For the past three weeks, HungryMan was working overtime. And by overtime, I mean twice the amount of time that he normally works. He walked out the door before we woke up and didn’t put his key into the door until Ava was sound asleep.
Let’s just say that my empathy for single parents has more than doubled. I knew it would be a tough three weeks. I did not realize that I would crash each night after putting Ava to bed.
Before he started his crazy three weeks I made a list of all the little projects I could do during my free evenings (like publishing this post). Oh, I was clueless. By the time Ava’s breathing had settled to a steady purr, I was comatose on the couch. I could not even lift my mind’s eye to the pile of things gathering dust in my brain.
This new schedule also interrupted our Saturday morning routine of all snuggling together in bed. On the first Saturday the jamma-girl stumbled into our room to discover only one lump in the bed instead of two.
Disappointed, she went hunting for her missing daddy and found him already hard at work in his office.
“Sorry Ava,” He said as he gave her a hug. “Daddy has to work this weekend. I have to work everyday for the next fourteen days, and then we’re going to Florida and we’ll be together everyday. Okay, Ava?”
Ava stared at the pile of charts and graphs that seemed to have grown overnight on his desk. She nodded and sprinted to the other end of the house.
When I wandered into the kitchen later in search of my eye-opening orange juice, Ava was fully engrossed at her craft table. She had poured herself a plate of colored pensils, crayons, and glue. I cracked eggs as she cut paper. Before I could serve her up some food, she grabbed her project and dashed back to the office.
“Look Daddy, I made you fill-up’s.”
“Philips?”
“Yeah, I made you fill-ups. See they are fill-ups. Look.”
“Here you go, Daddy. Now you don’t have to works so much. Now you only have to work two days.”
Awwwwww, what a sweetie!
Cute cute.
‘Tis the season. My husband walked in the door at 11:01pm last night. Poor squishy engineer face.
I’m guessing ‘fill-ups’ is referring to Hungryman’s multiple Philips monitors?
So cute! She is such a sweetheart! Hope you guys are enjoying some sunshine in FL. Was great to see you this past weekend!
Love it! Sometimes I think Mike could use some fill-ups, so I may
Love you guys!
give Ava a call. Hope you all are enjoying Florida! Can’t wait for pictures and stories. Oh, and I hope Ava liked her card. I figured someone with a bird name would like an owl card.
Fill-ups are pages filled up with stuff. I think she was attempting to imitate her daddy’s graphs.
We are loving the Florida sunshine!! And we are all a little pink to prove it. More on that coming soon.
And yes, huberhadley, she LOVED the valentine card! She especially liked the heart post-it notes–”this is what I’ve always been wanting!”
Hi Rachel!
I have SO missed reading your blog, and joyfully rediscovered it tonight!
Your little Ava is growing so much, and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing her artwork and her tutus. Very cute idea with the tutu. I’ve been thinking about making something like that for my little girl. And I LOVE the picture of you and your man at the wedding dance. What a beautiful couple you are.
Love to you,
Melody
FLorida…oh sweet sweet sunshine
Loved this story. How sweet she is to want to help her daddy!
hello…..
……are you you there…..
I miss you–and your posts!
Happy Birthday!!!!