Lots of activities. LOTS. Today I picked Rachel up early to head to a water-balloon and piñata and scavenger hunt party at her friend Jacksen's house. Jacksen's mom and Dad, Sam and CeCe, are really nice people who live close by and for some reason we haven't gotten together with them much although they're really fun to talk to. As soon as we got there and I explained the day I'd had, Sam said, "here, let me help you with that," and handed me a glass of white wine. The day got instantly better. I chatted with him and CeCe a bit while Rachel found the other girl her age at the party and they played Twister (Rachel was hilarious and actually won a round or two). CeCe had put on quite a non-birthday event and when I told her how impressed I was, she says she's out of town for work a lot and doesn't see Jacksen a lot, which is why she threw him this party. It put my Sunday-Wednesday night work schedule in perspective.
Then we went to tee-ball practice, where the kids played the adults. Rachel is a better hitter than I am (I missed once with the tee, arghhh) and we played for only a half-hour. Tomorrow is the last game although it may be canceled if there is a thunderstorm. Rachel got a TROPHY with HER NAME ON IT, and Coach Rucker said she had done an excellent job and tried really hard this season. She says she wants to do tee-ball again and try soccer, too -- and, of course, she does gymnastics and swimming. Maybe we have a budding jock in the family???
After the game it was on to dinner with Nicole and her daughter, Sydney, who Rachel knows from aftercare. I don't like Sydney much -- she whines and throws temper tantrums a lot -- but she really seems to like me and Rachel, and Nicole is going through a divorce so I figure it's a good thing to reach out to them (and I like Nicole, too). Nicole took us to a YMCA Member Appreciation BBQ, which was free -- hot dogs and hamburgers, potato salad, baked beans, chips, veggies and cookies and brownies for dessert, plus a bouncy house, a play structure and a kid's deejay who did great job with the music and getting the kids to participate. ("Thanks for the GREAT dance party!" Rachel exclaimed politely as we left; I was so proud of her.) She and Sydney spent most of the time doing activities while Nicole and I talked and occasionally tried to coax the girls to eat. At once point I asked Rachel to bring me some lemonade, and when Nicole asked if Sydney would bring her some, too, and Sydney balked, Rachel piped up and said, "I'll get it!" and she did. Nicole scolded Sydney for being lazy and not attending to her mom. I'm glad Rachel is a thoughtful kid.
When we got home I told Rachel that she needed to take all her camping stuff upstairs; I had told her to strike the tent and bring everything inside this morning, but we ran out of time and I debated whether I should make her do it when we got home tonight or just do it myself. I was pleased with the compromise I came up with -- I folded up the tent and dragged everything in the living room but told Rachel to bring it all upstairs -- which she did, without complaining.
Tomorrow I'm treating her to a Mommy/Daughter manicure and pedicure (I desperately need both), then swim lesson, then her last tee-ball game, and then the block party that begins at 3. I sure hope the rain holds off until tomorrow night after Drew returns. On Sunday we're meeting a former colleague of mine from Willamette's law school for brunch (he works now for the University of Toledo and is in town for a conference) and then I go back to work. Busy weekend!
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