01.03.12: Week Long Vacation

Dear Friends and Family,

In case you were wondering, we took a most wonderful week off from work and life. Sometimes, I think, if the time leading up to Christmas wasn't as stressful as it is, then I wouldn't need as much time to recuperate.

We opened presents with P on Friday morning. And, honestly, she was absolutely thrilled after opening her stocking - a Lego police officer and police dog that she can use in her airport security, a set of dice that she can use to make up stories, a key chain and a page of stickers. Thrilled. And, it made me wonder, why we had a deluge of gifts by the tree for her. I'm glad she's easily satisfied.

The rest of Friday as a flurry of packing. Then, we flew to Mr. mouse's folks' house. P was terrified of the cat (no surprise) and of Mr. mouse's step-sister-in-law (big surprise), but enjoyed her time with her grandparents.

Saturday, we indulged in diner food, took P to a park with a merry-go-round where we spent some creative time riding a turtle to random places her imagination dictated (a pond in Arizona with ducks was one example), began the process of returning gifts, and had dinner with Mr. mouse's dad and step-mom.

Sunday, we had brunch before heading over to see my parents and brother. P had a ball going out to the "slide park" with her uncle. And, dinner was a quiet affair at home.

Monday, we went to the park again - this time with my mom. Then, we went to a diner for lunch. And, we were going to head out to see the tree, but P was tired so we headed home. Dinner, we ate out.

Tuesday, we went to the park again. Then, we packed and my mom drove us to the airport. And, we had a quiet flight home. I think P was ready for a couple of days of downtime after the excitement and hyper-attention of spending time with grandparents.

Wednesday and Thursday, we packed P off to school and took time to get the house in order.

The living room looks amazing. I have three more file drawers to go through and the tree needs to come down soon, but other than that, it looks better than it has in the past two years.

The play area, computer area, and kitchen don't look much different. But, that's to be expected since I decided to focus on those areas which never get any attention.

Our room looks a ton better than it used to. We organized and packed away all of P's old clothes and shoes. We put all of P's books back on her shelf. And, we put away a bunch of old blankets we had piled in various stages of petrification. Oh, and I donated some clothes that I never liked.

P's room also looks a ton better. I donated some clothes that I never liked. We packed away all of the old clothes. We put all of the books back on the shelf. And, I removed a table that we no longer needed - less temptation to leave something without the horizontal surface.

And, P's bathroom. We donated three shopping bags full of hotel soap and shampoo and conditioner to a house that helps women and needs travel-sized samples of stuff. Yes!

Last, but not least, the basement. Actually, the basement took a step backward because we moved stuff down there that needed to go down there, but haven't stacked any of it yet.

Two more days off would have been great, but I'm not complaining about the progress we did make.

Friday, we took P bowling and then to the outlet malls for more returns and exchanges. Saturday, we had a normal day with a trip to the park and the library and breakfast followed by time at home, a walk with Mr. mouse and dinner at home.

Sunday and Monday, we took P to a hotel for some pool time. The pool was closed on Christmas so we promised a make-up pool day. We had a great room with a view of the train tracks (that P loved) and of downtown (that I loved) and two days of pool. P and I also had fun on the couch which turned into a spaceship - set your destination, pick your spacesuit color, buckle up, count down, blast off, drive, arrive, repeat.

And, now, it's Tuesday, and I'm off to work and P is off to school. Back to the routine. Happy 2012!


Cheers!
mouse

12.12.11: Things Done

Dear Friends and Family,

While it's not easy playing second fiddle, it is nice having Mr. mouse back home. He fixed the leak in the ceiling by replacing all of the rubber parts on the toilet in the master bedroom. He fixed the broken sockets in the kitchen by replacing the GFI outlet by the sink. And, he took out all of the trash and did all of the laundry. See?

We did have a dust up over some stuff, but I won't go into it now.

And, now, it's Monday and while we didn't finish our Christmas shopping - in fact, I don't think we've even begun our Christmas shopping in earnest, we did get a bunch of stuff done over the weekend, so I can't complain.


