Me!Me!

What 5 Things do you miss about your childhood?

But first, the rules to this meme game: Remove the blog at #1 from the following list and bump every one up one place. Add your blog’s name in the #5 spot; link to each of the other blogs for the desired cross pollination effect.

1. Busy Mom
2. Tale of a baby Human
3. Mrs. Flinger
4. Bunintheoven
5. O. Baby!

Next: select new friends to add to the pollen count. (No one is obligated to participate--forgive me if you’ve already done it and I haven’t seen it yet. and forgive me just because unwanted pain in the arse meme's can be taxing.)

1. Sara
2. Jen
3. Allie
4. Wendy

Okay, here are my personal 5 things that I miss from childhood:

1) Having my best friends within 2 blocks of my house. I could pop over unannounced and spend the day playing in their backyard with them. We could meet at the park down the street and swing or slide to our heart's content. I would see my friends more if they lived 2 blocks away, even if our idea of playing has changed somewhat.

2) Summer camp. Going away without the parents was SUCH a big deal. Especially if it involved prepubescent girls and boys and innocent romance. *sigh* I still think fondly on the songs that take me back to summer camp "loves" like Europe's "Carrie", Bon Jovi's "Never Say Goodbye", The Cure's "Fascination Street."

3) Mixtapes! I loved the funky '80's multi-colored tapes. I would cram as many varied weird songs as I could possibly fit onto a tape and write up elaborate song lists on the inserts. My friends loved them so much they made me make them their own.

4) Hanging out at the mall and going to movies with my girlfriends and not worrying. Our parents would leave us at the mall all afternoon, and I don't think they ever thought twice about it. The memories of that freedom are so bittersweet now, because I know my children will never be so lucky.

5) My Grandparents, particularly my Grandmother. My mother's mother died when I was 8, and I still think about her all the time. I would give anything to have one more day with her, to show her my incredible family. I know she sees us and I talk to her in my own way, but so much of my young childhood was filled with her love.

IKEA fun

So we had a fun weekend. All things being relative. Friday night we watched a movie and generally relaxed. Saturday morning, we decided to take everything out of our house, rip out all of the carpet and install the laminate flooring. It was a busy day especially with all of your expert "help." I'm sure you dreamt about "NO, Ceili, no touching! Owie!"

Sunday morning we wrapped it up and decided it looked so nice there was no way we were going to put the same ugly furniture back into it (besides our newish pretty IKEA bed). So, we called Michelle, hopped in the cars and headed off to IKEA. WAAAAY too much money and hours later, we loaded up the car and the truck with IKEA furniture.

On our way out, when everything was loaded up and we were ready to head to lunch on our way home, I had to roll up the car windows. You were moved over to accommodate the ridiculous furniture and had stuck your hand out the window. What did I do? I rolled the window up on your finger and promptly walked off to join Michelle, clueless to what I'd just done. Thankfully Daddy was in the car and was able to fix it when he saw the carnage and heard you screaming.

I joke, but I felt HORRIBLE. Thankfully, you're fine and that's the only reason I can be flippant about what could have been awful. You have a slightly sore finger and a small blood blister/bruise. Nothing a Wendy's happy meal, toy bus and green balloon couldn't fix.

Daddy and I put all the furniture together last night, and we were shocked at how fast it went together. We didn't finish the double wide short dresser, but we assembled two large wardrobes, a tall dresser, two end tables and two lamps. Yay us! It looks SO nice too. Daddy was left today to put all the baseboards back in and finish the last dresser. I can't wait to see it when we get home tonight.

The Children's Place

Oh no. The Children's Place is having one of their huge sales. I do not have time to go there this weekend but avoiding a TCP sale is like trying to avoid the 114 degree heat in Phoenix in June. Just can't happen.

How on earth can I fit that in between work, gym, emptying a bedroom, installing laminate flooring, caring for a 2-year-old, etc. etc. etc.? I don't know, but it must happen. Damn this addiction.

Wet Wednesday

So, you're having a day of "water fun" at school today. Every Wednesday starting with this one, the 2-year-olds are going to play outside with sprinklers, etc. I don't believe there are any pools involved, or I'm pretty sure I'd have some reservations. But you went in today with bathing suit, sandals, sunscreen, et al. Of course, it was 114 degrees yesterday, so I just hope they try to keep you in the shade as much as possible.

I'd imagine you will sleep well tonight.

Returning to school on Monday was really very amusing. You kept asking about Ashtin the whole trip, and occasionally Megan and Becky. But mostly Ashtin. When we walked in on Monday morning, you were very excited. And who was the first kid we saw? Of course. Ashtin. You bolted across the room and hugged him. Then the others fell in and I think I watched you get about 12 hugs (including 2 or 3 more from Ashtin alone). Ashtin, for the record, is an incredibly cute 2-year-old red head. Very fair and really a nice kid. Kind of shy and I've never seen or heard of him misbehaving. But he plays a lot and he just seems to adore Ceili. Even his mom tells me he talks about her at home too. Ceili's first boyfriend. Heh.

Oh, and we like the name so much we've decided if we have a boy we just might name him Ashton. We'll see. With the middle name we've picked that'll make him "ADO." Could be worse I guess.

Update number one: Trip

This will probably take me half the day, but I'm so behind in updates I have to give it a shot. This first one will be about the trip, and the next about Father's Day festivities and miscellaneous updates. Let's see how it goes!

So... We took off for the festive humid east at 4 a.m. on Thursday 6/9. You were a bit of a handful during the first flight, but nothing we couldn't handle. You did finally take a short nap which saved our sanity.

