Gearing up for a fun weekend

As I count down the last 2.5 hours of work for the week, I'm getting excited about our weekend plans.

Tonight we're going to a family thing at church for people with kids elementary age and younger. They have an awesome indoor playspace (think McDs but cooler) and there will be much junk food and soda.

Tomorrow I'm hoping to go to the zoo in the morning then we're taking Chloe for a pedicure. Poor kid hardly gets to do anything "just her" these days and one of the local salons has kid sized pedicure chairs. I think she'll get a kick out of it. Then back to the house for a nap and maybe some movies on the sofa.

Sunday we'll head to church and possibly the Magic House afterwards. We haven't been in a while and I think Chloe's the right age to really enjoy it. I want to try the giant slide. The more naps and lounging.

Monday I'm off and hoping to finally get some sewing done. I have a project started for Chloe and have been itching to use my basically unused machine, purchased December 2008. Oops...

Too early to be sad and nervous

Chloe will miss the kindergarten "cut off" and will start school fall 2010. With that said, we've been reviewing school choice and will be living in a good district where she will attend. I feel a little mournful and anxious. Mournful that I will (barring superb luck or a winning lottery ticket) not be homeschooling and anxious about the schematics of having one child in daycare/preschool and one in kindergarten.

The center where the kids are now has a great summer program for K-6 but nothing for before and after school. I don't want to take Benjamin from where he is now. It's great there and I want Chloe to be in their summer program so I'm willing to schlep two kids to two locations.

I need to get more information but was told the YMCA does before and after care and from what I remember seeing in the past, it wasn't too expensive. The school district has half day kindergarten and it costs $2,200 to enroll in full day K. Yes, about $220/month plus before/after care. Really? Ugh.

I know it's a year away still but I'm already feeling sad about sending Chloe. I feel so silly about it. It's not like I'm home with my kids now but somehow it just seems so different.

An apology and promise

It's been a long time. I know. I'm sorry. I promise to do better.

Going political here... The 9/12 Project

I'm fed up with our government. I feel like we've been duped into fighting with each other instead of looking at the real issue; the over-bloated system that's been created for us. I'm taking a stand and fighting back.

The 9/12 project is not about political parties. It's about values, principles and the common ground I think most of us share. I want a better country for my kids. Heck, I just want my country to still be here for my kids. I'm afraid but I will not let fear take over and I will not let my elected officials control my life.

The 9/12 Project is about 9 principles and 12 values. You can find out more here.

Principles

America Is Good.
I believe in God and He is the Center of my Life.
I must always try to be a more honest person than I was yesterday.
The family is sacred. My spouse and I are the ultimate authority, not the government.
If you break the law you pay the penalty. Justice is blind and no one is above it.
I have a right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, but there is no guarantee of equal results.
I work hard for what I have and I will share it with who I want to. Government cannot force me to be charitable.
It is not un-American for me to disagree with authority or to share my personal opinion.
The government works for me. I do not answer to them, they answer to me.

Values

Honesty
Reverence
Hope
Thrift
Humility
Charity
Sincerity
Moderation
Hard Work
Courage
Personal Responsibility
Gratitude

A day off with Chloe

Since Chloe seemed to fare the worst over the weekend, I decided to keep her with me for the day and drop off Benjamin. He actually cried when I dropped him off; I don't think he's used to me leaving with Chloe and not him!

We went back to the house and she played in the class room while I put away laundry and cleaned upstairs. It was really nice. She happily played with stamps, colored and played with playdoh. She put away each thing before moving onto something else and kept herself occupied for over an hour.

When I was done, we went out to get her a haircut (a trim) and for a quick run through the grocery store. Then we went back to the house for some lunch and a nap. I tried to take one with her but I guess having mom there was too exciting because she kept talking so after about 20 minutes I got up and left her to rest.

After that we ran to Target then to pickup Benjamin. I think he was really happy to see her and tried to play with her all night.

I didn't get as much cleaning done as I would've liked, but I'm glad I spent some one-on-one time with her. We both really needed it and I plan to keep her with me at least one day every other week. And next time I'm getting my nap too!

Working weekend and bragging about the hubby

This past weekend was my first working weekend. It was the first time I've worked a weekend in about 10 years and definately the first weekend I've worked since having kids. Not only did I work, but I worked 6am-6pm both days. Needless to say, it was a long weekend.
Stacey stayed home with the kids and I admit I was a little nervous. Not because he can't care for the kids but because there were so many factors in play (long workday, Benjamin is still young, he's tired from working all week, etc).

Not only did they do fine, they did great! He took the kids on Saturday to Monkey Joe's (giant room of bounce houses) and they had a blast. Benjamin took a nap without issue and Stacey said he really didn't even cry. He was happy to see me when I got home (Benjamin) but not overly clingy or fussy. Sunday they hung around the house and Stacey got all the laundry done and the house was cleaned up.

You want to know the best part? He didn't complain! There were no calls to me at work with him stressed, he didn't complain about the long days, the getting up early and he didn't tell me how tired he was when I got home or anything. I'm so pleasantly surprised by this I'm giddy.
I think chloe had a harder time with me being gone. She really didn't want me to go to work this morning and actually cried when I dropped her off. It broke my heart. I'm off tomorrow and am planning to do something just me and her.

A visit from friends

My EM friend Sarah came into town Tuesday night with her husband Dean and son Khai. They came in late so we basically said hello and I showed them to their room.

Luckily, I was off Wednesday so the kids and I stayed home and hung out with our friends. It was nice talking with Sarah and Chloe enjoyed hamming it up for our company. Stacey took the afternoon off work and the men talked shop (Dean is a QA tester for Activision games). We ventured out for dinner to the Mexican restaurant up the street. Yum!

They made the long trek from St Louis to Minneapolis (they stopped on the way back from Tallahassee, FL) over the night and arrived this morning.

We're planning to trip to Minnesota this summer to see Sarah and some other friends who live in the area. I can't wait!