Monday, July 30, 2007

Come take a peek


A snapshot of a real life "reality" show. Our reality.


If my calculation was correct it was that time again. Time for "Nana's" bi-monthly visit to spoil her grandchildren. Oh, goody. (her only grandchildren--and probably for awhile....long while). I am lucky that Nana so desperately wants to be a part of the babies (yes, I will always call them my babies too) lives. The girls know without a doubt who the crazy one is (the lady with the presents---silly--not me)and are constantly chanting "Na-na, Na-na, Na-na" as if conditioning for a beer chugging contest! Oh, g-d help me. Jason G.(legal council) I blame you.... Too early for that I hope. *wink.*

My "Mil" and I have always had an amazingly close relationship. Don't be hatin'. Not the usual daughter, mil relationship either. A friendship. You know, talk about sex and stuff... We have even discussed over the years (there was a time when she thought I might have been a bit of a handful for dh-ha ha ha. )that if I had not saved dh and married him that we would have been friends. So, it means more to me than any of you know that she wants to be a part of their little lives. A real part of their lives which translates, our lives. Package deal. When she visits she gets a front row viewing with popcorn at no additional charge of the "good bad and the ugly". No curtain calls here. We wave our "freak" flag proudly! Any hoots...I've always enjoyed her visits but now, waaaay more. Why, you might ask? Well, she begs us to let her (really) cook dinner for us (remember -- control freak here don't like anyone in my kitchen--including family) while visiting. Now, I'm not a stupid girl, however I've been thinking that maybe, there's a reason why. Could it be that she:
  • Hates my cooking. Is it possible?!
  • Prefers eating before 9:00pm.--yes we eat late... super duper late...we always have.

  • Doesn't like what I prepare. Hmm, possibility....naw!!!
  • Would rather do all the cooking-control freak herself?! No wonder we get along. Fine by me as I hate "clean-up"...

  • Wants to make sure her son is getting enough to eat. You've seen him, he ain't starving! No one in my household is. Reminder, I need to loose 10 ponds. Note to self: Talk to Sen about her work out schedule...
At any rate it gets me out of slaving over a hot stove after working all day and she gets the dirty job of clean-up. Which brings me to my next point. Days, almost hours no minutes before she arrived my schedule was altered. Under normal circumstances this wouldn't be a big deal, however I now would be working the entire time Nana was here! Crap. I know, a lot of you are thinking I'd rather be working when my "mil" visits. But, not me. I like to supervise the activities. Control freak..... remember? Lol.

So, Nana sucked up the courage and asked if she could take the girls to the pool -with the help of Mai of course-now, before I would have blurted out a big fat "No" and not wavered. Nobody but mama can manage the girls alone. No one. But, I thought what an excellent idea!!! I figured this would cure her of asking me to put them on a plane... without me. Insert, big grin. No fear there as you will see from photos (Sorry Nana--busted) how Nana had an "eye" on the children...yeah, see here...Good thing she convinced Mai how wonderful it would be to help her with the kids *shzz* . Remind me not to send the girls to Florida anytime soon or until their 16... lol.

Just for the record I hate, really hate(I know hate is a really strong word) public watering holes. No, not those kind of watering holes (martini bars, or bar-stools) but swimming pools. Now, I wouldn't say I live in the "hood" by any stretch, but well, we obviously have a lot of clueless people in my neighborhood. Stupid. I like taking the girls to the pool every chance I can. You see, even though I hate, detest public swimming pools, my little girls love the water. Just like their momma. So, we load up mommies pimp machine (not really a real pimp machine, I just wish it were) 2 days a week for fun in the sun and water.

