Ice Skating in Southern California

Danger! Danger!

We were visiting the in-laws yesterday who are house sitting for their friend in Long Beach. After hanging out inside for about an hour, they suggested we cruise down the street to the local park. When we pulled up, we noticed it was packed, the park equipment was modern and techy looking, and we were excited about trying something new. So were the kids.

At first it seemed so cool to play on aparatus that we had never been on before...

(OK, so the last 2 weren't new, but she was cute so I included the pics)

But we quickly realized that this park was DANGEROUS!

For example, you know those rocking chickens the old school parks used to have? Well, this park had those, only new and modern and the spring was super loaded and Avalon gave herself a goose egg as she went forward and it bounced back at her. I didn't get a picture.

Then Loudoun tried to get off this crazy swing and bonked his head because it doesn't ever really stop swinging, what with the centrifugal force and all.

Then Avalon slipped on this, because there really is nowhere for your feet to grip onto:

Then Loudoun hurt his back on this swing, claiming it "just wasn't very comfortable."

Avalon couldn't stay on long enough to be injured:

But when it was time to leave, I told Avalon she could go on one more thing, and she chose this. Looks safe enough, but if you look close enough...

The rope behind them had a missing plastic ball for climbing, so they replaced it with duct tape, and there were little sharp shards of metal, and she was barefoot. One walk across it was all it took. At first it didn't look like the scratch was too bad, but it quickly started bleeding.

The screaming began, we rushed home, and the nursing began.

It reminded me of this time last year, when she bonked her head at daycare and needed stitches. Same sad face.

It broke my heart. But love, kisses, a bandaid and candy made it better. So did a trip to the local mexican restaurant for dinner. Only a margarita could have made it the best ever.

The elderly get all the breaks

Friday evening dinner, Loudoun had us line up in his room at the "counter" so he could take us to our seat. MIL and FIL came together, Rick came solo, and I brought my lovely guest, Avalon. Since Rick was alone, he was seated first. Next the lovely inlaw couple, and finally Avalon and I were offered a seat. We all followed our restaurant owner down the hall to our beautiful table, in that order. As we were all leaving Loudoun's room restaurant lobby, my FIL ripped the biggest fart ever. Except, nobody even skipped a beat! My jaw dropped out of shock, but I kept my mouth shut since everyone else did. We continued down the hall and since Avalon and I were downstream, she pointed to his butt and belted out, "POO POO!!"

When does one get the right to fart in front of whomever they want? I do it in front of my husband but when do I get to do it at a restaurant?

Rough morning commute

I must say, my morning commute is extremely difficult...

Difficult, in that I never want to actually make it into the office!

Religion?

Last week I came home feeling so down on myself. I felt like I wasn't a very good person, I wasn't a very good friend, I was no longer the same girl my husband fell in love with, and that I was an overbearing, rule-enforcing mother. On my 45 minute drive home, I actually convinced myself that I was a worse person than when I left my office. So, by the time I got home, I felt pretty worthless. Who better to go to than my husband.

We had a long heart to heart. One of the best things about our relationship is we can talk about anything (cliche, I know) and seem to be able to get things off our chests without hurting each other's feelings. Anyway, Rick made me feel better about a lot of what I was feeling. One cool point he brought up was that I am still carefree and outgoing and energetic in most aspects of my life, except for when it comes to raising my kids. But carefree has to go out the window when it comes to setting boundaries for toddlers, so it was appropriate. And while I've been feeling stressed out and under a microscope by not drinking and dealing with all of these new, raw emotions, he said he felt like I was making such strides in my life, maturing and growing and what not. Maybe he's right, but I just feel bitchy.

So, this all took place on Tuesday. On Thursday, a friend and mentor came to me and offered Christianity to me. He said he had my family in his heart, he prays for us, could tell I have been searching for quite some time now, and is such a strong believer himself he wanted to share it with me. We talked about Christianity for over an hour. I was intrigued.

Without going into too much detail, since I don't know where I stand on all of this quite yet and quite frankly don't feel comfortable talking about religion publicly just yet, there is one thing that hit me. He came and offered the love of God to me, during a week where I wasn't feeling very much love for myself. When I left that conversation and went and sat down, a wave of peace came over me, and I'm not quite sure why yet.

The truth is I have been searching a lot lately. I'm sure a lot of it has to do with quitting drinking and "feeling" a lot more than I probably have in the past 5 years. But the real kicker is family and kids. I constantly wonder what would happen to my family if I died? What would happen to my kids if they died? What's in store for us later? Not trying to be morbid and depressing, but I can honestly say I never thought about any of that "pre" family. Now it all is so much more imprtant than it ever was as a teenager or young adult.

