Getting ready for some fun

Today we're getting together and having a BLOCK PARTY!

A couple ladies in the neighborhood and I wanted to get together. When the subdivision was still being built, the builder had a couple of block parties. We wanted to keep the tradition alive and get one going.

A couple weeks ago, the Bear and I distributed fliers announcing the event. The Bear helped me put them into the mailboxes.

Neighborhood Block Party

When: Saturday, May 31
Time: 5pm - 7pm

Please bring your main dish, beverages, & blankets/chairs.

Please also bring a dish to share.

Last names A - L: side dish/salad M - Z: dessert

Last night, the ladies and I met up in the cul-de-sac. Our kids all just happened to converge into the cul-de-sac (like normal) and we ironed out some details.

Neighbor#1: Music, hula hoops, and lemonade
Neighbor#2: Jump castle (one of her friends does this for a business), water balloons, portable grill
Me: Water bottles, balloons

We're already got some people that are contributing tables. We're each bringing paper towels and whatever paper plates and plastic utensils we've got in our pantries.

So hopefully a bunch of neighbors show up. Neighbors that we don't know, but will get to know. The kids should have a blast. I can't believe we're going to have a jumping castle! Woohoo! Good time for all!

They're on their way [updated]

The kids are on their way home right now. My SIL is driving the two down. They should arrive around lunchtime. ARGH!

I've got a couple loads of laundry to do. I've got to run to the grocery store and get some things. I've got to clean two bathrooms (the master and the half). I did want to color my hair (THAT isn't going to happen).

Where did the time go? Ah...yes...the relaxing with the Hubs....

In about 3 hours? I'm sure the house will again be its normal lovely mess.

I really did miss the kids....

*************************

I headed out to do errands around 10am.

While I was out, I called the Hubs.

Me: Has your sister called you?
Hubs: No. She hasn't.
Me: So what time is she coming with the kids?
Hubs: Lunchtime.
Me: That doesn't give me a time reference at all. You should call her to find out where she's at so I have an idea when she'll be here. I mean....I'm out doing errands.
Hubs: Okay. I'll call her.

So he hangs up. And calls back 5 minutes later.

Hubs: She didn't pick up. I left her a message.

I go about and do my errands. Drop off paperwork at one place. Pick some items up from another. Then I stop by the carwash to get my vehicle detailed. There was dust all over the place. Crumbs. Actually halves of crackers. LOTS of stuff to vacuum up. I had a nice time at the carwash. I chatted with a few of the other people there...just shooting the breeze. Pleasant. Nice.

I get into my car and start driving towards home. I was going to stop by the grocery store and pick up some food for tomorrow's block party.

[ring-ring]

Me: Hello?
SIL: Grace?
Me: Oh hi.
SIL: We're here. Are you home?
Me: No. I'm not. I'm out doing errands.
SIL: Oh...well...we're here.
Me: Okay.

Ya'll, it was only 11:15am. Is that lunchtime to you?

LIKE I WOULDN'T OPEN THE DOOR TO GREET MY CHILDREN IF I WAS HOME?

Needless to say, I didn't stop by the grocery store like I wanted to. I pulled into the driveway about 10 minutes later. They were camped out next to the front door.

I was cordial. I was friendly. We spoke pleasantly to each other.

Some might say WHY didn't I just wait for them at home. Like I'm going to sit there [excuse the expression] on my ass with a finger up my nose waiting? No. NO. NO!

THIS is the reason why I call my family when I leave our house AND when I'm about an hour out from their house. This gives them an idea of when I started my trip. Then the second call let's them know if I'm either earlier or later than the guess-timated time. THIS way they can continue to go on with their day.

But that's my family. That's what we do. I guess I shouldn't expect my ILs to do the same. This is what drives me BATTY about his side. Absolutely looney-tunes! [shaking head]

Do YOU call your family to let them know the status of where you're at when traveling?

This is the left and this is the right

Dear Man in the Red Truck:

Yes. We're all driving towards the freeway. We're all trying to get on with our day and get things done.

Here I am in the right-hand lane. There you are in the left-hand lane.

You do know that a half block from the freeway, the right lane (MY lane) branches out into two lanes. Two lanes that make a right-hand turn onto the freeway.

