March Madness

I think this has been the most mild March I ever remember. We've had nothing but sunshine and blue skies - with the coldest day being a frigid 40 degrees. I've been enjoying it immensely, outside, playing with the kids, getting my lawn and flower beds ready for Spring planting. Hoping that BB will be able to take some time next weekend to tune up our sprinklers, and turn the veggie garden beds.

I'm itching to plant...itching to sink my hands into the dirt, work the seeds in, and watch the plants begin to grow. Tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, different squashes, carrots, radishes, onions, beans, peas, berries, herbs, lettuce, spinach...I can already taste the flavors, and am looking greatly forward to the smells that will fill my kitchen as I preserve things, saving them for the long winter ahead - to nourish my family.

It is easy this time of year to lose sight of what's important, especially as I listen to the talk swirl around me of Spring Training, NFL trades and contracts, NHL games that are "do or die" as we gear up to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, NASCAR is back, the PGA and other golf tours are starting up, tennis is coming up, and of course, the media is relentlessly pushing the Olympics in London later this year.

I love sports, I enjoy participating as well as watching. I love the hype, the hoopla, the intensity, the emotion, the fun and fellowship of gathering to support or play...

What I don't love is the negative changes that can occur - suddenly, people are saying "it's too nice to be in Church", or "I can't miss the final round of the golf tournament", or "racing's on", or...excuse after excuse.

I know we're in the final weeks of Lent, and not being a denomination that truly observes Lent in the sense of giving something up for the 40 days, I do believe that it's important to spend the days leading up to Easter remember and meditating on all that occurred.

Knowing that Jesus was in the final weeks of teaching, modeling, shaping, and beginning the ministry of the early Church. Knowing that He knew what was to come, and even going so far as to ask God to find another way, but knowing He would submit if that's what it took...

Remembering the reason for the Passover, and the ultimate sacrificial Lamb...

Trying to grasp such love as this, that God could send His son, His ONLY son to take my place, to clear my record, wipe it all out - no trace of any of the things I have done, and will do wrong...

It's madness to think of...

Looking for Love

First off - thanks for the comments...I told you there's a valid reason I don't generally discuss politics...I get all discombobulated when I do... SHEESH!

That said, I do have strong feelings about what is going on with the American Government, and what I think should be going on. My trouble is that I know that there are so many other things to consider - it's not black and white, right and wrong anymore - simply because there are so many people. Obviously, there are some areas that have to be black and white. I think part of our troubles is that we've gone from saying "right and wrong" to "what's right for you? and how can we NOT offend you by having a law stating right and wrong?" if that makes any sense.

ANYWAY...I hope that you all come back and keep reading my blog, stupid as it may be...

I'm wiped out today. I'm not feeling 100%, and we had a busy weekend working around the house and in the basement some more. Good news is that the wiring is mostly done. Bad news is that we have a long way to go to get that place done. And we're running out of money. I don't want another in-progress project. I'm tired of things being part way finished around our home.

So much so, in fact, that I'm going to see in what ways I can cut our expenses further in order to come up with the few hundred dollars to have someone come in and do the texture in a couple rooms that have been stripped of their wallpaper. I am looking around my house, trying to determine what we can sell to make money to pay for things. We don't need a lot, BUT, we need more than what we have. I'm almost ready to tackle the spraying of texture myself, and might do it in June while BB is away if I can't make the money to hire someone. I can paint like a pro, but I've never tried texturing...and we have a "gun" to do it...

Anyway, I'm off to find ways to cut our spending...without letting go of things like our DirecTV service. I'm looking forward to growing my garden and cutting my grocery bill drastically this summer.

I'm already looking for ways to cut back on our water consumption, but how few times a week can you actually bathe during the summertime? And do you really use less water if you wash your hair in the sink? Have you tried taking "Navy" showers wherein you soak your body, turn the water off, lather up your hair and soap up your body, and then turn the water on to rinse off?

What cost-saving things do you do around your house?

Warning: Political Rant to Follow!

