...cont'd

Two entries long! Well, whaddaya know about that. It's actually a bit later now, since I had to go to work, get the kids down, get some laundry in, get some laundry out and fold it, feed Aiden, make a grocery list... and it goes on. Aiden's watching Baby Galileo in his swing at the moment, and Tobin is still asleep. We went in the pool yesterday (Tobin and I) and it was really fun. We want to go again today after he wakes up, but we'll see if it's still warm enough then. He & Randal will go in if it's over 60 degrees outside. Aiden and I prefer warm water and warm (not HOT) days. I had to buy a wipe warmer when Aiden was a couple weeks old because he would SCREEEEAAAM if you touched his littletinybeebeebooty with a cold wipe. Hey- I understand!

My sisters and I went camping this weekend with Aiden, which was fun. None of us is really a girly girl too much, so it doesn't sound TOO crazy for three girls and a baby to take off for a weekend in the wilderness. We camped by the Russian River, and there was a reggae festival right down the river which was awesome. We had free live music to put up our tent to. Sweeeet.

We had a good time- I always forget how much my sisters and I laugh when we're around each other. I haven't laughed as long and as hard as I did this weekend in months. Man- this is probably going to sound insane becaise I *know* you had to be there, but I'll tell you anyhow. We were hanging out in the tent and I was getting mugs out for tea (hippy camping! What did you expect?) and I was showing Amy my new Irish mug with the Klava on it.

Me: "Hey Amy, check out my new Irish mug!"

Amy: takes a moment to look the cup over, then says thoughtfully, "Noinchip."

Yup. Noinchip. HUH? It sounded a bit more like 'NoYEENchp!'. None of us will ever know where in the world that came from, but we laughed so hard tears were stinging the corners of my eyes, my sides hurt, my cheeks hurt, and frankly, I almost peed my pants. (I didn't, thankyouverymuch.) HA! That brings me to my next story. I had just gotten Aiden to sleep and was shivering in the tent under about a hundred blankets, and suddenly the whole tent lights up and I'm warm for a minute. Ahhhhh. (did I mention Amy like a bit of charcoal with her lighter fluid?) ... and then I hear "I peed! I peed my pants!" from Porky. I was literally rolling around, I was laughing so hard. (hey, it was late!) BTW: I promise you she doesn't care that I'm broadcasting to the general public of the world that she peed her pants. She's cool like that. :) 

Anyone home?

Man- did anyone know that having a two year old and a six month old by yourself is the busiest thing ever? Just curious. In case you didn't know, it is. I'm just kind of hanging on for the ride at the moment, but don't worry- I've been taking pictures the whole time! :)

So many things have happened, I'm not even sure what to write about. Tobin got REALLY sick for the first time- throwing up and everything.... yum. I even got the pleasure just yesterday of picking encrusted vomit from the tassles of a blanket I didn't know got baptized. The real highlight of a mother's duty, you know? Funny enough, I was just standing there, having a conversation, looking at the little pieces to see if there was any recognizable food. I am now immune (well, almost) to bodily fluid grossness. Or just too tired to care.

Actually, Aiden has started sleeping through the night a little more now. FINALLY. and HOORAY!! He can even sit up for a few minutes by himself, too. Almost all the time, but he usually gets distracted by something (a toy, his brother, whatever) and goes for it and bonks to the floor. He doesn't cry, though. Just keeps on chewing. Still no teeth, but I think I could make up for the California water shortage if I could find a way to tap and filter all the liquid that comes out of his mouth. Geeeez. Of course, my nickname was 'Drooly Julie' when I was his age, so I guess I had to get mine.

I got that horrible sickness Tobin had the day afterwards... NASTY. My sisters, Mom and Dad got it, too. I simply refer to it as 'The Death Flu'. because that is what we all felt like. I was throwing up for two days straight, with a 102 temperature. I was hot, cold, achey, had a stomachache, headache, nausea.... anything and everthing nasty, pretty much. I woke up at 3:00am puking, and by 6:00 I called my mom from the bathroom floor crying and said, "Mom, I'm dying. You HAVE to come over now, the kids are going to be up and I can't move." So my mom and then Grandma came over to help with the kids, THANK the good Lord.

