So we're back. Kind of. The kids and I are back but Brian is in MD. We had a mostly great vacation. There were the usual incidents: Zara biting Brian's brother, a couple of sunburns, a few family tiffs, and more than a few tantrums, but on the whole good.

Here are some quick pics. For the whole gallery click here.

Mostly done with Brady's room

I still need to de-clutter. Brady has way too many stuffed animals and toys that he's outgrown. We like the border and paint though.

We're off to MI. Hope everyone has a nice 4th!

Kidless

On Saturday we loaded up the kids and drove halfway to MI to hand them off to Brian's parents. Then we drove home again. When we got home we immediately started working on Brady's room. We still need to hang his border.

Brian thought he could make the kids wear their headphones while watching their movies so that he could listen to his CDs up front and not have to hear the movie. That lasted for about 5 minutes. The kids claimed the headphones hurt their ears. Se we listened to Cars, Barney, and Sponge Bob the whole trip down. I have to admit, Sponge Bob is really funny.

It feels so weird to not have the kids around. I like it and I don't like it. At least I know they are having fun and being well cared for. I only have 1 1/2 days of freedom left. Better enjoy it while it lasts.

Hair cuts

Both Brady and I got haircuts this week. Of course after I got mine done (highlights too) Brian said "Doesn't look any different to me." Ugh. So I went and found a picture of my old hair to prove him wrong and he's kind of right. I hate that. Time for something new.

New hair

Old hair

Pretty Fun Weekend

We went to the mouse on Friday with the neighbors. On Saturday we went to the Blazin 4th parade, and in the evening Mike, Renee, Brooke, and baby Brett came over. On Sunday we played outside all day. I so don't want it to be Monday.

Lovely

This doesn't look like much but it still hurts. What used to be a dinky mole (around the size of a q-tip) is now this lovely scar. That big black blob is just dried blood. Pretty isn't it? Must wear my sunscreen from now on. Thank you Erika for the forewarning

I found this funny

From MSN:

Elmo Better Blues: Guess what Elmo's thinking about today? Let's listen in on the third-person-prone Muppet's close encounter with Tyra Banks at the Daytime Emmy Awards, shall we? "Elmo is afraid of the colossal copper blob lady. Elmo fears she did something very, very bad to Mr. Snuffleupagus and his family to make her huge, hideous dress. Elmo also wishes she would respect his personal space a little more and not yell so much. She's giving Elmo a headache. And Elmo is sad, because even though he looks tickle-me-terrific in his tux, no one can see him because of the loud lady's bloated bronzed ball gown, which has more junk in its trunk than Oscar the Grouch. Elmo wants to tell her that these are just the Daytime Emmys, not the Academy Awards, and that she's no Susan Sarandon, who did the copper couture look much better when she won her Oscar in 1996 -- and was smart enough not to match her hair and makeup to her gown. Elmo wants to tell her, but Elmo is scared. Very, very scared." (Mario Anzuoni/Reuters)

Now I'm really done

The princess lamp (which talks, plays music, and is animated) seals the deal. We're done with Jayda's room. Now its Brady's turn.

Done

The weekend

Oh and when Brian came home on Friday night he turned the AC on.

I'm turning if back off tonight. ;)

Cheeeeeeese

I think its time to stop having them say cheese when I want them to smile. This is the look I get every time and its not pretty. I wonder who came up with say cheese anyway?!

And I still haven't turned on the AC. Yesterday wasn't so bad. I think I'll make it... Jayda's hair might not though. Look how frizzy it is. Mine was too. Thank God I'm the one behind the camera.

Crazy?

I have rules set up in my mind and to break them would feel like the end of the world to me. I'm currently struggling with the AC rule that I enforce:

AC is only allowed in July and August and only if its 90 degrees.

I HATE feeling closed in when its summertime. I love having windows open and the breeze blowing and when the AC is on, it just doesn't feel like summer. But oh my gosh. It was 90 some odd degrees yesterday and its going to be in the high 80's and 90's for the rest of the week. I don't know if I'll be able to adhere to my rules. I don't even know why I'm trying. I must be crazy.

On a sad note, my Dad called me about my Grandpa. He's not doing well (they think his cancer has returned and spread, they aren't 100% sure). My Grandpa is 89 years old, so if the cancer is back I don't know if they will even treat it. Its all very sad. I feel so bad for everyone on my Dad's side of the family. :( Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Changed my mind

Here is what I bought for the kid's rooms:

Brady's - this border is a foot wide

Jayda's - I'm doing a border (9") and wall stickers

Crrruunnch

Sometimes unitard isn't so bad. Take today for instance: My group at work was gone all morning touring the Old Dutch Potato Chip Factory. Fascinating. Also depressing. Its amazing how many people still work in factories. I scored a bunch of free chips. But now I stink. Real bad.

My latest obsession

We are finally going to decorate Brady's room and re-decorate Jayda's room. There are so many cool things you can do to kids rooms - of course I'm too lazy to do any of them. I'm willing to paint and do a border and that's about it. Here are the borders I'm thinking of:

And here are some paint ideas I've been dinking around with (so far just for Jayda):

1

2

3

4

Any opinions?

SPF please

Atypical Moles (dysplastic nevi)
Tonight I'll be having nightmares about atypical moles. My pathology report came back for my 2 moles. One was typical and one was atypical. Now I have to go to a surgeon and have more skin removed. Plus see a dermatologist to get a full body exam. Lovely. I so thought I was immune to this stuff. Blessed by God with the ability to tan. Yeah right.

Memorial Day

I'm sad the weekend is over with. It was so nice to have Brian's parents here. They adore the kids and took care of them the whole time. I was able to exercise whenever I wanted for as long as I wanted. I was also able to get all of my dreaded chores done. Yippy! Plus we even went to Como on Monday. This was the first time the kids rode the rides. Jayda was so brave, she rode on everything all by herself. Brady on the other hand was a little less than brave. He would only go on rides an adult could go on too. Drives us crazy!

If you want to see the bajillion other pics from the weekend you can click here.

He did it again

After Brady peed (but thankfully before he started going #2) he dropped his toy fire truck in the toilet. Daddy saved the day. Gross huh?!

Ahhh now this is the life (kind of)

Brian's parents came into town last night for the long holiday weekend. Brian is still out in MD, so to give me a break and spend time alone with the kids, they took them to ChuckECheese. It was so nice to be home all by myself. I read a book, painted my finger and toe nails, and was in bed by 9:00. Luxury!

Today at 4:00 I get my 2 suspect moles removed. Good times.

This weekend I'm going to plant my flowers and do yard work. We are also going to paint the front door and trim. Some more good times.

At least with the grandparents here I can have my fun without too much interference from the kids.

Like father like son

Pictures from the weekend

I'm about to crack. The kids are driving me crazy. Apparently they are also driving the poor dog crazy. Last night while I was cleaning up the kitchen, the kids were tearing around the house and ramming their toys into the walls. Zessie was so scared that she crawled underneath the kitchen sink. It made me laugh, especially since it didn't take long for the kids to find her. Poor dog. Poor me.

We're back

The trip to the yoop was good. Highlights were

• playing outside with the animals for hours on end (total animal count: 2 horses, 5 dogs, 5 cats (who were MIA because of the dogs), and 2 birds)
• roasting marshmellows
• coloring
• playing cards
• eating ;)

The only non-highlight was this little devil biting the vet and biting the neighbor's weimaraner.

All the rest of my 113 pics are on snapfish, but here are a few of my favorites. :)