I'm Alive in Well in Texas

So just so you know, I haven't dropped off the face of the earth. On Wednesday, Sofia and I flew to Austin, Texas to visit our best friends. It's been an *actual* vacation for us and I'm having such a good time.

Yesterday, we drove a few hours south to San Antonio, to a kick ass resort. It's situated on extensive grounds & is incredibly family oriented with multiple pools, activities, a lazy river, etc. It's really like a vacation, for the most part. I mean, it's the kind of sticky, humid hot that one only experiences in the south and Sofia is her usual high maintenance self, so it could never be a real vacation, but it's been great. I actually had a margarita poolside yesterday and let me tell you, it's been YEARS since I did that.

Lots of things to do, Sea World today (complete with feeding dolphins and lunch with Shamu), girl bonding time for all, room service and ,multiple bottles of wine. What more could one want? The accents are cute too. Sometimes, I forget where I am and then I talk to someone or overhear a conversation and hear the drawl. It's actually quite charming.

I've talked to Steve a few times and the boys are doing great. I miss them terribly, but apparently not enough to make me homesick...yet. :) We're back to Austin tomorrow, then Sunday - home.

The girls within minutes of getting to Austin. Sofia was into Bella's dress up stuff within mock speed.



Sofia enjoying the water area at Sea World today.



Shamu showing off.

Happy Sunday

Dateline: This Morning.

Overheard at our house?

"Mommy? Why is your belly button so big?"

Good morning to you, sunshine!

We're off to a sleepover at pseudo grandma's house (just Sofia and I.) I'm looking forward to it as pseudo grandma spoils Sofia rotten and I may actually get to read a book! A non parenting book!

7 Quick Takes Friday - 5.22.09

This 7 Quick Takes Friday is kind of lame and very stream of consciousness. I apologize in advance.

1. Sofia's new favorite phrase? "OHH-EMM-GEEE" (as in O.M.G.) She picked it up at preschool, from her teacher, apparently. When I posted this on Facebook, a fellow preschool mom posted that her little one said "That's hella cute, mommy," apparently also learned from this same teacher. I actually think it's kind of funny and fairly benign. It's certainly easier to deal with than trying to explain what her previous teacher's tramp stamp was and why it was not ok for a 3 year old to have one. (No offense to lower back tattoo lovers, I just don't necessarily want to see one on my kid's preschool teacher. I figure there'll be plenty of time for that exposure in high school, junior high school, elementary school. )

2. Despite being a licensed cosmetologist, I think I jacked up Sofia's bangs tonight. Her raging cowlick/Ocean Spray swoosh and I do NOT get along.

3. I made the colossal mistake of adding my cousin on Facebook. He's a bit of a black sheep (young marriage, drugs, ne'er do well type stuff.) Most of my family are black sheep, but he's pretty far up there on the spectrum, right next to my cousin who is in the State Penn. In any case, I instantly regretted it as I can tell he's on Facebook 24/7 and loves to leave idiotic comments with incorrect grammar and spelling. *sigh* How does one de-friend their first cousin from Facebook?

4. I am obsessed with TAPS (The Atlantic Paranormal Society) and their show on Sci-Fi, Ghosthunters. Honestly, I will only watch it during the day, but I can't.get.enough.of.it. Plumbers by day, Ghostbusters by night. LOVE it.

5. I'm sitting her watching Chelsea Lately, one of my nightly rituals. It's a rerun, so that's disappointing, but I still laugh, even though I already know the jokes.

6. Sofia has become very attached to one of those remote control stuffed dogs. She "feeds" him, puts him to bed and talks about him as if he her baby. As this is the closest this kid will get to a dog for a pet, I am all over this, asking if her doggie needs to go for a walk, wants more food, etc.

7. I was introduced to another neighbor yesterday. She has a 3 year old and a newborn. She seemed nice. As the twins poked their head outside the front door, her instant response was "Are those ALL your kids?" Good times.

That's it from here.

Welcome to My World

This captures quite well the level of noise that generally occurs in our house. Actually, this is quite tame, but you get the idea.

Trying on Thankfulness For Size

I'll preface this by saying that I want Steve to get a job more than anything in the entire world. I go about my business, day after day, looking for work for both of us, never seeming to get anywhere, but overall, I think I am coming to some sort of acceptance about the way things seem to be going. Come end of the month time, the anxiety sets in as the unpaid stack of bills demand that our bank account bleed money.

That said.

There are perks to having a husband out of work. Case in point. This morning. I Slept in until 7:30, went for a walk at the beach (alone), then went to playgroup with one, only ONE of the boys. I was even able to stop along the way and get coffee.

