Things Have Been Busy

This week has been extremely busy. We got back from Japan last Thursday and I did laundry all day.
Friday was my son's birthday. We went to toys r us and did some stuff at home to celebrate while trying to get over jet lag.
Saturday was the town Easter Egg Hunt in the morning. It was raining. It rains ever year. I don't understand why they use the chocolate eggs that are wrapped in foil. The foil never keeps the chocolates completely covered. The chocolate eggs (and some plastic ones too) are placed on the school lawn. The kids love it. Even the wet chocolate eggs.
Sunday was Easter. We had a quiet Easter at home.
Monday my 7 year old went to school and my 5 year stayed home with me while I tried to sort through 2 weeks worth of mail, clean the house and get information on refinancing my mortgage.
Tuesday I volunteered at my son's school in the morning and got another estimate on the mortgage refinance. Both kids had baseball practice after an early dinner. I tried to go through pictures of our trip after the kids went to bed. But there are just too many pictures! I ended up spending over one hour just looking at them and not sorting or emailing any.
Today, Wednesday I had a dentist appointment and then a doctor's appointment. I picked up my 5 year old late from preschool and then came home to throw the laundry in the dryer and have some cereal (no time for lunch). Then I helped out at chess club after school. The dentist said I need to replace some old fillings and blah blah blah. I hate going to the dentist.
The jet lag is gone. We've all adjusted back to Seattle time. But my 5 year old is having a harder time adjusting to sleeping alone again. For the last 2 weeks, all four of us (my husband, 7 year old son, 5 year old son and me) slept in the same room. There wasn't really any other choice. The kids liked it. Now my 5 year old wakes up at night saying he's scared. He's always "scared" of something different. Once it was the door that scared him. Another time, it was the heating vent. I think once he even said his pillow scared him. He's been sleeping alone in his room through the night since he was 6 weeks old! I'm not used to this. But last night was the first night that he stayed in his bed all night. I hope it's starting a new trend.
Now I'm ready for another vacation.

Counting Down

One week from today I am leaving for Japan. I'll be gone for two weeks. That's two weeks where I don't have to pay bills, I don't have to take my kids to baseball practice, I won't have a meeting with the principal, I won't have to drive anywhere.

We are going to visit my husband's family. We're going with them to the beach for a few days while we're there. My inlaws also wanted to take the grandkids to Disneyland. So the last 3 days of the trip will be spent at Tokyo Disneyland.

I'm very excited and also a little stressed. The day after we return is my son's birthday. The day after that is his birthday party at Chuck. E. Cheese. And the day after that is Easter. Then I'm going to need another vacation!

Dear Santa

Dear Santa,



I've been a very good girl this year. I have bought cooked junk healthy dinners for my family almost every day. I have done most of my chores. I have been a mean nice mom to my kids. I dragged 2 ungrateful kids drove them to various activities including swimming lessons, T-ball, Chess Club, Cub Scouts, Summer Concerts, Birthday Parties, and Soccer. I read in the parent manual, that trips to Chuck E. Cheese were optional and worth extra points. I did survive one trip to Chuck E. Cheese this year. I also took my 2 kids angels on a trip across the country to Detroit and Virginia for 10 days. alone. I didn't see this in the manual, but I believe that should be worth even more points.



I would like to redeem my points this year for the following:



1. A personal assistant (preferably a cutie)



2. A vacation (I mean a real vacation without kids and somewhere that has a bar in a pool and serves drinks with cute umbrellas.)



3. A nanny (and not one of those who will flirt with my husband)



4. A new car (ideally a car where the kids can ride as far away from me as possible)



5. A new bank account (mine is missing a few zeros at the end)



6. A maid (again, not someone too good looking who will flirt with my husband)



7. A vacation (the stress gets to me sometimes and causes me to lose my memory)



8. A new computer (while typing this, I am realizing how slow my computer is!)



9. A masseuse (another cutie would be nice)

10. That smell in the bathroom to go away (this may be solved by getting a toilet that is so big the kids can't miss it!)

11. World Peace and an end to Global Warming

12. 3 more wishes

13. A partridge in a pear tree

Quick Update

I'm here at my parents' house in Northern Virginia. It's been a busy week!
Today we went to the National Aquarium in Baltimore. If you've never been before, I highly recommend it. The kids had a great time. My father seemed to be in a hurry. We all came home tired.
On Friday we went on a private fishing boat in the Chesapeake bay. On Saturday we went to the Shenandoah Caverns. That is another great place to visit.
My only gripe about northern Virginia is that is has been sooo hot this week! It has been 95-100 every day since we got here. I'm not used to this kind of weather anymore and I think my kids miss playing outside. We go home tomorrow and I can't wait!