Vacation Qualification

(at the Mittman Resort)

Ahhhhh. Again, ahhhhh. The boys and I just got back from a trip to Grammy and Opa's. Poor Jason had to stay and work in Morgan Hill, but I just couldn't let that stop me from being spoiled by my mom and Harold. What could have been a disastrous experience was actually the polar opposite. I was joking with my mom that the ride there and back was much more relaxing than being at home with both kids all day! Everett was silent--either sleeping or staring. Carter was mellow and enjoyed his free day of watching movies (love that DVD player!). We pulled in to the Mittman Resort, and my vacation began!

Starbucks everyday, lounging by the pool, a manicure and pedicure, a trip to Target ALONE, scoring a swimsuit and a few summer items, and relaxing runs on Yorba Linda's horse trails (however, I have still yet to see a horse around there--beautiful trails, though!). Did this qualify for a vacation... absolutely.

The boys stayed on their routine and slept great. Carter swam in the pool, played lots of hoops, and took a trip to the neighborhood tennis courts and park.

My mom and I had a good time out at the pool during the kids' naps... ahhhh. Again, ahhhhh.

Carter, Everett, and Grammy out at the sand and water wagon her and Opa picked out:

Windy and Whining

After a series of posts full of proud parent moments, I figured I would record a "I'M GOING TO LOSE MY MIND" day. I'm allowed to. It's called free counseling. Plus, Jason won't have to listen to me unleash when he pulls in the driveway this evening (Let's be honest, though. He usually can tell by the look on my face if it's one of those days).

Started off nicely. Arose at 7:30am, took the morning off of jogging and allowed myself a bit of sleeping in. We've had something EVERY single night this week, so we both are beat. Carter was at the in-laws, and big E woke smiling and laughing, which is his new thing.

9am comes. Carter arrives in good spirits. Happy as a clam, right? Well, we had a play date this morning--walked in with my two boys--one ready to be tossed in a quiet room for a nap, the other with his ball and glove in tow. The second we walk through the door, Carter switches gears. He's angry, he's whiny, he's clingy, he's selfish. He's hungry but doesn't want a snack, thirsty but doesn't want a drink. You get the picture. My normally social and well-behaved boy was a needy, high-maintenance whiner. I was literally losing my mind. We ended up leaving early as he just couldn't handle it. So, the saga actually starts on our walk to the car. Carter had scraped his knee (barely) on our walk into the house. He of course just realized that it hurt as we were leaving.

C: "BAN... DAID on with MECINE" (translation, "I want a band-aid with medicine")
M: "when we get home, Son"
C: repeats line #1 a gazillion times, no joke
E: "coo coo" then "choke choke" (as the crazy Morgan Hill wind is actually causing him to stop breathing"
C: repeating line#1 in an even more annoying tone
M: trying to keep it together, reminding myself nap time for both boys is 30 mins away
C: repeating line#1 in a crying, whining tone
M: "PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER, I DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT ANYMORE. YOU WILL GET THE BAND-AID AT HOME". "KNOCK IT OFF".
C: (one would think he would get the hint after such extremes) "Little scratch. Ban daid in minute!" "meciiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine"
M: I'm pretty sure one would classify this as yelling, "QUIT THE WHINING. THAT'S ENOUGH OF THE WHINING--KNOCK IT OFF, YOU WILL GET THE BAND-AID AT HOME".
C:"scratch huuuuuuuuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrrrrrtttttttttttttsssss.

I'm not sure if that dialogue even encompasses the true spirit of the ordeal. The car conversation and the next 20 mins were filled with lots of sharp tones (okay, borderline yelling) on my end, lots of whining on C's end, and a stupid cowboy ban-daid in the trash as C, in the end, had no use for it. Sigh.

The positive news is that at least E knew what was going on (of course he did, he is 11 weeks, you know...) and didn't make a peep through the ordeal. He also gave me some good laughs and snuggles after C went down for his nap.

Both are down now and I am planning on having one big selfish ME time. Where's the chocolate?