... and oh boy did I!
We had to do the two-way family split this year as BFF and I both work holidays. As as Christmas Eve falls on a Friday, my mother-in-law took the lit'uns so Dadda could sleep because Mama works all day on Fridays. {Bonus: I got out early and got a bit of no-kids time with Jess before he had to leave and I had to shower.}We were able to plot about tomorrow morning, hehehe...
While I spent a couple hours at my cousin's for Christmas Eve, I did get a little tired of explaining the absence of the rest of my family. People don't always 'get' the whole not-everyone's-schedules-can-stop-for-the-holidays thing. Ah well, it was nice to see cousins I never get to see. Next year it'll be on the weekend and, unless our work schedules change again, we'll be able to see them all together.
So then I came home and cleaned up a bit before the BFF got home with the kids and I helped him get them into bed. As we chatted, I finished cleaning up the living room and after he left... Yup, I got my Santa on. Presents under the tree (with two toddlers this could not happen earlier!), unwrapped presents opened and set up, table leaf added and table cloth set up, three-tiered platter set-up, dishes and laundry done, even offered to put my presents under the tree (yup, he agreed!), and finally changed for bed! Whew!!
At some point I remembered that Bek likes to wake up to go potty around the 4 o'clock hour. We decided it best to put the unwrapped items in the pantry until Jess got home after 6. Praying for a good night's sleep for them, undisturbed and peaceful, without potty trips... AMEN! lol!
I have to add a comment about something which annoyed me earlier yesterday and today. So many facebook and in-person comments have been along the lines of "Can't wait for this to be over!" and "Two more days and we can take it all down!" etc. Really?? I think yes it gets stressful for some, although some try too hard. Yes it gets ridiculous with the stores and the Christmas music starting a month early on the radio (not to mention they play like 5 songs in 40 different versions!), but people don't *need* to spend so much time shopping and ever hear of CDs? Speaking of which... why can't those radio stations bend the rules a bit and play some real Christmas music?! Christians make awesome Christmas music - Go figure! I'm psyched the Christmas season has finally STARTED! Advent is over... come on, Advent? People forget the real reason and yes That bothers me.
So I got my Santa on. I spent three days shopping all together, plus some time online with Shuttterfly. I decorated a little at a time at the Shack. I played my CDs all through December and will continue through to Little Christmas. I wore Christmas socks too... okay that's a me thing entirely. I set up the presents under the tree and set the table up for Christmas dinner tomorrow night. I cleared up laundry because I am Not doing that tomorrow. I giggled my fool head off as I stuffed stockings. I'm ready to start celebrating Christmas, because I haven't started yet and I haven't spent hours at the mall and, well, you get the idea.
How did you get your Santa on?
Happy Birthday Jesus!
Moving Onward and Counting Blessings
{This is take two: I had barely gotten to the predicate of the first sentence in last night's blog attempt. I blame Smallville.}
I'm starting to jot down notes of things I'd like to blog about because by the time I've gotten around to typing I've forgotten all I wanted to say (or lost the muse of how to say it). My forgetfulness has truly spilled into all aspects of my life. I got to work and started booting up my laptop when I realized I hadn't completely finished dressing myself as my scrub top was untied. Could've been much worse, I know, but still.
My emotional rollercoaster doesn't help the matter as the post-natal hormones still haven't settled down. Oh could still cry at commercials and lose my cool due to a spoon in the sink. I might even watch something absolutely precious smash into little pieces and not flinch. You simply never know how I'll react. Poor Jess.
Speaking of my BFF, have I mentioned what a busy bee he is lately. (Shouldn't say lately.) I got a wonderful text this afternoon of 'It seemed like a good idea in my head.' and the picture was of the lit'uns painting a wooden bird feeder at the kitchen table... naked. Awesome. Can't wait to post it if he hasn't done so already. Oakey's going to love the little house painted to look like camouflage (not on purpose). After seeing this wonderful creation in person, I walked back into the living room to notice our Jesus picture was hanging on the wall finally. It looks great where he placed it. Then I turned to see that our engagement photo was hanging on the other side. I love it! Then I turned towards the bedroom to see the collage frame up as well... with beautiful black and white beach and family pictures from places and of people we don't know. Ah yes, never did go out for photo-printing paper to fill the little frames in that thing.
Among other to-dos would be the Christmas cards which (yay!) came in and need to be addressed. Sadly my return address labels haven't yet come in, but I still need to get to writing the addresses to those on the receiving end. I've decided to find a new labeling program after the holidays. I'll do my best to write neatly until then... honest I will!!
Okay, addressing will be a tomorrow thing. I spent a long while putting away canned goods and other food from our local pantry. Hooray for qualifying for some assistance finally and bigger hooray for God's Blessing as our insurance bill went way up and our grocery money got cut short! We got TONS of food for free and get to do so every month! It's not the brand names we go for or all the things we might get on our own, but it's a hand-out and we really needed it. Thank you God as You always provide when we're in greatest need!
All right folks, I need to put the head to the bed. Night all!
I'm starting to jot down notes of things I'd like to blog about because by the time I've gotten around to typing I've forgotten all I wanted to say (or lost the muse of how to say it). My forgetfulness has truly spilled into all aspects of my life. I got to work and started booting up my laptop when I realized I hadn't completely finished dressing myself as my scrub top was untied. Could've been much worse, I know, but still.
My emotional rollercoaster doesn't help the matter as the post-natal hormones still haven't settled down. Oh could still cry at commercials and lose my cool due to a spoon in the sink. I might even watch something absolutely precious smash into little pieces and not flinch. You simply never know how I'll react. Poor Jess.
Speaking of my BFF, have I mentioned what a busy bee he is lately. (Shouldn't say lately.) I got a wonderful text this afternoon of 'It seemed like a good idea in my head.' and the picture was of the lit'uns painting a wooden bird feeder at the kitchen table... naked. Awesome. Can't wait to post it if he hasn't done so already. Oakey's going to love the little house painted to look like camouflage (not on purpose). After seeing this wonderful creation in person, I walked back into the living room to notice our Jesus picture was hanging on the wall finally. It looks great where he placed it. Then I turned to see that our engagement photo was hanging on the other side. I love it! Then I turned towards the bedroom to see the collage frame up as well... with beautiful black and white beach and family pictures from places and of people we don't know. Ah yes, never did go out for photo-printing paper to fill the little frames in that thing.
