If your reality were our reality, you'd try to carve out time when you could. As I contemplated today, it didn't seem like it would be a good candidate for such activities. My husband went advanced party for his drill weekend and I knew there was a sinkful of dishes waiting for me at home.
But, when I left work to pick up M1 and 2 at school, I decided we could take our time before heading home.
After all, the wonderful invention known as a daycare provides respite until well after 6:00 p.m. if needed.
When the girls piled into the car, I told them we were headed to a library we'd never visited before today. I volunteer in the girls' school library every other Friday and the school librarian had mentioned that this particular library has resources that links up with our school's, etc. and although I haven't quite figured out how to access those, the library is gorgeous. I could even apply for my card online and pick it up when I visited tonight. Very convenient.
M2 was miffed that I wouldn't take her to McDonald's. Puke City. The McDonald's in the area is closed for remodeling anyway, so she was informed that she'd either eat where we planned to eat or she could eat when we arrived home.
The library perked her up and then we headed to a nearby restaurant for an early dinner. The fact that the restaurant has a small game room for the kids also helped her mood. By the time the drinks arrived, all thoughts of McDonald's were forgotten.
It was a lovely dinner. We decided to see if there were any stores in the plaza that we wanted to visit.
We realized that down the way there was a Tuesday Morning store. I'd never been to this particular location, but man it was nice! We found lots of little treasures. M2 had been begging for some "daytime casual" (her words, not mine) wear for her plush Elf on the Shelf, Elvis. We found a baby boy outfit that fit the bill and he really does look quite cute in it.
I purchased something for my Mac that I've been in the market for, but had not been willing to pay the crazy prices. Because I don't always carry Mac in a traditional computer bag, I worry about him.
Dulling his case, scratches, dings and even a cracked screen have been concerns of mine, especially when I travel with Mac on airplanes. So, I really wanted one of those neoprene sleeves.
They had a TON of them! And not for the crazy prices I'd seen at places like Office Depot and Staples either.
Nope. I purchased one just like the one pictured for $14!! SCORE!
Thank the good Lord that I did not part with the $40 or more that the office supply and big box stores wanted for a little gem like this or I may have openly wept in the aisle of this store. And, after admitting out loud that the baby boy clothes we were purchasing were not for an impending little brother nor baby shower gift, but rather for a large, stuffed plush elf...well, I didn't want to make a bigger spectacle.
Now Mac will be snug as a bug and I don't have to shy away from taking him with me wherever I go. I can tuck this in the big Scentsy bag I haul to and from work every day or even into the bag I carry one when I fly. I don't carry two things separately anymore. Used to be my purse and my computer bag. Now it's a zippered tote that fits under the seat in front of me--my Coach bag fits in it (keeps my bag from being banged around) and this will slide right down inside too. I can't wait to try it out tomorrow when I head to the office.
I also found a double insulated tumbler and although I wish it were bigger, you couldn't beat the price ($4) nor the design.
I had ordered a big tumbler for myself from Amazon.com, thinking it was double insulated and it was not. Although I love it because it's huge and it carried me through my gallbladder surgery recovery quite nicely, it makes a mess on my desk because of condensation.
These double walled tumblers are the bomb! They keep things cold & there is not water running all over your desk, dangerously close to your computer, or dripping onto your papers when you pick it up to have a sip.
The girls were always snagging my Amazon tumbler so I picked up one for each of them at Wal-Mart, making sure they were double-walled. They have been fully hydrated this week thanks to their drinking water from their tumblers each evening after school. Bonus Mom Success.
Even though we didn't arrive home until 6:00, I was still able to do dishes, facilitate homework completion, take out the trash and put all the girls in bed by their respective bedtimes. And, I'm slowly realizing that my usual evening routine of propping open my eyelids until my husband comes home from his night shift is in vain because he's at drill. Boo! So, I may even go to bed "early" myself and see if I can't squeeze a couple extra hours sleep into my already halfway decent day.
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