Bates or Bust!

Today, I took my girls to Bates for the first time. I cannot believe that it was the first time I took them there. We are staying with my roommate from Bates and her family for a few days. Beck had to go check on her nordic ski team and the girls and I needed lunch. B had heard me talking about the "cereal wall" since I had gone up to Bates in May with Lisa Genova. So, it was natural for us to hit the commons area for lunch.

I have never seen my girls so excited about food. This was like Disney World to them. (Cheaper, too) They could not believe that you could get what you wanted, eat it and then GO BACK FOR MORE! Plus, Bates has done an amazing job with their new cafeteria. There are all sorts of ethnic areas of food, ice-cream, the cereal wall, toast, bagels, fruit, a gluten free section, a vegan section, pizza, salad bar and my favorite, the pastry/dessert area.

The girls were in awe.

Just look at B in front of the cereal wall.

She had cereal, then ice cream, then she went back for roast beef and hash browns. Yeah, not kidding.

K was giddy and started with cereal, then burnt 4 pieces of toast until she got the 5th one right, then moved on to ice cream and swore that the Sierra Mist was the best that she ever had. They even said that they wished they lived closer so they could eat there a few times a week. The conveyer belt that they put their dirty dishes on was the cherry on top.

We only had time to check out the swimming pool for B and the track for K and the hockey rink that is new since I had gone there. We did get to pose by "ski team rock" for a photo. (The ski team used to meet at this rock every day for practice before the bobcat statue became a fixture.)

Yup, future Batesies. At $50,000 a year, someone is going to need to hit the lottery BIG time! Or maybe I could start grooming them for scholarships now. Either way, I won't have to worry about them starving if they go here!

February Vacation Week Blahs

Just so you didn't think my 2 girls are perfect, I just want to open a little window into what today was like.....

It's February vacation here in MA. I love having the girls home, love not having to get up and go in the morning and love the relaxed feel of the week. Today, however, the boredom bug struck. First things first, I strongly oppose the word "Bored" because life is short and there is plenty to do and always something to do whether you like doing it or not. My kids know not to use that word around me, so instead they couch it by saying, "there's nothing to do", "what do you want to do", or they zone in front of the tv. Well I had had enough electronics for the week between "Full House", "Hannah Montana","Sabrina the Teenage Witch", Guitar Hero and the computer, so I shut them all off. (You'll soon say that was my mistake.)

K "I don't know what to do."
Me, "What do you want to do if nothing was stopping you."
K "I don't know. I have no friends."
Me, "Yes you do have friends, but 2 are away skiing and one is dealing with the death of her grandfather."
K "What should I do?"
Me, "How about cleaning out the car, helping me clean the mudroom, playing with the clay I bought, making a card for your grandmother in Florida, going to the barn and brush the horses, muck some stalls, play catch with the dog, do your vacation homework (you get the picture, I had plenty of ideas).
K "Oh, I have nothing to do." (I am sorry you can't hear the whine that accompanied that).
Me, "Take off your stocking and pee in your shoe." (An old saying of my mom's)
B laughing.
K, "That's not funny!"

This went on for quite some time. B, for awhile, was happy playing with Fimo clay and taunting her sister. Then it came time for lunch.
B, "I would like tuna on a bagel."
Me, "That would be great if we had either of those 2 items. How about some soup?"
B, "OK"
K, " I hate soup. I'll have grilled cheese."
Me, "That also would be great if we had any cheese. You guys have been fighting against going to the grocery store today, so you are going to have to take what you get."

More whining. Finally we got out to the Post Office, the Hobo store (Ocean State Job Lot: the girls call it the hobo store because it has really cheap stuff in it, like forks for a dollar. You would think they lived in a mansion.) and the grocery store.

When we got home their father made them muck some stalls. HaHa! And I got 20 minutes of peace and quiet. And during that time, I wrote this, had 3 glasses of wine and am contemplating running away to a warm climate. Who would like to join me?

(Mom, I am kidding on the wine. Do not call AA for me.)