Mmmm

Jealous? You should be, it was delicious! I was just poking through the frig trying to use up the leftover this and thats, and made this yummy lunch today. I used half a fajita then dumped on some really flavorful chicken from two nights ago, shredded cheddar, some salad from a bag and the kicker: Bacon! I forgot I made an entire pack of bacon the other day and still had about eight slices left over. When I found that baggie I almost cried! The only thing now is the other 6 slices are actually calling my name from the frig. "Rebecca, we're lonely, we need you, come baaaack..." I am not kidding, I can hear them from this chair. I used some zesty Italian dressing to top this off and it was just perfect. Oh, now I hear the chocolate muffin in the pantry calling me.

I noticed the clock on this blog is way off. Like, three hours or something and there is probably an easy solution to this problem, but it is the least of my worries. Just wanted to let you know about it, so you didn't think you were going crazy or anything. So you wouldn't think it was accurate and thought maybe you found an extra three hours in your day or something. Not that I did that, ahem, or anything.

I think the baby is starting to feel better. She did wake up last night, but today she seems happier and more content on her own. For example, while she was sitting on my lap this morning, she didn't suddenly turn around, look at me for 3 seconds and then reach up and smack my face, laugh, grab my hair while I'm trying to recover from the smack, yank it, then start crying and throwing a fit as if someone had just done those deeds to her. So, things are improving.

Middle Mouse is full of funny little one liners, but this demonstrates how the baby's recent mood is affecting us all:

Her: "Mom, do you think we need a baby?"
Me: "What do you think?"
Her: "No."
Me: "Well, what should we do with her then?"
Her: "Umm, put her in the closet, maybe?"

No-vanella

That is what my daughter calls my oldest and best friend, Novella. (Uh, she is not old, I've just had her as a friend for a long time.) I miss her. She lives, and has always lived, very far from me. We met in high school when she briefly lived in the apartment building across the parking lot from me. Picture us, 17, with hair so large it probably touched the ozone and punched all the holes that are in it today. We were in eleventh grade and I had a big monster of a car that I loved and still miss . I would never be able to afford gas for it nowadays, but it was my very own car, it had a radio and tape deck so who could ask for anything more? We would drive around in that thing and listen to our favorite bands, and dream of lead singers wearing spandex. Anyway, we were in the same grade, dressed very similar, were into the same bands and boys and worked in the same store in a local mall. Just like the car, that mall isn't even around anymore. We really connected. I had lived in that apartment my entire life and knew most of the residents and all the kids and never had a friend so instantly and truely. It was like true love at first sight except total friendship love, not the hot and sweaty kind. It has remained strong through not only years, but through deaths, births, all kinds of relationship traumas, weight gains and loses, depressions and miles. Next to my parents, she is the one person I have consistently been able to depend on. Whenever I needed advice, a laugh, an ear, a shoulder to cry on, or a reality check, she would be there. I have letters from her that date back 15 years. I have cards, magnets, pictures, notes and trinkets of our friendship. There was a time before we married when Mr. Mouse and I weren't together for about a year and a half, but I still had Novella. When my grandfather died, she helped me. When I moved, she knew where to find me. Each time I got pregnant, she was the one who knew right away. I mean, put down the dipstick, pick up the phone and dial Novella right away. Not a birthday, holiday or anniversary goes by without her phone call and a package in the mail. She is my sister. She knows me. I couldn't even imagine a better friend if I had to make one up. The only downside is she lives soooo far away. I live soooo far away, depends on how you look at it. We always say how we are going to do something HUGE the year we turn forty. By than our kids won't be so young, and it will be more likely to actually happen. I haven't stayed in touch with any childhood friends I grew up with, don't know if they ever married or even if they are still alive. Those people I started kindergarten with and went all the way through school to graduation with are complete strangers to me now, but the girl who lived across from me for mere months is always with me. When I walk through a store I think "Oh, Novella would love that," or when something funny happens I think "I wish she was here to see this!" I don't really have any friends, no one to call up spur of the moment and make plans with, or drop in on, no one to just be with, without our kids around, but I do have one true friendship. One that distance can't separate or break. No, we can't go get coffee together, or go Christmas shopping together, but we have each others backs, no matter what. Not many people have that.

