Thought we'd have known better

Yet again, my kid spent a hot sweaty day with the Philadelphia Phillies.Last year it was a family affair. This time, however, I was in the cool of my air conditioned parents house with Maeve, while Mo, my dad, and poor Bry braved the record high heat and humidity to get pics with their favorite Phillies.
I have mentioned before that my father is a ridiculously crazy fan of the PHillies. The basement of their townhouse is covered with signed balls, photos, and tons of bobble heads. Mo has learned a great deal of Phillies history- both current and those of the past, from spending time looking at the bobble heads with my father. If you have a conversation with her, she talks of "Cole, Chase, and Brad" as if they are her best friends. She will tell you that Chase will "hold Mo" and "Brad too and Roy too" when they go to photo day. She knows about Mike Schmidt, Richie Ashburn, and don't forget the Phanatic. If you ask her who Auntie G's favorite is, she'll tell you it's Shane, Aunt Ash likes Greg, and Maevie is a fan of Roy.
For the past month she has been incessantly talking about the Phillies game. We promised her that she would get to see her favorite Chase with Pop and Dad. All week she would say, "Phillies game Mo, Pop, Dad". I think she may have uttered that combination of words at least a hundred times within the past 7 days.
Fast forward to Saturday, July 24. Mo wakes up at 5:40 am. Mainly because our non-air conditioned home is already over 85*. By 9;40, she is a mess, crying and miserable. To nap, she goes. Within ten minutes she's out, fast asleep. I call my dad and tell him that I don't think it's a good idea. Between her mood and the weather, I don't want to risk it. He says no big deal and hangs up. Bry's response, "She's been looking forward to this all month. We can't let her down." I remind Bry- it's hot plus he will be hanging out with my dad- the rabid Phillies fan- for the afternoon. He stands firm, asserting that Mo really wants to go and so he wants to make her happy.
I give in and off they go.
Look at the pics below. Who do you think was the happiest one there?


Mo and the Phanatic
She wouldn't let him any closer


Ryan Howard


Unfortunately Chase did not hold Mo. She said, next year!


Sweaty and Hot Mo

Mo on Pops' Shoulders


Carlos Ruiz playing with Mo's hat



Joe Blanton with Mo & Pops


Raul Ibanez with Mo & Pops, one of the nicest guys out there


Maeve's favorite (So Mo says) Roy Halladay


Cole Hamels with Mo & Pop

In the end, they made it to the first pitch of the 4:05 game when Mo said "Pop, go home!"
Next year, Bry already told me that it's my turn.
Since then Mo has been talking about the game on and off to everyone. If you ask, she will tell you she saw Roy, and Shane, and Brad, and Chase. No Jaime. If you ask why, she'll tell you about his booboo on his arm. (Thanks Dad. Jaime Moyer hurt his arm earlier this week.)
I wonder if the Phillies have given any thought into holding Photo day in September, at night, when it definitely will be cooler? I have a year to persuade them on that, but until then my girl will keep talking about her favorite baseball team the PHIL LEES!

6 months and Sweaty!

I have mentioned it before, but we do not have air conditioning and thus, we are sweating ridiculously here. We - Bry, Mo, and I are uncomfortable, Maeve on the other hand, appears to LOVE the heat. We took refuge at my parent's house a few nights and she woke up at 4 am both nights. We come home and she's out from 8:30 pm until 8 am or later!
I know, I am guilty of wishing away time. I kept mentioning earlier this year, specifically in the winter, that I couldn't wait for spring. Well now, it appears I'm back to my old ways. I'm counting down the days until fall,it's Sept. 22. Maybe by then, the temperature will go back to normal and I won't be sweating through the sheets at night.
To combat this heat, we have had a few sleepovers at "camp Brammie & Pops". I think we were there most of last week. I've filled up the blow up pool and let Mo splash around, and yesterday we made the drive to visit Grandma with the bracelets. The perfect way to celebrate Maeve's six month birthday.
The last time we were down the shore, it was Easter and Maeve was tiny. This time, she can sit up all by herself and she seems to be a beach bunny just like her older sister. We had a fabulous hour at the beach. Mo enjoyed digging with Grandma with the bracelets while Maevie giggled uncontrollably when I put her feet in the water.
Hopefully this is the first of many weekly trips down the shore.
I honestly cannot think of a better way to cool off!

Good Mom, Sucky Wife

Growing up I knew my parents loved each other. I could just see in their eyes that they were each others' soul mates. I did notice one thing, they always put our needs, that is the kids needs, first and at times it was to a fault. My mom mentioned once that it was always all about us, and while I am thankful, I wish my parents spent more time for just them. I'm grateful, don't get me wrong. Looking back, I think it would have been great for just the two of them to have date nights to the movies or dinners out. We would have survived a weekend with an aunt or family friend, so they could go to the beach alone together.
They did finally figure that out, of course, I was in college by then, but they did get their "we" time.
So here I am, this time in the role of the mom and wife and guess what? I seem to be falling into that same trap. If I don't say so myself, I totally ROCK the mom role! My girls seem to be thriving and happy. We do music, play dates, trips, and have fun most of the time doing it. My relationship with my husband, well, it too seems to revolve around our girls. While that isn't a bad thing, I don't think it's the best thing for us.
I can only imagine that there are people reading this that think I'm crazy. But honestly, my relationship with Bry needs to be just as important as my relationship with Mo & Maeve. Our family is not just the kids, it is also Bry and I as husband and wife. We need to make time for just us. To have conversation (and maybe even a meal without chicken nuggets) that is beyond kid talk. We need to have time to enjoy things alone.
Is that selfish?
Perhaps.
But I also think it's good for my girls. Besides the time they will get away from me, because God knows they need it too, it will also give them the chance to see their parents in a healthy relationship with each other.
I need to put some more effort into this because Bry deserves it. He is an amazing dad and pretty good husband too. Hell he puts up with me and that says a lot!

Sprinkler Fun!

Sometimes pictures are better then anything I could write.
Thanks Ash.