Princeton University

On Saturday, September 27th, I went with the family to a Princeton University football game. This was a new experience for me because I had never been to Princeton before, let alone any Ivy League school. We meet up with Jed's father there who actually graduated from Princeton. The whole time it rained. It was a very light misty rain, though, so it was kind of cool. We only stayed until half time because it was getting late and we had to get the kids home. When we left though the score was tied 7-7 for Princeton and Lehigh. So I don't even know who ended up winning. It was really cool though to be there in Princeton. So much history. It was awesome to think about that school having been around since the 1700's. It also made me wish that I would have been smarter and had the desire to go to an ivy league school when I was younger. I have a few pictures listed above that I took. I am going to try and get a hold of the pictures Shelly took at the game and put them on here as well. But those will come at a later time!

Jersey City anyone.....

On Tuesday and Wednesday I got the 'opportunity' to get lost in New Jersey and in New York just trying to find a simple Honda Dealership in Jersey City. Seriously, how hard can it be. Well, obviously, in New Jersey they like to make things complicated and confuse the daylights out of newcomers with the way their road system works. I had directions from map quest and told myself as I started out on Tuesday that I could do this, that it was only like 30 miles away. I was told that during the trip I wouldn't be going through any toll booths, so when I came to a toll booth, I started to freak out just a little! (Luckily I had cash on me, which is a rare thing). I went through the toll booth and then called Shelly to help me out. (Also, luckily I had just bought a bluetooth headset to use in the car because in New Jersey it is illegal to talk on the phone without a hand free device. That thing saved my butt). Then things just got worse. I kept finding my way to all these different toll booths. At one point I was in a part of Jersey city that had a lot of industrial stuff and was right by the water. All of a sudden I look out to my right and the statue of liberty is right there in the water across from me. That was a pretty cool surprise. Finally in Jersey city, Shelly was able to talk me through to how to get to the dealership. On my way back, it was a piece of cake!!! But the adventure doesn't stop there. Oh no! On Wednesday, I had to go back into Jersey City to the dealership to get more stuff taken care of. Shelly explained to me better on how to get there. I told myself this time I would do it. So off I was and I realized the mistake I made the day before that got me lost. So I was feeling pretty good and thinking I was actually gonna make it. Well I spoke to soon. Before I knew it, I was going on the Holland Tunnel to New York and passing by Jersey City. I call Shelly and say 'ummm I think I'm lost and am now in New York'. I ended up having to stop at a gas station to get directions. Once I got on the correct road, again Shelly had to walk me through the directions. I did eventually get there, though I arrived a lot more exhausted and frustrated than when I had left haha! All I know is that the third time is the charm. So next time I go to Jersey City I will get it down!!!!

A Glimpse into Parenthood

It started with something as simple as going to dinner at Stewart's for a quick bite to eat. I had the two boys, Sammy and Joey. Everything seemed to be fine as we ordered our food and ate it. It was when we were done eating and waiting to order ice-cream and get our check that the problems all began. Joey kept talking about the balloon man and about wanting a silly hat. I could not figure out what he was talking about. I soon realized that there was a man in the restaurant that was making balloon animals and shapes, etc. He was going around the place making balloons for all the kids. Joey started getting irritated with the waiting. I told him he had to wait until the balloon man came around to our table and that he needed to eat his ice-cream first. While this was going on, Sammy was making a mess with his cotton candy ice-cream. Everything was blue and sticky! Then right before the balloon man got to our table, Joey started to whine and freak out because he had spilled ice-cream down his shirt and he was getting ready to rip off his shirt and run out the door while having a tantrum. Luckily, the balloon man choose that moment to arrive and he got Joey distracted with making a balloon. He made Joey and Sammy silly hat balloons, but as soon as he did that Joey started freakin' out again about something. He kept trying to take Sam's balloon away from him. I hurried them outside and the whole time Joey was fighting Sam for his balloon. Once we got to the car, I was trying to get out wipes to wipe off the boy's hands because they were really sticky. Sammy then started to grab the balloons and destroy them, while Joey was freakin out about it and screaming. Then Joey started whining that he left his 'Dora' book inside the restaurant. I tried getting the kids in the car but they kept running in different directions Once they were in the car, I ran back inside to get Joey's book. By the time I was back outside I heard someone screaming like they were dying. I ran to the car and Joey was screaming and bawling his head off. Sammy had taken Joey's balloons and destroyed them again. It took a minute to calm him down but we got there. This must be what it is like to be a parent all the time. I think after this year is over I will be more than ready to be able to deal with kids of my own one day. And I hope to never see another balloon again lol!!!

So on saturday, we went to the Bronx zoo. It is huge! It was the perfect day though. It was pretty cloudy so it wasn't too hot at all. It was way crowded.

At my new job as a nanny for triplets, two who are autistic, there is always so much going on. Lauren and Joey will talk your ears off for hours and Sammy can't get a word in. Not that he cares too, though. Joey is obsessed with Mario Kart on the Wii. He plays for hours a day. He is truly a pro at it. He is almost impossible to bet, though I will brag a little and say I have bet him a few times. Joey is also very loving. He loves to come up to you and tell you he loves you or misses you. He loves smelling your hair as well. Sammy doesn't have a whole lot to say, but he loves to be tickled and you can get him laughing like crazy. Lauren is very outgoing and has a million things going on in her life, from dance lessons, to cheerleading, to book clubs. They are all great kids and they have great parents who are very good to me.

So where do I start. I am not very good when it comes to writing about anything. But everyone has been insisting that I start to. So I guess here is my first attempt. Lets just hope it isn't too confusing to follow! So lets start....the reflections of an East Coast Nanny!