Luxury

How exciting to have the car two days in a row. It used to happen often, but, lately, my husband's schedule has not allowed for such luxury. Friday, I used my freedom to go on a major grocery shopping trip. I mean major. Since sister-in-law #2 (S2) spent the night, she went along with us, and helped out with the kids. --another luxury! All went well. I got home with no incidents, put the groceries away, and life was good. The third luxury of the day came in form of the library. S2 had decided to spend the weekend with us, so she was at the library helping, again. If you've ever taken two kids under the age of 5 to the library, you know how nice it is to not have to constantly freak out because they've run off, or won't stop piling videos into the basket, or throw a tantrum in the middle of the aisle, or ... With S2 along, they were angels.

Saturday was a full day, too. The best part was taking my daughter and #2 to Hobby Lobby, to purchase craft items (we didn't know what) to make something for my mom-in-law's birthday. We ended up buying a nice canvas purse and decorating it. How fun, and really nice looking it turned out! I really really wish I had thought to take a picture of it. -I'd love to show you all how turned out. At any rate, I highly recommend glitter glue and iron on's.

The kids have been angels. (mostly ... they are 2 and 4, after all!) I can hardly believe everything we've done the last several days, and how low my stress levels have been. I'm not sure who's children they are, but I've been enjoying it!! Now ... if only my daughter would sleep an entire night in her own bed. --I thought she would when S2 was visiting. (S2 slept on the floor in the kids' room.) But, no. I've been trying to avoid doing the chart system (it invloves days and weeks and stickers and a reward system), but I've just about exhausted all other options. My mother even tried blatent bribery. Ideas??

Four Stars

Have you ever been to the Chicago Children's Museum? If you are ever neat Navy Pier, I highly recommend you go! (of course, only if you have little ones) It's free on Thursday evenings from 5-8, and every first Monday of the month. It's worth the drive, and even worth the $22 parking. (well ... almost.) The kids get the thrill of "going into the city," they get to see Lake Michigan, and boats (if you're there in the summer, anyway), and it's all very exciting. While we were still driving on Lake Shore Drive, my daughter spied the ferris wheel and exclaimed that she could see Great America!! It was so cute, but I had a hard time convincing her that it was not Great America, and actually at the same place where the museum was. She was a little suspicious at first, but finally decided I must be telling the truth. lol.

Our whole day was very exciting. We had the car, for starters. (wooo! Living high, now!) SOOo, after we dropped my husband off at the train station we went home to prepare ... The day started with a matinee showing of Monster House. I was a little nervous it would be to scary for my daughter. [I discussed it with sister-in-law #1, who is a first grade teacher --meaning she has a good handle on alot of child psychology issues AND was going along with us. I discussed it with my husband. I read what Wikipedia had to say about it. Wikipedia gave me some hesitation, but we went anyway.] I wasn't worried about my son. He's still pretty young, and highly amused by animation in general. I also knew that the "big screen" would likely captivate him. I was right. It was a hit. I asked my daughter, later, if it was too scary. HA! She couldn't even figure out why I thought it might be scary, and asked if we could buy it for home. So much for all my worrying.

After the movie fun, I drove to the mom-in-law's house and picked up sister-in-law #2 and went into the city. My husband was working close to Navy Pier, that day, so he walked over and met us at the Museum, after work. We played. We ate. We drove home. Good times. Good Day. Four Stars.

Ode to My Condo Association

Condo, oh Complex, art thee condo buildings or retirement village?

