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EP 140: April Catch Up
924 Plays1 day ago
This week’s episode is a true April catch-up… and it’s one of those conversations that feels like a deep exhale and a group hug at the same time.
Candace shares all about the girls’ joint birthday party at their house—what worked, what didn’t, and the sweet chaos of celebrating both girls together. She also recaps their recent trip to the Disney water park, including the fun, the logistics, and what it’s really like doing a water park with little kids.
Whitney opens up about the passing of her grandmother and shares what this loss has been like for her. It’s a tender moment in the episode, and a really honest look at grief, family, and processing big emotions… especially when you’re not someone who typically shares them out loud.
We also get into our Easter recaps and have a very real conversation about holiday burnout. By the time Easter rolls around, we are… tired. We talk about the pressure, the expectations, and what we’re starting to rethink when it comes to holidays as moms.
To wrap it up, we chat about upcoming trips—Candace heading to San Diego and Whitney going to the beach—and all the mixed emotions that come with getting away. The excitement, the anticipation, and of course… the anxiety of leaving your kids and stepping out of your routine.
It’s a little bit of everything this week—joy, grief, burnout, excitement—and we’re just talking through it like we always do.
What we talk about:
- Candace’s girls’ joint birthday party at home
- A Disney water park trip with little kids
- Whitney sharing the loss of her grandmother
- Navigating grief and opening up emotionally
- Easter recap + honest thoughts on holiday burnout
- The pressure of making holidays “magical”
- Upcoming trips (San Diego + beach getaway)
- The excitement and anxiety of traveling as moms
Keep up with the Moms and join the conversation on our socials:
📸 Instagram: @momgroupchat
🎵 TikTok: @momgroupchat
Questions/comments/need to vent? Email us at momgroupchatpodacst@gmail.com
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Transcript
Introduction and Host Insights
00:00:07
Speaker
There's no right way to do it.
00:00:12
Speaker
Oh, we're going to get into it. What up, moms? My name is Candice, and I'm here with my best friend, Whitney Williams, and this is the Mom Group Chat Podcast. Ooh, it's a jingle.
00:00:24
Speaker
I have been in a jingle mood. I sent you a jingle this morning.
Jingles and Busy Schedules
00:00:28
Speaker
Oh, y'all. I wish we could plop that in here because Candice made me laugh so hard this morning, and Graydon was on my way to daycare, and Graydon happened to hear it, and he goes, ooh, I like that.
00:00:41
Speaker
like It was a real song. And it was literally just a little ditty about my anxiety. And I just had a little jingle about how I was feeling. And it just slapped. I don't know. It flew out of me.
00:00:53
Speaker
It was really funny. I enjoyed it. And so did my children. So thank you. You're so welcome. But I've been in a jingly mood recently. i feel like like even to my clients when I send them a voice note, I'm like, happy Wednesday. And I just feel like I need to sing everything.
00:01:10
Speaker
I'm just imagining me talking to like customers that way. And I can't imagine like if I did that because I'm like in the building industry and me like me like, happy Wednesday to a construction worker sounds crazy.
00:01:27
Speaker
But maybe they'd like it. I don't know. I bet they'd like it. They'd be like, ooh, sing for me again. Sing for me, Paolo. Well, now I'm making it creepy, but you know. That's so funny.
00:01:39
Speaker
ah Wow. What a long time it's been. You said that last catch up. Well, it looks like we got to get on this mic more then because it has been busy. We've been busy. Yeah. No life like truly life has lifed like life has been lifing more than it is life before. it is just I feel like last week was truly our.
00:02:05
Speaker
first unintentional, like, we had to skip a week. Like, it's if we ever skip a week, it's, like, around the holidays or, like, an intentional, like, summer break episode, maybe. But, like,
Birthday Party Reflections
00:02:18
Speaker
we hardly... We've...
00:02:20
Speaker
I mean, not to toot our own horn here, but we have very rarely like missed a week of posting an episode. I mean, we'll do anything to like squeak one in. like will We will. Late into the night on a weekend, like we'll put it out there, but it just it did it was not in the cards this time, but that's okay. I mean,
00:02:39
Speaker
For a good reason. Like there was so much going on. i feel like we'll get we'll get into it and like just hear updates from both of us and like everything that's been going on. But it's just been a crazy couple weeks. And I'm so sorry that we left you hanging for a week, but we're back.
00:03:00
Speaker
We're back. And I feel like I want to hear, i mean, you left us hanging on like how the birthday party went, first of all. Which, are we just, are we going? Because this is April. We're going. yeah I know. And actually, feel like we have so much to catch up on. So, yes, we had the girls' birthday party. And you guys, it went so well. It all came together. All of my anxiety was for nothing, you know, as per usual. It was so good. it
00:03:34
Speaker
like, everything turned out great. Like, I really have no... ah Like, I couldn't tell you. I would say the one thing that I would do differently is I would get a larger bounce house because I only got a 10 foot by 10 foot and it was w WWE Smackdown in there. And it was for how many kids we had. Lesson learned. um And then i just didn't.
