11 posts tagged “business trips suck”

I just had a 7 paragraph blog post about everything that we've done in the past week and lost it. Grrrr. Maybe I'll try again tomorrow. But for now, I'm in Tampa, without kids this week. And Steve bought me my own Flip video camera since the kids don't like to share. Maybe I'll post a video of me talking about the past week, but who knows. Ugh.

Is that proper english? Seriously, I used to be very nit picky about grammar. I'm lucky if I can remember anymore.

So yeah, we went to a Toy and Miniature Museum today. They had an American Girl exhibit running through the summer. I figured I could get some "awesome mom" points with the girls. Well, it was pretty much, um, lame. The girls spent more time looking at the extensive marble collection. The rest of the museum was neat, especially the miniatures. It's amazing how small these things were, pretty much looking like something shrunk down from "Honey, I Shrunk The Kids". Sadly, there were no pictures allowed. They didn't even allow cell phone use.

I was very very VERY tempted to snap a quick picture of this very creepy doll, one of many, but this one was by far the creepiest, but the rules said no pictures. Even though, I am sure I could've gotten away with it, I just couldn't do it. Between my own guilt and not wanting to be a bad example for the kids, I just couldn't. I was hoping their website would have a picture I link, but they don't. It would've been great, I promise it would have. Let's just say the antique dolls in this place were so creepy, the thought of being locked in there, overnight, petrifies me. Anyway, I think the kids enjoyed it. Although, they probably would have been just as happy staying at the hotel and swimming. Silly kids.

We also did a little shopping today. Once again, not many pictures. It just wasn't that interesting. We didn't see any of the great stuff we've been blogging. I almost moblogged my tasty ice cream from Coldstone Creamery, "Founder's Favorite" (I think). But I don't want to moblog you all to death. I even got my hair to look decent for dinner tonight, and Steve didn't get any pictures because poor Alex started to have some heartburn. It passed, and he was able to eat his steak. But Steve didn't get any pictures of the delicious food or of us enjoying it.

I do have to say, that since we all met Miss Hannahbanana on Monday, she has become quite the celebrity in our family. The kids were even pretending to be her, fear of buttons and all. "I'm Hannahbanana", "No, I want to be Hannahbanana", have been heard numerous times this trip.

Well, the kids are all in bed, Steve is out snapping some last minute pictures of KC, and I need to get packed up so we can actually get an early start tomorrow.

Steve is going on business again this week. This time, since the kids are out of school, we are all going. We are driving out to St. Louis with him, and then onto Kansas City later on in the week. Victoria is the only one not going. She is going to Teen Camp at my mom's church.

Any suggestions for cool places in and around those areas are welcome! We love getting recommendations for restaurants or places to see. Just don't suggest the Arch. Done that once in my life and I will never go up in that thing again!

Usually when Steve goes out of town on business, the kids and I eat cheap easy meals. Things that I wouldn't make him eat. I like to cook my man a nice homecooked meal. The kids, well, I'll give 'em any crap out of a can. Ok, not really, the things we eat are things we all enjoy, but that Steve wouldn't exactly consider a decent meal after spending a long day at work. We eat things like salisbury steaks from the frozen food section, Chef Boyardee ravioli (I love that stuff), chicken pattie sandwiches, and oodles of noodles.

With Nicole and her family visiting with us, we've been making some good food. It is their vacation after all. I'm thinking they don't want to spend it eating the kind of junk we would normally eat while Steve is out of town. Sunday, it was extreme nachos and fried ice cream. Monday morning, delicious french toast and in the evening, hamburgers, italian sausage, and vegetable kabobs on the grill. Today, homemade pizza (4 kinds, cheese, 3 meat, bacon and onion, and grilled veggie*), spice cookies with cream cheese frosting and brownies topped with ice cream. Yeah, we really know how to eat around these parts.

It's just been kinda quiet. Nothing much to write about. Tomorrow is the last day of school. I have an awards ceremony for Sophia. She got all As and Bs this quarter after really struggling with the harder work in 4th grade. I've spent way too much time stressing over grades with the older kids this year. Every day, forcing them to read, do homework and other things that I just did because I knew I needed to. Getting anything below a B freaked me out when I was in school. These kids just don't seem to care sometimes. It's a wonder I don't have grey hair after the year we've had.  Luckily, Ashley and Josiah didn't give me any grief as far as grades this year. I am really looking forward to the summer, no homework, book reports, or science fair projects. Sure I might hear some whining over keeping their rooms clean or picking up their clothes off the bathroom floor, but I can handle that. I love being a mom, but the stress of school just seems to be getting worse as they get older. It really makes you appreciate summer vacation, that's for sure.

I apologize for the lack of humor or wit in my post. I think Steve took it all with him on his business trip. So, go over and read his blog!

Wow, I'm just way too old to stay up til 2am attempting to print out projects on this dinosaur of a computer. It seems Frick and Frack saved every single page, so I had to open up over 20 separate Word documents. Not a problem on a newer computer, but this one that Steve bought at an auction for old computers at work, just a little slow. Let me put it this way, whenever I go to a new web address, I usually walk out of the room to do something else and come back in about 5 minutes so the page is loaded. It's that slow.