The second day, I was still puking, and my friend Avery came over for a couple of hours, but the whole rest of the day, I had both kids to myself. If there's anything worse than being deathly ill, it's having to take care of two young kids alone with it, AND try and not freak them out by wretching out orange bubbles in the sink (I found out carrot juice is one of the less nasty things the secondround) while making oatmeal. YUMMY, huh?

Vegas, Baby. Vegas.

Okay, I'm grounded. I haven't actually written in almost a month!! I can't believe it- Forgive me! Geez- so much has happened, I'm not sure where to start. Our trip ended up being in Las Vegas, rather than Hawaii since we had to cancel Hawaii last minute due to leave & childcare changes, and Vegas was about half as expensive. (Well, getting there, anyhow! :) We had a LOT of fun, and I'll get what new pictures I have up as soon as possible. We stayed at The Venetian, which was beautiful. UNfortunately, my phone died our first day there, so I don't have hardly any pictures, but I did get some rest, which was AWESOME.

Of course, it wasn't awesome when it took them TWO DAYS to get us our luggage, but I got a cute new skirt, so I guess it's okay. We ate SO much good food and window shopped our hearts out. I got to go into all SORTS of stores I'd never been into, like Gucci, Prada, Louis Vuitton (who makes the purse I NEEEED ( the murakami papillion bag) which retails for the low low price of about $500.) Yeah. Needless to say, I don't have it. But I saw it! I also saw the brown Louis Vuitton bag design on nearly EVERYONE we passed. Seriously.

Linda and Colleen (Randal's oldest sister) came out to watch the kids, and we came home to a clean house, which was the best thing ever. I'm still trying to find where she put half of my belongings, but at least wherever they are, they're clean! :)

Randal's plane left 45 minutes early (which I didn't know they could do!) so when I went to drop him off at the airport yesterday, before I'd even made it out, he's called saying his plane was gone. How nice. I've had the discussion with my mom more than a few times that Randal and I have the crappiest traveling luck. Keys left across the country, lost luggage, missed planes... you name it, we've done it. It's okay. Joys in the journey, right?

Aiden is getting SO big. He slept through the night for the fourth time ever last night. (YAHOOOO!!!) Of course, Randal had to catch a taxi at 2:30am, so I didn't get to sleep through the night, but hey- I'll take what I can get. It's so weird to walk around the house and try and sink back into doing things myself again, while seeing little reminders that he was just here- his wine glass from last night, clothes we wore on our trip... *sigh* Oh well, I guess. He'll be in San Diego for the next month, so it will be about 6 weeks until we can see each other again. I might try and get down there on a weekend, though. I think southwest still has the anywhere in Ca for $36, which I think is GREAT.

Well, Aiden is hungry, so I'd better go. The calls of duty are calling!

quote for the day: ""Las Vegas is the only town in the world whose skyline is made up neither of buildings, like New York, nor of trees, like Wilbraham, Massachusetts, but signs." Tom Wolfe

Pictures: Randal & I, Ubercool dolphin SO close , both at The Mirage

Pictures:

1) Tobin in the tool truck at my dad's shop

2) Tobin driving the tool truck. Possibly the biggest moment of his 2 year old life. :)

3) Pointing out Begonias outside Erin's apartment

4) At the park outside Erin's apartment

5) "

6) "

7) "

Pictures:

1) Randal accomanying Tobin & Gabby on an "Expidition" in Gabby's backyard

2) Gabby hiding

3) Tobin hiding

4) Randal falling prey to the irristable belly of the baby

5) ... and Aiden loving it. :)

6) and still loving it

7) Randal learning that Aiden's learning how to really get a GOOD grip on hair (also illustrated in a couple of entries ago with Amy's hair) Not my favorite skill of Aiden's, but still a good one.

8) Love love love

9) The kids at work ( my job is just SO unrewarding ;)

10) "

Pictures:

1) Tobin & Aiden at Target (and the current wallpaper on my phone)

2) "

3) Gabby & Ruth

4) ...and Lily

5) Tobin staring at a fountain in Jack London Square after picking up Randal

6) Tobin traumatizing pigeons

7) ...and again

8) Dissecting a dandilion

9) Me volunteering at the animal shelter with a SPAZZ of a dog named Ellen

10) Porky doing thw same.

Pictures from the park @ work today, and at my Mom's afterward. :) I will probably hve time to write tomorrow, since I have the day off. For now, I have to get Tobin into bed, since he hasn't been napping well at ALL. How fun. Hope you all are well!