For some reason there's a mile or so of abandoned highway in the next town over. It's accessible but has no parking near it, so no one uses it. So we rode bikes over there (4-5 miles maybe? easy) and took the kids out on it. Boy rode his new bike with training wheels. As we were helmeting up and all, we saw two fox. They didn't even act ascared of us. Then we saw several snakes, much graffiti and rubber marks and burned sticks. I think it's mostly for animals and screwing around kids. I propose families take it back.

Soon we will go to the other end on the "outside" and see if it's more accessible. There's a relatively new wildlife observation deck, so someone is using it.

Spent the weekend camping on a lake in Maine. Fun, but it'll be more fun when our lil house is there.

Yesterday, while running laps around the tent, little boy tripped on a stake, smashed into hubby's boot. Right, like dss is going to believe the "fell" into daddy's boot line. Not to mention I think it may be broken. Seriously thinking that if the pediatrician won't do anything for it, of not telling anyone. Mandated reporters and whatnot.

Am I a bad mom if I find a babysitter for opening night of The Simpsons The Movie?

Today I was in target, with my long list about 3% complete, when I ran into a friend I have been having trouble connecting with for about 2 years. She has never met babygirl. So I dropped the list and we went to Denny's. I finished out the list this afternoon at walmart. And replaced the screenhouse purchased at target with the walmart version for 36/103 of the price. I don't get it.

Anyhoo, it was super fun catching up. Someone who knows me as just plain old me, not from childhood or as a mom, but as a true adult person. I showed her pics of the kids, sure, but we mostly talked about architecture and long lost friends from former jobs.

It'll probably be another two years before we repeat though.

In the interest of saving some money and eating more healthily, I've decided to plan our meals. I have never, ever, been a planner. I don't even know how to do this. I guess I need a calendar or something. It is pretty fun, though, that this afternoon we made dessert for tonight. It's very exciting.

We made honeydew melon with Jello inside. I feel so 50s housewife, in that "junk food twist on fruit" way.

The senseis are back from vacation and not a moment too soon. We love each other but we need structure.

Remember this post? Her baby died having lived only 12 days.

Now her angel has a little sister. I'm just so happy. She had a beautiful, healthy baby girl on Tuesday. Congratulations B and the whole B family!

So there's this song we have that goes "shananana mommy's sleeping/getting up/running/jumping/tired/start over". It's very catchy and we all like it. M loves to sing "shananana mommy ti-yud". G likes to interpret and add things. It's hysterical.

"Mommy's cutting the grass. Mommy's hunting. Mommy's digging for rocks."

The funniest part is, it's never things I do. He never says "mommy's folding laundry" or "drinking coffee". I crack up every.single.time.

So people came and looked at our house this weekend. If they had already sold their house, they'd buy ours. Meaning we need to figure out where the freak we are moving to. The list is getting longer. And while I'm really enjoying sketching up our new house, without a site it's all kind of a load. Sigh.

My daughter is 20 months old. Sure, she's only been walking for 2.5 months, but she can count to ten. So this morning, there were some cards out, so she counted for the sitter and I. The sitter lined up 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10. Babygirl identified each one and told me ten was "one oh!"

I bought workbooks last week to work with big brother full well knowing that she's going to be helping plenty.

Additionally, the beach pass might have been the best $35 ever spent. Time it at low tide and it's fun, safe, and not too busy. Yesterday we got there at 1:30 and parked right at the entrance, as on a 90 degree day, those who got there at 9 are fried and heading home.

Not to mention that babygirl falls asleep and we go to karate where she sleeps in a/c comfort while I watch 4 year olds barely not kill each other.

My boy has started karate. He has now gone four times, two private and two group lessons. It is hysterical. He loves it. Hiya! I wish they had classes during babygirl's nap time, as she could snooze in a stroller, but instead I'm keeping her quiet and off the mats the entire time and not really paying attention to my boy.

Today we went to the beach, even in the rain. It was actively raining when we arrived, so we ate lunch under the pavilion. By the time we were done it was merely cloudy and drizzly, so we walked to the waterfront, where they dug. Then, of course, a game ensued with cousin A (who had her sixth birthday today, happy to you princess) which involved laying in the sand. Apparently there were child eating vermin in the sand and this is what we get:


He's asleep now under the power of Benadryl. He seems to be doing just fine.

I think the rule should be that you don't host Fathers' Day bbqs at your house on your birthday. At least everyone else brought stuff so it was relatively easy but seriously. I got no rest and the girl was up at 5. I'm pooped out.

