The Hardest Word

Did you know tomorrow night marks the start of the holiest day in the Jewish year? This Shiksa is still trying to learn what it takes to be a good mommy and wife to my Jewish family which means a lot of Google-ing, asking Kyle and, lately, reading Cooper's lesson plans from school. Of course, being married to Kyle, I've known about Yom Kippur as he casually observes it but it is a new world seeing it through my two year old's eyes. Maybe you've read about our wacky Christmukkah celebrations but Yom Kippur is a lot more than pretty lights and presents.

Here is the Cliff's Notes version...as I understand it! I'm sure Cooper can and will correct me if I'm wrong.

High Holy Days start with Rosh Hashanah, or the beginning of the new year, and end ten days later with Yom Kippur. During these ten days, God opens the book of life passes his judgement. Basically, you have this time to get yourself together and atone for your sins. Kind of like Santa's naughty and nice list, but way more intense! You know, the book of life versus the book of death kind of stuff.

Here's the catch, you can only ask God for forgiveness for your sins against God. For your sins against your fellow man? You're on your own, pal. Oh yeah, and you've got ten days to make amends. 

I love everything about this lesson. I love that my two year old's classroom is learning to say sorry and take responsibility for actions this week. I love the ritual that is put into reflecting on these things by all of those who observe this holiday.  And, I REALLY love that this is a time to seek forgiveness from family and friends and that you are the only one responsible for making that happen. What a way to start the new year with a clean slate, right?! I can definitely get on board.

This week, Cooper's class is reading about Jonah and the Whale and learning how to say the "hardest word" which is SORRY! I wonder if Cooper will tell Carrington sorry for saying things like "Dad, get her out of my room!" and "I don't wike her!" Mommy can dream. I did snap one instant of brotherly love this week. (Don't worry grandparents, the car was parked in a parking lot for this pic!)

Down by the River

On the road again!  This time was a weekend trip to the Texas Hill Country with some of our dearest friends. I have to say, traveling with a newborn is way easier with the second kid. I guess that after traveling with an 18-month old last summer, any age pales in comparison!

I can't say enough good things about the weekend. We missed our friends the Russells (who are currently residing in Colombia, wahhhh) but also enjoyed having new friends Jen and James come along. Jen's Snicker brownies didn't hurt the transition either! The company was fantastic, the beer and the river were cold, we ate way too much and laughed until our sides hurt, literally. Have you ever played Cards Against Humanity? Holy schmoley. It's a good one. Highly offensive. Highly entertaining.

Cooper was totally hooked on fishing and also making sure that nobody else caught fish except him by throwing large rocks in the water and yelling BAM! Carrington was quite content being passed around to all of her Aunties. Kyle and I even took the opportunity to venture down river by ourselves. When you have people offering to hold your baby you go with it...before they wise up!

Excuse the iPhone pics...there was no time for the big camera!

I gave Kyle the Ray Bans I'm wearing for Christmas last year and then promptly confiscated them.
They look way better on me.

It was really nice of me to trade fish with Kyle before we snapped these pics.

First fish on a fly rod at 2.5! Clearly his mother's son!

Carrington got in on the action.

The view of the living room from the second story loft. Nevermind the bodies and legos strewn about.

She always falls asleep with her hands over her face. So dramatic!

The ladies! (Me, Lyndsey, Abigail and Jen)
If you look closely you can spot the Buckeye amongst all of the Aggies!

I insisted in a family pic of us all in maroon. Um, yeah.

Papa came up to visit and took Cooper around San Antonio one of the days. It was his first night away from us not at his own house. I was nervous but he did great. I knew Papa would have been prepared with some Blue Bell ice cream in case of emergency but sounds like they were way too busy to need it! Papa is probably still sleeping it off because they did the zoo, an amusement park and out for Mexican food all in one day. I'm sure I could do that too, if you gave me a week!

Cooper and Papa enjoying the train at the San Antonio Zoo!

Third generation of Charles kids at Kiddie Park. Papa went there when he was little!

Enjoying a "virgin margarita" at dinner. That hair, those cheeks. I die.

Meanwhile, Sister has rolls for days. I'm not sure which is my favorite, the inner bicep roll or the double elbow roll. My friend Chelsea already called out her knuckle dimples. Those are pretty sweet too.

Chunk.

A little boy in paradise

With the exception of maybe a super hero sighting, this past weekend couldn't have gotten any better for the Cooper boy. We took him down to my father in law's house on the Texas coast where he proceeded to have the BEST. WEEKEND. EVER. We've been down many times before, but this is the first weekend he really "got it".

My father in law came in on Wednesday to cover for Kyle who was out of town on a work/golf/casino trip (uh huh, you read that right) and then he chauffeured the three of us down to the coast after Cooper got out of school on Thursday. Cooper got so excited when we got there after seeing the boats, pool and fishing gear that he couldn't even find the words to say. He was running around the house like a crazy man and kept telling me "Mommy! I'm here! I'm here! I'm here!"

