August

10 days after his 15 month checkup, a nasty rash appeared and 2 days later it covered his entire body.  The poor guy was miserable.  Kathy put it best - like he just wanted to crawl out of his skin.  The nurse and I thought it was Roseola but the pediatrician thinks he had a bad reaction to the MMR vaccine he received.  In addition, he has 3 molars coming in and my oh my, it looks painful.  We got him a Benadryl-like prescription and were pleased to see that it "may cause drowsiness".  Bonus!  We all were able to catch up on some much needed sleep...

Happier times...

I am overjoyed to announce that Zach has completed the most challenging and time consuming (not to mention, stressful) project he has ever been tasked with.  On time, no less.  To make it happen he has only taken 1 day off this last month and we are so happy to finally have our daddy back.  We are so proud of you Z!!  Time to celebrate this long weekend together!

They thought this was hilarious.  Zach, not so much...

 Pizza party with Amy...

First haircut for Beck and first professional cut for Ellery.  "Professional" is generous of me.  Had to ask her twice to correct Beck's hair and Ellery's looks no different than before, except with french braids and bows.  Tears at first...

Lollipops and smiles next...

My mom was dog sitting for my sister and we thought it would be fun to meet at Coronado's Dog Beach.  Ha!  I'm sure all of you moms know what a production it is to pack up kids for the beach.  I had everything sorted and loaded including beach toys, sunscreen, poop bags, leash, towels, diapers, wipes, snacks, change of clothes...  After circling for a parking spot numerous times, we found one and start the unloading process.  Unloading an excited Mastiff while trying to keep 2 excited kids from running in the street, challenging.  With Beck on my left hip, a backpack on my back, sand toys and a 100 pound dog in my right hand and Ellery trotting behind, we finally make it to the entrance of the dog beach.  Coronado's Naval Air Station butts right up to the beach and a fighter jet was coming in for a landing.  I soon realized this was going to be right over our heads and LOUD.  Ellery saw it coming and was freaking out.  It was so close I could see the writing on the landing gear, truly the loudest noise I have ever heard.  So loud I was afraid it was going to do some damage to their ear drums.  I bent over to cover Elle's ears, Beck buried his head (and nails) into my shoulder and Nola was running around my legs, panic stricken.  I was trying to get the leash untangled when I see Elle in the sand in a fetal position.  The noise subsided and her face is wet with tears and her body is covered in sand that stuck to her freshly sprayed sunscreen.  We continued to where you could unleash your dog and found my mom when I realize another fighter jet is lining up for it's landing.  Ellery is screaming, Beck is crying and has a firm grip on me and here it goes again.  Only this time, Nola's unleashed.  I'm trying to console this kids and once it quieted down, realized Nola's gone.  My mom goes to look for her and I stayed with my sisters Boxers and the kids and a Coast Guard helicopter is coming in for a landing.  Not going to be nearly as loud but try telling terrified 3 year old that.  Crying starts all over again and now Beck thinks it's going to be loud too.  Mom comes back, no Nola.  I walk up and down the beach for 30 minutes and cant find her.  How do you lose a Mastiff?  A passenger plane is coming in for a landing and now Ellery's just paranoid.  She even started panicking when a seagull was near the flight path, thinking it was another jet.  Zach calls me (his number is on Nola's tag) and says some woman has Nola in her car.  Ellery wants to go with me and as we're walking back to the street, another jet comes in RIGHT over our head.  We just cant get a break.  It was awful.  We find the woman who has Nola and she said all of the sudden she sees a Mastiff running full speed towards her car and jumped in the front seat.  Imagining this was the only thing that got me to smile.  I thanked her, leashed Nola up and went back to get my son and get the hell out of there!  But of course we couldn't leave until a military helicopter came in, Ellery had a false alarm bathroom emergency and my car was full of sand, crabby kids and a slobbery dog.  I found some comfort in the fact that I had many cold beers waiting for me at home.  Ellery still talks about this day, and even though we can laugh about it now, we wont be going back any time soon.


At a "no jet beach" with my babes...

I was going to end it with -- life is good.  But even with rashes and ear piercing jets -- it is so much better than good.  :)