Out

We've been out on a romantic adventure.

A year and a month after our wedding elopement, my mother took pity on us and was kind enough to pay for a belated Disney honeymoon for us in our current impoverished state.  So, Troubletron and I have been in beautiful Orlando, Florida (inside the Disney compound) for the last 4 days, on someone else's dime, pretending that we aren't poor!  It has been glorious.

I couldn't tell you about it before we left because we have a stalker.  We like to at least try to make things harder for her.

I hope to get some pictures up later today.  So, check back.

Home Invasion

I swear I JUST dusted this piece of furniture one week ago.

So, you can imagine how shocked I was to see this level of dust yesterday.

But, the explanation is simple.

We live in a large apartment building.  And, in this apartment building (as is common, I'm finding out), the building, as a whole, can only either be on "heat" or on "AC."  Individual residents can't switch back and forth.  So, even though it's been over 80 degrees all week, we can't switch on our air conditioning until the building decides they want to switch from heat to AC--and they won't do so until they are totally convinced that there won't be any more cold weather for the rest of the season.

So, for 4 days, it's been so hot that we've had to leave the windows open all day and all night.  We've been sleeping without a top sheet or blanket, and we wake up drenched in sweat in the morning.  It's disgusting.

But, the fact that the windows are open all day and night would explain the new, quick, thick layer of dust.

Except that I touched it.

It's not dust.

It's pollen.

And it's covering everything in our house.

I'm thanking the allergy gods that neither of us are particularly prone to seasonal pollen-driven allergies.  We'd be experiencing a whole new level of misery.

Today on BotTron Photo

A Birthday Wish

One More Easter Post . . .

We definitely dyed Easter eggs with the kids this year.  Definitely.  In fact, we dyed them in a big, collaborative family-egg-dying-spectacular event at uncle Stevetron's house with 20 cups of dye and 150 eggs and so many egg-dying implements . . . it was glorious.

But, I didn't get any pictures of that because I was too busy making sure Littletron didn't spill egg dye on the rug or feed hard boiled eggs to the dogs or eat another doughnut (somehow, he fit 4 into his tiny, 9 year old stomach) or whatever other unforeseen disaster laid ahead.  He needs supervision . . . let's just put it that way.  So, I didn't get any photos of that wondrous event.

However, Troubletron and I held a sort of practice dye event about a week before Easter to test dye mixture strengths and to hone our techniques.  I do have some pictures from that . . . if you'll indulge me.

Is it in poor taste to dye eggs over the obituary page?  Probably.

But I was too excited to even notice, with all the beautiful dyes and this carton of blank canvases.

When I was a kid, Snowbird always prepared one dozen eggs per child, so, I didn't really like sharing these 16 (two casualties in the boiling process) with Troubletron.  I don't really like sharing at all--let's be honest.

I gathered all the necessary tools.

And set to work.

And, I think we got some pretty mediocre eggs!

Why did I share these mediocre eggs with you?

Because, sometimes you have to just admit you're not good at something.  I'm not really ready to admit that now, but I'm taking first steps.

Today on BotTron Photo

I don't know yet.  But, probably something.

Family Easter Egg Toss

I hope you've enjoyed my blogging hiatus.  I know I have.  I used my time away to refresh and revitalize.  I hope you have done the same. 

It's time to return, though.  Don't worry.  I'll ease you in with a light, picture-centric post.

Troubletron's family celebrates Easter each year with a large family lunch at Troubletron's parents house, at which all the aunts and uncles and cousins and stepkids and exes, and everyone else you can think of gathers to celebrate the coming of the Easter Santa Bunny.  After lunch, the family lines up on the front lawn for intense competition and mockery of the weak an Easter Egg Toss.

Everybody (except Littletron) waits with anticipation.

One by one, each partner throws her egg across the divide.  Teenbot shows great form, above.  Troubletron, below.

On the other side of the lawn, partners try to catch.  Sometimes they do.  Sometimes they don't.  And, when they don't, it's usually a disaster.

