2008 in Review

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

This is what Dillon does…

I have finally come to the conclusions that if I don't post this it will be a never ending cycle, so…

As of December 2008 (16 Months old)

Signs (in her own way of course) the words: please, more, banana, milk, eat, thank you, and all done. It gives her a way to communicate and us an idea of what she wants.

Says: Mama, bye, bow, arf arf, dada, Geor (for Jordan), An (for Andi). This isn't much for a fifteen month old, but we are not concerned and know she will talk when she is ready. Besides the two older sisters interpret what we can not decipher.

Eats with a spoon, surprisingly less messy than her five-year-old sister.

Wears any shoe she can get on her foot around the main level of our house. Clop, clop, clop.

Says "Bye," to anyone or thing that is leaving or going by the front of the house.

Waves goodbye to guests leaving from the front window of our house, yelling "bye-bye" until they are out of sight.

Calls everything a "bow", as in wow with a b. When she plays hide-and-seek: "Bow!" Or throwing a ball: "Bow!" Or reading a book: "Bow!" She just realized things and people have names and wants to know what to call everything. She points and tilts her head quizzically, listens intently, then tries desperately to repeat the sound, which typically sounds like "mama" or "bow".

Loves to flip through pages in books, magazines or newspapers.

Knows that clothes are meant to be worn and tries to put everything on, usually ending up with mound of clothes around her neck.

Will attempt to sit her naked bottom in a clean diaper if placed open on the floor.

Blows kisses.

Is fascinated by water, in the toilet, in the tub or in the sink. If she hears a faucet or a toilet she will come running.

When chased, she runs away and then turns into your open arms.

Laughs, even giggles when something funny happens. Will attempt a "ha ha" if she hears someone else laughing.

Follows behind her sisters, intently observing and desperately trying to mimic their every move.

Babbles incessantly, convinced she will be successfully interpreted. Nods her head in approval, a simple double pump.

Amazingly, she lies down for a nap without performing umpteen number of obsessive compulsive acts (babies, blankets, stories, songs, lights on, lights off, etc.).

There are plenty of others things not mentioned, some of which are too precious for words. Maybe someday I will get brave enough to record a video.

Having watched three children grow through 15-18 months of age I am even more convinced that it is my absolute favorite age.

A Visit from the Tooth Fairy

Jordan lost her first tooth on Wednesday, December 2, 2008. Just weeks shy of her sixth birthday. As Josh and I ponder what we want to set as our standard for losing a tooth, we laugh at yet another milestone in our lives and joke we are one step closer to being "empty nesters," at least one milestone closer.

I Blinked

I remember being a newlywed, working at one job, exercising six days a week, renting movies on weeknights, playing table games until the wee house of the morning and wanting to have a family. The other day I looked around and had three, count them, three little girls running around calling me "mommy!" When did that happen? Now my occupation is wearing many different hats. I get to exercise maybe six minutes a day; I enjoy Disney movies only because I know I will get to sit for an hour, and table games contain pictures instead of words. I have the family I always wanted, but I still don't know when it happened. Someone asked how long I had been married and I answered, "Twelve years." Wooo! Did I just say twelve years? When Josh answers that question he'll say "Doesn't seem like twelve years, but sometimes it feels like twelve years." Although laden with sarcasm it is somewhat incomprehensible. I have a hard time grasping what has happened and how much has changed for the better, and I am so thankful.

I used to do laundry in one day. I mean wash, dry, fold, iron, hang, put away, everything! Now, I do a load of laundry every day just to make sure there are enough pairs of clean socks and underwear, but rarely does it all make it to the closet or dresser drawers, let alone to the iron.

I used to strive to climb the corporate ladder. Now, I hope to be the best volunteer in my daughter's Kindergarten class.

I used to envy another woman thinking, "Man she has it all…a great husband, two wonderful daughters, and she's able to make it look so easy!" Now, I have kids saying they want to be just like me when they have families…

I love what I do and I am embracing this chapter of my life, I just don't remember turning the page. It is just me?

