We're Back

Back at work, if you can call it work. This week we started watch HAM again. Such a cutie. It's definitely nice to be out of my house! The ladies love to visit and with our first day on the books I can say that they feel right back into their routine. They also played REALLY HARD because all three were O-U-T at bedtime.

So here is a rundown of our first day...

We started our day playing. Playing hard. Serious playage going on here. Lots of tree pointing too.

After all that playing it was nap time. All three went down easy. Too easy. In fact I put the girls down with their blankets and said go night-night. AND THEY DID! A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! The ladies usually take one 2.5 hour nap a day. HAM is still on a two shorter nap schedule so to preserve the ladies nap time I decided to play upstairs with HAM. Then there was music...

Miss Claire woke up and helped herself to the new toy while no one was around. It was so cute to find her playing, alone. Typical Claire. She was so happy to have a turn with no one to steal from her or share with. She sat in this chair for a few minutes with HAM and I standing in the door way watching. It makes me wonder if she needs some more one-on-one time.

Then we had lunch. A nice sit down meal at a window booth. HAM stole Emma's food. Emma wanted HAM's food. Claire was content to sit and not be bothered.

Then we opened HEC's Auto Shop. HAM takes care of everything under the hood, Claire does the detailing, and Emma supervises. This car will be the death of me. We need more customers. Look us up! Mention you saw us here for a discount!

Then it was time for HAM's afternoon nap. Since they didn't have a very long morning nap I was hoping for a second nap. Well I made it half way there. Claire went out but Emma, Miss Energy, was bouncing around. First she laid tapping her foot then she kept popping up to look at the fish. That progressed into sitting up to point at fish. What happened next?? BANG BANG BANG HEEE HEE HEEE! The poor fish lost a few lives and I was just glad that the tank didn't break!

First day, score one for me!

Maybe in the following day I can get back into my groove and be more productive. I was a total blob today. I played nearly as hard as them and it's time to rest my head! I can dream of the new panties I ordered and pray for some awesome groupons tomorrow!!

Ponytails!

Cindy Loo ain't got nuthin on me! We tried ponytails for the first time and Claire wasn't thrilled. Then Emma was determined to have a pony of her own. Keep in mind that she barely has an hair. She was THRILLED to have one and keep smiling when she touched it.

I never thought I would be the ponytail mom but I could get used to this. I have to admit that Claire looks redonkulous and both of them need more hair to make this successful. A lot more hair. It would also help if I could tie their hands behind their backs. I guess it's time to invest in baby hair accessories!

Grandma Time

Wednesday is Grandma day here. I work Wednesday night so Mother takes the girls for a few hours till DH returns home. At Grandma's house last week there was a new sign:

What happens at Grandma's never happened.

Apparently this is her motto. I am suppose to turn a blind eye to her feeding my children waaaaaay too much sugar that leave them a whining, crying, babbling mess. My grandparents took a similar stance with me, which my parents disliked, stating that at their house I was allowed to do and eat things I didn't get a home because I was at their house- their house, their rules. It was all fun and games until now since I am the one in this situation.

As I was leaving Grandma gave the dog a treat and Emma reached up looking for a treat of her own. Grandma Dearest told Emma to wait till Mommy left and she would get out her special treats. Special treats? WTH? Quit feeding my kids cookies! Yes my kids eat cookies, I'm not a total sugar nazi. I do definitely try to limit their sweets intake and would much rather them eat naturally sweet fruit over Grandma's cookies and Daddy's pop-tarts. It's an uphill battle but I'm a fighter(and I do the grocery shopping)!

I usually let it roll by, it's one day a week and it won't kill them. Then I was blind sided by baby sign. Apparently mother picked-up on the baby signs, and she listened to them! WTH!!! BE AN ADULT! Grandma was showing me the signs for more and eat and asking what they meant. Then I got the story behind them.

Claire walks up with both sippies and says juice and when she handed the sippies over began to sign more. So mother was confused about what the sign meant exactly and thought it meant juice. So mother made them sippies with juice, most likely straight juice. AHHHH!

