1. She can't afford to. Between...
Paying 3.69 for a gallon of milk and multiply that by meals...3 a day Sun-Thursday (15 for those who r slow) Plus an average of 3 more Friday and Saturday...that's 18 on an exceptionally calcium based week.
On average 1 Klutzy moment for Mother or Child a week...$25-$100 copay
Groceries...$300-$400 a week before coupons and rebates
Clothing the heathens...the boys now go through clothes faster than they can hand them down...
2. There is too much laundry
2 loads per person x 6
1 load of blankets or comforters a day
3. She works at her paying job 11 hours a day
'Nuff said
4, Someone always wants to go too
and there will be tears if they don't
5. When Mommy does get that moment to put Henna on her roots...someone goes and drops a drain snake that they managed to pilfer from under a random bathroom cabinet. This then results in a trip to Patient First, X rays, and a broken toe.
6. Now because of #5, Mommy will be tracking a certain 3 year old like a spy satellite to keep him off of said foot so as not to complete the break and displace it.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Hugging it out
The 2 younger boys have been fist fighting a lot lately with each other. Sometimes I let it go because they need to establish a pecking order. Today, however, I decided that they needed to show the love.
I am going to count to five and then you boys are going to apologize, hug and give each other a kiss.
They came over and they apologized.
They reluctantly hugged each other just fine.
The kiss...well Gunnar dry heaved and Odin decided that he would rather take a nap.
HMMMMMM....silence is awesome.
I am going to count to five and then you boys are going to apologize, hug and give each other a kiss.
They came over and they apologized.
They reluctantly hugged each other just fine.
The kiss...well Gunnar dry heaved and Odin decided that he would rather take a nap.
HMMMMMM....silence is awesome.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Operation Cover - up
Siblings never work together 100% all the time. Fact.
Most of the time siblings are trying to get someone else in trouble. Fact.
I went upstairs to lay down with Justin and go over the events for the day, my suck day at work and listen to his less sucky things that happened while I was at my sucky day at work. I left the kids with the Wii and a Family sized bag of chips.
About 15 mins later Gunnar came upstairs and asked for the vacuum. He wanted to clean up cat hairs. They were getting in his mouth.
5 mins after that Brenna came upstairs to ask for the extension cord for Gunnar.
I decided to go downstairs to check out what was going on.
Gunnar was getting cat hair in his mouth because he was eating the entire bag of chips that Odin hurled all over the ground. Brenna went up for the extension cord so Jaxom wouldn't rat them out. Odin sat on Jaxom to keep him in his seat.
Excellent display of teamwork guys. Well done.
Most of the time siblings are trying to get someone else in trouble. Fact.
I went upstairs to lay down with Justin and go over the events for the day, my suck day at work and listen to his less sucky things that happened while I was at my sucky day at work. I left the kids with the Wii and a Family sized bag of chips.
About 15 mins later Gunnar came upstairs and asked for the vacuum. He wanted to clean up cat hairs. They were getting in his mouth.
5 mins after that Brenna came upstairs to ask for the extension cord for Gunnar.
I decided to go downstairs to check out what was going on.
Gunnar was getting cat hair in his mouth because he was eating the entire bag of chips that Odin hurled all over the ground. Brenna went up for the extension cord so Jaxom wouldn't rat them out. Odin sat on Jaxom to keep him in his seat.
Excellent display of teamwork guys. Well done.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
So much for quiet
I've been on a cleaning kick because for the most part it destresses me, my house is at it's finest in January. That being said, Justin and I were upstairs shampooing some of the couch cushions in the tub when we hear a scream, the thud of hurried fottsteps up the stairs, we see a frightened Gunnar, hear Brenna screaming, Odin going oh no...
We go downstairs as fast as we can.
I spring into action as I assess the situation, Jaxom is going down because Brenna's nose is bleeding at a pace to rival Niagra Falls, blood is bubbling out and running out and over her cupped hands...I decide to grab her first.
I pull her into the bathroom and reach for whatever I can to put on her nose, there is no TP of course so baby wipes had to do, I ask Gunnar to grab a couple of wash cloth, he brings the filthiest that he can find so I send him for more.
