- In (Not So) Perfect Balance
- Our life is full of wonderful, chaotic, blessed, hysterical, insane, magical, sad, scary, sweet, mind boggling, moments. While balancing life with 3 cherubs, parents, sisters, BIL, In-laws, 1 teaching career, and many good friends; I find that our life is moving far toooo fast. It is important to cherish and record the moments as we consistently try to balance our scale (God forbid I make a photo album)! MB
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Merry Crapmas
Every inch of my house is trashed
Rush from party to party
Rush from bed to toilet (to puke)
Yes, cherub 1 and I both had the flu
Crap, I am dying of the flu and the presents aren't all wrapped
Help from sisters and hubby in the wrapping dept b/c so sick (Santa must come)
Rats, miss church and can't host Xmas Eve cuz so sick..see a trend here?
I HATE twisty things that EVERY toy is wrapped in
Sweet memories of Xmas (yes there are some)...stay tuned...had to get all this out first
Toy robot breaks in first millisecond, cherub 2 breaks down
Mom, is that it? She got more, cherub 2 cried!
As always kids overjoyed, parents overtired
So glad it is over (I have NEVER said that about Christmas before)
NME
Friday, December 21, 2007
A Woman of Many Talents (Not Me)
In A Remote Hideaway
Father in law & I have a running joke with hubby. He pretty much needs GPS on all his stuff. The remote sorta proves that. We have an underutilized key rack RIGHT next to the door in the kitchen. Every morning he asks, where are my keys (my wallet, my head, etc- note that he NEVER loses his blackberry)? This morning at barely 6am there was a quiet knock on my door. I raced toward the knock thinking someone was dying if they were visiting that early. Nope, just Dad looking for some keys. Hubby had helped Dad last night b/c he was sick. (Which was so nice...credit given where credit due.) He cleaned off their cars and snowblowed their driveway. However, he took Dad's and Baby Sis's keys home with him. I found their keys, mine and his in his jacket. Yup, he would have gone to work with all four sets! Then who would have been looking for their keys?
5 Yr Old Version of the Nutcracker
Men and Shopping
Hubby was mad at me yesterday b/c I didn't give him a Xmas list (of things I wanted). Ok, you have been married to me for 10 yrs, known me for like 4,000 yrs, can't you wing it? He was all frustrated with me b/c he couldn't get anything overnted now b/c it was so late. Ummm, ya, why do you wait so long and why is that my fault?? Isn't he the one that waited until 4 days before Xmas again? Actually he is early this year, usually it is the 23rd that he is panicking. Whatever. BTW, he only shops for two, me and the dog. I can see how stressful that can be.
North to South
Sleep is so over-rated...
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Don't yell fire if there is no fire!
So I called a good friend of mine who is a teacher in the town my kids go to school in (the one we live it). She didn't know that school was canceled. She didn't get the message. Wha? So, after 4 calls and lots of embarrassment, I realized it was the super. from the town I work in not the town I live in that called. My cherubs had answered that phone call and I didn't catch the beginning of it (the name of the caller) just the message. That would have been important information for me to hear.
I am a schuck, I had people calling all around in a panick. (Yes, we were all panicked b/c we thought our kids weren't going to leave us for the day! Bad mothers.)
Typical me.
Daily NME
There have been some people that have expressed interest in the NME lifestyle. I welcome the company! A good friend (In the Trenches of Mommyhood) cornered the phrase, 'I am such a joiner'! Anyone else want to be a joiner? I hope it ok, we are borrowing your phrase. :o)
Here are their weights to start them off. I will post their progress weekly with mine.
Drama Girl = 171.4
A.D.D. Boy= 180.0
Daily Thoughts-
9:15am: I am doing great morning 2 but I am REALLY hungry. I am trying to adjust back to eating normally. I am off for a jog on the treadmill. (I wouldn't quite call it a run yet.)
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Shopping with Sparky
When baby sister (aka sparky-yes I blew your cover) stopped by at cherub's bedtime and told me she was going to the nearby Joanne Fabrics I couldn't ask hubby fast enough if I could escape. Remember, I have been trapped in the flu house for days!