Among other to-dos would be the Christmas cards which (yay!) came in and need to be addressed. Sadly my return address labels haven't yet come in, but I still need to get to writing the addresses to those on the receiving end. I've decided to find a new labeling program after the holidays. I'll do my best to write neatly until then... honest I will!!
Okay, addressing will be a tomorrow thing. I spent a long while putting away canned goods and other food from our local pantry. Hooray for qualifying for some assistance finally and bigger hooray for God's Blessing as our insurance bill went way up and our grocery money got cut short! We got TONS of food for free and get to do so every month! It's not the brand names we go for or all the things we might get on our own, but it's a hand-out and we really needed it. Thank you God as You always provide when we're in greatest need!
All right folks, I need to put the head to the bed. Night all!
There's a Hole in the Bucket
Finally have a night wherein chores end before 11pm and so I'll fill the gap with some NCIS and typing. Currently I'm fighting a nasty head cold and hoping my kids don't catch it (back) and hoping Jesse recovers from his bug as quickly as possible. This didn't stop me from running around with several items running through my mind. For those who don't know me well, not one item was completed before I started another.
It started with dishes, which were particularly excessive today. I hadn't even done breakfast dishes let alone the other meals and snacks, not to mention the cookie dishes from Jesse this afternoon. I lay the towel across the counter, had to blow my nose, noticed the bathroom trash full, remembered that tomorrow's trash day, pulled it out to the kitchen, and went on to something else which I now forget. I did get to the dishes and finished them straight through. Took 50 minutes or so. Then on to throwing the laundry in the dryer and don't forget to hang the stockings. There's the hooks on the counter in the laundry room. Oh right - the trash. Oh and call mom. Hey, hockey's in overtime! Great game - oh right, trash. Trying to discuss meeting up tomorrow. Text from Jesse. Something else happened, which I now forget. Done conversation. Kitchen back in order, wait, trash. Oh and stockings. Check diaper pail - it's fine. Hook fell off Christmas tree. Angel which toddler broke is glued and dried, so let's put that back on. Trash. emptied all trash into kitchen bag, tied, and ready to go outside. Clothes for tomorrow. Oh, stockings! Need alcohol to clean surface where hooks are going. Might as well take out contacts now too. Take out trash. Check that house is all locked up. Stockings. Take meds before bed. Toss empty - whoops no bag in barrel. Fix that. Clean up clothes in bedroom. Somehow I got here.
Well, now that it's 11:37pm and the NCIS episode I've been watching while typing is almost over, I should sign off and shut this laptop down. Ever get distracted, one thing leads to another? Does it matter as long as everything gets finished in the end? Well, almost everything. I need to organize some clothes in drawers and get some other online things done. Tomorrow's another day... likely much like this one.
It started with dishes, which were particularly excessive today. I hadn't even done breakfast dishes let alone the other meals and snacks, not to mention the cookie dishes from Jesse this afternoon. I lay the towel across the counter, had to blow my nose, noticed the bathroom trash full, remembered that tomorrow's trash day, pulled it out to the kitchen, and went on to something else which I now forget. I did get to the dishes and finished them straight through. Took 50 minutes or so. Then on to throwing the laundry in the dryer and don't forget to hang the stockings. There's the hooks on the counter in the laundry room. Oh right - the trash. Oh and call mom. Hey, hockey's in overtime! Great game - oh right, trash. Trying to discuss meeting up tomorrow. Text from Jesse. Something else happened, which I now forget. Done conversation. Kitchen back in order, wait, trash. Oh and stockings. Check diaper pail - it's fine. Hook fell off Christmas tree. Angel which toddler broke is glued and dried, so let's put that back on. Trash. emptied all trash into kitchen bag, tied, and ready to go outside. Clothes for tomorrow. Oh, stockings! Need alcohol to clean surface where hooks are going. Might as well take out contacts now too. Take out trash. Check that house is all locked up. Stockings. Take meds before bed. Toss empty - whoops no bag in barrel. Fix that. Clean up clothes in bedroom. Somehow I got here.
Well, now that it's 11:37pm and the NCIS episode I've been watching while typing is almost over, I should sign off and shut this laptop down. Ever get distracted, one thing leads to another? Does it matter as long as everything gets finished in the end? Well, almost everything. I need to organize some clothes in drawers and get some other online things done. Tomorrow's another day... likely much like this one.
Truly Thankful
With the holidays officially kicked off in the secular world, I finally have a moment to relax, albeit at 11:35pm. for those who don't know, that's rather late for me since my kids start waking me around 6am ever since the latest Daylight Savings switch. Truth be told, I've been listening to my Christian Christmas music this whole week. Love it yet sick of the five same Christmas songs played over and over again in 40 variations on the radio. There's SO many other Christmas songs, in popular format even, that could be played! Ah well, that's the media for ya.
So we ended up having three Thanksgivings this year. My brother and sister-in-law came up from Texas last weekend to save money on travel (and take us to a Bruins game, yay!) so we Turkeyed it out this past Saturday with the fam. My BFF's family is holding festivities this Saturday (we have medical people, so sans days off). Then my ma's extended had us over today. I danced my Wii off and loved it. Sooo need to hit the gym again!
Bekah's found a new love for her cousins, who she's been seeing more of lately. She's also found a new love in Hayao Miyazaki. {Dig that!} We watched My Neighbor Totoro yesterday while VJ napped, then again today per her demand. Now everything kitty has become "To-to-ro Mama!" I Love it! Thinking Howl's (my fave) is too old for her but Kiki's might be good next, possibly Spirited too but I haven't acquired that flick yet.
Have I mentioned I L-O-V-E my Shack! >"This is Mah house!"< hehe... Still need to organize the pantry, get rid of boxes laying around, clean-up the books and art supplies, plus we have things at my parents which haven't yet migrated. Oh there's a laundry list of things to be done which won't go away... ever. I realize that. Yet in realizing that I also acknowledge which things need to be done sooner rather than later, especially certain things before the Christmas shin-dig, both the Open House and the Day itself. I'll settle for the bare minimum as the BFF has little to no time to help on these things and (yuck!) he's feeling under the weather. So here's to hoping I can hang some shelves, throw up some decor, tuck away some boxes, and figure out an affordable menu before 12/11 of this year.