Within about fifteen minutes of us arriving he asked his Papa if he could go drive the boat and, of course, his Papa dropped everything and off they went. I swear his Papa would give him the moon if he asked for it. I did get a little choked up watching them ride off together. I've watched Kyle and his Dad drive down that same canal 100 times together to go off fishing and watching my big boy in his Daddy's place was almost too much!

On Friday Kyle and my parents came down and we spent the entire weekend eating, drinking, and rotating with Cooper between the pool, fishing and driving the boat. And we had an Aggie win on top of it all, whoop! It really felt like vacation to Kyle and me between all of the home cooked meals and the three grandparents who always had open arms for our babies. I'm pretty sure they enjoyed themselves too!

Kyle, Cooper, Grandpa and Papa out fishing.

And I've lost him...

He told his Papa he didn't want to eat it. Or touch it. "Too yucky!"

Carrington just hung out and practiced her "cute" all weekend.

My Aggie babies!

We snuck away for a sunset cruise.

Papa and Carrington held down the dock.

Our guide dog on point.

 Cooper on the "diving board".

Hope you had a great Labor Day. Back to the real world (kind of). Four more weeks of maternity leave, wahhhhh!

Back to School, Back to School

To prove to Dad that I'm not a fool. 
I've got my lunch packed up,
My boots tied tight,
I hope I don't get in a fight!
Ohhhhh!
Back to school, back to school

You know you were singing it!  

[Billy Madison reference for those who weren't. And obviously didn't grow up loving Adam Sandler in the 90's!]

Today was Cooper boy's first day back at school.  New teachers, new classroom and (thankfully) some of the same friends from last year and his summer session.  In typical Cooper fashion, there were some tears at drop off. The puppet master really enjoys letting us know who is pulling the strings! But overall his teachers said he did great, had a blast at music class and ate every morsel of his lunch. Happy Cooper, happy Mama!

The Weenus

Some weeks I think to myself, "I don't really have much going on. I'll probably just stick with one blog post this week." And then I have a conversation with my 2 year old about his weenus. My brother Matt tells me this is actually the skin on your elbow. I'm convinced some 13 year old boy made that up because it sounds like penis. And to Cooper it is just that, thanks to his Dad.

Cooper: "Mom, where is Kona's weenus?"

Me: "Kona doesn't have a weenus. She is a girl. Only boys have weenuses." (Weenuses? Weeni?)

Cooper: "Mom, where's your weenus?"

Me: "I don't have one. I'm a girl."

Cooper: [thinks about this for a minute]

...

Cooper: "I'm sorry Mom. What happened to your weenus?"

Boys!

Cooper takes the plunge, literally

Before you get all "Oh great, here she goes again, posting some mundane thing her kid did.", remember: 1) 99% of what I post is some mundane thing my kid did and you're still reading (hehe) and 2) this is the kid who would panic at the beginning of the summer if so much as an eyelash got wet!

After a whole summer of intrigue over the diving board, the boy finally mustered up the courage to jump off (with some assistance)!  I am so proud of him and proud of myself for being able to give him that little push.

Cooper jumping off the diving board:

And here he is today, singing for the rain to go away so we could go to the pool...no such luck!

Happy back to school week! We start back on Thursday. If it's your little one's first time at school, check out this post from last year and know it gets better!

My shadow.

If you ever find me dead on the floor, it's because I tripped over my dog and cracked my head open.

We got Kona from a friend of a friend who lives in Hawaii. When we first brought her home we considered naming her "Aka" which means shadow in Hawaiian since she was so black.  Now, the name seems more fitting than ever.

Kona is a little bit of a Nervous Nelly.  She thrives on routines and goes so far as to not even let our sweet nanny let her outside during the day.  She sits in her bed patiently all day waiting for her 4:30 dinner to roll around because THAT'S. WHAT. WE. DO.

During my maternity leave, she's gotten more crazy than ever, if that's even possible. She is stuck to my side taking care of "her babies" all day long.  

When Carrington cries, she runs into the nursery because she knows I will either put her down for a nap or feed her. THAT'S. WHAT. WE. DO.

Waiting to feed the baby.

Making sure sister gets fed and put in bed.

When we start Cooper's bath, she runs into his room and jumps at the foot of his bed because she knows bed time is coming. THAT'S. WHAT. WE. DO.

I read the boy a couple of books and as soon as I start sing his lullaby she jumps down and heads to the door and pesters us for the next two hours by going back and forth between our bed and where we usually are in the living room, urging us to come to bed with sad puppy dog eyes. THAT'S. WHAT. WE. DO.

Good thing I have her around during the day or I don't know how anyone in this family would remember to eat or go to sleep! Sweet, neurotic dog.