At Joanne's 3 weeks ago, I purchased 4 sets of fleece to make blankets at the cost of $140. Tonight, everything was FIFTY percent off and I got 5 sets for $77. What the? I am happy about tonight but can you say I got screwed 3 weeks ago! Then woman who was cutting our fleece told us that we weren't buying enough fleece for each blanket (even though I told her I've made them before, not a novice) and that we weren't picking colors that match. Someone needs to tell her that I have graduated from the 80's when I used to buy everything in different shades of one color. We are hip now and we can match. Even if I was buying BUT UGLY fleece that DIDN'T match...isn't that my business? Isn't the customer ALWAYS right? I asked nicely how much an item was b/c there were no tags. Her answer was, 'there are price scanners all over the store'. Ummm, aren't you at a REGISTER? Wow.
Moving on to Kohl's we got some great deals. Sparky was making fun of me b/c I was so slap happy at the end she said it was like 'Oh, I met a Sally once, I'll buy her a present. Oh, I met a Joe once, we'll get him one too.' We were DYING laughing all the way home, even when we were semi stuck in the snow b/c we were so slap happy and tired! Funny.
Of course when I came home with bags, hubby said, 'I thought you were done?' In other words...thanks for spending more $. Sigh.
Stock Market Tips
So, if anyone is interested, I have been buying soooooo much Gatorade per doctor's instructions for my little flu victims that their stock must be doing well. After I head out to the store to get some more of this miracle beverage, I am calling my investment guy to realign my portfolio.
The vote this morning is that the new favorite colors are blue and red. Before November, if I was asking their favorite color it would pertain to a fruit or vegetable. Now, I am solely referring to what color Gatorade their little bellies can handle. Sooooo sad.
NME
No more excuses. Each day going forward, I will continue to blog about my crazy life but will add a new category NME (no more excuses...for those that didn't get it). I am going to rely on the support of all of my skinny minny friends and family members out there (you know who you are) and of course my hubby who has lost and kept off alot of weight this year (way to go honey).
I am not going on The Biggest Loser and telling the whole world my weight but I am telling 'My World' my weight. It is the only way to keep me honest. Yup, probably more than most of my friends hubbies. I trust that they will keep their fat jokes to themselves if they really love me.
Tune in for the weigh in...each Wed morning.
Today = 187 lbs
1:23pm- Did really well all morning. I didn't realize how much I snacked to combat feelings of boredom. Sometimes the kids play on their own or catch a show (especially when they are sick like today). I have all this nervous energy. Ughhh. No snack. No snack. Sorry, I don't care what anyone says...laundry is not titillating!
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Don't Cry Wolf
Cherub 1 told me this morning that her belly hurt. Of course since she had danced all morning to her High School Musical game, ate waffles and got ready for school with no problem, I stuck her on the bus with the old line 'call me later if you don't feel better'. See, at our house, someone is always telling me they have a belly ache. It is their way out of everything. It makes it hard to tell when it is real.
Of course when the school nurse called telling me she was puking at school, I felt like a loser. The cards have been stacked against us in the flu dept. And the mother of year award goes to...
Monday, December 17, 2007
Do You Take Debit?
A seemingly nice gentlemen that was walking down the sidewalk with his wife stopped to help push me out of the snow bank. After succeeding he came up to my window, before I could even gush my thankyou's out, he asked me for money for coffee for him and his wife. Shocked, I looked into his eyes and saw they were glazed over. Since he was well clean and neatly dressed, my assumption is that he actually wanted to put a little bailey's into that coffee. Since I live off my debit card, and did not have a dollar on me, I dug out every last bit of change my wallet and car had to offer and apologized it wasn't more. He moved on to the car behind me that had slid into the snow bank avoiding my car (yup, a little chain reaction there). In my rear view mirror, I could see she had dollars in hand ready, obviously witnessing our exchange. I headed to the nearest cop to ask him for help for her. No good deed goes without payment of some sort I suppose.
