so much for the plan

The plan is to blog much more frequently. But it just doesn't pan out that way. Oh well! I suppose no one is sitting by their computers waiting very impatiently to hear what is going on over at the Charest House. Really, the day in and day out it isn't overly exciting!

Waking up far too early, wiping snotty noses and poopy bums, making snacks and meals, entertaining (and chasing)a very mobile 11 month old, playing Barbies on occasion w/ the toddler and unfortunately, reprimanding the seven year old far, far too often. Then we put them to bed and repeat it all the next day! All that monotony really does zip by faster than can be imagined.

So finally, more pictures, including our fabulous trip to Mexico. Start from the bottom....

03.25.09

And next thing you know...the week is done. Sigh. I miss those yummy drinks and food and the sleeping in and the pool and the sun and the reading and the relaxing...

03.24.09

I burned my bottom lip! Strange - just my lip, nothing else. So I wore that awful zinc on them so I could get some sun but not fry my lip. Yes, I got A LOT of funny looks!

03.23.09

I loved having my chai tea in the morning by the pool. Can you believe someone STOLE my mug? Seriously, you can afford to go on an all-inclusive but you can't afford the $10 mug at Starbucks?

03.22.09

Saturday we went to enjoy the spa (free!) with pools and hottubs and steamrooms...then a massage for me the next day.

03.21.09

We had a yummy beach BBQ one night...

03.20.09

How excited do you think I was to find not one, but TWO Starbucks in Playa del Carmen?!!!!

03.19.09

A lovely day on the beach...crucial to save spots w/ your towels if you want to get a good spot. This goes against every bone in my husbands body. Fortunately, he got over it.

03.18.09

Arrived safely in Cancun and rode the bus to our resort while we enjoyed a few cervezas.

03.17.09

Last year I did a whole "green" dinner (green rice, green drinks, green dessert) but this year be/c we were leaving the next day and I didn't want left-overs, I bought them these green sprinkles donuts to go w/ our green water...they were perfectly happy!

03.16.09

Finally a nice spring like day to play outside. He loved being in the swing and giggled the entire time.

03.15.09

It was fun for them to have time outside WITH their friends! Nice for me too!

03.14.09

She was dancing to some music and watching herself in the reflection of the TV - just having a blast! It was hilarious!

03.14.09

The view from the other side of the gate...he is one busy boy.

03.13.09

She's all about scissors these days and loves just sitting and cutting anything in sight. Including the sleeve of her t-shirt...because it had a hair on it.

03.12.09

A moment of peace...

03.11.09

Pulling himself up on everything!

here I go...

03.10.09

I'm a rock-star and I don't want you tonight. I'm alright. Na na na na na na na na na na na. (Except she goes by "Tink" not Pink)

03.09.09

She doesn't tackle him like Lily but she is always carrying him around. She started asking when she could carry the baby before birth.

03.08.09

I was crazy enough to do 2 parties this year (live and learn...that will never happen again). Second party was a small bowling party and it was fun!

03.07.09

She turned SEVEN! Yikes! That just kills me.

03.06.09

Another heart melter, this one...quite alot of the time. Especially when she says to me "Know what Momma? I love you too."

03.05.09

Well he just melts my heart is all.

03.04.09



Can't post one w/out the other...they got suckers from the guy at the pizza store. Yes, Gabrielle's tongue is insanely long and Gene Simmons-esque. She gets it from me. And I, it turns out, got it from my father. He is the originator of the Gene Simmons-esque tongue.

03.03.09

He was entertained in here for mere minutes. Okay, seconds. Of course I forgot about the tipping over part of this equation.

03.02.09

She is constantly tackling him and he is getting so fed up! One day he is going to thump her and she will totally deserve it!

03.01.09

He just sits there staring at the two girls playing down there...babbling away at them and I'm sure he's saying "Hey! What are you doing down there? What is that? What are all those toys!? Let me down there too!" Soon buddy, soon.

02.28.09

She got sleepers put in, instead of studs. Oh the dramatics that entailed to get them in! And then once they were FINALLY in, she realized she'd made a fuss over nothing!

02.27.09

Cheerios on his tray buy me some time - any time of day.

02.26.09

Lily on her way to ballet class...

Really?

Has it REALLY been a month since I've been on here? Ha! Well, there won't be photos tonight...and I'm not sure when exactly there will be photos as it is somewhat (okay, VERY) daunting to tackle a months worth of uploading photos on here! So much for my plan to do it every few days - CRAP! Now I have a whole month to catch up on.

Wish me luck...I am going to need it!

keepin' up

Trying anyhow. I figured I should really try to post photos more than once a week so I don't have to sit here for an hour and a half uploading photos.

I'm going to do a quick post here and then go have a nap. I'm pooped today! Partly because I had a later than usual night and still woke up at 6 am even though my children were not here. And partly because I haven't had any caffeine today. Funny how quickly your body relies on it. I might have to have a cup of tea when I get up.

02.25.09

No, I'm not there right now. But I will be! In THREE short weeks, my hubbie and I get to go away on a hot holiday in the Mexican sun without our kids. I will miss them indeed, but I am also looking forward to not cooking for a week and just relaxing in the sun while I sip a pina colada (or two)!

02.24.09

This just made me really happy yesterday because my house was quiet and I got to sit and enjoy a yummy, foamy chai. Simple pleasures.

02.23.09

He is such a tiny little guy so it makes me laugh to see him standing in his crib already. He looked to slim with just his diaper on standing there drooling and squealing!

