The Loooooonnnggggg Summer.

According to my Facebook page, today is national "kids go back to school day." I think 200 or so of my friends must have posted pictures, today, of their adorable little munchkins, dressed in their back to school best. I have two words for these people... I'm Jealous. For real. We must have missed the memo, because my Little Man doesn't go back to school for THREE MORE WEEKS. Gah.

It's not like I don't love having my kid(s) around, it's just that there comes a time when Summer must end, and I'm pretty sure that time is NOW. For me, it feels like we were in the jungle in Costa Rica some two years ago, and I'm pretty sure my kids have graduated since then, and are now off to college. Okay, that last part was a little dramatic, but I must admit that I'm having some difficulty thinking of ways to stimulate and engage a 1 and 5 year old... at the same time. The two kids are in opposite spectrums when it comes to play. Other than the park (which must have me on a time clock by now) and the wading pool/ library circuit, I am slowly running out of ways to keep everyone happy, and not drink all day. I kid about the last part, of course ;). I would love to have play dates with other kids, but you know what? Those kids are all in school or are still on vacation! grrr.

Ah, well, it's three more weeks, and I've come up with a few creative solutions to get get us through. This week the LM's skate instructor is back in town, and I've offered up my room (while my hubby is away) so he and the LM can get in some quality shredding, while Gray gets in some quality napping. Also, in two weeks my hubby and I are sneaking of to NOLA (a place I've been dying to go to FOREVER) and so long as hurricane Isaac treads gently, the kiddies will be able to finish off the longest Summer ever with their amazing grandparents, while I finish of a cold glass of wine on the bayou.

  

I saw this card and it had me rolling on the floor. This is for all of you parents/ caretakers out there who still have a few weeks of Summer left. May the force be with you.

High Five!

Happy 5th birthday to my Little Man, the love of my life.* You are the rock in my roll, the cream in my coffee, the PB to my J. For the past 5 years you have brought more joy to my life than I ever knew was even possible, and I can only dream of the adventures that we have in store over the next 5. You are the best son and brother that we could ever ask for, and the coolest"dude" I have ever met. Your smile and sprit is so contagious, and you have a unique ability to make everyone love you, just by being you. I am so happy to be your momma, and so blessed to have been able to watch you grow every day. I wish you nothing but love and laughter and happiness. Oh, and maybe, just maybe, you could stop growing so fast. Pretty please?

*(along with Daddy and Gracie of course ;))

The Boys and Me.

Here are a few of the things that I are currently loving and some that I am coveting for Fall, for the boys and me.

ONE/ polka Dots are HUGE for fall, and this sweater is the perfect way to rock this trend  TWO/ neon cap toe Sheirs for Gray (need I say more?)  THREE/  i want these jeans so badly (but they really are the last thing I need) so I will just dream of them from afar  FOUR/ this blouse is pure perfection, from one of my new favorite brands, Equipment  FIVE/ these are the only pants my LM will wear and they fit so perfectly, even better, they now come in blue and red!  SIX/ is there anything better than a crisp pair of pajamas? these in navy and white are my new favorite thing to come home to  SEVEN/ my friend J turned me on to this croc like shoe. with a closed toe, and a waterproof finish, these shoes are the only thing that my boys will be wearing in the summer  EIGHT/ hands down, my number one pick for fall, this bootie stylishly goes from school drop off to a night out with the girls... and all the miles in-between (love!!!!)

What is on your fall shopping list? Do tell!!!

The Time I Went To New York and Got a Tattoo.

I'm getting older. You know how I know? Well, last weekend I embarked on a fabulously, ridiculously, awesome trip to NYC to visit my SIL with my little Sis, only to hop a train back to meet my girlfriends for the most amazing Coldplay show EVER, here in Boston. In short, the weekend was three non-stop days of eating, drinking, dancing (think Beyonce in her Crazy In Love video, which what was going on in my head... not so sure if my body was follow suit.) The whole weekend was perfect. 

And I'm still recovering. 

THREE DAYS LATER.

 Last night I told my hubby that I must be sick/ getting sick, because there is no hangover in the world that lasts THREE days!!! He said, no, I'm not sick.... I'm just getting old. 

Damn... that's some hard truth right there.

You know how I know I'm not that old? Because I got a tattoo while I was in the big apple!!!!! It's something I've been dying to do for a while, and while it wasn't exactly impulsive (I knew the design I wanted) the idea hit me when we were an hour from the city, and I made the appointment then and there! My reasoning was, when am I going to have a few hours to myself with absolutely NOTHING to do, and the ability to get a few cocktails after to dull the pain? Plus, I've seen enough episodes of NY Ink, Saturday nights with my hubby, to know that if you want a tattoo... New York is the place to get it done. 

So I did it!

Here is the inspiration.

And the final result. Please pardon the scabbing (ewwww) While it is pretty noticeable with my shoes off, or in sandals, I strategically chose this spot, because when wearing ballet flats or heels, it totally disappears. I was a bit worried what my husband would say... I waited until I got home to tell him, but he was not so surprisingly cool about it, and secretly I think that he thinks it's a little hot!!! Win, win.