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Hubby Gone Girl, House Gone Wild
I didn't know I was married Martha. Hubby stayed home from our annual friend's (fabulous) Christmas party last night cuz cherub 3 still had the flu. I came home and hubby told me he made me something. A wreath! He made a real wreath out of fresh greens from our xmas tree and then made a bow! The real kind of bows that florist make (which I still haven't mastered). I couldn't believe it! It is really pretty. I asked him if he bought it (cuz I still wasn't sure he could make it) and he told me to check out the back. The wires were held together by duck tape. Yup, he made it. :o) I was touched by the thought.
House Gone Wild:
Traveling to our xmas party last night I pointed out a house to cherub's 1 & 2 that had gone nuts with xmas lights and (annoying) blow up things on their lawn. Cherub 2 exclaimed, 'It is a house gone wild!' I laughed, and had flash forwards to his college days when he might change the word 'house' to 'girls' like the video. Keep them young!
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Firsts, Flus and Flakes
Cherub 2 is hanging, chomping at the bit to play in the snow, again. He is waiting patiently for daddy, since we are in the house because cherub 3 has the flu, again! Poor child. He was sooooo sick last night.
I went back to penance today, first time in I think 20+ years. Full of sin this one, it had been so long since I had gone it was like being a penance virgin again. Yeah, that is a sacrilegious statement if I ever said one. Left absolved, pure as a baby, yet with a mixture of feelings. You see, as an adult, going to penance makes you first ADMIT your sins, say them out loud, then try to forgive yourself for them. At least God forgave me, even if I am still working on it. It has always been way easier for me to forgive others before forgiving myself.
At first I felt guilty b/c when hubby asked if he could take her to penance I was snippy and said no. I made fun of the situation and told him that the guy who explains God as 'the man behind the curtain in the clouds' (??? what is this, wizard of oz???) could not represent cherub 1 on her first penance day. I know, that was nasty of me. I spoke before I had coffee. Anyway, when we got home he asked her, 'How was the sin thing?' WHAT? The SIN thing? You mean first penance or confession? Uhhhgggg. That is why I took her, maybe my first instinct was right. It doesn't mean he isn't faithful or prayerful, but 'the sin thing? What a flake.
Friday, December 14, 2007
What's Cool?
Not lost in space...lost without it!
Joining the Big Kids
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Lobster and Licks
Fire and Ice
Later tonight, while hubby is no doubt eating a 3 course meal in his comfy hotel, renting a movie and getting ready to sleep in his king size, really comfy hotel bed, I learned how to use the snow blower for the first time...since we have 6 or so inches of snow. The first few minutes was fun and empowering but now I am just sweaty, smelling like gas and my hands are still shaking from the vibrations. Could care less about being proud now, I just miss hubby.
SNOW Sprinkles
Happy Snow Day to you,
Sled, smile and eat caaaaake,
Happy Snow Day to you!
We had never just made a cake for no reason. Today, the kids came home from school early b/c we are having a big snowstorm. We celebrated by making a yummy chocolate cake. We wrote the word SNOW in big letters on the cake with jimmies. How fun! We had a blast sledding down Nana & Pop's hill and it was really neat to come in to a warm house and enjoy a tiny piece! The kids were thrilled to eat cake for no reason! It is the little things in life!
No Batteries Needed
Putting your Foot in your Mouth
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Almost in 3rd Grade
- PIMPLES- I start work full time in a month. I am starting to get really anxious. It is pretty obvious because my face resembles that of a 16 year old, no not pure and smooth, full of pimples. It is Dec 12th, 13 more days till Xmas, and 32 days until my expected start date. Yup, nothing like a little stress to make a girl look purty.
- FALLOUT EFFECTS- I am extremely excited to start my new teaching career and jittery about the fallout effects it will have on my family. I am realistic. I am going to rely on my trusty crockpot, grocery delivery service, wonderful daycare lady, my night-owl capabilities, and good old fashioned faith to keep me sane (and some luck).
- GUSHES OF GUILT- I have finally conceded that nothing will really help with the gushes of guilt I have been feeling over the last few weeks knowing that my extra time with my little ones is limited. I would be lying if I didn't admit that I have second guessed my decision to start teaching this year when I still have 2 kids in 1/2 day school. 'Getting out' a little will make me a better mother, wife, and if hubby is lucky, a better housekeeper (who am I kidding). Plus, the money doesn't hurt.
