Not Forgotten

Hello there. I just wanted to drop a quick post and let you know that I have NOT forgotten about my blog. I have been so busy these last few weeks that I have not been able to do much in the way of posting on my blog. We just moved into a new home. We are getting fairly settled in, so that soon enough, I will be blogging regularly once more. These are some old pics, but I've been neglecting the picture taking also due to packing up and moving a family of 5. Don't forget about us. We'll be back soon...

Come on Down

I did get a request to write about my Price is Right experience. I know I cannot keep my fans waiting, so here it goes. Although it will compound the woe and agony of not hearing my name called, I will tell it all.

My sister and I and 2 friends took our luck to Los Angeles. We happened to be headed out for dinner and decided to drive by CBS studios to familiarize our selfs with where it was, since we planned to be going there early the next morning. Like 4:00 am early. Well there was already a line, and everyone was telling us if we wanted to get in the show we would definitely have to camp out in line all night.

So we did. Slept on the sidewalk of LA with visions of new cars in our heads. And here is all I can say about the experience:
waited
waited
waited
waited
waited
waited
waited
waited
waited
waited
waited
waited
waited
waited
Got a ticket
waited
waited
waited
waited
waited
waited
little interview
waited
waited
waited
waited
waited
waited
Saw Bob Barker. Watched someone ELSE play PLINKO. Watched someone ELSE kiss Bob Barker's cheek. But Bob was funny and he deserves to retire. He's been at it a long time. The have found someone else to replace him. It is Mr. Peterman from Seinfeld. I think he'll probably be good, but nobody can take Bob's place.

We waited and waited, but I am glad I can say I did it.
Good Times!

I'll post some pic's as soon as I get some.

A Day in the Life

6:00 am --- Hear baby stirring. Say a solemn and earnest prayer she will go back to sleep.

6:02 am --- Realize God has a sense on humor he is sharing with YOU. Pray again-- more earnest than before. Throw in some if-then statements. If the baby sleeps in today, then I will definitely say morning prayers!!

6:05 am --- Morning prayers are out of the question.

6:15 am --- Feed baby bottle (still hoping she will go back to sleep)

6:30 am --- Greet toddler. Not like the sleep-deprived monster that you feel, but the sweet nurturing mom that you fake. (at least this early in the morning)

7:00 am --- Holy Cow I gotta pee. Door open to keep an eye on the kids!

7:30 am --- Breakfast
7:32 am --- Wipe dropped spoonful of cereal from floor
7:34 am --- Wipe dropped spoonful of cereal from floor
7:36 am --- Wipe dropped spoonful of cereal from floor
7:37 am --- Wipe dropped spoonful of cereal from floor
7:39 am --- Wipe dropped spoonful of cereal from floor
7:40 am --- resign yourself to mop the floor later- you know when you have more time.

8:00 am --- Curious George--- need I say more. (This keeps one busy while you play with the baby)

8:30 am --- Good-bye Daddy. Blow kisses from the window
8:31 am --- Reassure toddler that Daddy will be back from work later

9:00 am --- Wrestle with toddler to get him to hold still long enough to change diaper and dress him properly. Pin all extremities of baby in order to change her diaper and dress her.

9:20 am --- Make a list of everything you want to get done today.

9:30 am --- Bottle for baby.

9:45 am ---Put her down for nap.

9:46 am --- Throw in a load of laundry

9:50 am --- Add Laundry to list and cross it off

10:00 am --- Yard and garden work while toddler plays

10:05 am --- Yell across yard for son to get fingers away from vicious dogs next door

11:00 am--- Baby's up. Fight with toddler over who gets to go get her. Give in, let him get her today

12:00 pm --- LUNCH

12:12 pm --- Tell the boy to eat more than the bread off his sandwich.

12:20 pm --- Plead with the boy to eat more than the bread of his sandwich.

12:40 pm--- Realize the boy is not going to eat more than the bread of his sandwich and give up the fight. Clean up

12:45 pm --- Say a prayer that the boy will go down for a nap today

1:00 pm --- Run any errands. Errands can be no longer than 1.5 hours of duration and cannot be longer than a 10 minute drive. If either of the above rules are broken kids grow little horns and turn into demons.

