Post by traveltheworld on Mar 4, 2019 4:58:47 GMT -5
I'm in Europe, so I think I'm ahead of everyone in time zones! How was everyone's weekend?
We had a really good weekend. We went to the library on Saturday and DS borrowed what must have been 30+ books on whales and dolphins. Then he and DD made pillow forts and played nicely all afternoon while DH and I sat and mostly watched and drank our coffees. Then we made dinner together, the kids even helped. We haven't had an afternoon/evening like that in a LONG time, it almost felt magical. I left on Sunday afternoon, and actually quite enjoyed my alone time. Audio books have been a life changer for me. I went through 1.5 books on my flights, got to my hotel, did yoga, walked around, and felt pretty great overall. DH did text to let me know that DS scored a goal at his hockey game - which made me a little upset, given that DS has only scored 3 goals all season and I missed this one!
It was a very cold weekend. Ok, it was very cold by Texas standards, which means it hovered around the freezing mark pretty much all weekend. Now it’s like 22 degrees. Brrrrr.
We have our team week this week at work, which means I have to be “on” all week and not actually get any work done. Plus we have a team dinner tomorrow night that is non-negotiable.
Busy weekend. We left at 6:45 am on Saturday to head to a basketball tournament for DS a little over an hour away. He had games at 9:00 (lost), noon (lost), and 5:00 (won), and then the team and parents went to dinner together, so it was a long day. We got back to the hotel around 9:30 pm. DH left after the second game to go back home as the daddy-daughter dance had been rescheduled for that evening, and he didn't want DD to lose out on something special because of DS's sports. DH and DD came back Saturday night to the hotel. On Sunday they had single-elimination bracket play. They won their first game at 1:30, but then DD and I had to leave so we got home in time for our dog to go potty. (My parents had stayed over Saturday night with our dog. She's almost 13 and can't hold it as long as she used to.) They played another game at 3:30, but lost, so they were done.
It is like January here - single digit temps and snow, and below-average temps and snow are the forecast for most of this week. I do see 40-degree temps for next week, which is average for us for March, so hopefully it will actually feel like we're getting close to spring soon.
We went to Raleigh/ Durham for the weekend to go somewhere “south” and burn off airline points. We had one perfect weather day on Sat. It was sunny and 65. We went to the botanical gardens and to a free college baseball game- actually 2 because it was a double header. We just kind of wondered in and out at the old stadium and to a playground for the kids. Sunday was 40 and chilly so it was the old kids museum standbye. No we weren’t going to pay $1000 a ticket for a Duke basketball game. All in all it was a pretty good easy trip with kids (except them fighting over covers at the hotel room). They are at the age they can handle their suitcases most of the time. I brought the traveling booster so we didn’t have to check bags and it was only a 1.5 hour flight with decent travel times. We magically timed the restaurants so there was no wait. We did have a couple of less than restaurants but the rest were like oh southern food I missed you.
DD and I are packed for the beach. I’m unsure if I packed the right clothes - it’s a weird mix of jeans/leggings and shorts and dresses with layers. I was happy to discover I am back in a size 6 (down from a 10) - bought new shorts (Gap Boyfriend where have you been all my life??? Perfect midis) and capri jeans.
I worked out Saturday morning and I really love doing that. I go with a friend and we get coffee after. This workout almost killed me - notably trying to beat my own top on 25 pound sandbag slams and ramp sprints in a parking garage.
Disappointing dinner out Saturday (it was $125 for three of us and I was 1) still hungry 2) not satisfied in any way - it was a bizarre experience with food).
Had an allergic reaction to a kolache during church and didn’t have my purse for the first time ever — I forgot it at home so left and went home and took Benadryl, then stumbled through my day, after returning to pick up DD. I wish the allergist could tell me why I sometimes react to sausage when I’m allergic to crab. I’m getting to the point I am afraid to eat because things that should not set me off do.
Nice weekend. Saturday DD and I got up for yoga. DH worked, so I went with a friend of mine and took the kids for dinner Saturday night. Then we left them at her house to met up for drinks with another friend and listen to a band which was a lot of fun. Sunday was very relaxing. It snowed some, and I put on some beans and ham in the crock pot, ran on the treadmill, picked up a bit and basically binge watched House Hunters. Ds hung out on the basement and DD curled up in bed with the book she needed to finish by the end of the week.
Another busy week ahead. Vball practice both after school and at 5:30, I have to meet with DS's advisors at 6:00. He is hoping to take 2 college credit courses next year. Tuesday night is unexpectedly off, since someone dropped the ball on my presentation. Wednesday, DS has speech practice until 4:30, I meet with DDs advisor at 4:30, she has volleyball at 5:30. Somewhere in the middle of that I need to find a meatless meal we can all agree on for Ash Wednesday. Thursday is DS's basketball.
