What's a Rody?

That's what Santa said when Cruz asked him for a Rody for Christmas.

But still, this 20-something totally awesome Santa of color pulled through. He also got a great deal. The $50 + popular hipster toy was snagged for $8 used, right here in Crestview.

There are many reasons why I love our 'hood, and those are two reasons right there. :)

Happy holidays, y'all!

The Toddler Wars

Three weeks into Christmas vacation and a certain three year old is yelling anarchy and throwing all routine out the window. Naps? Pshh. Baths? What's a bath? Fine, I WILL sit on you and make you brush your teeth. Potty training? Just look in his pants if you dare to know that answer.

After partying all night with his cousins at grandma's house, this toddler fought a hard battle against sleep in any form today. But desperate times call for desperate measures. He is still too small to defend himself against a desperate parent who has the ability to carry him and lull him to sleep with a moving vehicle: the back pocket, clutch move parents around the country employ.

"But Mommy, I don't wanna take a dri....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz".

Me neither, Cruz. Me neither.

NY Times: Toddlers Once Again Ruin Christmas and the Homes of Gingerbread Families Across America

This is the FIRST Christmas I've spent in my own home without any travel! So time for new old traditions for this family. I took the week off and planned all sorts of Christmas activities for me and Cruz.

Yesterday we wrapped and gifted little candles for Cruz' teachers. Today we shopped for and delivered a needy family, then made our first ever Gingerbread house. Can you believe I've never done one???

Later, we visit Mr. Clause to ask him for Rody, the bouncing Donkey. I don't think Cruz is used to being out if daycare because he had about 4 tantrums in 2 days. (Someone is getting a lump of coal in his stocking!)

I hope Instagram doesn't try to sell this photo

And away we go, back down to the bowels of parenting and into potty training purgatory. Underpants is the name of the game. Mess up in public and your SOL, especially if it's a number 2.

Mommy is ready to graduate. Daddy has his doubts. Cruz? It's all fun and games, especially during the deed.

Wish us luck, friends. Hope to see you on the other side, with clean knickers and a mouth full of M&Ms.

Happy Birthday!

Has this space ship gone into hyperdrive?

(Warning to Grandparents who read this for Cruz updates. Long, sappy post ahead with minimal photos!)

In just a few short weeks (because seriously, life is just zooming by), Cruz will turn three. How is that even possible? My little baby, who used to fit in the crook of his Daddy's arm, is now a Star Wars-obsessed mini Dax and sleeps in a big boy bed (most of the time).

This year has been absolutely nuts! From our road trip across the country and other spontaneous camping trips, to transitioning Cruz to a new school or bringing him to his first ACL Festival. We have been non-stop for 10 straight months, possibly only really spending time at home one weekend a month since January. Meanwhile our daily lives start and end on time because they have to: school lunches made, groceries bought, dinner prepared, trash out, plants watered, teeth brushed, Cruz bathed... Did someone feed Lizzie?!!

We have survived the "terrible twos," which might have been amplified, if not jump-started, by all of the chaos. There were tears on both sides. There was some spanking on both sides. But there was more. The result of all of the overstimulation on us was a need for Dax and me to over-control everything about Cruz. But I could not hold him back much longer and once I could accept that, I could really let the love grow. Wherever we were be it the Grand Canyon or our backyard, we just needed to enjoy Cruz for who he was becoming: an independent, funny and fun-loving, smart, curious, adventurous, and truly amazing little boy.

And why does he make our hearts sing? Because when I give him five more minutes to play, he negotiates me down to three. He will eat nearly any type of food you put in front of him. He loves to hike, camp, garden or do anything out of doors. You can feel the appreciation or happiness exuding from his full-faced smile from some of the simplest pleasures or appreciation, like riding a bus or drinking a glass of milk.

A year has almost passed, but Life isn't happening too fast because I'm not appreciating the little moments or because I can't keep up with those stinky little feet I love to hear echoing through the house. It is because I don't want this time with him to end: where even though he thinks he's a big boy, I can still snatch him up and attack him with a thousand kisses or bring him back to our bed to snuggle and sleep until he wakes me up with a hug to say "It's time to eat breakfast, mom!" And all I want to do is roll over, hug him back and say "I don't want to wake up yet, Cruz. I just don't want to let you go."

