Busiest Summer Ever - Weekend Update

It may still be spring weather in Seattle, but summer festivities kicked off this weekend, and we do not get a break until the end of September. I'll catch up on sleep then I s'pose.

I've been seriously slacking in the housewife department lately. I hate it. My house is a mess. My husband has been extremely helpful cleaning up at home, yet it gets messy twice as fast, and I cannot seem to muster up any extra time/energy to keep things tidy myself. So it's left us both frustrated. So, I decided to work from home on Friday and try to catch up on some housework and run some errands. As luck would have it, my power went out, so oh darn, I had an excuse wasn't able to work from home after all. I took advantage of my "free" day and took my dad to lunch for an early Father's Day. My dad...bless him...he is a walking contradiction, at least when it comes to food. I just have to point this out, cause I found it hilarious! We sat down at the restaurant for lunch where they bring you a personal-size loaf of cornbread rather than bread/chips. I took 1 piece & he warned me, "Don't fill up on cornbread. We have an appetizer coming." Then proceeded to eat the remaining 3/4 of the loaf of cornbread to himself. Also, during our conversation while he ate the cornbread & we waited on our appetizer of nachos, I told him about this new bread I discovered that's both healthy and delicious, to which he responded, " I don't eat bread." I mean, I think that's what he said, it was hard to understand with his mouth full of breadcrumbs. It was nice catching up with him, as we rarely get together without my mom.

Abby getting ready for b-day party

Saturday I had a bridal shower to attend for one of my dearest friends. This meant Brandon had to manage both children by himself. Not only that, but he also had to take them both to a 3 year old's birthday party himself. I wasn't gone for more than 10 minutes when Brandon called & asked me where the infant Tylenol was. Poor guy. He is NOT an infant-friendly person. Our babies hate him. Abigail did it to him when she was an infant, and now Brooklyn does it too. Perfectly content as long as any witnesses are around, but as soon as he's left alone with a baby = epic meltdown!!!

I have to brag that I made it to the shower ON TIME...which proves that Brandon's frustration with me being chronically late all the time lately is the children's fault, not my own. That's my story & I'm sticking to it. The shower was lovely and I drank Champagne and ate entirely too much sugar! I left the shower early with the intention of meeting Brandon at the birthday party to catch up with friends & help him out with the girls. But Seattle traffic happened & what should have taken me 20 minutes took 45, so he called and told me to "just forget it and go home". Poor guy. I got a text from a friend who was at the birthday party later that day saying he was Super Dad and was holding both girls at the same time at one point. Abby had an accident (pooped in her panties) at the party, and Brooklyn refused to be put down the entire time. I do feel bad, but it's hard not to smile at the idea that he got to experience what it's like to be me for a couple hours.

Daddy's Princess

Since I had the luxury of some alone time, I did what any overworked mother would do. I took advantage of my opportunity to actually relax and went to the grocery store...ALONE!!! Of course, nothing's ever easy with me. It took me about 30 minutes to grocery shop sans kids, and than an additional 40 minutes in line at customer service because their Just For You program is Just a Pain in my Booty! 40 minutes later, I got my $30 worth of savings that hand't come through on my receipt. So yes, it was worth it....kinda.

I came home to a very irritable everybody, made dinner, and then let my 2.5 year old help me put vanilla beans in a bottle of Vodka. That's right...setting a wholesome example. She wanted to taste it but I didn't let her. Although I was slightly tempted, thinking she'd probably sleep really well ;) We were making home made vanilla extract. I'm pretty excited about it, actually. And who knew that was made with vodka? Not me until 2 days ago. I wonder if my grandma would actually use it? I'm sure the alcohol bakes out when you use vanilla extract in a recipe, right?? I mean...how is it ok to use when you add vanilla to whipped cream & then give it to kids? I have so many unanswered question with this revelation. But I digress.

Sunday was another busy day. I took the girls to get Starbucks and bacon, and then I managed to entertain Abigail, feed Brooklyn cereal, and cook bacon at the same time. Brandon slept in, but the smell of bacon woke him up - can you think of any better way to wake up? I can't! We had Father's Day breakfast at home and then I abandoned my husband to be left alone with our toddler on Father's Day. At least I took the baby with me this time - to yet another bridal shower.

Brooklyn was fabulous & enjoyed herself the entire time at the shower. She even participated in conversation. I don't think Brandon had quite as enjoyable of a time. I walked in the house & immediately heard Abigail yelling from behind the rocking chair, "Hi Mommy! You're home! I'm peeing." Umm, what? Yeah. She was peeing in the corner, behind the rocking chair. When I asked why she said, "Because I didn't want to pee on my potty." I punished her by making her help me clean the carpet, but she actually really enjoys chores, so it may have actually motivated her to have more accidents instead of less. Then, when we actually had a few moments of peace, I got nervous and went to find Abigail. She was being an angel of course, just keeping to herself, giving her stuffed bunny a bath with the baby's soap, in the dining room. She used about 1/2 the bottle of soap. That's one clean stuffed animal!

Brandon has been on a diet for about a month now and lost 35 pounds! I'm so jealous proud of him! Father's Day dinner was his request - SALAD! Now it's Monday and I'm back at work for a 4-day week before a girls & kids weekend away while the guys go camping & golf.