A Week in My Life, Day 6 - Friday

(Ever wonder what I do all day, and how I manage all six of my kids? Heh, me too, sometimes :)

A Week in My Life is an experimental series I'm working on this week based loosely on the popular "A Day in the Life" photo diaries in which I plan to chronicle what I'm doing throughout the day, all week, with six kids in tow, flying solo while my husband's away at school. I hope you'll decide to drop in every-so-often during the day to see what I'm up to, and commiserate with me while I manhandle it all by myself!

Psst.. send coffee and chocolate - STAT!)

Friday, April 30th 2010

6:25am - Today is a snooze button kind of day.

6:30am - Crap. I really need to get up. Ugh.

6:31pm - Stumble into the kitchen to see oldest already heating up pancakes, yet no one's downstairs yet to eat them, let alone dressed. Probably not even out of bed. Um, okay? #jumpingthegunmuch? I delve into my coffee, lips first, without my eyes even open yet. Ugh, mornings blow goats.

6:45am - Watering plants, even if it did rain last night, c'uz that's how I roll. Besides, I sort-of forgot to water them yesterday, so they get two today. They don't mind.

6:50am - Oldest son complaining of stomach ache. I think he just wants to stay home and watch TV all day. As tempting as it would be to be on the safe side and bring him home, they're sticklers for absences here. Like, sending out the truancy police on you, kind-of sticklers. Like, my kindergartner is on the brink of failing for being absent too much, yet he has already passed academically. Nice, huh? #morereasonstohatethisplace

7:25am - Didn't get out before the freakin' buses, again. {snarls} Coffee isn't cutting it this morning.

7:55am - Temper tantrum from my toddler, not wanting to get out of the car. Early onset PMS for my toddler, you can bite me.

8:05am - Laundry restart, cleaning up. Bleh.

8:30am - Why, hello internetz. How are you? I've been kind-of busy with this remodel thing, huh? I miss you, too. We shall become friends again today. I have some writing to take care of.

8:42am - Oh please, please let nap time come early today #thatisall

9:00-9:55am - Internet "catching up" begins. Trying to configure email settings for new email account for new writing gig, and Thunderbird is not liking me this morning. Toddler also following me e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e. Agh!

9:38am - Serve boob to Baby Dude, knock him out. Sweet! 

10am - Oldest son called from school saying his stomach hurts again, but he hasn't eaten lunch yet and barely touched his breakfast. I asked him to at least wait until after lunch to see, and try to eat. I'm supposed to go have lunch with kindergarten dude today. Crap!

10:45am - Begin heating up lunch and changing diapers to go have lunch at school in hopes oldest is okay.

11:20am - As I'm walking out the door, oldest son calls and wants to come home. With lunch in hand. I ask if he can hang tight for 45 minutes, and I'll come get him. He says it's okay.

11:30am - Arrive at school for lunch with kindergartner. Awesome little midgets everywhere. I love this age.

11:40am - Toddler apparently has crazy baked into the macaroni and cheese I made her, because she is mega-spazzing. Wonder if any of the teachers have wine available for moms? lol

11:45am - Can I just tell you how much I love eating lunch with my kids? LOVE.

12:05pm - Oh, dear sweet toddler. Please fall asleep on the way to get your brother.

12:10pm - She fell asleep. PRAISE GOD!

12:20pm - Arrive at the school to get my tummy achin' dude. He looks good, and apparently ate all his lunch, too. Wonder what's up with him?

12:30pm - Home with cranky Baby Dude while Baby Sis sleeps. Good grief, if it isn't one it's another. Laundry started and a butt to wipe. Game on.

12:40pm - Baby Dude, that wasn't cool. No more diapers like that until daddy comes home, mm'kay?

12:41pm - After house is doused with air freshener oils, I commence catching up on emails and stuff at the new desk. I should be organizing some more, or working out. But I'm not. Today = lazy.

12:42pm - 2:25pm - Straightening, changing diapers (Baby Dude didn't listen to my earlier request), selling items (yay for Bookoo.com) and trying not to fall asleep on my feet. Woo!

2:30pm - Annnnd on my way to pick up school-agers. Gosh, where the hell does my day even go anymore?

3:30pm - Hooray, we're home! Now that all the kidlets are here, we can destroy! Err, I mean, reorganize! Let the weekend 'o redesign begin!

3:45pm - Eating peanut butter off the spoon with my two youngest, and snacking on faces. Can there be anything better?? Really?

4:00pm - Okay, now that we're all snacked up, NOW I will start destroying. If I'm not back in an hour, send help.

5:00pm - Alright, nobody sent help. But OHMYFREAKINGGOD, I've destroyed my house. Like, a wrecking ball at this point would be a vase of fresh cut flowers as compared to what I've done. It's rubble. Crap.

5:45pm - While I'm furiously destroying reorganizing, oldest is making dinner. Again. Please, don't let it take two hours again.

5:58pm - Hubby is about to come home to a few kids less if these fourth graders don't get their acts together and show me some cleaning in this room upstairs. I have NOWHERE to walk for this armoire later.

6:33pm - Hooray, dinner's done! I need a break. I'm about to #*(&@#$@#$ snap.

6:46pm - Playing "Guess the Just Dance song I'm thinking about" at the dinner table with the kids. They're humming or singing songs from the Just Dance game. Songs I grew up to. They just redeemed themselves for their behavior earlier.

7:10- 7:40pm - Or maybe not. Kids got down from the table to run outside and shirk their responsibilities upstairs. As I'm chasing them, hubby calls at our friends house to talk to them and let our kids talk to their kids. At the very moment I'm about to lose my marbles.

7:43pm - Post plea for a dolly on Facebook. Pray someone's got one.

8:00pm - Nurse Baby Dude to sleep at a freakishly early hour. Yes! Maybe I'll get this done tonight after all!

8:15pm - Not only does someone have a dolly, they loan me their husband to help use it. #ilovemyfriends

9:30-ish pm - Armoire's upstairs and the kids are left to finish the room. However, they're not. And now I'm mega-pissed.

9:30-ish - 10:30pm - Guess who helped finish the upstairs only to come down to work on the downstairs? That'd be this mom. Cuz my kids were too tired (they did get up early to go to school). And so, now, the downstairs is still half not-done. And I'm too tired to finish tonight. Annnd no chores were done. Lovely. I think it's time to shower and get to bed for me. I'm just too cranky to do anything else.

(Day 7 awaits!)

Here's the link recap from previous days:

Day 1 - Sunday
Day 2 - Monday
Day 3 - Tuesday 
Day 4 - Wednesday 
Day 5 - Thursday

Never miss a thing! Subscribe today for all kinds of crazy parenting fun!

A Week in My Life, Day 5 - Thursday

(Ever wonder what I do all day, and how I manage all six of my kids? Heh, me too, sometimes :)

A Week in My Life is an experimental series I'm working on this week based loosely on the popular "A Day in the Life" photo diaries in which I plan to chronicle what I'm doing throughout the day, all week, with six kids in tow, flying solo while my husband's away at school. I hope you'll decide to drop in every-so-often during the day to see what I'm up to, and commiserate with me while I manhandle it all by myself!

Psst.. send coffee and chocolate - STAT!)

Thursday, April 29th 2010

12:00am - And still going....

1:00am - And still going... (If you're wondering what I'm talking about, go back and read last night)

1:30am - Oh. Crap. The drawers aren't straight, a screw sticks out of one, not allowing it close (even though it's the right screw) and I shaved a smallish piece off the molding where the cabinet door hit it accidentally because it needs to be raised. Nothing seems to fit quite right. I can't take this whole thing apart and do it again, but it's just not right. I gotta go to bed, but still have chores to do. GRR!

1:35am - Coffee is on timer, now to start the dishes.

1:40am - Dishes are done, now to make pancake batter for tomorrow. Yes, I know what time it is.

1:55am - I lay my head down and immediately feel ill, as in, I just spent eleventy-billion hours working on something that sucks, kind-of ill.

4:00am - Scare myself awake that it's time to get up. It isn't.

5:55am - Scare myself awake (yet again) thinking I overslept. This time, completely standing up. What gives?

