Back at the In-Laws.

We packed up and headed home, only to hit a stand still on the highway. Since traffic wasn't moving at all we assumed there must have of been an accident. Due to the fact that the kids were cranky we headed back to the in-laws house. Thank God we had only traveled 10 minutes away! I guess we will try again later. We have to get home tonight because hubby has to work tomorrow. The worst part is I needed to go grocery shopping today. I will have to find some way to get to the store tomorrow. Since we only have one car when Daddy works we usually just stay at home all day. If we don't we have to get up and be ready to take him to work at 7:30 then pick him up at 8. That will equal tired cranky kids!

Fun Day!

Today is also daddy's birthday. Happy Birthday Daddy! We went out of town today. Daddy had a doctor appointment today, and it was about 45 minutes away! It was his first step towards having bariatric surgery. We were all a little nervous, so we all went, Nanna, Papa, Mommy, daddy, Evie, and Christopher! However, when we got there they told us the appointment would be 4hours long. So, daddy stayed while we left with the kids.

I decided to go to the mall, if they rented strollers because I had forgot to bring mine. I usually don't when daddy is with, we both carry one kid! I parked in front of one of the many mall entrances and ran in to ask if they rented strollers. I was told, "Yes, downstairs by Macy's." So I parked in the closest spot near Macy's. We went in and found a great play place in front of the store, but the stroller rental had been moved to the other side of the mall.

As we made our way in that direction we discovered a huge carousel in the middle of the mall. Nanna and I decided to take the kids on it while Papa went for the stroller. We didn't have much of a choice Evie was already standing by the gate. I hate carousel for some reason they make me dizzy and nauseous. They didn't years ago, but something has changed since I had children. Both the kids sat on a horse. The nice thing was they had straps to buckle the kids in! It was fun, and didn't make me that sick.

The mall stroller was so cool! It was a double stroller that unfortunately cost 7$ to rent. However, it was money well spent the kids loved it. It was a firetruck with stadium style seating, and each kid had their own steering wheel! It also had a huge bag for storage under it, and 2 large cup holders. Plus, the kids were separated enough that they couldn't fight at all. I would buy one of these seriously! I know I will definitely rent one again!

First we ate at the food court. I didn't know what the kids would eat so I spent almost 20$ on food at Sparros, I think that is how you spell it! I had a stuffed pizza, and got the kids baked zitti, potatoes, cheese pizza, and bread sticks. I didn't know who would eat what. They both can be so picky! In fact neither one of them ate much of anything. Christopher ate the cheese pizza, and Evie refused to eat anything!

After eating we went to the Disney store. However, on the way I saw a store with wedding clothes. They have tons of cute dresses for girls, Evie's size, as well as suits that would fit Christopher. I thought how cute to get Evie a dress for Easter, and Christopher an actual suit with a tie or something to match Evie! I looked for a bit, but Evie got bored. She did pick out a dress. Some dresses were not that expensive around $30, not the one my daughter picked out. She picked a $60 dress. She isn't even 2 yet. I decided to leave the store. We stopped in a game/educational store. They had tons of stuff including life size stuffed dogs, pandas, and some other animals. Evie liked them, but I think they were to real looking she didn't get to close. She did grab a toy and run out of the store! Uh-OH!

The Disney store was overload for her to. She grabbed a Tinker Bell socker ball and carried that around for a while. I had trouble getting her to stay with me. My in-laws needed a break so they sat down outside the store with Christopher. Evie found some fairy wings, and said, "Fly, mama, Fly!" I put them on her and she didn't take them off most of the day. Needless to say I bought them. Twenty dollar wings, Yeah! Money well spent, I think. I did wait a while to buy them. She picked up every stuffed dog she saw, 100 Dalmatians and Bolt, then she hugged them while rubbing their fur on her face making a soft awe sound! It was cute, but I told her wings or a dog. She put the dog down every time.

Build-A-Bear was next door, thanks a lot, and she had to go in. We walked around. I know she didn't get the idea of what was going on in there. She just liked the look of all the stuff. I told her wings or a bear. She had a little difficulty, but in the end the wings won. The lady who stuffs the bears did let her keep a heart. They are the ones you kiss, and put into your bear before the bear is totally stuffed and closed up! That was nice.

