Saturday:
Legoland was great!! The weather was wonderful, and P had a great time with her friends at the park.
Sunday:
We went to the Stuttgart Zoo. Once again, the weather was GREAT! While looking at the Rhinos, I saw this information plaque about them:
Was this the ONLY picture the zoo had of the Rhinos?? I'm thinking not.
Next destination? Disneyland Paris.
Posted by Margaret
11:25 AM
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Bright and early in the morning, we are off to Legoland. For the first time this year, it's to be above 90 degrees. Let the fun begin!! The weather is just practice for our Greece trip, because by 9am in Greece, it's already 85 degrees. P: Mommy, I had watermelon today for snack. I must finish packing for our trip and get a little shut eye, considering I need to wake up in 7 short hours. Have a great weekend!
Earlier this week, P had watermelon for snack #1 at the daycare (she LOVES watermelon). As usual, it was the subject of one of our 'conversations':
Me: Was it good? I don't like watermelon.
P: It was yummy for my tummy, but I took the beans out.
Me: What beans?
P: The tiny black ones. I took them all out and put them on the side.
Me: Good, because if you eat them, you can get a belly ache.
P: I still ate them, I just took them all out first.
Posted by Margaret
10:26 PM
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I'm all set for next school term...I've registered for class, got my book, supplies and $100 calculator (I hope it's the right one). I've heard the Stats teacher is pretty cool. I hope he has a sense of humor, becuase it's gonna be a fun 8 weeks (minus 1 week because we'll be in Greece...DARN!!)! I usually pick her up before 5pm snack, but even when she has snack at school, she's starvin' again by the time we complete the 7 minute ride home. D usually picks her up on Wednesdays, and when he brings her home at 8:30pm, she's ready for dinner #2, this time at 'our house'. When we do have dinner at home, we usually eat by 6:30pm, and she'll have snack #3 before bed time. When the weekend comes, I'll be John Brown (don't ask) if I make food every 3 hours (you know how many dishes that is?)!! P has her own shelf in the pantry complete with 22 boxes of cereal among other things, and her own shelf in the refrigerator with about 2548433 juice boxes among other things. We've got enough food in our house to feed a summer camp. That's why I call her the Eating Machine. It's gonna be fun!
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After dinner tonight at Chili's on the World's Busiest Air Base, P and I went to the store on base to hunt for the Heffalump movie. We found it and I'm glad. Only one issue...There was no time to watch it today. After bath time, it was bed time. P didn't even protest! She must be really tired from playing and eating all day. I say eating all day, because the Air Force Instruction~the rules/regulations for the daycare~state that the children can't go more than 3 hours without 'nourishment'. I need to add that P eats breakfast #1 at 6am at home because she's 'starvin' every morning.
The feeding schedule (like at the zoo):
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Our Legoland trip has turned into a full blown TRIP, complete with about 8 other families, hotel reservations, and group rates.
Posted by Margaret
8:51 PM
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I found out on Friday, that P's dad was charged with assault for spanking her and leaving bruises. I'm not talking military record charged...I'm talking civilian record charged. Also, I need to get my hands on a complete copy of the police report (it's been read to me over the phone), but because his name is in the report, they won't give me a copy. I have to do a Freedom of Information Act request, which can take up to a month (hopefully not). Once I get the report, my lawyer will send his lawyer a nice little letter (I'm sure he didn't tell his lawyer what has happened to him). In June, there will be a hearing which neither of us will attend and they will decide what his 'punishment' will be (maybe parenting/anger management classes and administrative discipline for his military record). P is at his house right now, and she'll be home in 3 hours. Yesterday, P was involved in her first gymnastics meet, where she got this 'cool necklace'. More pictures from the meet here. P just called me from D's house to inform me that one of her friends that live near him has the yet to be released Winnie the Pooh Heffalump movie, and asked if I could go to the store and buy it for her. Since it doesn't officially get released until Tuesday, how do you explain bootleg/pirated movies to a 4 year old?
Since we live in a not so large military community, most folks have heard about what happened, and a few are brave enough to ask me if what they've heard is true (I'd rather answer the the questions than for them to make up their own stories).
I've had a few conversations that went like this: Nosey: Is it true that you had D arrested because he spanked P?
I have spoken to my lawyers concerning this, and of course they said not to let her go back to his house, forcing him to take me back to court, where he will get BURNED. (sidenote: We have to go to German court, because the military does not get involved in civil matters). I completely understand, but this is where I stand...I have a court order, signed by a German Family Court Judge that says that he gets P on Wednesday evenings and every other weekend. If I don't let her go to his house, will I be charged with comtempt of court? I want to go about this the right way, because I know that two wrongs don't make a right.