6:20am - Get up five minutes before alarm when I hear my oldest open and close one of the new desk's drawers. Immediately whip out pancake batter and start thinning it a little while pouring coffee. Barely have an eye open. Frick.

6:30am - First batch on the griddle. Damn, do I hate this griddle. First time using it on the new stove, please don't suck like the desk does.

6:45am - Oh yes, suckage abound with this griddle and oven paired together. Have to keep switching the griddle around because the large burner heats OHSOMUCHHOTTER than the smaller burner. Like, to the tune of one half of that end not cooking pancakes at all. More shit to go wrong this morning, lovely.

6:46am - Oh, but I love my children. They are so so sweet. It's so worth it to hear their praises and see chocolate covered faces while eating chocolate-chip pancakes. Don't worry, they'll wash before we leave. Except Baby Dude. 'Cuz that's how he rolls.

7:25am- Oh. Dear. God. I don't want to be driving this morning. I want a nap. Can I get a nap at 7 o'clock in the morning??

7:55am - Home. But still can't rest because the house is destroyed because of this razzafrackin' desk, so coffee it is.

8am-8:55am - Blur of coffee, cereal, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and eye daggers at the new desk. Some email worked into there, too.

9:15am - Woohoo! Score one mom! Fixed the keyboard drawer, perhaps there's hope for the desk yet! {Slurping coffee}

10:20am - Project Un-"F'-Up the Desk is a success. All drawers and cabinets are straight! That'll teach me to attempt to do it in the early hours of the morning. Awesome! Now can I haz a nap?

10:20am - 1:30pm - Disconnecting/reconnecting/hooking-up/purging/reorganizing the new desk and desktop computer. Banging head on aforementioned new desk because I can't get the wireless card to hook up to the internet.

1:30pm - 2:30pm - Operation Clean Purge and Reorganize in full effect. Time to get the kiddos from school again.

3:30pm - Onward and upward, I have a house to get straight. I sure destroyed it putting this desk together. Yikes!

3:30-5:30pm - Attempts at purging, organizing amidst begging and pleading with children to clean up the playroom since that'll be the next room we work on.

5:30pm - Task oldest to cook raviolis for dinner. Not a hard dinner - preheat oven for garlic bread, boil water for raviolis, heat veg in microwave.

6:30pm - Daughter nowhere to be found, garlic bread almost burnt, ravioli boiling in water, young children starving. What gives? Oh right, her cell phone beckons.

6:31pm - She only made two bags of raviolis. Crap. We needed three. Put another pot of water on to boil. Crapcrapcrap. Friggin phones.

6:40pm - I begin feeding the littles with what's already prepared. Bread is cooled by now, the raviolis are just saucier than they should be, waiting on the third bag to boil.

6:50pm - Annnnd we're sat.

7:00pm - I remind kids I still have a bookcase to put together. They don't seem to care, it's a comedy show at our house all the time.

7:20pm - As I build the book case, my husband calls to inform me he downloaded Skype, so we can see each other. Yay!

7:45pm - Kids go bejeebus nuts when they see him on cam. I've never seen so many peace signs and tongues sticking out in my life. They're such adorable dorks. I could literally hear my husband's heart break seeing their faces.

8:10pm - Comedy show over, hubby yawned eleventy-billion times. I, too, am smoked. Unfortunately, too much is to be done.

9:00pm - Kids bathed, chores being finished, kids not settling down, though. Damn.

10:00pm - Baby Dude is knocked the heck out. Kindergarten Dude just went down for the count. Baby Sis, though, is looking like she wants to party tonight. Mommy doesn't want to play that game, though.

11:25pm - Kitchen clean, dishes done, things straightened, school paperwork filled out, laundry run, and Baby Sis followed me around every.step.of.the.way. unwilling to lay down and rest. Until now. THANK GOODNESS. Bedtime awaits. My pillow wants me. It's going to be awesome.

(Are you ready for Day 6?)

Here's the link recap from previous days:

Day 1 - Sunday
Day 2 - Monday
Day 3 - Tuesday 
Day 4 - Wednesday

Never miss a thing! Subscribe today for all kinds of crazy parenting fun!

A Week in My Life, Day 4 - Wednesday

(Ever wonder what I do all day, and how I manage all six of my kids? Heh, me too, sometimes :)

A Week in My Life is an experimental series I'm working on this week based loosely on the popular "A Day in the Life" photo diaries in which I plan to chronicle what I'm doing throughout the day, all week, with six kids in tow, flying solo while my husband's away at school. I hope you'll decide to drop in every-so-often during the day to see what I'm up to, and commiserate with me while I manhandle it all by myself!

Psst.. send coffee and chocolate - STAT!)

Wednesday, April 28th 2010

6:25am - Good God, why on Earth does this alarm mock me so? It hates me. I hate it. It's a mutual hate thing.

6:35am - Cinnamon Toast begun. Coffee is made but no time to snag it at the moment, it's slathering bread with cinnamon-goodness time.

7:20am - Whoa, man. I got carried away with the cinnamon toast-making, almost made us late.

8:00am - I'm home. I need coffee. I need to straighten up after our morning, Ami the Magnificent is to arrive in an hour. If I were more awake, I'd jump for joy. But, since I'm not, I'll just woo. Woo!

8:50am - Diapers changed, kids (almost) dressed, beds made, living room semi-straight, dishes to sink. C'mon Ami!

9:30am - I think I shocked her. I don't think she believed how small my house was. People have to witness it for themselves, they think "five-bedroom" and they think HUGE. Only, our house was a three-bedroom converted to a five. You do the math = small

10:15am - Get get crackin' in the "extra" room downstairs, purging, after we game plan a course of action in the house. Purge, organize, separate, bag it up.

11:10am - We finish, and she writes me up my "homework" for next week :) Going to feed the kids and take 'em out to a few furniture stores in hopes of finding a desk and some organizational pieces. We have a lot of work ahead of us for these rooms. Her plan is to come save me help clean on Tuesdays.

11:30am - She leaves and I inhale coffee and boob up Baby Dude. I knock him out for a nap before lunch. Oops.

12:00pm - I scarf up a bowl of cereal like it's going out of style (should've eaten before she came). Meanwhile, lunch is almost ready and I'm on borrowed time to hit the stores before I get the kids. Crap.

12:30pm - Get the kids loaded into the car, and load up the car with 4 big boxes of donate stuff (finally). Pack snacks, drinks, load up on more coffee and we're out.

1:15pm - First furniture store shows promise, however, they don't have many desks. Fell in love with a bedroom set, though. Will return with hubby to show him.

1:20pm - Enter the parking lot of the place I'm donating, luckily it's right next door. After helping a lady with her child, I begin to unload my car. Wow, those boxes aren't light.

1:45pm - Arrive at the second furniture place. OHMYGOD, so much more expensive than the first. But goooorgeous stuff. I want to live here. The saleslady is nice, understands my plight, gives me the names of a few places to look.

2:15pm - Swing back by the house quickly to pee, refill my water, and check online for a quick sec. This day has been so jam packed, and in a few I have to leave the get the kids. Yowza!

3:05pm - Stop the presses, I'm the first in line to get the kids at the elementary school. Holy crap. That never happens.

3:12pm - Kids get in the car, dumbfounded. "Can you do this every day?" lol

3:25pm - Kids are all picked up. I was so early, I beat my teenager to the parking lot, I actually had to park as opposed to pulling up. Wow! Do I hear harps? Violins? Angels singing?

3:50pm - I should not have tempted fate. I ventured to Hellmart with the kids (yes, ALLSIXKIDS) and um, that was a mistake. Baby Sis hasn't napped, and is unleashing her fury upon the princess department, conveniently located near the furniture department. Someone send help. And by help I mean, an employee with a dolly. Stat.

4:15pm - So tempted to get on the intercom and say "Code Vodka to the furniture section, please."

4:30pm - Someone tell me why I just did that, taking all my kids to visit Walmart? Oh yeah, because I'm a dumbass who really wants to get her house organized with her hubby away forgetting I have six kids that like to drive me mental in public (mostly). Shame on me. {Smacks forehead} Buuuut, I got a desk and a matching bookcase by Better Homes and Gardens that look pretty awesome. Spare room redo shall begin!

