Stephenie Create's

Fall is Here, Again!

2009-09-23T19:04:00.000-07:00

School has begun for BOTH of my children this year, Emma is in dance and that was a bear to get ready for but we did it! Emma had her first field trip today and I was ohhhh sooo sad that on Monday she got in the car and yelled at me, "I DONT WANT YOU TO GO! I WANT DADDY." So I stayed home today while Daddy took both girls this morning to Cherry Hill for Kate's 1st memorable hay ride, pumpkin pickin, apple picken and corn maze.

It is a strange feeling to miss something. Im usually the one that is there for everything and I missed it but thats what she requested and I have to except that I cant and wont be there for everything.

Fall Decoration is under way and I really feel like doing it up big this year so I will be taking the girls back to a pumpkin patch so we can enjoy time at the patch while picking out our pumpkin fun.

Tortilla Soup

2009-09-13T12:40:00.000-07:00

Happy Fall Everyone!

Serves 4 or add a bit more broth and you can make it stretch!!

Ingredients

6 Tblspns Cooking Oil

8 6 inch corn tortilla's, halved and cut crosswise into 1/4 inch strips (I cheat sometimes and just use regular ole Tortilla Chips)

1 Onion, chopped

4 large cloves garlic, smashed

1 tblspn paprika

2 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp ground coriander (I dont typically have this on hand so I skip it and the soup is still excellent)

1 tsp chili pwdr (We like spicy so I usually do a tblspn)

1/4 tsp cayenne

1 & 1/2 quarts canned low-sodium broth or homemade stock

3 cups canned crushed tomatoes in thick puree (one 28 oz can)

2 bay leaves

2 & 1/2 tsp salt

1/4 cup lightly packed cilantro leaves plus 3 tblspn chopped cilantro (This is optional but I love the stuff so I prolly use 2 or 3 times this)

1 & 1/4 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/4 inch pieces

1 avocado, cut into 1/2 inch dice (I use these if I remember)

1/4 lb cheddar, grated

Lime wedges for serving (I dont normally need this because I use so much cilantro)

Directions (If you are cheating with the tortilla chips and using store bought skip step 1)

1. In a large heavy pot, heat the oil over moderately high heat. Add half the tortilla strips and cook, stirring, until golden, about 1 minute. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Repeat with the remaining tortilla strips.

2. Reduce heat to moderately low. Add the onion, garlic and spices; cook, stirring for 5 minutes. Add the broth, tomatoes, bay leaves, salt, cilantro leaves, if using, and one-third of the tortilla chips. Bring to a simmer. Cook, uncovered for 30 minutes; remove the bay leaves.

3. In a blender, puree the soup in batches; pour it back into the pot. (I have to be honest.. I did this whole blender thing once and it was a PITA so I havent done it again. The soup is still just as good and we actually like it better because its more chunky.) Add the chicken, bring the soup back to a simmer and cook until kist done, about a minute. Stir in the avocado.

4. To serve put the remaining tortilla strips in bowls, top with cheese and pour in the soup. Sprinkle with the chopped cilantro, if using, and serve with the lime wedges.

Hmmmm

2009-06-14T06:42:00.000-07:00

I guess I have fallen off the wagon and have been forgetting to post on here. It wouldn't have anything to do with having 2 gardens one that is 25x75 feet and another that is 10x60ish feet. Its summer and theres a lot to be done in 3 months.

See ya in the fall. haha

Maybe, just maybe, I will post an update here and there.

Happy Anniversary

2009-04-29T14:30:00.000-07:00

Its been 9 years Big Daddy and we are still here. Just look at us avoiding those statistics. We're awesome!

I love you and here's to another 9 years. Cheers!

Skip the Mac and Cheese and pass the Broccoli

2009-04-14T16:37:00.000-07:00

Thats my Kate. Both of my girls actually do quite well with Veggies. Kate ate 4 kid size portions tonight of the oh so delicious Green Veggie.

YAY!!

A nice Spring Day

2009-04-09T19:05:00.000-07:00

Dear Inventor of the Automatic Flush,

2009-04-06T12:01:00.000-07:00

My daughter thinks you suck and that you did not think of the little kids who would have to sit on these toilets with new fangled contraptions that flush everytime they make a move. On your next invention you should develop an off switch.

Thanks
A Mom who spent her evening cleaning poo out of panties because her daughter is that terrified of the public potty with automatic flushers.

Yard Sale

2009-03-28T15:38:00.000-07:00

Flop. I have found that at most yard sales that I visit the one thing that typically flies right off the tables are kids clothes. NOT TODAY!

Where were the Mommies??? I dunno. Maybe it was the weather, it was a little cold and dreary.

My friend managed to sell 4 boxes of books, several sets of dishes and a lot of cookware, excercise equipment and a computer desk. ME.. I sold a dress, a jumper outfit, a slide and 4 pairs of newborn socks. HAHAHA

What a weird yard sale.

How can an almost 4 yr old...

2009-03-16T12:01:00.000-07:00

not like it outside? What in the world is going on with these kids and how am I suppose to get stuff done in the gardens?

Yes, another Spring post

2009-03-11T06:33:00.000-07:00

As you already know Im super duper excited about spring. So.. I thought I would mention another way I know Spring is in the air.

You know Spring is on the way when you get several furry visitors in your backyard. If you live in suburbia that would probably mean squirrels, chipmunks, etc. For me that means Eeyore and Midnight and many other equestrians come for a visit.

I should mention I received my new Nikon D40x DSLR camera in the past week and Im so excited to have it. Im still playing with it of course and Im sure I will for a year but I think Im off to a good start.

So when do you say....

2009-03-10T12:28:00.000-07:00

that the Fat Lady has sung and its over?

This seems to be a recurring thing with this stupid house. I get let down think we aren't going to be able to continue and then BOOM something sheds light and everything looks like it will be ok.

Well we are seriously considering this time that it just may not be meant to be. We love the property but the house is just ehhhh and the crap that goes a long with it just makes you want to snarl your nose.

At the last meeting with the township we were told that once we proved our access on paper that we were done. They would approve subdivision and we could move on with life and start stressing about getting a mortgage.

So proving access on paper has included going to the State of PA and asking permission for using the road that connects our property to State Gamelands which then connects to a driveway for 2 other people and takes us into MD. (This wouldn't be the road we would use on a daily basis but it is the road that Emergency Vehicles would have to use to get to us so it is easier to prove access that way.) So we talked to a guy from the state that was like, "Yeah, no problem. Send the forms and I will get it over to legal to review and sign". OK, so thats awesome until its been a month and a half and the guy won't return phone calls or emails and we have no signed paperwork. Then we talked to the first person who ones one of the drive ways we would have to use on the other side of the game lands and he said great email me the paperwork and I will get it to ya. He did. Nice guy. SO then the last signature we need is from a 75 yr old lady named Yacabell. I feel really bad for her but she thinks everyone is out to get her and prolly should be on some type of medication for it. So she was all nice the first time we went to see her and I went to give her the paperwork and she turned demon one me. Well not technically her but her drunk son who was also nice the first time we went up there and they dont want to sign it and we will more than likely have to take her to court if we want access.

SOOOOO NOW there are 3 houses back here on this screwed up piece of land in the arm pit of Chester County, West Nottingham Township, PA and all 3 houses have to sign a form stating that we all agree to share maintenance of the roads. Well Mr. Rich Pants across the drive wants us to start an account by all 3 of us first contributing an upfront $400 and $50 every month there after. Then he wants us to give him written permission to invest this money to try and make more with it. UHHHHH ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? This guy thinks we have to go and spread stone on the road if there is one little hole in the drive way and he wants ME to pay for that? LIKE HELL! So now he wont sign.

So do we continue fighting all this or do we walk away?

Add on top of all the above stuff the 2 accidents I have had that have totaled both vehicles and Stan being very lucky and getting away with some major bruising to internal organs and ribs for flipping the ATV over.

Maybe it really just isn't meant to be.

Spring is on its way

2009-03-08T19:09:00.000-07:00

and I couldn't be more elated. I got to work in my gardens and its some major work when you havent been using those weed pulling muscles all winter. I have so much work to do and I am just so dang excited to see everything turn green again.

I also started my little seedlings. I already have Radish and Snow Pea Sprouts and am waiting patiently on Cantaloupe, English Peas and Marigolds to come up.

Now on these cold days I have to somehow find the energy to catch up on the indoors work like wiping down my cabinets, cleaning those blades on the ceiling fans and finishing up some sewing projects because I doubt I will be sewing unless its a rainy day as it gets warmer.

YAY!! I'm so excited for the awesome weather coming. Can you tell?

Will someone please explain to me what a...

2009-03-03T10:25:00.000-08:00

JELLY ROLL is in the fabric world? Im so confused. I need to start a fabric collection but I dont want to buy things I may not use.

Husbands and ATV's

2009-03-02T05:49:00.000-08:00

WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING

Latest news. ATV's do not like husbands. They flip over and poke their handle bar ends in their bellies.

Ok maybe its the driver but still. My hubby was showing his brother and a friend around on the farm and the idiot neighbor boys dug out a mud pit. Well one of the guys got stuck the first time they went across it (its on a path to get in and out of one of the fields) so the second time they came through it my hubby decided to put his in 4 wheel drive in order to not get stuck. Well the front wheels went up and the back wheels went sliding. Over the thing went and when he tried to jump off of it his jacket got hung up and the end of the handle bar went directly into his belly just below his sternum.

He said it stayed indented for several minutes after they got the ATV off of him. We tried to go to an Urgent Care place and they were too worried that he may have torn his spleen or ruptured a disk that they couldn't see on regular xray's. So off to the ER for a CT Scan. WOOHOO.