I'm sure you know that the left lane (YOUR lane) branches out into three lanes. Two lanes that go straight and one lane that turns left going northbound onto the freeway.

Why oh why must you decide to change into my lane? JUST as my lane branches out into two turn lanes? I'm sitting there singing my heart out with my kids and your truck cuts me off.

But what takes the cake? Is that you start flipping me off.

YES! You decide for some reason that I'm retaliating at you and you flip me off. Not once, but THREE times!

[scratching head]

I guess that my kids would say my singing might be a way of retaliating. But man, what were YOU thinking as you flipped me off? I mean, you couldn't even hear my off-key and loud singing. If anyone should have done any flipping off, it would be me. You're the one who cut me off.

What I do have to say to you is....GET A LIFE! There would be no flipping off if you'd just drive in the right lane. Seriously. It's not that hard.

Regards,

Grace

Getting things together

You might think it's strange but I've started getting things organized. Organized in boxes. In boxes for moving.

Anal much?

Yes. That would be me. Me. Me. ME!

I decided to keep my initial scope small. Hopefully, small AND manageable. Photos and art work.

I've been editing the kids artwork as well. THAT is a hard one. I love their creations. But alas it gets to be SO much. I'm keeping the "best" items. But it's hard to decide sometimes. I had things stacked in a bunch of places. Above the refrigerator. That gap between the cabinets at the top there? Yes. There. Then there's the the spot up the guest bedroom. Then there's the box I had when we moved here. It was fun looking through the stacks. Such adorable pieces of artwork.

Since we've moved into this house I haven't been consistently placing photos into one location. I take digitals now so I rarely have packets of photos like when the Princess was first born. Then there are the yearly class photos. Even the Bear took yearly preschool photos. Then the photos with Santa. I had to gather all those things up and put them in chronological order. I think I found things in at least 4 different places. I some items in a box. I had some items in my nightstand drawer. I had some at my desk. And then up in the guest bedroom. Yeah. Scattered all over the place!

I did end up with tears looking at the photos though. The Princess was SO little. She didn't have much hair until she was 2. But her smile? Oh...her smile. What a lovely smile. The smile along with her nose crinkle. Totally made EVERYONE melt when they would see her. My little peanut....she's now such a big girl. [sigh]

But I'm glad I was able to look through the photos in silence. Relish in them without having to avoid sticky fingers. I love my kids but I don't enjoy the destruction they can do.

I'm sure you're thinking that those little faces COULDN'T cause me heartburn. Uh...they can. Under those big eyes and cute smiles hide a dark side. The dark side that each person in this world possesses. They can try my patience. They can cause exhaustion. But they're mine. They're my children. My kidlings that the Hubs and I made with our love. The two that I love with all my heart.

Hmmm...interesting find this morning...

In the past I’ve mentioned how my ILs contact my husband directly when things come up. I’ve mentioned how they don’t communicate with me directly. Remember when I emailed them about the kids visit and they called the Hubs with updates. They didn’t email everyone back to make sure we all had the information. They were relying on the Hubs to provide me with all the details. Uh….no.

LOOK what I found in my IN-box just now.

Good morning.

Just wanted to let you know how much we enjoyed Princess and Bear this past weekend. But believe it of not it was too cold for them to really enjoy the pool.

Before they start school and in between the Y for Princess and swim lessons for Bear, I’d like to give you two different dates for one more weekend. Friday, July 25 or Friday, August 8. I would leave work early to get them and you could come get them on Sunday.

Please check your schedules about which date works best for you. I’m not even sure when they start school in August.

Thanks.

I think that the Hubs actually told my MIL to write this. I don’t think my MIL would send this out on her own. I know her too well. The Hubs knows how much this “he said, she said” method of communication irritates the heck out of me. I have a HUGE inkling that the Hubs is what caused the email to go out.

But I am not responding to this email. I’m going to let the Hubs respond to it. Hopefully we’ll actually be MOVED before the weekends listed. But that is going to need to be something the Hubs informs them about. Not me. I tell my family stuff. He tells his family stuff. It’s just the way it is.

Things to look forward to

I'm already dreaming about things I'll be able to have easy access to when we eventually move.