The Intended versus The Practical

Responding to the first comment I received in helping me sort out my dilemma….

This topic will definitely have to be revisited… and yes, there is a trend that most of it involves laundry.

Our king sized bed was intended to be a resting place to collect much needed zzz's, allowing our minds to rest. Instead as the largest flattest surface in the house, it has become the collecting place for clean laundry, which actually forces me to get it sorted in order to go to bed each night.

A full sized couch in the master bedroom was meant to be a relaxing location to escape from the toils of the day and curl up with warm blanket and a good book. But instead, it has become an overflow location for the never ending laundry sorting quandary.

A corner whirlpool tub should be used for soaking, relaxing, and catching a few moments of hydrotherapy, but instead it is used to separate the 'worn' but acceptable to 'wear again' clothes from the too dirty and must be washed clothes.

Any couch or cushion covered furniture should be a place to sit comfortably if the cushions were actually on it. However, in our house, these cushions are often found as the building blocks for forts, thus making the cushion less a piece of furniture, and more an indoor trampoline.

And no fort would be complete with out a roof, so sheets and blankets of all sizes are often found hanging randomly throughout the house.

Our guest bedroom, intended to house a bed, that is currently being used elsewhere, has become a play room for toys, toys and more toys (all girl stuff of course).

Okay, so the only really cool item that I actually found a creative use for is going to make every Pampered Chef Consultant vomit a little in their mouth. It is the little brown square scraper that comes with a stoneware purchase. It is a great tool for scraping the food or other unidentifiable substances off your kitchen/dining room floors and/or walls. I have one with my mopping supplies and it helps remove some of the most stubborn globs of caked on who-knows-what off my floor.

Requesting Your Assistance

Obviously I am not motivated to blog every day (my apologies to those who check every few minutes), but I do confess I have fallen way off my intended once a week blogging. One of my reasons for not posting lately is that I simply have too many projects started (not to mention the strict revision system I apply to each post), meaning each time I sit down to inform you (my most loyal fans) of my latest adventure, I am distracted by what I have previously started. So I am requesting your assistance in sorting out my dilemma. Please comment on what you'd like to hear about most. These are some of the tabled projects I have in the works, but any idea would be fun.

The intended versus practical uses for the items in my house

The patch is on the AWANA vest

What my kids have taught me

I blinked and now and I'm living someone else's life

Who, pray tell, was the Halloween candy actually for?

Jordanisms

Andiisms

This is what Dillon does

The Best of the Halloween Photos

Josh for President!

Vote November 4

Disclaimer: if you can not handle laughing at political issues please avoid this post. As it may increase your blood pressure and cause uncontrollable hyperventilating both of which have been known to cause spontaneous urination.
.

My husband has decided to become a write-in candidate.
HERE IS HIS PLATFORM
(1) "Press 1 for English" will be immediately banned. English is the official language; speak it or wait at the border until you can.
(2) We will immediately go into a two year isolationist posture to straighten out the country's attitude. NO imports, no exports. We will use Wal-Mart's policy, 'If we ain't got it, you don't need it.'
(3) When imports are allowed, there will be a 100% import tax on them.
(4) All retired military personnel will be required to serve a six month tour, to man one of our many observation towers on the southern border. They will be under strict orders not to fire on any SOUTHBOUND aliens.
(5) The Social Security Fund will immediately return to its original state. If you didn't put nothin' in, you ain't gettin' nothin' out. Neither the President nor any other Politician will be able to touch it.
(6) Welfare Checks will be handed out on Fridays at the end of a 40 hour school week with the successful completion of urinalysis test and proof of a passing grade.
(7) Professional Athletes -- The FIRST time you test positive for steroids you're banned from professional sports for life.
(8) Crime - We will adopt the Turkish method, the first time you steal, you lose your right hand. There will be no more life sentences. If convicted of a murder, you will be put to death by the same method you chose for your victim, i.e. gun, knife, strangulation, etc.
(9) The United States will export one resource: wheat. The world does need to eat, after all. A bushel of wheat will be traded for the asking price of a barrel of oil.
(10) All foreign aid using American taxpayer money will cease immediately. The moneys saved will first pay off the national debt. Once this is accomplished taxes will be immediately decreased.
(11) When a disaster occurs around the world, we'll ask the American people if they want to donate to a disaster fund. Each citizen can make the decision whether it's a worthy cause.
(12) The Pledge of Allegiance will be said every day in every school in America and every day in the Congress, Senate and House of Representative.
(13) The National Anthem will be played at all appropriate ceremonies, sporting events, outings, etc.

