Take out!

I love Fridays for many many reasons. The house is clean so I don't have to worry about it over the weekend. My big girl goes to ballet. My husband is home for two days. We play games when the kids go to bed. AND I don't cook dinner. Friday is take out night. This evening we will be partaking of a fine selection from Outback Steak House! Yummy. We order it carside to go so we don't have to force the kids to stay in their seats and we can actually chew our food and talk. I like to serve the kids first and then stick them in front of a movie. Then my man and I sit down to an adult meal where food is chewed and drinks are sipped directly in front of us. You know, instead of off to the side in an attempt to keep it from being spilled by a quick little arm.
I also like to eat my food instead of sharing it with everyone at the table. My smallest peanut loves to mmmmmmmmmm about every piece of food on my plate and squeal until I give her something! lol It is cute, but I have needs. I need my baked potato all to myself from time to time. I need to chew my food, not just inhale it so that it doesn't get dumped all over the floor. Every once in a while I need to eat a meal without saying sit down, chew with your mouth closed, just try it you may like it, or my favorite-quit making that face about my cooking.
After all, there are starving children in the world that would love to eat your dinner!

I love facebook!

I was lost in everyday life & missed my blog, but facebook sucked me in. I couldn't help myself. It is so fun to find friends even if you don't 'talk' or even write to them. It is just nice to know they are there if I wanted to contact them.
Some of the pictures blew my mind. Some Friends lost TONS of weight, some look exactly the same with better hair (I graduated during BIG HAIR) and the rest look old, while I haven't aged a day. One girl has been at the same job for 16 years! Hello. That means since we were 16. (I am only 32). Seriously, I worked at a clothing store named Sunshine Blues when I was 16 and then as a checker at a grocery store later that year. If I was still at either one I would probably go out to the bar every Thursday for wing night, have a wall-o-bangs and still tight roll my white tapered pants. Yipes! lol
Some people are still livin' the single life, but most are married with kids and seem stable. My favorite people are the ones that join just to look like they have 'friends'. Having 289 'friends' on facebook doesn't make you popular. It makes you a stalker! You basically ask everyone that went to the same school as you to be your friend. Imagine that in the caf. "Hey, we go to the same school, want to be my friend because we go to the same school? We have so much in common. Did I mention I want you to be my friend?" You would run the other way.
Luckily, there is an ignore option. I find that much nicer than the NO button. I am currently ignoring a very popular girl I went to school with. She has almost 400 friends. She wouldn't be a good friend, she is spread too thin. I would need her to invest more time in our friendship.

Motherhood rocks!

I am so crazy about #3!!!!!! Words cannot express the love I have for her. I see both H & C when I look at her! 'my life is gooooood'

I have issues!!!!!!!!!!

Try as I may, I cannot be totally serious. Fortunately for me, my husband can't be completely serious either. I know we were made for each other. No one else would get or put up with us!
I read posts and have a movie quote in mind or want to throw out a 'that's what she said' all the time. What is the matter with me? Do I have some type of avoidance behavior. Do I suppress childhood trauma with humor. OR am I living vicariously through the movie lines that I love. Because I seriously wanted to write 'Do I want to dance?' after I finished the childhood trauma comment. I am out of control. I just can't help myself. Sometimes I even quote TV. Fine, I said it! 'He was my boyfriend!'
I have recently realized that some people have never seen some of my favorite movies and it actually bothers me. I need a movie night. You can come over and watch with us, but my husband will quote all the lines just before they happen. His knowledge is much more extensive and precise than mine, but I can throw them into conversation with ease. 'I love that man of mine'!

Inspiration

So Kazzy's blog made me think about the public vs. the private me. I definitely saw a difference in myself when I taught. I was never myself with anyone. I may have come close to being me on occasion, but most people thought I was quiet and reserved. For those of you who know me, you can stop laughing now. I loved teaching, but I didn't feel like me. It would make me sad to think that I worked with some of the same people for 5 years and they knew nothing about me.

When I became a stay-at-home I felt it even more. My first year at home I was pregnant. The second I had this little person who occupied all my time. I felt like I lost myself. After almost 2 years at home I joined a mothering group at my church and decided to stop 'hiding'. I have felt liberated ever since. People 'got' me again!

I can be reserved in public or in a new situation. I try to have class and conduct myself with control, but I have a "big personality". When I unleash my personality I have a good chance of feeling obnoxious later. To be honest, I am a little obnoxious. I have learned to live with this feeling. Public vs. Private is a struggle for me!

When you have two sisters...

My mom is one of two sisters. When her mother, my Vo, was in her 80's she began to lose her memory. Everyone 'tried to help her remember' her life. After a year or more, Mom realized it was impossible to fight Alzheimer's and she decided to have conversations with Vo about her past. On one occasion, Mom asked Vo if she had any children. Vo replied, "Yes, two daughters". Mom asked a very leading question...

So what are they like?

Vo responded, "Well, they are both wonderful. My daughter Norma is a teacher. She is VERY smart. The other one, is VERY clean".

Thank goodness Mom had a sense of humor that day. She laughed about it and told us all about the conversation. I still chuckle a bit whenever I replay it in my mind.

I am also one of two sisters. When I read my sister's blog I realize I am the clean one.