Well we got to the ER and got right in but it took an hour and half for the chalky stuff to get in his system so that they could do the scan and then another hour for results and then we got a prescription and a release. He was fine. Severely bruised enough for some Oxycodone. 2 hours looking for a 24 hour pharmacy (and we were not successful) we finally got home at 1 am.

Thank god he is ok but I still have had to tend to him and everything else because he can barely move. YAY! Fun. But he is ok and that is the most important thing.

An evening at the craft/fabric store without kids

2009-02-24T20:19:00.001-08:00

PRICELESS

Fat Quarters

2009-02-23T13:21:00.000-08:00

and NO I don't mean a fat chicken leg. Good grief!

I never knew what these were and I had never heard of em until yesterday when I was browsing through some crafty blogs and they kept talking about these Fat Quarters. So I did an online search and ITS FABRIC SQUARES!

So today I cheated when I was only suppose to run to the Costco's after my dr. appt and I ran to Joann Fabric too. Well they had these Fat Quarters at the end of every aisle of fabric. I was in heaven.. I even picked out a few but the dont really all go together. I just thought each one was special in its own way. Maybe I will get inspiration out of them. Who knows what could happen.

A little craftiness

2009-02-22T12:03:00.001-08:00

I did manage to do these and I need to make one more for Kate. I'm trying to figure out if I want to make a half apron out of the same fabric or if I should just reverse the colors for her. My sister thinks I should make the girls match but I'm not sure I want 2 aprons exactly alike. They can switch and stuff if I make different ones but then maybe they will fight over the one that looks like mine. What do you think?

Finding the 30 yr old me

2009-02-22T11:45:00.000-08:00

So, I will be turning 30 this year and I still don't 'know' me. As said before this is the year to 'find'me and part of me is crafty. I love artsy fartsy stuff. I love country, modern, I love it all. I think it is all amazing but somehow I need to combine all of it in my life as the definition of 'me'.

There is the other part of me that craves an education further than high school but at the same point I wonder why. Is it because that is what Im suppose to do or is it because society has made me think I need this? I dont know what I would major in or what I would even begin with. I've tried the college thing atleast 3 times now and I still haven't completed a semester worth of credits.

I wonder what I would go for now but my mom is always in the back of my head telling me that I can't do it because it wont get me any where. Its the same thing she told me when I wanted to go to the Arts Magnet in High School in order to study up on playing flute and continue that into college. Who knows I could have played in a symphony or been a band teacher. Who knows? I guess I never will. Thanks, mom for your support. I can always count on you to beat me down and choose the safe path.

So now I fight with myself to let go of that past and just follow my heart and my dreams just as I will try and teach my children but its so hard to do that. Its similar to the clean plate club. Does it bother you when your children leave food on their plate but you know they will eat if they are hungry so you bite your tongue? Yeah thats where Im at with college. I feel Im too old now to follow my past dreams but what is my current dream? Do I have one past being a mother? No not really. I think the main reason I want to get some type of further education right now is just in case something ever happens to my spouse I will be able to support our family on my own. Is that a good reason? With that reason what does one go to school for? I dunno. Business I guess because its broad but god that sounds so boring and I even wonder if I can stick with it because it doesn't really interest me.

Well, I guess I will continue to ponder these question and one day I might be able to figure it out.

Until then I will continue sewing and looking at other crafty peoples blogs and see what happens.

When the Cat's away, the mice will play

2009-01-25T13:12:00.000-08:00

So, it is apparently girls week at my house. Big Daddy is away on business and there are 4 girls left at home.

I dont think we will get to do anything really extra special while Daddy is away but it will be nice for my sister and I to have control of the TV at night. We are typically stuck with things like Man vs. Wild, Dirty Jobs, How Thats Made or many many other MANLY type shows.

Im hoping to get some stuff done cleaning wise. For some reason its just easier to keep the house clean when its just us girls. Whats up with that?

Anyway, Cheers to a New Week.

We should've named him Snoopy

2009-01-11T19:35:00.000-08:00

This is Jack. He loves to sit on his house. We really should've named him Snoopy the Guniea Bird Attacker.

I'm waiting on him to pull out the typewriter and try to communicate with me.

I tried to talk him into putting up a Christmas tree but I only got a cock eyes look.

Finally done after 11+ years

2009-01-11T19:29:00.000-08:00

So I started this project before I got married. Im not exactly sure but sometime between graduating in 97 and before I married in 2000. I found it amongst all of my crafting/sewing supplies tonight while finally setting up my sewing table and machine. I decided I was just gunna finish it.

I was able to finish it in less than 20 minutes after looking up how to do a french embroidery knot. (Damn Procrastination is a horrible thing)

By the way it was just this little sunflower on the hem of a pillowcase.

Oh, and ignore the date my camera is a little confused.

A night out with just the girls.

2009-01-10T07:02:00.000-08:00

Well, Stan is out with the guys for the weekend. Actually, its pretty funny because he is 30 years old and he hanging out with a bunch of 50 year old men for the weekend. I think they plan on drinking expensive beer and playing hearts. (I think thats a card game and it sounds like one my grandmother would play.. haha)

Anyway, so the girls and I took a nap yesterday and then got dressed and went to Friendly's. Emma's favorite place to go is Friendly's and I think thats hilarious because in her 3.5 years she has only been about 4 times, MAYBE!

So after blowing my diet for the second time yesterday (first time was at my MOPS group where we host a little brunch for our meetings and I just cant pass up homemade food. YUM!) We headed off to the Super Walmart.

I have to say this is the 3rd time in the past year that Ive been in there and actually bought something. I really wish Target would stay open 24 hours. Heck I wish we could get a Target Greatland which is the equivalent of Super Walmart.

We didn't find much and the lines were horrendous. By the time I got my little 10 items to the register my kids were flipping out and I was relieved to be getting out of there. I got to my car to realize that I forgot that I had a wrapping paper Rubbermaid storage container under my cart. The cashier missed this fact as well. I sat there at the trunk of my car at 10:30 at night with kids screaming at the top of their lungs and passerbys staring intently at me. All I could think was WWJD (What would Jesus do) and I havent thought about that phrase in about 12 years. ha.

I debated the whole thing in my head because it was only $5 and Walmart has ripped me off plenty of times so was it fair game? Again, WWJD.

I loaded up the car put the kids in while still debating what to do and then as I was at the red light to leave I did a u turn. Went back the entrance parked my car right in front of the door. Grabbed the stupid tub and ran it in to the poor little old lady guarding the door. I told her that the cashier and I had missed it and I saw it as I was unloading and decided it wasn't worth waiting in line again to pay for it.

So I know in the past I have done this COMPLETELY by Accident and I have kept such an item. Its never something to expensive and thats how, in the past, I have justified it. I dont know what changed in my heart this time, again it was only $5, and lord knows to WalMart thats just chump change in their bank accounts.

So WWYD? What would you do?

2009 Resolution

2009-01-04T13:21:00.001-08:00

This is the year of self for me.

My resolution is to find myself. I want to find my place as a HAPPY wife, mother, sister, daughter and SELF. I have realized that I have skipped many steps in life due to life circumstances. I never had a child hood and never formally had the full High School experience and never attended college, formally. I am now doing what I felt I always wanted yet I am not happy and this is the year to figure that out and change it.

So cheers everyone to another Happy and Healthy New Year of SELF.

Poopy Party

2008-12-29T19:03:00.000-08:00

So for the past few days Emma has been a PITA with going to the potty. She has been waiting till she only has 3 seconds before she pees and then tried to tell me and them OOPS, "Mommy, I peed." Ughhhhh...

She did this to me today while we were at Boomers (A place thats like Chuck E Cheese but is more focused on the 'playing' rather than the pizza). So I ran her to the bathroom with poor Kate in tow and stripped her down and gave her the, " You have to tell Mommy sooner" speech. All i had in the place with me were diapers so I put her in one and thought that by making her prance through this place in just a shirt in diapers that it would embarrass her enough to stop doing this. We went to the van where I fortunately still had a change of clothes from Thanksgiving and changed her. We then went back in because it wouldnt be fair to punish Kate for Emma being a PITA. BUT I did NOT buy her anymore tokens she had to entertain herself other ways. (They have a huge tunnel jungle gym system. It literally takes up half the place but Emma is a big chicken and I normally can not get her on these things) So Kate figured out that she could climb in the gym and so her and I took off into the jungle of tunnels. Thank god they made them big enough for adults. Emma got scared standing by herself and came after us.

I then could not get her off the thing. So 2 hours later we were all 3 wiped out and took off for the sotre then home.

Oh right this is where the title comes in. Jeez. sorry I just realized I was off on a tangent. Ok back on track.

I guess Emma decided that Mommy was way mad and she should make it up to me so she told me she had to potty. I stuck her on the potty we have downstairs and walked away like I normally do. About 5 minutes later she starts giggling and tells me she pooped. I didnt believe her but then she swore she had. So I take a look and sure enough she has FINALLY POOPED IN THE POTTY! It only took us 42 months of life to get the kid to poop on the potty. WOOHOO! I just hope she keeps it up.

We promised her that once she pooped in the potty we would have a poopy party and so we threw together some Chocolate Chocolate Chip cupcakes, by request from the pooper, with Chocolate Icing. I had some leftover balloons that I blew up and we had ourselves a little Poopy Party.

So Congrats, Emma, on your first Dooce (As Daddy calls it) in the potty!!

Merry Belated Christmas

2008-12-29T18:53:00.000-08:00

Well, as usual, Im behind but Im here now. We had a great Christmas. I gave Stan a scrapbook of his 30th Birthday party. He had my flute repaired (It was nearly beyond the playable stage). The girls.... Well what can I say Toys R Us and Disney threw up in my living room on Christmas Morning. I think Emma has everything made for Ariel the Little Mermaid.

