Where I’ve been

Whenever my mom is here we seem to attempt a massive organizing/cleaning overhaul of my house. With a new baby only two months away, as you can imagine, my mom arrived for this visit to one very long to-do list.

You know, minor things like steam-cleaning the rugs and vacuuming under the couch cushions, getting the dust bunnies out from under my bed… (And yes, we totally made Andy hold the mattresses back while we vacuumed and mopped under there. He’s a good sport.)

Yesterday we went through all the clothes currently in my dresser – I still had non-maternity summer stuff taking up real estate in there. What’s up with that? We also sorted through the girls’ dresser and closet and made some room in there for Girl 3.

Today before Andy left for work, he helped us carry down 8 huge storage bins of baby clothes from the attic. Whenever one of the kids changed sizes or we had a season change, I just threw things in bins and tossed them up there.

Which means that nothing was organized by sex or size. Yeah, I know, efficient.

So during naptime we dumped them all out, sifted out a garbage bag’s worth of Goodwill stuff, and put everything back according to size and gender. I now have a bin of preemie to 3 mo. that I can grab out when the time comes and have everything together, ready to go. (Well, it’ll need to be washed. But still.)

We also got all the girls’ fall clothes accessible. (Mostly Adelaide’s… I haven’t done much shopping ahead for Madeline.) I know I’ll thank myself when the cold weather hits and I don’t have to root around in the attic for something suitable for them to wear.

(I also should mention that you can’t fully stand up in our attic. So bending half-over, scooting things around, and shoving them to where Andy could carry them down, well, that was quite literally backbreaking work. I’ll be on the couch for the rest of the week, if you need me.)

Need some cleaning done? Invite my mom over, she’s no joke.

I may have forgotten how to cook

I haven’t mentioned it but my mom has actually been here all week. The first few days she spent helping my sisters get their dorm room set up and staying at my brother/SIL’s house. She’s been staying here since Friday, and you can bet my kids are having fun.

It was a busy week! I was able to go out with some girlfriends to dinner and to see Julie & Julia. (Have you seen it? I know Meryl Streep was speaking the way Julia Child did but I have to say it drove me up the wall.) All my friends left saying it made them want to go cook. It made me want to run from the kitchen.

It could just be the pregnancy.

My mom, sisters, and I took the kids to Andy’s restaurant one night and then we also went back, sans kids, over the weekend with some friends. It turned out to be the week for eating out – we also made a stop for lunch at the tea room on Saturday and out for Chinese that same night. Andy and I even had a dinner date this week at Chili’s.

All that to say, I guess I can’t complain about having to cook this week since I’ve clearly been spoiled with all my un-cooking lately. (To top it off, my mom had made a big Sunday meal for us yesterday for my siblings and a cousin. I didn’t even heat up the rolls.)

Total change of subject… Saturday night we had to get the groceries for Sunday lunch and stopped in Walmart (I also needed more 2T girls’ underwear… can’t imagine why) and my sister and I turned around to see Drew with his hands cupped around something.

It was a handful of cigarette butts he had pilfered from the ashtray by the front door.

!!!

In all fairness, I don’t think he knows anyone who smokes and hasn’t really been exposed to the concept. I doubt he knew what they were. And I think we probably embarrassed him by our shocked cries of disgust. But still, ew. (His hands got a quick Purell bath, needless to say.)

And here he thought he had found himself a little treasure. Ha.

Weekend Visitors

Oh. Hi.

(A blog? What’s that? I have one?)

I hadn’t intended to take a break this past week, but I know you really didn’t want to hear about the laundry. I’m sure that’s all I did (at least until Friday when my friend Sarah called for a playdate at the park).

But this weekend was busy, full, and FUN. Andy’s folks flew down for a quick visit, arriving at our house a little after noon on Saturday.