Scenes from our hike

Cruz luvs to hike so we try to go once a week. Yesterday and last week we hit up Walnut Creek with Lizzie. Here are some snaps!

BTW, they had some major erosion during the spring's rainstorm and a whole limestone wall fell off the cliff towards the creek! It was pretty CRAZY but made for some interesting rock scrambling for 2 two year old and fossil finding for his Dad!

A Jedi, he will be

If you had one guess, what do you think Cruz would be for Halloween?

I found some directions online and used one of Cruz's hoodies as measurement to make his Jedi robe.

Despite the fact that I used the WRONG side if the fabric, and that I accidentally tore a hole while using the seam ripper, he loved it! The sewing machine, as always, gave me a little trouble while threading the bobbin, but I used the force and all was well.

He's so excited!

Honoring My Lola

Friends and Family - whether you called her Lola, Mommy, Grandma, or Ate... Support a great cause and honor the awesome woman we knew and loved.

Please pass along if you can. I'm hoping to raise $500 by November, which marks Lung Cancer Awareness Month.

CLICK HERE TO DONATE.

Photo update

Because I have no time to write...

Home Sweet Home[stead]

After a crazy whirlwind summer (where we were only home for approximately 12 days), I tried to kick up my heels and relax for once. Since we all know that is impossible, I baked bread instead.

See, in my head I'm this really amazing pinterest-like homesteader, serving wholesome food that I've made from scratch with ingredients from my garden. Meanwhile, lack of time, a toddler, plus HEB combo locos reel me in with back to school deals on bread, cheese, etc. and my poor little garden wilts away in the hot hot heat. The dissonance fuels my impatience...

So I took the chance to finally get something done while Cruz was sleeping. I rushed through the baking last night, willing the dough to rise faster while cursing the second phase of rising (2 hours total people!!). How can I reveal my inner domestic goddess when this is taking so damn long!!!???!!! Argh!

When the bread was finally done, I felt oddly unsatisfied. Sure, it was tasty, especially fresh and warm out of the oven with a pad of butter (store-bought, not homemade, ugh). But the most important reason for making the bread was asleep. It saddened me that I couldn't immediately share this with him; not the bread, but the moment. I knew Cruz would have loved to help me make it. He would have put gobs of flour in his mouth, kneaded the dough with his little fingers, smiled when he got to roll it, just like patty cake.

In my haste, I missed the chance to bake bread for the first time with my most enthusiastic helper.

Lesson learned. I need to just slow down. Just like the dough, things take time. I was too obsessed with getting back on track with my vision that I didn't stop to see who I was leaving behind. Two year olds are slow at everything, but thank god because life goes by too fast.

So from now on, I'm going to practice some slow living. Only then can I savor the moment, the bread, and all the goodness of life.

Howdy y'all!

I guess I should let you all know that we made it home! And we were welcomed with open arms and a kitchen full of awesome Filipino Adobo at my mom's house. Thank goodness they are on the way home :).

Cruz is soundly in bed, Dax is watching Return of the Jedi and I'm about to order some Pluckers' takeout after an awesome phone catch up with my BFF.

Life is good.

Rocky Mountain High - guest blog from Auntie Sue

Who needs majestic views of rock formations and mountains of the Tetons, Yellowstone, Grand and Zion Canyons when there's Auntie Sue in Denver?

Albeit for just one night, I was so delighted to host my weary travelers and provide them with some much needed luxuries during their last legs of their summer road trip--a bed, shower, washer/dryer and a home cooked meal! The little guy even got a bonus from this Auntie: a hand me down robot-transforming tank, an early morning showing of star wars on the DVD, party hats and glow-in-the dark rings (hey it was 4th of July). But my nephew isn't so little anymore, he is fiercely trying to establish his own big-boyness. Try and hold his hand, he'll tell you.
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Once again, this little man trumped a bigger holiday with his own independence. So this 4th of July, we raised our glasses to this big firecracker.

