Moron.

I’m just a tad bit competitive (haha) and I really hate to lose. Jeff and I make bets all of the time. I love our bet making and since I win more than he does I love it even more. =) The last bet I won was about some chick on Entourage that Jeff thought was Amber from House in a fat suit. I scored a one hour massage with the works (candles, music, etc.). And then I turned into a moron and lost a bet the other day. The thing is I was CONVINCED I was right. I had no hesitation when Jeff stuck out his hand to seal the deal that he was going down and my one hour massage would become two hours. *I choose a massage for every bet that I win while Jeff mixes his up a bit*. This particular bet was about our new fish Blue.

Jeff: I wonder why it is pronounced Beta (bata) when it is spelled Betta.
Me: What are you talking about, it isn’t spelled Betta, it is Beta. You know a BETA fish.
Jeff: No, it is spelled Betta. I mentioned this the last time we talked about the fish.
Me: I don’t know what you’re talking about, we’ve never talked about this before, but it is Beta.
Jeff: Want to make a bet?
Me: Yeah! You’re going down sucka!!!!
Me: What are you betting for? You already know what I want.
Jeff: Hmmmm. A car wash. (His car is DISGUSTINGLY dirty)
Me: You’re on! Muahahahah, Your car is never getting washed!!!

We shake on it.

He brings me the fish food bottle that clearly says Betta.

Me: No Go GI Joe! I was clearly talking about the bowl the fish came in with the white lid that said Beta Fish on the top.
Jeff: Ok, where is it?
Me: On the counter
Jeff: This lid? The one that says Betta Fish.
Me: WTF?
Me: I looked at that lid all day long and every time I saw it I read Beta Fish.
Jeff: I was wondering why you were so confident about Beta. Hahahahah.
Me: Yeah, laugh it up. You have to pay up on the last bet you lost before you get payment for this bet.
Jeff: Since when?
Me: Since I made the rule up two seconds ago. =)

Every time I take the babies to Wal*Mart we say hi to the Elmo car ride at the front of the store and immediately head back to see the fishies. The babies LOVE the fishies. They love them so much they kiss the tanks - EWWWWWW! Don’t worry, I take sand paper and bleach to their lips after. J/k, but I would like to since that is just gross. Anyway, they love the fishies. They love all animals, but I am a mean mommy and refuse to get them one. I do love animals, but I do not love animals enough to want one. I do not LOVE animals like my sister Ang who takes her “bubbas” everywhere and treats them like her other children. So yes, I am a mean Mommy and the only way my kids see animals is at Wal*Mart. Hahahah.

I had asked Jeff if we could get them a fish a couple of months ago and he said he didn’t think it was a good idea. Booo Daddy. You’re even meaner than Mommy! So no fish for us. =(

But wait! When does Mommy ever listen to Daddy? The babies love fish. Fish are low maintenance. Fish do not require walking, brushing, cleanup detail (well, a little clean up, but not like a litter box or backyard ick). They don’t make noise, they don’t shed, they don’t bark. Perfect!

Introducing Blue! Our new Betta Fish.

Isn’t he pretty. When I picked him out I really had no feelings at all towards the little bugger only that the babies would love him. We picked out a pretty vase and rocks for his new home. We talked to other Betta owners who schooled us in Betta 101, How to Keep a Fish Alive. We brought him home, arranged his bowl, fed him dinner, and watched him swim around. Sometime in there I came to love this little guy. He is our first pet as a family. He is the babies Baby Blue.

Let’s hope I don’t kill him and have to explain the toilet burial to the babies at such a young, tender age. =)
*Jeff informed me I was well on my way to killing him already by putting him on the piano that the babies “play” VERY loudly so I moved him to his new home far away from the “music”.

Video Edition:

It’s been a long while since I posted videos of the Crazies so here you go! Just ignore that in both videos Shenzie is not wearing a shirt (or pants). She is my little heathen baby. =)

Car Rides from lesley barr on Vimeo.