Curiosity killed the cat as Jaxom made his nosy way over, mistake, down he goes pale as a ghost.
I get Brenna under control, Justin is taking over now...so I am going to try to figure out how to pick my son up off the ground as he is almost as big as I am. I was still debating my approach when he came to. I parked him at the dining room table with some cider.
I grab another washcloth now to clean up the trail of blood that Brenna sprayed on her way to the bathroom.
I check in on Justin and Brenna, he is assessing to figure out if it's broken. Doesn't feel that way so the flashlight goes up the nose to make sure everything inside is ok, which nothing looks out of place and she is breathing through it again already.
I ask Jaxom if he is ok, then I turn to Gunnar and ask what happened. All I can understand is that she hit it on the bottom of the couch.
This one shall remain a mystery.
We go downstairs as fast as we can.
I spring into action as I assess the situation, Jaxom is going down because Brenna's nose is bleeding at a pace to rival Niagra Falls, blood is bubbling out and running out and over her cupped hands...I decide to grab her first.
I pull her into the bathroom and reach for whatever I can to put on her nose, there is no TP of course so baby wipes had to do, I ask Gunnar to grab a couple of wash cloth, he brings the filthiest that he can find so I send him for more.
Curiosity killed the cat as Jaxom made his nosy way over, mistake, down he goes pale as a ghost.
I get Brenna under control, Justin is taking over now...so I am going to try to figure out how to pick my son up off the ground as he is almost as big as I am. I was still debating my approach when he came to. I parked him at the dining room table with some cider.
I grab another washcloth now to clean up the trail of blood that Brenna sprayed on her way to the bathroom.
I check in on Justin and Brenna, he is assessing to figure out if it's broken. Doesn't feel that way so the flashlight goes up the nose to make sure everything inside is ok, which nothing looks out of place and she is breathing through it again already.
I ask Jaxom if he is ok, then I turn to Gunnar and ask what happened. All I can understand is that she hit it on the bottom of the couch.
This one shall remain a mystery.
We haven't had much to say lately
January is a terrible month in our home. It's a month of stress. So much stress that it makes me want to hurl by hulking out on someone. January is full of 65 hour weeks for myself at work, is full of organizing for tax season (I normally start creating a pile after I stop filing in mid-April, is when we start planning for birthday parties for the older 3, and this year, is when we are planning on buying a new motor vehicle.
(if you could see all the typos I've made before proofing at this point, you would close the window and never return.)
Odin was due in January, but came in December...that's how terrible January's are for us.
So we haven't had much to say and I apologize to my 4 (really 3 followers, because someone followed 2x) that I haven't been entertaining. There are 7 business days left in January, February has a fighting chance of my finding some humor in the world.
(if you could see all the typos I've made before proofing at this point, you would close the window and never return.)
Odin was due in January, but came in December...that's how terrible January's are for us.
So we haven't had much to say and I apologize to my 4 (really 3 followers, because someone followed 2x) that I haven't been entertaining. There are 7 business days left in January, February has a fighting chance of my finding some humor in the world.
Friday, January 20, 2012
You're lying, Mom...
Justin and I made the decision that we would wait until the kids had passed their Christmas in 2nd grade before we broke the bitter truth to them that Santa is really Mommy and Daddy. Now before we go any further, let me say that we made this decision because we didn't want our kids to be teased for believing when they were older. I was a long time believer, as well as a believer that NKOTB never really broke up, and while I never gave up (for a long time), I was ridiculed in the 4th grade, when it came out in conversation and I glazed over with confusion. You are welcome to disagree with our decision, but we think that we made the right one for our family.
As it goes we did lay out ground rules:
We would wait for a few weeks to pass after Christmas
We would continue to buy them Santa gifts
They are not allowed to tell anyone else.
They would be allowed to help pick out their gifts in the future.
Last night, I sat Brenna down for the conversation. We went to her room and sat crossed legged on her bed. I held her tiny hands and said, "Brenna, I've got some news." Pause. "I am Santa."
She gazed up in confusion and disbelief. "What about the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy?"
I replied that those 2 were me.
She sat silent for a few seconds gathering her thoughts, I'm guessing.