00:03:58
Speaker
factor in enough time to like take pictures and videos the way I wanted to. Like, I don't even have a picture really of like me and the girls. It's fine. and You had, you were like enjoying in the moment.
00:04:10
Speaker
and I was, I was very present. i didn't touch my phone the entire time of the party, which I guess is a good thing. Um, but it was so well, the decoration looks so good. It all came together. the backyard was beautiful and the flow of the, you know, I think I mentioned on here, I was like kind of nervous about the flow of our setup of our house and backyard, because when we had Evie's smaller little birthday get together back in February, we were mostly inside and the flow was not flowing. you know, but it all, it worked perfectly. People came in through the the side gate of the backyard. People stayed outside. People were obviously still went in and out. Um, it was so funny in the middle of the birthday party though, Hannah came up to me and she was like,
00:04:57
Speaker
hello, Alice is giving people to house tours inside. Like, should I shut that down? And I was like, yes, please. but Alice, oh my God, a queen. Thank you. but She was like giving people tours of our inside of our house. And I'm like, did I even make my bed? I have no idea. i cannot tell you. Funny. Oh my God. She's like an adult.
00:05:18
Speaker
She really is. um So, and it was just so funny because she was like, do you want me to shut that down? I was like, yes, please. Um, so it was so good. the girls had a blast. Um, and it was so good to see everyone. Everyone had like positive things to say about like our backyard reno and like everything. it looked so good, but let me tell y'all we worked until the last minute. My husband was laying the flooring of the playground area the morning of the party.
00:05:54
Speaker
I bet y'all were so tired. We were so tired. And then my husband got like wasted at the party. Not like, yeah, like really not until the end. Like no one, no guests were like, Oh my God, your husband's wasted. It was like more towards the end when people lingered, you know, we were drinking and he got a little tipsy towards the end and then passed out. And I let that man sleep because he was a slave 12 sleep. Yeah.
00:06:21
Speaker
So he was a slave and i that night I let him sleep through bath, bed, everything. I just let him sleep and he woke up at nine and was like, all the Oh my God. yeah Wow. He slept through bath and bedtime and then woke up at nine and he was like, yo, I was like, you slept through it all. The girls are asleep.
00:06:39
Speaker
That's it. and go back to sleep. Yeah. So um it was so good. And it was, you know, I think before the party, I was like, this is my last time doing a backyard party. But then after it's over, I'm like, I could do that again. Yeah. It's fun.
00:06:53
Speaker
It's so, it is fun. It's like the anxiety rolling up to it. And then you did so much and it looked so good. All the party decorations you bought. Like, I loved your idea of having like the, um, tall standing tables and covering it with like ice. I thought that was so cute. Oh, thanks. i love That was a, that was kind of a morning of decision. So I'm, it ended up working out like so well. That did it for me. i was like, yeah, that was such a good idea. I loved that. Yeah, it it worked. And honestly, I ended up, I had way more decorations than I thought. um
00:07:30
Speaker
And so I ended up I was able to return them to Amazon. Like some of the ones I had bought last minute. So I ended up getting like $200 back from like just shit. I had panic ordered ahead of time. That's funny. That's a lot. i know know. And isn't it funny about the the bounce house? Like you and I'm the same way. It's like, are you still consider them like little kids? So you buy the smaller one, but then you're like, yeah.
00:07:54
Speaker
No, there are four. I mean, i don't i didn't exactly count how many kids we had, but according to the RSVP, and there were people who canceled last minute, so it may have been more or less than this, but there were 25 kids there. So yeah ah i i don't know what i was I don't know what I was thinking. I should have messaged... the bounce house people the week of and been like, Hey, it turns out we have 25 kids coming. Can i upgrade to the 16 foot by 16 foot instead?
Outdoor Fun and Cleanup
00:08:22
Speaker
yeah They probably would have said yes. Um, but it all, you know, it worked out lesson learned for next time.
00:08:31
Speaker
It was very cute. And I'm excited for you. Your first soiree. I was so jealous. I wish I could have been there, but know I'm so glad it was so fun. Yeah. And we've already like hosted a couple of times since that birthday party. Like we had friends over the Saturday before Easter for a little Easter egg hunt. And it's just, and honestly, we've been eating in the backyard dinner every night. Like I set up that sensory table, you guys. Oh my God. If you, I linked it on my Instagram. If you go to my links highlight, but that sensory table is the best money I've ever spent. My kids are obsessed.
00:09:07
Speaker
I was thinking, because, you know, we had a water table, but I saw this TikTok where it's like when you're creeping out of the winter and you're about to like start opening your backyard again for spring and everything's so bleak and disgusting. And you're like, I've tumbleweeds rolling around. you know You're just like, that's how I feel about my old water table. I'm like, I don't even want to like begin to look at it.