5:00pm - ... will have to wait. Baby Sis fell asleep in the car, and the furniture is @#(*&@#$ heavy without a Walmart guy lifting it for you #thethingsyoulearn

5:30pm - Starting spaghetti, Italian biscuits, veggies made of awesome. I iz so hungie.

6:10pm - Oh dear lord, is it done yet? It. Smells. So. Good.

6:30pm - Dinner with my kidlets, and I'm hearing gripes about the italian vegetables and Super M is whining about the "sauce" on the "sketti" yet it's tomato, same as pizza sauce. What gives? {snarls}

7:00pm - Kids help me begin the desk build. We skip our evening walk to try to tackle this. Directions say "two hours" so, that gives them enough time to bathe before bed at 9:30pm, too.

7:20pm - Oldest son wants to screw. every. screw. in. himself. This is going to be longer than two hours.

7:40pm - Way longer than two hours. There's crown molding to install on this. And 3 drawers with 2 cabinets. Oh crap.

9:00pm - I send the kids upstairs to bathe after a comedic conversation with my husband. We're maybe halfway done. Two hours my ASS.

9:45pm - Oldest son goes to bed, grateful to have been able to help me. He is such a sweetheart, wanting to be mommy's biggest helper. Am contemplating waiting to build the bookshelf until he gets home.

11:00pm - Holy crap, why am I not done yet? What the @#*(&@#$?

12:00am - And still going....

1:00am - And still going...

(See the rest on Day 5, to see how it turned out...)

Here's the link recap from previous days:

Day 1 - Sunday
Day 2 - Monday
Day 3 - Tuesday

Never miss a thing! Subscribe today for all kinds of crazy parenting fun!

Quick Low-Fat Ranch Dressing by Single Serving

Sometimes, I make my low-fat ranch dressing up by the bowl-full in advance for my dipping pleasure. Other times, I don't need nearly as much, just a tablespoon-full, and I don't want to have to go crazy making a bowl full just for that tablespoon's worth.

The other day I experimented and I got it "just right", for people like me who want that slight taste of ranch on their chicken (or other) sandwich without all the fuss. Here's what I did:

• Using a spoon, I smoothed a very thin coat of Hellman's Canola Mayo onto both pieces of my bread.
• I sprinkle a tiny bit of Onion Powder, Garlic Powder and Dill on each slice. 
• I then add the secret ingredient - Parmesan. Sprinkling Parmesan cheese gives it that bite that gets it to taste so much like ranch dressing. 
• To healthify it even further, I add leaves of lettuce and spinach, and choose Muenster cheese instead of American or Cheddar (lower in sodium).

Voila! {Yum} Enjoy!

For more Wednesday fun, visit Wordless Wednesday, 5MFM, MomSpective, MomDot, Seven Clown Circus and We Are THAT Family.

Never miss a thing! Subscribe today for all kinds of crazy parenting fun!

A Week in My Life, Day 3 - Tuesday

(Ever wonder what I do all day, and how I manage all six of my kids? Heh, me too, sometimes :)

A Week in My Life is an experimental series I'm working on this week based loosely on the popular "A Day in the Life" photo diaries in which I plan to chronicle what I'm doing throughout the day, all week, with six kids in tow, flying solo while my husband's away at school. I hope you'll decide to drop in every-so-often during the day to see what I'm up to, and commiserate with me while I manhandle it all by myself!

Psst.. send coffee and chocolate - STAT!)

Tuesday, April 27th 2010

6:25am - Alarm sounds. Oh dear God, please don't let today suck.

6:50am - Oldest is rushing to get things done I normally would take care of. I thank her but ask that she stop rushing. Because she was rushing and not double-checking, she almost sent her siblings off to school with incomplete lunches and her sister to school with no sandwich. She gets upset at me and stops helping altogether, like a two-year old temper tantrum. Nice.

7:15am - We're on our way out the door by the skin of our teeth. Oh God, I hate early mornings.

7:29am - Both my oldest and I smelled gasoline horribly in our car while on the way to school. I figured it was the car in front of me. I keep an eye on the gas gauge anyway.

7:40am - It becomes apparent my gas gauge (Miles to Empty digital meter) is showing I've traveled 20 miles when I've only traveled 4 according to the odometer. This could mean it was indeed my car leaking gas. Greeeat. Called to cancel my doctor's appointment at 9am this morning.

8:02am - I pull up to the car repair shop we go to and explain our situation. It's right outside the gate, 5 minutes (driving distance) from our house, so I take out my Graco double stroller, give them my cell phone number, and walk home.

8:11am - Called husband to tell him about our gas-leaking, walking-home incident. He doesn't believe me. Well, he does, but he doesn't believe the horrible luck I constantly get when he goes away. I think I made a believer out of him now. 

8:20am - Look like the biggest freakin' idiot walking up to the check point while others were driving to get to work.

9:15am - I get home. Holy freaking crap, over an hour!? Really? Oh my goodness, the walkways are HORRIBLE here. I can't walk back with this God-forsaken stroller.Will have to walk back with my jogger. Holy crap! What a workout that was navigating this thing up and down the walkways.

9:15:10am - Make a mad dash to the restroom to pee. Holy smokes, was I ever regretting 2 cups of coffee and a glass of water before an hour + walk.

9:30am - Water plants and clean up front yard, because that's exactly what anyone does after having to walk home from the car place.

9:45am - Drank a Spirutein shake (despite eating breakfast at 7am, I was starving after that walk) and pump more coffee in me. My elbows hurt from navigating that damn contraption. And I get to do it all again to pick up the car later, too. That is, if it's ready today. {Gulp}

10:26am - After much caffeination, bed-making, change of clothes (I walked home in pajamas and flip flops), and a couple poopie diapers to change, I called the shop and got the good news that they could find no leak whatsoever. Now comes the task of walking back in my jogger to go pick it up before the heat of the day hits. Crap.

10:54am - Laundry folded, another load in. Dishes loaded, but washer isn't full. Kids fully dressed, juice and water bottles made. Time for yet another lack-of-car related walk. Yippee! /sarcasm

12:15pm - I'm home. Only 45 minute walk this time, went a different (and obviously quicker) way. Awesome. But oh, so smoked. Baby Sis fell asleep, so I didn't get to go to the store. Going to make lunch and hopefully join her.

1:00pm - Ate reheated lunch with Baby Dude. Am about to pop a boob in his mouth in hopes he'll nap, and then I'll get to nap? Yes?

1:12pm - Nap time! Dude is down, Sis has been down, Mom is going down, too! Wahooo! (For a nap, that is. Get your mind out of the gutter, people.)

2:25pm - Damn alarm on the phone. Too bad I had to get up. That nap was delicious. Off to begin my pick-up kidlets from school afternoon routine. Must. Have. Coffee. Now. kthxbai

2:28pm - Just realized  I gave Baby Dude my keys to play with earlier, and now I can't find them #momfail

2:31pm - Whew! Found them. As if I needed more car issues today.

2:37pm - Sweet FedEx dude just delivered my box to me through my car window. He spotted me walking today on the other end of the housing area. When I told him about my gas-smelling suspicions, he began inspecting himself. He even inquired if my husband had found a car yet (had given us advice on where to shop). Not all things are bad at this post, and this lovely delivery man is one of the many bright spots here.

3:25pm - Back from picking up children, and holy smokes, could I ever use a nap. But no, kids need to eat snack, straighten up their rooms, and off to the grocery store I go. But not without me restarting laundry, changing diapers, and cleaning out the microwave. A mother's work is never done.

3:56pm - Beginning preparations to load up my kidlets into the car to take ALL. SIX. to the commissary. Please don't let them act like heathens. Please don't let them act like heathens. Please don't let them act like heathens.

4:40pm - We survived! Commissary was a bit of a crazy town, though. But we made it! Now to go scrub toilets, unclog a sink, straighten the bathrooms. Fun times friends.

6:00pm - Wow, so um, these new heavy-duty toilet products aren't working out so well with our brown water situation here. Nor is the drain cleaner for the kids' bathroom sink. I'm hoping Ami (My New Savior aka Cleaning Lady) has some ideas for me tomorrow. In the meantime, must get the nachos in the oven.

