bubbles

Life's a Beach

Wow - things got P-R-E-T-T-Y crazy around the house and thus my lack of posts since Day 3.  We are now home and recuperated..all in all a wonderful trip - Let me summarize some highlights.

1. Mr. Joe - every time he lays eyes on me he would just say, "Life's a Beach, Gray" in a real slow and relaxed voice.  Apparently I optimize the "beach" attitude.  Without using any words I am sending out the vibes that everyone just needs to chill out, sit in their chairs, cross your legs, eat your shredded wheat and enjoy the moment.  I tried to use that one on Mom when we got home when she told me to pick up my toys, "chill out, Mom..life's a beach" and for some reason that didn't go over so well.  Mental Note: life is only a beach AT the beach.

2. The twinsies - I officially got my loveies and blanket taken away from me at night after Day 3.  On Day 4 the twins went to bed a little earlier than me so they were fast asleep when I entered the room.  Mom convinced Dad that I was tired too and to let me have my sleep aids.  So, as usual I went down with a smile and a wave until Dad closed the door and then up I went throwing Lovey at Jane Martin and Puppy at Catherine to try and wake them up.  Apparently Dad didn't trust me and he was in the room and cleptoing my belongings before the girls even had a chance to wake up and return them to me.  I hated when the twins went to bed before me but I mean hey, life's a beach, people...just ask my good friend, Fields.

3. Let's talk more about the twins.  OHHHHHH, the twins. 

On Day 6 I was in bed before the twinsies because the twinsies were at the hospital.  Here's the thing...before you freak out, everyone is okay.  Thursday was the day for the girls (i.e., the moms) to have their "alone time."  All the adults make a big deal about their day away from the kids.  Dad's went out Wednesday and played some golf/went to a movie and mom's were headed out Thursday to go to some outlets.  You know what the twins thought about that? B-O-R-I-N-G.  You know what's not boring?? Napping in your parent's room and finding EVERYTHING you possibly shouldn't.  The Twinsies have the best breath in the house - after eating through two packs of gum on Day 2 and a few licks at a pack of Halls followed up on Day 4 with a little ginger spice that was packed away to be used for one of the meals and finally for their grand finale on Thursday, splitting a bottle of TUMS and a bottle of Tylenol (yes, they broke thru the "childproof" closed lid - mental note: childproof does not mean twinproof) between the two of them.  This happened right after the ladies had driven an hour to get to the outlets and managed to make their way through one store.  I would imagine the TUMS was to help settle the stomach after the Tylenol - are those girls advanced???  And seriously, before you cast judgment...isn't it commendable that they were sharing so well in all of this?  I mean, it was proven by the blood tests they got at the hospital - both had elevated Tylenol levels which means just one thing..SHARING.  As I learn these days, sharing is caring, people and these girls should be rewarded.  That they were - 4 hours at the hospital and a few tests later they were home and everyone was fine.  Somehow through it all I was blamed to be their "drug dealer" but to that I say, "life's a beach" and I'll take the 5th and just will keep playing with my rocks.

4. Although there is so much more to tell I will wrap this post up with filling you in that we had to head home a day early due to a few illnesses.  I rocked a cold from Tuesday through present day and then dad got a case of the upset stomach on Thursday night.  So, to lessen the chances of infecting the rest of the house with a stomach bug we packed up the car and got on the road Friday morning - super sad to say the least.  We really had a wonderful time and have already reserved our house named Bigger Kahonas..or something like that..for next year.  I am most excited for the rocks.  I mean, the pool is fine and the ocean is okay, but have y'all ever played with rocks?  UNBELIEVABLE.  MAD would ask me if I wanted to go to the pool and I would squeal with delight while shaking both my fists as a result of uncontrollable excitement - couldn't get my swimsuit on fast enough - get down stairs, MAD would jump in the pool and I would run either to the driveway or go around the pool, grab my bucket and start filling...then empty...then fill...then throw one in the pool...then fill up someones Crocs with rocks...entice my friend Landon to join me and repeat.  I am pretty sure I heard talk of turning our backyard into a rock garden - I'll keep you posted.

