What a great weekend!! Our dear friends (Aubrey, Ottis, and Cameron) trekked it out to Jersey to spend a few days with us. I hope I'm not just speaking for myself when I say that a great time was had by all. It was so nice to be able to spend quality time together. Aubrey and I always make it a point to hang out when I'm in Cincy, but the hubbies usually aren't with us, and we don't usually get a lot of time visiting with the kids. I feel like I finally got to know sweet Baby Cameron--he's the spitting image of his dad, and such a sweetie pie. He also still has that yummy baby smell and I couldn't get enough of his deliciousness. He's at such a fun age, although I do feel bad that Aubrey and O had to spend so much time shadowing him as he tried to maneuver the stairs!

One of the funniest parts of the weekend was Kate's creation of Ottis's new nickname--"other daddy." This is one of those times where you're seriously wishing you could get inside of her brain to figure out her thinking process. It's not like the girl has never been around other fathers--but for whatever reason, she decided that since Ottis is indeed a daddy, and he isn't HER daddy, he would thus be known as "other daddy."

There was a whole lot of over-indulgence while the Coates family was in town--lots of fatty food and lots (like crazy lots) of adult beverages. Aubrey and I took Saturday afternoon and evening off--we lunched, saw a great movie (Ghost Town, see it NOW if you haven't already), and then went out for apps and drinks. *SIGH*--how I miss my time with my girlfriends!! We had to go to New York (not the city, just the state) to see the movie, and go figure, I missed our exit on the way back to Jersey. Aubrey was quite gracious about the fact that our detour took us (almost) to the Catskills and ate into over, oh, like 2ish hours of our time! At least the autumnal foliage was out full force so the scenery (I hope?) made up for it!!

The maniac men took in the Bengals-Jets game on Sunday, and I'm not going to even get into the shenanigans that occurred. No need to revisit that drama--although I am glad they had fun. Truly, I am :). Scott doesn't get many opportunities to relax and do something he truly enjoys--like going to NFL games with friends. He got stuck taking me to the Browns game last year, and I'm quite sure he had more fun with Ottis than he did with me.

Saying goodbye to the Coates fam was bittersweet--it was so nice having them here. They're such an important part of our family and we miss them. I can't let myself dwell on just how much we miss them, or how much fun we had hanging with our Cincy crew, or the endless Trivial Pursuit games and the shit talking and the Cranium and the birthday parties and the cookouts and the bar-hopping and the Basco incident and the whispery "hi" phone call or the.......you get the point.

So, Aub, Ottis Other Daddy, if you're reading this, thank you so very, very much for spending the weekend in the 'wood--we LOVED having you here! You guys are a big part of the reason we miss Ohio so much and we're so touched that you came to the Garden State to play--smooches!

One of the virtues of being very young is that you don't let the facts get in the way of your imagination. ~Sam Levenson


Okay, so I have zero idea who Sam Levenson is, but find his words so fitting for something I've been spending a lot of time thinking about/noticing lately. Of course this is all due to me being lucky enough to witness the girls' creativity take flight--I dare anyone to tell me what's more inspiring than watching a young 'un tell these complicated stories that they fully believe to be true. Stories that are full of whimsy and possiblity and complete nonsense, told so vehemently and enthusiastically that you can't help but believe your daughter did, indeed, just see a kangaroo. On a rooftop. In New Jersey. (This happened on the way to preschool the other day, and Kate was very concerned about the kangaroo having to go to timeout--I'm glad she recognizes that playing on roofs is a big no-no).

In the past week alone, I've crawled out of the mole hole in our yard, Lovey has pooped several times and both girls have gone swimming. On the moon.

It's so totally cool to watch these little creatures, who I still consider helpless peanuts, engage in this imaginative play. Every time they play with their dolls, it cracks me up to hear them quoting ME and repeating every single one of my daily mantras. Despite all evidence to the contrary, they have indeed been hearing EVERYTHING I say. They may not be the best of the listeners, but they're damn good at regurgitating. Julia loves to have meals with her dolls and Lovey (and tell them that they must sit on their respective tushes), while Kate is often comforting her dolls, who are always crying (seriously, I think her babies need Prozac). Kate loves to tell me and Julia that her dolls are crying because they miss their mommy--this is immediately followed by declarations of "Mommy KAAATE, I the MOMMY, OKAY?" Like what, anyone's disagreeing?

The only downside to this display of creative brilliance is that I no longer am able to tell when the truth is being told. Specifically, when asked about the happenings at preschool, both girls will weave these tales about how so-and-so was in timeout for pushing Kate and then so-and-so bit Julia. Now, I know the biting thing isn't true b/c there would be an accident report from preschool, however, the pushing very well could have happened. Oh well, I'm pretty sure I would be notified if something substantial were to occur.

Kate and Scott both have ear infections right now, which Kate finds verrrrry cool. Since Scott's dx (last night), Kate has been prancing around saying "Daddy's ear is broken. JUST. LIKE. KATE. Yayyyyy, Daddy." Apparently, this is quite the accomplishment on Scott's part.

Should have some good pics to post next week. Our friends are coming to visit from Cincy today--Aubrey, Ottis, and Baby Cameron, who technically isn't a baby anymore. I just hope the girls don't terrorize Cameron!