Blech - we are all sick here. We had some fun plans for the weekend but we were all feeling too icky. BM got some mild virus but has had a fever off and on for 4 days all the same. Called preschool this morning to find out of course that is exactly what is going around. I was starting to worry it was maybe an ear infection, but hear all the other parents took the kids in to find out it was virus. Dh and I were discussing how insane it is that people take their kids in for every sniffle. Then again after 4 days you start to worry about infection and such, but most of the people I know drag their sick kids in on day 1, which is more the reason I try to avoid the hospital (& all the germs) when it seems awfully unnecessary.

Oh well, I had a big wake up call in the matter of perspective today. The kind of day that just makes me want to pack up and MOVE. We are so desparate for employees we flew in some guy from the mid-west to train and do some work for us. For whatever reason I am in charge of all this training and I am utterly and completely exhausted after day 1. I am not cut out for this - I like to hide in my office and be anti-social mostly. Just exhausted and not helping my feeling of being so behind on ALL my work. I see lots of overtime this week, but trying to get over a stomach bug as well myself.

Anyway, mid-west guy asks me today if daycare in California is expensive. oh, $1k/month average I say. I am surprised his eyes did not pop out of his head. He didn't show much reaction but to say he thought $200/month for his 2-year-old was pricey. I said, um, is that full-time? YEs he says. O.M.G. I said well, to put it in perspective I have my son in a CHEAP place 2 days a week and it runs me $300/month.

He had also asked me before what my hubby did so after he brought up daycare I said - now you see why we don't see the point of a second income! It is definitely way magnified in an area like this I guess.

I think it was over the weekend or recently I came upon Jeffrey's post about preschool costing $6k/year somewhere (how insane that is) and I Was thinking hell, it beats daycare here by a mile. Hehe. But I see to someone like my new co-worker - yeah that $6k would be a hell of a lot of money.

So I am just sitting here like why do we live here again???? Then again I have relatives in very low cost of living areas and I just couldn't stand it - I am a big city girl. I guess that is why. But talks like this make you wonder...

Anyway, in other news, just had to say LM is SO cute. He really likes saying "boo" over and over and over again. Can get annoying, and he always demands a big reatcion, but the funny thing is he picked up the cutest craziest giggle/laugh while we were gone. All you have to do is say "boo" and he bursts out laughing this cute little laugh. Also, he likes to call his grandparents and push buttons on the phone. HE always does this, but for some reason last night my mom started pushing buttons back and he was just cracking up. Hilarious. So I called him today from work and alternated some "boos" with some pressing buttons on the phone and he just squealed with laughter. Gosh, he has been so difficult with sleeping of late, and quite the moody/temper tantrum-y boy. But a phone call of little squeals makes it all worth it. So cute! & of course even better in person...

Oh & BM has made me extra proud of late. I have always been eager for the age when they actually understand the Golden Rule. Anyway, the other day in the parking lot we passed a shiny red convertible with the top down, and BM knows mommy is saving up money for a "fun car" one of these days. So I said as a joke, "Do you think we should take that fun car for a ride???" BM got very upset with me and said that wouldn't be very nice. But it was the first time he ever seemed to get the concept. He'll be 4 in a month and I think that is the age I hear you can begin to reason with kids a little better. So phew. Just an interesting milestone, understanding when something is not yours for the taking. He really seemed to understand that we would not like it if someone took our car, and likewise we would never take anyone else's car.

On the same day though we were running errands and I had to run to the bank. We were also running to they store that has little quarter vending machines and he always gets candy with daddy i guess. So we got out his little coin jar and grabbed 2 quarters. He asked me if we could take put his money in the bank too. So cute - now that's my boy. I said no, but I pulled out his college account (courtesy of grandma mostly) and showed him his balance and told him he already had a lot of money in the bank. I showed him his name on the statement and he was quite impressed. We talked about how we don't talk about money to other people though and the funny thing is he decided this should be a big secret from daddy. When I told daddy what happened BM got all upset and said - Don't tell him how much money i have!!! LOL.

The funny thing was family gives the kids lots of money earmarked for things and since we made much less when he was born (like half as much) we would use it for diapers and preschool and however they earmarked. I told dh that going forward all cash is going into mutual funds for BM going forward and same for LM when he turns 4 too - seems fair. So I told BM that when his birthday rolled around he was going to get some cash and we could put it in the bank. He is all excited about it. I am going to open a mutual fund in his name once he rakes together $1k. We'll see how long it takes. Could get it on his birthday, may take a few years, but we'll see. I am excited he shows interest at all in the idea. Ever since we made the decision (a few months back) the kids have gotten NO cash so it is kind of funny. They usually get oodles. I hope he gets a bit for his birthday... If nothing else I'll have to give him a little cash I guess...