Vacation - Day 3 .. Group shot

No games were played today, people.  The deal was we were all getting up early anyway to leave for the beach for a few family pics and some group shots so we called a truce for today.  I will say though I am MUCH more comfortable in my sleeping environment.  In fact, now when MAD put me up there to go to bed I just wave bye bye to them and rub my eyes once or twice to show them how tired I am and how soon I will be asleep and then the games begin.  I throw all my loveys/blankets/books, etc. out of my pack n' play and then the twins get out of their bed and throw it back in.  THEN, when we all start giggling the twins parents come up and they get in BIG trouble for getting out of their bed.  It's awesome.  I just squeal with delight when I hear the heavy footsteps b/c by that point I look like the innocent bystander as all my possessions have since been thrown back into my pack n' play and those two are the ones out of their beds.  I also was fortunate enough to have my bed set up right under the light switch but one time that got me in big trouble as the twins parents caught me creating a strobe light effect for the dance party the twins and I were throwing. WHOOOOPS.  Mom came up for that one and I was moved to the middle of the room where I could no longer reach any objects

Alright, enough of the stories.  Here's the best pic of us kiddos that mom was able to snap this morning (we call this the look away).

and here is literally the best one of all of us looking. Remember my post about not faking a smile? I stood my ground - and so did most everyone else - I love these friends :)

Until Day 4.

5th Annual - Day 2

SCOREBOARD: Grayson - 2, MAD - 1

I'm not undefeated anymore BUT, I didn't lose either.  It was 5:45 when MAD heard me and they didn't even respond.  Apparently the other people in the house are serious sleepers b/c they told MAD that they couldn't even hear me on Saturday night and to let me cry for a while on Sunday night if they so choose.  I politely in sign language said "Thank you" (wink, wink) to each and every one of them that told MAD to let me cry when I woke up.   Anyway, I made it to 5:45.  They did let me cry and I did get quiet again but Mom quickly realized that I was quiet because I was so distracted by the twins who were now up and out of their beds showing me all kinds of tricks that only 2 1/2 year old twins can pull off.  5:45 is apparently better for MAD than 5:00 but in my defense, we still got to see the sun rise - booyah...and thus the tie.  I don't plan on letting MAD get any more points this vacation..don't you worry.

Until Day 3..

Vacation DAY One

SCOREBOARD: GRAYSON -1     MAD - 0

Wanna know what is OVER-rated on vacation?  You guessed it, SLEEP.  You see, I sleep in a room with the Brown twins.  Two older ladies (2.5 yrs old) and me.  I'm not sure how I ever managed to get away with this but I have already decided that I LOVE vacation.  I love it so much I was awake on Day 1 at 5:00 a.m. and was NOT going to be fooled into going back to sleep...no matter how many Amazing Graces' MAD sang to me.  MAD put me in bed with them, taking turns singing to me for about 45 minutes while the other one slept and I just poked at said sleeping person's eyes and then they threw the white flag and off to the beach we went.  The only part of my trip that is not going to be told in pictures is the part where mom was too busy taking pictures and dad was admiring the emptiness of the beach that early and both neglected to pick me up out of the water when a wave came toward me.  You guessed it - ocean-1  Grayson-0.  I have since evened up the scoreboard though with our early afternoon beach trip.  Turns out I'm a fan.

and...my buddy Landon

Until Day 2....

Blueberry Picking 101

Mom took me blueberry picking this morning.  Let me put it this way - blueberries do to me what a brown sugar poptart does to mom.  They put me in that place of inner peace - nothing else in the world matters - it's just me and Mr. blueberry..the only ones left in the universe.  So, you can imagine my utter excitement when we showed up to rows and rows of just beautifully ripened blueberries...AT MY HEIGHT!!  I asked mom what it would feel like to arrive at bushes of brown sugar poptarts that were for the taking - I'm fairly certain I caught her drooling.  So, let me show you how it's done.

1. Hunt for perfect blueberry bush:

2. Grab bucket from Mom:

3. Pick blueberry:

4. Put in bucket to take home:

5. Pick another blueberry:

6. Put in bucket to take home:

7. Analyze work thus far:

8. Pick another blueberry:

9. Put in bucket to take home Close your eyes and let the blueberry hit your lips:

10. Stop chewing when mom calls your name in hopes she won't notice:

11. Head back to pay for blueberries (and pray they don't ask you to get on the scale)

12. Observe snack for the next week and a half:

13. Smile (unaware of blueberry theft proof all over my face)

14. Any questions?

Enjoy the video for a more extensive showing of how to do this right:

Here's what lunch looks like when the 1 nap schedule is forced upon you...

A few things to clarify about the video:

1. No choking occurred during this process.  I was supervised closely by Mom.

2. This video preceded a solid 3+ hour nap.

3. You'll notice I've conquered the "Bah Bah" for a sheep noise but I refuse still to say "Bye Bye" - really I just like watching mom get worked up.