WELL, AT LEAST SHE'S LISTENING...

"Mama, Lexi bit Santiago on the lip today."

"WHAT!?!?" I whip around while driving over the bridge in the middle of traffic going 80 miles an hour (please don't try this at home) to get a better look.

"Is that true, Bubba?"

He nods, but never looks up from playing with his dinosaur.

"Yes," Saia continues, "and it was for...for...for no reason."

"Is that true, son?" (he nods again)

"Yes," she says again, "and I told her not to do that to him anymore because he doesn't like it, and then I told him to run, run away as fast as he could because that's what you're supposed to do when someone wants to hurt you."

"Well, yes, Saia, that's true," I confirm. "Although, the only time we've ever instructed Chago to run away was when YOU were trying to drop kick him and pound him on the head with a tractor!"

ANN RICHARDS' TRIBUTE

For those of you who haven't read it yet, and of those, for those of you that care to, you can read a small tribute I wrote on my other blog to the late great Ann Richards, who would've, could've, and should've been a phenomenal president!! CLICK HERE.

FELIZ CUMPLEANOS, KATHY!!!!

Wish we could be there to celebrate. Hope you're having a wonderful day!!!

All our love,
Jo Anna, Amy, Saia & Chago

COO-AYE IS NOT A WORD!!!

My beautiful girl is driving me up the freaking wall!!! She's stuck -- just STUCK -- on starting most of her sentences with "Mom, could I..." -- which in itself is already a pre-existing sore spot 'cause we've been working on the "may I please" for quite some time now. But what's driving me particularly insane of late is that she's gotten into the dreadfully bad habit of slurring her words in order to get things out quicker than her brother. So, this already annoying little gem is now coming out as "Mom, coo-aye...," "But Mom, coo-aye just...," "Mom, coo-aye, coo-aye, coo-aye...."

AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Coo-aye is NOT a word, Saia!!!" I must've said at least 3 million times in the last two weeks... which is technically not true, I realize, so I just want to qualify my ranting with the following allowances:

Kaua'i
Ka‧u‧a‧i  /ˌkɑuˈɑi, ˈkaʊaɪ/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[kah-oo-ah-ee, kou-ahy]
n: an island in NW Hawaii. 38,856; 511 sq. mi. (1325 sq. km).

kwai [kou-ahy]
n: the basic unit of money in China [syn: yuan]

But betting all my kwai that neither of the above meanings has ever been her actual intent, I'm afraid I must resort to my original grievance and woefully shout one last time at the top of my virutal lungs, "COO-AYE IS NOT A FREAKIN' WORD!!!"

VIVA, LAS VEGAS (PUM-PA-RRUM-PA-RRUM-PUM)

Went to Vegas this past weekend to celebrate Uncle Steve and Tia Gilda's 60th wedding anniversary!! Holy sh*t, is right!!! That's a really really long time to put up with someone's stinky feet, cold toes, morning breath, and bed head.

But they looked really amazing together, and everyone seemed to have a really great time. Plus the kids got to see their Mema again, and that was a lot of fun to watch (click below to see incriminating pics of Mema on the dancefloor -- video coming soon!!!) And even though it wasn't quite there, this time around the kids under the age of 16 really did almost outnumber the adults (and for the purpose of this statement, and because it's Friday, this includes the 17-to-24-year olds, even though that's being REALLY REALLY generous in some cases).

Anyway...nice time overall. Mommy and the kids had never been, and I think we've definitely got plans to go back. We didn't make it out to the strip or out to any clubs this time around, but the kids had a wonderful time in the pool, and Mommy and I got more than a little distracted by the 50 million outlet malls within a 10 mile radius of the resort!!!

You can also CLICK HERE to see a few more pics from our quick getaway weekend.

Happy Friday, everyone!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, VERONICA!!!

I tried to call you all evening, but I got a busy signal, so I hope that means that you had the phone off the hook to celebrate!!! ;P

Many many wonderful wishes for your new year!!

SOUND AND VIDEO -- TOGETHER!!!!

Long time coming, I know, but I just figured out that, of all things, my damn cellphone takes videos and, duh, has a mic!!! So, here's what we do at red lights on the way home from school:

Saia singing "Sunny Days, Rainy Days"

If you can't see the video above, click here.

Chago singing "Down By the Station"

If you can't see the video above, click here.

WAITER, THERE'S A FLY IN MY SOUP

AHA!!! My friend Sandy has finally found a solution to our "spillage" problem (click here to refresh your memory).

Click on the photo above to enlarge.

Hey, I'm thinking this might really work. You think the landlords will notice when we move out?

WE REMEMBER

CLICK HERE

HAPPY BDAY, AUNT KAT!!!

THEIR TALENTS NEVER CEASE

A couple of (still) soundless videos of the kiddos enjoying their new chopstix from Tia Sonia & Tia Jamie.

If you can't see the video above, click HERE.


If you can't see the video above, click HERE.

Thank you soooo much! We really love them, and make it a point to ask Mama if we can use them for EVERY SINGLE meal. [Yes, this includes cottage cheese, yogurt, hotdogs, and soup! Remind to thank you personally a little later for this one.]

THE MANY FACES OF US

All within a matter of minutes!!!