Great Friend and Good Food

Ever heard of Let's Dish, I love that place!! It's a meal prep store where you go and make some meals to freeze at home for dinner. Food is good and the convienence can't be beat. I'v been doing it every few months since mini #2 joined the family. Did I ever mention that he had colic?? (that's a week of posts all on it's own, I'm currently supressing those memories) If it wasn't for Let's Dish we would have eaten hotdogs every night for those 12 weeks, cooking dinner was just not an option. Ever since those dark days of mommyhood I've come to rely on Let's Dish for a little variety at our table.

Now enough with the PSA for Let's Dish, on to the good friend part of this post. I called a friend whose hubby is also TDY and invited them over for dinner (she has a 2 year old). So, we have 3 toddlers, 2 adults, 1 bottle of white wine and a let's dish dinner to enjoy on my tiny deck. The wine was definitely needed to make the kids bareable. We all had fun but man the kiddos are busy. And, well, DC just doesn't offer affordable housing that's bigger than a shoe box! We both just emailed saying how nice it was to share the evening together and confessed that after we parted each other's company our kids were sent straight to bed with NO bath.

There is always tomorrow for getting clean huh. Besides they'll need another hose down after breakfast anyways.

It has been a long, rainy week doing the "mommy show" for both of us but military spouses stick together. No sulking at home by your lonesome on a Friday night. When husbands go TDY we just say hey, more time for a girls night.

Daily Top 10

1 Townhouse is rented, now just have to refi so we can afford to rent it, huge relief

2 Hubby TDY and doing the "mommy show" thing

3 Went to Costco for diapers (dangerously low supply) and had hotdogs for dinner (see #2)

4 Then went to hospital and relized that government medicine is cheap for a reason

5 Dr was cleary days out of med school and twisted my knee in ways that made it hurt more than when I went in..hmmm???

6 Get to go back to hospital tomorrow for x-rays at nasty hospital that will be torn down in months

7 Stepped over spilled box of raisins to pour a BIG glass of wine

8 Out of laundry detergent and not planning on buying it tomorrow in an effort to avoid dirty clothes for 1 more day

9 Very much looking forward to hubby returning on Sat

10 Looking forward to girls night out Sat a tad bit more though!! Hey, I'm honest

Name Game

So, I saw this post here http://alwaysorganizing.blogspot.com/ and had to try is myself. You use the first letter of your name.

1) Caroline, my sweet baby girl and first born

2) Coke (diet that is) how I start my day

3) Coffee only when it's super cold outside

4) Clean, OK I'm kind of a clean freak but I like it that way

5) Clothes, duh, what girl doesn't love them

6) Chanel, wish I could afford those sunglasses

7) College I attended Florida State University, GO NOLES, Definitely the most fun years of my life

8) Costco and Commissary, man I can spend some bucks in those stores

9) Chanel, where I'd rather be shopping

10) Cherokee, the car I drive

It's fun, you should try it, if you do leave me a comment because I want to read yours

Obviously a Man Did That

Did what you should ask???? Designed my house that is. Carpet under the kitchen table??? Obviously a man with no children thought that was a good idea. Needless to say we own a steam cleaner and I got to spend the last hour of my life cleaning my carpet. Fun times... How did I get to lead such a glamorous life, cooking, cleaning, laundry, diapers. Oh the fun.

On a happy note the weather here is awesome!!!! The kids have really enjoyed being outside and so have I. However, I have noticed I'm the only Mom who drinks a beer at the nieghborhood park. Yes I feel like a looser but it is after 5:00. I think I should start using red solo cups, he he

Work Work Work

The Major works a lot but considering he's in the military, I feel lucky he's in the same country as us. DC is famous for it's long commutes. We actually live in a location that has about a 45 minute door-to-door commute for The Major. 45 mins is actually quite good for DC. However, add in a 9-10 hour work day and that makes for a long day. So, The Major is up way before any of us and out of the house before we are awake. He is a morning person and tries to get in early so he can be home to eat dinner with us, which I'm so thankful for. I think family dinners are SOOO important.