My sister was definately the Santa for us adults. She even provided the tradition of Pj's. I don't think she knows how much I appreciate it but I really REALLY do. She also got Stan 3 movies and made a movie box complete with popcorn and candy, An Eagles shirt and I think something else. I forget. She got me 2 nice shirts that I can actually wear out in public and hold my head up high because for now they are not stained by the kids or my daily use of bleach. She also got me some undies and socks. WOOHOO! You just don't know how bad I needed those things.

And now you ask, "What did you give her?" Well we got her a DVD player to replace the one she lost her remote to and barely worked. Yup. WE SUCK! Ive tried to somewhat make it up to her buy tearing down paneling and repainting her room she is moving into (in our house). Although, with 2 kids its harder to get something like this done so she ended up helping. Again, WE SUCK.

One day, just maybe, one day we will be able to make it up to her and all the others who have given us gifts this year and we have not been able to return the gift of giving to this year.

Nothing like holiday baking.

2008-12-22T18:09:00.000-08:00

I LOVE baking, especially, for the holidays.

Today my neighbor, 15, came over to join in the festivities. It was a lot of fun and I really can't wait until my girls enjoy more than dumping ingredients everywhere else but where they should go. Oh, and licking the beaters. haha

I did however manage to make my mixer explode. Seriously we were making these chocolate caramel cookies and I guess I was making it work to hard on the lower speed (I was adding in the flour and didnt want the mixer to make the flour in to a cloud of dust) and it literally made a LOUD "POP" and then started smoking. I threw it out in the middle of the side yard hoping it wouldnt catch my house on fire.

The neighbor got a kick out of this.

Anyway, if you have never made oreo truffle balls. You should. They are excellent!

P.S. I told you I would get positive sooner or later.

My turn.

2008-12-14T07:37:00.000-08:00

Been up all night running to the bathroom. I feel ok right now but Im sore and exhausted. Hopefully, just maybe, this is it and we can decontaminate the house.

Good Grief.

And now its Emma's turn, AGAIN

2008-12-13T06:36:00.000-08:00

Stan looks awful from popped vessels from yesterday but feels better (he is out hunting right now) and now Emma woke up at 6:19 this morning throwing up.

YAY.

Yup, Still

2008-12-12T19:16:00.000-08:00

Now Stan is puking, Kate is running a fever and Emma is on the pink stuff. Im wondering which one will hit me next.

I think we are going to have a Lysol and bleach party this weekend.

This just sucks!

Puke, Puke and Fevers

2008-12-09T18:34:00.001-08:00

Yeah, thats been my day.

Kate was acting fine and we dropped Emma off at school, went to my Chriopractic Appt, went to Family dollar and to the grocery store. On the way home after picking Emma back up she puked all over the back seat.

Came home, made lunch, put Kate down for a nap, did a project (made the paper chain garland) with Emma and then she starts acting strange so I took her temp. 103.7. YIPPEE! Kate wakes up and she has puked all over her bed.

Fun day that was topped off by finding out apparently a bag of groceries didn't make it home with me so I had to drive about 30 minutes to the grocery store and get the missing items then return 30 minutes home.

Yay! Oh and I promise 1 day I will be positive about something.

Mommy time

2008-11-21T14:04:00.001-08:00

I so need this weekend. Im going to my sisters to just hang out. I can not wait.

I can;t say enough how I need some time to do things I want to do or like to do.

I really just can't put it into words how much I need this.

Therapy

2008-11-20T18:36:00.000-08:00

Went to my first session tonight. The therapist is nice so atleast I don't think I have to search around for one. Although, Im looking forward to these sessions because I know they help - I hate, HATE , HAAAATTTEEE the fact that they always seem to start at the same place.

F^%k you very much Sperm Donor!

Pet Rescues

2008-11-19T18:45:00.000-08:00

I think that they can be a great great thing but people suck and think it means money.

Open Arms ResQ I believe is one of these "rescues."

We have had such a horrible expreience from these people and now because WE are trying to follow rules are having to deal with the again.

I will try to make this short. Im serious. Im going to try.

So we got Jack and Sam as puppies and found them through this Open Arms ResQ, ran by a woman named, Janelle. We had to go through some riggamaroe let me tell ya. We had to take pictures of our property and the surrounding fields, answer many questionaires, go on an interview 2 hours away and then finally pick up the puppies again 2 hours away.

Well when Stan picked up the puppies he was THEN, YES JUST THEN, told that they had mange and needed 3 more doses of medication. Stan took them thinking it was no big deal. Well we took them to the vet and he said those people were completely wrong and that they had Demodectic Mange and needed 9 months of medication everyday. Ummmm.. Great.

So we kept the poor little guys and have since then brought them back to health and well they FIGHT. We have tried training and ignoring and everything the vet and trainers have told us and well now they say they need to be split up.

Our contract with the ResQ states that if we give one or both of the puppies up we have to give them a chance to find them a home first. Well we contacted them to let them know what was going on and they were suppose to find Jack a foster home and because we were not willing to drive the 2 hours back up BUT were willing to meet them half way they have been dragging their feet and we have now lost 2 potential families because they do not want to drive all the way down here to meet Jack and then have to do it again to pick him up. I dont blame them..

So, Im now highly frustrated with a dog that needs to go so that the one thats staying can heal from all his lost fighting battle wounds.

People SUCK!

First Sick Day

2008-11-18T18:33:00.001-08:00

I kept Emma from school today because over the weekend it sounded like she picked up croup. Well this morning she had a cough but it wasn't the barking cough just a phlegmy (sp?) cough but I've been told a typical cold lasts for 10 days and Im by no means keeping her out of school for that long but I want to make sure she is atleast over the hump.

We spent our day in our typical fashion me holding both kids while watching Dora and them both crying and whining. Then I finally talked Emma into doing a project and we sorta wrote our letter to Santa. I just had her cut out pictures of things she wanted and glue them to a piece of paper.

Now Im just hoping we are all better for school on Thursday.

Fish Sticks and Applesauce

2008-11-16T16:46:00.000-08:00

Not seperately! Together. Doesn't that sound good?

Yeah well so what if thats what you think. Kate LOVES it!

Movie Time

2008-11-15T17:22:00.000-08:00

Today, Emma and I, went to see Madagascar 2. It was a really cute movie. We attempted about a year and a half ago to do Curious George in the theatre but it failed pretty miserably, IMO. She made it about 3/4 of the way through today and then just snuggled with me until the end.

Her fav part was when they sang, "I like to move it, move it." When the animals shaked their rumps she yelled EWWWWWWWWWWWWW. It was pretty funny.

We stopped by the golden arches and I actually went in and let her play for a bit and then ended our day at Goodwill where I found nothing. Oh well.

Good times!

Neighbors

2008-11-09T14:54:00.000-08:00

So we moved here to what we call "The Farm" to get away from neighbor drama and the run of city (or somewhat city) life.

Little did we realize that farmers or rural dwellers were oh SOOOO dramatic.

SO we'll start with Charlie. Charlie lives on his brothers property (The rich guy named George who is an art dealer and owns about 225 acres of "The Farm."). Charlie lives in a camping trailer with is 19 yr. old son in the barn at the beginning of our lane. Charlie is an awesome handy man. He is actually who redid most of our house. Anywho, George has told Charlie to get off the property many times as I guess he is just tired of his brother. I really do not know because Charlie doesn't bother anyone but apparently his brother is sick of him.

Ok, so theres that and then there is George who as I said previously owns the majority of "The Farm" and lives with his live in girlfriend Michelle and up until recent incidents his 17 yr old son who came from military school. I don't really know exactly all he did to get sent to military school but i know some of it was drugs and not the light kind.

Well, Thursday night Greg came running in our house with blood running from his nose screaming, "My dad is trying to kill me, Call the cops, man, Call the cops." Uhhhh... So we were sitting down eating dinner looking at this kid like, 'Ummm, yeah and what did you do?' haha.. Is that bad?

THEN, his dad comes hauling ass up our drive way and jumps out and in a very manly monotone voice tells him, "Get out of Stan's house, son." Then Michelle (The g/f) comes to the door hysterical with blood gushing down her face, her eyes turning black and blue and her hands covered in blood. And the coversation continued:

Greg: You're trying to kill me!

George: You broke Michelle's nose, Son.

Greg: (to us) Call the cops man.

George: You going back to that school, son.

Greg: But I love you Dad.

George: You can't behave like this, son. Get out of Stan's house he and his family don't want anything to do with this, son.

Greg: She swung at me with a piece of metal, man. Call the cops.

George: What was that son?

Greg: Call the cops.

George: Fine, son. Good Bye, Son.

Greg: She swung at me with metal.

George: I don't care, son.

Greg: (Yelling) YA"LL ARE TRYING TO KILL ME

Me: Don't yell in my house and take your teenage drama up to your house please.

Greg runs out and 10 minutes later the cops are blocking the lane. Apparently, He was told he didn't have to go home if he didn't want and in the morning he could go to the station and file attempt of murder charges on Michelle. WTF?

And people, this is why I left Cambridge. If you remember correctly the weekend before we moved out of our home in Cambridge a man shot and killed himself in front of our house in his car. Lovely neighborhoods we pick, seriously!

Diaper or Dead Animal?

2008-11-04T17:49:00.000-08:00

So Im sitting on the couch and I keep getting a whiff of poo. Well I think its poo.. It smells like a 3 day old diaper. (Don't ask how I know what a 3 day old diaper smells, just trust me, I do.)

SO anyway. I have flipped the couch over and stuck my arm down inside as far as I can and can't find it. I have stuck the cushions and pillows all up to my sniffer and have flipped them around. I can't find the diaper.

But! BUT! I can only smell it on one end of the couch and no where else. Not in the kitchen, not in the chair 3 feet away, not in the stairwell behind the couch, not in the playroom, do you get the idea? Just one spot on the couch. So I dunno. What to do . It stinks. REALLY StInKs!

