It's An Unfortunate Situation

It's unfortunate that we lost the neighbor lottery five years ago and ended up living next to people who clearly have no conscience.  As you know, the girlz had a sleepover with Mama and Papa Saturday night.  For the second time this whole year, Sergeant Sexy and I were expecting a good night's rest.  Twice in five months?  I don't think that's expecting too much.


It's unfortunate our neighbors decided to have a party Saturday.  A party that started while the sun was up Saturday afternoon and continued until 5AM Sunday morning.  I'm not kidding.


It's unfortunate Campbell got up at 5:30AM today, which gave us an extra-early start to our day.


It's unfortunate it's blazing hot here today.  And we had a ton of yard work to complete before next weekend's festivities.  And the best time to do it is in the morning.  And since we were up already, we got started at 7:30AM.  Yes, it's very unfortunate.

It's unfortunate that the yard work entailed shrub trimming, weed whacking, and leaf blowing.  All of which can be completed using loud machinery we have on hand.


It's unfortunate the girls chose to be outside with us, and their entertainment of choice was the loudest toy they own - the Escalade.

It's unfortunate the majority of the shrubs that needed trimming are on the Party Central side of our yard.


It's unfortunate I got a bit overzealous with the shrub trimmer and accidentally ended up with this...  Whoops!

It's unfortunate we couldn't have done this yard work yesterday, while the hangover headaches were raging next door.  But we were too tired - we were awake until 5AM, and had to be at church by 8:45AM.


It's unfortunate the neighbors on our other side have moved away.  If it were up to me, I would have kept them and exiled Animal House instead.


It's an unfortunate situation.  Very, very unfortunate.

Happy Birthday, Campbell!

We've already started the birthday celebrations for Campbell.  Because of the timing of several events over the next four weekends, we needed to do her birthday trip to the toy store today instead of waiting until next weekend.


Cassidy asked if she could choose a new toy, too.  She didn't realize it, but we had something extra-special planned for her.


Campbell was excited to wear her birthday crown and carry her birthday balloon.  She especially loved hearing her name called over the store's loudspeaker!

As usual, we let her pick out any toy in the whole store.  She walked up and down every aisle before deciding on a tiny Princess and the Frog doll with interchangeable dresses (think Polly Pocket).


Cassidy did a great job helping Campbell sort through the options.  She didn't know it, but Sergeant Sexy and I have been secretly planning to buy Cassidy a Nintendo DS for Graduation.  She's been wanting one for a very, very, very, very long time, but we've been holding her off.


We let her pick out two DS games, and I asked the sales guy ring up the DS and put it in the bag without her seeing it.  She walked out of the store looking so deflated, but there were no tantrums or meltdowns.  As we walked across the parking lot, she asked me (in a very sad and dejected voice) when she was going to get a DS.


I told her it was a good question, and I'd bought something at the store when she wan't looking.  I pulled out the DS and her face lit up like a Christmas Tree.


I hope the wait was worth it!

Winning

I took Cassidy to get her nails painted yesterday afternoon.  Big Girl School is pretty much done - they only have a few half-days left.  In less than three short months, we'll have two Big Girl School students in our house!


We took it easy this morning knowing the girlz were in for an exciting evening.  They got to have a sleepover with Mama and Papa!  Our good friends (aka Uncle Jamie and Aunt Kristen) won a stay at a local hotel in a bowling tournament and were here for the weekend.  Sergeant Sexy and I desperately wanted to have a dinner with them without the girlz, and Mama and Papa happily helped us out.  An additional perk was the benefit of a few extra minutes to run around and order the food for Campbell's birthday party next weekend.  Winning!


We spent the morning playing with bubbles and enjoying some of the last moments with our deck.

And then we packed up and headed to Mama and Papa's house.


Dinner was fantastic.  We parked in my parking spot underneath the Evil Empire, walked to the hotel to meet our friends, and then rode the ferry across the river to the restaurant.  It was a fun trip down Memory Lane - I used to live in the historic area, walk to the ferry dock each day, and ride the ferry to and from work.  Great memories.


Such a fun evening!

Good Morning, Cutie Pies!

I took this picture before we left for school this morning.


Campbell may have a biting problem, Cassidy may have an antenna in the back of her head... but in my eyes, they're perfectly imperfect.

Splashing in the Puddles

We had a nasty storm blow through here yesterday afternoon.  A bunch of local schools were closed today and people are still without power.  Luckily, the storm passed quickly and was long gone by the time we left to get Campbell from school.


