Reminder

My desk calendar today said "Next to love, balance is the most important thing. -John Wooden"

I had a minor freak out last night because the house was a mess with Reese is having a play-date and visitors coming, I couldn't get my internet to work and I said we would video-chat with my dad, I am not feeling motivated at work so then I am not feeling like I accomplish anything, and all I want to do is just go on a vacation where we can be outside and I can have some quiet time to read and be in my own head.  Reese has Good Friday off and I wasn't able to take the day off because then I wouldn't have enough vacation time to go to Indiana and England this summer.  It sounds like I needed a mental health day but here I am at work and Reese is having a wonderful time at Amy's.

Okay. I am going to process this donation and organize periodicals today and I will feel accomplished!  TGIF!

Reese quotes

You try so hard to protect your child but she still comes home from preschool singing "All the boys, they try to chase me. But here's my number, so call me maybe."

I was telling Reese about our day on Saturday, that we would be going to have our pictures taken and then out to Aunt Karen's house to celebrate Easter and she interrupted me to say "Remember when I went to Aunt Karen's and you didn't get to go? Wasn't that horrible for you?  Horrible means really bad!"

Karen gave me some quotes from when Reese was staying with her a couple nights during spring break:
When they were in the pool and having a wonderful time, Karen said something about how great it was. Reese said "It is delicious!"

Bob and Karen were having a hard time with parking and traffic when they were taking Reese to a spring training game so everyone was a little irritable and Reese said from the backseat "Ugh, you aren't going to start this again!"

When Karen and Bob dropped Reese off at the Museum with me after you stay with them, we went inside to get some candy from an exhibit we have and I told Reese we had a new fashion exhibition that we could go see and she said "You've gotta be kidding me!" (which apparently she picked up from Karen)

From the mouths of babes...

Babysitting

On Sunday, Reese and I were very much looking forward to babysitting Victoria!  Reese is such a good helper and remembers exactly how to help from when she became a big sister.  

She was very sweet, kind and gentle. 

It made me miss my baby Reese and all that wonderful time I was able to spend with her when she was so small.  Reese is already talking about when we get to babysit her again.

Easter Celebrations

On Saturday, Reese had her four year pictures taken (above are not the pictures).  I had a Groupon for the Picture People ($144 worth of photos for $16 - not too shabby!)  Reese did great and as we waited for the pictures to be printed, we had a big pretzel with cheese and went to see the Easter Bunny.  That was the highlight of the day as far as Reese was concerned.

She even got bunny ears and a coloring book!

Afterwards we headed out to Karen's house to celebrate Easter with the Gierman family.  It was a bit of a whirlwind but Reese had a great time playing with Jackson and Ella and she ate really well!  Then we headed home to crash and burn. 

Crochet Creations

We were in need of a place to put Reese's small outside gear like hats, gloves, scarfs, etc. So I started to crochet a hanging basket to put on our little dinning room station.  It took me way longer then necessary because I got a little bored with it but it turned out great.  I love that it looks like a little nest hanging there!

Irish Cultural Center Library

I am a part of the Maricopa County Library Council and with that they provide tours of libraries around town.  Last Thursday they had a tour of the new McClellan Library at the Irish Cultural Center, where I used to take Irish dance classes and essentially watched them build the Library.  It is made to look like an Irish Castle and the building is just astonishing.  With sound-proof music practice rooms in the basement and a genealogy center on the second floor and an art gallery on the third, it is just beautiful.  

It is located right on Central so the view from the balcony is just amazing!

I'm giving one of these tours in October, which will not be half as amazing but I will say my collection is a little more impressive than the one there!

Eric Carle

Last Tuesday I was invited to read a book and do an art project in Reese's class as part of their author study of Eric Carle.  I read The Artist who Painted a Blue Horse, which is about Franz Marc a German abstract expressionist who liked to paint with bright colors and usually included colorful animals in his artwork.

The kids were adorable and Reese was super excited to have me there.  I talked a little about working at a Museum and in a Library then I read the book and had the kids help by shouting out the colors of each animal.

Then we had the kids trace an animal shape and then paint it with crazy colors.  The kids had a great time and so did I.  Sometimes I think I would have been a good preschool teacher then I remember that I would be an even better children's librarian.  Maybe someday...

Phoenix Zoo

Today was too beautiful to stay inside so Reese and I packed up a lunch and headed to Phoenix Zoo. Our top animals to see were tiger, lions and rinos and we were able to see all of them! 

 

Monkey Village where you go inside the cage with sixteen spider monkeys. 

