I'm not the only one...

Today CamMad spent the day with Grammy as the 'rents were back in school getting ready to face the little (and not so little cherubs). I went to pick up the kids at the end of the day and poor Grammy look wiped out. I'm sure she will sleep tonight. To be fair she had CamMad plus their cousins around the house this morning. I was glad to hear that I'm not the only one who gets exhausted after a full day with CamMad.

Today's activities included running and playing around the house. I'm sure there was some "school time" or "daycare". After CamMad's cousins were picked up they went to Governor's for lunch. The trip out also included a trip to the playground where the trikes were brought out. When I got there the toys were all over the living room while "Full House" was on the tele.

I was not quick to take them home as I knew that they were tired and the car ride home was going to be a long one. I gave Grammy a chance to vent and catch her breath. It was a long car ride home but we made it. We treated dinner as if it was a Friday night and enjoyed some pizza. CamMad fought going to sleep but it was not nearly as bad as I've blogged about before in putting them down.

Now I've got to catch up on all that I've missed today. Good night all.

Where did the summer go?

It seems like last week that I was blogging about all of the great things we were going to do during the summer hibernation. Today was a work day for the 'rents and CamMad got to spend the day with Grammy. Where did the summer go?

Actually it was a good summer but it went by really fast. We travelled across Maine and ventured into NH. We got to pick raspberries and sleep in until we felt like waking up. Camden was awesome, as usual.

Now Fall is here (okay school starts in Summer but you get the point) and we need to change the family routines. Even though the leaves are getting ready to fall (yes some of them have already fallen) Fall represents a new beginning. It is up to all of us to take advantage of this new beginning and making it work for you not against you.

We will be spending this last weekend of freedom taking advantage of what we have and getting ready to get back into the swing of the school year. We hope that everyone enjoys this last weekend before the school year starts in ernst.

A really nice family day

Wow the last 24 hours have been really good quality All American family time. Yesterday Sheepish (Auntie) Annie came over and provided her proxy-Auntie duties. We had a nice dinner, talked, entertained, and relented how much we are not looking forward to the start of the 07 school year.

"There are snakes on the plane!"

After a late night we got up and got going to Storyland. CamMad were watching the video iPod and Parent2 was sleeping in the front seat so I had time to think and strategize some of the politics I'm going to be engaged in the coming months. I digress, when Parent2 woke up in the middle of North Conway road construction. At that point I opened mouth slit my throat. I wasn't exactly sure if I was going in the right direction (I thought I was but I wasn't 100% certain). Parent2 started to get upset but kept cool. A few minutes later we were there and all was good.

We zip through the opening line but then started the cat and mouse game of hurray up and wait/entertain while you wait. At times this was very easy at other times I would have pulled any remaining hair out of my head to provide a moment of relief. The worst was the pumpkin coach ride (which was one-way and Cinderella took her union break when we got to her castle). Just about everything else was bearable and worth the wait.

CamMad had their up and down moments through out the day but they really did a good job keeping it all together for as long as we were there. There were times when one or both pushed the envelope but in comparison to other children in the park CamMad really have their heads' on straight. We are very fortunate that we can take our children in public and not be embarassed by their behaviors.

Best moments of the day for the 'rents centered around water and Child1. Parent2 took CamMad on the log flume ride and had a great time. I've got some great pictures and video of the experience. Child1 and I went of the rapids ride. Of course who got the wetest on the ride...me! Child1 got their fair share of water but we had a great ride! Pictures will help document these great memories for the rest of our lives.

Side note: Digital technology has totally changed family memories (for the better). When we got home from Storyland the first thing we did was to gather around the TV and hooked up the camera to watch the pictures and video of the day. There was no stop at the one-hour photo store or waiting a week or so for these memories to be cemented and archived. The downside however is that need for batteries to run the digital technology at a cost of $2.97 for just 2 AA batteries (not even lithium).

