AO & I took off the three work days in between Christmas and New Year’s Day, so that has meant we have had a nice, long break. AO will have had, in sum, two weeks off from work when he heads back because he stayed home with Bear the two days last week that her day care was closed due to the blizzard. Because we are bad parents, or maybe because we are good ones who know our limits, we sent Bear to day care today and the previous two days. Hey, we’re paying for it whether she goes or not. And we wouldn’t want her to forget what school was like and traumatize her when she inevitably returned in the new year. Anyway, it’s been a really, really nice break so far. So, I’ll keep you in suspense no longer. I bring you, in no particular order, the top ten things of my holiday break.
- Bear clapping when my mom opened her iPad, which is a gift from us & Severa, and is engraved “Grandma’s iPad.”
- Seeing a double feature yesterday: This Is 40 followed by Silver Linings Playbook.
- Drinking coffee & a Bloody Mary (made from AO’s own mix) & doing a deep conditioning treatment (thanks, GAOOG) on my hair as I type this.
- Using my savvily-bought $39 voucher for an awesome massage at Elevation.
- Finally using my $200 Groupon to get that awesome Maurice Sendak Magic Flute poster framed (though I didn’t enjoy the frame shop worker not knowing who Maurice Sendak was). The total was $210.
- Seeing Bear sleep in my mom’s arms on Christmas Day.
- Taking Bear to day care yesterday in my nightgown and leggings. No bra. Sometimes Wisconsin weather has its advantages. #wintercoat
- Eleven days off of work in which I have thought only a handful of times about the papers still left to grade and the petition for certiorari that I have to file upon my return to the grind.
- Time with my family, including a bizarre series of texts in which my aunt Terry insisted John Hughes’ glorious romantic comedy detailing the heartache of high school with just the right amount of class commentary is actually a horror movie; specifically that it is Carrie. How she confused Molly Ringwald with Sissy Spacek is one mystery that I don’t think can be solved.
- Wednesday’s nap and the nap that I see in my future for today.
Honorable mention: going to Green Bay to see the Packers rout Tennessee & watching Rodgers do a Lambeau leap.
Happy New Year, all!
life and puppies 
Geez. This (#9) has made twitter and your blog! And since I’ve seen neither movie, I am unapologetic. But I AM happy that you and Aaron have had a break and that we are going to babysit NYE day!!
While I don’t understand #9 (I too have seen neither movie) I totally understand your need for a break and your joy in that break. I actually told one of my w(h)iner friends who wanted to meet today that I was going to hibernate and stay at home instead. Yea to jammies all day.
Oh my, yes, Jane! Yay to a day full of nothing scheduled! Hallelujah.
T, I totes get that you have not seen either movie, but what I’m confused by is this. And this is for the benefit of all. T sent a pic of Mags dressed in T’s 1980 wedding dress. It is beautiful, but it’s a lot of fabric for the modern bride. So, I said, I pictured a montage with scenes in which Mags looks puzzled, shots of lots of safety pins, fabric measuring tape, shears and the ever-working sewing machine working up a prom-worthy (read: wedding-worthy) gown. A la Pretty in Pink. To this, T says, “Is that the one where Molly Ringwald kills all those people?”
Come on. Fee, Heather, GAOOG, Sara, Rose, Keyes? Where are you!?!? Please, weigh in.
Also, how awesome has this break been that Rodgers’ Lambeau leap gets only an honorable mention? I feel beyond blessed.
Wait, what? Terry has never seen Pretty in Pink or Carrie? Jane neither?And I just laughed out loud at the phrase “is that the one where Molly Ringwald kills all of those people.” That was clearly Sixteen Candles.
I am very jealous of your break, because we totally messed up! Every year daycare asks what days we need over the holiday, so that they can plan for staffing. This year we said we didn’t need Dec 21, 26 (they are closed 24, 25), 28, and Dec. 31. What were we thinking? We make this mistake every year. I even worked the 26th and 27th. We’re dying here! We begged and got her in on the 26th and 31st. I’m worried I may have said we didn’t need the 2nd, either. I think I always feel guilty, thinking that some people actually like spending time with their kids around Christmas. But, blizzard day followed by 4 day weekend was quite enough.
Wow, do I sound like a crappy parent, or what? We are currently on hour two of video, and it’s only 10 in the morning. And my parents are in Seattle.
And, are you on twitter?
Ha! Yes, I’m on twitter. But I don’t do it very much — I tried to tweet a little more recently, but it’s so much pressure.
I’m SO glad you saw the Pretty in Pink thing. It was beyond bizarre and I felt like I was all on my own. AO was kinda laughing, but I don’t think he really grasped the gravity of the situation.
Yeah, our day care asked us whether we’d be bringing her in, too. I felt guilty, but I felt more guilty that I didn’t really feel that guilty. I think an actual break – 8 or 9 hours in which we don’t have to work work & don’t have to take care of a little one – every once in awhile is healthy and needed. And fun. And honestly, Bear doesn’t seem to mind in the least. And as I recall, Lucifer loves her school, too.
Also, I think I should have waited to make this post until the conclusion of break. I’d like to update by seeing Django Unchained, which I thought was super good (and this surprised me a little). And New Year’s Eve/anniversary dinner at Nostrano was awesome, even if our waitress didn’t seem to like me at all.
How was This Is 40? I am so intrigued by that one.
Loved the winter coat thought. 🙂 Totally went to the grocery store less than fully equipped last week.
Good call on sending Bear to daycare for a couple extra days – I sure could have used them…. and this morning’s dropoff was screamy. Although on the other hand I was kind of relieved to have her away from all the germs for the better part of two weeks. B does go to daycare when I have vacation days, though – sometimes those days are tagged for things like cleaning a closet, doing yardwork or jetting to Chicago for lunch – you just have to! And I can only watch Shrek the Halls so many times! (which sounds EXACTLY like the F word when she says it)
Can’t believe A-Rod only got an honorable mention. Which reminds me, regular season is over – time to recap our FF season!
Shrek the Halls!
Yes, FF. What a year! ARod did not deliver for me as well as he did last year, but because last year was pretty much a super-human feat, I’ll cut him some slack and just call him super great. I also made a few bonehead mistakes, but I blame some of that on being in two leagues and losing track of my team a bit. Still, I have you to thank for making FF part of my life. I love it!
I totally love nothing scheduled days. Probably more than I should. It does feel they are few and far between.
Ok, look, I’m so behind on this one it’s mortifying. I keep laughing at the thought of Molly Ringwald in any sort of horror movie whatsoever. She had the cutest poutiest lips. It’s ok T- you mixed people up. I do it all the time. But if you ever confuse me with any actress that I look nothing like, I’m taking you out of the Emmy speech. Like for realz.
I wish I could have seen Bear clapping at the opening of the iPad!
I keep meaning to ask- how was the deep conditioner??