I live in a second floor 2-bedroom condo. I pay an association fee. This fee gives garbage water; lawn care of common areas & winter snow removal. There is no clubhouse or pool; no playground (there's both, in the complex across the street). We are not allowed to play or talk loudly and be overly excited in the yard/fire lane that falls between my building and the next. The balcony's are too dangerous to allow the kids onto them, unsupervised (and even supervised, I don't trust my son). [The posts are so wide that a child could fall right through them. I'm sure they are in violation of city code, and the kicker is that they were re-done a year or so ago, and were no made any safer than before. Why bother, then!?] There are rules as to what furniture and furniture combinations are allowed on the balcony; when holiday decorations may go up and must come down; and all windows must be white (as in blinds or curtains ... no sheets, etc.). As a courtesy to others, we must be quiet in the hallways and no talk from balcony's or windows to people on the ground. All windows with cracks and screens with holes must be repaired post haste and only recently has the ban on satellite dishes been lifted. We may, however, play on the basketball court that always has a puddle in the middle of it, or in the field adjacent to it. --both of which are enough of a distance from my building that were we to have a potty emergency, there'd be trouble.

Trust me, they mean it.

Is it any wonder why I've lived here for five years, and barely now any of my neighbors? Is it any wonder that, until recently, I had no idea that so many families lived in this complex? Is it any wonder that the kids and I end up spending most of our days (even in beautiful weather) inside!? If we don't have a car, we don't typically go anywhere. I wouldn't want to be discourteous to my neighbors...

Dear Condo Association: You may feel that many of your rules promote community and are made in the spirit of kindness to one another, but in doing so, you have completely ignored a wonderful chance to build community and promote health and happiness amongst your residents. It's painfully obvious that you do not with to promote a healthy family environment. I further put out there that, in the creation of some of these rules, you are actually being discourteous and somewhat prejudicial. You are practicing descrimination.

You may ask why I, the assoication member, say nothing and do nothing to enact change. Good question, and one that I ask myself from time to time. The truth is that I'm afraid of making things worse. If I complain, if I call the city and "tell on" our illegal balconies, if I call the local courthouse and let them know of the discrimination (and, yes, I'm fairly certain there is a case, of some sort), what happens to my home life if it gets back to the Association Board that I was the one that blew the whistle? I can't afford to move, and I certainly don't wish for things to become even worse. I'd like to stay on the good side of the Association Representative who lives on the premises. Can you blame me? At the same time, however, I have problems with myself for not blowing the whistle. Who am I to complain but then do nothing? How can change ever occur if the ball never gets rolling? Don't these sorts of things always start with one person ...?

If you know anything about living area discrimination cases; if you know anything about city balcony ordinances; if you know anything about the rights of condo owners ... HELP! OR, if you simply wish to commiserate, that's great, too ... it would be nice to know that I'm not alone in the situation I find myself to be in .


My brother, who writes Everyday Life had this to say, about my lovely association:
sociology of my nephew's birthday party

who's children??!!

As I mentioned, yesterday, my husband and I went out on an actual no-kids-allowed date. My Mother was kind of to babysit, at the last minute! I called her, from the car, and this is the story I heard ...The second we were out the door (at Mom's), my son turned to my Mom and said, "movie?" (what, no crying?) Nemo was, of course, top of the list. My daughter is getting tired of Nemo, so Mom negotiated, and Harry Potter was put into the DVD player. (They're allowed to watch movies 1-3. If that makes me a bad Mom, so be it.) They watched half of good 'ole Harry and then went out to dinner, and a local family restaurant. My daughter ordered PB&J and water (weird), my son had a hot dog and ignored his fries (were they drugged?). After dinner, my Mom had to go up front to pay. My son got down from the table, grabbed my daughter's hand, and they proceeded to the front like this. They saw suckers, and used 'please' when asking for one. They went to the car, with no complaint, and ate their suckers, handing the sticks to my Mom when they were done. (maybe they were possesed.) Mom took them to our house, next. They played, nicely (No suprise; they do this often.) At bedtime my daughter was asked to get her jammies. She got them, and gave to my Mom for help. My son disappeared, and came back with my daughter's superman jammies. (getting own jammies ... rare.) Mom laughed, but put them on him (they were huge). They brushed teeth and my daughter handed Mom a book. (each child gets to have a book read before bed.) My son wouldn't get a story, so Mom put them to bed and said prayers, sans his storytime. She turned on the night-night music, and left the room. Half an hour later, my son came out holding a book. Mom took pity on him, took him back to bed and talked to him for awhile. That was it. End Story. HUH!? Who are these children?? Not mine.

the week in review

I realize I haven't posted in a week ... several times I would catch myself thinking, "ooo! I've gotta write this down!" However, by the time I'd have the opportunity to get to my laptop, I'd either have no memory of whatever it was I wanted to write about, or I'd be too tired to type and went to bed instead. SO ... what were these great, potentially prize-winning entries? I have no idea. Missed opportunities, and all that. Never fear, I'll get over the disappointment of loss. --I just hope you can, too. (hahaha .... I am so funny.)