Then Emma walks up signing eat. Grandma figured she wanted something to eat, I tell you my mother is a G-E-N-I-U-S! She gave Em a cookie. Mother doesn't have small cookies. She likes to buy chips.ahoy and double stuff or.eos and all sorts of chocolate covered cookies. She loves the keebler.elfs too. Emma asked again. Grandma obliged. In fact Grandma obliged every eat request with cookies. I'm pretty sure Emma has her whipped now. Cause it's just sooooo cute to see her sign. Ugh. I also learned that I apparently have no say in this matter.

So as I see it, I should just quit my job and give Grandma supervised visitation if I want this to stop.

Anyone else have out of control family?

Homeschoolers (Rant-y)

... are usually weird. They are either schooled by some over zealous yuppie or an over-protective Mama. So am I an over-protective, yuppie Mama? Well I do drive a Su.baru, use cloth diapers, and have an unhealthy love to Whol.e Foods!

I don't want my kids to be weird. I want them to have friends(unlike their parents) and be social (unlike their parents). I do want what is best for them and I can't afford the $40k a year for here. So off to public school we will go because we are not godly people meant for private school. But why not home-school them?

I could do it. I have the training but not the degree. Looking back I'm glad I didn't go through practicum because the public school system is in shambles and I don't think I could control my political mind enough to impart knowledge on ungrateful highschoolers. But could I teach my own children? Do I have the patiences, drive, and dedication? Would they respect me as a teacher? I think I would be soft and plan too many "field trips". Do you have to separate school and home life if they are one and the same? I don't want to be Mama Duggar!

Where would they socialize? Is this a crazy idea? There have been quite a few people who said they saw me home-schooling my children. I could definitely see myself supplementing a public school education. The public school system is definitely lacking. America offers you a free, public education that is virtually useless. You have a diploma but need a degree! You are either taught to a test, or taught what there is time for. The curriculums are shoddy I believe and the government is a huge hinderance. NCLB-crap. No money-crap. Poor facilities, over crowding, lawlessness-crap.I would gladly pay for public education for my children if I valued what they were teaching. I believe public schools have become more of a free daycare and less institutions of learning. Teachers are there to impart knowledge and wisdom, not to raise your kids.

There are over-zealous PTA mom's who want to run the schools. They're up in arms over the ending of bake sales. In our county recently parents lobbied to have a special needs school shut down(a true special needs school of severe cases) and those special needs kids mainstreams so that the "regular" kids could expand and have a new building to ease overcrowding. Saying your kid deserves something more than another is disgusting, lobbing politicians to get it is sicking, limiting the possibilities of special needs kid is sinful. Yet this is what I am sending my kids into? Is this the best solution for everyone?

The more I look at the public school system as a whole, the more I dislike. I see what it does to teachers, I watch my own husband struggle. I look at the fall of communities and the degradation of society and wonder how I can stop that from happening here. I can home-school my kids to be super people! DUH!

But there is this stigma of the home-school kid. The socially awkward kid who is leaps and bounds ahead of kids his age. The kid who can't make friends but can correct the teacher. I made friends with the home-schooled kid. She came, she was nice, she want to make friends. She made none, she left to be home-schooled again.

Have you ever thought about home-schooling? Know any successful home-schoolers? Am I way off base here??

Thirsty Thursday

I wish!

I kicked this stomach bug to pick up a cold. Fan-freakin-tastic! But I have support! Emma is sick with me. I loathe snotty kids. It just drips down their face and they ignore it till it reaches the lip then they wipe. Not wipe it off, but wipe it in, with their hand. Like it's moisturizer! WTH? Gross. There isn't enough sanitizer in the world to save this house.

Another annoying bit about sick kids, incase you forgot, is they're not big on peaceful sleeping. It's hell to get them to sleep, hell to keep them asleep, and it's hell when they wake up unrested. Sick kids are hell. Sick kids are hell-i-er if you are also sick. This is hell.

