Car trips are from hell

Or otherwise known as, we drove 5 hours each way to and from Dallas with two young boys in one small car.

The actual visit in Dallas was lovely. And the trip there was pretty good. But the trip home was not.

We enjoyed seeing you Paul and Linda - but don't expect us back for another year or so to allow ample time to recover from the car trip home.

How I wish we were rich enough to fly EVERYWHERE. I know that the plane trip from XNA to Dallas is 55 minutes. 55 minutes vs. 5 hours --- no comparison; oh, expect a couple hundred bucks.

Chocolate pudding

Benji has another ear infection, so we went to the store yesterday to pick up the antibiotic to treat it and some chocolate pudding to mix it with. Though I remembered the antibiotic, somehow I forgot to buy the chocolate pudding. So we decided to make our own from scratch - which turns out to be a quite easy task. The Joy of Cooking recipe called for 2 cups of half and half. Now, I'm sure it would have tasted better if we had followed that recipe but we opted for 2 cups of rice milk (since Benji has sensitivities to dairy plus that amount of fat had me shaking with fear).

After waiting the obligatory 2 hours of cooling, I wanted to try some too (since this was my first time to make pudding from scratch after all). When I told Benji I wanted to try some too. He proceeded to ask why because "you're not sick."

I might have permanently ruined chocolate pudding for him by always mixing his ear infection medicine in it. Oh well, there are plenty of other desserts for him to enjoy in the years to come. Maybe even the variety that include the 2 cups of half and half.

The joy of weeding

Many people might not find pleasure in pulling up those nuisances in the garden. But this summer I find immense pleasure in them. This is the first summer since I had kids (almost 4 years ago!) that I am able to do small yard work chores (like weeding or sweeping the patio) with both kids playing contentedly (either by themselves or with each other). This is monumental for me!

A few days ago I spent a good 10-15 minutes weeding our back flower bed and then Benji used his plastic wheel barrow to take the weeds to the compost pile for me.

I may not be a master gardener (just look at my yard and you'll see that) but maybe I can hone a few skills now that my kids are a *little* more independent.

How cool is this.

Benji said, "How cool is this." about 5 times when getting ready for the maiden voyage of our new bike trailer. (which is evidence that I over-use the word "cool" ) But I have to admit - it is pretty cool.

My favorite place for spring fashion...

... is the local gardening store. The boys and I headed to Westwood Gardens to buy pansies and violas for a few pots in our front yard. Benji got to pick out his favorite colors (apparently purple is his current favorite flower color). He also got to use his new giraffe gardening gloves and neon plastic wheel barrow in the planting process. Zac got involved too by watering our new plants.

I cannot tell you the happiness $10 of flowers causes for me. I love flowers! And I'm so glad it's spring!

Kite festival

Benji got to make his own kite this morning at a local kite festival - and it flies better than the kite we bought at Target.

"Flying kites is just so much fun, I must pinch myself!," says Benji.

Books coming alive

Nona, Benji, and Zac meeting Arthur

Again Zachary is much more interested in the large, funny-looking person than smiling for Mama's camera - but Benji is happy to oblige. Both boys enjoyed meeting these two characters along with Clifford the big red dog. If you're wondering what that is Benji is wearing on his head, it's some sort of free Teletubby headband. Kinda weird but free so who are we to complain??

New use for the tricycle

We're definitely getting our money out of this tricycle since both boys can fit now. And Benji gets a good leg work-out toting around his brother's weight!

A few more California pictures

Zac at Ghiradelli Square in San Francisco

Benji enjoying an ice cream cone

Benji climbing the "ghost trees" in Monterey

Zac's new way of saying hello and introducing himself - playing peek-a-boo with new people

Aunt Susan reading a bedtime book to Benji and cousin Marcelo in Berkeley

Trip to California

We spent 8 days in California, starting off in Santa Barbara and driving up to Berkeley. It was the first time either boy had been on an airplane, and it was actually better than we had been expecting. It was a fun trip: the boys got to see the ocean for the first time, we got to visit good friends and relatives, and it was a general fun time as a family.

We realized that it's good to vacation with kids because it makes you take things slow enough to enjoy. Both Shearn Yoong and I would tend towards being too busy during vacations so we don't miss anything - and then we would come home and need another vacation.

Wow folks. So this is what sand is. We don't have this strange stuff back home in Arkansas - but it sure does look fun!

Bike for four (with seats for the two kids in front) in Santa Barbara

Benji in foggy Santa Barbara

Brave Benji enjoyed his first ferris wheel ride at the Santa Monica pier
(Mommy stayed on the ground)

Strolling in Solvang