Weekend Afternoon

My brother's birthday is this week so it gave us an excuse to all get together this weekend and grill. The weather was really great so we got to spend some time outside and the kids loved it.

I tried to get a shot of the birthday boy with the twins, but you know how that goes.

Brian looks cute

Squirmy babies

This would be great if Connor was looking up, at least the birthday boy looks cute

Brain and Jamie brought their black lab Sadie. Leo always has a good time playing with her and is exhausted after the visit, but the twins love Sadie too. Connor kept trying to get her to play with him.

Just like in the house, outside everything is a toy. For a little while the item of interest was the faucet cover, the styrofoam cover used to keep it from freezing in winter, fascinating!

Then Connor got interested in the broom and KiKi made the mistake if getting it out for him and showing him how to use it.

Uncle Brian let Chloe help open presents and hang on to the bows. Connor was still too focused on the broom.

It was a beautiful afternoon!

DryBar Success

Before dinner on Sunday night I tried the drybar in person. I've included some before and after pictures but I think it turned out pretty well.

Front before

Back before

The design of the place is really cute, a lot of white on white with a bright yellow accents here and there as their signature color.

My friend Heather joined me and had her hair done at the same time and although they encourage groups or parties, getting your hair blown dry isn't really conducive to chit chat. At one point they had two girls blowing my hair dry at once. I felt bad, like I had too much hair and they had to do extra work, but she said they just wanted to make sure I was done when Heather was done too.

Front after drybar

Back after drybar

One thing I liked but could be a little off-putting is that reservations and receipts are all done online. It is really efficient, but I know some would prefer to talk to someone in person.

The Dry Bar was really happening for a Sunday night and my stylist said they'd been busy on a pretty steady basis, so it seems like this concept can really be a success.

Cool Concept? drybar

Last week I had a client lunch, my last obligation from The Richards Group to help with introductions and transition of the new team. I call it an obligation, but it was actually really nice and I enjoyed it quite a bit. We had lunch at a little place called Nosh Euro Bistro. I not only enjoyed the company, but the food was pretty good as well. It seemed like it would be really romantic in the evening, so I thought I'd take Carl there this weekend.

Nosh is located in an upscale shopping strip on Oak Lawn, near Turtle Creek. I wanted to be a little early to our lunch, so I browsed through the shops before our meeting time. Two doors down from the restaurant was a salon concept I'd never seen before called Dry Bar, they spell it drybar described as "a blow dry bar." What really drew me in was the design work for the concept both inside the salon and the collateral materials. I picked up a copy of "the menu" and love the thick stock of the paper and rounded corners. I've scanned a copy but it's hard to tell without holding it in your hands and feeling the weight of the paper.

I don't know if a concept like this will take off. It seems odd to have a place that only blow dries your hair, the menu even says, "No cuts. No color. Just blowouts: Only $35." However, when I mentioned it to other girls they've said they'd love to try it since you can never get your hair to look as good as when you leave the salon. Since I wear my hair curly and leave with it wet (even at my salon) this isn't really a factor for me, but even I am intrigued by the menu item, Cosmopolitan: Lots of loose curls. I image it as a sleeker, more stylish version of my curls. For an additional $10 you get a "floater" a 10 minute scalp massage while they shampoo your hair. You get a shampoo with each blowout but the massage is optional.

I thought it was a very interesting concept and must have had some success since they have six other locations around the Los Angeles and Phoenix areas before opening in Dallas. Maybe I'll try it before our dinner Sunday and let you know how it goes.

Spring Blooms at the Arboretum

This year at the Arboretum's Spring Blooms they have fairy tale castles. We went last Sunday when they had an art show too, but honestly the best part is all of the amazing tulips.

Everyone needs their sunglasses

Thanks to GiGi for coming with us and pulling our wagon

Getting a little grumpy at the end of the morning

Since we have a membership we went again on Tuesday afternoon for a quick trip. They had a petting zoo mostly with goats and a bunny. The twins loved getting brushes that they could brush the goats with and they both got a chance to pet the bunny.

After that we played on a side lawn just out of site of the new DeGolyer Restaurant but within earshot of the pianist they had playing that afternoon. The twins ran all over the lawn exploring and Connor did a little dance to the piano music.

Soon they were ready for their afternoon naps. Next week I want to go back to get pictures made. They have a photographer set up and it's only $15 for a sitting. Also, if we can make nap schedules and lunch work out they have a kids music program at noon. Lots to do!

Recovering from Oral Surgery

Having all four wisdom teeth removed yesterday wasn't as bad as I anticipated. Of course, I'm still recovering. I have some pain, I can't eat anything unless it's cold and soft (chocolate milkshake is my favorite so far) and one cheek is really swollen. The doctor provided an ice pack that wraps around my chin to the top of my head to hold ice on each cheek. The kids think it's really strange.

Hopefully I'll be back to myself by this weekend.

Removing Wisdom Teeth

Today I go in for oral surgery to have all four of my wisdom teeth removed. About a year ago I went to a new dentist and at my first visit they recommended an oral surgeon and thought I should have my two lower partially impacted wisdom teeth removed. I wan't in a hurry for oral surgery.

Last week all the Swans were recovering from colds. My cold included a sore throat that irritated one tooth and made it swell and bleed a little where it was partially impacted so I thought I shouldn't put it off any longer. After a visit with the oral surgeon last week he recommended removing all four. It's not something I want to think about for too long so this was the earliest I could get in to get it done after putting it off for a year.

I hope it's not as awful as it seems. I may be out of it for a day or two, but I hope to be back to my normal routine by this weekend. We'll see how it goes.