I try really hard not to air my political views in places such as Facebook or this blog. I think that there ought to be someplace in the world where we are not inundated with the opinions and viewpoints that we are wrong because we believe differently. Therefore, I am apologizing in advance if I use any offensive language in this post.

I am extremely perturbed right now...I am sick to death of hearing Rush Limbaugh get blasted for calling someone promiscuous for having "so much sex that they're going broke paying for birth control".

Uh, I beg your pardon, but if you're having sex so frequently, that you need the "Morning After Pill" that many times that you're running out of money to pay for it, what do you think you are? A modern woman? BULLSHIT!!!

And to expect the government to require your insurance provider (something you are NOT required to participate in, by the way!!!) to cover the expense???? OH MY GRACIOUS SAKES!!!

OK...let me back up a bit here...

I am a conservative, Bible-believing, born-again Christian. I believe that the Bible is the word of God given to man as a living, breathing document, in which are contained the rules and regulations by which we are to live. I believe that there are things that are just WRONG (lying, cheating, gossiping, stealing, killing, extra-marital sex, homosexuality, addiction, substance abuse, abuse period to name a few). That being said, I also know that when God had to boot Adam and Eve from Eden, our sinful nature - our ability to choose right or wrong in every situation - was flipped to the "on" position. We are created with the desire, the void, the need for God. Unfortunately, we are inundated on every side by things that we use as a substitute.

With that little picture in mind, let me tell you that I do not believe in abstinence-only sex-ed courses in school. Quite frankly, I don't think the school system should be teaching our children anything other than the mechanics of the human reproductive system in classroom time, but I also realize that is an unrealistic picture...I believe, as with anything, that it is better to say "here are the facts - when people have sex, there is the chance that the girl will conceive. There is a chance, every time you have sex, that you will get an STD (I REFUSE to call them STI's...). There are things you can to CUT DOWN THE CHANCES that you will get an STD or that a girl will get pregnant. The only way to ELIMINATE THOSE CHANCES is to NOT HAVE SEX."

I do NOT believe that an employer should be required to offer coverage of contraception if they are a religiously-based employer. If an employee wants their insurance to cover their contraception, don't work for a company that believes contraception is something that ought not to be used. If you don't agree with the basic philosophy your employer embraces, perhaps you should seek another job - I would!

I am tired of seeing people who hold conservative beliefs labeled as ignorant, backwards, stupid, jerks, assholes, dumbf*&ks and the like.

Guess what? I am entitled to my own opinion and beliefs. I don't call you an ass because you're liberal and think that Americans are endowed with the right to life, liberty and the assurance of happiness...last time I checked, it says "the pursuit of happiness". No one said if I pursue it, I'm guaranteed to get it.

I am also tired of seeing Americans allow the government to legislate what we can eat, drink, sell, say, write, or even legislate the manner in which we raise our children.

I am not advocating anarchy, just that we are slowly allowing ourselves to become engulfed in an Orwellian society a la 1984!

Big Brother is alive and well in Washington D.C. - our elected officials rarely actually represent the people by whom they were elected, but rather choose to represent those who footed the bill for their campaigns.

I think that forthwith, every single elected official should forgo their salary. Until such a time as our budget is actually balanced and deficit spending is stopped. Until such a time as we stop attacking one another and actually work together for the good of the common man. Until such a time as we realize that when we allow people to break the rules, no matter their station in life, we are undermining our own selves. Until such a time as we can set aside our personal agendas and actually have a government of the people, by the people and for the people. Until such a time as there aren't handouts for people who aren't willing to work.

I'm sorry, but I have a strong opinion about people who abuse the welfare system. I know there are truly those who need assistance from things like WIC, or State Aid. I also know there are plenty more out there who see that the more kids they have, the more money they get, and the less they actually have to do to attempt to care for their own families. I know there are a lot more who are substance abusers, who have falsified their documents, and are actually here illegally. I know that there are those who are working as hard as they can to provide for their families.