Monday started well. I had the car for the day, and had many places to go; things to do. This would likely be the only day of the week in which I would have the car, so ... on your mark, get set, go!! 7:30 am, drive husband to train station. 7:50 am, try out new coffee shop- Conscious Cup. [Being a believer in fair trade coffee's (don't forget the chocolate!!) I absolutely loved this shop, and have already been there a second time!! (Equal Exchange is an excellent source for information and coffee orders, too) ]

After a coffee for myself and breakfast and juice for the kids, we were off! We went to the Library. --Now, here's a funny little story for you -- We used to go to the library on a weekly basis. We hadn't been there since just before Christmas, however, because (like an idiot) I was avoiding what I thought to be a large fine. I finally decided that I missed the library so much, and my daughter was missing it as well, that I would pay the darn thing, and move on with my life. $13. My avoided-the-library-for-7 months huge fine was $13. See the above idiot comment.

After the Library we were off to Walmart. (or was that before the Library?) I know, I know ... I shouldn't shop there, I know. (Target doesn't have a sewing & craft section and I didn't want to end up at Joann Fabrics.) Then, it was shopping at the local market -- Joseph's. They have great (and cheap) milk and fruits and veggies! Next stop Culver's!!! Whenever we spend so much time running all over the place, the kids get lunch out -- if they're good. :-) Their salads are soo good, and I always tell myself that I'll be good, and get one. I believe it, too ... but, somehow, when I'm verbalizing my order "cheddar burger" always comes out of my mouth. Darn. Yum. yum. yum. Sigh ... oh well. You win some, you lose some.

Thus concludes the crazies of Monday. After the exciting morning, there was children napping, mama cleaning, and LOTS of book reading.

Tuesday I know I didn't have the car. I know I had a library book to read. I don't remember, besides the usual bevy of cleaning and such, what we did. Sorry!

Wednesday was fun! My Mother-in-law and sister-in-law (ref. sister #2) came to play. They live a little over an hour away, and we don't see nearly as much of them as I wish we did. (note: I should explain--most readers may be shocked that I want my husband's mother to visit. We are friends. In fact, I will go so far as to say we are good friends. I talk to her and my toher sister-in-law more than my husband does. I guess I'm just lucky, that way!!!) With caution as to my Mother-in-law's health and energy levels, we set out for lunch. (At Culver's ... I was sooo bad, last week!) I always save the free kiddie sundae coupons, and Mom gave me sister #2's (she's 9), so I now have 5 free sundae coupons! YAY! Anyway -- after lunch, we went to our lovely downtown area for some meadering and (gasp!) shopping! I didn't really think any purchases would be made. Our downtown is just pretty to walk down ... boy, was I wrong! Shop, shop, shop. I should have known better. I was with Mom, afterall. We were joined by my husband's other sister (sister #1), and went into the local ice cream shop. Again, I say YUM! More shopping ensued. Sister #1 departed. Mom said she was doing okay, but could use a rest, so we headed to my new favorite coffee shop -- the aforementioned Conscious Cup. Home again, home again, rah rah rah ... we went home. The kids played. My mom called, and I invited her over for dinner. Dinner was nice. Sister #2, me and the kids, Mom in-law, and my Mom. pleasant. (Note: our mother's get along very well, and even enjoy each other's company. Another oddity, I think. Very neat, though.) My mom couldn't stay too long, though. After dinner she had to go home. Mom-in-law and sister #2 helped clean the toys up and everything, then left for sister #1's home, where they spent the night. (Unlike, us, she is able to provide bedrooms, beds, and privacy!!)

