227 Down... 20 To Go...

Molly,

Before you were born, I decided that I wanted to change my work schedule. My job is a full-time, 50+ hours a week commitment. And with Daddy's travel schedule and no relatives in town, I knew something had to give. I also knew that I wanted to -- needed to -- spend as much time with you as I possibly could.

Thus, Mommy and Molly Fridays were born.

Hard to believe we've been doing this for almost five years. We've had about 227 Mommy and Molly Fridays (give or take a few)... and we only have about 20 left before you start Kindergarten.

It's like I blinked... and now you're almost five. Wow - other parents always warned us how quickly it all goes. Now, Daddy and I are the ones warning expectant parents.

For the first two years of Mommy and Molly Fridays, we'd hang out, play, have lunch on the deck (in nice weather)... then we expanded into playdates with friends who were having their own Mommy Fridays. Sometimes Daddy would take the day off, or Grandma and Grandpa/Papa & Grandma would come to town -- and we'd say, "It's Molly and Mommy Day, with special guest star... Daddy!" (or whoever was visiting.) Then we branched into Ballet and Pancakes Fridays.

About a week ago, as I was recounting the adventures of our day together, Daddy observed, "So, you only have like 20 left, right? Before she starts school?"

And I started to cry.

He was right - there are now exactly 20 Mommy and Molly Fridays left. So, I promise to make the most out of every last one.

Luckily, we had a FANTASTIC Friday this week -- ballet, Panera (a new choice you and Abby started last week), then off to a local park with Abby, Ellie, their moms, and a few other friends. There was a puppet show... but Mommy forgot it was Spring Break and didn't get tickets in advance. But you saw the world's BEST playground and immediately forgot all about it. We also rode the carousel with all your friends. After a quick snack (thanks to Ellie and Abby's moms), we took off for lunch with Daddy at Steak 'n Shake.

We both took a FANTASTIC nap... then you were invited to go with other Ellie and her family to a fish fry (your first!) and swimming at the Rec Center.

Seriously, this had to have been the best Friday EVER.

And we'll make the next 20 ones to remember too.

I love you, peanut. And I've loved our special Fridays.

All my love,

Mommy

Molly -

It's hard to believe we're only one month into 2009. You had enough fun in January to fill three months! Let's recap:

- You had 2.75 sleepovers... Ellie slept at our house... you slept at Abby's house... then you almost slept at Ellie's house...twice. Almost. Maybe "third time's a charm" on that.

- On the same day that Ellie spent the night, we had Home Depot day (and built football bookends) AND went to Build-A-Bear. You girls played in the play area at the mall and had lunch at the food court. Seriously, could that day have been any better?

- Celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day... you actually learned who he is!

- Celebrated the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States.

- Went to see Mo Willems and his reading of Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed.

- Snow day spent at Jake's house

- SNOW!!!

And behind the scenes, Mommy signed you up for Cinderella Ballet Camp for this summer, tee-ball for the spring, planned an Amtrak trip to Chicago for next month (complete with lunch at American Girl), and Daddy and I registered you for Kindergarten on Friday. (More on that later.)

Wow - I think we got our money's worth out of January! Can't wait to see what February (and the rest of the year) has in store for us.

Love you, peanut.
Mommy

Have Apron, Will Travel

... Or, Why We LOVE The Home Depot...

Over the Fourth of July weekend, we drove to Ohio for my Grandmother's 90th birthday party.

(Interesting side note: after I was informed that we were having her party over July 4th, I told my mom, "But her birthday is in December. Did her 90th birthday just happen, or is it coming up?" My mother replied: "We really don't know... but she's 90-ish.")

Anyway... Aaron and I realized that July 5 was the first Saturday of the month. And you know what that means: Kids' Workshop at The Home Depot!!! And this time, the project was a bird house. We couldn't miss that...

So we packed up our orange apron and hit the road to Ohio. Grandpa said there was a Home Depot close to the hotel... it was literally across the parking lot.

It was neat to see how this Home Depot did things differently: They set everything up outside, under the Contractors' Pick-Up Awning. We signed in and got our supplies. Then, at the very end, Jeff the Home Depot guy stamped the bottom of the bird house and Molly signed her own name. Seriously -- too cute.

We had a great time... and Grandpa had fun getting in on the action too.

Thanks, Home Depot - you're the best!

Grandma wants to see this photo in a Home Depot ad... but what Grandma doesn't think her babies belong in an ad? Is that in Chapter 3 of the Grandma manual?

Home Depot - 1; Pottery Barn Kids - 0

Part of my mommy life is I work outside the home. (Not a judgement... just a statement of my reality.) Since I work four days a week, I try to be a present parent and make the most of what I do with Molly when we're together.

So, that's why I was really annoyed to get this invitation from Pottery Barn Kids. Book club at my favorite store in the whole entire universe? Brilliant idea. Getting me to spend quality time with my daughter amidst the Hannah quilts and monogrammed Anywhere chairs? Wow -marketing genius. Doing this at 10 a.m. on a Tuesday??? Really? Really???

Strike 1 - Pottery Barn.

On the more positive front, a big woo-hoo to Home Depot for its monthly Kids Workshop. We accidentally happened upon this last month when Molly's Daddy was in need of some wiring, a new tool, or some fuse box, or something. Molly and I tagged along when a very nice woman named Tina invited us to build a race car. For free. Oh - and Molly got her own mini-sized Home Depot apron to keep! (Daddy was jealous that he didn't get one too. I said he could have his own... but he'd have to clean up Aisle 7.) So, how did it go?

As so can see, so well that we went back last week to make a flower box/crib for one of our elephants, Humphrey. (Photos coming soon.)

So thanks, Home Depot, for giving families a fun, FREE activity on a day and time that is convenient for most everyone. We'll see you next month for the flower pencil holder.