"So you're telling me that you are Santa, you are the Easter Bunny, you are even the Tooth Fairy?"
"Yes, Brenna, I am."
"Whatever, Mom. Santa is a dude and has a beard, I've seen pictures. You're lying."
"No really, Brenna, I am..."
"No, I believe that Santa is a real person. I've seen pictures, and all the pictures look the same. Go away, Mom, I believe."
So I went downstairs chuckling to myself. The conversation went somewhat differently with Jaxom, he knew before we sat down apparently. I guess she wasn't ready to hear it. We'll try again next year.
As it goes we did lay out ground rules:
We would wait for a few weeks to pass after Christmas
We would continue to buy them Santa gifts
They are not allowed to tell anyone else.
They would be allowed to help pick out their gifts in the future.
Last night, I sat Brenna down for the conversation. We went to her room and sat crossed legged on her bed. I held her tiny hands and said, "Brenna, I've got some news." Pause. "I am Santa."
She gazed up in confusion and disbelief. "What about the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy?"
I replied that those 2 were me.
She sat silent for a few seconds gathering her thoughts, I'm guessing.
"So you're telling me that you are Santa, you are the Easter Bunny, you are even the Tooth Fairy?"
"Yes, Brenna, I am."
"Whatever, Mom. Santa is a dude and has a beard, I've seen pictures. You're lying."
"No really, Brenna, I am..."
"No, I believe that Santa is a real person. I've seen pictures, and all the pictures look the same. Go away, Mom, I believe."
So I went downstairs chuckling to myself. The conversation went somewhat differently with Jaxom, he knew before we sat down apparently. I guess she wasn't ready to hear it. We'll try again next year.
Monday, January 16, 2012
The Furnace Fiasco
So have you ever....
come home from a 2 hour trip to the grocery store and heard meowing, frantic meowing from every vent in your home?
We THOUGHT the cat was locked in the closet, in the laundry closet, in the kids room, stuck under a bed, in the coat closet, under the stairs, under the couch.
Nope.
Let's replay a list of things that we did before we went on the expedition:
Put clothes in the attic
Not there.
Did Laundry.
Not there.
Cleaned the fridge.
Not there.
Moved the couches.
Not there.
Took a shower with fresh soap from the pantry (it was the best...oh wait)
Not there.
She was also:
Not outside, in any closet in the house, not in any cupboards, not trapped beneath anything, no stuck inside of anything.
Oh my goodness we changed the filter on the furnace!!!!
Yep, she was there....wedged between the filter and the air intake on the other side of the wall.
Face palm. Thank goodness she wasn't stuck on the business end of that thing.
come home from a 2 hour trip to the grocery store and heard meowing, frantic meowing from every vent in your home?
We THOUGHT the cat was locked in the closet, in the laundry closet, in the kids room, stuck under a bed, in the coat closet, under the stairs, under the couch.
Nope.
Let's replay a list of things that we did before we went on the expedition:
Put clothes in the attic
Not there.
Did Laundry.
Not there.
Cleaned the fridge.
Not there.
Moved the couches.
Not there.
Took a shower with fresh soap from the pantry (it was the best...oh wait)
Not there.
She was also:
Not outside, in any closet in the house, not in any cupboards, not trapped beneath anything, no stuck inside of anything.
Oh my goodness we changed the filter on the furnace!!!!
Yep, she was there....wedged between the filter and the air intake on the other side of the wall.
Face palm. Thank goodness she wasn't stuck on the business end of that thing.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Drastic Measures
Trying to raise a child is not easy, multiply that by 4 and you'll build up enough frustration to incite an LA style riot in your kitchen.
It's difficult with all the challenges today to raise a child right, with morals, standards, esteem, leadership qualities and still develop an individuality to rival their peers. It's hard to give them a standout edge that still allows them to be a decent little human being. I want them to have morals. I don't want them to have to rely on anyone. I need them to be able to take care of themselves. I want them to be compassionate, but not push overs. I want them to be able to see a clear line between right and wrong. I want them to know how to love and be loved.
