Has It Really Been That Long?

So I am officially a failure at keeping a blog! However, I have recently decided I'm not so interested in Facebook, but want a way to keep family abreast of our family happenings, and have the opportunity to share snippits of what's going on in our world. Since I am trying to improve my photography I would like to use this blog as a place to share images, as well. Who knows, maybe I will post about projects I have time to complete, or that I have time to complete with the kiddos. Maybe, I will just reflect on my day. Dare I even try to get back into this??

Getting Fit at Home

So, we are going to have a little extra money here in a few weeks if all goes well. So, there's been some discussion about things we would like to purchase. We talked about a gym membership, but it was just such a waste in the past. We are considering a few things, an elliptical, a spinning bike, or the Wii Fit. I love getting out to walk the three mornings that I do it, but there's four other days of the week and I want to get moving on those days, too. We came to the realization that we would rather just get our workouts done, or at least started in the time it would take to drive to and from the gym (30 min. round trip). I know gyms offer so many different classes and such, but we were so bad about taking advantage of that in the past. Plus, I just know I would be too paranoid during flu season to have the kiddos in the daycare with all the other germy little people. So, I think we just need to come to an agreement on what we both would like to have. I vote for an elliptical and the Wii Fit to really keep things interesting.

Mommy Time

I left my babies. Actually, I just went away for a long weekend. Tim had one last voucher with Southwest (he's not traveling anymore) and I asked him if I could use it to visit one of my oldest friends in Denver. He agreed months ago so I finally took the trip. It was a wonderful weekend with no schedules to keep, just time to enjoy the company of other adults, go hiking, get a mani/pedi, do a little shopping, some eating out, and visiting with my wonderful sis-in-law! I really missed my babies, but they were in good hands with Grammy, Pop-pop, Daddy, Grandmom, Grandad, and Ms. Ann. There was a bit of coordinating to make it all work, but it happened, and everyone survived! I feel rejuvenated, and am happy to be home to my wonderful life. Daddy gets a weekend away next weekend so hopefully he gets to relax and enjoy as much as I did!

Fall is Here

Well summer is officially over and we are into our new routine. Tadhg has started nursery school two mornings a week and absolutely LOVES it! The girls are keeping me hopping as they have started walking (read: running), and are down to only one nap a day. Along with the challange of one nap a day Tadhg has decided to stop napping. He is actually doing really well with mandatory "quiet time", and I am actually able to get some things done and feel like I am getting a break. The girls have started Music Together, which they are really enjoying. We only have help two days a week, which has made planning much more important. I am learning to really budget my time by using Google Calendar. I actually have lunch and cleaning scheduled! Believe me, it seems a bit excessive, but I actually find I get it done when I have it on my calendar (and I get pop-ups to remind me). I have been making even more time for myself by waking early three days a week to walk with a neighbor. I am just way too spent at the end of the day to even think about exercise. Though I don't consider myself a morning person, getting up at 6:00am is the only way my butt is going to burn any extra calories!

August Vacation

Do I even bother? It has been almost two months since our vacation, but I feel the need to fill you folks in on our "relaxing" week in Bethany Beach. Our car was jam packed with stuff, not surprising with the three kiddos. To save space we rented cribs to be delivered to the rental property. We arrived around five in the evening, expecting the cribs to be there. They were not. Gave the rental company a call to find out it could be as late as eight pm before we had the cribs delivered. So not a relaxing way to start our vacation. Three very tired, cranky babies, ready for bed around 6:00 pm, and NO cribs! By the time we got the cribs the kids were all screaming and we were wondering why we even bothered leaving Severna Park!
I'm happy to say that that was the worst of the week! Both our parents came down for a couple of nights which gave us extra hands all through the week. Tim and I were able to get out for a couple of date nights. All in all not a bad way to spend the week. However, we are considering a "staycation" next year. The kids are just not that interested in the ocean yet, so we figure we'll enjoy some local sights and mommy and daddy will get away for a long weekend sans kiddos! Now that sounds relaxing!

Quiet Week

We had a pretty quiet week. We started out with a nice afternoon in the yard. We filled up the baby pool and the kiddos took a little dip. It was nice to hang out with a drink and watch them play.

