Hey ho, hey ho, its off to China we go!

Bucket Head

They say its down to "Health and Safety" rules but seriously, how likely is it that the ceiling is going to fall on my head?  They say its for my own protection but I'm starting to think its just for their own amusement.

Everyone on the bus . .

going to the Olympics - well when the driver gets back from her potty break we are.

One World, One Dream.

We've trained and trained and now we are in good cheering voice with our clapping hands toned and ready to go to work.

Go Team China! 

Go Team Chinese Taipei! 

Go Team UK!

Go Team USA!

I told them!

This afternoon I noticed a parcel outside our side door, which would usually have been cause for the happy dance, but all this week we have had nothing but torrential rain here in darkest CT (well apart from the tornado warning just to keep things lively) so its been wet, wet, wet, and you can see where this is going can't you?

I could see even from a distance that this was one very soggy package.  Now the "guys in brown" always leave their parcels in the garage or on our front door step where we can't miss it so I knew instantly that this was the work of our useless Mail-person who has a history of mess ups.  I get that she might not realize that we don't use that side door (although she has been told before) but who leaves a parcel outside in pouring rain without at least putting in a plastic bag or knocking on the door?  Grrrr!

As soon as I picked up the box it started to disintegrate, really it was more papier-mâché than box and everything inside was sopping wet too :(

Seething I called our Post Office and proceeded to give the Post Master a piece of my mind.   I'm not usually very good at complaining but mess with my parcels and your in big trouble, I ranted on for a while  and he apologized and agreed it wasn't a very bright thing to do.  Not that I felt any better afterwards as I sat staring at my puddling parcel, and stared, and stared, and stared . . . . .at the label saying UPS!!!!  OMG I just ripped into the Post Office about a parcel the "guys in brown" delivered.  Can you say MORTIFIED?  Of course I rang them straight back and apologized profusely, over and over again but even so I think I'll be driving to the next town over for my stamps.

New baby means . . .

. . . . new stroller!  Don't judge me people, don't judge me!  So I have a weakness, okay two weaknesses, strollers and chocolate, there are worse things! 

A lot of the time we carry BB in the baby carrier but there are times when we need to be able to put him down and all (yes, ALL, as in plural) my strollers are single seats.  How could I not have thought of this?  I sort of did have a plan to buy one of those little running board thingys that you can attach to a stroller so that Loopy could just hitch a ride when she wanted and BB could relax in the seat but the thing is that sometimes Loopy wants to sit too, most especially if BB is sitting ;)

My extensive and in depth research (its a sickness people, you should pity me not judge me) informed me of two things

1) the Europeans STILL have the best strollers (even though lots more scrummy European manufactures have got US distributors now then when I was looking for Loopy's pushchair) and

2) if you want a really good quality, non butt ugly, narrow, lightweight (relatively speaking), tandem (one seat in front of the other) two seater where the seats can face each other, or face front or face back, you've got to part with some seriously, seriously big bucks.

Lacking the seriously, seriously big bucks I went for a compromise which cost serious bucks but not seriously, seriously big bucks.  Thus leaving me with the possibility of upgrading to the seriously, seriously big bucks tandem stroller when I become gainfully employed/win the lottery, which, seeing as I haven't applied for a job and don't play the lottery, best not hold your breath waiting on that one.

So here it is the Joovey Ultralight Caboose, we LOVE it!  Yes, I do wish that there was the option to have BB's seat facing back (so he could see me) and it would be nice if the seat was a little more snuggly but it has enough pluses that I'm happy to settle.  Its lightweight, easy to fold, steers very nicely, isn't too long, is well made and Loopy can sit or stand as the mood takes her.  BB just has to settle for sitting but such is the life of a baby brother.  The basket could do with being a little bigger but its not bad and the green is a nice soft shade, not too girly not to boy-ie. 

The Loopty Lu Mobile

The better for her adoring fans to see her.

The Young Scholar

Just kicking back enjoying my reading

Where in the world?

So I survived my first week solo with two children (takes virtual bow)!  Simon got home yesterday from his first business trip since we all got back from Taiwan and, contrary to my own prediction, he did not find me a gibbering mess on the door step, can you tell I'm just a little bit proud of myself?  It was only a week and it is only two children but still, those scallywags they know all the tricks!  Actually, in truth I have to report that they were both total angels (most of the time) and I bet I probably could have survived at least another month, week, day hour longer.  No seriously, it all went very well, everyone was fed and watered on time, nothing and no-one got broken and no arrests were made.

Simon was able to call and check in with us a few times during the week and after hearing his tales of 3 flights just to get to his destination with 12 hour delays at tiny airports and general exhaustion I couldn't help but feel sorry for him and be thankful that I was the lucky one who got to stay home.  When he finally got home at 2.00 am on Saturday I vowed to tend to his every need all weekend in order to let him rest up, poor weary traveler that he was.  That was until I saw the photos. . . . . .OMG the guy goes on a jaunt to paradise and tries to con me with some woe is me sob story!

Can you guess from these pictures where he was "working"?

Granny comes through with the good stuff!

Loopy knows the good stuff, when she is lucky enough to get her hands on it,  the "good stuff" being Cadbury's buttons (the real Cadbury's none of your "made under license" muck) and Smarties - no child should be without them.  Of course as a concerned and loving mother I rigorously taste test them for quality, I mean even the "good stuff" could deteriorate after that long journey over the pond.

 

Luckily for me, since Granny only sends parcels for Loopy (just saying), I have my own supplier, enabler, source buddy who always seems to know just when I need Buttons and Flakes the most, I mean I NEED them ALL the time but there are some times when the need is unbearable and that's when a parcel with my name will appear out of the blue - thank you H you saved my life this week!

I would have included photos of my stash but I ate it, even the crumbs. . . .and I licked the wrappers too - I have no shame.

And they call him Shark Boy.

When we left Taipei airport on June 21 he had no teeth, a couple were close to cutting through but no actual white toofus shining through.  When we landed, many, many, hours later at Newark airport, also on June 21, the first pearly white was sparkling in the cutest little gummy mouth.

Today he has 6, count 'em 6!  He is our little Shark Boy and Loopy will warn you "don't put your finger in his mouth - its not safe!" and she's not kidding you!