Day 1-San Diego

We decided to take a family trip to San Diego to see what we could do to entertain ourselves for a week. We figured there were enough attractions in the area we'd just get there, get a hotel, a car and wing it. As a perk we booked a ticket on the airplane for the baby and a king size 2 bedroom suite. Here's how day 1 played out.

We headed out about 7:30 to arrive at the airport at 8am for our 10am Southwest flight. Paul was trying to figure out why our flight was scheduled for 4 hours. When we arrived at the gate we got our answer... there was a top in Oakland on the way to San Diego. Hmmm... something that would have been nice to know ahead of time. Anyways, we settled in on the plane, I and the boys behind Paul and Val. Henri enjoys the take off and then proceeds to take a nap for the entire way until Oakland. Carter got involved in some Lego Chapter books and played a little DS.

So, we made it fairly easily to San Diego. Then we went to get our rental car. We headed to the Dollar where we had rented a car big enough for 5 people and 4 bags (we were told on the internet a Dodge Charger). Dollar was located much further from the airport than other companies, but right off I-5, so easy to find out way out of town. However, after a long wait (20 minutes, perhaps?) I get to the counter and he starts offering me all these different cars. I said, "I have no idea what kind of cars those are. I reserved a car that would fit 5 people and 4 bags, is what you are offering me going to do that??? And FYI, that includes 3 carseats across the back and 4 doors." He hems and haws, I'm telling him, " I reserved the car online that offered the room I needed, the gas mileage I wanted and the price I wanted to pay, where is the car I reserved?" He then starts saying I could get an upgrade to a Ford Escape. I said, "is it the same price?" He says, "well, no" I say, "No, I want the car I reserved." Then he starts in on the insurance. After I decline 3 times, I finally get my paperwork. Of course, Paul is driving away and we got to the hotel before I realize the guy never asked me if I wanted to add a driver. So now I'm stuck driving the whole vacation. Seriously, I will not do business with Dollar ever again at this point. I realized my experience was very much like this episode of Seinfield .

So we get to the hotel 2 hours after we get off the plane. The Carlsbad Homewood Suites. The suite is fantastic, the hotel is fantastic. It was pricey, but I got almost $50 off a night by booking non-refundable in advance. The maid straightens up after us, the room is all new furnishings, the boys' room and ours is across the living area. There's a fridge, two burner stove, microwave, a DISHWASHER, 2 bathrooms, 1 off each bedroom, 3 TVs. Nice. I call for a crib, they bring it up immediately. Valerie fits in the closet behind the bathroom door. Mon-Thurs there's a dinner buffet with free beer & wine tasting (full glasses) every morning is a breakfast buffet, lots of nice stuff. Free parking.

If poop offends you, do not read this post...

I've come a long way in the last few weeks. So instead of being completely furious at the mess I found in the bathroom, I'm laughing. This kid is going to be a riot.

Scene: T.P. unrolled about 5 feet, poop on the toilet seat, discarded, pooped upon clothing, stickers on the counter and floor.  Seems H had peed in the toilet (hence, rewarding himself with a few stickers) but had pooped his pants and tried cleaning up.

Me: What's going on up here?

H: I'm making a poop. I have poop on my hand.

Me: Don't put your hand in your bum.

H: You don't put your hand in your bum. (always good advice)

H: I'm making a big poopie, isn't that fun?  I'm making a potty poopy. Isn't it fun? Yeah, it is fun.

H: I'm done, you have to brush my bum now.

I put him in the bath to soak his hand and bum. The worst part, I think is that I never actually saw the poop ball. I'm praying that it made it into the toilet and was flushed.

Why I have to brag on the good days...

... because other days are like today. After going to bed at 6:45pm last night, Henri went to bed tonight at 6:30pm. Seems spreading poop all over the bathroom was exhausting.  He pooped his pants and went upstairs to "clean it up" and somehow I found poop on the sink, bathmat, his legs, the floor. I spent about an hour this afternoon giving him a bath and while he was in there was sanitizing the entire room.  Where was Valerie? Crying in the hall because she got up at 4am this morning, so her one nap was when she passed out at 10:30 in her high chair having a snack... for 1 1/2 hours (she usually takes a 2-3 hour nap in the afternoon). 

Yes, at 4am, she greeted me with happy cheers from her crib, so we got up and I dozed on the couch until 6am with her smacking me in the head with a toy every time the on demand Sesame Street was done.

