Wulf & Luli invited us to float the river a couple of weeks ago. It was wonderfully refreshing. The kids had a blast. The water was gorgeously blue-green. Divine.
I didn't want to do "meals" so we dropped fifty bones at the store on the way there on a bunch are garbage. Sometimes it is delightfully fun to do that.
We scattered through the cracker aisle with little hands grabbing and pleading right and left. I knew what I wanted though. Nothing says "floating-down-the-river-with-a-bunch-of-drunk-college-students" like Easy Cheese. I knew the moment my kids tasted the forbidden product that they'd become addicted. I tossed it in the shopping cart as Carlos starred at me wide-eyed.
As predicted, the nasty cheese product was a huge hit. The kids couldn't get enough of it. I finally put a halt on its consumption. Mean mommie!
But then I got mischievous.
We were on to Oreo's by then. Wulf was talking incessantly like he usually is. We were all listening intently because let's face it, he tells a good story. I'm handing out the cookies. I have Carlos twist the top off a cookie. I dab a squirt of easy cheese inside the filling & plop the top back on the cookie. Carlos hands it to Wulf.
Gulp. Gone. Gross.
He doesn't even notice. Carlos & I are laughing like naughty school kids.
Much later we are swimming at a pool. We are all tuckered out. The kids have dragged their exhausted, happy, but hungry bodies out of the water and want food. Wulf has fallen asleep on a picnic bench (as only males can). He's stretched out, bare-chested, almost snoring.
Then I got mischievous, again.
Out comes the spray cheese. I'm laughing just thinking about what I want done. I lean over to my partner (in crime) and tell him to spray some cheese in Wulf's belly button. Carlos laughs and whispers there's no way he's doing that. He and I are both silently laughing.
In steps Luli, "I'll do it." She grabs the can and sprays a generous portion of florescent orange in his hairy little naval. We start laughing out loud as Wulf swipes at his stomach thinking it a bug. In the process his hand becomes cheesed. He opens his eyes and looks at his hand. His look was SO worth it.
He's amused and grumbling about our prank. I'm almost peeing my pants. The kids are excited and laughing every which way you look. And that's when Kaira walks up to her daddy and digs out a chunk of bellybutton cheese and eats it.
Double nasty.
CPS informed us today that our little sweet Hayden is being taken from us tomorrow. He is being placed in another foster home in Houston so he can be near his biological mother. People always ask me how we can do foster care. This moment in time is the reason why so many people veer away from it. 
here's a little number we bought off of craig's list ($100 i think). it was in great shape, except i wasn't fond of the color and HATED the wood diamonds on the front. those were taken off and smoothed down.
we obviously painted her over and put on new hardware. thank you hobby lobby. she feels very beachish to me and i love the pop of color she adds to my very brown house.
i stained the edges with a walnut-colored stain, but then lost interest in it all. so the bottom half of the unit isn't even done. how ghetto is that? if you wait and live with it long enough you simply forget about it. you should try it.
Okay, look you stupid Mormon moms, I have a serious bone to pick with you. Why are you putting your daughters, regardless of how young they are, in two-piece swim suits? Have we not all been told about modesty especially bikinis since the beginning of time? What is your deal?
How adorable is our little Hayden? He loved all the open space of Noel's apartment...
Look at our stow-away. He kept trying to climb inside dad's bag. I didn't bring many toys for him, but let's face it babies would rather play with the electric cords than their toys. It's a fact.
We were busy all three days at Noel's house. All the kids did amazingly well. I am coming to terms with the fact that I just have super well-behaved children. Carlos and I are doing something right!! It was freak'n hot the whole weekend. We came across this fountain and we all got a little wet for kicks.
Here is our fabulous tour guide. She was a little weird, but sweet at the same time. Noel bought a Popsicle from a street vendor - this was in the El Mercado district - and we all jumped on board with various flavors. THE BEST POPSICLES EVA!! By a company called Arco Iris. Noel had watermelon and we bought pina colada, coconut, and strawberry creme. They were so rich, creamy, and refreshing.
Um, this is how we ate them - it's called "family style".
Can't be in El Mercado without a mechanical bull ride now can ya?
Cora looks all pro in this shot. She even took off her hat in true rodeo fashion!
My little Mexican Men. It was nice to have Tijuana right here in Texas!
These masks were so colorful. The boys loved trying them on and pretend they were Nacho Libre. Weirdos.
No thanks. I don't like this look on my boy. Just stay away from Mexican cowboy culture please.
This was taken in San Antonio this past weekend. I love this picture of Perry! It captures her perfectly! Happy, carefree, full of life, and a little dirty like a Beyonce video.
So here is our little family obsession. Hayden is by far the ruler of this home. He is doted on by every person all day long. Even the boys/men spend their days speaking in "motherese".
But can you blame us? The child IS always this smiley. He is such a lover - so sweet and happy. It is unbelievable what he has been through in his first 7 months of life. I see no signs of his past life. He is sweet, happy, affectionate, and (for now) ours!
Stewart's you have to give us your take, but Cora, Paco, and I see glimpses of Reade in him now and again. I thought it to myself but Cora was the first to point it out!
Love that orange vegetable nose! It's amazing what magic one little life can bring to our whole family. We are all totally smitten.
On any given day this is the room of Perry and Cora. Who is the slob you ask? They both are. They can't ever seem to hold it together for longer than half a day. I've basically given up. Anyone care to join me?
..with my little eye... a half-grown boy child swaddled in all his bedding on the floor.
Forts are a big deal in this house, especially in the summer time. The kids like to gather all their crap in a pile, tie it all together, & call it good.
Cristian opted to sleep here this particular evening. I go to bed praying we don't have a fire. How would I ever find the kids in time?!
Wulf & Luli invited us to float the river a couple of weeks ago. It was wonderfully refreshing. The kids had a blast. The water was gorgeously blue-green. Divine.