Me: No, I didn't have him arrested the military just enforced the law. Also, he didn't just spank her, he took her clothes off and he left bruises on her.
Nosey: He's her dad, how could you do that to him?
Me: BECAUSE he's her dad! If I can't trust him to take care of her and keep her safe, I can't trust anyone.
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Posted by Margaret
5:00 PM
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P has the Day Care Crud, you know, the germs found only at the day care. There is no medicine to be given, and her doctor on the World's Busiest Air Base always says 'There's nothing to give, it must run it's course'.
Monday, Tweedle Dumb called me at work to tell me that P had been complaining about her stomach and in the bathroom for about 20 minutes yelling for someone to get her some wipes. I left work and made the 15 minute drive in 10 minutes (thank goodness my supervisor is also a single parent and understands!). I picked P up and took her to a friend's house since I had to go to class.
We got home Monday evening...no complaints, and no bathroom issues.
Tuesday, Tweedle Dumber called me at work and said P was 'sick' again. So, I picked her up about 10am and she went to work with me so I could finish some paperwork for Uncle LeRoy. While at my office, P got the scissors off my desk, and cut up a piece of paper worth $89,985.12. That comes out to about $962.41 a square inch. OOPS!
Once again, no complaints or bathroom issues once she left school.
I was also told that 3 other Cootie Kids from P's class was sent home on Monday and Tweedle Dumb is a tad sick (yeah, in the head!). I thought P was sick because she at so much fruit while in Spain, and she had to drink pineapple juice with every meal (evidently the Spanish have never heard of apple juice).
This morning I told P that if she got 'sick' today, she'd have to stay in the quarantine room behind the reception desk until I could pick her up. Needless to say, no issues today!
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Tonight was the last class of the school term, so no class for me for 2 weeks! Next term? Statistics it is!! Let the games begin~7 classes to go!!!
Posted by Margaret
9:55 PM
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We had a wonderful time in Spain (picture link on sidebar)!
Our hotel was in a city called Salou, about 50 km (30 miles) west of Barcelona, and had it's own private beach.
Wednesday
Thursday
- We went to Caribe Aquatic Park. Only the indoor pools were open (the outdoor portion didn't open until 15 May) but we still had a great time.
- In the afternoon, we went to PortAventura (Universal Studios). Since P is only 100 cm (39 inches) tall, there were quite a few rides she couldn't ride, but she still had a great time.
Friday
- We went to Barcelona, where we took a tour of the city attop a double decker bus and stopped for lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe.
- Since P was a tad underdressed (it was windy), so I was forced to shop for her a new outfit.
More pictures here.
- Barcelona is now one of my top 5 favorite cities after this trip.
Saturday
- After breakfast, P and I took a walk on the beach, where we saw a lone jellyfish in the water. About 2 hours later, we went to the beach (the water was warm and very clear), and someone with a couple of nets caught the jellyfish and removed it from the water.P was really concerned about the jellyfish, because she saw the movie Shark Tales, and thought they were cool.
Sunday
- After breakfast, we returned home, where it is about 20 degrees colder than Spain.
Check out my tan after only 4 days:
Next stop? Legoland for Memorial Day.
Posted by Margaret
12:30 AM
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Thanks for the encouraging comments about yesterday's post! I really appreciate it! Everything is packed and we are ready to go in 6 hours! Have a great end of the work week and weekend!
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Update on 'situation'...NOTHING!!!!
I don't know if the powers that be have spoken to D yet. The police report is complete, but they won't release it to me, because D's name is in the report. DUH!!! I told the person on the other end of the phone that I am the reason his name is in the report. I guess it doesn't matter that I am the custodial parent. I had to OFFICIALLY request the report (Freedom of Information Act Request), and I should have it in 10 days. It's too bad that according to an existing court order D is to get P in 7 days.
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As usual, I waited until the last minute to pack.
Packing list: Hotel confirmation number~check
Posted by Margaret
12:30 AM
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Mother's day sarted uneventful, due to the fact that P was at her dad's. He did bring her home early Sunday so we could spend the day together. When he dropped her off, he told me she did something to the Future Ex-Stepmother, and he spanked P (but he didn't tell me he spanked her twice for the same thing, nor did he tell me the other details).
Fast forward about 4 hours, and P was walking around the house after her nap in her undies. I noticed something purple on her upper thigh. I asked her what happened and she said 'My daddy took my pants and panties off and spanked me hard'. I looked at her butt and she had some SERIOUS bruises. All I could do was cry.