I guess we'll see if it gets worse right? Hopefully the smell will go away if its an animal. ughhhh

Walk in the fall

2008-10-25T19:51:00.000-07:00

So as a final post for tonight I will update you on the subdivision of the house. So we have done everything the township has asked of us and we are down to an issue of access. Im actually a little afraid. Ok A LOT afraid because this could completely bring everything crashing down and we may have to move again and not be able to buy a house and I really just don't know what we would do or where we would go. Im actually just trying not to think about it.

Thats very hard for me to do. I will admit it now for everyone. I like to have control. I have controlling issues. Maybe not major like some but still I like to know that Im the one in the driver seat of my life and well when things like this come up and Im not in that seat anymore I get very anxious.

So we are waiting for our lawyers to give us paperwork or advice as to where we should go now with the people who own the lane we have to drive up to get to our lane and property. It really is a beautiful lane. It follows the Octoraro River and then crosses it to come onto our property. We shall see what happens but til then heres some pictures of our walk up the lane picking up walnuts.

Picture Dresses

2008-10-25T19:46:00.000-07:00

Emma has always loved getting her pictures done and so when her teacher announced they were having picture day you can just imagine how excited she was. We went out and bought special dresses and everything. She was even excited when I told her that her sister was getting her picture done too.

*** As a side note.. Everyone has loved these dresses but her Aunt thought they were funny and not picture worthy. I think she was even shocked that I sent her to school in it. Sad so sad.

Isnt the date funny? I dunno why my camera does that sometimes..hmmm

Halloween preview

2008-10-25T19:42:00.001-07:00

Here is a sneak preview of the girls halloween costumes..

Apple Picking

2008-10-25T19:21:00.001-07:00

So last week... I think it was last week we went to Cherry Hill and picked us some apples. I made an awesome apple pie to take to a little family gathering. It was a MAJOR hit. I should make it again, soon.

So anyway, back to the point. We picked apples and it didn't take nearly as long as I thought it would. It was an amazing deal only $.60 per lb. The girls had a blast finding the apples and weaving in and out of the trees and branches. We definately need to make one more trip before picking season is over.

Kate trying her best to reach.

All the girls taking a break to enjoy the tasty seasonal treat.

Visiting friends

2008-10-25T19:17:00.000-07:00

When I had to take my new van down to see Uncle Eddie our good friends met up with us and took us out on the town for a few hours. Emma loved seeing her best friend Emily and being able to see Emily's sister Bella.

The girls had a blast and were wore out at the end of the day.

Polish Festival

2008-10-25T19:05:00.000-07:00

So we went to a Polish Festival in Wilmington, DE for grandpa's birthday. I don't think I got any pictures with grandpa. Sad isn't it? But the girls enjoyed riding the rides and I have to tell ya they scare the beeejeeezus out of me. They are so rickety and shaky and you hear these stories some times about people falling from ferris wheels or important pieces breaking and taking someone's life. Ughhhh.. But the girls had a good time and we are safe!

Here's Emma driving the cars.

And here a little choo choo train. She always chooses the caboose..

And here we all are taking a ride on the Carousel or better known as "the horseeeees."

And here Kate and Daddy wanted to scare the crap out of mommy. Aren't these things suppose to have height restrictions? The guy let her go and I just knew she was going to come crashing through one of the leg holes. She didn't and once the swings started moving she thought she was hot stuff. She was mad and threw a 2 year old tantrum when Stan went to take her out after the ride was over.

First Day of School

2008-10-25T18:59:00.003-07:00

Yup.. Im really that behind!

Emma is loving school. She loves her teachers and has made some new friends. She has learned her memory verse and learned many new "church" songs. She is starting to recognize her name but unfortunately now thinks when she see's an 'E' its her name. So anytime we drive past a store such as 7 Eleven she thinks its her name. Sears is her name as well and JC PEnnEy. Yeah you get the idea.

But she is doing great and loves it and I really think she wishes she could go everyday. So here she is on her first day headed out the door.

In celebration

2008-10-25T17:55:00.001-07:00

of me failing to realize that I posted my 100th blog entry Im going to catch everyone up on pictures. So hang on to your hats and here we go..

So this was my baby getting hauled off to the insurance totaled vehicle yard.

And this is what she was replaced with. (see the little red car?? yeah that one.. Thats the car Stan went to go get the night the silver went flying down the drive way.)

I LOVE these car seats. The girls love them too.

So, now you know where Im at vehicle wise. It worked out well I must say. We now have a van and a better car than the previous one Stan had and NO car payment. YAY! It has been very traumatic dealing with accidents and insurance and all that occurs with all of that but hopefully that part is all over and life can move on to all the other stresses in life.

Im a horrible blogger

2008-10-17T16:49:00.001-07:00

Well I was doing really good when my computer was up and running but now that I can pretty much only get on at night and Im using someone elses computer and do not have access to all my pics and files I just suck.

Good news is that Stan got a 5.51% raise so maybe I will be able to treat myself to a new hard drive and get my computer back and running. That would be awesome!

But just so you know Im here struggling as a wife, mother, sister, daughter, granddaughter, daughter in law, etc. as usual.

I started a schedule and I have started my weekend for the first timein 10 months I think (maybe more becuase that was when we moved in and before that we were packing at the old house or living in my in laws clutter) So lets say 14 months. So for the first time in 14 months I started my weekend with a clean house! YAY! WOOT WOOT! PARTY!

Lets see if I can do it 2 weekends in a row.

Katean

2008-10-13T18:11:00.000-07:00

So as we all know our toddlers have a language of their own and over the past few weeks Kate has picked up her own lingo that we have been calling Katean. Here is a guide:

Na Na - Done, I want down.

Ni Ni - Night Night

Dooce - Could be Juice cup or Fruit Cup

Puppe (I need an accent on the e, think French) - Puppy

mmmmama - Emma

Meeemeeee - Meow Meow

tee tee - Thank you

Da Da Da Da - Dora

She can say some things pretty clear such as Mommy, Daddy, Horse (Which we call Horsey in this house) and Eat.

So now you know

City Driving vs. Country Driving

2008-09-28T18:17:00.000-07:00

Ok, so this weekend I was hard at work moving my sister to her new place. It was quite interesting to learn while going and attempting to p/u a mattress she found on Craigslist that I SUCK at driving in the city now days. I don't mean like suburbia driving I mean like smack dab in a city you know all one way streets for the most part and major traffic, skyscrapers, etc.

I grew up in and around the city. My H.S. was smack dab in the middle of downtown Dallas. We had many projects that we had to walk or take the bus/train system to historical sites to work on reports and stuff. So I KNOW how to drive in the city. When I met my husband he use to pull over before entering a downtown district and let me drive.

Let me tell ya, NOT ANYMORE! I was a nervous wreck driving my new to me van down streets that should have been marked one way but were not and could barely fit 2 cars side by side down it especially considering the cars parked on one side of the street. OMG! It was crazy. I was so releived when my sister said forget it and we took off back to surburbia.

I think it traumatized me. Seriously!

This is the Day..

2008-09-18T18:04:00.000-07:00

This is the Day that the Lord has made. That the Lord has made. I will rejoice, I will rejoice and be glad in it.

Yup, 2 weeks into preschool and my 3 year old belts this out in the car and I swear I almost had wreck #3.

Then 3 weeks into preschool and I get multiple songs such as, JESUS Loves me, yes I know, for the bible tells me so.... and My God is so BIG, So strong and so mighty theres nothing my God can not do....

Ummm.. Ok, I am serioulsy not athiest but when I signed up for this preschool I was told that there was minimal christian influencing but umm we're 3 weeks into this school thing and my kid knows SEVERAL of these songs by memory. I know her memory is just awesome (She still brings up the dog we had for 2 weeks 9 months ago) but ummmm I'm really starting to wonder if I made the right decision.

I believe in the Big Guy upstaris and all but ummmm I don't know if I want religion being preached to my 3 yr old when I wasn't planning on it happening. Especially when religion is one of those things that can be interpreted in so many different ways. I guess I might have to attend one these services or something and see what I think. I really like the teachers and they have been nothing but nice. I guess I really didn't expect them to be learning songs from my disturbing childhood.

My second home is gone.

2008-09-09T18:45:00.000-07:00

It's funny how you become attached to a car but you do. Its like a second home.

I had to clean it out yesterday and all the girls favorite car cd's were in it. All my extra change had to be cleaned out of my hiding spots. My pens and paper and shoes for me and the girls are now resting on my back porch awaiting their new home. Heck, even my old cell phone was in there with the charger not to mention a car charger from my phone before that. Then you start thinking of the places the car took you. For example, we brought Kate home from the hospital in that car and Emma spent most of the past 3 years being carted around to playdates, malls and other kid activities.

Its sad. really it is. I'll admit it - I cried when the tow truck was pulling away. Then again Im pretty emotional right now.

Daily Life Changes

2008-08-30T06:23:00.000-07:00

So my first little girl is starting her first day of preschool on Tuesday. Even though it is only for 3 hours in the morning I still have this weird feeling that this is a big change for us. I mean I know its a big deal and it really saddens me that she is already at this stage. My MIL keeps telling me that once that start going to school theres no going back. Really?

Does that really mean that sweet little baby I held just 3 short years ago will no longer be my little baby that I can hold and cuddle and whisper sweet little secrets in each other ears? (Wow what a run on) But seriously, is that what it means? If it does mean that Im marching in that little preschool room with the little chairs and all the little sweet doe like eyes staring at me and telling them nevermind. Then I will take my little girl and whisper something funny in her ear to make her giggle that oh so precious little giggle and together we will come home together where she will color me pictures and write me scribble letters.

I love you sweet Emma and I really hope you enjoy preschool this year. Remember to stop talking so you can listen to the teacher and learn. And don't forget to come home and tell mommy about every detail of your day so she feels like she didnt miss a beat.

