Ground Hog Week

Last week we got out quite a bit. We went to an indoor play area with bikes and slides. The kids ran around for over an hour. Holden made friends with some other boys. Camden mostly ran around and also enjoyed learning to use pedals on toddler bikes. Then another day we went to a McDonald's play area for over 2 hours. Both kids made friends that day. Afterward we splurged by going to an evening showing of Charlotte's Web. We were the only ones in the theater. Camden was able to walk around the room once he was sick of sitting in his chair. And Saturday we went to a birthday party of a friend of Holden's. It was a good week overall. It ended not so great though! Cliff called on Friday night at 8pm to let me know his car broke down an hour outside of Des Moines while he was on his way home. His car is now in a small town outside of Des Moines. Hopefully he'll have it towed this weekend to a repair shop. Our insurance only covered to have it towed a little more than where it broke down--not all the way home. Darn! And he spent the whole weekend on the phone trying to find a way to get it towed to a mechanic we know. We really couldn't afford $150 to have it towed. It was a distaster. At least he was not hurt and the car is fixable. So, he has my minivan and the kids and I are home bound this week and maybe next week too. I am dreaming of a tropical vacation. It has been very cold all week. Today is the warmest with 22 degrees. Tomorrow it will get cold again with 10 for a high and stay very cold all weekend.

On Sunday I went grocery shopping and picked up some items to make the week a little more bearable. I really splurged. I bought our first big container of Legos, 2 Moon Sand refills, 8 cans of Play Dough, markers, and coloring books. The markers are cool because they only work on two specific Crayola books. Camden will marker up the walls with Crayons or markers. He loves it and I dread it! So this week we have been doing lots of stuff with Play Dough and Legos. The Moon Sand is not that great for little ones, I found. And of course, Netflix has been nice to have this month! Holden loves to know what is coming next and he gets so excited about seeing new movies or shows. This whole week has been a little like the movie "Ground Hog Day." But we are managing and I keep trying to tell myself this is all temporary.

Cliff is working for the Navy Reserves in Des Moines this weekend and hopefully filing our taxes. The work on the basement is slow going. But I keep trying to be patient. Some days the walls feel like they are closing in. Money has been really tight and I am so impatient sometimes. I have dreams about what our life will be like after we sell our house. I know life will always have its trying times and I try to just enjoy the now. A new baby this summer will bring some new adventures as well. Life could always be worse!! We are all healthy. Cliff has been quite tired and fatigued. I have been worried about his health. Working outside in the cold all week and coming home very weekend with little rest has been hard on him. I know life on the road won't always be perfect. But this gypsy mama is ready to bail on this stationary life. Ground Hog Day set in for me many a moon ago....Happy Ground Hog Day tomorrow all!! Spring will be here before we know it! :~)