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It's been a very busy last few weeks.  My mother in law was visiting for a week from South Carolina, we hosted a big party for my step son's promotion from 8th grade, my parents were in town, my brother in law was in town, I wrapped up the end of another school year (I'm a teacher)... It's been a lot harder for my husband and I to catch our breath and see how the other is doing.  Either he's off at one of the kid's soccer practices, or I'm off at an A's game (they've been in town practically the entire month!).  We just haven't had our normal time to relax and catch up on what's going on with everything.

So this morning I thought it was just another normal "goodbye, I love you, have a good day this morning"  when he left for work.  He left, my 10 year old and I left to take the Buddy dog out for a walk, everything normal.  After we came home from the walk, I went into the bathroom to get ready to leave for a movie.  There it was!

On the counter, next to my hairdryer, was an envelope with my name on it.

I opened the card.  It was one of those "I love you" cards that I always look at in the greeting card section, and fantasize about getting for no particular reason.  And I got one!!!

It's not our anniversary, not my birthday, not a special date on the calendar, and he's not trying to make up after a big fight.  He gave me an "I love you" card for no reason!  Woo-hoo!  Big points for the husband!  HUGE!!!

So I just got back from Costco.  I had to pick up some steaks for the special dinner I'm making him tonight... for no reason.  ;)

Summer officially starts tomorrow, June 21.  But it started for me last Monday, the first day of no more school (I'm a middle school teacher).  I have 2 step kids who live halftime with us, halftime with their mom.  This week they were at mom's, so I had the FULL WEEK of just me!  No obligations, appointments, or meetings.  Oh, what to do with such free time.  Well, here is what I did:

• Met my friend and her new 8 week old fart monster of cute little boy for a nice hilly walk around her neighborhood (seriously, his toots are monumental).
• Went for a long bikeride to Starbucks and read Dear Abby and comics with my refreshing and lovely iced coffee.
• Saw Sex and the City in the middle of the day - great fluff of movie for those who still haven't seen it.
• Had my hair done - no more grey!
• Made dinner every night for me and hubby.  Tried the BBQ chicken sloppy joe recipe I saw on Rachael Ray yesterday, and it turned out pretty good.  But I didn't make my own BBQ sauce, I just used what was in the bottle.  Why make your own when the store sells it already made??!!
• Napped with my Buddy dog (see picture). 
• Met a friend for Starbucks at a moment's notice
• Walked through Barnes and Noble at a leisurely pace.
• Floated in the pool and read my Oprah magazine.
• Baked cookies and delivered them to the office staff at work who are still working this week.

The kids come back to us tonight, and I have them all next week.  What to do?  My goal is always to tire them out.  Here's my plan:

• Mon:  Great America - get the summer started off right, right?
• Tues: Alameda county fair - Everyone is $2 on Tuesdays
• Wed: The Regal movie theater in my area shows kids movies for free on Tues and Wed mornings at 9:00.  We'll see Shrek 3, then go have a picnic in a park.
• Thurs:  A's game at 12:35.
• Friday: maybe a bikeride or just hanging around the house.

Then I have a week to myself again.  Every other week.  It's been working that way for the last 5 years.  Wish me luck!

My friend at work has an 8 week old son.  She brought the cute little bundle to work last week, so I got my annual fix of holding a baby.  I've never had one of my own, I met my step kids when they were 3 and 7.   I enjoy holding my friend's babies, but also enjoy giving them back when they poop, cry, or just get too heavy to carry. 

This little boy in particular had quite the gas that day.  Not just cute baby gas where they look like they're smiling and turn a little purple pushing it out.  He had major big man farts that vibrated the room.  He's only 8 weeks old!  I was quite surprised.  His mom seemed pretty proud of it, though.  It just made me laugh so hard that I had to give the kid back to his mom before I dropped him or something.

My husband and I aren't having any fart monsters of our own.  His 2 are wonderful and amazing and fun and awesome, and they live with us 50% of the time.   I never had that "I want to be a mommy so bad" feeling, and I'm really happy with our decisions.  I get my baby fix from lots of my friends and co-workers, and get to see cute little baby stuff from them all the time.  And my step kids are pretty good  gas passers, to boot.

:)

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I loved Magickmom's blog about the mother's day card.  VERY sweet.  What a great idea to share it.  It made me want to share my special mother's day card, too.  My stepson made me a poster this year with pictures that made up the letters of Happy Mother's Day.  The pictures are everything I like:  My ipod, starbucks straws in my coffee, the blue chair I sit in when I read, a roller coaster track, my dog's leash, a melting ice cream cone, and more.  It was such a thoughtful, creative thing to do.  He's really a great kid.

Anyone else want to share?