I also know that there are people out there making 6-figure salaries that are wallowing in debt, thinking that they are entitled to have gross abundance of unnecessary things.

I am not promoting socialism, communism, capitalism, or any other "ism"...

I think we, as a Nation, have completely lost sight of that which our Founding Fathers envisioned - a Nation wherein we are not subjected to the whims of a tyrant who happened to be born into the "right" family. A Nation wherein the voice of every person is valued. A Nation in which we, the people, can speak our opinions and ideas, and have them be heard. A Nation which stood for equality, not special treatment of the few. A Nation which would fight for right and freedom. A Nation governed by men and women that realize their position is one to be taken seriously, with great responsibility, not kowtowing to the biggest pocketbook in the arena. A Nation that allows its citizens to have many mid-level freedoms, so that the smaller and larger freedoms would not be missed (such as the freedom to have a firearm in your house, but NOT the freedom to use it randomly to kill people).

I could go on for days and days on this, but I won't.

I just get so mad that our Federal Government is still acting like a bunch of spoiled children who've been told they can't have a cookie before dinner...

If I, as a non-college graduate, can keep my family of 5 living BELOW the income BB brings in, that we spend less than we earn, that we work our butts off to take care of the home in which we live - keeping it in good repair, looking neat and tidy inside and out - caring for our possessions, and raising children who not only know right from wrong, but understand why we choose the right, and not the wrong, then surely these men and women with several degrees, and lots of money should be able to work together right?

I seriously think I'm running for President in 2016...maybe a stay-at-home Mom of 3 can whip this Nation back into shape...because the man in office now has done a lousy job of creating a good work environment and helping his team to work together in harmony to create a great place to live!

One Small Step

So far this week has been a total bust as far as my "To Do" list goes...I promised myself that while the kids napped on Sunday afternoon (which was shortly after BB left for the airport), I'd head to the basement and begin my self-inflicted task of The Great Basement Clean Out of 2012...instead, I sat and watched NASCAR and talked to BB on the phone until he boarded the plane.

By that time, the kids were awake, and ready for dinner. Which meant I prepared and served our dinner. Then we did KP. Then we had baths. Then I tucked the kids in. Then BB called to say he'd made it safely to the hotel and was all checked in. Then we tested Skype which didn't work (and has never really worked now that I think of it. Stupid program). That led us to test our Google Video Chat, which did work. So then we video chatted for awhile.

Next thing I knew it was close to midnight!!!

Monday saw a day of driving hither and yon (yes, I really just said that) getting Captain and Princess to school, running errands for BB and our basement finishing project, and getting Captain and Princess from school, getting lunch, doing about 14 loads of laundry (fine, it was only 3, but it felt like 14!), and then it was time for dinner again! Post dinner included a chance to have the kids chat with BB via the computer, and then it was bedtime. I went downstairs and started moving things around, and before I knew it, it was almost midnight again!!!

