Ah...my weekend with Rob. We went to the beach on Sat. for a nice relaxing day in the water with the kids. Well, water & kids never seems to be a very relaxing combo. But it was fun. We were extra vigilant in keeping the kiddies from burning. They were constantly slathered with sunblock. We kept shirts on them at all times. We used the umbrella as much as possible. And...we were successful. The kids didn't burn at all. But, it seems that in all of effort to keep the kids from burning, we forgot about Robert. I don't think I've ever seen the shade of red that he is now sporting on his back. It kinda glows.

Sunday came and we knew it wasn't going to be pretty from the onset. Alaina woke up feeling sick. She did pretty well until she crammed that hot dog down at lunch. Strangely enough it always seems to be Robert who is holding the kids when they throw-up. He swore off P&J sandwiches after Austin covered him last year. Now he's sworn off hot dogs. About twenty minutes later she covered him again. We got everyone in the car and worked our way over to target to get some of the upset tummy standards: applesauce, bread, pedialyte, sparkling water. As we drove into the parking lot, Austin joined the throw-up club and drenched himself & his car seat. It wasn't pretty.

We rushed home to clean everyone up as soon as I got back to the car. Finally, we had everyone settled in pajamas and smelling nice. We were just about to start a movie when Ethan tripped and fell straight into the corner of a coffee table with his chin. The gouge was extremely deep and wide. At first, blood was going everywhere, but after a few minutes of pressure we got it to slow down. We threw everyone in the car and rushed over to the ER. The were going to glue it until they saw how deep it was, so they ended up going with stitches. They wanted to do 3 stitches but Ethan lost it when they tried to hold him down, so they only managed to do 2 stitches. (That boy gets very very wild when he is held down...and he is extremely strong).

We got everyone back to the hotel and eventually got the boys to sleep. Alaina, however, was awake the majority of the night, crying and whining with her upset stomach. This morning we rolled out of bed and I think that Robert was rather relieved to be going back to work. I decided to spend today in the hotel, to see if I can't get everyone healthy. It's been around 90 degrees outside everyday, so I don't think that would help the sick kids. It's only 10 and I'm already going a bit crazy...so we'll see how long I hold out.

So...that was our wonderful weekend with Rob. Can't wait until next weekend :)

Spending a week by myself with the kids in a small hotel room in Miami isn't all that's it's cracked up to be. In order to keep myself sane I've been spending the days taking the kids out to see the sights. All of them. And boy, are we tired! Here are a few pictures of our adventures.

The beach was probably one of my most intense days. Three non-swimmers who don't know that they can't swim is, to say the least, a challenge. I had all three in floating vests when we first ventured out. Those things are nice, but obviously no substitute for swimming abilities. I knew this going in and kept all three in arm's reach. Alaina spent the whole experience holding on to my neck with a death grip. Ethan would hop around around in front of me, but didn't dare move too far. Austin spent the first 1/2 trying to swim out to sea. About 15 min. in he escaped my hold on him and made a break for it. He only made it a couple steps away before the vest buoyed him up out of the water and on to his face. It only took me a few seconds to reach over and pull him back out, but I thought he would be scarred for life. The boy sputtered, wiping his face off and looked over to me. With this wild grin he proclaimed, "Mama! I was swimming!" Sure, if that is what you want to call it.

We went up to the beach, made a sand castle and before I knew it, the kids had become the darlings of the beach. They were adopted by 4 sweet Spanish girls (all pre-teens) and their mothers. The girls decided to give the kids swim lessons and took them up on the sand to practise the moves. They started with the butterfly...naturally. It was kind of funny watching the three keep their hands above their heads and wiggle their hips about. We all ended up a bit crisp, but it was a nice day over-all.

By the end of it all, I was definitely ready to have Robert for the weekend.

Miami - South Beach

My only thought was to get the three kids across the beach, down the block and into the car before the dark ominous thundercloud broke and

drenched us all. We'd been hearing thunder on and off in the distance all day, but this menacing cloud meant business. Austin was uncharacteristically in the front of the pack when we reached the top of the sand dune. South Beach, Miami was a different animal when we had first arrived this afternoon.