No Apologies. A vote for my husband will get you better than what you have and better than what you'd get. Thanks for listening, and remember to write in my husband on the ballot on November 4th.

God Bless America!
Josh for President!!!!!!!



This message was sponsored by the candidate and his Trophy Wife and we both approve this message.

Thanks Bill Cosby for allowing us all to laugh.

Thirty-something Already

And enjoying it.
Yep. I am thirty-something. Not because I refused to say my age; I simply do not remember my age. I feel young, I still run for the fun of it, and exercise not because I have to but because I want to, I am a mom, and a wife, I work part-time, and learn something new every day.

I made it to my thirties only to find out I am blissfully flawed.

I am married.
A mother of three…girls.

Sometimes I think about what I thought I'd accomplish before I turned 30 and can't help but laugh. The 180 degree turn I've taken is so refreshing. I could be pounding my head against the 'glass ceiling' on some corporate ladder, but instead I am banging my foot on the toys scattered throughout the house. That's me, thirty-something and enjoying it.

A to Z and how we got there

Did I mention before that I cannot do nothing? Oh, and that I am super competitive? Well, here is a perfect example of both. You know the game where one person begins with the letter A and adds an item to a list with that particular letter? People go back and forth or around and around, adding items for each subsequent letter, until they've reached the end of the alphabet. Well, my part-time job has become fairly routine, meaning I feel as though I am doing nothing, so my co-worker and I recently played this game with an added twist: we had to have two words for each letter. I do have to admit that, in my super competitive state, I was slightly dejected that my co-worker was not interested in completing the game. Gasp! Not finish the game? But we started it, how can we not finish it?! Reluctantly, I agreed to add W,X,Y, and Z as one final letter, a disappointing compromise, but at least I got to finish the game.

Here is our list….

We are going on a picnic and we are taking a...

Zealous zoologist and
Yodeling Yolanda who
X-ray xylophones and
Wipe watermelons while they
Vex vampires and
Unexpectedly urinate. Then
Trim their toenails and
Slowly Salsa with
Red rhinoceroses who
Quietly quilt and
Pay people who are
Overly optimistic and
Nod naughtily. After they
Move mountains they
Lay lazily. Then
Knife kites and
Juggle jacks and
Ice igloos while they
Hinder Hippos that
Guard Gorillas who
Find Flowers and
Eat eggplants then
Dip doughnuts and
Cut cucumbers and
Bake banana bread and
Add almonds.

It's great fun.

Give it a try.

Adorable & Mine (part2)

OK. Now for what was really happening:

Yes, this is a 'Mock Studio' set up in any location where the sun is shining into my house, but not directly on my subjects. This particular day was in my dining room with the sun entering through the deck doors. I typically use dark fabrics right off the bolts, with maybe a stitch or two, but this backdrop happens to be a set of sheets and was a clearance buy (to use for this photo shoot). I clip the backdrop with the oversized office paper clips to (Shhh...don't tell Josh!) the oversized screens that I take out of the front room windows. I use the sunlight, because the girls and I have such intense red eye that I avoid using the flash. OK, now the fun begins. The girls know what I want, will they cooperate? And who to 'torture' first? Jordan and Andi caught me before I had the chance to put their clothes on, so they willingly posed for these….