I think that I might be doing it all wrong sometimes. This morning they aren't listening to reason, the shrillness to my nagging voice, the threats. Time outs aren't working, shouting has begun. The war of the wills is in full swing in this house this morning. I want to cry, but I won't. I can't let them see that they have won this battle.
I sent them upstairs so that I could have some peace, but their father sent them right back down because he is trying to sleep. So instead I stuck their dirty noses in separate corners so that I could strategize. I decided that I would call them over one by one and ask them a few questions.
How old are you?
When were you born? (Throw them off their "game")
Where were you when I told you to clean up? (Make them think, they don't know that this is a rhetorical question)
And what did you think that clean up meant?
And what did you do instead?
Do you think that I appreciate that?
What would you do if I went upstairs after you cleaned up your room and I just dumped all the toys you had just picked up back onto the floor? And then I kicked them around a little bit and then when back downstairs to watch tv?
How do you think it makes me feel when you do that to me?
And I repeated this process for the first 3.
Odin is a bit different.
Clean up or take a nap.
Now they are working, do I need to constantly remind them, yes. However, the second time I have to remind them they pick out their own punishment and on their 3rd warning they have to do it.
So next warning today and Jaxom will be cleaning the cat box my hand, Brenna will be loosing her Squinkies to the dumpster, and Gunnar will be sleeping in his own bed tonight. It has been 15 minutes...no reminders...how long can this last?
If all I teach them today is that I mean business, I'll call it a victory.
It's difficult with all the challenges today to raise a child right, with morals, standards, esteem, leadership qualities and still develop an individuality to rival their peers. It's hard to give them a standout edge that still allows them to be a decent little human being. I want them to have morals. I don't want them to have to rely on anyone. I need them to be able to take care of themselves. I want them to be compassionate, but not push overs. I want them to be able to see a clear line between right and wrong. I want them to know how to love and be loved.
I think that I might be doing it all wrong sometimes. This morning they aren't listening to reason, the shrillness to my nagging voice, the threats. Time outs aren't working, shouting has begun. The war of the wills is in full swing in this house this morning. I want to cry, but I won't. I can't let them see that they have won this battle.
I sent them upstairs so that I could have some peace, but their father sent them right back down because he is trying to sleep. So instead I stuck their dirty noses in separate corners so that I could strategize. I decided that I would call them over one by one and ask them a few questions.
How old are you?
When were you born? (Throw them off their "game")
Where were you when I told you to clean up? (Make them think, they don't know that this is a rhetorical question)
And what did you think that clean up meant?
And what did you do instead?
Do you think that I appreciate that?
What would you do if I went upstairs after you cleaned up your room and I just dumped all the toys you had just picked up back onto the floor? And then I kicked them around a little bit and then when back downstairs to watch tv?
How do you think it makes me feel when you do that to me?
And I repeated this process for the first 3.
Odin is a bit different.
Clean up or take a nap.
Now they are working, do I need to constantly remind them, yes. However, the second time I have to remind them they pick out their own punishment and on their 3rd warning they have to do it.
So next warning today and Jaxom will be cleaning the cat box my hand, Brenna will be loosing her Squinkies to the dumpster, and Gunnar will be sleeping in his own bed tonight. It has been 15 minutes...no reminders...how long can this last?
If all I teach them today is that I mean business, I'll call it a victory.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
How did this become my sole responsibility?
For 12 years, I have been the first person up in the house. Every morning I wake everyone up for school, to help people get on the bus, get lunches made, and somehow I am the last to get ready.
The kids don't have alarm clocks. Yet.
Justin doesn't wake up when an alarm goes off.
So I am stuck with the task.
Did I mention that I could get up @ 7:45 and still be ready for work on time? But instead I have to get up at 6:45 to get everyone's bum in gear...even on my days off. I am so programmed to do this that most of the time i wake about 20 mins before the alarm even goes off...even on Sundays.
Even after I wake everyone, only 3 of us stay awake all day. Jaxom and Brenna go to school, there is no nap time, myself, I go to work. Justin immediately goes back to sleep sometimes even befor the bus arrives at 7:34. Gunnar and Odin, well who can blame them for following their dad's cue?
I don't really know what the point of this one was. I guess it's that I don't really understand why I have to be the one to get the ball rolling every single morning. Oh well, I have to go 10 min warning everyone for the bus.