Ah well, the youngest is fussing and there's been a light thud. I might have to poke my head in. *sigh* Please, Lord, a peaceful, restful, sleepful night for all involved... and please make Jesse all better. And Thanks for the beautiful home, amazing family, and supportive friends! Amen!
So we ended up having three Thanksgivings this year. My brother and sister-in-law came up from Texas last weekend to save money on travel (and take us to a Bruins game, yay!) so we Turkeyed it out this past Saturday with the fam. My BFF's family is holding festivities this Saturday (we have medical people, so sans days off). Then my ma's extended had us over today. I danced my Wii off and loved it. Sooo need to hit the gym again!
Bekah's found a new love for her cousins, who she's been seeing more of lately. She's also found a new love in Hayao Miyazaki. {Dig that!} We watched My Neighbor Totoro yesterday while VJ napped, then again today per her demand. Now everything kitty has become "To-to-ro Mama!" I Love it! Thinking Howl's (my fave) is too old for her but Kiki's might be good next, possibly Spirited too but I haven't acquired that flick yet.
Have I mentioned I L-O-V-E my Shack! >"This is Mah house!"< hehe... Still need to organize the pantry, get rid of boxes laying around, clean-up the books and art supplies, plus we have things at my parents which haven't yet migrated. Oh there's a laundry list of things to be done which won't go away... ever. I realize that. Yet in realizing that I also acknowledge which things need to be done sooner rather than later, especially certain things before the Christmas shin-dig, both the Open House and the Day itself. I'll settle for the bare minimum as the BFF has little to no time to help on these things and (yuck!) he's feeling under the weather. So here's to hoping I can hang some shelves, throw up some decor, tuck away some boxes, and figure out an affordable menu before 12/11 of this year.
Ah well, the youngest is fussing and there's been a light thud. I might have to poke my head in. *sigh* Please, Lord, a peaceful, restful, sleepful night for all involved... and please make Jesse all better. And Thanks for the beautiful home, amazing family, and supportive friends! Amen!
Love Shack in Action
A short hiatus from the laptop kept me from posting about many things regarding the move, the kids, and various other aspects of recent life. I have, however, retained enough to post about our new life in the Love Shack.
I was about to begin by saying how wonderful it is to both watch the kids and type at the same time, but then I had to step away to prevent.... er, well, VJ got hold of a cheese knife somehow... Anyway, they LOVE their new home! They can run around, play in their new room (without worry of waking Daddy), and we have our own kitchen to spread our stuff!! Don't get me wrong; I love and appreciate all that my parents have provided for us, but it's like borrowing someone's house for a couple years.
Now, we still haven't brought all the kids things/toys, our desktop computers, one desk, hanging clothes, and various/random other things to the Shack. We hope to get most of that done this week, but it's a game of juggling the kids and sleep schedules. Plus, YAY! my brother and his wife are coming up from Austin tomorrow for the weekend. So with an early Thanksgiving at mom's Saturday night, hopefully followed by a night of Harry Potter if we get a sitter, this weekend's going to rock!
Speaking of having a sitter... This is somewhat new to us as it's kind of strange to say, "Hey, can you babysit our kids... at my parents' house?" Now we have our own humble abode at which one might babysit... if only our children didn't f-r-e-a-k when we left them.
Well, much more to tell but we're having a juice craving with pending tantrums. Must tend to the children's needs. Holiday Party invites out! Hope to see some of you there! Oh, here comes the tantrum...
I was about to begin by saying how wonderful it is to both watch the kids and type at the same time, but then I had to step away to prevent.... er, well, VJ got hold of a cheese knife somehow... Anyway, they LOVE their new home! They can run around, play in their new room (without worry of waking Daddy), and we have our own kitchen to spread our stuff!! Don't get me wrong; I love and appreciate all that my parents have provided for us, but it's like borrowing someone's house for a couple years.
Now, we still haven't brought all the kids things/toys, our desktop computers, one desk, hanging clothes, and various/random other things to the Shack. We hope to get most of that done this week, but it's a game of juggling the kids and sleep schedules. Plus, YAY! my brother and his wife are coming up from Austin tomorrow for the weekend. So with an early Thanksgiving at mom's Saturday night, hopefully followed by a night of Harry Potter if we get a sitter, this weekend's going to rock!
Speaking of having a sitter... This is somewhat new to us as it's kind of strange to say, "Hey, can you babysit our kids... at my parents' house?" Now we have our own humble abode at which one might babysit... if only our children didn't f-r-e-a-k when we left them.
Well, much more to tell but we're having a juice craving with pending tantrums. Must tend to the children's needs. Holiday Party invites out! Hope to see some of you there! Oh, here comes the tantrum...
Day in the Life of the Godin Kids
EE-Gads two blogs in a row! Actually today I almost posted midday, which would've really been strange for me, but alas the lit'uns did not allow it. <shock face!> And really this blog's for them alone, since I didn't even have time to remove the super glue from my fingers yet... Ahem, let's begin from this morning...
Restless night. Downward belly bug for VJ and me. Nuff said.
Jesse came home to sleep some and get off to The Love Shack to finish the floors (Yay!) then go out for drinks with his brother (belated B-day thing). It's my mother's birthday today and I needed to get a card still. Gifts all set but kept forgetting the card, common thing for me. Planned on taking the kids to the mall at some point, then to the Shack to visit the BFF for a few and head home (the almost no-longer-our home). Plans are great... aren't they?
Cranky children attack! Clinging, fighting, whining, crying for nothing... Yes a true toddler attack. Somehow we managed through most of the morning. Tried to put VJ down but he wanted nothing of it. Since Jess was still trying to sleep, I gave up and took him back upstairs until noon. (Meanwhile Bekah had freaked out whenever I ran downstairs for something! Not like her.) Finally VJ goes down and Jesse starts getting up. Then I uh... the worst... see above...
Mama-daughter time rocks, especially when said daughter behaves better going solo and can be trusted (somewhat) alone while I take care of things. Wrapped a couple presents downstairs. She wanted to use lots of sticky tape... Lots! So with random bits of dog-hairy tape in long strips along the package, we finished. Then we needed to make a card. She'd been saying, 'Mammy, we got you a bear!' which she wasn't supposed to say but thankfully wasn't really understood by Mammy. We made a bear card. I cut out the bear and some circles to glue over the paws/tummy/ears/belly. Uh-oh... run Caroline!
