Spring Break for Besties

Posted on April 21, 2017 by playinghousewi

Charlotte’s school runs on a typical public school calendar, so last week, her school was closed. Of course, this meant we were in a childcare shuffle. We had originally planned to put C in a random school for a week, which I was DREADING. I envisioned lots of tears and heartache and guilt.

THANKFULLY, my amazing neighbor offered to take C for the week. Her daughter has become C’s legit BFF. Like, who even knew that almost 3 year olds were capable of such a BFF status… but these girls have it. They had the BEST time playing together all week and my neighbor is amazing. She made BEAUTIFUL pictures with the girls, helped them build pillow forts, and just showed them the best time ever. These photos are literally just everything. I love them. And honestly, I love the friendship between the two girls.

Ellie, my friend’s daughter, also goes to C’s school (only 2 days a week), so this little spring break has really helped to enhance an already great friendship. So cute.

Elyse (me neighbor) told me that the girls were playing “school” and pretending to drop the kid off at school and say goodbye. HAHA!

Apparently, Charlotte fell and Ellie ran over to take care of her…

Rainy Day Forts!

Here are a few pics from the weekend before. We spent the day with the neighbors as a fam… cookout and all!

The “Man Date” HAHA!

A quick afternoon wine tasting… of course!

A Visit From NY

Posted on April 21, 2017 by playinghousewi

Last week, our favorite New Yorkers came to town! Mark’s sister, Erika, her hubby Mike & the nieces, Emily & Audrey. Unfortunately, we had a rough start to the visit. Poor Audrey was diagnosed with the flu (influenza) just days before coming to Milwaukee. We were supposed to get together for a big family Sedar (for passover) on that Monday, but ended up cancelling because we didn’t want to risk spreading the flu to the kids (they’re still very high risk).

We ended up seeing them on Tuesday (they had arrived on Saturday) and just about every day after. So, while we had a slow start, the trip was really great! Charlotte and Henry ADORE their cousins and vice versa. It was amazingly cute watching the four kids. I’m talking wagon rides and ring around the rosy cute… reading stories together cute… it was good stuff.

Poor little C got so used to seeing her cousins, she couldn’t quite understand why they weren’t coming over the days after they left Wisconsin. In fact, she cried the whole way home from school on Monday because she wanted to see Audrey.

Thank goodness for technology… the kids spent a good 30+ minutes chatting on FaceTime a couple nights ago. AND, we’ll be trekking out to NY next month over Memorial Day! The kids are SO excited, and so are we! It’s going to be a blast.

The Babymoon / 1 Year Anniversary Celebration

Posted on March 20, 2014 by playinghousewi

We are officially back from our jaunt to Mexico… in fact, we’ve already gotten right back into nursery prep mode. Last night we picked up the crib, glider, and ottoman from Babies R Us and did all the caulking around the trim in the nursery. As my Milly (Mother-In-Law) says, 0 to 60 in no time 🙂

But, before I get too far ahead of myself, I have to say, we had a REALLY great trip. After the worst winter ever, it was so nice to feel warmth… and the sun. Oh did I miss the sun. However, I did get pretty damn fried the first day. I really think it has to be partly because of the pregnancy, because wow did I fry. To the point where I had to take extra strength tylenol just to be able to pee.

Beyond that, it was wonderful. We stayed at the Excellence Playa Mujeres and honestly, couldn’t have picked a better resort. We were worried about spring breakers debauchery run-off from Cancun, but didn’t have a single issue. We got a pool or beach lounger whenever we wanted one, the crowd was a lot of couples (due to the adults only status), and there were tons of activities.

We did trap shooting with an air-soft gun, an aloe vera class, played tennis (Mark only), took a yoga class (me only), saw tons of shows (even a Mexican version of Michael Jackson), and relaxed a plenty.

My first time shooting and I was a rockstar! 2 out of 3! Poor husband didn’t hit anything 🙂

Our lovely room.

Exploring Isla Mujeres via golf cart with the hubs. Took a giant catamaran sail boat over to the island for a nice day trip.

MJ is BACK!

Delicious dinner at one of seven restaurants! This was one of our faves… the Italian, Toscana.

The most heavenly few hours EVER.

So, I need a pool and a hammock… no biggy.

We got the sweet baby girl a little outfit from our first out-of-country family vacay!

This could be why I gained so much weight this month… breakfast on our balcony.

Mixing up a mask in our aloe vera class (I’ll post the recipe soon).

Marky lathering up in our aloe vera class.

Our anniversary! ONE fabulous year with my love.

A special babymoon gift from our concierge. Sparkling cider and a freaky baby cake!

