Progress?

I feel like we've reached the promise land! Maybe I'm not the horrid, failure of a mother I originally thought. I also have photographic proof!

My children did that! They ate that! While it is still lacking in the protein department, I still feel amazingly successful in this endeavor to eat better. I can also report that things re improving in the meat department as well. Last night they each had full portions of salmon! My kids! Amazing! Best part, they now ask for fruits and veggies. Treats are now understood to be given in moderation. 

I'll take the decreased whining over meal times above all else. It was a quick but relatively painless shift. Hooray!

One issue that I haven't found a way around yet is the hubs. 

He takes the whole meat & potatoes game to the extreme. While I try to offer him the same respect I expect to receive for my choices, I can't help but feel aggravated at the excuses he offers to our ladies and his unwillingness to better his food choices. It does make it uncomfortable at times, more so when he isn't home. After a challenging morning one of my ladies was bemoaning my lunch selections and dropped a line that started with "but Daddy doesn't..."

*cue blood boiling*

I could have easily started foaming at the mouth about how dear old dad is wishing for an early grave , but I took the high road. I reminded them that everyone is responsible for their own bodies. That they should remind Daddy that they like and want healthier choices. I was also careful to avoid saying that Daddy doesn't like these foods, instead opting to say he chooses not to eat them. I'm sure they saw through me but they accepted it none the less.im just hoping they,are able to accept these inconsistencies and not get too hung up on them. While I can't make a grown man do better for himself, I can surely enforce the happy wife-happy life policy to ensure the ladies are fed well when I'm away! :)

So does anyone have any tips for meat aversions? I can't purée into s'ghetti sauce for the rest of their lives!

Brrr

Haven't you heard? Hell has frozen over!

And I live in hell.

OH MY GOODNESS I don't remember it being soo cold for soo long. Of course storms come and go and I've seen bitterly cold temperatures, but this is getting to be too much. [Side note: I'm also tired of people going on about how cold it is, as if I can't feel my own boogies freeze!] The neighbor mentioned a report on the news about how heat pump customers are going to be paying through the nose with this cold spell and I was secretly beaming at my trust 'old school' boiler. My boiler is virtually maintenance free, self sufficient, and just had a check up. Nothing could go wrong!

I CURSED MYSELF!

Guess who was cold this morning?
Guess who won't see temperatures above the freezing point until next month?
Guess who would gladly pay out of her nose for an auxiliary heat source!

I couldn't wait to see if old faithful would be getting her sh!t together, so I called for a repairman. I called out of work. It was immediately after those calls that Mother Nature added insult to injury and let the snow start falling. Quite a few profanities may have left my mouth as the children left to visit with Grandma. Thankfully they were on their way and apparently completely unaware that we were without heat. Perhaps you don't notice cold until your bones start to creak?

Thankfully the repairman, though very young and super professional, arrived an hour early. Unheard of! Although he can't guarantee the problem, but who can if you're not a witness, he had the heat on within minutes of stepping in the door. I felt a bit like a putz, as he merely pushed a button, but now I know the location of said magical button.

Still, I can't get the feeling of dread out of my stomach. The feeling all homeowners get when something goes wrong. Maybe it's the fear of money flying from my wallet, or just the suspense that builds while you meander uncomfortably around your own home waiting for news from a stranger. Regardless, I'm not a fan of all this anxiety and as a result I have wasted half of a perfectly good day. When the ladies wake from nap, I think I will try to lure one of them out with me! Time to celebrate good news and an unexpected day off of work!

How has your Saturday treated you?

Cry It Out

So sometimes little ladies and their mothers find themselves on opposite sides of issues.

Sometimes these situations are exacerbated by 3 a.m. wake-ups that have left one or both parties not functioning at their best.

Worst of all, sometimes situations spiral out of control. Wildly.

Still worse, sometimes all this potential nonsense is triggered by a carrot.

So before everything went to total chaos, I sent her packing. Calm yourself down and we'll talk.

Only the talking bit was halted...

It is this sweet, sleepy, innocence I need to hold tight to and remember. Here's to hoping this dragon wakes up in a much better mood!

ThursMonday

It feels 127% like a Monday, but maybe that's because it's the first day DH has had school this week!? While it was nice okay tolerable pure torture different having him home, on his birthday, I can't help but feel bad. We did little to celebrate for him, aside from two ladies bounding down the stairs bright and early to sing their hearts out to him. The only thing made for him to honor his birth were reservations! We had a lovely dinner out, and I have promised myself this was a special treat! I've also resolved to make it up to him when the weather is a little better.