Ok so maybe it's not the end of the world, in fact it seems like just a passing cold luckily. That doesn't make me anymore thrilled to deal with it. I'm on the verge of actually feeling sick. I am kinda out of energy, kinda out of patience, and kinda not in the mood to deal with life right now. Apparently life doesn't like my plans for it!

I started to change the bed and the girls flipped out. Who knew king size mattresses were so scary! Maybe it was the sounds coming from their mother as she tried to throw said mattress around. I settled them and went back to changing the bed and though that today would be a good day to permanently attach the slats to the frame with everyone being sick and cranky. Yeah. Not so much. They totally geeked so we went to sit and read a book in their room, away from the scary bed and crazy drill. Then it was diaper, crib, ZZzzzzZZzzzzZZzzzz. Score!! Back to my bed project when the drill dies half way through! Bastard! This house is revolting against me! So I look up in disgust to see the cat climbing up my mattress which is sitting against the wall. His waif of a body was just enough to pull it down. Thud.

*Cue bad words*

*Cue more bad words*

That's how I ended up here, blogging. What did I intend on blogging about today? How I finally finished my bed! I want to tell everyone about MIL's party and the annoying beeping in the neighborhood.

MIL's party I somehow started planning. But thinks grew out of control because I can't say no. Family is so complicated, especially when it's not your own. What went from dinner with the in-laws and us has turned into a large family dinner. Oh and SIL who is too busy to plan a dinner for her own mother invited BIL and his daughter and family. I blame myself for being vague and not saying no. So our party of 6 crept up to 7, then 10, and I think has finally settled at 15. You know, a small family dinner! Don't worry, I got this!!

Then there is the issue of the beeping. Last night this beeping started. I have no idea what it is. It's not coming from our house. I think it sounds like a fire alarm going off. Three loud beeps then a pause. Repeated over and over and over. Of course it's hellaciously loud at night when there is nothing to drowned it out while you're trying to sleep. If it was someone's house burning down it should definitely be a pile of ash. If someone left their truck in reverse, the battery should be dead by now. We can't figure out what this is, where it is coming from, or how to even begin to address it. By we I mean me since I seem to be the only one really bothered by it. I would love to call the police department and sound like the local crackhead to tell them the neighborhood is beeping and ask if they could come investigate.

It's now 11:15 on a rainy Thursday morning. I am laughing at the forecast calling for snow this weekend, just in time for MIL's dinner. It's the end of March, enough with the snow already. Emma is whining in her sleep, most likely because she can't breathe. My head is hurting, my comforter is washing, my drill battery is charging and I think my wallet and I are going to do some online retail therapy!

Hope your Thursday is just as enjoyable!

Bleck Day

When Mama don't feel good, breakfast comes from a box and has icing!!

Lasts night was miserable but I'm hoping I'm the only one with this little stomach gem. After a day of a migraine and upset stomach and a night in the bathroom, I finally drifted off a little after 2:30. All would have been well if the ladies hadn't decided for a 5 o'clock happy hour. Seriously? I'm dying and partying it up! After an hour we chucked them back into bed when DH left and they settled so I was hopefully for another hour atleast. But I totally forgot it's spring and every effing bird in the northern hemisphere was perched in the tree outside my window.

AND it was trash day. Can they make those trucks any louder? Why must they allows compact in front of my house? Of course the dogs had to tell me the trash men were out front which woke the girls back up!

Joy.

It's raining and I get to push bertha the stroller over to mother's after naptime, assuming they ever drop off...

How is your Wednesday?

Nap Time *Updated*

This post should be about the bliss of nap time.

This post should rattle off all that I managed to accomplish during nap time.

This post is neither blissful or accomplished.

We're not napping, and I'm not happy. I am however loving the squeals and laughter that I've been listening to for the last hour and kicking myself in the pants for not springing for the video monitor! I'm sure this would make great reality tv. It would be just like the etrade baby commercial, but a show, and I would make millions! Holla!

