A glimpse into the future?

So, this blog really has become the 'weekend update' forum, but hopefully, it is still accomplishing what I set out for it to do 2 years ago...namely, keep a record of our life during these special years with the kids.

Anyway, that said, this past weekend was really nice, but it definitely gave me a look into what life is probably going to be like in the not so distant future.

Saturday morning we were lazing about in our PJs, thinking about what we might do on such a rainy day. I was in the kitchen and walked into the den to see Eden chatting away on the phone. Note to anyone who ever calls our house - I am so, so sorry. It is impossible to beat Eden to the phone, and half the time I don't even hear it ring before she has picked it up and trapped some helpless caller into a conversation. And oh yeah, furthermore, if your number is programmed into our phone, chances are good you have been the recipient of one of Eden's mad dialling sessions. Yeah, sorry about that.

Anyway, turns out it was Carolyn on the phone, calling to see if the girls wanted to come over and play with Abby and Joey. Of course, they were all over that, so they were dressed and on their way over in no time. Suddenly, I had a free afternoon - what a novelty! I ended up going grocery shopping, visiting my aunt, then hitting the gym, then coming home and doing some cleaning. Cleaning, it turns out, goes MUCH faster when there aren't two little people with endless interruptions around. I even finished early enough to have time to just sit and read. Crazy! By the time Eden came home at 4, I was overjoyed to see her - it was nice, but too weird to be in the house without the kids for so long.

Sadie ended up staying for dinner and a sleepover at Abby's, so we didn't actually see her until almost noon on Sunday. I missed her! On the one hand, it seemed kind of inconceivable that these children could be old enough to be away from me and Evan (outside of school/daycare) for so long. On the other hand, I have to say, it was kind of neat to realize that they day is coming (maybe it has come already?) when the kids are growing up enough that spending time with Evan and me isn't always going to be their first choice of activity. It is bittersweet, I think. It certainly made me cherish the afternoon we spent with them yesterday that much more, realizing that the weekends of all kids, all the time, are probably numbered.

We spent the afternoon up at Sandy Hook, just playing and exploring the cove side of the hook. The weather turned beautiful in a really sudden and unexpected way, so it was great to be out and enjoy it.

All in all, it was another great weekend. Often, by Sunday night, I am ready to head back to work and a change of pace from the weekend, but I don't feel that way now. That must be a sign that I'm getting ready for summer vacation, right?

City Fun

Saturday we spent the entire day in the city. It was so much fun. We headed up early to go visit Lisa and family out in Queens. The trip was really smooth until we got stuck in traffic for the last 5 miles or so of the BQE. The girls were actually really patient with it - Evan, not so much.

Lisa's baby is so adorable. She's just at that age (almost 3 months) where she's smiling and so snuggly and has that heavenly sweet baby smell. I had a good time getting my baby fix on cuddling and feeding her. I even got spit up on (it's been a while!).

Mid-afternoon, we cruised into Manhattan and parked near Jeff's apartment. There is a great park nearby (Madison Square Park), so we hung out there and let the girls play on the playground and just enjoyed the gorgeous afternoon. We then headed up to Jeff's apartment and spent the rest of the evening there.

The girls were both so incredibly well-behaved...it was a pleasure having them there. I guess we really have moved on from the baby years now that we can spent 12+ hours in the city without having to worry about naps and diapers or finding specific things to do to entertain them. They both crashed out almost as soon as we got in the car to come home, which also made for a quiet drive home.

Yesterday was a productive day as far as cleaning the house and doing yardwork. Evan and I have become a really good team as far as knowing what needs to get done and just doing it. In the space of two hours we cleaned the whole house top to bottom. We then let the girls just hang out and play outside while we began the first of what will probably be many days of spring cleaning the yard.

All in all, it was a great weekend. We were all exhausted, though - I don't think anyone in the house was awake after 9pm last night.

And so, a new work week begins. This one should be MUCH less busy than the one that just passed.

