Valentine's Day

I had a pretty interesting Valentine's Day this year. I say "I" because Nick was at work and school all day and night. Not a big deal, we don't really do anything special on V-day anyway. We did go to California Pizza Kitchen without Maya the next day to celebrate. (Thanks, Michelle!) It was so nice to sit and enjoy a meal without feeling like Maya was being too loud. Nick and I both tense up when we are in situations like that and nobody has a good time, well, Maya is the exception. Anyway, on V-Day Maya and I were SOOO bored after spending all day at home that we decided to do something special for the evening. We took off for the mall and spent about an hour in this little play area for kids. There were a lot of kids her age there so she had a blast. It's a great place to go in the winter when it's freezing outside. Afterwards we went to McDonald's and she watched all of the kids playing in their playplace area. While my mom was visiting last month she taught Maya how to "dip" her fries into ketchup. She saw that I was dipping my chicken nuggets in sweet and sour sauce and looked at me like I was holding out on her. I passed over the container and the little booger picks up a fry and dips it in the sauce but instead of biting it she just licks off the sauce! We had a good time and after eating she ran around like one of the big kids.

We got home (after a major fit was thrown the ENTIRE time we were in the car - she didn't want to leave McDonald's) and I got Maya ready for bed. As I was rocking her I could hear some commotion outside in the living room. I thought maybe Nick had just returned home and was being really noisy. It sounded like someone was crinkling up a plastic sack or something. I came running out of Maya's room, half expecting a burglar in the house, to find that our cat, Pippen, had a plastic sack caught around his neck. He was completely freaking out! He ran into the guest room and hid under the bed. All I could hear was hissing and moaning. It took me about 20 minutes to get that dang bag off of him! Those are precious minutes to me because I could be reading or watching tv or SLEEPING. (Which I really need because SOMEONE has been waking up at 5:45 am lately!!) So there I was, mop in hand, trying to pin the bag up against the wall so Pippen could get free and plugging my nose at the same time because the idiot is letting stinkers under the bed because he is so nervous! And all the while he is hissing and moaning (and "fluffing") in my direction. He got free and that is all that matters! We do love our cats most of the time. So that was my Valentine's day!

This week will be a busy one. We are getting ready to go to California this weekend and we are all excited to see Nick's side of the family. I have been busy keeping up with the house and getting laundry done. Today I did FIVE loads of laundry, it seems like I can never get caught up. I guess we go through clothes and towels too quickly. I will include some pictures of M "helping" me today with the folding. She was trying to grab as many articles of clothing as she could then she'd get frustrated if one of them fell out of her hand. We can't wait to get to California and are hoping that this trip will be better than our last trip out there. Maya was terrible! I think she'll adapt a little quicker this time - I really hope anyway. If any of you have tips for traveling with toddlers PLEASE tell me your secrets!


I must carry EVERY piece of clothing!!


Just because she looks so cute here.


Maya with her hair done differently.


Maya after a long nap! Crazy hair!!