A Gift For Sure

Tonight we were sitting down for a great dinner. Alexandra said she had to go to the bathroom. We told her to go. After a while I called for her because she had been in the bathroom for long enough to do whatever she had to do. Whenever she's in there longer, there's always trouble. She cannot resist getting into something messy. Whether it's toothpaste, lotion, makeup, it's always a mess.

When we called out to her she came bounding out of the bathroom in her birthday suit. She had stickers from head to toe. Upon closer examination I realized the stickers were christmas present tags. Yes, it's true. We still do not have all of our Christmas stuff upstairs. There are a few items straggling about and the sticky tags were among them.

As Alex ran out with Christmas present tag stickers all over her naked body, she's yelling, "I'm a present! I'm a present!" Needless to say, we had a great laugh. A gift she is.

The Great Doctor Search Will Begin!

It's cold and the two youngest are sick again. This time it's a snotty nose and a cough that obviously hurts. We'll see how the weekend goes, but this time I might have to find a doctor. I say find a doctor because since we moved in October, no one has had the need for a regular family doctor. Since no one had the need, I didn't look for one. Not very smart on my part. I hate looking for a new family doctor. There are so many rules.

1. Insurance company says we must go to their network.

2. Monica says the doctor must be a female.

3. I require a Doctor who has urgent care appointments. It's likely the only time she'll ever see us. My kids aren't sick very often (Monica has never missed a day of school due to sickness) but when they do get sick, it comes on fast and furious.

There are more rules too. I will immediately drop a doctor that makes me wait more than an hour in a 6 x 6 foot exam room with three children. This has happened before and I was none too happy about it. Talk about claustrophobic!

I don't mind waiting but I hate doctors who make you wait for over an hour (be it in the waiting room or exam room) because they overbook but on the one occasion that I was 16 minutes late to my appointment for my 4 day old infant who was premature they were totally rude and told me not to do it again. So sorry. I just had a baby and am toting a rambunctious two year old to boot!

Wow! I didn't mean for this to be a doctor bashing post, but I guess that's what happened. Just a little frustration coming out as I deal with the fact that I'm going to have to do this all over again.

Wordless Wednesday 12

A Great Laugh for SAHM's

This story was forwarded to me via email. I got a chuckle out of it. Thought you might too:

A woman, renewing her driver's license at the County Clerk 's office was asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation. She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself. "What I mean is," explained the recorder, "do you have a job or are you just a......?" "Of course I have a job," snapped the woman. "I'm a Mom." "We don't list 'Mom' as an occupation, 'housewife' covers it," said the recorder emphatically.

I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in the same situation, this time at our own Town Hall. The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised, efficient and possessed of a high sounding title like, "Official Interrogator" or "Town Registrar." "What is your occupation?" she probed. What made me say it? I do not know. The words simply popped out. "I'm a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations."

The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in midair and looked up as though she had not heard right. I repeated the title slowly emphasizing the most significant words. Then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement was written, in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire."Might I ask," said the clerk with new interest, "just what you do in your field?" Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice, I heard myself reply, "I have a continuing program of research, [what mother doesn't) in the laboratory and in the field, (normally I would have said indoors and out). I'm working for my Masters, (first the Lord and then the whole family) and already have four credits (all daughters). Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities, (any mother care to disagree?) and I often work 14 hours a day, (24 is more like it). But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers and the reward is satisfaction rather than just money."

There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she completed the form, stood up and personally ushered me to the door. As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career, I was greeted by my lab assistants -- ages 13, 7, and 3. Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model, (a 6 month old baby) in the child development program, testing out a new vocal pattern. I felt I had scored a beat on bureaucracy! I had gone on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than "just another Mom."

Motherhood! What a glorious career! Especially when there's a title on the door.

Does this make grandmothers "Senior Research associates in the field of Child Development and Human Relations" and great grandmothers "Executive Senior Research Associates"? I think so!!! I also think it makes Aunts "Associate Research Assistants".

Crazy Days

No, I have not blogged in a week. Yes, I am still alive. I'm trying to do so many things right now that one thing always suffers. I don't know why I cannot just focus on one thing and get it done. I guess that's just not how I work.

Some things that I'm working on:

1. Knitting a scarf that I promised my aunt.
2. Planning stages of a home business.
3. Taking care of my children.
4. Weaning my 10 1/2 month old baby, Lucianna, so I can take medication that I need to clear up an annoying and repulsive winter skin condition on my face.
5. Blogging.
6. Planning meals for a low carb diet each day (eleven pounds gone and still working). My husband usually does most of the meal planning but he is gone for the next seven days.

