Home at last

I've been away since Sunday for a corporate training event. 5 days of technical training and meetings in Fairfax, VA. Some observations from the week...

• VA has NO idea how to deal with Winter weather
• Closing the county VA schools for 4 days for 1 inch of snow and some ice is a joke
  
• Eating out for 6 days is not good for the digestive system
• Dullas Airport is too freaking big to keep track of a group of 10
• My luggage made it home on time and with me.
• My flight left before the flight before us that the team tried to get on standby ( Haha)
• I remember why I don't go to lunch with some people I work with
• Big Bowl is fantastic
• Cheesecake factory is OK
• Drinking with those you work with can be dangerous
• NEVERLOST is kewl when they know the left from the right
• I've been on route 66
• Breakfast buffets that cost $16 should be be burnt and hard as a rock.

I'm glad to be home.

I HAVE A GIRLY GIRL!

I was desperate. Yes... its 10 degrees ( -10 with the wind). I needed bread, dinner and milk. I needed a haircut. So, I took my hour lunch at 1:30 and took the kid to the salon. Now, I can hear it "She's not even 4!". But can a preschooler make conversation with the stylist, follow directions and not wiggle while she's getting her bangs cut? MINE CAN!

Erin is FANTASTIC when I take her to get her hair cut. She sits and listens and strikes up a conversation like any blue haired regular. I HAVE A GIRLY GIRL! She was in one chair and I was in the other. She's talking to me and the girls and didn't freak when I went to get my fair cut.

So $30 later plus tip, my daughter is primped and beautiful. Wait.. that didn't sound right. That was for the both of us. Not bad actually. $22 for me and $8 for her.

Mothers for Social Drinking

I found this blog about the new debate about Moms who have an ocassional drink at a playdate. I have NO problem with it. I've done it! Lil and I will crack a bottle of wine and have a glass. Or make Special Coffee. Is it any different than going to a family party or out to dinner and having a drink? No. I have been drinking long enough to know my limit. And yes, I make sure I'm good and sober before I get the Kid in the car. and its not like I do it everyday. Please!


The TIMES also had something to say in Cosmopolitan Moms

Drinking is not bad. And I'll be damn sure that the Kids are well aware of that. She's Irish and Polish... need I say more?

Lights out - well sort of

Erin's biggest hurtle has been going to bed on her own. We made the leap last night. 3 books and to bed. As soon as I reached to turn off the lights the 4 year old panic attack set in. Ok - lights remained on. One more kiss for Dad (he already had gotten 2) and off to bed. That lasted 5 minutes and then "Mommmmm....." - I sent in reinforcements. Dad confirmed that it was just a little boo-boo and she 'promised' to stay in bed.


All was well until 5:30 AM. 2 became 3 in our bed- the bad dream monster made an appearance and frankly, I'm ok with that. I had to be up in 30 minutes and well, who doesn't love a bit of 4 year old snuggle time.

Tonight will be the test. We're going to TRY agian. Shower, 3 books, lights on and sleep. I hope.

Disney on Ice 2007

The Disney corp has yet another devotee. Erin, Tim and I went to Disney on Ice. Erin couldn't wait and was remarkably well behaved. Not even 1 bathroom run during the show.

This show consisted of Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald and Daisy going on Vacation:

London featured Peter Pan and 101 Dalmations. Then they moved on to a Tropical theme for Little Mirmaid and Lelo and Stitch.

Now... surprisingly, all translated very well to Ice. Least Favorite - 101 Dalmations. Favorite Scene - Pirates on Ice (from Peter Pan).




So when we got home, Erin immediately needed to talk to Minnie - her 3 foot tall Minnie. Apparently, it is her best friend now.

I don't mind Disney. I love the cartoons. I hate the price. All I hope is that Erin remembers this for a long time since I think this as close as she's gonna get to Mickey and Minnie for some time.

Damn you Lily! Now I want to go Heavy......

Secret Wars Re-Enactment Society

One Whole Month

Erin has been going though some pre-school issues of "no Mommy, don't leave". It was taking me over an hour to leave DayCare. Well... its been 4 weeks. 1 whole month.

"Ok Mom, you can leave early.. bye"

Erin looks at me today -"Mom, I TOLD you can leave"

She is getting so big. My soon to be 4 year old knows what makes Ice and what it turns into when the sun comes out. She can identify the Statue of Liberty. No more tub time. She can open programs on my PC. He can crack an egg with one hand. She can spell, write and type her name.

My baby isn't a baby any more. Oh sigh... now if I can only get her to go to bed on her own.

Build a Castle

I so want to do this - This would be the coolest thing for Erin and Tommy. And me and Carolyn too. Oh Heck! Tim would love it!


All I need is 8+ refrigerator boxes , rivets, a box cutter and some flat land...

