Long Weekend Away

Flirt
Originally uploaded by Mainline Mom

Yesterday we drove upstate to my inlaws' for the weekend. Since this weekend marks the start of summer, it's time to get their riverside campsite ready for use every weekend from now till Labor Day. Time to put the boatdocks in and clean out the cobwebs in the outhouse, sweet the pavillion and plug in the fridge. Let the barbequeing and cardplaying commence. The weather today is perfect for it.

Also today I have another photo shoot of the twins for some more senior pictures. Maybe we can find some cool locations. Should be interesting.

Interesting Week

Camera Mug
Originally uploaded by Mainline Mom

...so far. Tuesday Nathan got sent home from school with a fever. After some Tylenol he seemed just fine. I went to a great asian fusion restaurant with some friends in King of Prussia.

Wednesday I asked my mom to watch the kids while I attended my last MOPS meeting, since Nathan had been feverish. She drove her husband's pickup truck to my house so she could take home our snowblower (which we won't need in Houston) and my dollhouse (which I was saving in case I had a girl). Unfortunately she got a ticket for speeding, and found out the truck was out of inspection since October.

The MOPS meeting was good, and my group gave me a nice card with a $50 giftcard. Awesome considering I wasn't so great at planning stuff for all of us. My coordinator also gave me a gift certificate for a manicure, the perfect gift for me. I never get my nails done but always want to, so now I HAVE to. Also everyone got a big butterfly bush, great for my new gardening kick. So I needed to make several trips to the car with all my stuff, and after one trip I shoved my keys in my jeans pocket and left the purse in the car. On the next trip I discovered my keys were missing. I spent the next 30 minutes searching desperately for them, then gave up and got a ride home with my neighbor.

One of my close friends knew I had lost my keys, and found them shortly after I had left. She checked to make sure they started my car and called me, then she even went out of her way to drop them off to me. Then a couple hours later my neighbor drove me BACK to the church to pick up my car. Craziness. In the meantime my mom and I planted a flat of impatients, a very appropriate flower for MY garden.

Nathan spiked another fever and complained his throat hurt, so I took him to the doctor to check for strep. Of course, no strep and a waste of $15. Poor kid.

Then after we put the kids to bed I went to Target and JCPenney's and I think I finally ended my loooooongtime quest for curtains for my dining room and living room. The naked windows were better for my photo studio, but not good for selling a house, especially when the walls and trim are all white. It didn't help that I'm super cheap and spending $400+ on curtains seems like such a waste. Unless our buyer REALLY wants them, they're coming with us! I'll take pictures when I get them up, because I think they are pretty cool.

Progress

Wide Eyed
Originally uploaded by Mainline Mom

I called a realtor today! She's coming Tuesday. I'm very excited. Mike cleaned the garage out this weekend, and he did some cleaning in the basement tonight. I went nuts buying houseplants this weekend, and I LOVE them. I'm starting to get into this interior design stuff, from watching all the HGTV.

Now I'm very excited about finding and decorating our new house. I have high hopes from searching online that we may end up with almost 75% more living space. I'm envisioning a gorgeous entry with a huge curved staircase and a big open gameroom on the landing with tons of built-in shelves for our "library". I see a beautiful sophisticated study off the front hall with tons more built-ins for my home office and maybe even my photography studio. Granite countertops in my gourmet kitchen and built-in vanity in my master bath. Maybe a pool, as long as there is a patch of green alongside it in the back yard. Many of the houses have the entire backyard taken up by the pool.

Anyway, Mike says I'm getting way ahead of myself. But I have a positive attitude and I have fun house shopping online. Moving so far away from friends and family is a bummer, so I choose to focus on the upside.

Girls Night Out

Abigail and I
Originally uploaded by Mainline Mom

So believe or not last night was the first time I believe I have ever been "out" in downtown Philly. My best friend Abigail was home from her PhD work at Vanderbilt for the weekend and it happened to be her birthday so we decided to hit the town. We had some fabulous food and drinks at the Continental, a very cool diner turned bar and tapas restaurant.

Then we headed to the Plough and the Stars which was packed. The bouncer checked my ID and then hit on me, which is always nice. But the place was mostly packed with women so we didn't stay too long. We wandered down the street and a well dressed bouncer at the Blue Martini charmed us in the door. The music was pretty good and the people were looking good too so we stayed awhile. Alexis struck up a conversation with a goofy looking guy in a Phillies shirt who must've been there earlier to watch the game, because he and his friend just did not fit the scene. But they were super nice and went to Penn State so we chatted.

By the time we left my high heels were absolutely killing me and I determined that I'd rather pay for parking in a close-by lot than walk six blocks to our free spot, which as it turns out was not so free, since there was a ticket on the windshield when we arrived. Lex thought you didn't need to feed the meter after 9pm, but she must've been wrong. Unfortunately I also clocked my chin on the car door getting in. I'm pretty much a clutz that way.

I was very tired this morning but it was a really great time. My feet and chin are still sore.

I Love the 80's

80's Hair
Originally uploaded by Mainline Mom

Actually I'm not a fan of the fashions, but I do love some of the music. Mainly the new wave type stuff. So in honor of my MOPS 80's themed ice cream social last night, I attempted to tease up the bangs and dig out some Madonna inspired clothing. It was a pathetic attempt that ended up with me just looking hookerish. But we had a blast, looking over old photos and listening to our favorite songs.

Unfortunately Alex is sick again with a fever and he was up. ALL. night. I haven't been this tired in a long time. And it's pouring outside, which makes me want to stay in bed even more. But alas I took the kids out in the rain first thing this morning to Alex's doctor, only to have him say his ears are not infected so he does not need anything but Tylenol and TLC. Oh well. Another copay down the tubes.

If I can stop yawning for five minutes I'll head over to DCRMom's Pampered Chef party tonight, because I LURVE their stoneware and *somebody* broke my bar pan. And I could use a food chopper. And a pizza cutter. And a large serving spatula. And...you get the picture.

P.S. The house still is not on the market and I have lost the motivation to keep it tidy. I am still waiting waiting waiting for the relocation company to contact us so I can call a realtor in and have her tell me we need to paint. I hate painting but I've been watching too much HGTV and I'm convinced it would make a huge difference.