The kids don't have alarm clocks. Yet.
Justin doesn't wake up when an alarm goes off.
So I am stuck with the task.
Did I mention that I could get up @ 7:45 and still be ready for work on time? But instead I have to get up at 6:45 to get everyone's bum in gear...even on my days off. I am so programmed to do this that most of the time i wake about 20 mins before the alarm even goes off...even on Sundays.
Even after I wake everyone, only 3 of us stay awake all day. Jaxom and Brenna go to school, there is no nap time, myself, I go to work. Justin immediately goes back to sleep sometimes even befor the bus arrives at 7:34. Gunnar and Odin, well who can blame them for following their dad's cue?
I don't really know what the point of this one was. I guess it's that I don't really understand why I have to be the one to get the ball rolling every single morning. Oh well, I have to go 10 min warning everyone for the bus.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
There has to be a Better Way
We went on Wednesday, so why does it take so long to get a positive strep swab back? It's Sunday!!! Justin, has strep, has been on no preventative measures at all, and has been exposing us for almost a week.
I get to be on edge for the next couple of weeks, waiting for the proverbial other shoe to drop. Will it be gentle? a thud? or a full on squashing stomp?
I am starting to think 2011 was the better year.
I get to be on edge for the next couple of weeks, waiting for the proverbial other shoe to drop. Will it be gentle? a thud? or a full on squashing stomp?
I am starting to think 2011 was the better year.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Crazy Week, Scratch that, Year
Who had a crazy week?
This house!
Crazy terri-bad at work.
Medically nauseating at home.
Frustrating emotionally and physically.
They do always say though, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. You may want to kill yourself, but somehow remain strong enough to resist the urge somehow. And, by George, and with Bob as my witness, I am not sure how I resisted.
This year started off with a stress induced Mommy purge. I sprinted around the house attempting to clean up all the dirty from 2011 that still lingered (and consequently still does). All I managed to do was wrangle up all the Christmas toys strewn about the downstairs. In this course of events I broke my foot. I broke my foot in 3 places by dropping the wooden base of a doll stand on my foot, because like a giant idiot I thought that it was one piece. Lesson learned.
I did not decide to go to the doctor until Tuesday though. I was a little embarrassed and really did think that it was only bruised. I was wrong, my doctor was surprised I was walking. And worst of all, Justin was right.
Wednesday, well it didn't bring anything better. Work infuriated me. We won't get into that bit, mostly because I might throw a tantrum, a good old fashioned roll up in a ball and kick and scream while I roll around crying on the floor tantrum, because it was that bad. I came home to a sick husband, by the way, he led me to believe that he was dying the way he was carrying on. Oh yeah, I forgot the only thing all women can agree on, men are babies. He was "suffering" through the same cold that I had been experiencing for the past two weeks. So sick he had to go to the doctor, and too sick to go into work the next day, we took a note to his work for his (censored) boss. I thought that this trip would last seconds because naturally I am a girl and we think everything is easy. 30 mins, 2 calls to his unanswered cell, 3 texts, and finally a call to his work that sounded something like this: "Thank you for calling Where he Works. Please Hold." "Nope, won't be holding, you tell Justin that if he is so sick and still needs a ride home, he will come out to said family waiting for him for the past 30 mins now, or he will walk his ass home to his stuff on the front yard."
Now, near in mind that I had been at work since 7:15 am, and it was now nearly 10 PM, and I had had nothing to eat or drink. So essentially his act of stupidity poked the hibernating bear. He sulked out to the car to tell me that his old boss had stopped by, as if that was a good excuse to ignore his calls, texts, and manners that I am trying so hard to re-raise him with.
Thursday. Let me start by saying that I ran out of Vicodin on Thursday. Work, see above and shake your head. And I came home to an injured Gunnar. Final Radiology read concludes that he has a tiny buckle fracture at the top of his fibula. They consulted with his pediatrician and orthopedic and decided the best course of action for him is to do nothing. Restraining him and trying to make his stay still would inadvertently do him more bad than good, and since he is walking around fine, and they thought that it was originally a deep bone bruise, they are not going to do anything.
