The Unexpected Hair Cut.

Today was the day that comes for almost every mom Lillibean cut her hair and then she cut Jitterbugs I am truly upset by this for a few reasons.



Long hair precut



Reason #1 I was not prepared for this in anyway I was sure that Lillibean would never cut her hair she loves having long hair and was mad at me for 3 weeks when I took her to get it cut in the spring.



Bad Super Cuts



Reason #2 it took over a year to get Jitterbugs hair to grow out to all one length after a hair cut at Super Cuts that gave her some atrocious bangs(she looked like a boy).

My sister cut my hair

Reason #3 Jitterbug didn't like the hair cut Lillibean gave her and cried for almost an hour.




Reason #4 We are supposed to have our family picture done next week and this is what we now have to work with.

Gritting my teeth is a smile right.

I might have made a mistake.

They look happy about it don't they.

Dirty looks and feeling like a bad mommy

The miniature jailers have decided that they would rather be out and about instead of sitting at home and/or napping so in an effort to keep them entertained I have kept the schedule pretty full. BIG mistake they now think it is their right to be chauffeured to and fro at a moments notice.  Whether its to the park, a play date or even if its just to lunch its always something.

The first thing out of their mouths in the morning "where are we going today mommy?". If I dare say no where this is when the tears and why nots start which lead to crying jags and melt down fits about how its not fair. So starting this week there are not going to be trips to the mall or McDonald's or Walmart or Target or even the park until they are a little more thankful for what they have.

We have noticed that Lillibean has developed a twitch, however we think that is more likely caused by being confined inside with Jitterbug for the last 3 days.

I am now worn out from the constant badgering to go somewhere and think that I may have made a mistake by making this decision. As I am now trapped inside with them and can not escape.

One of the reasons that I decide to not go out in public with the kids is that I am tired of all the judging from other people.

If I don't correct their behavior in public then I get dirty looks and I feel like a bad mommy.

If say something and they don't stop I get dirty looks and I feel like a bad mommy.

If I yell at them I get dirty looks and I feel like a bad mommy.

If I stop them and make them look me in the eye I get dirty looks and I feel like a bad mommy.

Can't win for loosing at least here at home there are no dirty looks. I still feel like a bad mommy.

Its a vicious cycle I have also found that I place expectations on my kids based on what I perceive as others expectations of good behavior.

For example if the girls and I are out together shopping and they are just walking along next to(not holding my hands), walking a little in front of me or maybe even skipping beside me as long as no one looks at us with the judgemental look  I let them do it but it all changes when someone gives us the look. You know the one the one that says you need to control your children they are heathens. I may not see anything wrong with what they are doing but it bothers someone else so I try to control them. I become super demanding about staying with me/holding my hand and walking nicely.

Or we go the other way and one or both children has crossed a line one to many times and I am trying  to explain why they should not climb on/pick up/run or any other multitude of behaviors that should not be done in public and I am getting the look you know the one that says you are being to harsh leave that child alone. At which point I have to either back down and no one learns anything or stand my ground and look like bad mommy.

I am tired of being judged and found lacking whether its a true perception or not I still feel like a bad mommy.

My kid walks to the beat of her own drummer

UPDATE: Jitterbug did not go as Dirtgirl she went as a Magic Princess Pet Doctor and here is what the costume turned out to look like.  Thats a pink unicorn attached to her back.

Ok I love that I have a kid that follows her own path Jitterbug really is like no other kid I know. That being said I think I am in trouble. Things have been rolling along nicely lately other than everyone but JW having a cold last week. We have made it through Lillibean turning 4 and are gearing up for a trip this week. The following weekend is the girls joint Birthday Party then Halloween and then Jitterbug turns 4. We also have a few party's to attend as well. I think November 7th is the next free day we have.

Ok back to the original topic. I think I mentioned that Halloween is approaching and Jitterbug has picked her costume and I am at a loss. I spent the last few weeks combing the Internet and stores for the costume of her choice and it just does not exist. I can not even find a reasonable facsimile.

So I am appealing to my friends and family please help me cause unless I can convince her to change her mind to something more traditional. I am going to have one disappointed  little girl.

Here is a picture of her choice by the way I am not crafty and cannot sew.

Her name is Dirt Girl she has friends Scrap Boy, Ken the weevil, and Grubby the Grub worm.

It seems simple enough right purple overalls and an orange and yellow striped shirt. Yeah not so much.

Maybe just maybe I am not the only one

So its been a awhile since I wrote anything but life has a funny way of getting in the way of my accomplishing all the stuff I want.

Mostly just keeping everyone happy seems to be the greatest challenge lately. I feel like a big failure in this regard and for a long time I thought that I was the only one but today I read a blog that I swear all you have to do is insert my name and that just about covers it.

