RBG

Edward woke me up at one in the morning. I assume my intention was to go upstairs and assure myself that his head wasn't pinned between the crib bars before wishing him well in his future endeavors and returning to the warmth and toddlerlessness of my own bed but when I walked into his bedroom he held up his arms and puffed out his bottom lip and I melted. So Edward slept with his round head burrowed into my neck (on the futon that I should just take out of his room so that I no longer have this kind of temptation) and I dozed at infrequent and uncomfortable intervals. Edward snores like a kid who needs to get his adenoids checked (mem: get Edward's adenoids checked) and he roots around the bed like a truffle pig. I waffle between who I would least like to share a tent with: Patrick who slaps and kicks in his sleep or Edward with the grunting and the snorting and the constant nudge nudge nudging. Caroline is delightful - when she sleeps she lies perfectly still and absolutely quiet, like Snow White on macabre display - but I rarely get the opportunity to snuggle with Caroline; probably because she is such an excellent sleeper once she finally succumbs that I never feel the urge to wake her up in the middle of the night and drag her off to the guest room with me.

Anyway, I'm tired but even fatigued I should have realized that there were better places to tuck the two checks I needed to deposit than...

I'll let you guess. As I was leaving the house to swing by the bank before getting Patrick from school today where do you think I decide to put the checks?

In my wallet?

In the zippered compartment of my purse, perhaps?

Did I walk the three feet to my desk and put the checks into one of the deposit envelopes that I stockpile for this very purpose?

No.

Instead I took two checks that I needed to deposit this afternoon and I wedged them between the pages of a library book that I was going to return. Even as I did so I thought, huh, maybe this isn't the smartest way to carry checks to the car and then I thought, oh I'm sure I'll remember. And I did remember. Just as I pulled back into our driveway with Patrick two hours later I remembered that I had forgotten to go to the bank but I had managed to go to the library and I had returned the book with money stuffed in it.

I say this objectively: sometimes my flakiness knows no bounds.

I volunteered to chaperon a field trip last week for Patrick's class and we went to the art museum. I fail at capital-A Art. Always have. As a child I would trudge dutifully through the galleries of Washington DC with my parents but I would always want to hang myself from the Calder. I keep thinking I am going to grow into Art; that I will finally develop some sort of sophistication and I tried, god knows I tried this time, but good LORD it was boring. I sympathized utterly with one of the kids in my charge who finally flopped onto the marble floor and groaned as the docent spent twenty full minutes discussing the kit-kat portraits of a 17th C German burgher and his grim wife. It was fun to spend time with Patrick's class (each as looney in his or her own way as my beloved Patrick is in his) but with the mind-numbing drone of the guide and the anxiety of keeping my group docile under increasingly difficult circumstances and the guilt I always feel when faced with wall after wall full of paintings I just don't get... it was not very fun.

But the reason I mention this is that I had about ten minutes of utter panic as I sat on the floor of Patrick's classroom on what I had thought was field trip day but everyone seemed to be going about their morning routine. There were no other parents around and as more time passed I thought, oh my god, I have gotten the day wrong and now I have been camping in the classroom for long enough that Patrick's teacher must know I got the day wrong and he is probably trying to figure out how to tactfully tell me to go home and come back tomorrow.

Because that is just the sort of thing I would do.

I had the time wrong. Not the day. Just the time. And not so far wrong that I couldn't pretend that I had come early on purpose. Although anyone who has ever tried to get Patrick to complete an assignment must realize that the kid comes from biscuit stock:

Me - Do you have math for tonight?

Patrick - No.

Me - Are you sure?

Patrick - Absolutely. No math. I am absolutely certain.

Me - Hey [Child Whose Locker is Adjacent to Patrick's] do you guys have any math to do at home tonight?

Child - Yes. Mathquest Packet. Page 31. Both problems.

Me - ????

Patrick - Ohhhhhhh, math. Right. Mathquest. Those problems. Yeah. I'd better go back and get that out of my desk.