School is open! The windchill was only -23 this morning, and -25 is the cutoff. We've had 7 snow/cold days this year, I did not want another cold one, where basically everyone is stuck in the house.
This weekend was good, I took the kids to a school carnival with my folks, which was super unorganized as usual, but still fun. We bought a new light fixture for the dining room, and went out to dinner. Yesterday we went to a kid's expo, it was fund, although the kids wanted their faces' painted. DD's was a nice kitty, DS's ninja design had a little too much black facepaint in it to make me comfortable. But thankfully the stuff washed off way easier than normal when we got home.
DD's party went better than expected. We had some issues along the way, but none that I think she noticed. This was my cheapest party tab so far, even adding in the cost of the face painter and tip. In the past, our home parties have been more expensive than event parties, but I just embraced my inner frugal lady. (Since it was *supposed* to be a drop off party, we didn't plan to feed adults or buy alcohol for them. We had enough food to feed the kids, and the adults each got a small slice of pizza. We happened to have some hard seltzers anyways, so that was basically it. DH wanted to go out and buy more pizza, but I told him not to bother. It was nice not having leftovers.)
But the massive influx of kids into our home on a wet rainy day meant (a) LOT of cleaning afterwards, and (b) germs. So many germs. Poor DS was up all night and pretty miserable today. I can feel it in my sinuses and am exhausted. As usual, DD seems to be the only one not affected... that girl has an immune system of steel.
Post by justcheckingin73 on Mar 4, 2019 11:03:08 GMT -5
Add us the freezing cold party today. -21 wind chills.
It was an OK weekend. I have a sinus infection so I didn’t sleep well all weekend due to congestion.
DS had a basketball game on Saturday, I did grocery shopping, had some downtime and had a hair appt on Sunday. We did a lot of cooking and baking this weekend. I am trying out Hello Fresh and amazingly the kids love to help and have even tried some of the items they’ve never had before.
On Wednesday, it will be a year since my FIL passed away. I was trying to figure out a way to honor the day and decided we’d have cookies for breakfast and pie and ice cream for dessert. One time when my kids were little, they asked for cookies for breakfast and I said, you can’t have cookies for breakfast. My (very fit and trim) FIL scoffed at that, you can always have cookies for breakfast. So it became a thing, even though the kids don’t remember and we don’t usually feed them cookies at breakfast He also loved pie and ice cream so that will be dessert. Hopefully we will create some good memories from a horrible day.
DD had fun at the gym meet Friday night with parents and then had a sleepover since they got back after 10 and I didn't want to stay up for them to drop DD. DD was up and raring to go at 7am, my mom was exhausted by the time I picked DD up at 5. Saturday office was a zoo between the door and phones so felt like I didn't get much accomplished. Sunday DH was pissed because my sister was going to pick DD up for family dinner at 3ish and he was pissed I was going back to the office to work. He didn't understand why I couldn't WFH from the tablet again. I told him was so hard and not a productive use of my time. Had a very productive in office Sunday. Family birthday dinner was great.
My little sister is not the best math person. My brother askes DD what 9*9 is. I tell her to use her 9s finger trick as she hasn't figured out 9s very well yet. So she puts her hands on the table and curls under the 9 finger to make 81. the look on my sister's face was priceless and we all wish we would have gotten it on video. She had no idea about this trick. We all ended up laughing until tears were running down our faces.
DD had fun at the gym meet Friday night with parents and then had a sleepover since they got back after 10 and I didn't want to stay up for them to drop DD. DD was up and raring to go at 7am, my mom was exhausted by the time I picked DD up at 5. Saturday office was a zoo between the door and phones so felt like I didn't get much accomplished. Sunday DH was pissed because my sister was going to pick DD up for family dinner at 3ish and he was pissed I was going back to the office to work. He didn't understand why I couldn't WFH from the tablet again. I told him was so hard and not a productive use of my time. Had a very productive in office Sunday. Family birthday dinner was great.
My little sister is not the best math person. My brother askes DD what 9*9 is. I tell her to use her 9s finger trick as she hasn't figured out 9s very well yet. So she puts her hands on the table and curls under the 9 finger to make 81. the look on my sister's face was priceless and we all wish we would have gotten it on video. She had no idea about this trick. We all ended up laughing until tears were running down our faces.
I didn’t know the 9s finger trick either! Will be teaching that to DS tonight.