Today was a totally wasted day...remember those shoes I said I wore out? I decided I need to replace them. I also needed to replace my sneakers (tennis shoes? hmmmm...). I also had to go to our locally owned home improvement store to pick up our specially ordered Roxul brand of soundproofing insulation that will go into our basement ceiling. If you ever watch "Income Property" with Scott McGillivray, you know of that which I speak...totally awesome stuff made of crushed stone and natural fibers that has a fire rating of 3 hours and completely blocks sound! I'm stoked...at least I was until they could only load half of our order into the truck. That meant a trip home to unload it, another trip to get the rest and then a trip to the sporting goods store, where I spent 90 minutes trying out shoes!!! The last time I spent 90 minutes trying on shoes, I was buying my Doc Martens. And that was my sophomore year of college! (I still have those Farmie - wear them often in fact...) Needless to say, I am never buying athletic shoes from the big box store again. I will drive the miles to the store that sells one brand - theirs - made in the USA (the only shoe brand that can claim that distinction by the way!), and get the same model number I had 2 pair ago. Those things were workhorses man - they lasted my 32 months. The reason I replaced them? It was more expensive to get them resoled by the company than to buy a new pair...yeah, they're that awesome. But, I digress. I actually tried on 14 pairs of SNEAKERS people...not 14 pair of Manolo's, or Steve Maddens, or Docs...14 pairs of Mizunos, Asics, Nike, Reebok. And did you know that you can get Under Armour brand shoes now? And who decided that running shoes should be mud puddle gray with 80's neon yellow accents? I tried on basketball shoes, I tried on volleyball shoes, I tried on crosstrainers, I tried on running shoes that were "stable", some that were "free", some that were hybrid. I did not, however try on the foot glove shoe things that mimic running barefoot...just couldn't do it...When did it get so crazy to buy sneakers for goodness sake? I settled on a pair of last year's model of Nike Cross Trainers that were marked down to $30, then had been marked just yesterday at "take another 30% off", and then I had some loyalty rewards in the form of a $20 gift card. I paid out of pocket something like $0.14. Totally great. However, it was then time to run to pick up Captain. After that, we headed home, had lunch, and I "forced" my children, cruelly, to clean up their toys in the basement playroom...next were naps, wherein I cleaned the main level - dusted, vacuumed, swept, mopped (ok, steam cleaned) and scrubbed my sinks and toilets. Then it was time to take Princess to dance class, zip home, make, serve and eat dinner, load up the kids and take Capt to AWANA. We came home, I folded more laundry, cleaned up the kitchen from dinner, put the girls to bed, had the neighbor girl come over and sit so I could pick Capt up. I got him tucked into bed, and decided that I was not going to the basement to continue moving things.

I'm tired, I'm just not motivated...

However, after a solid night of sleep, I'll be getting up and working out, getting the kids ready, attending Bible Study, and then, after lunch, while the kids watch a movie, I'll finish my Phase 1 - my office space. After bedtime, I'll begin emptying out the storage room, and Thursday morning I can begin the cleaning of the storage room - get all the dust and gunk out, so Thursday afternoon I can begin putting the things that are already nicely sorted, organized, and packed away into their homes on shelves. Thursday night I can do a massive sort/purge/organize, so that Friday I can go to big box club warehouse to buy cheap storage containers that are clear, ginormous, and have locking lids. Friday afternoon I'll pack all that we're keeping away and get it back onto shelves. I'll load up large recyclables, and make a run before dinnertime. That will leave the basement ready for BB to bust out some minor repairs, run the electrical wiring, and begin the oh-so-fun task of installing fire stops and insulation in our ceiling.

I'm excited for the end result of the organized storage room, the purged papers and junk, the finished space and the start of the next Phase...

I'm apparently not so excited that I'm the only one doing the work...

What things do you have in your life like that?

The Little Things

I just read Daring Young Mom's post about Rejection Letters...and I was just really convicted.

DYM is shopping around a novel she has written, and is receiving rejection letters from publishers. That has spurred her thinking of how she desires acceptance, which then led to her realizing that her children are asking for acceptance also! In their requests for stories, playtime, treats, down to the wordless snuggles that occur. And she reminded me that I need to ask myself all the time how I can show my children that they are loved and that they are accepted. She is not promoting the idea of never saying "no", but rather is petitioning herself (and me!) to remember that they are seeking assurance and security.

It is far too easy, especially when BB is out of town, for me to push aside those little moments with the kids in favor of something I have deemed more important.

How many times do I say "in a minute" as I scroll through Facebook posts, or as I'm tapping the screen of my iPod to play a game? How many times do I nod and say "uh-huh" while I'm a million miles and zillions of thoughts away from their conversation with me?

How many times do I say "please don't lay on me right now", or turn away an opportunity to snuggle up on the couch or the bed and watch a story, or read a book, or sing songs?

How much do my kids think I really love them?

I know that they need discipline, and that there are indeed times and requests which have to receive a "no" answer. I'm not going to allow my kids to eat candy all day long, for instance, or allow them to watch a show that is inappropriate, or use BB's tools, or even to stand at my hot stove while I'm cooking dinner.

