Weekend Recap

This was probably our first weekend of typical Minnesota fall weather - which means it was kind of cold, or colder than we are used to! And guess who got ANOTHER cold! Me! A lot of people are talking about how sick they/their families have been lately. But this is just the baseline for me. Luckily this cold is pretty mild/run-of-the-mill so I am feeling better and can go to NYC as planned this afternoon. But it does have me wonder about my commitment to travel once/month. It seems like there is a 50/50 chance I will be sick from Sept-Feb! Paul doesn't get sick very often anymore so maybe/hopefully things will be better in a year when Will is sick less? But for now, I get everything either boy brings home from school. 

Friday was a half day since daycare closed at 12:30. Will took a decent nap and then after much cajoling, I convinced Paul that we should walk/scoot to a local church that has a little park. He really wanted to stay home but I needed to get out of the house and tire Will out a bit. That night I made Wild Rice soup in the instant pot.

I got up with the boys both weekend mornings since I'm gone Tues-Thur mornings this week and wanted to give Phil some extra rest ahead of my work trip. Saturday morning was our usual library + gymnastics routine but OMG the library was SO busy. We get there when it opens at 9 and typically there are maybe 5 kids total. I didn't count but there had to be 10-15+ kids on Saturday. It was a chilly morning so I guess everyone was looking for something to do! 

That afternoon we all got into the car and went to Once Upon a Child so I could get another winter coat for Will and some pants for Paul. It works best to have 2 winters coats and 2 snow pants so we can leave one at school. Phil came with so he could help corral the kids. It was not a pleasant experience as there was much begging for toys by Paul... but we walked out with a nice winter coat and 3 pairs of pants for about $40. A thin winter coat at Target is $40 so it's worth it to go to a second hand store! I always buy the boys' winter coats/snowpants there! 

The rest of the day was spent in our house. I made chicken enchiladas with rotisserie chicken and Spanish rice and everyone enjoyed the meal which is kind of a miracle! 

Reading in a laundry basket!

On Sunday, both boys slept until 6am which felt like 7am with the time change. So pushing Will's bedtime back last week appears to have worked, thank goodness! I facetimed with a old blogging friend turned IRL friend that morning. I need to schedule catch-ups like that more often! 

Phil and Paul headed to his mom's after quiet time so I was on my own with Will for the rest of the day. It was crazy windy outside so an outdoor walk was not appealing. So we headed out to a western suburb (Wayzata) so I could pick up my re-sized engagement ring. When we got engaged, I had it resized to a 4 (from 4.5) but it was still a little big. But I put up with it as I thought my hands might swell during pregnancy. But they never did! When I came back to the office this past March, I could not handle it flopping around when I was typing so I took it in to get resized again. Turns out my ring finger is a size 3.75. Isn't that crazy? So basically I have the hands of a child. 

Reunited with my resized ring. My poor hands are already dry from all the hand washing.

After the jewelry store stop, I did something I've never done as a parent before. I went to the mall because walking in a mall was more appealing than entertaining a toddler at home. Those who know me well know I ABSOLUTELY LOATHE SHOPPING. Will was pretty confused about what a mall is. Since he's a pandemic baby he's barely been anywhere. He was pretty entertained by the Christmas decorations and was happy to walk around and check out the various stores. I made one purchase - some Ilia mascara at Sephora which I've heard good things about. But can I just say that Sephora is NOT designed for moms with strollers? Ay yi yi. I had to say "excuse me" so many times to get through the narrow aisles to the cashier at the back of the store. Terrible design, Sephora! I guess a mom with a stroller is not their target market?

He's pointing at some Christmas decorations!

We headed home and had dinner which he barely ate, I think because he's getting another 2y molar. It pushed through this morning so hopefully he'll be in better spirits and start eating better again? 

I gave him a bath and let him play with the couch cushion because it was the only thing that entertained him (hopefully this means the fort-building couch we are getting the boys at Christmas will be a hit?). I was happy to put him to bed around his normal bedtime of 7. We kept him up until 7:30-7:45 last week and those made for some long days! 

Rocking Christmas jammies in November. He'll still be wearing Christmas jammies in March!

Phil and Paul got home around 7:30, I did Paul's bedtime and worked on a puzzle until around 8:30 when I went up to bed to read. I'm almost done with "Acts of Violet" which I am enjoying! 

And that was a wrap! I fly out this afternoon for NYC and come back Thursday afternoon so it's kind of a longer trip. For my last 2 trips, I flew out at 7am but have determined I can't hack that kind of schedule. It makes for a very long day since I have to be up around 4:30 and then have a full day in the office. I have 3 client meetings tomorrow and will spend the rest of the time seeing my NYC colleagues in person. I'm very glad this is my last business trip of the year! It's my 5th of the year so the most work travel I've done since before having kids! And lest you were worried, Phil and I both voted at an early voter absentee place 2 weeks ago! I've never not voted in an election! 

How was your weekend? For my American readers, have you voted or will you vote in person tomorrow?