Instead I have managed to pay bills, start laundry, and look at the dirty floor desperately willing it to clean itself. The kitchen is clean! But I don't feel like making lunch. The dining room is clean-ish! But it will be dirty after we eat the lunch I don't want to make. The living room is-a wreck and will stay that way. I have no energy today.

Blame it on the raaaaain, yeah yeah!

*UPDATE*

After an hour I gave up and went to release the screamies from their cages. They weren't alone! GASP!

The cat had been in there entertaining them the entire time. No wonder no one wanted to nap! I am pleased to report that an afternoon nap is currently in session and I am enjoying the quiet. I can hear the clock ticking and feel my ass falling asleep!!

St. Patty's Day

Apparently I'm the only person not celebrating St. Patrick's Day.

• I'm not Irish.
• I don't really like the color green.
• I hate the smell and taste of boiled cabbage and corned beef.
• I'm not totally against snakes.

Do people understand the history of St. Patty's Day? Damn Americanization making everything a party with beads and beer. That being said I'm dressed in a black shirt and jeans. We'll be having pork tenderloin for dinner and hitting Tarjay. No green shamrocks (although I love the purple ones!) here or stories about leprechauns. I will cave to some Irish music DH left out for the girls today over lunch. I'm pretty sure my kids will feel deprived in a few years...

What are you up to today? Are you going through the motions??

Me Time

So if you happen to fall upon Rebecca's blog, as you should do daily, you'll find her most recent survey which currently looks like this.

This really intrigued me. Really. I didn't vote. Why? Because I can't think of anything I do on a regular basis for myself. It's certainly none of the above, although they are all a great and things I would most likely do. I'm not quiet girly enough for a mani or facial, although these cuticals are horrible and my face resembles that of a pubescent boy. My hair just kind of happens when it happens and I do plan on getting a pedi sometime soon. A massage is a dream at the moment and exercise happens sparingly, in the dark, dank basement, during nap time, when I'm not cleaning, or doing laundry, or cooking-TAKE THAT RUN ON SENTENCE RULES!

I will admit to showering daily, but not necessarily as a luxury since it's more of a quickie before the girls wake. As for the therapist, I couldn't afford the time it would take!!

So what do I do for myself. Can I claim cleaning? I do like to keep things clean and tidy, but I often get tired of being the only one. That just leads to more stress about certain people not respecting my efforts and desires to maintain a tidy house. I do like to cook but again, what good is a delicious, home cooked meal if I'm the only one eating it? I get all bummed that I went to the trouble to make a family meal that only I will eat.

I do blog. Blogging is nice. And I DO vent!

I think blogging is my therapy. It might not fix the situation, but it will get it off my chest and possibly net me some feedback. Maybe I should blog more. But then who would take care of the house and its inhabitants? Who would "figure out tonight's agenda"? Heaven forbid we play it by ear!!

So to each her own. Enjoy your salon time, I'll be envious of you! DH can enjoy his books and crosswords, his music and tv shows. I'll enjoy my blog. Hopefully you'll see more of me before I crack! Hopefully I don't feel to guilty neglecting laundry to blog!

Sunday Senses

It's time for Sunday Senses again...

Sight: The flower bed I lovingly mulched this morning with three measly flowers popping up! I'll be all over Valley View next weekend for prettify my house. Anything can help at this point! Claire playing with her new boyfriend- a bendable plastic Shaggy toy. Emma is putting imaginary food into a bowl and pouring imaginary something on it from my empty water bottle.

Taste: Ice cold chocolate milk. Deeeeelish.

Smell: Pine mulch stink that will be stuck in my nose for a while. Better than the toxic sludge coming from Claire diaper!

Touch: Dry hands, stupid dirt! I know I have at least two pairs of gloves but where they actually are I have no clue.

Sound: NPR downstairs on the radio while DH is bustling around the kitchen making us lunch. I could really get used to weekends like this!!