This takes a little explaining. Andy is an only child. However, his friend J lived with Andy’s family during summers and Christmas vacations and he’s sort of like the adopted son/brother. He was the best man in our wedding. (And then surprised us all and got married himself, a couple of years later.) He and his wife live in Atlanta.

So anyway, Andy’s folks drove here with them. The guys, including Drew, went golfing Saturday afternoon and Drew pretty much thought he had died and went to heaven. (As Andy so perfectly put it, he “got to drive around in a golf cart, run around in a field, hit a ball with a metal object, and hang out with dad.”)

(And yes, he’s been asking to go play golf ever since. Andy even bought him a set of real, albeit tiny, clubs.)

(They’re currently residing on the very top shelf.)

Meanwhile, both my girls, my mom-in-law, and L all went to tea (what else?) and then did a little boutique shopping. I was a little curious/nervous to see how Adelaide would do but she did great!

She only dumped one cup of tea in her lap but made up for it with the other twelve that she actually drank. (They were baby cups. But still. Let’s just say we found out she likes tea.)

(And I’m still kicking myself that I didn’t get any pictures of Adelaide’s first real tea party. I was sure I left my camera at home and later found that it had been in my purse that entire time. GAH.)

The boutique maternity store I wanted to show L (also pregnant) ended up being closed but we were able to peek around one of my favorite kids stores. Later I’ll have to show you the matching dresses my mom-in-law bought the girls. (They need to be hemmed.)

Saturday night we got a babysitter (only took me two weeks; EVERYONE is out of town) and we all went to Andy’s restaurant for a VERY nice dinner and I didn’t even have to cut up anyone’s food!

(Fortunately Andy’s pretty good about cutting his own.)

(The only mistake was my drinking waaay too much iced tea. I woke up at 3:45 WIDE AWAKE, which was rather inconvenient.)

After church we had a quick lunch of Chinese food and then the kids played a little with the grandparents before they needed to head back.

A whirlwind trip, but very fun.

Sweet Visits

Last night a friend from college came to see me, and brought her three-month-old bundle of pink. My sisters showed up conveniently about five minutes before, and were able to help me with the last-minute bedtime preparations so I could spend my time gabbing with Monique. (Thankfully the kids had already been bathed before the doorbell ever rang, so there really wasn’t much to do.)

We had tea and she stayed really late – a great time in my book!

And then my phone rang this morning, and it was my Aunt Florence, who is in town for my cousin/her son’s music concert. She wondered if she and Aunt Collyn could stop by, and maybe Nicky wouldn’t mind walking over as well.

I wasted no time calling Nicky and special-ordering muffins, while I was at it. I mean, if I’m expected to have an impromptu tea party, the least she could do is bring the muffins. Oh, and don’t forget the pineapple!

(Don’t you wish you were my neighbor?)

We had a sweet, lovely time together. My sister turned up again with a friend (who needed to interview Madeline for her Dev. Psych class), which meant we also had someone to watch all the kids outside so we could enjoy our tea and muffins from the comfort of the living room. Nice!

I mentioned a family heartbreak a few weeks back. My aunt showed us her pictures and told us some of the details we hadn’t yet heard. It was such a bittersweet time – sweet to be together, yet sorrowful about the reality of it all. (Again, sorry to be so vague, but I’ll fill you in if and when I have permission.)

It was such a blessing to be able to spend time with dear people I don’t get to see very often. (Unfortunately I don’t have any pictures since my camera has decided to walk off.)

Because there’s nothing like grilling when it’s 35 degrees out

While shopping yesterday, I noticed that country-style pork ribs were on sale and tossed a package into my cart. My dad left today, and I thought it’d be fun to have a not-so-ordinary meal together last night before he went.

And BBQ just sounded good.

Drew thought the fire was quite possibly the coolest thing ever. When they walked in with the food-laden platter, I asked him enthusiastically if it was fun to help papa and he said “I didn’t help, I just watched.”

Ever the realist.

(And no, I don’t know why he’s wearing SANDALS.)