00:09:30
Speaker
I just want to throw everything away because it's behind my little pool house. So I'm like, I don't even know it looks like after that like ice winter storm. So I'm just like, I almost want to start over. You're like, who can call? Who can I call to pick this Honestly, probably of the boys in the neighborhood would easily come and take it to the dump. But I'm like, I need, I'm like, but also Graydon feels a little too old for water table, but Margo would like it.
00:09:57
Speaker
And I like having it because we still have like two-year-olds that come over here. So I'm in the market. I've been looking. i still like the one I had. Do I reorder it? I'm such an idiot for letting it sit outside.
00:10:11
Speaker
I mean, ours it's ours was disgusting. It still is disgusting because I didn't leave the water tables out for the party. I moved them all the way to the side of the house in the back. Yeah. And... it's gross back there and I just don't even want to I don't want to revisit it yet I yeah it's a problem that's how I'm like I just don't want to even begin to figure that out but I need to because the weather is so lovely and I'm like we've been sitting outside having burgers and um like, if they just had a little water table before the pool opens. You should think about the sensory table because you can fill it with other things or you could fill it with water and like stuff. I don't know. I, that sensory table, it keeps their attention longer than the water table does. Like I filled it for the party. I filled it with rice and, um, little like pretend ice gems I found on Instagram or sorry.
00:11:06
Speaker
i found on amazon and then all the frozen like little characters around our house i just collected them and threw them in there and then now it right now it's filled with kinetic sand and they love it and i swear to god we're just and we did fossils because he was into dinosaurs he still is but but then it got disgusting can you buy fossils Well, they're like little fake ones. So you can buy like eggs and then they can chisel the eggs and a fossil will be inside. But then you can just bury it in the sand. gra And Graydon loves it and you can get the duster and dust it off. Like, o you our yeah, super cute. But then that got disgusting because we left it outside.
00:11:47
Speaker
I know. Here's the deal, guys. Like everything is disgusting. Like i don't, everything gets disgusting. i don't know any single mom. I've never met a mom who keeps her outdoor shit perfect all the time ever. If I was smart, I'd put it up.
00:12:02
Speaker
But it's the fact that it's that first rain, all the trees dump pollen on it. That's what's happening right now is our backyard's full of pollen and yeah just yuck. Oh my God. Yeah.
00:12:15
Speaker
It's bad.
Family Trips and Memories
00:12:17
Speaker
and We went through that probably like a month ago, honestly, that it's past that season here. Now it's just hot. We're in summer already.
00:12:27
Speaker
Yeah. Although I'm kind of loving it. I don't hate it right now. Like it's not miserable out. It's definitely like, warm it's like we're in warm, but it's, it's not miserable yet. So I don't hate it. We've been in the pool a lot at at our friend, Hannah, Hannah's house. They have a pool, which clutch. And then we went to the water park.
00:12:50
Speaker
Oh yeah. Oh my gosh. You didn't even tell me about it You guys, if you are going to Disney, going to Blizzard Beach is worth it. Okay? I swear to you, my girls liked it more than Magic Kingdom. i Crazy to say.
00:13:05
Speaker
Crazy to say, but true. It was so fun. And if your kids love the water, the whole, like, it's called Tykes Peak. It's like a section of Blizzard Beach, but it's, like, made for little ones. I would say, like...
00:13:18
Speaker
Truly five and under, but it has all these little slides and whole big like splash area. And it's all frozen themed because Blizzard. Oh, perfect. Frozen. so there's like all the little like snowmen and Olaf is in the middle of it It's really cute.
00:13:38
Speaker
They love the lazy river. Holy moly. Oh my God. Going around the lazy river with them. We did it probably four times, honestly. And it's a half a mile long. It's long. Um, and then we did the big family ride where we all sit in one big tube,
00:13:53
Speaker
Loved it. Like Blizzard Beach was so fun. Highly recommend. um And I think right I don't know, not to be like a Disney pusher person, but I think right now if you go to Disney and you're staying out a Disney property, you get a free day of Waterpark. I'm pretty sure.
00:14:09
Speaker
So take advantage of that. like just doing it like you're entering that Disney era. Like in the past, you couldn't really go because Alice was little. You were pregnant. now you're like entering into it and you're getting to go all the time.
00:14:25
Speaker
I want to pass. I want to be a pass holder so bad. I've talked with this. Yeah, it's time. I think I think it's time. We go all the time. We'd be saving ourselves money.
00:14:36
Speaker
Yeah. Well, you wanted, I remember you wanting to get it two years ago when you got pregnant with Evie. Yeah. And we we were like, I don't know. And you didn't do it Thank God. No.
00:14:47
Speaker
Now is the time. Now's the time. Yeah. We need to go um and do it. Rob, if you're listening to this, he's like been cheering me on. He's like, do it. I think nice should too.
