Yes, my son does in fact enjoy leaving the couch, thank you for playing...

First off, Happy Birthday AM!!!! We cannot wait to spend time with you and AW down the Cape next week!!!!

Now into it. Nanny interviewing. Detailing this recent process could turn into a painfully long post, but here it is, plain and simple. We have been looking for someone to care for our children once I return to coaching in a matter of weeks. Our parameters are not that stringent - someone who loves to play with little kids, who is responsible, animated, can juggle two beasts without sacrificing the well-being of one to deal with the other...it would be great if they have a clean driving record and a car on top of it. Not a lot to ask, right? Especially when sitters are actively applying for this sort of position...

We had two individuals come by.

The first, EW, came in and immediately stooped down and engaged CR in conversation, played along when he asked her to come upstairs to see his room. When she left, he referred to her as a princess. If you remember, CR called me a princess at one point...I don't care, I still feel special and I am keeping the dress...

The second, well, that was a whole other story. I had a previous phone conversation with EO, and based on how she presented herself on the other end of the line, you would have thought she was the next Mary Poppins. Shroud in white terrycloth sweats, she waltzed into our home, cruised past CR without a glance, and plopped down her white iPhone with a bedazzled case on the dining room table.

We took a seat on the livingroom couch, where we proceeded to engage in what I intended to be a give and take interview-type conversation...but it proceeded to become a mini support group in the 'burbs. Instead of focusing on her childcare experience, she proceeded to tell me about her aunt who had recently passed (laughingly she said she died in her sleep "at a whopping 600lbs"...not amusing in my mind, but if weight-caused death make you chuckle, then, there's that...), the fact that her father had to have an operation to remove a non-malignant tumor, and that she wanted to spend her upcoming wedding anniversary at Disney World...the latter is not a tragic event in her life, but I sure wanted to give her some support and words of advice against that decision.

After lamenting for 20 minutes, she reluctantly followed CR upstairs to his room, where she proceeded to tell me that she hasn't spent more than 5 consecutive hours with children for the past two years, and that since she has been "doing this for so long now," (mind you, the girl is 29), that she is pretty much tired of the whole childcare thing...wow. Huge selling point. She asked if CR was doing quiet solo activities for long periods of time - like sitting down and doing arts and crafts for a couple of hours. She did not like the idea of doing one task for a bit, and then switching gears onto another game or change in location...these parameters are sort of a must when dealing with a preschooler. I asked her point blank if she has the energy to be with two children for fifteen hours a week, and she said yes...with a moment of hesitation...oh, and that if one of our children got sick, count her out five days on either side of onset...I wouldn't expect someone to care for my children while they are sick, but, um...NEXT!

So EW starts on Tuesday...she is a princess...

My muscles are confused, as is our son...

Bad Mommy and Daddy. Selfish, selfish, selfish...

B and I started doing P90X. We took advantage of our vacation at the Cape as a family and spent four afternoons sweating and groaning in front of the TV, doing things that our 35-year-old bodies should not be doing...sounds kinky, but it's not.

For those not familiar with the exercise program, there are multiple DVD options that vary in length (45 minutes to an hour and a half in duration) that guide you through jump training, arm and leg strengthening, and yoga...innocuous enough, right? Not so much. Not only did our limbs and core ache for days, CR decided that ignoring him during our routine was something that he could do without. How did he show his displeasure? He stood directly in front of the toilet, lifted up the seat, pulled down his pants, and proceeded to urinate all over the floor. It was a good enough sign for B and me to stop the insanity, turn off the TV, and retire the DVDs to their case. It was a welcome accident for our muscles...

Summer Hiatus

One would think that the dog days of summer would yield lots of free time, lazy afternoons, and time to post...well, sadly not in this house, but until I am able to get back into the rhythm of things, I thought I would begin to post a few pics taken over the past couple of weeks. If anything, they will serve as visual reminders to elaborate on some pretty amusing stories that have culminated from the move, etc...

Starting off, we may not live in the city of brotherly love, but here on Hawthorn Ave, CR does a good job of showing his warm feelings toward his sister (that is, until he gives her a cheap shot to the belly at the close of a hug)...

A little fun on the playmat...