Back to the Grind

I knew I should have blogged about our last week of vacation before school started again, but I never got around to it.  Right now I am sitting in the garage, blogging and hiding, while my husband does bedtime.  Just got back from the store and I am way too thrilled that I spent $3 on $10.60 of laundry soap.  This, my friends, is what bargain shopping is all about.  I'm also thrilled that I got my errands run, child-free, on a Thursday night.  How do working mothers get anything done??

Tomorrow is Friday, finally, after what feels like the longest week ever.  This first week back at work after a blissful vacation has been brutal.  Early mornings, late bedtimes for Trey, early-ish bedtimes for me, and early mornings that come back around way too soon.  We have been having trouble getting Trey back into a routine, but, to be honest, it is really hard to get home between 5-530, get dinner on the table between 530-6, and then basically start the bedtime routine around 630 if we want lights out by 8 o'clock.  Really?  It feels impossible to me.

Compared to the hibernation I engaged in during the first week of break, the second week of break was the complete opposite.  Trey and I had playdates every day, we went to see Peter Pan, and with him spending 1.5 days in daycare I got a shitton of chores and errands done.  The weekend was very relaxing (aka lazy) which was just what I wanted before returning to work.

The Saturday after Christmas we went to Kris and John's engagement party.  It is always such a treat to spend an evening with just adults, and we were so excited to celebrate the engagement of two of our favorite people.

Cute cheese plate...ahhhhhh...how sweet.   

I really loved how Kris's friend organizes her baking supplies.  

Some day I will have a pantry that looks like this.   

Maybe it's because I was right in the middle of reading Mastering the Art of French Eating (and LOVING it), but I was mesmerized by her shelves of cookbooks.  I especially liked this photo of the hostess with Julia Child.

The couple being toasted 

This cracked me up because it's like we were in the presence of celebrities.   

On Monday night Mindy and I took the kids to see Peter Pan.  First we wanted to take them out to dinner.  Ha.  Trey fell asleep on the way downtown thanks to his lack of naps, so he spent the entire meal pouting and not eating (hey, at least he wasn't crying). 

Camille really loved the parmesan cheese. 

Waiting for the show to start 

I was so proud of Trey during the play.  He sat enthralled through the whole show, watching every move, and clapping his hands after each song when the rest of the audience clapped.

Cookies during intermission 

 I love this picture because they look like two little people in the middle of a great conversation.  What happened to our babies???

Cap'n Hook! 

Get him, Peter Pan!  

Trey and Camille with Peter Pan after the show 

Meeting Captain Hook 

Trey has been very interested in talking about actors and costumes.  One day when we were driving somewhere and I had explained to him about actors and actresses and learning parts and wearing costumes etc. he was quiet for a few minutes and then he said, "Tell me more about actors and actresses, Mommy.  Tell me more about that."  I am loving how his brain is processing information right now and how much he is learning.  We are in such a fun stage of him asking questions, figuring things out, and learning new things.

One day over break Trey wanted to play games, so he pulled out Candyland and Chutes and Ladders.  He has no interest in the rules of the games, so I guess we are working on turn taking.  I follow the rules when it's my turn, and he does whatever he wants on his turn.

Our friends Adam and Jenny were in town from Colorado, so we got a sitter one night and went out for a double date night.  We hit two bars/restaurants in Hillsboro, and it was a lot of fun to catch up with them.  I am still a little pissed off that Randy's Guinness cost $7.25.  I mean, seriously???

 My sister's husband had surgery this week, so I got to spend the morning with Grady and Case and take them to daycare.  I can't believe Case is almost one year old.  It seems like just yesterday that he was born.

He really likes to get the spoon stuck between this teeth and move it up and down like a lever.  It's hilarious.

So my reading update:
I was over the moon to read FOUR books over Christmas break.  FOUR.  (If you read between the lines that means my son watched a lot of tv, but whatever.)  Right now I am reading my book club book and it's one of those books I want everyone to read so we can talk about it.

This is a story about a family during Hurricane Katrina.  I am in utter disbelief that some of the things that happened after the disaster happened in our country in modern time.  I cannot stop thinking about this book, and I wish there was something I could do to make any sort of change in how people were treated.  This is a must-read.

Have you made any new years resolutions?  I like to make some and call them goals.  Right now the goal I am working on is to try a new recipe every week. I think I tried four in the first week of January before I returned to work.  I'm pretty sure I have another goal, but right now I can't remember what it is.  Must have been really important.

Time to sneak into the house, put the groceries away, and crawl into bed.  Tomorrow is Friday.  Thank God!!!