I make a point check this blog everyday and usually it makes me laugh but today it actually made me feel better and not so alone in this mess that is parenthood.

Here is the link to the blog.

Our First Little League Game

What an experience it was. Just getting ready was a production the pants to small the shirt to big and the yellow socks all I can say is WOW. Her hat and jersey have her name and number on them. The smile on her face says it all. 

She had a blast. Got to hit twice let the coach pitch to her before deciding to use the tee and really hustled after the ball when it was hit to her(sometimes even when it wasn't). She ran the bases and smiled all the way around.  When she crosses home plate she jumps up and down and giggles it is the.cutest.thing.ever.

Its Fall (sort of) and Football has started

There is a chill in the air(kind of) a crispness in the morning that says cooler temps are on the way(I hope) ESPN on the tv and on the computer and JW is gone every Saturday since he has to work on the Saturdays that he is not in Athens at a game.







We are an SEC family and that means that our entire lives revolve around football. We schedule everything around it birthday partys and weekends away(these really dont happen).

Its not just UGA's schedule for us we have to consider South Carolina's(the real USC) as well. There arent that many Saturdays that have a bye week for one and an away game for the other.

We have even had friends schedule their stuff around Georgia's  schedule so that we will show up. With both girls birthdays falling during football season we have decided that we will only have one party till they are old enough to tell us that they want their own partys. Its just easier that way.

 Football its what is on the tv in the living room all day on Saturday when JW is home and sometimes even when he is not.

Its serious around here. The girls have been able to say Go Dawgs since they started talking can sing Glory and give a serious bark. They know Uga, Hairy Dog and even Cocky on sight.

We have refrained teaching them Go Cocks for obvious reasons. They know that orange is not a good color and have embraced the UGA way of life they even have a movie about it and watch it at least once a week.

We really need to get the one for USC as well its time we diversified the training.

So from this house to everyone else Go Cocks and Go Dawgs heres to a great football season.

Sleeping

My Lillibean can sleep anywhere. In a chair no problem She gets still and sleep is not far behind

doesn't really matter where she is or whats going on

she falls asleep in the car in the blink of an eye.

Sometimes in the middle of a sentence for example just this weekend I was talking to her at the exit and when we arrived at the mall a mere 3 mins later she was sound asleep

 It doesn't matter  where she is or what shes doing during her birthday party, waiting for dinner and even on a boat.

She has even earned the nickname Princess Narcolepsy.

However even I could not see how she was comfortable the other night. I went in to check on the DC and cover them up and discovered she had  turned sideways with her head hanging off the side of the bed hair almost dragging the floor. Unfortunately I was unable to obtain a picture.

Conversations Overheard

Conversation #1 nap time


Jitterbug: Laughing hysterically

Lillibean: Get off my bed please. I want to take a nap.

Jitterbug: still laughing

Lillibean: you need to go get in you own bed

Jitterbug: laughing  NO

Lillibean: Yes Mommy says we have to take a nap today

Jitterbug: Make me

Lillibean: Ok

followed by a loud thump and some serious crying

Lillibean pushed Jitterbug out of the bed.

Conversation #2 in the car

I told both girls that if they behaved in the mall I would buy them a cookie. I know I know bribery at its best.

Needless to say I did not have to pay out on this bribe.

Jitterbug is having the most spectacular of meltdowns. it goes something like this

YOU WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA COOKIE WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
MOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMY and on and on in this manner.

I am doing my best to ignore the behavior trapped in the car as we are.

I hear this from Lillibean "Jitterbug Mommy told us that we had to be good to get a cookie. We were not good in the mall."

Still more screaming and yelling from Jitterbug.

A projectile (a happy meal toy) from the back seat lands in my lap.

Lillibean: Don't throw things at Mommy. Now we wont even get a treat when we get home.

She was right they got showers and went to bed.

Conversation # 3 while coloring

Jitterbug: No Corinne that's my crayon

Lillibean: No its not

Jitterbug: Yes it is

Lillibean: no its mine I'm using it

Jitterbug: (taking the crayon and licking it) Its mine

Lillibean: I'm gonna color at my own desk

Conversation # 4 between Lillibean and me

Me: if you want your 2 dollars then you need to clean up the playroom.

Lillibean: Ok. How much does Jitterbug get?

Me: she gets 2 dollars as well

Lillibean: Ok (skips into the playroom to clean)

5 minutes later

Lillibean: Mommy we don't need that 4 dollars

Me: Well ok then (slightly impressed that my 3 1/2 year old did that math.)

Last Day in Danvers, Ma Day 6

JW and I get out of bed showered and downstairs for breakfast by 10:00am surprising I know after that late night and no kids to wake us. I guess they have us conditioned by now. We are almost done eating when my parents drop the girls and all their stuff off and head out to catch their flight home.

I have the best parents ever by the way.

