Holiday Hangover!

Does anyone else have an Easter weekend hangover? I really think that holidays should come with recuperation time from lack of sleep and too many activities!

I enjoyed my Spring Break... but it was not packed with fun and sun! Instead it was packed with every child-related activity known to man! I believe everyday we went to eat and slide (Chic-fil-A now knows us by name)! Anna is slowly going to turn into a chicken! Tuesday I had a wise idea of getting paints for porcelain eggs. I read somewhere that somebody had an egg added every year that their child painted. Great idea! Not a great idea to take a napless 2 year old to get supplies! Add Hobby Lobby to the list of friends on a first name basis now! Wednesday we painted...we painted....and we painted...and we painted! We painted eggs, our hands and tried to paint the cat (hey, who wouldn't love to have a purple, pink, green, yellow cat)! Thursday was the Easter party at school. I am big on going to all I can (she is only 2...so...watch out PTA...already planning ideas!). Apparently I am the only one! The party consisted of the kids, two teachers and me! Well somebody had to entertain the kids so I decided it was me. All the time poor Anna was telling everyone who came near me "my mommy" or "mommy's camera". Friday....we went Easter shopping! Target here we come (as if this makes it different from any other day). Once again, a store which knows us! I dare say that they might call to check on us should we skip a day visiting! The Easter stuff...well you take your life into your own hands on that aisle two days before Easter! I envisioned the great Cabbage Patch Kids Walmart scene from the eighties at some points! Saturday she woke up bright and early....at 6:30 (apparently she did not read the memo that it was Saturday!) We decided to do our original plan and go on an Easter egg hunt in Pelham. Met the cousins there. That was the quickest hunt I had ever been to! Well, not really much of a hunt per se. There was a football field with eggs scattered all over it. None-the-less the kids had fun. Anna loved it with the exception of "the Bun" (my name for the Bunny). Her cousin wanted to see him...Anna was having nothing of it! I admit, most Easter bunnies looked a bit...well...freakish! SO who could blame her! Following the hunt we went to mom's. That is always an experience and a half! Anna met my mom's dog's up close and personal. All three had fun. The dog's were probably a bit confused why she was taking their toys but all in all they played well with each other. We then went to buy the forgotten items for dying eggs (I don't think Walmart is fun for any reason!). When we got home we had big plans...cookies and dying eggs. Some of you may not remember that age old tradition of dying eggs. There are others of you that may wonder....simply....why....there are plastic ones now? Kind of like diapers...why use the old fashioned cloth ones when God created Huggies! Well, some things I never grew out of (talking about dying eggs here)! For those of you wondering, YES it was a mess and a half. It was a messy that this Type A (yes, I know you can't believe it...I am a type a ....insert laughter here) personality went bonkers over! We both ended up having fun though! Now to Sunday...the big reveal...what did the 'Bun bring? He was good (my wallet thanks him!) Anna was happy (I think she may have actually been more happy that she did not have to talk to him in order to get the treats!) Then we had the other 'fam functions. Egg hunt, food, painting, chalking, bubbles, running around, ball playing....I am tired just reliving it in words!

And here we are today...still suffering from the Easter hangover! Anybody else?

Officially or Unofficially? Is There Really a Difference?

Well, the holidays are officially in the past. My marking point for this is I go back to work tomorrow. As you may know I work at a local private university. We "unofficially" get off for about a week and a half at Christmas. Officially, if we did not get this unofficial- everyone plans on but admisinstration does not put on calendar -holiday time....well, let's just say that this "Christian" campus would officially be not so Christian in thoughts and words! We got off at noon on the 21st and go back tomorrow. Mind you, I have been unofficially been working this break anyways. See, I work with international students and scholars. So, everything involving anything international in nature I do. Or, you could use the definition that our campus post office has of my scope of work. Anyone or thing with a funny sounding name is for me. Boy oh boy this needs to be my official job description because it seems like it is true judging from everything that comes on my desk, in my email or through my phone lines! Over the holidays it seems like nobody (including those that work on campus) understands we are officially closed! I have been to the office, been to FedEx to mail visa paperwork to Nicaragua, emailed a student trying to come Jan. 20th (hahaha that is funny to me...she has not even applied...Athletics Department must be smokin' something if they think this is happening)...emailing back and forth a professor who went early on study abroad to London (a whole 'nother blog post...I am leaving Jan. 12th with a group of students too) wanting to know if he can stay in our house (our university owns a flat in London) that night...the list goes on! Well, I officially get to go back to this and more tomorrow. Officially, back to reality. All in all it is going to be tough. I am going to have to get back into the wake up get the world ready mode. Poor LitlBit is back at school. That is going to be a heartrencher. Going back from a three day weekend and she clinches to me crying! So this is not going to be pleasurable for either of us. She loves her teachers so I know it is just change that gets to her. But man oh man, try telling me that as I walk away from the tear-stained red face! Officially my footlose and fancyfree mini vacation is over. Unofficially my world must quickly turn upside down to reflect such. This just to change once again Jan. 12th.

