So imagine my delight when a neighbor told me that a local Sheraton was selling outdoor pool memberships for the summer. It's actually a smart business idea. Most hotel pools (outdoor ones, anyway) are deserted during the day as business travelers are in meetings. We signed up for a summer pool membership from July 4 to September 1 for $240 for the family.

The pool is open daily 10-7 and you can even order room service. Towel service and locker room facilities are also included. If you have a local hotel, give them a call. You never know what you might discover!

Bon Voyage Boxes
While Kristin's been busy drumming up Escape 08 sponsors, I've been working on the gifts for our "Bon Voyage Box." I am eying these adorable passport covers and I think we may be close to making a deal. Aren't they so cute?

Summer Tank
I am in love with the new arrivals at J.Crew, even if I'm not in love with their price tags. This is the most adorable tank and I must have it. Here's hoping it goes on sale before the cruise.

Marshmallows for the allergic?
Many marshmallows can't be enjoyed by my son who's allergic to egg whites. But these vanilla marshmallows from Trader Joe's (gluten-free and made with gelatin and corn syrup) make better s'mores than any others I've ever tried. Delicious!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Except that I didn't.

I'm continuing to work this week, trying to do my best impression of a publicist without a care in the world. Like everything is fine and normal. Like it's no big deal to drop my kids at sports camp to only turnaround and pick them up three hours later. My MIL is doing her best at keeping the boys at bay, but interruptions abound. It's hard to be productive when you hear fights over toys, cries over spilled chocolate milk, and other chaotic sounds coming from the kitchen downstairs.

I've known about these two weeks for months. I should have just closed shop myself. It probably would have made life easier all the way around. But I am working on a TV show that airs August 3 and it's impossible to take any time off before a broadcast. This is crunch time.

When the planets are aligned, I actually think this crazy work/life act can be manageable. But when one starts spinning off its axis, the rest of the planets get wacky, too. And the effects are widespread. Everyone feels it: my kids, my husband, my MIL, my stomach.

My MIL leaves tonight, and a new babysitter is starting tomorrow afternoon. She's a former nanny who can spend every afternoon here next week. Which is great. But already I am anticipating several more days of juggling the impossible.

Is anyone else suffering through summer schedules? Summer is supposed to be fun!

I can't wait for my vacation. Apparently I need one because someone in the blogosphere finds the Manic Mommies to be self-absorbed. Who, me?

Happy Birthday!

I know how happy you are to finally tell the world that you are a big boy of 6 years old. But I can’t help but feel a little dizzy by the idea that it has already been 6 years old since you came into our lives. I swear it was just yesterday that you (all of 2 weeks old) and I were huddled in the one air-conditioned room of our home, trying to stay cool during 100+ degree summer days.

Your birth, like the years that have followed, was easy with moments of fear and anxiety thrown in to keep us from getting too comfortable. The drugs that were designed to get you moving out of my belly caused your heart to beat too fast and your blood pressure to drop. When the drugs were stopped, your heartbeat returned to normal.

You were going to come out when you were good and ready, and not one moment sooner.

That pattern has repeated itself many times as we’ve watched you grow and explore. Walking, talking, potty training, training wheels – these things would be accomplished, but on your timetable. And when your father and I are feeling smart, we understand that it is our job to let you follow that schedule, and not push you along.

It turns out that you also spoiled us. You are adventurous, but not too much, letting us get away without childproofing our home. You are sweet and snuggly, preferring to get along rather than rail against our wishes. I have since learned, with the help of your younger sister, that not all kids are as happy-go-lucky as my big boy.

(I do worry you are a little too agreeable, a little too easy to push around. As with your father, girls – and their wishes – seem to be your weakness, and I fear that with their instruction you could end up in a lot of trouble.)

As you grow, I hope you will continue to find joy in the people and places you discover. Try new things, make new discoveries, explore new places – but follow your own schedule – and know that your father and I will always be watching (or cringing) ready to help you get back on your feet.

But do me one favor – don’t grow up too fast. I’m not ready to give up my little boy to the big world.

I will love you forever and a day,

Mommy

Links Mentioned:

Target
Ped Egg
Working Advantage
Ld Podcast
Omaha Steaks
Debi Gutierrez is the Mommy Comic

Ways to subscribe:

Seriously! I actually made this myself! (Did you know papier-mâché paste doesn't have any glue in it? Neither did I until I used this recipe from Family Fun).

Pirate props came from the dollar store and iParty – and yes, I gave each of the kids a sword. And no one got stabbed or lost an eye!

I made the cake last night (I was going to go with store bought, but Anders asked me to make the cake), and decorated it this morning (after a last minute run to the grocery store to buy decorating supplies).

So the party went well. The kids had fun. No one drowned in the pool. The pinata survived long enough to let everyone whack it, then fell apart on demand.

All that is left now is the thank you notes. Which I've asked my husband to deal with. I'm going to bed.

Tommy's kindergarten teacher named Fridays fun and fabulous. I miss hearing that reference around the house now that it's summer. So I am starting and my own fun fabulous Friday post which will include random thoughts, things that make me smile, and fun photos.

Since I am in a hotel room, let's start here:

I love beautiful hotel rooms and room service for breakfast, especially when its delivered on a beautiful wood tray complete with a silver pitcher and fresh flowers in a vase.

I stumbled across these pretty, handmade books on the Decor8 blog. Aren't they gorgeous?

I was sent a package of Frownies products and I've been using them for 30 days now. I confess I have not used the patches, because they seemed to take too much time to apply every night, but I have been using the face wash and the immune perfect wrinkle cream. I don't know that I see any major improvements, but I do think my skin looks a bit better. Maybe that's just the placebo effect, I don't know.

And finally this Friday, I am enjoying my new book club book, The Post Birthday World by Lionel Shriver.

Have a great weekend everyone!

As I posted previously, my friend Michele and I headed into Boston for a screening of The Closer's season premiere. The event, which included a most random assortment of people (including a lady who, I swear, was wearing a housecoat a slippers), was held at an eating and dining establishment in Boston's Quincy Market.

At the event was also actor Tony Flynn who plays Detective Flynn in the series (and who, Michele and I agree, is way more attractive in person).

Unfortunately, the screening was a held in a room with terrible acoustics, which gave me a terrible headache. So, I didn't get a chance to watch the entire show or meet Mr. Flynn (although I did shake his hand on the way out). I did get enough of a peek to remind me why I love the show – can't wait for it to premiere on Monday!!!

Anyway, that is why I'm so excited to attend a screening of the season premiere tonight in Boston. Kyra is not going to be there (how cool would that be??), but Tony Denison (who plays one of my favorite detectives on the show), will be. Plus, I'm going with my good friend Michele, so it's also a night out for the mommies!

Stay tuned - I'll post pictures from our trip in tomorrow. : )