We spend a little time talking and saying goodbye to friends that are flying out to all parts of the country and Canada.

We head on back to our room after an hour or so to pack up our belongings that are now scattered about like a mini tornado has hit. It seems like we have been in this room forever and even though it has been a long drama filled week I am a little sad to head back to a normal life.

While JW and I pack up all the stuff the DC watch TV they are worn out and Lillibean falls asleep with in minutes and Jitterbug is quiet and still the whole time we are packing around her the only time she makes a sound is when JW puts something on the bed that blocks her view of the TV and even then it was a half hearted whine.

Once everything is packed we head on down  to the restaurant to get some lunch. We have about an hour before the car shows up to pick us up for our return trip to the airport.

Lunch uneventful and so was the car ride to the airport. I did get to see Boston off in the distance. We make it to the airport on time stop and speak to some friends that are waiting for their flight and through security with no fuss and with almost an hour to wait for our flight.

 

We have been told that our flight is full and I have a bad feeling so I tell JW to ask if we can get bumped to a later flight. He goes and asks and they take our names but they wind up bumping some other folks. I.Do.Not.Want.To.Get.On.This.Plane. but we do.

At first things go really well. We take off on time 5:00pm. The pilot tells us we are going to land early7:03pm. Lillibean falls asleep on the flight and Jitterbug is enjoying looking out the window at all the clouds. JW is sitting in the row with them and I am across the aisle. Everything is going so smoothly.

As we approach Atlanta I feel the plane bank and the pilot makes the annoucement "there is some really bad weather in Atlanta and we are in a holding pattern. The good new is that we should be able to land in the next 20 mins so we will still arrive early" OK well that is not so bad the DC are not restless yet and they have started talking to the little girl in front of them.

After about 15 mins of circling we feel the plane bank again and start to ascend at the same time the pilot starts talking "Well folks we stayed as long as we could but we are running low on fuel and have had to divert to Charlotte to refuel."  Well that is just great. We land in Charlotte and sit at a gate for refueling. Still thinking that we will get back to Atlanta before 8:30pm I am not to worried. The DC are playing with Ciera she has a Fur Real pet and Nintendo DS that she is very happy to show the DC.

 We back away from the gate and the pilot tells us that we are set for take off. We taxi out and park one more announcement "We are not cleared to take off after all folks. I know you all want to get to Atlanta me too I have a flight to catch to get home. Unfortunately the weather is still bad in Atlanta. We are 2nd in line for take off as soon as the weather clears. The good news is they aren't letting anyone land in Atlanta at this time so if you have a connecting flight you probably won't miss it."

We sit and sit and sit. By the time the plane takes off it is after 9:00pm Jitterbug is whiny and Lillibean is full of attitude and it only goes downhill from here. The round about way we flew south and came around the backside and a VERY rough landing and we are on the ground in Atlanta at a little after 10:00pm. I would like to point out that we have now been on the plane for a little over 5 hours and the DC's are now CRANKY so am I for that matter.

As we exit JW stops to collect Jitterbugs car seat. The DC and I continue up the ramp and wait for him at the top for 20 mins he finally appears without the car seat. They have lost it. The people at the gate tell us to go to customer service. We get lucky and one of those golf cart shuttles is right there and we hitch a ride to customer service. JW gets in line and I stand off to one side with the DC and our luggage after about 10 mins we switch and after another 10 I finally arrive at the counter only to be told that we have to go to baggage claim. By this time I am furious and along with everyone else tired, hungry, and thirsty.

We get to baggage claim. I can see the car seat so I wait my turn and tell the lady that its mine and I need to get it and she asks for a claim ticket. We don't have one we didn't check it they took it at the gate. She then says to me"can you prove its yours" so I respond with "No I cant but if your aren't going to let me have it then I need to report mine missing." All I have is a boarding pass so I hand it to her she rips a tag off the back and hands me the seat.  I tell her thank you and walk out with the car seat. 

Jitterbug announces that she needs to potty and Lillibean chimes in with a me too. So we are in search of a bathroom the first one we find is closed for the night so we have to walk all the way back down to the other end of the airport. Which turns out to be a good thing cause that's where the shuttle service to the car is located.

By the way its after 11:00pm and we still have to get to the car.

JW takes the girls to the bathroom and I stay with the bags. We finally leave the airport and  get on the shuttle that takes us to our car. We get dropped off at our car with a minimum of fuss. We decide to go ahead and get the DC's in their PJ's. Once they are dressed and settled in the car. We cant find the car keys. we have to unload the back of the car twice before we find them. Then once we are all in the car JW discovers that he doesn't know where the parking ticket is. We search for it for about 10 mins before deciding that we will just pay the lost ticket rate. When we get to the gate the and tell the lady working that we have lost our ticket she just laughs and says "happens all the time, what day and time did you come in?"

