Happy President’s Day, friends.  If you have today off, I hope you’re out enjoying it!  I’m NOT off work, and actually I have a lot to do, so Sunday Scaries hit hard this weekend.  We didn’t actually do too much; it was a pretty low-key weekend.  Valentine’s Day was a bit of a roller-coaster, thanks to work.  The kids were off school (teacher development day) so I worked remotely, but it was a busy day – we had a huge deadline in one case and I was slamming through my to-do list all day long.  There were some good points: Steve and the kids gave me a gift card for a hot air balloon ride (!!!!!) and I took Peanut out for a girls’ date to the American Girl Store for “Hearts and Hugs: Memories with Mom.”  We had a yummy dinner and craft, and she got a book and a picnic set for her Wellie Wishers – but then we had to rush home so I could keep working.  I finally fell into bed at almost midnight; fortunately, I am not a huge Valentine’s Day person, or I’d have been pretty disappointed.

Saturday was a low-key around-the-house kind of day.  I folded epic amounts of laundry and made a library run – nothing too exciting.  (I mean, library runs are always exciting, but you know what I’m saying.)  On Sunday, the kids had earned a trip to the zoo, so we bundled up and made it there in time for a very short window to see the two adorable clouded leopard cubs.  Most of the animals were cuddled up in their dens, but we did see the zebra, the cheetah, the otters, and my favorite – the elephants – among others.  Didn’t see the lions this time, sadly.  The rest of Sunday was just knocking around the house, folding more laundry, restocking the kids’ school uniforms, the usual.  Next weekend I need some trail time.

Reading.  Quite a week in books!  I was churning through them the past few days.  On Monday, I finished up my re-read of Wish You Were Eyre, the penultimate installment in the charming Mother-Daughter Book Club series – always a delight.  With library deadlines looming over me, I turned to A Man Lay Dead – my first Ngaio Marsh, how can that be? – and loved it.  It was as charming as a murder mystery gets and I found myself laughing out loud at Marsh’s wit more than once.  Next up, The Princess of Cleves.  It might have been a case of right-book-wrong-time, but I was a bit underwhelmed.  The chatty and witty introduction – by Nancy Mitford, who translated the book from its original French – was the best part of it for me.  Although there were little moments, like when one of the characters describes Henry VIII to the titular Princess, concluding with “and he finally died after becoming quite enormous.”  But mostly, it wasn’t for me.  Apparently I was on a royalty kick, though, or just under a lot of library deadlines, because I went from The Princess of Cleves to American Royals.  The premise was a lot of fun and I flew through it – sometimes you just need something silly and not at all taxing, right?  Ended the weekend with The Poisoned Chocolates Case, which I’ve been saving to read around Valentine’s Day.  (It’s not related to Valentine’s Day, but – chocolates.)

Watching.  I’ve stopped trying to keep track of the kids’ jags.  They’re back on Zootopia, and I’ve seen it about three times this week.  It’s not my favorite of their obsessions, but they’ll be back on Harry Potter soon enough. Also: Bake-Off.  Sunday night.  Of course.

Listening.  Podcasts, podcasts, all the podcasts.  Bunch of different things.  And I had the inspired idea to fire up Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone on Audible one afternoon on the way home from school, to end an argument.  (Peanut wanted a podcast and Nugget wanted music.  Audiobook = the perfect compromise.)

Making.  Birthday party invitations for a certain fella who is turning FIVE next month.  Where has the time gone?  He asked for a bowling party, so that’s what we’re doing.  And lucky for me, there was only one bowling-themed option on Shutterfly, so no decision necessary.

Blogging.  I have two fun posts for you!  Themed Reads for February on Wednesday – three historical fiction titles about the African-American experience, in honor of Black History Month – and a very belated trail report from our New Year’s Day hike at Wilson Powell Wildlife Sanctuary in Old Chatham, NY, on Friday.

Loving.  Lamest loving ever, guys, so sorry in advance but – I have to tell you that the thing that has given me more joy than anything else is having no baskets of clean laundry in my room right now.  They are ALL folded and ALL put away.  It’s so much nicer to have a tidy space and I just feel less stressed when I’m not surrounded by chaos.  Given what the work landscape looks like for the next few months, I will take those small victories when I can get them.

Asking.  What are you reading this week?