2:45 pm--- Baby bottle, nap. Put movie on for toddler for "quiet time".

3:30 pm --- Your Faith in God is reaffirmed! Say a quick "thank-you" prayer that the boy is finally asleep.

3:31 pm --- Do dishes as fast as you can, so as to prolong (or even GET) personal time

4:15 pm --- Dishes done. Whip out a Blog post.

4:20 pm --- Hear groans of baby waking up. Ignore them while you finish your post.

4:30 pm--- Go to baby. Pick her up. Love her. Kiss her. Appreciate that she will not be a baby forever. Think about dinner.

5:00 pm --- Start dinner. Think about waking up boy. Prolong it as long as possible. (we don't want cranky boy syndrome in the house tonight.)

5:30 pm --- Wake up boy, Greet daddy with kisses

6:00 pm --- Dinner

7:00 pm --- Bath-time

7:30 pm --- Baby bottle, bed.

8:00 pm --- Boy bed.

8:10 pm --- Put boy back in bed
8:12 pm --- Put boy back in bed
8:15 pm --- Put boy back in bed
8:21 pm --- Put boy back in bed. Tell him next time you turn off the lamp.
8:23 pm --- Turn off the Lamp
8:24 pm --- He turns it back on, but doesn't come out anymore.

8:30 pm --- Watch a television show or try to spend some quality time with husband. You may realize this is not going to happen... especially if the T.V. is on.

10:00 pm --- Go check on toddler boy and enjoy that he is peaceful and calm and beautiful when he sleeps. Remember this for tomorrow. Kiss his rosy little cheek a million times. Cry because you love him so much, because you love THEM so much.

10:30 pm --- Brush and floss teeth while watching the opening act of Leno.

10:40 pm --- This time is tricky. Try to finish getting ready for bed and turn off Leno after opening monologue, but before you get sucked in for the guests.
10:45 pm --- Try to ward off a frisky husband

10:50 pm --- Tell your husband you're serious that the only action he is getting tonight will be in his dreams and that next time he needs to start a little earlier so your not so tired.

10:55 pm--- Assure husband you love him and it's not a flat rejection, just a rain check for a better time (but seriously earlier next time).

11:00 pm --- Realize you never mopped the floor. Take a few minutes and feel guilty. Resign yourself to do it tomorrow. You know, when you have more time!!

Well, here you have it folks. For all those CURIOUS minds out there, I just knew you wanted to know all about my days.
The mystery is solved...

4 Minutes

As I sit here after doing the dishes, but before my children wake up I am frantically trying to write this new post so it might be done before I hear cries of "Mommy holdin, pweeeees- sugar on top"

Although I do love to hold the boy right after a nap, it usually coincides with the time the girl wakes up who ALSO wants to be held. Good Times.

The Price is Right was GOod. I didn't get called up. I tried to build myself up so that I wouldn't be disappointed when I didn't hear my name, but that didn't work. No new car for me. We had to sleep outside on the streets of LA to make dang sure we got in. Bob Barker is funny and I am glad I got to see him before he retires.

What the world needs now

The sweetest little face with big puppy-brown eyes gazing up at you saying, "I Luf you mommy, I LUF you" These are the days I LIVE for. The girl is cutting her seventh and eighth teeth now and life just couldn't get any sweeter than this...
Except if the warm beautiful springtime weather is here to stay and I could get out and enjoy the fresh air with the chitlin's.

The Price is Right

Hey Since I am going to the Price is Right, we wanted to make some shirts. Does anyone have a real great original saying? Let me know right away, I've got to get them made ASAP. We truly need some ideas...

Thank you PBS

So whoever had children and survived without television is a better woman than me. I always feel so guilty after reading articles about how children should not be watching TV. I must be a terrible mother. How the Heck are you supposed to get anything done if the little ones are not occupied. Maybe my children's brains are rotting from the hour of cartoons in the morning, or occasionally Sesame Street. Heaven Forbid. Are my children the only ones whose brains are going to disintegrate for all the television viewing? Is everyone else so good that they can still get by with no TV?? If So, WHAT'S YOUR SECRET?

