Saturday, July 17, 2010

And the name is...

Parker James Oyakawa

in memory of my brother Thomas Parker.

and we're thinking about calling him PJ...

Maiya is already calling him "PJ James", I've corrected her, but that has never stopped her before...
hmmmmm... A Benjamin - who I insisted would never go by nicknames, No 'Ben" and DEFINITELY no 'Benji' And now a Parker who has a nickname before a birthday...
we're so funny like that.
who knows? maybe the "PJ" won't stick... I am still getting used to the idea that we are having another boy.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

DFW to BWI, to Grandmother's Condo we go...

A big day! - Flying 'unaccompanied', a pre-paid cell phone, skylink ride around the airport, time zone change, Getting to see Grandma and 'Uncle' Tony*!!
Two VERY excited kids.
Two VERY nervous parents...
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getting to the airport
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checking on the flight
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taking a ride around the airport to kill time
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excited beyond words
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about to go! - Ella was in charge of paperwork (around her neck) and Benjamin was manning the cell phone
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Are you ready?
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waiting
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TIME TO...
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GO!!!!!!!
I held it together. Its funny because when you are a kid and nervous about big trips, first days of school, camp, etc. Your parents remain calm and completely cool about it. So you think they are totally cool with it. Waving goodbye at Benjamin's thrilled eyes and Ella's nervous grin - I thought "you guys have no idea that I am more nervous and excited for you than any person could possibly be!!!"

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We waited around to be sure the plane had taken off the ground. Cora thought this airport place was pretty cool. Skylink sans carseat or seatbelt. And she got to walk around without the stroller a bit. She kept her arms folded - I didn't know if she was mimicking 'church' because I make her walk with her arms folded at church or if it was a way to keep us from holding her hands!
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I took pictures of her and let her look at them on the back of the camera to occupy her for a while -- this one really shows off her two toned eyes :)
If you are wondering Ms. Maiya was at ballet camp. And good thing, because she was sad to say goodbye - a goodbye at home was just right!
kids leave town
then she took a picture of us. from below it was such a bad picture of me I almost threw up, so I made Kyle take another one with me so I could leave with some version of self dignity!


* Uncle Tony - is my mother's boyfriend - Not the kids Uncle but with lack of a better title Benjamin started calling him Uncle Tony a few years ago and it has stuck :)

They will be staying at my mom's condo on the beautiful Potomac River in a High Rise condo complex - much different from suburbian Texas. They have grand plans to sight see in DC. Ella is most excited to see the Lincoln memorial and Benjamin can't wait to see the Spy Museum - which when he is excited sounds like he is saying the spine museum :)

They will be back in two weeks or something like that... My mom is nothing if not flexible.

About that time I'll be 34 weeks pregnant - whoa... stay tuned for this baby boy's name. There has been much baby naming drama in these parts. I think its about time to make it official and put the drama to rest. And what is more official than the blog right??

Look who's two!

Didn't this just happen? Even at her well check up the pediatrician kept saying - "I can't believe she is two already!!" - I was like "you can't believe it?"

cora's second bday
(notice the finger dab - courtesy of the birthday girl :)

cora's second bday
She loved her gift from mom and dad (not pictured) - if you have a toddler I HIGHLY recommend the Rody Horse - and when you can highly recommend something you have had in your home for less than a week you know its good!
cora's second bday
We are going to check this one out tonight!
cora's second bday
I think the proper word by this point is overwhelmed :)
cora's second bday
time for cake
cora's second bday
Blow out your candles!!!
cora's second bday
Cora you are a joy - We all love you soooo much!! Happy Birthday Angel!!!

Wednesday, July 07, 2010

the day I essentially pepper sprayed myself.

Can bravery be described as taking four kids shopping by yourself at 7.75 months pregnant? I think it can.

Sam's club:
You were SO not fun yesterday. But your prices insure I will forgive the event.

As we unloaded and made our way into the store in the blistering heat, we came across a huge greasy puddle in the parking lot - Can I also describe the heat as inhumane? I think I can.