Anyways, the kids don't see him wake in the am and obviously they don't see him go to bed at night. I'm going somewhere with this, stay with me.... Most mornings C (3 year old daughter) asks if Daddy is at work and I usually reply yes, unless it's the weekend (duh). Well, one night she said "Daddy lives at work." I said "What?" She repeated herself. I said "Yes daddy does work a lot huh." Her reply was, "No Mommy, he sleeps at work, he lives there." I realized she had no idea he actually slept at our house. She thought he was just visiting in the evenings and on the weekends. Oh my, what a shocker. I had to take her into our room and explain all that goes on while she is "night night" well not all that goes on.

All I could think was.... I wonder what she has told her preschool teachers????

Well, today in the car I asked C what kind of cake we should make Daddy for his Birthday. I explained how hers was a princess cake because she likes them and Buddy's was a train cake because trains are his favorite etc... She said Dad should have a work cake.

I'm guessing my cake will be a laundry themed birthday cake.

Life is Good

So, I left cold DC last Thursday for sunny FL and have been loving it. The Major and I both plan to reside here after his military days are over. The Major is a CA boy but likes FL more and most of his family has left CA. So, I made him sign a prenup that said I could be a SAHM and that we'd retire in FL. OK, so I didn't go that far but we both agreed on those two issues.

Back to my time in FL. My mom treats me like a baby when I come here, it's beyond ridiculous... She helps with the kids, cooks, let's me go to the mall without kids and even offers her credit card to buy a few things. I take it (if I don't take it she'll hound me till I do) but I never use it. (I have to draw the line somewhere) Oh, and I almost forgot chilled champagne for cocktails while she cooks our yummy dinner. Tonight we had halibut with a delicious cream sauce, spinach pancakes, corn on the cob and lobster bisque. So, this is not a joke...my life here is truly this good. Two last things, she does all our laundry and she gets up with the kids every am and gets them breakfast while I sleep till about 7:30. Ahhhh....life is good. I think I should make one of those shirts that says "Life is Good" and have a picture of me at my mom's house.

Now onto what I got at the mall...

Shoes for my daughter

Two shirts from Nordstroms for me

Shoes for me

Jeans for the Major's B-day from Gap (Oh I wish I could get that boy into some better jeans but he says I'm just lucky he's still not wearing his from college, which he surely would be if it wasn't for me)

Just the usual today

Nothing too exciting to post about today. Just a busy morning as a taxi driver... preschool, mom and me class for S. then the gym for bodysculp class then back to preschool. Then make lunch, do laundry, clean up kitchen, more laundry etc... I hope to fit a shower in while the kids are napping. So, there is my glam life. I wish I could hire a maid and a laundress because there is no way any normal human can keep up with the cleaning and laundry in my home.

I have decided that after staring at myself in the mirror for 1 hour of bodysculp class that I need a lot more sculpting.

So, what does your day have in store for you. Must have something better than me.

I feel like the movie Groundhog Day sometimes, anyone agree??

Well then....

The Major has a habit of sitting in his car after he comes home from work. He finishes his cell phone call, checks his blackberry etc.... He does this so that he can give the kids his full attention when he walks in the door because they will accept nothing less. I suggested this strategy but it actually kind of annoys me. However, it's better than the alternative (kids screaming while he types/talks). I'm sure he's solving world peace with that last email and it must be done at that instant....hmmm.... I'm anxious for a little relief and need some help so I can finish dinner but world peace trumps me.

So, tonight I see the Major in his parking spot, yes I said parking spot, driveways are for the million $ plus homes, which I don NOT live in. Anyways, he's just chatting away, then I get a phone call from him. He says, "Did you know Steven is on the coffee table in the living room." He can see him through our bay window clear as day and thought he should call me to inform me of this . I'm clearly not surprised or startled as climbing on furniture is a winter sport in our home. So my response was NOT "oh my I must go save him before he falls and needs stitches again." Instead I calmly state, " Well then come in and do something about it Major." And continued to cook my meat pie.