Ok- I said I would put it in another post...and I probably will put more...but I need to vent a bit. I am going to London for two weeks with a student group. I will be in charge of the house while there. Last year was my first time to do this. I was a wreck the first few days! LitlBit has not (still) spent the night away from home! I can count on both hands (maybe even one) the number of times we have asked for someone to watch her...even then it was grandma. Top that with the fact that I had never flown before (yes you read that right) much less been out of the country...I was a basket case (at least in my opinion). I know it will be better this year since I have done it, it went ok, my computer worked (that was a scare of mine because I planned on video skyping home for free), and LitlBit did not suffer from post-traumatic mommy-left-me-for-two-weeks-syndrome! I still dread it! I get no sympathy either! Everyone seems to think that going to London is just wonderful! Those same folks are not the ones leaving their little one for two weeks though! I love my job. I do. I am able to work from home some. I get good holiday time. I pretty much take off if LitlBit sneezes the wrong way. I guess since having LitlBit I am more into being in the same city as her instead of travel without her.

So, tomorrow work officially begins. Unofficially, my life turns right-side up just to go upside-down again next week...officially (as I have the plane ticket to prove it)!

My life as an email account!

Lately I have been comparing myself to my email at work. At some point (NEVER the same point it seems...I think the IT guys just pick a day at random to drive me crazy) I get a nasty email. It says that I have "exceeded my email quota" and that I will not be able to send or receive further information until the space has been minimized. Oh- how I dislike those emails (they happen quite frequently)! Well, since having LitlBit I have turned into that email account! There come points in time that my brain can no longer receive or give out any more information...of any kind! Just like my work email, these days are more and more frequent! I keep wondering is it me or is everyone like that?

They Complained About What?

Ok, it is Saturday of this wacky and crazy world. What day is it kiddies...thrift store day! Every Saturday Litlbit and I go 'thriftin. I love it. Since she usually is up by 7:30 we get there early. Then we can leave before the storm of people come! I have found some wonderful deals too. My latest find was an Ann Taylor skirt. The tag was still on it...it read...$148. Now, me, I paid $3.88. I know I stink in math but according to my calculations that is well over a $100 discount! Sounds like a plan to me! Anyhoo, we went and did our thing. We always start with Litlbit's clothes. Then we meander over to the stuffed animals. Then to mommy's. Last but not least the books. Today was good. Litlbit racked up with a Pluto, Tickle-me-Elmo, 7 books, Gymbo jumper and a couple of shirts. Me, fairly well. The loot included a pair of casual Ann Taylor pants, a pair of Paper Denim jeans and a sweater from Express. The little excursion ended on a funny note though. We got into line to pay...the checker is the same one we have gone to for 3 weeks in a row. She is a really nice lady...one of the few there that is! Anyways, we are checking out and she said that the lady ahead of us was complaining to the manager...what was she complaining about you may ask. The prices. Ok, did you read this entire post from start to finish? I find a $148 skirt for $3.88 and she is complaining that the prices are too high! I thought I was going to bust out laughing. Call me crazy....but clothes at over a $100 discount seems like one of the best deals yet!

No Means What?

No...two little letters...one big meaning. My daughter is two. Yes, the terrible twos. The day has come which I have dreaded...the overdramatic- everything is a tantrum- and everything is NO.

"Littlebit, let's change clothes."
"N O!"

"Littlebit, time to go bye-byes."
"N O bye-byes!"

"Time to eat, Littlebit."
"N O time eat Littlebit!"

Yes, everyday brings a new reason for no. Mind you she does not just say no either...she all of a sudden turns into a method actor, drawing from deep inside of those memories of not getting the toy at Target. She flings her body forward onto the ottoman and utters the longest version of the two letter word which I have yet to hear. All with the sighs (or cries, depends on the mood) for all to hear.

Flip the coin....me...telephone rings....it would be someone from the family

"We want to get together to celebrate the anniversary of your brother-in-law. Can you guys come over at 6 o'clock tomorrow?

"Why of course...would love to."

OK, what is wrong with this? Let me tell you...I get off work at 4:30...on a good day I won't get home until 5:30 (with Littlebit). In-laws live 20 minutes away. I don't care to celebrate other's anniversaries (isn't that for them to celebrate?) Stress, stress, run, run, no fun evening.

Why is it that my two year old can say with such passion and emphasis something that I can't even manage to whisper during this phone call? One would think with all she has taught me on the fine art of saying no, I should be a pro! Quite simply put, she is honest. The consequence of her honesty is a possible time-out. At this point, that is as far as her thinking is. Me on the other hand...well, I am thinking the consequence of the no with about 6 others! I am basically "scared" into a yes.

Sometimes I wish I could be that method-actor two year old again. Fling my body forward and scream no to the question pondered!