00:14:59
Speaker
You've been going so much and you just reminded me that so Opryland Hotel has a big indoor water park here and everyone swears by it because if you spend the night at the hotel, you get a free water park day and there's like a kid section and everyone says it's so fun. Like um my friends that are kids Graydon's age said that like their kids loved the slides and it's so awesome. My sister and my mom have gone with the twins before. so i was like, you just reminded me I need to do that before summer starts where we can like go for a night and Opryland's so fucking fun have you ever been in that hotel
00:15:38
Speaker
No, i need to. Oh, my God. If you've gone like if you ever have seen any Gaylord property, they design it where there's like a jungle inside. and like Yes. So I've been to the Gaylord in Orlando. Yeah, it's probably so similar. um Yeah.
00:15:54
Speaker
But it's just so fun. like I remember going there growing up. like It was a treat to spend the night there. And you get a room with a balcony. And you get to overlook the river. It was so fun. And I'm like, we need to do that with them.
00:16:07
Speaker
Now that Chris has stayed in a room with the kids, I'm like not as scared to do that. ya Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. No, it's... been like it It is so fun. You should definitely do the water park with them. It's like they're at that age now where like going down the slides like it's fun. It's not scary for them. Like they love it. I mean, ah depending on the size of the slide, obviously. Like they're not going to go down fucking like giant...
00:16:36
Speaker
like straight down slide, but they love all of the littler slides. I say all this and I'm like, April is like probably the busiest month we have. I don't have a weekend where I could go. Yeah. It's just the way it's turned out.
00:16:52
Speaker
Give us a little bit of update because you've also had like life things happen. um And just tell us what's been going on. I'm scared. I don't know if I can talk it. Oh, no. Okay. Like, like, I don't want to pressure you. It's too fresh. It's too fresh. But my grandmother did pass and um we just had her funeral. So that's why we didn't have an episode. But it was hard. It's hard.
00:17:21
Speaker
Yeah. You were very close with your grandparents and they are like, I feel like the pillars of your family for sure. yeah It's just hard. Like we were over at their house yesterday. i can't even tell. I'm going to cry. yeah And um my kids were like running around playing. And I thought this is probably like one of the last times we'll see the house like this because my brother and his family will be moving into the house. Oh, I didn't know that.
Coping with Loss and Community Support
00:17:47
Speaker
I mean, not for some time, but I just was like, how often will we be over here? Is this like going to be my last memory of them like running through the halls, playing up and down the stairs, like seeing it the way I've like always remembered it?
00:18:02
Speaker
And I just was like, oh, it's just hard. Yeah. God, that's tough. And I just think of my grandpa alone and I just sick. know.
00:18:13
Speaker
It's really sad. I hate it. It's so yeah it's such a tough thing to deal with. And we, I know I send this to you via text, but like... We love you and sending you guys so much love. It's so hard.
00:18:28
Speaker
i mean, loss is so hard. And I feel like when it's a grandparent, it's this weird thing because like, you know, they lived a beautiful life and they're older and like, you know, they were struggling. But at the same time, it's like, you know, it never feels right, you know? And like being older, like myself, I'm like, wow. And I'm so lucky that they're still around because she was 95 and my grandpa's 95 as well. And I'm just like, I don't know.
00:18:57
Speaker
You just feel like grandparents aren't going to be around much longer and you kind of expect it a little more, but it's still like punches you in the gut. You're just like, oh my gosh, like all the memories come flashing back of your childhood and the time with them. And you're just like, and now I am noticing like if I go to the grocery or if I'm out walking and I see, I'm seeing older people, almost like when you buy a red car, you notice all the red cars. Like I'm seeing people and I'm like,
00:19:30
Speaker
I don't know. I'm just like, oh, my grandma can't do that anymore. It's just weird how I'm noticing Yeah. Yeah. I don't know. Well, um I know that it was a tough week, so hopefully...
00:19:46
Speaker
It gets a little brighter and hopefully your kids, I feel like through loss now, like dealing with that now that I have kids, like your kids bring some brightness to those situations. You couldn't, you couldn't be sad around them. That's for sure. Because my, they are are they good during the funeral.
00:20:10
Speaker
So I went down early with Margo. Graydon had a baseball game and he already missed one because Chris's grandma passed away two weeks before mine. Oh my God. So they were in cahoots.
00:20:22
Speaker
Literally they're hanging out right now. But I was just like, what are the freaking odds of that? This is horrible. But so Graydon stayed back with Chris and Chris came um to the funeral on Tuesday. But so it just was Margo and I at the visitation Monday, which was two hours long. And she was the lines entertainment. Like she had on a dress. Oh, I bet. She was full on lifting it up, showing everybody everything, running around. so sho Every once in a while there'd be a shrill because girls freaking are shrilling. And then she would like roll around on the couch and and people would come up and shake her hand and they'd be like, so whose little girl is that? And I was like, that's mine. And they're like, oh, she's a pistol. I knew it from the bandaid on her knee. And I was like, God. okay yeah she's she's i was like she's wild and then we just took grayden to because we had another hour of visitation into the funeral into the grave thing so it was like three hours worth yesterday and um grayden was good he's just so crazy when they were playing amazing grace he was mouthing it pretending like he knew the words and like
00:21:36
Speaker
I was just like, nice please let me cry. great Please. yeah Oh my gosh. And he, anytime someone, that's so funny the preacher would say amen, he'd be like, amen. Like he was so loud. I'm like, am I the only one that just hears him echoing? Like he's silly. um And he went up to my grandpa and goes, Grammy died.