Shenzie and Heaten “driving” their cars. They love to play bumper car. Well, Heaten loves to bump into Shenzie anyhow.

Couch Play from lesley barr on Vimeo.

Shenzie and Heaten playing on the couch. Well, more like Shenzie doing a Take Down on brother.

Last weekend we took the babies to Balloonpalooza (a hot air balloon carnival that The City of NLV puts on every year) for the first time. All week long I was ranting and raving about the BIG BALLOONS in the sky that we would see. The babies would say bawoons!! They were so excited to see these fantastic balloons. Sunday morning we head out all the while checking the sky for the balloons to show the babies. No balloons. Hmmmm. That’s weird. We keep driving and driving and driving to get to the park, but we don’t see any balloons. Hmmm. That’s weird. We get to the park, unload the wagon and babies and head in. No balloons. Hmmm. That’s weird. I stop at the information desk to find out where all of the giant balloons are and was informed that they were only out from 5:30 until 9:30 due to the winds. It was 10:15. I was SO bummed the babies missed seeing the giant balloons in the sky. Lucky they weren’t too upset since there was so much to look at and do.

We took them on the Carousal for the very first time. Heaten loved it, Shenzie was too scared to ride the horsie so we sat on the bench together while Daddy and Heaten had a blast on the horsies. Then we rode on this car thingy on a track that just went round and round, but had steering wheels so the babies could “drive”. Once again Shenzie was scared so she sat in my lap in the backseat.

It was getting really, really hot and crowded so we decided to pack it in with one last ride on the Carousal. Once again Shenzie was scared until about 1/2 way through when she wanted to ride the horse. She had a DEATH GRIP on the pole. If she wasn’t so scared I would have loved to get her picture, it was hilarious….but my hands were tied up holding her VERY tightly so she felt safe.

And then the screaming started. I think we must have hit those pesky terrible twos because she screamed because the ride was over and we had to get off. She screamed and kicked and twisted and turned while we carried her off. She screamed and kicked and twisted and turned the entire LONG walk to the car while Daddy carried her. She screamed the entire way home (20-25 minute drive). Holy hell can that girl scream.

Hopefully next year we’ll be able to see the balloons and the mini circus that we missed this year. =(

Today (Saturday 9/20/08) was a BIG day around the Barr Household. Our little Shenzie Bear went pee pee on the big toilet!!!!

This is NOT Shenzie going pee pee. This was when we first bought the porta potties and the babies thought they were toys. I just can’t bring myself to put a picture of her on the internet sitting on the toilet doing “her business”.

Who Me?

For awhile now both babies (I guess I should get used to calling them toddlers or kids at this point, I mean they are TWO next week). Anyway, the kids (sounds weird) have both been telling me when they go potty in their diapers with the famous Dinky (stinky). After baths I like to let them run around and “air out”, but lately I have been noticing a trend with Shenzie Bear going pee on the floor after her bath. Saturday I sat her on the toilet ring on the big toilet and held her hand. She “wiped” a zillion times, I think putting the toilet paper in the toilet was way more fun than the actual deed for her. After about 5 minutes of sitting she peed! I almost cried. Not only is my little girl going to be two next week, but she can pee pee in the toilet. Hopefully we can keep up the trend of the big toilet with the rings since I think the little porta potty things are gross and am dreading cleaning them out!!!

This weekend I had some much needed therapy. After a rather rough week of constant fighting with the babies, ickie sickie colds for Heaten, Shenzie, and myself (the 2nd in 2 weeks), and general blah I spent the entire afternoon Saturday shopping (after sleeping in until 9:30 while Jeff took the babies to the park). There is shopping and then there is SHOPPING. I went SHOPPING. Most times I go shopping I find one or two items that I want/need. Sometimes I go out with the intention to shop, but I come home empty handed due to the stores having crap and more crap of which I want none.

