current state

Posted on by samenewsong

It is hard not to just vent away on this post, but I won’t.  It will just make me seem ungrateful and angry.  And I couldn’t be further from both.  However, the days leading up to this trip have been challenging.  I will get the first one out and try to be done with it. My husband.  He has never wanted to go, so he has made no plans that he was actually going to get in the car today.  He hasn’t packed.  He didn’t take time off from work.  He even went so far to say he “didn’t know the plan” despite my efforts to include him in it all.

When he arrived home from a work (green beer/Irish car bomb fest) function in San Francisco last night, he found H moaning in pain, claiming his belly hurt.  He was sitting on the toilet, crying.  This had been going on for about an hour before he got home; the three hours prior were spent roller skating with the kids next door.  Our neighbors have been to Disneyland at least ten times in the past five years.  Those types of people.  I think all the talk made H nervous.  So nervous that he puked everywhere.  All over his room.  For background, Harry barfed all day the day that Weez was born.  Even though it was a planned, scheduled event, he felt out of control, excited (maybe), scared and nervous.  I think the same situation was going on last night.  Regardless, the cussing and irritation hit an all time high with G as he scrubbed the carpet in disgust.  I was furious, tired, sad and desperate.

With H’s sheets in the wash, I continued packing.  I made him a bed on the kid’s couch and sat a barf bowl near by.  I asked God silently for guidance.  I questioned all of my behaviors and words leading up to this night.  Was I too vague with G to avoid the negativity?  Did I intentionally leave him out?  Did I make too big of a deal of Weezy’s banner report card and award in front of H?  Or were the school meatballs just so gross, they were the culprit?

I am a planner.  I am a doer.  I need things to go seamlessly.  I like praise.  I need pats on the back.  I love hearing affirmation.

We’ve pushed back our departure time, and are trying to take it easy around the house for a bit.  I will continue to stay positive, and finish packing.  That’s what my gut is telling me to do.  For now, at least.  (tucks lip and sighs)

this is happening

Posted on by samenewsong

Sometimes you just have to pull the trigger.  After overthinking it completely, truly, overthinking a silly little break, and thanks to my Mom for giving me the final encouragement, I booked our Spring Break trip…to Disneyland!  My Mom had been asking if I could go with her to her Uncle’s birthday party in Los Angeles.  Her uncle is the last of her Mom’s living sibling, so it is kind of a big deal.  Trying to figure out how to include the kids and make this into a trip, it became obvious that I needed to get serious.  With a little internet trolling and quick thinking, it all came together for what might be a really fun vacation.

We are staying at the Grand Californian for two nights.  It has been a bit of a crash course, and I am so grateful to my friends that have been to Disneyland enough to steer me in the right direction(s).  Who knew there is a real science to planning your time at Disney?  We had to stay at the Grand because the hotel is literally in the park.  With my Mom joining us, we needed easy entry and a spot to rest that wasn’t miles away.  It will also allow us to take advantage of the Magic Hour and experience the most popular rides before the real crowds arrive.  Apparently, there is a very nice pool at the hotel and the weather is supposed to be spectacular.

Mr. Christensen isn’t saying a peep about the trip, matter of fact, he doesn’t even want to talk about it.  I am hoping the spirit of Disney will take over once we arrive and that he will end up having a wonderful time.  Thank goodness for ESPN Zone and beer all over California Adventure.  It will make a big difference!  Considering what I do for a living, the planner in me is out in full force.  I am trying to decide what shoes to bring and what clothes to wear.  I have the kids figured out, I think.  As much as I hate Crocs, several websites note them as a favorite choice for kids.

I am so excited, I almost feel like a kid again.  Thanks, Mom, for putting the wheels on our Spring Break!

spring break

Posted on by samenewsong

Every year, I have the same battle: internally, externally, personally, professionally.  What should we do for Spring Break?  This silly war happens with all the other breaks as well, in the winter, and the entire summer.  I am a planner.  It is part of my actual job to be very well versed in the sequence of events for every single day – from grand to routine.  When it comes to my own life, I just sit in limbo, going over all the possibilities and never pull the trigger on anything until it is too late.

Here’s where I am currently: my friends all have elaborate vacations on the books, to Mexico or to Malibu.  They are getting on planes and heading out.  It seems like everyone I know was in or is in Sayulita, which looks swoon worthy.  Our Spring Break is earlier than most, taking place the week before Easter.  We don’t have a week in April, since Easter falls in March this year.  Both Greg and I are working hard on projects professionally, so taking time off right now isn’t the best idea.

The hardest part is that we have options.  We tried to reserve a condo in Palm Springs that we bought at our school auction last year, but it is already booked.  This year, I bought Disneyland tickets at the same auction (last weekend) that are already burning a hole in my pocket.  The house we rented in Sea Ranch has a great buy four get the fifth and sixth nights free deal going on, which sounds tempting, minus the curvy drive there.  Finally, we live in a spectacular place that a lot of the world visits during these types of breaks!  I have an awesome “in” at the California Academy of Sciences, which could be a great day experience.  Last, two of my very best friends live in Scottsdale and their doors are wide open.

So here I sit, with the break just a week away and we have no plans.  It is eating me alive. Flash to next Friday, when it really sinks in and I might just be a puddle.  That’s all. Thanks for listening.

birthday, baby

Posted on by samenewsong

This little bunny turned six today.  If you read my old blog, you would know she didn’t arrive until 5:45 p.m. on March 1.  It was a Monday when she was born, and it was a scheduled event.   I walked back to the operating room all on my own at 40 weeks.  I crawled up and laid on the table, I had my arms strapped down, my freshly washed hair shoved into a cap, I was completely naked from the waist down.  The anesthesiologist told me to breathe – he said he couldn’t give me a spinal with my hear rate that high.  So turned to G, and we talked about something silly like June, our cat.  The music started to play.  Dream Girl. A few minutes passed, I calmed, and before I knew it, E-Weezer made her debut.  Plump. Red.  Loud. With so much hair.

Here’s the thing.  She is just like that. Effortless. She is her own self with little coaching.  She needed no help arriving, other than a little lift, and she has always been stare-worthy.  Thankfully now it is because of her gorgeous looks and not because of her furry back.  She is still my dreamer and my sweet love bird.  I cannot imagine life without Le Weez.  Happy birthday, girl.  Momma will love you forever.