00:22:02
Speaker
no. What did he say? I just looked at Papa and I was like, well, if he's anything, he's direct. And he's he laughed. But I was just like, oh, my God. Graydon. Oh, my God. Please. Please. I feel like, though, you have to, like, appreciate that in the moment. You know, like, you know, Grammy is up in heaven, like, laughing. Laughing. Like, she's like, oh, my God, that crazy boy.
00:22:29
Speaker
i mean, he he was, you could tell he was, like, tell he could tell we were all sad and he was like very sweet to my dad very huggy very sweet to me he's reading everyone's emotions giving hugs holding hands um every time margo saw like grammy she was like she's sleeping like she kept saying that which was sweet you know and um anyway um tough few days but yeah
00:23:02
Speaker
I'm proud to be her grand granddaughter. so Oh, that's going to make me cry. so sweet I loved reading on Facebook, like all of the amazing things that people said about her She was such, i mean, I've met her a couple of times and she's such an amazing woman. And like I said before, like, I think she was such a pillar to your family and to the community of Clarksville. Oh, Whit, I'm so sorry.
00:23:37
Speaker
I know this is like your biggest nightmare. I'm just, that's making me laugh because like Whitney literally hates this. Like she does not like to cry. She does not like to get emotional. I've been like so sensitive. Holy moly. This is like exposure therapy for Whitney. Huh. Do not clip this. I will die.
00:24:01
Speaker
well now I have to. Oh, I've been so like so of sensitive as a feather, light as a feather. Like, oh, I could cry at anything. It's like how I felt when Shannon passed. I like can't stop. Yeah. Well, I think it's like, it really is like the whole like ah floodgates thing. Like when the floodgates open, it's like you just, it's harder to close them and you just, you know.
00:24:27
Speaker
oh my God. I was just like telling Chris, I'm like, God, I'm such a crier. Like I just can't stop. And. ah And then it was kind of funny, though, like, because Hunter and me and Ashley were like in line, which is my brother and sister. And I was like, they were just like, Ashley's so unserious. like She was making me laugh. And I mean, she was great and everything. And my brother was so serious on this side, like Mr. Clarksville, shaking everyone's hand. and I was like, just feel like I'm between dumb and dumber right now. Like, what is happening? Yeah.
00:25:02
Speaker
Oh my God. That is so funny. Well, we can, we can change the subject and move on. Cause I don't want you to be sad. yeah I don't want this to be a grief podcast. I love you and everyone. Thank you for reaching out.
00:25:17
Speaker
yeah cried I had a couple of people message me like, Oh no, what's wrong with Whitney? Or like, is everything okay? I just saw mom group chat story. I'm like, everything's fine.
Easter and Holiday Reflections
00:25:28
Speaker
Like Whitney's grandmother passed away, which obviously is very sad, but like all, all good. Everyone's good. Yeah.
00:25:35
Speaker
So yeah. Just tough. um But yeah, I mean, Easter happened. That's something else. How was your Easter?
00:25:46
Speaker
we really didn't do much. um I had like no plans this year. it was just thrown together like a height hodgepodge. We did a little Easter egg hunt at our friend's house and just had dinner.
00:26:01
Speaker
What'd y'all do? We went to church at 9 and then we went to brunch with Vinny's family. And actually they like included my mom and brother, which was nice. So I kind of got to do everyone at once because a lot of the times we ended having to do both, you know, but we got to do both at the same time. And then after that, my mom like really wanted to do Easter baskets and like an Easter egg hunt with the girls. But like Vinny and I just did not have it in us after like doing so much.
00:26:36
Speaker
but So my mom was like, can I just take him to my house and we'll have a little Easter afternoon? and I was like, say less, queen, say less. So we got like five or six uninterrupted like hours, just the two of us, which honestly we so needed. Like after the party, it's like, yeah, like after the party and just like, you know, life stuff. Our house was still like not recovered from the party, even though most of it was outside, you know, things get brought in and like, I don't know. I just felt like our house was like a little bit in disarray. And so it was just a nice, honestly, it was a really nice afternoon. Like,
00:27:13
Speaker
We had a great Easter. We had good food at brunch. The girls had a great time. The Easter bunny came. But I truly feel like Easter was like the end cap to our like holiday, holiday extravaganzas that we have had basically since December with like Christmas, like Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, my birthday, Evie's birthday.