Unfortunately, after dinner, I got hit with a 12-hour stomach bug and that’s all I’m going to say about that. I feel much better today, a little weak perhaps, but my kids all still have coughs. Drew sounds like a baby seal (although, no, I’m not exactly sure what baby seals sound like – I’m using my imagination) and he stayed home from school today.

We haven’t been sick in almost a year, so I suppose we were due.

(And we’re good for another whole year, right?)

A beautiful day in the neighborhood

My dad is here! He has a meeting in Atlanta next week so he flew in early to be with us this weekend. My sisters and I talked him into a riveting game of Taboo last night and obviously he’s been playing with the grandkids a lot.

My girls took a bath this morning and almost immediately I heard Madeline yell “MOM! SHE POOPED IN THE TUB!”

WOE. IS. ME.

It ended up being a CEREAL bar. Who takes a bath with a cereal bar?!

But since it wasn’t poop, I was happy as a clam. Except they had also clogged the tub with huge wads of shredded toilet paper. I spent an unbelievable amount of time straining out dripping strings of tissue paper and soggy bits of wheat product.

I couldn’t make this stuff up if I tried.

Andy and my dad just took Drew and Madeline to the waterfall and later (meaning naptime), my sisters and I are going to “Marley and Me” at the cheap theater. We also have a dinner invitation from my brother and sister-in-law.

It’s shaping up to being a beautiful Saturday after all.

Today’s post brought to you in part by ‘A Bug’s Life’

My parents are probably at the airport by now. It’s always sad to see them go. The past two days have been overcast here and I always have to fight to maintain a cheerful spirit when the weather is gray. And oftentimes I lose. Cup of tea, anyone?

I picked up Drew from preschool yesterday… (nevermind that I was daydreaming and missed the main turn and then tried to feel my way back via backroads. I totally made it there by the hair of my chinny chin chin. They’re strict; six minutes late and you have to pay a late fee!)

There were no tears. Andy said he had hopped on out of the van in the morning with a “bye, Dad!” thrown over his shoulder as he trotted off with his new teacher. When I went to get him later he was still just his happy self. Apparently there was a birthday because he said they ate some cake “but not for [his] birthday because [his] birthday is in January.”

The other funny thing he told me is “THEY DIDN’T TEACH ME MY ABC’S!!!”

Me: “But, Drew, didn’t you learn about “A” today?”

“Yes, and apple.”

“It’s one letter a week, bud. Not everything at once.”

He also asked me if my sisters would be at our house when we got there and I said no, they’re at school. He said “I go to school now, too, because I’m big. I’m big like Micah.” (Micah was a little boy we knew up North that started kindergarten last year and so Drew naturally thought he was big time.)

Other than that we’ve just been hanging out with my family, including eating junk food and making a trip to Target yesterday with my mom and sisters. They needed fun things like college room accessories and I needed paper towels. Hmph.

The rain has made the temps a little on the chilly side, so last night I rummaged around in my attic a bit and am happy to report that most of my kids warmer clothes still fit. Madeline’s jeans are waaaaay too short, but otherwise we’re good to go. Is it just me or did the summer seem not very long and not very hot?

Although, this is the South. We could be warm until November.

Happy Sunday

My parents and siblings are all here (yay!) so I probably won’t be posting much the next few days. (Although I’m sure I’ll blog Drew’s first day of school on Tuesday.)

(!)

I was busy preparing lunch for everyone after church and a wasp stung my collar bone.

In my own kitchen!

The nerve!

Okay, off to enjoy my coffee and my peeps.

Supermommies

Alternate title: Another Day Full o’ Fun

We had a lazy morning. The kids played while Dolly and I drank our coffee and read blogs together. (See? That’s why we’re BFFs.) After we threw everyone’s clothes on we went to the park for a while, got hot and dirty, and then came home and dumped the four older kids in the backyard pool.

You know, to get them clean.

They also ate their lunch outside. I’m all about keeping the mess OUTside. Where the hose is handy.