Then this morning while Frick and Frack are putting their projects in the nice expensive binders that they had to have for this project, Frick says, "Where are my chapter dividers?". Huh, what? Wasn't that your responsibility? I say, "I don't know, didn't you type them up?". "No, I thought you had them." Oh for crying out loud why in the world would I know Frick even needed them????? Frack had just made some on the computer. (Frick and Frack had a complete detailed sheet of what was to be included in this project. I mistakingly assumed they would just follow it.) I ask if I was told about these special dividers that I was supposed to just magically know about (I had been told about the binders by Frack. I guess Frick assumed that Frack would just tell me everything they needed. One of the downfalls of having 2 seventh graders with the same teacher. Frick assumes that Frack will know what to do and what to have). "No, I just thought you would have them." Add to this, that there is 10 minutes til they have to be out the door to catch the bus. So Mom to the rescue, I come in here and type up the chapter dividers as fast as I can.

I'm thinking today as much as I abhor taking naps, I might just have to take one. I don't want to be a grumpy momma when they get home. I was planning on going to the store and getting them those cute mini Ben & Jerry's* as an afterschool treat and enjoying some pool time with them. I'd like to not fall asleep on a raft instead.

*This is only fair that we get a special treat, as Steve is in Seattle enjoying good food without me! I might have to treat myself to some sushi too.

The kids' school projects are printed and waiting for them on the dining room table. So much for my ice cream review, weekend update and slightly offensive picture. I'm off to bed. When did I get so old that my back started hurting like this? Seriously.

Oh, and Steve is in Seattle on business. So all of this last minute project run around was done while I was playing single mom. Ugh. Although, it was really only one child that waited til the last minute, but I won't name any names. Let's just say, I hear he is just like his father was at this age.

Steve is home and he came home with new purses for me. Seriously, it's enough that he just comes home. I was giddy as a schoolgirl when I heard the door open, but purses?!?! Not just any purses, one of the purses was white!!! I've been eyeing up white purses everywhere I go. I've picked up this same purse in Target every other week when I do my grocery shopping, but I have a hard time spending money on myself. I can always think of something the kids need more.

They were actually my anniversary gift. Our anniversary is in less than 2 weeks (April 1st if you want to shower us with gifts) and the 3rd anniversary is leather. See, my husband, thoughtful as he is, buys me gifts according to the traditional anniversary gift list. He came up with this on his own. The thought never occured to me. First anniversary, paper, he bought me a book. It was a collection of Edgar Allan Poe's works. Second, cotton, he bought me a beautiful quilt, the one that happens to be in my banner up there. Now, leather, that's a little tricky. I guess I'll have to settle for a nice white leather purse. He wanted it to be something that would be more of an family heirloom, but I'm not complaining. Trust me, I'll remember this.

Yay! Steve called a little while ago to let me know that things are going well down in NC and he will be coming home tomorrow instead of Friday! So yeah, I better get off of here and clean the house. Not like the kids and I just let it go and sit around eating oodles of noodles and frozen pizza when he is gone. No, not at all.

While I'm cleaning, go watch this clip because it is really funny. See the good things you can find when you are supposed to be cleaning but you are looking at the Vox Explore page instead?

Enough already. I miss my husband. I would like him home please. Hopefully between church stuff tonight and possible snow tomorrow, the days go by quickly.

Speaking of Steve, he bought a camera last night. A Nikon D80, I think. It has 10.2 megapixels and lots of other features that I'm sure I'll never use. I'm so excited! I can't wait to use it. I've had this camera for almost 4 years now. Now that he has a camera, I fully expect to see pictures of his travels on his blog tonight.

I straightened my hair again today. Steve can't stand it straight, so I figured I would straighten it a time or two this week. It's just fun and different. I feel like I'm undercover or something. I also used a microderm abrasion kit from Mary Kay. My face feels as smooth as a baby's skin. It's all red, but it's smooth.

My 1099 from working for my dad last year should come today. Should be able to file our taxes tonight or tomorrow. We are going to get a new dining room table. I'm so excited. I'm so tired of using the one we have. Steve bought it for a dirt cheap price at a flea market in France when he was still in the Air Force and living in Germany. I love antiques and all but I think it must have once belonged to some very short french people. It would also be nice to have a table that we can sit around as a family.

Yeah, I'm boring the crap out of myself, so I must be boring you all too. I'm going to type up this school project for Ashley titled, "The Girl That Goes Inside Of A Computer". Now that is a catchy title!

I meant to stop and buy milk yesterday on my way home from taking Steve to the rental car place. I totally forgot. I had to make the kids egg sandwiches for breakfast. Of course, it was a treat for them. They are probably hoping I forget to go out and get milk today too. Around here, it's cereal, oatmeal, and sometimes if I feeling nice, waffles, all things they can make for themselves. Well, everyone but Josiah. Although, he will be 7 in a week. Don't want the boy growing up having mommy do everything for him. I want to teach him to be a self-sufficient man. But still, 7, isn't that young to have to fetch your own breakfast? Sigh. Perhaps I just don't want him growing up so fast.

I'm trying to focus on the pluses of Steve being away. It's hard, but every once in awhile I can think of one. Like putting my hair up in the ponytail and putting on a baseball cap, huge sweatshirt and old baggy jeans. No makeup or any of that kind of stuff. Like I once heard a preacher say, "If the barn needs painting, paint it." Trust me, this barn needs painting. But if Steve isn't around, why bother? Not like I'm trying to impress anyone around this place.

I'm off to shower and throw on my warm comfy clothes and run to the store. Hopefully I don't scare too many people.