The latest.

Alright, I'm afraid I can't even tell you what we've been up to lately before I get some things off my chest. My last couple experiences at the grocery store have left me completely chapped and I'm dying to tell you why. More importantly though, I know you're absolutely dying to know. And I give the people what they ask for. Mostly. I won't pose for risque pics though. Just kidding. I mean I'm not just kidding about that. I really won't. You know what I mean.

There are 24 check-out lanes at Target. Twenty- four! And when I was there this morning, there were TWO lanes open. And there were long lines at each one. This totally infuriates me every single time I go. That's 8.3 percent of the lanes available for customers. What's the point?! Why didn't you make the stupid Target with as many lanes as you plan on having open? And there were Target employees mullin' around and shootin' the shiz with each other. Straightening displays and talking about their weekend and crap. And I glared at them. And they didn't care. They were thinking, What's that deranged mom looking at? Creepy. Is that her kid who keeps screech-screaming tarodactyl style? Oh well. And every time Scarlett would scream tarodactl style, the girl in front of me in line would startle and jerk her head around to see if it was coming from the same place as last time it happened. Yeah that's right... still her, the 3rd time you've looked. And then I always plan on givin' a little piece of my mind to the person at the register and then she's always so nice. So I can't do it. If I ever go grocery shopping, to Target or Wal-mart or wherever, and even half the check-out lanes are open for business, I will shed a tear of joy right then and there.

-Speaking of checking out, exactly how long is an acceptable amount of time to wait in line behind a couponer? Because I waited the other day at Maceys for a solid 15 minutes. Not 15 minutes total. 15 minutes after this young couples' food had been checked through. 15 solid minutes of standing there sorting through a huge stack of coupons for 7 cents off per item. When does it become appropriate to clear all of their crap out of the way and say, I'm sorry, you've exceeded your time limit and broken the grocer's code... it's my turn now. And she kept leaning over thanking me for being SOOO patient! And I was all, "Oh! No prob!" (big smile, wink wink, hi-five, chest bump). But what she didn't know was that I was actually boiling inside. And I almost insisted on paying for their entire grocery bill if she'd just put the coupons away.

Now listen. Don't get me wrong and don't go gettin' all judgy on me. Because I love a good coupon. And I am all about saving money. I just bought a pair of Guess leopard print heals at a thrift store in Seattle for $3. THREE DOLLARS!! (The price on them said $11.99 but when I took them to the register, the blessed man informed me that they were on the 75% off rack. And the emotion of it all nearly had me starting to convulse on the spot.) So I'm not against coupons and savings in general, people. I am very pro-savings. I AM however against the people who have a stack of coupons so large that they can't even put them in their purse or wallet, so they just have to tote the monstrous stack around in one hand with them everywhere they go. What if I needed a hand with something? What if I needed some help? And then I'd look up in desperation and they'd just say, Sorry, I can't help you. I got these coupons I'm holding. I'm especially against these individuals when they're in front of me in line.

Phew. I feel much better. I hope you don't leave a comment and say something like, "Just be grateful that we have the kind of grocery stores we do here in the US," or, "It could have been a lot worse, look on the bright side," because I'm really trying hard not to see any positive in anything right now. And I don't wanna have to block you.

Okay! We went to Seattle the weekend before last to see sister Cathy and it blew my mind in every way. We had so much fun! I love that city! And yes I've been there in the winter. And I still love it. I love rain. Maybe I'd feel differently if I lived there. I don't know though. I'm secretly a huge rain/thunderstorm/overcast weather lover. Maybe because I'm secretly a dark and disturbed person. Like that episode of Seinfeld when that lady is strangely attracted to Jerry because he's pretending to be dark and disturbed. But maybe I really am. Looks like you'll never know.

We drove up to Anacortes to take a ferry over to the San Juan Islands and had to pull off here to have a look around. Look at this lake! Isn't it mystical?! And Halloweenish? It was the most beautiful drive with dense forest on both side... I kept closing my eyes and trying to tune my kids out so I could pretend I was Bella Swan moving to Forks. But a much cooler Bella Swan, obviously. The tuning out didn't work too well. But what was creepy was right after we took this pic how we actually saw a group of newborn vampires walking straight out of this lake.