Cheers!
mouse

12.05.11: Dentist Visit

Dear Friends and Family,

P went to the dentist and it was a partial success. She let the hygienist count her teeth and brush her teeth with a toothbrush. She let the dentist look inside her mouth. But, she had no interest whatsoever in the metal picks or the powered tooth cleaner. Still, it was a big improvement over last time when she didn't let much of anything happen beyond putting on the bib and sunglasses.

The other thing we spent a lot of time talking about this weekend is Santa. Apparently, she's learned about Santa at school and about presents and Christmas. Huh?!?! Well, I've had the first of what I'm sure will be many talks with her about it. She picked up the phone at the hotel (which we unplug the moment we step into a room) and called Santa. "Hello? Santa. I would like a car for Christmas. Bye." Yes, that is was our child says to the phone. Fortunately, she means a matchbox car, not a real one, but still.

And, last but not least, the toilet training thing may be on hold for the week. P has the nastiest of rashes on her butt and it a little overwhelmed with all of the stuff going on down there.

On one thing, she has been consistent over the past week. We're done with breastfeeding. I made it the whole weekend without the pump. I think we are officially weaned.


Cheers!
mouse

11.21.11: I Went Pee Pee on the Potty, Dada

Dear Friends and Family,

Yes. We had a play date. Yes. We went to see Trixie for her birthday party.

But, yes, the highlight of our weekend was the start of toilet training. P came home with a sticker on Thursday for using the toilet after nap. Then, she came home with four stickers for using the toilet all day Friday.

So, we tried to continue the toilet thing all weekend. We had some luck, but we're glad we kept her in diapers since it was a hectic weekend with times we forgot to ask her if she needed to go and times she didn't want to go in unfamiliar places.

But, it's a start. And, we've got a less hectic Thanksgiving, so we'll try to continue the process over the long weekend.

I won't even begin to talk about how it makes her seem even more grown up than she already does.


Cheers!
mouse

11.14.11: River City Weekend

Dear Friends and Family,

We went out to Portland to celebrate the joint birthday weekend.

The flight seemed amazingly short after our Tran-Atlantic trips. And, we had a good two days out there thanks to a vacation day on Friday.

Friday, we hit the food trucks for lunch. Mr. mouse and I had a combination of burger with guacamole and cactus which was delicious, an Indian vegetarian plate lunch which was standard and a Chinese noodle dish with a nice kick of pepper. We bought noodles and chicken for P, but also bought a back-up chicken and rice.

Friday, for dinner, we had conveyor belt sushi followed by self-serve frozen yogurt.

Saturday, breakfast, Voodoo doughnuts. Lunch, Bridgeport Ale House. Snack, Stumptown Coffee. Dinner, L+L Hawaiian. Dessert, birthday cake.

Sunday, leftovers in the hotel room.

In between eating, we enjoyed the book store, the toy store, the park, the hotel pool and walking the rainy streets of Portland's colorful neighborhoods. And, in between the walking and eating, it was nice catching up with our friends and remembering that there is life outside the confines of the here and now here in the Windy City (which beckons with a reminder that it is Monday morning and I do have an early morning meeting).

But, before I leave... The foliage in Portland was gorgeous. Tons of maples in glorious shades of pink, peach, orange, yellow and red. Stunning.


Cheers!
mouse

11.07.11: Interim Week

Dear Friends and Family,

It was a busy week in the mouse house. After being gone two weekends there was a ton to do. And, next weekend we're doing Mr. mouse's birthday. And, the weekend afterwards is some combination of play date, children's theater, Trixie's birthday and recuperation. And, the weekend after is Thanksgiving. How did that happen?

Saturday, we got the house cleaned. And, P and I returned library books and played in the park and ate lunch and shopped in a little corner grocery and dropped off our custom t-shirt order.

Sunday, we played in the park, picked up our t-shirts, and I napped while P and Mr. mouse went to Target. Then, while P napped, Mr. mouse and I rearranged the living room - we took down the baby gate and put the couch back to it's pre-toddler position and determined a wedge couch we have needs to go. One bag of old coats down, several bags to go. It's a never ending battle.

Last night, P and I read books on the couch and it felt so good to be in a room that seemed like a semi-adult room vs. a barricaded accommodation for barreling toddler.


Cheers!
mouse

10.17.11: Fall Colds

Dear Friends and Family,

P caught her first cold of the fall season which means I caught my first cold of the fall season. Her runny nose started on Saturday and my sore throat started last night.

