Vacation or Work?

This past Friday, Jason and I took the kids to Milwaukee for a two night mini-vacation. The plan was to go to the zoo on Saturday and then stop at a little amusement park on the way back home on Sunday. The plan seemed like a good one a few months ago. As the weekend drew closer, I started to get a sense of foreboding about it. Thinking of all the things I would need to pack for Chloe, bottles, dairy free food, lots of changes of clothes, pack n play, white noise machine, etc... By Thursday night, I was pretty sure I just wanted the weekend to be over.

Friday afternoon, we picked the kids up from daycare and a teenage looking girl was putting a diaper on Chloe. It looked a little bit loose, but I was in a rush, so I just grabbed her and put her in her car seat. As we stopped at our first rest area, about an hour and a half from home, I lifted Chloe out and thought she had wet through her diaper. Brought a changing pad and a new diaper into the icky bathroom and took her shorts off to find a massive poo explosion. Um, I have no wipes with me. So of course I look for paper towels, but alas, there are electric air dryers. GAH! Thank GOD for another mom walking past the bathroom with a diaper bag (must be nice to be all prepared and stuff ) that lent me a few wipes. After cleaning up the car seat, we were back on our way.

We decided to eat dinner at Miller Park, home of the Milwaukee Brewers, at the Friday's Front Row grill. Brewers were out of town so there was no wait. Took out my camera to see the message "Battery Exhausted" on the screen. DAMMMMMMiiiiitttttttttttt. It is a rechargeable battery so of course I had no charger with me. Thank God for my iPod camera.

Get back to the hotel, plug in the nightlight, the light bulb explodes. Thank God for the built in nightlight that was in our "executive suite." The room by the way, was one of the perks of the weekend. Had a HUGE marble bathroom, jetted hot tub, flat screen tv in bathroom. Just awesome. Anyway, getting ready for bed, Ashton slams the bathroom door into Chloe, who then falls face first on the granite floor. 20 minutes of screaming ensued.

Next morning at the zoo, we got there about 8:45am, for 9am opening. We didn't realize they wouldn't even open the parking lot until 9am sharp. So we sat in a huge line of traffic, while Chloe screamed since she hates being in a motionless car, for 15 minutes. The day at the zoo was uneventful and nice.

By the time 7pm rolled around, we had been in the hotel waterpark swimming and Ashton was being naughty, Chloe was ready for bed, and I was exhausted. I told Jason we should just get up in the morning and go straight home. He agreed. At some point between then and the next day, we lost our minds and decided to go to the amusement park anyway. It was nearly 100 degrees. Ashton had a blast, even though I tricked him into going on all the scary rides. Chloe on the other hand was a hot mess. She and I didn't have fun. We left the park, came home and I swear to God I have never been so happy to be home in my entire life.

**One irritating thing that happened throughout the weekend, was Ashton tripping on the sidewalk at the exact same spot at the hotel EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. we went to our car. Skinned knees, elbows, wrists, luckily he just got back up without making a big scene, but jeesh!!!!!!

Moving Forward

You know how a lot of people say things like "enjoy your kids now, because the time goes too fast" or "I miss my kids being that little"? Well, I agree that time goes by super fast, but I really can't wait until Chloe is a little bit older. Like 2 or 3. Past the teething stage where she is at now, making her a fussy girlie all day long.
I really enjoy the age that Ashton is at and love all the funny things he asks and says. I also love to tell him to go ask Daddy when he has some bizarre inquiry. And I am doubly excited to see how the two kids play when Chloe is a little older and they can interact even more than they do now. Chloe is almost walking, and will be 10 months old tomorrow. She still has no teeth, however, I think they are all coming in at once. She has been a bear the last few days. But she really loves it when brother comes into her room in the morning while I am getting her dressed. She screams and laughs and flails about. Cracks me up.

Next weekend the four of us will be going to Milwaukee for the weekend, and I am hoping we survive two nights in the hotel with a teething infant. Pretty sure we will all be exhausted when we get back on Sunday. I should really take a vacation day on Monday to recover from vacation. :)

My niece Shelby has started her own photography business, and she is awesome. She will be doing the kids photos next month and I can't wait. Go "like" her Facebook page and have your friends do the same. She would be happy to work with you to capture your memories.  www.facebook.com/ShelbyrRaePhotographs

I love love love taking stuff to the consignment store. I love taking a big pile of kids clothes and getting them out of my house, and of course picking up my earnings while I am there. Jason says that I buy things at full price so that I can sell them for a third of the price. He doesn't know.

So on that random note, farewell, and hope you are all having an enjoyable summer!