Counting down the days...

We're leaving for Australia in two days - and I'm so excited!

Our bags are almost all packed; we have a load of laundry to do and go through and then that part's done.  I have a number of errands to run tomorrow morning - nothing like waiting until the day before we leave!  

I was sitting with Alexandra yesterday, waiting for food, and I watched her pull out a small container with toys in it, open it, then play with the toys quietly to herself.  I normally love to watch her amuse herself like that - even if it leaves me alone, watching her.  Her imagination fascinates me continually.  As I watched her yesterday, though, I had a realization.  

As a seven year old child, she needs to have toys.  Okay, it's not a life or death kind of need, but it would be mean to deprive her of any toys for an extended period of time.  While I'm sure she'd make up another game with whatever was around her, letting her have her little animals with her is probably the best idea.

Have I packed any toys?  Have I allowed her to pack any toys for our trip?

Uhm, no.  I've packed her numerous books and activity books (think money math workbooks) - and I told her she could bring one doll and one stuffed animal.

I realized yesterday that I've been pretty mean in that regard.  So - while we're almost done packing, we're going to have to pack some toys that she can bring with her on our journey...

I may even go so crazy as to let her bring a non-educational toy - it'll be WILD.

Scrapping, Swapping, and Flying Away!

My new hobby that I've gotten into this year has been scrapbooking.  I've discovered that it's a lot of fun, relaxing, and helps to preserve memories.  I'm not entirely thrilled with its cost and the fact that it can consume so many hours - but I figure it still balances out in the positive.  

Through scrapbooking, a friend has introduced me to the world of "swap-bot" - where I can swap paper scraps, embellishments, and all sorts of other things.  Another friend who I've introduced to swapping is swapping poetry and mix cds - FUN!

So to get my mind off my many worries, I've been focusing my energies on these two hobbies and having such fun!  

Sadly, they're going to be a bit on hold for the next month as Alexandra and I are about to leave for Australia.  Yes, we're headed to the land down under and are so excited.  We've been packing our bags and arranging our lists (packing, itineraries, etc) and are now to the point where we're just anxiously anticipating...

I'm hoping to relax, reconnect with family, and let this be a vacation.  Alexandra can't wait to meet her Australian cousins - and also see things that she's only seen in books and television.  The Sydney Opera House is on her list, as is the Big Banana (thanks, Disney Channel) - and of course the animals!

So I guess this answers my wondering where my time has gone and why I've not blogged recently.  I've gotten a lot of pages done for my scrapbooks; I've found new hobbies through swapping, and am looking forward to reconnecting with hobbies I've fallen away from; I've been trying to organize a big trip for myself and my daughter.  

My goal for our trip, though, is to keep up blogging as we go and include photos of our adventures.  

Taking a moment...

It's been quite a while since I blogged - I'd like to say it's because I've been so focused on my thesis but in reality, I'm not entirely sure why I haven't blogged.  

I had Alexandra and one of her friends the other day for a while and found myself getting short tempered with them quickly throughout the day.  That evening I took them to dinner with a friend of mine who does not have kids.  Through her eyes and ears, I discovered that these kids are really funny, great people.

There were so many funny things that came out of kids' mouths that evening (in a verbal sense only, thank goodness!) that I decided to change my tune towards them.

Every day since, I've made it a point to tell Alex what a great person she is - and I've made a conscious effort to enjoy her - rather than get frustrated with her.  

Sometimes it's so easy to expect perfection from her and get upset when she doesn't live up to those expectations.  But she's a kid - and she does what kids do - and that's perfect in its own way.  

She's seven years old and that's such a cool age - I don't want to look back in twenty years and just remember being stressed out at her; I want to remember the funny, smart, cool person she is!