Tadhg had a follow up to check his double ear infection to be sure it was cleared up. Everything looked great. Wouldn't you know it, he spiked a fever the next day, though it just seems to be a little virus. A little virus that equals a lot of coughing!

After a day or so of no fever we needed a couple of things so I decided to try out the big fancy "car carts" at the Safeway. It wasn't so bad, except that Maura was pretty fussy every time the thing moved! I think it freaked her out to have so much space around her and the bumpy ride didn't help! I really need a double cart cover!

We got out to the library to switch out some books and Tadhg and I participated in the Severna Park Moms club's Spy Camp. Really cute to see the kiddos walking around the yard in huge sunglasses, using their magnifying glasses to look for clues. Lots of fun!

In the midst of this slow week I decided to start working out in the mornings. I have started to do a walk/jog every other morning for about 30 minutes. I'm getting out around 6:30 am, and am back and showered just in time for the monkeys to get up. I have to say it's tough getting out of bed, but I feel great and full of energy all day - which I really need!

With all my new found energy I managed to start packing for our vacation next week. I'm really looking forward to a week at the beach!

Alone, For the First Time

This week started with a photo shoot with Heather Owens for the girls birthday. We had great weather and were able to get a great family picture, a generational shot with my mom, and some individuals of the kiddos. I've only seen a few previews via Facebook but so far they look awesome as always. We need to start thinking about booking for the holidays! Since my mom stayed over on Friday night in anticipation of the shoot we took advantage of a babysitter and had our monthly date night. We tried out Bonefish Grill about which we'd heard great things. We had a yummy dinner and I had a glass of even yummier white sangria! Ahhhhhh!!!!

Sunday started with Tadhg's special one on one time. He decided to try mini golf with daddy which he really seemed to enjoy as he talked about it for several days and has been asking to do it again every morning! We headed to the pool for a bit which unfortunately was cut short because Maura was way too tired to hang so we could have dinner. She decided to play during nap time so she was a little cranky! Ciara tried out the spring float we have and was just cruising all over the baby pool on her tippy toes - loved it! We had margaritas with our fun neighbors and Tadhg got to play with their daughter Kasey. So, all in all not too bad for having to cut it short.

Monday marked my first day of my first week all alone with the kiddos. Ms. Ann left for her trip home to Ireland and my mom and dad were preparing for their Tuesday departure to Alaska with my father's siblings and their spouses. Surprisingly, I managed to get all the laundry done and put away. We got outside for a walk to enjoy some fresh air. I was feeling rather empowered to get it all done all by myself!

Tuesday we went to the library in the morning, and then I hosted a little ice cream party which I totally forgot about until a minivan pulled into my driveway and a few kids tumbled out! Luckily, I had ice cream in the freezer we forgot about at the girls' birthday and the moms brought toppings. A few scoops and sprinkles later the kids were in heaven! It was a nice break since we hung out at home all day.

Wednesday I decided to take the kids to Chik -fil-A for lunch. It was a little tough maneuvering the double stroller through the doors, but everything went well and we enjoyed some lunch before heading to the super Walmart to pick up a few groceries. This is the one thing I miss about not having help - getting a full grocery trip done. If I didn't have help I'd have to shop in the evenings or on the weekends. It really is nice to have the help!

Thursday I dropped Tadhg for a morning of "Nature Camp" with my Severna Park Mom's Club. I was really anxious to see how he would handle a drop off situation as we start to prepare him for nursery school this fall. I am thrilled to say he did great! He didn't bat an eyelash, gave me a quick kiss, then off I went. The report was that he did really well. Perhaps his starting nursery school will be harder on me then him!

Friday I decided to take the kids to Kohl's so I could exchange a birthday gift for the girls and try to find some running shoes for myself. Not too bad, except that shoe shopping didn't work so well with the double stroller and three year old removing shoe boxes from the shelves to see what was inside! That I will have to do alone!

All in all a pretty good week. I am happy to say that we survived, and I even managed to get a few things done! I will be ready to cut back to having help only two days in the fall. At least so Tadhg and I can do music classes and I can get errands done alone or with only one child!