Friday. I came home, cried, watched some Grey's, cried some more, and was so wound up from the day that I didn't go to sleep until this morning.
Saturday. We had a "Come to Jesus" at work. I came home and took a nap, because I was that exhausted.
So all in all, I want to quit my job, put myself in a padded room, and isolate myself. This week was a Bania record of bad with 3 trips to the Urgent Care, 4 broken bones, a sick daddy and a really tired Mommy.
At least 3/4 kids are well, no one was seriously injured, I am not sick, and we are 6 hours and 50 minutes away from the start of the new week.
This house!
Crazy terri-bad at work.
Medically nauseating at home.
Frustrating emotionally and physically.
They do always say though, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. You may want to kill yourself, but somehow remain strong enough to resist the urge somehow. And, by George, and with Bob as my witness, I am not sure how I resisted.
This year started off with a stress induced Mommy purge. I sprinted around the house attempting to clean up all the dirty from 2011 that still lingered (and consequently still does). All I managed to do was wrangle up all the Christmas toys strewn about the downstairs. In this course of events I broke my foot. I broke my foot in 3 places by dropping the wooden base of a doll stand on my foot, because like a giant idiot I thought that it was one piece. Lesson learned.
I did not decide to go to the doctor until Tuesday though. I was a little embarrassed and really did think that it was only bruised. I was wrong, my doctor was surprised I was walking. And worst of all, Justin was right.
Wednesday, well it didn't bring anything better. Work infuriated me. We won't get into that bit, mostly because I might throw a tantrum, a good old fashioned roll up in a ball and kick and scream while I roll around crying on the floor tantrum, because it was that bad. I came home to a sick husband, by the way, he led me to believe that he was dying the way he was carrying on. Oh yeah, I forgot the only thing all women can agree on, men are babies. He was "suffering" through the same cold that I had been experiencing for the past two weeks. So sick he had to go to the doctor, and too sick to go into work the next day, we took a note to his work for his (censored) boss. I thought that this trip would last seconds because naturally I am a girl and we think everything is easy. 30 mins, 2 calls to his unanswered cell, 3 texts, and finally a call to his work that sounded something like this: "Thank you for calling Where he Works. Please Hold." "Nope, won't be holding, you tell Justin that if he is so sick and still needs a ride home, he will come out to said family waiting for him for the past 30 mins now, or he will walk his ass home to his stuff on the front yard."
Now, near in mind that I had been at work since 7:15 am, and it was now nearly 10 PM, and I had had nothing to eat or drink. So essentially his act of stupidity poked the hibernating bear. He sulked out to the car to tell me that his old boss had stopped by, as if that was a good excuse to ignore his calls, texts, and manners that I am trying so hard to re-raise him with.
Thursday. Let me start by saying that I ran out of Vicodin on Thursday. Work, see above and shake your head. And I came home to an injured Gunnar. Final Radiology read concludes that he has a tiny buckle fracture at the top of his fibula. They consulted with his pediatrician and orthopedic and decided the best course of action for him is to do nothing. Restraining him and trying to make his stay still would inadvertently do him more bad than good, and since he is walking around fine, and they thought that it was originally a deep bone bruise, they are not going to do anything.
Friday. I came home, cried, watched some Grey's, cried some more, and was so wound up from the day that I didn't go to sleep until this morning.
Saturday. We had a "Come to Jesus" at work. I came home and took a nap, because I was that exhausted.
So all in all, I want to quit my job, put myself in a padded room, and isolate myself. This week was a Bania record of bad with 3 trips to the Urgent Care, 4 broken bones, a sick daddy and a really tired Mommy.
At least 3/4 kids are well, no one was seriously injured, I am not sick, and we are 6 hours and 50 minutes away from the start of the new week.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
The Skill
The Skill. For some the skill is a slight eye roll, others a full head roll. For all children it is the doe eyes, but for all mothers it is the look.
The Look. The face a mother projects onto one's children when their behavior is so profane that words cannot be spoken.
The Skill in this household in particular:
It is not:
Brenna putting one hand on her hip as she yells, "It's my turn, Mommy!" Completing the move with a duck faced head roll.