Aunty Cat and Lucy... the ferry ride over to the islands... Lucy loved that we were on a "Fairy boat."

Our whale watching excursion from the San Juan islands! I approached this with great fear and trepidation considering the last time I went whale watching I barfed my brains out the entire time. Happy to report no vomiting this round. Love those little peeping eyes in this picture.

Getting ice-cream on Friday Harbor afterwards. Anyone who knows Lucy knows exactly why this hat is so fitting. For her and for Cathy. :)

Sisters feeding ducks in Kirkland.

The Evergreen State fair. This fair totally redeemed my sentiments about fairs in general. As in, I used to hate them and now I don't. We had a great time. We worry about Lucy not having enough of a sense of adventure in her. Big worry of ours.

We were especially worried when she was the one comforting Cathy on all the rides they went on, telling her she was gonna be okay and that she wouldn't get hurt.

We walked through this display of animal figurines and told Scarlett to give this little bear a kiss so we could ooh and ahh about how stinking cute she is... when we looked over and saw Lucy with both hands on the face of another bear, open-mouth making out with it, waiting for us to tell her how cute it was. I'm surprised that bear didn't press charges for sexual assault.

This first pic below might be my very favorite pic because... well I'm just gonna say it... I look so pretty. It's just a really really pretty pic of me. There I said it!

Thank you Cathy for being the greatest!! And for loving your nieces so much! Lucy's still talking about you and the fair. And she's been asking about that wooden bear figurine... they had a real

connection.

You think this post is over?! You think we're done here?!? We're just getting started!! Onto my birthday last weekend!

Jason arranged for us to leave our babies with his parents overnight and we headed up to Park City for some hubby/wife time. Look at this room! Isn't it glorious?

When I realized we were going up to Park City I immediately imagined us getting all crazy hard-core and adventurous... (knowing my husband), I imagined us riding a ski lift to the top of a mountain and mountain biking down it or something. I even had the nerve to tell him, "I hope you haven't planned anything adventurous or outdoorsy because I am so not in the mood." Good one Meradith. So you can imagine my delight when he handed me this:

He did good. Soooo good. Then we went to a lovely dinner and to a movie. Which might sound pretty standard as far as dates go, and maybe not that big of a deal. But it was a big deal for us.

The only thing that really irks me about having a little get-away with just hubby and me is that momming it now for over 3 years has permanently ruined my ability to sleep in. But it hasn't affected Jason at all. And then I have to make it about much more than just sleeping in. I start thinking about pregnancy and labor and nursing and our daily routines and pretty much everything else along with it that comes with motherhood; every other way that my life has changed and his hasn't. And then I get mad at him. And feel sorry for him too, because in reality I'm pretty sure I get the best part. At any rate, every morning we're away starts out like this:

Because I have no little girls waking me up with the sunshine and so when my eyes shoot open before 7 AM and he's still trying to snooze I'm bored out of my mind. And I creep him out. I don't care though.

Here we are at brunch before heading back to reunite with our littles at Gma's and Gpa's. So yummy. Yes those are crab legs you see sticking into the picture in front of Jason. Crab legs for breakfast. I couldn't quite do it, which is surprising for me. But he could. And he did. And he'll do it again if you let him.

Last but not least a little family birthday bash that evening. This coconut cake makes all my dreams come true every time Kristee makes it. I'm not joking. It calls for Sweetened condensed milk and coconut milk. Nuff said. I wanna lick the pan when it's all gone, but I'm afraid that the family will judge me.

Thank you for all the birthday wishes and love! It was a fabulous weekend. Every minute of it. 29th year here I come, whether you're ready for me or not. (Meaning I just turned 28 of course. Don't you dare try to rob me of a year of my life.) And wouldja look at that, we've covered grocery store woes, our last vacay, and a birthday celebration all in one itty bitty post. Love you all xoxo!!