Our trip to D.C. and a few random kid pics

We really had a great time in D.C. Chris attended the Inc. 500/5000 conference and awards gala with the President and VP of the company he works for. I was lucky to get an invite to tag along. We stayed across the street at the Marriott and I spent a lot of time in the comfy bed and my PJ's! I spent the mornings attending entrepreneur sessions and the afternoons watching my soaps in bed. It was pure bliss. I missed the kids a lot, but it was nice to only have to worry about myself. It took a couple of days to adjust once we got there and then another couple of days to readjust once we got back!!

The black-tie gala was great. I only wish I could have drank with a million open bar events and a champagne reception before the awards gala. It's funny how much you miss something only because you can't do it! I'm not much of a drinker usually!

I had one epiphany about entrepreneurs... some are just arrogant a-holes while others just consider their good fortune a stroke of luck, even though they possess the same charisma and business sense the a-holes have... the second type are far more likable. Here are some random pictures from our trip:

Outside the Gaylord National (Conference Headquarters)

Inside the Gaylord Atrium where there are shops and restaurants

Charlie at the doctor's before we left.

Charlie enjoying our new stroller.

Ellie at the park after school.

Charlie enjoying a cracker.

Lunch at the park!

#3

The best stroller ever invented. EVER!

Lounging around during our trip through Target.

Oh, we're back to our vacation... this is where we had lunch.

The pier.

Oh and there is the Mercedes that we didn't win!

Special thanks to Gramma and Papa for coming to stay with the kids. They had a great time and Chris and I could only enjoy ourselves knowing that the kids could care less that we were gone!

A few random updates

Magoo is doing fabulous on the potty... no accidents in about a week now. We are through all of her surprises and she's still keeping up with it so I'm happy. She is thoroughly enjoying school.

Bubba is standing up on things now. It's really cute. He falls sometimes, but most of the time it doesn't even phase him. He is cutting another bottom tooth. He had his LAST Urology appointment today. He right kidney is perfect and his left kidney is a little large, but nothing the doctor is concerned about. No more visits with them unless he gets a urinary tract infection or something. Woo hoo!

Hubby and I are leaving for Washington D.C. in a few hours. The kids are staying here with my wonderful in-laws for the next few days. I have never left them for more than a night so I'm nervous... not nervous exactly... I guess I can't explain it. I know they will have a ton of fun with the grandparents and I know the 'rents will take great care of them. It's just going to be weird being without them for so long.

Why D.C. you are wondering? Well, the company Chris is working for has made it on the Inc. 500/5000 list. FIG placed #574 on the list and is #8 in the education industry! It's a wonderful honor and they are going to treat us like rock stars while we're there for the conference and awards gala... I am certainly looking forward to a few nights of uninterrupted sleep and not having to wake up at any specific time, but I'm REALLY excited for the crab bake and black tie awards gala. Of course they are having a champagne reception and I'm totally pregnant... but whatever. Maybe they'll make the list again next year and then I can enjoy myself a little bit too much :)

I am aware that I have been seriously lacking in the pictures department. I'll do better when I'm back from vacation!

The way to a little girl's heart

Magoo has been doing great at school. As soon as she gets home she morphs into her evil twin... but I'd much rather her act like that here than at school. Yesterday while she was at school, Bubba and I took a trip to Walmart. It's the cheapest place around here to get apple juice. I was very excited to find a light up Cinderella princess dress and coat that Ellie can use on Halloween, on clearance no less! Along with that I got her a Cinderella tiara, princess undies, and a Cinderella pajama set.

So what does a mother do with all things Cinderella? Hold them over their three-and-a-half year-old's head of course. I'm being mean. I'm using them as surprises to get her to stay dry all day. I showed her every item and with each new one I took out of the bag her squeals of delight became louder... then I broke the news to her that she couldn't get them until she stayed dry all day, and that she could only get them one at a time. You should have seen her face. It was like the end of the world!

I'll let you know if it works!

She was ready...

She was ready... Last night she picked out her "first day of school" outfit and left it in the bathroom so she could get up and change all by herself.


She was ready... She slept in her bed all night (first time since our trip to CHB), woke up this morning, and got dressed and ready for school.


She was ready... We got in the car and she clapped the entire way to school saying how excited she was for school today.


She was ready... At 8:45 a.m. she lined up outside of her classroom and barely took the time to yell "bye" to me over her shoulder before rushing into her school.



I was not... As soon as we turned onto our street I burst into tears.

Happy first day of preschool Curly Cue Magoo... Mommy is so proud of you!