After a “shower” on the back deck, we tossed them in front of a movie and then down for naps. Dolly and I even got a decent nap ourselves. So it must’ve been a good day.

We decided to go to the mall for dinner and then planned to let the kids play in the free play area after. Which meant that we had to fit all five carseats into her minivan.

The only way I could squeeze three in a row in the backseat was to have Adelaide in Chandler’s seat facing backwards (which she sits that way anyway), and then Ruthie and Madeline’s boosters wedged in next to her. I was sweating by the time I had wrestled all the seats into place. And I had to put Adelaide in hers through the back hatch.

At least we’re well beyond public embarrassment… Yes, we always load our babies through the trunk. Don’t you?

I had a free coupon for something (ahem) and then I also saw “THE FINAL SALE” on a sign outside of Ann Taylor. And because Dolly rocks, she let me run in there to peek at their sale rack while the kids played.

I even found a few steals, which always makes me happy. When we got home the kids each got a small dish of ice cream and were sent to bed. I cleaned the kitchen and Dolly folded my laundry.

See why I love her?

Now we’re doing what the rest of America is doing and watching the Olympics.

And also, eating ice cream.

The theme of the weekend: Food

Last weekend we had our Atlanta friends up to hang out with us. The guys went golfing Saturday afternoon (I know, must be a hard life) and then we snagged a babysitter for a late dinner together at Andy’s old restaurant.

All four of us were starving and probably ordered way too many appetizers. But it couldn’t be helped. For the first course, Andy and I each had the tomato and bread soup (meaning croutons) with Parmesan and basil, to die for. We all got our own entrees, of course, and then attempted our best shot at four different desserts. (Two of which we didn’t order; they were sent to our table on the house.)

So basically we ate ourselves senseless.

And then they had to call a crane to get us home.

Liz and Josiah stayed (slept on our newly purchased luxurious ultra comfortable high-end blowup mattress) to go to church with us and then left after we had lunch.

I spent the rest of the afternoon napping. Which is what you’re supposed to do on Sundays, you know.

Rough and Tumble

So, where was I?

Oh yes. John and Vangie (my cousin) were in town for a music something-or-other this weekend so we got them Saturday night through Sunday dinner.

We always have fun with them. It’s nice to hang out with people that are generally likeminded and you don’t have to explain your whole life story to.

Because Vange and I? We go back a little ways.

And she’s the only college roommate I ever had. She put up with me – which is convenient – and did my laundry the entire semester we were in France. (Shrunk my favorite sweater once, though.)

But anyway, that’s not really what I was going to write about.

While we were eating our yummy (thankyouverymuch) stir-fry, I looked up to where Drew was standing at the top of the stairs, with his pants and underwear down around his ankles, and watched him in slow motion (or so it seemed) fall headfirst down the stairs.

He’s fine. A little red bump on his forehead, but otherwise no worse for wear. A little dent to the pride, perhaps, if he’d been a little older.

The poor little guy! He was just tryin’ to get those pesky pants back up and needed a little help. Didn’t realize you can’t actually walk down the stairs with your legs and feet thus tied.

But, man, it was a sight I’m sure we won’t soon forget.

Today’s Random Tidbits

Adelaide took her first step on Monday. I forgot to tell the interpeeps, sorry. Third child and all.

Anyway, today we had a fun visit from friends. Two of my college housemates (Jeannette and Em) and their respective offspring drove down and spent the early afternoon with us; sipping tea, eating, playing, watching kids scale the furniture (and windowsills), and eating some more. I’m very good at throwing food at people.

And, also, Em mentioned she can always count on me for a decent cup of tea.

I aim to please.

(And make good tea.)

After they left I zonked out on the couch for two whole hours. I could hardly believe my eyes when I got up and spied the clock. It must have been the sugar crash. And also, sometimes my kids wear me out. Anyway, I here profess my undying love for the Afternoon Nap.