I was a really upset the other day at the lack of supervision by the parent's regarding their children. Especially in the baby pool area. Yes, I understand it's only one foot of water. But a child can drown in less! Although we do have one monster ass baby pool equipped with fountain to boot it is not life guard manned. We were rushing to get home for naps when I noticed a little girl who appeared to be 3-4 years old swimming in the baby pool. Alone. No parent, no babysitter, nothing. So I asked her(felt it was my responsibility) if she were with anyone? Much to my horror she said yes, her mommy. "Oh", I said as I'm looking around for her. I ask, "well, where is she"? The little girl replied "at the big" pool"! I was so upset that I loaded the kids in the pimp machine faster than I ever have and sped up to the clubhouse to speak to someone with some authority. After having a discussion with someone who appeared to be important, I've never seen him before, he could have been the valet attendant for all I know or a drifter...I didn't care, I was upset... he assured me they would address the situation. Guess what? A repeat on Friday. Also big kids (really big kids) swimming, no throwing big crap in in the baby pool while they're on mandatory 15 minute break from the big pool. Grrr... Did I mention how I hate public pools?!? I know my hormones have been acting up but it makes me so angry that these children are being dropped off and obviously being unsupervised. What will it take before these parent's sit up and take notice? A drowning?! Unbelievable. Is this all the more they value life?! Ok, maybe I'm a bit dramatic, but damnit, I waited a long time for my little angels and it makes me angry....

I will finish it up with a conversation I had with a group of moms, whom I had absolutely nothing in common with at the pool.

Skinny Hot Mommy: "They are so cute".Real emphasis on cute. I know what that means. Preparing myself...


Me: "Thank you". Beaming and so proud. Waiting for her to strike.

Skinny Hot Mommy: "Where'd you git them"?


Me: Stupid, disgusted look on my face, yep, I knew this was going to happen, "China".


Skinny Hot Mommy: "The bathing suits"?


Me: Blushing, and totally embarrassed. "Oh, no, I thought you meant the children, Kohl's I mean, I bought the suits at Kohl's children in China". Me thinking to myself, Oh, just shut-up now. Stupid mommy with foot in mouth! Disappear.


Skinny Hot Mommy: "The suits are adorable, but the girls are precious". Look on her face that says I feel sorry for you. No, I feel sorry for your children.


Me: "Oh, thank you".......


Note to self: Do not assume you know what someone is going to say before they say it.... Makes mommy look like total idiot. Packing up bags and children and going home now. Embarrassed. Will I be able to muster up the courage to go back? Especially since all moms are skinny and hot!

p.s. I like taking pictures of my cute kids.

34 comments:

Donna Paonessa said...

Awesome pic's!! I'm with ya on the lack of supervision at pools - I'm floored at the way some parents just let their kids splash around and don't even pay attention. I'm in the pool with my girls and I'm STILL nervous (since they're still learning to swim).

Funny story 'bout the skinny hot momma. *grin*

mommy24treasures said...

great pics!
great blogging too. the bathing suit question/foot in mouth story was hilarious.

Sam said...

I too get really ticked about kids being unsupervised. It's not just at the pool. Try the play area at the mall too! GRRRRRR!!!

Great photos!

shelley said...

Sorry about the foot in mouth deal. I wasn't prepared for a friend-of-a-friend who said...How good of you to go and get a child when you can have ones of your own...what a dumbass. The swimsuit question was kind of a refresher.

jennifer said...

The foot-in-mouth story is really funny. I'm glad to hear you get along with your mil. Mine drives me crazy. She used to think I was going to put them on a plane by themselve to visit her - yeah, that'll happen!

LaLa said...

Well, I don't blame you for taking pics...they are cute (oh, and the swimsuits too) You should have said "uh yeah, China..they have stores there too..." ha ha
I love my MIL too and it makes our life so much easier. Annslee's GiGi is the best but I am a control freak too so probably no pool trip alone. Our neighborhood pool has teachers who are out for the summer be "pool monitors" ... they are great.

aimeeg said...

I'm sure it was embarrassing, but makes for some good laughy laughs here for all of us!!

I hate unsupervised kiddos too. We were at a park back east and two teeny kids were wandering around with no grown up in site. I approached and asked who they were here with. The little girl pointed and said, "mama". There was a lady sitting in a truck across the street reading a newspaper. That was their supervision. Argh.

Yoli said...

I agree with you, I hate pools. I never take Sally unless pressured to a pool. I live near the sea, the ocean is a block away, so I rather go there with her. I had to laugh over your foot in your mouth. We do tend to get very sensitive and protective about our kids. I can't blame you, I am sure you have heard every stupid comment like I have. The most painful one for me was "how much did she cost?" right in front of my baby.

Glad your MIL loves them. That is precious. Mine tolerates Sally because of her son. She does not say she does not like her, she is civil but there is no love. Treasure the woman, that is a good soul.

