Our Park-In Movie

Author's Note: When you pack up your car with blankets and snacks, drive to an outdoor theater, park in a grassy lot, and sleep through watch a double feature, it's called a drive-in movie. 

When your husband accidentally leaves for work with your keys in his pocket and you were all packed and ready in the car and so now you sort of want to freeze time until he comes back but you end up making the best of the situation with your toddler--who is still in the car--and is looking at you like what in Big Bird's name are we doing right now, it's called a park-in movie.

It's funny how things work out sometimes.  Like for some reason, I chose last night to clean out and organize the back seat of the car.  The place also known as "the pit."  Where stuff like dvd cases, broken happy meal toys, bouncy balls, shredded napkins, and sand have all accumulated at an exponential rate.  I had had enough.  I went and bought a couple of plastic storage bins and organized the books and movies, threw out a bunch of goodfornothing-ness, and finally gave the back seat its much needed face lift.  We were feeling good folks.

Fast forward to this morning.  Phil and I were both commenting on how on our little man turned 21 months old today.  He's practically married.  He'll be driving himself to work soon.  Does he know how to get to Starbucks?...

But anyway, we were having such a great morning together.  Phil decided to take Jackie on some errands while I got ready (this is why I love him!) and when they got back, we would all go have breakfast together.

Phil drove separately because he had one more stop and then would be leaving to go to work directly from the restaurant.  As his truck backed out of the driveway, I waved and motioned to him that we'd meet him there, and I took a couple extra minutes to gather my essentials (coffee), as well as Jackie's essentials (everything else that Mommy must carry). 

The car looked so nice. "Way to go, Karen," I thought.  Now you can relax knowing that at least one thing is clean.  Even if only so-very-temporary.

But as I started fumbling around the usual places for the car keys, it hit me that we weren't going anywhere, Houston, because all the problems eventually find me.  We are like a magnetic pull toward one another, me and Problems.  As it turned out, Phil had mistakenly taken them in his pocket, and I knew he'd be well on his way and too far to just turn around now. 

After I called Phil to confirm he had them, I looked at Jackie.  He was so happy, content in his car seat, smiling and appreciating that the place was spiffed up.  He had his water, his Goldfish, and to him, life was perfect.  Why ruin this, I thought.  So I decided to get back there with him and read a couple of stories.  We shared some fish crackers, and then we put in a movie.  He loves Disney's Up and he shouts out "Grandpa!" at least two dozen times during the first few scenes. 

I kept looking over at him.  This 21-month old little boy who could sit here patiently next to his Mama (completely satisfied with his present company and snacks), and just take it all in.  We didn't plan this "excursion."  It cost us nothing but a little bit of time.  And yet, we couldn't have asked for a better "date" together.  It was perfect.  We had everything we needed.  Just the two of us.  Laughing and talking.  Munching and hugging.  Reading and watching. 

And of course, waiting and WAITING for Daddy to get back with those dingdang keys.

Our Spring Break Carnival Cruise

Wait, what?  They went on a cruise?

No. What I meant to say was Carnival Cruis-ing. It's like a Carnival Cruise, except there's no water, no huge boat, no snorkeling, no weird hypnotist shows, and no all-inclusive food bar. 

We became traveling carnival junkies.

(Did she really just confess this??)

Yes. Carnivals.  No passport, no tons of planning, and no overpacking.  Because keepin' it simple.

Arizona has lots to offer this time of year.  From baseball spring training to music and food festivals, there's plenty to see and do, and it's all going on outdoors.  The weather is PARADISE. 

We started out at the Arizona Ostrich Festival in Chandler.  Kayleigh got to meet Peyton List, star of the Disney Channel show Jessie.  Jackie got to play with some orange cones, and was ecstatic when he found an abandoned bag of kettle corn.   

They both gave it two thumbs up.

Then we "cruised" on over to the Superstition Springs Carnival, where we were greeted with a cool breeze, no waiting for rides, and plenty of games to play. 

I don't know when carnival games became $5-10 dollars a pop, but don't worry.  The game booth workers are waiting to graciously compensate you with a stroller full of new inflatables, plush animals, and toilet-bound goldfish for your car ride home. 

We had a great time this week.  Hopefully, the warm weather will linger as long as possible before turning into the desert inferno called summer in Arizona.