6:15pm - Hey, do you know what's made of awesome? When your older kids are with you at the store, and they're all like "Hey mom, don't we need this?" and I'm all, "No, guys, I made the list and double-checked everything, this is all we need," and then you come home and notice that they were @#($*&@#$@# right? Cuz yeah, that's pretty friggin' awesome. Only not.

6:30pm - STOP THE PRESSES. My 9-year-old changed Baby Dude's poopie diaper. Whoa.

7:15pm - Dinner is final-friggin-ly ready. Oh my word, dude, what the heck, it's freakin' nachos, one of the easiest recipes ever. What gives?

7:30pm- My daughter is a starving artist. Literally.

8:05pm - Hubby calls. Unbelievable how much I miss him. Kitchen clean up while talking, woo!

8:30pm - Holy crap, 9-year-old is changing poop again. Wow, she's so hired.

9:30pm - Oldest son comes to tattle on kindergartner that he didn't shower. Again. Why do they wait until bedtime to do this?

9:45pm - Kindergartner's bathed, dressed, and three youngest are looking to wreak havoc. Baby Sis has had two bowls of cereal since nachos didn't interest her, and Baby Dude is following me around practically chanting "boob" until he gets it. Only, he can't say it, so he's repeating my name so much, I want to change it to Guido.

10:00pm - I turn off the lights and grab the "mote" and sit with the two littles, since kindergarten-dude is already asleep. Please oh please, let them go to bed without a fuss. It's already late.

10:15pm - How do ya like that, no fuss. Sweet!

(Annnnd onto Day 4)

Here's the link recap from previous days:

Day 1 - Sunday
Day 2 - Monday

Never miss a thing! Subscribe today for all kinds of crazy parenting fun!

To Do Tuesday Week 61

If this is your first time reading and you're wondering what To-Do Tuesday is all about, click to check out the first post to find out more.

Well, if you haven't already been reading, hubby is gone and the house has gone completely looney-tunes. I'm keeping myself quite busy chronicling this time while he's away.

The good news? Hell has already begun, so no need to worry about what it will be like. Even better news? The countdown until his return has already begun, too, so thank goodness for that.

The bad news? Doing it all by myself. I feel so broken down already. I want to raise the white flag, and yet, I can't. 24 more days of this, no choice.

So, pardon me while I lose my razzafrackin' marbles for a bit, mm'kay? {sigh}

*Doctor's appointment for my thyroid this morning. Fun times, friends.
*Prepare for my savior to arrive tomorrow (aka newly hired cleaning lady. Wahooo! More on that later)
*Try NOT to want cower in the closet when the kids kick my will to live out of me by making me repeat commands to them over. And over. And over.
*Purchase plants for "holes" in garden & finish back corner. For realz this time.
*Research desk/organization options for "spare" room, as project while hubby's away. Like I'm not already too busy.
*Water lawn & plants everyday.
*Walk with the family every night weather and behavior permitting
*Continue cleaning out stuff, reorganizing & selling/donating to help alleviate some room
*Grocery shopping/print coupons/list for this week (So afraid to go shopping by myself this week without hubby)

Staying on my diet every day*
Work out everyday using Jillian Michaels No More Trouble Zones, Wii Fit, EAS Active More Workouts, Yoga and walking*

*Even though my weigh-ins with the Shrinking Jeans ladies are over, I will still weigh in on Wednesdays for myself

Today's motivation - Survive. It shouldn't be difficult to take one breath at a time, to put one foot in front of the other, but some days are more trying than others. Perhaps, focusing on the small, seemingly insignificant things will help me realize that perhaps my troubles aren't as bad as they seem. Baby steps.

Last weeks goal: Finish the garden (not done, hubby left, no help for me)
This weeks goal: Definitely DEFINITELY finish it!

--

Would you like to join us this week for To-Do Tuesday? Start with just a few things. Don't over-do it your first couple of times. You'll grow to become a list-a-holic later, start small now, though, k?
Just so you know, you can join us at anytime, it doesn't have to be on Tuesdays - the list will go up every Tuesday for you to link to, but you can make your list and link to us at any point in the week!

Remember, with "To-Do Tuesday", we're attacking our to-do lists each week, blogging about our lists and what we've got going on, and sharing it with each other to help keep each other accountable. Everyone should come back here to link up in the MckLinky as the central "To-Do Tuesday Hub" so we can visit who's participating and offer encouragement to each other throughout the week. Don't forget to add the "To-Do Tuesday" button to your post, linking back to this post!

Let's continue to cross items off our list as we go and help support each other in completing our lists! Don't forget my useful HTML tutorial on how to effectively "cross-out" or √ "check off" your items on your to-do list!

Joining us? Please add your link below (to your To Do Tuesday post, and not the main page of your blog)

Participants for Week 61

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A Week in My Life, Day 2 - Monday

(Ever wonder what I do all day, and how I manage all six of my kids? Heh, me too, sometimes :)

A Week in My Life is an experimental series I'm working on this week based loosely on the popular "A Day in the Life" photo diaries in which I plan to chronicle what I'm doing throughout the day, all week, with six kids in tow, flying solo while my husband's away at school. I hope you'll decide to drop in every-so-often during the day to see what I'm up to, and commiserate with me while I manhandle it all by myself!

Psst.. send coffee and chocolate - STAT!)

Monday, April 26th 2010

2:00am - Finally go to bed. Not sure if it was the excitedness of it being quiet, or loneliness of hubby away, but I absolutely could not get to sleep.

2:00am-7:00am - Toss and turn, get punched, kicked, brawl, scare myself awake all night because of the three youngest sleeping with me. I just couldn't get comfortable, and I have a whopping headache. God help me.

7:00am - Baby starts stirring, wants awake. I pop a boob in his mouth and try to forget my name with the way my head was hurting.

7:30am - Baby wakes up, gets down off the bed. I bring him into the play room across the hall and give him the bucket of matchbox cars.

8:15am - Baby Dude comes back into the room, trying to wake me up. And by trying to wake me up, I mean, wailing like a dying cat. My oldest son awakens and takes him downstairs to feed him some cereal and give him something to drink. Thank goodness for older children!! I bury my head under the pillow praying the headache goes away. Or that I suffocate it away. {Quivering lip}

9:20am - Baby Dude returns, oldest son boasts about taking good care of him. I feel somewhat alright, so I make my way downstairs to find something to eat, a drink, and brew some much-needed coffee. Headache is slightly better, at least I can see straight.

My oldest arises, who I lovingly refer to as "Lurch" in the mornings, as she just stands there, motionless, kind-of stalkerish just watching in a creepy way. I recall she didn't do what I asked her to do the night before (bring me clothes) so, I ask her nicely, again. I think she obliges, but at least she isn't creeping me out at the moment. Headache pulses while I get my blood pressure raised at the idea of beginning my day repeating commands to, of all people, my oldest. Grrrr.

9:45am - Fiber One caramel-flavored cereal being inhaled digested, coffee is ready, first installment of supplements taken. Will add a couple ibuprofen, too. And some migraine oil, just to be safe.

10:00am - Oh, migraine oil, how I love thee.

Had to physically go upstairs to get oldest to follow through with what I asked her to do, as she didn't do it completely. What the hell? {Insert mumbled expletives under breath here}

Everyone's awake, ready for breakfast. Pancakes this morning, or baked french toast casserole a la Andrea?

10:05am - Or, the olders already had cereal, and the littles are hungry RIGHTTHISVERYSECOND. So,cereal it is. I serve them Cascadian Farms Honey O's with a sprinkle of cinnamon, raisins and milk. Kindergartner hands to me the seal for the milk calling it the "super-secret attachment." I freaking love having boys.

Still making either pancakes of french toast, though. I stockpile the day before for rushed (and way early) school mornings.

10:10am - Annnnnd Baby Dude dumps his sister's cereal on the floor. My morning wasn't complete until now.

10:45am - Made toast for middle daughter. Still slurping away coffee while reading yard sale items on Craigslist and Bookoo.com, scheming ways to switch furniture around and sell things while hubby (aka The Other Strong Pair of Arms) is away. Headache dimming, but still not fully gone. I don't want to get up.

11:00am - Oh crap. Game on. Kids are knocking at the door for my kids to come out. Flurry of activity in kids getting dressed, making beds, needing changed. So much for sitting.