Commence wardrobe change, followed by a gentle hair pulling, tying, and face washing rite-of-passage, all of which are presumed forms of torture in our house, at least by the amount and volume screaming and wailing. Why is it that I picture Wesley trapped in the Pit of Despair with an albino rat-man that clears his throat while saying, "Don't even think about escaping."? Strange correlation I know, but sometimes I feel like they know it will end and if they would just sit still, there would be less "torture."

Dillon First

Who is completely oblivious to the camera and more intrigued by the chair. So I introduce bubbles and now I can't hold the camera still enough to focus. UGGGHH! To any gift givers listening, Mama needs a 6' tripod.

Then Andi Who is more interested in popping the bubbles than just watching them.

Then Jordan

Who wants nothing more than to please me and is so ridged that I am convinced her muscles will be sore for next three days.

Then all Three
This is when I begin asking myself if I am of sound mind.

Forget it.

We move outside to the deck, 'mock studio' and all. It is an overcast day and almost perfect for picture taking. If only my subjects were willing.

Tears.

Bribery.

Silliness.

All while, I am holding the camera and blowing bubbles, or making wired noises to attract the baby's attention. It sounds something like this: "Jordan sit still. Andi please stop reaching for the bubbles. Dillon pllllleeeeassse look at mommy. Don't smile, do smile. Don't look at me, okay now look at me. Laugh. No don't laugh. Look this way, now look that way. Jordan please just sit still. Andi I don't want your hand in front of Dillon. Or Jordan. Dillon, look this way. AAACCHHHOO. AAABUGGGGAAABUGGGAAABUGGGA. Jordan SIT STILL. Andi PUT your hands DOWN. Dillon. DILLON. DILLON."

I do use the rapid shutter feature on my camera so I can take a multitude of sequential pictures and then pick the best.

I am typically pleased with the pictures when I look at the end result, but why do I torture myself? To save a buck. I find it truly difficult to pay someone to get almost the same results. I study magazine pictures and look at photography books in the library to get new ideas on how to pose the girls. I also steal idea from the pictures my friends bring home from the studio.

Please join me in praying for peace, understanding, comfort and healing as a dear friend grieves the unthinkable of loses; a baby born into God’s arms. This post is in memory of those who have gone before us, especially those little who we wish wouldn’t have.

Adroable & Mine

What is going on around here?

Random/Interesting/Quirky Facts about Little ol' Me

• I am the youngest of five girls. I am the baby and proud of it!

• I have a germ-a-phobia about things lurking on vertical flat surfaces (windows, doors, walls and cabinetry) and feel the need to remove them with spraying/wiping or painting on a regular basis. No, I will not use my phobia to your advantage, so don't even think about asking. I have a hard enough time keeping the unwanted vermin off my own walls.

• I was a 'college football wife' and never missed a game. I say this purely as bragging rights: my husband loves me enough to listen me yell and scream at grown men in spandex (something he still hears every Sunday in the fall).

• I was a Bible Quizzer. And beat the pants off the best of them. (Does Romans 6:10 ring a bell to anyone?)

• My husband and I are high school sweethearts. And we haven't been on a date since.

• I cannot do nothing (multitasking is my element). Like right now, I am instant messaging with a friend, responding to my email, creating this 'tag' assignment, and heading to bed. /li>

• I still don't know in what "style" to decorate my house, even though I've toured countless Parade of Homes for the last six years.

• I want to participate in the Iron Man. Someday, I'll be crawling across the finish line a mere 24 hours after the true racers are done, and that's only if I don't drown first.

• I procrastinate because I know if I went through with my original idea I would miss something truly brilliant.