I didn't even realize what was happening until it was on top of us.  Cassidy was sitting at her homework table and I was on a conference call.  "Mommy!"  she whispered.  "Mommy, look!  The rain is coming down sideways!".  Sure enough, it was.  Our plastic play structures blew across our backyard and into the field behind us.  I usually move them up close to the house or into the garage for storms, but this one snuck up on me.


The one good thing about having Cassidy's head stapled back together is that we didn't go to dance last night.  We stayed home and splashed in the puddles instead!

Need Better Cell Reception?

You may want to consider standing close to Cassidy.  She'll be setting off metal detectors for the next week.


Sweet Cassidy has 3 shiny staples in the back of her head.


And believe it or not, out of all the risky things we let her do - cheerleading, wearing flip flops, gymnastics, playing on the playground, swimming, dance, riding the bus, walking around in public - she got hurt inside our house.


There's a long back story involving tantrums and jealousy that I won't go into.  The bottom line is she lost her balance and fell against (of all places) a corner wall Sunday afternoon.


Sergeant Sexy ran her down the street to the ER, and she came home a few hours later sporting some new head gear.


I've been told head wounds produce lots of blood, and now I can personally vouch for that as a fact.  The cut on her head was very small and had stopped bleeding before she left for the ER, but it produced a terrifying amount of blood.  Scary!


Luckily, I had put her hair in pigtails for church Sunday morning so the doctor had easy access to the cut.  We are scheduled to see Dr. Pediatrician in one week for our Staple Puller appointment.


The bad news?  Cassidy has to miss gymnastics, dance, and swimming lessons this week.  The community pools open this weekend, but we're going to have to sit this one out.  Boo!

We're Still Here

So it looks like today is not Rapture Day after all.  I'm still here, Sergeant Sexy is still here, and the girlz are still here.  Weird-o was wrong, again.

We had another busy day, but it wasn't like yesterday's insanity.  Campbell had her last day of Gymboree Art and Play classes this morning.  Cassidy and I went to the Y.

Sergeant Sexy and I spent a good amount of the afternoon cleaning out the office to make space for Campbell's homework desk, and we all went shopping for party supplies.

The best part of the day?  We found a cool new shopping spot when we stopped for frozen yogurt!

Campbell eating frozen yogurt

Cassidy eating frozen yogurt

The girlz at our new-found shopping spot!

Another Hectic One

Today ran high on the Insanity Meter.  There were too many things packed into one day, but it wasn't anything we could reschedule so we just went with it and did our best.


After a very entertaining game of Mommy Poses this morning, I loaded Cassidy on the bus, drove Campbell to school, and completed my daily Hour of Elliptical Torture.


At lunchtime I met with the friendly folks from my Local Non-Profit for Campbell's intake into Biting Intervention.


Once the forms were complete, I ran home for a meeting and then went back to Campbell's school to get her just as they were waking up from nap time.


Then we were back in the car again to race home in time to meet Cassidy's bus.  We zoomed over to the girlz old school for their annual spring event, which the girlz LOVED.  There were bounce houses, a prize walk, snow cones, face painting, games... it was terrific.  And added bonus was that some of our most favorite-favorite-favorite people were there, so the girlz were showered with love the entire time we were there.  None of us wanted to leave, but we had to if we were going to get to swimming lessons on time.


We stopped by Old MacDonald's to grab dinner for the girlz, and then invited ourselves to Mama and Papa's house once again to eat and change clothes.  


Side Note: I certainly respect that some people aren't fans of unannounced visits, but I'm thankful Mama and Papa didn't raise us in a house like that.  When we were growing up, there was always somebody fun coming through the back door.  And while we were at their house today, Pop stopped by!  I love that!!


Note to Mama and Papa: it might be time to invest in a revolving door instead of the silly locking one you have now.  I know you've gotten through the last 41 years without one, but it's just a suggestion.


Anyway, Papa had mercy on us tonight and cooked a delicious healthy dinner for me and Sergeant Sexy so we weren't forced to eat Old MacDonald's.  Papa is awesome!


Here are some pictures from today's insanity...

Campbell and Auntie

Cassidy and Ms. Grashaun (who is still amazing!!)

Mama and the Girlz before we left for swimming lessons

Campbell learning to swim!

Cassidy learning to swim!

Waiting for Cassidy's class to end

We came home after swimming lessons and collapsed.  How did I fit all that into one day AND work a demanding full-time job?  Sometimes I really don't know... it all just somehow comes together.