Now that Patrick has found his people and we can observe his daily grind a bit more closely we have discovered that he is an organizational disaster of near-biblical proportion. I think he tends to be a bit, oh, let's say dreamy. When he is excited about something he cannot do the work fast enough - like the bridge project - but he tends to forget the less glamorous stuff like math homework or his daily reading goals. At the end of the week before last his teacher sent a note home reminding parents that the AR goals needed to be completed by the following Friday and that kids who had met their goals would get to attend the big AR goal party. I sent back a note saying that I was sorry to be so dopey but... what, exactly, are AR goals and did Patrick have any? He wrote back and said that they use this computer program called accelerated reader and the kids read books and take tests in the school library and then accumulate points toward their goals and he was pretty sure he had remembered to get Patrick set up even though he came late to the class.

I asked Patrick and he said, Ohhhhhh AR goals. Right. I forgot about those.

So on Monday morning I discovered this GIANT CHART at the front of the classroom with every kid's name and their goals and neat little figures representing the points they had all earned stretched out like so many ants at a picnic and all of the kids were buzzing around talking about their AR goals and I thought, really, Patrick, you forgot ALL THIS? And at the bottom of the chart was Patrick's name with his AR goal of 39 and his AR total of... zero.

Since I have already finished the second grade this was, of course, not my problem but I pointed out to Patrick that in general he needed to start doing the work he was supposed to be doing and maybe it would be a challenge to see how close he could get to 39 points in four days. How do I describe 39 points? Mrs Piggle Wiggle is worth three points. The Westing Game? Eight points. Calvin and Hobbes? Tragically, no points at all. 

All week Patrick came home in the afternoon and read and complained bitterly about the unfairness of it all and read some more. He wrote a couple of book reports and he took tests in the morning before school and by Friday he had somehow managed to cobble together the necessary points and he didn't have to sit in the hall (sit in the hall! it's all so retro at this school) during the big AR party and he was very proud of himself and I thought well thank heavens that's over. Now let us never speak of AR tests again.

So I was waiting in the classroom today and I noticed the GIANT CHART looked different and I went over to discover that they have new AR goals. I see Patrick now has to get fifty two points and I am still laughing. Fifty two! I refuse to involve myself. I will borrow books from the library for him and I will return said books (occasionally stuffed with checks) but beyond that I'm staying out of it. He may A and R without me.

(I did ask him why he opted to try to get fifty two points when the thirty nine were so painful and he said that his teacher assigns the goals and I said oh, well, alrighty then good luck with that and he said thank you.)

We had a house guest this weekend who enjoys photography and he offered to take some family pictures for us.

So we have this one of Caroline being all campy: "Read the book about Sam and the eggs and the ham? I love that book," she gushed.

I think this one is lovely.

 

And pretty pretty Edward with his new haircut.

Then the guest asked if we wanted a few of the family all together and I said well that might be nice.

(those underlined words each link to a different awful picture, you know) 

I have a whole new respect for holiday cards. There was not one goddamned picture in the set in which the majority of the family looks remotely normal, let alone one in which we are all smiling and facing the camera. And why didn't I realize that Edward's navy shirt and my black one would blend to make us look like floating heads? Why is Steve holding the remote control and why is he wearing that odd color? Why do Caroline and Edward keep staring upwards? Only Patrick behaved predictably, which is to say he was a complete pain from beginning to end.   

The children are kinda kicking my ass. I like driving Patrick - in fact frequently the commute is the most relaxing part of my day; we're listening to the third book in the Septimus Heap series and it is very entertaining - but it takes a solid two hours. Steve watches the twins while I'm gone which is great for everybody but by the time I get home he needs to get back to work again. I think I used to spread that shared daytime childcare out a little more... a shower here, a solo trip to the library there. Caroline and Edward are increasingly fun and funny but they require more maintenance than a couple of polo ponies. They need constant nonstop ceaseless unblinking perpetual attention and even then I discovered Edward eating AN UNQUARTERED GRAPE today that Caroline had gotten off the counter for him using means I have yet to discover.

Caroline and Edward flirted with toilet training in the Fall and I swear I gave it my very best effort. For two weeks I encouraged and applauded and not once, not one time, did either child manage to put anything remotely... productive anywhere near the potty. When Edward finally stood up from the little seat, walked around behind me and peed all over my back I declared the experiment officially over until further notice. Like the Overlook Hotel the potties were closed for the season, most likely to re-open with warmer weather. Recently, however, Caroline has been showing those little signs, giving those tiny indications that the connected parent recognizes as an interest in altering her habits.

