Perdido Key 2011

In true Connison fashion, we took over the condo in Florida and made it our own.  All the boys loved the beach, including Ben though he was a little apprehensive of the sand between his toes.

Here were some of the highlights:

• Parker and Jack sitting in the sand digging with the waves crashing at their feet for so long, that when then stood up, 16 lbs of sand were in their bathing suits.
• Owen repeating the "Doors Opening," "Doors Closing," "Going Up," "16th Floor," "Doors Opening," everytime we got in the elevator.  Also, he HAD to press the buttons! 
• Taking all the big guys out on Pop's boat.
• Being able to get away from BR with everyone and change things up a bit. 

And the lowlights:

• Jack falling off the piano bench and hitting his head on the hard tile floor.
• Owen accidentally throwing the boat into high gearwhen he was "driving" and scaring himself and everyone on the boat...luckily we were in open water.
• Parker and Jack having a fit on the boat, for not any other reason except that Daddy forgot to give them their snack and once fed, they returned to normalcy.
• Less than 30 minutes out of BR, Owen wanted to know when we were going to get to the beach because he couldn't see it yet.

 The beach is still hard work with these little guys and its not quite the relaxing trip it once used to be, but it is definitely worth the effort to get away and have a little change of scenery. We definitely can't wait to come back next summer when everyone is a little older, wiser, and more compliant when we tell them not to run in the water!!

Dudes in the elevator

Obsessed with digging

  



Ben on the beach

  





Splash Park

On these ever so hot weekends in South Louisiana, we have headed out to the Gonzales Jambalaya Park where they have fountains, buckets, and other water park features. If we get there early enough (before 9am), we basically have the place to ourselves. We make arrangements with Katie, Rob and their boys, and get a good 60-90 minutes of outside time where you don’t want to kill yourself due to the heat. The boys play nice for the most part; Owen was a bit apprehensive at first, but warmed up to running around and getting totally soaked. Parker and Jack are still feeling their way around there and seem more to enjoy the goldfish and apple juice snacks instead of the water.

By the time we leave, everyone is soaking wet, getting hot, hungry, needs to be changed, and/or whining because they want to leave and it turns into a semi meltdown as we make our way to the car. All of the adults then turned to each other and wonder why we do this to ourselves…

Add another thing to Dad’s toolkit

As a dad of 4 little dudes, I realize that I need to be prepared for a variety of events.  Items in my toolkit that I should never be without:  cash, a handkerchief, a pocket knife, and now…an umbrella.  I have never had a great love affair with umbrellas.  Why?  I would have to guess it has something to do with how I can't seem to get in a car and close the umbrella without getting totally wet.  Umbrellas are very useful, but I never liked carrying them and always preferred running into/out of a building or car to get out of the rain as fast as possible so I wouldn't get wet.  I now have learned that this is not sufficient when children are involved.

As I go to pick up Owen from school yesterday, I find myself in the middle of a torrential downpour, complete with thunder and lightning so close, I'm pretty sure that if I had hair, it would have looked like Doc Brown from Back to the Future.  I am in the parking lot planning my attack to get into the building and I have a good parking spot close to the door, but it is still a ways away.  I catch a lull in the rain and trot for the door without getting terribly soaked.  As I get Owen from class, the rain picks up so much so that I can barely see the parking lot anymore.  With a semi-laughing spectator (another MDO parent) in the foyer, I prep Owen getting him psyched up that daddy has to hold him and run and run and run and get to the car as fast as we can, even though we are going to get wet, VERY wet.  I told him that it's going to be so much fun getting wet and made it a cool thing that "daddy forgot the umbrella," (i.e.  I am ill prepared as a parent).  Owen couldn't stop laughing after we ran to the car and got him buckled.  He thought it was hilarious and really fun, but he did mention multiple times that he was a cold with the A/C on.  Daddy was sorry for the afternoon shower!!

I have since acquired an umbrella that will remain in my car from here on out. 

Coloring

We have been playing with a lot of sidewalk chalk on the driveway recently.  If you mistakenly think Parker has a wooden circle when you put him down for a nap and realize later that its actually red chalk, this is what you find when he wakes up.  Awesome.

Rub a Dub Dub

Rub a Dub Dub, three dudes in a tub, and who do you think they be?  No seriously, this is a test...can you pick out who?

Owen and "the bros" enjoying some tubby time 

This is an easy one...
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It's P!!!!