The last couple weeks...

I've grown tired of looking at the picture of zuchinni every time I bring up my blog and bet you are too.  When we finally settled in at home mid July, the weeds in our garden had taken over the plants we wanted produce from.  Don't know if you can tell, but outside the wooden border are all weeds!  Some produce has managed to survive and we'll still have a healthy crop of tomatos, but yikes!


Because of Eddie's rash, we had to cancel our original quickie trip to Ohio and instead go the following weekend.  Den and I were just so beat from travel that wasn't relaxing and the stress of a child who is not feeling well that we just wanted to sit and do nothing...except visit Swenson's of course.  Eddie is so proud to be helping to carry the leaf for the kitchen table.  We were in Ohio just over 24 hours and in that time must have experienced 3 intense t-storms.  The last one, which ultimately nailed our hometown, was so intense, it was like a blizzard--you literately couldn't see out the window the rain was coming so hard.  Somehow the kids slept through each one!  I am happy to report that Eddie is feeling much better and we have learned that he has some seriously sensitive skin that needs pampering. 

Back from Ohio and Den and I were off for our first ever full weekend away from both kids.  To state the record correctly, I had been away from Eddie one time at 17 months and then Den and I had an overnight or two before our 'big' 4/5 night trip to Puerto Rico the January before Josie was born.  Since she was born, we had been away 2 or 3 times for 1 night, or about 12 hours away and I went away once for 2 nights of scrapbooking.  So it was with great excitment that we looked forward to 2 whole mornings to sleep in as we attended the wedding of a friend.  Cookie stayed with the kids and they literately never once asked when we were coming home.  I'm used to them not wanting to talk with Den when he calls from out of town, so I wasn't bothered that they didn't want to talk to us, only amused that Cookie was so surprised at how well they did.  We were pressed for time in Philly between the weekend's schedule, but were so excited all the same to be kid free and get back to the hotel at 11 each night.  On the way home we made plans to bring the kids back...
I had been unable to decide which dress to wear and so brought shoes for each of the dresses, plus bought a new pair while we were there.  Den and I were amused with how much we managed to pack for what should have been a light packing trip.  He had 3 pair of shoes, which is highly unusual for him. I was torn between wanting to wear cute shoes and wanting to wear comfortable, 'I can walk a mile' shoes.  I hate packing so it is with dread that I prepare us to travel soon to a family reunion in Wisc.  It will be nice while we are there, but everything in between--ugh.  Not sure that even the kids will sit through 14-16 hours of videos after so many road trips this summer.  And there aren't enough stickers made to last that long.  I have got to come up with some other things to occupy their time in the car...any and all ideas welcome.  We usually pack a ton of books, and allow them to pick a couple things each they'd like to bring.