• Easy access to Hawaiian food (L&L Hawaiian BBQ anyone?)
• Easy access to just baked HOT pandesol (a Filipino roll that is slightly sweet)
• Being close to my Mom's cooking -- yummy!
• Having close access to the beach -- 30 minutes max
• Having close access to the mountains -- may an hour drive?
• Having close access to the desert (like I'm going to want to do THAT after living in Arizona for 12 years...ha!)
• The ability to have the kids spend time with their cousins -- priceless!! -- 30 minutes drive time versus 7 hours
• The ability to have my folks help with my kidlings -- priceless!
• The ability to have lunch with my sisters...just because....
• Being able to spend special days (birthdays/anniversaries/etc) with my family
• Having picnics and gatherings actually DOING stuff (rather than sitting on our behinds watchig tv)

It's going to be stressful to get out there. But MAN there is so much to look forward to. The cost of living is going to jump dramatically but that's why we BOTH have to work. The benefits of moving are priceless. PRICELESS. I'm already fantasizing about our life out there. [sigh]

Guess who knows?!?

I broke down yesterday and let my Mom in on the news. Or should I say...the PLANS.

Me: So when are you going to retire Mom?
Mom: Well....[hesitating]...I can't stay with your Dad 24 hours a day...
Me: Okay. Okay. Here's something to think about. What if you could stay with us for part of the day?
Mom: What do you mean?
Me: The Hubs and I are both sending out resumes for opportunities out there.
Mom: You are? [excitedly]
Me: Yes. We're sending resumes out right now. And since both of us will have to work full-time to be able to live out there, then we were wondering if you could help us out with the kids.
Mom: Oh yeah!
Me: We're planning to move out by September. BEFORE the start of the school year.
Mom: That soon?
Me: We want to be out there before school starts. Since both kids will be in school in the fall, then you could come to our house for part of the day. You'd need to get them from school...
Mom: That sounds like a good plan.
Me: Well, we were hoping that you'd be able to help out. But I wanted to be sure to talk to you about it.
Mom: Good. I'm glad you did. Just let me know when you'll be here.
Me: I will.
Mom: I'm going to tell you Dad.

Anyway...my Mom is excited. I think she's glad that 3 of her 4 girls will be near her. Plus she will love that two more of her grandkids will be close. That she'll be able to watch them grow up. AND she won't be stuck with my Dad all day. Every day. She'll be able to hang out at our place and get away from him. Good plan? We hope it'll happen within the next few months....

Summer, Summer, Summertime...

It might be an old song but it's a catchy one that always gets me going.

We dropped the kids off by 11am this morning. They happily waved bye to us. They were happy to spend 'special time' with their grandparents. I'm happy that they're happy to stay with family.

The Hubs and I had a leisurely lunch together. We meandered the mall for a few hours. We rarely go to the mall. And when we do? We go in and out like we're on a mission. Today we weren't on a mission. I was able to get a great pair of dress shoes. Dressy for me as I normally just wear flip-flops and Keds. I also got three button-down shirts. Work shirts and work shoes. Yes. I'm getting ready for it. Luckily, I had gift cards so I didn't spend ONE DIME on the clothes. Woohoo! That's the BEST shopping ever.

We drove home after that. I was getting drowsy on the drive home. I'm sure the Hubs was feeling weary as well. When we got home? We both crashed. I was out for 2 hours. The Hubs was out for 3.5. Yes. THREE AND A HALF HOURS. And the Hubs won't have any issues falling asleep tonight either. He's just that way. He loves to sleep.

When the kids get back, summer will roll out big out. The Princess will begin her YMCA camp stuff. The Bear will head out to morning swim classes. Our new neighborhood library opens in 2 weeks. It's only 1 mile from our house! It's going to be great to have a HUGE library so close to home. And our local movie theater announced that it's got "KID" movies showing at 10am each weekday. Did I mention that the 10am shows are...[clearing throat]...free? YES! They are showing FREE movies. Halleluia! Thankfully it's every weekday and not just one day per week. This way there's a chance that the place won't be jam-packed.

I'm going to spend some time figuring out "other" things for the kids to do. Hopefully I'll find other little events that'll keep them from being bored. Ah...summer...