the week of unusual excitement

The first two pictures represent what I generally do all day every day.  Well, not entirely.  If they were pictures of me changing diapers, and making food, and wiping down high chairs, and going to the park, and cleaning the floors, and picking up toys, and doing laundry, and pretending to be pirates, they would be a little more accurate. But I do smile with Lukey and smile at Russell putting underwear on his head as well.

Now for the atypical events of the month.  Between the dates of May 20-May 25 I experienced a weekend with my best friends (with all of our kids at home safe and sound with their papas) in Orange County, and got to go to the finale and after party of American Idol with my dear friend Courtney.

Because these events are such a gross misrepresentation of my life, I hesitate to even post them.  We all know how glamorous a blog can make a life appear, and I assure you mine is as simple as every other mom.  I happened to have a lucky week. 

My best friends and I were all free from nursing, and seized the opportunity to get away without any babes or kids.  It was the best decision I have ever made in my entire life.  Ok, maybe not the very best, but a mighty good one.  We packed a lot in.  The very best part was laughing so hard our stomachs might burst and talking and talking and talking.

We met up Friday night at Stonefire, for pizza and planning, headed to Fashion Island for shopping....

I know the picture below is a bit ridiculous, but I love that it shows our crazy excitement.  This is Lu Lu and I dancing in jumpsuits.  We felt a bit pre-teen, trying on crazy clothes, but it was incredibly fun.  Trying on clothing in stores is something we never do, because our kids are crawling out of our stalls and into the stalls of changing strangers.

Went to yogurtland, back to our hotel for lots of talking and facials by Lu Lu. 

Saturday morning we woke early and headed to California Adventure, where we got to ride all the rollercoasters.

Then to chronic taco, and to Newport beach.  We screamed our heads off in the freezing water, played volleyball, talked and laid in the warm sun, and stopped at Sprinkles on our way out.

Got back to our hotel, showered -yes Britt and I showered together in our swim suits like ten year olds- checked out the Casablanca fund raiser in the hotel.  It was gorgeous, and they had a real camel.

Out for Thai food, yogurtland again, and back to Disneyland to ride more big kid rides.

Got back to our hotel around 1 am.  Talked until 2 and finally to sleep.  Sunday morning we were off to church, grabbed some lunch, and said our sad goodbyes.

I have about 100 more pictures of the weekend.  It was perhaps the most photographed weekend of my life.


I was thrilled when my friend Courtney invited me to American Idol!  Her husband works for Fox and he had backstage passes to the show and tickets to the afterparty on the roof.  It was such a blast.

...and a girl's weekend straggler.  We missed you Maggi.