Next we went to the play place. Christopher had been sitting most of the day, and needed to play. Evie rode on the train Christopher was to small to ride alone and I wouldn't fit so he didn't get to ride. Evie loved it. I took Christopher into the play place. Immediately, a little girl came up to him and asked him, "Hi, Baby do you want to play with me?"

I told her he could play with her. She replied with, "I will teach him how to walk!"

I smiled and said, "Thank you!" Knowing he could already walk, so it wouldn't be that hard for her to teach him. Once he tripped and she fell her mom rushed over, but I assured her that all was fine. Despite the girl being very bossy I was more worried that Christopher would hurt her! While playing he hugged 2 girls and 1 boy. It was cute. They were all around 4, and thought Christopher was cute.

After the train ride Evie came over to play to. She keep running out. On both sides of the play area there were rides. She was more interested in those. I don't know how much nana and papa spent in quarters! They both had so much fun.

Around 1:30 we left to go get daddy. Babies 'R Us was on the way, but the kids had fallen asleep. I ran in really quick, took about 30 minutes. It's a big store! I found almost everything I was looking for, and some things I wasn't. I bought diapers for both my sister and sister in law. They are both expecting with in the next month/ month in a half. I got a good deal 304 diapers for 35$. Then we went and got daddy. Ate a late lunch at a buffet place. Which I like because kids are free and you can offer the kids more of a selection. Then we went home. It was a long, and fun day!

Frustrated

I just feel so frustrated lately. I don't feel like doing anything. Taking care of the kids seems to be all that I have the energy for or the desire for. I don't know if it has anything to do with the cold weather. Now that it is cold the simplest tasks, like going to the store, are so much more difficult. Before I would take the kids by myself to the store and just grab a few things at a time that we need. Now doing this would be so hard I dare not even try. Snow suits, snow pants, gloves, hats, blankets, coats, boots, and a diaper bag are just to much for me to carry. The stroller is no longer an option. So I am now on my own. Even the kids are getting cabin fever. Some days Evie, my 21 month old, goes to the door and cries, "GO". I know she is used to going places, but I don't have the energy for all that goes along with getting out in the winter. My husband doesn't like doing most of the activities that we usually do. Like going to the library! It is impossible to get that man in a library or a book store. Oh, he reads just things that are on a computer screen! Already I can't wait for summer. All that keeps me sane right now is my excitement for Christmas! I can't wait for my son's first. Plus, now that Evie is bigger Christmas will be more fun for her, thus more fun for us!

Weekend Get away!

A weekend get away is supposed to be just that, a quick and easy get away from everything. However, nothing is a quick and easy when you have kids even when it is only for 2-3 days. First of all you have to pack everything and anything you might need. This includes a complete medicine cabinet. If your kids are going to get sick it will be at night on the weekend when you are not at home! I found this out the hard way too many times to count.

Every other weekend we go to my in-laws home north of here. It is only about an hour and a half drive, but long enough to make the little ones miserable. I wish they would sleep. I am usually not so lucky. Each time without fail my daughter starts signing "all done", indicating she wants out of her car seat, when we still have 20-30 minutes until we arrive. We even have a DVD player for her already. I do not know how my parents survived without one!

I spend a few days before we leave attempting to get every thing in order. The day before I attempt to clean the entire house. Who wants to come home to a dirty smelly house? Not me. Don't forget to take out the trash. Old stinky diapers, do I need say more? The night before I pack and make a list. Then I can't sleep, despite the fact that I need to go to sleep early, because I am so stressed out about forgetting something. I have only done so once or twice! I also make a list of everything that needs to be done in the morning and grabbed before we can head out. This way my husband can help without messing up my plan.

We rarely get out of the house by the time we planned to, but each trip's departure time gets a little earlier. We are making progress, just slowly! Once we finally arrive and unpack thanks to grandma and grandpa it eventually is a get away. Actually it is the only time I really get to sleep! Thank God for Grandparents!

Flying with kids???? Help Please!!!!