Reno 911 hhahahahhaha

Daycare Cost

Come April, my office will be moving to a new building and they have a Daycare center inhouse. This is good. Cost is less than what I'm paying now but look at these numbers:


Current day care: $199/Week (= about $10,000 a year)
New day care : $165/week (= about $8500 a year)
Catholic School : $1650 a year +$300 in raffle tickets
SUNY College at Buffalo: $2175 a semester + $472 fees ( = about $5294 a year)

Ummmmmmm.... in 2 years, I could save enough for my kid to go to college. Something is wrong with this. I know that good childcare providers are deserving of a high pay but man!

Happy New Year!

I'm a little early but that's ok. We'll be leaving shortly for a party and Erin is not going with us. Maggie (15) and Bernie (10) are spending the night watching Erin. A fun filled night of Anime. Yes. Anime. My 3 year old adores it so who am I to argue.

So they have thier munchies. They have beverage. They have movies. They have sleeping stuff. I get a few hours out.

Happy New Year all!

Mommy Tip # 2

In sticking with the Dishwasher tabs for the coffee pot - it's time to expand on that thought. Caked on grease or goo in a brand new pan and you don't want to subject yourself to yet another sacrifical pan? Hot water and liquid dishwasher soap. Let it sit for a few and VIOLA! Clean pan. No need to scrub.

Thanks to my Mom for that one.

3 year olds and mixers ... oh the fun

I had Erin help me this year with the baking. 4 batches of cookies and 21 coffee cakes. We tackled the cookies first.

You know that commerical where the kids are helping bake and the boys puts the flour in and turns on the mixer full speed? Flour everywhere? Its true. It happens.

Erin put the miser on HIGH and well, she and I were coated in flour. She was so upset but I assured her it was ok and we'll clean up.

The cookies turned out fine. As you can see, there is flour on the counter. A lot of flour. I am still sweeping up


This is my favorite picture of the day. She wanted to put the eggs in for me. Determined to crack them like me (one handed), she managed to get most of the egg in the bowl.


We had to dig some of them out but not much.

The look on her face is priceless.

"Eh - a little crunchy bit won't hurt"

Most Polite Kid

Erin is not afraid of Santa. In fact, she adores him. Here is Erin with Santa a few weeks back.

The AOH had a kid's party and low and behold, my kid knew exactly what to do. When her name was called, she marched right up to Santa and waited for HIM to pick her up. She smiled at the camera and thanked him for the gift. After, she even wanted to give him a candy.


For the family party on X-mas eve, "Santa" made an appearance. She sat and waited until he called her. She said thank you before unwrapping the gift and said it again AFTER she opened it.

Last night, she wanted to write Santa a thank you note because she loved her doll house so much. I love my daughter. She has manners when it really counts.

Christmas cold

Without fail, Tim and I have colds. The crappy kind where you feel like not moving and your head is going to fall off. Yesterday was our day off and well, being sick and having a legal day off blows. So today I'm going to whine a bit and then get over it.

The day after...

yet another Christmas done. Here's the results:

1) I ate way too much
2) I think I sprained my foot
3) Doll houses rock
4) No snow on Christmas is depressing
5) BRATZ suck
6) my foot still hurts

Over all it was ok - how could it not be with this kid:

It's only 2 more sleeps till Chirstmas...

And I feel like Scrooge today. I spent yesterday night making 22 Polish Coffee cakes. 15 small and 7 big ones. 3 1/2 hours with oven on and Erin making a mess on the floor. She had to help. I let her. And, I dropped one. But they are done and waiting to be wrapped for the family on Sunday.

I'm just in a Ba Humbug mood and don't really care at this point. I think I'm just done with everything. MOM QUITS!

Right now the only bright spot is that we ordered Pho (Vietnamese take out from Heaven). It's a treat for the office since the local joint closed and there is only 1 location 20 minutes away. So we plan this and someone hikes all the way out there. A plate of meat and 2 Vietnamese egg rolls should make me feel a bit better but I have to bake any more, I'm moving to Mars.

On a good note, the Coffee Cake went over well this morning and the guys liked it.

Concentration??

I feel like Bob Cratchit...
So its 3 days before Chirstmas.. I am at work for 2 of those days. Ummmmmmm..... I'm here physically but not mentally. Sure, I'm working but man, it is hard. Not to mention the office is freezing and I'm broke.

Erin had a party at school today - cookies, cupcakes, candy... THE WORKS! I wanted so bad to say "do you need help? Homeroom Mom? As long as I get the baked goods, no one gets hurt" but I didn't. I left sad and wanting a cookie.

I had to pull teeth in the office to get them to decorate this year. I brought the tree in and it became a joke for a while. Come on. We spend 9 hours in the office. That is more time than I spend at home. I want lights, I want a party. I want a break! Bunch of Scrooges

I'm going to wear the Santa hat tomorrow. Who cares - i need a little jolly in my life right now. Things keep getting worse and I need something to keep me afloat.

So back to the grind for 4 more hours, go home, bake till I'm done and do it all over again tomorrow. Now if Santa would only bring me what I'm wishing for.....

Lunch time sanity

I need to STOP every so often and eat lunch and not work. Go figure.

So today I caught up on Manic Mommies and found a new blog Behind Amy's Lens.

Nice work Amy!