Jon and Kate + 8

Anyone watch that show?? I'm addicted. I think it makes my life seem calm and normal and that makes me like it. Seeing thier craziness makes me feel not crazy. Anyways, if you did see it wow that house was HUGE. She better hire more housekeepers. All I could think was wow, they are making some bucks doing that show.

Also, random thought, I'm contemplating Ugg boots. Any thoughts, comments, recommendations?

I Should Be Ashamed

It's about 15 degrees outside and I dragged my two kids, in the cold, to the liquor store. I must need a drink bad you are thinking. I do but that's another story... The Major has been out of town all week. Anyways, my gal pals and I have our monthly dinner club tonight and I'm making a champagne cocktail that calls for Vodka. The Major and I drink mostly beer and wine but we do have a nice little stash of liquor. I decided to check the liquor cabinet last night just to make sure we were stocked and the vodka was gone. So after preschool pickup I toted the kids into ABC and got my brown bag. I was looking pretty rough too. No shower yet, blue yoga pants, black coat, hair is in a messy pony, no make-up, black crocs, white socks (totally dork).

So then we headed to the store and the fist thing my daugher yells is "That's Santa Beer". It was actually a 12 pack of coke, but she thinks anything in cans is beer. Should I be surprised if Child Protection Services shows up soon.

Well, dinner club is at my house tonight and of course the major is TDY (business trip in military talk). So, I've hired a nieghborhood kid to trap my kids in the basement till bed time. Italian is the theme. I'll let you know how it goes.

Last 24 Hours

Events from the past 24 hours by the numbers. I've been a busy gal, got home last night and had a b-day party for Caroline today. Off to bed....

1 birthday party
2 = number of planes Caroline threw up on yesterday during landings
2 meals at McDonalds
3 = hours sweet babysitter took kids out of the house for me today
4 = number of suitcases I unpacked today
5 = days till cleaning lady comes, YEAH
6= hours it would take me to clean my house if cleaning lady wasn't coming, bless her
7 sippy cups found in my car, not kidding, seriously SEVEN, gross
8 people who stared at me with puking child without even offering to help
10 = how many times I said shi@@ when the Major said he'd be out of town next Thurs, night I'm hosting girls dinner club
11 = number of phone calls I'll have to make to find a sitter for dinner club night
20 kids at the party
30 = dollars it cost me to have the babysitter, soooo worth it
3 days till she comes again
18 chicken nuggets consumed. so gross yet so yummy
22 = number of goodie bags I stuffed
24 = number of cupcakes I baked
70 = dollars it will cost me to get house cleaned. so worth it, merry chirstmas to me!

Flight Canceled

So that means I must endure two more days of fun in the sun. Can't get out till thursday

Round 2

Today I'm leaving sunny 80 degree FL to return to cold, rainy DC, YUCK!!! No more champagne on the dock for happy hour. No more beach in my parents backyard, no more enormous front yard with a swingset and a sand box. I must return to reality. Laundry, dishes, laundry, cooking, errands and of course more laundry. When I visit my mom treats me like a kid again doing all our laundry and cooking all the meals. Do you see why I'm coming back in Feb???

Well, please refer to the Dec Post "Did ya see me" and if you see me in the ATL airport say Hi.

Not a fan

I'm not a big fan of resolutions because once you break them you don't try anymore. However, I thought I'd jot down a few ideas of things I'd like to improve upon.

Go to bed earlier, I have a much better day with a good night sleep, so after this post I'm off to bed. Well, after I check FB and my email one more time.

Be more patient with my kids, when things get busy or stressful for me they react to me. If I snap at them they whine, cry and snap back, sounds pretty logical, just stay calm and talk nice.

Plan my time better, so I can get more done.

Manage paper in my house, file it, shred it or take action quickly instead of forming a nice pile in my kitchen.

Prep the night before for the next day, a few preparations the night before (i.e. fill sippy cups, make sure dishes are done, have bag packed etc...) make for a better day.

Well, that's my top 5, what are yours?????

Keep up with my to do list, simple enough huh.