"I WANT TO PEE IN THE POTTY!" she bellows.

"Open the door! Open the door!" she shouts as she pounds at the bathroom wall. "I want to sit on the potty!"

So I sigh and say, "Oh all right. If you must."

And she takes off her pants and pulls off her socks and stands impatiently while I assist with the diaper and then she sits for a millisecond before she races off again. Because really it is not so much that she is interested in doing anything whatsoever in the bathroom; she just wants to be naked and she has twigged to the fact that "potty" is the magic get-out-of-pants-free word. If I had my druthers I would continue to cram her back in that diaper until next year some time but you all gave such great advice back in September and were so convinced that they can do this that I have decided to bite the bullet and try potty training again. I continue to be deeply skeptical that a child of mine could be so wildly self-sufficient as to dispense with diapers before... well. But we'll see.

Finally, Steve and I are getting an overnight babysitter this weekend and wheeeeeee! I want to go to dinner and Steve wants to see Avatar and although I have nothing against Avatar I do feel like the only thing we DO is watch Netflix together so maybe an evening that involves a little more togetherness? Did I mention that this is the first time we will spend the entire night away from child/ren together, ever? Seven plus years, people. Please advise. Oh, and I was thinking about trying hotwire or priceline for a hotel deal since we don't really care - within reason - where we stay. Have you tried either?    

PS Sorry I did not realize that those pictures were so enormous. Lemme know if I need to take them down. 

Comments

[rachel]

2 items in one post that spoke to my librarian heart! It's like Christmas!

1. People leave all manner of things in books. Found a piece of Bacon once, hand to god. I hope the checks were recoverable.

2. Accelerated Reader is generally loathed by librarians for the horrible indignity of making Miss Piggle Wiggle just three. It quantifies things that should not be quantified. Of course, that is a noble view of it, and of course all manner of things must be quantified in order to have some sense of order to the world. Grades and such are by nature, quantified. Nevertheless, I still let out an involuntary gasp of horror at the AR system being used at your 'good for patrick' school.

[Nina]

Are Unquartered Grapes a bad idea? (Or unusual for Edward?) I have no idea, since I generally just focus my energies on preventing my 2 year old from eating whatever is on the floor that strikes him as appetising. (I think a particular low point for me was returning from the loo to find him on the kitchen floor, sharing the cat's food with the cat saying: "One for you cat, and one for Matei!")

My mum has come to stay with me for three weeks and decided that the child must be potty trained forthwith, and I said "Knock yourself out" and stood well back to observe the collateral damages. So my mum implemented this strategy of buying lots of cotton undies for him and putting him in undies and pyjama bottoms/leggins (basically things that take a second to remove) and saying that any succesful visit to the potty earns him a piece of chocolate.
I have to say that she's been at this for the last three days. On the first day he had two accidents and 3 pieces of chocolate. On the second day he had 1 accident and 4 pieces of chocolate and on the 3rd day he had no accidents and 7 pieces of chocolate. My mum has a variety of potties in every room so he is never far from an appropriate receptacle should the need call to him, and I have to say he is learning to control his bladder because he can hold off weeing until he's a) either finished with whatever piece of play was captivating him and/or b) until his clothes have been removed and a urinal presented to him.
Today when his nanny put a nappy on him he apparently howled and thrashed in outrage and was all "No! I'm a BIG BOY! No Nappies!"
It's too soon to tell the long term effects of my mum's methodology - and whether my son will first reach childhood obesity or toilet proficiency, but so far it is going better than I imagined. On the other hand, I don't share my mum's level of commitment to the enterprise, so if it were down to me who knows until when he'd still be in nappies.

Can you do both dinner and Avatar? (Avatar in 3D is great!) An overnight babysitter implies a long night to me, one that hopefully allows the inclusion of eating and drinking and brain-annhilating.

[yasmara]

We did the Graves downtown through Hotels.com last fall & I was...underwhelmed. The bed was not really that comfy, the special "pillow menu" cost more, it had only a shower (a very nice shower, but no whirlpool tub), & our hall was noisy (wedding in the hotel that night). The room service breakfast was fab, though. Maybe try the W in Foshay if you want to go fancy?

