We started the drive at around 5:30 on Saturday morning. I was still exhausted from the previous week, but definitely ready to get on the road. I had a portable DVD player all set-up to keep Charley entertained, but in true Lindsey fashion, I managed to leave the charger at home. Typical. Anyway, we were lucky, because Charley slept through most of the morning, and was pretty content to listen to music and look for cows as we drove through Iowa and Missouri. We'd made it through most of Kentucky, before she started to melt down. I have to give her credit, it was a long day. After being in the car for about 13 hours, we decided to call it quits for the night, and found a hotel in a little podunk town in Kentucky. We slept for a couple of hours, and were on the road again by around 5:30 on Sunday morning. We made several stops looking for a charger for the DVD player, to no avail, but I was determined to find something to get that DVD player running. I was feeling a little bit guilty that Charley would be spending yet ANOTHER day in the car. I'd say the charger search added about an hour to our drive time, but when we finally got a DVD going, it was TOTALLY worth it! It was a long, but beautiful drive on Sunday, through Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida. And when we got out of the car at my sister's house, and stepped into 80 degree weather, I think we all agreed that the drive had been worth it.
On Monday, we pretty much just relaxed at my sister's house. At least, we relaxed as much as anybody can relax in a house with two toddlers and a baby. It was a nice, easy day, and it was so funny watching Charley interact with her cousins, Preston and Lyla. She was very sweet with Lyla, who's almost 9 months old, giving her kisses and hugging her gently. Preston? He was another story. Preston is 2 and a half, and not afraid to give Charley a run for her money. Charley is used to being the center of attention, and this was the first time she had to share that attention for an extended period of time. On Monday, the kids were great. They played well together, shared lots of laughs...it was fun to watch. As the week went on, they had moments of wonderful playtime, and laughter. They also had many moments of driving each other crazy. I think my favorite quote of the week took place after Charley went to the bathroom. Both Charley and Preston are potty training, and they were pretty good about motivating each other. Except, of course, when they were annoyed with each other. Charley had gone to the bathroom, and was getting praised by the adults. Preston hadn't gone yet, but immediately after Charley stood up, he rushed over and flushed the toilet (which Charley had wanted to do). "Preston!" she shouted, "I am SO MAD AT YOU! Now, I have to poop AGAIN!" Ha! It was classic. They had several moments this week that reminded me of my relationship with my older sister when we were young. There were about two and a half years between us, but man, did we know how to push each other's buttons. Preston is 100% my sister, and Charley is 100% me. It seriously cracked me up!Amidst the toddler ups-and-downs, we did a lot of really fun things in Florida. We went to the beach, the children's museum, and a really cool park, that was as much fun for me as it was for the kids! We also sat by the side of the pool and enjoyed the heat. We watched movies, chased kids around, made s'mores...it was great. Exhausting, but great. On Thursday, my sister cut my hair. I wasn't expecting much of a change, but when she was done, I was SUPER blonde, with a very trendy cut. It's funny, because it wasn't at all what I was expecting, but I LOVED it. I still love it! I think I was in need of a change.
We had a great time, but by the time we left on Sunday, I think EVERYBODY was ready to get back to their regular schedules. I could've stayed longer, but not with the toddlers, who'd had about enough of each other for awhile. The flight home went well, and Charley didn't throw a fit (thank goodness), until we started to descend and her ears popped. "MOMMY!!!" she wailed, "I CAN'T HEAR! I CAN'T HEAR!" I tried everything I knew, showing her to yawn, giving her gum...but she really didn't settle down until we were on the ground. Let's just say I was happy to get home, pick up my dog, who had a fresh new haircut after staying with my dad and Scott, and get her in bed. Then today, it was back to the grind.
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| Happy to be home! |
Today was a typical first-day back after break. The kids all looked tired, and nobody seemed terribly inclined to work. I wasn't surprised. The kids were thrown off by my new haircut, that's for sure. My first student of the day said, "What's up with the haircut?" Later in the day, I got, "You look so different! I liked you better the old way." Ha! Kids can be so honest, and my students in particular do NOT like change. It didn't bother me, though, it was exactly the response I expected. Kids can be so entirely insulting, without intending to be that way. I actually lost it and laughed out loud at a comment a student made to a co-worker today. I mentioned something about Charley switching schools, and one of my students said, "You're moving?! I'm so excited!" Another student told me he hoped I moved to his apartment complex. My co-worker interjected to say that it might not be that comfortable for a teacher to live next door to a student, because teachers and students don't really need to know what happens at each other's homes. His response? "I'd like to know everything that's going on in Ms. P's life! I don't want to know everything that YOU are up to, though." I lost it, and had to leave the room. Kids are so brutally honest, and can be terribly rude, but that comment definitely provided a laugh.
Alright, time to get caught up on laundry. Have a good night!