These are the things I want to get done but everything is moving at a snails slimy crawl. It's very frustrating.

Knitting has helped relax me lately. I've found that I really enjoy it. I also crochet. So far I've knitted three scarves. I have one more smaller scarf for my three year old to do, then I will move on to something harder. I haven't decided just what to move on to though. I have found time to watch my new favorite TV show, "Knitty Gritty" and have gotten some great ideas. Their camera angle helps me to correct mistakes in my technique as well.

My husband and I have been low carbing since Jan. 3rd. Late start on our yearly same old, same old, resolution. That's okay. This year I'm feeling much better about it and doing well. I haven't exercised as much as I'd like, but I'll get there.

I'm trying to wean my little Lucianna but she is so stubborn. She's just not ready. She will not drink out of a bottle or a sippy cup. I think I have bought every kind of each one on the market. She's doing well eating table food even though she doesn't have any teeth yet. We have found that anything with any kind of milk product in it gives her hives. Out of all three children, she's the only one that has any kind of food allergy.

Chris is gone on business for a week so just the daily tasks of child care wear me out. He helps with straightening up and dishes. When he's gone for so long, I'm lucky to get a shower. It doesn't seem like my children can all sleep at the same time for any length of time.

I'm working on a home business. It's in the planning and set up stages so I won't go into detail. I'm just going to say that I've fallen in love with the idea of this business and I cannot wait to get started.

Hopefully I get back here to blog more this week, but only time (which I never seem to have enough of) will tell!

Thirteen Thursday 8

Thirteen Things I Must Complete Before the Weekend! 1. Knitting my grandmother's scarf. It's cold and she needs it now! 2. Putting the fringe on my daughter's newly knitted scarf. Again, it's cold and she needs it! 3. Dragging the Christmas decorations upstairs to be put in the attic. They are packed and just sitting in the foyer. Urgh! 4. Clean the house. It's really bad since I was so sick over the holidays. I lost complete control. 5. Buy Monica's best friend a birthday present. She was up over the Christmas vacation and loved the Speed Stacks Monica got. I will get her a set too. 6. Get Monica packed and ready to go to her best friends house for a long birthday weekend. 7. Start preparing for my first meeting as a Girl Scout Troop Leader. 8. Start preparing and organizing the spare room so that I can working on my home business idea. 9. Start knitting the scarf that I promised my aunt. 10. Put up the Disney Princess beads for Alexandra's doorway. She has been begging since last night and has already started in on it today. 11. Find a place for, and put away, the rest of the Christmas gifts. 12. Get the rest of the laundry upstairs. 13. Stop thinking of more things to do before the weekend!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Wordless Wednesday 11

It Is Winter! Finally!

Okay, so now the luxury of running around without our coats is over. It's just plain cold out. It's supposed to snow here any minute.

I'm not complaining. I'm actually happy about it. The cold temperatures stop the germs and bugs both. When it gets cold, really cold, there is less sickness. The cold temperatures just wipe out the unnecessary germs. In the spring when the bugs come out, there are less of them. I hate summers with oodles of bugs. I could never live where there are a lot of bugs.

So I will gladly get out all the winter coats and snowsuits again. We will put plastic on the rest of the windows. (We've been procrastinating since it has been so warm). The heat is turned up.

Life is back to normal in Upstate New York!

It Looks Like Winter?

It looks like winter. Why is it so warm? Where I live, it's supposed to snow from November to April. I'm not complaining now. Just a little confused is all. A lot of people are saying that Global Warming is the cause. Some are saying it's just one of those warm winters. Regardless, it's warm. I went out without a coat yesterday. That's unheard of in an Upstate NY January. It's been raining a lot. Could have been snow I guess.

Too Cool For School!

She is so cool. I had to share this picture with everyone. She wouldn't settle for one barrette in her hair. She had to have them all in. I did that for her and about 10 minutes later she came up to me looking like this. She made the necklace in preschool and the shades are a hand-me-down from her older sister (powerpuff girls no less).

I actually took her to preschool looking like this. She is definitely the artsy one in the family. I love it!

We had the flu during the holiday. Yippee! There are no Christmas morning pics of the baby or Alexandra because they were so sick (unless of course, you like green snot). Monica was able to enjoy more because she is the child who never gets sick. She is the carrier of the family. She will (as she did this time)come home from school with a stuffy nose. It will last for two or three days. The rest of us get dog sick for two weeks. Thank you very much.

I did try to get the girls together for a Christmas morning picture. It went something like this. All the girls were sitting together. Lucianna sneezed a big snotty sneeze. This grossed out Alexandra, whose stomach was already queasy. She started gagging. Monica was so sure that Alex would throw up that she ran away gagging. I knew at this delightful holiday moment that there would be no pictures for this Christmas morning but many great memories.