My Turn

It's my turn to COME ON DOWN! That's right you read correctly. Number 30 on my Life's List will finally be crossed off After March 28. I am finally going to The Price is Right. With Bob Barker. This has been a dream since I was in elementry school. Perhaps I'll win a car, or 50,000 playing PLINKO or nothing, but at least I can say I went and met Bob Barker. Yae! I'm stoked.

So I always have this picture in my head that my blog will be poetry or eloquent or maybe even interesting. But usually I am trying to find a few minutes to jot something down so I don't get behind. One day I'll be a fabulous writer but until then I just have to make do with the four minutes I find after I do the dishes, but before naptime is over.

Is winter over yet?

Good grief, is winter going to last forever? I am really in the mood for some warmer weather. I think it wouldn't be as bad if it would just dump a good snow-storm on us. It just gets really cold and overcast here and that's about it. It has snowed twice, and it is so cold that we have really old snow that won't melt. It feels so dreary. I am definitely looking forward to spring, when I can plant my garden and play outside again. I think the boy feels the same. He looks out the window and says "Mommy outside?" It is so hard to make him understand that it is below freezing outside.


Mr. Sun Sun, Mr. Golden Sun, please shine down on me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Like Father Like Son

As I was sitting with The Boy for his nighttime snack, I wasn't really paying much attention to him until he looked down at his left hand and asked, "Doing hand?"

As if his hands had a mind of their own. Well- maybe they do. I guess he must get that from his dad.

By the way, The Man's hands aren't the only thing on him that has a mind of their own...

Happy New Year

Hello and HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all. The new year always reminds me how fast time has gone. I think that maybe if I write some of my new years resolutions, I might be more apt to keeping them. I'm sure you all know how that goes- New Years resolutions: great the first week in January then who remembers?
What was I talking about? Oh yeah, well you all might just learn a thing or two about me that you might not have known. Well I hope you love me anyway, because this might not be pretty:

1. Be a more patient person. I don't know how others view me, but I do not consider myself a very patient person. ESPECIALLY behind closed doors, this one is pretty ugly. Any ideas on learning patience? Maybe I should have done this one before I had children...

2. I WILL stop biting my fingers. I have this nasty little habit of biting the skin around my finernails when I'm nervous, angry or just bored. It's horrible and I've been doing it for more than 15 years. It's a HARD habit to break. But I'm super committed. Now.

3. Eat better. Excersize. Isn't this one used by everyone?

4. I am going to stop pretending that my house is clean. I am not generally a messy person, maybe jumbled and disorganized, maybe a packrat and a clutterbug (you get the point) but anyway, when you have kids it's so hard to stay on top of the housework. I am always apologizing about the mess when people come over, as if it's not always that way. Guess what- it is. And I want to be done apologizing for it. I think I have my priorities straight: tickle-fights outrank dishes, the monster mommy game outranks mopping the floor and story time will almost always win over scrubbing down the bathroom. I may live in a messy house but I think we're all still pretty happy. Maybe it will be clean when the kids move out! At any rate: I'M DONE APOLOGIZING. (maybe)

5. I think those last four will keep me busy enough throughout the coming year.

Well now that you all know what I am working on, call me on it. If I apologize for my house tell me you know that it's really always messy, and that you know I am almost always not REALLY sorry about the mess.

By the way the holidays were great on us. This is not the boy's Christmas train (he already has got that taken away for awhile) but he is done obliging mommy by looking at the camera anymore. But the girl can't get enough of it. They are just the best- I couldn't ask for more.

Update

WOW- I know it has been awhile. I can't believe I haven't blogged lately, but with the HOLIDAYS it has just gotten so BuSy!! I'm sure that yOu can all ReLAte!
Well we're all still good here. I am totally STOKED for ChrisTmAs, the Man is a usuAl BaH HumBUg, and the boy and girl don't really "gET it" yet. But I know the boy is going to go nuts over the train SanTa got him for CHrIstMas.

Well I just WantED to WisH EverYone a MeRrY ChRistmaS and HaPpY New yEAr!