She just makes us another ticket we pay and are on our way.

We think we are going to make a quick pass through McDonald's. We.Were.Wrong. they are so busy that they cant keep up so after sitting for 10 mins with out even placing an order we drive off. Lillibean is asleep and Jitterbug is trying not to fall asleep. By now it is 12:23am I know this because I made a point of looking at the clock.

Its after one by the time we make it home and after carrying in the girls and putting them to bed we discover that the dog has had a panic attack during the storm he has pushed the tray out of his crate, dug at the carpet ripping it up and cut his mouth. He hasn't been in his crate since and I have to say he is doing very well with it. 

A Trip to Danvers, Ma. Day 5

So when I wake up I only have to get myself ready and downstairs to meet my parents. I get to the lobby where I drink my coffee and wait (they were late). When they arrive I hop in and off we go. Mom wanted to take the girls to the singing beach however when we get to what we believe is the parking area its $25.00 to park so we decide that is to much to pay just to walk down on the beach for a few mins.

Jitterbug takes this time to announce that she needs to go potty. We are in the middle of nowhere there are no public bathrooms. The girls taking the money to park tells us that there is a store right up the road and we head out. We get to the road side store"shack" and my mom jumps out and runs in to ask about the bathroom and before I can get Jitterbugs car seat unbuckled she is back "there are no bathrooms here" So back in the car we go with directions to a bathroom. We drive for what seems like forever and even stop a fire station to make sure we are going in the right direction. We FINALLY find a gas station with a bathroom. It is one of those that is outside and It.Is.Nasty. Mom and I decided that we can hold it till we find something else. My mom holds Jitterbug over the toilet so that she can pee and then its Lillibeans turn. We tell her Do.Not.Touch.Anything. I squirt everything with hand sanitizer and we all wash hands once we are outside its one more round of hand sanitizer and then its my dads turn(yep its a unisex bathroom).

We all pile in the car and are on the road again we drive into Gloucester and find a jut of sand and get out of the car. The girls have a blast playing in the water.

This was taken on day 3
after playing at the water park.

So on a side note the whole reason we are on this trip has been for JW's Fraternity.  It is their Biannual business meeting. They pass by-laws, budgets, and  hold elections. This is important because JW is running for a position on the Grand Council. So in between all of our adventures there has been the socializing and campaigning. We even got the girls in on the action(the shirts say Vote 4 My Daddy 4 Grand Council).  So as we are standing on the jut of sand I get a text from a friend letting me know that he has won the Grand Herald position on the Grand Council. Needless to say I was excited  and somewhat relieved that it was all over.

So on with the rest of the day. After playing in the on the "beach" for a awhile its time for lunch so we cross the street and I finally get some lobster and clam chowder it was Yummy. So far today is the best day of our vacation. After lunch we ride around Gloucester a little and head for the hotel. My parents drop me off and take the girls to their hotel for a little pool time.

I head into the hotel bar to meet a friend for a drink. This was great no kids for a little while and visiting with a friend I hadn't seen in a very long time.

I finally head up to the room to start getting ready for the closing banquet. My mom brings the girls back since they "worked" so hard helping get Daddy elected they get to attend the first hour of the reception. We all get dressed up and head on downstairs to the reception.

 They even got meet Paul Revere. My mom and dad came to get them and they went to have pizza they found a place that had TVs at the table and got to watch Nick Jr.(it was very exciting) and more pool time.

JW and I entered the banquet room and sat at our spot on the dias and this was our view. There were awards given, speeches made and a wonderful dinner served.

After dinner we went a reception for the new Grand Sage(president). When it was all said and done JW and I didn't make it to bed till 4 am but it was definitely worth it.

A trip to Danvers Ma day 4

Day 4 and the good news is my parents are finally in town and have rented a car no longer are we at the tender mercies of the cabs and shuttles. They are coming to get us and we have a big day planned however Jitterbug has other plans

She stayed this way for 15 mins while Lillibean and I got showered and dressed when she finally decided that she wanted to get up the first words out of her mouth were "wheres daddy". We went through the he is in a meeting conversation and then I reminded her that she need to get ready Grandmomma and Grandpadaddy were on their way and we needed to go. We actually make it downstairs and are in the lobby when my parents arrive.

My dad picked a place for breakfast. It was a really good place and the DCs were well behaved. My cousin met us there to play tour guide for the day so after we were all done eating we went out and loaded up in her explorer this meant that the DC had to sit together in the very back so there was some "stop touching me" conversations" but other than that the ride to Salem  was no to bad.

Our choice of things to do once we got to Salem probably not our best decision we took a tour of The House of Seven Gables.

Now the HOTSG's has been a museum for 100 years I would love to be able to tell you more about it but I spent the entire time saying don't touch that, get down from there and no you can not get a closer look.