Reese was really good at spotting them.

I'm afraid that I am going to need to buy a shotgun in twelve years.

Fun at the farm!

Gobble, Gobble

Reenacting a scene from Heidi

Just brushing goats...

 

 

There is an elephant behind my big head.

Our splurge of the day was paying to pet the stingrays.  Reese was only able to touch a couple of them and I think they freaked her out a little. It was a perfect way to conclude our visit.

 

Once we were at home we needed banana splits then a nap.

St. Patty's Day Celebration

The Wazny's, Reese and I celebrated St. Patrick's Day a day early with lots of green!

We started out the day at the parade.

 

Then we had corned beef, cabage mashed potatoes, rye bread and a Smithwick's to top it off. 

It was a great day with great weather and a great meal with great friends.

Miss her

I miss my partner in crime...

She's staying at aunt Karen and uncle bob's tonight and tomorrow night. Sometimes I think I would like some down time or alone time and then when I get it, I just want Reese here.

Crick

I took Reese to see Wreck-It Ralph yesterday at the cheap theater in Tempe and when we came out, I found that I had a crick in my neck.  It led to a blinding headache later in the afternoon and I was almost paralyzed last night.  Of course, I didn't sleep very well last night but the hot shower helped this morning.  When I got to work I realized that one of the problems may be that my computer monitor has sat to the right of me for the last two and a half years so I have to turn my head all day long.  I remedied that today by moving my computer but I am still finding myself sitting with that orientation.  It looks like that habit may be hard to change.  I am not enjoying this.  Dumb crick in my neck, please go away.
Reese came up to me after dinner tonight and said "Mom, I know your neck is going to feel better tomorrow. Let me give it a kiss." I love my sweet girl!

Baby Victoria and her Aunt Lindsey

On her actual birthday day!

On her almost 5 month birthday, wearing a bat I made for her when she was born. 

She is always full of smiles for me, which warms my heart.  

I'm excited to be able to watch her grow up and be her pseudo-aunt.

Little bitty

She's growing up too fast...

Reese Quote

Last night Reese was pretending to run an ice cream parlor and was asking me what flavor I would like.  I picked mink chocolate chip to which she replied "Oh, we don't have that kind.  We have vanilla, lemon, sour cream, chocolate or strawberry."  Of course, I chose sour cream!

What do you collect?

I collect name tags from Phoenix Art Museum. 

All better

And she's back in business!  I could not have been happier when Reese woke up feeling better on Saturday morning.  Her dance recital was postponed a week, which I think was for the better, so we headed to Target and Costco then took it easy the rest of the weekend.  

Sunday was overcast, which we loved so we played kick with the new big pink ball.

And she rode her bike in the Weight Watchers parking lot.

And we blew bubbles.

Then had a picnic lunch.

And finished up all the crafts from the wonderbox. It was amazing to have my happy kid back!

Sick

Last Tuesday I had a call that Reese hit her head on the playground at school but that they put ice on it and she went back to playing.  A couple hours later I received another call that now she had a temp and was lethargic so I went to pick her up.  She didn't feel well but was able to laugh and be herself in between not feeling well and then we did not sleep much at all that night.  Reese was up every hour saying that her head hurt and she had a fever.  I was convinced that she had a traumatic brain injury and I am truly thankful to Amy because she answered the phone every time, knowing full well that it would be me calling to worry and ask medical questions about my kid. 

It was Dr. Seuss week at school so on Wednesday Reese really wanted to go to school in the morning so I took the cue from her and we got ready and went.  She was there about an hour and then I received the call that she wasn't feeling well and had a fever.  We ended up at Urgent Care that afternoon after I tried to call her primary care doctor to see if they thought that the fever was related to the head injury and without even getting to talk to a physician, they told me to go to the ER.  Thank god we went to Urgent Care (and that it is literally around the corner from our house) because three hours later they concluded that Reese had an ear infection and tonsillitis and none of it was caused by her hitting her head, phew.  

Reese didn't bounce back from this... She staying with Amy on Thursday morning so I could go into work for a couple hours then Aunt Karen had to come out last minute on Friday morning because I really thought she was going to be better for Friday but she wasn't.  

I do not do well with medical situations and I am even worse when it is my responsibility to make decisions about how Reese gets better.  I worry constantly and it takes over all rational thought.  I am so thankful for Amy, who listened to me worry constantly for the entire week and reassured me many times.  I don't know what I would have done if Karen hadn't driven out to watch Reese Friday because I had to give a talk at work.  

I am just so happy that Saturday my happy little girl was back!