Busy but Loving It

Well, it's been a busy week and it's not over yet. I have had two Creative Memories parties this week (much success!) and tonight is Charming's Birthday Event. (He's 30 today... shhhhh...)

So here is something funny that happened the other day. The kids and I were in the bath and I told them that I had a baby in my tummy. Reenie was like hee-hee, poke, squeeze, and E says, "Yeah! That's your baby! You have a baby in there" The next day, I was on the couch and E announces, "I have to go potty." He then squeezes his belly and says, "I have a baby in here," and leaves. It was amusing.

And another day Reenie is rocking on her rocking horse and we have this conversation:

Me: Are you Reenie Smith?
Reenie: NO
Me: Are you Reenie Diaper?
Reenie: No...
Me: Are you Reenie Crazy Horse?
Reenie: Yeah.

So they are pretty cute. And I just wanted to say in this post that I have been really happy with my life lately. For those of you who have been reading for awhile, you might know that I have really struggled this past year with post-partum depression, a major move, not having friends etc, but I will say I think I have finally arrived. I am in a place where I feel like I could stay for awhile, I am starting to feel like I have friends that I can just call up and ask to hang out, and things are going pretty well. So yea for me.

That Crazy E Kid

So, sorry it's been a few days. I have been busy, and I may not post again for a few more days after this. But don't be sad, be happy that I am doing so well that I don't need to blog!

Yeah, so E. He's funny. He got this blood blister about a week ago and then it popped, so he of course felt that he needed a band-aid. We gave it to him, but every time it came off, he cried and begged for it back. So we just kept giving him new ones. Until he no longer wanted a new one... he wanted the same one. I looked at the band-aid he was wearing yesterday and let me tell you it was nasty. It was all frayed and dirty and gross. This morning it was gone, and I assumed it had fallen off in the night or Charming had secretly removed it. Whatever. E seemed not to miss it. Then when we were leaving for the store today we open the door to the garage and he gasps. "Oh NO! What is THAT on the Ground?" he says. I thought he meant the paint cans. Nope, he had seen one of his bandaids, still in its little finger roll. It was not el-nastito band-aid-ito from yesterday but one from earlier this week. Despite my objections, he insisted on wearing it.

Eeeww, gross.

And now more from funny E.

A little while ago, Daring Young Mom held a contest to name her new van. At the time I remember thinking, "I need a name for my van too." Well, apparently I don't need to worry about that anymore. E informed us yesterday that the van's name is Lady. Wheew! Glad I got that one taken care of.

Cucumber

I couldn't come up with a good title for this post, so I just used the first word that came to mind.

Anyway.

We have this cute book at our house called "The Way I Feel" by Janan Cain. Each page talks about a different feeling. For example, the last page is PROUD. I was reading it with Reenie today and noticed that she was sort of saying the words along with me. So I decided to leave off the last word on the page and let her fill it in. It went like this:

Me: "Proud. I did it! I did it! I shout to the crowd. Getting dressed by myself makes me feel..."
Reenie: Happy.

The correct word is obviously proud, but I just thought it was cute how she sensed that they were similar emotions. Pretty smart for a year and half. And very cute.

And on another topic, I have been cleaning today. I have several methods that I would like to share with you for tackling the big overwhelming looking messes:

1.Listen to Music. A must for the cleaning. Today I chose some music by the Bulgarian Women's Choir

2. Start in one area and work your way around. Sometimes this means just picking a corner and moving along until everything is spotless, or you can choose an area to start with such as the floor and then move to countertops (this is what I did today.)

3. If you are really overwhelmed give yourself a time limit. Say "I am going to clean for twenty minutes straight," and then set the timer. Often you will find you can keep going, and you will be amazed at what you can do in a small amount of time.

Anyway. That's my post today. My cute kid, and my cleaning tips. Cucumber. Go figure.

Something Serious

I have a friend who has been married for over a decade, is still young, and is childless much to her own pain and sorrow. It always makes me sad for her and I never know what to say and when I found out I was pregnant I was scared to tell her. And I wonder why it is that she who wants children so badly, should not be allowed to have them, when other people who maybe don't want children or who don't really care have them so easily and sometimes mistreat them. I just struggle with this so much as I can't understand why life is so unfair sometimes. Here's me white knuckling the journey to having a third child, and here's so and so struggling with fertility.

I guess I just have to trust that Heavenly Father is aware of everyone and knows what's best and in the end has a greater plan than any of us can fathom.

The other night as I lay next to my children trying to help them get back to sleep, I thought of my childless friend. I thought of all the things that she can do because she does not have kids. And I asked myself the important question-- "would I trade my kids so I could have those things?"