Play along with Rebecca!!

The Birthday Week Round-Up

I must preface this post with the following disclaimer:

Birthday's are just another day for me. While I do enjoy making them special for others, I don't really enjoy all the attention focused on myself. In fact I most likely come off very ungrateful as I don't know how to express the surprise and rah-rah that comes when someone gives you Birthday Stuff. Birthday stuff is different from other stuff because on holidays, anniversaries and the like, EVERYONE is celebrating and you're not singled out.

That being said, Wednesday was my birthday and was probably the biggest birthday I have had since the ripe bold age of 12. I am now officially old enough to know better! While I am truly grateful to have such wonderful friends and family, I am all about low key! Wednesday was definitely not as low key as I would have preferred but there is always next year.

Monday: The girls and I trucked to my cousin's house to install attic stairs! I was greeted with a 'milk cake'!

How great is that? Anyone who knows me, knows I love milk. I drink it all the time. We are at a gallon a day at this house and I'm still trying to find a way to house a cow in the backyard!

Then we trucked it to the attic where I found yet another bastard stink bug! They are everywhere!

I ended my day by sending half naked pictures to her husband on his business trip. I'm sure he appreciated knowing I used his shower and played with his duckies! It's good to have this kind of family around! LOL!

Tuesday: I treated myself to a new album off of iT.unes. Is it still really an album? Anyhow... Mumford and Sons - Sign No More. Good stuff. A little different and I am a sucker for raspy, whiney voices and acoustic guitars so it's a great addition to my gigs and gigs of music. Seriously, you can't shuffle my library because there is no flow. It's like a crazy, abstract Matisse for your ears!

Wednesday: My mother remember and acknowledge my birthday-FURREALS! I was shocked. She is the master of drab and blah. Nothing is worth doing in her world. Everyday is another day... unless there are babies involved. My phone was going crazy with texts and FB posts. That is the only downside to be so connected-it's that much harder to escape. The in-laws called while I was feeding the girls to sing me happy birthday. They are so cute. I totally imagined them sitting around the dining room table singing AT the phone. Too funny.

Mother told me the Devil had a present for me. This 'present' I overlooked while house sitting this weekend. I'm not sure what I think of it.

We're not those kind of sisters. I pretty much hate her guts and the feeling is mutual I'm sure. She is a step above a wasted life at the moment. But to each his own, at least she is hundreds of miles away. That sounds horrible of me and I know I carry a lot of anger from childhood but this is NOT a sincere gift. This is a 'this would be a good sister gift and I have a sister' gift. I love how this probably the most recent picture of us! HA! It is a good picture of my Poppy at least!

Then there was work where I was greeted with a bunch of work from those who couldn't finish their job before me. GREAT! But Bossman made up for it with a card and Strawberry Shortcake, Cake #1. Miss Tina gifted me a gallon of milk. Told you I love milk, and everyone knows it!

I am fortunate enough to work a long shift which means I am there at the shift change from morning to night. Two groups means two cakes apparently! My old lady was upset that my mother doesn't do anything for my birthday so she brought everyone together and they had balloons and a Coconut cake for me, Cake #2. You can also see my box of Birthday Candy from my employer who also hands out Birthday Checks, yes please thank you! I will gladly take a day's pay for a gift on top of working! Over the course of my shift I was sang to three times, the third being in front of customers WHO JOINED IN! I looked like a beet!

Immediately after work I stopped by my parents who had a card for me. I was shocked. Then mother brought me a bag of clothes for the girls to take home and a small baby cake! Raspberry Almond, Cake #3. It looks delicious, I only wish I like raspberry.

I ended up getting home late. DH had dozed off but woke himself up to hand my my cards and gifts. He had stopped by his parents to pick up my gift. How sweet! From them I received 3 new shirts which I will desperately need for summer. This was attached to a reusable grocery bag which FIL purposely wrapped in Christmas paper! Always the jokester!