It is:
My response of the mimic, followed by the head rolling duck face, completed with the mother stare of death, and the question, "Is this how you want to play? Cause I can play this game, and girl I will win." As Brenna storms up stairs arms folded across her chest in defeat. The look was so powerful, that even though it was not aimed at the boys, they promptly went upstairs and brushed their teeth before coming back down to conclude their Wii Games.
That is The Skill.
The Look. The face a mother projects onto one's children when their behavior is so profane that words cannot be spoken.
The Skill in this household in particular:
It is not:
Brenna putting one hand on her hip as she yells, "It's my turn, Mommy!" Completing the move with a duck faced head roll.
It is:
My response of the mimic, followed by the head rolling duck face, completed with the mother stare of death, and the question, "Is this how you want to play? Cause I can play this game, and girl I will win." As Brenna storms up stairs arms folded across her chest in defeat. The look was so powerful, that even though it was not aimed at the boys, they promptly went upstairs and brushed their teeth before coming back down to conclude their Wii Games.
That is The Skill.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
New Years Purge
I save everything. Ev.Er.Y.Thing. I still have Jaxom's first day bus pass from Kindergarten. I have Odin's blood Pressure Cuff from the NICU...I would probably still have Gunnar's umbilical cord had Brenna not ate it thinking it was a raisin.
Up until 2011, I have hoarded every memory of my children into physical traces of them.
Up until 2011, I had every article of clothing each one had ever worn.
Up until 2011, I kept every piece of school work that was brought home, even those awful advertisements for Market Day and Chuckie Cheese.
UP until 2011, I still had my clothes from Middle School, and admittedly, with a bit of shame now, wore them with pride.
I was afraid that I would forget. I thought that somehow having those physical things would help me remember everything. My kids are the most important thing in my life, I didn't want to forget them, any moment of them. I think now that what scared me, and still scares me, is the fact that my grandfather had Alzheimer's Disease. He forgot who we are were before he passed.
I met a special person in 2011. That person helped me realize that I was obsessing over the wrong things. I was forgetting that all these things didn't matter, I was spending more time trying to find places for all the stuff that we were accumulating, when I could have been having more fun with the kids I was so desperate not to forget.
In June, I made the leap. I got rid of the first things in years. Admittedly, I still kept a lot of stuff, but I did get rid of about 70% of the 3 boys newborn - 12 months clothes. I decided that if it couldn't fit in a single space saver bag, it was still too much. I gave it away.
In July, I got rid of a lot of the stuff that Brenna had out grown. I kept her favorite 3 shirts, a dress and 2 pairs of shorts. I gave the rest away.
In August, I weeded through the kids Hospital Boxes. I now have only 4 shoe boxes with their hospital memorabilia in them. 1 for each child. The rest I either pitched or donated to the local High School.
In September, I took a break. For the Rest of the Year.
I picked it back up today. I had bags full of my clothes and Justin's clothes from the latest Lice escapade in November. I had been dreading hanging all the stuff back up. Well I didn't need to. I donated about 50% of our clothes...most of it either didn't fit, or we didn't have a purpose for it any longer.
I have planned on utilizing some new software/app to save copies of all my receipts this year so I can categorize them electronically. It's one more thing that I am letting go of. Quite honestly, I am surprised I haven't done it before. I always pull my hair out in December getting everything sorted before it's tax time in January.
I look forward to getting rid of things for the first time in 2012 before I fill an entire room. I'll settle for just getting rid of it before the end of the year. Some things deserve to be saved, some donated, some just tossed.
Thank you special friend for freeing me and my family from all of our baggage...literally.
Up until 2011, I have hoarded every memory of my children into physical traces of them.
Up until 2011, I had every article of clothing each one had ever worn.
Up until 2011, I kept every piece of school work that was brought home, even those awful advertisements for Market Day and Chuckie Cheese.
UP until 2011, I still had my clothes from Middle School, and admittedly, with a bit of shame now, wore them with pride.
I was afraid that I would forget. I thought that somehow having those physical things would help me remember everything. My kids are the most important thing in my life, I didn't want to forget them, any moment of them. I think now that what scared me, and still scares me, is the fact that my grandfather had Alzheimer's Disease. He forgot who we are were before he passed.