The bear got glued together in the bathroom... Yeah maybe you didn't need to know that, but too late. After, she actually successfully drew eyes, nose, and a mouth in the right places. It's the little things :) It was a first for her. Managed to not burn lunch and she actually wanted to eat it, my little nuthin' to her cutie. Then the moose woke up. Bekah freaked again as I went to get him. Weird for her. He gobbled lunch at first, then fussed and wanted no more. Then came his explosion, which my father took care of thankfully so I didn't burn the last sandwich (Papa's).
A little later all seems well as I'm laying on the couch drained from viral (yes it was not anything I ate) yuck. This is about when I wanted to blog. Really it had been a typical day, nothing too substantial, except the added whining and screaming. She sits down to read a book. He sits *right* beside her to do the same. His book cover flops onto her lap. She looks at it, perplexed, then flicks it back over. He looks at it, thinking, "Odd, I just opened that." Then he flips it opened again. This starts going back and forth a few times and neither whined or got mad or looked at the other child sitting right there. They seemed, for a moment, curious as to how the book kept coming back at them. I burst out in laughter, unable to even suggest that someone move over. They looked up, smiling, laughing, giggling, and continued with ear-to-ear grins now. It was one of moments that should've been on video but never could be. A had-to-be-there laugh-out-loud hysteria moment.
They day returned to screaming/whining/clinging-to-mama in a short while. I managed to run downstairs to move laundry along with Bekah's help to the tune of a screaming VJ upstairs with the 'rents. They freaked again when my parents went out to eat for my mother's birthday. I grabbed a Dora episode for them while I cooked frozen Mozzarella Sticks and Chicken Nuggets and reheated some veggies for supper. Bekah went gourmet and mixed her dips of ketchup, honey, and ranch. Dinner seemed to be going well until suddenly it wasn't interesting and VJ pulled off his bib and demanded Blue. (Blueberry the monkey is supposed to be a sleep buddy only...) That's it! Clean up and showers.
Yes, showers. They wash each other and it's SO Fracking Cute! Once we got past Bekah multiple 'I haz go poopy!' moments and his peeing on the floor (*sigh*) the shower went well, mostly. He screamed and cried whenever she touched him and I still don't know what's up with that. Bedtime was actually precious. We read three stories, I sang my bedtime blessing song to them, we prayed, and then Bekah went potty one more time. She was out about five minutes after crawling into bed. He took the folding of a load of laundry plus laying out tomorrow's clothes and turning on the laptop.
And here we are. Rinse. Repeat.
Restless night. Downward belly bug for VJ and me. Nuff said.
Jesse came home to sleep some and get off to The Love Shack to finish the floors (Yay!) then go out for drinks with his brother (belated B-day thing). It's my mother's birthday today and I needed to get a card still. Gifts all set but kept forgetting the card, common thing for me. Planned on taking the kids to the mall at some point, then to the Shack to visit the BFF for a few and head home (the almost no-longer-our home). Plans are great... aren't they?
Cranky children attack! Clinging, fighting, whining, crying for nothing... Yes a true toddler attack. Somehow we managed through most of the morning. Tried to put VJ down but he wanted nothing of it. Since Jess was still trying to sleep, I gave up and took him back upstairs until noon. (Meanwhile Bekah had freaked out whenever I ran downstairs for something! Not like her.) Finally VJ goes down and Jesse starts getting up. Then I uh... the worst... see above...
Mama-daughter time rocks, especially when said daughter behaves better going solo and can be trusted (somewhat) alone while I take care of things. Wrapped a couple presents downstairs. She wanted to use lots of sticky tape... Lots! So with random bits of dog-hairy tape in long strips along the package, we finished. Then we needed to make a card. She'd been saying, 'Mammy, we got you a bear!' which she wasn't supposed to say but thankfully wasn't really understood by Mammy. We made a bear card. I cut out the bear and some circles to glue over the paws/tummy/ears/belly. Uh-oh... run Caroline!
The bear got glued together in the bathroom... Yeah maybe you didn't need to know that, but too late. After, she actually successfully drew eyes, nose, and a mouth in the right places. It's the little things :) It was a first for her. Managed to not burn lunch and she actually wanted to eat it, my little nuthin' to her cutie. Then the moose woke up. Bekah freaked again as I went to get him. Weird for her. He gobbled lunch at first, then fussed and wanted no more. Then came his explosion, which my father took care of thankfully so I didn't burn the last sandwich (Papa's).
A little later all seems well as I'm laying on the couch drained from viral (yes it was not anything I ate) yuck. This is about when I wanted to blog. Really it had been a typical day, nothing too substantial, except the added whining and screaming. She sits down to read a book. He sits *right* beside her to do the same. His book cover flops onto her lap. She looks at it, perplexed, then flicks it back over. He looks at it, thinking, "Odd, I just opened that." Then he flips it opened again. This starts going back and forth a few times and neither whined or got mad or looked at the other child sitting right there. They seemed, for a moment, curious as to how the book kept coming back at them. I burst out in laughter, unable to even suggest that someone move over. They looked up, smiling, laughing, giggling, and continued with ear-to-ear grins now. It was one of moments that should've been on video but never could be. A had-to-be-there laugh-out-loud hysteria moment.
They day returned to screaming/whining/clinging-to-mama in a short while. I managed to run downstairs to move laundry along with Bekah's help to the tune of a screaming VJ upstairs with the 'rents. They freaked again when my parents went out to eat for my mother's birthday. I grabbed a Dora episode for them while I cooked frozen Mozzarella Sticks and Chicken Nuggets and reheated some veggies for supper. Bekah went gourmet and mixed her dips of ketchup, honey, and ranch. Dinner seemed to be going well until suddenly it wasn't interesting and VJ pulled off his bib and demanded Blue. (Blueberry the monkey is supposed to be a sleep buddy only...) That's it! Clean up and showers.
Yes, showers. They wash each other and it's SO Fracking Cute! Once we got past Bekah multiple 'I haz go poopy!' moments and his peeing on the floor (*sigh*) the shower went well, mostly. He screamed and cried whenever she touched him and I still don't know what's up with that. Bedtime was actually precious. We read three stories, I sang my bedtime blessing song to them, we prayed, and then Bekah went potty one more time. She was out about five minutes after crawling into bed. He took the folding of a load of laundry plus laying out tomorrow's clothes and turning on the laptop.
And here we are. Rinse. Repeat.