Since Thursday was awesome!!! I live in Crystal Lake my family gets into the beach for free. We may also bring 10 guests (per each resident adult)!! Sister #1 is a teacher, but is nanny-ing for the summer. She and "her kids", a friends of her's and "her kids", Mom in-law, sister #2, the kids and I all went to the beach! How fun. We picnicked, we played, we stayed for many hours. I even got to spend some quiet time (read: no kids around) reading on a blanket, in the shade. How perfect! After the beach, we went home for rest and to regroup. I made a strawberry cobbler, put together a salad, and off we went to sister #1's home for pizza. They just got a pretty new t.v. with surround sound. We were all captivated by Finding Nemo. It sure was pretty on the 'old HD. My husband joined us there, after work, and we all had a good time. :-)

Friday was spent cleaning and then chilling out at my mom's house. My husband picked us up, that night, and we went home.

Saturday I had a committee meeting to atend, in the morning. I came home, took a nap, and then had a real-live date with my husband. (read: no kids!!) My mom had agreed (on short short notice) to watch the kids so we could use some of the gift certificates we had been given for Christmas. Yes, Christmas. We enjoyed a wonderful meal at the Olive Garden, and then saw Pirates of the Carribean. (-----> sigh ... Johnny Depp ... grin)

Sunday started out with cleaning. (The place looked utterly trashed!) Then a nice family lunch out at Noodles and Company. (I heartily recommend the Thai Curry Soup) A quick trip to Joseph's and we were home again, for the kids naptime. I pitted cherries for a vanilla cherry cobbler, and took a very short nap. We packed food and ingredients and set off for the home of some good friends of ours. We cooked them a delicious dinner of fajitas, salad, and cherry cobbler, and had a great time talking.

END WEEK. This is why I was too tired to write. I'm hoping this week is a little bit slower, in pace. Last week was great, but I need some time to recoup!

God, send the angels ... Amen!

"...and for the daily bread and the hope of the peace and ..."

When my daughter was three and began to develop a fear of the dark, she wouldn't stay in her bedroom, at bedtime. Finally, having done everything I could possibly think of to reassure her that all was well, I remembered what another mom had told me she had tried (that had worked!). She had tried prayer. She had discovered that the only thing she could use to divert the attention of her son (the same age) was to pray with him. So, with this in mind, I told my daughter that we were going say a prayer to God, for Him to send angels to be with her especially at night time. It worked and she went to bed. Ever since that night, a year ago (?) we have prayed every night. (well, every night that she hasn't fallen aslepp in the car, first, or spent the night elsewhere...) That prayer has evolved from "God, please send the angels. Amen!" to something much more invloved and meaningful. -for both of us.

My husband has listened in and says (laughingly) that he thinks my prayers are full of propanganda. He's right ... they are; or can be. We start the ritual me tucking my daughter into bed, while I pray. "God, thank you for _______ (whatever neat or not so neat thing we did that day -- a reminder that the day was fun, darnit). Please help ____ (usually concerning the health of a very close relative). Let my daughter and son wake up in their own beds, in the morning, because they'll be in better moods for ____ (whatever thing I can think of that sounds like it might be worth attempting to not come into my room, in the middle of the night)." Nights when my husband isn't home from work, we pray for safe travels ... other events and items make appearances, too, but you get the general idea ... mostly mama propaganda. I giggle whenever I think about the first time my husband stood at the kids doorway and listened to the whole thing; thereafter rendering this opinion.

Anyway - after I say my prayer, my daughter says hers. Sometimes it's short. Sometimes I just jump in and say (loudly), "AMEN!" She grins and smiles at me to let me know she had absolutely been stalling for time. Often, she echos what I've said in my prayer and peppers it with some thoughts and/or concerns/happy thoughts of her own. Lately, she's taken to adding in the "daily bread," then she'll mutter something that ends in, "the hope," and tonight there was also something about, "the peace." A terrific prayer, really. But I can't stop giggling over it because these beautiful phrases are coming out of the mouth of a 4 year old.

