It's a Glamourous Life - Yes it is!

I lead a glamorous life - don't let the flip flops and pony tail fool you.  I am an accomplished professional and I work hard (some days). I am a V.I.P. I have many very important meetings and calls.  Many of those via conference calls with more VIPs.  And I'm fortunate to get to do most of this from my home.  It's the best of both worlds - RIGHT? Today was a day though that I cursed this arrangement.

I was on a conference call with the other VIPs and we were talking about (obviously) VITs (very important things).  I am talking to the VIPs and giving my updates on all the VITs that I had accomplished over the last week (like trying to get my head out of the sand after vacation).   I hear a tiny little voice saying "I'm done mommy!"  No problem. I have wiped butts while on these VICs (very important calls) before. I can still be professional and wipe behinds at the same time.

I poke my head in the bathroom, hold my finger up to Silas and say "just a minute" and I finish up with my update. About 30 seconds later I hear hysterical yelling coming from the bathroom. Luckily I had muted the phone after I finished talking (God bless the inventor of the MUTE button!). I run in to find Silas sitting on the potty but pointing in yelling "my TOY! my TOY has fallen into the potty!!!!".

Sure enough, I look in and see one Diego Baby Jaguar sunk in the toilet...among the poo. I semi-freak out - this is NOT in the VIP job description! - give Silas one heck of an evil eye and double check the mute button before screaming at him as to WHY does he have a toy in the bathroom?!  and how he's not going to be able to sit down to potty again for a month after I spank his (post-wiped) behind!!

I'm still trying to listen in on this call because there are a lot of questions flying around and I know I'll be asked something. I'm also faced with this dilemma of wiping or not wiping, because if I wipe, I have to put the paper in the toilet on top of the toy, and if I don't...well, that's gross.

The other dilemma is how to get the damn toy out of the poopy potty.  I'm sure as heck not sticking my hand in there. Putting a spoon or other utensil in there is disgusting. I've already threatened to flush it, which sent Silas into hysterics again and I know would send Justin into hysterics too if he had to snake the toilet to unclog it.
All the while as I'm assessing the situation, I'm also un-muting the phone to answer questions, re-muting to do the quiet screaming and finger pointing at Silas.

I end up with the only thing that I can think of at the moment: chopsticks.  I get the chopsticks from the kitchen drawer and fish away in the poopy toilet to save baby Jaguar.  I'm not very good with chopsticks under normal, non-disgusting circumstances - so imagine...

At some point while I'm washing and rewashing my hands, I realize that the mute is no longer on...somewhere along the way I forgot to reMUTE and have no idea how much "poop" "spanking your BEHIND" "how could you do this to me?" or gagging the VIPs heard while on our VIC.


In the end, Mommy saved baby Jaguar from the sewers, the hardwood floors from overflowing poop water and Silas got his behind wiped (I think) and didn't lose his beloved toy.

And at least I don't have to dress up and wear heels to work!

Beach Life Part 2 - Sunrise, Storms and Sunset

Our internet access wasn't so hot at the beach so I couldn't upload my pictures to the blog. Bummer for me because I really like to blog while on vacation!
We had some super hot, beautiful weather while we are here - which brought in some super, lightening packed thunder storms.

I only took the time one morning to go out on the beach and walk to get some sunrise pictures.  As I mentioned, the sun doesn't rise over the ocean (at least from our angle) where we were at - we were facing South. 

 

It was still pretty but didn't goad me out of bed every morning at 6am to rush out and take pictures. I was more interested in sleeping!

The weather was pretty steamy while we were there - high 80s, low 90s - feeling like 107 or something ridiculous.  But with the beach at the door...no worries. It made for some pretty cool late afternoon and evening thunderstorms.

The storm clouds were amazing to watch and the sitting out under the covered deck watching the lightening after it got dark was very cool. and kinda scary!

