On our way to the beach...AGAIN!!!

The girls and I are on our way to the beach. Yes, this is our second trip to the beach this summer. This time, however, we are going to North Carolina. My aunt Jude (favorite aunt Jude, according to her) has a house on Ocracoke Island, so we're heading there for a girl week.

It's going to be my grandmother, aunt Jude, gram (my mom), the girls and me. We're going to eat southern all week (thank you, grandma) and be lazy on the beach and in a quiet town. Quiet that is, until someone tells the younger daughter no! Don't worry. You'll be able to hear it wherever you are!

It was a good week...

So, this week Mark was in Columbus for some training. This means that he spent the week investing in being better at his job. He spent the week eating meals on his own (I bet he didn't cut up anyone else's food ) and eating wherever he wanted (he complained that he was tired of eating out by Thursday...wimp). He had lonely evenings all to himself (watching whatever he wanted on TV - after he went to the gym all by himself). He didn't have to make the bed for himself (or anyone else) all week. Why don't SAHM's get this week?

But, he didn't get to hear Charlotte squeal with delight when Ava walked into the room. He didn't get to see her attack every single meal as if it were her last. He didn't get to see her pull herself up by holding on to a wall and cruise down that wall...fast!

He didn't get to see Ava generously give Charlotte her favorite blanket. He didn't get to hear Ava correct herself when she used the incorrect verb tense (yes, this made me proud...you too, Ann?) He didn't get to snuggle and rock Ava when she was too tired to relax and fall asleep.

Thank God, SAHM's do get this week!

But can your babysitter do this?

Last week we returned from Pawley's Island. For the past two years, we've taken our wonderful friend Sara as a babysitter. We love her...and she loves us back. You can tell that the love is mutual when you see what she can do with my darling, beautiful girls. We love you, Sara. You are dear to our hearts! The rest of you...take her with you on vacation if you can! She's delightful every moment of the trip!

This is Grandpa Andy's boat.

Rookie Mistake

If you can't handle the disgusting realities of motherhood, tune out now!

This afternoon as I walked out of the girls' room, after laying them down for their nap, I realized that Charlotte only had a diaper on. (The girls are almost always completely dressed.) I paused for a moment, wondering if I should put something on her, but she looked so tired and was already resting. ROOKIE MISTAKE!!!

A few hours later, I heard Charlotte talking in her bed. I usually give her a little bit of time to wake up if I want her to wake Ava up as well. So, a couple of minutes later, I walk up the stairs to get them out of bed. At the top of the stairs I had an unconscious thought that Charlotte must have a dirty diaper. Then, a wave of horror washed over me. Sure enough, I open the door to their room and see my worst fear in action. Charlotte is covered from head to toe in what Ava calls 'yucky poopy'! Not only is Charlotte covered, but so is her bed, her bedding and even her little stuffed goat, Goaty!

It took a bit of work to clean everything and everyone up, but I had wonderful coaching from the peanut-free gallery! Ava had been in her bed through the entire clean-up process, patiently pointing out any mess that I might have missed!

I think I have daily realizations that Charlotte is NOT Ava! And, that means that I am regularly still a rookie... I also, usually think that the lessons I learn in parenting help me understand my relationship with God better, but I'm not even going there with this one!

My next post will involve beautiful pictures of the girls at the beach...I promise!!!

Ran a 5K!

Yesterday morning the whole Solomon gang got up to go cheer me on as I ran my first 5k! My friend Becca and I have been getting up at the crack of dawn every weekday to run or walk, and yesterday we completed our first 5K. Our time was 36:24. That may not seem great to some of you, but while there were many people who finished before us, there were plenty behind us as well!