My son is old enough now to realize something is happening, when I pray, and then when she prays ... so we've added a new step tp the ritual. I pray and tuck my daughter in. She prays, while I stand and watch. Then, I duck down to the bottom bunk and tuck in my son and tell God that "[My son] doesn't know how to pray yet, but if he did he'd thank you for his giggles and grins and thev winkle in his eye. He'd say thank you for his sister and his mama and his daddy. Amen!" Sometimes he says Amen, too ... He seems very satisfied with this addition to our lengthy bedtime routine. (I've only told you about the tucking in ... the routine/ritual starts WAY before that ... what can I say!? My kids seem to find routines very comforting!)

Silly meanderings of my mind ...

**Ahhh ... the healing properties of my spit. My son kept biting his finger at lunch. (I will presume this was an accident.) After each so-called injury I had to kiss the owie finger. Then, magically, the pain left. This happens alot. (the magic spit, not the finger biting...) If my spit is truely that magical, maybe I should write up a marketing strategy and start my own business. "Mom's Magical Spit" I can see it now ... people far and wide will pay money for spit-in-a-jar. Mom's everywhere: UNITE! Start spitting into your jars. I've got a money maker for you!!**

**I don't care what anybody says ... I love the Wiggles. Yes. I said it. I LOVE the Wiggles. They, too are magical. Put a wiggles cd into the stereo, in the kids' room, and they disappear for a long time. Occasionally, I poke my head in there, to be sure they're not bleeding to death, and I stay to dance to a song ... then, off I go again ... by myself ... I love the Wiggles. I don't mind listening to them. I think they're geniuses, really. Either that or really good wizards. I don't really care which .**

I just love those guys.

My Life

"You'll eat what I give you."

"Please put some pants on."

"Let your sister go potty."

"Could I have some privacy in the potty!?" (no)

"Get your bottom back into your bed ... " (said sternly and sometimes annunciated)

"Dance!!"

"I'm not an octopus!" or "Do I look like an octopus?"

"I'm not a jungle gym!" or "Do I look like a jungle gym!?" (yes)

Whatever did they do?

I had the most horrible headache, yesterday. The kids ended up watching t.v. the entire day. I stayed on the couch, drifting in and out of consciousness, all morning. Then, watched movies with them, still from the couch, all afternoon. I was finally feeling well enough to get up and do a little bit, at dinner time. I made dinner, and by then my husband was home. We ate, cleaned up, and put the kids into bed. I'm not completely well, today ... My neck and shoulders feel really tight (the causes of yesterday's headache) and I can tell it's trying to come back. Sooo, while I'm hoping to avoid the t.v. marathon from yesterday, I'm still trying to take things easy and relax ... what a balancing act.

My question is this: While I had t.v. to fall back on, to keep the kids entertained and out of trouble, what would/could I have done without that option? As much as I feel that too much t.v. greatly harms a childs' creativity and overall social development, I must admit to leaning on it, especially at these times. What would I have done, yesterday, if we had no t.v.? What did people (presumable women...) do before the invention of t.v. (or invention of childrens programming)? I could not have sucked it up, yesterday. I needed to rest and really had no choice about it.

I've made my peace with my decision and know that it's likely to happen again. I always feel awful about my child rearing abilities when this happens, but it still happens from time to time. We all fall prey to this, at one time or another ... we're human; we're weak; I know.

An empty floor ...

6am, I look down at the floor (as is my habit), and there are no kids there. All I saw was an empty sleeping bag, unused blankets, and 2 lonely pillows. YESSSSS!!! We were at Lake Michigan, yesterday, picnicking and swimming with friends and family ... if the end result of this activity is children that stay the night in their beds, I vote to do this every day! (Too bad it's an hour and half away, and not very practical.) Miracles do happen.

