Am I the only one who

sees the City Electric department outside of my house and has the following thought process..."Did I pay that bill? Yeah, I did...cause I paid the cell phone right after...okay...hmm, do I know where my confirmation number is? What if they lost it...maybe I should pull up my bank account so I can take my laptop out and show them that indeed the amount went through....oh i hope they aren't going to accidentally can the electricity this afternoon...."

Surely I am not the only one....right?

YES YES YES YES

she summed it up fabulously
For Moms :)

140/200

that's not my bp but it's how if feels right now. I hate days where my temper is pushed to where it actually raises its voice.

Really not winning MOTY

Today I sucked as a mom. It's only 10:45 in the morning but the verdict was in by 7am. The entire ball team was awakened by the eldest member accidentally slamming the bathroom door at 5:30 am. It wasn't joyous squeals of good morning...it was "who the eff woke me up and i'm not happy" screams of ticked off 2 year olds.

At breakfast the eldest reminds me that I did not check all of his homework. On one hand this makes me smile as it shows that he understands that having it checked so that you turn it in and make the best grade possible is a good thing. On the other I want to thump him (i didn't) that he waited until 6:30 am to tell me this.

I forgot to send notes to school about them not riding the bus today. The office ladies are going to love me calling again to ask them to send a note down to the classrooms. (hey they wrote the rules on this one, I didn't so I'm just abiding by what they ask a parent to do even though they act like it burdens their oh so busy day to no end)

We've gone pee pee e potty more times than one should ever have to go.

Somedays one is def. the bug more than the windshield. Go team bug.

Flying at the speed of life

You know how sometimes life gets really busy and you're running in 4 different directions and all you can really do is hold on and live it? And that sums it up my friends. Somedays you can't blog about it, you just have to live it. Cause what is a life if it's only lived for blogging….. and that is as deep as I can be at 7 something in the morning. A morning in which the day that I have to be up early and have to be out and about my youngest son decides this is the morning he will sleep in. The child is up and generally pissed because he is thirsty somewhere around the 4am time-frame most mornings. He will happily snuggle in bed with us and go back to sleep (while subconsciously kicking his father in the back trying to boot him out of bed – stewie much?) but the fact that I had to function at 4am does not generally make for a restful night. Sometimes he's up as much as a newborn it seems. Whoever the hell said they are sleeping by 2 ish is full of it because we are up with someone almost every night. I do know this is part of parenting but it's the exhausting part.

Random things: Neutrogena has a new face cream that covers all of it. I suck very badly at actually using some sort of skin regime but I think I could handle this one. Face it, by the time everyone is down, and I have had a chance to fall on the bed and cuddle with my wonderful man…the last thing I think of is getting up to put some sort of really hard to read made up word like "duo luminocity" on my cheeks, while putting "exfoli-define-reduci-moisturizer" on my eyes and some "gobble-be-gone" crap on my neck. I am sure that when I hit 40 I will look like I am 60 and will need to be on the TLC show "10 Years Younger" I will regret this. However, it does not stop the fact that I forget. So the ad campaign won and you oh fabulous Neutrogena all in one eyes, neck, face night repair stuff that I cannot remember the name of will be purchased after I have been to Walgreens 10 more times and forgotten it 10 more times. Then perhaps I can wake up looking like Mary Louise Parker.

Speaking of Mary Louise….3 maybe 4 shows that are now in my totally addicted to tv shows that one must watch. We (meaning our little town) finally stepped into the 21^st century and bought into that whole cable de-regulation bill that was passed oh, 25 years ago. Time Warner moved in and you would have thought that it was like God himself sprinkled some happy dust in the air because I was positively giddy (on a Monday at that) when I got the letter that we now had…..wait for it…..A CHOICE. So I promptly signed up as they were still running the lines. Not only did I get a killer pkg, but one that beat the pants off of what I was paying. I mean really. How can you not love 5 services for the price I was paying for 2 to one company and 1 to another (i-net, tv, phone) They sold me on it when I realized I could set the cable boxes to not come on until a certain time; meaning I don't care that you did your homework at school it doesn't work until after dinner and your room is clean so you might as well play outside to kill the time…..(high five, knuckles, score one for the parent team, screw democracy in this house). Not to mention that it has DVR. Now, to actually get this with the old provider we had to pay about 35 more a month…and they were so horrible all the way around it was going to be a cold day in..yeah…before I gave them one more penny than I had to. So because this was item number 4 they threw in (for the exact same price I was paying – did I mention that 10 times already) I said what the heck I'll try it. It is fabulous. And this brings us to my original point…(see up there, right hand column…yeah, falling through a tree)

I am loving Weeds and the show Californication. You have to watch it. Very adult but deep. Makes you think. Along with my other favorite Entourage I can happily snuggle up with the husband and use the "on demand" feature to watch whatever I want when I want. Oh that right there is a wonderful wonderful thing. I do realize tv rots your brain, and I also know that we're really strict on moderation for the older kids. The younger set has totally od'ed on Thomas the Tank Engine on demand. And I am okay with that….as the morals are much easier to talk about than they are on Hannah Montana per say. I also think for my ringing endorsement Time Warner should just make me pay half the bill next month.