I didn't get time in the evenings to get to the Point to watch the sunset because either the weather was stormy, or we were busy with dinner, ice cream etc.  On the last night there, I ran (literally) out after dinner and family pictures and managed to catch about the last 10-15 minutes of sunset.  I was amazed when I walked out onto the Point (of Emerald Isle), having no idea what to expect.  I felt like I was walking on the moon.

Except that I could look up and see the moon....

There was so much sand/beach area, the water was everywhere and the view was amazing. I was kicking myself for not going every night that we had been there. I couldn't stop snapping pictures, all the way out - walking backwards because I didn't want to miss the view.

The last picture I snapped as I left the Point was of a bunch of dragon flies buzzing around the grasses. 

I'm so glad that I made it there before the sun set! It definitely made up for the lack of a "real" sunrise!

Beach Life

It's amazing how quickly one can go from days filled with work, schedules and responsibilities...to just sitting, reading, watching the ocean, playing and watching for shooting stars. It's very difficult to get bored when there is so much "nothing" to do!

We overdid the sun on Sunday, spending most of the day and evening in the ocean. 

So we spend some time on the deck in the shade, giggling

And getting ice cream at the Sweet Spot - delicious!!

Monday, still fearful of daylight and the thought of sunshine making contact with bare skin, we took a break from the sun and went to the aquarium.

We did have a minor hair mishap - Ella got a comb stuck in her hair...but "patient" Aunt Margie was able to get it out without scissors... All's well that ends well!

The shooting stars around here are amazing.  We've seen 20+ while sitting out on the deck in the evenings. It's hard to pull yourself away and go inside, afraid of missing another one.

Finally!

After waiting alllll summer for our beach trip, it's here!  After the long car ride to Rhode Island a few weeks ago, we decided it'd be best for us to break up the long drive to the beach.  Don and Maria were kind enough to put us up for the night (all 6 of us!) and we had a great evening chatting with them and stretching our legs.

Saturday we got back in the van and drove 4 more hours to the beach.  We are in a different house this year and went to Emerald Isle instead of Nags Head.  It's beautiful - but we haven't gotten to explore much of the area yet.  Our house is right on the beach and it's wonderful to sit on the covered deck in the rocking chairs.  There is also a 2nd story deck which will be perfect for our happy hours!

 Mason on the 2nd story deck...I think he looks a lot like his Grandpa J in this picture.

We have a walkway and stairs from the house to the beach. This is the view, and my toes...

I'm a bit disturbed about the sunrise - we aren't facing East so it's going to be difficult to figure out the best place for sunrise photos, but with the ocean in front of us and seeing the Sound behind us (that is how skinny this stretch of land is!) should make it a good spot for sunset pictures.  I'm anxious to get out and get tons of pictures!

The kids tried to go crabbing last night but there weren't nearly as many as we usually see in Nags Head. I am hopping it was just an off night and they will come out this week!

I spent quite a bit of time in my beach chair this morning, reading.  I've got a good tan started, wine (and Yuengling) waiting in the fridge for later.  All is well!

HH 2010

We had our 3rd annual couples' weekend in Hocking Hills this past weekend.  As usual, we had a ton of fun!

From the looks of it, you'd think the weekend is all about booze...

And some of it is...we dance, laugh hysterically, make fun of each other...and ourselves, tell jokes and just hang out. Oh, and cook wonderful meals!

But it's really just a fabulous time to get away for a weekend and spend time as couples. The girls get time to chat, read, hot tub and snooze.  The boys get time to fish, build fires and chop wood with sharp axes and be manly.

We all got to go on a pontoon  this year - after the rain on Saturday, it was a perfect evening on the water. There was a festival on shore and we got to hear some bands playing.

I got some time to escape into the woods and take some pictures - and Greg is the perfect spotter for a good subject.

I feel very, very blessed to have not only a great husband and friends to get away with, but great support from family to watch my {wonderful} kids while we are off in never-never land.