Feeling under the weather made for short tempers all around. But, hopefully, we turn that corner and begin to function again before... vacation.

Yes, long awaited, much overdue vacation. What was supposed to be a spring trip to Asia, but then got delayed to a summer trip to some undetermined destination may finally metamorphosis into a fall trip to Italy.

I've determined there's just too much going on. Uh-oh. I know! This is a perfect moment for a Top 3 Update.

1. Trip Planning. If you're going to take vacation, you might as well throw yourself into the planning so that your precious time off is well spent.
2. Survival. I have a conference. Mr. mouse has work meetings. Mr. mouse has a haircut. P has school pictures. Just need to power through.
3. Recuperation. Must get better.

But, when I get back...

1. My weight. I went shopping for clothes for my trip and realized I've got two choices. I can take the time to manage my food and be happy with everything I try on in the store because I look good (this was me, pre-P) or I can let food happen and then join the ranks of people who are looking for the perfect "thing" that makes them look good because the clothes have to hide my myriad flaws. I'm going to really focus on the former.
2. Time with P. Even it it's dropped to number 2, it's still important to me. It's important to spend the time with her. She's only going to be this little for a short while and then she's not going to want to spend every waking moment with Mr. mouse and me.
3. My business idea. Time to get with the lawyer and open the account and get things rolling. I'm so glad graduate school recommendations are over. Three recommendations, three weekends that I could have spent focused on me.

And, then, before I know it November will roll into December will roll into the holidays. Definitely time to focus before things get too far.


Cheers!
mouse

10.10.11: Picnic in the Park

Dear Friends and Family,

You couldn't have asked for nicer fall weather. Actually, it was beautiful summer weather with fall colors for a backdrop. Too bad P had a giant bug bite on her eye. Or, maybe that was a good thing. We could enjoy the weekend without Mr. mouse badgering us to take fall photos.

Saturday, P asked if one of her friends was free. He was. And, we met up for a picnic. We ate. We picked crab apples. We blew bubbles. We threw balls. We watched a bird at a pond. We looked at cars. We ran into P's teacher. We lazed in the sun.

Sunday, P went for bagels with Mr. mouse. We went to the park. Then, P played at home while I had lunch with a friend. She went for a walk afterwards with Mr. mouse. And, after her nap, she ate dinner at the table before we all went out for a supermarket run.

And, that was our weekend. Simple. Fun. Nice.

I was talking with a girlfriend over lunch and it reminded me how important life is - how important happiness is. People make choices all of the time. And, there may be a point in the future when I regret the choices I have made. But, for now, I am happy with the choices I have made - balancing work and life so I have my free time, pursuing moderation so my wants do not exceed my means, maintaining simplicity so I can focus on what's important to me.


Cheers!
mouse

10.05.11: Apple Picking

Dear Friends and Family,

We had a most wonderful weekend.

Saturday was the usual routine. I took P to the bakery and then to breakfast and then to a local grocery store then to the library and then home. I think she enjoys the Saturday morning routine - going out with me every other week while Mr. mouse spends time getting the house cleaned.

Sunday, we finally got out of the house by lunch time and headed out to the apple orchards. P had a great time. We weren't sure how she'd do with it because she doesn't like new experiences. But, she loved the wagon ride, she fed apples to her friend Monkey, she tried to pick up every apple off the ground to take home, she ran, she laughed, she smiled for the camera, she fed me apples, she picked apples off of the trees, she went on the wagon a second time, she ran among the pumpkins. It was a most wonderful trip. I love when P spills over with unbridled happiness.

And, now, it's Wednesday. If you're wondering what's going on and why I've been sporadic, it's because I'm working on a Rubik's cube.

I want to sleep. I want to leave on time. I need to weigh my fruit and measure my milk. And, I've got a bunch of things on my mind - a college recommendation I'm writing, my business plan, a business I'm thinking about investing in, a trip we're taking this month, a trip we're taking next month, and Halloween. Yes, my one brain cell is building up a queue here.


Cheers!
mouse

09.26.11: The Weekend

Dear Friends and Family,

Turns out you sometimes can't predict what your toddler is going to do.

