Mommy needs a break

Seriously. What is up with my chicks??

Since we've gotten back from San Diego, no one wants to go to bed anymore. Bedtime is 8, and i'm lucky to be downstairs by 9--and that's if all goes well. Last night, I put them to bed. Jenna came downstairs with one of her many excuses. For your viewing pleasure, they are:

• "I can't fall asleep" (after being in bed for, MAYBE, 5 minutes)
• "I'm thinking that i might have a bad thought"
• "I keep having bad thoughts"
• "I think i might have a nightmare"
• "I'm thinking about having a nightmare"
• "I'd be more comfy in your bed"
• "I wouldn't have bad thoughts if i were in your bed"
• "I need more snuggles"
• "I need more kisses"

Seriously...this kid will go on and on. She will think up ANYTHING just to get me to go lay with her until she's asleep. I've offered her my pillow, my sock monkey, and I DO lay down with her every night for 10-15 minutes. That's our ritual and i do so EVERY night. Lately though, it's not good enough.

Last night, she FINALLY fell asleep at around 10--after hours of coming downstairs with her excuses. I went to bed around 11. At 1130, she comes into the room: "I can't sleep."

"You've BEEN asleep--and so has everyone else in this house," I say.

"No I haven't."

"Yes, you have. Go get back in bed."

"I caaaaaannnnn'ttttt sleeeeeep...."

"Go get into bed, or I will beat you."

My threats didn't work. I ended up walking her in there and putting her into bed. For the next 15 minutes, she'd walk in and out of my room, whining about how she can't sleep, etc. I prayed fervently that I would retain my last scrap of patience so I wouldn't beat her for real. Finally, I just went in there and laid down with her with her. She fell asleep, and so did I.

At approximately 230am I was woken up by CLAIRE crying. "I had a dream about going pee-pee and I peed in my bed!" Seriously. I am not fricking kidding you. This child has NEVER wet the bed--even when potty-training. In the past 5 months, she's peed the bed twice--always because of one of those damned "i think i'm sitting on the potty" dreams. Dammit. And she gets SO upset. I tried to explain to her that if she's having dreams that she's peeing on the potty, then she needs to realize that she has to pee and wake up. I hate the "pee-pee dream."

The alarm in Jen's room went off at 8am. We had a dentist appt this morning. The girls LOVE the dentist. Claire went first, then Jen, then me. The hygienist told me that Claire brushes remarkably well for a 4-year old. Then she said she has 2 cavities. Genetics. It's her father.

I need a trip to Mexico.

Back in Texas

Well, we're back from California. Man, it's hard leaving Southern Cal and it's awesome weather to come right back to the oven that is Houston. It's even harder leaving my sister. It's even harder driving the 22 hours back to Texas when the chicks are in the backseat crying, "We don't want to go back to Texas! We want to live in California!" Yeah, me too girls. I'll take the increase in housing for the beautiful views, awesome weather, and my sister.


We had an awesome time--the beach, Disney's California Adventure, Legoland, and just tons of fun. My sister's cats are probably partying it up now that the chicks are gone. Those poor things couldn't catch a break while we were there--the girls were just dragging them around everywhere. Our cat is old and crotchety and hates people. My sister's cats are young and stupid.


Here are some pictures of the joy:

Clairey at the beach. Some totally ripped 9/10-year old boys dug a huge hole in the sand. The girls liked to jump in it. It was so deep, that we couldn't see them--even when they were standing up.

Jenna at the Wildlife Animal park. Yes, there were cheetahs. Yes, there was much excitement. See the sparkle in her eyes? She was contemplating stealing a cheetah. She's gorgeous.

Clairey just looking as cute as a friggin' button. I could eat her face. This kid is absolutely precious.

Waiting in line for Toy Story Mania at Disney's California Adventure. Don't go there. It's a 1/4 the size of DisneyLand and costs the same. What a rip off. This was one of only FOUR rides that Jenna would go on. She went in this and Monsters Inc. The other two, she attempted, but it ended in high-pitched screams.

Me and The Munch at Legoland. I can't believe more strangers just don't try to eat her. She's that adorable.

The drive back to Texas.