UB and his awesome Spiderman flipper floppers

Being the second boy born is tough for UB. Especially because he usually just gets hand me downs. Now, I don't have a problem with that. It saves me money. And UB doesn't have a problem with it either.

Hand me downs are what UB gets when it comes to clothes, shoes, underwear, toys and anything that his brother or his friends or cousins can't use anymore. UB gets very excited when someone gives him 'used' stuff.

We were going through AB's clothes that had been up in the attic. UB was wanting to put everything on that he saw. At one point he had on two shirts, a pair of shorts and some water shoes (with socks). He wanted to go play outside just the way he was dressed. Nevermind that it was only 40 degrees outside. The only way he was talked into changing was to tell him he couldn't ride his dirt bike without jeans on. So the shirts stayed on, but he changed his pants and shoes.

Recently, he was given these flipper floppers.

Spiderman is awesome mom! Is what I've heard lots of times since these flipper floppers joined our family. UB even said that they stuck to the walls. I wasn't sure what he meant, but upon further investigation, I realized that he thought because they were Spiderman shoes, that they stuck to the walls. He then proceeded to show us how it was done. But when the flipper floppers wouldn't 'stick' to the walls, he then said that all the sticky was out already. I just hope he doesn't try walking on the walls when I'm not around. Maybe I'll see him walking on the ceiling.

I'd better go put the tape and glue away.

UB wants to wear these shoes all the time. He was walking around here yesterday making loud noises on the floor while stomping around in his awesome shoes. Then because it was 'only' 36 degrees outside, he wanted to wear them out. Pretty soon he's going to be a typical Northener where he wears shorts, a sweat shirt and flip flops.

In the meantime, he will continue to wear his Spiderman flipper floppers around the house while continuing to see if they 'stick' to the wall.

My little Mexican boy

This is the way you'll find my boys. Most of the time. Being together. But when the camera is not on them, they are fighting. With love. You will usually find UB with his fingers in his mouth just like this. We are trying to break him of this habit, but he seems to forget on occasion.

My boys are different. From the way they do stuff to the way they look. I'm glad because life would be so boring if they were the same. Although they are alike when it comes to thinking about being mischievous.

We call AB our little Mexican boy and UB our little gringo (white boy). AB has a beautiful olive color complexion that most people spend lots of money at the tanning beds trying to achieve this color. UB on the other hand has little to no color. He burns in the summer while AB just gets darker.

Sometimes it's frustrating when the boys are with me and people ask "Are they brothers?" I say yes and they proceed to ask "From the same father?" I just look at them with disbelief because I can't believe they actually have the audacity to ask that question.

I just smile and nod.

Or else people will actually ask the boys "Are you two brothers?" Good grief people.

Anyway, as AB gets older, he notices more and more how different his skin color is than his brothers. Especially when science has to do with genetics.

The other day AB innocently asked when his skin was going to turn white. I looked stunned at him because we've had this conversation several times before. I tell him that his skin will never be white, that this is the way God made him. Then I silently pray that he never finds out about Michael Jackson.

He says, "But mom, the inside of my hands are already turning white, when is the rest of me going to turn white."

"Well son", I say, "You are a little lighter right now because you haven't been out in the sun. But come summer, you won't be light anymore. You'll have that beautiful brown color again."

He looks at me, then his hands and says "Cool!"

My little Mexican boy has a lot to learn.

When reality has to set back in quickly

Hubster and I went on another bike ride on Saturday. It was the perfect weather for me. Not so windy and warm. Upper 70's. I can handle that.

So we called a sitter and Loren called his cousin and we went on a ride.

It's actually fun to ride motorcycles. You get to experience God's beauty without having to open your window. And once it gets warmer out there, you get to experience the bugs God made. Bugs that fly on your face or anywhere else they do. Just like they do on your windshield of your car.

One day, we were 'cool' riders. No helmets, just our hair blowing in the wind. We were driving down a country road enjoying the scenery when BAM! A bug comes flying fast and hits me smack dab in the middle of my forehead. I think I ended up with a bruise from that kamikaze bug. Nothing like bug juice running down your face while you are going 70 mph.

But Saturday we were 'safe' riders as opposed to 'cool' riders. Hubster had on his half hemet and I had on the full face helmet. I like to keep the bugs off my face, if you know what I mean.

I actually look like a dork compared to other riders out there. They are stylin'. They have the tight t-shirts with their hair pulled back in a nice bandana wearing these cool looking goggles. I have on my jacket over my t-shirt ( I'm a wimp, I don't like to 'feel' bugs on me. Besides, it was still cool out there) I'm wearing my prescription glasses that I need to see far and that wonderful full face helmet. I think I'm stylin' too!

So we head on down the highway, rolling with the big guys. No not really. We just drive. Around here we have been under a fire watch. With the high winds anything is possible. There have also been many wild fires. While we were riding, we saw one. It was quite a ways from the highway we were on, but you could see that it wasn't a little fire. By the time we came back around on our way home, the fire had gotten next to the highway. The firefighters were pretty busy.

We ended up having a good time. Even though my hiney fell asleep. I really couldn't feel it when I'd get off the bike. I'm assuming it was still there, I just couldn't really tell.

When we were leaving the Restaurant we ate at, we 'biker chicks' were going to make a pit stop. We waited in line. Of course women always have to wait in line at bathrooms. But there was only one bathroom for women and one bathroom for men. We waited for quite a while, I finally decided I was going in the men's bathroom. Enough waiting for me.

When I was waiting for my friend to get out, a little girl had been standing there watching us weirdo's go in the men's bathroom. I asked her if she wanted me to watch the door for her while she used it. (We'd been waiting a good 10 minutes for the bathroom to come open) She said no, that was the men's and she wanted to use the women's. What made me laugh was that she said that she hoped they wouldn't be until midnight because she had to go to church in the morning. She had her priorities straight.

When we were driving off the parking lot, I notice a group of little girls staring at us. When I turned to look at them, they waved like I was their long lost friend. I felt cool at that moment even if I did look like a dork.

We get home after a fun and relaxing and body parts sleeping ride. But what we find at home is anything but relaxing.

First we find the door going from the garage into the house wide open. Remember that we live in the country, and what critters live in the country? I'm sure we now have some uninvited house guests.

We then see OUR bedroom like this. Somehow they were all playing, chasing each other and AB hit his knee on the door frame and next thing you know, half of one side of the door frame is on the floor. At least no one got hurt.

I guess all good things must come to an end sometime.

With or Without

Life WITH Jesus!

Life WITHOUT Jesus!