Computer.Broken.Please

2008-08-27T18:49:00.000-07:00

Help. I need a computer.

I need a new hard drive so who knows when I will have my own computer again. I have to use my hubby's at night so I will do my best to get on when I can.

Uterus is aching

2008-08-22T12:37:00.000-07:00

Well. I was informed this week that a close friend is 4 weeks along with #3. Definately early to be announcing but I guess we have become pretty close since moving to PA. Its a huge shock for them but oh man. I don't know what it is about this time a year and my biological clock but man oh man do I want another one but thats only emotionally. If I let myself get logical then I start remembering that now just isn't the time.

I don't know if our next will be our last or not but just in case it is I would really like to have an enjoyable time with him/her and the pregnancy. With both Emma and Kate we had to move with the first 6 months and with Kate it has been most stressful. So I have to wait. I HAVE TO PEOPLE! I want to own this house and have the house in a peaceful state and setup better. PLUS I want to have a nursery that I can decorate for once. With Emma we rented so i couldn't do much. With Kate she was in our room because she wouldn't fit any where else.

So. Please remind me that NOW JUST ISNT THE TIME!

Hopefully, my friend, Greta will let me live vicariously through her pregnancy and it will put things off for atleast another 1.5 yrs.

Thank god for the IUD and having to go to the Dr. to get rid of it. If I get this thing taken out I must REALLY want to get prego!

Congrats Greta, Jamie, Rini and Bella!

Excercise

2008-08-15T12:21:00.000-07:00

So anyone that knows me or has met me knows that I am overweight. Yup. Thats me. Surprise. Surprise.

So, before we moved I was going to the gym and was working on getting fitish. I have come to a self realization that if Im going to be healthy I need to learn to love excercise because I will not be giving up eating. I have started eating a little more healthy but my portion sizes are my problem. I love to eat and I way over indulge especially when something tastes good.

So fast forward on the excercise. Where I live now, I am in the boonies. The nearest gym is atleast 30 minutes away and there is no way I will drive that far several times a week. I mean when would I have time to do so?

So I need to work out here and umm well Im not a fan so I want to find something fun I can do like dancing in the living room or something. I did Tae Bo for a while and really enjoyed it but I think Im ready for a change. What are your favorite excercise videos?

Im really thinking about getting the Hip Hop Abs videos. They look fun!

Boobies

2008-08-14T19:24:00.000-07:00

As Emma pinches her little boobies she says, "Mommy, one day my boobies will be bigger than yours."

So I guess ummm.. Well then. What do you say to that when your 3 year old daughter lets you know hers will be bigger than yours.

Camp out

2008-08-13T18:41:00.000-07:00

So Emma and I camped out in our huge 3 room tent last night.

It was nice. We had a campfire and made some smores while I tried to get a feel of how she felt about starting school. Well she is excited and she was ready to go in the tent. Thats about the extent of that conversation.

So in the tent we go and I knew she would want to play around in the tent for a little while but then she acted as if she was ready to lay down. So I turned out the lights and to sleep I was going just as I started to dose it began:

Emma: Mommy?

Me: Yes, Emma?

Emma: What are you doing?

Me: Sleeping.

Emma: Mommy?

Me: Yes, Emma?

Emma: What was that noise?

Me: Bugs outside

Emma: Mommy?

Me: Yes, Emma?

Emma: Where do the bugs sleep?

Me: Uhhh, in the grass, trees and plants.

Emma: Mommy?

Me: GO TO SLEEP, Emma

Emma: What are you doing?

Me: SLEEPING!!! GO TO SLEEP!

Emma: Good night Mommy. I love you.

Me: Awwww.. I love you too Emma. Go to sleep.

Stan's on Vacation

2008-08-11T18:31:00.000-07:00

Need I say more?

We didn't plan to go anywhere because the budget is tight. So what did he do today? Went and played around shooting a bow and arrow and then went ground hog hunting.

What did I do today?

- Canned 7 jars of spaghetti sauce

- Froze 12 quart bags of bell pepper (included cleaning and slicing the peppers to put in the bags)

- Chased screaming kids and folded 5 loads of laundry and put it away while doing another 2 loads in the washer/dryer.

Whats wrong with this picture?

He did cook dinner but I helped AND I get to clean it all up.

A new take on Day to Day..

2008-08-06T11:46:00.000-07:00

So this week I have tried fixing my problems by putting my kids first. Don't get me wrong they were first before for the most part but I was only tending to them when needed and trying to do chores the rest of the time.

So for the past 3 days I have played with my kids and even took them to story time at the library. Today has been quite challenging as my house seriously appears to be turning into quite the pig pen. The play room has exploded into the living room and kitchen and I noticed my kids seem to be pretty crazy and not wanting to even go in the playroom.

Im wondering if the pig pen gets to them too but yet they don't even want to give me 20 minutes to try and pick things up.

I really should be cleaning now that they are napping. I know... I know.. its a great oppurtunity but now is when Im reaching my blah part of the day and just want a break for myself. Is that so wrong? Oh yeah and not to mention TOM is visiting and isnt being so friendly.

There's tomorrow right? Sort of. I have outting plans. Maybe I will stay up late after the girls go to bed and pick up. Or who knows maybe I will get off of here before nap is over and get something accomplished.

SuperNanny, can you help me?

2008-08-02T11:22:00.001-07:00

**** This is a Woe as me post and I have been having quite a few of these I have started and deleted because I figure I shouldn't waste my time or yours. Now if you leave I understand but I haven't posted in weeks people!****

I don't even really know where to start! Im miserable, cranky, pissed off at the world and I'm taking it out on the only people I communicate with, my husband and girls. I know they don't deserve it but I feel like my life is falling apart and I don't know how to fix it or myself.

I just want to find a dark, cold corner and cry and I probably would if there weren't so many spiders around here (yup, black widows too!) Oh and don't forget the freakin mice.

So instead, I walk around ticked and yell at anyone or thing that passes me. If I had neighbors they would probably call CPS on me.

I'll start with all the bad crap that is really bothering me and then finish with the good so atleats maybe this can end on a happy note. :/

Kate has turned into a crying mess. All she does when she is awake is cry. I hold her, cry. I play with her, cry. CRY CRY CRY! Thats all the kid does people! I can't take it anymore. NO she doesn't have an ear infection or anything else that the dr. can find. I really do not know.

Emma has turned 3 and with it has began back talking and smirking and rolling her eyes in all the right (or wrong in my opinion) places of a conversation.

As a mother I feel I am failing miserably because I can't find the time to spend with my children to do all the wondeful projects I find that sound so fun. When I do find time to do something for the kids it fails miserably with me hating myself. Example: yesterday I decided screw the house and everything I really need to do Im going to take my kids to the park and have a picnic and let the play for an hour or so. We get to the park and Kate eats ALL of her lunch and wants to play BUT Emma decides she will piddle with her lunch and take a full hour eating. So we play for 15 minutes and its time to go home. The entire time Emma was eating I was **yelling** for her to hurry up so she could play. When I got home and thought of it even though I was completely frustrated with the situation because I thought the highlight was to play at the park doesn't mean Emma thought that was the highlight.

She really enjoys eating outside and she loves asking about the trees, grass and bugs. So why do I let it get me all wound up and agressive inside. Why can't I just go with it and think of that while I'm in the moment? Grrrrrr

I'm having a really hard time balancing myself between the house and all its chores and the girls and my time/affection.

At times now I wonder if this house is really what's best for me and my family. Maybe we would be better off in a swanky in town townhouse. I wouldn't have as many chores but then I wouldn't be able to walk outside and view the peace of nature like I do hear. If I put my blinders on and look around it is so quiet and peaceful and I really do love it. Only if I could get the house in some type of order and keep it that way.

I know you probably wonder what all Im complaining about that I have to get done and let me tell you friends the list is long and a lot of it is typical house stuff that we all have to do no matter where we live but then there is the dog training, the vegetable gardens (no, not neccessary but money saving and therefore neccessary to me and my hubby), canning of the veggies or freezing depending, the up keep of the guinea's (completely neccessary for the damn bugs this place has), and now our newest member the cat upkeep (neccessary for the damn mice). Oh, wait, I had a cat now I have 2! One upstairs (the new one) and one in the basement (came with the house and VERY LOW maintenance).

Then theres still the minor construction stuff that needs to get done. Phone lines ran, Tools distributed back to their rightful owners, need to lay the tile in front of the fireplace, the grout it, need to either paint or tile the kitchen back splash, trim the bathroom, still organize and unpack upstairs, cleanup all the messes left by the construction guys outside like nails, wood piles, glass, etc.

The list goes on people and this is just stuff on top of my head. Did I mention the weeding? Yeah A LOT of that too!

So my plate is over flowing and I can't figure out how to get it to a manageable state with the 2 kids especially the crying one. The crying one is to the point that most days I can understand how someone could shake their kid and either yell at them , "WHATS WRONG WITH YOU?" or "STOP, STOP JUST F^*(^( STOP CRYING!"

I want to be calm and collected and I really really most of all want to enjoy my children. They grow so fast and I know before I know it I will be dropping them off at college and no matter what I do I will wonder where the time went.

Which brings me to other questions of life. I really want more of my own children. Crazy, I know but I do! I have always definately wanted more than 2 kiddos. I want a large family because when my house isn't as disorganized and Im not so consumed with it I love the chaos of family.

I also want to foster some kids. My hubby and I have talked about doing this since we have met. We both said we felt that was what we felt we could do to "give back." Im still with this plan and I'm not so sure he is. I think he is evolving into a corporate junkie and is losing interest in family. I think he loves us and loves what he has now don;t get me wrong but I think he is done. He says he is but then he also says in 5 years I can check back with him. So him and I being on totally 2 different plans is not a good thing and is a whole other post I think.