11:28am - Holy freaking crap. Kids are whining, dressed, demanding. It's like pulling teeth to get everyone situated today. Baby Dude whizzed on the floor before I could get him a diaper, and cleaned it up himself with the pants Baby Sis wanted to wear. I've said "Get out of the garbage can" more times than I want to admit. What gives? Why does it all turn to crap when hubby goes away?

11:45am - Day is redeemed. Baby Dude just picked Baby Sis a flower. {Heart melting}

11:45:10am - ...except it was from my garden. {Sigh}

11:52am - Stop the presses! Oldest not only cleaned out the dishwasher (her chore) but is starting to load the dishwasher (my job). Whoa. Redeeming herself for earlier? Whatever her motives, I'll take it!

Drinking Spirutein shake again. Feeling really shaky and jittery in a low-blood-sugar-y way.

12:00pm - Sucking down second cup of coffee like it's suddenly going to make me sane. Toddler is seriously wearing me down. She wants a drink, she requests milk, I want to give her tea, as she already had milk with her TWO bowls of cereal this morning. I offer to give her chocolate milk for later, but it has to cool, so I put in a new "special milk" into the fridge to get cold, and she takes it out. I say no to regular milk, she takes it out. Driving me batshit crazy, I tell you. I finally pour her some tea and send her to the trampoline. Meanwhile, I spot my kindergartner lounging on the trampoline in the sun like it's a hammock. I envy him.

Off to start lunch. And search for my nerve pill again.

12:15pm - Oldest son offers to make lunch. Hot dogs and reheated homemade macaroni and cheese. Shouldn't be too hard.

12:20pm - Or, maybe not. He's heating two hot dogs up at a time. This could take a while. "Baby, you can heat up all of them in this pan."

"Ohhhhh!"

12:30pm - I'm in the bathroom playing fashion-model, trying on clothes from the sweet neighbor who is skinny as a rail and called me the same size as her. Must bake her a cake for that compliment.

12:32pm - Holy freaking crap! I squeezed my ass into a pair of size 3 jeans! Ahhh!! (Let's not discuss the loose skin hanging over them, though. Or if I'm breathing or not.)

12:34pm - And another size 3!! Ahhhh!! (Still not breathing.)

12:45pm - Done playing fashion model. Am super-stoked with how I made out. Unfortunately, all her shirts are way too small. It's the breastfeeding boobs, man.

And, speaking of clothes, the washer is seemingly done. Must be transferred to dryer.

12:50pm - Lunch is about to be served, but we're a hot dog short. Must restart the pan.

12:51pm - Son put enough butter in the pan for one hot dog to drown a horse. Holy crap!

12:55pm - Okay, NOW lunch is officially served.

1:00pm - Call to housing to inquire about the house-painters. Speak with a woman who didn't know her ass from her elbow and was of no help. Called main post housing, and that lady rocked and is making a few calls to find out if we're next. #PleaseSayYes The outside of our house is in desperate need of being painted, it is puke brown with bedazzled spots of mildew. /sexy

1:05pm - Actual words that came out of my mouth, "Baby, please stop hitting me with the fridge." (I meant the fridge door.) Send help.

1:10pm - Sandwich made, water poured, afternoon supplements taken, orders doled out on children to finish up and clear their plates.

1:28pm - Kindergartner sneaks away from the table without finishing, the little creep. It's a good thing he's cute. Is it nap time yet?

1:45pm - Finished turkey sandwich and chips while nursing Baby Dude to sleep and catching up on emails. Oh, so much to do and not enough time to do it in!

2:00pm - Totally MacGyver'd a hole in the trampoline net using a spare black shoe lace. Made of win! Overheard whispers from kindergartner "Guess we'll have to make a new secret way in now." #OhNoYouDi'int! {Eye daggers towards kids} Warned them to NOT create another trap door in the almost-new trampoline net again, or they owe me all their money. And cookies.

2:10pm - Opened mail, checking email, apparently killed Facebook. Damn it, I have things to accomplish before we go to my son's nutritionist appointment at 3:30! Arghhh! Maybe I should work out instead?

2:45pm - Scratch working out, didn't want to disturb the Dude, who's napping like a drunk rock star.


Lucky man. Too bad his mother's an idiot who put his outfit on backwards. #momfail

3:00pm - Getting ready to leave for nutritionist appointment for kindergartner. With all six kids in tow. and no hubby to help. Can I haz wine?

3:15pm - Corralling kids in the car should be an olympic event. However, I don't think I'd win the gold. My toddler would screw up my chances with her whiny need to climb over the seats after my repeated, Rain Man-esque yelling at her to get in so I could buckle her.

3:30pm - Arrive at appointment by the skin of my teeth, only to be in an enclosed office with the nutritionist while they turn on T.V. for my kids. Doesn't that sort-of defeat the purpose of what they're trying to teach? #nutritionistfail

4:15pm - I never thought I'd ever say it, but thank god Baby Dude pooped, or we might not've ever gotten out of there. 45 minutes of the same discussions over and over, and we're finally out of that office. I was falling asleep.

4:30pm - Home in time to catch the neighborhood kids wreaking havoc on our toys while the lawn people are trying to mow. Lovely. Make a mad dash to clean up the toys just in time for them to hit our yard.

4:38pm - Hubby calls. I'm barely able to talk while I wrangle children into finishing cleaning the yard and getting out of their way, and getting children to listen to me the first time (a common occurrence in this house as of late). Dryer restarted. Update given on the appointment. Try to block out hearing about how wonderful Fort Bragg is in comparison to this hell we live in. One more year 'til we're back to civilization again.

4:45pm - Recall Baby Dude not liking the vacuum? Amplify that by 1000 with a mower.

4:45pm - 5:30pm - Catching up online, consoling Baby Dude, fetching drinks.

5:30pm - Starting dinner - chicken sandwiches, tater tots, peas. A little at a time it thaws in the microwave before getting put on a Pampered Chef stone and into the oven. My husband calls, and I vent a little about how these past few days haven't gone well (at all). I don't feel better about venting, only worse.

6:00pm - Oldest decides to dress the two youngest up in Princess dresses. Baby Sis is Cinderella, Baby Dude is Belle. I would've taken a picture, but things were beeping at me in the kitchen.

6:05pm - Two older kids go outside, and the house grows quiet. Deafeningly quiet. I call to my oldest, looking for the two princess-dressed kids. They escaped. Outside. In costume. @#*$(&@#

6:10pm - Proceed to lay into my children about helping me with the two little ones while I finish up cooking instead of being oblivious to my need for help. They promised their dad they would be big helpers, and today there hasn't been much.

I glance at the clock and sink my head into my shoulders. It's only been two days and so much is going wrong already, and it isn't going to get better. I feel defeated, ashamed. I feel overwhelmed, and depressed. I just want to go to bed, but I don't want another horrible day to come. I just want to go to sleep and wake up in three weeks.

6:31pm - Thank goodness for my nerve pill and Peace & Calming. Rescue Remedy rocks, too. Unicorns and rainbows, people. Carry on.

6:45pm - Dinner is served. Kids are criticizing they weren't expecting chicken sandwiches and nuggets, they thought we were having nachos. Geez.

7:00pm - Words I never thought I'd hear myself say "Eat your chicken nuggets and tots or no walk later." Did I seriously have to bribe my child with exercise to get her to eat chicken nuggets and tater tots? Holy cow!

7:30pm - I stupidly decide to start the oven's self-clean option, not recalling we might go for a walk. Contemplate briefly whether it's safe or not. We go for it.

8:30pm - Come home to cranky toddlers who pooped and need changing, lazy school-agers who don't want to make lunches, do chores, or admit they have school tomorrow, and a stinky, almost-clean oven.

9:10pm - Baby Dude is boobed to sleep. Baby Sis is whining about eating a "Chocolate O-Bar" (granola bar) when she has a couple chicken nuggets left. She didn't get a nap today, so she is a down right bear.

9:20pm - Annnnd, she's out.

9:26pm - Oldest son tattles on kindergartner, that he didn't take a bath yet. {growls}

9:43pm - Kindergartner emerges dressed for bed after his late bath. Perhaps now I can work out? Or maybe, just call it a night early after getting no sleep last night...