We're trying to sort things out in the car today. Fireman Sam lives in England, and maybe that's why no firefighter has the red Captain helmet. But Bob the Builder lives in England. So I ponder that maybe if Bob has a fire at one of his sites, Sam will come put it out.

This is, apparently, the funniest joke ever. Even funnier than "why did the monkey throw the trash can out the window? he wanted a fire truck."

Somehow, I found myself in stitches as well. I'm reverting to 4 years old.

Gosh am I a slacker.

We went away for the long weekend. Camping in Acadia. The boy climbed a mountain all by himself. It was lovely. We're still putting things away.

Babysitter got sick. Niece and auntie came to visit. We went to the beach.

Today we went to the beach again and I bought the annual pass. Five trips and it pays for itself. I just wish I bought it last week.

Also, the boy started Karate today. He is having serious "respecting others" issues, particularly with regard to intentionally hurting them. Bleh. I don't want to raise a bully.

I mean, I really do love her. I just think I might love her more if we could sleep until like 7. Or at least six. I get in this punky mood at 7:30 when I've been up for two hours and no one is listening to me and how can we have 3 hours to get ready and get our butts out the door and still not make it?

I bought a room darkening shade for the window next to the crib. Maybe, just maybe, this will give me an extra hour of beauty sleep. Actually we shall call it sanity sleep.

I just need to share this. Thanks M.

"Mom, you know what I need chopsticks for? To kill dogs. I need to kill dogs because sometimes I need dog meat. Know why I need dog meat? To make medicine."

I don't know where it came from but it does sound like some ancient Chinese thing, so the chopsticks fit.

Don't let me get disconnected from reality in my old age. I'm not talking dementia, I'm talking really egocentric like old men do. These people on my street live here like 30% of the time and have now blocked the lane 4 times in the last 3 weeks. Like all day. Once they sent us a notice saying they were going to be doing this. Thanks for the notice but I have places to go morons.

"And can you put a bell on your cat? He's hanging out by our bird feeder". I did, but it's not on any more and I"m not replacing it.

Or your freakin puppy is all excited about my kids and climbing on them, and somehow this is *their* fault? "Oh he's getting too excited". My kids are walking away and mildly freaked out, you can't reel him in a tish? By the way, in the eyes of the law and the rest of the world, my kids rank higher than your dog.

I love that all it takes to get my husband in a good mood is a trip out to the beach after dinner. I hate that it is 8:53 at night and his phone is ringing while he's reading stories to the boy for bed. No wonder he was in a bad mood.

Best mothers day yet. Lovely breakfast, lovely flowers, lovely family afternoon, perfect weather. Altogether marvelous.

For weeks now, Daddy and Boyza talk about the two dogs we're going to have at the Farm, Blue and Moon. So tonight I was doing bedtime and wanted more information.

"Actually, momma, three dogs. Choker, Blue, and Moon. Choker is white, Blue is black, and Moon is fuzzy. Actually, momma, Moon is black with white spots - one looks like a half moon and one a full moon. Blue is white. And Choker has throwup all over him.. We'll paint him to look like throwup."

Poor dog. I seriously was tearing up, laughing.

Upon walking into a candy shop where fresh pralines were being made, "I want some of whatever smells so good".

Overall, excellent trip. The one thing I learned is that there is no, zero, benefit to using a travel agent. Our plane ride was much harder than it needed to be (flew from Boston through Philly to Nola, when our friend got same rate from Manchester direct to Nola), our room and car were no cheaper than I found online, and the hotel had some serious service issues. We requested a crib months ago. Pack and plays are like $40. Oh and I know we got one of the smallest rooms in the place. All 4 of us.

Anyhoo, great time was had by all. Much sun, swimming, eating, drinking. And a little volunteering by the husbands. Actually a lot.

When we got up and left the hotel at 4 am, sunday, the streets were as packed as they were at 10 when we went to bed. Everyone was just more drunk.

Tomorrah! Tomorrah! I love ya tomorrah! You're only a day away.

Because tomorrow, we are going to N'ohlins. With the parents, and the sister and the niece. Which means plenty of swimming with the kids, grandfolks wiht the kids, and cocktails.

The bag is packed, there is a little spot in there for the aquarium (thanks gals, I will be packing it and those D batteries ;o), clothes for tomorrow are all laid out, small toys and snacky things and empty sippy cups (thanks homeland security) are in the carry on. I am going to vacuum the carseats and the double stroller, and then we're airport bound at 7 am. The worst part is, 7 am is not excessively early. It actually shouldn't be that hard to be ready.

I have to find quarters for the car wash vacuum. Or drag the dyson outside. Hm.