The Childless Vacation

As promised, here is the story of the Childless Vacation...

A few months ago, we decided to take a long-weekend vacation with our wonderful neighbors, the Mills. After about 4 attempts to find a conflict-free weekend, we settled on the last weekend in February. Originally, we were going to go to Mexico...then we found out that we all had to have passports. Fast forward a little and we found a house to rent in the Florida Keys. The house was big enough for the four of us, plus some more.

We invited some other friends and ended up with a total of seven travelers. We had a great time fishing and relaxing. The weather cooperated and we all completely forgot it was still February! We rented a boat that was delivered right to our dock and cruised around the bay. (I think we maxed out at 13mph.)

Have you ever had one of those melt-down days? I had one yesterday. I decided I need to get out of the house, alone. Working from home is great but there are days when you feel like such a hermit! When Lovie got home with Brockstar, I took off for WalMart. I didn't have a lot of stuff to purchase, but a few necessities...diapers, dog food, and sippy cups.

On the drive home, my brain was in turbo mode and wouldn't slow down. Tears started coming out of my eyes, just running down my cheeks. I hate that. I decided to take the long way home while I sorted through my thoughts to see if I could figure out what was going on with me.

My final conclusion was that I was stressed out. I think that because, in general, life is good for my little clan, I expect that I shouldn't be stressed but that is a really unrealistic expectation. It doesn't work that way. I have a business trip coming where I am presenting some new ideas. Not a big deal, but as I learn more about who will be at the meeting, my blood pressure goes up a little. This is a "big wig" meeting...worse, a face-to-face big wig meeting. I have grown accustomed to working in pajamas and doing all work-related stuff over the phone. It's time to step out of my comfort zone. sigh.

By the way, I made the most awesome crockpot meal yesterday. Curry Chicken with Sweet Potatoes. It was a hit! I fed our family and the neighbors and there were no leftovers. Even the pickiest eater ate it. I found the recipe on another blog. Try it out.

Catching Up

We've had several adventures since my last posting so I will try to catch you up. I apologize for keeping you on pins and needles while waiting for the latest installement of Parker news.

Cowtown Marathon

The family registered to participate in the Cowtown Marathon Kid's 5K race. (That's right, we didn't register for the whole marathon...just the 5k. I took some pictures on the way to the race, but then forgot the camera and didn't have any of us actually racing. The only proof I can offer is that our finish times are published on the race's website:

http://www.cowtownmarathon.org/


After the race, we went where any normal athlete would go for an after-race celebration. To Jamba Juice for a healthy drink? No. To SouperSalad for a light meal? No way! We went out for Mexican food for some cheesy goodness and a cold margarita!

Next adventure...Florida Keys! A Grown Up Vacation

This week in review

This week has been a blur. Here are the highlights:

Monday: Stinkerbelle got her first official haircut. It was really just a little trim and now she has some very cute bangs. She looks like a little doll. The hair sylist took her picture with a Polaroid camera and I have just learned that my scanner isn't working properly. :( I have to substitute a picture that I took.

Lovie was very opposed to getting the haircut, but he admitted last night that it is growing on him.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Tuesday: Lovie made my most favorite of meals. We invited the neighbors over and had a nice evening and a great meal.

Green Salad

Fresh Bread with Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar for dipping

Steamed Asparagus

Grilled Ahi Tuna steaks

Orzo pasta

Chunky Tomato sauce stuff that is AWESOME!

Dessert (for those of us feeling especially indulgent) was Gram Brownies and vanilla ice cream.

After dinner we asked each other trivia questions from Brock's "6th grade trivia game." It was our own mini-version of "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?"

Wednesday: Brockstar's last basketball practice, well, sort of. It's his last "regular season" practice. Nothing too exciting today.

Thursday: Brockstar was working on his school project with little time for distractions. Well, except for when we started messing with his hair. He's growing it out long and we decided to see how "poofy" it was... I think he could get a good "Flock of Seagulls" thing going if he really tried.

Stinkerbelle came home with a fever this afternoon, but I am pretty convinced that it is related to her teething. She's not acting sick in any way and I can see another tooth about to poke through on her top gums. That would be tooth number 4!! She likes her teeth but doesn't like it when she bites her tongue or her finger.

I guess that's it for this week. This weekend we are doing the Cowtown Marathon (well, the 5K race) as a family.

Laser Vision

Today Lovie got Lasik surgery. He went in at 9:00 this morning and got home about 11:00am. Hey Dad was the driver/companion/chauffeur. It seemed to go very well, no issues. Lovie is now zonked out asleep, which is the best way for him to recover.

Stinkerbelle gets her beautiful blue eyes from her Daddy so I am very excited that they won't be hidden behind lenses anymore. I have a great picture of the two of them but can't find it. This one will have to do. He's a little scruffy here, and she looks like she has spitup on her chin. Actually, this is the REAL Lovie and Stinkerbelle, in their natural state. :-)

I seem to have recovered from the funk I was in for a little while. I don't really know exactly what it was. Maybe a little post-partum depression (delayed response?) or maybe just the winter blues? Regardless, I am feeling much better and I am glad to see the real me returning. I think another thing that helps is that we bought an elliptical trainer for our fast-expanding home gym. I have only made it 20 minutes so far, on the easiest program, but it feels good to sweat and get my heart rate up.

I read a blog today about braces and the whole orthodontia fun. It made me start thinking about the 12 yr old Brockstar and the dentist's recommendation that he go for a consultation. Oh that boy, does he know what he's in for? I don't think so! Neither does our wallet, I'm sure.

I think that's it for today. Happy Friday to everyone!

Lovefest

Happy Valentine's Day and Happy Love Thursday

This is one of my all-time favorite pictures of Lovie and Stinkerbelle. Her blue eyes just JUMP off the page.

A plague upon thee...

I suppose it was bound to happen. Everyone one we know has been hit by it already this year. The "bug" that is going around has hit our house. Lovie and Stinkerbelle are down with it. Stinkerbelle was running a fever of about 102.6 this morning. Tylenol seems to bring it down and she is still eating and sleeping well. So that means no trip to the doctor yet.

She is crankier than usual, but that is not saying much. This is the kid that is so very rarely cranky. Times like these makes me realize just how spoiled we are to have such a good-natured stinker.

Lovie went to the doctor this morning and got a shot and 3 prescrption meds. He's feeling better but "disconnected."

So far, the Big Brother and I have managed to escape the bug's grasp. Hopefully that trend will continue.