Catching Up

So wow I have been as busy as a cat in a sandbox to quote my dad. I will briefly update you.

We went to Santa Barbara for Daniel W's Bar Mitzvah. A 5 hour drive there would not have been possible without the wonderful Katie. The kids started to lose it the last 45 min. and she was back there to keep the peace. Friday night bedtime sucked and the kids were awake until 11:30p which is the equivalent to me partying in Vegas until 4:30a. So they were exhausted the next day.

Sat. I had my Irish triplets dressed alike and looking gorgeous. Bekah basically had paparazzi following her all day. The Bar Mitzvah was 3 hours long and hot and alot in Hebrew. Erik and I took turns checking on the kids and I finally opted to hang out with Katie and the kids for the remainder of the ceremony. Michael needed several walks outside to maintain and finally took a huge hunk out of a loaf of challah embarrassing the crap out of me and earning a lecture from some busy-body. On the way back from the ceremony #1 and #2 fell asleep so I dropped off ERik, Katie and Jake and drove up and down the coast while they napped.

Back at the room I talked Erik out of napping and we all walked to the beach. Santa Barbara is beautiful. It was clear but cold and Mike was ready to go swimming. We had to drag him out of the ocean with water up to his hips. RIG and Estelle joined us as well as Cathy and Mikayla. I walked back to the hotel barefoot shocking the Gracers. I miss the beach. Once you live near the ocean you never forget it for the rest of your life.

We left our monkeys with the wonderful Katie while Erik and I went to the party. Lots of very young teens, very cute. Aunt/Rabbi Judy's friend L gaurded the alcohol table from the youth but I wish she had prevented me too, that Margarita was too strong. Lots of great dancing and then Erik and I ducked out to have some quality time before going back to relieve the wonderful Katie.

Sunday was MORE bagels at a brunch and after several family photos we hit the road. I passed out in the back, Erik in front and Katie drove for the 1st leg home. Fairly uneventful trip back and it took me a week to unpack.

We celebrated Bekah's 2nd bday, sniff. Me and Mike and Bekah made her cupcakes. Hanukkah started the following night and the kids enjoyed presents of course. Mike's preschool had a mandatory mtg. the 2nd night of Hanukkah as well as an ice cream social on Yom Kippur back in Sept. I think they are going to need a Jewish Holiday calendar for 2008/9. I was exempt from attnd. mtg. good thing because it was also my bday! I got a digital camera for my bday and a family membership to an awesome gym! Best part is 3 hours of childcare a day, good childcare. Not crappy like our current gym which I need to cancel. We went 2x last weekend so Erik and I are going to get back into shape.

Last Sunday we had a Bekah bday and Hanukkah party with Jan, Jamie, Judy, Dave (Jan's friend) and all of us. Yummy food and presents and the kids were well-behaved.

Nothing too eventful this week until last night when Jake's stuffy nose kept him from breathing so Erik and I took turns suctioning out his nose every hour so he could breathe and sleep. I am exhausted and the wonderful Katie has the day off so I drank 6 cups of coffee and have let the kids watch an unG-dly amount of t.v. Bekah and Mike are sick too adn I am not feeling too hot myself, yuck.

I think now I will drag Mike away from the t.v. and attempt to have us all make Muddy Buddy Chex Mix. Wish me luck.