Julie said...

OMG??!! I wouuld think we went to the same pool if not for the fact that I am in AL and you are in DC/VA.

We were just at the pool yesterday and I was hit in the head by one of those balls that soak up the water. Oh and I was standing in the zero entry ramp that is designed for the little and SN children. So I said to the HUGE 12 year old - you need to go back into the deeper area and throw it away from this one because next time it will be worse if y'all hit one of these small children especially one of mine. His mom looks up and asks me what I said to her "baby" and so I relayed the entire story to her and she looks at me like I am crazy. This is what is wrong with todays kids - they are NEVER responsible for their actions. It is always some one else's fault. I also kicked out the 10-12 year olds that were in the baby pool during the break. (we had left the "big" pool as it was too rough) They went and told their mom and she came back and asked me why. Are you f-ing serious??? I politely advised her that AFTER asking how old they were I determined that they could sit on the side of the pool for the break instead of rough housing in the baby pool and knocking over not 1 not 2 but 3 small babies in the process one of mine included. And by the way they did not once apologize. She just said "oh" and walked away.

After yesterday several of us (moms to younger babies) have decided to ask the city council to make it a pool rule that no one under the age of 5 should be in the baby pool with the exception of a SN child.

Okay standing down off the soap box! And, yep, I'll be going back to the pool because it is hotter than HELL down here and it is the only way to stay cool while outside!

Julie

Elizabeth said...

Well I'm a fellow pool hater. I just know how many gallons of pee is in it. Petri-dish!
And I hate being in a swim suit.
But I was wondering, how do you answer the 'where did you get them?" question when it's not about the swimsuits? Do you say 'China?'. Or do you have an answer that stings a little bit more? I guess it depends on the situation. I'm not looking forward to it. I think some days my answer may just be "At the baby store."
No, I'm just having a grumpy morning. Mental note, Ms. Dragonfly, red wine hates you.

Sophie's Mom said...

We like you taking pictures of your cute kids!

Too funny about the pool. No public pools around here, it's the Atlantic Ocean for us. Haven't even been this summer, isn't that awful? Just hasn't been warm enough.

Only thing worse than parents not watching their kids at the pool is seeing kids standing up in the big part of the shopping cart. At the mall this weekend 2-3 year old screaming, thrashing, all the while she was standing up in the big part of the cart. Daddy was pushing. I almost had a heart attack. Would have been bad enough if she'd just been standing there, but she was flailing around, and was sure to fall out and crack her head on the tile floor. IGNORANT Daddy. I have no problem w/letting a kiddo have their tantrum, but make it safe. Squeeze there butt into the place they're suppose to be sitting, and buckle them in. It isn't like she could have been screaming anymore, had she been confined to the proper sitting place.

I am done now. :)

You said all moms are skinny and hot? Maybe fm will volunteer to take the kids swimming...

Stephanie said...

We just started casually house hunting and both agree that the new subdivision must have a pool. There could still be stupid parents allowed but I think less than the public pool.

I too got really lucky with a great mil but I would never even question why someone wants to make dinner. For the love of g-d, have at it.

RamblingMother said...

I was going to ask the same about the bathing suits. They are adorable. So MIL didn't lose one of the girls at the pool?

Beverly

insanemommy said...

No, thank goodness she did not loose them, but she sure didn't have her full attention on them.....

cougchick said...

Your sneaky pic of your MIL sunbathing cracks me up. She sounds like lots of fun.
Oh. I gotta go. Hubs is in the shower and might catch me blogging. I'm at the lake (blog rehab) right now and I'm sure to get caught. BTW, what's the story on Mai. I'm in too big of a hurry to read back. Is she an au pair or what?

~cheers~

LeeAnne

3 Peanuts said...

You are too funny! I hate the pool too but as my boys are on swin team, we are there everyday! Our pool manager is a second grade teacher during the school year so she does not let any of the kids (or parents) get away with that stuff and I am so glad.

I worry for that little girl who is alone at the baby pool. Wonder how it is at home if that is how it is in public.

Kim

redmaryjanes said...

Your girls are cute and I think you had a good experience. Finally, someone didn't point out the obvious that your girls are adopted. And you're a hot Momma, so get back to the pool!

