B is for Birthday

Last Sunday was my birthday and I spent the weekend welcoming in a new year ... apparently with things that start with "B." I had brunch, banana splits, and bike rides. I can't complain ... it's better than a weekend filled with birds and bridges ....

The birthday weekend started out on Saturday with brunch with two of my college roommates (Nancy and Linda), my sister, and Linda's little newborn, Hugo. I did not hate getting to hold a sweet baby so his mama could eat her food with two hands. He was completely delicious. As was our food. It's over a week later and I'm still thinking about the Eggs Benedict that I split with my sister (so we could also split a goat cheese and veggie omelet. We were all about quality and quantity!).

Later that afternoon, we decided to try out a family bike ride. Declan balked at using the third wheel bike that attaches to Mike's and insisted on riding his own bike. He quickly learned how hard he has to work to make a 12 inch bike go anywhere. I'm pretty sure I coasted most of the way while the dude pedaled as hard as he could. He managed to get a second wind on our way home ... when we all got pulled over by one of S-town's finest. He spotted us all wearing our helmets, waved us over, and gave each of the kids a "ticket" for free ice cream at Dairy Queen. What an awesome way to have bike safety reinforced by someone other than Mike or me!

Birthday proper started off with me tightening my running shoes and heading out for a run. I was feeling really good about myself ... my first mile was about 40 seconds faster than normal, I went farther than usual, and it was just a good run. Then, as I walked around our block to cool down, I stepped weird and tweaked my hip. It was fine again in less than 10 steps. But it was hilarious and humbling.

While my kids are clearly not destined for a life in espionage (and I watch all the spy movies, so I would know), they organized and threw me the sweetest "surprise" party in their bedroom - complete with toys wrapped in their blankets, a tea party, Yahtzee, and a makeovers station. It was just the best!

Once we cleaned up the party, we loaded up for the second day in a row and headed out on our bikes. However, this time, Dec was all over the third wheel option. We biked to the park, to Dairy Queen, and home ... a total of 3 miles. And four out of five Vannestes powered their own bikes. It was so much fun!

The kids decided a couple weeks ago that they wanted to take me out for a banana split for my birthday. I'm pretty sure it was because they've never had one and it sounded intriguing. So we got one banana split and five spoons - and a smoothie as well. They liked the split, but decided it was like a big sundae with bananas in it. We told them that was pretty much what it was! But the best part was when the kids dared Mike to finish the smoothie - and although he is prone to brain freeze, he took the challenge. When he then (not unexpectedly) got an ice cream headache, we all laughed and laughed.

All things told, it was a pretty good way to start another spin around the sun

Mike Does Good Things

Mike’s job at the theatre is still going well. He’s been there about six months and is both enjoying it and feeling like he is making an impact. About a month ago, he sent me a text to tell me that he was awarded Employee of the Month for June. Apparently he set a new record [correction from my editor: “knocked the old record out of the park”] for achieving that in five months of employment. I asked him what took so long …

In addition to having his photo up for the month in the lobby (you guys, SO GREAT), he got four tickets for the VIP table to see Newsies. So we cornered Brad and Cheryl, found a date that we didn’t have plans and Brad wasn’t on call, lined up sitters for SIX children, managed to have ten people be healthy, and had what we think is our first adult date night together since the children were born. It’s embarrassing to say … but you can also see how many stars have to align to get the four of us out together. Luckily, our kids like each other so we have had lots of time together with children.

We had a minor hiccup when our original babysitter (Auntie) got herself a case of the plague and was quarantined to her house. We love her … but we told her we didn’t want her germs. However, it provided the perfect reason for Gma and Gpa N to make the trek down for the weekend. We haven’t seen them forever and everyone was pumped that they were coming! Let me tell you … those small Vs didn’t notice we were gone!

We met B&C at the theatre bar a little before the doors opened for a couple beverages, then headed in for a lovely, leisurely dinner where we got to eat our own food and not cut up anyone else’s … We splurged with an app, desserts, and more beverages. I think I’m just getting over being full from it. A week and a half later.

The show was awesome and the whole time, I was thinking 1) I’m so glad I get to go again with the girls and 2) it’s criminal that Dec is “too young” to go because he will love it the most. Mike is working on #2 and may see if he can sneak him into a matinee someday. We visited a little more after the show and finished off the last of our beverages before deciding it was probably best to let the grandparents off the hook.

Brad told Mike to “do more good things” so we can get another date night soon. I wonder what the record is for time to second award …

Oh – and big news from the homefront while we were out, Fiona pulled out tooth number 8. Thank goodness the tooth fairy was still able to get us in to her nightly rounds. She was so excited to show us her quarters and her (fourth) hole in her smile in the morning.

So Much Fun for the Four Year Old

While we were all disappointed with the road closure to the cabin, we changed up the pace, tried out a couple different lakes, and made the most of our final days in GR.

On Friday, we headed out to see my friend Bryan at his parents’ house – as we are known to do over the holiday. They have a lovely beach and the bay felt super warm compared to the water at the cabin. Mike demonstrated his skills on the paddleboard with three passengers and also showed that I brought four kids ... as he had most of the crew giggling out on the swim raft. They would run around in circles and try to push him off. Dec and Quinn liked it less when they fell off instead of Mike, but they continued to climb back on. Clearly didn’t mind it that much!

