Some recent pictures - finally!

My-ami

Cute story: Ryan pulled out a big Miami University blanket with the letter "M" on it. Ryan: Gabe, what does the M stand for? Gabe: The M is for Your-Ami!

Locked In

Hello! We've had a crazy couple of weeks and my ongoing computer issues have kept me off this blog, Facebook, and my email. So if I owe you an email, bear with me! A few of our most recent adventures:

Last Saturday I was home alone with both kids, and we all got locked in Riley's room.

Quick recap: we reversed the locks on Gabe's room when he started climbing out his crib many moons ago to keep him from wandering the house at night. Gabe's room is now Riley's room, and our friend Gabe knows exactly how the locks work. So, I was in there changing Riley's diaper when Gabe walked in, slammed the door, and pronounced: "Ha! I locked us in!".

Now let me set the stage a bit. It was early on Saturday, so we were all in various stages of dress (or undress, as the case may be). I was also ambitiously re-arranging Riley's room, so everything was in the hallway except Riley's crib and a few diapers. So not only are we locked in this room, but in a barren room with little more than our PJs (me) and underwear (Gabe), and diaper (Riley) on. No phone, no food, no bottles, no tequila. Great.

Lucky for me, it was a sunny Saturday morning and not a rainy late-night lock in, so there are usually lots of folks out walking their dogs. This means I got to hang out the 2nd story window, skimpy PJs and all, until someone I recognized (and not from the steps outside the liquor store) walked by. After about 20 minutes this poor unsuspecting lady from a few blocks away, with whom I've exchanged a few polite hello's over the years, walked by. I called down to her, explained the situation, announced where our spare key is hidden, and asked her if she would very much mind rescuing us. She hedged a bit (can you blame her?) until I pulled my trump card - the naked baby.

This is where the story should end -help had arrived!- but I'm just not that lucky. She gets the key, and then a few minutes later comes back under the window explaining that not only is the chain on my door, but there's a dog inside that sounds like he's going to have her for breakfast. The fear on this poor woman's face was telling me she was going to bolt, so I grabbed Naked Baby again and yelled my next set of instructions: "Try the front door, and as soon as you're in, run up the stairs and shut the baby gate behind you so Maggie can't get you. We're locked in the first room at the top of the stairs. Oh, and watch out for all the stray furniture in the hall.". And can you believe she actually did it? If some half-naked DCFS nutcase was yelling at me in the street about killer dogs, baby gates, and chained doors I'd be on the phone with 911.

Postlude: I ran into this lady and her husband today, and she was like "This is Kerry, remember the one from last weekend...with the baby?". He was all "Oh....OH!...um....nice to meet you. Um, we have to go. Have a good one." and the two of them practically sprinted down the street. Can't make this shit up.

Other noteworthy news:

• We went to Dutch Wonderland with the Galinskis on Labor Day - a risky move (Labor Day...theme park next door to outlet mall...) but surprisingly it wasn't too busy so Gabe and his friend Nathan had a blast riding rides and eating garbage all day. I have adorable pictures when and if I can find a non-company computer to upload them to. Stay tuned.
• I went on my first work trip to NYC last week, for 3 full days. I would love to say it was HORRIBLE and I missed the kids EVERY MINUTE. But I didn't. Instead I acted like a real grown up, going to happy hour, eating meals after 6pm, watching non-animated television, and having hours upon hours of conversations that didn't involve words like "nap", "potty", and "choo choo". I was pretty happy to come back, but it turns out life went on without me (thanks Ryan, Beth and Ca-Ca!). Who knew?

Great quote this week:

Me (inspecting artwork brought home from school): "Gabe, I like this bear!"

Gabe: "I know, Mama. You're very impressed."