And We Thought Another 16 Hour Road Trip Would Be A Good Idea Because...Why?

No, seriously, I'm very excited to be leaving tonight with my babies and babydaddy. We're going to knock out three or four hours tonight and drive sevenish tomorrow to stay a night with our dear Virginian friend, Melissa. Then we'll drive five hours to stay two nights with the fabled Hunts, then two hours back north to meet my sis, HB, and her babies and babydaddy. We will spend ALL WEEK together in a gorgeous vacation home on Black Mountain in North Carolina. It is going to be off the hoozle.

So, yes, I am very excited about said trip. But today I'm just a bit anxious. I have rebelled against my PLAN! PLAN! PLAN! nature in non-planning this trip. (So that I wouldn't become a grumpy beeyotch in the process, honestly.) Which means that today I am throwing things together. I'm sure it's actually a lot more organized and orderly than my emotions would tell. But thinking about sixteen hours on the road with three kids to feed, entertain, clean, lull to sleep...And I haven't even picked out my outfits yet!

I was walking through Target today picking up last minute snacks and toys and CD's--all for the kids. I was completely lost in thought wondering how the kids will fare in the van. As I passed the duct tape I actually had in instinctual urge to grab a roll. Just in case. But then I realized that my mind had wandered a little too far into the intangible abyss of kid-containment. They cannot be contained. Only loved.

So we are going to spend a lot of time loving each other over the next three days.

Earlier this week, I was working on one of my many lists. (Part of my non-planning was to not have a formal, typed master list w/ references, tabs, and deadlines. Instead I had daily To Do's in a small notepad.) This is one w/ Li'l Bit's below. I love her pespective on things. So simple and sweet.

Come On, Lady!

My vacuum cleaner just growled at me. Growled. And not because she's on her last leg. She's not. She's a good girl. A young Oreck XL, courtesy of one very intuitive mother-in-law. I think tonight she'd just had it. After running her through the dining room, living room, kitchen, entry way, and bathroom (yep, that's why we have an Oreck) I think she just had to say, "Really, lady? It's ninety freakin' degrees in here. You're just as pissed as I am that we have to be doing this after the kids are in bed!! Wrap my cord up, for cryin' out loud, put me in the dang closet, and sit your tail down in front of the fan!" That's exactly what her growl meant. So that's exactly what I did.

(And, no, Dear Husband, it was not a worrisome sound. She's in no danger.) We love our vacuum almost as much as we love our children. It's actually because of our children that we love her so much, so that makes it less weird.

Reasons # 1, 2, and 3 why we love (and NEED) our Oreck:

See? Don't they just look messy!

And don't even get me started on this girl! I thought Gizmo was going to be the death of me. Ladybug is just as quick and dangerous to herself--only she's quiet! She was alone in our bedroom (which is actually an enclosed, second-floor, front porch) for less than a minute and she'd pushed the window open, popped the screen out, and was leaning out watching traffic go by. Yeah. That's what I've got to face every day. Imminent Danger. Every single day. My stomach turns just thinking about the trouble she will continue to get herself into.

It Ain't Easy Being Green

Gizmo did not like his green eggs and ham. And he would not try them in a box or with a fox...


I do like them Sam I Am!! I do so like green eggs and ham!

I don't know why, but St. Patty's Day was quite an event this year. I think it just happened to fall on a day when I felt inspired to be crafty. So, the kids and I did all kinds of wild and wacky green things. (And I mean green in the literal sense here.) It was totally random but totally fun.

In the pictures below, Li'l Bit was helping me put together some green cookie sandwiches for B.daddy's office. She was up after the other two had gone to bed and helping me in the kitchen. She was having a blast!