Wet Banana

This takes me back to when I was a kid and we had The Wet Banana a.k.a Slip and Slide. It was a long yellow piece of plastic that had water running down it. Our house in Sandy, growing up, sat up on a hill. When we would put the Wet Banana on it you could get some serious speed. Unfortunately the hill is short so you could easily end up with some full body scraps on the fast approaching sidewalk. My worst injuring was with a spectator. I went sliding down and my friend was standing near the bottom of the Banana and I clipped his legs out from under him. My bucked tooth friend (yes we had that in common) came flying down on top of me. His before mentioned tooth came driving through my upper lip. I have a scar to this day that prevents me, for better or worse, from growing an even mustache.

Another comment about this picture above. You will notice that Hudson is wearing his pajama's and it is 4 in the afternoon. I was talking to Leyla and kinda of feeling bad that I was creating the next Hugh Hefener. Leyla then informed me that Maddox had just spent the last two hours watching TV naked on their couch. 

In need of interior design tips?

I walked into my parents bathroom and tripped on some bad taste! I haven't known my mother to make such questionable choices in the past. I knew there had to be a story. Apparently a sweet old women that my mom picks up for church every Sunday wanted to thank her. My mother felt obligated to use the toilet bling. Of course I felt a little guilty for giving her grief about it, but I kinda hope the women will give her a shirt or coat next time.

Young Dexter?

It was date night for Mel and I. We decided to bring along this young serial killer you see pictured above for protection in the mean streets of Sandy. I thought it was so cute when Hudson would make his little sinister face. And then I thought to myself this face is really cute at 2, but what happens when he turns 20 or 30 and makes this face? I've seen this look on the walls of the post office. Needless to say he will be put in an immediate timeout if I see this look again. Better safe than sorry I always say.

A Jimmy Buffet Moment

Mel was at work so I decided Hudson and I needed to spend some quality time together. So what better way then to take a walk to our friendly neighborhood Kmart. So kicked on the flip flops, grabbed Hudson and the stroller and we were off. Road trip Jesus style. The Kmart is not quite a mile from our house. We get to the parking lot and then I stumble and nearly hit the pavement. I look down and realize I had my Jimmy Buffet moment. I blew out my flip flop! I limp into the store using the stroller more as a walker and less as a child transporting device. Hudson of course wants to go straight to the toy section. I am still vying for father of the year so I happily oblige figuring I can deal with my hoof problem right after. Hudson picks out some Matchbox cars and then I begin my quest to find some cheap footwear to get me home. I had my choice of a Macgregor golf shoe with spikes or what I can only describe as something I've seen worn by lunch ladies. The choice had been made for me. I was walking home with nothing between me and the earth. We start to head home and realize quickly I had made a poor choice. The 100 degree weather had ensured that the pavement had reached 150 plus. After my third degree burn I decided to drag one foot in the grass where ever possible. I finally made it home blistered and sun beaten.

Bug Encounter!

Last night I was walking my nephew Griffin back to my parents house. I left the sliding glass door open because I knew Hudson would follow us. I dropped Griffin off at my parents house and started to walk back to my house. I then hear Hudson screaming. I looked over and could see he was under the porch light that was on attracting all kinds of moths and large bugs. I run over and pick him up and run in the house and slam the sliding door behind us. I then see two large coming right towards us with bad intentions. I'm not sure but I think one bug had a dog in its mouth. I take a few swings that seem to scare them off. Hudson lets out a groan and I look down and see this bug has landed on my shirt. In one of my least proudest moments I screamed like a girl at a Hannah Montana concert. I nearly dropped Hudson to put into effect my natural reaction of clutching my imaginary pearls. A reaction I have tried to rid myself of. But as evidenced in my previous statement, I have not quite kicked the habit. I ran Hudson upstairs into the safety of his room. I then grabbed the fly swatter and told him, in my best Clint Eastwood, I was going to take care of business. I flew downstairs and began swinging that fly swatter to kill first ask questions later. Needless to say MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!! I pray Hudson is too young to remember some of my more sissy moments.

Discovery Gateway

So we decided to hit the Discovery Gateway. It is good air conditioned fun for kids in the summer. The picture above Maddox, Gabe and Hudson decided to go on a boat ride. Now you may be looking at this picture saying ‘Wow this is a bad picture, It’s blurry, nobody is looking at the camera, the lighting is bad. Why would Xav pick this photo?’ Well I tell you why. We got back from our trip from California and I started to share photos with my sisters and Mom. My lovely Mother started to point out that Only Hudson, Mel and I were in my photos. You would see the occasional arm or foot of a sister or nephew, but thats all. At this point I realize I’m a bit of jerk. But my persistent mother wants to make sure I am clear on the error of my ways. She say’s “ It looks like you were on this trip by yourselves.” “ Do you not care about the rest of the family?”. (Make sure you read these quotes with a scolding nicaraguan accent. It hurts more that way.) She even calls me the next day to let me know my Aunt loved the photos on the web, but wanted to know where the rest of the family was when we were in Disneyland. I could almost feel my Mothers tiny fist come through the phone and punch me in the face.

Mom if you read this I Love you and please don’t hit me.... Again.