Step 2: Get your shat in order
Okay, so I've gotten myself to put together a timeline, well, more than one really. It's entirely necessary to have more than one timeline when there's more than one level of time happening. Oh boy... I'm confusing myself now. Doesn't take much these days...
Okay, so I've realized I need to make sense to both myself and my audience (who consists of about two people minus all the fictitious personalities, etc.). I've got a basic timeline set for the whole saga plus I've been re-reading and re-writing previous 'chapters' so as to convert them into both sensible reading formats and timeline appropriate data. (Basically I'm trying to rid myself of continuity errors.)
On a more RL note (or so I'm told): packing isn't going so well. We'll be moving into the Shack next weekend. I swear this time it's real! It's been a long and frustrating road but before my BFF and I kill each other I need to realize the light's there and it's not a freight train! He's getting a final sanding and coat on the floors tomorrow and it'll cure over a few days and then... THEN! we can move furniture in. It's a couch and a fridge that'll suck the most. the dressers and beds should be fairly easy. Meanwhile, I hope to get some closet organizers up and finish stocking the cabinets.
All in good time. Things need to be put in order for a reason... so we can continue with our stories of course!
Okay, so I've realized I need to make sense to both myself and my audience (who consists of about two people minus all the fictitious personalities, etc.). I've got a basic timeline set for the whole saga plus I've been re-reading and re-writing previous 'chapters' so as to convert them into both sensible reading formats and timeline appropriate data. (Basically I'm trying to rid myself of continuity errors.)
On a more RL note (or so I'm told): packing isn't going so well. We'll be moving into the Shack next weekend. I swear this time it's real! It's been a long and frustrating road but before my BFF and I kill each other I need to realize the light's there and it's not a freight train! He's getting a final sanding and coat on the floors tomorrow and it'll cure over a few days and then... THEN! we can move furniture in. It's a couch and a fridge that'll suck the most. the dressers and beds should be fairly easy. Meanwhile, I hope to get some closet organizers up and finish stocking the cabinets.
All in good time. Things need to be put in order for a reason... so we can continue with our stories of course!
Painter at Work, Look out!
Finally, the kitchen is no longer yellow! Unfortunately the yellow still seems to show through, that and the color doesn't match the living room as planned, but it still looks _much_ better! Now the floors need to be dealt with (ahem, a subject I shall not go into for my poor BFF's sake!) before I can paint the kids' room.
Yay! Going to have a kids' room! Poor Bekah still doesn't get it though. We were playing with graph paper as I tried to decide how to arrange beds and such in the rooms and my little helper kept putting Mama and Daddy's bed next to hers. Cute. So I cut out the bedrooms and placed them next to each other on the floor as they are in the Shack. I explained that our bed would be in a different room and Bekah and VJ will get their very own room *without* Mama and Daddy. Blank stare. It's a work in progress.
Speaking of progress... Yay again kitchen! So I'd taken the day off to paint all the nooks and crannies of the textured wall (ick! pain-in-the-butt!) and I was taking a break for lunch. We had granola bars, chips, water, and soda... and- ooh Chinese food! Okay, so when I'm alone and working and I'm in a good mood (I had been jamming out with iTunes all the while - a sight gladly not seen!) I can eat almost anything. Leftover Chinese with no microwave? Whatever! No forks? Fine! So I'm sitting with my back to the door at a Mickey Mouse Club table, yes on the little Mickey Mouse Club chair, eating cold Chinese noodles out of the box with a plastic spoon when the oil guy knock on the door. Classy baby, oh yeah! We did get a discount on the bill though as long as we pay within 15 days instead of 30. Jesse assures me this is not a sympathy discount, but one never knows.
So I made to home-ownership! Really we made it. I couldn't have done Any of this without my BFF to whom I have of late been the tension calmer. Really I don't know what we'd do if we both flew off the deep end at the same time. Best we take turns! I must be in good mojo lately though because when we got home the kids paid him no heed and jumped all over me. Weird. They still cry for him in their sleep though. Sometimes they cry other things. I swear I just heard VJ say, "Fahhh Kooo" but one can't be too sure. After all, where would he Ever have heard such a thing?!
Yay! Going to have a kids' room! Poor Bekah still doesn't get it though. We were playing with graph paper as I tried to decide how to arrange beds and such in the rooms and my little helper kept putting Mama and Daddy's bed next to hers. Cute. So I cut out the bedrooms and placed them next to each other on the floor as they are in the Shack. I explained that our bed would be in a different room and Bekah and VJ will get their very own room *without* Mama and Daddy. Blank stare. It's a work in progress.
Speaking of progress... Yay again kitchen! So I'd taken the day off to paint all the nooks and crannies of the textured wall (ick! pain-in-the-butt!) and I was taking a break for lunch. We had granola bars, chips, water, and soda... and- ooh Chinese food! Okay, so when I'm alone and working and I'm in a good mood (I had been jamming out with iTunes all the while - a sight gladly not seen!) I can eat almost anything. Leftover Chinese with no microwave? Whatever! No forks? Fine! So I'm sitting with my back to the door at a Mickey Mouse Club table, yes on the little Mickey Mouse Club chair, eating cold Chinese noodles out of the box with a plastic spoon when the oil guy knock on the door. Classy baby, oh yeah! We did get a discount on the bill though as long as we pay within 15 days instead of 30. Jesse assures me this is not a sympathy discount, but one never knows.
So I made to home-ownership! Really we made it. I couldn't have done Any of this without my BFF to whom I have of late been the tension calmer. Really I don't know what we'd do if we both flew off the deep end at the same time. Best we take turns! I must be in good mojo lately though because when we got home the kids paid him no heed and jumped all over me. Weird. They still cry for him in their sleep though. Sometimes they cry other things. I swear I just heard VJ say, "Fahhh Kooo" but one can't be too sure. After all, where would he Ever have heard such a thing?!
The Dowry: prequel to The Move
{For those who have followed my most recent facebook post, the shifting of the dowry happened between 2:30pm and 3:45pm this afternoon during 'great.'}
Somewhere around January 2006 my loved ones threw me a bridal shower, complete with a pre-show of my mother running back and forth with a bouquet of flowers for me as no one knew through which door we'd be coming. It was beautiful, fun, and hilarious even as Jesse took his brunch to the 'present area' refusing to not eat while opening presents. Well, four and a half years later those many fabulous items remain all packed up... in the attic of my parents house. Not exactly the original intent.
