Oh wow! What a day and it stinks when husbands decide to say negative things about our outfit! Why can't they be a bit mmm .... subtle?! ( This one makes you look fat, your tummy's too big, you look like a nana in that!) Those are some that mine says!

I love camo prints! But only on pants! I love your pants and your outfit doesn't look cheap or low class to my eyes. I would wear camo pants with a girly top (may be a maroon fine knit sweater?), with black/nude pointy toe low heeled pumps or ankle strap sandals.

I wouldn't carry that bag though I would go for a practical tote for the MOTG look.

Thanks everyone for your insightful comments! I do have a lot of help--full time nanny, housekeeper every other week, but life is still pretty busy. I guess I learned it from my mom...she loves to tell me that when I was five I said to her, "Life is a rush." She always had a million things she was doing but seemed to juggle it all so well.

I should cut back on social and extracurricular activities, but it's hard to know which ones. DD has been going to ballet for the past 3 years and it's one of the only times she sees some of her friends she's known since she was a baby. I think she'd probably only do this for another year or two, so it's kind of nice to let her be a "ballerina" while she's still into the princess/ballerina phase--she loves twirling around. And she's an introvert like me, so it's useful for her to learn how to perform in front of others. The chess thing--she was the one who got into it at school...she likes playing, and likes winning trophies at tournaments. We don't normally do chess on Saturdays, but agreed to do it just this fall. Sundays they both have swimming lessons and also have been doing that since they were about 1. DH and I both feel that swimming is an important life skill to have, and we love scuba diving & kayaking...the kids really enjoy swimming & snorkeling when we're on vacation. This summer DD and DS1 went to Mandarin camp for four weeks and really learned a lot, so we're having them go there once a week for an hour so they don't forget what they learned. And they both have gymnastics once a week (although DD hasn't started yet because she broke her arm). I think either of those might be on the chopping block next semester if it feels too busy. Birthday parties and playdates/dinner dates--well we do have a lot of those, but try to be selective. DH and I feel that we should make an effort though, so that DD and DS1 can have friends. We do tend to hang out with the same couple of families most of the time and our kids are similar ages which is nice.

I agree, I didn't intend for yesterday to be so busy...I need fewer of those MRALAC (Mom Running Around Like a Chicken) days. Normally I can handle it but I think forgetting about chess and then having to go in to work really threw the whole schedule off. Today was much better--much more relaxed. I woke up with DS2 at 6:45, but DH took the kids from 8-10 and let me sleep in (aahh...bliss), then he cooked pancakes and bacon and we had brunch. He wasn't feeling well and was pretty tired, so I let him take a nap and drove the kids to swimming lessons (DD's lesson is on hold because of her cast, so only DS1 had a lesson today). Then I picked up some McD's happy meals (hey, 3 by myself = drive thru w/o guilt) and we ate in the car while DS2 napped. Then I took them to the library and then the park next door where they played in the creek and redwood trees. Back to our house at 4:30 and they played in the backyard doing somersaults across the lawn. DH made dinner, then afterward he played a game of chess with DD. No bath tonight (switching to every other day baths has made bedtime easier), and even with bedtime stories managed to get them in bed just after 8 (normally I'm struggling to get them in bed by 8:30).

As for the camo, well what can I say. My DH poison eye list now consists of
1) faux fur
2) leopard print
3) camouflage
4) bright floral pants
I will have to be very selective about my man-repeller wear--this list is getting longer! He is mostly complimentary of what I wear, but those looks really seem to bring out his opinionated side. I don't feel that camo is that integral to my style, so I don't think I'll try to wear it around him (though if he hated polka dots there would be no question I'd still wear them!). I do have one or two looks I want to try first to see if I can make them work with my style (more like ladylike huntress); if not then I'll post them on the style exchange.

Thanks again for your input, it really means a lot to me!

GP whenever I have kid(s) and it gets overwhelming I am gonna think Natalie didn't forget to breath and she looked gorgeous doing it

I also get opinionated DHs :). If my DH had his way, I would be wearing lady like stuff all.the.time And skinnies when ever I wanted to wear jeans

I don't have strong feelings about the pants, either way.

What Alaskagirl said. And I know it's easier said than done. To address your DH's concern about making an effort, socially ... I think one of the hardest parts of adulthood is deciding WHO to spend your time with. There are many lovely people in this world, but you may be reaching a point in your life where you have to choose depth in friendships instead of going by sheer numbers or circumstances. Giving up some of the obligatory birthday parties would give you more time to truly invest in the friendships and people you love most, or that your kids enjoy most. Quality vs. quantity. It's still making an effort, but you're channeling your energy to be able to give the most to the people you love the most. I hope this is coming across right. I know it might sound kind of cold, and I struggle with the concept, too. It's sort of ingrained in women to be friendly (if not friends) with everyone. But it's just not possible to be everything to everyone, at least not when you're busy raising kids, having a career, taking care of other family/friend obligations, etc.

You seem amazingly energetic and obviously have the capacity to do a LOT. Just be careful that you're not burning yourself out in the process. That is a hard place to get out of, particularly when you're taking care of young children and are never, ever off-duty.

OK, stepping off my soapbox and hoping this is coming across as a sisterly nudge, not a criticism of how you're living your life.

Well I also have a poison eye for camo - but it's because it is worn here regularly by so many men and women when they are actually hunting. Or the many service people who live out here. Skinny camo pants just seem wrong for that very reason. You can't exactly hunt when your pants are too tight to squat down for hours on end. And you certainly couldn't put ammo in your pockets. lol. But really if you feel good wearing them, that is the bigger factor. When we feel good it shows.

I think I'd still probably pass on the camo for DH's sake especially, but maybe hold out on the leopard print and the floral pants.

And it really IS okay for a child to skip their regular activities every once in a while. I have to wonder, would they even remember if you didn't?

Kind off-topic...

I can't read the expression "chicken with its head cut off" without remembering this sweet, funny love song from The Magnetic Fields. So I'm here just to share the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FE8Uut3YRdw.

Natalie, I hear what you're saying. Just know that they WILL have friends no matter what, and as they get older, the social demands will only increase. At 10, my DS has basketball games, school activities, skiing with his buddies, sleepovers... and I am DEEPLY thankful for the time we spent doing lots of nothing together as a family, because that is already a thing of the past. As SM said, we decided to spend our precious spare time with our families, or with friends who do what we like to do - camp, fish (well, not me), ski, hike. That way, DS has friends, but he sees US having friends too. It's a hard balance between your own needs, the kids, your DH and your needs as a family unit. Big hugs. I think you are flipping amazing.

Agreed with Una! Also, as kids get older, they tend to get more selective about what activities they want to pursue, so I think it's good to encourage them to stay honest about what they truly enjoy. My stepsons quit playing baseball when they were young, and they were afraid to tell their dad about it because he was so into baseball.

I am LOLing at Lyn's remark, because even though I adore my stepsons and am happy I had a hand in raising them, I am totally fine with the fact that my uterus is gone and I can't bear any children! It sounds exhausting (even though I know it's totally worth it).

And jurocha, I never thought I'd see anyone here post a Magnetic Fields song! Love him.