life with the lieutenant

Just gonna work this post backwards and see if I can't remember things a bit easier that way.

• We went to a hipster donut shop early Saturday morning (Doughnut Plant) after a friend recommended it. Passed this gem on the way there.

I'll be baaaaaaack!!!!

Getting a closer look at the selection

A donut cheers that Molly wanted no part of.

The Brooklyn Blackout. HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

• We figured we'd hit up a playground at a nearby park but since it was so early, we thought, what the hell, let's take our chances in Manhattan.

The ever-popular windshield photo while driving over a bridge.

• We ended up finding street parking RIGHT NEXT to Rockefeller Center. It was a divine miracle for sure. Steve got out to go pay the meter. I gave him a quarter and said we could knock this out in 15 minutes if we hustle. We won't need more than a quarter! Well uh, turns out, there is a $4 minimum for that sort of prime parking in the city so we got that squared away and off we went! Half a block of walking and we were at Van Gogh's Ear!

An accidental walking pic that I really like. Makes it look like we move faster than we really do.

• And a lovely family photo of everyone in front of Rockefeller Center

• And seven years prior... 

So young, thin, and well-rested.

• Sam and Molly had a check-up with their new pediatrician this past Thursday and, as most visits with three children go, it was incredibly painful. Forget the tv in the lobby, which is also stocked full of books and toys and puzzles. How about a screen in the tiny waiting room where there is one wooden chair and a scale that has "Do not TOUCH" scribbled across it in sharpie? Because that is where my children truly act like feral monkeys. I had the presence of mind to bring the Ergo in with me so I could wear Will. He dozed on and off and really was only in the way when I was squatted down on the floor trying to get a urine sample from Molly while also trying to watch Sam so he didn't knock his sample off the sink. Finger pricks, lots of blood, screaming, tears, two shots for Molly, and a caution from the doctor that she needs to start drinking milk, despite not having a calcium deficiency and also ingesting plenty of other forms of dairy. But WHATEVER, let me put these popsicle molds to use. At least the ones we can still find. Apparently they were confiscated and used as toys at some point.

• A little milk blended with a little banana and a little Greek yogurt and of course, a little bit of sprinkles and voila- you've got a very desirable looking serving of milk.
• Hot mornings and no pool (my kids are not sprinkler people) call for the kids cafe.

Good try with those shoes, Myer.

• Doctor day started out ambitious. Waffles for the kids, egg white omelette for mama.

selfies with Molly

Supergirl

• The end of the day was rough. It's hard when the big two don't nap and literally NEVER close their mouths. I really don't feel cut out to do this whole mothering gig round-the-clock (LITERALLY because THANKS WILL), I just need a BREAK every once in a while where I can finish a thought or pee by myself or walk into the kitchen to start laundry without being asked for another mother effin snack. I know come September I'll be weirded out by the silence, and miss these two and their constant chatter, but right now I'm just tired.
• On a lighter note, we stuck one of Will's hats that he wore home from the hospital on his head and it turned him into a hipster baby.

hashtag - lovethosethighrolls

• Last weekend my best friend from high school flew into town! She was headed to NJ for a work thing and rearranged her travel plans so she could come see us. We were so happy to have her with us for a few hours!!! We tried to cram in as much as we could.

Naturally my children sweet talked her into pushing them on the swings!

She could totally pass as their mom, right??

• Brittany had to leave around lunchtime to head to Ft Dix. Which coincided nicely with Will coughing his lungs right out of his chest. So we made an afternoon trip out to the doctor. It was confirmed that he now has bronchiolitis, which the doctor explained as basically, "the croup moving down into his chest." So that is fun. Thankfully he's over it now!

And thankfully he's rarely in a grumpy mood!

• Molly was feeling a bit crazy later and picked out her own clothes.....

• One day we had to run errands before a party and I bribed them with a happy meal if they were good. BEST BEHAVIOR. Although it was slightly annoying that Sam would check in with me every three seconds to see if I thought they were still being good. YES, YOU'RE GOOD, YOU'VE GOT THE HAPPY MEAL DEAL CLINCHED JUST STOP TALKING I CAN'T THINK.

