Weekend Update - Sleepover!

Last weekend, we watched Nephew overnight while Brother-in-Law and Sister-in-Law had plans. He arrived on Saturday morning. Husband and I took the kids to our indoor pool. Then, we served lunch at which point the kids were tuckered out so we all had a nap. They woke up an hour or so later, I believe, maybe longer (hard to tell when I was napping, too). Then, we went to the playground. We came home and had dinner. We did a bath and the kids went right to bed. There were some giggling from the bedroom which was adorable, but the kids went to bed quickly on their own.

On Sunday, the kids and I took a walk to get a bagel for Husband. We also hit up the bakery so I could spoil the kids a bit. They liked the time outdoors and were really good. They played when we got home until it was time for Nephew to go home.

After, Little Miss and I walked them out and went to our car to run errands. We hit Home Depot and Chipotle and the grocery store. I got talked into growing lettuce for the elementary school so we needed everything to grow lettuce. We bought a window box, dirt and a second pot to replant my basil that I had been killing for months. Then, I got hungry and snuck in some food before going to grab some food for lunches this week.

When we got home, Little Miss helped pour dirt into the pots and plant seeds. She watered and then asked where the plants were. She gets her patience from me. We should see sprouts in a couple of days. I wouldn't be surprised if we don't, but we're supposed to.

Weekend Update - Books, Friends and Family

The first week of September brought book club!  I met the book club at a restaurant where we actually discussed the book and ate a delicious dinner.  We took it easy during the day.  I think the first week of school took a lot out of us, and we were all a little on edge.

 On Sunday, we went to my Sister's house and hung out.  It was a glorious day, and the kids just wanted to stay inside and play.  So, we played Chutes and Ladders.  I lost by a lot.  Nephew won.  We snacked and then we convinced the kids to go to the playground.  They had a lot of fun.  After, Sister's boyfriend came and we all went to Coldstone Creamery for ice cream.  It was a nice way to cap off a weekend.

Movies Watched in August 2013

1. We're the Millers
2. A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas

It was a very light movie month.  Mostly because I binge-watched Breaking Bad until I caught up for the new season.  We're the Millers was in the theater, and it was worth it.  It was really funny and enjoyable.

Books Read in August 2013

1. Under the Mistletoe by Jill Shalvis (NOTE:  This is part of the Lucky Harbor Series. You can find the order in which to read it here.)
2. Can't Stand the Heat by Louisa Edwards  (NOTE:  This is part of the Recipe for Love series. The order of which can be found here.
3. Doms of Dark Haven by Cherise Sinclair, Sierra Cartwright and Belinda McBride. (NOTE:  This is part of the Mountain Masters & Dark Haven series - the order of which can be found here, the Hawkeye series - the order of which can be found here, and the Truckee Wolves series - the order of which can be found here.)
4. Doms of Dark Haven 2: Western Night by Cherise Sinclair, Sierra Cartwright and Belinda McBride. (NOTE:  This is part of the Mountain Masters & Dark Haven series - the order of which can be found here, the Hawkeye series - the order of which can be found here, and the Truckee Wolves series - the order of which can be found here.)
5. Don't Hex with Texas by Shanna Swendson. (NOTE: This book is part of the Enchanted, Inc. series. The order of which can be found here.)
6. Double Time by Olivia Cunning. (NOTE: This book is part of the Sinners on Tour series. The order of which can be found here.)
7. Three Little Words by Susan Mallery. (NOTE: This book is part of the Fool's Gold series. The order of which can be found here.)
8. Wicked Beat by Olivia Cunning. (NOTE: This book is part of the Sinners on Tour series. The order of which can be found here.)
9. Fool's Gold Cookbook by Susan Mallery. (NOTE: This book is part of the Fool's Gold series. The order of which can be found here.)
10. The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

It was a better month than I expected. Pretty decent books. I read the last two of the Sinners on Tour books out of order which irked me. I don't know if it made a difference in the long run though. The great part of Fool's Gold Cookbook is it is an actual cook book with a story between recipes. I would have liked more of the story, but the food looks pretty darned tasty.  The Fault in Our Stars is also not a good public read.  There was some public crying involved.

Kindergarten

We have a kindergartener. Seriously.  It is mind-blowing.  We were lucky, too, because she got a bonus year of preschool.  With a birthday in late Fall, she missed the cut off so she's one of the older Kindergarteners.  She had a new backpack from my parents, a new outfit from Target that she picked out all by herself and new sneakers that she picked out with Husband.  If you enlarge the picture, she said she wanted to be Spiderman when she grows up.  