Wonder boy has just now come out of hibernation and is demanding something to drink. Since he is still in his crib I do believe the power known as pick me up lady must go rescue him. Until next time………

No accounting for taste

So in perusing Craigs List for various office items I've come to the realization that there really is no accounting for taste. Some points.

Even if your king size bedroom set is from Ethan Allen, if it was purchased in the 70's then it looks like the 70's. No name brand is going to change that.

Probably best to not buy a whole new set of furniture before you walk down the aisle. I've been amazed at the postings for "didn't make it to the alter but we bought all new furniture and need to sell it"

If it looks like something in a 1980's bachelor pad then putting the words "contemporary" in front of it don't change the aesthetics. Same with the words "retro".

If you think that it is in such bad shape it needs to be titled a "restoration project" it is probably best to list it in the free section of stuff and put it by the curb. Who is going to pay good $$ to buy something and then pay more money to re-do it.

Are there really that many people out there that need to unload 200 gal. aquariums? Cause in SA there are a ton.

Same with coffee tables. I'm thinking I don't want one as everyone is selling them.

I'm no decorator by any means, but the amount of rust orange, pea green and country blue sofas out there is amazing.

Okay, that's all for now.

Pee Pee E Potty

That is the absolutely precious way my 2 year old prince says that he needs to go. Yes, ladies and gents, we are now in the throws of potty training. Nothing, I mean absolutely nothing says (yells) success than when daddy is on the phone with an artist and the 2 year old princess runs in yelling "Daaaaaddddyyyyy I went in the pooootttttyyyyy" as loud as she can. As cute as it is, it's turned lots of things into the tail spin that it does. Checking every 10 minutes to ask if they have to go, the novelty of going even when you don't have too, the fun of the sink and washing hands 20 times per day. But in the end, it is so worth it. I'm quite certain that I have contributed enough to the earth in the way of disposable diapers being disposed. My bank account will be pretty happy too.

Beethovan and Bach

Have absolutely nothing on the new cello and violin players in my house. I'm not sure what's worse…the fact that it's going to be really noise around here for the next year or that they are so excited that they can annoy their sister in a whole new way. They already asked if they could get a pick up installed on it so they could plug into an amp. Rock n Roll can wait a few years…I'm trying to cultivate some class at the moment. ;)

S.P.O.T.L.E.S.S.

That is the state of my house right now. I kid you not. Everything is in its place and everything sparkles. And I mean sparkles…. I swear those professional people have special cleaning dust or something because no matter how much I scrub my sink it does not sparkle like when they did it today. It was fabulous. The bestest gift thus far. I mean it was just….wow. They organized, and cleaned and cleaned out things and re-organized, from top to bottom. It was almost magical.

Here is the crazy thing. We finished work, walked into the fabulously clean house, I made dinner, we all ate and while I cleaned up the dishes the kids all got bathed/showered. By 7:15 everything was clean again. Including all 5 little people. We actually had time to hang out in the living room and just hang. Oh and I also helped the boys make "Vote 4" posters as each of them is running for Student Council in 5^th grade. It was such good family time. I didn't have to spend the evening trying to pick everything up, and clean and the 48 little things that somehow end up being 2 hours worth of stuff in the evening. It was just soooo soooo nice.

It's like they gave us a fresh start today and all I have to do is maintain the fresh start for 2 weeks and then they show up again. I think I can do that.

Stuff

I've consumed my weight in guacamole just now while working. Hitting the gym again starting tomorrow – YAY. I'm actually excited about this. I used to be very allergic to avocados and could only have it with other main dishes. Then I had the small ones and for some reason that allergy went away….i'm making up for lost time. I used to have asthma too until I got pregnant with the first set of twins and that went away too. You think if I have another set of twins I might end up with perfect vision? I'm just saying…..

It's been raining all morning. I love this except it makes me want to crawl back into the covers and take a nap. Oh and no mowing today I don't guess - ha

I noticed 4 coffee cups on my husband's desk…do you think he's trying to 'suck' at taking them to the sink – hee hee

Tonight I'm on a roll

it may not be a good one, but I've had something sitting on my chest for many a year now. At one point I really considered writing an etiquette book. No not one of those that tells you what fork to use - one that points out the very apparent lacking of common sense that prevails in daily life all around us. I generally say nothing when I notice these 'crimes' happening. I just file them away so I can vent about them later in the day when my husband has been beaten down by work for many hours and doesn't want to talk so it gives me a good feeling he's listening. (it works for us - go with it)

Well, said book never happened. But I've got lots to unload. I think I shall unload one or three tonight. I am also sure that these have been discussed at length by the copy machine in various offices and are not original, but it's my rant and I don't care.