00:27:40
Speaker
Gasparilla's in there, you know? Gasparilla, Evie's birthday, Alice's birthday, Easter, St. Patrick's Day. It's just like... non-stop so i feel like this is like we're coming out of the busy season you know so we were talking about that how like i start we both started to like putter out like i kind of was into it again for valentine's day because we had like that two month break between christmas and valentine's day so i was kind of like oh i love like pink and red yes i'll decorate And then I puttered out on the last two holidays and I was like, but you had like 10 things within that. So I was like, uh, I'm out like Easter. No, I mean, I did their basket, which is so easy. I buy them new spring clothes every year. So that's what I threw in there. And I was like, boom. And of course, what did Graydon say?
00:28:34
Speaker
There's no toys. Sorry. my God. The Easter Bunny brought you clothes. We live the same life because my effort for Easter baskets this year was so low. They got like a new cup, which they are. They needed a new like drinking cup. And I put them I gave them a swimsuit.
00:28:57
Speaker
And what else like I gave them one like little lip gloss nail polish thing that they have seen in Target before and wanted. But other than that, it was like that was it like I was it was so low effort. Oh, and a stick of bubbles.
00:29:13
Speaker
That's it Like one of those Target yeah bubbles. Which that always turns into tears at my house because they dump it out.
Travel Concerns and Preparations
00:29:20
Speaker
Well, Vinny, I should i need to post it on mom group chat. Vinny ah has a dad invention. He zip tied the bubble. Talk.
00:29:29
Speaker
Yeah. So now they're zip tied to the outside thing so that they can't dump it out and tip it over. And honestly, genius. It really does work. um And they actually enjoy the bubbles now. with Yeah.
00:29:43
Speaker
Good idea. Amazing. Yeah. It's so funny. I feel like I didn't, I didn't put it. We're going to the beach, which I feel like I want to talk about on here because I need yeah advice on something, but I didn't put any beach, like I put beach clothes in there, but I was like, I can't give them the busy toys for the ride.
00:30:03
Speaker
Because then they'd play with it now. I couldn't give them sand buckets because then I wouldn't hear the end of that. Like, so i was like, man, I can't actually give them toys because I'm going to the beach. So I have to do a whole separate gift sitch.
00:30:18
Speaker
yeah In like 10 days. So, but I did have a question because, and I want to ask this to people that have gone on vacation and had a pool at the house without fence because it has all parents, all of us kind of shook. There's not fence around it.
00:30:35
Speaker
And with the older kids, like it it's never been an issue because they couldn't like reach the door and get outside. But now that they're older, tall enough, can all open the door, get in and out.
00:30:47
Speaker
You know, the older kids that are four plus can all swim, but it's all the ones that are three and under that are not swimmers. So we're scared they're going to like get out. But I wanted to ask, like, do we do like and we know that it's not a knob. It's like a door handle. So I'm like, what do you do with that?
00:31:07
Speaker
And do you put an alarm on the door? Do you like put something in the pool? I'm just like scared a little bit. We all are. We're all like, home and it's, and it's for sure a door and not a slider.
00:31:21
Speaker
Yeah. Okay. Like I, so what, you know, Hannah's house has a pool and they have up at the top, it's like a little plastic latch that I think is just stuck to the thing. don't know. Maybe it's worth like seeing if that's like almost like renter friendly, you know, that's what I'm, I'm just like, don't really know if the alarm thing is good enough. Like I don't want them to be able to go outside without an adult at all. I'll get that link for you if you want. Okay, yeah. If anyone's done that on vacation that is renter-friendly that you know about, let me know because that would be amazing. Yeah, let a sister know. I'm excited though.
00:32:02
Speaker
It is a little bit and it's making all of us nervous because you know all the little kids follow all the big kids and like God forbid. like But luckily like we're all on the same page. We've all... like want this to be very serious we're gonna sit down with them i almost was like they're not allowed to go outside without life jackets like i don't care the occasion yada yada like i want them to all have them on even the big kids but we'll see what it comes to Well, I'm so excited to see all your beach content. When is that? When are you going? If you don't mind me asking. 20th. I'm excited. We haven't been to the beach since Graydon was like 18 months old. And remember, it was like the worst fucking thing ever because I was an idiot new mom, didn't bring a life jacket. So i didn't even think about him like wanting to get in the water. But all he wanted to do was run toward the water.
00:32:58
Speaker
So then Chris and I were just up, down, up, down, up, down. Oh, he... you know, was running down the beach. He was eating sand. I was like, this is not fun. This is not what I expected or the beach.
00:33:11
Speaker
So I'm like, this is the first time we've ever taken Margo. And it's the first time he's been back to a beach since he was before he was two. So i think they're both going to love.
00:33:22
Speaker
I feel like Margo is a sandcastle girl. Like she's going to be building. We whenever we go now, like I have, Alice is obsessed with collecting seashells. We're a seashell fam. And then she insists on bringing them home. And now find seashells all over my house, but that's fine. Oh my gosh. Well, I'm so excited to see all about that. That'll be so fun. feels like spring break, spring break vibes. It is. And I'm glad that like, we kind of miss the crowd, which is, you know, most people go at the beginning April. Where are you going? beach? 30A. So we'll be like water sound, watercolor area.