- The cherub's are sleeping now. Time to clean up, do laundry, exfoliate, and sleep.
How many sips does it take?
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
First Day Don'ts
The first day he is away:
I don't do dishes (I know, groas). I make a nice, neat pile in the sink.
I don't do laundry.
I don't pick up the toys at the end of the night.
I don't make a 'real' meal.
Hubby would probably argue that these are my everyday don'ts but that is not true. I swear. So sad, self indulgence is not doing chores. What happened to a good pedicure?
No shirt, No shoes, No shop
Sassy Lawyer
Monday, December 10, 2007
Here, There, Everywhere
It never fails either, when cherub 2 or 3 is acting either psycho or spoiled in public one is sure to pop up and check out the whole hairy situation. Today at cherub 1's dance class, cherub 3 was acting like a lunatic and there I was trying to have a somewhat normal conversation (who am I kidding!) with one of my new student's moms. Embarrassed by the chaos, I gave the half hearted joke of how I can run a classroom like a well oiled ship but my own house and kids are crazy! She giggled (but really thought to herself 'oh crap, who is this teaching my son'.
Sigh. I guess I will wait another 3 or so years to go in public with my boys.
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Intervention
So sis decides to have an intervention. When all the laundry is folded and he is surrounded by approximately 20 piles, she points to them and says "This is your brain, it is like piles of crap. Don't get me wrong, you work really hard and I think you do a great job but you need help with your organization". She admits that he can have an opposite intervention because she is over the top when it comes to being organized and making plans. Member how Vavo has curtain day? Well, sis has her week planned too. She knows exactly when she will grocery shop and clean her car each week and has been known to turn down plans to meet hubby and cherubs to do these scheduled tasks. She will check to see if the stove is turned off 3 times before bed even though she doesn't cook.
Hubby, polar opposite of sis can't organize or make a plan to save his life. He refuses to makes plans more than 2 hours in advance (is he afraid he is going to miss something?), can't find his keys, wallet or kids at any given moment and is completely spontaneous. We determined that I am somewhere in the middle. Middle child, even in marriage.
Gift Mountain
Friday, December 7, 2007
Twirl the Night Away
The Perfect Afternoon
After, we had a magical train ride (in the mall but the kids LOVED it) and enjoyed a precious moment of Christmas magic when my 3 cherubs and my 3 nephews all sat with Santa for an AWESOME picture. SIX kids, all smiling, that is a Christmas miracle and oh what a memory! No matter what anyone says, that tingly feeling of anticipation you feel after you whisper your wish to Santa is magic. Sweet memory.
Afterwards, my cherubs had some friends over and they sledded down Nana & Pop's hill for a loooong time and giggled the entire time. All 3 cherub's fell into bed happy and healthy.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Pondering
Nighty Night
Shock Waves
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Compartments
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
I'm a Super
I Want Daddy Too!
Monday, December 3, 2007
Legwarmers and Lights
Tree Tops and Traditions
Funny: When (vertically challenged) hubby found a tree and asked me if it was tall enough (our family room ceiling is really high). I politely mentioned that he could reach the top. He laughed and said good point!
The Woodsmen
Zoom, zoom, zoom, fil enjoys bonding with the boys, teaching them to use the electric wood splitter. Cherub 3 especially loved helping Grampy, both are true outdoorsmen at heart.
Wishing we captured this on film, mil and I giggle as we watch the two men, each having fun, each chopping wood, next to their 'pile'. Hubby so proud, with each pound of the ax, he added to his pile of shavings, while fil's pile grows leaps and bounds of chopped wood. Ar, ar, ar, verse zoom, zoom, zoom.
Saturday, December 1, 2007
What are you worth?
I once saw an Everyone Loves Raymond episode where after Ray (the hubby) insinuated he was worth more b/c he brought home a paycheck, Deborah (the wife) made an itemized list of her jobs around the house and how much she was worth. Cleaning lady $90 a week, chef, laundry service, homework tutor, childcare, etc. She was worth more. Trust me, I am worth alot around here. Let's just say, I'd be rakin in the cash if I was getting paid. :o) Breaks over people, back to the grout.