Popping tags with baby in tow

Ye olde blogge was resurrected for the sake of a certain Grandma and Grandpa (and some Aunties) now that we live a distance away. If you aren't a relation, I encourage you now to look away from the most tedious train wreck of a post that's coming at you. Unless you enjoy detailed itineraries of nothingness. In which case, read on.

I started the day with a headache, which is the kids' favorite kind of day. It means I get a slow (slower than my usual molasses pace) start and they are welcome to all the science videos they want while I crawl to the kitchen. (Disclaimer: Pipsqueak does not enjoy these mornings. He doesn't enjoy anything that stands between him and his morning carbs).

Our day took a surprising turn for the better when my mom and dad (Balabusta and Pops) decided to cut their Canadian Border camping trip short. They may not have enjoyed the mosquitoes, cold, and torrential rains, but the kids and I were happy that all drove them straight into our needy, needy arms for a visit.

The raging river in the background is the one Blondie wanted to "explore".

 

And since absence makes the heart grow fonder, Balabusta and Pops brought us smoked salmon, smoked ciscoe, and cheese curds. You can take my word for it that it's like heaven's lunch buffet.

 

Then home for naps and a surprise email from Aquaman that tonight would be a good night to go out on the boat so we're all ready to go be spectators at our city's big marathon tomorrow. We had planned to sail up the shore and watch it, but Aquaman- while toiling away at work- got the idea that he and some of the kids should get a headstart going up the coast from the marina tonight. And by some of the kids, he meant all of them except the baby. (It might have had something to do with my not-overly-dramatic speech yesterday (and the day before, and the day before that...) about my mental exhaustion with all these little attitudes I'm daily butting heads with.

 

So, as of 5 pm I was off the clock. (Other than the six feedings I will be attending to during the overnight hours.) And the Lion Cub and I will be walking 2.4 miles to meet them at the harbor tomorrow.

 

Lion Cub and I started our party by hitting up my new favorite place in all the land:

 

 

 

 He loves poppin' tags. He's my little thrifting buddy.

 

 

2 rashguards/swimshirts for the big boys, a new pair of cargo pants for Lanky, a t-shirt for me, and a Savers Membership Card later, we rolled into Target to spend a bit of the birthday money Balabusta and Pops gave me:

 



Why, yes, they are from the little girls' section. They're way cheaper and way more comfortable than women's shoes. And sparkly gold.

 

 

And then a white knuckle-ish drive home:

 

 Maybe not so scary for people who don't have a history of driving into lakes/ponds during fog.

 

 

And the Lion Cub was all tuckered out from our exciting evening:

 



 

And my victory dance of the quiet evening was cut short by Mr. Giggles:

 





 



I may or may not have figured out uploading this video. Summary: Lion Cub laughs like a donkey. No baby giggles here.

 

 

Where we then proceeded to write the most boringest of all blog posts. The end, amen.

 

 

--Kae--

Resurrecting the blog

So, I've had this annoying little Jimminy Cricket type conscience thing for the last 4 months. Who posts their end-of-pregnancy pictures and then stops the blog? Not I. I just take a 4 month hiatus and come back 4 months later in full post-partum glory with adorable baby pics.

 

Awwww,so cute and little, and going to make me start talking with the mushy baby talk voice.

 

We added another little boy to our family. Our little lion cub, Areli, was born way back on January 10th. I say it was after 44 hours of labor, but that's only if I don't count the easy early labor part. (It was actually 60 hours. Kind of longer than I was led to believe it would be).

 

 

Fast forward a few months...

 

A couple of months ago, but whatever. Getting a recent picture from camera to computer may not happen tonight.

 





...and the novelty of the little lion cub has yet to wear off.

And now I don't have the guilt of an unfinished project. I've completed this chapter of the kaebeeproject. We'll see if there's time to write the next one because...Aquaman got a new job! And it's farther up north. As in, the last civilization before you hit Canada. (That may be an exaggeration, but only a very slight one. Canada will be only a little over 100 miles away.)

So perhaps I'll have new motivation to keep up the blog now that the relatives will be a little more long-distance and Grandma will need to be kept up to date? And there may be before and after pictures of our new house because the living room is pink. There are other things to do, but the living room is Pepto-Bismal. So, first order of business after signing on the dotted line will be to slap some paint on those walls.

Also, Bee may find a renewed interest in the blog since she will be overseas shortly after my move. Not sure if I'm allowed to say where overseas, but substantial distance and culture change. But, she'll finally be with Señor Marine and able to continue the newlywed phase after a year long hiatus. (Has it been that long, Bee? My brain's a little fuzzy these days).

So there you go. My little worker bees and I will be packing away over the next couple weeks. Then perhaps the kaebeeproject will get a little injection of life.

--Kae--

Caution...awkwardness ahead!

I greatly enjoy living vicariously through Kae's life. I tell her to teach her children silly things (although she comes up with gems on her own - like using lyrics from P!nk songs as life lessons). I knit her sacks to carry her baby in. And I try to make her take maternity pictures. She was saying she thinks that's not a good idea for her, as she would not find them attractive. I beg to differ, Kae. Take a look at my evidence.

Let the alien baby out!

Can't let the mom get all the attention. Check out those guns! It looks kind of like the dad photobombed the picture. That's she's taking in lingerie.

The zombie children are trying to eat the baby.

I'm not totally sure what to make of this one...I think the jist of the conversation that morning was, "Wrap up in towels, kids! We're taking a family photo!"

There were a number of pictures that involved an almost entirely nude mother trying to pose sexily in a window. I thought Kae would deem that too risqué for our little blog here. Sooooo many naked bellies. Even ones where the mom was otherwise dressed had her belly hanging out.

There's my contribution for the week, Kae. I will continue to look for more evidence that you should take some maternity pictures before your chance is gone. My next project - looking for things for you to stuff the baby into after its born so you can take a picture. Like boots, baskets and nets.

Bee out.

Looking like crap doesn't mean I'm pregnant

I'm sure all two of you who read this blog (that's counting me and Kae) have been wondering what Bee's been up to that's caused her searing wit and biting sarcasm to be silent. The answer to that, of course, is Korean. And watching lots of Grey's Anatomy and occasionally getting up to run and whatnot.

On the subject of Korean (specifically my Korean teachers), one of my teachers today told me I looked like crap. I assume that's the translation from Korean. I don't actually know the verb for "to look like crap" but that was the jist. She asked if I was getting a cold or something. I'm not, I just looked like crap today. My classmate answered for me with, "Oh, don't worry about her, she's just pregnant." (For the record, NOT PREGNANT).

Before I could cut in, my teacher was bouncing in her seat, clapping her hands and congratulating me. The kicker is, the first thing she said was, "Really? It's about time!" Oh yeah. Who cares that I have other goals and we aren't having kids yet. My Korean teachers, from the second I got married, were waiting for me and Señor Marine to put a bun in this oven. Of course, she was terribly disappointed when I told her my classmate was just joking around. Crushed, even.

On the bright side, Señor Marine and I already decided we are naming a child Hurricane if it's a girl and Optimus Prime if it's a boy. So we're set there.