On Wednesday Eva and I went to UMD to have the business students do our taxes for free. This was the plan. Drop the Schnuk off at daycare, go to Jitters grab a cup of Joe, head up to UMD at 2 when their doors open, get my taxes done, pick up the Schnuk. Don't you love it when things work out the way they were planned, and this was a seemingly flawless plan... oh, but I forgot, it involved taxes, which means the IRS, which is the government's pimp, and that makes you and me the whores...
So I sat in the waiting area, my ipod died, that's ok, I'm going to figure out how to put Pandora on my phone.. Success! I was very happy to find yet another wonderful use for my beautiful phone (Oh how I love my new phone). Oh but the batteries are running low, and the time is nearing 4pm, I might have to have someone pick up the girl if I don't get in soon. I turn off Pandora and start crocheting a pot holder (yes, I had yarn and a crochet hook in my purse). I finally get called in. I am taking out all of my various pieces of paper that proved my impoverished economic status... except the proofs of child care expenses are not there... Son of a Bitch! so all that waiting, was so that I can leave with my taxes unprepared... nice.
I head home, dig around to find those proofs... I find them, make a dinner of peanut butter and honey sandwich, yogurt, and mixed nuts and fruits, and a cookie, my computer, movies, and toys. I pick up the Schnuck, head back to UMD, it is now, 5:45pm. Back in line, waiting this time with a 2 year old... oh joy. Eva was a VERY good girl, she ate her dinner, watched her movies, played with her blocks flirted with the others waiting to have their taxes prepared. I discovered that my daughter could have a lucrative career in pick pocketing. One of the gentlemen who Eva was flirting with came out of the tax preparation room, and handed me one of her blocks and said "This was in my pocket, I don't know how she got it in there" I apologized and made sure that nothing was missing from his pocket... imagine if it was a transaction in the opposite direction... that girl. Anyway for the most part the girl behaved herself, she used her inside voice, and stayed in the area, watched her movies, and played with her toys. Finally at 7:30 it was our turn (note: half an hour until Eva's bed time!). We were the last people to get our taxes prepared. Eva had a grand old time playing with the pretty college boys who were homesick and missed their younger siblings, great childcare and someone else doing my taxes... After an hour, and the guy having to look up code after code, Eva looked out the window, and gasped "Mama! It's getting late!" Yes, it was, she was telling the truth. "Mama, it's dark outside, I should be in bed!" Yes, this is another truth. "Mama, why he so slow with taxes?" Ok, how can you not laugh. I think she hurt his feelings. Soon after he asked if the amount on the proofs of childcare expenses, was what I paid or what the provider paid.... WTF, there is a daycare that pays us to watch our kids? Where is it? How long is the waiting list.
"It's a peanutbutter burger Mama!"
The Backyardagins... Riveting.
Tasty Dinner
Eventually my taxes were complete, with a JUICY refund, so large in fact that I am worried i might have to pay taxes on it next year... we got the bus to go home at 9pm, arrived home at 9:22, I put the girl to bed (she fell asleep on the bus after eating her cookie that was a prize for being such a good girl the whole night).
Who's a ham? Eva's a Ham . Waiting for guy to do our taxes.
Quick distract her with pictures of herself.
Eva documenting the documents
The "Yay, you were such a good girl" cookie waiting for the bus.