Because I was bombarded from all sides by this attack assignment, and because most chain letters end with me (the infamous black hole) and because I know most of the blogger world has already been tagged and because all good things must come to an end I took the liberty to change the rules. I am totally blog-lifting this idea from The Antics of the Three 22nds, for those lurkers out there who love to watch from a distance I challenge you to write your own Random/Interesting/Quirky Facts in my comments section. I know there are some things about each of you that I do not know. So get typing.

If, by a long shot, you are a blogger who hasn't been tagged, consider a post containing 7-10 Random/Interesting/Quirky Facts about yourself.

These are the ladies I used to admire: Joolee with your sopha full of girlies, Rachel and the boys on her range, the mom of those Three 22nd, Super because she's a Mom Annette, Everything just EO with Heather, Shea's fascinating indeed, and Mrs. Jo and her Kingdom.

Football or Bust

Bethel Homecoming Game

How, you ask, does one accomplish watching a college football game with three girls? Well, hopefully you go to a Homecoming game and there are kids' activities to entertain the older two. And hopefully, because it is Homecoming, lots of other family members will be there to help with the baby. Hopefully, you'll be able to find a comfortable position where you are visible to those who are managing your children, yet able to keep both eyes on the field. Hopefully, you'll be able to sit and watch all of the game. Hopefully, you only have to make one trip to the restroom. Hopefully, the baby will fall asleep peacefully in someone's arms, too exhausted to stay awake.

Probably, though, you'll get to stand for the whole first quarter, making sure everyone is taken care of. Probably the trip to the bathroom will be with someone else's child. Probably when do get to sit it will be on a soaking wet blanket (because the field had been faithfully watered for the entire week and is drenched), thus giving you two-toned jeans. Probably you'll yell and scream yourself hoarse, too competitive to be a simply a spectator. Probably the baby, who's completely over stimulated and on the verge of a meltdown, will only want mama and will have a stinky, dirty diaper, which you will change with the only dry space left on the blanket, never missing a beat of the game. Then proceed to rock the fussing child while patiently praying for the end of the game to come. Probably you'll have to rely on someone else's photos, because you forgot your camera. At the end of the game you'll probably collect your two sugar-high, received-everything-I-ask-for girls, and attempt to say your goodbyes to friends and family before complete hysteria breaks loose.

That is how you enjoy three hours of college football with three girls. Was it worth it, you ask? Well, to quote one of my idols, "It may be a crazy life, but it is our life." (Kate Gosselin)

We were there to watch 'Big Andy' play Defensive End. Thanks for a great show, Andy. Too bad the offensive didn't have your intensity. The series of downs you had on the goal line were magnificent.

Can you believe I made this happen?

This post contains the most awe-inspiring photos so brace yourself for…

The blades of our labor...





The first set of pictures were taken on Setember 11, ten days after we seeded. The second set of pictures were wtaken on September 22. Amazing, I know and I saw it with my own eyes.

Once again, growing grass has proven to be obtainable. My countless minutes of watering were not in vain.


The deck was our Spring/Summer project. And we love it. The girls ate breakfast and lunch outside almost every day.

I can't wait for this to happen

And my list of favorites...

I am still waiting for my life to become significantly more interesting, but in the meantime, Jordan likes kindergarten. Notice I said "likes." On several occasions, she's asked why they are only learning letters. I wish I had the stamina to home school her, but I know I’d go mad trying to entertain her all day. Andi and I are stumbling through preschool at home. Time management still remains the biggest obstacle. It's hard to do preschool in the morning when Dillon is awake. And Andi still needs a nap on a regular basis, which makes afternoons difficult. But we have done at least one lesson every day that Jordan has been in school (which is practical, but still below my expectations). Dillon is perfecting the role of a being a toddler. I keep trying to get a picture of her peeking over the counter, desk, around the couch, etc., but it's a hard moment to capture.