 

So, back to the recovery. Seriously, can one be tired/ hungover for three days? God, I hope not... because if this is any indication of what happens when you let loose for more than 24 hours, I'm not sure this old gal can handle it any more.... at least until next year!

Here is what we did for those of you looking for some cool places in New York, I recommend them all! The first night we were in town we went for drinks here, and dinner here. Brunch the next day was here, followed by drinks here, and here, and dinner here. Copius amounts of dancing was done here, and we spent the night (err early morning hours) here. 

Oh, and about Coldplay. If you have a chance to see them YOU HAVE TO GO! I've seen them outside, and now, indoors, and both times they were magical. Chris Martin is the true definition of a rock star. Swoon.

So that's where I've been. Not dying, but not quite alive. I'm off now to drink my 1,000,000,000 glass of water since I've been home. Here is a PSA for you all:

Alcohol = bad.

Scenes From a Birthday Party.

Baby Gray,* successfully turned one on Monday, and to celebrate we had a small party to commemorate his first year. As a treat, Grandma flew in to town, and his favorite auntie was there, along with a few of the neighborhood kids. Gray opened a few gifts, destroyed a cupcake, and spent the better part of the hour trying to figure out why everyone kept singing to him, and taking his picture. In short, it was like any other first birthday. A few tears were shed (mostly by the LM when someone else attempted to blow out Gray's candles) and just like this first year, it was over in a blink of an eye. After Gray went to bed, the grownups stayed for our first barbecue, and we toasted to the little guy with the big smile. 

 
* Now that he's one, can I still refer to him as a baby? "Toddler Gray" just doesn't have the same ring to it... maybe when he's 30 he can stop being the baby? Maybe...

Baby Boy Is 1!!!!!!!

Happy happy birthday to the silliest/ smiliest/ LOUDEST/ sweetest/ craziest/ fattest/ cuddliest boy there ever was. You have brought so much joy into all of our lives, and it's amazing to think that there was a time when your toothy smile wasn't the first thing we saw every morning. This year has gone by in a blink of an eye, and I wish every day that there was a way to stop time, because I know that soon you are going to loose that baby fat, and the next thing I know you are probably going to be 5 going on 16... just like your big brother. I suppose that's okay too, just so long as you promise to still cuddle with your mommy, while sucking your thumb, saying "ma ma ma ma ma ma" all day long. Your family loves you more than you know, and we can't wait to see the little boy you are going to become over the next year.

We love you to pieces-

Nada Mucho.

  I wish I had more to report from down here (or "the face of the sun" as I now call it) but, heading in to week three of our vacation (or trip as I now call it, because really, entertaining two kids all day in the middle of the jungle is a little more work than it is relaxing) we have found ourselves in a pattern where every day is the same, and we have pretty much adjusted to the slow pace of life. Overall are having a great time. 

I can't say, though, that we haven't had our ups and downs. Gray is STILL working on those top two back molars (to match the bottom two that poked through at the beginning of our trip) and the pain + the lack of constant stimulation makes him a bit more crabby than usual. Sometimes a LOT more crabby than usual. Then there is the family time. Family time is awesome. I feel like in a few years we will look back on this time and be so grateful that we were all able to spend an entire month together, completely uninterrupted. No work, no T.V., no obligations... no distractions. It really has been a gift for all of us. That being said, a month is a LONG time to be with your family with no distractions. Seriously. My husband said to me the other night, that he's not sure if people were meant to spend this much time together. Especially people who know how to push every single button on each other. I call it Survivor, Family Edition. I'm pretty sure we will all make it home in one piece, but that's not to say it hasn't been touch and go here and there ;) Thursday, marks 3 weeks since we've been here, and I'm sure during our final days we will again be back in sync, reveling in the beauty of this country, and dreading life back in the city (which from what I've heard is also as hot as the face of the sun.)

I already know the things I am going to remember the most about this trip: Watching the LM pop up on his first wave. Biking down the beach with baby Gray holding on to the back of my shirt. Eating fresh mango's from the tree. Drinking beers with my sister, with our toes in the sand, watching the sun set. Playing Marco Polo with a kid who doesn't understand the concept of keeping his eyes closed in the water...or hiding. Huddling around the laptop, watching Breaking Bad,  (sooooo good) with my hubby and my sis, after the kids have gone to bed. The 10 minutes I spend curled up in Gray's pack and play, yesterday, right after he woke up from his nap. Everyone else had gone ahead to breakfast, and for a period of time I was able to just lay still, next to him, while he sucked his thumb. 

These are the moments that don't exist in our "real" lives. These are the things that get lost in the shuffle. These are the moments that I will remember 10 years from now, when I look at my teenagers and wonder where the time went.

At least this is what I keep telling myself, my mantra, especially on days when we are at each others throats. I'm pretty sure 5 people weren't ment to spend this much time alone together, but I feel very blessed that we were able to do so.