Ella navigated around the puddle.
Maiya navigated around the puddle.
Cora navigated around the puddle.
I navigated around the puddle.
Benjamin, on the other hand - plunged his big ol' foot with much force right down into the center of the puddle!!
who got covered in HOT, greasy mud puddle?.......

ME.

all the way up to my knee. It was gross.
I proceeded to do what any calm, caring, level headed mother would do:

I turned around and Screamed like a Banshee at my son. Then whined my way into the store telling him how hot and greasy the junk on my leg was. It was then that I realized we were walking along side a really nice man from church. A man who happens to be married to an actual calm, caring, level headed mother - very unlike myself.

I was embarrassed. (but still mad at my son)

Then we made our way to bulk dish soap - because I have 4.5 kids and I buy EVERYTHING in bulk. As I rounded the corner Benjamin came down on my toes, CRUNCH.

I restrained the urge to strangle him. (I didn't though cuz he's my handsome boy...)
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With a little weight in the cart I realized my cart had a bum wheel, and after adding a few more bulk items it became pretty hard to push. Momentum and frustration were the only two things pushing the cart. Benjamin kept telling me I was going too fast. I was just glad to have my feet not near him.

As I made my way to the end of an aisle, I knew I had to make the corner with speed. I was manuevering perfectly when Benjamin dashed out in front of me and quickly stopped my cart. And then I quickly stubbed my toes on the cart.

Picture Homer Simpson going after Bart. - got that mental picture?? that was me...

"I thought you were going to hit that lady - as he points (way over there)"

"I knew exactly what I was doing Benjamin - I was no where near her!"
although admittedly I would not have wanted to be in front of me at that point - I knew perfectly well that I was not going to hit anyone, except maybe my son.

One last thing on the list and then I can get out of here... pepper.

In the seasonings section I handled a few different containers of pepper to decide what amount of bulk I was going to go with. I made my choice and we made our way to the checkout.

We were in line, it was almost our turn, I had loaded almost everything on the belt when I had to do what I have to do all. dang. day. (no, not pee) - wipe sweat off my face.

I wiped each eyebrow, my upper lip and then under each eye. Then within a few seconds.

MY.

FACE.

CAUGHT.

ON.

FIRE.

apparently I had wiped all the pepper residue from my recent shopping choice all over my face.

By time we made it to the check out lady -- I am sure I looked crazy, I was burying my face in shirt mumbling, 'my face is on fire, my face is on fire'
It didn't seem to speed her up any though. I finally snapped at the end when she tried to upsell me on something.

"Listen I don't want to extend my membership, join the coupon club, or get a credit card, can you hurry up my face is burning!!!"

her "ummm, yeah, sure ok"

I never gave her an explanation. I wasn't in my right mind.

And then Benjamin saved the day. As we headed for the bathroom for me to save my face, Ella and Maiya bolted ahead saying they had to go to the bathroom, I contemplated trying to take out Cora even though I could barely see straight, When Benjamin said "I can stay out here and watch her"

And he did - he entertained her and did a great job!!

While I washed my face and hands several times - and left with a wet paper towel to keep blotting my face.

Later I called Kyle and told him what happened... and he responded very lovingly by laughing in my ear and saying "bwahahaha, you basically pepper sprayed yourself."


In other news:

I may yell too much but I am still a cool mom, because not only do I let my kids look at road kill, sometimes I let them pick it up:
(Benjamin had already poked at the snake with Dad)

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One item that made its way to our home from Sam's was a 10lb bag of pinto beans. As Ella carried it in she said "this feels like a baby" and that was all it took, within two hours all the girls had carried the bag around talking baby talk to it, and eventually started diapering it.

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there were many protests when 'pinto' as he was aptly named went into the crockpot.

and last but not least in Oyakawa news...

Benjamin and Ella are preparing go see Grandma in a about a week. They are flying as unaccompanied minors all the way to Virginia - be still my soul !!!!!!!!!