The Terrible 2's, 3's, 4's and 5's

I kind of expected that the terrible 2's would last into year 3 and 4.  I have girls.  It takes a while for them to outgrow that terrible stage.  My 10 year old and 7 year old (while they do still have terrible moments) basically were finished with the terrible 2's by the time they turned 5.  Well... we are well into our 5's with the last one and there is no end in sight!

There is terrible on a daily basis.  Don't get me wrong... I love my 3rd daughter.  I just really, really HATE having to still deal with mall tantrums, baby talk, hitting, spitting, fighting and general "terrible 2's" type of behavior.  We've been through kindergarten once... and yes, every day I thank God that we made the right choice of repeating.  She'll be 6 in a few months and I don't think I can bare the thought of her todder behavior following us into the 6's. 

It's hard to say but I am embarassed and humiliated by her so often that I dread taking her out in public.  I know, my husband will be totally pissed off that I even had these thoughts much less put them down in print.  But honey... we can't possibly be the only parents on the earth with a 5 year old daughter who acts like she's 2.

No... she won't eventually outgrow it.  My best hope is that she at least tries to tame it.  One day she'll make a great lawyer... she lies and tells stories with the best of them.  Maybe she'll be a politician... she seems to like living in a fantasy world.  I kind of think she'd make an amazing actress.  She likes to be the center of attention... and she likes sparkly things!

My little girl... so much trouble... I'm hanging by a thread for that one day I can finally say, it was all worth it.

Life is Boring!

It's week 3 of summer vacation and all I have heard today is, "I'm bored."  Never mind that we took the kids to lunch and a movie yesterday... never mind that the 10 year old spend the entire night and morning at her friends' house... never mind that they have plans to go swimming and have dinner with Grandma today.  No... they are just crazy bored.  Seems that the TV is the only thing that can make them "not bored".  But wait... even the TV gets boring after about 10 straight hours of watching it.

There are lots of things to do...

Read books (boring!), clean rooms (boring!), be creative (boring!).  5 more weeks of boring to go!  How boring!

Traveling... with Kids.

It's always the same question.  Where do we go for summer vacation?  What always trips us up (no pun intended) is the fact the trip has to include three children.  With three girls 10 and under, we are kind of limited.  Never mind the expense factor ( 5 airline tickets are almost always out of the question), and let's not forget that cruises don't cater to the 5-in-a-room philosophy, but deciding on a place that will entertain two adults and 3 kids is a guessing game at best.

Once again we opted for a drive and stay vacation.  Last year we did the Grand Canyon and Phoenix... this summer we chose Tucson.  Not too far away, nice resorts, lots of pool time.  Good choice huh?

Sure... assuming your children behave.  Ours don't.

It's quite the whirlwind, never knowing if they will get along (insist on sitting next to each other because they absolutely HAVE to play Barbie Dolls together) or if they will despise each other (putting their feet up, pulling hair, sticking the tongue out and generally doing everything they can to annoy).  Usually it's the latter.  Sigh!

I keep thinking that each year it will be better.  They are older, have learned how to get along better, right?  Wrong.  They haven't learned a thing.  And after a week of ups and downs, it is so, so good to finally be home.  Where we can actually send them to their rooms!

Love the Dives

If you are ever in Tucson I highly recommend eating breakfast at Frank's on Pima Blvd.   This place is the biggest little dive, but the food is awesome.  The Food Goddess (aka Candy) is a gruff looking and talking waitress that at one time was the Manager before she was fired and then came back after several years and is now waitressing.  I had the spanish omelette, hubby had the huevos rancheros, kids had a sausage omelette, egg sandwich and egg plate that they all enjoyed.  Coffee was perfect and hot!

Somehow we have a knack for finding these places.  Best meal in Tucson.

On to Tombstone...

