The Week In Review

I guess I've been MIA for a while, but I haven't had anything really exciting to say. OK, that's a lie. Maybe nothing that's happened may be exciting for you, but I had one thrill after another last week.

Rides, Rides and More Rides

It all started last Tuesday when the 3 kids, my 12-year old mother's helper and I hopped in the car and went down to Point Pleasant Boardwalk to meet a friend of mine and her son. We bought wristbands for $15 and the kids were able to ride all day. Olivia had never been there and the only rides she was ever on are the carousel and the firetruck that rocks back and forth at the mall, so I wasn't sure how she would like it. It was 90 degrees with 93% humidity, so I wasn't sure how the babies and I would hold up, but we did just fine and Olivia didn't care. She had a blast. I realized something funny, which I didn't notice it at the time. All the rides are EXACTLY the same. As I showed Cin the videos I shot, she started laughing and pointed out that they all do the same thing - go around in a circle. The kids don't seem to mind and I guess if I were 3, I wouldn't care either.

Our Newest Arrival

My search for the perfect stroller was finally over. Olivia usually walks, but there are times I would like her to be in the stroller, like when we are in a crazy crowd or when she gets tired. I researched for weeks and looked at every make and model that was suitable for 2 babies and a toddler. I made my mind up - I wanted the Val.co Trimode Runabout Twin. It is a double jogger with 2 swiveling front tires and a toddler seat that attaches in a flash, among other amazing features. It drives like a dream!

However, I was NOT going to pay $659 for any stroller, plus $100 for the toddler seat, not unless it had a motor and I could hop on, too. So I needed to find a used one.I looked high and low and on E.bay and Crai.gslist. I missed out on 4 or 5 strollers by a day or 2 because I found it impossible to log on 5 times a day to check on new postings. Oh well. Finally I saw an auction for a used one, so I waited it out and bid right before I went to bed on Saturday because the auction was ending at 10:15 Sunday morning. After a long and torturous 12 hours, it happened. I won! I was elated and emailed the seller. To my shock, she emailed me back and let me know that she made a mistake and meant to put a "reserve" price on the auction, which was $45 more than my winning bid. I was PISSED! If she could afford to buy this thing new and sell it after 4 months because she wanted a different stroller, why did she need my stinking $45?????? I wasn't gonna pay it! While I was figuring out what to do, she emailed me twice and applied the pressure. I was out of my mind. I didn't know what to do, but I knew I didn't want to be extorted, which is what she was doing, telling me she had another buyer who was willing to pay $500, bla, bla, bla. So I did it. I gave in and paid the extra $45, cuz I wanted it soooooooooo bad. I had to have it. So on our way down to the boardwalk on Tuesday, I picked up our new stroller. I am so in love.

Diamonds Are NOT A Girl's Best Friend

A rug shampooer is...

I got this baby for my birthday last year. I have used it at least 10 times since, even on my furniture. On Wednesday, I took Olivia to school, dropped Max off at play group, came home and went to work.

Mall Walker

On Thursday, it was not very nice out, so I decided to get my exercise in the mall. So I packed up all 3 kids and headed off to the mall (with my new stroller, of course) to power walk. 4 hours later I came home with 3 little trinkets made with shells that Olivia helped me pick out at a kiosk. She is modeling her favorite.

I was stopped by every woman (and 1 man) with more than 1 child so she could ask about my baby, I mean stroller. A mother couldn't be more proud!

Ahhhh, Sweet Air

Vanity is setting in and I have decided to get my teeth "fixed". There's nothing really wrong with them, but I wanted to have my silver fillings replaced with tooth-colored fillings. I had my 1st 2 done 2 Fridays ago and had 3 done last Friday. I have 3 left and can't even wait. They should be done within the month. I'll spare you the pictures. My dentist gave me sweet air and I'll never have work done without it again. The drilling drives me crazy. Without the sweet air, I get so anxious and my whole body clenches. Speaking of clenching, he said I clench and grind pretty badly, so he ground down my back molars and it has helped so much. Now if only he could prescribe the pretty pink pills.