(Onto Day 3)

Here's the link recap from previous days:

Day 1 - Sunday

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A Week in My Life, Day 1 - Sunday

(Ever wonder what I do all day, and how I manage all six of my kids? Heh, me too, sometimes :)

A Week in My Life is an experimental series I'm working on this week based loosely on the popular "A Day in the Life" photo diaries in which I plan to chronicle what I'm doing throughout the day, all week, with six kids in tow, flying solo while my husband's away at school. I hope you'll decide to drop in every-so-often during the day to see what I'm up to, and commiserate with me while I manhandle it all by myself!

Psst.. send coffee and chocolate - STAT!)

Sunday, April 25th 2010

8:00am - Dear sweet Baby Dude, today is Sunday, it is not time to get up yet. Have a boob, go back to bed. Thank you.

8:01- 9:45am - Attempt at sleeping late failed. Younger kids wrestling on who gets what side of mommy. Older kids wrangling bowls in kitchen, seeking breakfast. Must get up and cook. Crap.

10:30am - Coffee brewed and first cup poured, hash browns cooking, bacon frying, one waffle made, eggs are scrambled awaiting a free area on the stove to cook. Eyes almost awake.

11:30am - Breakfast complete, double-header poopie-diapers changed, youngest children dressed, kitchen being cleaned. Oldest wiping off table remaining while kids are sent upstairs to get changed and make their beds. I hear laughing and stomping instead. Grrr.

11:45am - First load of laundry finished and folded. Kids still playing upstairs while I put in a new load. Kitchen almost clean.

12:00pm - Try to keep my cool while I beg ask kids to please listen to me the first time and finish their rooms so they can go outside while I finish cleaning up. I make my bed.

12:30pm - I begin to read some emails, catch up on Facebook and Twitter. I still hear playing and schemes being concocted about where to shove items the fastest as to get outside the soonest. {Insert grumbled sighs here}

1pm - I realize that, now that the kitchen's clean, it's time to start thinking about lunch soon (the downside to having brunch). Double-crap. Kids are coming down here arguing about why it's correct that they should clean their rooms. I show them how I cleaned up my messes, and how that's the the right thing to do, clean up after yourselves when you've made a mess. My argumentative oldest son still doesn't want to do it, though. I send him back upstairs anyway. {Growl}

1:15pm - Baby Dude given boob, falls asleep. Oldest son yelled at for stalling on cleaning up, still. Already wants lunch, tries to steal a waffle. Kindergartner crying upstairs. Triple-crap.

1:30pm - Whoa. Definitely need to make leftovers for lunch. Holy overloaded fridge, batman!


Besides, do I want to wreck my prettified (new) clean oven? (By the way, holy heck is it a pain in the ass to keep clean!)

1:36pm - While on the phone with hubby, I'm told my toddler locked the boys out of their bedroom. So now I have to break into their room to open it. Lovely.

1:50pm - Operation Break Into Son's Room is a success, after 10 minutes of furious lock-picking. Hung up on husband due to aggravation at the situation of his not being here to help and children not listening still. Play room was looking promising until I uncovered their secret stash of hide-and-run toy "cleaning".. Am now finally about to heat up lunch for the kids. Contemplating taking a Nerve Tonic pill from Hyland's.

1:51pm - Or maybe not. Baby is crying. DAMN IT!

2:10pm - Marathon breastfeeding session over...

2:10:15pm - or maybe not....

2:18pm - NOW it's over. Resuming heating up leftovers for lunch. Definitely taking aforementioned pill. And drinking coffee.

2:25pm - Cleaning out leftovers from the fridge plus breakfast dishes is scary stuff. I think it's going to eat me.


2:27pm - Or, forget attempting to clean out the fridge. They all want my husband's leftover pizza. Lovely.

2:54pm - (I've been doing this post for HOW long today? And I keep trying to capitalize numbers. Apparently, more coffee is needed.)

First batch of pizza is served, scary dishes are done, nerve pill has kicked in and it's all unicorn and rainbows right now. And amazingly enough, both toddler and Baby Dude are still asleep. I might be able to squeeze in a workout before they wake {knocks on wood} ....

2:54:10pm - .. until neighbor kids bang on front door. Thankfully, they're still sleeping. And I'm still trying to capitalize numbers. ARGHHHHH!!!!

3:05pm - Second batch of pizza is done. Hey, do you think that, if I scarfed it all down, it'd be okay to claim I burnt it all and threw it in the trash, so I could clean out the fridge like I'd intended? Or would that be totally wrong of me? Calories inhaled while husbands are away don't count, right? Right!? Damn. That's what I thought.

3:26pm - So, I was a good mom and didn't eat my kids' pizza, even though it was telling me I should, 'cuz I deserved it. Instead, I made a Spirutein shake with peanut butter and banana. Now, the kitchen is recleaned, the kids have finished their pizza, but Baby Dude woke up screaming, so now he needs lunch. Working out will have to wait. Again. Crap!

3:27pm - Or, he just wants more boob. Arghhhhhh!

3:37pm - Still boobing it....

3:41pm - And. He. Went. Back. To. Sleep. Yes! My boob is mine again! Jillian Michaels, bring the pain, sister!

4:56pm - Jillian Michaels finally finished kicking my ass to the tune of 439.85 calories burned off. Only took an hour and fifteen minutes for a 50 minute workout due to children waking up, a neighborhood child's bloody nose, my kindergartner's vampire teeth, and a gazillion other interruptions. Thank goodness for the pause button.

5:00pm - Dinner's about to be started. Barbecue chicken drumsticks, smashed potatoes, mixed vegetables and homemade biscuits. Kids are all playing outside. I'm about to join them for a bit...

5:24pm - ... but not without getting washed up and changed, first. Ahh, a fresh, clean, moisturized face, teeth brushed (because I, um, forgot this morning), deodorant on, new set of clothes and even a spritz of cologne (so what, I'm wearing a tank and yoga pants). I feel like a new person. Dinner's in the oven, dryer's going again. Outdoors, here I come!

5:25pm - Aaaaand I walk outside to find my oldest wasn't outdoors with my youngest two anymore. They were all alone.. gulp! {Insert panicked mom here}

5:47pm - Come in to get water for me and kindergarten-dude, and search for Baby Dude's shoes. It is GORGEOUS outside! I can't wait to go for a walk with the kids later!

6:45pm - Chicken's barbecue sauce is browning with the foil now off, potatoes are cut and on to boil for mashed potatoes, and vegetables are about to be microwaved. Biscuits on deck while half my kids are outside and half are upstairs playing. I don't hear the dryer, so that load needs to be folded, too.

The silence is deafening. I should revel in it, but it's hard when I miss my husband. Three-freaking-more-weeks.

7:05pm - Biscuits almost done, veggies almost done, potatoes are about to be drained and blended with the mixer. Chicken is out and cooling, kids are berserk on the trampoline, laundry is folded (again), new load is in, and I'm friggin' fried. Do I seriously do all of this every-single-day? Holy cow, I'm smoked!

8:24pm - Holy crap. Kids took forever and a day to eat, so no walk for us tonight, damn it. Baby Dude decided dinner was better if flung at his siblings, my oldest son could not stop doing the wrong thing and making me repeat myself eleventy-billion friggin' times, and my kindergartner still has yet to finish anything on his plate (and we wonder why he has weight issues) and I think he escaped from the table. He did. {snarls} All the girls were fine tonight at dinner, all the boys are trying to put me in an early grave. But hey, dinner was made of win.


Needless to say, kitchen is mostly cleaned, another load of laundry started, kids are beginning chores, and I'm ready for a nap. Or vodka.

And I forgot to take my apron off. And I'm still trying to capitalize numbers.

(Please, send margaritas. Forget the chocolate.)

9:00pm - Chores. Have I mentioned how well vacuuming goes over in our house? It doesn't. Baby Dude is deathly. afraid. of the vacuum. {Cue lots of wailing and crying}

Oy! Is it ever bedtime...

9:15pm - Hubby finally calls and it goes to hell in a hand basket. Both toddlers pooped and needed pajamas on, laundry needed folded and sorted, and chores were still being finished. Olders were caught in pajamas without showering and ordered to get in the bath. Meanwhile, Baby Dude destroyed all the nice neat piles trying to "help" while I returned the baskets to the laundry room, so I had to refold and re-stack everything.