The first week of school was a raving success.  She has a couple of fellow Kindergarteners at her bus stop and has many friends in her class and at extended day.  Everyday, she comes home full of stories about her new friends and all that she is learning.  It is so great that she loves school so much.

Weekend Update - September

I had trouble believing it was September already.  We got back from the beach with our mountain of laundry.  That Monday, there was one last school playdate.  Little Miss got to meet some of the kids in her homeroom and some other kids who would be in extended day with her.  I think it helped a lot once school started.  There were some familiar faces and close friends already.  We shut the playdate down and then I went back to nap.  The playdates take a lot of me!

Vacation Update - Wildwood

On Thursday, we hit Open House at the elementary school.  Little Miss got to meet her teacher and some other children.  She loved it and was so excited to start school.  She was almost disappointed that wasn't the first day of school and that we had to go on vacation.  She got over that quickly though.

The first day, we got a short time at the beach, but it was super windy.  It was still nice to be on the beach though!   It was windy the next day, too, but the sun was out so it wasn't too bad. 

 Friday night, we hit the Boardwalk because Little Miss loves the rides.  She rode on many before the fireworks - which were cancelled because of the wind.  It was still a lot of fun though.  Saturday was a quiet day just at the beach and then at the pool.  Sunday, we packed up and drove home - but not before we hit the Boardwalk one last time!  Little Miss got to ride the rides she missed the first time - including the Ferris Wheel, her favorite.  She also got to play a carnival game.  We ate lunch and bid farewell to the beach until next year.

Weekend Update - Rounding out August

The second to last weekend in August was really fun.  We had a mentor for the elementary school who had some neighbors who also had children entering kindergarten.  The four families got together for a playdate.  The boys and girls stayed pretty separated.  The girls didn't even play until the very end of the playdate.  During the playdate, we discovered that there was a school-wide playdate for existing families (and new families if they found out somehow).  So, Little Miss and I grabbed some lunch and then went back to the playground.  She played very closely with the little girl from the morning and met some new friends.  It was exhausting for all of us!

On Sunday, I met with my friends for pedicures, lunch and a movie.  It was a lot of fun.  Girl time is always very important and relaxing.  My pedicure lasted a long time, too.  I just recently took it off to repolish.

It was a short week as we went on vacation!

Weekend Update - 2 for 1 Deal

Because so little happened in the last two weekends, I'm smooshing them into one weekend update. 

Two weeks ago, we dropped Little Miss off with my parents, and my parents, Sister, Nephew and she went to Maine.  She had a great time with my grandparents, aunt, uncle, and cousin.  This year, friends of the family also went so the two cottages were given quite the work out.  Little Miss came back a total big girl.  She seemed taller, more confident (which is hard to believe) and just so chatty about the whole vacation.

In the meantime, I went to see matchbox twenty and The Goo Goo Dolls.  You can view the setlist here.  It was a great show, and I had a nice night out with my friend. 

Last weekend, I picked up Little Miss from my parents.  We drove into the city to drop something off with Husband and then went to Target for a first day of school outfit, Trader Joe's and the grocery store.  Little Miss was all tuckered out when we got home.  Sunday, we did very little.  We basically had brunch, took a family nap and then had dinner.

In the meantime, I've been trying to catch up on Breaking Bad.  I did watch 2 seasons in the last couple of weeks.  I hope to be caught up with season 5 for this Sunday.  It's been a challenge. 

Thank you, I guess?

Unexpected compliment:  I was getting dressed this morning, and Little Miss says she'll pick out my clothes.  "You should wear this.  You're underwear is already lovely so you need a dress." 

I ended up not wearing what she suggested because it needed ironing, but I told her I would wear it tomorrow.  In the meantime, my underwear is lovely. 

Kindergarten

This will not be the last post about the milestone we only utter in hushed tones.  Little Miss missed the cutoff to start kindergarten last year so we got to keep her a preschooler an extra year.  Unfortunately, we can't keep her from growing up yet. 

We really are impressed with her school.  She is excited about meeting new friends and taking the school bus.  We did a meet and greet for new parents last night while Little Miss got to color and play in the gym.  We all left the school very happy though we were a bit more overwhelmed than Little Miss.  It was very informative, and we're really happy that we get to go to the Open House in August.  We leave for vacation that day and, though it's not a big deal, I'm glad we get to attend.  It's in the morning so we'll just sneak in and out before heading out of town.  I think it'll be helpful for Little Miss to see her classroom and meet her teacher.

