Traveling...

So this week our floors were sanded and our bedrooms painted. So we traveled...

First we spent two nights at a local hotel. Small room, free breakfast. We let the kids watch TV. ( Anyone else wonder what the folks writing cartoons are smoking?)

Then the kids and I spent two nights at Grandma and Grandpa's new home. They still have lots of boxes, but no dust or cat smell. And, they let me sleep in (past 7!!!) The kids loved the new pool. Mommy liked the new hot tub. It was during this stay that I realized I'd packed no shoes for myself. I started to get a bit tired of the black flip flops I'd been wearing all week.

The final stop of the week was Bear Mountain. There Daddy would join us (poor guy, he'd spent two nights in a hotel All. By. Himself.) We'd celebrate my dad's birthday. The lodge was great. 

Daniel: There's a TV in every room!! Can I watch one?!

Mom: no.

The kids liked the playground next to the lake. This is when I realized I'd traveled an hour and spent a great deal of money just to do what I do every Saturday at home: Sit in a park and read my phone while my kids run around. Only the view was a bit better.

As always happens when you plan a big birthday party: someone got sick. So we ate pizza on the porch and toasted Grandpa with plastic cups of wine. Thankfully he wasn't the one who got sick.

I may have started drinking heavily day 4 of this journey.

Side cars are delicious. You should try one.

The kids are all asleep now. Or they better be, if they know what's good for them.

(Not all the kids were excited about their matching t-shirts.)

Tomorrow we go home and move in, again. The painters (who said they'd be done Wednesday, then Friday, then Saturday...) have been told that Monday is the first day of school and we are NOT sleeping anywhere but our own beds. 

$&@? it.

How was your weekend?!

Single Child...

Andrew and I have never had just one child. We dove into this parenting thing IN THE DEEP END. Meaning, we adopted our two kids at the same time... a package deal... boy/girl, brother/sister, big kid/baby. We went from quiet, clean apartment and sleeping in to a loud, cluttered apartment and way too early mornings overnight.

So this weekend has been quite odd. Daniel is spending a couple of days with Grandma and Grandpa and his best bro... his 5 year old cousin. (Click here to read more about these soul mates.) With just one child around its been pretty quiet. At least, during the day time.  At night time, well, that's another story. Lily and our sleeping saga (or rather, NOT sleeping saga) has reached a new low.  I won't admit the details, but let's just say I was worried that our neighbors would call the police.  Our girl is LOUD.

We've been having a very sleepy quiet day with our little girl, trying to repair the damage caused by another stressful, sleepless night with baking, snuggles on the couch and a marathon hair session.  Wish us luck for this evening. Or, send me the Super Nanny's phone number, if you have it. :)

In the meantime, these boys are having the best time with their devoted Grandparents: spaghetti and meatballs, pancakes, model train adventures, a trip to the aquarium, probably some i-pad game playing... I have a feeling Grandma and Grandpa will need a few days rest after a weekend with these two.

Hope you all are enjoying some peaceful nights as the end of the year approaches!