Biodome 2

Just spent the morning visiting and touring Biodome 2 in Arizona.  Wow... what an incredible place.  It was such a great learning experience and I highly recommend going at least once.  It is among the top 50 places in the world to visit.   If you aren't very scientific (like me) and donMt know what Biodome 1 is, let me educate... it's Earth!  Biodome 2 simulates all the earth's climate conditions.

It is incredible that scientists can recreate the conditions in different parts of the world and really study them in depth.  The one important fact I came away with?  Don't mess with the earth!

Here in the Desert

Woke up to an amazing view of the mountains... after the kids flung open the drapes to let all the sunlight stream in and wake me up.  Once again... all four girls in the room dressed and ready and sole male still walking around in a towel.

We were pretty lucky getting here yesterday in about 7 hours with one bathroom break and a stop for lunch.  Yes, the girls whined and complained the entire way.  Lauryn asked about a dozen times if we were almost there... and she decided just as we entered Tucson that she wanted to go home.

But we're here... of course I forgot to bring my makeup bag... guess that just means I get to go buy all new stuff.  Fun for me!

Ooooo... just saw a little bunny hop across the gravel near our porch.  There are rabbits everywhere here.  Also saw a family of quail yesterday.

The Family Trip

Here we are once again... just last summer about this time I started this blog to write about our road trip down Route 66 from California to Arizona.  One short year later, we are getting back in the car and back on the road to travel to Arizona once again.  This time we'll be heading to Southern Arizona and planting ourselves in Tucson for the entire week.  Pool, horseback riding, Tombstone and lots of Mexican food.

Spent the last several hours packing up... doing laundry, taking out trash, cleaning house.  I think I am over-tired... you know, when you are way too tired to even lie down and sleep.  I think I have a million things running through my mind, not the least of which is the fact that I feel totally unprepared for this trip.  Other than our hotel (excuse me... RESORT), this is the least planned out trip we've ever taken.  Of course, Arizona was like 6th on our list of summer vacations.

1. Cruise (too expensive)
2. Hawaii (too expensive)
3. Bahamas (too expensive)
4. North Carolina (too expensive considering we also wanted to add South Carolina and Georgia)
5. Oregon/Washington (couldn't stomach the thought of all that time riding in a car with three girls)
6. Arizona

Anyone want to place a bet as to our estimated time of departure tomorrow?  I really wish I could say we'd be on the road by 9am... but anyone who knows my husband will probably guess the time to be closer to 11am.  You know... gotta stop at the bank, gotta stop at the tire shop, gotta stop at the gas station... you get the picture.

School's Out

My kids are official in 5th grade, 3rd grade and ..... ummmm.... kindergarten.  Again?  Yes, again!  It was a tough decision but I know it's the right one.  We are going to keep our youngest in kindergarten for another year.  I'm actually quite excited about it.  I know it's giving her a second chance to be a great student.  It was just one of those really tough decisions a parent has to make.  If it was up to the school principal, she'd be going to 1st grade which would have turned out to be a disaster for her and for me.

So summer time is here.  Quiet house while the youngest is napping (hard to believe, I know) and the older two are at a neighbor's house playing with water balloons.  So I took the opportunity to throw out the old backpacks and sort through the endless amounts of art projects and schoolwork they brought home.  I think after 5 years I've got it down to a science.  I only keep the projects that I know they would be interested in seeing when they are older.  And of course, I keep a handful of those reports they got an "A" on.  Just so I can pull them out when I'm really angry at them and tell myself that they are doing well in school so I must be doing something right.

And I've made my summer project list.  No, not for them.  For me.  Ha ha ha... I wonder if I'll actually get through any of them.  But it's only Day 1 of 8 weeks with the kids, so I'm still feeling pretty energized.  Tomorrow, Day 2, I may feel completely different.

One more week and we'll be off to Arizona.  A little sun, swimming and horseback riding.  And when we get back, hubby and I will be planning a weekend away just to recover from a road trip vacation with 3 kids.

Let the summer begin...