The end of summer (and the beginning of the word that shall not be named) will be here in the blink of an eye.  So many things to do - buy new sneakers, lunch box and first day of school outfit among other things.  It's going to be a fun year though.  I can feel it.

Ah, I See!

On Monday, Little Miss went to the eye doctor.  Husband started wearing glasses around the time he learned to walk.  I started wearing glasses in high school.  It is inevitable that Little Miss will.  Last year, she did not do well on the eye exam at the pediatrician's office so we went to the eye doctor.  The visit went well.  She said to come back in 6 months.

It turns out Little Miss's eyes improved very slightly.  So, she doesn't have to go back until next summer.  We did hear that she'll probably still need glasses within the next 2 years.  

The countdown has begun!

Weekend Update - The Play's the Thing!

Last weekend, we started with a bang!  When my summer hours started at work (3PM closings on Friday), Sister-in-Law, Nephew, Little Miss and I went to the waterpark.  The kids had so much fun that they both fell asleep on the way home.  

On Saturday, Little Miss spent the night with my parents while we met Brother-in-Law and Sister-in-Law and another couple in Georgetown.  We had drinks and a great dinner before walking over to The Kennedy Center to see The Book of Mormon.  After, we had some post-play cocktails before heading home.  

On Sunday, we went out to my parents' pool for the afternoon before heading home where we collapsed in exhaustion.  Good weekend indeed!

Movies Watched in July 2013

1. New Girl


2. The Heat


3. Orange is the New Black

Light month in terms of viewing pleasure, but we've been busy!  I started catching up The New Girl on Netflix and started Orange is the New Black.  I'm enjoying both.  I did squeeze in The Heat with friends though.

Books Read in July 2013

1. Under the Mistletoe by Jill Shalvis (NOTE:  This is part of the Lucky Harbor Series. You can find the order in which to read it here.)
2. Can't Stand the Heat by Louisa Edwards  (NOTE:  This is part of the Recipe for Love series. The order of which can be found here.
3. Doms of Dark Haven by Cherise Sinclair, Sierra Cartwright and Belinda McBride. (NOTE:  This is part of the Mountain Masters & Dark Haven series - the order of which can be found here, the Hawkeye series - the order of which can be found here, and the Truckee Wolves series - the order of which can be found here.)
4. Doms of Dark Haven 2: Western Night by Cherise Sinclair, Sierra Cartwright and Belinda McBride. (NOTE:  This is part of the Mountain Masters & Dark Haven series - the order of which can be found here, the Hawkeye series - the order of which can be found here, and the Truckee Wolves series - the order of which can be found here.)
5. Hawkeye One: Danger Zone by Sierra Cartwright. (NOTE: This book is part of the Hawkeye series. The order of which can be found here.)
6. Hawkeye Two: Bend Me Over by Sierra Cartwright. (NOTE: This book is part of the Hawkeye series. The order of which can be found here.)
7. Book Three: Make Me by Sierra Cartwright. (NOTE: This book is part of the Hawkeye series. The order of which can be found here.)
8. Hot Summer Nights by Jaci Burton, Carly Phillips, Erin McCarthy, and Jessica Clare. (NOTE: This is part of the Hope series - the order of which can be found here and the Serendipity series - the order of which can be found here.
9. Enchanted, Inc. by Shanna Swendson  (NOTE:  This is part of the Enchanted, Inc. series. The order of which can be found here.)
10. Once Upon Stilettos by Shanna Swendson  (NOTE:  This is part of the Enchanted, Inc. series. The order of which can be found here.)
11. Damsel Under Stress by Shanna Swendson  (NOTE:  This is part of the Enchanted, Inc. series. The order of which can be found here.)

The Jill Shalvis one was a forgotten novella.  I caught up on that while waiting for her next release.  The rest were mostly quick erotica reads before a friend recommended the Enchanted, Inc. series which I've completely flew through.  I'm currently reading the fourth book and don't know what I'll do when I catch up!

Another Milestone

Starting last Saturday, our big girl takes showers.  By herself.  Sort of.

She wanted to take a shower last Saturday.  I flipped the shower curtain so only the liner was there, and I could supervise.  She had trouble doing her hair, and there were some tears as she fought assistance to wash and rinse her hair.  She did a great job washing and rinsing her body though.  The second shower had some whining but no crying so we're making progress.  I'm not sure when we'll get to independent showers, but I'm proud (and frustrated and sad) at how independent she is.

