my little happy packets
every day at 2:30 pm, i do a little happy dance as i go downstairs. both mikey and allie are down for their afternoon naps and i go straight to the kitchen to finally eat lunch. there just isn’t time for me to eat before now. while my lunch is heating in the microwave, i pour some water into a big green plastic cup, add one of my little happy packets, pop in a straw, stir, and take a long sip as i breathe a sigh of relief.
i call these my little happy packets because i look forward to this moment all day. not because i don’t love being with my kids, i totally do, but it can be draining and tiring at times. and this is one little moment i get to enjoy by myself in total quiet, and know that no one else requires food, attention, diaper changes, entertainment, discipline, high-pitched kid music, hands washed, teeth brushed, or any other of a hundred details that need attending to. just a little *pause* in the day before all the evening work (a repeat of the above plus getting dinner ready) begins.
before allie was born, i discovered the joy of flavored bottled water, but those are so darn expensive! then phil recently discovered these little packets at costco and we decided to give them a try. you’re supposed to pour one packet into a regular bottle of water. just as good as the flavored bottled water and way cheaper! i’m too cheap to buy even the regular water bottles, hence the big green plastic cup. my favorite is lemon, then kiwi strawberry, then wild berry. the key is to mix it with very COLD water for the best taste.
and i’m very protective of my little happy packets. i caught phil using TWO packets for one cup of water last week! 
since then, i have had no choice but to hide them in the pantry. 
we don’t get to costco too often so i have to do whatever it takes to make these puppies last!
8 Comments
mrs_shinfucius
2:30 is nap time at my house, too. it’s hard for me to get to know the joy of flavored water, which would be way healthier, because of my love of diet coke. sometimes, i’ll try to hold off and not have one every day, but i usually have one can every single day. i decide when i’ll have it, either at lunch or dinner, depending on when i think i’d enjoy it the most that day. i usually have it for lunch if the leftovers from the night before aren’t quite big enough for a meal or i decided to have a frozen dinner, which are snack size in my book. the volume of the d.c. makes me feel full. although….that’s when i’m usually tempted to “finish up” the coke with some goldfish or popcorn….aigoo. just like “finishing up” the milk left in the bowl with yet another bowl full of cereal. anyway, i think i might give those flavor packets a try.
Kavedissian
i totally get the “happy time” i’ll have to tell paul about those packets since he loves flavored water too. sometimes mommies need breaks too, i try to tell paul that even though i do get to stay home all day that it really isn’t all that easy (ie no breaks, no pay, no vacation time) but there is also some satisfaction in being there for these short years (i’m told they are short)glad you have your standing 2:30pm date with yourself.
mrsstellalee
right now i only have a short time (30 min at most) when both kids are down at the same time. i can’t wait until that changes once gavin’s feedings space out a bit. yay for your happy time! 🙂
Starbukk35
hahaha, you’re so funny. TWO packets for one cup of water?!?….the gall! 😉
ChristineSong
i’ve never heard of those.
i miss those days that my kids use to take naps.
lschnell
Cool – glad you take FULL advantage of your ‘happy time’…special drink and all! Only you guys would find a good deal on making your own flavored water! Always up on the latest & greatest. We’ll have to try it if we ever get to Costco.
ohmobile
i guess mine would be “happy can” love me my can of coke! was never into flavored water–they that good eh?
mrssjlee
i’ve never seen those “happy packets” before. i tried flavored water once and i didn’t like it. you’ll have to get me into it once you move back.