In one room of the house there was an osculating fan as we come in the room the tour guide tells us that there is a sharp piece on the fan so don't let the kids touch it. My mom sits down on the bench next to the fan Lillibean on one side Jitterbug on the other. Well Jitterbug can not help herself she reaches up to touch the fan. My mom keeps moving her hand away but the temptation is just to great. The tour guide leans over and tells my mom "you are going to have to control that child" my mom picks up Jitterbug and puts her in her lap. Now Lillibean has watched the whole thing and as soon as she thinks we are distracted she gets up and with her finger extended walks towards the fan I put my arm out to block her. LB tries to push my hand out of the way and looks up at me with tears in her eyes and points at the fan I tell her no and she just burst out sobbing. My mom pulls her over to the bench and sits her down wrapping an arm around her as well. Thankfully the tour guide moves us on and we no longer have to deal with the tempting fan.

Once we finish up with the HOTSG's we move on to the birth place of Nathaniel Hawthorne we start making our way through the house and in a bedroom Lillibean Loses.Her.Mind and ducks under a rope and refuses to come out. Short of ducking under the rope and chasing her my options are limited to hissing "Get out of there" to which she responds "NO". The very nice lady standing behind the rope gently  down and takes her arm and walks her back under the rope. I take Lillibean by the arm and march her out of the house and outside to a table. By now she is just sobbing about going back in the house and Hows it not fair that I wont let her go back in there. I take out my phone to take a picture of the most magnificent melt down and she slaps the phone out of my hand. I pick up my phone and snap this pic.

She puts her head down and sobbing tells me she just wants to be alone. I get up and walk to the table where my mom and cousin are sitting. Dad has taken Jitterbug for a walk to look at flowers or something.

I decide to take the opportunity to go into the gift shop and make a purchase.

When I come out of the store everyone is in a much better mood.

We have made it though and nothing got broken so I guess that's a successful trip. We decide not to go in any more old buildings or museums and take our own "walking" tour of Salem.

We stop for lunch at a place called Finz. Grandpadaddy orders some raw clams and talks the DC into trying them. Lillibean ate hers with ketchup said she liked them but declined to eat another, Jitterbug ate hers covered with cocktail sauce and asked for another but they were all gone.

Most of the rest of the day is uneventful we did see some really cool things and got some ice cream and went back to the hotel to rest a little and change for dinner.

While we are getting ready Jitterbug says she needs to potty and goes in the bathroom. I notice that she has been gone for longer than necessary about the same time she starts crying. She has gotten a hold of my razor and tried to shave her head and in the process cut her thumb(opposite hand from the one hurt on day 1). After kisses and a band aid she is ready to go

Dinner was great we got to meet family for the very first time and enjoy some really good food.

Best part of the night my parents drop me off at the hotel and take the girls with them. JW has gone into the city with a group and so I have a couple of drinks in the bar and go to bed a quiet hotel room all is well with the world

A trip to Danvers Ma day 3

Its day 3 and JW is gone by 7 his meetings have started so we are on our own. I wake up at 9:30am and I am surprised at how quiet the room is. When the DC's finally crack eyelids it is 10:30am and I am very happy with this. It means everybody got a good nights sleep. So after we are up and dressed we head downstairs and grab some muffins and milk for the girls and coffee me. I talk the girl at the counter into getting the shuttle to take us to a place called Richardson's Dairy. It sounds like a great place it has a dairy that you can tour, mini golf course and they make their own Ice Cream. The shuttle drops us off and the driver tells me to call him when we are ready to get picked up. Sounds great kill a couple of hours looking at cows giving milk maybe watch them make some ice cream play a little mini golf. Just me and two 3 1/2 year olds. What can go wrong here?

Well let me count the ways

1)Always make sure you have your cell phone. Mine was charging in the bathroom at the hotel. The girls ran out in the hall  when we were leaving and in my haste to catch them I left it behind.

2) Never take the word of a Xeroxed piece of papers word on what a family friendly attraction is. The cows were way in the back in a barn that was roped off in other words NO TOURS. Not only were there no tours of the "oldest operating dairy in Middleton Ma" we didn't get to watch them make ice cream.

3)Miniature golf with  two 3 1/2 year olds that have never played it before  in 90 degree weather BAD IDEA. We made nine holes before Lillibean declares that it is to hot and she is done.

Now we are hot tired and all of us are CRANKY. I am ready to leave so I approach the counter and after I order some food and drinks for myself and the DC's I tell the girl behind the counter that I need some help and explain in what I thought was very clear speech what my dilemma was. I am stuck here with my children I have no phone, and can not call for a ride I need you to call the hotel and ask them to send the shuttle. I finish up with a very desperate can you help me. She looks at me with a blank look and says "let me ask my manager" and off she goes.  She comes back in about 10 mins and says "my manager says you can use the pay phone out by the road". I reply "that's great but I don't have the number" and she just looks at me. I walk away and barely keeping my composure thank her for all her help.