Things P is afraid of:

1. haircuts
2. the dark
3. new people sitting next to her in the car

Things we thought P would be afraid of, but is completely fine with:

1. a new park
2. a play date
3. going over a new friends house for dinner

So, we're 1 for 6 this weekend. (We knew she wouldn't like the haircut.)

And, now, it's time to get ready for work. Sigh.


Cheers!
mouse

09.21.11: Weekend?

Dear Friends and Family,

The weekend? It's Wednesday and I'm writing about the weekend? That's not a good sign.

Okay. Weekend.

Highlight of our Saturday? a trip to the bookstore

Sunday? a last minute purchase of School House Rock tickets

The rest of the weekend? Saturday was a typical start with a trip to the bakery, followed by breakfast, a trip to the library and a trip to the park.

Saturday night, we took P to the bookstore and she fell in love with the train set. And, she didn't want to leave. And, she saw another mother cave and spend an additional 30 minutes with her son at the store letting him play with the train.

I wasn't going to set a precedent. I picked her up and gave her a couple of seconds to calm down. Then, I gave her two options. Option A: we can leave now. Option B: we can put down the train, go over to the benches, read some books, see which books we like, and buy the books we like - three books. She thought about it for a moment and picked the latter option. I put her down. She put down the train. We walked away. I was bursting with pride!

Sunday, we went to see School House Rock. P has been watching some of the old videos. She's allowed up to three a day for nine minutes of screen time. Yes, we meter screen time by the minute. She's been learning the preamble, conjunctions, adverbs, nouns and the legislative process - although if you ask her, she'll say preamble, freight train song, lolly, grandma song and Mr. Bill. The show was a huge success. P loved it. She wants to go back, but it was a one-time showing. Sigh.

And, last but not least, a "friend" had a post on Facebook that I read about. Her 18 month son finished his nap, took off his pants, took off his diaper and the proceeded to pee onto the floor. Her thoughts? Time for toilet training. Mine? Definitely time for training - parent training and toddler training come to mind.


Cheers!
mouse

09.12.11: More Time at Home

Dear Friends and Family,

Asked what we did this weekend, and I couldn't remember. It must be the concussion.

Even with my foursquare crutch, I needed help from Mr. mouse. Saturday, we went for bagels in the morning. Then, we took turns showering before heading out for a walk. We took P to the library and then a neighborhood market where she fell in love with the shopping cart and then to the park. We blew bubbles, kicked a ball, and ran in the playground. Then, we came home for lunch and afternoon nap.

Dinner? We tried a new pizza joint and then walked over for ice cream.

Sunday... We took our sweet time getting out of the house. Then, more bagels followed by art fair followed by macaroons at the bakery. P fell asleep at the art fair, so we had the afternoon to clean and then we capped off the evening with a supermarket run.

And, delight of delights, our kitchen island is clear again. Now, to regain the rest of the kitchen... We'll see, my to do list is beginning to grow again. It always seems like I get ahead only to fall behind. One day I will figure this out.

Oh, and football started. So, while I don't watch any games, I do watch my fantasy football stats. Looks like Ravens DST and Drew Brees will pull me through in one piece this week. Unlike other leagues, our league eliminates the lowest team each week. Then, the remaining team pick apart the spoils. It's quite vicious.

And, I have a hypothesis going. There's the theory of outliers and a magical 10,000 hour point beyond which your expertise grows non-linearly. Well, I think it applies to much of child development. And, because P has such a long commute and such helicopter parents and such good teachers at school, I think she's hitting that 10,000 hour point in verbal development and that's why we're seeing such an explosion in her verbal skills.

Well, we all hit that point sometime in our life. With her, by hitting it earlier, it gives her a chance to "move on" to other things. My job? Keeping the white lab coats away and keeping Mr. mouse from filling her head with uselessness.


Cheers!
mouse

09.06.11: Quiet Weekend

Dear Friends and Family,

Long weekend. No travel. No major plans. Not a bad idea.

Saturday, P and I did our usual routine while the house was being cleaned. We went for breakfast, P ordered her usual ham, pancakes, syrup and dip. Then, we bought bread. And, last but definitely not least, we went to the library to return some books and get some new ones.