(Sorry for the blurriness.  I took this picture from very far away).  Here's a zoom-in on the egg-break.

But, the very best part of the egg toss is watching Littletron.  Let me show you why:

We tried to tell him he doesn't need to actually look like a chicken when trying to throw an egg.

Close one.

Nope.  Close again.  But, nope.

Maybe?

Maybe try keeping those eyes open to increase your chances?

And, finally, yes.

Hope you had a Happy Easter.

Making your children jealous

Last weekend, when Teenbot and Littletron were scheduled to spend the weekend with us, Teenbot's friend had a "very important" volleyball event, to which Teenbot "really needed" to go to show her friend "support."  Troubletron does not often grant such requests, since he misses and loves his children and looks forward to seeing them every other weekend.  You can imagine, I'm sure.  But, Teenbot promised this would be a one-time thing, and begged and pleaded, and Troubletron finally gave in.  So, we just had Littletron last weekend.

We did what any parent would do in this one-child situation: everything we could to make Teenbot jealous.  This was primarily accomplished here:

I know what you locals are thinking.

"Landmark Mall?  NO ONE would be jealous of you going there.  Half the stores there are closed down or empty. That mall is only good for one thing: going to Chic-fil-a."  And, ordinarily, you'd be correct.  But this is no ordinary week at Landmark.

Landmark was hosting a fair.

I can't resist a fair.  The lights, the corndogs, the cheap prizes, the cotton candy, the loud music, and the carnies--OH THE CARNIES--I love it all!

Unfortunately, the feeling is not mutual.

Fairs hate me and my broken back.  They taunt and tease me with their shiny lights and nostalgic rides that they KNOW I can't ride.

But, I refuse to let it ruin my fun.

We started off our day on "The Himalaya," a ride I definitely shouldn't have ridden, but did.

Then, the boys did bumper cars . . . I was smart enough to sit out, desiring to be able to walk for the rest of the day.

Littletron is out for blood:

Actually, that is just his concentration face (tongue out, and all).  He really preferred to just drive the car around and avoid other cars.

Next up, the "Taz" swing.

Then the Tilt-a-whirl

That picture was taken while the T-a-W was in motion.  And, this one is Littletron lecturing me about the dangers of taking pictures while the ride is in motion.

Littletron did the giant slide in a potato sack (I can't believe people pay $3 to do this slide).

Then, we stepped into the fun house.

Obligatory mirror pictures:

Here is what Troubletron and I would look like as Little People:

Ferris wheel:

Inside the giant, spinning bears (not sure what this pose is all about):

Merry-go-round (run by a female CARNIE!)

In that picture, you can see one of the other things that hates me (besides fairs): THE SUN.  Even though I applied 70 spf sunscreen, my shoulders and forehead were already burning.

Littletron, surprisingly, loved the "Starship" more than all the other rides.

He rode twice in a row.  I could only handle one time.

And, finally, we braved the food lines to enjoy a funnel cake, evidenced by the powdered sugar all over my skirt:

So, TAKE THAT, Teenbot!

Today on BotTron Photo

Getting Troubletron's attention

Spring Socce . . .er . . . Football

For our family, the year's onset of warmth equals the start of half a year of dragging ourselves to elementary schools, churchyards, and rec centers all over Northern Virginia to watch Troubletron and his friends play real football.

 Every weekend, it's the same.

Troubletron dominates the assembled group.

And, we, as a family, support him.

. . . with our FULL attention.

Well, at least, we try.

Though, sometimes, distractions creep in.

Yeah, I play "easy" sudoku.  So what?  I don't think logic "games" should make me feel bad about myself.

So begins our spring/summer/fall weekend obligation.

("Why isn't Littletron playing?" you may ask, seeing that there are children on the field.  Well, physical activity isn't really Littletron's thing . . . yet.)

("Why aren't you playing?" you may ask, seeing a varied group of men, women, and children on the field.  Well, my back is currently broken.  Also, I don't really know how to play . . .).

Today on BotTron Photo

Shopping with Littletron