I am thinking about flying with my two kids to Colorado to visit family. I am not sure if this is a good idea or not. I don't know how the kids will handle flying and then the car ride to their house. I also don't know how they will be away from home and daddy. Since my husband doesn't have any vacation he will not be traveling with us. I know I can do this by myself. I am just worried it might be to much for the kids. On the other hand they might have a blast. Does anyone with experience traveling with kids have any ideas or suggestions????

Traveling, and traveling, and traveling some more!

Well the theme park was fun and exhausting. We got home to find a message that a bunch of my husbands relatives from West Virginia were visiting his parents in Michigan. We hadn't seen them in 3 or 4 years. So Saturday morning we packed up for more traveling.

We weren't in the car for more than an twenty minutes and my daughter said she was done. We the DVD player that kept her a little distracted, but by the time we finished our hour and twenty minute drive she was READY to get out of the car. She was wired all day. I did get her to take a two hour nap, but it was so late in the day that it only made matters worse. She was up until midnight after that. With all the excitement even her brother stayed up late. They slept until almost 11 this morning. Yeah, for me!!!!

They had so much fun visiting all their relatives. I am so glad my kids are not really shy. At first Evie was a little unsure and stayed close to me, but once she realized everything was OK she was everywhere! Christopher is just always all smiles! I hope he stays that way. I know hes not really old enough to have stranger anxiety yet.

Fun in the sun!

Well Indiana Beach, the theme park we went to on Friday, actually was really fun. Yes, it was hot, and at times Christopher, my 5 month old, looked miserable. I was really worried mostly due to his heath problems. I really tend to baby him, but you would to after your son spent half a month in the hospital. However, he had a lot of fun too. I felt bad because he had to spend most of the day in the stroller. I wasn't taking any chances so until we were shaded from the sun, late midday, I did my best to just keep him totally out of the sun. So when I did take him out and start carrying him around he refused to go back in. He arched his back and twisted his body so much. It was cute. I put him in the front carrier until we left. He was soooo happy!

Evie my 16 month old had a blast. She loved the kiddie rides in kiddie land. She loved the snow cones and ice cream. At the end of the day she had three different outfits on. One shirt was completely blue, snow cone, and the other was brown from ice cream! Half the time she didn't want off the rides. She is really into cars right now. Which is great because most the kiddie rides were cars. She was so cute!

Nap time however wasn't so easy. We had to give her snow cones or ice cream or some other treat just to get her to sit in her stroller at all during the entire day. They had a restaurant, which was slightly expensive, but air conditioned. So we went there and had appetizers that we ate really slow allowing Evie to nap. She fell asleep while we were waiting for a table. I wish she would have slept longer, but her hour nap was a godsend considering the circumstances. Christopher didn't have so much trouble all we had to do for him was drape a blanket over the stroller blocking out some of the sun.

We spent more money than I would have liked. We went a little over board at the games. You know the cheap carnival type games that have crappy prizes that your kid plays with for one day then they collect dust. We got tuns of stuffed animals which are worse because she won't ever play with them and they take up so much space!!!!! I hate them!

All in all it was a great day and we had lots of fun. I am so glad we went. I got some great pics because I know they won't remember!

Dreading the theme park!

Tomorrow we are supposed to go on a day trip to Indiana Beach. It's an amusement park and water park. I am totally dreading the trip. Going any where with two little ones is a hassle, and a day trip outside in this heat!!!

So why go you ask? Because I know it will either be a great fun day or the worst day ever. So what do you do? You can't not live just because you might have a bad experience. That's not the life lesson I want my kids to learn. You gotta try! Even though they are to small to learn anything from this I have to stick by my principles. If I let myself out of this one maybe the next time they will be old enough to get the wrong idea.

I have a million reasons not to go... money, (we are free through my husband's employer, but we're bringing my brother isaac he's 6, sisters abby 8, racheal 12, and ashley 20) me and my big mouth! Well there family what can you do? Can't live with them, but can't live without short visits with them! Just kidding! I love them.

It is going to be really hot. I mean like super duper hot. I heard it will be around 90. Who goes anywhere with little ones in heat like that?

I don't know what to do. If we don't go I will feel bad. If we do go and don't have fun it will be worse. I can't make up my mind, and by this point everyone is excited about going. What would you do?

Should I go or should I stay?