Did you do something fun for spring break?  If you're interested in accompanying us on our next Carnival "Cruise," we'd be happy to take you along!

Irish Eyes Are Smiling

Originally Posted by mustloveleftovers 3/14/13
Nontraditional Irish Blessing
For best results, read aloud using your best Irish accent. 
(Irish accents can easily slip into Pirate accent,
so be careful, eh laddies?)

May the road to the liquor store rise to meet you,
May the babysitter not back out,
May the sun shine warm upon your pasty white face,
As you enjoy every cold glass of stout.

May the luck o' the Irish be with you,
May the Leprechaun give you a wink,
May it certainly not be your wee ones,
When someone asks, "What is that stink?"

May your journey's end of the rainbow,
Award you a large pot of gold,
And so now you can pay for that face lift,
Get the first available appointment, you're old.

If you can still count, count your blessings,
And imagine kissing the Blarney stone,
Then be happy to pass the Whiskey, lads,
Cause that means you're not drinking alone.

Happy St. Paddy's Day!

You Know You Have a *Kid House* When...

We used to live in an adult house.  The kind with pretty pictures on the walls and shelves that were dusted regularly.  We played billiards and sang karaoke.  We left projects out that needed to be finished next week because no one would disturb them.  Our refrigerator contained no juice boxes of any sort.  The toilets got flushed regularly with no alien objects taking a free ride down the porcelain water slide.  We didn't personally know the names of all characters on every child network available on DirecTv. 

Like I said.
We were grown ups living in a grown up house. 

There are 10 rooms in our home.  And none of them were spared.  Like a slow moving virus, it crept into every living space and invaded unannounced. The floors and furniture have been beaten and bruised.  We have made friends with stains that have decided they're staying here permanently.  I don't go to bed at night until I've tucked in all the stuffed animals.  The walls sometimes cry at night. 

Oh yes, we now live in a kid house.   

Things that are different now that we live in a "KID HOUSE."

• We don't use the front burners on the stove.  I literally get to put it all on the back burner. :)
• We have a sand box where a hot tub used to be.

• We have a small living room inside a Fisher Price headquarters.
• I have to check the egg cartons to see if they are in fact real eggs or the plastic variety.
• Almost all of my household appliances are bedecked with edible proof that a toddler lives here.
• Though we have smaller versions of a vacuum cleaner, broom, and dust pan, it doesn't seem to be helping with the work load.
• There are small dust laced finger prints on every screen within these walls.
• The bottom two shelves of the pantry are purposely empty.
• My slippers...hahaha!  I can't even start by saying "my" because, really who am I kidding?

• The coveted and convenient foot pedal on the kitchen trash can--which would normally allow me to be a polished balancing act as I throw away garbage--is turned around backwards.
• My bath tub traded in its candles and bubbles for...all OF THIS (and bubbles).

I know that these are all just temporary lifestyle changes, but it still makes me laugh.  And you know what?  I like living in the kid house.  It sure beats the "fun house," "haunted house," or the "crazy house."

Do you live in a Grown Up House or a Kid House?

 

The Road Not Taken

(is also The Road With No Bacon.)

A composition about In-N-Out Burger, LA Fitness, and a woman torn.

Based on the classic poem by Robert Frost.  Who obviously never had to choose between working out and working french fries out of their package. 

Two roads diverged on a desert lot,
And sorry I could not travel both
And still keep my resolutions, so there I stood
And looked down one as far as I could see,
There were long lines of people ordering a #3.

Then I looked at the other road, just to be fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Cause it was a health club & I'm dressed in sweats,
There was scarcely a person to be found
Cause Friday nights people have no regrets.

Where both places that evening equally lay
I could have stayed in the drive-thru lane.
Ordered my food, parked my car at the gym
And skipped all that "no pain no gain."

But as the famous lines go...
So I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged, and I,
I took the one less traveled by (dammit, Frost!)
And so far, it's made all the difference.
Well, wait a minute...
I can't see that it's made much of a difference.  Yet. 
But I'm hoping that it will eventually because holy smokes, we don't just go to the gym on a Friday night, exercise extreme will power, and pass up delicious french fries for nothing!  That's dedication, people!