I've been trying to catch up on chores, today ... right now I should be folding laundry ... I decided to "take a break" instead. haha. I did the dishes, cleaned up the kitchen, and took care of the bills ... I deserve a break, right? okay, so my place is the size of a pin cushion, and the aforementioned chores really aren't very time consuming or
difficult. Let's just pretend they are, okay?

(doorbell just rang)

YAY! The stuff from my Body Shop party just came in ... now I can play with that, instead of folding the laundry. It's my lucky day!! (no worried ... I'm sure I'll get that pesky laundry folded...My son is still pretending to be napping, instead of really napping, so I have extra chore-time, this afternoon.)

Here's a question to ponder, today: What lengths do you go to avoid chores? Do you end up chosing the responsible route, or do you just keep finding otherthings to do?

Replaceable??

**I'm being very introspective today** **Proceed only if you want a glimpse of the voices in my head**

How replaceable are you? I recently read another mother's weblog concerning this very question. It made me think.

When my daughter (my oldest) was 5 months old, I started a new job. I was very excited to be working again ... to be doing something; out in the world. I found a daycare about a mile from where I was to be working, and felt very secure about it. I was impressed with the staff and the facility. My first week of work, they kept gently reminding me that I could call and check on my daughter at any time, or even pop by, during lunch to feed her (I pumped breastmilk daily). Like many mother's, work was my time off; my alone time. While I was always overjoyed to reunited with my daughter, at the end of the day, I was never tempted to call and check in on my bundle of joy. I trusted them, completely. "Take my baby please," I think my subconscious was saying. Looking back on that time, 4+ years ago, I think I felt that these people, these strangers, could do a better job with her, than I could ever do. I was happy that trained and loving individuals were caring for my child. -I was no good at it. ...Or so I thought. Less than two years later, pregnant with my son, I was laid off ... we then discovered that daycare for two young children is veeery price-y. My husband and I decided that it would be better if I just stayed at home ... for awhile ... at least until the baby was 15 months, and fees lowered. Fear gripped me. I was now faced with the very thing that I felt too incompetent to handle; and for the first couple of months at home, I was too ill and too tired (pregnancy doesn't agree with me until the 5th month, or so) to do much with my daughter. Slowly, surely, I began to crawl out of the despair. I found that I might even know what I was doing. I found that staying at home wasn't so bad. I missed working ... I detested (and still do) the stereotypes people place on women who stay at home ... but, suddenly, I was finding my way. My son turned 15 months, and I found myself saying, "I think I'll stay at home awhile longer..." He's just turned two, and I still have no intention of doing "formal work." (I have plenty to keep me busy, inside and outside the home!)

Back to my original thought ... How replaceable are you? As a human on this planet; choir director; committee member; acquaintence; etc.: incredibly replaceable. But, y'know ... as a wife to my husband, a mother to my children, a friend to those who are the closest to me, I'm starting to think that maybe I'm not so replaceable as I once thought. Looking back at certain times in my life, I'm starting to notice patterns of depression and anxiety and inner struggle that plague me. I think I often manage to appear very self-confident and "in control," but, really, I'm one of those people that needs to be given verbal affirmation, alot, or else I don't believe I'm worth much of anything ... to me, anything less than this is likely to affirm my fears that I'm dumb and have no ability to perform in an outstanding manner. Well, the "cloud" is lifting, if only temporarily, and I'm starting to realize that there are some things in this world that nobody else can do. Nobody else can be mama to MY children. Nobody else can love my husband and appreciate him in the ways that I do. Maybe some day I'll wake up and actually believe that there are other things within myself that are not replaceable ... While I do think that part of being irreplaceable is living a life worthy to be lived, I find that it's much much much easier to identify those lovely qualities in other people, all the time, than it is to do so within myself.

How about you? Are you replaceable?

The beauty of a baby animal

We're watching "Good Morning America" right now ... they have Jack Hanna on, this morning. He's brought an assortment of baby animals, today. Baby ostriches, baby skunk, baby porcupine, baby mackaw, baby fox, etc. They are adorable, and apparantly as entertaining as a cartoon. The kids got so excited ... Not suprising, though. We love animals, here. I just got several pictures of animals (ah ... Ikea, how I love thee...), and am putting them up in the kids' room.