And of course the answer was no.

Even though I am rarely put together, even though my house is general chaos most of the time, and even though I am putting many of my own dreams on hold, I would never ever trade this life and these children for anything. Even though they are my greatest trial, they bring me such joy and they are so incredibly wonderful.

And I continue to wish and pray and hope for my childless friends out there. I desperately wish for you to be blessed with what I have. But if you never are, know that God still loves you and He sees the whole picture. And I know that I can not know your pain, but that He can and the Savior can. And even though I don't understand why we are all given such different challenges int his life, He does. And though I trust that God is in charge and knows everything, I sometimes wish I could have a little glimpse so I could understand things a little better myself.

And I am stopping my religiousy tangent now. I just wanted to get that off my chest. Something more lighthearted next post.

Warts and Fame

This post is about two things: my experience yesterday with some wart removal and fame and blogrolls. Okay fine, three things.

So I went to the doctor yesterday to have some warts removed off of the bottoms of my feet. I have had the “big one” since I was pregnant with E (in other words, four years) and I am pretty tired of it. First of all when I get there, they take me to the “procedure room.” This sounded slightly daunting, as you can imagine. Shelves filled with all kinds of medical things, and lots of football memorabilia including pictures of Steve Young and a Joe Nameth signed jersey. And then the doc comes in. He looks at my feet, makes a comment about their nastiness and tells me what we are going to do. So then here I am laying on my stomach (thank goodness I am not further along) with my bum facing the doc while he burns the living daylights out of my feet. Well, freezes actually, but the sensation was stinging, fiery heck-like burning.

And then I am done. He tells me the stinging should go away in about twenty minutes. It's not really that bad now, I think to myself. I limp to my car, feeling like a dork, and start the drive home. It is not long into the drive when the “stinging” begins. Let me clarify-- burning worse than the initial 'procedure. In fact, I seriously had to check to make sure there was not an actual fire coming from my shoes as it was my entire feet that were in pain and not just the wart sites. Thinking how unsafe of a driver I must be, I drive with as much care and speed as I can to get home.

Now let me just tell you, a little wart removal causes a lot of pain (more than twenty minutes worth) and paraplegic type behavior. I limped and crawled around my house all afternoon and evening until my blessed bedtime arrived. Feeling better today, but still limping.

So in my limping state I receive a phone call from a friend yesterday. She tells me some exciting news about her blog, basically indicating that she is about to become very popular and famous. I am happy for her as she is very talented and cool. But it starts me a 'thinkin.

I want to be famous.

Why? I ask myself. Surely it is not so that my life can be public property or so that I can be chased by paparazzi. But I think that each of us desires a little fame so that we can be recognized. So that we can feel special, or important. We want to be popular and well liked. And I think this is part of the reason that I blog. People that don't even know me are reading me and essentially validating me and saying, “we think you're cool.” It's this desire for “fame” as it were, that makes me upset when I get no comments or feel rejected when someone removes me from their blogroll.

Yes, I was recently removed from someone's blogroll. Devastating. (Although, she and I have since come to an understanding.) But you know what? As I thought about it, I realized that there really is only one blogroll that matters. Heavenly Father has a blogroll of inifinite proportions, and He is reading the blog of my life every day and not missing a single detail. He is aware of me and He loves me and He is laughing and crying right along with me. He may not always leave comments, but I can always tell him what I am thinking and feel His love for me. And the best part? Everyone is on His blogroll-- He never deletes them, even when He finds their material offensive. Isn't that so great? I may not be famous, but I am important and special. And somebody really important thinks that I am awesome.

Royal Sleep Requires a King

My mom has a king sized bed that she paid $2.50 for. Yes you read that right, it cost two dollars and fifty cents. She has a knack for getting the great deals, though actually, my stepdad was the one who scored this one. He was at an auction with my grandpa and no one was bidding on this king sized mattress (of course it has a waterbed frame, and that's a little unusual) and so when the auctioneer got down to $2.50 my stepdad was like, "what they hey, I'll go for it." Now they have a king sized bed that cost them less than a kids meal at Carl's Jr.

And I am jealous.

E last night climbed into our bed at 2 am. Charming didn't notice this, even though E climbed directly over him to get in. For whatever reason, E feels he must sleep on his back to take up as much room on the bed as possible. In addition to this he has a reflex that causes him to swing his arm out when he is sleeping on his back. So, yes, I was smacked in the face for three hours by a three year old until I finally asked Charming to put the boy in his own bed. My husband is a deep sleeper, and he is not very coherent when you wake him. Since he didn't know E was in our bed, I don't know that he knew what I had asked him to do. He asked me, "how do I do it?" Ummm, pick him up and put him in his bed.