02.22.09

Had a yummy birthday dinner at Mom and Dad's the day after my birthday. Chocolate cake courtesy of Greg himself. The lady behind me is Mom's neighbor Toni who's birthday is the day before mine. Nice to share dinner with her! Hope to be half as energetic and vibrant as she is at her age.

Nap time....

One Year Older

No, I'm not talking about one of my children, I'm talking about me. I just celebrated another birthday. 36 years old. How did that happen? How did I get closer to 40 than I did to 30?

Sheesh, life sure passes by quickly. But, it is only a number - I still act like I'm a teenager a good chunk of the time! And, on occassion, like a toddler...one that throws fits and tantrums! So, the number just doesn't matter. At least that is what I'm telling myself as I creep closer and closer to the big four - oh.

I had a fabulous birthday! And it isn't over, I like to spread it out over days and days. Usually I call it birthday week (I even have my brother and sister-in-law wishing me a "Happy Birthday Week!" - love that!) but this year, it has been condensed to Birthday Weekend.

Yesterday I was served a venti Starbucks and breakfast in bed. Eggs, bacon and toast. Yum! Then I went for a pedicure which was delightful. After that I came home and tidied up a bit (although I had to point out several times to anyone that would listen that I was cleaning ON my birthday!) and waited for a girlfriend to arrive to scrapbook. We scrapbooked for about an hour before we had a martini and some yummy snacks! Then we scrapbooked some more until more girlfriends arrived for a pre-dinner birthday drink.

We went here and it was fabulous! We all shared fondue (cheese, beef and seafood) and ended it with chocolate fondue which was soooooo good that we ordered another chocolate fondue to share! What a yummy birthday dinner! It was so rich that I had the fleeting thought that I might end the evening over the toilet with Candy holding my hair back and me crying out "I love you man!" And it was seriously from the rich meal and NOT the birthday bevvies! However, I feel as spry as a 35 year old today so it all turned out okay.

Lily asked me several times yesterday "It's your birthday today? Where are your decorations??" Indeed Lily, where were my decorations?

Today, I will continue to milk birthday weekend for all its worth and enjoy a birthday dinner with my parents at their house and then my children will stay the night there and spend the entire day there tomorrow! Woo hoo to that!

On a serious note, I always seem to feel a bit reflective on my birthday. I feel really blessed to have an awesome little family that is healthy, a home and food on the table, great friends that I have so much fun with and parents that I'm close to.

Here are a few photos from the last week and most importantly from yesterday...my birthday...have I mentioned that?

02.21.09

Me, on my birthday, enjoying a cocktail.

02.20.09

Swinging outside after pre-school...

02.19.09

He is soooo quick...

02.18.09

Playing Peek-a-Boo with Gabrielle...he rarely covers his eyes, but instead puts his arms and hands on his head! So cute.

02.17.09

Dressed up like a little dude

02.16.09

Gabrielle had a been in her bonnet about having their faces painted. They had fun playing cats and dogs and then, fighting like cats and dogs.

02.15.09

Gabrielle just doesn't appreciate Chocolate Molten Lava cake like I do. She only had two bites and then walked away from it. Me, I would have licked the plate clean.

02.14.09

My Valentines...oh and their Dad too.

Has it really been...

a week and a half since I've been on here?? Where does the time go? Well between three kids, a bit of work to do for a client and life in general, time just flies by.

And of course a bit of time spent looking for hotels in NYC. The count down is on - 13 of us ladies travelling to NYC to shop, take in the sights, catch a broadway show and just experience all New York has to offer. Can I hear a WOOOOOO HOOOOO - HOO?? I am soooo excited.

In other exciting new, we were hoping to book a trip somewhere this spring. First it was Hawaii w/ my folks but that didn't pan out because the cost of flights was INSANE! It would have cost us around $4000 just to fly there. Then we thought perhaps we'd join my cousin and her family in Disneyland and were this close to booking it. But again, decided against spending $4000 for a week at Disney when we could spend marginally more and go on an all-inclusive. That would be a REAL break! Then we thought we'd try to get away with friends (without kids!) to a sunny location.

Once again, logic and responsibility won out. Why you ask? Because we need one of these. About the price of a hot vacation aren't they? And this summer, we also need to do this. Luckily my husband can do this so hopefully it will save us some dough.

And although I think we can get by a wee bit longer with what we have, I would really like these PDQ. I don't know what you think, but I'm pretty sure drying your clothes shouldn't take two hours.

Here are a week and a half's worth of pictures for your viewing pleasure...Happy Valentine's Day!

02.13.09



He loves to run his hands through his hair during mealtime.

02.12.09



She sure loves her brother! The only issue is she tries to be the Mom and makes her own decisions with him. Like when he should come out of the exer-saucer to be carried around. Or if its okay for Lily to hold him and carry him around and then get dropped on the floor.

02.11.09



Ready to go to her Valentine's Day party at pre-school.

02.10.09


Went for Vietnamese food with some girlfriends and then watched a movie and ate too many treats!

02.09.09


Cuties in the tub...

02.08.09


Enjoying his first piece of toast. He is doing so much better on chunky food now - no more gagging like the first few tries.

02.07.09


Another new expression for our enjoyment. Changing daily this kid.

02.06.09


Can you see that little tooth on the bottom? Just poked through recently.

02.05.09


Love dressing him like a little dude. He looks so cute dressed like a little man.