The weirdest and funniest St. Patty’s Day beer tasting event EVER.

Enjoying the balcony on our last morning.

Bon Voyage!

Symptoms

I just had my doctor’s appointment today, which went well. The doc was very surprised (and maybe a little pleased) that I didn’t really have many questions at all. Everything is looking good, although, I did gain a bit of weight this month. She said I needed to put on a little extra because I was low before… but I put on that little extra and then a little extra after that. The nurse said if I get back to my normal eating habits and workout regimen, things will likely even out. Nothing to worry about… but I will definitely not be indulging as I was. EXCEPT for our one-year anniversary cake that is being delivered tonight. SO excited. Our cake lady added the mini cake into our wedding cake package. She made the cutest little design… love birds with eggs in the nest.

Our anniversary cake! Can’t wait to see it (and taste it) tonight!

Other than that, I’m feeling really great! Still have random aches and pains in the back and cramping in my hip, but nothing to complain about. Also, the little nuglette continues to practice her acrobatics in my belly. She is quite the wiggle worm. Oh I just love her. Can’t wait to meet her!! Only 3.5 months left!

Sunny Sunshine Here We Come!

Posted on January 30, 2014 by playinghousewi

Ahhhh… Paradise!!

We FINALLY booked our trip!! We are headed to Playa Mujeres… a quick 30 minutes North of Cancun, Mexico. And literally, I could not be happier about it. We picked an absolutely beautiful resort (at least according to photographs and the millions of reviews that I read) that is bound to be amazing. I’ve never been to an all-inclusive or to Mexico, so I’m super excited.

We were a little nervous about being so close to Cancun during “Spring Break” time, but being that our resort is adults-only and pretty far from the Cancun Hotel Zone, I’m confident it will be the relaxing and peaceful paradise we’re hoping for.

I had originally been using Expedia to look for trips, but after feeling so overwhelmed and literally spending hours looking up trips in every warm destination across the world, we decided to call a travel agent. We did the same thing for our honeymoon and were a little disappointed with our travel agent experience then. She was super nice, but it seemed that she played the same role as Expedia, but a little slower. Plus, Expedia doesn’t get irritated with you for searching a ridiculous amount of resorts and locations.

Anyway, our experience with this travel agent was pretty similar. In fact, I ended up finding the resort, sending the agent the price I found and gave her an opportunity to match it/beat it. And, when she first sent her travel package to us, she had us flying from Chicago instead of Milwaukee. I ended up having to show her the exact flights / airline we wanted to be on so she could use them in her package. It cost us $100 less with her, but seemed pretty ridiculous. I think I deserve her commission, right?

Why isn’t there a website or a travel agent who you can provide specific criteria to (ie: warm temps, romantic/adults resort, snorkeling, great beach, etc) and they return the perfect trip to you? Does anyone have a good (and helpful) travel agent? Do they exist?

Whatever I guess, right? Either way, we’re headed to sunny fabulousness in about a month and a half and I couldn’t be more excited!!

It’s Literally -22 Degrees F

Posted on January 28, 2014 by playinghousewi

Seriously, Wisconsin? This is bonkers. I can’t even comprehend this craziness. Last year the coldest day of the year was -5 and truly, it was a relatively warm winter with minimal snow fall. This is just unreal. The public schools have now had three “cold days”… ie: temperatures are so severe and dangerous, all are warned to stay inside. Sounds lovely, huh?

Anyway, this crazy weather has increased the already urgent desire to get our dang one-year anniversary/babymoon vacation planned. The vastness of the Internet seems to act as a total inhibitor when it comes to vacation planning. I end up OBSESSING over every review and feel severely overwhelmed and incapable of making a decision. BUT, I’m hoping that we will finally get something solidified this week. That would be such a relief.

I just want to sit in the warm weather with my hubs, sipping a non-alcoholic cocktail, enjoying the sunshine, loving life and celebrating the best year of my life. Ahhh. I almost feel more relaxed just thinking about it.

Speaking of my hubs, I can’t believe that in March, it will have already been a year since our wedding. Time really does fly when you’re having a great time. And, on top of getting to celebrate on vacation, we get to enjoy when we get back… because as part of our “cake package,” we negotiated in an anniversary cake. So, 14 servings of this tasty treat are coming our way…

I can almost taste the sweet deliciousness now…

And just for fun… some wedding memories…

Ugh, my husband is so dang cute.

Sharing the wine.

Enjoying each other (and the speeches).

First dance!

One of the last dances.

Symptoms

Nothing new to report! I ate like crap today and am feeling pretty crappy in response. Urgh. I’ll be better tomorrow! Oh! And did I mention it’s freezing?