3 Cheers for Poppa!

Cause he came through in a pinch.

It all started with a phone call earlier this week.  We were selected to win a cruise!  Happy day!  The prize was 100% guaranteed, all we had to do was listen to a 90 minute presentation and be part of a focus group. 

No problem.  I will listen to you babble like Madeline for 90 minutes to receive my free cruise, thank you very much!

I had to schedule the 'presentation' for this week and both Ryan and I had to be there.  Without being able to consult anyone about babysitting availability, I took a chance and booked 8 pm on Friday night.  I figured we could at least have one kid to bed by then so whoever the lucky person was who got to stay with the girls would have it a little easier.

Usually Nonna and Poppa come as a set for weekend babysitting but Nonna's back is still a mess and I wasn't sure if Poppa wanted to fly solo.  We haven't been out much  since Madeline has been born {we REALLY need to work on this!}and Ellie tries to talk you into letting her stay up til midnight.  And you almost give in when she gives you a sweet smile and her 'Slinky' curls are in just the right place making her little self extra adorable.

So next on the list was Auntie.  I casually asked her if she had plans for Friday night.  Since she was already coming to help for pictures, maybe she could just hang out all night.  I mean, really, who wouldn't want to spend a night in in the suburbs when you are living in the city with an active social life?  Oh right, no one. Turns out Auntie had a date anyway.  {ooohhhhhh!  ;) }

Then like an angel sent to answer our vacation prayers, Poppa was on our door step running over extra plants for our photo shoot.  I asked him if he minded staying with the girls and he said he would be happy to.

 His confidence might have been a little shaky but I gave him a pat on the back and told him it would be fabulous.  Ryan and I haven't been on a trip without any children in almost two years.  I didn't care if the three of them were cuddled up on the couch watching Nick Jr. when we got home at 10.

Yay!  Bahamas here we come!

Our 'presentation' ran late - we had to get the hard sell after we repeatedly turning down their Travel Agency Discount Club for an hour - and we ended up not getting out of the presentation until 10 and home at almost quarter to 11.

When we walked in the door Poppa said everything was great.  Madeline never made a peep and Ellie ended up going to bed around 8:40.  Not too bad.  He also mentioned something about Ellie wanting him to lasso her and that they read lots of books in bed.

This morning Ellie ran into our room at 6:45 am.  You know, the second her clock turns green.  She was so excited that Poppa read her Cinderella AND Sleeping Beauty from her 'clock book'  and Llama Llama Red Pajama on top of that.  Dude.  That is a lot of reading.  A lot.

Then Ellie told us all about how she wanted to use the jump rope as a lasso and it was so awesome that Poppa could do it.  Seriously, where do three year olds come up with this stuff? 

So Poppa and Ellie had a fun couple of hours together and Ryan and I are going to the Bahamas. 

I wonder what Poppa's schedule is looking like in late September / early October....

;)