I think sometimes we forget that it's not those grand moments of "Look! Daddy bought you an iPad and we're going to Disneyland for 2 weeks!" that show love, that instill security and acceptance. It is much too easy to say "in a minute" when all we need to do is stop for 10 seconds to wrap our arms around our children and remind them that we love them all the time, not just when it's convenient for us to do so.

I won't even go into how our tone of voice can dispel any evidence of love, or how our body language screams louder than any words we ever could say...

Today, and every day, take the time to stop and really think about just how you show your kids and your husband how much they are loved by you!

Focus

I'm having trouble today focusing on a long list of things I really want to accomplish this week. I know, I know...where's my me-time, what am I doing that's just for me?

Well, let me tell you - this list is my me-stuff! I walked into my basement storage room, which is currently in upheaval because BB is in process of doing wiring for our first phase of Basement Finishing Project. Because he's currently working in a space that's about 20% of our total square footage of basement, all the normal contents of that area are currently crammed into the remaining 80% of basement. About 25% of our basement is going to remain an unfinished storage room wherein we store all the junk that you can't let go of, such as the ratty old beach towel you had when you were 12, or the 3 boxes full of 3-ring binders that house your college projects and class notes, or a cardboard box of dolls your kids aren't quite old enough for, but you just know they're going to love - nevermind the 500 sq ft of playroom they currently have that houses bins, boxes, buckets, shelves and baskets of toys, of which, they only play with about 1/3 of... Oh! And the plastic tubs of Christmas decorations, seasonal table linens and silk flowers, and a few shelves of dry and canned goods...

I'm embarrassed to admit that our storage room is currently housing such items. And I'm sick of it! I'm tired of cardboard boxes of every single bill and statement we've received since becoming adults. I'm tired of having boxes of BB's college papers - it's been 15 years since he graduated this May, do we really need binders full of coursework and notes from that long ago? Oh, and there are the tubs of clothing that Princess has outgrown, into which Littlest One will grow soon enough. And the bed pillows, blankets, canning supplies and the like...

Right now, I should be downstairs reorganizing some things, tidying up a work space in which I'll set up a table, my trash and recycling bins, my donate/sell bins, and my shred box. I'll systematically go through everything that is in each box and bin, and ruthlessly purge things. Once that's done, the rest of the things will be repackaged into Rubbermaid storage bins (maybe not Rubbermaid brand, but nice plastic tubs that seal things out, but keep things all the same size on the shelf. Yes, I'm that person...

Needless to say, I have far too many things to do to be sitting here on my husband's recliner...

Everything You Never Wanted to Know

Thank you all for your answers. I know some of these things I've talked about before, but I guess I"m a slow learner!

Here, so you can satisfy that rampant curiosity, are my answers:

• I used to just toss stuff, but Captain has gone through 6 pairs of pants for school (I admit, they were the cheapest ones at Sprawl-Mart, but still - one wear and those knees were completely frayed and shredded!), and I'm trying to determine if I should attempt to mend them for play, cut them off to become shorts, or just get rid of them...I have switched to the slightly more expensive "double-knee trouser" style. That is my only issue with his uniform (khakis and polo shirts of approved colors - no big deal) because I know that had he been wearing jeans, we wouldn't have had this issue. The other issue is that somehow, Princess ended up with my selecting the pairs of stretchy cotton leggings that had loose stitching at the hems, and we now have hemless leggings that I'm just not sure I'm up to repairing, BUT, I know Littlest One will grow into them all to soon, and it would save an awful lot of money to have things for her already purchased...
• I answered the question about toilets sort of...growing up, we didn't use a toilet brush. I thought nothing of it, it's just what we did. And you knew that you were going to wash your hands a bazillion times to get that slimy feeling of Comet brand cleanser off so no germs would possibly survive anyway...then, I met BB, and he had a brush. Once I started using the brush, I cannot imagine going back. Inkling - I tried the first generation of those pre-loaded scrubbing brushes...not impressed, but it was basically a bunch of flushable paper loaded with cleaning solution, but no scrubbing power - it disintegrated as soon as it got wet...maybe the new ones are better...
• I think I must be weird...but I don't make all that much different effort on days I go someplace compared to staying home - I still get up, shower, put on makeup and do something with my hair. The only thing that changes is what I wear - when I go someplace, I make sure it's a nice shirt with no stains, or visible "wear" marks (cat snags, tears, etc). But I know that on days when I don't put on makeup or fix my hair I tend to just sit around and surf the vast interwebs and watch re-runs of NCIS...I think I just take myself more seriously when I truly "get ready" for my day...or else I'm just a freak... :D
• I'm glad to know I'm not alone in allowing the TV to babysit my kids so I can focus on things...there were days over the first part of winter wherein I think my girls literally sat on the couch with Sprout on from the time BB and Capt went out the door until it was time to go get Capt so I could just keep up with the tasks that needed doing. I try much harder to NOT do that, but there are still days...
• FarmWife - I'm glad to know that BB and I are not alone in the "rarely" category for true alone time with each other! I envy Ordinary Sara and her weekly dates, and know that Inkling has the same issue you and your husband do - lack of funds, places to go, and people to watch the kids. We're blessed that we now have AWESOME sitter that happens to live right next door and charges very little. Our last 3 weekends have been great, but a little frustrating at the same time - we went out each of the last 3 Friday nights and were gone from 5:30 until almost 10:30. That, in and of itself, isn't the issue, its that we came home and sat and watched some TV before turning in, and by the time we were both done with the pre-bed rituals we have, it was after 11 when we finally turned in. Having kids up at 6:30 regardless of what day of the week it is, made for long Saturday's with lots of physical labor as we work on our basement project...I'd like to have more than this hit or miss idea of no dates for a really long time, followed by 3 weeks in a row, BUT, I LOVED every minute of our dates. It was so nice to get out, away from the house and the kids to enjoy uninterrupted time with each other, and some grown-up things you just can't do when you've got kids with you. I don't know any place you can go with minors in CO that will let you take them into the bar area and play pool after 8pm...I think we're going to go bowling with the kids after BB's trip to CA this coming week. We decided to institute a "family date" once a month so we can all do something special together. We will also have a date night for just BB and I, and as the kids get older, they'll each get a night once a month with BB, and once a month with me. That means an awful lot of sitter time, BUT, she's already a freshman and we need to take advantage of her being around while we can. Maybe in another 4 years when she graduates, we'll be ready to leave the kids alone for a bit at a time...but maybe not...
• I'm in the FarmWife camp on this one - when the kids crash into something because they're running through the house, right after I told them NOT to run through the house, I have very little sympathy. They still get attention and kisses and hugs, but I do not cuddle them and coddle them - simply because they got hurt because they chose to ignore my directive to NOT do said activity. When something happens that is a truly random accident they get sympathy...Inkling, I was much more sympathetic with Captain when he was little, because he was the first and the only at the time...now that he's older and is more aware of his body and environment (as well as Princess), I've got a bit less sensitivity about things that are the result of deliberate choices. Especially when those choices involve blatant disobedience - "stop swinging the stuffed animals, or someone is going to get hit in the head" followed by "ok, mom", and then still swinging the animals, and someone getting clocked in the noggin...well, not so sympathetic to that. The time when they're walking down the stairs and just miss the bottom one and crash? Sympathy because it's not a deliberate action that caused the fall...make sense?