I do highly recommend Restaurant Alma by the U for dinner. We keep trying other places & then going back to it for special occasions. Order the tasting menu! They have Crispin cider & a great wine/beer list, local/fresh ingredients, fantastic dessert selections.

[Kristi]

The picture of Caroline and Edward by the bookshelf is just precious!

I have yet to find one of our family pictures where everyone looks acceptable - and I only have one little one to wrangle.

[Kathleen]

The picture of C and E at the bookshelf is beautiful. The family pics are hilarious and years from now you'll probably enjoy them more than one that turned out perfect.

Also, Edward is insanely photogenic.

[Katie]

Pictures of Steve!

[tgsdmom]

Avatar 3D is a great experience. Silly green plot about blue people, but SOOOO beautiful! Maybe you can have dinner afterwards? Or a cake? Enjoy your night, whatever you do.

I hate most modern art. Period. Art museums are a bore.

The pictures are great :-D. And I don't see any gray... Have you dyed your hair yet?

[Candy]

Those pictures made my day. Hunky husband, adorable twinkles, Patrick hamming it up. Et tu!

My children are teenagers now, so the 2nd grade blues have passed, but now a once bright boy of mine has a new girlfriend and a new car and new C's to go along with them.

I have never been a helicopter parent, so I blithely took him aside and explained to him that, "hey, these C's you're sporting are interesting and all, but they're probably not going to help you get that architecture degree. And at the end of the day, you're going to be the one pumping gas, not me. I have a job. But good luck with that."

He was appalled. And is subsequently doing better. I applaud your take on the AR goals.

[Jessica]

Girl, I feel your pain about having the Avatar debacle. Last month, we had our very-special-and-not-likely-to-happen-again-in-several-years anniversasry weekend away in SF, and ALL the Hubs wanted to do was go see that damn movie. One whole evening- gone!- just like that. I made the same argument as you. "We always just watch movies at home. Can't we find someplace special and talk over live music and drinks?!" But alas, he was not to be dissuaded. Do all you can, play any card you can. Don't waste those precious hours in a movie theatre.

[LisaP]

Hotwire is the best thing since sliced bread. From a very frequent traveler...

[liz s]

I'm feeling so much better about my disorganized children. They are creative and able to do art (I am not and cannot) but they get out of the car and papers fly out of their bags and they just gather them and shove them into the abyss of backpack land. It makes my organized self cringe and think, where did I get these children. Then I remember I married their dad, a brilliant unorganized person who earns a good living and knows how to program computers but can't put the bread away.

Oh, and I hate art too. I like Monet and Manet and Serat and maybe a few other Impressionists. But that's it. The rest, I don't get.

[Chris]

Alya has always slept in an almost rigid way - you almost can't even feel her
breathe.

Her twinkie Ben flip flops and rolls about. He also wakes at weird intervals and calls out or talks or cries.....and they are 3.

One time I cleaned out our office and threw away about $2K worth of bonds I had prepped to go to the SDB.....fortunately my husband had a GASP moment the night before the trash ran. They were in the very bottom bag of our big trash can....he still loves that example of my flakiness. I make up for it with sute. That is all that matters.

[Genevieve]

I went to meet my kiddo at his art museum field trip (luckily I was just tagging along at my lunch break, not an official chaperone). I wandered the museum for half an hour, posted on Facebook to see if any other parents happened to know , and finally gave up and went back to work.

Turned out they were at a different art museum altogether.
Lesson I learned: when the kiddo says it's at "The National Gallery, at the Renaissance pictures," he means "some art museum, I call them all the National Gallery, at the Renaissance pictures."

[KatieV]

You are my favorite blogger, hands down. You make me laugh every time. My favorites this time: Edward compared to truffle pig and "When Edward finally stood up from the little seat, walked around behind me and peed all over my back I declared the experiment officially over until further notice."
:)

[victoria]

We were in Paris for Christmas-New Year's, and my husband said, "Let's anchor this trip in time. Let's make this trip different from all the other trips to Paris by seeing Avatar, because no matter how many years pass or how many times we go back, we'll always remember this trip as the trip where we saw Avatar's big opening."

