I know that it’s the “American Dream” to move out of the city and into the desired blandness that is the Suburbs, however, I find myself picking up my tin can and running it along the rungs of the County Line. GET ME OUT OF HERE! The Suburbs of Philadelphia may be different from the suburbs that you know. The suburbs that I know are filled with snobbery, pretentiousness, self-entitlement, self-righteousness and elitism. Aside from that warm and welcoming depiction, housing is outrageously expensive.

I wrestle with the notion of moving back into the city. The school district out in the mashed potato world of Suburbia is far superior to that of the city, but God knows, I hate this place! I hate you, $1200+ a month rent, and I hate your inhabitants who are doctors, lawyers and dear God, ANYTHING but Indian chiefs. Indian chiefs, after all, sound so blue collar!! THE HORROR!!!!

So, while David is laid off, we are going to gather information about getting Alexa into a Charter School in the city. We could own our own home for what we pay in rent up here. But anyway….

It’s cold and I feel the need to bake something.

Alexa is now officially a career woman; fast on her way to becoming a contributor to the evil pig empire known as capitolism. Well, okay, she just started kindergarten, she has some time before she’s breaking her back for the Man….

We started the day early. I woke up before the rest of the family and made Alexa’s lunch and took a shower. David made a fantastic breakfast of biscuits, gravy, bacon and eggs. My dad and BIODAD5000 came over to eat some grub and watch our Princess take her first steps into “big girl school”. We sat down to the wonderful breakfast, my father trying his best to make small talk with BIODAD5000. To my father’s credit, he makes a huge effort with BIODAD, however, it all just has a way of making an already awkward situation that more awkward. BIODAD5000 does not seem to want to communicate or be in our presence, so sometimes I wonder why he subjects himself to us. But he does, all the while emitting the surliness of a 15 year old boy forced to watch Beaches with his overbearing mother. But I digress…

Shortly after what from this point forward will be known as Most Awkward Breakfast Ever, it was time to take Lex to school. We met the teacher at the door and after some emotionless hugs and kisses, Alexa and Patrick (one of her classmates) trotted off hand-in-hand, skipping into a world where Fiskar Scissors and an eight pack of Crayolas rule supreme. As their tiny shapes grew smaller in the distance, I became rudderless. David grabbed my hand, asked me if I was okay, and pushed me towards the minivan. (Oh, dude, did I tell you I drive a minivan now? I’ve officially done the unthinkable.)

We did a bunch of activities this morning to help distract me from the fact that my heart is now sitting in a classroom 2 miles away — like buy some new panties and bras, let Luke ride the carousel at the mall and spend a little quality time snuggling. Believe it or not, the day has gone rather fast. And now I only have another hour and 15 minutes before it’s time to pick Princess up from school.

Luke keeps asking when he gets to start “big boy school”. He will be going to daycare two days a week starting tomorrow. He can’t wait to go, so it’s a little less scary. It’s still weird though — I feel as if I’m ringing in a new phase of parenthood, what with school lunches and Back to School Night and all that other jazz that is not baby-toddler related.

Now, I make lasagna, the Princess’s favorite dinner.