Strobe Light De-Pooh-ing

The Hubbs: "Um, The Princess is standing on top of her dresser."

Me: "How did she get up there?"

The Princess: "HahahahahahahaHAAAA!!!!!"

So, I join The Hubbs and The Princess in her room, in an attempt to figure out what she was using to hoist herself up onto the dresser.  Her rolling Eeyore and a few other potential suspects are promptly removed, and The Hubbs and I return to the living room to properly veg out in front of more Sex and the City.

The Princess: "Hehe."

Uh-oh.

The Princess:  "HehehahahoohoohahaHAAAA!!!!"

One peek around the corner, and The Hubbs and I can tell she's right back up on top of that dresser.  The same dresser, need I remind you, that is surrounded by a veritable moat of nothingness.  Not one item that could act as a stepping stone is within four feet of this thing, but there she is, swinging her feet and giggling like a maniac.

And...chewing on something???

Me: "What is that in your mouth, Princess?"

The Princess: "Hehehe...gurgle...slurp...heheeee!"

The Hubbs: "Well, what is it?"

I separate the offending bit of plastic from the oozing drool I now hold in my hand.  I, too, want to know what in the heck this thing is.  After a moment of total confusion, we figure out that this is the sad remains of one of the (absolutely adorable, and not at all cheap) Winnie the Pooh decals from her wall.

That's right.  The Princess has learned how to climb up on her dresser unassisted so she can reach - and eat - the stickers on her walls.  Rock on.

When we realize what's going on, The Hubbs and I begin peeling the rest of the decals from the walls.  The Princess watches with glee, bouncing around on her dresser and flipping the light switch on and off and on and off and...you get the point.  Did I mention the cackling?  Or the fact that it's pitch-dark outside by this time?

So, there we are, The Hubbs and me, de-Pooh-ing The Princess's room, when - without warning - she flips the light off.  We're blind.  You know what it's like going from full light to full dark.  It takes a minute to adjust.  The only problem is that she finds it so funny to play Strobe Light in the middle of our sticker-peeling fest that she just can't wait long enough for anyone's eyes to adjust before clicking that switch again.

Her timing is impeccable, too.  Any time one of us stretches into an unnatural position in an attempt to reach a sticker that is just a little too far away, click.  The lights go off.  She cackles.  We freeze, hoping for the light to be restored before someone is impaled by a horse head on a stick, or - worse - steps on a sharp block.  Click, click, click, click. 

Giggles.

Clicks.

More giggles.

Note: Fortunately, no members of the Hubbo Family were harmed during this game of Strobe Light De-Pooh-ing.  In fact, it was the most fun I've had in a long time.

The No-Reason Happies

Last night, The Hubbs and I settled in to gobble down some dinner and continue our Sex and the City marathon.  You see, I am the proud owner of that gigantic pink faux-suede box set that contains the entire series.  Since I just got the second movie for Christmas, we decided it would be fun to watch the whole saga in order from the beginning.

It's been a blast.  We still have two seasons to go before we start on the movies.

While we were all snuggled up in our fleece blankets, flannels, and sweat pants, The Princess opted for the usual: running around the house in a onesie dress, doing as she darn well pleases.  There were a few moments of unsolicited cuddles, which are always a hit.

But then...

Neither The Hubbs or I noticed anything particularly funny in our living room, but apparently our sense of humor is not as sophisticated as that of The Princess.  Out of nowhere, she began to laugh.  Belly laugh.  Snorting.  Tears streaming down her face.

She'd almost recover herself, and then it would start all over again.  It must have lasted at least half an hour.  Half an hour of the most gleeful sound I could possibly imagine.  She laughed so hard, and so heartily, that I found my cheeks and tummy muscles hurting from joining in for so long. 

She laughed at me.  At Da.  At Bubbles.  At Sookie.  At unseen hilarity.  And, boy, did she laugh.

I may not understand it, but I have to say this: the no-reason happies are some of my favorite occurrences in this life.  I'll take 'em every day and twice on Sunday.  (giggle, giggle, snort!)

What Was I Thinking?

I'm draggin' this morning, and I haven't seen The Princess since before work yesterday.  Thank goodness she got up early, and in a good mood, because I was gone from 6:20 yesterday morning until 9:45 in the evening. 

Welcome to the new semester.

It always takes a little time to get used to the goofy schedules I keep when I'm in school.  I'm sure I'll be fine after a week or two, but right now it seems as though I'm just asking for it.  Just think, this time next year, I'll be done with this degree.  Graduated.  Mission: accomplished.

What ever will I do with myself then?  I'm pretty sure it will involve lots of money and another bout of hectic schedules. 

Who decides, at almost 30, that they're suddenly undereducated?  That they need not only to complete their associate's degree, but that they want to go for a bachelor's...and as if that's not enough, that they want to go for a Master's?  And they're not even sure what they want that Master's in?

Me, that's who.

If this life wasn't infinitely complicated, well, then it just wouldn't be mine.

Another Long (and long overdue) Update

Yep, we're still alive and kickin' here.  It is absolutely amazing to me how fast time is passing...I can't seem to keep up, let alone find the time to post a blog.  Rest assured, though, we're doing fine.

Since my last posting, The Princess performed in her first Christmas program at school.  This was, by far, the cutest thing that has ever happened.  I am fortunate enough to work five minutes from her school, so I met The Hubbs, Grumpa, Hambone, and Nana there for my "lunch break."  Three sweet little kiddos with autism, sitting in front of a large audience made up of their family members.  Two sweet little kiddos with autism, screaming their bloody heads off and barely making it through the first number.  One sweet little Princess with autism, swaying to the music, clapping her hands, and clutching that Santa hat to her head for dear life.  I was so proud, I thought I'd burst.

It's funny, but we always have a tendency to shy away from developmental conversations with family.  This cousin is doing this, this cousin is doing that, and The Princess is nowhere near their levels...despite the vast age difference with The Princess being the oldest.  When it comes to this kind of thing, I tend to will myself not to notice.  She is who she is, and there's no reason to compare.

But at the Christmas program I really saw first-hand much of the progress Mrs. G. was raving about during our parent-teacher conference in November.  Hearing that The Princess can tune out other kids' tantrums is one thing...an abstract concept.  Seeing her continue happily through the program while two other kids melted down right next to her?  Crazy.  If I hadn't seen it, I wouldn't believe it.

Christmas was wonderful, and - of course - The Princess was spoiled.  Between her new keyboard with all sorts of synthesizer sounds from Nana and Grampy, her super-duper cool rocker/teeter totter from Santa, her tent from Grumma and Grumpa, and her fish tank from Hambone and D, we're going to have to hope she doesn't expect anyone to top this next Christmas!

She's back in school after her winter break, and so am I.  The Princess is now staying one hour longer per day, leaving after lunch, and arriving home in the early afternoon.  I attended my first lecture on Saturday, and I'm gearing up for another semester of insanity (but in a good way!). 

Work is good.  Just moved to our new office in the hospital, and I love it. 

The Hubbs is still The Hubbs, meaning he is still the bestest of the best, both on the Daddy front and the Hubby front.  This man is a superhero, the likes of which I've never encountered before.  His estrogen-fighting powers alone should qualify him for his very own cape and tights...poor guy, surrounded by gals all the time, and still manages to be so great.  Yep, definitely somethin' super there.

Well, since it seems as though I'm transitioning into the once-a-month War-and-Peace post, I suppose it's time for me to go.  Hope y'all are havin' as fun a time with things as we are!