00:34:02
Speaker
So. Cool. It'll be cute. um I'm excited to go with a group. It's going to be a lot of children, but we're doing it. We're doing it. Yeah, but it'll be easier that way, I feel like, don't you think? Because then they'll all play together.
00:34:19
Speaker
Now the adults can hang. It'll be great. it'll It's like we're literally just plucking up our friend group and dropping it in a new location. yeah So it'll be good. and then also are going to like Monster Jam next weekend, which is put on by the same production of Disney on Ice. So you know it's going to be good. did know Feld Entertainment. Vinny used to do a ton of work for them.
00:34:43
Speaker
So we're going to we're getting a big group. We got a suite for that. So I'm excited. So fun. I know. I'm like, ah I'm jealous. All the big kids are going to I'm Margo. I like it, too. I don't know. But I was like, man, my weekends are kind of busy, actually. Yeah.
00:35:01
Speaker
We, i feel like we're still, even though like the birthday parties and stuff are over, we're about to leave on a trip. Like we leave tomorrow morning. So it's, um, are you excited I feel like I am, no, I really am. I really am. But I'm, I am riddled with anxiety today, which is what my little ditty was about this morning.
00:35:24
Speaker
There's just like, you know, they never make it easy on you do you, do they? And they being the kids and the dogs and the husband. Like, it's just It's in their DNA to like get hurt, get sick right before a trip because, i don't know, it's in their DNA, truly.
00:35:41
Speaker
Yeah, it is. So this trip is for a wedding. We have a wedding of one of my friends from college on Saturday all the way in San Diego, which I'm so excited to go to San Diego. That's like what I'm excited about. I've never been. Vinny is obsessed. He always like said if we had to move somewhere, he'd want to move to San Diego. him and so Yeah. So I am like so excited to see it and be there and all that. But I...
00:36:09
Speaker
it's a long trip. We're going for like five whole days and there's just a lot of moving parts, you know, like the kids are with my mom starting today all the way until Friday. And then there's a handoff between my mom and my in-laws and my in-laws are taking the girls to SeaWorld in Orlando for the weekend. So they're like traveling with my kids, which like, I totally trust them. They're going to have a great time, but it's still like a little bit anxiety inducing, you know, the fact that they're like,
00:36:38
Speaker
traveling with other people. And then of course, in true toddler fashion, Alice wakes up in the middle of the night last night, screaming about her ears. We take her to the doctor this morning, double ear infection.
00:36:53
Speaker
mar So, of course, of course. Luckily, my father-in-law, who they're going to Orlando with, is ear, nose and throat doctor. So at least she's covered there. um But we got antibiotics. She already took her first dose already. So hopefully by Friday, she's even in a much better place. Um, and then my dogs, of course, my dogs are literally my 13th reason. I swear to God, like if anyone is interested in French bulldogs, like please come and get em take them. Take them.
00:37:24
Speaker
But Josie has had like a little bit of a knee issue in the past. She was like limping and we took her to the vet and they were like, we could do surgery for 20 grand. I'm like, yeah, no, sorry. Yeah. And they were like, you could kind of just give her a crate rest and like see how she does. And it might just like resolve itself. And it did. Like we were really strict about movement and we kept her in a crate and really like a week later, like she was fine and we haven't seen anything yet. And then of course, literally on Sunday or Monday, she starts limping again and is like having an issue with that knee. Yeah.
00:38:03
Speaker
So we've kept her. We tried to keep her not moving. She does seem like she's already doing a little bit better. But like and then on top of that, Finn, our other French bulldog, goes outside and is a fucking maniac. That one and ripped, you know, like their little thumbnails. That's not what they're called. But you know what i mean?
00:38:21
Speaker
Ripped it clean off, out of the socket, down, like, quick and all. That's disgusting. And came into our house absolutely gushing blood. Got blood all over our house.
00:38:34
Speaker
And we had to wrap his paw. And, like, so now we're extending these two... injured dogs to our dog sitters. We're like, here, can you change this bandage every day? And like, also she can't move very much. So just watch that. It's like so annoying, you know? Yeah.
00:38:53
Speaker
And I just feel bad about that. So I have anxiety about the dogs. I have anxiety about the girls and them being sick and traveling. And then my husband's complaining about money. i'm like, I cannot do it anymore.
00:39:07
Speaker
i you look crazy. I am literally about to blow my brains out, okay? ah just like, get me out of here. Yeah, you getting away will be so good.
00:39:22
Speaker
The girls will be good. They're on medication now. She is. The dogs are so loved at where they're going. So... I think you just need to get on that plane, get there, be with your friends, all is well in the world.
00:39:38
Speaker
I hope so. I'm excited to get away. And honestly, like, Vinny and I need this. Like, I feel like after me so being a slave driver and him being a slave, like, we we need to, like, find the romance and the spark again, you know?