Another Family Reunion
On Saturday we went to a family reunion for Cin's dad's side of the family. Nothing to report here. Just a gorgeous day of swimming and fun. Here are my 2 fave pix from the day - Olivia in the ladybug and Cin's cousin wearing Jake's hat.

Just One More Thing

Cindy HAD to do it. She had to get a pool for Olivia. So on Sunday, she "ran out" to pick up a few things and came back with a 12' x 16' piece of turf to lay down next to the play area so we could put a pool on it. There was no room left in the minivan for the pool, so I had to "run out" and get one later that day. I did. It's adorable, so much fun. Pix to come.

Mommies on a Mission

Saturday Morning.

The scene: everyone sitting around in the den. Olivia playing with her dolls. Jake and Emma hangin' out in their car seats. Cin and me drinking coffee.

Me: What do you want to do today?

Cin: I dunno. Ummmm. Let's do Olivia's play yard.

Me: What?

Cin: I wanna make it bigger and move the swings so she has more room to run around and play. Then we'll be ready when we get a bigger swingset.

Me: Uh, OK.

So it began. We called to order and schedule delivery of more rubber mulch for later that afternoon, then got the family together and headed out to get the wood for the frame. When we got home with the lumber, the work began.

This is the before shot

I had to disassemble the old frame while Cindy got out the saw to cut the wood for the new frame. And, of course, OG was nearby with her trusty hammer just in case.

The mulch came. It was the Supersack - and was it ever. It was ginormous.

Then I started putting together the new frame. Once it was up, we began to spread the mulch - what a freakin' (translation for the Utah-ites - flippin') huge job that was.

Then it was getting dark, so we called it quits for the night and had some dinner.

A special thanks to Gale (aka BM - birthmother) for coming over and entertaining our 3 little helpers and grilling up a feast for dinner. XXXOOO.
We woke up this morning and got right to work. Well, not really. We sat around, had some coffee. Gale came and picked up OG and they went to the pool. Then we went out to put on the final touches, moved OG's playhouse back into the new play area and cleaned up. Then BM and OG came home, we had lunch, Olivia went for a nap, Gale left, we put the babies to sleep and my girl crashed. Game OVER!

Our next project is to build a tree house on that beautiful tree in the play area. J - we may need some help! K - you too - homemade lemonade and no bake peanut butter cookies?

Birthday Weekend

The Best Friends a Girl Could Ever Have

On Friday night, I got one of the best presents there is. A few of my friends came over and brought all the food, cooked it, cleaned up and held, fed and occupied the babies the whole time they were there - about 5 hours. As you can see in the picture, there are 3 children and no Mommies. There is also an empty martini glass on the table and yes, my cosmo used to be in it. It was awesome. I got a few nice gifts, including a gift card to TJ Maxx and a really nice bottle of vodka for my cosmos. My friends really do know me so well.

Cindy got me my favorite cake - cake batter ice cream with a center of smashed Oreos. Olivia helped me blow out the candles. Now remember, I am on a diet, so I only had a very small piece, I swear!

Cin couldn't wait until Sunday to give me my present, so she whipped it out on Friday night. WOW! It was a huge surprise. We stopped doing the jewelry thing when the kids started coming. It is a stunning piece and this picture does NOT do it justice. The 3 stones are a ruby and 2 aquamarines, the birthstones of our children. Each is a 1 karat stone in a different shape representing their different personalities. Cin designed it herself. I LOVE IT! Thanks, Baby!

Princess Dresses and Scratchoffs

On Saturday we went down to Cin's brother's house to celebrate the July birthdays - mine, Olivia's and Cin's brother, J. J and I got funny cards and scratchoffs as usual and Olivia got awesome gifts, including a hippity hop, a dollhouse and a few princess dresses and all the necessary accessories. She was out of her mind with excitement and didn't take one of the dresses for the rest of the day and then put it back on as soon as she woke on Sunday morning.

