February recap

I should probably blog at least once this month, don't you think?

Here's what happened in February:

• I increased my telecommuting hours to full time, the first time I have officially worked full-time since EM was almost 3. Once I survive the current, huge company-wide development project and the learning curve of my new product, we'll re-evaluate whether the new schedule works. In the meantime, Michael and our housekeeper have taken on pretty much all of my inn duties.
• All three big kids received their results on the standardized tests they took in the fall. All three made Proficient with Distinction in both math and reading.
• High test scores aside, NB and IM taught LW "I Know a Song that Gets on Everybody's Nerves" and seemed shocked when he used this newfound knowledge to, well, get on their nerves.
• EM thought about auditioning for the middle school spring musical, but ended up deciding against it. NB and IM performed in a stage adaptation of Maurice Sendak's books. They had a lot of fun. (Of course, the bad thing about putting a classic picture book on stage is that the parents all know when the kids mess up their lines. The night Max wore his wolf suit and made mischief of one kind and another . . . )
• Michael and I survived a record-setting busy stretch at the inn. Mostly. The busy stretch keeps extending. My semi-retirement from the inn doesn't completely apply to President's week.
• My 52 books a year challenge suffered a bit under the double attack of Vanity Fair (interesting, but long and sometimes dry) and Battlestar Gallactica (a little too interesting, and thanks to Netflix I can keep the DVDs as long as I want and watch all the commentaries).
• The elementary school declared President's week "TV Turn-off Week." Ha. Normally I support efforts to reduce screen time, but during our busiest week of the year? Sorry.
• Kids get extra affectionate when they are contagious, the better to spread the germs. Now that NB just succumbed, EM and I are the only ones standing. I keep having psychosomatic symptoms, but so far they have all been false alarms.
• IM can throw up while sleeping and not wake up.