Just about every piece of clothing we own has snot, puke, pee or poop on it. My washer and dryer won't be installed for at least another week or so as the plumbing still has to be run. Looks like it's at least one more gigantic trip to the laundromat. I finally got caught up on dishes today. As soon as I get the housework under control than I can take down the Christmas decorations.

We are all on the road to recovery. The baby and Alexandra are still a little sick but definitely better. One thing I can say. Even through all the sickness, pretending to be well for our Christmas Eve gathering at the house (which I really wanted to cancel but people were traveling for) and endless baking, cooking and cleaning it was a wonderful Christmas. We were blessed enough to provide a great Christmas for our children. We saw many smiles through all the sickness.

Wordless Wednesday 10

Menu Plan Monday 2

Click here and visit OrgJunkie! She is the organizer of Menu Plan Monday!

Menu? What Menu? Okay so this week my husband is out of town on business. When he's gone I don't cook. Treat for me and a treat for the kids. As much as they miss daddy, they also like to eat TV dinners. Great for me because they are a quick cheap microwave meal (Banquet is 99 cents) and I eat leftovers from Sunday.

Monday: TV dinners for kids and leftovers for me.

Tuesday: Same as Monday.

Wednesday: Same as Monday.

Thursday: Pot Roast with potatoes, carrots and celery.

Friday: Roasted Chicken with broccoli and mashed potatoes

Saturday: Leftovers

Sunday: Let the food and festivities begin!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Enjoy!

Eat!

Be Merry!

Take a Nap!

Eat Again!

Take another Nap!

In The Blink of an Eye

I don't know what happened. How can this be? I woke up yesterday morning and my house is a complete wreck. I've done so well the last couple of months. Everyone was putting in their fair share of helping me clean. Everyone has stopped.

Well if they can stop why can't I? Why should I clean the same exact mess, every single day? I am so tired of no one caring.

If I pick up clothes off the floor, someone else strips down and throws their cloths in the same spot. I still don't have a washer and dryer because my husband says he has someone to do the plumbing and electrical work but he's never been here. I have to go to the laundermat. It's no picnic for a family of five. It's not a matter of money. We saved the money to do this a long time ago.

Doing dishes wasn't so bad because Monica was clearing the table and scraping the dishes. Now she has to be told, over and over to do her chore. It doesn't help to take things away. She already feels like she has nothing since we moved. She misses her old friends. She isn't doing well socially and hates her new school. I can't really say that I'm happy with the school either.

Alexandra has been sneaking food all over the house. She has been told, reprimanded, screamed at and spanked. She is by far the most stubborn child on the universe. I love it when my mom says to me "Well you will just have to make her do what you want!" Yeah okay. I'll try that one too.

Lucianna is cute as can be but wants to be held all the time. She's starting to go down the willful stubborn road that Alexandra has been traveling. Lucky me.

I haven't had a child free time to myself for a long time and it's really starting to get to me. Can you tell?

Thirteen Thursday 7

Thirteen Things about Preschool Children and Their Christmas Program 1. There's always at least one who crys. 2. There's always one who sings so loud they are screaming. 3. There's always an escape artist running off the stage. 4. When the escape artist is put back on stage they run from one side of the stage to the other while the others are singing. He's trying to find another way out. 5. The children all know the hand gestures to the songs, their timing is usually a little off. 6. The dancing is adorable! 7. The children are bursting with pride when they are done. 8. Mom has cried at least once while watching. 9. At least one parent has ruined a part of your video by standing up in front of you and not moving out of the way. 10. The teachers always put hours and hours of work into these programs that last 30 minutes. 11. If you have to save all year for 1/2 day sick or personal time for this event, it is sooooo worth it. 12. There's never enough parking or seating for all the parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends that want to see this special event, but we all manage to squeeze in somehow. (There was a whole street of cars that got a parking ticket because the meters only have 1 hr of time. Ours was one of them. It's the best $10.oo show I've ever attended!) 13. Every parent thinks their child is by far the cutest one there. How is it possible that our children out cute every other child everytime?

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Wordless Wednesday 9

The Tree Is Up......Way Up!

My husband and the children went to pick out a tree on Saturday. It's huge. Way huge. Since we now live in a home with 9 foot ceilings, my husband decided to take advantage of that. The tree he brought home stands 4 inches from our 9 foot ceiling.

Apparently, Chris walked up to the guy selling the Christmas trees and said, "I want the biggest tree that you have." I wasn't there but that's what Chris tells me. Now knowing my husband the way that I do, I can only imagine the pride that went with this statement.

