While Daddy's Away...

It would seem I'm falling a bit behind on the blog - but alas - I didn't want you to miss

out on the exciting details of our weekend - which was actually two weekends ago - which was actually the weekend Papa Rob was in California for FOUR nights!  Yeowza!  

I hate, hate, HATE staying by myself, but managed to do so for two nights until 

Grandmim came to stay for the weekend. 

While Papa was away, we occupied our time with...

you guessed it, lots of COFFEE!  

(well just on Mama's part and in my new donut mug!)

We also managed to get out every toy that Max has ever owned 

in the history of EVER. I tried to teach him about colors 

and how awesome rainbow organization is...but

he was all like, no thanks mom, I would rather dump

everything out and laugh like a maniac. 

Trying to straighten up while he is still playing 

is basically a lost cause. 

By Friday evening, I think we were both going a little nutso - 

thank goodness Grandmim arrived and treated us to a little Jason's deli

and fro yo (that's frozen yogurt for all you novices). 

Max loves Jason's Deli, mostly for the fro yo - which he eats

copious amounts of and ALL BY HIMSELF. 

He mostly wants to do all things all.by.himself. 

Heaven forbid you would try to buckle him

into the high chair or car seat..I mean he's 20 months old - 

clearly ready to do all tasks on his own. 

Strong willed much?

Auntie Stacy also joined us on Friday night for a little 

dance party on the paper which involves all of us singing

"Go Maxwell, Go Maxwell go!" over and over again

while he works it out on the paper dance floor. 

Auntie Stacy is also the creator of the bath time drum

(I'm completely in favor of any bath time

illusion that will get him willingly into the bath).

What is the bath time drum you ask? 

Well it's a wash cloth stretched over a 

bucket that then you can pour water on, rest your toys on etc.

Safe to say Max's mind was blown.

Why don't I ever think of these things?

Saturday morning - jammies, barn yard fun, and all the coffee. 

Even though I'm 33, I still manage to convince myself that

every creeper, pervert, stalker, weirdo etc. in the Lower Powell area

will somehow know that I'm home alone and burgle (again, that's burglarize for you

novices) our house while I'm home alone.  Therefore I toss and turn all night

and occasionally reach down and pat the baseball bat I have stored under the bed

for security reasons (obvi) - just to make sure I'm prepared. 

Have I ever swung a baseball bat effectively?  No. 

But the creeps don't know that!

After I reached my threshold of playing with our toys at home 

(which was very likely about two hours after we started playing) - 

we hopped in the car for a make up music class

and last minute trip to the Franklin Park Conservatory. 

The conservatory was decked out in orchids this time. 

They were stunning.  Truly. 

I have never managed to be able to keep 

an orchid alive (even the ones that come with a tag that reads  - "feed me three 

ice cubes a week" and I will live despite your black thumb! not true.) - but

these ones were pretty perfect. 

Max was happy to snack on his pretzels in the stroller for a bit

and we also ended up eating lunch there before heading home.

At home, he took an epic nap that Grandmim arrived in the middle of, 

leaving me just enough time to get my hair blown out and my dress and heels

on (oh, you fancy, huh?!) for our employee recognition dinner. 

I was recognized for my TEN years of service to the Zoo

and even got a hug from Jack Hanna!

We ate dinner, drank (I had the salamander slime drink - which went 

down a little too easy), tried to win some raffle prizes, and even 

watched a comedian/magician. 

My co-workers are pretty awesome too - so we all 

posed for a picture under the sea (like ya do). 

Sunday morning dawned and we headed our for our weekly

donut date at Krispy Kreme with Mim.  Then, we made our way 

down to the Art Museum to enjoy the last day of the Lego display. 

The museum is free on Sundays and actually has a lot of toddler

friendly areas!  Max loved climbing in the tree house, building with the 

tree cookie blocks, and looking for Lego "guys"

Monday was a homeschool day with Mim - which 

resulted in Max getting to say in his pajamas ALL day. 

He was in heaven! It had also snowed quite a lot - 

so they made a snow man with button eyes, and a carrot nose!

It was waiting for me on the porch when I got home. 

All in all - we survived (though I'm not ready to do it again any time soon). 

I'm thankful for the additional help, thankful Papa Rob made it home

safe, and thankful for coffee and fro yo forever and ever. 

XOxo