I could have responded, "But sweetie, the Champs Elysees at midnight on New Year's, and the light display on the Eiffel Tower, and listening to M. Sarkozy address the nation on t.v. on New Years, and then your projectile vomiting while we were navigating that twisty little road in the Alps with no shoulders or turnoffs would surely suffice to anchor this trip in our memories?"

No, like a sucker, I said, "Avatar? In Paris? Huh. That's a weirdly great idea, honey. We have got to be the only people we know who would actually spend spend a precious evening in Paris watching a big budget hollywood blockbuster dubbed in French."

So, Julia? The best part about Avatar? Was the hour spent standing outside in the freezing cold waiting to get in. Things started to go downhill when I got inside the theatre and had to put those painful heavy pastic glasses on my face. Things got worse as I had to endure a FULL half hour of ads for various products and services, but I was able to endure the loud half hour of ads by discovering that when the French advertise candy, they include something like the surgeon general's warning on cigarettes: "don't overinndulge," "don't snack between meals," "avoid excessive sugar in your diet," etc.

That was kind of interesting. They all smoke like chimneys and start drinking midmorning but are terrified of pudginess.

Anyway, the movie itself? Oh, dear. It was unendurable. I had to leave after 20 minutes. It was like every single godawful movie cliche you've ever winced at, but ON STEROIDS, lunging at you and screaming in your (increasingly painful) face as you endured the heavy uncomfortable plastic glasses that got worse by the minute.

I suspect that a night without the kids is more precious than a night in Paris. Please don't squander it on that movie.

[Kel]

Now that you are really going to jump into the potty training thing I must say (as someone on the other side of that decision by about eighteen months) it is worth it. As the mom of potty training twins, I've been on my knees in more public bathrooms than a $20 hooker.

[janice]

Sorry Steve, you looked great in all the photos but all I could think was the yellow Wiggle was visiting!!!!

[Emma]

I'm relatively sure Steve is wearing that odd colored t-shirt to encourage comments about his uncanny resemblance to Greg Wiggle...

Edward's haircut is adorable, BTW!

[H]

Hotwire - yes - have used it several times with great success. Do the same search at kayak.com, and you can often figure out which hotel you're getting booked at before you leap.

AR - argh! AR is forevermore. And we can't get copies of the list for the (public) library because the tests are bought by the schools and the list is proprietary. My least favorite reference question just might be "I need a 5 point book for AR - tonight - so I can take the test tomorrow."

Potty training... my now-5-yr-old resisted some aspects of potty training so stubbornly that we resorted to letting him watch the portable DVD player while sitting. Timed sits like that have been the key with him. Good luck with your munchkins!

[Suzanne]

Those pictures are priceless! They're fabulous! They're a hoot! (Can you tell I'm a fan?)
As for priceline - I use it all the time for Seattle and Portland and I've never been disappointed. Do the 4 star and go cheap :) There's a website: http://www.betterbidding.com/
that's helped me with bidding in cities I'm not as familiar with.
Wait to see Avatar - ok, but not spectacular in my book.

[gigi]

I have only an n=1 for potty training and we might be fairly relaxed in our house, but... here's what worked for us once my son started showing "interest": every time the 2yo sat on the potty he got an M&M, if he peed he got one and the potty song/dance, if he pooped he got 6 and the celebration. That said (and here's the "we might be relaxed" part), I kept the potty in the room where we spend most of our time and it was all easier to have him run around without pants at home for the first few months (training pants while out). We gradually introduced the cool underwear concept. And I took him to the bathroom with me as much as possible. The bonus to that is he was quite proud to award me with M&Ms. How nice.

I agree with everyone above. The pics are great. You should definitely use them ALL for christmas cards. I dislike picture perfect family photo christmas cards. They aren't real. I also applaud that the whole family is there - why do so many people only put pictures of their children on holiday cards?

[elzimmy]

AR is horrible, makes reading a chore for the kids. I'm the same as you, I wish the kids luck and if they don't make their goal, I don't really care.

Check Orbitz for hotel deals...love that site. You can usually find a discount code on retailmenot.com. Enjoy!