Weekend Update - Music and Vodka

This past weekend, I ran home on Friday so Husband and I could go to see The Lumineers with Brother-in-Law and Sister-in-Law.  We tailgated and then went into the concert.  It was a lot of fun.  I overindulged just a little, but the band was great and the weather was beautiful.

On Saturday, I got ready early to go to a golf outing in which Husband was participating.  It was a Skirt Off so all 20 men dressed in kilts (or makeshift skirts) and teed off from the front tees.  After, we celebrated Husband and Brother-in-law's second place finish with some food and drink with the group.  Then, we ran a few errands and met friends at The Dave Matthews Band concert.  The concert was awesome, but the weather was not awesome.  Luckily, we had seats in the amphitheater.  It poured about half of the concert.  I zipped up my hoodie and put up my umbrella for the lengthy walk to the car and only got wet on my legs and feet.  Husband got soaked.  I was designated driver home which was uneventful.  I was asleep almost immediately when we got home.

Today, we slept late and then Husband went to pick up Little Miss.  We've been getting in a lot of cuddle time, but I think she is glad to be home.

Weekend Update - Week of Friends

While Little Miss was in Florida, I was very busy!  On Monday, I had a friend in from out of town and met her for dinner at Old Ebbitt Grill.  It was a lot of fun and the food was delicious (seriously, chocolate chip bread pudding - must have it!).  On Tuesday, another friend was in town, and I met her at Chef Geoff's downtown.  We just did burgers and dessert.  I mean, who can turn down doughnuts on the dessert menu?  

Then, on Wednesday, I met a bunch of girlfriends in Atlanta.  We had such a great time.  On Wednesday, we went to the RWA literacy signing.  I met Jill Shalvis, Susan Elizabeth Phillips and Julie James - along with Mary Jo Putney, Susan Mallery and Farrah Rochon - and saw hundreds of others.

Thursday, we hiked up Stone Mountain, had lunch and then had cocktails in the Botanical Gardens.  On Friday, some of us went to the aquarium and some toured CNN.  Then, we went to Buckhead to have a really amazing dinner before we all said goodbye to head home throughout the day on Saturday.

My flight was delayed hours coming home on Saturday, but Husband was there to pick me up when I did finally land.  We scooped up Little Miss from my parents and then went to a friends' house.  Husband's friend and his wife and son were in town.  At the end, we were all exhausted.  We had to make a quick stop at the store on the way home because Little Miss was hungry at almost midnight.  I went to bed as soon as we got home while Little Miss ate and Husband took a shower.  Little Miss fell asleep at the kitchen table.  We all slept half the day away the next day.

When we got our act together the next day, we caught the end of the British Open and Little Miss wanted to play golf so we took her to the driving range.  Her clubs are still a little bit, and we were all still a little sleepy, but it was a successful trip.

With a little discipline and confidence, Little Miss will improve.  She still enjoys it at least. 

Weekend Update - Disney Bound (not us...)

On Friday (7/12), we dropped Little Miss off at my parents' house.  We stayed for dinner and then wished them a bon voyage.  My parents, Sister, Nephew and Little Miss drove to DisneyWorld for the week.  Meanwhile, on Saturday, Husband and I got to go to the other Nephew's birthday party.  The little man turned 3.  It was a golf-themed party and a lot of fun.  After the party was over, we stayed for some pool time and dinner.  We were exhausted when we got home!

On Sunday, the boy golfed while I met with friends for lunch and a movie.  Then the boy and I had a quiet little evening.  I successfully made pot roast and gravy which was quite yummy.

Weekend Update - Independence Day

I'm a bit behind with so much to report!

On the third of July, I got out of work early so I picked up Little Miss for some fun with Sister-in-Law and Nephew while the boys golfed.  We had a lot of fun and ended up ordering Japanese food and made plans to come over the next day.  The cousins were very happy.  On the Fourth of July, we hung out with Brother-in-Law, Sister-in-Law and Nephew at their pool.  We had a nice cook out where we ate too much.  It was so much fun.

Only July 5, the In-Laws, Brother-in-Law, Sister-in-Law, Nephew and the three of us trekked up to Baltimore to visit the Science Center and planetarium and then went to an Italian restaurant for dinner.  The weather was beautiful and the kids had a blast.  I'm still dreaming of pasta.