Now as the elated new owners of the Love Shack, we were finally able to move what I have longingly called the Dowry out from the filth-encrusted, bug-carcass covered, musty, dusty attic. Nothing against my parents of course but... it's an attic... and I'm not kidding about the dead bugs. (ewwww...)
It was interesting seeing things come down. Hunched over and working the quads, I slid everything, box-by-box, over to the opening and lowered things to Jesse. At times I paused to say things like, "We *have* one of those?!" or "I forgot all about that!" but mainly to marvel at the limited cabinet space in the Shack and how many 'things' we now had to put in them. Wine glasses. Yup! Going from one attic to another basically! Turkey fryer... oh, how we love thee... Crap! Oil's leaking... not good! Ooh! Delicate box! Light box. Heavy box. Awkward box. Um, all towels box... toss it down! Amazingly, and mostly thanks to my wonderful BFF who can really... ahem, he's good at arranging items in storage areas of travel... we fit everything in the trailer for travel!
Yes folks, our Dowry has officially moved from ma & pa's attic to our new little Shack! Okay, well, it's still in the trailer which is in the driveway, BUT we haven't finished (and by we I mean him) the floors. Those will be done Friday, after we charge for some more polyurethane. I must say we're only just now going to the fake money. Proud of us!
So... PROPS to my BFF for getting the job done and props to my brother-in-law for his immense help and props to our parents (all four) for helping to watch the kids at times and big thanks to all who have been asking to help even though we haven't exactly accepted yet. I should address that, by the way.
As everything is happening here and there and we have an order of operation but no set timeline, we haven't been able to give dates of moving or exact times/ways to help. All I can say for certain is that we're working on things this weekend and I _may_ be painting Tuesday and Wednesday. The only big things to be 'moved' are our beds and one couch, maybe a small recliner, oh and a TV. The rest is fairly small and lots of boxes of stupid-little-things and clothes. That move will happen once every major project (outlets, lights, floors, painting) is done and those things are most Jesse-do-it things. I can't even help with those, except the painting. I might ask for help on that, but we'll see when it really ends up happening.
Bear with us! *sigh*
Somewhere around January 2006 my loved ones threw me a bridal shower, complete with a pre-show of my mother running back and forth with a bouquet of flowers for me as no one knew through which door we'd be coming. It was beautiful, fun, and hilarious even as Jesse took his brunch to the 'present area' refusing to not eat while opening presents. Well, four and a half years later those many fabulous items remain all packed up... in the attic of my parents house. Not exactly the original intent.
Now as the elated new owners of the Love Shack, we were finally able to move what I have longingly called the Dowry out from the filth-encrusted, bug-carcass covered, musty, dusty attic. Nothing against my parents of course but... it's an attic... and I'm not kidding about the dead bugs. (ewwww...)
It was interesting seeing things come down. Hunched over and working the quads, I slid everything, box-by-box, over to the opening and lowered things to Jesse. At times I paused to say things like, "We *have* one of those?!" or "I forgot all about that!" but mainly to marvel at the limited cabinet space in the Shack and how many 'things' we now had to put in them. Wine glasses. Yup! Going from one attic to another basically! Turkey fryer... oh, how we love thee... Crap! Oil's leaking... not good! Ooh! Delicate box! Light box. Heavy box. Awkward box. Um, all towels box... toss it down! Amazingly, and mostly thanks to my wonderful BFF who can really... ahem, he's good at arranging items in storage areas of travel... we fit everything in the trailer for travel!
Yes folks, our Dowry has officially moved from ma & pa's attic to our new little Shack! Okay, well, it's still in the trailer which is in the driveway, BUT we haven't finished (and by we I mean him) the floors. Those will be done Friday, after we charge for some more polyurethane. I must say we're only just now going to the fake money. Proud of us!
So... PROPS to my BFF for getting the job done and props to my brother-in-law for his immense help and props to our parents (all four) for helping to watch the kids at times and big thanks to all who have been asking to help even though we haven't exactly accepted yet. I should address that, by the way.
As everything is happening here and there and we have an order of operation but no set timeline, we haven't been able to give dates of moving or exact times/ways to help. All I can say for certain is that we're working on things this weekend and I _may_ be painting Tuesday and Wednesday. The only big things to be 'moved' are our beds and one couch, maybe a small recliner, oh and a TV. The rest is fairly small and lots of boxes of stupid-little-things and clothes. That move will happen once every major project (outlets, lights, floors, painting) is done and those things are most Jesse-do-it things. I can't even help with those, except the painting. I might ask for help on that, but we'll see when it really ends up happening.
Bear with us! *sigh*
Angels & Demons
aka: Toddlers!
Okay, I love my babies! Nothing can EVER change that. There are, however, plenty of times my lack of patience, temperament, or need for moving on with life during time-sucking temper tantrums can alter the appearance of my immeasurable love for my darling... little... cherubs... Ahem. Yes, nothing but love for those little guys. One second I'm melting over the way my two-year-old laughs in her sleep, then I cringe at his sudden nightmare wail. Or I may be trying to muffle the sound of her sweet little voice at 5am with the blankets to my ears when she says, "Mama, I haz go potty!" A little while later I rouse again to his giggles as my one-year-old's awake in his crib. One simply never knows what to expect next.
True a parent must be able to adapt on the fly, something I'm still really working on. Bekah wears Easy-Ups at night and one night didn't want the one I had out. "I want Pincess Dohr, not 'at Dohr!" I simply explained that this Dora was Princess Dora wearing her riding pants because she was going to ride Calico (a friend's horse we've ridden). Instant success! "Mama, I no want wear 'at shir... I want wear Dohr shir!" Seeing a theme here? "Bekah, these teacups are Dora's teacups for her hot chocolate." Success again!
One day, this will all come back to bite me. She'll be a teenager and I'll be the fool... though aren't I already? I taught her to say "Trick or Treat!" for Halloween. When I wanted to show her new feat off to my mother-in-law, I said, "Bekah, what will you say when someone opens the door?" *sigh* "Chocolate!" <giggles> "Tick-o-Teet!" I'm sure once VJ learns candy comes from strangers (bite your tongues!) he'll be all over this holiday.
