Real life with kids. I find mine very frustrating. "N" will be 4 years old next month and "O" will be 2 years old in May. I love them but they can drive me crazy with the fighting and screaming.

We had "N" when we lived in Columbus, OH. It was nice because we were to close to family but close enough that they could drive to see us when they wanted. We didn't use a sitter (unless family was watching him), when we went out, all of us went. We took cool weekend trips over to Pittsburgh, Frankenmuth, and different place like that.

In 2004, just after "N" turned 1 year old we moved out to Phoenix, AZ. We used a friend of mine to watch "N" once in a while but really didn't go out much without him. We still took cool weekend or day trips. We flew to San Francisco for Mother's Day weekend and had fun. Rented a car and went up to Sedona, AZ for the day.

After we had "O" our whole life was turned upside down and not because of her. After she was born "The Hubby" got a promotion with the company he worked with at the time. Pretty much we really didn't see him again until June 2006. We even moved out the Palm Springs, CA so we could try to be with him more which we saw less of him. That was the hardest year of our lives I think.

In June 2006, "The Hubby" gets a job here in Phoenix so it's nice because we see him a lot more. I still get very frustrated though because I think we need a vacation. Just me and him NO KIDS. Well, we are only a 7 hour flight to Hawaii but we have no one close to us to watch the kids so we can just have time for us. I think the last time we had a night away was a year and a half ago.

All that they like to do now is fight. "O" will pick a fight with "N" just by going into his room. It seems like that's all I hear is them screaming all the time and it just gets old. They used to get along so good but I have no idea what happened.

No matter what anyone says, you need those few nights away a few times a year. If not, you start having some real bad problems. It does put a very big strain on the family and since I pretty much stay at home with the kids I really don't get a break and it's just a whole big mess.

Real life, kids are hard. As they get older it seems to me that their goal in life is to see how hard they can push your buttons. Right now it doesn't take much to push my buttons and then it's all over. I love my kids dearly though no matter what. You do have to make time for yourself, time for you and your husband and then time for family (not necessarily in that order).

A little advice for those who have yet to have kids. Stay near family or really good friends. There will come a day when you just need to get away and you won't have to worry because someone will be there to help you. Even if you don't like your family, stay near them anyway. We thought we were doing good for our family by moving to Phoenix when all it's done is just cause problems. We are trying to figure out a way to get back the MI so we can just be a normal family.

Remember that this is real life and once you have kids then your days of being selfish all the time are over. We do try to get a sitter once a month just so we can go out with out kids and worry about screaming and rushing through a meal. You can still be a little selfish like wanting those once in a while weekends.

When you get one of those, it can be as easy as asking grandma to take the kids for the night. You come back home, have a romantic dinner that you guys cooked together, have some nice wine, and then maybe just stay in bed the rest of the night and into the next day. Just to not have kids around for one night would be so great for me. Or you could go all out and make it a quick little getaway. We had on in Vegas for our anniversary a few years back. Either way, time away is nice quiet, relaxing time away.

Enjoy it when you get it!!!!