That Saturday, we had a family pool day with a lot of fun in the sun and then a feast of Chinese food. 

Not in My House

Last weekend (more whenever I post a Weekend Update), we dropped Little Miss off so she could go to Disney World with my parents, Sister, and Nephew.  On Sunday, the whole group met up with Brother-in-Law and his fiance and father.  So, I know Little Miss was spoiled rotten.  They spent a good part of the day at the Magic Kingdom.  We got to catch up with Little Miss at around 9PM.  She was full of laughter and giggles.  My dad came on to say that she was polite and well-behaved - and exchausted.

She must have been exhausted because she woke up this morning and woke Nephew to tell him she had an accident.  She told him it was a secret because she didn't want to get in trouble.  He assured her that she wouldn't get in trouble so they told my sister.  I'm glad she didn't freak out.  She has so few accidents and hardly any at night that I thought it would freak her out, but I'm glad Nephew was there to help.

Still, if she's going to have an accident, it's best it be on an rubber air mattress.  In Florida.  With my someone else.

The 2013 Campaign

Well, life in the metro DC area is full of politics.  Someone is always wanting something.  There is a lot of shady deals and people acting on their own agendas.  This is no different within our household.  

A certain Little Miss has decided she wants a baby sister.  Named Kayla.  She's very specific.  It was cute a couple of months ago.  This past week, she's taken to begging.  Then, she changed tactics.  She's now listing her great qualifications as a big sister.  She is campaigning hard.

I keep telling her it's great that she's an only child.  A new baby would take away from her attention because we'd be busy looking after a baby.  She countered with the fact that she would be such a great help.  She could help feed her.  Yesterday, she pushed her cousin in his stroller and she wanted me to see how helpful she was steering and pushing the stroller now that she's a big girl.  She also has taken to positive visualization skills.  She starts sentences with "When my baby sister comes..."  Yesterday, I told her she needed a second bathing suit because she outgrew her ones from last year.  She said I need to get two so her baby sister will have one.  Seriously.  This is how our conversations go now.

I've tried to tell her that she may not get a sibling or a baby sister OR, horrors upon horrors, she could get a baby brother.  She did not hear me suggest there be no sibling at all.  No reaction.  As for the baby brother, she said that would be ok, but she "likes girls better".  

I just pray everyday that she doesn't say the phrase she says at home to anyone outside the house - "I can't wait for my baby sister to come!"  If she does, I'm going to explain that there's no baby, just an extra 5 pounds, but thanks for asking.

Husbands - Is it still illegal to shoot them?

Just for the record, that is a hypothetical question.  I'm not considering it.  This is important for the future.  I want to make it clear that I am not actually literally considering shooting him so this is not considered a premeditated act if something, say, happens in the future.

Husband flipped out because he couldn't find his second bathing suit.  Therefore, I must have left it at the Jersey Shore last summer because it was my job to pack the suits.  Yesterday, I asked why he packed a bathing suit if he was wearing one.  It was the one I "lost".  It turns out it was in the beach bag - the same beach bag he looked in at least a dozen times.

Yesterday, we went visiting with Brother-in-Law and Sister-in-Law.  Husband packed all his stuff for after the pool in the beach bag.  To make room, I packed out clothes in a separate bag and the pool items only in the beach bag.  When we got back to their apartment, he got into a giant tantrum because his deodorant was missing.  I must have left it at home when I was transferring the bags.  It turns out he left it in the bathroom.  I told him I must have put it away for him yesterday instead of packing it to come with us.

This happened at least a couple of more times where he blamed me for losing or misplacing items I never touched.  The pinnacle of his crankiness happened last night where he worked himself up enough to yell, "I don't understand why you just don't know where everything I own is at any single moment of the day!"

It's always nice to end arguments with laughter.  Otherwise, I'd be asking if it was still illegal to shoot husbands. 

Books Read in June 2013

1. Just One Kiss by Susan Mallery  (NOTE:  This is part of the Fool's Gold Series. You can find the order in which to read it here.)
2. Lush by Lauren Dane  (NOTE:  This is part of the Delicious series.  The order of which can be found here. However, this series is very close to the Brown series and many characters appear. You can find the order to that series here.)
3. It Had to Be You by Jill Shalvis (NOTE:  This is part of the Lucky Harbor series. The order of which can be found here.)
4. One Ssweet Ride by Jaci Burton. (NOTE: This book is part of the Play by Play series. The order in which to read can be found here.)
5. The Perfect Gift by Jennifer Ashley  (NOTE:  This is part of the Mackenzie Family series.  The order of which can be found here.)
6. Two of a Kind by Susan Mallery  (NOTE:  This is part of the Fool's Gold series.  The order of which can be found here.)
7. A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin  (NOTE:  This is part of the A Song of Ice and Fire series.  The order of which can be found here.)