I found a bunch of adorable pictures at webshots. If you like baby animals as much as we do, you'll like this!

Meanwhile ... Jack Hanna has come and gone, and the kids are now watching one of their favorites ... Lilo and Stitch (the cartoon series). It's half over, now, and I haven't even taken my shower! I must go, and scrub scrub scrub. :-)

"Mom! We're back in our world!" ~my daughter

We were out and about today, and in an area that we do not go to very often (rising gas prices ...). As we got closer to home, my daughter cries out "Mom! We're back in our world!" What an interesting (and perhaps appropriate) way to put it. I suppose our constant everyday surroundings do constitute as "our world." --Though, personally, I've always thought "my world" exisited mostly in my head, along with those pesky voices ...

I've been away, taking care of many grown-up responsibilities ... in that time, my husband has stepped in a carried my load, for me. In short, for one week, we flipped our roles. I was out doing what I needed to do and fulfilling expectations that were more professional in nature, than not; my husband hung out with the kids and took care of them constantly, allowing me to come and go as I needed. My duties were entirely volunteer (although reimbursed, at least), but very important to me. It meant alot that he was so willing to step into that role. No complaints, no hesitations; a smile on his face; an encouraging word to me. The experience, itself, was so good for me. I look forward to the next two years, as I serve out the term I've been elected to ... adult pursuits are nice to have, when you have two young children that captivate most of your world ...

WHEW!

Whirlwind weekend ... I meant to write Saturday and Sunday, but WOW ... too much going on and too tired to even type. I'm getting ready to go on a trip (committee meetings) and have been busy preparing for it (translate: needed "grown up" clothing, etc.) and getting the house and family set for the week, while I'm away. I had to find people to watch the kids, get the laundry absolutely current, clean like mad ... And, in the midst of all this, I had other responsibilities, too. My husband and I were helping with music, in church ... this also involved a rehearsal on Saturday. Sunday, we had church and then a cousins confirmation party to attend. Whirlwind weekend.

There have been so many cute snippets, I wish I could share ... My brain simply is not functioning, though, and I cannot think of them right now. If I remember them, later, I'll write it down. :-)

The kids are in bed for the night, now, and I need to get a little more work done. That's all for me, today ... short and probably uninteresting, I'm sure ... good night!

"I sing because I'm happy, I sing because I'm free; His eyes are on the sparrow, and I know he watches me." ~Civilla D. Martin

The furniture came yesterday. Exciting stuff. Again, I have to wonder if it's sad that I find furniture so exciting. ack! I'm turning into an adult!!!! Oh, wait ... I'm thirty, have an undergrad. degree, married, and have two kids. I guess becoming an adult happened somewhere behind me.

I wouldn't trade my life ... never ... but sometimes I get a huge case of the what if's. Y'know what I'm talking about, right. What if I'd followed my career dreams, instead of "settling down." What if I'd taken college more seriously (not that I did badly, I just could have done so much more). What if I'd gone to grad school, like I had comtemplated ... What if ... what if ... what if ...How did I get here? How did I become the very thing that I used to dread becoming? Maybe that, in itself, is the answer. How on earth has that reality ended up being ... well ... pretty good, really. I think it's love.

I remember the first time I held my oldest. My husband put her in my arms, and I looked down at this tiny, beautiful, and (yes!) angelic face ... I just started to cry; the emotion was so overwhelming; the love. It was the same with my son. What immense and wondrous thing love is. It makes you happy to do all the things you thought you would never want to do. It makes you realize the joy there is to life. It makes you say "thank you God" every night as you check on your children, while they sleep. It makes you okay with being excited about furniture, and giggle over the fact that you are now in bed typing on your laptop while your husband is doing the same with his. (poor guy ... he's working, while I'm playing!)

LOVE: An important thing to take time to remember, every once in awhile.