What are the odds???

As usual, Amanda decided to have a fried egg for breakfast this morning.  She pretty much has a fried egg every morning (walking in the footsteps of her father).  So we heated up the pan and I cracked the egg and.... lucky Amanda got a double yolk!  What are the odds of that happening? 

Needless to say, it was quite the event.

Then... Lauryn wanted an egg as well.  So I picked up another egg and cracked that into the pan and.... double yolk!!!!  Now one double yolk is amazing, but two?  Incredible!

And now two of my girls were eating double yolks.  But wait... there's more...

Temera decided that she would have one just for fun.  I told her there was no way she was going to have a double yolk and she'd end up being disappointed.  But....

DOUBLE YOLK!!!!!!

THREE DOUBLE YOLKS IN ONE MORNING!!!!!

This must be our lucky day!

Will let you know tomorrow morning what the rest of the eggs look like.  I just might have bought an entire carton of lucky eggs.

My Thoughts on Immigration

Just wondering how our country, at one time, used to manage thousands of immigrants coming into our country DAILY and now we can't manage to figure out how to allow immigrants to enter legally without costing us and them thousands of dollars and taking several years.  Sorry, just don't understand.

I must admit I haven't read the entire bill that allows Arizona to stop the illegal immigrants, however, it must be a step in the right direction if people all over the country are against it.  I say that because coming from a border state, I see the effect that people being here illegally can cause.  We pay for their medical care, we pay for their lack of car insurance, we pay for their welfare checks.  If making these people legal citizens means they will be paying their own way (and contributing to our country's tax burden) then why is this a bad thing?

Our laws on legal citizenship are pretty simple:  speak English and learn about our country.  What isn't simple is the length of time and money it takes to actually get to that point.  It only takes someone being here (with a proper work visa) 5 years before they can become a citizen.  BUT... it can take up to 10 years to even be allowed to get a work visa.  That's just pathetic.  How about some of that stimulus money going to create some jobs so there are more people to do the paperwork on these people.  I think that might be some more government jobs that we all might actually approve of.  Come on people... we have computers now!  We don't need to wait for paperwork to be mailed from California to Washington D.C.  I say let's get this thing going and get back to helping immigrants become LEGAL!!!!!!

F.Y.I.   I'll be spending this summer in Arizona.  Feel free to stay away... more room at the pool for me.

My Saturday

So, 3 hours later, we had to figure out a way to tell the very nice guys that we wouldn't be signing their contract to remodel our kitchen for that astronomicle (sp?) price they wrote down.  In reality, it was a very reasonable price quote, but seriously, paying that kind of money when we could realistically do it ourselves (in theory we can, but will we?).  I don't know.  Houses may be more trouble than they're worth.  Sure, you can fix it up to your own tastes, but how many people really do?  I'm a designer and I can't figure out what I want.  Oh yea...now I remember:  I want a new house! 

Meanwhile, we'll be at the Hollywood Bowl tonight seeing the Eagles in concert.  Very excited but not looking forward to packing up everything we need to take with us.  Cushions to sit on, blanket for the cold, dinner, wine, bottle opener, camera, binoculars... oh and I hope I don't forget the tickets.  That would really suck!

Kids packing to go to Grandma's... husband out washing the car... Mom blogging, FBing, tweeting, etc.

A typical Saturday!

Adopted Russian Boy Returned - My Commentary

The latest story in the news that has my blood boiling is about a Tennessee woman who adopted a child from an orphanage in Russia.  She recently just put this 7 year old boy on an international airline flight ALONE back to Russia with a note saying she no longer wished to parent the boy.

OMG!!!!!!

The woman and her mother both said that they feared for their lives and the boy threatened to burn their house down.  Can I just say that anytime I say no to my 5 year old daughter she tells me she hates me and is going to kill me?  Now, I will admit that I don't know this child... or the adoptive mother.  I will also admit that this boy could very well have had emotional issues.  But...