Photo Op

People react so differently to situations. I tend to laugh and find the humor and sometimes find the camera. Let me set the stage- It's Friday afternoon I am busy cooking a big dinner for our 6 guests that are scheduled to arrive any moment. My husband is busy running around completing projects that he has put off for months. The kids are "watching" a tv show (meaning, the tv is on in the background, but they are hanging onto my leg in the kitchen and the baby is screaming in the exersaucer). So as I slave in my 1960's kitchen cooking and baking, staring out my newly smashed window (that's another story), I hear H say, "Oh no C, you have it all over you!" Thinking she is referring to a cucumber that he has grabbed from the fridge while yelling that he is hungry, I walk in with a paper towel and well...I didn't know he could reach the Sharpies! lol
I laughed so hard I could barely breath. Big C was angry. Apparently, I should have been 'watching' him! So my question is-Why wasn't he watching him? lol

Creatures of Habit

I am having one of those days-I am crazy about my kids! I could just eat them! Sometimes I can't believe I have three. They are my cheerleaders and my biggest critics! lol
My kids have such specific bedtime rituals-
H has to say the same things in the same order. lol I wonder where she gets her ocd problems?! We say prayers, tell each other what we appreciated about each other that day, and talk about what we are going to do the next day. And the most important comments for successful bedtime: "If I'm still awake you can cuddle me some more? Are these my snowflake sheets? See you in the morning!"lol!
C still loves to sing 'oh say can you see' (The Star Spangled Banner) and of course 'The Man in Black'. Every time I put him to bed he sings an octave above me and I can't keep myself from laughing at his little voice. He copies any vibrado I throw in the middle or at the end of the song. I have to record it one night and post it. I love bedtime for the break and the music! It is honestly the most adorable thing he does.

Here I go again

Let's face it, I am writing my blogs for you. You know who you are. They are just a great way to keep you up to date on what I obsess about each day!

Seriously, if I am every down, all I have to do is look at this picture of C in a mullet wig and I laugh out loud!

Anyhoo, so after all this 'organizing' I am realizing how much junk I really have shoved into my basement! If it were up to me I would get rid of 50% of the furniture and stuff in my rec room. Many items have gone to a kid's consignment store in the last two weeks. It feels awesome. H has even gotten into the act by offering ideas and trying to make room for new Christmas and birthday presents. lol

Unfortunately, many of the things I don't want were given to us by people who didn't want them either, but they ask me 'you're going to get rid of that'? Give me a break, you didn't want it either.

Sorry I keep talking about my organization projects. I have always had issues, but they have become worse lately. It all began when I saw this huge house in our town. It had so much potential, but would require too much remodeling. I instantly thought, what would I have to do to make my current home sale ready. It sparked a fire in me to get organized. Our home is small. A buyer would have to see it as organized and a good use of space so they didn't feel cramped. So that is the motivation behind my insanity.

My craft room is awesome! H is in heaven. She has been 'crafting' for two days. I can actually get to things and work on projects without feeling overwhelmed. I see a lot of homemade presents in my future!

Saturday Morning Ramblin'

Well, somehow I survived another week wo a solid night of sleep! L is getting better, but then last night H woke up. Poor H has to go to the doc again today. It looks like her ear infection from last week didn't heal so we probably have to get her new meds. She isn't happy-she wants to play!
Thank goodness for my friend Lisa. She is taking the two littles for an hour so I don't have to bring them with me. C is working from home this morning and as always the four hours it should take will more than likely turn into 10+. I am just thankful his job is going well and that I can stay home. No complaints here!
I am so behind on all the new fall season shows and I may never catch up. I like to watch them with C, but he can't make it through an entire show without passing out. He may have to watch some on his own. I am dying to watch House and the Office.
My Ikea purchases are all assembled and ready to be filled. The giant shelf in the guest/craft room is up and calling me, but I have so much to do. It is crazy when organizing something sounds like fun-I reorganize that room at least once a month. Hopefully, this will keep and I can just do projects!!!

Every Morning

I went to sleep late again last night! Every morning I wake up and say 'that's it, I am going to bed as soon as I put the kids down'. It never happens. Last night I downloaded all my camera pics to my laptop, posted pics on flickr and started my first blog. Maybe I will try again tonight! lol All this just to print out a pic for my little H to take in for show and tell. It is a picture of her with her first fish. They are 'studying' the letter F this week! too cute

Busy day today-heading to Ikea to buy some new shelves. I wish I had endless money to decorate. My basement has so much potential, but I lack vision and cash. HGTV makes me think I can do anything. Last week I finished the second coat of paint on the carport ceiling and shed, painted the chairs for the kid's table, and sewed together some quick towels for wiping messy hands after eating. This week I have kept the kitchen clean. That is how it goes. One week on, one week off.

Love

Have you ever become so tired that you don't even 'feel tired' anymore? Maybe my body has adjusted to sleeping for short periods of time or maybe it is just the coffee. Either way, I don't feel as exhausted as I know I should. My newest peanut isn't as great a sleeper as her brother or sister were, but she is improving. She only gets up once a night now, so I actually enjoy picking up her little body and carrying her to the couch to nurse. She is so warm and smells like baby lotion. I am so crazy about her!

I remember when I was pregnant with #2. I told my mom that it was okay if she loved my sister more than me bc I couldn't fathom loving my second as much as my first. Then the moment I saw his little face, my heart felt like it would explode. Know that feeling of love at first sight made me so excited for the delivery of #3. I was looking forward to falling in love with someone new. I think that will be what I miss most when I stop having babies-falling in love.