Dear SA friends with all your wonderfully sunny summer pictures, I hate you. I want to bottle my -25F wind chill and mail it to you!! It's currently 21F (-6C) and I feel I no longer need a coat. This is the new warm. We went out to play in the snow today, since our gym class was unexpectedly cancelled. That lasted for about 20 minutes. Then we were cold and wet, which is way worse than just being cold. I may or may not have sat in front of a space heater for 10 minutes ignoring the children to warm up my brain! I'm really over this bitter cold!!

Before I slipped and fell but saved my camera I was pleased as punch to have finally pulled out my camera for the first time this year. What I disappointment I am! I need to stop relying on my phone. I took a total of 8 shots before we headed in. I'm hoping to get some more today after nap. Maybe it will make it up to 22 by then, but sadly the sun has already started to set. I want to try some ice bubbles today or tomorrow! :)

How is your weather? Is anyone else going stir crazy? Tell me I'm not alone!!!

I'm actually starting to worry. We still have a good bit of winter to go and our county has already exhausted all of it's snow days. Anymore and DH will have to work into the summer. Come June this Momma will be itching to get away for a few days and I don't want to be held up because the county has deemed my husband must babysit for a few more days/weeks beyond the end of school. Blerg!

Flakes

It's just before 8 and the first flakes have started falling. Snowmageddon has officially begun!

Of course this means no school for the next two days. It's also the eve of the hubs birth, so my plans for tomorrow have already been blown. I was hoping this would be a memorable snow fall for the ladies but with the polar vortex on another drunken escapade I'm not sure how much outside time we will have. With wind chills down to -15F, I don't foresee myself willingly removing my pajamas and exiting the house. The dogs will be lucky to be let out! 

Wish us luck...  and warmth!

21 Days?

They, whoever they are, say it takes 21 days to make or break a habit. Well guess who is celebrating their 21st day of dining out sobriety?? This family right here!! Say hello to the monies!! I'd like to thank my planner, my ability to nag the family, my FIL's deal shopping, and the hubs for bringing in the ads. I credit you all with my success!

Yes, I need to stick with these shenanigans! 

I am a meal planning, deal shopping, fresh food buying fool. Homemade bread and treats, although I'm not yet counting myself as some clean eating fad follower -- I just like to pronounce what I'm eating! There are no downsides here either, aside from the slight twinges of Chipot.le withdrawal. I could easily live on rice, beans, and cheese. Pig helps. I'm pleased to report that the ladies are also handling their withdrawal well. I've taken great pains to involve them in the menu. Some of us may be tired of spaghetti and pleas for quesadillas, but they are making better choices. I couldn't be more pleased. 

I briefly did a food chart, but no one could be bothered to fill it out. However, when your kids are asking for bunches of grapes as a snacks you might not need that chart. We finally have reasonable meal times, with balanced meals at home, and everyone is happy! If only I could bring the husband around... 

If I keep this for the whole month, goal complete. If not, I'll have an easy goal to set for February.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go stare at the zillion weather posts on FB. Mother Nature has some tricks up her sleeve. Sigh...

Today I Will...

Hopefully all this without neglecting my lovely ladies too much! 

What are you up to today?

2013: The Finances

I started, and I tried my hardest. I just couldn't force myself to finish. They were ugly. So I've packed it away and called it a day. I'm starting new and fresh.

There were ups and downs. Nothing really rocked our ship thankfully, aside from the new car. I had this nagging though. Where was the money? Looking at our expenses and income, money was slipping thought the cracks. Less of a slip and more of a broken water main gushing water into the streets. Instead of wallowing over my own financial irresponsibilities, I made a change.

A quick glance was all it took to realize we're spending too much eating out. It's been growing. We topped out at 3-4 meals a week! Hemorrhaging money because of my own laziness. Yes, I've said it before and this place is very familiar. This time I have a plan!

I'm relying on my planner, and focusing on my ladies. The Dr. visit last month gave me the motivation I needed. I'm writing out balanced menus, shopping lists, and even looking at circulars agains. I'm almost like a real mom! In addition to eating better, we're saving money! Apparently more than I realized we were loosing. That is scary stuff. Ten days into January and I've managed to come up with $300 extra dollars hanging around! $300! If I can stay out of Targ.et I feel like I may be a millionaire by March!

Now to just stick to the plan for longer than a few months and all will be well. I've filled out my planner months in advance to help it stick. I've labeled the bills out, and budgeted for food and gas. No more living on a whim! I'm really feeling good about these changes, small changes that will hopefully pack a punch.