Mommy Poses

The girlz decided to entertain themselves with a game of "Mommy Poses" this morning.  I'd never heard of this game so I quickly grabbed the camera, knowing they wouldn't disappoint.


Sure enough, they didn't.


The rules of Mommy Poses are simple.


1. Put on Mommy's sunglasses.


2. Strike a Mommy Pose.


If you're having trouble envisioning it, this is what a game of Mommy Poses looks like:

Those are Mommy Poses?!?

Cutie Pie 1 and Cutie Pie 2

I went through the box of 3T clothes last weekend and pulled out anything Campbell might be able to wear this coming summer.  In that box, I found one of my most favorite outfits that was once Cassidy's.  We still had the matching hair pretties and shoes, so Campbell went to school decked out this morning.

It was so cute, I just HAD to take her picture.

Cassidy was doing fine with her wardrobe choices until she insisted on the giant flower in her hair.  She got a new pair of shoes from her friend Caitlyn at cheer practice Monday night, and she really needed to wear them for PE today.  I wasn't going to fight with her over the flower.

Cutie Pie 1 and Cutie Pie 2

Barn Dance

We went to a Barn Dance at church last night, and it was SO. MUCH. FUN.  But first, I need to fill you in on the outcome of the Daddy-Daughter Dance.  Cassidy and Sergeant Sexy had a blast.  Cassidy got a balloon and a corsage, and had a great time doing line dances with her friends.  Sergeant Sexy said there was about 30 girls there once the party got started!

The Daddy-Daughter Dance was an overwhelming success!


While they were off having their own fun, I took Campbell down the street for some frozen yogurt.

We all had a great time!

So back to the Barn Dance.  There was delicious food, a DJ spun some tunes, Cloggers were there to show us the dances, and the decorations were terrific!

The girls changed out of their church clothes...

And into their Barn Dance clothes!!

Eating dinner

Learning a new line dance

Cassidy would have danced all night if we'd let her!

Daddy-Daughter Dance

Sergeant Sexy and Cassidy just left for the Daddy-Daughter Dance.  I can't wait to hear how it goes!  Cassidy has no idea what's in store for her tonight... we managed to keep it a surprise, and she had no clue even as they drove away.  Fun!!

Intervention

While I was far away doing Very Evil Things, Campbell had another biting incident at school.


As soon as I found out about it, I called the school and spoke with the Office Manager.  I called back the following morning and spoke with the Director.  Both assured me Campbell is not at risk of getting kicked out of school.  This is good news, because she has three months before she can go to Big Girl School.  Keeping me company while I'm working is completely out of the question.  I may be dumb, but I'm not stupid!


The biting is provoked by another child who is a known instigator.  While I'm glad Campbell's not picking random victims, the whole situation is still stressful.


Luckily, I have a few connections to some very helpful programs.  Soon, an Early Childhood Mental Health expert will start observing Campbell's classroom.  The outcome will be ideas and solutions for the classroom in general, as well as ideas to specifically target Campbell's behavioral issues.


We're having a Biting Intervention.  And I'm crossing my fingers that it works.

Snaggle Tooth

Cassidy's front tooth has been very loose for weeks.  We pulled and pulled, but it never would come out.


Fast forward to Monday... I was headed to the airport for another business trip and the tooth started bleeding while Cassidy was eating her afternoon snack.  I desperately wanted the tooth to hang on until I got back, but deep down I knew that wasn't going to happen.


As I made my way through airport security, I noticed TSA was acting unusual.  Even when I was pulled out of line to get my hands swabbed for explosives, it was all jokes and smiles.  I was momentarily distracted by this absurdity and temporarily forgot about Cassidy's tooth.  I'd only been sitting at the gate for a few minutes when a text came through with this picture attached:

   
It came out after gymnastics.  I missed it.


The Tooth Fairy left her trademark trail of glitter on the floor and an economic stimulus package for Cassidy.

Have I mentioned lately what a REALLY good Daddy Sergeant Sexy is?

Happy Mother's Day!

Making the decision to have a child is momentous.  It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.  ~Elizabeth Stone

Sergeant Sexy and the Girlz gave me flowers for Mother's Day

After church, the girlz and I explored the neighborhood.

The rose garden is in full bloom.  There were roses everywhere!

Running up the heel (Campbell-speak for hill)

Strawberry Picking

We visited a local farm this afternoon and picked us some strawberries.  Fun AND delicious... it doesn't get much better!