It was a fabulous week and after a brief 5 month hiatus, I am heading back to work. On Tuesday I was offered the position of Director of Alumni Philanthropy for the YMCA. The YMCA wants to put extra attention on connecting with alumni, so I will be focusing on the 8 camps and Youth in Government, re-connecting with past participants. It’s a new position, but I’ve been doing the same thing for 13 years at CYC, so I feel really excited about it. I like raising money and I am so excited to be able to support camps and YIG. My position is a work from home job, which I am super pumped about. The YMCA has great benefits and I will be earning significantly more than I did in my last role. So basically it’s exactly what I have been looking for and I’m super excited. I don’t start until November 15, so these next few weeks will be for getting organized and enjoying my free time before I go back to a regular work schedule.
When I left CYC in June, we dropped Augustus down to 2 days a week at school. Wednesdays he’s with Grandma Debbie and Mondays and Fridays he’s at home with me. I am not cut out for the stay at home mom life, but I have really enjoyed spending so much time with my sweet baby boy. He is funny and sweet and affectionate and we have a lot of fun together. On Monday we went to the park and played nonstop.
He made “cookies” out of kinetic sand- he has been watching me closely because his technique was flawless! Xander was busy at school working hard! 
Tuesday was the last day of school for the week for Xander because this week was MEA. Also on Tuesday, Ruthie went to the vet to be spayed. She didn’t seem to feel terrible, and every day since we brought her home has been harder to keep her calm. She wants to run and jump and wrestle and play and we are doing everything we can to make her rest.
On Wednesday, both boys went to Grandma Debbie’s and Xander was very happy to have a Wednesday Grandma day. They went to the mall and played at the super cool play area there. They swam, they hung out. Augustus told me he put fruit snacks inside of a fruit rollup and made a burrito. It’s like paradise over there.
On Wednesday, both boys went to Grandma Debbie’s and Xander was very happy to have a Wednesday Grandma day. They went to the mall and played at the super cool play area there. They swam, they hung out. Augustus told me he put fruit snacks inside of a fruit rollup and made a burrito. It’s like paradise over there.
When they got home, I put them to work cooking dinner… actually, they fought over who got to peel and mash potatoes, and Xander was quite proud of “Xander’s special potatoes”.
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On Thursday, Xander and I had a special mommy/Xander day. He has been feeling super jealous of how much one on one time that Augustus has had with both Grandma and me, so on Thursday, Augustus went to school and Xander and I planned a day of anything he wanted. We started the day at the bakery getting donuts and then (as he requested) we did several science experiments. We built a catapult, made a lava lamp, built and then erupted a volcano and a few others that didn’t turn out quite as cool. For lunch, we ordered Dominoes Pizza. We wrestled, we played, we hung out. I really enjoyed spending the day with him. Xander enjoyed the day too, but he also asked about Augustus approximately 500 times and kept requesting that we pick him up early.
. On Thursday, Xander and I had a special mommy/Xander day. He has been feeling super jealous of how much one on one time that Augustus has had with both Grandma and me, so on Thursday, Augustus went to school and Xander and I planned a day of anything he wanted. We started the day at the bakery getting donuts and then (as he requested) we did several science experiments. We built a catapult, made a lava lamp, built and then erupted a volcano and a few others that didn’t turn out quite as cool. For lunch, we ordered Dominoes Pizza. We wrestled, we played, we hung out. I really enjoyed spending the day with him. Xander enjoyed the day too, but he also asked about Augustus approximately 500 times and kept requesting that we pick him up early.
We actually picked Augustus up earlier than usual, because Thursday night was a slumber party at Grandma’s house. The boys were so excited and Nate and I got to go out for sushi and cake.
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Friday the boys came home and we hung out, went to the YMCA to go swimming and they helped Nate assemble a new cabinet for my office. We ordered pizza for dinner and ate on the couch (which is a rare treat!) and then ended the night with ice cream sundaes.
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On Saturday, I attempted to relax and drink coffee on the couch, but instead chewed on by a puppy. We went to a party with some of Nate’s work friends. They had a bounce house in their basement and the boys got to carve/paint pumpkins. It was nice to hang out, eat, drink and for the kids to play.
. . Friday the boys came home and we hung out, went to the YMCA to go swimming and they helped Nate assemble a new cabinet for my office. We ordered pizza for dinner and ate on the couch (which is a rare treat!) and then ended the night with ice cream sundaes.
. . On Saturday, I attempted to relax and drink coffee on the couch, but instead chewed on by a puppy. We went to a party with some of Nate’s work friends. They had a bounce house in their basement and the boys got to carve/paint pumpkins. It was nice to hang out, eat, drink and for the kids to play.
Cookie sales for Halloween were really good and I was excited to see myself tagged in someone’s instagram post complimenting my cookies.
Sunday has been wonderful- the boys were busy at Grandma’s house, enjoying themselves with playdough, science kits and playing in the exercise room. Nate and I went to brunch and hung out. I grocery shopped, washed the floors, and even had time to lay in bed and read a good book for a while.
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My mom brought the boys home and then Danny and Heather came over for dinner. After dinner was some intense Nintendo Switch gaming. It was the perfect day!
. My mom brought the boys home and then Danny and Heather came over for dinner. After dinner was some intense Nintendo Switch gaming. It was the perfect day!
I was a little jealous of all of our friends and neighbors who had fun get-aways planned for MEA break. But it felt too extravagant for us to go away somewhere when I haven’t been working. However, these last few days have been absolutely perfect. It was nice to have time to relax and hang out and play together without being too busy. I think both Nate and I, and the boys needed some down time, and it’s been so wonderful.
