extravagance (um....me?) when you have your made in China plastic replica?

The lap of luxury
Now we just need the cabana boy and pina colada station....

Hand Painting

Ryan discovered a new joy the other day when she let her endless supply of chalk relax in the water table for a few days.  The result was a lovely substance in which to paint:
After your hands, why not class it up and try your feet?

Reesey likey water

Where was Ryan during the water fun? As far away as possible, rocking the attitude.

Dress code

Apparently dinner in the Stiff house is now swimsuit (with underwear)/tutu casual