Can't Wait!

There are four more days until we leave on vacation! 

I am so unbelievably excited!

Yes, we are driving 22 hours into Florida...with a 1.5 and a 3 year old...the whole way, even through the night.

So the drive might be a little rough at times but I can't wait for the sunshine and warmth.

The sand between my toes.

Playing tennis with my husband.

Riding our bikes around the island with the girls in the trailer.

Finding lizards to show the girls.

Taking them to the beach.

And did I mention the sunshine and warmth? ;)

This will be Marin's first vacation. This will be both girls' first trip this far, first trip to Florida, and first trip to a real beach!

I KNOW they are going to love it and I'm going to love how much they love it.

Can't wait :)

Today was a good day.

Today was a good day.

First if all, BOTH girls slept in. Thank goodness!

We met my husband's mother for breakfast this morning. Usually his dad and my sister are there but he was in Indy visiting his uncle and she was working. I love being with "everyone" but it was nice to have a quiet brunch today.

Then we took the recycling to the local drop-off dumpsters. Exciting, I know.

When we got home John vacuumed and I did some spring clothes swap-out in the girls' rooms.

Then we went to a birthday party and had a really good time. I got to catch up with a friend I haven't seen in a while so that was nice.

Then we came home and I packed the girls clothes for spring break- and I totally used the "put each outfit in a ziplock bag" method I've seen a million times on Pinterest. I honestly think it will be a million times easier for everyone involved.

Then I got to take a nap!!!! It was glorious!

When the girls woke up we all went outside for a while and it was so so nice. They had a great time.

My sister brought home pizza for dinner. No cooking is always good. Then the girls had baths and we all got them ready for bed.

Nothing extraordinary happened today. But today was a really really good day and I am glad for it.

Bedtime

Our 3 year old has a very specific bedtime routine.

She brushes her teeth and uses the bathroom first.

Then she picks out her jammies and gets the lotion out (she has awfully dry skin). She pumps it into her hands and does her arms first, then I (or my husband) must put 2 dots on each leg and she rubs it in. Then is belly and back, and she can put her shirt on and get into bed.

Mallory has 7 blankets she sleeps with.

She had a few less but when Marin was born people gave us blankets for her, and Mallory stole them.

They MUST be laid the right way when she goes to bed. She chooses "Polka dots up" or "polka dots down" and that determines the direction of the remainder of the blankets.

The order is always the same:

Polka dots

Giraffe

Owl

Pink polka dots 

Turtle

Duckies

Flower blanket (which is her comforter)

We then read a book or two (usually the same one for a month or so). 

She requires two kisses and two hugs before going to bed.

I still haven't decided if this is crazy or just her being a normal 3-year old who is trying to assert her own independence and gain some control when so much of her life is controlled by us. 

I guess we'll find out for sure if she's still doing this at age 10! :) 

The resale

Tonight was the semi-annual children's resale that I volunteer and participate in. Here is the line just before entering tonight (we were 6th in line):

We were there for 5 hours waiting. Luckily we got to stay in the van and have our chairs hold our spot because it was pretty chilly out there!

And after 2 hours shopping here is my haul:

It includes:

26 tops

1 zip-up sweatshirt

10 shorts/skirts

7 dresses

1 romper

3 leggings

1 pair of jeans

2 jackets

2 swimsuit cover-ups

1 swimsuit

6 pairs of shoes

1 "Trouble" Minnie Mouse game

Littlest Pet shop playhouse and pets

Littlest Pet shop picnic set

1 canvas bag

All for $120.

I LOVE the resale :) 

Throw Back Thursdays

There are a number of things on Facebook that drive me bananas. Throw Back Thursdays are not one of them.

I really enjoy looking at everyone's old photos.

Tonight a coworker of mine posted a couple photos of herself from high school. I sincerely always wonder about what everyone looked like as kids and teenagers. I was so glad to get this glimpse of her from the past! 

We weren't friends in 2000. We didn't even know each other. We didn't even live in the same state at that time. But we are great friends now and so I feel like I missed out because I didn't know her then. I feel that way about several of my adult friends and coworkers.

I don't know if this interest or fascination with my friends' teenage selves is weird or not, but it is what it is.

I decided to join in this week and below is MY Throw Back Thursday photo:

And who do those girls up there look like, you think?

Maybe next week I will brave a High School photo :)

My creepy daughter

Make no mistake, I love everything about my daughter Mallory.

However, she can be really creepy sometimes. 

She doesn't have play time with other kids any more than once a week, if that. So, when she is around other kids sometimes she gets too close and right in their face and it's kinda hilarious, but also kinda creepy.

Then there are her kisses. I blame this on the princesses.

We are affectionate at our house- hugs and kisses all around, but Mallory wants to kiss like a princess...not good. She wants to put her hands on your face and give long kisses...like creepy long kisses. And not just with us, with anyone she is supposed to say goodbye to. She doesn't quite understand why this isn't okay so we do our best to explain...

Kisses are for mommies and daddies, not friends.

Short kisses, honey. Short kisses.

We don't touch peoples' faces.

Let's give a high-five to our friends!

She just doesn't understand.

My husband and I laugh about it, but secretly we really hope she'll figure it out soon.

Love her. But I could totally live without the creepy kisses. :)

One of those days...

Today was one of those days...

It started out fine. Block 1 was great! We got started early, they worked well, and those kids who are almost never on task we're doing exactly what they were supposed to and doing it quietly. It was a perfect first block!

But then I realized I had misjudged my time and was thinking we ended class at 9:50, like we do on Wednesdays...and so with 7 minutes left I sent my kids into their last rotation in math workshop with only 5 minutes to work, and had no closing.

Then I walked down the hall and saw out the doors how much snow there had been! Ugh.

Block 2 no one wanted to do their silent reading. No one.

Block 3 is my prep and I was able to have someone else help cut some things out so that was good, but then I had to go fill in for another teacher because the teacher who said several times she would do it, called that teacher this morning and said she probably couldn't take her class so I had to.

Lunch started out okay- pawned some birthday cake off on some coworkers but stood there long enough I ate some myself.

Block 6 after lunch, again, no one wanted to do their silent reading.

Block 7 the kids were atrocious! It was like a Friday before a long break. Their talking was incessant.

Block 8 we went to the Elementary Music concert- a MUCH needed break. But again, our entire group of 5th graders was crazy squirrelly.

Got home and almost fell asleep while the girls were playing I was so tired.

Better luck tomorrow, I guess.