Despite Bry’s mom literally sweetening the deal with s’mores, the three unanimously decided they were beat and wanted to head back to Gma and Gpa’s. They graciously thanked our hosts and told Bryan’s niece and nephew that they’d see them again next year at the beach (I love that!). When people want to leave, but leave with manners, I can’t complain.

After a late lunch and a little down time, we checked out the game Gpa and Mike were playing in the yard – Kubb. Fun fact about Kubb: you have to pay attention or your shin will get hit by a flying dowel. Just ask Auntie. Quinn, Dec, and Mike challenged Grandpa and me. We had a good time and the kids had some success in the game.

I don’t know if anyone knows how it started … but next up were time trial races around the house. Yep. You read that right. On a super hot and humid day, we spent the next hour timing each other running around my parents’ house. The contenders were all three kids, Mike, me, and my dad. It was ridiculous and completely awesome.

Quinn is fast. Quinn knows she is fast. And Quinn is competitive. So when Mike beat her time, I’m pretty sure she ran around the house about 400 more times trying to beat him. She never did. But she’s really close! What blew her mind most was that Fiona was the ultimate speed champ. Mike may or may not have shown her a shortcut through the garage … but that is neither here nor there. The family record shows Fiona as the victor!

We were super hot and sweaty after all that racing, so we grabbed our suits one more time and met Auntie at the boat launch by my parents’ house. There’s a little area that’s perfect for swimming. We were probably only there about 45 minutes, but it was just the way to cool down and get our lake fix for the afternoon.

After dinner, Mike, my dad, and my sister headed out for some evening fishing. The kids, Gma, and I had a fire in the yard, made s’mores, and enjoyed a visit from Auntie Tracey! Unsurprisingly, bedtime was quiet that night.

On Saturday, the kids played nicely together while we got all packed up. We ate a quick lunch and headed to the Children’s Museum to run off some energy before the drive home. Then the ride home was … eventful. About an hour in, Dec threw up all over the back seat. We got him (and it) cleaned up as best we could and he dozed on and off for the next hour. When we stopped for dinner, he was not interested and preferred to just snuggle with me.

He dozed on and off most of the way home too … until he threw up one more time. When we were honestly four minutes from home. So he just sat in it until we got home, where I stripped in him the driveway and popped him in the tub. All he wanted to do was go to bed. So that’s what we did. And the next morning, he was totally fine. I think it was a combination of sheer overtired and car sick. The girls were champs while Mike unloaded the car and hosed it down (so much for that detailing). 

Despite the inauspicious end, we had a great holiday and thoroughly enjoyed the family time together. Mike and I are fans of entry into the “big kid years.”

Another Perfect Day at the Lake

Where's Milo ...?

Thursday morning looked a lot like Wednesday morning ... minus the triple plan change before noon. We got up, I went for a run, we wore clothes for about 10 minutes, and then we put on our swimsuits and headed back up to the cabin. It was another lovely, sunny day - although the wind was a bit brisker and therefore the water felt colder. Don't worry - that didn't stop us!

We splashed around for a few hours, and Mike made his inaugural swim across the bay and back with Em and me. The kids were very impressed with him and it was fun to have him join in one of my favorite parts of the lake.

Otto and Declan made up a new game ... pool noodle sword fighting. It was sure to induce fits of giggles and, thankfully, no injuries. There was some really solid teamwork across the board and we managed to polish off the leftover desserts (and other, healthier food too) from the day before.

The pontoon felt more cooperative as well and we took a ride over to the "nude" beach. It's actually the "new" beach ... but toddler-isms are far funnier! My dad had brought his boat up too, so Mike and Fiona tubed back from the beach. Fiona loved being in the tube and I could hear her happy shrieks from across the lake.

We got back to the cabin to find Brenda and two of her grandkids (who are the same ages as the girls). The kids loved having new friends to play with and Leighton enjoyed the kayaks and a ride in the tube. I was happy to narrowly avoid making a mid-bay kayak rescue of him!

Around 4:30, we begrudgingly pulled ourselves out of the lake and headed back to town. It was hard to leave, but we made a game plan with Anna and Liv to meet up there again the next day. When we got back to Gma and Gpa's, I ran each of the kids - and then myself - through the shower. Two days of lake and sweat was starting to get "special" looking.

After we put the kids to bed, Mike, my sister, and I headed out to the VFW. My friend Mike was performing at open mic night and I wanted to see him. There were a few other classmates of mine out as well (our 20 year reunion was later that weekend - but I didn't go as we were heading home). It was fun to visit with a couple of them whom I was closer to ... and mildly awkward to chat with the others. I wasn't terribly sad that I didn't go to the reunion. I'm not great at small talk and it makes me anxious.

Mike did a great job, as always, and even humored me with an acoustic version of Achy Breaky Heart. Nothing says late-90s graduate like a little Billy Ray Cyrus! The only bummer of the evening was that we got a text that the road to the cabin was being closed the next morning at 7am for several weeks (they are redoing the road). We made a new plan for the next day and are crossing our fingers that the road is open again before we head back up in August

The Fourth In Photos

There were just too many photos of the Fourth to fit them all in one post. So ... here's a few more of our amazing day at the cabin. Coming soon to a blog near you, photos of us at the cabin on the fifth of July ... which are toooootally different. As you can see, it was a great day!