March Madness

John has been away on his annual trip with the boys to enjoy the March Madness Basketball games and to relax and recharge. While I am glad that we both get opportunities to do things like that, it isn't typically a time I look forward to. Let's face it, single parenting isn't easy even if you know it's only gonna be for a few days. But I have to say that this year it has been quite enjoyable. Maybe it's b/c Anabelle is getting older and more helpful, or maybe I am just getting more used to what to expect from these days, but we've actually had a great long weekend! On Thursday we just stayed home and got things done around the house. This included: Making pancakes for breakfast (very important-lol!). Finally packing up and putting in storage ALL the baby clothes that Charlotte has worn in the past year. Lots of laundry, lots of playing, reading, chasing, dancing, building, chasing, and more chasing :). And we made brownies (which we shared with Grandma and Grandpa, so as not to eat the entire pan :) 

On Friday Grandma came to visit in the morning and we attempted to take Anabelle to dance class, but when the teacher was a no-show we decided to go to Target instead. We found some cute Easter dresses and cardigans that were very reasonably priced. The dresses were on sale for $10 each and the sweaters for $13 each, to get both kids dressed in cute matching outfits for under $50 is pretty good. We also picked up a new cabinet for toys in the main level living room. I have been looking for something to hold our legos, train set, building blocks, and puzzles for a long time and just couldn't find what I was looking for without spending a ton, so I settled for a put it together yourself cabinet and I think I'm gonna go back and get some of the cubby hole shelves to go with it. Once I have it all done I'll take a picture so you can see what I mean. Anyway... it was a successful trip to Target. For a treat we headed to McDonald's for lunch to burn off some energy in the play land. Back home we took naps and then post nap, we put together our new cabinet. Had I not been so busy making sure Charlotte didn't get hurt somehow, or eat any thing dangerous I could have taken pictures, but it was pretty fun to have their "help". Anabelle is quite the builder, using her hammer to follow along behind me, and of course Charlotte has to do everything Anabelle does, so she was right there with her toy wrench "hammering" all the screws in too. It probably took about 4 times as long as it should have, but we finally got it all put together. 

Saturday we went to visit the Easter Bunny at the mall. Grandma and Grandpa joined us for the fun

. I wasn't sure how well Charlotte would like the bunny, but she did great! The girls looked so cute in their little dresses and we were lucky enough to get there right when it opened and so we only had a couple of people in line ahead of us. After pictures we went to the play area to run around and then it was off to Golden Corral for some lunch. Anabelle and Grandpa's favorite restaurant, it's a brand new one in Batavia and it actually is pretty good. Especially with kids it's a good deal- they eat free. It's nice because you have such a wide selection, so if they don't like something you haven't wasted money. After lunch with Grandma and Grandpa it was time to head home for naps! We were all exhausted :)  On the way home we talked about what to do after nap, we were thinking of going to the library but they close at 5 and so when I told Anabelle that we probably wouldn't make it there on time. She asked if we could go to the "library on the street". I wasn't sure what she was talking about and after a few minutes of discussion she said, "the one with the trains." This made me realize she was talking about the Barnes and Noble book store on the corner! They are within walking distance from our place and they have story time and a train table for the kids to play with. Of course a "library on the street!" So when we woke up we loaded into the double stroller, or as I call it "the bus" and walked to the book store. It was nice to get some fresh air, and it is a good workout pushing that thing,with kids alone it is 50 lbs, probably 65 lbs when you add in the weight of the stroller. We arrived at the book store and Anabelle walked up to the train table which was full of kids and said in a most grown up voice, "Well hello there! My name is Anabelle, I'd like to play trains with you!" All the kids looked at her like she was crazy and all the adults chuckled. It was pretty cute! Let me tell you the book store is the place to be on a Saturday night if you have kids. It was very busy and lots of kids were having a great time playing and looking at books. Charlotte was a little slow to join in, but eventually had fun playing trains too. Saturday was a great day! 

I'm not sure what happened on Sunday; I had been doing so well and felt a little like Super Mom, thinking "this isn't so hard!" Three days alone and the girls were happy, rested, we played, and I was feeling good. Then Sunday came and I started to feel burnt out. I was ready for my partner in parenting to come back home- now! But I still had most of the day to get through. It was one of those days where everything that could go wrong did, and I struggled to not get too frustrated. Ah well it can't all be sunshine and roses. John came home later in the evening and boy were we happy to have him home!

Now it's my turn to plan a trip away :) and see how Daddy does as a "single parent"

cuddles

Anabelle got a new robe from Grandma and Grandpa, she loves wearing it after her shower.

Meeting the bunny.

Sisterly love

The train table at the book store