I shall title this irritant "The bathroom stall is not for making friends"

I'm not the type of chic that feels the need to go to the restroom in a pack every time. Sometimes, yes. Most times no. I really don't like going in any public restroom. The lack of privacy sends my bladder shivering in a corner - (I don't even have to touch on the other as that is not going to happen. If I was on survivor they would have to cart my ass out of there for compacted intestines or some such because unless I am at home, that is not going to happen unless it's a big emergency) So since it is not a 'private' place WHY IN THE WORLD DO YOU FEEL COMPELLED TO TALK TO COMPLETE STRANGERS STALL TO STALL?

Why? I don't know you. I don't need to chit chat with you. I don't need to know anything about you at all while you are going to the bathroom. I am having enough trouble. In the time you plopped down and decided to discuss things, I had to decide if it was a hover only restroom or if it happened to have those handy seat covers. If not, did I have enough tp to line the seat myself. So now you are talking to me like you know me about world events while I'm trying to hover on thighs that are begging me to hurry because I did too many dead leg lifts at the gym yesterday. Not only that, I am still holding my purse on my shoulder and it's doing that slipping thing, I'm clutching tp and trying to make sure that no scarf, belt, shirt tie, or any other thing falls into the depths below and make the entire process as quick as possible.

I don't talk. Unless you are a really good friend of mine, that I know very well, I am not going to respond. And even if you are a really good friend of mine I'll respond while we're not in the stall. Read the above...I don't have room with all my hovercraftiness going on. Now this is what gets me. Why if I have just nicely smiled when we come out of the stall in that awkward "oh we came out at the same time" moment, do you try to continue the conversation at the sink, talking to me in the mirror. I still don't know you. I'm sure you are a lovely person, but what I just did took a lot of effort. I need to regroup.

Am I the only one that notices this. It never happens in a small two stall restroom either. Generally it's like the restrooms at Macy's....you know, where there are 40 of them and I am in stall number 7 while the other person is in stall number 20.

I also wonder why in the heck people feel the need to chat on their phones while going? That is weird. It echos in there...people KNOW what you are doing....you can't take 2 seconds to say "lemme call you back" as you are walking to the door of the restroom or rather you can't wait the 3 seconds it will take for you to finish things up and then call them back. Why answer when you are in the stall? What does one say to the question "hey, what are you doing?" It is always at that moment that I really wish my bladder or colon were not shy and I could throw some good loud bowl ringers in there on command.

I'm sure this is quite dumb to most. But it boggles my mind. What is so absolutely important in your life that you must give up every private moment because you have to be on the phone? There are exceptions I am sure....but based on the amount of times I witness this happening you people must be having a lot of emergencies that require you to talk on the phone when you are going to the bathroom.

If every bathroom was built like the bathroom at Buc-ees on i-10 this problem would almost be wiped out in one fell swoop. They are the best bathrooms ever.

“It’s my birthday…..things are finally going my way”

I've had that BRhyder song stuck in my head all day long.

So far it has been wonderful. I got an awesome awesome gift! My sweet wonderful husband got me a cleaning service....i know right….not for one time, but they come every other week and we can bump them up to more time if we want. I do an okay job, but with working and 48 kids I get really overwhelmed at the amount of little things that always have to be done (you know, like dusting and baseboards and the little tiny places that crap gathers)… oh this was just the best gift as now it will be clean clean clean. Everyone can expect invites the day the cleaners are here lol.

Notre Dame is on today….dare I say it….football in this house starts today and I am super excited. I love football. (btw, I have my fantasy football team all set and it looks like a good team so I am pumped) and plans to watch it are in full effect.

Tonight Mike gets home for a day before he turns around tomorrow again to hit the road. I'm very happy to get some time with him tonight.

I've got some wonderful, beautiful friends who have wished me a happy day. I have a great family and support system and I cannot think of a better way to start off the *new* year.

"sun is shining again….."

update**

"it's good to feel the heat on my skin"

You should all be really happy that I don't remember any more of the words to that song.

HAPPY LABOR DAY - and as most people have no idea what this holiday is about they just consider it happy day off from work and last good weekend on the lake. Unless you live here and it has rained on any big weekend. However, you won't hear me complaining. I just giggle inside because I don't have to mow the yard for one more day. Not that Mike wants me to mow the yard. Contrary to that he wishes I would leave the weed eater alone. Once we got into a big argument because he said I "sucked" at it. Well how am I going to learn to get good at it if I don't practice I reasoned. So now I only do it when he's gone on long runs and my neighbors start giving that frowny look at me when they drive by because I'm letting the small ones play in the water hose or some such instead of mowing the yard. (not that I care what they think but I'd rather stay on the DL for crappy yards they must point out when they gather at the mailboxes - I would rather them talk about how I let my child wear a band t-shirt and some wild shorts to school - derelict)

Anyway, I've been told to not look at the bank account as purchases are being made and we will have cake and ice cream tomorrow night (when all kids and Mike are in attendance).

So I am off to paint nails and toes with my 9 year old. The small ones are napping and we must make the most of this time. :)