Then I opened DH's gift. He stopped by VS to pick up some necessities, very much needed and appreciated. He found me a canning book so I can expand my canned good this season-SO EXCITED! He even remember a dress I commented on in ON and when and got it for me. I guess he really does pay attention... :)

After I finished opening my gifts guess what was waiting for me... Cake #4! A homemade butter pecan cake with cream cheese icing.

Thursday: DH watched the girls so I could head out into the monosoon for groceries. An hour at the grocery store by myself was refreshing. That's probably the first official sign that I am old. I also discovered that the girls are night and day when it comes to cake. Claire refused a small piece of cake and Emma wanted to eat them both. She proceeded to throw a fit when I wouldn't give her her sister's cake and had the audacity to try to steal mine! Don't put your life on the line to go after MY cake kid!

Friday: Today. I had great plans, but I am just not feeling it. I was going to start the basement floor and mulch my garden but enh, tomorrow is another day. I am definitely feeling some delivery pizza for dinner though!

I am itching to finish some of my many projects, what a bad habit! I need to finish before I move on. I can feel spring and I can't wait to get outside with the girls. I must buy the wagon A.S.A.P. and find some outside toys for easter. I think I have decided that the girls will not have baskets over flowing with easter candy. Granted I did survive that tradition, and I cannot turn down the coveted Reese's Egg, but it's unnecessary and bad for them and who wouldn't want a kick ass water table instead?!

So...

What do you do for your birthday? Are you a big birthday person?

and

What are you easter plans?

The News (Rant)

I'm tired of the media. Who cares about crazy Charlie Sheen, LaLohan, and Mel Gibson among other celebrities who are running their lives amuck?! I run my own life amuck and I am not on the evening news! Mariah Carey is having twin- been there, done that! There is newsworthy stuff out there, things that affect people. Things that could be the catalyst for change nationwide, isn't that newsworthy?

I would love to hear more about the state of unions across the country. Especially teacher debacle in Wisconsin. Does it not amaze anyone else that their congress people fled their state to make a stance? That their government is contemplating forcibly returning them to pass legislation? Does that not make anyone else sick or worried? Maybe I'm partial because I am relying on a teacher's salary to support a family of 4. Does no one else think of budgets and services and "rights" are newsworthy?

This sounds laced with conspiracy theory but are they trying to keep everyone in the dark? Do people honestly think it won't happen to them? It could. I have insurance, just incase. I read the news, just incase. I think it's better to know than not, it's better to be informed than surprised. I am constantly amazed by people's lack of concern about the world around them. I'm amazed at many more things as well.

Does a twenty second blurb about the world news really do world evens justice? I bet if I ask around work today no one will be able to tell me anything about Libya. That upsets me. This elitist society which prides itself on so much really knows so little. I bet you half the people in this country can't tell you what the military is truly doing in Iraq. Oh yeah.... "Fightin' terrorists!"...ha!

God I sound like such a conspiracy theorist. I promise you I am not. I am just continually amazed. How can people not want to know what is going on in the world, or at least your community? There is a plethora of information at your finger tips, it takes mere seconds to skim headlines to get a feel for the world at large. Just set yahoo as your homepage!

Do you keep up with your local, state, world news?

Stepping off my soapbox, cause it's my birthday and all...

I'm Still Young

I'm younger than virtually everyone in my "circle".

I'm younger than virtually everyone in my family.

I will always be younger than my husband... :)

It's my birthday, which is generally just another day for me. However it is still a special day and someone forgot to tell the Screamies as they were crazy this morning. They didn't like breakfast, didn't want to play downstairs, escaped the bathroom while I was showering (so much for a birthday shave...), and locked themselves in their bedroom while giggling with delight! I was pushing nap time hard yet they kept finding books that just needed to be read. I also have to work, fan-tas-tic, and pick up groceries! These are sooo not appropriate birthday activities.