Our outside "honey-do" list is rapidly reaching an end. And if we could keep everything on the inside from breaking down, we may actually have a "nothing-to-do-winter", effectively attaining couch potato status, which I would embrace more passionately if the Vikings could win. Another heartbreaking season could send me straight into a chocolate-induced coma, making entering and running the Grandma's Marathon impractical (not that it's practical now, but I am still going to do it). The season kickoff to my favorite shows will make cuddling on the couch in front of the tube a welcomed break to managing every moment of my day. And my favorites are (only achievable due to DVR - thank you, Dish Network):

Vikings Football (Of course, I couldn't allow Josh to sit mindlessly for three hours all by himself.)

Amazing Race (Thanks to my sister-in-law.)

Survivor (Josh and I watch this one together.)

Jon & Kate plus Eight (Can you imagine six kids the same age?)

TLC's What not to wear (There is something to be said about dressing for success in any situation.)

When love happens

Why I Y my mom

Recently, I took credit for rolling with the punches. Please know that is due in part to a wonderful example: my mom.

I don't know if I will find the right words or even give justice to what my mom means to me, but this is my attempt.

There is a song by Sarah Groves called Generations. Part of the chorus talks about how future generations will reap what I sow, that I can pass on a curse or a blessing to those I will never know. This is so true of my mom. When faced with hard times she didn't mumble or complain but instead chose to plow ahead, focused on the next generation, and knowing her life would impact those who came after her. She created an example that would benefit them, one that impacts me and will impact my children, and will in turn impact their children. Her example created a cycle of blessings that began from one person and will continue to affect those who come behind. I am eternally grateful that my mom provided this example, instead of leaving me to try to find it on my own. I don't know for sure if I would have been as blissful in my flawed state if she hadn't so faithfully provided the example.

All this to say that, because of my flawedness, I desperately want to follow in my mother's footsteps and continue to pass on a blessing to my children and to those I may never know.

Thanks mom. I Y you!


No, I didn't take the time to download the song to my blog and increase your reading enjoyment, but hear is a link to hear a sample http://www.saragroves.com/store/conversations/lyrics/generations/

When does this happen?

Caution content of this posting may cause drowsiness. No hurt feelings if you skip to the last paragraph.



I used to be able to accomplish a whole list of activities during one day. Now, I often wonder if I even ate, because I feel like I didn't even get one task accomplished. So I decided to keep a daily time line to see what's happening.



7:00 The alarm startles me from my beauty rest…meaning I'm still in debt and will never acquire enough beauty sleep to undo the damage. It truly is a never-ending battle.

7:08 Actually get out of bed, after listening to a few comments by the broadcasters.

7:10 After going to the bathroom and finding something clean enough to put on I finally gain enough courage to wake the sleeping bears (a kindergartener and a three-year-old). A treacherous task because the bears' attitude is never predictable. Screeching, moaning, and even outright roaring are not unheard of.

7:17 The awakening wasn't as bad as expected. I actually have all my extremities and I haven't even reached for the bottle of acetaminophen.

7:18 Potty and hand washing.

7:28 Breakfast for the bears, and it is good thing it only took 10 minutes to decide what to eat. It is a school morning, after all.

7:30 A chance to check emails, facebook, and the blogs I follow.

7:40 Read and sign the papers from school and put them in the backpack, add icepack to the lunch bag, and verify the snack bag made it into the backpack.

7:48 Done eating. Now off to teeth brushing, getting dressed, and hair combing.

8:00 Head to the bus stop. Pause to watch the deer cross the road - a mother and two fawns. Put hair into pony tails. Yes, at the bus stop. Give final directions to be good, listen well, and learn her classmates' names.

8:10 The bus is running behind, but we are back in the house to round up the piles of laundry. Sort whites, lights, darks, and brights (with three girls I often call this my Pepto Bismol load). Begin wash cycle number one.

8:20 Throw on workout clothes.

8:21 Cut an apple for the three-year-old and baby, fill a water bottle, and head for the basement.

8:22 Search house for the workout DVD I borrowed from the library.

8:28 Begin workout.