Makin' Fun

So unfair, but we snapped these hilarious pictures of Connor. I bought this hoodie, but now he's starting to outgrow it. It's normally fine, but if you put the hoodie up he looks like a crazy yard gnome.

I also included a couple of cute shots of Chloe lounging just because.

And also one of Chloe's fashion sense

If you don't wear your skirt short and high how will anyone know that your bloomers match? You can pull this look off with a good pair of sunglasses!

Summer Sandals

Now that it's getting warmer, Connor has new flip flops. They are so cute on his chunky feet I can't stand it. I don't know if the chubby-footed adorableness translates well in photos but I took a couple of shots.

Connor loves wearing his new sandals and they were a total bargain. I got two pairs at Old Navy for $2.50 each, hard to beat.

Chloe is a size smaller and they didn't have the same kind of sandals for her, but also I felt like she needed something a little prettier. I ended up getting her these sandals at Target for $10.

Changing Perspective

Earlier this week I heard an interview on NPR's show Think. It was with chef Gabrielle Hamilton about her new memoir "Blood, Bones and Butter: The Inadvertent Education of a Reluctant Chef"


The interview and the book is about her unusual education and life that led her to becoming a chef and opening her own restaurant, Prune, in New York City. It was all very interesting but when the host asked her about her two sons and life balance she made two statements that stuck with me.

Paraphrased the best I can remember, Gabrielle said she removed the word "balance" from her vocabulary. That balance was an unachievable goal. Some days she new she didn't get to spend enough time with her sons and they we're getting robbed. Other days she wouldn't know what was going on at the restaurant but she had quality time with her kids. It's all a trade off.

Additionally, since she found she was only able to get quick naps in 20-30 minute increments she also had to redefine sleep. Instead of considering herself sleep deprived she redefined it as nap rich.

Just thought she had an interesting perspective while I try to define and find my own personal balance.

Dinner Tonight

As a continuation of my last post about challenges at meals. We made the mistake of letting the twins open presents from JoJo and Aunt Deb early and Connor could not let it go when it was time for dinner.

Challenges at Meals

We've been pretty lucky with the kids eating well at meals, but we do have some challenges.

Connor is our really good eater. He will usually try anything and cleans his plate on a regular basis. He's been trying to use utensils but sometimes ends up just playing.



Since playing is more important to Connor than eating lately whenever I say, "time to eat" he runs off crying. The other day he was playing with is soccer ball and refused to sit down and eat without it.

For Chloe meal time can be much more dramatic. 

She's a little more picky about what she eats, sometimes she refuses to eat anything unless she has her milk first. Other times she won't eat at all. When she won't eat it's usually because she doesn't feel well and often it's because she's breaking in a new tooth. Teething seems to bother Chloe so much more than Connor.

Meals can be really frustrating but ultimately we have to remember that if they miss a meal or two they won't starve to death and they'll eat when they're hungry. It's just so hard when the can't talk and tell you what's wrong or what they want beyond saying "no." Of course it may not be any easier when they can talk.

A Visit to the Nasher

I really enjoy the Nasher Sculpture Center and since we're members we can go any time and even if it's a quick visit that works out just fine. That's what we did Sunday afternoon. One of our first pretty Spring days and we took the kids outside at the Nasher.

We got a couple of cute shots and I thought I'd just share them all. I'm usually the one taking the pictures so I'm not in most of the shots, but right at the end of our visit Carl got a shot of Chloe and I both.

Photos from our Mardi Gras trip

The title of this post is a little misleading because I was terrible and didn't get any pictures of the twins from our trip to Louisiana for Mardi Gras.

I did take one picture and I think it turned out great if I do say so myself. We visited the Acadiana Zoo with Lauren, Kevin, and cousin Andrew and I snapped this shot when we rode the train.

I really love that the twins get a chance to play with Andrew, but an unexpected benefit is how much I learn from Lauren. Since Andrew and the twins are so close in age, Lauren and I are going through similar Mommy struggles at the same time. I've found touching base with Lauren on things we're going through to be invaluable. It helps just to know someone else is dealing with the same challenges and often she has a good solution that worked for her and Andrew. 

They say "it takes a village" and I believe that's true, but a more modern village networks. Facebook, blogging, Twitter, and email have all been helpful providing me the connection needed to make raising twins just a little bit smoother.

Parade Season

About a month ago we got a package in the mail from Aunt Marlene and Uncle Kirk in Lafayette, Louisiana. They sent the twins adorable Mardi Gras shirts and bibs.

A friend of Lauren, cousin Andrew's Mom, makes them at Not So Ordinary Creations. They have adorable stuff for all occasions or just to be cute in general.

I so loved the Mardi Gras shirts and bibs I got excited thinking about taking the kids to their first parade. Carl was able to take a few days off and since my schedule is flexible we packed up and drove to Lafayette. We stayed with JoJo, visited with all of the family, and on Tuesday headed to Uncle Kirt and Aunt Marlene's for a day of festivities. They live right near the parade route so their house is perfect. 

The twins has so much fun playing with the other kids as well as all of Andrew's cool toys like his new outdoor play set (super cool) and wagon (we had to buy one of our own). They had so much fun they ended up napping through the parade. I think it was a perfect first Mardi Gras and they were totally dressed for the occasion.

Since the twins didn't officially make it to any parades at Mardi Gras, we headed out to the St. Patrick's Parade on Greenville last Saturday. Not exactly the caliber of Mardi Gras in Louisiana, but still fun and great weather this year. We were a little late because of naps but still had a ton of fun, in our new wagon.

Thank you to Chris Smith for taking our picture and holding a spot for us at the parade with Clara, Cal, and Fin. Thanks Smiths!