[Mrs. G]

We always use Priceline and request four stars. Great deals on some pretty swanky places. I know what you mean about the movies, all we ever do is sit on the couch and watch movies together. So I have these fantasies that we will go out of town together and sit in a cozy little cafe discussing our dreams for the futures and sipping hot drinks. Usually we end up shopping and then passing out in our hotel room with takeout and HBO. Worse things have happened.

[crystal]

So in short, you're "awful" pictures look 10,000,000,000,000 times better and more charming/lovely than my super best ones on the rare day when the birdies sing, the trumpets blare, and all the world is right (never).

Have a noose you'd care to lend me? Pistol? Arsenic?

Did you do something about the grey hair? I know the picures aren't that big, but you look.... grey-free, like a lovely, perfect peach to. Fresh and youthful and where exactly is that damn gun now, Julia?

By some miracle (or lurking disaster, who cares which) I'm losing weight.... Yipee. One down, 8000 to go, then I can be skinny, and not Julia of the lovely hair and exotic name. Woe. To quote teen: Sad Face.

If you want a non-smoking room, be careful with Priceline, they don't guarantee you can get one (or didn't last I used them, since, hey, ADA anyone)? I'd avoid Orbitz like the plague, they've lost my reservations twice now, and basically said "can't help, sorry!".

I always check AAA, Expedia, Hotels.com (which usually gets my business) and hotwire. Each can be lower, depending. If you want to use the priceline type thing, hotwire is fine. Always been happy with them. Like their customer service.

[crystal]

Not sure how much better the financial situation is, but we like going to the culinary institute, because it's fun, relaxing, small, the kids are a hoot, the food is nice, local, and tasty, and we have a great time talking and relaxing and having some wine. I don't like the see and be seen, hipster vibe that rules the gastronome places that are scattered around Portland, but the culinary institute is great, affordable, and a really good time. And my wine and tips pay for scholarships. How can you beat that?

If you have a more frivolous budget, there's probably any number of interesting dining places that likely have interesting prix fixe menus that are in dire need of support, and likely any number of interesting music venus in need of same. I got nuthin as far as Twin Cities for entertainment in late Feb. My Mpls roots go back about 70 years, so no joy.

I envy you on two counts. Lee's working as a contractor, and making serious overtime (nice, since they're theoretically supposed to be working UNDERtime, but he produces, so even at OT he's cheaper than any of his coworkers, so they let him play through, as it were) but all the money I'd hoped would pay for at least a short family staycation is going to pay off the remaining medical debt and student loans and hopefully the new car, and our upside down mortgage. If we can get rid of the PMI, maybe then.... But we've paid off 40k in debt in 5 months. Not bad.

But dayum, I'd like just a little family R and R!

If we can just keep the medical boogey man away, maybe this Christmas we'll have reasonable debt (read: reasonable mortgage), a better cash cushion, and maybe a vacation account....

Then again I'm going back to college to get me some (meager) insurance. Yay me.

Yes, I totally see the benefit of our patchwork health care system. I was so blind....

My kingdom for a job for hubby in, oh, Canada, UK or France. Cuba! Hey! He's a native Spanish speaker!

[crystal]

Blast it all.

Have a great time.... Do not be like Lee and I, the first time we left John, and were all "we're TOTALLY going to enjoy this!" and then spend all your time thinking about, calling, or talking to the kids.

Especially do not say "we're TOTALLY going to sleep in!" and wake up at 7 am wondering why there are no crying kids.

Be smarter than us. :)

[Sandra]

Re: flaky - you'll like this. I once put an ENDORSED CHECK FOR $25,000 in the mailbox with my outgoing mail. The only thing that saved me is the fact that our mail lady goes to church with me... she found and returned it. OMG.

[Carrie]

Your children are gorgeous but, damn, that is a nice camera! Can you tell how obsessed I am with photography?
Avatar can wait. Dinner and sleep and a leisurely breakfast while reading the paper. Can I come?

[Danielle]

Priceline rules for get away nights! Aim for 3 stars or higher and you really can't go wrong. I usually bid between $65 and $85 in that "star range." It's fun!