Then, we came home and ate lunch and played until it was time to get ready for our play date. Mr. mouse walked P until she fell asleep. Then, he loaded her in the car and I drove while he showered. Yes, it's that complicated sometimes.

We drove to the edge of the earth to go to an amusement park/petting zoo/arcade/paintball/water park coming soon/go kart coming soon place that is clearly trying to define its reason for being. No surprise, P hated all of the animals. She was interested in all of the rides, but only enjoyed the ones she could ride with Mr. mouse. But, in the end, she was glad she went. We went for dinner afterwards and then hit the grocery store for milk.

Sunday? We went to the park and surreptitiously fed the ducks and not so surreptitiously blew bubbles. Mr. mouse snapped some pictures. We ate some plate lunch. Nap in car and in crib.

And, Monday? Brunch with Auntie Janet!

The highlight of the weekend? Mr. mouse built P a simple Lego plane. While he was playing with her, I built a simple security station with a belt, two benches and the TSA agent played by P's bus driver. Next came a gate. And, that was the weekend. The Lego people went through security and went to the gate and got on the plane all weekend long. P even let a giraffe through security, once.



Cheers!
mouse

08.29.11: Birthday Weekend

Dear Friends and Family,

It's my birthday today. Happy Birthday, mouse!

The birthday weekend was a mish mosh of events. We went to a food truck social on Saturday - bust - incredibly long lines for some trucks and no food left for other trucks.

Sunday, we went to bruncher - as in breakfast, lunch and dinner all rolled into a single meal. Then, we went for a walk in the zoo. P actually enjoyed the zoo - looking at the flamingos and the ducks and the penguins and even the giraffes and the ostrich. She's still not a big fan of the lion, but it's a definite improvement over the last couple of visits. Perhaps it's time for a return trip out to San Diego or at least back to the local zoo.


Cheers!
mouse

08.22.11: Quiet Weekend at Home

Dear Friends and Family,

Actually, it was a quiet weekend at home with our old friends from the Winter Cabin. We went to visit for a baseball game and because FB seems to be my scheduling nemesis, we had a quiet weekend with our old neighbors which isn't a bad thing.

The game wasn't even close. But, it was nice to spend the evening out watching a game, watching the sunset and enjoying the times. And, while it took longer than you would have thought humanly possible, Mr. mouse crossed another item (vaguely) off of our "yeah, right" list. We have a third cell phone. Three people still call us on it. I have already contacted one of the three people. It's a personal mission to contact the other two in the next year. Because, yes, my clutter hoarder husband also hoards phone numbers in the off chance that someone somewhere will try to reach him and be stymied by a disconnected phone number. Somehow, these long lost people will not think to check google and find him on facebook or linkedin. Yes, this is the world I live in.

Well, I had harbored a secret hope that we would FINALLY lose this number. AT&T had discontinued the phone and the rate plan. And, if we did nothing by 8/31 we would be minus an extra number and plus $60 a month that we pay for this lunacy. $720 a year for the off chance someone needs to find us. Yes, this is the world I live in. Instead of letting the madness end, Mr. mouse spent an hour and half on Sunday at the AT&T store converting his sad appendage into a prepaid plan with a new phone. I hate myself and am torn as to whether or not I should cross this off of the list or leave it on there and tackle it next year. As in, what do you want for your birthday? I want you to cancel that effing third cell phone number.

Seems a little melodramatic. I don't know. For now, it's still on my list... We'll see if I continue copying it over each time or if at some point I cave and let it go. If only Mr. mouse wasn't sure a hoarder.

On a completely non-related thread, I had a moment of inspiration while on the plane. Dinner needs to be addressed. I pick up P by 6PM. We hit the road and get home somewhere in the neighborhood of 7 to 7:30PM. Before you know it, it is 8PM and I am starving (since I eat lunch at 11AM). Dinner is on the table somewhere around 8:30 on a good night. And, then, by 9, we're trying to get P to sleep. Yes, I know the real problem is the fact that it takes an ungodly amount of time to get home - and we have three options there - stop working, move work closer to home, or move home closer to work, but I'm ready to cross any of those bridges quite yet. So, back to dinner.