I know that no one will miss me till 6:30pm that's when JW expects us to be ready for the event at the waterpark.

I sit and wait for the girls to eat their hot dogs and drink their lemonade while thinking over our position. It does not improve with contemplation.

 Once the counter slows down again I decide to give it another go.   So I walk up and ask the girl behind the counter to see if she can loan me a phone book. I would love to try and recount the conversation verbatim from here but I think that I will just give a synopses. One employee tries to give me to directions I explain again that I didn't drive my hotel shuttle brought me I need to call them to come pick me up. She says oh and walks away. Then the Manager finally comes out front and asks me for the name of the hotel I tell her the name of the place and as she is walking away from the guy behind the counter says something to her but I can not hear what he says she nods at him and walks off she is gone for about 10 mins. She comes back and tells me that the Country Club has no idea what she is talking about. Country Club???? I never said I was staying at the Country Club but apparently that is what the guy told her as she walk away. I give her the name of the hotel again and tell her that if she will just get me the number and a phone I will call them myself. She goes away and again and another 10 mins goes by she comes back and tells me that the hotel told they don't have a shuttle. Well that's a surprise to me. She slides a piece of paper with the phone number across the counter and tells me where the payphone is again.

Now where were the DC during all this well they were very busy taking turns approaching me at the counter with requests demands for ice cream or loudly declaring the need to go potty. Well there were no bathrooms inside the building. At least one trip to the counter with the napkins and ketchup for what I don't know they were done eating and the hands were clean.

So I get the girls and traipse across the parking lot to the payphone by the highway put in my 50 cents and make the call. The poor girl at the desk must have thought that I was a crazy women because when she told me that it was going to be 45 mins before the shuttle got there I started crying. I couldn't help it I was done it had been our worst day so far. Jitterbug was whiny and Lillibean was all attitude. However there was nothing I could do but go sit and wait. First we went to the bathroom and then went back to the patio outside the ice cream shop and sat and waited when it got to be close to the time the shuttle was supposed to pick us up the patio was filling up so the DC and I got up and walked over by the bathrooms and waited and waited I finally made another call and was told that the shuttle had left and should be there to pick us up. So we waited another 30 mins and just about the time I was starting to panic a nice lady comes up and offers to help us and the shuttle pulls up. We pile in the shuttle and take off to the hotel.

All total from the time we called til the time the shuttle showed was an hour and 30 mins. I find out on the ride back to hotel that the shuttle didn't even leave the hotel til 10 mins after I called the 2nd time.

We get back and I give the girls quick wash offs in the tub and let them lay down to watch tv within mins both are fast asleep. I make contact with my parents who come by to have an early dinner with the girls and me.

Once JW is done with his meetings we take the DC to the waterpark event and they have a blast Lillibean tries out the lazy river and Jitterbug thought she wanted to go down the big slide with daddy but changed her mind once she got to the top. after 2 hours of playing its time to wrap up and head on over to the reception and visit for an hour or so before it is time for bed. The DC and I are exhausted so it doesn't take long for us to fall asleep. It has been quite a day.

A Trip to Danvers, Ma. Day Two

When we finally crack our eyes open JW kindly offers to go down and get some Starbucks the hotel advertised one in the lobby and check out the breakfast choices. He comes back with the life juice coffee(not Starbucks turns out they lost their franchise) but decent enough and some pastry and milk for Lillibean and Jitterbug. We all lay around enjoying our breakfast and watching TV basically being lazy taking our time getting showers and stuff.

Around 11 we decide to call a cab and go sightseeing and get some lunch. I call the front desk and I am told that there is no Downtown district all they have is a mall. Fine we need to get out for a while the mall will work. I am told that the cab will arrive in 20 mins

We go downstairs and wait and wait and wait 40 mins later the cab arrives. We pile in there is no AC and the cabbie smokes yay I wait for a repeat of Day one conversation with Jitterbug. Thankfully it does not occur. After 10 mins and $21.00 we are at the mall now we only have about an hour left to eat and get back to the hotel so that JW can change and make his meeting. We eat in the food court the only redeeming thing about the entire trip is that the mall has a newly opened Chic-Fil-A and they have Sweet Tea. Another $21.00 and a trip through DOWNTOWN and we are back at the hotel.  I determined that the girls running the desk at the hotel have a deal with the cab co. and taking us downtown to walk around on our own would have only cost about $5.00. So no more cabs. Trapped in a hotel with the Delightful Children how much fun is that.


