First, I'd like to mention that he has stopped kissing me again.  I was so excited on Monday that he was kissing me - well it was short lived.  He quit kissing me.  Hasn't kissed me since Monday.

He doesn't want to take his nap on the weekends.  During the week, I will lay him down and he will go to sleep for at least 90 minutes.  On the weekend, the plays the "how many times can I get up before I get spanked" game.  He's playing it right now.  So I look over at him and I say: "Parker, if you give me a kiss I will let you stay up.  If you say no when I ask, you are going back to bed for your nap."  Without hesitation, he leans over and gives me a kiss.

He is sooo onery.

First - and most importantly.  Parker has kissed me 4 times today.  Perhaps more.  But I'm just in so much shock and awe that I can't believe it.  He loves me!  He does!!!!

Second - I took all of the clothes piled up in the guest bedroom and I have them sorted into piles - maternity clothes, other Tracey clothes to get rid of, Parker clothes that I don't want to keep,  Stewart clothes to save for Parker.  And I have them all in pretty containers for Bill to take down to the basement (except for the stuff I want to get rid of.)

What am i gonna do when I run out of things to do at the house?

 

1. I need to make Parker's stocking.  My mom started the tradition.  She made felt stockings for each one of us.  They aren't just felt.  They are stockins with sequins and beads and puffy snowmen and pretty snow.  I need to make Parkers.  I was 70% of the way through Bill's when a stupid dog got it out from under the bed and tore it up.
2. Read a book.  I want to read a book.  Not a school book - not anything academic or school related.  The first book on my list, "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies."  (http://gifts.barnesandnoble.com/Magazine/Pride-and-Prejudice-and-Zombies-Digital/e/2000003647613/?itm=1&USRI=pride+and+prejudice+and+zombies)
3. I want to paint my bathroom.  I haven't decided on a color - but I think I am going to try the paint that I originally bought for the bathroom.  It's a light blue - it's the same color as our bedroom but it has a very gentle shimmer to it.
4. I need to paint the kids' room and the playroom.  I also bought paint for those rooms but have not painted.  We'll see how it goes.  I hate taping off the edges.  I may just paint the bathroom and be sick of painting.
5. In addition to Parker's stocking, I have a tree skirt kit that I bought that I need to make.  I don't think it is reasonable for me to think I can have them both finished by the holidays - but this one is on my list.  To do.  Eventually.
6. Declutter our house.  It doesn't seem like we have a bunch of stuff because I keep everything organized and well hidden - but we have a lot of junk.  Especially in the basement.  I hate clutter.
7. Enjoy cooking.  I am going to enjoy having the time to cook a nice meal during the week.  We were in the habit of me making 2 or 3 meals on Sunday and then using them for lunches and dinners during the week.  Now I can cook.  A real meal. 
   
8. Get Parker to stop refusing to kiss me.  Hopefully all of the extra time that we will spend together will show him that he has no reason to refuse to give me kisses!

It's nice to be at home and enjoy the house.  I have found lots of things that need to be done - things that get tucked away and I say, "I'll do them next weekend" and they don't get done.  I have lots of stuff like that to do.

I moved Stewart's bed into the room with Parker's bed.  Let's see how this works.  Hopefully it will keep Parker from waking up and freaking out - but I imagine Parker will get out of his bed and go crawl into bed with Stewart.  And Stewart will let him, and he will make sure he is all snuggled up before he falls back asleep because that is the awesome kind of big brother that he is.

Today is Parker's last day at daycare and Stewart is transferring to his home school, Page Jackson.  With me not working, there is no reason for him to transfer to the other school.  Transportation is no longer an issue and I must say, Stewart is embracing the change.  When I asked if he would be interested in changing, he seemed excited.  I made sure he understood what it meant and he was still excited.  I think he really likes the idea of being able to ride the bus to and from the house.  The neighborhood has two bus stops and Parker and I will take him to the bus stop and pick him up every day.

I'm starting to come around.  This is a welcome change.  ;)

For people that plan and plan and always try to stick to the plan and go crazy if they don't have a plan - life's little surprises are not exactly fun.  I had a plan - but someone else had another plan.  so I will change my plan and move on.  Everything happens for a reason and you just gotta pick yourself up and move on.

So - here are 10 reasons why it will be good for me to be unemployed right now:

1. I get to spend more time with my kids - mostly Parker because Stewart will be in school all day.  But if I'm not working, there is no reason for Parker to be in daycare.  Maybe he will come around and stop refusing to give me kisses.
2. I can focus on finishing school.  I only have 2 classes left - and I think I have enough time to line up the financial aid for those two classes that start in December. 
   
3. I can get some stuff done around the house.  Finally.  Our guest bedroom looks like my closet and the kids' closets threw up in there.  I definately need to take care of that.
4. I will be able to spend the weekend doing family stuff because I can do chores and homework during the week.  That is something that I enjoyed while I was out on maternity leave.
5. (I'm halfway there - trying to be very glass half full when I feel very blah)
6. Work was frustrating me.   I had been having problems with my boss since this summer when she didn't speak to me for a week.  It was time to make a change.  I knew it.  Bill knew it.  Mary Paul soo knew it.
   
7. I will have more time to blog about nothing all that important and to post pictures of two of the cutest kids EVER!
   

I just ran out of glass half full.  I might come back to it - but I lost my motivation. 

or should that be GIRLS' weekend?  Oh well - the point of said weekend is to not stress about the silly minute details like - where the " ' " should go in that statement!

I made it up here (mom you can stop worrying!)  It was a nice uneventful drive.  I need to remember that the freakin tolls are $2+$4+$5+8.??  and they are all cash only.  Someday I will blog about how I think paper money is a thing of the past.  But that's not today.

The drive was about 5 hours - stupid traffic and I had to stop and get gas and some lunch - and I went a really long way to get out of the DC area.  I won't make that mistake next time.

Today we are going to go walk around the financial district and Chinatown.  2 places that I haven't been to in all of my visits to see Holly in the City.

It's nice - i slept sooo good last night.  I didn't wake up 5 times to crying babies.  I miss Bill and the boys but damn I needed this break. :)