July 2007 Adventure (Really Long)

After Sully Bear’s birthday party we were lucky enough to get to spend some time with the Grandparents, Aunt Kat, and the boy's cousin Lauren.
Coop loved Grandma's recliner. Sadly this was his las time in the chair as it's now broken and gone! (Below) Sully trying to get in trouble with the painter's ladder.

Aunt Kat got to snuggle with Bear as he was clear he preferred her nap for a lap!

We were so excited to be invited to stay with Emily for a few days while Jim went back to work. (Katie and Bruce’s) Katie was being thoughtful and didn’t want the boys to drive all the way back to Raleigh and then turn around on Wednesday and have to drive the 6+ hours to upper Maryland. Katie borrowed her dad’s mini-van and came all the way out to Haymarket to pick me and the boys up. (Thank you Katie I know that was a ton of driving!!) She also had to save me and figure out how to collapse Lauren’s pack-n-play. She didn’t realize how much work she had to do. Did I mention she had to install the car seats too because I’d never had to do it?

The first night was a bit more difficult then I had anticipated. Getting Bear and Coop to go to sleep at the same time not so easy in a new place. I think they stayed up till about 10 when they normally go down at 8 but they were just way too excited. The next day Katie and I had big plans to go to Burke Lake and take the kids on a train ride. We had to make a stop at Wal-Mart. With three kids, two mom’s and a mini-van it took a lot longer than you would have thought! Then we headed out to Burke Lake and no joke by the time we got there all three kids were dead asleep.

So we drove around Burke Lake with me joking Katie about how I thought us staying with her was supposed to eliminate time in the car! It all worked out though because as we drove in there was a big fat sign saying the train was out of order so we drove around and found a playground and waited for them to wake up. They must have felt us staring at them willing them to wake up because finally Coop and Emily woke up and we took them out to the playground where they shared the tunnel and went down the slide. Then Emmy wanted to go on a super secret path on a super secret mission to the lake so she lead the way with Katie and Coop in tow as I waited for Bear to wake up. Bear and I met them down by the lake where we threw sticks in the water and Coop kept saying, “Wow.” Then we took another super secret path while Katie and I sang the Backyardigan’s song “Secret Agent’. Yes, it was a clue that we may like that show more than the kids. Back at the house Katie had lots of fun games for the kids to play. They pulled out the parachute, blew bubbles, played video games and drove Emily's little car.

Later I got to watch all three kids by myself while Katie ran out for a minute. Katie had me all scared because Emmy had never really stayed with anyone but the grandparents without having a fit. She didn’t want to share her train at first but then she did and she was so proud! She came up to me and told me how she had shared her train and she was, "Very brave." Then we had to find her treasure for the pirate ship and that meant we had to find the map. I tore the place apart looking for this map. Not sure why I thought it was a good idea because I had no idea what it even looked like. Then I came across the treasure and Emmy was willing to pretend she had found the map to get to the treasure but I didn’t move on fast enough because then she decided she needed to have the map again. All the while the boys were playing and tearing apart the play room but I didn’t care as long as Emmy didn’t cry! Luckily Katie came home found the map (in the backpack where it was supposed to be- go figure) and saved the day. I realized that while I would love to have a girl (even have the name picked out) I can barely handle two kids let alone three!!

The next leg of our trip was to head to Maryland (last exit before Delaware) to visit with Logan (Jamie and Andy). We got set up and enjoyed Logan’s awesome playground and pool. We thought the boys might be tired from our travels but they had a whole new room of toys to destroy and a train set. The boys were in heaven. The next day we had a wonderful pajama day where we got to play and relax and do some FreedomRocks work. Every time the dog, Max, would come in Bear would pull tufts of his hair out and just squeal in total delight. He was so excited about the dog it was really cute. (Luckily Andy came home and took the boys outside to play in the sandbox, they were going a little stir crazy by the afternoon.) I found the difference between the girls playing and the boys playing so fascinating. Logan was super helpful letting us know if the boys were getting into something they shouldn't be or if they needed help but he didn't care much if he had their attention or not. The independent play was so different then when it's with girls.

The next day we packed up again and made the trek to Gordonsville, VA to visit with Carly and Cason (Chris & Kevin). Again we thought man the boys are going to be so exhausted and annoyed with all the driving, but they showed up and saw a whole new playground and new toys to play with. Not only that but there were cats to chase. (Poor, poor cats.) Cooper learned to ride a little scooter, Sully enjoyed the trampoline and found a new favorite nap place in Cason’s swing on the porch. The next day the boys delighted in the pool. Cooper was brave and wanted to go down the slide. The first time he slid into Jim’s arms and happily went to do it again into my arms.

Unfortunately all thirty pounds of him came a little to fast for me and he went right into the water. (Oh my god- want to talk about guilt.) He was fine, not even a tear, but man I felt so bad! Carly and I got some good snuggle time in. She let me read her three books to her before bed even though I couldn’t sing I feel like I got an A for effort! Who else but a little 4 year old girl can get two grown men to play Barbie twister???