We hang out in the lobby area for about and hour then the DC and I get a snack and head up to the room to rest we watch tv and after the 10th whine about going to the pool I decide the heck with it get them in their swimsuits and out the door we go. The hotel pool was part of the spa and has part of it blocked off for adult lane swimming only and the hot tub takes up another 1/4. It was normally $5.00 an hour(yep that's right) per person our group got to use it for free which was a good thing. The hotel also had a water park for $32.00 a person which isn't so bad if you have all day to spend there.

With the Swimmy aka Duck

After swimming for about 30 mins Jitterbug decides to take off her swimmy(Duck) and puts on her goggles. I tell her to put duck back on before she gets in the pool and she tells me "No mommy I wont go in the water" this conversation continues back and forth for about 2 mins. I finally give in as she heads back to pool wanting to put her face in the water with her goggles on. I tell her not to go in past the step and to sit down and put her face in the water she flings a halfhearted "Ok Mommy" over her shoulder. I look down at my phone to check a text and I hear Bloop Bloop Bloooop. I look up and she is gone. I panic and throw down my phone kick off my shoes and sprint to the edge of the pool. I look down and all I see are 2 blue eyes staring up at me and the only thought that goes through my head is she isn't panicking I mean no thrashing no nothing just kind of standing there under the water. A woman in the pool reaches her at the same time and plucks her right out if the water and puts her on the side of the pool. She is spitting and sputtering and I start laughing I couldn't help it and I couldn't stop. I am holding her and laughing and tears are rolling the whole time thinking "why cant I stop laughing". I thank the woman that rescued her and take her back to the chair where I was sitting. I tell her she cant go back in the pool unless she puts on duck she agrees with this and we sit and watch Lillibean swim. I hold Jitterbug till she squirms out of my lap and somehow I feel jilted.

Lillibean Swimming

Jitterbug walks around the pool area talking to both myself and Lillibean and walks herself back in the pool this time she "swims" kicks herself back the steps and gets on the step smiles at me and says "I didn't drown mommy". I say no you didn't sweetie good job. Mean while my heart is pounding in my chest and I call an end to the swimming much to Lillibeans disappointment. The arguing ensues "NO I not getting out, yes you are, NO I'M NOT "(its an indoor pool). I am trying to remain calm I place my hands on my hips and in my sternest mommy whisper  " Yes you are if I have to come in there and get you." She looks me up and down and says very smugly "No you wont you are wearing your clothes" and smiles at me. By now I have had it with the DC. I walk back to the table and take off my watch, my shoes and start to empty my pockets just in time for Jitterbug to take another trip down the stairs she fortunately gets herself out. I swear you would have thought she had learned by now that she sinks. Lillibean decides that it would be in her best interest to get out of the pool and we all head back to our room.

We have a opening reception to get ready for. They clean up real nice don't they.

They have a blast dancing and talking to everyone. by the time we make it back to our room its WAY past bed time but they are wound up and it takes almost 30 mins for them to settle down and go to sleep. Mommy is exhausted  and so ends another day.

Whoa what did that say?

I saw this headline on my home page and did a double take as the mother of 2 girls I actually took the time to read the article.  I feel somewhat better that it is a small percentage of girls but still who wants to think that their child can start to go through puberty in the first grade.

It was like feeding time at the zoo.

So tonight we took the kids to a buffet not just any buffet this has all you can eat crab legs, sushi, peel and eat shrimp, all kinds of goodies.

Jitterbug wanted to go and once Lillibean figured out it was the one with the crab legs she was on board (her first vote was for pizza). My kids like to try new foods and Jitterbug will eat just about anything once tonight she ate sushi(cooked) and some clams cooked in a black bean sauce. However tonight it was all about the crab legs for Lillibean.

Now who do you think had to crack all those crab legs the 2 of them wanted to eat? Mommy that's who. I finally just broke off all the bottoms of the legs and put them on their plates while continuing to add crab every so often just to keep them happy and so that I could eat. It was amazing watching them eat they dug their little fingers in there and picked those things clean.  With repeated more mommy more please coming from both of them. When my fingers became wrinkled and started to cramp I decided that they had, had all they could eat. Once defeat had been admitted by me they started asking for fruit and by the time it was all said and done I am pretty sure they ate more than I did.

Strange Conversations with Jitterbug

I was over on the Strak Raving Mad Mommy blog reading this and realized that I had a similar conversation with Jitterbug not so long ago. I handled a little differently though. It went something like this

JB: Mommy

Me: Yes

JB: I want to be a SP(Fraternity) when I grow up just like daddy

Me: Well honey you have to be a boy to be a SP

JB: I can be a boy

Me: Well honey its not that easy

Lillibean: You cant be a boy you don't have a winky

JB: to Lillibean(in a superior tone) I can grow one.

Me: Well you can't grow a winky hey isn't that a cute dog over there.

Obviously I dodged that one this time but what about next time because there will be a next time.