All of the stars aligned for this shopping spree. I first went to Till*y’s to find a pair of Dickies pants for the winter. I did not find any pants that I liked, but scored two tshirts from the sale rack. One DC shirt and one Volcom shirt (both black, my clothing color of choice). I then went to Ros*s and hit the mother load of cute clothes. I purchased a black Billibong hoodie with a fun sherpa-ish hood, a black Roxy tshirt, a black long sleeved tshirt, two adorable long sleeved shirts for Shenzie, and one Calvin Klein outfit for Heaten which included brown cargo pants, a cream long sleeved tshirt, and a camo hoodie (you know how much we love our camo around here). Next I headed to Tar*get where I found some cute brown low rise flared leg pants(none of those tight skinny pants for me, I HATE THEM), a pair of skull pj bottoms, two skull tshirts, one black one dark gray, a couple of extra birthday presents for the babies (we already finished shopping for them, but I couldn’t resist the growling Dinosaur and Elephant), wrapping paper, and the rest of the gifts for the goodie bags for the babies birthday party this weekend.

My bounty:

I had also bought Shenzie the cutest pair of brown “suede” boots for winter, but got the wrong size. I have been checking their kid shoes every time I go to Tar*get which is often but the size 6 is on backorder. But once again the stars aligned and they had one pair of size 6’s left. Yay!!

And then those freaking stars aligned again and on my way to the checkout I saw this beauty:

I bought a new baby snack bag not too long ago, but it has no outside or inside pockets so when I take it to the park my keys, gum, chapstick, and phone get lost in baby gear. This one is perfect! Big enough to fit both sippies, two snack traps, pouch with two diapers, wipes, and hand sanitizer, and my wallet. Plus it has an inside pocket for my stuff as well as two outside pockets perfect for keys and phone. 1974 - the year I was born….coincidence that it was on the clearance rack just begging for me to buy it? I think not, thank you stars!

I then went to Starshmucks and got a Venti White Chocolate Mocha, soy milk, extra espresso shot. I rarely get Starshmucks anymore and when I do it is always a grande. Talk about a BIG treat!!! And to top off a perfect shopping day I rolled down my windows (even though it was still a very hot 93 degrees outside), blared some of my favorite music, and screamed along while speeding up the street. Ahhhhh, to be young and carefree again (if only for a couple of hours).

I got home with my many packages to two crying babies and a very tired Daddy. Having a free day away to play and just be me, no Mom involved felt great! Getting a much needed break from the constant crying/whining I hear all day felt great! Coming home to my wonderful family recharged and rejuvenated felt great! Thank you wonderful husband for a much needed break!!!

To top the night off we ordered Chili’s and watched Season 4 of Entourage which has one of my Tv boyfriends Adriane Grenier. A perfect end to a perfect day.

Is gross. I hate milk. I hate everything about it. That it comes out of a cow for a cow. That it has a yucky film on the top. The way it looks and smells. And that is for fat free milk, don’t even get me started on whole milk. Ewwww!!! I had hoped that when I was pregnant I would crave milk and then like it again, but that didn’t happen. I found it as gross as ever. I did eat my cereal with milk and bake with milk, but that’s about as far as my milk drinking goes.

Cows Milk = YUCK!

When the babies turned one and were able to quit the formula (HIP HIP HOORAY) Jeff and I discussed what avenue to take as far as milk. I didn’t want my babies to get any hormones or antibiotics so that meant organic milk. We researched cows milk, soy milk, and rice milk and ended up choosing rice milk. Before forgoing real milk we discussed it with our Pediatrician who saw no issues with rice milk (providing they are getting protein from other sources). Rice Milk has the same vitamins as cows milk (actually more since it also has Vitamin B12 that milk doesn’t have). Rice Milk has more Calcium, less Sodium, more Vitamin A, less sugar, and more Iron that cow’s milk. The only downfall is it only has 1g of protein where cows milk has 8g.

First Yogurt Tube Thingy

The babies love Rice Milk and I’m fond of it myself. I use it for all baking and to eat my cereal. It lasts a long time in the fridge before opening it which is great because I can stock up on a lot of it and not have to make multiple milk trips. I never worry that it is spoiled or smells funny (with real milk I always smell it first and then get grossed out that it stinks). I know, I know. I am crazy, but whatever!