• The age-old floor question...sigh...Inkling, rest assured that I do NOT have spotless floors...and you could eat from them, but you might encounter some icky things like cat hair and week-old crumbs...I do sweep the kitchen floor after each meal, but that's because I've got a 2-year-old that is still learning the fine art of eating with fork and spoon and not getting half of it on the floor. I vacuum the main living space daily - family room, formal living and dining rooms. We have 2 black cats and white carpet. Not to mention 3 small children, and 2 adults that track in dust, dirt and debris. I just don't like the idea of my kids hanging out on dusty, dirty carpet...and cannot wait until we can get our Brazilian Cherry hardwood floors installed and finished!!! I know, there are ups and downs to all hardwoods, but I just keep thinking about how easy it will be to use my yarn/rag mop and get all the dust, crumbs, and cat hair, and just run my dust buster to get the piles...sigh...as for actual washing of my floors? I force myself to do it once a week, because I get tired of stepping on sticky spots as I get up from the table...life was definitely neater prior to kids! :D
• I really don't like laundry, and am not opposed to re-using towels at our house. However, with 3 kids, I do find myself throwing a load in almost daily, simply because someone has an accident of some sort, or someone is sick or whatever. I actually do laundry 2 days a week. One day is devoted to all the bedding and towels (unless someone is sick or has a potty accident), and mine and BB's jeans/trousers. The other day I do all our colors, the kids' clothing, and our whites. It works. I just get nosey on how the rest of the world does household management...
• I'm glad to know, also, that BB and I are not alone in assigning our kids regular jobs...they might gripe and grumble about it, but the other night, Captain and Princess cleared all the dirty dishes, used a step-stool to reach the sink and rinsed the dishes off, put them in the dishwasher, wiped the table, and then swept the floor! We have a chore-board on the fridge and we rotate some basic things like setting/clearing the table, emptying/loading the dishwasher, wiping the table, sweeping the floor, and they each have to make up their beds and feed the cats. I distinctly remember being asked to help with things around the house, and by the time I was 7 or 8 was helping do things like that, as well as helping sort dirty clothes, match socks, fold undies, and was starting to be allowed to help with some meal prep. I also know that it just became second nature to help out, and knew without being told (most of the time) that since I lived there and helped make the messes and eat the food, it was just expected that we pitch in...Captain enjoys helping, and loves being in the kitchen with me, or the shop with BB. Princess is a little mother and wants to do whatever I do, regardless of whether she should or not!
• I'm also glad to know I'm not the only one who ends up arguing with their husband when he does those things that just make me want to tear out my hair. Usually things are good, we're on the same page and all those other cliches when it comes to discipline. My biggest issue is that he harps on the kids about putting things away where they belong when we're done using them, but he has 2 side tables FULL of magazines, books, opened mail, dirty glasses, and he leaves things in odd places - his shoes literally sit in front of his recliner for days at a time. If I move them, he gets mad that he can't find them. Even when they're put to the side so someone else can sit there...it's weird. I know I must have things that drive him batty too, but I am trying to set the example so my kids can see that even Mommies and Daddies have to follow the rules of "if you're done using it, put it away where it belongs!"
• I think, in a perfect world, I could eat Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. All. Day. Long. Seriously - when they came out with the King Sized ones, I think I was more excited than I was meeting Harry Connick Jr in the grocery store with his wife in Boulder one day...But then I see a giant bag of tortilla chips and a gallon-sized jug of salsa, and I could sit down and eat that. By myself. All in one sitting...it's a good thing I don't keep those things in my house...
• This question came about because BB thinks I'm certifiable for singing songs like "inchworm", and the rainbow song (red, and yellow, and pink and green, purple and orange and blue...who can make a rainbow, make a rainbow, make a rainbow too), as well as pretty much anything I sing or rhyme or make up with the kids...but I, in turn, think it odd and a bit sad that he doesn't know those songs and things!

Sometimes, I just wonder if I'm alone in my quirky things that make BB laugh at me, or if there are other people out there that sing those songs, make up silly words and rhymes, or teach my kids to tie their shoes without a double loop/bunny ear...

But I also grew up in a house where we didn't make Nestle's Toll House cookies - we made these amazing cookies that still make me all warm and cozy inside...

PS - I'm still doing my Outside the Box cooking challenge. We've been doing quite well actually!

Toodles for now...