Friday we headed to Hershey Park. Holy crap did we have a good time! Seriously, it was awesome. You were just tall enough to ride some of the bigger rides, and to ride some of the smaller rides by yourself:


YOU are a bona fide daredevil. You rode rides I wouldn't ride.



It really was an incredible day. Tons of fun, minimal sunburn and many happy memories. The next day we spent with your Great Great Aunt Thelma (Grandma Laurie's aunt). That was really nice, and I got a few nice pictures too.


After that, it was off to College Park, MD for National History Day. You ate at the original Ledo restaurant,


climbed trees,


and more. A couple of days later, we did the whole tourist thing in DC, which was a lot of fun but very tiring. Two full days of sightseeing later, we were wiped out. After the final ceremony for NHD, we headed for the airport and a long series of even more exhausting air flights.

We were very happy to be home.

Vacation? Check.

Phew, I'm exhausted. We had such a fabulous time this past week, and I'll post more about it soon. Just wanted to say "Hi" and "We're back." Oh, yeah and "I'm off the pill."

Heh.

PRAISE GOD!

Well, we did it! Daddy's life-changing meeting was today, and it went absolutely as well as we could have hoped. He got the good answer we needed, and we're almost done. It goes to the State Board of Education now, who will hopefully just confirm it as they usually do. There's no reason to think they won't.

SOOOOOO, Daddy's happy, mommy's happy, everyone's happy. Daddy's career is on track, and he should be teaching algebra, geometry and AP Statistics starting 8/22. Our vacation will be cheerful and without the stress on our minds and hearts that has been there for weeks and weeks. And Mommy's going off the pill at the end of this pack. Okay, I haven't told Daddy that part, but we'll discuss it on vacation.

I am so relieved, I can't put it into words. I hope your day was half as rewarding as mine was!

Ridiculous Nerves

Sorry so quiet. With our vacation Thursday coming up, I'm utterly swamped at work getting ready.

And on top of that, I can't think straight I'm so incredibly nervous about tomorrow. Daddy's career will be decided in one fell swoop. So, fellow readers if you are the praying type, pray for a good outcome of tomorrow's meeting. A bad outcome not only ruins a lot of professional things for Daddy, but also ruins the mood for our little family vacation. Both would suck hugely.

I give up!

Okay, working mothers, help me out here. How on earth do I potty train my child?! Seriously, I'm trying and the problem is not with Ceili - it's with me! I just know it. I do not spend the whole day with her, only the evenings and weekends. How do I potty train her in that time? I ask her when i think of it (which is fairly often) if she needs to go. Sometimes she tells me she needs to, and I rush her in there only to have absolutely nothing happen. She hasn't peed on the potty at home in over two weeks. I have no idea about daycare because they TELL ME NOTHING. Sure, I could make a point to ask, but who do I ask? Her main teacher isn't there when I drop her off, and Joe's the one to pick her up. I know he won't ask.

So I feel very frustrated right now. I just don't know how a working mom is supposed to tackle this project that I think just MUST be easier for SAHM's. Not that it's easy for anyone, but at least they get a chance!

I'm doing so much research on preschools my brain hurts. And of course all the good ones that I really really want her to go to have two things in common: 1. They are expensive. 2. She must be potty-trained.

I give up!

Horrible, simply horrible

Everytime I read these stories, my heart breaks a little. But when you read what happened, and if you have ever been a parent of a toddler, you recognize just how painfully easily this could happen: Mesa toddler drowning.

My prayers are with his family.

Fun and busy

Sorry I've been so remiss in posting. Work is incredibly short-staffed, and that's usually when I post. So, quick update.

Long weekend: We had a very nice weekend. You went to a birthday party on Saturday, then spent Saturday evening at Grandma's while we watched the Suns lose miserably. Sunday we missed church because you were napping, but you were so happily asleep on me, I didn't mind. We went and shopped 'til we dropped, having fun at IKEA and Arizona Mills. Monday morning I got to play racquetball with Grandma, and then we went to a really fun party at Uncles Chris and Mason's house. You had the time of your life, charming everyone and running non-stop for hours. You had to practically be hosed off at the end of the night, but it was worth it. You saw most of your grandparents, got presents, played with other toddlers, danced to Uncle Chris's band and more!

On that note, I took digital video of you dancing with a pinwheel that is incredibly cute. But it's sideways. I took it with the camera tilted vertically and now it plays horizontally. Anyone know how to turn it? Want to offer to help? It's cute and I'd love to post it but don't want to be responsible for snapping anyone's neck.

Anyway... all is well on the sleep front too. Thank goodness. You've settled in to a nice routine, even though it still doesn't involve falling asleep in your own bed. You sleep through the night every time now (except for one night which I think was a nightmare; you didn't actually get out of bed, just cried), and wake up at 5:55 a.m. ON THE NOSE. I'm not kidding, it's been over a week and you wake up at exactly the same time every single morning. Very funny.

You know an insane amount of words, and you're communicating so much better every single day. And you insist that you want a sister. A baby sister. A baby girl. No matter how I ask it, your answer is the same. Girl. Sister. No boys. Well, hopefully we can place our order soon. I'll let you know.

Next Wednesday is the turning point in Daddy's career. I'm not being too dramatic by saying by the end of business Wednesday 6/8, Daddy's professional life will be decided for him. Needless to say, he's a nervous wreck. And to make matters worse, on Thursday 6/9 at 5:30 a.m. we'll be leaving for PA/DC. So, good news will make the trip quite fun. Bad news? Well, let's just hope they have some alcohol near Hershey Park.