So on to the good things in my life. I'm sitting outside right now and I just saw a beautiful yellow butterfly come land on a flower and just had a hummingbird come and check the empty feeder. A few minutes a go Im pretty sure I just saw a bald eagle flying in the tree line. Its beautiful here and I wish I could take the time to breathe and take it all in. I have a gorgeous family and we are all for the most part healthy. Emma starts school in a month and Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer just came out today. WOOHOO! OH and my firend Erin has sent me a box of books that I can't wait to go and hide in!

So thanks for reading my woe as me post and Im sure there will be more to come! Maybe, tomorrow I will go to church and try to find some inner peace. Thats where some go for it, right?

Its 11 o'clock.. AHHHH

2008-07-18T08:06:00.000-07:00

So, it seems that Im going to have one of those days again.

One of those where the kid screams and wants you to hold her but yet you can't find anything wrong with her. The other kid entertains herself very well but this one, well, she demands attention and can't get enough of it. Its not like I do not sit down and spend time with my children. I do! I seriously, honestly do. But apparently its just not enough for this young one.

So, I sit here one, handed typing with this kid climbing on me like Im a jungle gym and if I dare put her down she will scream until I understand how someone can accidently shake their child to hard from frustration. OH! Don't get me wrong I would never do it but I won't say it hasn't crossed my mind. Thats when I usually find an excuse to go outside or upstairs. Somewhere away from this one that screams and paws at my body as if she could care less about my individual space. Thats right, she doesn't care. Silly me.

So as I sit and look around at my house that was picked up this morning and is now in need of me to go around and pick it up again amongst all my other chores of the day. I will sit here with this crying child until nap time and then I will be beyond frustrated and will take time out for myself and my day will end with me having nothing accomplished except for sleeping children. And hopefully this one that invades my personal space all day long will wake up in a better spirit the next day and will let me get something done! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

What do you do?

2008-07-14T19:00:00.000-07:00

So my day has consisted of mainly Kate screaming and screaming and crying and screaming. Did I mention screaming?

She constantly wants me to hold her and play with her while holding her. I've tried putting her in a sling and I've tried playing for a little bit and then going back to whatever I was doing.

I would love to sit and give my children my devoted attention all day and not have to do the cooking and cleaning and unpacking, etc. Unfortunately, as most of us know it just doesn't work that way.

So what do you do with your child(ren) when they do this on a constant everyday basis for months?

I just don't know what to do because I want my children to be happy and Emma seems that she is fine and content and she will go play by herself and try to play with Kate but Kate just isn't interested. She would rather grab at my legs and scream and cry while I get mad and upset with her. I see other parents and it doesn't seem that their children are nearly as needy as mine and I want to know if Im screwed and she is already set in her ways or is there a way to get her to play on her own? Ahhhhhhh.. I can't continue like this.

Canning

2008-07-13T17:59:00.000-07:00

Well, I got all my green beans pulled and picked today. I wouldn't normally pull them but we had what the Amish lady calls green bean bugs but I looked it up on the net and I think they are actually mexican bean beetles. Anyway, they have nearly eaten all of the leaves and were starting on the beans so I figured I could pull them and then plant another batch.

So, I have ordered a pressure canner off of Amazon and it should be here tomorrow. Im a little nervous about canning but Im going to give it a whirl. I need to go and get lids and more jars too.

Anyone have a green bean canning recipe? I'm thinking of making some jams too but we'll see how the beans go first!

Lovin the sun

2008-07-12T19:13:00.000-07:00

So today I decided to try something new. I normally hang out in the house and clean and/or let the girls play outside while I get nothing accomplished.

Today, I set up the little kiddy pool and water table and had a whole playground up by the garden where these great little plants have taken up residence in my garden. They like to stretch their arms and strangle my friends and other like to tower over my lovely little veggie beauties and take all their sun and therefore stunting growth.

Ok, so anyway, I then retrieved my children and saved them from the TV (seriously, it was going to get them) and took them to this wonderful playland I set up. They thought they were in heaven while I happily pulled previously mentioned little plants and saved my veggie beauties.

And then all went wrong. Kids screaming, running away from playland heaven, crying, fighting, trying to crawl back into the womb and peace once again disappeared on the farm until nap time.

I really think my kids have been thrown in front of the TV way to much and it might be to late to save them. I'll try again tomorrow.

The Ultimate Job Search

2008-07-11T08:58:00.001-07:00

I know not many look here but just in case there is that special one, meet John.

I bet you could really use him! So give his resume a look and then give him a call and give him the job!

http://theultimatejobsearch.blogspot.com

So what kinds of thing randomly show up in your backyard?

2008-07-09T18:25:00.000-07:00

LOOK OUT PEOPLE!

2008-07-09T10:59:00.000-07:00

I am a woman with a crockpot!

Ours was left behind some how at the other house and I really thought I packed it and Im pretty sure theres not any boxes left that I haven't at least opened. (Hey, I didn't say I unpacked them all! They have at least been opened and dug through!) It has really sucked for the past 7 months not having one because I would look at my recipes and think, 'oh X would be awesome. Oh yeah, I don't have a ^*((%$%$# crock pot!'

So, I now have score #2 for the week!

I will have to post pictures of score #1 IF they ever get the thing all the way up. Just in case I forget its an Amish clothesline! WOOT WOOT!

6 Random Things

2008-07-09T05:30:00.000-07:00

I have been tagged by Penny and I am suppose to post 6 random things about myself.

Here are the rules :
- Link to the person who tagged you.
- Post the rules on your blog.
- Write six random things about yourself.
- Tag six people at the end of your post.
- Let each person know they've been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
- Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

So here we go.

1) My earliest memory of childhood is moving from Arkansas to Texas. I got to ride on those hard suitcases in the front seat of my father's LTD.

2) In High School I wanted to be a professional flutist.

3) I love the smell of burning wood or trash.

4) I have a light birth mark on my stomach and it got bigger and stayed bigger during pregnancy.

5) Before having kids I wanted 6-8 and now I want 3 maybe 4.

6) I entered into the Junior Olympics for Speed Skating when i was 14 but my mom made me back out.

Ok, so now Im suppose to tag 6 more people so lets see.. I choose Maria, Angie, Meliss, Jennifer and I dont know anyone else who hasnt done this, haha. Sad sad sad.

Fear

2008-07-06T18:30:00.000-07:00

So I have always at heart been an athletic person but then when it comes down to actually being brave a doing something I require that extra push or coaxing that everything will be ok and I will not kill myself.

Today, I had one of those moments. Stan has been wanting to take me for a ride around the farm on the 4 wheeler every since we moved here. It's not our 4 wheeler but its our neighbors so that makes me a little nervous. Well, he succeeded on getting me on the thing because I didn't want him to see my weakness but I think he did anyway. I had to ride it by myself because everyone left that was staying with us this weekend and we didn't get a chance to go out because of others using it.

So with Emma watching (the little chicken herself) I put on my game face and listened to his instruction. I was so nervous I could've pee'd myself but didn't. He got on back and showed me how to go around the garden and then sent me on my way. I went down the driveway across the front pasture and up the steep hill in back of our house. I circled around back and then zipped back into the driveway. I was really done but then Stan looked at me with that disappointed look of how weak his wife really is. So I went around again a little faster to try and win him back over and I think it might of worked. When I stopped in the drive way again he informed me that there were paths through the lower field on the other side of the property so off I went again even with my thumb cramping and headed for these paths and still feeling the cautious fear.

OMG, it was sooooo nice. Just me with a huge motor roaring under me and nature. I think I might of seen a deer but Im not sure. I did see a groundhog and I tried to run him over but I was to scared to go over 13 mph. What? I didnt have a helmet!

Acrobat Injuries

2008-07-04T11:37:00.000-07:00

Yup. my kate has injured herself yet again. I thought I was going to have to take her to the ER but called the BCBS nurse hotline and they said to just watch it for right now and then re-evaluate in a few hours.

Apparently, if you rip that little tendon that attaches your top lip to your gums theres not much they can do for you. So the tendon is currently stuck in between Kate's front top teeth and she has a small hole where it's suppose to be attached.

I guess you could say she has a fat loose lip.

We'll see how it looks after her nap.

Late Naps and Fireflies

2008-07-03T19:53:00.001-07:00

Today started as a pretty crappy day and ended off pretty cool.

I try to enjoy each stage of life my girls are going through and I try to catch pictures in my head and tell myself I have to remember this exact moment and never let go of it. Well after my long day and the girls having to take an extra late nap we got to stay outside with them after dark and watch the fireflies come out. Emma thinks they are awesome and so I cleaned out one of the old mason jars and we tried to catch them.

I didnt do so great but Stan caught about 6 or 7 in the jar. Emma really enjoyed that. Kate is still at the care less stage and she just wanted to go play in the pool.

Score

2008-07-02T19:09:00.000-07:00

So I scored this this week from the farm scrap guy. He gave it to us for free since he got it for free and we wired him up for DSL a week or so ago. Im sure its no Dyson but I have to say its a whole heck of a lot better than the cheap Hoover I just got!

Wah Wah Wah

2008-07-01T09:35:00.000-07:00

WAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! WAHHHHHHHHH!!! WAHHHHH!! WAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

My kids seem to think it works today so I thought I would try it out on you and see what happens.

Gally-up

2008-06-27T12:08:00.000-07:00

So Emma does not Gallop she Gally-ups. We had a huge conversation about it and again she has now won me over to Gally-ups, Strawbabies, Bluebabies, blackbabies and rasbabies.

As for Kate, well she still think rasbabies are what we do with our mouth and make funny noises.

Own space??