And so I've gone on bragging about how fah-reeking cute I think my kids are without getting too into the latter half of the title. I'll not get gruesome about it as I'm in a good mood and need to think about trekking back and forth to the Y for swim lessons in the morning. *stupid hour-apart classes, wet bathing suit twice, ick* I'll just say breakfast can be an hour long ordeal of who wants what, or more like who doesn't want what, plus he can't get fed fast enough while she won't eat unless I threaten to throw her food 'down the big hole.' Screaming in only tolerable for so long while my husband and father are trying to sleep after working an overnight and it's not quite 'play outside' weather. Even when it is, it's hard corralling them with no fence. Did I mention the Shack has a lovely fenced-in yard!!! Eeeeeeeeeeee!!!
Soon enough we'll be able to spread our things around our own kitchen, let the kids play a little more freely, and not worry as much about whose things (which we can't relocate because they don't belong to us) they're touching. Time-outs don't always work. Even the mean kitty routine is wearing off... Oh, let me explain. She's watched Cinderella, or Cinnalella, and doesn't like the 'mean kitty' so we talk about not acting like a mean kitty. When she wants to hit/push/pinch/pull/tackle/etc her brother anyway she says, "Mama, I a mean kitty now!" Later, "Mama, I no want be a mean kitty!" Poor VJ... but then, payback's coming! He is about her size now after all!
Okay, I love my babies! Nothing can EVER change that. There are, however, plenty of times my lack of patience, temperament, or need for moving on with life during time-sucking temper tantrums can alter the appearance of my immeasurable love for my darling... little... cherubs... Ahem. Yes, nothing but love for those little guys. One second I'm melting over the way my two-year-old laughs in her sleep, then I cringe at his sudden nightmare wail. Or I may be trying to muffle the sound of her sweet little voice at 5am with the blankets to my ears when she says, "Mama, I haz go potty!" A little while later I rouse again to his giggles as my one-year-old's awake in his crib. One simply never knows what to expect next.
True a parent must be able to adapt on the fly, something I'm still really working on. Bekah wears Easy-Ups at night and one night didn't want the one I had out. "I want Pincess Dohr, not 'at Dohr!" I simply explained that this Dora was Princess Dora wearing her riding pants because she was going to ride Calico (a friend's horse we've ridden). Instant success! "Mama, I no want wear 'at shir... I want wear Dohr shir!" Seeing a theme here? "Bekah, these teacups are Dora's teacups for her hot chocolate." Success again!
One day, this will all come back to bite me. She'll be a teenager and I'll be the fool... though aren't I already? I taught her to say "Trick or Treat!" for Halloween. When I wanted to show her new feat off to my mother-in-law, I said, "Bekah, what will you say when someone opens the door?" *sigh* "Chocolate!" <giggles> "Tick-o-Teet!" I'm sure once VJ learns candy comes from strangers (bite your tongues!) he'll be all over this holiday.
And so I've gone on bragging about how fah-reeking cute I think my kids are without getting too into the latter half of the title. I'll not get gruesome about it as I'm in a good mood and need to think about trekking back and forth to the Y for swim lessons in the morning. *stupid hour-apart classes, wet bathing suit twice, ick* I'll just say breakfast can be an hour long ordeal of who wants what, or more like who doesn't want what, plus he can't get fed fast enough while she won't eat unless I threaten to throw her food 'down the big hole.' Screaming in only tolerable for so long while my husband and father are trying to sleep after working an overnight and it's not quite 'play outside' weather. Even when it is, it's hard corralling them with no fence. Did I mention the Shack has a lovely fenced-in yard!!! Eeeeeeeeeeee!!!
Soon enough we'll be able to spread our things around our own kitchen, let the kids play a little more freely, and not worry as much about whose things (which we can't relocate because they don't belong to us) they're touching. Time-outs don't always work. Even the mean kitty routine is wearing off... Oh, let me explain. She's watched Cinderella, or Cinnalella, and doesn't like the 'mean kitty' so we talk about not acting like a mean kitty. When she wants to hit/push/pinch/pull/tackle/etc her brother anyway she says, "Mama, I a mean kitty now!" Later, "Mama, I no want be a mean kitty!" Poor VJ... but then, payback's coming! He is about her size now after all!
Love Shack
So as I come home from a wonderful wedding, where played a necessary wedding song, 'Love Shack', I must exclaim a few exciting updates for our little Love Shack.
My BFF has been working (as he's a general contractor among other things) on our new humble abode whenever he's not dispatching, stuck with two lit'uns, or sleeping... the latter of which is rare. Our basic Honey-Do list has been to switch the electrical from fuses to breakers, refinish the hardwood floors (they are small but it's a job!), paint a bit, add closet organizers, and hook up the new washer and dryer. We've already changed the locks and gotten the new W/D into the house and Jess sanded the floors. With all his hard work he's just about half-lived there already. He excitedly told my parents that he'd made his first purchase for the house the other day: toilet paper! Today, we got our first pack of mail and it was... you guessed it: mostly junk! Actually it was mostly oil companies looking for business, but still exciting to see our names with the new address.
We have much work to be done even after we do move in (hopefully in a couple weeks). The kitchen is, well, you could roll down it. We plan to break up the concrete steps in the back and build a small deck. We also want to *eventually* go up a floor. It's a two bedroom ranch-type house. Technically it's a full basement but tiny (built in 1922). We'll see how financing goes...
In the meantime, we're in the transitional period where my October paychecks become non-existent (much like they've always felt but more so) to pay the mortgage. I won't cry, shake, or panic... I've been advised not to as things always "work out somehow." I am _clinging_ to that notion. Hey, it may be a shack, but it's MY little shack and I love it!
My BFF has been working (as he's a general contractor among other things) on our new humble abode whenever he's not dispatching, stuck with two lit'uns, or sleeping... the latter of which is rare. Our basic Honey-Do list has been to switch the electrical from fuses to breakers, refinish the hardwood floors (they are small but it's a job!), paint a bit, add closet organizers, and hook up the new washer and dryer. We've already changed the locks and gotten the new W/D into the house and Jess sanded the floors. With all his hard work he's just about half-lived there already. He excitedly told my parents that he'd made his first purchase for the house the other day: toilet paper! Today, we got our first pack of mail and it was... you guessed it: mostly junk! Actually it was mostly oil companies looking for business, but still exciting to see our names with the new address.
We have much work to be done even after we do move in (hopefully in a couple weeks). The kitchen is, well, you could roll down it. We plan to break up the concrete steps in the back and build a small deck. We also want to *eventually* go up a floor. It's a two bedroom ranch-type house. Technically it's a full basement but tiny (built in 1922). We'll see how financing goes...