Everything is big. We have big furniture, a big house and now a big Christmas tree. Did I mention that we are big people? We look like very small people standing next to the tree though. I don't have a picture yet, but I will post one when I get all three girls in red and green garb and have them stand next to it. It's enormous. I'm going to have to come up with a nickname for it. It definitely deserves a nickname.

Well we put the lights, garland and some ornaments on the tree. It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas....... Tomorrow night we will finish decorating the tree. I'm going to set up the nativity set. I will have to have a heart to heart with Alexandra as to why she's not allowed to play with it.

Menu Plan Monday 1

I was so excited to happen upon OrgJunkie and the Menu Plan Monday. I have been doing this for about two months and now I get to write it down and share with others.

Monday: Scalloped Potatoes and Ham (ham is leftover from the baked ham dinner Sunday)

Tuesday: Steak, Mashed Potatoes, Biscuits & Cauliflower and Cheese Sauce

Wednesday: Spaghetti and Garlic Bread (sauce is frozen, hubby makes once a month and freezes a bunch in plastic containers, his is the best!)

Thursday: Tacos made with Ground Turkey & Pinto Beans(family Fave! you'll see this one a lot!)

Friday: Easiest and Tastiest Meatloaf in the world (recipe below) Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Green Beans

Saturday: Homemade Pizza! Family Fun Night! Alexandra's Third Birthday!

Easiest and Tastiest Meatloaf in the world!

2 lbs 85/15 or 90/10 ground beef.

1 jar Nance's chili sauce (can get at Walmart grocery condiment section)

2 eggs

1/2 to 1 cup bread crumbs - depends on your taste

mix well

put in crock pot (this comes out very moist)

put tomato sauce on top after two hours

cook until done

If that is too moist for your family's taste

put in oven on 350 degrees covered for 1hour

uncover and put tomato sauce on top

cook for 1/2 hour uncovered

You can also substitute ground turkey for half of the ground beef.

The Nance's is so tasty. You don't have to add anything. Don't try to substitute other chili sauces. It doesn't work. Trust me.

Take a Picture. It'll Last Longer.

So lately, I've been a little self-conscious. You will most likely never see a picture of me because I am the one always taking pictures. You will not see a picture of me now because I will break the camera and hurt the photographer that tries. Here is my story.

If you have read my blog you know that I had a pretty stressful summer. Buying a house, selling a house, one daughter with a birth defect (which doctors cannot figure out), one daughter with an injury and all the other crud that daily life can throw at you.

When I get extremely stressed out like this, I get a bright red, peeling, flaky dermatitis ON MY FACE. Yes, I feel like a clown. Yes, people stare at me when I'm in public. No, there isn't a cure. I have to wait for it to run it's course, which takes months.

I have also put on a few pounds. I am in process of eating better and I bought a gym membership which I am going to start using today. I don't feel very good about my weight right now.

If that's not enough, my husband suggested that I dye my hair like I used to do. He likes it red. I am a person that looks good with red hair because I am a natural redhead. Over the years my hair color has changed to a brownish copper. I have good skin tone for the red so I can get away with it. Well, I did it. Now I look like the Little Mermaid's fat cousin with a skin condition. I don't know. I picked the wrong red I guess. Too much red, not enough copper. It also brings out the red in the dermatitis on my face even more. ARRRGGGGHHH!

When I go out in public, people literally stare at me. Well, at least I know it's all temporary. The fat can come off if I work hard enough. The hair will eventually fade. The face will clear up eventually, I hope. In the meantime, I keep reminding myself that God still loves me no matter how hideous I think I am.

The Mysterious Baby

I have a very sneaky baby. She does things without letting anyone see her do it.

You see, for the past week or so, I'd put the baby on the floor. The next thing I'd know, she was across the room. The other night I put her on the floor. I was watching her play on her stomach. I looked away for an instant. When I looked back, she was sitting up.

I got very excited. I told my husband (who by the way was sitting in the same room) and he told me I was seeing things. I must be mistaken. There's no way she could have sat up without us noticing. I disagreed with him. You know how she moves across the room and we never have seen it. Well this is the same. Nope, couldn't be. We would have noticed that. He argued back. I gave up.

The next morning, I heard Lucianna in her crib. She was doing her morning "complaining" as I call it. It's not a cry and not a coo. It's somewhere in between. I know when she "complains," I better get her in a timely manner. If I don't, it turns to a full blown cry. Well I was extremely happy when I went in to get her. She was sitting up in her crib. Now I know I wasn't seeing things the night before!

Since then, I have watched the baby when I knew she couldn't tell I was watching. She sits up with ease and she crawls backwards. The mystery is solved.