Post by librarychica on Mar 4, 2019 12:57:00 GMT -5
We had a nice weekend with some of the girls’ cousins visiting. But I am just wiped out. I wasn’t feeling well Friday, add in two busy days of cousins and then a side of family/financial drama and I am just not feeling it. Unfortunately we have an unusually busy week planned and I agreed to go to a concert tonight out of guilt and now I am seriously regretting that. I will really be regretting it when tomorrow’s alarm goes off. Send me short concert vibes!
We got snow on Saturday - really messy and slippery, bad driving all day, but only about 6 inches. Then we got a storm last night and got another 18 inches. It's heavy, wet snow because it's now 40 degrees. It was the sort of snow that you needed to shovel layers of snow because it was too heavy to lift - so 3 shovels full got you the distance of one shovel full. I shoveled our very long walkway for my workout today.
Kids are home today because the entire state canceled school, I think. My amazing neighbor stopped by and grabbed them because she knew I needed to finish packing. We leave for Disney tomorrow.
As an aside, I am a very anxious flyer. I'm anxious in general, but I especially hate flying. And I have to put on a happy and brave face since the kids will be with us. But I am so looking forward to seeing the kids' faces when we get to Disney!
justcheckingin73, its something both my brother and I learned in school. No idea if they teach it now or not. I guess it is very teacher dependent as all three of us kids went to the same elementary school. My sister is a whole decade behind me though so different curriculum.
Dog class got cancelled tonight. I just got a text from DH. The only night all week I get 30-45 minutes of absolute alone time is tonight while DH and the dog is at class and DD is in bed. I really need my "me time" today between a busy hectic Monday at work and PMS I just want that time where no one needs me or is looking at me. I can't even hide in the shower as both DH and the dog have gotten into a habit of checking on me if I'm in there for more than 15 minutes. Yes I get a dog nose in the shower or she sits outside the tub and stares at me. You can tell it is almost half way through tax season as everyone is needing me.
Post by librarychica on Mar 4, 2019 15:47:41 GMT -5
Now I am fighting with Benefit wallet because they keep fighting me on the reimbursement for DD2’s childcare because it says “tuition” and not “childcare.”
Damn pretentious Montessori. She’s barely 4! It’s childcare. You paid it last year, BW.
librarychica - as I wait for $3500 from dependent care, I quietly try not to throw up at the thought they may kick these back to me. And it’s March. And I can only submit new forms until April. And I won’t be in town until 3/19. So they pretty much HAVE TO approve this or I lose the money. It’s identical to last year. Except they aren’t sending me my checks.
I am trying to remind myself that FSA checks sent on 2/8 arrived 3/1. And they may be in the mail. I should call them but in my typical non-confrontational way, I am trying not to.
Now I am fighting with Benefit wallet because they keep fighting me on the reimbursement for DD2’s childcare because it says “tuition” and not “childcare.”
Damn pretentious Montessori. She’s barely 4! It’s childcare. You paid it last year, BW.
Our system (TASC) makes me upload the entire contract every month because they don’t find my monthly receipts sufficient. Le sigh
Post by mustardseed2007 on Mar 4, 2019 18:15:51 GMT -5
DD's birthday is Sunday, but since it's the first weekend of spring break, we celebrated early. We had a person come in a dinosaur costume and it was ah-mazing for our T-Rex loving girl. Best party she's ever had.
librarychica - as I wait for $3500 from dependent care, I quietly try not to throw up at the thought they may kick these back to me. And it’s March. And I can only submit new forms until April. And I won’t be in town until 3/19. So they pretty much HAVE TO approve this or I lose the money. It’s identical to last year. Except they aren’t sending me my checks.
I am trying to remind myself that FSA checks sent on 2/8 arrived 3/1. And they may be in the mail. I should call them but in my typical non-confrontational way, I am trying not to.
It’s awful. Same as last year, but this year is difficult. And I can’t get anyone on the customer service line.
Post by supertrooper1 on Mar 5, 2019 0:06:29 GMT -5
I had DS this weekend and we had fun. Saturday, we drove to the next town over to go to a party store for birthday party supplies and went out to lunch. We got home and successfully put my new bed frame and headboard together. STBXH asked if I had help since he still wants to treat me like a child and assumes thatI can'tdo anything myself. Sunday was a birthday dinner for my dad. DS played with his cousins and then played board games with my mom while I went skeet shooting with my dad and brother. I need more practice but it was still a lot of fun.
Today was the first day of my new job. IT won't have my computer set up until at least tomorrow, so I did a lot of shoulder surfing. I have a lot to learn, but so far I'm excited for the change and enjoy working with the other 2 women on my office.
XMIL has been visiting. It’s been a good time. She and DS have such a great time together. And she has also been helping to whip the house into shape. I even had her help me purge some old files ... boy did this stuff go way back! We even found a file of wedding planning stuff, including our pre-Cana questionnaires and results. I had a good laugh.