Anyway. I so very desperately desire a king size bed of my very own. Anyone selling one? I don't think I can pay more than two dollars and fifty cents. Let me know if you hear of anything. And umm, don't forget to add on to the story from the last post. It needs your mad writing skills!

My Life as Fiction

The Princess Mom awoke to an unusual morning sound-- silence. But where were the children? Sleeping? But no! It couldn't be. But it was indeed true, the children and Charming had slept in. She poked her sleeping husband and asked him if he was planning on going to work.
"Yes, I am going," he said.
"Well you better get up," she told him.
"Don't worry," he said. "I'll get there by nine."
She looked at the clock and shook her head. It was 8:22.

The Princess Mom sighed. How wonderful that she could sleep in now if she wanted to. And yet, her stomach grumbled. Cheerios with bananas and strawberries, she thought. And the concoction sounded so tempting she had to get out of bed.

Before heading downstairs she looked out the window. Pure whiteness. Snow was blowing all directions and a good 8 or 9 inches covered the ground. She found the sight beautiful and yet knew it would blow all her plans for the day. Well, at least I won't have to sit through the most boring and age inappropriate story time ever at the library, was her reassuring feeling. But it is March, time for spring! I want to garden and go to the park! Her irritation soon gone, she went down to eat her breakfast.

Charming arrived downstairs at 9:30, ready to leave for work. "Do you want to shovel today, or should I do it?"he naively asked her. She gave him the look. He got the shovel and set out to clearing the driveway. She went upstairs, found the children playing with their new train table, and started thinking about a shower. As she gathered up her clothes, she sighed yet again. Ugh, maternity undergarments. Am I that big already? Resigned to her fate, she set off to get clean, but first she took a minute to peer out the window to watch her husband hard at work with the snow shovel. She noticed that no one else had done their driveways and opened the window to tell him so.
"Yeah, well Wednesday is not a big working day," he joked.
"Mmm hmm. I hear it's becoming the new Saturday," she said back.
"Most people are thinking they want a break in the middle of the week instead of two days at the end," he finished.
"You're funny," she told him as she shut the window and went on with her routine.

Ten minutes later, showered and dressed, the Princess Mom went downstairs and started the hot cocoa maker. (Yes there is such a thing). When Charming came in they both had a frothy cup of hot chocolate, said their morning family prayer and then he was off to work. It was 10 am.
Well, she thought, time to start my day. She started to clean but was interupted by...

Okay, you know the drill. Time for you to finish up the story. Come on, make my day a little more interesting...

Monday Morning Confessions: Things I Cannot Do

Okay, so it's actually Sunday night, but I am sure you'll get over it... Anyway, things I can't do, taking a deep breath and hoping you won't judge me...

1. Crochet

I have mentioned this one before, but you know I will tell you again, I just can't do it. Many have tried to teach me, many have failed.

2. Measure out the correct amount of dry pasta to get the correct quantity of cooked pasta

I typically err on the side of too much, which is typically what I get-- too many noodles. Better than not enough, I guess.

3. Cut E's hair in a normal, not retarded looking style

I blame the boy for this. It really is his fault more than it is mine, since he's the one who jerks his head at just the wrong moment so that his hair is cut really short in the back. Now, even if it wasn't me who had cut the hair, people are still going to be looking at me funny. This is the sad thing-- I get the funny looks when he's the one who looks like he took a weed whacker to his own head.

4. Understand why my kids are so weird

Okay, this uis just an excuse to post the following conversation with my 18 month old

Me: (pointing at myself) Who's this?
Reenie: Mommo (No it's not a typo, she does call me Momm-O from time to time)
Me: (pointing to Reenie) Who's this?
Reenie: E! (her brother's name) Ha ha ha hee hee ho.
Me: No, who is this? (still pointing to her)
Reenie: E! (more laughter)
Me: (pointing at E) Then who's that?
Reenie: E.
Me:Then who are you?
Reenie: Daddy. Ah ha ha ho ho hee hee hee.
Me: No, you're Reenie. Can you say Reenie?
Reenie: Yep.
Me: Say Reenie!
Reenie: E.

I don't know if she's pulling my leg or if she is confused as to how names work. It could be the latter since she frequently calls me Daddy or Charming Mommy. Weird kid.