2008-06-25T13:31:00.000-07:00

What the heck does it mean for someone to have their own space? I have never since being a teenager living at home with my parents had a room dedicated to just myself. But our basement is being sealed up and we are going to have another area of sq. footage in which will be 1/2 MY storage space and laundry area (I get a whole closet and shelving system, WOW!) and then my hubby will be moving his office down there as well but in a separate area. So this leaves me with my entire HUGE bedroom and now that Kate and Emma share a room I have another room which Im told I can do anything I want with it. Ummmm, so what do i do with it?

I don't have a clue! I have a zillion ideas but I can't settle on just one. I could have a scrapbook room, a sewing room, an office, an idea room, a guest room (nahhhh, couch is good enough, haha), a lounging space, a reading room. Its just endless. I do realize I can combine some of this but I just can't believe I will have a space to go during nap time or after they go to bed to do something besides sit on the couch and watch TV or chat on here. WOAH.

What does one do with their own space?

Jon and Kate...

2008-06-19T19:14:00.000-07:00

How the hell do you do it?

I watched 2 3 yr olds and 2 - 1 year olds this afternoon and OH MY GOD! I think I about lost my mind BUT I stuck it out and even tried to throw in a little fun by having a dance party after dinner to wear off some that energy. Once we started fighting and beating everyone up in the tub everyone went and off to bed and now that everyone is alseep we are all much MUCH happier!

GIVEAWAY

2008-06-16T19:53:00.001-07:00

Check out this blog and see some awesome giveaways!!!!

Hi there, just call me Cranky!

2008-06-12T11:52:00.000-07:00

Apparently that is me! We all are known for having those "days" and apparently Im having one of those "weeks!"

I dont know whats wrong with me besides allergies, 2 huge gardens, twice the sq. ft. that I had this time last year, no money and ummm (what was it my dr. said?) oh yeah Im fat!

I have this idea in my head of who I want to be and I can't reach that person. I want to have that spotless house that some people have even with 2 kids running around (if you have any tips on how to do that and the rest of this list at the same time let me know!), spend quality time with each one of my kids by doing projects or playing whatever, work in my gardens, cook and bake, plus have me time to sand my feet (yes I said sand), read all these magazines I somehow get, maybe take in a book, have time to get on my computer, train the dogs, clean the basement, build a bird house and oh so much more! I want to be like Martha Stewart. No seriously I do.. I think the woman can do everything. I know she doesn't have little ones running around but how can she have so much information in her head to know how to build, bake, cook and decorate so magnificently?? I knwo she hires out but she still has the knowledge in her head. ITS AMAZING!

Maybe I should take a cake decorating class as me time. Hmmm.. Thats a thought.

Im just having a hard time figuring out who the almost 30 yr old me is? How does one figure that out?

Extreme Sportist?

2008-06-11T12:58:00.000-07:00

Is there such a thing? Well if there is Kate will do it. She is fearless!

Mmmmmmm Cold

2008-06-11T12:42:00.000-07:00

We enjoyed a very hot few days (95-98 degrees but felt like 105+ in JUNE) and past time away by devouring Popsicles (Thank God for Slow Melt Popsicles).

whats this?

2008-06-11T12:40:00.000-07:00

Kate decided she didn't want just a first word but she wants first words!! She started last week pointing to things and saying, "what's this?" Its really cute and then the best is over the weekend when she see's a camera she will say, "CHEESE."

Updates

2008-06-11T12:17:00.000-07:00

I have a lot of posts that need to be made but first I must do this one because it is most important.

To my dear Emma:

You are the light of my life and I can't wait every morning for you to get up and show me your big smile and brighten my day! I can not believe 3 years have gone by and that is much of the reason for my delay in writing this.

I really do not know how to except that you are growing into a beautiful young lady and that this fall you are so excited because you will be going to school. I'm very sad about this but happy for you because I know it is for selfish reasons that I am sad. I want you to stay here with me so we can share our day together by getting morning cuddles, making waffles together, then enjoying an outing or 2 and then a great story time before nap. I know how much fun you will have though by playing with friends and having circle time story and learning all those great things about weather and calendars.

You are a very smart little girl and I know everything will be great as you continue to grow and learn. Just please don't forget these days we have spent together doing 'projects' and going on special outings, singing our special songs and our midday cuddles!

You have endured a lot this year and have come through like a champ! We brought home your baby sister, we sold the only home you knew, we moved in with grandma and grandpa for a month and half and then we moved to the farm house where you were pushed to watch TV just about all day so Mommy and Daddy could make it livable for the 4 of us.

Now we have a place we can call home for a long time and I am looking forward to watching you grow in this new place we call home. We have already made many memories by picking paint colors together, planting gardens, diaper dancing parties in the living room, stair climbing races and long walks in the woods.

You are awesome, little girl and we enjoyed the 2's and now we say HELLO 3's!

Love you Always, Mommy

Our newest additions!

2008-06-10T18:33:00.001-07:00

U Pick Strawbabies

2008-06-04T18:30:00.000-07:00

Emma and Kate have both found a love for Strawberries and all year long they cost us a fortune trying to supply them both with them so this year we are taking advantage of U pick them farms.

After my bad mommy day yesterday I think it did us all good to get outside and do something fun as a family!

Bad Mommy Day!

2008-06-03T12:03:00.000-07:00

We all have them as mothers and when we do Im sure we all feel the same way - FULL OF GUILT!

I feel so bad because I know that during the move and remodel of our new home I have put them off in front of the TV so much and have forced them to pretty much tend to themselves besides the necessary obvious things such as diaper changes, feedings, few kisses and hugs for boo boo's and cuddles before nap and bedtime. So now the house in a livable condition I should be able to spend more time with my kids, right? Well no.. Now there is the gardens to tend to and double the sq. footage to clean and like all these chores that seem to take all day every day. Like today, for example, we got up and I took a shower, gathered the girls clothes to wear today and we head downstairs. We eat breakfast and I put them in the playroom afterwards so i can do dishes and start a few loads of laundry.

Then I decided that I couldnt put off cleaning the playroom any longer. So I tried to convince Emma to help me and if she did I would let her pick somehting from Mommies prize drawer. That worked for a whole 2 minutes. So yelling and screaming and many deep breaths later teh room is atleast picked up and vacuumed and its time for lunch.

I love being a SAHM - I truly do! But days like today when I know I could've gotten atleast the entire downstairs cleaned in that same amount of time sans kids, I get thoroughly frustrated, irritated and just flat out pissed off. I try to remind myself when I am having days like today that they are only little once and I should be laughing at them/with them because the things that they are doing to make me go nuts are the same things that are hilarious if I sit back and look at the scene in a different mind.

So join me today in taking a deep breath and remembering that this to shall pass and we will truly miss these days!

Note to Self

2008-06-03T12:02:00.001-07:00

Dark Mahogany Brazilian Hardwood Floors are BEAUTIFUL!

Dark Mahogany Brazilian Hardwood Floors on a dusty, dirty farm not so much!

Stan's 30th Bday Party

2008-05-30T13:16:00.000-07:00

Here are the kids playing. Well some of them.

The view at the party.

Stan socializing with his Aunt and Uncles and friends!

His cake. (One of them)

The Bond Fire.

Well i haven't been blogging because i was scared he would actually read my blog and ruin the surprise.

Yup.. thats right I threw Stan a SURPRISE 30th Birthday Party. I can't beleive I made through 2 months of secrets and lies to pull it off and no one told him. I was soo stoked!

We had a pig roast and everyone brought sides and it was BYOB. I had Stan secretly going on a fishing trip with our friend Jamie and when the fishing trip was packing up early superman Jamie came up with a detour to go start opening his pool. haha.. So around 4 (party started at 3) heres comes Stan and Jamie and Stan was smiling ear to ear. He's not a man of actions so he didnt like start screaming in excitement but you could tell by his face if you knew him thaat he was truly surprised and couldn't get over the 60+ people that showed up just for him.

He shares his birthday with his grandfather and I think has only had a party just for himself one other time in his life when he was a teenager and his H.S. girlfriend through him somewhat of a surprise party but this was his family AND friends and for once he got a day just for him. None of the "Oh yeah, its your birthday too. Happy Birthday," with a pat on the back.

I couldn't imagine considering I start on April 1st with the birthday reminders (my birthday is April 20th).

So anyway here are a few pics I got on my camera. I need to get the better ones rom my sisters camera and I will post those too if I remember!

Spring is Alive

2008-05-18T19:12:00.000-07:00

This is for my friend, Erin. She challenged us to post some pictures of the outside of our homes in the spring. So here it is in full glory.

Our house still in need of construction clean up!

The dog house we keep trying to work on today but the downpours kept preventing.

My garden I built last week.

Talk about overgrown!

The Girls Play Area

Our Garden. (Potatoes, Broccoli, Cauliflower and Strawberries)

Can anyone tell me what this is? I really have no idea because a neighbor just gave me a box full of herbs and this was one.

Don't know what this is either.

Our little strawberry plant. We have many but this one is doing the best!

Happy 1st Birthday

2008-05-18T15:39:00.000-07:00

Happy 1st Birthday Little Kate Date!

Mommy, Daddy and Sissy love you so much and are so glad you became a part of our little family a year ago. Mommy and Daddy have had a tough year but not because of you. I do believe you have been affected by it tremendously but still you have survived and quite well I must say! You survived selling a house in the hood, living with grandma and grandpa for 1.5 months and last and not least the remodel of our new home a.k.a. the farmhouse.

I can not believe how fast this year has gone and you have grown and grown so much that sometimes I have thought you literally grew inches in one blink of an eye. You are such a happy blue eyes baby and make us all laugh all the time.

You are also quite the dare devil. You have climbed full flights of stairs, jumped from crazy places and my most memorable dare devil stunt was when you were 9 months old you moved you play table in front of the 35" TV then crawled to a bucket and turned it over and scooted it to the table then climbed on the bucket, on to the table and proceeded to smack the TV. I still don't know why you were smacking the TV but i can't believe you came up with a solution to get to the TV. You amaze me!

