Five on Friday- Weekend activities.

It's Friday! Here's what I'm doing this weekend.

1- Tonight we're picking up Mr. Pink's cousin's daughter and taking her to dinner with the minis. She's a freshman at NC State. The kids love her. We love that she can babysit now that's she's so close.

2- Going to pilates in the morning. I love the Saturday class. It's a little more advanced.

3- Going to a cub scout blue and gold banquet tomorrow afternoon/night. Mr. Pink (den leader)and mini#1 have to make a cake together for a contest. They've had some good ideas in the past!

4- After the banquet, going to a ladies' night/home catalog party at a neighbor's house. I feel like I haven't seen some of these women in a long time since no more book club or play group for us.

5- Going to see Biutiful on Sunday afternoon with friend. One last Oscar movie viewing before the big night!! Hear it's sad though.

What are your plans??

Day trip

Since the weather was so unusually warm this weekend, we decided to head to the beach for the day yesterday. The closest beach is just over 2 hours away so it's always a fun day trip. We got there in time for lunch on the waterway. Crab cake sandwiches! Then off to the beach to play in the sand. It was so strange seeing people in bathing suits in February! It was 75 degrees, but breezy on the beach. We wore layers and took them off if desired. I didn't desire! I read some. Mini#2 threw football with Mr. Pink. Mini#1 collected shells. Then we all played hot potato with the football. It was a great day. And then back home to our own beds. Perfect!

Mini#2 showing where he lost his first tooth last week!

Tuesday Thoughts

...this very minute mini#1 ( 9 1/2) is dancing in the back yard with friends. We videotaped them through the blinds on Sunday. So cute! They put the cd player on the back deck and then dance in the yard or in the playset like they're on a stage. Justin Bieber, watch out.

...I really want to figure out why mini#2 has to strip from waist down (and sometimes naked) in order to do #2 on the potty. As hard as I try to get him to keep his pants/shoes/socks on, HE WON'T! I often hope that he doesn't ever have to go #2 at school.

...The Bachelor last night. FINALLY, Michelle is gone and not too graciously I might add. She's crazy. That SI photo shoot on the beach was steamy wasn't it??? Next week they go to my hometown, Charlotte, for Emily's hometown date.

...Going to be 75 degrees on Friday. Yea!

...getting my hair done tomorrow. CANNOT WAIT.

Enough. Boring myself.

A date and a celebrity sighting

Happy Valentine's Day! Mr. Pink and I got a sitter and went out to dinner in Raleigh on Saturday night. It's nice to dress up and have a conversation without being interrupted by children. I had excellent grilled sea bass and Mr. Pink had seafood and grits. He shared a sea scallop with me and it melted in my mouth! For dessert I had chocolate bread pudding with butter pecan ice cream and caramel sauce. So decadent!

The flowers on our table.

The menu.

The celebrity sighting. Anyone watch The Biggest Loser when Raleigh residents Ed and Heba were on it? I happened to be looking out the window of the restaurant when I saw Ed with another guy. Then I saw Heba and another woman ahead of them walking into the sushi restaurant next to our restaurant. A double date. And, sadly, Ed looked like he'd put some weight back on. I liked him on the show. I like this show period. Inspiring.

What did or are you doing for Valentine's Day?

I can relax.

Sometimes it's tough being a mom. Especially when a 5 year old cuts you no slack. This little item pictured has been a topic of conversation for 2 weeks. Apparently EVERYONE in kindergarten, except mini#2, has this. It's hand sanitizer. Not just any hand sanitizer either. Trust me as I learned the hard way.

For two weeks I have been on a quest to secure this prized possession. It started out casually after the mini gave me a brief description of what he wanted (or needed desperately is more like it). Therein lies the problem. HIS DESCRIPTION. He had described a 5-6 inch bottle with "beads" inside and with a case.

I searched at Target and Wal-mart while running errands. No luck and I was being pestered by the mini NIGHTLY. He was quickly losing patience with his mom. One afternoon he came home, disappointed in me yet again, and huffily provided another hint: "No, it's at Walgreen's." So I looked there and no luck...though I thought I was closer to finding it there because one brand was sold out so I assumed that MUST BE IT! I had hope, as false as it was.

