Wrapping up our "week"

So we're about to end the marathon month of being without Brett. Thank goodness. We've missed Brett a lot over the past few weeks, but we're going to have some good family time for the next week while he's on vacation. He's worked really hard this month, and his paycheck will show that.

This month of single-parenthood has been an experience. You really have to be creative when you take care of two kids by yourself. I have an 11-month-old who naps twice during the day, and a 2-year-old that has given up naps. So when one is tired, the other is chipper. When one has finished a nap and is super happy, the other is cranky pants. I've figured out that, if I need to go anywhere or run errands, we go right after lunch, when Claire has just finished her morning nap and Sophia can take a snooze in the car while driving. By the time we finish, Claire falls asleep on the way home, and I can slip her in to bed for nap #2. Yes, this is my day. Somewhat sad, but always important.

I've also realized over the course of this month that Brett and I need to go on a date. Skype is great while he's gone, but I can't really remember when we've had a long conversation that wasn't interrupted by kids or abruptly ended because we're exhausted and fall asleep in bed. Yup. I don't know how my parents did it. No cell phone, no email, no texting. Heck, my mom didn't even have a car. Makes me thankful for what I have and the things that I can do with my kids while Brett is at work.

Anyway, we survived the month. Brett comes home tomorrow. We will all do a dance of joy.

Here's what happened this week:

After a rainstorm and being cooped up in the house, I took the girls to a park in Carmel. I was going to go walk on the Monon Trail afterward, but, boy, was it hot and humid. We hit an ice cream stand in downtown Carmel, and Sophia and I pushed our strollers around on the Monon; Sophia with her teddy bear in her stroller, and me with Claire.




Oh, mom...

This past weekend was Mom's Night Out in Lafayette. It was great to get together with the ladies. I was part of the half of the group that IS NOT pregnant. Two are due in a few weeks and another due in October. You can guess what we talked about all night. The girls and I stayed at my parents for the night and went to a photo shoot on Saturday morning. I made the girls little matching dresses. They look so cute in them! They wore them for a photo shoot with Rhine Photography. Dan Rhine and his wife, Julie, took pictures of us and my sister's family. Julie and I grew up together, so it was nice to reconnect with her, meet her husband, and talk with Jackie, her older sister. I haven't seen them since undergrad at Purdue and our old PMO days. Can't wait to see the pictures that they took. I'll post the link when they put them up on their blog.



Yet another trip to the park today followed by corn dogs for dinner.