My first thought was to call up the Get Along Gang (the CRAZY folks that have NOTHING to lose that I used to hang out with when I was stationed here) and just give them his address and let them handle it.
Instead, I called two friends who are nurses at military hospitals here. Both said the same thing...take her to the emergency room at the World's Busiest Hospital. (One reminded me that he's spanked her with no pants on before, and this time was a tad worse, and if I don't put a stop to it he will really hurt her the next time). So, we went to the ER about 6pm, and after the nurse checked us in, another nurse came in to look at her butt and leg. After about another hour, a social worker and 2 military police showed up and checked her out. Since he left a bruise, the police classified it as abuse. They later called in her pediatrician to complete a report. Everyone that came in the room for the next 3 hours was briefed by P. She told the SAME story to everyone, and even dropped her underwear a few times to show proof.
After spending 5 1/2 hours in the ER, we were back at home.
To make a long story short, D was 'invited' to the police station on base to make a statement. I was told that if he incriminates himself (by saying 'I spanked my daughter') they will charge him with assault, since they documented the 'evidence'. Since there is a 'no contact' order (military restraining order) in place, he can't contact me or P in any way. Right now, I don't know what has happened or will happen to him.
Since we are leaving for Spain in 2 days, I was able to get an appointment with the Social Worker this morning. Of course, P briefed her on what happened. The SW asked P if she wanted to go back to D's house, and she said 'No, because he spanked me hard'.
P is fine and will be fine, but if you give her half the chance, she will give you ALL the details of her weekend, complete with information of someone 'taking pictures of my butt' (as part of the investigation). Me, on the other hand? In just 24 hours, my excema has flared and I am itching like crazy (I didn't need a $1M grant to prove that excema flares were stress related!).
Whew! I guess I'll start packing for our trip now.
Posted by Margaret
10:15 PM
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In 7 days we leave for Spain. Let me know if you would like a postcard or something!
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I have found a way to save money:
Since I lost my debit card, I put myself on a $200 budget for 2 weeks (or until I get my new card in the mail). I am glad to announce that I still have cashola until payday on Tuesday. I refuse to go into a bank to get anymore.
How much have I actually saved? I guestimate that with not buying the Eating Machine DVDs, toys, and CDs and not making any spontaneous purchases, I've saved $$$ over the last 10 days by not having easy access to the fundage. I'm not complaining at all, because I should have the new card before we leave for Spain, and when we get to Spain, IT'S ON!!! The fundage that has been saved WILL be gone by the time we return to Germany.
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It appears that P is allergic to sunscreen. A couple of years ago, I put some on her and she broke out in hives everywhere I put the sunscreen. Last year, I didn't put any on her. Saturday, before going to the Dinosaur park, I put some on her legs, arms, neck and face. By Monday, she was covered in hives on her arms, neck and face. I guess the water she was playing in washed it off her legs, so they have no 'bumpies'. This morning, the 'situation' has gotten worse. Now they are red and look like they have multiplied.
P's doctor at the World's Busiest Airbase, and she told me to give her Benadryl for the itch, and to NEVER use sunscreen on her again.
No sunscreen? FOREVER?
Posted by Margaret
10:30 PM
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Friday, when I picked up my tax write-off at daycare, she announced that she had another GOOD day! Since I promised her a banana split if the rest of the week was good, we we went to Baskin Robbins BEFORE dinner. I asked for a small banana split, made with only 1/2 a banana, and 2 scoops of ice cream. Being the Eating Machine that she is, she ate EVERY BIT of it AND she ate dinner once we got home. I know today is only Monday, but she had another fantabulous day at 'school'. She walked down the stream towards the lake:
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The BAP was in use this weekend, and I used some of the sauce and rubs that Ms. Pigsley sent...OH.MY. GOODNESS...IT WAS THE BEST!!!! If you get a chance, get some. I used the Snappy Apple BBQ Sauce and the Lil' Piggy Powder. P even said 'Ohhhh, this is GOOOOOD!'
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The weather was great this past weekend. Saturday, went to the 'Dinosaur Park'. It's a park downtown with LIFE SIZE dinosaurs. The park also has a wading stream, a play area, minature golf, a skate park, a mini soccer field, and a place to eat.
P Played in the stream~I did inspect it to make sure there were no 'foreign' objects (please pay no attention to the boy behind her, I think he is practicing for something):
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Here's my WTF? moment of the weekend (if you EVER see my dad wearing this, you have my permission to 'help' him):
Posted by Margaret
8:57 PM
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