In a perfect world, Mr. mouse would also leave work at 6 and get home and cook and we'd have a hot meal when P and I get home. Folks, we don't live in a perfect world. So, here's my draft at something that may work.

This would involve much prep in advance, but it would free up weeknights for spending time with P while keeping food on the table.

4 meals prepped in advance, 1 night out (in no particular order):

Sandwich and Soup: one sandwich on good quality bread with two extra ingredients thrown in so that it's not just meat on bread and a bowl of soup

Salad and Soup: one salad with two extra ingredients thrown on top so it's not a bed of mixed greens with meat and a bowl of soup

Fried Rice: exactly what it sounds like

Rice with Meat and Vegetables: rice with stir-fry

Dinner Out: because realistically, we need a night out each week

What I would need to prep in advance:

1. plan the menu
2. shop for ingredients: stop by the bakery for good quality bread, mixed greens, whatever is on the plan for the week
3. prepare the stuff: make ahead meat, two sandwich adds, two salad adds, soup
4. pre-portion it out: pre-portioned meat for the stir-fry, pre-cut vegetables for the stir-fry, 6 oz sandwich meat, 6 oz salad meat, 2 oz fried rice meat, rice for fried rice, two sandwich adds, two salad adds, two fried rice adds, four servings soup in two containers

What's left to do on the weeknight:

Soup and sandwich night: heat the soup, toast the bread, assemble the sandwich

Soup and salad night: heat the soup, wash and dress the greens, assemble the salad

Fried rice night: heat the pan, toss it all in with an egg, stir and serve

Rice with meat and vegetables night: heat the pan, toss it all minus the rice, stir and serve with rice

Huh, I need to continue to revisit this. I'm exhausted just thinking about this.


Cheers!
mouse

08.15.11: Smorgasbord Weekend

Dear Friends and Family,

Highlights and lowlights. The weekend had them all.

Mr. mouse's best friend flew out to see a concert with Mr. mouse sparing me the need to go to the concert and sparing us the expense of an extra ticket and baby sitting money. P and I got to spend the evening at home reading books in bed.

On the flip side, we discovered a new leak in the house. This one, we think is caused by a leaky pipe. We closed off the main and the leak went away. We have a plumber coming in today to diagnose. In the meanwhile, we're bringing to bear a lot of lessons we learned travelling overseas on how to conserve water.

P's weekend was a huge success. She got to go through airport security twice. And, she got to play at the indoor park avoiding the crowds on Saturday and the rain on Sunday. She got to go to the supermarket. She had chocolate for dessert on Saturday night. She avoided her haircut (until Tuesday) and had pasta for dinner, not once, but twice. If she could have gotten on the plane with her uncle, she would have gotten everything she wanted this past weekend.

Added bonus for me, because we've spent a good piece of the month entertaining instead of travelling, the credit card bill came in lower than typical increasing my happiness. We'll continue the eat out watch and see if we can continue on this happy trend.


Cheers!
mouse

08.08.11: Where Did the Weekend Go?

Dear Friends and Family,

It's Monday and I'm in a bit of a daze trying to put together the past 48 hours.

Let's see. Saturday, we went to the library and then to the salon to get our eyebrows done and then to the park to let P ride the swing and then to the car to go to the grocery store. Oh, it's all coming back to me now. Then, P fell asleep in the car and I did as well. Mr. mouse went the rounds while we slept in the back seat.

Saturday evening, we had a boat load of people over for dinner. The weather turned out perfect. We had appetizers in the house and then headed to the deck for dinner. A jaunt over to the local ice cream shop rounded out the evening.

P had a lot of fun playing with everyone. She isn't as territorial around adults. It's only other kids that get her on edge.

Sunday. Sunday. Um. Sunday. How does my memory fail me on these trivial instances?

We went out for brunch which turned into lunch. We were going to go for Hawaiian, but instead went for fusion Korean of the kimchi taco variety. Then, we split for the afternoon. P and Mr. mouse went for a "walk" to get her to nap while I took the afternoon to work on the house - got some laundry folded, some papers organized and the gate down. Yes, we're down to one gate and one plexiglass barrier. I'm tempted to put the gate up (the one we just took down) at the top of the stairs once P's crib rail comes down. That way she won't be able to go downstairs without us. But she shows no interest in having the railing removed, so for now, I'll store the gate in the basement.