Krista said...

That's just how it goes sometimes. When your guard is down, you get the most stupid comments. And when you assume the worst, well people can prove you wrong. I would have thought the same as you. At least you can laugh about it!

Christine said...

I would prefer my own pool - which would then have to be maintained by Carlos the pool boy ;)

great photos of the girls- they are beatutiful.

redmaryjanes said...

e-snips is super easy.
Come to my blog and click on the Nora Jones song listing, that will take you to the site, in the upper right corner there is a search box, type in whatever artist or song you want. Then it will take you to a page where you can choose your image, I think it's called mp3 something, choose your image, you will see a demo of what you have chosen, I click for auto play too. Copy and past the HTML onto your sidebar and you are good to go. I change mine every day. Drop me a line if you need help.

kerri said...

I know what you mean about the lack of supervision at pools. We went to a huge pool-splash park yesterday, I was totally pissed off at all the Moms(and Dads) lying on lounge chairs napping while their kids were swimming all over the pool unattended. There are life guards there but your kids-your responsibility.
Love the photos of the girls and their Nana, very special.

Jewels of My Heart said...

Love all the pics of your beautiful babies.
MIL probably just wants to give you a break and let you rest after hard day at work.
I would have thought the same thing about the conversation! I find myself automatically on the defensive because there are so many BOZOS out there!
(BIG HUG)

Steffie B. said...

Love all the pics of your little chicks.....and unsupervised kids drive me NUTS! I would have gone to the pool people as well!

crazylady said...

a new look? Are you menstrual?

As for the comment, it was very funny of you to assume. You know assuming makes an ass....

I've been hiding. I still love you and the topless monsters.
Glad you didn't post topless.

Lauren and Ed said...

Your girls are beautiful , and I can see the "spunk" in their eyes. I enjoyed the pictures. Too funny about grandma sleeping on the lounge chair. Don't even get me started about slack parents who can't do their job! There are a lot of idiots out there!

insanemommy said...

Steffie, I called the manager at the Clubhouse today. As of tonight at almost 8:30pm no return phone call. Hmmm, should I take it personally now or what?!

Miss Smarty Pants Love of My Life---well there you are! I was starting to feel a little neglected. You know how insecure I am. AND, as usual you always know--I am menstrual! lol.... Do you like the new look though?? I seek your undying approval... Waiting on pins and needles.

Jeff and Valerie said...

Loved the post. Skinny hot mama story was hilarious!

mexican chopsticks said...

I loved your last conversation, I think we all had those moments. I was about to send you an e-mail to ask you about the bathing suits. Emma is a BIG fan of Elmo! By the way, the bathing suits only look cute because your daughters are wearing them.

insanemommy said...

I bought the bathing suits at Kohl's. On sale. Thanks Mexican Chopsticks!!

Lori said...

Rony, you crack me up! Love the pool story. Is this what I have to look forward too?
I love that you have such a great friendship with you MIL!

Diana said...

Love the bathing suits, love the girls, love the funny story and the refreshing take on an old worn-out question. When people ask me alot of personal questions especially about their birth...I tell them I'm not sure since I wasn't there. And their from my heart...jackass!!

Heather said...

Rony, I loved this post! I was laughing so much I got tears in my eyes! You are too too too funny. Love the MIL stuff... and the conversation part. Also---- I like the new look of your blog! And of course, the girls are adorable, as always. :) Heather

Cindy from central NC said...

Oooh...I love the very last story. Yes, of course, I know exactly what it is like to start "bracing" yourself for the questions....which I truly do hate now. At first I thought "hey, this isn't that bad"....But now I know it is. Your story will kinda make me wait a beat (which I should be doing anyways....) and give everyone equal chance no matter what I think.

I hate public neighborhood pools, too. We did just join the Y but it is very very well manned and classy so I'm much better with it.....

ttyl,
Cin

Anne Marie said...

Reminds me of an entry I read awhile ago at another blog -- a pre-schooler asked the blogger if she was the mom of her little girl. The blogger prepared herself for "Well, you don't look like her at all, etc.", but instead when the blogger answered yes, the pre-schooler responded "Oh, 'cause I thought you were her grandma!" Uh oh.