After all our traveling Jim wanted to wake up in our own bed on Sunday and have a day to get ready for the work week. So we packed up again and headed home Saturday afternoon.

We have the most amazing family and friends and were so blessed to be able to do a visit like we did. We have super amazing boys! They were so easy to travel with and it was just so wonderful to spend time with my dear girlfriends and to have our kids hang out.

We’ve decided to make that an annual trek!!

Trip To Gordonsville/Car Ride Issues

As we were getting the house ready to show we needed to paint the house. Not wanting the boys to be around the fumes I volunteered to take the boys on a day trip to visit Auntie Cacka. Chris my friend in Gordonsville who just so happens to have a pool!! So I pack up the boys and head off in the morning. As you all know Sully Bear well he's not so much of a fan of the car seat. So the drive down consists of me having to have my arm crooked around to the car seat patting his head or giving him my finger to suck on. I've found one of the best ways to keep him calm is to sing to him. So I sang 99 bottles of milk on the wall. I got to 27!! By the time we got to Gordonsville I was ready to nap and to never ever hear that song again.

Chris's daughter Carly took to taking care of Cooper. If he would cry she would come up to him and pat him and say, "It's ok Cooper." It was so sweet. She also taught Cooper to talk on the phone. She had her own cell phone and picked it up and said, "Oh hey nanna girl what's going on. Oh nothing we are playing with baby Cooper." I seriously thought she was on the phone until I realized it was a play cell phone! But after that Cooper walked around with his cell phone talking into it until I found it in the tub- when it was full.

So then we decided to go swimming. We started off slow getting Cooper used to the water but he was clinging to me tightly. I wasn't sure if he was enjoying himself.

So I thought hey lets put on a life vest and see what happens. He decided to put on Carly's sunglasses. Hey it was bright out there.


This poor child he might be scarred for life when he sees this picture. Anyway he adored floating around the pool in the tube as I kicked him back and forth. We only grudgingly got out when Sully Bear woke up from his nap. Surprisingly Chris and I got some time to catch up while watching three little ones so that was nice. Cooper didn't get his nap - I hadn't thought to bring his pack and play but you'll notice a theme here I thought hey he will sleep on the drive home.

Had some dinner more chit chat it's now time to pack up and go home. Sully Bear hasn't had enough sleep either I didn't bring his swing- lesson learned pack EVERYTHING! But I thought hey this could be good, they will both be exhausted they will sleep sleep sleep.

We get on the road and Sully for the first time discovers the things attached to the bottom of his arms are his hands and he's just fascinated. Cooper and I chit chat for the first twenty minutes and then suddenly he screams out and is OUT. I'm feeling pretty good at this point- Sully is quiet and Coop is out. Suddenly Coop has to be dreaming about his time with Carly. He is reaching out screaming and then muttering down to sleep. Well this keeps happening and disturbs Sully who then starts screaming. Cooper wakes up pissed because he was asleep and then they both start screaming at the top of their lungs. I'm afraid that Sully is now going to heave out a lung so I pull over on the side of the road and try to nurse him. Nope not interested. We get out of the car and I'm running back and forth trying to calm him down then swinging him as he finally starts to calm down. I hear this other noise and look in the car- Cooper is awake and not happy that I'm out there with Sully so he's screaming at the top of his lungs. I open the door and hold his hand while bouncing Sully. They are both quiet and I do take a minute to enjoy the sunset over the farmland and watch a lone horse make his way through the fields. Quite breathtaking actually. Looking at the time I'm ready to get on the road but both the boys are just happy the way they are. I make the call to get back on the road. Silly mamma.

I'd say it was quiet for about two minutes and then boom Sully starts screaming again. This starts off Cooper. My friend Znar calls and I just decide nothing is working I'm going to talk and ignore it. Unfortunately she couldn't ignore it or hear what I was saying so we hung up and I listened to them scream for thirty more minutes and then suddenly there was blissful silence. They had both screamed themselves to sleep.

So that was our trip to Gordonsville. As you all know the trip to Raleigh was pretty much the same. Trading screams and misery. I think I cried the first four hours of the trip with them. At our second stop Jim was taking a zillion turns and passing by perfectly good gas stations. I just remember freaking out- why isn't he stopping?? I need to stop!!! I was trying to call him but then he suddenly found a gas station and when we got there said, "Man I had no idea it was this bad I would have stopped sooner."

But there is a bright side!! I think we've broken Sully Bear of his hatred of the car seat. Probably just because we are getting out more and he's getting used to it but he doesn't cry half as much as he used to. Or maybe I'm just immune now. The last time all four of us were in the car and Sully started to scream I just kept talking and Jim was freaking out! He was trying to soothe him and really worried and I was just sort of chuckling saying, "that's not going to work..,. nope that won't either" I seem to have the ability now to just sort of tune it out.

So now my mom tells me that Snowshoe is about a six hour drive. I'm looking for volunteers now to drive with me!!!