Big month and all spread out. Lots of fun little romances. Then, I finally finished A Game of Thrones. I've read the book on and off for years. Literally years. I finally finished it. I did buy the second book, and hopefully, it won't take me years to read that one.

Movies Watched in June 2013

1. The Great Gatsby
2. Star Trek Into Darkness
3. Dark Shadows
4. Much Ado About Nothing

It looks more impressive than it is, but it's better than last month.  I took Mom to The Great Gatsby for a belated Mother's Day present.  I don't know that it needed to be in 3-D, but it was a visually beautiful movie.  I saw Star Trek for my birthday, and that was a fun action movie with pretty boys.  I'm going to pretend I watched Dark Shadows on HBO, but Brave on Starz made up for it.  It was worth the wait.  Snuck in Much Ado About Nothing on the last day of the month.  It was really good, and I can take or leave Shakespeare.

Weekend Update - Summertime!

Last weekend, I got soaking wet walking home from work. It took my shoes 2 days to dry out. 

Saturday, we were given a beautiful day though. Little Miss and I went out to my parents' pool to celebrate my dad's birthday and Father's Day - both a little belated. We played at the pool with my parents, Sister and Nephew. We had lunch and snacks. Then, we went back to the house for dinner. We all ate ourselves silly and had cake as more of a symbolic gesture than anything else, but it's not a birthday without cake!

On Sunday, I met a friend in Bethesda for lunch and a movie. It was a really good day even if my GPS took me the scenic route home. The company and the movie were great. Husband golfed most of the weekend. It led into a quiet evening which was a great way to cap off the weekend.

Hockey

Little Miss has really enjoyed hockey this season.  We took her to a Rangers game during Spring Break.  She would watch the first period of the Playoff games with Husband before bed.  She was learning the players and their numbers.  She wore her jersey often.  Then, when the Rangers were eliminated, Husband had her rooting for Boston over the Pittsburgh.  So, when it came down to Boston versus Chicago, she continued to root for Boston on her own.  

During the last game, she said she was rooting for the "Bostons to win because I want them to win the Champions' Cup."  Unfortunately, she woke up to disappointing news.  

Lawyer Perhaps?

Little Miss is very influenced by advertisements.  She knows many jingles by heart.  She sings the Nationwide jingle all the time for instance.  The latest commercial that has caught her fancy is one for Flashlight Friends.  She mentioned to Husband the other night that she really wants one.  If you don't click on the link, they are stuffed animals with a built-in flashlight.  She said if she had one, it would help her read in bed and help her become a better reader.

That's sound logic right there.  There's a good chance she may be getting a Flashlight Friend. 

Honesty, Thy Name is Toddler - Part 2

As I mentioned here, Little Miss had a sleepover at the In-Laws' apartment. When I picked her up the next morning, I asked how her weekend went. She looked at me and said she had fun, but "Well, you won't be happy with some of it." 

As it turns out, she gets spoiled at her grandparents' house and things aren't done the same way they are done at home which is expected - one wants grandparents to spoil because many, many children don't have grandparents these days. One day (and soon, I imagine), she'll start to keep secrets from me so I try to react calmly so she'll share information with me as long as possible. In the meantime, I'm going to glory in the fact that she's still honest with me.

Honesty, Thy Name is Toddler

I don't wear green often.  Nothing personal, but I just don't have a lot in green.  The other day, I chose a green floral tunic top that I've worn maybe once before.  Little Miss looks at me and says, "Ugh, that color looks awful on you.  You should wear this shirt."  She then handed me a pink shirt.  So, I wore that one.  It is unclear if I will ever wear that green shirt again.

Weekend Update - Busy Bees

Two weekends ago, we had a busy weekend.  On Friday, I took the train and met a former co-worker for dinner and a walk around the mall.  It was a really nice evening.  Although, you should never mix martinis and shopping.  Regardless, it was a great night.