In the meantime, we're in the transitional period where my October paychecks become non-existent (much like they've always felt but more so) to pay the mortgage. I won't cry, shake, or panic... I've been advised not to as things always "work out somehow." I am _clinging_ to that notion. Hey, it may be a shack, but it's MY little shack and I love it!
Techno Addict
Yes, it's entirely true. I am addicted to technology. Have you seen me? My BFF might describe me as brown haired and slumped over. My common quote might be, "One sec, lemme finish this thought." Alas, there is no thought that ever completes itself in my mind. Hypographia I say!
Regardless, I write tonight on the most recent outposts of my addiction. I was recently introduced to yet another wonderful iPhone App, Words with Friends. It's basically scrabble for the iPhone. I got it, set up my account (2-3 seconds), and invited Jesse to play. Two and a half days later we're still playing. Okay it's two games later too, but it's fun. I love playing with letters and arranging words and... ahem, I am a writer. This should be obvious. So maybe Jess got a little jaded by my kicking his butt, although he came back a bit last game. Anyway he suggested I add Chess with Friends. I assume it's because he wanted to beat me at a game. So far so good... for me surprisingly. Chess isn't my forte.
Look at that! I've rambled on about two stinking games. Goes to show it's all that's occupied me for the last couple days. Why is the world (Yes, I skipped from me to the whole friggin' world, deal...) so obsessed with technology. I don't mean the broad spectrum from better cars or faster communication. I mean specifically the things that draw our eyes, occupy our every waking hour, drench our minds with information so that we can barely retain it all. Facebook, Twitter, blogs, texting... You name it. We're addicted as a society. Yes I'm dragging you into this. Okay, there's plenty of people who aren't into it as much. (psst, they're mostly of the previous generations...) What person under the age of 40 doesn't text. Extreme few that I know. Who still doesn't have a Facebook account? Not many. And really, we sit around sometimes and complain there's nothing to do. We go online, on our phones or laptops or desktops and we update our status to something along the lines of (Ooh Lemony Snickets flashback!) "Bored. At work. Working until..." Really, have we such an attachment that we can't think without having to share it or laugh to ourselves and not tell the world? Could we possibly put the keyboards away for just a couple days and...
Hey! What was that crazy talk?! It's after midnight now and I need to check FB and hit the hay. Honestly! I writer talking about putting away the keyboard. Sheesh! According to the web these episodes should remain infrequent and subside with continued reading of others' posts. I have to go stalk a few people and update my status. Plus I have a chess game to finish.
Regardless, I write tonight on the most recent outposts of my addiction. I was recently introduced to yet another wonderful iPhone App, Words with Friends. It's basically scrabble for the iPhone. I got it, set up my account (2-3 seconds), and invited Jesse to play. Two and a half days later we're still playing. Okay it's two games later too, but it's fun. I love playing with letters and arranging words and... ahem, I am a writer. This should be obvious. So maybe Jess got a little jaded by my kicking his butt, although he came back a bit last game. Anyway he suggested I add Chess with Friends. I assume it's because he wanted to beat me at a game. So far so good... for me surprisingly. Chess isn't my forte.
Look at that! I've rambled on about two stinking games. Goes to show it's all that's occupied me for the last couple days. Why is the world (Yes, I skipped from me to the whole friggin' world, deal...) so obsessed with technology. I don't mean the broad spectrum from better cars or faster communication. I mean specifically the things that draw our eyes, occupy our every waking hour, drench our minds with information so that we can barely retain it all. Facebook, Twitter, blogs, texting... You name it. We're addicted as a society. Yes I'm dragging you into this. Okay, there's plenty of people who aren't into it as much. (psst, they're mostly of the previous generations...) What person under the age of 40 doesn't text. Extreme few that I know. Who still doesn't have a Facebook account? Not many. And really, we sit around sometimes and complain there's nothing to do. We go online, on our phones or laptops or desktops and we update our status to something along the lines of (Ooh Lemony Snickets flashback!) "Bored. At work. Working until..." Really, have we such an attachment that we can't think without having to share it or laugh to ourselves and not tell the world? Could we possibly put the keyboards away for just a couple days and...
Hey! What was that crazy talk?! It's after midnight now and I need to check FB and hit the hay. Honestly! I writer talking about putting away the keyboard. Sheesh! According to the web these episodes should remain infrequent and subside with continued reading of others' posts. I have to go stalk a few people and update my status. Plus I have a chess game to finish.
Step 1: Pick up the Damn Pen
Well, here goes. Why not start out with the best advice I've ever gotten as a writer. Pick up the pen and move it along the paper, making words preferably, until X amount of time has passed. Well... proverbially speaking, er, typing of course. One cannot make a statement by clamming up... Okay, yeah, I can hear the retorts there as well. Here's the thing: I've got a lot to say and not much order to put it in. To reiterate: I have much on my mind and nowhere to set it down. I'm heavy-headed, overwhelmed, over-thought, under-expressed... I'm hypographiac and loving it!!! Um, I mean hating it... hence the blog.
Many chapters down, few finished, fewer still (as in none) complete. Will I ever publish? Quick frankly I don't give a damn, but I'll get what needs releasing out of my head if it kills me... or it may. Yes, it's true. I really don't care if I publish. Swear against me all you want random woman from ReaderCon who thinks I'll publish in a year. Phaw! It's my twisted, maniacal, under-developed, overly-detailed, completely insanely complex world(s) and I'll do as I please with it... them... whatever! Mwahahahaha!
*poor Jesse*
In the Meantime, enjoy these rants and random bits of banter I shall post on the web for my writing and your reading enjoyment. After all, if there's anything I can kill, it's time.
;)
Many chapters down, few finished, fewer still (as in none) complete. Will I ever publish? Quick frankly I don't give a damn, but I'll get what needs releasing out of my head if it kills me... or it may. Yes, it's true. I really don't care if I publish. Swear against me all you want random woman from ReaderCon who thinks I'll publish in a year. Phaw! It's my twisted, maniacal, under-developed, overly-detailed, completely insanely complex world(s) and I'll do as I please with it... them... whatever! Mwahahahaha!
*poor Jesse*
In the Meantime, enjoy these rants and random bits of banter I shall post on the web for my writing and your reading enjoyment. After all, if there's anything I can kill, it's time.
;)
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