Spring Breakdown!

Looking back, I never went anywhere fun, hip or remotely MTV-ish for my spring break. I wish I had. I did go to Florida my senior year of college---but stayed in my great grandmother's Boca Raton geriatric village for an entire week. I was surrounded by gray haired Oompa Loompas. They were exactly like the Jersey Shore cast except 60 years older and instead of GTL (gym, tan, laundry) it was BTD (bunko, tan, dinner). EVERY SINGLE DAY. Who'm I kidding,  I secretly want that when I'm 80.

But for now? Now, I have to somehow make spring break memorable for my kids. Since we'd be home all week I decided on some sort of daily surprise.

On Monday our surprise was to the local park. Sidenote--it is SO GREAT to play at the park again. ANYTHING but my living room. ANYTHING. The weather was nice for about 15 minutes before a cold front came in--rushing us back to our cars. But in that 15 minutes, little Chance had his first taste of a park swing, and he loved it. Like, really loved it.

On Tuesday afternoon after their nap, the girls were escorted into the living room/beauty spa, where they were primped and pampered as Auntie Gabey and I tirelessly executed mani/pedis. Complete with relaxing music, appetizers, massage oil and every color nail polish to chose from.

Hysterical doesn't even come close to describing it. The moment the girls noticed that we were in character, then they totally got into character and it was so much fun to watch. They had voices. Like special grown up lady voices! I would have given an hour long pedicure if it meant I could watch them interact a bit longer----but darn it I couldn't keep the water warm long enough. I mean check it out, Mia's got her finger raised when she took a sip of her water. Prin-cess!

Bella kept asking for Gabe to feed her some goldfish crackers. Since she was, ya know, in disposed and all.

They kept making these very adult-ish sound effects, ya know the one when you breathe in and let out a very dramatic exhale. It was so, so funny. My favorite part was when their toes were too small for the toe spacers. Check it, there's two-in-one! Wah-hah!!!!

 What took about 10 minutes to prepare ended up being so worth it.

On Wednesday, we packed our suitcases and headed to Bradley University where Eugene and I met and went to college. I was planning on coaching the speech team all day while Auntie Tanya and Miss Camille (the way cool college girl as Bella refers to her) baby sat. FOR HOURS. Seriously Camille, you're going to be a great mom one day. Just as long as you don't, ya know, shake em.' Ha ha. And thanks Aunt Tanya for all the snacks and TV time!

We scored some super cute Bradley gear from the bookstore and I briefly showed the girls around. It was so cold that taking them for a walk wasn't in the cards. But on the way home, I promised I would take the girls to the "spot." The spot, as Eugene and I call it, was where it all started between us. There's a place high up on a hill that looks out over Peoria. It was in this spot that we, so young, discussed the future, and traveling the world and wanting the most out of life and it's also where we kissed for the first time.

In an akward turn of events the girls demanded a kiss from me while up there, "like daddy did." I hesitated for a moment, cuz, um, eww. But then I agreed to a peck, but I gotta tell you--not the same. 


On Thursday, the girls were still riding their high from seeing an actual "college." C'mon, really? I'm telling ya, it's all in the way you present it. Because any sane person would shudder at the thought of spending the day in Peoria. But not these freaks. They loved it.

Our Thursday spring break surprise was busting out a blast from my past. Remember these?

We made them. It took a couple attempts because I couldn't find the right barrette. But alas, Target was victorious! They love them.....and secretly so do I. I bought some subtle earth tone colors so I could rock them too. Ironically, I looked less like I was from the 80's and more like a Steven Tyler wannabe. But, hey, it was fun.

On Friday we treated the girls to some Indian food. Well, okay, more like we treated ourselves--but again it's all in the way you present it, in this case, PINK chicken. The girls grubbed on their Tandoori pink chicken and even asked for another plate.

Thinking that the week would never end we woke up on Saturday morning, dropped Chance off at my parents and headed out to see Knuffle Bunny the Musical. Which is a musical adaptation of our favorite childrens book. We met up with Tiffany and her daughter and had a great time.

About 30 seconds into the show we realized that the correct pronunciation is "Kuh-nuffle" and not "Knuffle" with a silent K. Us three adults exchanged looks as if to say, "damn we're idiots."
The show was great and we even scored a picture with Trixie after the show.

TGIS! Thought I would never say that. Sunday, even when you're not working, still feels like, well, Sunday. That dreaded-end-of-weekend-don't-want-to-face-Monday-kind-of-day. Not this time. Sunday. The last day of spring break! The last day I have to be super nice and fun! Yay! I can finally go back to being the uppity, controlling and impatient mom that I always am. Pffew.

On Sunday, we watched a DVD that somehow made its way into our house. It's called Bella Dancerella. And it's a workout/dance routine that teaches you how to be a pop star. Those crazy Australians. Eugene and I just sat and laughed at how serious our daughters were taking it.

We also rocked out to last week's episode of Glee. About 11 times. 

I gotta admit, that Loser song is pretty catchy.

We concluded our glorious week with a "Sundae on Sunday" and Bella laughed hysterically everytime I said it. They got to fill up their little graham cracker bowls with as much junk food as we had on hand. Which btw, we have too much junk food on hand.

Awww, isn't that sweet. Buh-dum-cha. And while I may not have ended the week with a tan or a drunken hazy memory of the night before--I did have fun. Which is what spring break is all about, right?