The last random tidbit about today: I got home from the grocery store, ushered the kids to bed, and began cleaning out the fridge in order to stock it fresh. I pulled out the fruit bin at the bottom and lo and behold, there was a huge pool of brown dried sticky, gooey something that smelled rather like toffee, sitting in the bottom of my refrigerator.

I could not, for the life of me, think of what on earth it was. It took a sweet forever to scrape off and scrub. It was my French vanilla creamer…I vaguely remember it falling over when the door rail broke. It had evaporated into unrecognizableness but when I added water, it again turned milky white and I immediately knew what it was.

A sorry way to end a fun day, but, well, I guess that’s just Life.

Back in the Land of the Hosting

So.

We ended up with the salmon and lamb. [I’m sure Nicky is snickering right about now since she knows I’m slightly particular when it comes to anything, well, salmony or lamby. But I will say that it was much tastier than I had anticipated.]

Let me back up.

Some friends of ours invited themselves over for New Year’s Eve. We love it when people do that, for the record.

Actually, let me rephrase. We love it when people we love invite themselves over. I’m sure you understand.

Our self-invited couple was Ezra and Alissa and then they also asked another couple; so there were six of us. E and A brought the meat, (aforementioned lamb and salmon), I did the potatoes, salad and rolls, and Sheryl made the dessert(s). Which I just realized I forgot to take a picture of. Ah, well, now it’s too late.

When we first started talking about the evening, I suggested just having fancy appetizers. That was met with general disdain in the Andy and Ezra department. They wanted a full-course meal. Fine, but I have no idea how to cook lamb. Or salmon, for that matter.

We told Alissa she could bring whatever meat she wanted. And, even after the runaround, they still showed up with those two things from my particular list. But that’s okay because I’m an adult now.

I know how to gulp things down with water.

Totally kidding. It really was tasty.

And, I’m surprisingly awake this morning for having gone to bed at 3 a.m. It’s probably a combination of all the coffee drunk yesterday and the fact that it’s very hard to get quality sleep with three little voices making their wakeful presence known.

I may be in for a nap this first afternoon of the year. I’m sure you understand.

A Quick Visit

Erin and Micah were here! (That’s my brother and his wife, in case you didn’t know.) They flew in to pick up a car she got for Christmas and the dealer just happened to be in our area. So, lucky us! We don’t seem to keep up that often since we’re all slightly busy, but we had a fabulous time catching up. They’ve headed down South again today. Our time with them was short but sweet.

Can’t Sleep

It may have something to do with the Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha from Starbucks I had late this afternoon.

Oh well, we only live once. And it was worth it.

So, Thanksgiving.

Andy’s friend/best-man-in-our-wedding, Josiah, and his wife are here visiting, staying with Andy’s folks. We had Thanksgiving Dinner over there, which was nice. I didn’t even have to clean! And I still have yet to roast a turkey. Although I did bring the pies, rolls, and the sweet potatoes.

Which, bytheway, convinced Andy’s dad that he really doesn’t hate sweet potatoes after all.

(Covered in brown sugar, butter, pecans, and coconut, almost anything would taste fairly delicious.)

Today I thought it might be fun to take the kids to the playground down the road and let them stretch their legs and run off some of that toddler energy. Except we adults nearly froze watching them run and play. I believe it’s now time to pull out the winter coats. And hats and mittens and scarves.

At naptime Liz (J’s wife) and I hightailed it out of here to that shopping extravaganza I stumbled upon the other day.

(It being the biggest shopping day of the year and all, you know.)

It was late enough we didn’t have to fight any crowds and also we had no problem finding parking spaces. It was just so much fun and, oh! the sales!

Because what could possibly be better than an afternoon with Starbucks and sale shopping without kids?!

[Also, Andy didn't even call once to ask when I was coming home. So, clearly, it was a relaxed and enjoyable afternoon.]