On Saturday, the three of us went to a BBQ at friends' house.  Then, we dropped Little Miss off at the In-laws' apartment with her cousin for a sleepover.  Brother-in-Law, Sister-in-Law, Husband and I, and two other couples went out for Mexican and then went bowling.  It was a lot of fun.  We were all feeling no pain except for our bowling scores.

On Sunday, Husband went golfing while I lounged in bed.  Then, I picked up both kids and met Sister-in-Law.  We went to the playground with the kids and then Little Miss took an unplanned nap.  When she woke up, the boys got there, and we all went to the pool.  We ordered pizza and then head on home. 

It was a great weekend, but it left us exhausted.  I think I spent all weekend recovering.

Too Many Choices

Last weekend, we went to a BBQ where it was BYOB.  So, I let Little Miss pick her own juice boxes to bring.  She stood in the large aisle looking at all her options.  Meanwhile, I was just wanting to run in, pick out our beverages and run out.  So, I tried to push her along.  She looked at me and said firmly, "Mommy, I need you to give me patience."

I counted to ten.  She chose juice boxes and then said, "See, when you give me patience, I make a choice!"

She's got a point.

Weekend Update - Father's Day

Last weekend, I came right home after work ended at 3PM and took Little Miss to the park for her last playdate with her friend.  Her friend and her family are moving to Poland so we tried to get as many playdates in as possible.  Because neither girl wanted to be sad about the parting, they decided to bicker the entire time, but they did part as friends.  On the way home, I picked up a small pizza for Little Miss for dinner.  She ate half of the 10" pizza and declared it "the best pizza in the world".

On Saturday, Little Miss had her last swim class.  There was a substitute, but she did quite a bit.  At the end, she got a certificate.  After, we came home and napped.  It was glorious.  Then, we cleaned.  And cleaned.  It was much-needed.

On Sunday, I got up with Little Miss because it was Father's Day.  We had a big breakfast and beat the storm and took a walk.  During our walk, we snacked along the way.  Little Miss had a cake pop and I snagged some frozen yogurt.  Then, we went to the store to cook Husband's dinner for Father's Day.  Husband got some crab dip and a pasta dish.  It was a nice relaxing day despite a couple of meltdowns on everybody's part. 

We had some tentative plans, but this was the last weekend we had before a bunch of very busy weekends so we stayed in which was perfect and relaxing.

oooops...

Little Miss came stomping into the living room today and announced that yesterday was Flag Day.  She said she wanted to celebrate, and we missed.  I responded that I forgot.  I mean, even if I didn't forget, it's not normally a holiday I celebrate outside of stating, "Hey, today is Flag Day."  So, she gives me this look of utter derision and says, "Well, now you know."  

Yes, now I know.

Family Pictures

Just a sampling of some of our family photos.



Below are the ones we purchased:

All in all, we were happy with them.  The process is always tedious (bordering homicidal for Husband), but we only do them every other year as a family.  Little Miss LOVES having her photo taken.  She'd still be there posing if we let her!

Spelling Humor

You know, when you spell hippopotamus, it starts with H-I-P-P... and after that, you lose a 5-year-old's attention because there is PP in the middle of the spelling.  *sigh*  I can't wait until her humor graduates beyond the bathroom.

Anything Goes

Yesterday was my birthday.  As I wrote, I had a lovely Friday night with friends for my birthday so most of the celebrating was over.  However, yesterday was quite nice for a Tuesday birthday.  I brought in munchkins to the office.  I like to do that because they're small and no one can say no to a donut hole.  My friend sent me flowers to the office which was a nice treat and brightens my sparse office.  My co-worker treated me to frozen yogurt which was a nice afternoon snack.  Then, after work, I met Sister-in-Law for a happy hour and dinner before seeing Anything Goes at The Kennedy Center.  The show was very energetic and really cute and high-energy.  When I got home, I got to open a card from Little Miss that said, "Happy birthday, Mommy!  I love you and I like you."  For some reason, that really made me giggle.  It's a keeper. 

It's a Wonderful Life

You can find the sign above here.

We have a plaque that says It's a Wonderful Life.  Little Miss loves to read it and point it out.  I mostly forget it's even there.  Regardless, tonight, she was hanging with Husband, and she pointed it at the sign and read it.  Then, she says, "It's a wonderful life ... Actually, it's not a wonderful life.  Sometimes, it's a bad life."

Wiser words have not been spoken.

Weekend Update - The End of an Era

Last Friday, I took some vacation time to see Little Miss in her preschool finale. The kids did a fantastic job. It really was a fantastic class - small and really close-knit. She made her first really good friends. The kids received a certificate.