We spent the evening playing with P - she rode her elephant (it's a good thing I didn't give that away) and putting zookeeper to bed using the kitchen towels and looking at pictures of herself on TV. P didn't want to eat, but when we finally convinced her to sit down at her table, she wolfed down her goldfish and her pasta. She looked like she couldn't get the food in fast enough. I felt guilty, like we had starved her without realizing it when in reality we spent the entire evening trying to get her to sit down for dinner.

And, now, it's Monday and time to get ready for work.


Cheers!
mouse

08.01.11: Things We Take for Granted

Dear Friends and Family,

Our neighbors are in town. Yay! May the food begin.

Saturday, we got the house cleaned. Then, we played at home, out of the heat, until the neighbors came over. The daughter and I stayed at home while Mr. mouse and the dad went to the airport for pick up duty.

P did the cutest thing when she got up from her nap. Instead of crying or calling out for Mr. mouse or me, she called out, "Mommy, Daddy, I'm awake!"

Dinner? Barbecue followed by ice cream.

Sunday, we went to the farmer's market. Then, had brunch followed by deck time. It was brutally hot so we huddled under the umbrella. P got a couple of dips in the pool and got to enjoy a popsicle stick for a snack. P called, "Daddy, P have pink shoes on in bed!" when she woke up from her nap.

Dinner? Tacos followed by frozen yogurt.

The highlight of the weekend? When the generator powering our house was finally removed. Yes, starting Friday night it was on-again, off-again power. There's nothing more irritating. Well, I guess off-again, off-again power would be more irritating. But, still, it was nice to have the generator gone.

And, P discovered directions on Sunday, as in, No Mommy, restaurant all over there, and, No Mommy, our home all over there - in response to when I turned the "wrong" way when pushing the stroller.


Cheers!
mouse

07.25.11: Record Weather

Dear Friends and Family,

I fell asleep Friday night thinking that the smothering heat we had over the week would make for a miserable weekend. I awoke at 1AM to learn that it would make for a miserable Friday night. We had record rain Friday night surpassing every previous record of a single day's rainfall. Right. More than a hundred years of record keeping. Wow.

We fell back asleep by around four. And, we slept until P woke us at 8:30.

Saturday? Birthday party for a friend's toddler followed by a nap, errands, and time at home with P. We decided to eat in to save money.

Sunday? Brunch and F1 with Auntie Janet followed by a nap for P and time at home with P. We decided to eat in again to save money.

Actually, I'm not sure if Mr. mouse's motivation is to save money. He may just be acquiescing to my request to eat in without realizing my motivation.

Now, we need to prepare for the barrage of mosquitoes that will come with the standing pools of water from Friday's rain. Sigh. And, Mr. mouse needs to wake up. His alarm is ringing like mad. Ah. He just did. Yeah.


Cheers!
mouse

07.18.11: Lazy Summer Weekends

Dear Friends and Family,

Yes, a weekend without any obligations. I know there are loose ends we'll need to tie up this weekend, but it was worth it.

Friday, I took the afternoon off and went to see Harry Potter before picking P up from school. It was fun to have an afternoon off. I had a great seat with the seat on each side of me open. It was my first 3D movie, and I like that it added to the movie without becoming the movie. That's what technology is supposed to do. And, I received a foursquare badge surprise to boot.

Saturday, we went out for lunch (pizza) and then stopped off to buy bread and pick up library books. I filled the pool while Mr. mouse took P on a nap/walk. Then, P took a quick dip in the pool before we went to the grocery store and got ice cream.

Sunday, we swung through the farmer's market en route to brunch (diner). Then, because P was awake, we swung through the park on the way home. We took a longer wade through the pool, played inside, napped and then had dinner before walking to the local ice cream shop for more ice cream.

Before you think I've gone crazy, I've been indulging in sorbet - same cold sweetness at a fraction of the points. I know. I know. There's something about the creaminess of ice cream, but I'm okay with sorbet. In fact, I may pick up the chocolate sorbet that Whole Foods carries. It's quite good.

Last night, I was up because of my nap and some work. So, today, I need to keep a handle on my food so I don't blow weigh-in tomorrow.


Cheers!
mouse