Pre-Trip Anxiety Solutions
00:39:52
Speaker
um And i it always feels good to get away with just the two of us, especially to, like, a place he loves and I've never been. like I just am excited for some like true couple time, you know?
00:40:03
Speaker
So we need it. And i'm I'm trying not to let my anxiety get the best of me. I actually took a freaking weed gummy last night.
00:40:15
Speaker
No, because I was like... stressed. I was not well. And I was like laying in bed and I was like, my heart was like pounding. And I got sent these, they're not, they're like CBD and micro dose THC. So they're not even like true weed gummies. yeah They were sent to me by a ah brand called cured. And I was like, all right, and I'll just hear me.
00:40:38
Speaker
Let's try one of these. And you know what? it worked. It, I just, felt it like took the little bit of the edge off. I slept like a dream and I'm going to take those gummies with me to San Diego is what I decided. Well, you might as well just buy some stuff out there and bring it back.
00:40:54
Speaker
There you It's legal. so ah Well, what do y'all, before we jump off, I want to know, like, for five days, like, what are y'all doing? So, it's so funny. Vinny is, like, when we get there, he like, got a whole plan. He's, like, we're going to this fish shack that has these crab sandwiches that everyone loves. And I was, like, all right. ah Random. But I actually, like, Vinny, usually, like, I can trust him with, like, food stuff. He usually, like, he's on the pulse. So we're getting our rental car, going to this lunch place. um
00:41:30
Speaker
And then we're going to swing back around to the airport and pick up Mackenzie because she's flying in like two hours after us. So we're just going to like stay in the area. And then we're going take the like scenic route up to Del Mar, which is where our hotel is and like where the wedding is. um And then where's where's the hotel?
00:41:49
Speaker
Is it the Del Mar? I think that's actually where the wedding is, but we're staying at Hotel Indigo. my God. I stayed at the Del Mar and it was so nice. I think the wedding's at the Del Mar. ah That was out of our budget. It was so so nice. We went there for work It was yeah like the nice – like that to this day, it everyone says that that was their favorite end of the year sales meeting. Like it's – Damn.
00:42:18
Speaker
Gorgie. Wow. and And then Friday – Go ahead. Oh, no, no. Go ahead. You're not staying there, so it doesn't matter. I forgot. you Okay. You won't be able to. Okay.
00:42:30
Speaker
There is a welcome party on Friday night. So we have that and I'm excited to like see all my friends and like, you know, whatever. Friday during the day, i don't know. We're just bopping around. We did book a a lunch thing at Jake's Del Mar. I don't know if that sounds familiar. It's like Should go wine hopping?
00:42:51
Speaker
I would would love that, honestly. That's what we did Claudia's wedding. We were like, let's go wine hopping because every winery is so scenic. Okay. I didn't even think about that, but like, honestly, I might pitch that to the group. Be like, who wants to, well, Sunday, honestly. Well, they're all clustered together. It wasn't far. wow.
00:43:11
Speaker
wow Okay. Good to know. Good to know. And then Saturday, the day of the wedding, I did, i already told Mackenzie, like Vinny and I are going to have a little like date morning where we're going to go to brunch, just the two of us. And like,
00:43:23
Speaker
have a little like, cause I know I do picture like all of my friends that are there, us kind of sticking together and doing things together. But I really did want to intentionally have some like Vinny and I time, you know? Um, so Saturday morning, we're just going to like get brunch. I need to plan that I haven't booked anything. And then the wedding is Saturday night. There's a brunch ah for like wedding event on Sunday. And then Vinny is actually going to a, is it a Padres game? What's the baseball team?
00:43:55
Speaker
Sounds right. He asked me if I wanted to go and I said, no, thank you. And I just had no interest. And I was like, Vinny or Mackenzie and i will bop around or do something on Sunday while he goes to game. We don't leave till 10 o'clock at night. We're doing a red eye back home. Oh, nice.
00:44:13
Speaker
So, um, yeah, we got time on Sunday. I don't know. I'm just excited. Yeah. I know. Just be hung over and relax. Everyone talks about the um weather in San Diego. So I'm excited to experience it finally. Yeah, quite lovely.
Episode Wrap Up
00:44:31
Speaker
Can't go wrong there. It's so fun. Well, I'm excited for you. Can't wait to hear all about it. My dress is actually so good for this wedding. I can't wait for you to see it. It's at the tailor. I have to go pick it up, but it's like, I'll send you a pic of me trying it on but I feel like you'll like it.
00:44:50
Speaker
I can't wait. Okay. Well, I love you so much. This was such a good catch up. I am excited for our next catch up where we can talk about our trips and all the things.
00:45:05
Speaker
Yes. Well, um thanks, guys. Love ya. Thank you so much for being a part of our mom group chat. New episodes drop every Tuesday. And don't forget, the group chat is blowing up on our Instagram page. So make sure you're following along over there. All right. Got to go. My toddler just put something in her mouth.