Goldshoe Banana

As Chris and I were getting ready to go out tonight, the following conversation occurred:

Chris:  "What perfume are you wearing?"
Me:  "Dolce and Gabbana."
Chris:  "What?"
Kendall (shouting):  "GOLDSHOE BANANA, Daddy!  Pay attention!"

Ritzy Girls!

Because of a FABULOUS discount obtained by my cousin, Stacy, Kendall's official first night in a hotel was at the Ritz Carlton!  Kendall and Izzy (and their moms) had a "girls night away" at the gorgeous (and oddly empty) Ritz just outside of Tucson in the mountains.  Here are the little princesses walking in: 

And here is my little princess being handed a cup of rosemary mint water by the valet .... yes, I am that mother who takes this picture.  

View from our room!

Clearly these little girls were meant to be at the Ritz!

Jim, Augy, Kevin, Candice and Taylor all met us to hang out at the pool and partake in the water slide (over and over and over again) as well as the poolside bar.  I think our bar tab may have been significantly more than the room tab.  I was totally expecting Kendall to be afraid of the water slide (it was long, twisty, and FAST) and really surprised at how much fun she had on it ... and the fact that she rode down with every single one of us!  

My little desert rat heading back to the room for dinner.

Not sure how many naked little girls it takes to flush a toilet ...

Finally - the obligatory group kids bath!  

Then some games and shows on the iPad before a pizza picnic!  About the time the pizza arrived, someone asked, "what do we have for the kids to drink?"  The answer, "Ummmm, wine?"  In little portable cardboard boxes.  Thankfully, the kids were all too tired to argue with the fact that they were having water with their dinner.  

After Augy and Taylor went home, Kendall and Izzy remembered they hadn't had dessert.  So we ordered room service.  $20 total for this lovely display of one pint of Ben and Jerry's ice cream, complete with carafes of hot fudge sauce and whipped cream.  Very decadent - as it should be for $20!  

The next morning, we had breakfast at the hotel where the buffet was free for kids - and Kendall actually ate a lot!  

Then it was back to the pool (which we pretty much had to ourselves!) for a couple of hours before heading home for nice long naps (both me and Kendall) and a quiet afternoon and evening with Auntie M. and Papa Hugh. 

I think it's a good thing Kendall's next stay in a hotel will be at Disney World because the Ritz would otherwise be pretty impossible to beat!  

Mommy/Monkey Tucson Trip

Kendall and I were supposed to take a 5 day vacation in Tucson with Nana but since Nana's neck surgery ended up being early, Kendall and I went solo (duo?).  We missed Nana, but had a wonderful time with the rest of the family!  

Kendall and littlest cousin (2nd?) Taylor hit it off immediately the very first day and played really well together! 

The next day Kendall and Augy were together all day and we spent some time in the morning at the Children's Museum.  This place is amazing and the kids did really well playing together!

I'd forgotten about the antique Mickey Mouse exhibit at the museum.  Kendall was star struck.  Then she was shopping - asking which Mickeys she could have!  

We picked Izzy up from Kindergarten that afternoon and Kendall was SO excited to see her - was a tight squeeze in the back seat!  

That night, we had dinner at a (very patient) mexican restaurant and then gelato for dessert.  

And, of course, now she wants a piano.  We will probably get one eventually ....

A really cool toy store has a live story time every Saturday morning.  This week it was a story about a service dog named "Mr. T" and Mr. T, himself, was there to play with the kids!  Kendall volunteered to help brush Mr. T's teeth and was very proud of the fact that she has three dogs at home.  Now she wants to brush her dogs' teeth.  Hmmm ....

There was plenty of snack eating, drawing, and kids tables!

LOVE this picture!  The desert (well, when there aren't snakes or scorpions around) is always such a relaxing place for me.

Also love this picture!  Kendall completely and totally charmed Auntie M and was the recipient of lots of story time.

Kendall and Taylor spent the last day we were in Tucson together and we went to the Tucson Zoo in the morning (until it got too hot).  

Unfortunately, I was too busy playing "helicopter mom" when we went to the Tucson JCC pool to take any pictures.  Kendall's swimming has really improved and she was trying SO hard to keep up with Izzy and her big kid friends!  I was just trying to keep her off the bottom of the pool.  That night, we all got together one last time for a pizza dinner and wine.  LOTS of wine was involved in this trip!  LOL!  

I realized, when we got to the airport, that I hadn't gotten Kendall a "Tucson souvenir" like I had promised so we visited the gift shop.  Despite my suggestions of more desert related options, Kendall chose a pug puppy stuffed animal.  She named him "Ralphie."  (like we need another "Ralphie" in the house!)

We had a really wonderful time and hope to get back there soon!  Maybe with Daddy next time!  

Shoot it!

The shot glass is still the preferred method of kid antibiotic administration in this household.  Kendall and I have both been struggling with staying healthy since school started this year.  I finally went to the doctor when I realized it really hurt to breathe.  I had bronchitis and a sinus infection and got a fun 10 days of antibiotics.  Then I took Kendall to the doctor when I realized her cough was getting worse.  She was put on a round of Zithromax for bronchitis.  4 days later, after the completion of the Z-pack, Kendall's cough was worse so back to the pediatrician we went.  On a Saturday.  Her pediatrician's office, which is already not my favorite place in the world, is officially now my least favorite place in the world to be on a Saturday.  Nothing short of miserable.  Anyhow, it turns out she now has a sinus infection.  Really??  Her infection defied gravity and traveled UP??  I think perhaps she was misdiagnosed earlier in the week and given the wrong antibiotic.  We'll finally be switching pediatricians at her upcoming birthday.  I've been putting it off because she loves Dr. Foster, but his office is an administrative nightmare and I'm done with them.  Plus I'd really like for her to have a female doctor eventually so we may as well switch now.  Now she's on 10 days of a really hefty dose of Amoxicillin.   With a refill script in case the 10 days doesn't do it.  Poor kid.  At least she's enjoying taking 2 "shots" a day out of our (otherwise gathering dust on the top shelf of the cabinet) shot glasses!  

PS - Chris has also been sick (probably with bronchitis and a sinus infection like the rest of the family) for almost 2 weeks now but God forbid he go to a doctor!   As a result we're all still suffering from his man cold.

Ouch

Yesterday, for no reason whatsoever and after a "fabulous" hot dog lunch at Target, a meal Kendall has been oddly coveting for a while now, she said this to me:

"I wish I didn't have a mommy."

Fighting the urge to cry, I asked her who she thought would feed her, buy her clothes, take her to school, buy her toys, play with her, bathe her, etc etc.  She responded, "Daddy!"  That was enough to make the whole experience more comical than hurtful! 

Fall 2012 RETURN TO THE DALLAS ZOO!

It was 104 degrees in Dallas yesterday.  Today it is going to top out at 84 degrees.  I'll refrain from my usual commentary on the bipolar weather in this place.  Without question, however, it was definitely time to get back to the zoo with some friends!  

Kendall had drawn a picture for "Les," the old guy who runs the Endangered Species Carousel.  Les is not overly friendly and frequently gives the impression that the children waiting for him to open the gate to the carousel are an imposition to him.  Nevertheless, Kendall adores him.  He wasn't there today and hasn't been in a while because he got sick earlier this year and is "taking some time off."  So Kendall gave her picture to the young, almost completely tattooed, guy who was running it today.  He was somewhat perplexed but accepted it graciously.  As we left the zoo today, Kendall said she really hopes Mr. Les is back next time!