9:13 Complete enough of the workout to call it accomplished.

9:15 Turn sprinklers on. We are trying to grow a lawn. The final step of our landscaping.

9:28 If only I could spray the front yard in the five minutes I am told it should take.

9:29 Put towels in the dryer and a white shirt (that is not so white) to soak in the washer.

9:30 Just realized I haven't feed the baby breakfast. No wonder she won't let me put her down.

9:35 Time to turn the sprinklers off. Thanks goodness I set the timer to remind me or the seeds would be swimming.

9:43 Wipe a stinky three-year-old-bottom.

9:45 Sit down to eat my breakfast.

9:46 Begin preschool lesson of colors, Q for Quilt, and how many is this?

10:15 Add a load of white clothes and bed sheets to the not so white shirt to run wash cycle number two.

10:18 Pull the dry clothes out of dryer, bring them up to the folding station (a king sized bed).

10:20 Read Pooh's Snapshot Surprise to the three-year-old (way more enjoyable without the batteries:).

10:30 Find and print lesson plans for later. Hey, mark that down as planning ahead.

10:37 Quick search of office for missing credit card.

10:40 Open a yogurt for three-year-olds am snack and pour OJ to go with it.

10:41 Change a stinky baby diaper.

10:42 Shower.

10:47 Clean bathroom after baby had five, count them, five minutes of unattended freedom in the bathroom.

10:54 Put baby down for morning nap.

10:55 Wipe stinky three-year-old bottom. Yes, again.

11:06 Empty dishwasher and put clean dishes away. Listening to Rush Limbaugh in the background.

11:12 Wipe yogurt off the table and chair legs after hearing, "Oops mommy, I spilled."

11:20 Fill dishwasher with dirty dishes and run.

11:22 Wash large dishes in sink.

11:25 Rotate laundry and begin wash cycle number three.

11:30 Outside to turn on the sprinklers and jump on the trampoline with three-year-old. So much more fun the cool fall weather when you don't feel like you have to shower afterwards.

12:10 Ten minutes late for lunch. Any ideas?

12:15 Leftovers. Begin preparing a supper meal. Still listening to Rush.

12:25 Check emails, facebook, and the blogs I follow.

12:26 Delete all the junk emails. What did I do to the people from Viagra and eHarmony that they insist on sending me so much information?

12:30 Eat lunch. 1:00 Laundry continues now with the folding and putting away. Yuck.

1:06 Just multitasking, turned on the straightener to straighten my hair. Something I try to accomplish every three of four days.

1:10 Complete the supper meal.

1:11 Rotate laundry and begin wash cycle number four.

1:15 Back upstairs to fold laundry and do my hair.

1:16 Baby awake, skip laundry and hair to feed baby.

1:30 Hair and makeup. 1:40 Fold laundry. I'll have to put it away another day.

2:00 Turn computer on for three-year-old preschool lesson.

2:01 Change a baby diaper.

2:05 Provide fruit snacks for an "I'm so hungry" three-year-old.

2:30 Turn on sprinklers and play outside.

2:45 Again wondering how I am supposed to wet the front yard in five minutes.

2:46 A walk around the pond, while reading the mail and pushing the stroller, so the three-year-old can ride her bike.

3:00 Final glance at the local paper, advertisements, and coupons on the front step before heading inside.

3:10 Change into work clothes and pull back my hair.

3:20 Check emails, facebook, and the blogs I follow.

3:30 Wait for hubby and kindergartener to arrive.

3:45 Leave for work.



That's all folks. My eight hour day! And what did I accomplish? A couple of meals, watering the lawn, laundry, preschool, miscellaneous cleaning, and a whole lot of mothering, which is why I do it. One long day, written in one short sentence, meaning only one thing: I love what I do and I am thankful I get to do it again tomorrow.

Singing in the Rain

Living vicariously through my children…
Oh, how I miss puddle jumping and mud pie making.