Complete and utter failure, and hubby not only read about it (on this post) but heard it first hand while on the phone. Love it when he goes away.

Please, for the love of chocolate, let these kids fall asleep quickly, so I can drink some tea and watch some mindless TV to myself. I really, really need some peace and quiet tonight.

10:26pm - Baby Dude is down, hot tea is being heated in the microwave, and the rest of the kids are upstairs. I think I'm going to do some yoga while I steep my tea, and settle in for the night. It's been a long one. I'm still so shocked by all I wrote (and did) today.

10:55pm - I am so disappointed. I had to go marching upstairs, yelling, because my four middle children were raising such a ruckus upstairs, watching T.V. in my bedroom, getting rowdy and loud. What the hell? They can stay up but that doesn't entitle them to keeping their baby sister awake, which was a surprise to me that she even still was! I thought she'd fallen asleep on her own in the living room. Surprise! She's upstairs cheering them on as they get louder and louder. {Smacks forehead} So, forget yoga, forget peace, I get to put her to sleep now because her siblings were too rude to stay quiet and let others rest. Un-friggin-believable.

I'm almost afraid to wish for tomorrow to come.

(On to day two)

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Morning Reflections

I love mornings like this, when the kitchen's a culinary mess, sweet-smelling steam is flickering through the small area, wafting upstairs as it calls to my kids to hurry and make their beds. Many pans popping and sizzling with the waffler quietly handling it's business behind me.

I furiously scramble while the eggs scramble, the bacon hisses, the hash browns brown, as my coffee wakes me up, warms my belly, and makes last night's rest issues yesterday's problem.

Today will be a good day.

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Life (of it's own) in the Garden

It isn't the prettiest of gardens in the world, but the blood, sweat and dirt we've put into it sure is taking a life of it's own. For instance, my oldest paired with a softball to cause our beloved crackle-glass birdseed feeder to break, spilling forth birdseed all over the front flower bed. After a few days, this is what has resulted - a plush blanket of green velvet-esque sprouts that I can't seem to find the will to dig up. I'm intrigued by what they may be. And even more intrigued by it's delicious feel when I touch it.

A close up - it is so soft to touch. (But quite obviously drowning out my lantanas)

And my elephant ears, once just a single bulb(ed) plant, they are now literally taking over end to end in this area of our flower bed, as you see sprouts every which way now.


I absolutely love this moss-type growth in the garden, it's so soft and playful looking, I haven't dug it up, and don't think I will. Isn't it pretty?


Lastly, my husband's roses. Are they not the most gorgeous thing ever? They have taken on a life of their own. You wouldn't believe how small the plant originally was when we bought it our first summer here. Some plants do not thrive in our front flower bed, but these roses sure do love it, and in the two years we've lived here, they have quadrupled (maybe more) in size. Corralling them with bamboo doesn't seem to keep them in place, either. They have a mind of their own, and, as you can see, have many more buds about to bloom.


And amazingly enough, it's still early in the season. I can't wait to see what happens. (And? This is only just some of the plants in our front yard. We have lots more, plus our backyard as well.)

Today, on this wonderful Earth Day, I'm going to smile in the sunshine while watering these plants in my gardens, and remain grateful for their way of surprising me while I enjoy eating lunch on a blanket with my kindergartner at school.

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To Do Tuesday Week 60

If this is your first time reading and you're wondering what To-Do Tuesday is all about, click to check out the first post to find out more.

This week is going to be bittersweet - my husband leaves this weekend to go to a school for 3+ weeks away from us, so I'm flying the end of the school year solo. I'm not particularly happy about being husband-less at any point, let alone right now. But with the Army, that's kind-of how they roll, so I have to roll with 'em, whether I want to or not.

So for this week? It's preparation central here, trying to make sure everything's set for his departure, should anything "happen." It's also the Army way that, when guys leave, all hell breaks loose. True story. I fear these next three weeks because of that superstition alone.

*Girls hair trims today at 4:30. (Should take pictures of my trim, too. I guess?)
*Prep for hubby's trip, to include oil changes/tire pressure/fluids for his car.
*Try NOT to miss him too much (but who'm I kidding) :(
*Purchase plants for "holes" in garden & finish back corner.
*Research desk/organization options for "spare" room, as project while hubby's away
*Fertilize the lawn, and remember to water everyday.
*Walk with the family every night weather permitting
*Continue cleaning out stuff, reorganizing & selling/donating.
*Finish paying our bills for the month (began but was interrupted)
*Grocery shopping/print coupons/list for this week

Staying on my diet every day*
Work out on 30 Day Shred, EAS Active More Workouts and walking ALL WEEK* (I'm beginning a new phase of fitness where I walk everyday, strength train every day, and now want to incorporate running possibly, too, everyday. Am I nuts?)

*Will weigh tomorrow for the LAST Wednesday Weigh-in with the Shrinking Jeans ladies :( Spring Fling challenge is over! :( I don't want it to be!

Today's motivation - Keep on keepin' on. Sometimes it's best you muscle-up and do things you don't want to, when you're feeling low, not in the "mood" and it turns out to be the best decision you could've made. I'm going to muscle it through these next few weeks, solo, and other things I normally would just "write off" in hopes these decisions end up being great ones. Who knows what the wind will bring if you deny it breathing you a breath of fresh air?

Last weeks goal: Finish the garden (not done, no time)
This weeks goal: Definitely finish it!

--

Would you like to join us this week for To-Do Tuesday? Start with just a few things. Don't over-do it your first couple of times. You'll grow to become a list-a-holic later, start small now, though, k?
Just so you know, you can join us at anytime, it doesn't have to be on Tuesdays - the list will go up every Tuesday for you to link to, but you can make your list and link to us at any point in the week!

Remember, with "To-Do Tuesday", we're attacking our to-do lists each week, blogging about our lists and what we've got going on, and sharing it with each other to help keep each other accountable. Everyone should come back here to link up in the MckLinky as the central "To-Do Tuesday Hub" so we can visit who's participating and offer encouragement to each other throughout the week. Don't forget to add the "To-Do Tuesday" button to your post, linking back to this post!

Let's continue to cross items off our list as we go and help support each other in completing our lists! Don't forget my useful HTML tutorial on how to effectively "cross-out" or √ "check off" your items on your to-do list!

Joining us? Please add your link below (to your To Do Tuesday post, and not the main page of your blog)

Participants for Week 60

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Remembering Today

She won't remember the tears I wipe away while I kiss the top of her head, inhaling the sweet scent of toddler-ness she exudes. She won't remember how much snuggling with her means to me, what we were watching on our new TV, the strange pull in the fabric of her daddy's chair we are rocking in, or how I loved to run my fingers through her baby-soft curls.

She won't remember how addicted I am to her laugh, how I long for her baby-girl voice to tell me her made-up stories, just to hear her speak. She won't remember my holding her hand, desperately hoping if we sat still long enough that she'd stop growing bigger before my eyes.

She won't remember how each day with her at this age helps me relive each of the days with my olders at her age. She won't remember my biting my lip every time she said or did something that cemented her relation to her older siblings, so much like them and yet, her own person, too.

She won't remember a lot about the every day of being only three years old, with so much life left to live, but I hope to remember every second, every kiss and giggle and wiggle forever.

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Actual Conversation with My Toddler

(After having just watched a commercial that featured a cat in it, here's her response to it.)

Toddler: "Ooh, mommy! I wike dittie tats."
Me: "Oh yeah?"
Toddler: "Yeah. I wike them, betuz dey (because they) are mean, and nummy."
Me: "What?!"
Toddler: "I wove dem (love them). Ditty tats are nummy. And mean. And nummy."
Me: ....

Um, cats are mean and yummy?! Should I be afraid? 'Cuz yeah, I totally am.

P.S Thank goodness this conversation was at home, and not in public.

P.P.S. She doesn't actually call them "dittie" tats. Replace the D with a T. {ahem}

P.P.P.S. Reeeeeeeeeeally really glad this wasn't in public.

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To Do Tuesday Week 59

If this is your first time reading and you're wondering what To-Do Tuesday is all about, click to check out the first post to find out more.