Storyland gets the family concept. First of all strollers and wagons were scattered all around the park (usually they were empty). Coolers were not checked, bags were not searched for food and drink, things were really laid back. People felt comfortable leaving their stollers without the fear that someone was going to go through their stuff and take whatever they wanted. Granted this is a park geared for smaller ones of the world. More places could take Storyland's lead!

I'm Wiped

No naps for anyone, Full House is on the DVD, and I've finished back to school shopping (with the exception of CamMad's outfits). I can no official say I'm wiped! I think this pictures tells the story:

This was courtsey of Staples' Teacher Appreciation Day. We visited two stores and got free stuff. We didn't forget Parent2 and got 2 bags for Parent2. The postcard has a different meaning for teachers after April vacation but it works for this weekend as well.

Through all of this CamMad did a good job not driving me too crazy. I must admit it was close when Child2 started on the whole knock-knock perseveration.

I'm starting the process of moving from the Red Sox to the Patriots. Last night have probably helped to speed up the process. Good thing the Patriots are playing tonight!

I will hopefully have another blog entry tonight to do a full recap of the day's events.

The Adrenaline Rush is Over

As Parent2 is enjoying Michigan the rest of us are having fun here at the homestead. Tonight it is becoming clear that the adrenaline rush is over. I think the kids are having a good time even though Parent2 is away. Today we stayed at home and went to visit the older generations this afternoon/early evening. We made it home from dinner in time for the Friday night Mickey Mouse Network Shows. Fortunately we were spared the worst of the Red Sox loss this afternoon. Hopefully we'll be sleeping through tonight's game.

Tonight we went out to dinner with Grammy and Aunt Gina at the 99. We had a great meal and the company was nice. I had the chance to have some adult talk time in a face to face manner. The stars of the show were still CamMad but what else is new. On our way out we ran into Child1's teachers, this year as well as last year. It made for an interesting site. The teachers were out for a social dinner and I don't think they were expecting to run into one of their students.

Funny story from yesterday, we went to the dollar store. Okay that wasn't the funny part. Anyway I decided to get headphones for work. At a $1 each I thought this would be a good price to pick up enough for the lab plus a few extra. Next thing I know I've picked up 40 headphone (I figure some of them will be duds). At the register I told the clerk how many I had and her response was, "I have to ring them in individually!" My response, "Oy!" It was funny to see CamMad and I carry the bags of headphones. The return on this investment will be a lot for my sanity.


Tomorrow's activities: Teacher Appreciation Day and a trip to Wally-World to finish back to school supply shopping.

A Sad Day for CamMad

It is a sad day here at the household. Parent2 just took off for Michigan to visit a cousin. Parent2 won't be home until Tuesday (unless a plane change occurs). CamMad were sad to see Parent2 off but right now they are holding it together. It is my job now to find activities to keep CamMad busy and their minds off of missing Parent2 (not an easy job)!

Before Parent2 took off each child had gotten some quality time but they still miss their Parent2. Dinner tonight focused on keeping the children calm as the take-off time closed. We had homemade pizza. The kids helped make the pizza. I think even Sheepish would have approved of how the pizza turned out.

Speaking of Sheepish, she will be coming over for her late Summer/early Fall visit next week and I've been given the dubious honor of planning the meal and cooking. Not too much pressure there. I haven't decided what's going to be on the menu. I'm willing to take suggestions for the blogging public.

Tomorrow is the only day that I haven't figured out what activity I can do with CamMad to keep them busy. We may be going to the local park, stay at home, or make our way out for an adventure.

The point of this posting, the next few days this blog will be used as a vent/processing tool as I deal with CamMad single-handed. Please do not pity me, as I'm not asking for it. I'm asking for kind thoughts and good weather!

I know I'm lucky

I know I'm lucky to have CamMad for my children. Today's story goes like this, I've been more of a night owl than a morning person during my summer hibernation. This morning CamMad woke up on the earlier side and Parent2 needed to get into work. I was woken up and started my morning routine but I was so tired I laid down on the loveseat and fell asleep. CamMad let me sleep and get the rest I needed to make it through the day.

