Just busy.

Yesterday was quite spendy.

We finally had a chance to try out that drop-in daycare center and the kids LOVED it. They want to go back, for sure.

I am glad it got such glowing reviews, but maybe a little too good... We figured we'd try once a month for now, and maybe twice a month when BM graduates preschool. But of course they wanted to go back like TODAY! LOL.

Anyway, it was $25 to register (one time, can use any location - which is super nice since they have some locations in the Bay Area where we spend much time and sometimes need a little help).

You know between our parents and dh's sea of family we can usually find family to watch the kids for free, but there's been times we had to scramble or cancel our plans. So this is just really a neat thing about the place. That they have so many locations in the Bay. Plus many locations around here too.

Anyway, we left the kids for 2 hours so it was about $25 for that and another $7 for lunch. We could bring their lunch though which is nice. We would probably plan around lunch/dinner or just bring it for them. But we splurged yesterday. Though that pretty much clears our babysitting fund.

& while they were there dh took me to lunch and we went to pick up his car from the shop.

The car repair was minimal. We spent $250, but that was for oil change and safety check and all that, as well as the repairs they did.

A little big to pay out of budget, but small enough to just take out of short-term savings. I left $150 in there last month that I didn't need, so will probably even out and not hit our vacation part of the savings.

So far so good anyway.

Oh yes, with the rest of our babysitting fund, we splurged on lunch out. Dh took me to all-you-can-eat sushi. It was good. We sure ate A LOT!!

I hesitate to say it, but work is going rather well. I Feel like my boss took a lot off my plate. I am torn if I should just embrace it, or it I should ask for more. It's a tough call. I Am turning out tax returns in a day and I keep thinking maybe I should hold onto them for a few days - my clients are getting spoiled. Don't want them to have high expectations. LOL. This is the complete opposite of last year (our WORST tax season ever).

For example, last year we hired a temp for a few weeks and I gave her a slew of stuff I just had not had time to look at for months. The same stuff has been coming in and I just do it that day. Clearly not busy enough!

I think a lot of my co-workers are feeling the same. I just haven't figured out what's different. Except everything that could have gone wrong last year, went wrong. This year seems to have better karma or something. I don't know!

So I keep thinking, is this the easiest tax season ever OR is just anything a piece of cake after last year? Was prepared for the worst and so feel ahead of the game.

Or perhaps the worst is just yet to come. ??

A LOT of my work was outsourced to a guy back east, middle of last year, so I think that is mostly what is helping me. What a load off. I just had way too much to do and it has been impossible to find employees. So this has really helped keep some level of customer service. I mean I could do all the work by the deadlines, but the clients just weren't happy with the slow turnaround. So that has been good.

If not for that, I can't tell you what my sanity level would be...

Likewise, we are cutting out some audits and reviews and other summer work. I also just churned out some stuff I usually don't get to until summer.

I don't want to get too optimistic, but I think my plan to cut back my summer hours may just work this year. I have an extra week of vacation and had wanted to leave at noon on fridays last summer - for 3 months or whatever it worked out to. Then it just got insane.

This year is looking WAY more promising...

Anyway, lunch with dh was so nice yesterday. We have really had little time together lately. Particularly with the kids no longer napping, and just having in general opposite shcedules (I sleep 8pm-5am and he sleeps 2am-8am or something). He's been so annoyed with my sleep schedule, but I think it goes both ways. IF I thought there was ever chance in hell he would wake up at dawn, I might consider staying up late. But yeesh. Mostly I can't keep my eyes open past 8. NO matter how hard I try.

With new babies and all my sleep was just so interrupted. We used to alternate every other week who could sleep in on Sunday, etc. But since the kids have been sleeping fine I am just in sleep heaven. I no longer have the urge to sleep in. EVER. I've always been more early bird anyway. But never like this before. I guess I find it is the only time I have peace and quite and time for ME which is probably most key - at dawn. Dh finds the same with the late nights. He has always been a night owl.

So anyway, we have been going round and round. I hope setting up a regular date night helps. Even if we can only afford once a month for now. Will get better soon enough...

Also, I have been going home once a week for lunch, while the kids are at school. They go to school near my work and makes the most sense for me to drive them, though I Work a shorter day on those days since I have to pick them up by 5. But during summer it will be no prob to swing the short days and the long lunch. So that will get better too. Work has been a tad hectic to do that every week yet, during tax season.

I had stopped going home for lunch because of insane gas prices. (I used to go home for lunch every day when the kids were babies). But ramping back up to twice a week. A work day when I can go home for an hour? HArdly feels like work. So I guess it is good middle ground to try twice a week - once for dh and once for the kids. Both for me.

Anyway, I knew I came to this site and was like, "I LOVE my job. I have such a flexible job. I hardly work in the summers." Blahblahblah. & then I had the year from hell. LOL. & you all thought I Was crazy.

So, this is a lot more what I am used to. & more my speed.

I have just been embracing it, figuring I had financial catching up to do. Which is funny because I went into my review this year just with the attitude, whatever you want me to do. The money doesn't hurt. (Which is so not me as a whole). But my boss knows me too well. He said he would cut my workload if I like. I didn't exactly see how he could. & I told him I was embracing it. But I think he knew me too well and found opportunity to cut my workload. I can't really complain about that... IT was really a smart move over all. I have a bad habit of taking on too much and I just think he could tell.

Plus, for the long-term I really would like to go part-time, and he is well aware. So, yeah, the less responsibility the better. You know, it is always hard to cut back when you get piled on the responsibility.

Likewise, I have been at this job 6 years and this is my second tax season in more of a management capacity. I think I Am just working faster and know my job better. IT makes a BIG difference.