Power Struggle

Who knew such a small, frail child could have such a thirst for power and control. Whatever higher powers may exists, I'm sure they're getting a kick out of pairing this child with me! I am struggling. Struggling isn't even the word. I am floundering, I am feeling like such a failure.

Since the doctor appointment that revealed to me these little geniuses don't have the best eating habits, I've been pushing this issue. A certain little lady is pushing back twice as hard, but this isn't a food issue at all. She can eat the food, she has eaten the food previously. This is all about her not wanting to eat the food. Saturday night hit a whole new level of bat-shit craziness! While I know this is no joking matter, I can't stop myself from bursting out regularly. Laughter over tears people! 

How bad is bad? Well the adventure Saturday night left her hysterical so we took, took because she refused to go, her to her room to calm herself down. She was told she could come down to chat once she calmed herself. Guess who didn't calm? 15 minutes later we went up and were greeted with a shock. Girlfriend had gotten herself so worked up she vomited all over her bed. And library books. And stuffed animals. We found it on the walls and furniture. I like to think she was having an exorcist moment. On top of that she was picking/rubbing her nose so much it started to bleed. She was truly a sight. 

She refused to leave her bed. We moved her. 

Refused to take her vomit covered dress off. We stripped her. 

Refused to sit in her chair. We sat her. 

Refused to get re-dressed. We dressed her.

Refused to brush her teeth. We brushed them. 

Refused to follow every direction given and so we made her, forced her, or did it for her. From simple to extreme, she simply just refused. 

Who is this child?

Se refused to calm down but I have no idea how to make someone calm down. So stressed and frustrated was I that I was ready for some of that old fashioned corporal punishment my father used to hand out. Instead I choose laughter and started to tickle her, anything to break this loggerhead. 

She went to bed whimpering. I wasn't far behind. I did make sure to thank the other little lady who was pretty much left to her own devices for nearly an hour. I thanked her for letting us deal with her sister uninterrupted and for her understanding. I praised her for doing so with out complaint. 

But I don't want to pit them against each other.

I don't want either one of them to be against anyone. 

I don't want this to continue. 

I also refuse to give in or give up. 

But where do we go from here? How long do you try before you move on to another tactic? Where is the damn manual?

***Update***

I held off publishing because I wanted to think it over. I needed a reason for this sudden about face. This was not her, and I really didn't want people to think that Reagan was living in my house.

Sunday was a walk in the park. Everything was back to normal. No quarrels or squabbles. She was back to her happy and eager-to-please self. So what gives?

All I could point to was the lack of nap.

That was the only thing out of the ordinary. They both skipped nap, choosing to bop around their room during quiet time. We didn't head out or have any activities to make her overly tired, she just skipped her nap. On the way home from the grocery store she had a cat nap which may have exacerbated the exhaustion. I'm not convinced that was the whole of it, nor am I totally convinced that this was a random occurrence. But if no nap truly caused all this nonsense, then we will be napping till they graduate! I really though that naps were going to fall away, and do so without incident. Wishful thinking? I think I have the only children still napping. I just don't want to deal with that again!

This was a bonafide 15 year old girl fighting with her mother, it was scary! It was me in a tiny body! So let's all cross our fingers and toes that this was just a once off and that I won't make the national news any time in the next 10 to 15 years! 

So did naps leave on their own or did you force the issue?

I'm open to all ideas for ending power struggles! There is only room for one headstrong person in this house!! 

Chugging Along

We rung 2014 in with toothpicks in our eyes, just waiting for the ball to drop so we could go to bed. I laid in bed at ten after midnight cursing the fireworks.

I. Am. Old.

I was also hoping the dogs wouldn't geek out over the endless booms, that the ladies wouldn't wake, and that I would eventually drop off because Bossman has taken complete advantage of me this holiday season. In fact, I am choosing to handle the situation as only a high schooler could- the silent treatment. How horribly mature of me, I know. I've worked more the last two weeks than I typically work in a month. I'm BEAT! Not so much from the work, because anyone will tell you I'm not one for actually working, but from missing my schedule.

I've been so rushed and caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holiday that I haven't marked the changing of the year. I feel so ungrounded and disconnected. I am craving my routine and returning to the normalcy that is our life. I'm not alone! I can't keep track of the days and I'm not 100% sure of the date. I've never in my life wished so hard for it to be Monday!

So maybe Monday I will get out my goals, and wrap up my year. Perhaps Tuesday I will wrap up the finances and start planning the next six months. This weekend however, I will be lapping up some lovely, little ladies who just as crazy over this break in routine as I am. I will buy printer ink (hello sticker shock!) and prepare to restart preschool. I wasn't planning on a month break, it just kinda happened. I will be prepared for 2014 come Monday!