The Butterfly Trials

Todd and I have been toying around with the idea of getting a fish for Sunshine.  She always seems up for new responsibility.  Thankfully we tested our idea out with butterflies first.  We gave Sunshine a Live Butterfly Pavilion for her birthday.  It's actually an amazing gift.  We sent away for caterpillars, watched them grow stunningly large, form chrysalids, and hatch into butterflies.  Sunshine loved it.  We feed the butterflies sugar water and orange slices.  We watched them lay eggs.  Theoretically, you're supposed to release the butterflies after you've spent a few days observing them.  Unfortunately it's too cold here to do that.  These butterflies are supposed to have a three week life span.  We're going on four.  Sunshine stopped wanting to care for them after two.  We're so not ready for a fish.  We had these grand plans to hatch some of the eggs into new caterpillars and start the process all over.  Yeah, NO.  I really just want to get rid of the butterflies.  We'll send away for some more in the spring.  Hopefully then we can release them when Sunshine tires of them.  All in all, I highly recommend this if you think your kiddo  might be ready for a pet of their own.  Saved me from taking care of yet another little creature.  

The Flu Loves Us, The Flu Loves Us Not... Here's Hoping NOT!

Today was my day to drive the kids to school.  Pulling into the parking lot, we noticed that there were very few cars there.  After hauling ourselves up three flights of stairs, we noticed that no one was in line to great their teacher.  Normally there's a line at least five kids deep.  Turns out 22 of 30 kids had spent the night and morning vomiting.  Fabulous.  What's the likelihood we miss the stomach flu roulette?  I'm not hedging any bets.  We took a quick trip to Walmart today to pick up the stomach flu essentials, ginger ale, pedialyte, and crackers.  I think I've washed my hands 30 times.  I so don't have time for this.  

Things Past, and Things Yet to Come

Busy few days lately.  Todd has been working so hard, and the girls seem really needy.  Ladybug's molars are coming in and she's clingy.  If she could velcro herself to my shin and ride around all day, I think she would gladly do it.  It helps that she's discovered how much fun hugs and kisses are.  She can't get enough of them, though she's picky about who she'll give them too.  Even Sunshine has been a little out of sorts lately.  The crying fit she threw yesterday (for no reason whatsoever) could have been an Oscar-winning performance.  She promptly passed out for two hours after it.  I'm going to blame it on the time change. 

These kids are still getting up an hour earlier than they should be.  Trust me, the patter of little feet at 5:30-6 am is zero fun.  According to Sunshine, the sun is up - so she should be too.  Silly sun, we say.  Didn't anyone tell him about the time change?  Unfortunately, in order to check how high the sun is, she opens up the blackout drapes that we have installed that are so crucial to Ladybug's good sleep habits.  I am all about convincing my children that it is pitch black outside in the middle of the afternoon.   So all this checking up on the sun's progress inevitably wakes up Ladybug.  Screaming for Daddy ensues.  Also not necessarily a pleasant way to wake up.  

All this waking up early leaves the kids minus an hour of sleep, and Mommy and Daddy a little cranky.  We're compensating though.  I'm way less creative, have WAY less patience, and I practically pass out on the couch by 9 pm.  But I am rather chipper in the morning.  I don't remember it being this bad last year.    But then again, I can barely remember what day of the week it is.  

The next week and a half are going to be insane.  So I apologize if posting is sparse.  We're hosting a dinner party for Todd's office next week.  It's going to be relatively formal.  Invitations were sent.  Beautiful invitations, I might add.  A menu has been painstakingly planned.  Good Lord, I'm nervous.  No one in this office socializes together.  I have the sinking feeling it's going to feel like Forced Family Fun Time.  But it's important, and hopefully the cocktail portion of the evening will relax everyone a bit.  Alas... the call of the To Do list is overwhelming, and it is already way past my bedtime.  Night, everyone.  

Busy like bees this morning.

What a crazy, busy morning.  I managed to change all bed sheets, neaten and vacuum the upstairs, clean the girls room, clean the ginormous master shower, and get myself showered.  Ladybug had an industrious morning as well.  She managed to empty one full toilet paper roll and a nearly full box of tissues.  She also emptied a full laundry basket of her clothes in search of the perfect pair of underpants for her head and the bookshelf of all of its books.  Thinking that perhaps the upstairs had returned to its normal state of chaos, she decided to lay down for a little rest... in the dog's bed.  It's OK though, she brought Sunshine's newly cleaned pillow and blanket in there with her to make it a little more like home.  Now I remember why I miss morning naps!

Trick or Treat

I thought you all might want some Halloween pics of the girls.  Sunshine was beautiful.  She wanted her hair in a bun like Mommy, and it's been that way every day since.  She pranced around in those silly plastic heels, even running at one point to see some friends of ours.  Ladybug was adorable.  She said "thank you" for the first time, and insisted on saying it to everyone we saw.  Regardless of wether or not she got candy.  I love it.  A fabulous time was had by all.  

Doing Our Civic Duty

So we got the kids up this morning at the ungodly hour of 6 am to vote.  Waking my kids up in the morning is generally not a good idea.  It's FAR better to let them wake up themselves.  This morning went smoothly though.  There were only a couple of threats to take away the lunchtime piece of Halloween candy if Sunshine didn't get dressed.  It worked.  My sugar-deprived kid thought that it was more important to keep that piece of candy, and we were dressed and in line to vote at 6:30 am.  

We actually had a nice time standing in line.  The girls were thrilled with the cereal in a bag and juice boxes.  Anything that changes an ordinary morning, right?  Two hours later we were done.  Sunshine proudly displayed her Georgia Voter sticker and told everyone within earshot that she voted.  She's a little young for a civics lesson, but she really enjoyed it.  What's really nice is that they're BOTH napping thanks to the early wake up call.  

Happy Election Day, everyone!  

Anyone with the right Lotto numbers?

I've got a bone to pick with law firms these days.  My husband works so very hard.  Most days he's gone by 6:30 in the morning.  Lately, we're lucky if we see him by the time the girls go to bed.  Mostly it's well past their bedtime.  The worst part is that no matter how much work he does, it's never enough.  Several years ago I came to the realization that he does not want to be at work.  He would much rather be home with us.  Work is something that he does to pay the bills.  Ahhh, if only we didn't have to worry about such silly things as food and housing.  Seriously though, it's a little sad.  I would love for him to enjoy his job as much as I do mine, but looking at it this way has helped me to tell him that it's OK.  I understand that he needs to be at the office.  I miss him, but I'll have dinner waiting when he gets home (sometimes).

You want to give 110% to your job.  You need to give 110% to your job because there are lots of other people out there who will if you won't.  Part of that is what makes it so hard.  You'll work 14 hours a day, but someone out there will work 15.  But how do you do the same for your family?   Something always seems to suffer.  I've got to hand it to Todd though.  When he's home, the girls and I are his top priority.  

I feel so terribly guilty that he's missing so much of the girls' formative years.  I know that he's doing this so I can stay home with them.  It would be so much easier to break this cycle if I were working.  He could start his own firm, or take a job that he really enjoys.  The thing is... I really love my job.  I couldn't imagine doing anything else.  Todd is completely supportive, which actually makes it a little harder.  I feel so guilty, and so selfish.  Here's hoping we win the Lotto, right?