Mommy Musings

So we left off yesterday with me attempting to slide down the stairs because of the intense pain in my foot.  I managed to get myself to the couch, where I sat in tears until Skip came home around 11:00 pm.  Seriously, I've had two kids, but this was some of the most intense pain I'd ever felt. It was no good. Under my direction, Skip finished setting up all the gifts and eating the Santa cookies.  We were all ready for the big man to pay us a visit! The next morning, dressed in our matching Christmas jammies, we all came downstairs at 6:00 am. {Skip had snagged my crutches from the attic, so I was better off than the night before}. The girls were absolutely amazed by all their gifts, and there is truly nothing more magical than seeing their little faces light up.  It was a picture-perfect morning. Skip ran out and grabbed some bagels for lunch for us, while I sadly had to cancel plans with a friend. I knew that wrangle two littles while on crutches wasn't the best i...

I'd like to say that this was the most wonderful, magical Christmas ever.  I had spent most of December focusing on the little things, and not letting myself get swept up in the stress of the holiday.  I wanted to just enjoy it. And for the most part I did.  Truly.  Even though life kept trying to throw things my way to derail our plans. First off, Skip had to work all of Christmas week....including Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. It was hard on the girls, who kept crying to me and asking why their dad couldn't have a normal job like everyone else:( So I was determined to make it as fun for them as possible. We made lots of cookies and treats together {which is really the best part I think} and they delivered them to our neighbors on Christmas Eve morning. My family came over for a huge feast on Christmas Eve and lots of present opening.  Despite the glass dish breaking in the oven and filling my downstairs with smoke, we had a fabulous time. Sufficiently sugar...

What life looks like when Skip gets home after working 56 out of 80 hours and not seeing the girls for 3 1/2 days straight. These are the moments we cling to when he's gone!

A few weeks ago we took the girls to two of my favorite things....Giants training camp at the stadium and National Night Out with our local police. The girls were more interested in face painting and balloon animals than actually watching the Giants, but I got to see Victor Cruz and ODB Jr, so I was happy enough.  Maybe next year we'll try taking them to a game! Eli Manning and Victor Cruz Our local police participated in National Night Out with several of the neighboring towns.  There was a K-9 presentation, lots of cop cars and firetrucks for the kids to check out, face-painting, and free food!  We got Emmy fingerpinted, played on the bouncy houses, and grabbed some free t-shirts and bracelets.  Obviously my kids have a close relationship with the law enforcement community, but it was still fun to support our local men and women in blue!

I complained on Facebook before about the mess our day is turning into.  Our front door won't open from the outside.  Skip's car has been under recall for almost a month, though Toyota refuses to hurry up the process and get it fixed.  Meanwhile, we are not allowed to have anyone other than the driver in the car.  Which we were dealing with until there was a problem with my car starting today.  Plus I'm waiting on some news for a career move that I fear is only going to set me back to square one. So I had cake for lunch. In the grand scheme of things, these are not really major problems.  Skip's car will get fixed eventually.  He was able to take off to get mine fixed today.  We already bought a new door handle and dead bolt, so I'll figure out how to put those on later.  We've already had offers from some of my best friends for help. Tomorrow it'll all be smoothed over. But I'm choosing  to focus on these little problems today, because ...

It seems like Skip is always working on the Fourth of July.  In the past 11 Independence days we've spent together, he's been off for less than half.  But this year {the one I will deem the year Skip has been home for almost all holidays!} his squad was actually scheduled off....Saturday AND Sunday!!  Wahoo!! Now while most people in NJ flock to the beaches, we prefer to stay away.  Mainly because our town and surrounding areas suddenly become almost deserted, and I enjoy driving around without a ridiculous amount of traffic far too much.  So we just decided to have a relaxing weekend. The weather could't quite seem to make up its mind, so it rained on and off all morning on Saturday.  So we just hung around in the house.  I managed to sneak in a run in between the raindrops, but that was about it.  It brightened in the afternoon, and we took the girls to the park. When we got home, we ate some hotdogs and ribs that Skip grilled for us.  Afte...

#weseeyou Thinking of our NYPD family as they lay Brian Moore to rest today. #bluelivesmatter

I rarely, if ever, do a "weekend recap" post here on the blog.  I'm not opposed to them, it's just that our weekends are usually not very note-worthy.  Skip is normally working more overtime that normal...and the girls and I really just become home-bodies because of that.  It also has been much too cold to do anything more than that, so our weekends are pretty boring. But not this past weekend, it was wonderful  and something I really needed to help get me through this last push of winter.  First off, Skip was home....on a Saturday and Sunday....both of them...all day long.  If you're a cop wife, you know how very rare that is.  I'm pretty sure he hasn't been off on a weekend since well before Christmas.  And yes, I understand that he is off two other days during the week, but with Emmy in school full-time, that means she gets to spend much less time with Skip now.  It's also nearly impossible to try and do things together as a family.  ...