I know that you will grow into a beautiful little girl that will outsmart us all on a daily basis. Cheers to you little Kate and I hope you enjoyed your 1st Birthday!

Shuffle

2008-05-13T19:41:00.000-07:00

My hubby is making jump right in to the Mac/Apple family. For mothers day he got me a little, tiny, cutesy ipod Shuffle. Its the newest one thats 2g. So far Im really liking it. the only thing I dont like is that you cant see what song you are listening too and therefore if you are looking for one specific then you are screwed digging through around 500 songs.

Now if I could get my foot fixed so I can maybe start walking and then running it would be even better!

I've got new floors

2008-05-13T19:35:00.000-07:00

WOOHOOO! Im so freakin excited and relieved!!!!

You know since we have moved in to this house I have seen the light at the very far far end of the tunnel and knew one day it would get there. Today I actually lived at the end of that tunnel.

I still have a ton of cleaning to do so I can get of the construction dust and evidence but for the most part all HUGE projects are done. We've got quite a few things to do like finish putting on drawer handles, getting a guy to come paint the interior trim and putting in some shoe molding. Thats just a few things but they are all things that we can get done in less than a day so I say WOOHOOOOO!

I finally have a place I can call home and love it!

New ibook

2008-05-10T20:46:00.000-07:00

Welp, I am joining the Mac family. I traded my tower Dell PC for an Ibook and a mac desktop and a Mac Server. I think i got the better end of the deal so far. The only thing that sucks is my hubby is a PC guy and isnt familiar with the macs and well thats leaves me screwed when I have a question or a problem.

We shall see what happens though.

Poop anyone?

2008-05-09T05:21:00.001-07:00

Poop in panties; poop on brand new shoes; poop on little potty; poop in hair; poop on face, legs, feet, arms, hands and everywhere else imaginable; poop covering ground

Get the point?

Yeah, I LOVE POTTY TRAINING!

Mothers Day Wish

2008-05-06T08:14:00.000-07:00

I really really wish that I could get a stepping stone with the girls feet or hands imprinted. With the date and their names of course.

Do you think Stan will read this?

Yeah, me either. Oh well, I did say it was a wish.

The big 8

2008-04-29T11:54:00.000-07:00

Well, another year has gone by and it has now been 8 years since we walked down that brick aisle and said our I do's. It has been a pretty rough year with adding an addition to our family, selling a house, remodeling another, living with your parents, living in the remodeling and did I mention the remodeling?

I love you more than you will probably ever know! My attitude may not always show it but its true. I'm so thankful to have found someone that can put up with me for so long. I'm thankful to have found someone who will protect me, provide for me, encourage me, support me in all my endeavors, clean for me, change diapers for me, get up with the baby for me, let me sleep in even when I probably don't deserve it and make me laugh on a daily basis. I am thankful for having someone to share thoughts, memories, love and frustrations with!

You are the best and I thank God every day that he has put you in my life and I pray that you will always be in our lives because I want to be those old people you see in commercials still holding hands walking in the park and at the very end giving a little smack on the butt!

Amazed by Lonestar

Every time our eyes meet
This feeling inside me
Is almost more than I can take
Baby when you touch me
I can feel how much you love me
And it just blows me away
I've never been this close to anyone or anything
I can hear your thoughts
I can see your dreams

I don't know how you do what you do
I'm so in love with you
It just keeps getting better
I want to spend the rest of my life
With you by my side
Forever and ever
Every little thing that you do
Baby, I'm amazed by you

The smell of your skin
The taste of your kiss
The way you whisper in the dark
Your hair all around me
Baby you surround me
You touch every place in my heart
Oh, it feels like the first time, every time
I want to spend the whole night in your eyes

Chorus

Solo

Every little thing that you do
I'm so in love with you
It just keeps getting better
I want to spend the rest of my life
With you by my side Forever and ever
Every little thing that you do Baby, I'm amazed by you

And truly I am Amazed by you!

Terminex?

2008-04-18T13:25:00.000-07:00

Termites. Check!

Terminex. Check!

Termite Swarm. CHECK!

LAST ROOM! GRRRRRRRRRR

2008-04-12T19:44:00.000-07:00

Well we are underway on the last room down stairs, the living room. It has been the most challenging of all of the projects. The girls and I had to go and barge in on our friend in Lancaster.

I had come home on Monday evening, the demo day, and well the air quality was absolutely HORRIBLE so I still tried to tough it out through the night but I only slept for about 2 hours. So on Tuesday we left to go to Greta's in Lancaster and we had a blast but that evening Stan called and said that we needed to find somewhere for the girls to go because it was even worse at the house. After shedding MANY tears and hoping I havent damaged my children by living in this house Greta insisted that I stay with them for as long as I needed. So Friday I came home.

The house still isnt great but its a whole lot better. We have most of the drywall up and the roof starts Monday. May 1st, May 1st, May 1st we will be done for atleast a year. there will be MANY small projects but atleast there will be NO demo. WOOHOO!

Now I seriously just hope I havent been keeping my kids in a toxic situation. I swear if something happens to them I will never forgive myself.

All about the Weekends..

2008-04-07T18:53:00.000-07:00

Well it use to be anyway...

Friday, Stan decided that he was tired of my silent treatment and talked my sister into taking me out for the night. Well he and the kids dropped me off in White Marsh with my sister and we went to the Cheesecake Factory. (Will post pics later) It was a nice time. 45 minutes of waiting, a shared meal and 2 Long Island Iced Teas oh and the Chocolate Oreo Mudslide Cheesecak slice later we were on our way home. Yup got home at 1:22 and was up at 6:34am because Stan was going fishing. He is so generous. Go out, have a great time, get toasted but by the way get up early with the kids hun!

Then Vern could see how stressed I was I think because she let me play Sims on her computer most of the afternoon while she helped wrangle the kids. Then Stan decided at 6pm to ask what we were doing for dinner?

My response, "Well hun, I havent showered yet today, Im playing a game and finally having a pretty relaxed time so I dunno what do you want for dinner?"

Him, "Well I want to go out!"

Me, "Well if you will watch the kids I will go get a shower."

Him, "Well we should probably feed the kids."

Me, "Yup."

So after playing my game for another 15 or so minutes. Ifigured out that it was a hint that *I* was to feed the kids. So i made dinner for them and then went to take a shower!

In the car we went and the fight began.

So apparently from his comment the other night he meant that I needed to except that im not going to get as much time with him now the we have the house and family and that i needed to start giving him a break because just because he isnt with the family he is typically doing stuff that is for us. Oh and I am now suppose to let him know exactly when he is to help watch the kids and that if I have a project I want to do we have to discuss its importance over his projects!

Yup, apparently my projects dont have much importance over wood chopping and manure spreading.

Oh freakin well.. Im going to get some happy pills because if I dont I may end up in the crazy house.

Oh yeah, I was also informed yesterday morning that they would be gutting the living room today. So back into last minute construction. The kids and I should've spent the night somewhere else but since there is no where to go last minute we are all breathing in god knows what???

It was a GREAT weekend!

House is coming along...

2008-04-04T12:51:00.000-07:00

My house is finally one color. Not the final color but I think its worth mentioning that my house no longer looks like the crack house it is now the dried mud house.. Oh I have a porch now too for the door in the air!

I couldnt find a before front view but you get the idea.

Oh, and I should mention that we should be done with whatever we are going to be doing to the house by May 1st!!! WOOHOO! THERE IS A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL!

70's Marriage?

2008-04-03T10:38:00.000-07:00

So I realize that I am a SAHM and that I am responsible for rearing our children and cleaning and all of that sort of stuff. Which is great, I love being home with my kids! I love that I get to see all of their REAL firsts and I get to nurture and teach them.

Now for what I dont love.

I am all about "family" which means my kids AND my husband but I think my husband has a whole different idea.

I informed him last night that i was lonely and I wanted more time with him. Him watching TV on the recliner and me playing on the internet was not enough for an hour every night. To me it doesnt even count at all. i try to start conversations and I get one word sentences back. GRRRRR.

For those who don't know he works from home so all day from around 8 til 6 at night he is in our room at his desk on the phone or on the computer all day. Fine, I have no problems with this. I have even learned to think that he doesnt even exist in the house at these times unless something really goes wrong (i.e. Kate getting stung by a wasp). For the past week he has been at the dinner table on the phone with his boss who apparently doesn't want to be with his family. This is fine if it is of importance but they are literally Bsing about flying airplanes, hunting, fishing, etc. WTF?? When I give him a death look he tries to change the subject to business but it never works.

So the reason why he is on his phone at the dinner table is because during the day he is Bsing with our neighbor about the house or whatever so he doesn't get his work done and Bsing with upper management during business hours.

I have tried my best to get involved with play groups and even started one of my one but there is no attendance and lack of participation online. So my only adult conversations have been with my old moms group 2 hours away. I am so tempted to drive down for playgroups its not even funny. If I knew Kate would make it I probably would.

I dont know what else to do. My response last night when I mentioned I was lonely was a laugh and this explanation: "When I was growing up the dads worked and supplied money to the household and thats what they did. They spent many hours working so pretty much his role was to supply money and theMoms and kids had their own things going. I don't understand how you can be lonely. I participate more that those dads did. I change a diaper here and there and I do help out when I can!"

So what I get from that is I am screwed and Im suppose to entertain myself and raise the kids like Im a single parent and I should be thanking my lucky stars that he pays bills and supplies money??? Are you kidding me? Where the F^*% did this come from because this IS NOT what we discussed our family life as being, EVER!

So now Im at a loss and all I want to do is cry because I dont know how to handle this. Even right now he has gone out to lunch with our neighbor. Don't even ask when the last time he had lunch with was!