Henri was so tired at dinner that when I gave him the choice of white milk and water and he wanted chocolate milk, he informed me, sobbing hysterically (by this time it had been going on for about 40 minutes) that his milk was "dangerous" and therefore could not be drunk.  Meanwhile Carter was asking me about the "life cycle of wheat" and how it ends up to be bread.

Mondays are usually my days to get things done. Well, today I did invitations for Henri's birthday party and I sanitized a bathroom.  Oh, well, better luck tomorrow at being Super Mom, I guess.

ETA: oh, yes, let me not forget I finally, finally got Carter to school on time for his Spanish class when I got a phone call upon arriving at home asking why I had dropped Carter of at school so early. Yes, the dear boy had forgotten he was supposed to be at class, and went off... now 10 minutes late.

More Amish Bread ideas

Trying pumpkin bread tonight for the season. I'm actually missing regular Amish friendship bread... guess I'll be making regular next time. I grew a full batch to give away two starters to people who requested, so on to baking!

I'm getting the recipe from here... http://www.momswhothink.com/bread-recipes/amish-friendship-bread-recipe-variations/Page-3.html

for those of you wondering about the Amish friendship bread, see my post here: http://lyttlehouseinthesuburbs.blogspot.com/2011/10/amish-bread.html

Ta da!

Every day I work out either before the kids get up or at naptime.  (Valerie thinks she is my personal trainer and likes to lie on my stomach while I do ab work.) but Wednesdays I have curling at night as my exercise and therefore have naptime to myself and Henri.  Today I'm finishing the work I started last night while Paul was curling of editing and filing my digital photos. I realized I forgot to share these precious ones of Valerie. She was quietly doing her own thing. I swear this 15 month old had no assistance...

Happy Halloween!

What a busy day! Carter had Spanish class at 8:15, so we started wake up at 7:30am this morning.  Dropped Carter off at school at 8:10, then plowed through cleaning the house. At 10:30, worked out, then 11am my friend, Sarah, dropped her kids off. Her two kids were born the same weeks as my two kids. They ate some lunch, then played a little before Valerie had to go down for nap, then she got back at 1:00, just in time for me to dress up, grab Carter's costume and join him at his class party while Sarah stayed with the little ones.

 

Carter is a Repeater from Plants v. Zombies (video game for those not in the know).  I just threw on a dress I found in the Halloween bin and threw on a bunch of jewelry.  I don't often get to go to Carter's functions because we have the two little ones at home. But I LOVE doing it when I can because several things happened.

First, several girls came up to me and told me I looked beautiful. I can tell from the photo I'm a little thick in the middle for this dress and I threw my hair up in a makeshift bun after a shower. But these sweet girls thought I looked like a princess!  One of the girls asked to take this picture of Carter and I for me.  Second, another mother that was there said she didn't dress up because her daughter said it would embarrass her, whereas my son had ASKED me to dress up!  Third, Carter was THRILLED I was there. He smiled, hugged me, jumped up and down and made sure everyone knew who I was.  I relish these moments where he's still thrilled to have me around because I know, sometime soon, he'll be embarrased to be seen with me.

After running relay races at their party, I headed home to rest for an hour before we had to pick Carter up, then we went to Paul's work and walked around to collect candy.  Since Plants v. Zombies is played on Xbox, people loved Carter's costume, Valerie & Henri were just plain cute. 

Then we came home and had dinner with our friends and went trick or treating.

Carter & his friends took the lead. Henri got a shoulder lift from their friends' dad, Valerie LOVED trick-or-treating and was adorable. 

She didn't carry her bag, but went up steps, walked most of the way, went up to the door and picked one, single candy out of the bowl and walked away.  She'd then put it in her mouth. 

Then I'd have to make her scream by taking it and putting it in the bag. Until she saw another opportunity for candy and smile big, then head to the next door.

Halloween Partay!

We have a party at our church every year the weekend before Halloween.  This year it seemed like there were less people.  We took Etienne with us. He enjoyed himself so much he said, "if they have this party again next year, and there's some way for me to make it, I'd like to go again."

There's lots of activities, a limbo, a cupcake walk, some crafts, a pinata.

Valerie wandered around perfectly happy and prefectly adorable. Her favorite thing was the hula hoops.

She is getting very fast!

Henri was happy to win the cupcake walk.

Video of the kids Limboing: Click here