My husband doesn't clean and do the laundry the way I would, but the point is he does it and I am grateful for this. I have to believe that all of this is for a bigger reason than I will ever understand. When I look back on the twins first 6 months and how stressful it was with Steve being out of work, I realize that if he had not been out of work, I am not sure how I would have gotten by, emotionally and physically. Things were fairly brutal as it was, had he been at work most of the time, I may have not just gone to the edge of the precipice, but may have fallen over into the abyss. Big pictures? Maybe it's just meant to be that he's with the boys right now, since I'm not able to be.

I go to playgroup and thoroughly enjoy this group of intelligent, eclectic women. I realize how blessed I am to live where I do (for now) and have the life I do (for now.) Do I struggle with a deep seated, aching envy that these women are all stay at home moms, living the life I want so desparately? Absolutely. But I'm trying to stay positive and truly be thankful for all that I do have.

And on another note. Does it make me a complete freak to admit that I have already packed Sofia's suitcase for our trip to Austin next Wednseday? Don't answer that. (I will say that it's hot in Austin, so I was able to pack all her summer clothes that she isn't wearing here)

The Good Old Days (Say My Rose Colored Glasses)

Way Back Whens-Day

I have decided to use a video for Way Back Wednesday.

Dateline: January 2007
Twins' Age: Approximately 26 weeks (inside my 41 week belly)
Sofia's Age: Approximately 20 months.

You can see Sofia's obvious disinterest and lack of understanding surrounding the whole "babies in the belly coming to turn your world upside down" thing.

I now think back on these early days, when it was just Sofia and get a little wistful. Things seemed so much simpler. They weren't. My father had just passed away unexpectedly and I was juggling that grieving process, overwhelming nausea that required daily doses of Zofran to take the edge off and tending to an active toddler. It just *seems* that things were easier in retrospect. One thing is for sure. Just looking at this video validates the feeling that despite it's square footage handicap, I was much happier in our old, tiny house.

Ramblings from my DVR

Every once in a while, I feel the need to discuss my television viewing habits with the world. Humor me, please. I know a lot of this is trash television, but it’s my vice.

First off, the Lost finale. Stellar. I’m left pondering possible fertility statues, light vs. dark and biblical references, not to mention the possible death of a character that was starting to grow on me (hated that scene!) - but bottom line? They delivered and there is more than enough to chew on for the next 8 months. 8 months! Gah!

I happened upon the Housewives of New Jersey the other day and OY! This looks juicy, will definitely be tuning in. These women scare me. They do. But yet I watch. I’m fascinated by the makeup, the hair, the clothes.

Speaking of scary, there is Daisy of Love. For the love of…. What a train wreck of a show. She is an emotional basket case and most of the guys are misfit, future inmates, musician, alcoholic/druggie types. Good times. We’re only a few episodes in and already the show is well on its way to train wreck status.

And speaking of train wrecks, I am also watching the new Charm School. Lots of tension and drama there!! Is it nice to see Ricki Lake again? Yes. Do I think there’s any chance any of these girls is going to come out of this making a positive change in their life? No. But watching the Blontourage vs. Real Chance girls is just good television. It doesn’t get much better.

These shows are like junk food. I know they are so bad for me, even toxic, but I can’t.stop.watching.them. I get some sort of twisted comfort from their predictability.

Dancing with the Stars finale is on tonight and I have to admit, I am torn. I have been on Team Melissa (natch) since day one, but I’ve noticed over the past few weeks, she seems to have peaked. Shawn is outshining her and it’s going to be very close. Overall, I am definitely on Team Gilles, although I don’t always love all of his overtly sexual dance moves with Cheryl. I know he’s hot, but back off, woman! Family man! I didn’t care for the “freestyle” segment at all. I would prefer to see a freestyle that incorporated more of the ballroom elements. I felt like I was watching “So You Think You Can Dance” or “Breaking 2 Electric Bugaloo” or something. What ever will I do with my Monday nights?

Oh yes, then there’s the Bachelorette. I love Jillian, she is so adorable. Anyone who repeatedly says “Nice,” “Wicked,” and “Right on” is ok in my book. Unfortunately, most of the guys came across as douchebags. I had high hopes for the pilot, but then he gave her the wings within seconds of meeting her. Ughhh. Talk about jumping the shark. The musician bugs me. I kind of like David, but time will tell. Kypton was cute. The foot guy was lascivious and a prick. It looks like a drama filled season, can’t wait!

The Office finale brought a tear to my eye. I didn’t see that coming! My husband thinks the show is over now, but I disagree.

It’s going to be a good summer of television, I suspect. Mad Men will start somewhere in there, only the BEST show on television, so there is something to look forward to.