School, Fashion and Boys

What a week it has been.  I am happy to report that Bia is loving her new school (thank the Lord) and Chatty is having an awesome start to 2nd grade.  Some tidbits from our week:

• Bia is buying hot lunch for the first time today.  Mr. ESPN said we didn't let Chatty do that during Pre-K.  I looked at him and said "Times are changing dude!"  Plus who could turn down the option of mini corn dogs or cheese pizza especially when big sis is buying hot lunch?
• Chatty is not a fashionista by any means.  Yesterday I picked her up and she was wearing a black shirt with navy shorts ... all together wrong.  I asked Mr. ESPN why he let her wear that to school and he states "I thought you picked it out."  I informed him if she ever doesn't match please assume she picked it out not me!
• I think I know what the next versions of Real Housewives should be ... Real Soccer (or insert your sport here) Moms of the Desert.  Seriously the drama and politics of sports leagues is all together annoying! 
• In the car Chatty mentioned how her friend went to Hawaii.  I casually mentioned that I wanted to go back to Hawaii.  Chatty said, "I want to go to Hawaii too" and then Bia pipes in "I want to go back to Tucson - I love Tucson!"  Nice - I love Tucson too (home of my alma matter) but not where necessarily where I want to vacation ....
• I signed Bia up for a dance class once a week.  I need to get her a leotard and tap shoes.  I may secretly buy some tap shoes for myself - I have always wanted to learn and we have lots of tile in our house!
• I am going to see The Help tomorrow.  I have a half day.  When I mentioned this to my family, Chatty responded by saying, "That's not fair!"  To which I wanted to respond - "Get used to it, life isn't fair!"
• Last but not least ... Chatty's friend who went to Hawaii, is a boy.  He brought back gifts for her - seashells, necklace and a postcard.  I think he is sweet on her.  Every time I see him he asks "When can Chatty and I have a play date?"  Yesterday he did it in front of his dad, so I asked his dad for his e-mail (what else could I do).  After we got home Chatty gave me a paper with her friend's dad's phone number (apparently before I got to B&G to pick her up her friend asked his dad to write down his telephone number to give to me).  I asked Mr. ESPN what we should do.  In typical Father of a girl fashion ... "Put it off as long as possible" - Nice ... maybe I should avoid eye contact with him too ... what do you think? 

First Day of School

So Thursday was the first day of school.  In true ESPN family tradition we were all up in plenty of time.  But as usual in the end I was running late, resulting in Chatty yelling to me to "Hurry Up!"  I almost shouted a profanity back at her.  I was so frustrated because I was the one responsible for making sure they looked picture perfect, brushed their teeth, etc., but I bit my tongue.  It didn't help matters that is was hotter than you know what outside and super humid (well for us anyway).

Obligatory Cheesy Smile Pic

This was probably the happiest Bia was all day ...

Family Picture at the bus stop ...

check out Bia's face ...

Chatty and our neighbor and best buddy JR

So the bus came and Chatty couldn't even turn around and say bye to her mom ... yeah she is so over us already and she is only in 2nd grade!  Then the waterworks began (for Bia not me).  Bia didn't understand why she couldn't ride the bus too.  She is attending Pr-K at the elementary school (full day) but bussing doesn't start until Kindergarten.

We took Bia to her Pre-K orientation (she knows 2 kids in her class) and as we left she said - "I don't want to come back tomorrow."  I looked at Mr. ESPN and said "It's all you babe - I am heading to work!"  He dropped her off this morning and she seemed to do ok.

Outside her classroom in front of her apple

Hi - my name is Cindy and I am the world's worst blogger!  Seriously I have been so busy and not motivated at all to blog ... it has been several weeks.  So here's a quick recap of what we have been up to. 

We spent the last two weeks in NJ/PA - the girls attended Grandma/Grandpa Camp 2011 in PA while I worked in NJ. Chatty enjoyed it so much she requested to stay an additional week. Bia not so much. Girlfriend had a great time but was ready to come home or at least be with me! Mr. ESPN joined us for one of the weeks and vacationed at the hotel while I worked (rough life huh). Here are a few pics ..

And this is what Mr. ESPN does when he vacations at a hotel - he turns the sink into a cooler.

Staye tuned for First Day of School Pictures ....

Summertime

So I keep reading all of these wonderful posts about how much everyone loves summertime.  While I enjoy various aspects of summer (swimming, hanging out at the beach, vacations, etc.) I do not enjoy the heat.  I am so over it.  That's what living in the desert will do to you.  I went running this morning at 5:00 a.m. and it was 90 degrees outside and humid (well humid for here).  Needless to say I thought I was going to die! 

Good thing I didn't die running this morning, otherwise Mr. ESPN would have to pack for the girls (just imagine - red shirt orange skirt, striped top and polka dot shorts).  The girls and I are headed back east on Saturday ... The in-laws are picking us up and the girls are going to spend a week with them while I work in NJ (they live about an hour away in PA).  Mr. ESPN will be home enjoying the peace and quiet (and hopefully cleaning and doing some other small projects) for a week before flying out to meet us.

Guess what ... they are having an extreme heat wave on the east coast (well pretty much everywhere) right now.  So much for my infinite wisdom and planning this work trip/vacay for us to cool off a bit!

I'll be back later - if I don't melt!

Just Another Day in the Desert

This morning I got up at the crack of dawn (i.e. way too early) to go for a morning run in my neighborhood and what do I see:

A pair of these (javelina's) trotting across the street into the wash.  I almost high tailed it home (I had just started my run) but they didn't see me and were going a different direction.  Just another day of desert living!

Random Encounters and Copy Machine Talk

So I moved back to my old office about two weeks ago.  However this time I am on the complete opposite side of the building from where I used to sit, so I don't know many people over here.  I was walking down the aisle the first full day I was here and ran into someone I graduated high school with and probably hadn't seen since grad night 19 (oh my I am old) years ago .... small world I tell ya! 

Last week I was waiting at the copy machine returns to print and another employee approaches.

Him: "Waiting for some stuff to print?"
Me: "Yes" - duh why else would I be here dumb a**
Him: "So dark brown hair there and dirty-blonde here" (looking from my employee badge to my current hair color)
Me: "Yes ... it's called a good stylist" - what the heck ...

Seriously what guy notices the difference between your hair color on your employee badge and the hair color on your head??  Especially someone who doesn't even know you?

Remember Me???

I am that slacking blogger who blamed my last blogging hiatus on getting ready for vacation.  It seems that I always have some sort of excuse (now I know where my kids get it from).  Rather than listing my excuses for not blogging, I thought I would give you a recap of what we have been up to around here ...

• Trying not to melt in the hotter than Hades temps here ... 116 (no that isn't a typo)... yeah I know it is a DRY HEAT but it's still hot in an oven!
• Bia's been making the grocery list which includes raisins, apples, pool toys and Bud Light for Mom.  Love my mini-me!!
• I moved offices ... back to my old building - 10 minutes from home!!  So happy but will miss my buddy the KingstonQueen.
• Speaking of her we had a fabulous 30th Birthday party for her at the ESPN house.  I think Chatty enjoyed it the most because her husband kept giving Chatty cookies and cupcakes!
• My computer crashed at work - why is it that the Help Desk moves at a snail's pace???
• Swimming and lots of it - refer back to the 1st bullet point
• Trying to decide what to do on our trip back east ... Statue of Liberty, American Girl Store, etc.
• Looking forward to a long weekend hanging by the pool with our neighbors!!