That night we stayed at Cin's eldest brother's and his wife offered to watch all the kids while we went out. So we showered, dressed and I even put on a little makeup. We went to a nice dinner at a restaurant right on the beach and I had my annual Lobster and filet mignon birthday dinner. Another of Cin's brothers is a partner in a bar right on the boardwalk, so we headed over there for a few drinks and to see the fireworks that had been cancelled on the 4th. When we got home, all the kids were fed and asleep for the night. Perfect!

Premature Evacuation

Cin did the middle of the night feeding and let me sleep in on Sunday morning. Olivia came up and woke me at 8:30. I couldn't believe what time it was. We hung out with Cin's brother and sister-in-law for the rest of the morning, then we went to Cin's 25th high school reunion. As anticipated, Cin was miserable and we left early. In a moment of craziness a few weeks ago, she decided we should go. It was a family picnic setting, so we thought it would be fun. However, she didn't know or talk to most of these people in high school and was quickly reminded of why. The few people who were there that she was friends with are women we see anyway, so it was a huge waste of time. It was hot and sticky and Olivia hadn't napped and it had been a long weekend, so we just wanted to get home and relax. We bailed after 2 hours, drove home, fed Olivia, put her to bed, fed the babies, ordered a movie and had sushi for dinner and just relaxed. It turned out to be the perfect birthday evening.

A Day At The Zoo

I called my friend, T, first thing in the morning to see if her 3 kids were feeling better and if they wanted to get together to play. She said they were going to the zoo and asked if we'd like to go. Sure, why not? So I started getting us together. She called me back to tell me her friend was coming with her 2 kids. Great! The more, the merrier.

And we were off.

We got to the zoo about 11 am and started on or way around to see all the animals. It's a small zoo, so I planned on walking around for a couple hours, eating lunch, riding the train and then going home so Olivia could take her nap (which never happened by the way).

We were - 8 kids under 6, 3 moms and 2 double strollers having one hell of a good time. The kids were excited, the weather was hot, but not humid and everyone had their happy faces on. And that's the way it stayed for he next 3 hours. No crying, no whining, no screaming or fighting. It was glorious and I have to give it up for the kids and the moms. Everyone was very well-behaved and it made for a fabulous day.

Here are some pictures I got before my camera went dead because I forgot to charge it. Of course! They are self explanatory.

Lazy Day Post

This was a really lazy day. The air is cool and damp, the sky is grey and nobody is having a party for the 4th. Olivia and the babies got me up early this morning, so I pulled out the camera and started taking pictures.

Jake was happy - hanging out in the vibrator seat while Emma took a catnap in the swing. He was amazed by the fishes.

Then he got bored and started yawning and I told him to entertain himself. He pretended to be Popeye and he found his thumb. Finally! I am so sick of the passie!



Then Emma woke up because Olivia started yelling about a big bird in the backyard. She really wanted Emma to see it, so she climbed up on the couch next to Olivia and they spent a few minutes looking out the window.



Then I thought it would be cute to take a picture of all the kids' feet. No, I don't know why. I just love their feet.

When Cindy got up, we took a walk around the park this morning, which turned out to be 4 miles long. When we came home, a bunch of kids were playing next door. It's the house in the neighborhood where all the kids congregate.



This is Nicholas. He LOVES Olivia and wanted her to come play. So she did.

They have great toys and stuff, like the big bouncy house. So they climbed in and started jumping around. But then, one of the big kids thought it would be fun to turn off the compressor. Not funny! The dad next door was mad. Thank God it wasn't Olivia who did it.


Then Olivia came home because Mimere (one of her Grandmas) came over. OG has started discovering her body and spent a few minutes lifting her shirt and checking out the reflection of her belly and her butt in the door window. No, I have absolutely no idea where she gets this behavior from.

THE END