Mmmm. Rice Milk

So anyway…the whole point to this post was to say we switched the babies to cows milk a couple of weeks ago. Heaten is SO picky that I am worried he’s not getting enough protein (although he does eat TONS of yogurt which has lots). Verdict. They HATED cows milk. Heaten, my little milk buddy refused to drink it at all. Not one sip. I then switched them to Soy Milk which to me is EWWW! It stinks, it is thick and gross, but the babies liked it so that was all good. Until the soy milk didn’t like them. Heatens little tummy did not like the soy so now we are back to where we started, Rice Milk. I bought these Carnation Instant Breakfast packets that have protein and add a bit to each sippy. I figure the extra fat won’t hurt since Rice Milk is really low in fat. So Dad you can quit giving me a hard time about their diet, I tried and failed. Don’t worry though, you sneak them enough chocolate to make up for their mean Mommy. =)

Photographer in the Making Edition:

Hmmm, I wonder how this works.

Oh, I got it figured out. Cheeeese!

Let me work this from another angle.

I really, really want to love nature. I want to bask in its naturey goodness. I want to roll in the leaves and play in the dirt. I want to hike in the mountains and have a garden. I really want to love all of these things. But I am afraid deep down I am a city girl. Only, I hate the city. Well, let me clarify. I hate Las Vegas. I can’t wait to move away from this pit of hot hell to somewhere MUCH smaller. I want to live in nature and let the babies run free. Problem is I don’t think I love nature as much as I think I do or as much as I want to.

We took the babies to Mt. Charleston last weekend and while it was fun I HATED the bugs. I am not much of a hiker and apparently neither are the babies. Yes the great outdoors smell nice, but so do my vanilla candles. And of course Jeff made the point that there is no Wi Fi in nature. =) I am petrified of spiders and don’t like bugs AT ALL. How in the world am I going to have a garden where there are SPIDERS and BUGS (remember this)?!? How am I going to roll in the leaves when they are full of insects!?! How am I going to hike in the glorious woods when I don’t care for hiking? Quite the predinky dink wouldn’t you say?

I really thought the babies would love the mountains. Explore the rocks and trails. See the GIANT trees. Get dirty. Have a picnic. Fun stuff I tell you. Too bad they cried most of the time and only wanted held. Walking on rocks up hills over logs is much harder when toting a 25 pound crying baby. We’re lucky we didn’t break something. And the picnic…ha, the bugs and flies got to our food and then I was too grossed out to eat it. So much for nature…we’ll stick with our city “nature” parks.

Hello Fall!!!!

Unlike most of you who look forward to summer, I dread it. I HATE HATE HATE Las Vegas summers. They are hot, gross, hot, icky, hot, and hot. You see heat waves coming off the pavement. Going outside makes you weeze it is so hot. I didn’t mind the hot summers before I had babies. I was working all day in the cool air conditioning, what did I care. Swimming and lounging by the pool were the hit of the “motherless” me. Now, not so much. I did take the babies swimming a couple of times, but really…it was WAY more work than it was worth. The good old days of relaxing by the pool, listening to music on my ipod, maybe even taking in a quick doze are LONG LONG gone. Instead I spent way too much money on needless, useless things while browsing the stores just to give us something to do indoors away from the heat. Each day was spent trying to find activities to keep the babies occupied and entertained indoors. Each outing was planned around the hottest part of the day where the inside of the car was 130 degrees after sitting in the sun. Good riddance summer of 08! I will not miss you one bit.

Hello Fall!!!

Hello 90 degree weather that will soon turn into 80 degree weather. Hello flip flops, jeans, and a light hoodie. Hello walks in the wagon. Hello playing at the park. Hello running around outside exploring the world. Hello world here we come!!! The only thing that would make it more perfect would be seeing the beautiful changing leaves from green to red and orange and yellow. Instead we have green palm trees all year round. I guess life could be worse. Heehee.