The adoptive mother never took the boy for counseling.  She never had him seen by a doctor.  She didn't have him in school because of the language problem.  And may I say that any child coming out of an orphanage is bound to have issues.

I have never adopted a child (I have three of my own) but I personally know several couples who did adopt from Russia (both as babies and as older boys).  Yes, there were issues and yes, it wasn't always an easy transition, but the way I see it - adopting is no different than birthing your own child.  You just never know what you're going to get.  Plenty of healthy, newborn babies grow up to be disturbed adults.  Hello... that's why there are doctors and counselors. 

A real parent doesn't give up on their child.
A real parent doesn't send their child away.
A real parent knows what unconditional love is.

I don't know this Tennessee woman but I do know she isn't a real parent.

Bullying: Why is nothing being done?

Let's face it:  bullying is a huge problem.  It's not a new problem, but it is definitely one that is gaining in momentum.  With the invention of email, facebook, myspace and twitter, bullying has taken on a life of it's own and something really needs to be done to stop it.  Nearly every day you can find another story about violence caused by bullying, whether it be an attack or a suicide.  How incredibly sad when you hear of school officials and/or parents who KNOW about the bullying and do nothing to stop it!  The laws regulating bullying (or should I say, lack of laws) is outrageous.

In our school, for instance, there are daily occurances of kids taunting other kids, making threats, pushing, teasing, etc.  And no, there is generally nothing done about it.  There seems to be a set of school rules that only exist for protect the bully.  What ever happened to kids being expelled at school for causing harm?  When a child threatens to harm another student, why isn't that kid able to be seen by a professional?  Apparently the "rules" are that seeking help is only an option AFTER a physical attack occurs.  Hmmm.  So my child can only be protected AFTER she gets physically hit?  Wow... what a screwed up society we have.  Interesting how an adult can get a restraining order on another adult who threatens them, but a child can't go to school officials and request such an order for another child.  As parents, what are we supposed to do?  Many end up pulling good kids out of school.  How insanely ridiculous that the good kids are suffering and the bad kids go about their business as if nothing has happened.  Come on school board... and PTA... and local police departments.  DO SOMETHING!!!!  It's the kid who bullies at 10 who will become the same kid who pulls a gun in high school.

Disclaimer:  No, my own kids have not been personally bullied at school.  They do, however, know other kids who have.  Yes, I personally know some of the bullies and know for a fact that nothing is being done.  Scary!

Never a Dull Moment

Two major events happened within the past 24 hours in our house.

1) Last night after dinner and showers, I asked Amanda to go outside and tell her sisters to come in the house.  (Shower and backyard play don't mix in my book!)  So she goes outside and not 3 minutes later Temera comes running inside yelling, "Mandy fell, she's got blood everywhere!"  It's about 7:00 pm and I just put some chocolate chip cookies in the oven.  So "blood everywhere" really isn't what I wanted to hear at that point.  Apparantly, my tomboy daughter decided that instead of telling her sisters to come inside, she would have some fun on the monkey bars.  Problem is, she missed.  And face down she went onto the ground.  Now, our monkey bars are pretty high up, so that little 7 year old must have taken quite the nose-dive (literally).  Blood everywhere! 

By some miracle, her nose wasn't broken and her teeth weren't chipped.  That girl must have a guardian angel watching over her.  Nothing that an ice pack (and some chocolate chip cookies) couldn't fix.

2) This morning, I'm getting the girls ready for school.  I make Lauryn a cheese omelet like I do most days.  This day, however, she isn't real happy that I cut it in half and gave part of it to her sister.  In fact, she is so upset at me... and Temera... and the whole family in general... that she decides to call 9-1-1.  (I knew nothing good could come out of that child learning her numbers.)  I hear her dialing the phone and tell her to hang it up.  She does, but by that time someone has already answered the phone.  Oh dear!  About 3 seconds later, I get a phone call from the L.A. Country Sheriff.  Yes, my 5 year old called 9-1-1.  No, we don't have a problem.  I'm apologetic (and totally embarassed) and hoping they don't send a police car to my house.  They didn't.  But always good to know that they are on top of those 9-1-1 calls.

