Always a treat to stay at Nic's

It's not too often that sisters are as close as me and Nicole. We try to get together on every 'night out' and do our best to see each other every weekend. And then, there are the times that Wade goes out of town, which is the basis of this entry. Nicole isn't a big fan of staying with the kids alone, so I try to sleep over there when Wade's gone. This is not always an easy task. Josh has been friends with Wade and around long enough that he doesn't bat an eye at me staying there. However, now that I have Mason, it's a little more tricky. Her basement is freezing cold, so we can't sleep down there and she doesn't have an extra bedroom upstairs. I could sleep on the couch, but then Mason would be right next to me. I wouldn't get any sleep with him talking to himself all night. We worked out that I sleep with Nic and we set up the pack 'n play for Mason in the bathroom. It's plenty dark in there and he sleeps like a champ. I, on the other hand, do not. First of all, she has a queen size bed and I'm used to a king. Second, I'm never tired. I try to talk Nic's ear off once we get in bed and she has to finally tell me that she's tired and putting in her ear plugs to shut me up. For some reason, I like to chat in bed before I fall asleep. Josh doesn't humor me either, in case you were wondering. I kept her up until 1am and the kids were up at 7am.

Of course, there is the normal playing with the kids. Ethan and Ellie are usually content to play with Mason for a few minutes and then it's either blocks, computer games, card games, or the backyard. We have a fun, chaotic, time together. We generally watch a movie together, once the rug rats are asleep. This time it was 27 dresses. It was entertaining, but still a disappointment. It was too much like other movies (The Wedding Planner meets How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days). As we finished the movie, Nicole glances at the couch arm and notices a 'domestic' cricket has escaped the toad's cage. She says it all casual, like this isn't the first time it's happened, as I'm curled up in a ball freaking out. Quick side note -I am horribly afraid of most bugs, especially ones that jump or fly. I can handle mice, snakes, spiders (for the most part), etc., but bugs are just too much for me. Ethan has recently purchased 2 toads and they require live food. She continued to laugh at me as she scooped the supposedly innocuous creature into a cup. I continued to get the shivers on a regular basis for the next half hour, looking closely every where I went for any more awol crickets. Not so fun for Brandy. And yet, it gets worse. If you get offended easily (or at least as easily as I do) you can stop reading this entry NOW. As we go upstairs to go to sleep, Nicole goes in to check on the kids. She mentions that Ethan's toads are having sex and that they make the most interesting sound. 'Like a dove cooing' she tells me. She asks me if I want to come see. If you know me at all, you know I'm a little squeamish about the whole mating ritual. I'm not one to discuss it, let alone want to see it in person. I scoffed and told her 'no thanks'. And then, my loyalty to Jeff Corwin kicked in. I knew how disappointed he'd be in me for not taking the opportunity to learn about toads and their 'amazing' habits. I sighed and told Nicole that I didn't want to disappoint Jeff. I walked in the room, lights off of course, and huddled down by the water in their cage. It just looked like they were playing leap frog. I really couldn't see much going on, but I could hear the pretty cooing sounds. And then, it happened. I saw white stuff swirling in the water around them. I immediately gagged and ran from the room. I continued to dry heave as Nicole laughed hysterically at me! I got way more than I bargained for and I told Nicole that I was traumatized for life!!! Once she gained control of her hysterics, she told me that toads secrete oils into the water when they are scared or nervous. She also said that the male toad usually rapes the female, so she's not always a happy camper. I'm not sure I'm buying either story, but I'll never go in that room when I hear 'cooing' again! All in all, I'm not a big fan of Ethan's toads or their live food. I won't even get into the stories of the over-sized gold fish and the 'mouse with personality' that also inhabit Ethan's room. I'm just glad my kid(s) will be able to learn about science at Nic's house, so I don't have to have any creatures living with me!

I let Nicole know that I may have require some sort of compensation to stay at her house the next time Wade is out of town.