• I really love comparison photos, so when this picture popped up on my facebook memories..

• ...and Steve slipped the same shirt on after work....

• ...I couldn't help but take his picture. According to my brain, he bought that shirt with the faded out "worn" look to it but apparently not. 
• I'm a HUGE fan of baby necks.

• Sam and Molly got to go to Vacation Bible School at a local Baptist church one week recently. They seemed to really enjoy it! Until Thursday and then they were instantly over it. Sam was a huge fan of the beaded necklaces they made.

• And I'm a huge fan of parking lots but those seem to be slightly lacking here.

It's really a testament to my self control that I don't take a picture of every instance where I parallel park my car. Because I really feel like I should be rewarded with applause or chocolate or a parade or something after pulling this off.

Sweet babes

About 4 minutes after this picture was taken, I found out that he was sitting on a turd the size of a baked potato, but you'd never know it by looking at his smiling face, would you??

• We've been to more taekwondo lessons.

• I don't know who gets a better workout at this point- the kids doing all the running, kicking, and jumping? Or me- doing all of the baby jiggling, constant sweating, shushing, and back and forth lunging. I am literally covered in sweat every time we leave that place. And since Sam and Molly are not in the same class, that means one child is always really REALLY BORED and incredibly interested in what time it is and how much longer we have to be here. (insert all my eye rolling here please)
• Will's chubby baby feet KILL ME.

• The sun actually does rise about 3 feet outside of our bedroom window. This explains why Sam is up every day at 515.

• Another day, another doctor visit...

• A visit to the doctor calls for a nice long bath when we get home. GERMS BE GONE!!

• I've officially lost track of what week I'm talking about now, but apparently it's still VBS week! The first day!

•  It was a 1950s theme and super cute. The music was fun and they seemed to enjoy the crafts and Bible stories.
• And taekwondo in the afternoon because I am glutton for punishment.

• Weekend edition of WMW (What Molly Wore)

A very bold, eclectic look, with the skirt tucked into her underwear for that "I just don't care (or know)" vibe.

Sam coloring (most likely a checkbook or something important)

Molly nursing her baby while I nurse mine.

Sunday Target trip... what a terrible idea

The view from the Target parking deck (see Citi Field?)

Dinner (chicken parm stuffed spaghetti squash) because those damn Tasty videos on FB convinced me it would be sooooOOOOOooooo easy! YEAH RIGHT.

As close as I'm getting to being in a picture these days.

• Saturday morning was met with resistance

They both started out with the same thing and each abandoned the opposite. INGRATES

Et tu, William????

• Did you know there is an active Army post in Brooklyn? Because there is. We went there for Steve's Reserve Unit's family day.

Don't leave me hangin, man!

We actually had to run to the PX and buy their last two youth sized jackets because it was so chilly. The temps were only in the 60s, but with the breeze coming off of the ocean and no sun coming through, it felt much colder. NEVER DID I EVER think I'd be purchasing jackets (for immediate use) in July.

The kids had so much fun running around, playing soccer, tug-of-war, climbing all over the playground, and being handed candy from relative strangers that they were genuinely sad to leave. Best mandatory fun we've had yet.

Will got a new outfit too and I managed to find an old hat at the bottom of my purse.

• Pretty sure we got a croup diagnosis on Molly on this day.

Photo credit goes to Molly- bringing you the hard hitting news. The people's news. Sam refuses to eat salad and baked chicken and NO CAMERAS PLEASE.

Get awayyyyyyyy, MolLEE

Eventually refocused her efforts on tending to the other brother.

• About how I feel at taekwondo...

• And omg I think that's it. For now. I have to try to keep up with this better. I can't remember any actual stories when I blog this way. Especially backwards. I won't be doing that again. If you're still with me, my word, soldier, you deserve a donut. Come visit me and we can take it from the top!