Yes, we are all back to being healthy {knocks on wood} and Spring Cleaning and Reorganization 2010 is on like Donkey Kong, yo. I feel totally rejuvenated getting the clutter under control, reorganizing things and getting our house squared away. And (AND!!) we're redoing our gardens, too, so our house isn't just looking nifty on the inside, but outside as well. Yippee!!

I think I may be high on allergy medicine and pollen, or something. I just can't seem to stay away from the sun, the outdoors, and the fresh air. My kids definitely aren't complainin', nor are we when they sleep through the night like a rock. Heh.

OH YEAH! I purchased a used double-jogging stroller and those nifty Skechers Shape-Ups to walk with every day, too. Was so grateful to find a lady who didn't like the color of hers willing to sell them to me at a wonderful price that happened to be my size! Hello, luck! {grin} I like the feelings in my legs after our nightly family walks. (Can I tell you how stoked I am that the weather has been more than cooperative to allow for nightly family walks?)

*Finish steam cleaning the house head to toe (top half of the stairs and the bedrooms are next)!
*Finish planting, hooray!
*Fertilize the lawn, and remember to water everyday.√√√√√
*Walk with the family. Every night. Loving. It.√√√
*Continue selling items left over from yard sale on sale sites like bookoo.com and craigslist.org (still going strong!)
*Donate. The. Seven. Big. Boxes. Of. Stuff. to the local mission *ahem*
*Finish paying our bills for the month (began but was interrupted)
*Grocery shopping/print coupons/list for this week√√√

Staying on my diet every day* (Or, at least, try to. Ahem.)√√√√√
Work out on 30 Day Shred, EAS Active More Workouts and walking ALL WEEK* (I'm beginning a new phase of fitness where I walk everyday, strength train every day, and now want to incorporate running possibly, too, everyday. Am I nuts?)√√√√√

*Will weigh tomorrow for the Wednesday Weigh-in with the Shrinking Jeans ladies. Last week I had a big fat goose-egg of no change. I can't believe how hard it is to lose the last ten pounds, wow! I really had no idea it would be this hard...

Today's motivation - Prepare for Earth Day this year, and decide what it is you're going to change to go greener. I'm going to start treating Earth Day like New Years, and make a resolution of some sort, an eco-friendly one, to keep until next year's Earth Day (and hopefully forever). What do you think?

Last weeks goal: Plant and clean up the garden area. 95% done, woohoo!
This weeks goal: Finish it!

--

Would you like to join us this week for To-Do Tuesday? Start with just a few things. Don't over-do it your first couple of times. You'll grow to become a list-a-holic later, start small now, though, k?
Just so you know, you can join us at anytime, it doesn't have to be on Tuesdays - the list will go up every Tuesday for you to link to, but you can make your list and link to us at any point in the week!

Remember, with "To-Do Tuesday", we're attacking our to-do lists each week, blogging about our lists and what we've got going on, and sharing it with each other to help keep each other accountable. Everyone should come back here to link up in the MckLinky as the central "To-Do Tuesday Hub" so we can visit who's participating and offer encouragement to each other throughout the week. Don't forget to add the "To-Do Tuesday" button to your post, linking back to this post!

Let's continue to cross items off our list as we go and help support each other in completing our lists! Don't forget my useful HTML tutorial on how to effectively "cross-out" or √ "check off" your items on your to-do list!

Joining us? Please add your link below (to your To Do Tuesday post, and not the main page of your blog)

Participants for Week 59

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The End of an Era - How Do I Let Go?

For over ten years I've been kissing and snuggling and hugging baby-type people, kissing and devouring their baby faces, dressing their chubby baby arms into small outfits, squeaking and squealing in baby-type talk to them. How do I let it go? How do I let this be the last baby, and never have another?

I don't know how I'm going to do it. I'm drinking in every last second of breastfeeding this one, knowing this will be my last child to nurse at my breast.

I am wholeheartedly living each moment, desperately trying to commit to memory every freckle, every dimple and wisp of hair while he laughs, knowing this will be my last child at this age, my last infant and toddler.

I am reveling in the fact he's taking his time with speech, and playing the "mama game" with him means ohsomuch to me.

I don't mind changing two littles in diapers, because I know they are the last diapers I'll be changing as a mother.

My heart is so heavy, my throat is so dry, so closed-up at the idea that my mom-to-babies days are nearing an end. I love the baby talk, the cutting food up into a million tiny little pieces, the baby chub and toddling and first everythings.

I don't mind filling a diaper bag full with snacks and drinks for the road (although the idea of being able to hop into a car to go to a store without worrying about a change of outfit is rather nice).

I know I'm nearing a time in which my children are going to start being more independent and less-dependent upon me, as the time draws close that they leave the nest. I just don't know how to even begin to prepare for that. I can't even bear the thought of not having one in diapers.

Hold me.

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30 Day Shred Results

The month of March was a test of wills. A test to see if I could hack it with Jillian pushing me to work hard while she made me drip sweat into my eyes. If I could do the 30 Day Shred, then I could (probably) hang with something as insane as, say, the P90X down the road. {gulp}

It wasn't easy. Jillian knocked me around a bit. At times I saw my life flashing before my eyes as I jumped, lunged, punched, curled, flung, skated, squatted, and did something made of pure evil called a "Rock Star Jump". Oh my stars, IHATEITSOMUCH. Yet, I loved how I felt after each work out, so thankful I hung in there.
I can also neither confirm nor deny the usage of foul language at the television screen. I can also not confirm whether it actually came from me or my husband who occasionally joined me. *cough*itwasnotme*cough* {Ahem}

And so, all kidding aside, I share with you my March 'O Shred results:

The squinty front view, for your viewing pleasure. Complete with cranky toddler. You're welcome.

The Popeye side pose. Don't ask me why, just nod and agree so I don't feel stupid.

The "butt" pose. I swear my back looks bigger.

Measurements starting date - 2/25/10
Weight - 141
Neck 12.5
upper arm (bicep) 10.5
lower arm 9.25
wrist 6
bust (under your breasts/rib cage) 34
waist (just above belly button) 30
hips (approximately 5 cm lower than your belly button), 37
thigh 21.25
calf 15
ankle 9
shoe 8
shirt m
pants 6-8

Today's measurements:
Weight 136 = 5 lbs lost
Neck 12.75 (Up .25 from beginning)
upper arm (bicep) 10.125 (down .265 from beginning) x 2 = down .53 both biceps total
lower arm 9 (down .25 total) x 2 = down .5 both lower arms total
wrist 5.875 (down .125) x 2 = down .25 both total
bust (under your breasts/rib cage) 31.5 (Down 2.5 total)
waist (just above belly button) 29 (Down 1 "total")
hips (approximately 5 cm lower than your belly button) 35.125 ( Down 1.875 total)
thigh 20.5 (Down .75 total) x 2 = down 1.5 both thighs total
calf 14 (Down 1 total) x 2 = down 2 both calves total
ankle 8.5 (Down .5 total) x 2 = down 1 both ankles total
shoe 8
shirt small - medium (Yes, amazing. I bought some smalls recently! SMALLS! AHH!)
pants 6 or {small} (HOLY.CRAP.I.WEAR.A.SMALL.IN.PANTS. AHHHH!!!!)

Total inches lost from beginning of challenge = down 10.905 inches!

I see the measurement changes, and while I see definitely toning, do I look "bigger" to you? Like, I'm-gonna-kick-your-ass, Mr. T kind-of bigger? 'Cuz she did a number on my shoulders and upper arms, and I don't want to be a scary mommy on the playground with my kids. Heh.

What's next? I'm not sure. I don't know if I'm ready for the P90X to be honest. I think running and yoga, while continuing on Shredding with Jillian (my new BFF) will be my future. I just got a new (to us) double jogging stroller, and we already took it for a spin around the neighborhood with my family. I'm eager to get out more and do more. It seems, though, that my body is getting to a point where it's stubborn on losing anymore weight. I know there's more to lose, more to trim, but it's getting harder to accomplish. I won't give up, though. All this work to get fit, it's for life.

Now, tell me about you - how are your weight loss goals coming along for 2010? Are you getting ready for the warmer weather already on it's way? What are you up to?


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