Even Angels sleep

Both children are finally sleeping.

**Funny snippets of the day**
my daughter "Mom ... c'mon! My taste buds hurt, I'm so hungry ..."
my son "I di it!!!" (After each animal was succesfully put into place, on his puzzle.)

My son was so persistant at crawling into my bed, last night, that I was pretty well awake from 2:30 until 4, when I passed out on the couch, with him next to me. I think I took him back to bed and sat in his doorway ay least 4 times before I got so darn tired I couldn't do it anymore. He sure knows how to wear a person down to do his bidding. I hate that he won that particular round of the wills. No worries ... I know that, in the long run, I shall prevail!!! (insert sinister laugh here)

Our new bedroom furniture comes tomorrow. I'm sooo excited! (here's me not knowing if I should be depressed that this is an exciting event...) We've been using my husband's old dresser set, since we got married, and our bed frame broke a year ago;we've simply done without a frame, since then. Of course, right after we splurged on this extravagance, we came home to discover that the dishwasher was broken. Now I'm handwashing dishes for the rest of the summer, or longer ... Y'know what, though? Irony aside ... I really don't mind.

We didn't do much today. We all went over and played at the house of one of my daughter's friends. That was it, though ... I was too tired from last night to even contemplate doing anything else. Unfortunately, the kids watched too much t.v. as a result of my slugishness. I hate that. But, you win some you lose some, right? Today I lost. Maybe tomorrow I'll win...

the Wonder of Children

The kids are busy playing in their room and I've gotten through the bulk of my "to do" list for the day. (yesterday's was pretty huge, so today isn't too bad) Naptime will be soon, and I get to read and rest. YAY! Resting is a particularly nice treat, right now ... Ever since we put my son into a big boy bed, I haven't been sleeping as well. I wake up to find he's sleeping next to me; I wake up to a body part smashing my face in as he climbs over me; I wake up because he's in his doorway or the hallway crying; I wake up to turn off the movie I fell asleep watching, only to hear a voice next to me say "I watnda! Hey! I watda! Mama ... tb ... I watsdat" (translate: I'm watching that! Hey! I'm watching that! Mam! TV ... I watch that) If I'm lucky, I only have to take him back to his bed, once ... last night it was twice, and the second time, I had to sit in the middle of his room, on the floor, until I was sure he was asleep (or I knew we'd have a third time). Argh! I'm so tired; If it weren't for the fact that I can drink LOTS of coffee, it would be like the fog I walk around in when I'm breastfeeding during the night. (To answer your question, I stopped a year ago.) My daughter has a nightly sojourn to our bedroom, too. Fortunately, she no longer wakes us up; she simply crawls into her sleeping bag, on the floor next to me, and goes back to sleep. We have a small two bedroom condo, and we're always talking about how nice it would be if the kids could have their own rooms ... but, right now I'm wondering why bother!? All we really need is a toy room and one bedroom. It seems that we all end up sleeping in the same room, anway! Somebody, please! Tell me this is a phase, and it will pass!!!

On another note -- I'm pretty amused that my brother's blog is about Dora Candyland, today. Aside from the clear entertaining value of his writing, I think he's gotten "it" right, again!

Naptime

The kids are napping (well, one is napping, the other is pretending ...), so I thought I'd take some time to catch up on housework and reading. I did that, and then I got out my laptop. (I still can't get used to saying that ... I LOVE it!) CHecked out my brother's blog ... as always, it was good reading. I particularly reccomend his blog on breastfeeding, from a sociological perspective (his blog is largely a running commentary on from that perspective).

I'm hoping to have more time soon, and make this page more my own (asthetically and otrherwise), but for now, I think I'll go and get "the pretender" and ask her if she wants to play "go fish" or "Dora Candyland."

Hola!

Greetings -- This is me celebrating my new laptop!! Since I can now be on the computer and in the same room as the kids, I thought I'd join the trendy folks and get a blog. I don't know if I'll ever have something worth reading, but you can be the judge of that.