Today is Friday

Yay for everyone that has a job outside of the home its a reason to celebrate for a SAHM its just another day. Things don't change here just because its the weekend the kids still wake up when the sun comes up they still want food and attention. The good news is that maybe JW is here to help sometimes he has to work on Saturday and with football season getting ready to start that means the only day he is going to be around is Sunday. So yay for Friday one more day in a week.

A trip to Danvers Ma.

Day One

It all started well enough we all were awake and on the road by 4:45am with only a couple of "How long its gonna take" from the back seat. Our plane took off on time, both girls slept on the plane our flight was uneventful and the car service was there to pick us up on arrival. However I should have known that things would not be that smooth for the rest of the week.

We get in the car and head out the driver enters some info in to his GPS and says  "I know how to get to Danvers but not your hotel." Not great news but I try not to worry.  15 mins into our 30 min trip Jitterbug starts to ask whats that smell mommy? She has noticed the less than fresh smell coming from the driver. JW and I try to change the subject to no avail she just gets louder looks at us with a questioning look and says "whats that smell don't you smell it?"   The driver kindly and quietly cracks the back window this keeps her quiet for a grand total of 2 mins then she is on to the next pressing subject. Meanwhile Lillibean has fallen asleep and is snoring gently with her head on JW's arm. Lillibeans ability to fall asleep in a matter of seconds has earned her the nickname Princess Narcolepsy from JW.

Upon our arrival at our hotel (in Nowheresville) we check in and get some lunch in the hotel bar. The food was tasty and that was good news because it was our only option more on that later.

After lunch JW and I decide that is in every ones best interest to take a nap. I mean after all we had been up before dawn and our 2 normally delightful children(haven't destroyed anything yet)were beginning to get cranky(a whine that has reached an unbearable pitch).

We all trudge back to our room and pull out the sleeper sofa for Jitterbug and Lillibean. After some discussion with the DC about who is going to nap we all climb into our respective sleeping spots and get "quiet" after a few reminders from us that it is nap time everyone finally falls asleep. So far so good.

JW's phone started ringing at 3pm and that was then end of our peaceful vacation. The insistent ringing of the DROID as it is fondly referred to in our home woke up the DC and so it began. The DC decided that it would be fun to bounce on their bed and in doing so Jitterbug bounced herself right off the side and as she was getting up she grabbed the metal frame of the bed and Lillibean bounced right down on Jitterbugs finger. The resulting scream made me sit bolt up right and brought JW from the bathroom where he had been kindly talking on the phone so as not to wake everyone an unnecessary kindness it turns out. The finger swelled and turned purple very quickly and led JW and I to the conclusion that she had broken her finger. So there were a few moments of panic with all kinds of thoughts of ambulances and hospitals flashing through my head(as we were without a car and in the a fore mentioned Nowheresville). Once clearer heads prevailed(JW stepped in) and we were able to get her to wiggle and bend her fingers. A trip down the hall and strip the plastic wrap off a cup and we have had an ice pack, applying it for about an hour brought the swelling down and the finger returned to its normal color(Hallelujah). By this time it is dinner time so we get up get cleaned up, get dressed and go down for another meal in the hotel restaurant(bar).

We meet up with some of JW's Fraternity brothers "Jungle Gym" and "Frank". Even after meeting the DC they join us for dinner. As we enter the bartender tells us to sit anywhere so we look for a table big enough to hold all of us one is occupied and the other is covered in dishes. We stand around for about 10 mins waiting for anyone(employee) to acknowledge us and chat with some other friends that are dinning.

JW is hungry and Lillibean has started to stare longingly at other peoples food so JW decides to "help" by clearing the table. Finally an employee has noticed and  hurries over but it is not to clear the table as one would think but to chastise JW for a full 5 mins. He apologizes for his error and nicely points out that we have two hungry children and maybe if they can not accommodate families in the space they should utilize the large space called a restaurant that they have. He handled her better than I would have and had I not been distracted by the DC she might have gotten a much different response (picture a large glass of water poured over some mouthy chic's head). The group decides to adjourn to the sitting area and wait. While we are waiting another brother arrives and looks around for a spot to sit and eat. He is out of luck all tables are either piled with dishes or occupied so we invite "D" to join us and he kindly accepts. While we wait the DC are running around playing with the balls from the pool table for the most part well behaved and quite patient to tell you the truth. After another 15 mins the manager finally clears the table and we all sit down to dinner. As the food arrives Jitterbug announces to the entire restaurant that she needs to go potty so we adjourn to the restroom. I take the opportunity of better lighting to look at the finger and decide that some neosporin and a band aid are in order so we take a detour by the front desk. After some tender care from Alicia we go back to eat our dinner.After dinner and with a minimum of fuss we all retire for a good nights sleep. All in all day one of our trip hasn't been so bad. Day two can only be better right?