5. Turn off the smoke alarm, apparently

Small kitchen fire tonight, err uh last night since this is umm, Monday's confessions. Anyway, the smoke alarm gets going and I get my chair and try to turn the cursed thing off (it doesn't take much smoke to get a reaction throughout the house). No dice. The alarm is screaming in my ears and I am trying desperately to turn it off, holding the button for a long time, or pushing it rapidly, and I get nothing. Nothing. Nothing but loudness in my ears. Charming comes down, turns it off, and gives me a dirty look (he has sensitive ears) and leaves. Oh well. I can put out a kitchen fire anyway-- baking soda, it really works.

Okay, so enough about me. I know none of you are all powerful or infinitely talented (though some of you may come close) so make me feel better about my own shortcomings. What can't you do?

The Snore Factor

Okay, so Charming doesn't really snore, thankfully. This is good because my dad snores like a grizzly bear. In fact, we went camping one summer and I was convinced there was a bear outside until I realized it was just Dad snoring away as usual. It's pretty bad.

But not Charming. He doesn't snore. Usually. The one exception is this-- if he is lying on his back, he will snore up something fierce. It is a process, actually. It starts with slow heavy breathing that gets louder and louder until it is a full blown snore. I can usually get him to stop if I tell him in my ever so sweet will-you-quit-the-noise-I'm-trying-to-sleep voice, "You're snoring. Roll onto your side." He pretty much complies. Last night as I lie awake for about 2 hours between 3 and 5, I had to tell him at the loud breathing stage, "Honey, roll over, you're breathing loudly." How picky is that?

My grandpa used to fall asleep in his chair watching television at night. I would bet for probably at least the last ten years of his life he slept his nights in his chair. And he would snore. In fact when he died, and I went to see his body he just looked asleep to me, and I kept expecting to hear his ever familiar snoring sound. The reason I mention this is because E has recently developed a preference to sleep in his chair in his room. Usually I make Charming go in there and put him in his bed, but last night I fell asleep before I could remind him. E spent all night in his chair. Just like Grandpa, but without the snores. Someday he'll have them I'm sure, but thankfully not yet.

And slightly off topic-- why is it that when Reenie (our nigthtime waker-upper) begins actually sleeping all night long, that E must wake up at 3 am demanding milk and songs from his ever so exhausted mother? How fair is it, that said milk getting and singing woke up said mother so much to the point that she (well me, actually) could not get back to sleep for two whole hours? Fair? I think not. But I guess I should just be glad that neither my husband nor my son snore loud enough for me to need to sleep on the couch. I am oh so glad about that.

Monday Morning Confessions: Things I have learned recently

Just a few factoids you might be interested in...

1. It is possible for Reenie to sleep through the night, as she did it twice this past week. It's not possible for me, however.

2. For a three year old, watching someone cross stich is highly entertaining and amusing.

3. 18 month olds can make pee in the potty chair!

4. Charming (who turns 30 this month) had a plan to grow a mustache. This morning he changed his mind and shaved.

5. Hearing an 18 month old repeat the phrase "Oh man, oh man," over and over again is like, the cutest thing ever. (She got this from the bro, not from us.)

6. I am still susceptible to the morning sickness pukes. (And Reenie will stand by me and toss toilet paper in the john while I am at it).

7. Reenie is quite good at putting on her own eyeliner.

8. We have a gopher or something in out backyard.

9. Suggesting to your husband that you want to paint your living room does not always get desirable reactions. (After seeing other non-white walls, he has changed his opinion, by the way.)

Okay, it's your turn-- what little factoids have you picked up this weekend that you are dying to share?

In which a picture will NOT be posted

Okay, so I have a confession.

It is beyond time for me to clean out my microwave.

I will not be posting an image, as it is far too, ummm, not for virgin eyes, I guess. But I figure the reason it has gotten so bad is this: I am short and my microwave is up high. I would wipe it down after every spill, if I could reach it without needing to get a stool. So there you go. My height is my excuse. Short people are allowed to have dirty microwaves. 'Nuff said.

And here are some funny, strange, or uncomfortable things that have happened this past week or so:

*Reenie developed a nasty rash all over her back (eczema, we believe)
*E out of the blue, randomly started picking up his own toys without being asked
*My dad asked me if I was "showing yet"
*My dad told me an off color joke about marital se*
*Reenie put her finger in my nose so hard that it bled
*I beat a video game
*Reenie was putting her mouth on a step stool and E said: "Reenie! Don't eat stool!"

Okay, not a lot going on. But we have gone to the park twice this week as it is starting to thaw out here. Yea! I have never wanted summer so badly in my entire life.

Where is everyone?

Okay, so fewer than few comments lately....

But the sitemeter says you all came...

Where's the love?

Did I scare you all off with my Creative Memories plug?

I sure hope not.

I am sorry if I did.

Please come back.