Together

My baby did a puzzle with me! And we went on our first scooter ride together, up to get gas. And she made me pasta. And I went to yoga even though I didn't want to. And we had an oreo each. And I didn't have to think about life.

PMS temporarily cured.

Away

I've loved being home but not working. I've done puzzles, slept in, put together new Ikea furniture, and generally lazed around. But now, I'm ready to go on vacation.

I'm discovering that there are still stresses incumbent on being at home. At home, married, with cats. I have to figure out what to feed V. I have to not let the dishes totally overrun, so that she doesn't feel like she has to do them. I have to play with the cat before bed. I don't feel like I can take a nap, because she's the one getting up early for class. I'm just not as free as I've felt the past few days.

I know I'm complaining; I know I have nothing to complain about. It is nice to have time away from the kids. I'm just getting spoiled, and now I want time away from the rest of life as well. Mainly, I want time with V, away from home, where neither of us are sick and we're not visiting family or friends. That hasn't happened since last July.

Sometimes I hate responsibility. I've been waiting my whole life to grow up, and usually I love it, but sometimes...I want to be five again.

Off

I don't know when the last time was that I had days off while we were at home. It's phenomenal. Can I do it more?

Yesterday I slept in, did a puzzle, did some work online, and ran errands. Today I'm watching Kali this morning and Seth and Isabella this afternoon, but even so, just not having the twins on my brain is a break.

I shouldn't say not having them on my brain. Not having to think about specifics (lunches, outings) is a break; they're very much on my mind, though. Patrick has called me every day they've been gone. Heart, melt.

V loves her teacher and the class, despite it being at 730, so that's a big help. She's been working so hard at this degree, and I can't wait for her to have a break from it all...next summer? Though, in a month, she'll only be in one class, and that will probably feel like a break.

Also, I'm okay if June wants to stay in the low to mid 80s. I can handle this.

Rest

V's parents just left. We really had an awesome visit with them, and from the sounds of it, they thoroughly enjoyed themselves too. We've been so busy, though, and now are taking an afternoon of rest. I'm packing up a few Breyer horses that sold on Ebay; V is putting together a new chair from Ikea.

We're so worn out. But thankfully it's in the good sense, and not the sheer exhaustion of unmitigated stress. This week, on the other hand, might bring some of that: bring on the 730am class! Easy for me to say.

Patrick and Lilly have called me the past two days. I love it. I am looking forward to a week off, though, especially after this weekend!

Gone

My kiddos are leaving tomorrow, and I won't see them again for Monday a week. I miss them already. It's been a rough week, but they were great today (minus a bit more of the whiny disease that Patrick has caught); we drove up and had lunch with their mom where she works. While she can drive me crazy with the notes she leaves (most recently: as a rule of thumb, please have the kids be in tennis shoes to play on the playground, not sandals), in person, we really do get along. We chatted really easily about her plans and my plans for this next week. I wish I could go to the beach!

I gave the kids giant hugs at naptime, and they gave me some back. I love that they love me so much.

Gift

Yesterday was the first day in months where Patrick and Lilly both were acting out. She was a monster; I don't even know how many tantrums she threw, including one while we were over a friend's house. Patrick, too, was whiny and refusing to share. It's like they'd regressed a year.

Today, she was an angel. I love when she does that. He unfortunately hadn't snapped out of anything, and was a mess, but we dealt. Tomorrow we have gymnastics; Thursday, we're meeting their mom at work for lunch. Friday I'm off, because they're leaving on vacation. I'm off all next week! I'm still stunned.

Speaking of Friday, V's parents get here that day. They're leaving Sunday afternoon. We have lots planned: the zoo, a ball game, ikea, good food. And her mom had mentioned that they want to bring a housewarming gift, so we were trying to think - maybe the $30 rug we like at Ikea.

And then she texted an estimate figure to spend that was three digits. It wasn't $999, but neither was it $100. We both stared in shock. V's theory is that this is an unacknowledged wedding present. I'm... still in shock, apparently. But I"m actually working my way through my cleaning list!

Plate

If I get any more on my metaphorical plate, I'm going to start eating off a casserole dish. Since stress causes me to make lists, I'm going to do just that.

• My mother shipped me ten giant containers of my childhood. She's moving, therefore downsizing. When I moved in with my dad in my mid-teens, she packed my room up so my sisters could have it. Now I'm dealing with the fallout of that.
• As of last night, that fallout included a roach. At least, we're telling ourselves it came out of a box and isn't just around partying with its friends. Our landlord is coming over shortly (thank goodness we're renting), but given that we discovered it at 5:30 this morning when the cats were stalking it, we slept on the couch downstairs. Until noon.
• Yesterday was the recital for the preschool/elementary dance company that V works for. That means this past week has basically been tech week, and so the house has gone to shit. Really, it's bad.
• Which is a bigger problem than usual, since V's parents are coming to visit this Friday, and staying until Monday. I have five days to make a hopefully-not-roach-infested, giant-box-filled, horrifically messy house look like something I want to present to my mother-in-law.
• I'll be doing a lot of it myself, which is understandable: this is V's last week of May term classes, so she has lots to finish up; she'll be gone every evening. Usually I try to do a chunk, or at least help out, but I'm not sure I'll even be able to.
• Money isn't super tight, but it's not lax either. I have small hopes of being able to sell some of this stuff my mom sent me, but that's a whole 'nother chunk of time and energy. Anyone else collect Breyer horses as a child? American Girl stuff? Or inherit a 200+ bell collection from their great-grandmother?