Where I REALLY Stand

It has been a looooong time since I've posted for a few different reasons.

One, my hard drive crashed last week.
Two, I was hard at work preparing for a meeting in Singapore.
Three, I'm actually in Singapore.

The hard drive crashing couldn't have happened at a better time-the day AFTER we'd put the book for Singapore together-but there has been a tremendous amount of playing catch up with data (not backed up) and program installation that has kept me busy.

Leaving for Singapore, we didn't give the girls tons of notice about my trip.

Our plan was-

1. Talk about Singapore generally
2. Talk more specifically
3. The day before drop the bomb
4. Have them color envelopes they open a note from each day
5. Go
6. Have Gramma come in to manage the time I'm away

Steps 1-4 went swimmingly well. When we got to step 5, they happily jumped into the car to take me to the airport but when I jumped out of the car, both burst into tears. Sobbing - Don't GO, Momma!!!! It was gut wrenching. I almost cried.

I've emailed every day, but hadn't yet called. It had taken them awhile to settle into a routine but both were doing well.

Gramma and I discussed the potential impact of a call in detail while they were at school - would hearing from Momma set them over the edge again? Was it a was move??

I dialed the number, spoke with Evie for 15 seconds. Done.

Spoke with Juliette two minutes. Done.

No emotion. No tears. No nothing.

Neither wanted to speak to me.

They were watching Max and Ruby.

Now I know where I really stand.

Not another bodily functions post!

Yep, Juliette threw up on me while we were sitting in a chair reading last night. Here is a sampling of the thoughts that ensued.

1. Is this contagious?
2. I guess her stomach REALLY DID hurt.
3. Is there more?
4. Is this lunch and dinner?
5. Why is Bruce washing panda off before he gets Juliette off my lap?
6. How many papertowels will it take to soak this up?.
7. Does this mean I have to sleep on the floor?
8. I guess someone isn't going to school tomorrow.
9. Who knew something could soak in so thoroughly so quickly?
10. Nothing makes me want to throw up more than someone else doing it....

Random thoughts

Parenting has changed me-

I use way more exclamations!!!!

And have ethusiasm over strange things - e.g., look girls - A HORSE!!!!

I'm tickled over silly euphemisms - Juliette is calling tights "hosey pants".

And can survive on way less sleep than I thought possible. Five hours last night, the floor the night before that, the floor the night before that.... etc.

I've acquired classic new ways to threaten:
Withholding "no dessert for anyone who doesn't eat the offal I've prepared...."
I'm going to count to....
Etc.

And all of these things lead to a richer life where some days can last forever (and this isn't a good thing.), nights fly by in a few minutes and the years race on.

Cherry Blossoms - It was complicated

A still Sunday morning in Washington we set out to see the Cherry Blossoms.

Not a parking space for man or beast anywhere!! So we reworked our plan....

...and went to see Roosevelt - it was COLD!!!! He was TALL!

Later that week we tried again...

Success! A picnic among the blossoms -

- With a guest -

That someone chased away