[Tine]

Here's what I'd do if I had an overnight babysitter and some spare cash... I'd wine-and-tapas myself silly at Solera, and then stumble across the street to the Chambers Hotel, have a cocktail in the Red White & F**king Blue Room, and fall in bed there. :)

[Bianca]

Seriously impressed with the full head of jet black hair on your husband. Seriously. Is he not balding even a little bit? WOW. And where is the gray? Does he have even a little bit? WOW again.

I don't mind gray hair or receding hairlines, but still-- IMPRESSIVE.

I'm fearful of priceline. There are always nice sounding 4 star hotels that are ripped a new one on Travel Advisor and I always fear that's the one I'll get. There are lots of deals right now anyway I've noticed.

Do you have any reward points credit cards? I'm going away for a whole week at Spring break paid entirely by rewards points. FREE! (Well, not really, after you factor in interest rates and financing charges etc, but it feels sort of free.)

[cathy]

Eh, all you and Steve need is a magic get-out-of-pants-free word. The details of the get-away will take care of themselves.

[Jeanene]

Hi Julia,
Don't feel too bad about your flakiness. One year I mailed my Christmas cards into the Blockbuster video return slot and didn't even realize my mistake until an hour later. Pretty embarassing

As always, loved reading your post.

Jeanie

[Justin]

If you're going to see Avatar I'd suggest that you do it in a theater. If you don't see it in 3D on a large screen there isn't much of interest to see. The story leaves quite a bit to be desired, such as a reasonably interesting story.

[maureen]

Do NOT worry about potty training. they will magically train themselves when they want to go to nursery school. On the other hand, if they don't want to go to school you may have a problem

[winecat]

As always an hysterical post. I have to say the family photos reminded me of our family photo Christmas card. It only happened one year thank God.

Have a wonderful time away from the kids, enjoy each other's company as free adults, drink fine wine, eat fine food - skip Avatar.

[Gina]

I love priceline! I also use biddingfortravel.com because they will tell you how to bid on priceline to get the very best deal. It is a little confusing at first and the lady who runs the site is kind of snotty if you don't follow the rules, but I have gotten some awesome deals on Priceline!
In case you don't already, you must watch The Big Bang Theory. I just started the series on Netflix and ohhhh how Sheldon cracks me up and reminds me of my son....
Avatar is a good movie, but I agree with you that given the chance to get away from the children, sitting through a 3 hr movie isn't the best choice. Still...it is good and it must be seen at a theater in 3D.
We have a wine bar near our house (D'vine Wine) and it's a nice place to have an adult date. Small, nice choices of wine, adults only, jazz music on the weekends, cozy. They also have food and small plates of olives and cheese you can order to go with your wine.
We live in So. Cal and I find Disneyland to be a fantastic date to go on with my husband with NO kids. Fun, fun, fun!
Hope you do something great! Or just enjoy the quiet time together!

[Alice]

LOVE hotwire. Have gotten some great hotel deals, though they're not the cure, funky kinds of hotels. Hotels.com is good for that, plus you get to pick your physical location more precisely. (For car rentals, though hotwire all the way.) Never tried priceline, so will defer to others on that one.

Whee! indeed to the night out. I hope that you succeed in getting more interactive items on the agenda than Avatar.

[Rosie]

See, overnighters are code for "let's do it." I'm not sure I could "do it" with tall blue people and subtle "stop killing the planet" messages whirling through my mind. I thought Steve was smart.

Your family is lovely, your children are endearing, and I like your take on life. Thank you so much for sharing.

[Trisha]

Could any of the books he listens to as you drive to and from school count towards his AR?

[Ann]

Avatar was AWESOME! Just sayin'. We spent a date night doing that, but then again, we don't watch movies at home together.

[Jen S]

oh, my, i literally am still laughing/crying at the potty training stories. The one about Edward peeing on your back- priceless! My boys will be 3 this spring and as soon as it's warm enough I'm putting them in skivvies and shoving them out the door. Hopefully they'll have most of their accidents outside! And the family photos! I am both a photographer and the mother of twins, so I totally appreciate those photos. How many family photos do we have? none. zip. Plenty snapshots o' the adorable children; none of the entire family. I guess I might have to pay someone else to do it sometime before the kids graduate. Thanks for the lulz and have a great night out!