More and more and more wasteful spending....

I'm starting to hate going to the mail every day.  I thought junk mail was bad enough... but junk mail is on someone else's dime, not mine.  (I won't start on the trees being cut down, etc., etc.)  But junk mail ain't got nuthin' on our wonderful spend-like-there's-no-tomorrow government!

First, we all get letters (at the cost of $83 million) informing us that we will be receiving the 2010 Census Form in the mail.  I don't know about most people but I don't usually need to be told that I'm going to get something in the mail.  It's okay... just send me what you're going to send me.

Then we get the actual Census in the mail.  Okay... kind of a waste of paper (couldn't this be something we can fill out online and save us all the trouble?).  I filled it out and sent it in - better than having some stranger come knocking on my door and asking me all kinds of questions.

But seriously... did we all really need ANOTHER piece of mail (at what cost?) telling us that we should have received the Census in the mail. 

So let's recap... letter saying we will be receiving the Census... actual Census... postcard saying we should have received the Census. 

And our country is in debt?  No Kidding!

Trying Something New

Yesterday I gave myself a week of eating Vegetarian.  I thought I'd try it and see how it goes.  I keep hearing so much about how you'll feel so much better, clearer, lighter, etc.  In truth, it's day two and I'm doing pretty good, eating more Vegan than Vegetarian.  Not sure how long I'll be able to cut out milk and eggs completely, but it isn't as hard as I thought it would be.  Of course, I'm only on day 2 so by tomorrow I may be craving a cheeseburger.

My Choice

A local soldier died in Afghanistan. 

Yes, he's one of many. 

No, we didn't know him personally.

I will be taking my children out tomorrow afternoon to stand on the street and wave the American Flag while his funeral procession drives by on the way from the church service to the cemetary.  Why?

Because when I told my daughter that a soldier from our town died fighting a war for our country she said, "So, people die all the time."

I was speechless.  They don't get it - the children, my children, our nation's children.  They don't get that war is bad, that people die, brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, cousins... they die to protect us.  It doesn't matter if you are for or against any political agenda, the fact remains: people die.

I want my children to "get it".  I want them to understand that there are total strangers that sacrifice their lives so that we are free.  They get to go to movies and parties and travel... because men and women put themselves in front of us.  In front of me, in front of them.

My kids get to have a public education.  They get to grow up to vote for whoever they want to.  They get to decide what clothes to wear, what food to eat, who their friends are and what religion to practice.  They have a choice. 

I have a choice.  I am choosing to stand on a street corner tomorrow so that my kids will "get it".  I know they will... and I know it's the right thing to do.

Another Manic Morning

Meltdown Mandy strikes again!

The drama that is generated by one tiny 7 year old girl is truly a feat of nature.  If the energy that is generated by the screaming, feat stomping and hysterical crying could only be harnessed, our energy crisis would be history.  Hmmm... maybe I can figure out a way to strap her to the roof and power our entire house instead of putting up expensive solar panels.

I get that it's early, I get that school can be a drag, I get that guitar lessons this afternoon cause anxiety (despite the fact that she begged for those lessons for a year).  Still.... just brush your darn teeth!!!!!!

What Mandy doesn't like to do:

1. Brush teeth.
2. Get dressed.
3. Clean room.
4. Pack lunch.
5. Make her own breakfast.
5. Go to school.
6. Do homework.
7. Practice the guitar.

If anybody can figure out what my 7 year old precious love of a daughter DOES like to do... please let me know!

A Laugh a Day

My mornings getting three girls ready for school are always crazy.  The clothes, the hair, the breakfasts and lunches... it usually leads to a lot of yelling, fighting, and crying.  In short... I hate mornings.  By the time we actually get into the car I am so looking forward to getting them out of the car and having a few hours to myself.

