Empty Plate Rule

Kids and I jumped in the pool for the first time this year........still a bit cold, but thanks to the pool heater it was 85 degrees! Jake noted that my stay-at-home mommy work is getting much easier and boy is he right. There is something to say about no longer having a baby. Reese and Nate splashed and played in the pool while I lounged on a chair and read. So relaxing.....I mean very hard work watching those boys. After jumping in with them for awhile we had lunch by the pool.......I love spring. We made the "empty your plate or no desert" rule recently. When I remind Reese of this he promptly dumps the remainder of his lunch onto the table and presents me with an "empty plate". Made me chuckle and then pick up the food and stick it back in front of him. He never did get desert (leftover Halloween candy....seems it will last all year).

Last night after dinner out Reese and I headed home while Jake and Nate ran to Jake's office to pick up some work before coming home. I get a call about a minute after walking in the door. It's Nate crying. Not just any cry, but the cry where you can't catch your breath. Freaked me out. He was crying so hard he couldn't talk. I just kept asking him what was wrong. Finally Jake got on the phone. Said he walked out of his office to talk to someone and when he walked back in a minute later Nate was holding a photo of me Jake had on his desk and crying....said he missed me. It's the first time he's ever done that. Tore me up.

A big "kick cancers ass" goes out to Mr. B, my good friend Ann-Marie's dad, who is having chemo this week. I know you can do it.

Happy Birthday Scarlett

Happy 2nd birthday to my sweet niece Scarlett!

Cruise

We're back from our cruise. Had a great time.......except for me missing dinner the first night due to unexpected sea sickness. Thanks goodness that didn't last long!

We cruised to Key West, a first for Jake and I. Yes I know, hard to believe since we have lived in Florida for most of our lives. We did a Pub Crawl, 5 bars in 2 hours. We thought our guide was drinking water the entire time until she flashed her boobs at the last bar. Then offered to take us to the Garden of Eden, a clothing optional bar..........no thanks.

Cozumel was our next stop and my favorite. We went on a clear kayak excursion and snorkeling. The beach was beautiful........the water was so clear.

We ate lots of good food, met some interesting people, got my first ever massage and had a blast hanging out with Jake's cousin Brad and his wife Rachel. Very awesome people.

I was catching up on news this morning and heard this story. Freaked me out because we talked about how scary it would be to fall overboard with no land in site.....in the dark.....with sharks..........

So glad to be home. We missed the kids like crazy.

Safe Side

Looking for a good way to teach your kids about stranger danger? Check out this DVD.

We've watched it a half dozen times and the kids love it...teaches a great lesson without being scary.

Birthday

Happy Birthday Aunt Esther!

Chocolate Hot Dogs and Baby Boys

Reese says of the grill marks on his hot dog, "Mommy, I don't like the chocolate part."

Congrats to Jen who just found out she's having another boy!

Where have I been?

We spent the week hanging our with my niece and "party girl" Scarlett. The cousin's had fun playing together.......beach, zoo and a 2nd birthday party at our house for Scarlett. We're going through separation anxiety now that they went back to NC.

Home Improvement

Finally, two projects we've had on our minds since we first moved in.....nearly a year ago. Before and after pics as promised. One of the backyard and the other of the fireplace in the living room.

Sea World

My good friend Ann-Marie once told me when she was a kid she always wished her parents would have surprised her and her sister with a cool outing when they thought they were getting in the car to go visit a boring relative etc. So, Jake and I told the kids we had to run some errands before Daddy had to go to work and once we got in the car we turned around and shouted, "WE'RE GOING TO SEA WORLD"! Thanks for the idea Ann-Marie. It was a great day. Now we have free passes to go anytime for the rest of the year..........here we come Shamu.

Trees, Secrets and Ann

Our new trees for the backyard came today. Nathan and I watched as two 18 foot oak trees were lifted by a crane like machine and carried to their new resting places in the rear of the yard. New sod comes Friday..........instant yard. Got to love landscapers.

I finally did something to set my mind at ease about a friendship gone sour. I have to say I never "stopped" being friends with anyone before. Maybe I've lost touch, but never just ended a friendship. We've been friends for over 10 years, hit it off the first day we met. She was one of the most supportive friends I had during my illnesses. The only problem, she's so unhappy with her life I found the negativity was getting to me. We had a slight disagreement back in the fall and she just wrote me off. I didn't make much effort to reconcile because honestly I didn't want to deal with her constant unhappiness with her life. However, I find myself thinking of her often and wonder how she is doing. Jake's mom has been telling me about The Secret for years. Then a couple of weeks ago it's on Oprah. It resonated with me. I ordered two copies of the DVD, thinking I'd give the extra copy to someone. Well, today I packaged it up for my friend. Not sure we'll ever be friends again, but I'm hopeful she'll find the happiness that has eluded her her entire life. I am at peace with myself now.

I hit my favorite store, Ann Taylor Loft, last night to pick up a couple of things for the cruise. Not long and I'll be sunning myself (with SPF 50) pool side sipping a margarita.

Great Weekend

Nathan had his first soccer game of the season Saturday morning. Last year he didn't get into it, but since this is the last year that a parent plays on the field with their kid we thought we'd give it one more try. He loved it. It was cold and I sat on the sidelines and cuddled with a grumpy Reese who really wanted to be out there playing too. Reese told me the other day he had "soccer feet" so no doubt once he turns 4 he'll be out there too.

Sunday Jake's parents and my mom came over for a little grilling on what turned out to be an absolutely gorgeous day. We convinced Jake's parents to go to an open house two doors down from ours. The house just went on the market and we are trying to recruit someone we know to buy it. Any takers? The house was really nice and I think they are giving the idea of living closer to us some serious thought. Who would have thought?

School Days

I signed Reese up for preschool today. Seems like just yesterday the little man was born. And next month I register Nathan for Kindergarten.........sigh. Come August I'll be an empty nester, at least a few days a week. I find myself feeling a little sad and excited. Sad that those baby years have slid by too fast and excited about FREE TIME. What will I do with myself? Jake says (sarcastically), "Get a job." All kidding aside, I was starting to feel a bit guilty about my lack of desire to head back to the workforce when I realized, Reese is only going to be in school about 10 hours a week. Plus, I've had a hell of a 5 years so I'm devoting a good portion of those 10 hours a week to me. Maybe read a book. I've read one book since Nathan was born, two if you count What to Expect the First Year. It's a privilege to be where I am (thanks Babe) and I hope I use it wisely. Feel free to send me nasty messages when I blog about my hardships and boredom.