Allyson and I just had the following conversation:

ALLY: Juice?
ME: Well, bedtime is in ten minutes. You can have some milk then. Okay?
ALLY: Juice?
ME: Milk.
ALLY: Juice?
ME: Milk.
ALLY: Juice?
ME: Milk.
ALLY: Okay. Wawa?
ME: Milk!
ALLY: No, Mom. Wawa.
ME: No, milk.
ALLY: Okay. (Ten seconds pass) Juice?
Lather, rinse, repeat.

Last week, Ben was gone. He was asked to help chaperone our church's youth missions trip. So from Sunday to Friday he was in Grand Rapids doing his mission thing. He had a fantastic time and I'm glad for that. But! That also meant that it was just me. And Allyson. All by ourselves.

Monday, Tuesday and Friday weren't so bad, as I had to work. Wednesday I took her to the zoo with Ben's mom Deb and our 9-year-old nephew Ray (who was staying with Deb for the week). Which was only slightly traumatic. Thursday Deb and I took the kids to the park, for paddleboating purposes. That was a good idea for about five minutes. Then Allyson wanted to get up and walk around the boat and go up front and try to steer and take the life vest off and maybe I'll pet a DUCK! At this point Ray decided he was tired of paddling and tired of being hot and tired of sitting up front and "do you think that duck would be mad if I pet it?"

But Ben did come home Friday, and all was well again.

Yesterday we had the child's annual Birthday Shindig, as she'll be turning two on the 28th. I didn't want to have her party ON her birthday, because it's a Wednesday. And we couldn't get the shelter the weekend after, so yesterday it was. And it was a nice time. Plenty of food, soda (found a great deal on the latter at Kroger!), family and fun. She got quite the selection of new toys (the Fisher-Price tea set was a hit among all the female children) and so many new clothes that just the new stuff filled a washer at the laundromat today. Sheesh!

And now I'm relaxing while Ben puts her to bed for the first time since a week ago Thursday.

Oh, and the potty training thing goes slowly. She'd much rather run around the bathroom yelling about how she has to pee.