Let's break it down now

So, I'm on my third shirt today. If any of you are mom's, I'm sure you catch my drift. I put The Girl down on the bed to change into my second shirt (after a colossal spit-up fiasco) and picked the her right back up, at which time she proceeded to hurl another pint of curdled formula on the fresh shirt. Poor girl. (The baby). She oBviouSly hAs a CAse of rEflUx. She is the spitting image of her father, The Man, albeit much prettier. She is always smiling and sticking her cute little tounge out. She does have quite the temper and always has to get her way. (She does-if you were wondering- get her way, I mean). Is tHis ToO BorINg?

The Boy is just GrEat. He iS kind Of a dreamy nIghTmaRe. He is into everything and such a handful, but he is also sweet and kindhearted. He is headstrong (he certainly doesn't get that from me!) and defiant, and very loving with two huge brown puppy eye's that are simple irresistable. I love them both with most my heart. (The rest of it belongs to The Man)

Stage II

We are starting a new era in our life. I will call it the minivan era. It is a time when one family no longer fits in the standard sedan. Two carseats, two angels, two adults, a dog, and an incredible amount of luggage for all that will no longer squeeze in to a car. We were bursting at the seams. You may point out that an SUV could possibly do the job, and that may well be true, but with gas prices and Global Warming on the rise, we feel the minivan is the right option for us. I am now a minivan mom. I don't wear my hair loosely curled and at sholder length with thick bangs. I don't dress in sweatshirts or vests and old dirty sneakers. Not that anything is wrong with any of this, but this is the woman I have always associated with the minivan.

I will have to do some serious reconsideration about the type of person that drives a minivan. It could possibly be a hip twenty-something mom with long hair nearly touching her butt. It could be a nature-freak who is absolutely crazy about her family, so mad about them she is willing to give up any likeness of life before them.

It may be the beginning of "Mommy are we there yet?" and "Don't make me pull this van over". The end of scrunching over to position children correctly in car seats.
Well I guess I'm ready.

I think I'm going to like this era!

Madly in Love

This Post is dedicated to the one I love.

Hey babe, I just wanted everyone to know how much I love you. I love your smell and the sound of your voice. I love the way you play with the kids. I love the way you work to support us. I love your occasional saturday crepes. I love that you watch the very old 60's Star Trek. I love that you help out with laundry when you see that the bags are overflowing. I love that you still put your hand on my leg in the car. I love who you are, and who I am when I am with you. I hope we never stop being madly in love. You make me crazy babe. YOU'RE HOTTTTT!!!

Happy Halloween

I'm sorry I know it's a little late, but HELLO- the story of my life- right?

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!!!

Motherhood!!!!!

I was just informed by someone who would know that there has been studies that say being a mother is the equivelant of 2 full-time jobs. I totally believe this (although sometimes I feel as if I've been working 3 or 4 full-time jobs). Sometimes as I walk around the house I feel as if I might just literally fall over flat on my face due to fatigue and that my body will just give up and say "NO MORE" and I wouldn't be able to move. Maybe sometimes I just wish that would happen so I could have a very valid excuse to get some much needed rest. It's probably not that common? You know to just fall over like that? Not that I'm going to do it...

Baby Flops

Aren't Baby feet the cutest thing in the world? This is obviously The Girl's darling little 3 month old feet. (She hated the flip-flops by the way. Give it a few more years.)

Once there was a snowman

This is The Boy's first snowman. He was pretty excited about it. He screamed when we had to come inside. Can you believe we have snow? Pretty exciting. The Boy was singing "Once there was a snowman, snowman, snowman..." all day long.

Time Flies

Time flies when your having fun doesn't it. I guess I think that time just flies period. The Girl is only 3 months old and already has her two front bottom teeth. She was just barely getting adjusted to life outside the womb and WHAM- teething. Sad for her; poor girl, she just doesn't know what hit her. Life is great. She is doing well sleeping at night. I still get up really early with her, but she is sleeping much longer than The Boy ever did.

The Boy just loves life and Bob the Builder. He is always going around the house shouting "CAN" (you know the song- "Can we build it?- Yes we CAN"). He is going to be two years old soon. I just can't believe it. He also has this fixation with making everything into a little family (I didn't teach him this one). He got some new hotwheel cars the other day and has named one the "daddy" car, one the "mommy" car and the little one is the "baby" car. He says baby in a cute little high pitched voice.

Well this mommy car is signing out for now.