Tonight everyone came over here for pizza. And so far my plan to get to bed early hasn’t happened. But I’ll say g’night for now, anyway.

Surprise Visit

My cousin Vangie and her hubby had a small reunion of friends this past weekend (I can’t remember where now). Unfortunately, however, their car broke down on the turnpike on the way down Friday. (”…I’m sorry, miss, that is the one road we do not cover for emergencies.”) So their time with friends turned out to be a little longer than planned and come today, their car was (and is) still at the mechanic’s.

Lucky for us, it meant they called us this morning: “Can we come over today? We broke down and we’re close. And, oh, by the way, we’ll be there in an hour.”

[I've decided that an hour is a perfect amount of preparation time for visitors. You can get a place looking mostly decent in an hour but the kids don't have much time left to mess it up again.]

So, we had a happy afternoon snuggled on the couch, sipping tea and chatting. It was the kids’ naptime, too. A peaceful time of day.

And, last night Andy’s mom brought us leftovers from the church fellowship lunch and so the soup I had been planning to make for dinner last night was postponed for today. Which means I providentially had a whole meal ready for my unexpected guests – yummy soup, crackers and cheese, crusty bread with butter, and salad. Oh, and the last half of the Nestle cookie dough sitting in my frige made into cookies for a last-minute dessert.

It was a lovely day.

Cool September Sunday

Today was a slightly crazy Sunday. My dad and aunt drove up from Baltimore to go to church with us (dad being in the DC area on business over the next few days). And so, naturally, they came over afterwards for lunch.

After I managed to spill coffee all over the table and my dad’s pants (because I’m a graceful ballerina), we put the girls down for a nap and drove over to the new place for a look-see. Drew came along, too, since it’s not every day Papa comes for a visit!

I am very pleased to announce that we now have a bathtub. There was a point in time where it looked like all we were going to get was a single shower stall in the new house. (I don’t even want to go into that issue here.) Thankfully, that has all been worked out and I’ve now seen the tub with my own two eyes. I also was glad to see the house again since I picked out the paint colors from memory after only seeing it once. This was my second time. And I still like my paint choices, so that is convenient.

Terrible bummer that my dad and aunt had to leave after we walked through the house. I felt like most of my time with them was spent doing things for the meal and for the kids; we really didn’t get to talk too much. Hopefully the next visit will be longer and less distraction-intensive.

And I’ll take seeing my dad for a few hours over nothing any day.

Quite Frank-ly

This weekend, as in the one that just passed, we had our very first visit from a Ch@ttanooga friend.

A FRIEND! THAT CAME TO SEE US!

And confirmed for us that our kids have more energy than charged electrons. Like I didn’t know that. Anyway.

Friday night Andy and Frank ate dinner in Atlantic City (at one of Andy’s restaurant accounts, obviously). I’m sure it felt just like old times, but not. I can’t comment on either the food or the conversation because I don’t have ESP.

Since the guys were gone, the kids and I spent the evening at Target, naturally. Saturday morning we ate pancakes and then went to see the aforementioned house. And then while I stayed with the kids during their nap (Mommy, the Babysitting Slave), Andy and Frank drove down to Longwood Gardens. They named it as their most extraordinary plant experience, ever. Which might be saying something.

[I confess, the whole prospect sounded a little dull to me at the time and I was quite happy to stay home and stare at Mr. TV. But probably if I had seen the website and what beauty is to behold there, I might have been a little jealous.]

Saturday evening we ordered pizza (because what else is there to eat on a Saturday night?) and the guys went to a movie so I could, yet again, be Mommy, the Babysitting Slave. But I really didn’t mind. They went to see “Transformers.” And that’s when I asked Andy, ‘uh, how old are you?’

All in good fun, of course.

Yesterday, being Sunday, we went to church. And then came home. And then ate a lasagna that Mommy, the Kitchen Slave made. For more on that riveting meal, click here.

And then Frank was off. I told him next time, to please bring his wife.