 

You can see Little Miss was very proud of her certificate. After the show, there was a little reception - lots of sugar and presents. After, Little Miss was invited to spend the afternoon with her good friend while Husband and I returned to work. Little Miss painted pottery and then went to lunch and was dropped off at the Inlaws' apartment. I worked and then Friday night, I met friends, Sister and Sister-in-Law for some drinks, food and a movie to celebrate my birthday a little early. It was a lot of fun! On Saturday, Little Miss had swim class. Then, there was lunch and bath before we got family pictures taken. They came out really nice. We were pleased - even though Husband almost had a heart attack dealing with the traffic and mall stress. After Little Miss got to enjoy herself at the fair for about an hour. Then, Husband had plans to meet friends for some golf and dropped off Little Miss and me at my parents' house for dinner. Mom and Dad drove us home, and we were all sleeping before Husband came home (though he did say I had a conversation with him).

On Sunday, we had a quiet day recovering from our busy Saturday. Little Miss and I woke up early and had some breakfast and played some board games. Then, we had brunch and a nap. The nap was my favorite part. In the afternoon, a family from Little Miss's preschool hosted a really lovely bbq. The kids had a blast, and it was a nice end-of-year event before the kids all went separate ways. Some will at least be in town, but a couple of the kids are moving out of the country. It was a long weekend, but it was full of fun which is the best kind of weekend!

Weekend Update - And so begins the summer...

Husband and I mapped out our summer, and it is ridiculously busy.  Seriously, I'm exhausted and it hasn't started yet.  So, hopefully, this blog will be hopping!

This weekend, Little Miss came home on Friday with a low fever and a hacking cough.  I let her fall asleep in bed with me and Husband let her stay the night in our bed.  So, around 3AM, she woke us both up from the radioactive heat radiating from her body.  We took her temp which clocked in around 102.3 and stuffed some Tylenol down her.  At 5AM, she decided to sleep with her feet on my pillow, and at that point, she got booted back to her own bed.

Because she was sick, we kept her home from swimming and cancelled our day at the pool.  She ran some errands with Husband and then took a 4-hour nap.  Since then, she's been 99% (can't get rid of the cough).  Meanwhile, I promised my mom a day of fun for Mother's Day so we did lunch at Seasons 52 and then went to a movie.  After, I introduced her to Pinkberry. When I got home, I took a little nap and then we all did dinner and bedtime. Little Miss usually reads herself to bed and last night, she read Sleeping Beauty. So, at 9PM, she called me in crying. She has reached the point where she is comprehending stories and Maleficent scared her. A lot. So, we let her out on the couch and then back in bed with me, but she went to her room when Husband came to bed because we had a lot planned for Sunday. 

On Sunday, no surprise, Little Miss slept late. We did brunch around noon. Then, we pretty much went straight to lunch. Husband went out with a friend around noon while Little Miss and I hit the bank and then met some of her friends (and their parents) at The Cheesecake Factory. After, we met a bigger group of friends at the park for a big playdate. Little Miss played hard. She came home tired and sweaty, but it was a great day for her. She had such a fantastic class this year. I'll miss them.

Books Read in May 2013

1. Fly Away by Kristin Hannah  (NOTE:  You really should read Firefly Lane first.)
2. Strong Enough to Love by Victoria Dahl  (NOTE:  This is part of the Jackson Hole series.  The order of which can be found here.)
3. Hot Ticket by Olivia Cunning (NOTE:  This is part of the Sinners on Tour series. The order of which can be found here.)
4. A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick
5. Too Hot to Handle by Victoria Dahl  (NOTE:  This is part of the Jackson Hole series.  The order of which can be found here.)
6. Halfway There by Susan Mallery  (NOTE:  This is part of the Fool's Gold series.  The order of which can be found here.)
7. This Is Who I Am by Cherise Sinclair  (NOTE:  This is part of the Masters of the Shadowlands series.  The order of which can be found here.)

Decent month of reading.  They were all digital. I read A Reliable Wife for book club, but I bought the book years ago. So, if anything, I was glad to finally read it. The others were good books though some aren't for the faint of heart so if you're playing the home game, read the summaries before you read. I'm enjoying being able to read on the way to work, the joy of commuting on the train. Lots of good books coming out this summer, too.

Movies Watched in May 2013

1. Contagion

Sad movie month. On the last day of the month, I caught Contagion on HBO Go. Meh.