The crowds of overexposed 20 somethings (and many of those that, in fact, only dressed like they were in their 20's) that had innocently enough spent the afternoon blatantly ogling each other were now out on the prowl. Music blared from the beach side hotels. Police cars were in abundance. Drinks were out and the party had definitely already started. It was, after all, already 5 p.m.

Austin suddenly stopped, dug his heels into the sand and put both pudgy hands straight out in front of him and shouted, "STOP!" When I looked back to acknowledge him he looked deep into my eyes and proclaimed, "We...have...got...to...DANCE! NOW!" (cue broadway Singin' in the Rain prelude...gotta dance!) Despite the impeding storm, I humored him for a second. "Sure, go ahead. Show me your moves." With deliberate slowness, using the same tone I often use on him, he explained, "Not here mama. With the music!" I looked up and saw the rowdy, gyrating crowd on top of the nearest hotel. Yeah. That's not gonna happen.

We pulled our wide-eyed children pass the bar crowd, pass the dancing crowd, pass the convict in cuffs surrounded by police waiting for the police transport vehicle, (don't step on the criminal, sweeties...it's rude) pass the man who gestured us into some dark and unmarked building and finally to our car...just one block from the beach. It was only 5 o'clock for heaven sakes! As we drove out of the parking garage the first drops of rain started to pelt the windshield.

While Robert was off at work I took the kiddies to the Children's Museum of Miami. It was relatively problem free and the kids enjoyed getting out of the hotel. It had quite a few different types of exhibits (a whole section dedicated to the carnival cruise line. Gee...I wonder who paid for that wing of the building?) This biggest hit was the motorcycle that shook and sounded like you were really riding a hog. My boys were really into that.

Just a side note. The kids have a pretend Doctor's kit that they like to play with. For some reason, whenever Ethan is the doctor, they all refer to him as Dr. Bagel. It's pretty funny. (at least, I find it amusing.) So, voila...Dr. Bagel at work.

At the end of it all I took the kids to buy some groceries. That was a little more stressful. Austin had fallen dead asleep moments before I parked and refused to wake up. After 10 minutes in the frozen food section, yelling at Ethan and Alaina, in vain, not to gobble up the entire free fruit sample tray, he finally woke up. But he was wired. When we finally got to the narrow check out stand, I was a little beyond frazzled. The boys where in the front of the cart, Laina was in the cart and I was stuck behind. The check out girl started chatting with the boys as I unloaded the food. "Hi boys." "HI!" came the reply in unison. "What are your names?" "Ethan!." "I Au'tin" But that wasn't enough for Austin. "I go pee pee! I go pee pee in the Potty!" And before I knew it, the pants were down, the underwear was coming down, and he had pulled out his penis for a show and tell. WHAT?!

"SEE!" He proudly exclaimed. The next couple of seconds are a bit of a blur. I banged the cart around until I could squeeze through and lunge over to the mini-flasher. I pulled up the pants and looked up to a shocked check out girl and bagger. (come on...this is Miami...haven't you seen it all already?) I usually pull a stern face after naughty grocery store antics, just to prove that I am as disapproving as the rest of society of my children's behavior. After my crazy day, however, this was too much. I just started laughing. What do you say? Oops? Oh, his father is also a flasher...so, you know, just learning the trade.

Just think...We've only been in Miami for 3 days...I wonder what the next week and a half has in store for us.

A little off-color humor

While getting dressed after a bath Austin and I got into a brief discussion regarding the basic anatomical differences between boys and girls. Or more specifically, Austin & Alaina. After stating the 2 most basic and obvious differences, Austin blurted out, "I no have a peanut! I have a banana!"

Seriously? It starts this early?

Summer Days are here!

And one more for Lainy. After lunch Robert got out the leftover b-day cake to munch on. Alainahad insisted on sitting on my lap, and so our bowls were rather close together. The temptation to snack on my piece of cake was proving too much for Laina to take and she kept trying to snag bits and pieces. Robert was stern with her and told her not to touch my cake. She responded, "No...I don't take mama's anything! I'm just thinking about it. " Apparently she doesn't know that some things are better left unsaid.