On a side note, if you need someone to test drive a car to determine it's health then you should ask Sheepish. She is having some real car issues and unfortunately this seems to be an ongoing issue. If you sell some of the socks you could subsidize your next car.

Child1 and I will be huddled around the tv tomorrow night watching the first Pats game of the season. Child1 will be wearing the "new" Tom Brady jersey. In fact the final request tonight was to wear the jersey tonight and tomorrow but I had to be the only to say "no". With the way the Red Sox have been playing lately we may need to start really looking forward to the Pats season.

Until tomorrow...

The Errands Were Done, Kicking and Screaming

Follow up to yesterday's posting. We finally got the errands done. It took Parent2 to be home and the trip was not easy. It seemed like we had to drag CamMad into the store and hold over their head a dinner trip to 99. The ends justifed the means.

We're back

Actually we've been back since Saturday but tonight is the first time I've really felt like blogging. This time of the year is really hard for me because I'm still on hibernation but I know I need to get ready for reality. It is the educators purgatory!

Some of you got a special invitation to another site that is similar to this one. Let me set the record straight: this site will remain and the two are not duplicates of each other. The purpose of the other site is to let CamMad have their own family friendly space. This site will be more for the parents to boast, vent, commiserate, or just purge our souls. Now back to our regularly scheduled programming...

The last couple of days we've been transitioning back from our trek to Camden. It was great but habits that work in Camden don't work at home. It has been a bit of a struggle at times, Child2 has been dependent of us to go to sleep at night or Child1 expecting 100% of our attention (okay this one isn't really different based on the words but it is) but CamMad is getting back into the routine.

One thing that has annoyed me over the last couple of days as it has been the inability of getting tasks outside the house done. I've been alone handling the day to day business while Parent2 fulfills some work obligations and each day I've tried to get some errands done in a futile attempt to escape purgatory. This has not gone well due to naps, morning alertness, and CamMad's desire not to ride in the car. Some of you are probably saying one of two things "Whaaaaaannnnnnnhhhhh" or "Who is the parent here?" Let me take each of these on one at a time: "Whaaaaannnnnnhhhh"-I know that but I that's where I am right now. "Who is the parent here?"-I know I am but I'm not willing to sit in a car listening to whinning and complaining as limits are being set in a small confined area for the length of time it takes to get to civilization. If the errands were important I would be drawing the line in the sand but these errands are more like the first steps in getting back into a routine of balancing family time, work, and family obligations.

Okay I'm now off the self-pity train!

This summer Child2 has been taking gymnastic lessons through the town rec department. Child2 is not going to be an Olympian or even persue it as an sport but it is still fun watching the little one go through the paces. This week was the first time I've gone and watched Child2 practice on the tramp, walking the beam, and doing all of the rolls. It was a lot of fun watching Child2 get excited.

Child1 has been busy being a kid in the summer time. Being concerned about the educational development for Child1 we encourage reading and writing but we want Child1 to enjoy these great summer days while they are still here.

We've been told we need to make a road trip to NH and experience StoryLand. That was on my Summer-To-Do list but I look at the calendar and what we've got going on and wonder how we're going to fit it in. That may be a September weekend trip although September weekends have Apple picking and Pumpkin patches in our future so who knows.

Child1 and I have spent a little time talking about the fall. I'm not going to speak for Child1 but I'm very excited about football season getting started. Each year I've secured a special outfit for game days this year we're going for an upgrade. We are gonig to get the Youth jersey of Child1's favorite player, Tom Brady! I'm not sure we'll get it in time for the first preseason game (this Friday) but Child1 will be proudly wearing the jersey for the September 10th opener against the Bills. BTW, I'll be at the Jets game in November thanks to Parent2's cousin in RI who has season tickets.

Who knows what tomorrow will bring...maybe I'll get those errands done!