So this week I moved on to looking at 2 more Walgreen's and threw in a stop at CVS and RITE-AID solely with the intent of finding this kindergarten gold. I was ready to accept defeat and almost in tears as I typed an email to the teacher yesterday begging her to tell me what the heck this stuff was and where could I find it as I've been all over town and mini#2 was not letting me sleep at night. FINALLY, I had an adult answer: "Mrs. Pink, that's so funny. You get it at Bath and Body. The cases are 50 cents." I was prepared with an answer for mini#2 that I thought he would accept when he got home yesterday. He wanted to go to the mall that minute, but I bought myself some time by promising to get it today. He wanted me to squeeze a mall visit in between muscle class that ended at 10:30 and 11:15 when I had to be showered and in his classroom to read 3 books to the lovelies as I was guest reader (THAT I can handle no problem). I told him it was impossible, but he would have it in his hands when I arrived to pick him up at carpool. He looked at me apprehensively, but agreed to my terms. Today at 11:15 I read those 3 books as he lovingly smiled up at his mother from his front row carpet seat. Only he and I knew what was really behind that smile, "Lady, the hand sanitizer better be in my possession by 2:45 or ELSE!"

I drove to the mall taking deep breaths and almost ran to Bath and Body. There, at the checkout and on an entire display table, was all the glorious hand sanitizer and cases I could ever want to buy for my precious yet demanding kindergartner. I think I had tears of joy on my face as I paid for this item that had been alluding me for 2 weeks. And, for the record, the bottles are 2-2 1/2 inches high- NOT 5-6 inches as mini advised using his hands to demonstrate!

I was extra excited (because aren't we always excited about carpool?) at carpool time. I placed the golden prize on his car seat and he opened the door, first looking at me, and then his seat where he broke out into a huge smile. "YOU GOT IT!" Of course I did I thought to myself. Why had I ever doubted my mommy abilities? Tonight I shall sleep like a baby.....putting this all behind me.

Monday

Random Monday.

1- This morning's cardio muscle class just about killed me. Instructor said she ate so much junk for Super Bowl so she was sorry she was punishing us in return.

2- Am I one of the few people that actually liked the BEP's halftime show during Super Bowl? I mean limited set up time, limited performance time and then limited tear down time. They do the best they can, but I admit the sound was kind of rough...especially when Usher performed. Nonetheless the minis and I danced like crazy while Mr. Pink sat and shook his head at us.

3- Cannot wait for The Bachelor tonight. That Michelle chick is crazy... Love Emily and Shantal the best.

4- Got a cool Valentine's gift for mini#2 today. It's a practice skateboard and cd you use inside. No wheels. Helps him learn some moves without wheels first. He got a skateboard from Santa, but pads and all, it still scares me a little bit.

5-Watched family videos on Saturday with the kids. From time of birth through their first year for both. We had not watched these in a long time. We all loved it. Reminded us of our house and time in Atlanta and let me, temporarily, have my babies again. I shed a few tears. Time goes so quickly. So glad we captured precious infant memories on video. Such a treasure.

What are you thinking?

Have you heard the story of the woman in Tampa, FL? Last Thursday she shot and killed her 13 yr old son on the way to soccer practice and then went home and killed her 16 yr old daughter while she sat at her computer doing homework. Her excuse: "they were mouthy."

As a mother you get frustrated. You go a little crazy some days. You blog to stay sane. You sometimes imagine being somewhere else- temporarily, but how does anyone ever get to the point that they go buy a gun and plan to kill their children (notes discovered in the house)? I know there are reports of alcohol and drug abuse and the dad is, apparently, stationed overseas so not around, but still. I cannot comprehend ever harming or killing one of my children...I carried them for nine months. I got up in the middle of the night over and over. My breasts will never be the same again! But, I smile so many times a day because of them. They are so innocent and I love seeing things through their eyes as they learn something new each day. My biggest fear is something happening to one of them. It's just gut wrenching to hear these stories. And I know addictions are the greatest evils (I watch Intervention religiously!), but, as a mother, I do not understand this woman's decision.

What are you thinking about all of this?

And, to end on a lighter note, mini#2 asked me yesterday, "Mom, was I born(alive) in 1801?" Cracked me up.......