This morning it wasn't much different, but when we got in the car the tide turned.  My 5 year old had gotten a cheap little plastic toy from McDonalds the other day.  It was an iCarly Spencer's Magic Meatball.  For those of you who don't know what this is (I didn't either) it is something along the lines of a Magic 8 Ball.  You ask it a question and it gives you an answer.

The kids started asking questions...

Temera asked if she was going to her friend's house after school (she is).
Answer: Magic Meatball says YES

Amanda asked if she was going to have the best day ever at school.
Answer: Magic Meatball says NO

Okay... this would be funny enough but Amanda kept asking the same question over and over again.  Was she going to have the best day ever at school.  The answer kept coming up: Magic Meatball says NO.

We laughed every time it said that.  And laughed.  And laughed. 

By the time we got to school we were all laughing so hard.  It was wonderful.

I can't remember the last time I laughed so hard with my daughters.  Amazing how a plastic Magic Meatball can turn a miserable morning into a joyous one.

What a Waste!

So I go get the mail today and in the box I find a letter from the United States Census Bureau.  Well, with all the advertising they have been doing lately (and I mean a hell of a lot of advertising - expensive advertising) I assumed it was the Census form we need to fill out.  Wrong!

What I received in the mail was a letter informing me that I would be receiving a letter - next week - that I would need to fill out and return. 

So let's review... I got a letter telling me I'm getting a letter?  Yep, that's right!

Not just any letter... a first class ($) folded letter ($) stuck inside an envelope ($).  Hmmmm... can you add up the money for this one?  I can ($$$)!  And while we are at it, how many trees were destroyed just to send everyone a letter telling them they'll be getting a letter?  No, I'm no tree-hugger, but seriously?  Our country has no money and they are wasting what little we have on this crap? 

And yes... I will be sending a letter to my Congressman, Senator, the White House... and whoever else I can think of who won't care and doesn't give a damn.

The Tantrum

1. We walk into the mall.
2. We order Mandy lunch from Panda Express.
3. They are out of chow mein - it will take 10 minutes to make more.
4. Lauryn asks for a toy.
5. I say no.
6. Lauryn throws a temper tantrum in the mall in line at Panda Express while we are waiting 10 minutes for chow mein.
7. We go to Hot Dog on a Stick to order lunch for Temera.
8.  Lauryn points to the lemonade.
9. I ask Lauryn if she wants lemonade.
10. She says no.
11. Temera gets her food and we sit down.
12. Lauryn says she wants lemonade.
13. I tell her she already said she didn't want it and I wasn't going back to get it.
14. Lauryn throws temper tantrum #2 at the table in the middle of the food court at the mall.
15.  Temera and Amanda finish their lunch (quickly) and we come straight home.

No shopping.
No birthday gift for Mandy's friend.
No stopping at Trader Joes to pick up dinner.

Everybody miserable!

An average day in my life!

My Newest Pet Peeve

We have a day off of school this week and where do you think most of the kids will be?  Disneyland!

I don't get it... my girls come home every week telling me about a friend (or several) who is going to Disneyland for the day (or weekend).  Now we make a pretty decent living... my kids have plenty of clothes, shoes, warm jackets and enough toys to keep them busy for weeks.  What I don't understand is how most of these other families are actually affording to take their kids to Disneyland every month.  I may not be an accountant but I can figure out that the cost for 5 of us to go to Disneyland will run us about $320 a pop - NOT including parking AND food AND souvenirs!  That seems a little excessive to me.

Now I do understand that since we live in Southern California that many, many people actually do work for Disney - lucky them, they get in FREE!!!!  (Not sure why we don't have ANYONE in our family that works for Disney.)  But really, aren't amusement parks supposed to be special?  Aren't they supposed to be a once in a while event?  Maybe for a birthday... or Spring Break? 