I met a special person in 2011. That person helped me realize that I was obsessing over the wrong things. I was forgetting that all these things didn't matter, I was spending more time trying to find places for all the stuff that we were accumulating, when I could have been having more fun with the kids I was so desperate not to forget.
In June, I made the leap. I got rid of the first things in years. Admittedly, I still kept a lot of stuff, but I did get rid of about 70% of the 3 boys newborn - 12 months clothes. I decided that if it couldn't fit in a single space saver bag, it was still too much. I gave it away.
In July, I got rid of a lot of the stuff that Brenna had out grown. I kept her favorite 3 shirts, a dress and 2 pairs of shorts. I gave the rest away.
In August, I weeded through the kids Hospital Boxes. I now have only 4 shoe boxes with their hospital memorabilia in them. 1 for each child. The rest I either pitched or donated to the local High School.
In September, I took a break. For the Rest of the Year.
I picked it back up today. I had bags full of my clothes and Justin's clothes from the latest Lice escapade in November. I had been dreading hanging all the stuff back up. Well I didn't need to. I donated about 50% of our clothes...most of it either didn't fit, or we didn't have a purpose for it any longer.
I have planned on utilizing some new software/app to save copies of all my receipts this year so I can categorize them electronically. It's one more thing that I am letting go of. Quite honestly, I am surprised I haven't done it before. I always pull my hair out in December getting everything sorted before it's tax time in January.
I look forward to getting rid of things for the first time in 2012 before I fill an entire room. I'll settle for just getting rid of it before the end of the year. Some things deserve to be saved, some donated, some just tossed.
Thank you special friend for freeing me and my family from all of our baggage...literally.
Things that will happen this year
There will be an extra day this year. Bonus, it's my best friend's birthday. There is 2 ways to look at this extra day. 1. If this is a great year, it's only going to add to the awesome, but on the other hand 2. If this is a not so kind year, it will be an extra day of the suck.
Brenna will turn 8, Jaxom 10, Gunnar 5, and Odin will be 4. There are some pretty serious birthdays in there for my kids. A double digit, making me feel oh so old. Another school bound, not ready for this one.
Gunnar will start school ready or not. I for one do not think that MPSS is ready for my darling rambo, but I have heard that school can do wonders for kids. My own mother tells me that it was a game changer for me. So let us hope that Gunnar takes after his dear old MOM.
I will be turning 30. Even though I stopped acknowledging birthday's in 2011, my body will continue to age to 30 years. Let the slipperty down hill slope to dementia, old age, and incontinence begin.
All of those things are definately going to be happening to my darling little family, but we do have a few hopes and dreams for the new year.
Justin will find a new job.
Gunnar will do well in school.
We will buy a newer car than the 95 and 01 we have now.
We will save more by putting our savings on groceries aside in another account.
And of course there are some things we hope will not happen.
We do not want the world to end as predicted.
We do not want to fall into debt.
We do not want sickness or how sickness sometimes ends this year, we had enough in 2011.
Brenna will turn 8, Jaxom 10, Gunnar 5, and Odin will be 4. There are some pretty serious birthdays in there for my kids. A double digit, making me feel oh so old. Another school bound, not ready for this one.
Gunnar will start school ready or not. I for one do not think that MPSS is ready for my darling rambo, but I have heard that school can do wonders for kids. My own mother tells me that it was a game changer for me. So let us hope that Gunnar takes after his dear old MOM.
I will be turning 30. Even though I stopped acknowledging birthday's in 2011, my body will continue to age to 30 years. Let the slipperty down hill slope to dementia, old age, and incontinence begin.
All of those things are definately going to be happening to my darling little family, but we do have a few hopes and dreams for the new year.
Justin will find a new job.
Gunnar will do well in school.
We will buy a newer car than the 95 and 01 we have now.
We will save more by putting our savings on groceries aside in another account.
And of course there are some things we hope will not happen.
We do not want the world to end as predicted.
We do not want to fall into debt.
We do not want sickness or how sickness sometimes ends this year, we had enough in 2011.
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