So, without going into too much religion talk in my post, if you have any Christianity thoughts (or religion in general for that matter), comments or something you absolutely love that you would like to pass along to me, I am all ears. Ready to soak it up like a sponge (since the vodka is no longer doing it).

Thanks,
Robin

What we're up to

It seems like all of a sudden my kids are doing new and great things. One minute we're dealing with 2 year old tantrums (let's face it, Loudoun's issues at age 5 have pretty much disappeared completely), but the next week we're growing and laughing and having so much fun.

***

(yard sale!)

Loudoun is in kindergarten this year. He learned to read the first month of school, and has spent this whole next month reading everything and writing/spelling like crazy. I cannot believe how quickly he can write notes to us, sentences to Grandma in mailed letters, and "stay out of my room" signs. Just yesterday he borrowed my iPhone in the backseat and texted Daddy at work while we drove around town running errands. HE WAS TEXTING! He's 5!!! It wasn't even a year ago that my husband and I got unlimited texting. Before I know it my kids will be begging me to get their own phone. Ay yay yay. Not even some bribery will get them a phone before age 35. But they can try.

***

Avalon started singing twinkle twinkle little star. This girl is just starting to put sentences together, so to hear her sing an entire song, and understand what she's saying!, is HUGE. Obviously, this song is practiced often at preschool. Hopefully it won't be sung much in our house. A couple of times is cute, more than that is "shoot me now" annoying.

***

(Abby Cadabby undies!)

Avalon started potty training herself on Saturday, and after 1 week is just about done. She asks to go at least every half hour, and refuses to wear diapers. Having the day off yesterday was perfect for practicing at home. When she woke up yesterday morning, the first word out of her mouth was "potty." I cannot believe in several weeks we will be out of diapers completely. Nothing like a girl to bring us through this stage in lightning speed. Wait, where did my little girl go?

***

(she still fits!)

Oh wait, I know! Without diapers, her size 18 month pants don't even stay up anymore! Looks like I might need to get those 12 month pants back on borrow. Such a little peanut!

***

Loudoun is drawing up a storm! In just a short amount of time, he went from a few scribbles on the page to very thought out, details pictures. His latest addictions are skulls, solar systems, and monsters. I love little boys. They are so boyishly predicatable, and so are the men they become!

***

Speaking of, what is Rick up to? Well, since Modern Warfare 2 came out this week, well he is up to no good. That's all I have to say about that.

***

What am I up to? Let's see....I am trying to avoid the Halloween candy like the plague (not working), getting excited about the upcoming holidays, watching and enjoying my kids these days (until the funky tantrums start up again), and that's about it. It's been mellow, and that's the way I like it.

Camping trip

The goal was camping outfits.

Loudoun succeeded. Shorts, t-shirt with various paw prints for reference, and a magnifying glass.

Avalon, however, did not.

She achieved more of a Michael Jackson concert performing outfit.

But they had fun, and Rick busted out the tent in the backyard.
(he asked not to be photographed, due to still sporting the "rolled out of bed" look)

The headband served its purpose, keeping her hair out of her eyes while she "worked."

I thought adult supervision was over at that point,

But then I came out to see my husband putting on a show.

And all of sudden my kids were very interested in science.

I think I need to stay outside and supervise all three kids.

Thirty times two

Shenanigans are ok

My kids are very young. I am right in the middle of their shenanigans. But my oldest is almost 6 and I can see a glimpse of life without toddler tomfoolery. Because of this, I am much more tolerant of all the toddler antics they both bring to the table, because I know soon enough it will all be over and I will miss it.

For example, every night both kids crawl in bed with us. We are very proud that we did sleep training with both kids at a very early stage of infancy, and both kids sleep very well. Avalon typically crawls in bed with us around 2am, Loudoun following around 5am. Rick and I are totally fine with this because it still allows us "adult" time while also accomodating kid snuggle time. Everyone wins.

Or do we? First, Rick and I spend the entire night sleeping on edge, worrying if they will roll off the bed and bonk their heads on the hardwood floors. Plus, both kids start out ok, but quickly switch over to what we like to call the "H Formation." Rick and I are the vertical lines of the H...they are the horizontal line. By 6am, Rick and I are on the extreme edges of the cal king mattress. Sometimes with no comforter.

I could let this get to me. Instead, I try and see the positive side and view it as a built-in alarm clock. Because really? In just a few short years, neither kid will crawl into our bed anymore, and I will miss that snuggle time for sure.

