Rub-a-Dub, Dub; Piggie in the Tub

"My Staycation"

Dear Munchkin,

While you were away, Mommy was busy, too. On Tuesday, I drove back to our house with Avery and then we took a long walk. My dear friend (and ex-roommate) met me in our town for lunch, introduced me to the local discount wine shop, and then we enjoyed several hours drinking coffee in the rocking chairs on the front porch. That night, I picked up some Maggiano's for our friends, I and D, who have a new baby, and your dad and I got to meet your newest little buddy: we'll call him Mr. Green.

On Wednesday, I hung out with Avery in the morning while The Guys installed the new shed in the backyard. I also had a meeting with a very unhelpful Backyard Lady, which was a waste of time--and you know how much I HATE wasting time. I spent a good portion of Wednesday morning fretting over how much I needed to get done and being worried that I wouldn't be able to cram it all in before you got back...so I decided to forget it all and went to a movie instead. By myself. With popcorn. It was awesome.

On Thursday, I ran a tonnnnnnnnn of errands all morning, logged some time on my traffic safety course, and drank a lot of coffee. Then I met a new dentist, had my teeth cleaned (no comments about the coffee, please), shopped for new jeans, and met a teacher friend for yummy dinner at California Pizza Kitchen.

On Friday, I woke up and went to the basement to start some laundry. I noticed a huge puddle in the laundry room. I noticed a huge (HUGE) wet spot on the basement carpet. I noticed a huge (HUUUUUGE) puddle in the furnace room. I noticed that the water heater was leaking. [Sigh.] I called the repair guys and went to "get my hair did." When I returned, the Water Heater Guy replaced said water heater, I spent many minutes on the phone with the insurance company and your dad, I tried to keep Avery out of everybody's way, I kept my cool when the Water Heater Guys took a chunk out of our banister....and didn't get anything else accomplished on my list for that day. Oh well. Later in the afternoon, I took a Metra train to the city to meet your dad and our friends for sushi and "Shrek, the Musical."

All in all....what a packed week filled with fun stuff. I missed you, though, and I'm glad you're home. Even if that home stinks of a citrusy carpet cleaner.

Love,
Mom

"My Trip to Mimi and Papa's House:" Excerpts

(Edited for content.)

"Dear Mommy and Daddy,

"We were very busy all the time. Tuesday we went to the Berrien County Youth Fair. I touched all kinds of animals, and loved running all around, riding on Papa's shoulders and watching the horse show. We saw clowns and motorcycles at the circus. I kept asking Mimi to take me back to the circus every day. She said, maybe next year. Mimi asked me if I wanted to go home to Mommy's house. I said no. Stay at Mimi's house.

"On Wednesday we played with cars and trains and built a racetrack. I played baseball with Papa and swam in the little swimming pool and played in the sandbox. But I wouldn't sit in the sandbox. Yucky. At night, we went to the ice cream social at the park and did swinging and climbing and laughing. I still want to stay at Mimi's house. But I cried a little bit for Mommy at bedtime.

"On Thursday we had a dancing party in the living room. Auntie Naomi and Mimi took me to the Rock (Rec) Center. I did lots of swimming and went underwater. We had mac and cheese for dinner. Yummy. I still don't want to go to Mommy and Daddy's house yet. But I miss them.

"On Friday I played with Mommy's old [awesome, discontinued, Fisher Price] castle for a long time. I love to make the little people fall down the tunnel and climb the stairs and ride around in their little cars. We took a long walk and played more baseball and ran through the sprinkler and watered Mim's flowers--and Mimi. We played hide and seek and Mimi made me a picture book from the fair day.

"At lunchtime, Mimi asked me if I wanted to go to Mommy's house tomorrow. I said, Ok. On Friday night, Papa and I went to Toys R Us. I picked out a pack-pack [backpack] and some new cars and an Elmo lunchbox for my birthday presents. I think I'm like Mimi: I like containers.

"I can't wait to see Mommy and Daddy and Avery. I will miss Auntie Omi and Mimi and Papa. Thanks for letting me go.

"Love,
The Boy"


I'm going out on a limb to guess that Mimi and Papa and Omi probably took a nice, long NAP the next day. :o)

A True Staycation

For the next three days...


I will not worry about death by Matchbox car or Star Wars guy.

I will not microwave chicken nuggets with ranch dressing.

I will not haul eleventy billion toys up and down the stairs.

I will not hear the voice of Elmo.

I will not pack up a snack before leaving the house.

I will not carry a diaper bag.

I will not read "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Ican'tbelievewe'rereadingthisagain, Very Bad Day."

I will not be interrupted while on the phone.

I will not wash a sippy cup.

I will not hire a babysitter.

I will not clean up sixteen baseballs, three basketballs and two footballs from the yard.

I will not witness a tantrum--at least, not from the toddler.


Then again...

I won't get sweet toddler hugs and kisses, or snuggle during pre-naptime songs, or be asked, "Mommy, what are you doing here?" (He means, "What are you doing?") or be commanded, "Mommy, turn around!" (He means, "Pay attention to me!)

But that's okay. For three days. (Thanks, Mom.)

Bye-Bye, Gymbo

The boy and I attended his "last" Gymboree class a few weeks (ahem, possibly months) ago. I put "last" in quotation marks because I have learned to never say never. While he enjoyed Gymboree, I wouldn't say he actually gained many skills there that he wasn't getting in music class or from playing outdoors. It was really a great way to stay active during the winter...and to spend gobs of money at the mall in which it resides. We proudly know the entire layout, after six month of Gymboree, and have probably spent more time at the Gymboree retail store than the actual Gym. Whoops.

We will miss our wonderful teacher, Miss Rose (I know, right?), who is most certainly the best teacher at both locations we have attended, even if she can't sing. At all. :o)

Here are a few snapshots of his "last" class:

Lunch Date