Busy Week

Birthdays and Brownie meetings and Science Fairs, oh my! Oh yea, and horseback riding lessons and a school carnival, to boot. Seems like this week is all about doing and running and preparing. It's all good...just busy. Tomorrow evening will be the only one this week where I have nothing to do, save for the normal work of keeping the house and our lives in order. It is hard to imagine how busy life will become once Eden hits school and has her own activities and events to add to the mix. Thankfully, for now, she is content to just tag along and enjoy Sadie's busy life from the sidelines.

It's only Wednesday, and I'm dying for the weekend. Not that the weekend is going to be too restful, either. We're headed up to Queens on Saturday morning to visit Lisa and Seamus and family, and to meet their new baby, Niamh. Should be fun. If the weather is good and time allows, we are thinking of swinging into Manhattan on the way home. I have this idea that the kids would love walking around Chinatown (maybe because I liked it so much as a kid - it seemed so foreign and magical), so I'm thinking of doing that and ending the day with dinner there, too. We'll see if it works out.

Sunday, I want to try to get the mantle and fireplace surround painted in the morning, and then I am going to see my Dad's play in the afternoon. The weather report is calling for a decent day on Sunday, so if we have time, maybe we'll take a bike ride, too. I haven't been on my bike since sometime last fall, so I'm really getting itchy to start riding again.

Anyway, that's about it. Just a quick check-in.

Cranky.

That's me, in a word.

The weekend is almost here, and it is a special weekend (my birthday) and I've got nothing planned. It's making me crabby.

We were supposed to go down to MD to see Alyssa and family, and had a whole nice visit planned, including a trip to the zoo and a visit with Priya. But, logistics (car and dog issues) have gotten in the way, and so I find myself on a Thursday with nothing planned.

I've got a bunch of other junk on my mind, too...just worrying thoughts taking up space. I'm afraid I haven't been very fun to be around this week. My mother in law called last night to offer to babysit on Friday night so Evan and I could go out and celebrate my birthday. It was a very nice offer, but since we don't have anything planned, I'm afraid I probably came off as rude in turning her down. :(

I haven't worked out since the weekend, and I believe I'm starting to feel it, emotionally. All these mundane details and worries that I should be able to manage as part of everyday life (car, dog, bills and financial stuff) just seem to really be weighing me down all of a sudden. I hate feeling this way.

Weekend Recap: We are really on a roll here!

It was another really great weekend, with a bonus snow day on Monday, to boot.

Friday night we had dinner at Evan's parents' house. For as close as we live to them (five minutes away), we don't see them as often as you would think. So, it is really nice to get together on Friday evenings and catch up.

Saturday, Evan spent the whole day up in Brooklyn, brewing beer with his friend Jeff. I did manage to get out and have a good run before he left, so I felt like a tiny bit of the day was actually mine, if that makes sense.

I had been a bit apprehensive about how the day was going to go, being on my own with the girls all. day. long. I'll admit it, I rely heavily on having Evan around to co-parent - I am spoiled. Anyway, it ended up being a really good and busy day. we ran errands in the morning, then headed to a playground after lunch. We stopped by my parents' house (close to the playground we went to), so Eden could catch some zzzzz's. Mid-afternoon, we met up with my friend Cara and her family for some play and pizza dinner. The kids really had a good time, and we got home and ready for bed without a hitch.

Sunday I attended a baby shower for my neighbor (baby is six weeks old already). It is always nice to get together with the n'hood girls and I got a nice 'baby fix' and got to hold a snuggly and sleeping baby Isabelle.

Yesterday we woke up to almost a foot of snow on the ground. The day was spent shoveling, playing in the snow, baking, and watching movies. I even managed to get in some reading and a nap of my own - I guess the times really are changing in our house, and the girls are getting big and independent enough for me to have some down time while they are awake. Sadie must have spent 4 or 5 hours outside playing in the snow with Abby. She was in heaven. When she woke up and looked outside she said, "It's a Waltham day outside!" I'll say this for the snow, it sure wears the kids out (especially Eden who had to work so hard just to walk around in it), and they were happy to go to bed last night. It also wore the dog out (or, maybe tying a harness to him and making him pull the girls around on a sled did it...). In any event, all the young'uns in our house were happily snoozing at an early hour last night.

So anyway, here I sit on a Tuesday morning with a load of stuff to take care of this week. Best get to it.