I am definitely feeling old today. Not so much old but out of shape. Monday my cousin and I put up a set of attic stairs in her house. I was quickly informed that I haven't worked my upper body out at all in the last two and a half years. Really. Nothing but lifting babies, and baby stuff, and laundry baskets. Then I had to lift my arse up through a whole in the ceiling, multiple times! Ouch! My arms hate me, my abs hate me, and dear god my boob muscles are filing divorce I believe! I unharnessed them are ohmahgawd it was like overfilled nursing hanging pain. I seriously think that having no boobs at all is the way to go... On the bright side, she has steps and I got out of the house. It also left me jonesing to tackle some of my own household projects.

I also got a text today from my mother informing me that the Devil had sent a birthday present for me. WTH? When did she get a soul? Ever since her quickie wedding she has been semi-sane and missing her family. Something sounds fishy. And does this mean I have to send her something on her birthday? Yeah, yeah she's my sister but I can't help it my parents didn't know when to stop!

Do you send gifts to people who gift you? Is there official etiquette here?

Since my birthday falls in the middle of the week, I'm slowly celebrating all week. Little things here and there. Hopefully I'll wrap everything up Friday and post.

Unlike the rest of the blog world my children ARE NOT SICK (knock, knock, knock) and life has been pretty smooth sailing. Aside from the dogs. They are out to get me. Why must I have a conscience? Dropping them off at the pound would be so easy... stupid emotions. I know I would miss them. Who else is going to compulsively lick themselves or leave pies all over the back yard? What would I do if I didn't hear the tap, tap, tap of claws across the floor or if there was no one to scratch the hell out of my back door? Better yet, what would I do with all the money I would save?! I might be financial solvent! I could pay off my mortgage next year! Who wants that?! Ok maybe the mortgage was a bit exaggerated, but seriously, they cost an arm and a leg to maintain and feed! Bastards!

Hope everyone has a relaxing hump day! There is more rain coming here.... just great!

Morning Paper

Big girls have to look at the paper over breakfast too! Hopefully they can spy some deals for me!

Sunday Senses (IS BACK!!)

Holla! It's back!!

See: American Pickers on the boob tube! How awesome would it be to be those guys?!

Taste: Fresh baked chocolate chip walnut cookies, still soft and squishy from the oven with COLD milk! My favorite!

Smell: Dog ass-gross! I seriously think I should cork him at this point, it can't be good for my health.

Touch: New, soft, comfy sweats! The soft fleece feeling is orgasmic against my achy thighs. Running to my parents house with the dogs- horrible idea!

Hear: The rain falling against the side of the house. I will sleep like a baby tonight! I only wish it were storming with lots of thunder!

Thanks Rebecca for bring Sunday Senses back!

Where Have I Been?

I wish I knew!

This week has been a whirl wind of DH's assessment preparations and me desperately trying to be a supportive and understanding wife without gouging his eyeballs out with a spoon. Too dramatic?! No, I don't think. Wife of the year replaced the buttons on his suit! Guess who was still sporting the big, honkin', gold buttons and saw NO PROBLEM going out in public like that? I'm no fashionista but that is tacky. What happened to my happy metro who used to line the sink with his face care products and fret over which tie he wanted to wear? Ah, the affects of fatherhood...

I have made an effort to limit my time on the computer during the day. The girls get more of my attention (good mom!) and I am more productive-IMAGINE THAT! It's a bit more draining but it has definitely forced me to find some more patience! The girls now LOVE to have stories to read to them, only they don't really care if you read the same story 47 times. I however, very much do care, this Mama needs variety! We did have some exciting news in that Miss Claire T. Bear is now trying to talk. She now will walk up and say sip or et(eat) along with the sign for tell you what she wants. It's great! Of course if she doesn't immediately get what she has asked for there will be a boat load of drama, waterworks, and flinging herself on the floor while convulsing in sobs. Such the actress!

At the same time we have Em who is starting to get frustrated with her inability to communicate. We work with the signs but she doesn't do them, we repeat a million words to her in hopes she will either repeat or make some effort to communicate her needs but no dice. It's a bit aggravating on both ends and I hate walking away to leave her cry but I refuse to coddle and hold a child throwing a tantrum. What a horrible mom, I know. I don't do the water works well.