Pics from Yellowstone

And with the blink of an eye, we went from the Grand Tetons to Yellowstone National Park, where Old Faithful was still blowing strong.

Didn't run into any cute and cuddly grizzly bears, but we did see a wolf and a few moose!

This is not an optical illusion...

...Cruz's head really is as big as the Grand Tetons.

Flying by the seat of our laundered pants

By some cosmic order, Dax happened upon this magazine in the laundry room at our campgrounds. Five minutes later, we were planning our trip to Yellowstone.

So instead of camping in Jackson Hole, WY, we'll just stop for a quick bite and make our way through the Grand Tetons to THE ultimate destination: Yellowstone country.

Bear mace - check.
Gas tank full - check.
Clean cosmic underpants - check.

Someone send me a postcard from Salt Lake City

Throughout our trip, we intended to not only send postcards from each stop, but also buy and collect magnets for ourselves and our camper. Neither of those things happened while in Salt Lake City. DOH!

We really didn't have time though! The city had a lot to offer, and none of what we enjoyed included a touristy gift shop or general store - they actually had a Whole Foods!

It was a perfect break from camping (we stayed at the Marriott) while still spending time outdoors. On Friday after dinner, we played at one of their beautiful city parks, where Cruz and I flew our first kite and the boys splashed in the fountains. Saturday we visited the Natural History Museum and stopped for lunch and sundries at the city farmers' market. Cruz had agua fresca and popcorn, as always, but he also got down on my Sudanese spinach and chicken with rice!

Before we came, we were warned that the Mormons would try to convert us. That didn't happen, but another sort of conversion might have occurred. The city - its family friendly atmosphere, host of activities, lush greenery, well planned streets and flanked by mountains - made me itch for city living in a place with manageable climate. But truth be told, the visit also reminded me of Austin - a small downtown near a university, a city based in the Capitol and Whole Foods down the street.

Lucky for my friends and family, Dax brought me back to Texas (emotionally) and promised to buy me a place closer to downtown or just south of the river. :)

So for now, the Great Salt Lake will remain the city we beat in the first round of the playoffs and another magnet on our wall (which I'll probably have to order one online).

Miracle strawberry keeper

Almost every time we buy a bunch of strawberries, they go bad after just a day or two, getting all moldy and soggy. You can imagine how frustrating this would be going on a road trip for two weeks.

Thank goodness for google, because I found and have employed the miracle strawberry keeper!

We are on day...I can't keep count...anyway our second week of Road Trip 20-2, and my strawberries are still fresh with absolutely no mold or sogginess. SUCCESS! Cruz gets fresh berries and I get a happy toddler.

Just wash and completely dry your berries and put them in a mason jar (I used an old pasta sauce jar.) And don't cut the stems off! I also did this for our cherry tomatoes and it worked (I used glass Pyrex that someone left at our house).

You don't need to be on a road trip to try this miracle keeper. Though I can't decide if two week old strawberries -regardless of the lack of decay - is actually healthy, the results are still pretty sweet!

Anywhere, USA

Posting from our last day at the Bear Lake KOA in Utah while Dax is fossil hunting and Cruz naps. We really could be anywhere and this child would be happy as long as he had some food and a playground.

Dad, Daddy, Dadda, Dax

Since when has Cruz called him Dad instead of Daddy, or even by his first name, Dax?

Since this road trip, I tell ya. IMO, Cruz can call him whatever he wants, so long as they stay best buds.

The mini tour of the not-so-mini Zion Canyon

A hop, skip and jump from the Grand Canyon is Zion National Park in Utah. The temperatures climbed as we descended into the canyon, such a stark contrast to the north rim.

We only drove through the canyon but the juant was enough to take our breath away. Seeing the canyons from a different vantage point might have placed this higher on the list of favorite stops.

Of course, having homemade burgers and pie next to the canyon helps.

P.S. I've been requested to post more pics of Cruz despite him blocking the views, so here you go!