Sigh...another day in the life of Happy and her dream

Today the Strong Willed Wonder and I went to gymnastics at The Lit.tle Gym and then out to lunch where she hit a little boy who we knew from Ma.kin Music, her previous pre-school, and a moms group.  I made her apologize and we left soon after.  It's days like this that I see her delay upclose and personal.  When she's well rested she's fantastic, but a little tired and she's a PITA. Today she's been testing us nonstop.  I'm exhausted and can't wait to pawn her off on someone else (pre-school tomorrow).  When we decided to start a family this certainly was not dreamt of.  I guess I had a very idealistic dream of what being a mom and having a family was.  I didn't worked damn hard to become a mother and now I don't appreciate it?  Or I only appreciate an easy going child since my husband and I are so easygoing?   That's just wrong and hypocritical of me to think.  I can appreciate all her wonderful qualities I just get worn down with not enough recovery time.  Both of us are people who like having a lot of time to ourselves to read, maybe watch a favorite TV show, do a hobby, and having a small child is not something that allows that.  Atleast not the Strong Willed Wonder.  Some kids are really great at occupying themselves.  Unforunately if she's occupying herself it's usually because she's doing she should not be (stealing my wine glass out of the kitchen, going behind the TV and unplugging the Rok.u along with everything else, dumping bins of toys or books onto the floor, emptying her closet, etc., in general wreaking havoc.)  It's not bad for me on pre-school days since I have her stay for midday break.   It gives me time to exercise, get my hair done, clean, watch TV, relax :-), but Tuesday and Thursday are SWW days.  Next year she'll be able to do 5 day a week pre-school.  I chose this pre-school because they have kindergarten carry over and things like that. 

Now my husband works hard, long hours, and is up for a promotion (he had a fantastic review with his manager).  When he gets home he likes to have some time to himself I can't say I blame him.  He's an engineer and has meetings and presentations most days so he wants to just be able to relax when he gets home.  I atleast have the SWW's pre-school time. 

My husband is taking next week and up to January 2nd off :-).  We are planning on painting the living room and foyer.  If we have the energy we hope to do the laundry room and master bath too.  Our dream is to move before middle school.  We live in a split level home that is very large, but the square footage is not usefully used.  Our dream is to move to an updated home (walk in closets, island in the kitchen, jacuzzi tub in the master bath, etc.).   We also live in a fantastic school district, but we're thinking of areas with equally good schools.