Hearing my kids tell me they want to go is painful.  I know their friends go all the time... we just can't afford to shell out over $400 for a day of fun.  We've only taken our kids to Disneyland once in their young lives... and that was 3 years ago.

So parents... if you are going to actually take your kids OUT of school for the day just to go have fun at Disneyland... please don't tell the entire school about it.  It's making the rest of us parents look (and feel) bad.

Tiger Apologizes

So Tiger Woods held a press conference this morning to apologize for his behavior.  To be honest, I thought this would be his way of "getting it over with" so to speak, so he could come back to golf and put the whole ugly mess behind him.  I ended up being surprised at his words.

My first thoughts after his car accident and the outing of his many affairs was that the Media should just leave him alone.  He certainly needed to work things out with his wife and family and it really was a private matter that was none of our business.  I still believe that to an extent, however, I was pleasantly surprised when he took the bold approach of admitting not only that he was wrong to cheat on his marriage, but that he was wrong to feel "entitled" to do so.  I can't stand when celebrities get away with bad behavior.  They certainly do feel that the laws don't apply to them and usually they don't.  It isn't right.  So when Tiger said that he thought the same rules didn't apply to him and that he was entitled to take liberties that go against the "norm", it was a big step not only for him, but I think it was something the general public needed to hear.

I think he was being sincere.  I think getting up in front of America (and probably the world) and admitting that you were wrong, your behavior was unexcusable, and you were going to do everything in your power to right the wrong is something to be admired.  Yes, it is going to take a lot on his part to make it right... and I feel for Elin and the kids because nobody deserves to be treated like that... but I think he'll do what it takes to make people feel proud of him and respect him again.  I hope he does.

Rainy Day Blues

So I've got three kids home sick today... my 10 year old, my 7 year old and my 45 year old.  The two youngest are watching TV, eating cinnamon toast and drinking tea with lots of  lemon and honey.  The older one is still sleeping.  Something tells me he'll be sleeping most of the day.

It's pouring out and I still need to go out and pick up my 5 year old.  Yuk!  All I really want to do is build a fire, cover myself with a snuggie and read a good book.  Mom never gets a break.

Chicken soup is on the stove simmering and the 7 year old has only asked me about 25 times when the soup is going to be ready.  Give me a break... homemade chicken soup takes time... lots of time... mixed with lots of love.  It'll be ready when it's ready.  Besides, I need to make matzah balls too.

Blogging and Motherhood

So I'm reading the book "Problogger" by Darren Rowse and Chris Garrett because my husband thinks that I can actually make money from blogging. Yeah right. Interesting book but something tells me this isn't going to make me rich. Especially since every time I sit down at my computer, I'm bombarded with...

"Mom, I need you"

"Mom, where are you"

"Mom, Mandy is hitting me"

"Mom, Lauryn is in my room"

"Mom, do we have school tomorrow?"

You get the picture. If I had a penny for every time a child of mine yelled "Mom" I think I would be retiring right about now.

Back to School

Vacation over. Kids are back to school. Lots of whining and complaining, "I don't want to go to schoooooool!" I gotta admit, getting up early and making lunches is not my idea of a fun time.



The past two weeks was pretty much uneventful. We didn't go anywhere and we didn't do much of anything. Amazing how without doing anything, we managed to always be busy. The kids went to see "The Princess and the Frog" and enjoyed it. I saw "Nine" and really liked it a lot despite the pan it got from critics. I hate critics... who are these people who tell us what movies we should like or not? They are pointless.

Finally finished our bedroom. Took David only..... days... weeks... months... to finish hanging our pictures.







Before

After

We are currently working on our home office... if I can get David to put together the desk that's been sitting in the garage for 2? 3? years. My next project? Temera's bedroom. She wants a Twilight theme. Hmmmm.... gone are the princesses and butterflies for this 10 year old.