I need to start gearing up for tomorrow. DH took a personal day and we are headed to the beach. Hopefully we can reconnect as a family now that he can stop obsessing over work and fully and properly acknowledge our existence. I'm hoping the weather stays nice and that there isn't too much of a breeze off the water. I'm really debating on whether to take bertha along or not. They are pretty good at the walking business now, and will hold hands for the most part. Outlet shopping with Bertha is nearly impossible, and I feel bad leave DH to drive the girls around in the car while I shop. So hopefully no stroller will work out and they will be super tired out at the end of the day from their travels.

On my outlet shopping list-

• baby shoes
• some spring/summer essentials
• bras???
• socks
• pants for DH
• bathing suits??
• mom-bag

I think I've mentioned this before, but I don't carry a purse. DH got me a new wallet for christmas which I desperately needs. Now I have to invest in a bag. Nothing to serious or trendy, no crazy prints, preferably something solid, sturdy, and washable. Must be able to hold-

• wallet
• camera
• phone
• sippies
• snacks
• small toys
• board books
• a few diapers

And it needs a special pocket for easy access to keys, phone and chapstick. I can't be digging for the essentials with two little ones in tow!

Do you have any weekend plans? I'm hoping DH can finish de-compressing and re-enter the real world outside of his school bubble. I'd also like to find a deal on peapods and would love to pick up the flooring and underlay for family room! I'm willing to settle for having the hubs back though!

Things We Don't Speak About (It's Rant-y)

Politics and religion, forbidden topics that should never be spoken yet are always making headlines. Religious radicals influencing government, separation of church and state, too much government, not enough God- it goes on and on. But this is my blog and I'm curious, so I'll ask and discuss as I please(hopefully not offending anyone in the process).

The Back Story

I work at a grocery store, how glamorous right? I stay in the back and cook, I keep to myself. I was drawn into the gossip and banter of my co-workers. I was baffled. We have an older lady who is semi-retired at 62. Like me she works 20 hours a week to keep her benefits and have a little spending money. Unlike me she collects social security. She complains about how little it is even though she she was a house wife for most of her adult life. She believes she is "entitled" to it and plans on "collecting his after he's gone" meaning she plans on outliving her husband and collecting his social security. She laughs and says she's living on my money and that I won't receive social security. I informed her social security wasn't created to be a retirement plan for the nation and that she wasn't suppose to stop working once she hit a certain age to collect a check. She told me I was wrong. She then proceeded to complain about all the young kids "living on handout from the government" and how they needed to work and support their families; that babies shouldn't have babies, and if you couldn't support the first one they shouldn't have had a second. She said she would love to have free groceries and someone to have paid for her kids expenses way back when. She implied that "government hand outs" were ruining America and kids need to go to church.

Is she right?

I think she's a bit of an ignorant hypocrite and not just because she thinks I'm wrong. Are all politicians crooks and liars? Probably but is it reasonable to expect one person to change decades of poor policies in their first 90 days? America is the land of C.Y.A. and that's exactly what most politicians do. They deliver what people want to keep them happy, to keep their votes and stay employed. Keeping everyone happy is impossible. Why can't we take a lesson from the French and just start fresh? They're on their 5th republic since American's inception.

Does this rant have a point? Probably not. But here is the ultimate question I posed to the old lady at work...

If the government stop handing out checks to everyone and instead we re-introduced Almshouses, would that fix the problem? Can government create social problems? Who is responsible for teaching/maintain/fixing social problems?

I rely on the government to pave my streets (which by the way is looking a little rough since the snow) and maintain a general sense of order and function. I can provide for and raise my kids just fine, I like to think I am socially, morally, and financially responsible and can pass those qualities on. I also think I can even produce learned people in a much more efficient and successful manner than the public school system, but I'll save that post for another day.