My kids are also filled with shrills, screams, cries, yells, arguments, tantrums, etc. on a weekly basis. Used to be a daily basis, but they seem to be growing up a bit lately. Some days it is NON-STOP. Other days are completely easy and fun, and of course other days my kids show levels of maturity I didn't know they were capable of. One day, these kids will lock themselves in their rooms or go out on dates, and the air will no longer be filled with kid sounds. There is something about a toddler/kid sound, whether it is a cry or a laugh, that just cannot be matched by anything else.

I constantly have to remind my kids to throw away wrappers. Candy, juicebox straws, fruit by the foot, granola bars, kid tattoo wrappers, etc. It never ends. I literally could make a career following them around picking up little bits of trash. I always find little pieces of paper from "scissor snowflake " projects. Their feet are always black from the pavement outside. Mac and cheese is permanently crusted to our dining room table. But they are here with me, and we are "living." I have retirement years to enjoy a clean house. If I even decide that's important to me. I'm not so sure anymore.

Right now, Avalon struggles to get in her carseat...EVERY time. It must be that she is having so much fun where she is at and doesn't want to miss out on anything, but I swear if I have to go through one more argument about buckling her in, I'm going to go crazy. But, as I sit in the front seat waiting for her to calm the f*ck down, a peace comes over me because one day soon enough, my kids won't even want to ride in my car anymore. They may want to borrow it, but driving with mom won't be cool anymore. So I take comfort in the fact that in 5 minutes, after the seatbelt charade is over, I will be driving down the street, chatting with my kids.

I know this realization comes from 3 things:

1. This is the 2nd time around doing this toddler parenting thing, and it comes a little easier. I know what the end of the tunnel looks like now, so going through the battle isn't as frustrating.

2. I am not drinking anymore and I'm seeing the parenting situations with outstanding focus and a clear head.

3. I am done having kids and I know I need to appreciate every moment to the fullest.

I also chose to write this post the day after I returned from a week long business trip. My kids missed me, and showed me love and affection like they thought I was never coming back. I better press publish before they revert back to their normal, obnoxious selves*.

* Totally kidding. 2 year old tantrums aside, my kids are the best ever...I wouldn't trade them for anything.

Vegas, baby!

Things I have learned (or confirmed) in Vegas this time around:

• There sure are some weirdos gambling at 7am
• I hate networking
• Compliance is a interesting job and I actually enjoy it. Listening to it all day long at a conference though is pretty damn boring.
• I missed my kids a lot sooner than I thought I would.
• I didn't sleep any better having the bed to myself.
• My hair loves this weather...I haven't used my flat iron once!
• My legs hate this weather...I haven't stopped itching since I got here.
• The Big Lebowski is freakin' hilarious.
• I wish I could have pastries served to me every morning.
• I also wish I had access to a gym/spa everyday.
• I would rather run an hour on a treadmill than network with peers.
• I am glad I have unlimited texting.
• The strongest woman in the world is very nice. I shared a shuttle with her.
• Despite the casino smelling like an ashtray, I am actually craving a cigarette more than a drink.
• I am most looking forward to dinner with my real father and his wife tonight. I only get to see him about 2-3 times a year.
• I love talking to Loudoun on the phone now. He's 5 and we can talk like friends. He tells me about his day and we can be sarcastic with each other. It's fun. Now Avalon, she still waves at the phone. :-)
• This white sheet, white comforter, white pillowcase combination would never work in my house.

I'm ready to go home!

Go away, temptation

...free drink tickets upon check-in
...hotel room is down the hall from casino
...wet bar glaring at me from across the room
...alone...for 5 days...

Argh...temptation, go away!!! Looks like I'll be making the gym my habit this week....and all of those good restaurants. Oh wait, don't those 2 contradict each other? Maybe I'll make it my challenge to have the gym come out ahead!

Obligatory Halloween Post

First time homeowners and kids who are 1 year older made for a super FUN Halloween this year. Both kids were old enough to "walk" to all of the houses this year (last year Avalon was in a stroller), Loudoun was old enough to go back out with Dad for round 2, and we all got to pass out candy to kids who came up our driveway. Apartment living doesn't allow for that. Loudoun was a super scary vampire and Avalon was a very sweet bumble bee. Check it out:

And even though nobody in my entire company watches The Office, at least I made an attempt to dress up as Meredith this year. If you know me, you know I hate dressing up. After the responses I got this year, I doubt I will ever dress up again.