The air outside tonight is bitter cold. My face is burned from it. The wind is howling and everyone is in bed now. I am feeling a bit lonely, probably mid-winter blues. I heard a song on the radio tonight, one from the early nineties that brought my thoughts back to my old car, and my old job at the mall, and of course, Novella. Always No-vanella.

Death and Taxes

...and laundry and dirty dishes. Those last two should have been on the list of what you are guaranteed in life. I am spending a good part of the day organizing this mess for the accountant. I have an early evening appointment, so my husband will most assured be late tonight. No matter how well we try to coordinate appointments and schedules, things happen last minute and usually messes it all up. I am usually left pacing, holding the phone and looking out the window for his truck to pull in, just knowing the instant I cancel he will arrive. Anyway, after the accountant I get to go into a real-life town, one with street lights, and big stores, and fast food, and sidewalks! I would be way more excited but due to lack of sleep and dread of another night without enough I can't muster up too much hoopla. Actually, last night wasn't too bad, at least Baby Mouse waited until 5:15 to start the nonsense. Oh, she falls right back to sleep after I go in and settle her down again, but not me. At least 5:15 is sorta like morning, and I can justify either laying in bed awake, or actually getting up to start the day. It is when she wails at like 2:30 that pisses me off. I mean, by that time I've had just enough sleep to not be completely exhausted, but definitely still need more and for whatever reason can't fall back to sleep for a looooong time. Then before I know it I need to really get up for the day and I feel hungover from lack of a decent sleep. Oh well, this is parenthood. Someday I will be up waiting to hear them come in the door from whatever party they went to and will be complaining about that. So basically, parenthood is one long, sleep deprived, nail biting, complaint with taxes, laundry, dirty dishes and, at the end death.

Is There No End?

Dear Baby Mouse,

Hi, how are you? No, really, how are you? I know something is bothering you because you will not leave me the hell alone. Are you teething? I know you aren't constipated because, well, the proof is in the pudding, so to speak. You did get a new breakthrough on your gum line, but not where I felt the lump the other day, so maybe you are getting a bunch of chompers at one time? Please, I need to understand what is going on with you.

Here you are one minute,



playing with your sisters and wearing the crochet dress to some doll, and then you spy me and holy hell, baby lungs must hold a lot of air for you to be able to scream so long and loud. Perhaps you will be an opera singer someday? Heavy metal? Either way, why must you cling and dig into me for 8 hours on end during the day? I cannot accomplish anything, like peeing or making dinner, or even vacuum. (That last one doesn't bother me so much.) Also, why is it fun to lift my shirt, grab a fistful of belly and twist? I don't get it.

This is what I'm having for dinner tonight, thank you very much.

Apparently, you have also driven your sister to odd hat choices. We hear your pain, honestly, we do. I hope these teeth problems, or whatever that is bothering you stops soon.

Love,

Mommy

Whoops...

...I wanted to share these real quick before I forget them.

Middle Mouse and I looking out the window:

Her: "I spy with my little eyes, something white."
Me: "SNOW!"
Her: "No."
Me: "Snow?"
Her: "No..."
Me: " snow...?"
Her: "NO."
Me: "Snow."
Her: Pausing.
Her: "YES!!"

She was playing a game on Webkinz and got mad at the character playing against her and shouted:

"OH! You little Mozzarella!!"

Winter Wonderland

This is the view up my road.






This is the view down my road.

I don't live on a dirt road, there is pavement under all that sand. During the winter you would never know it though. I told you I live on a mountain!!

This is the new favorite face Baby Mouse makes. I've been trying to capture it on the camera for about two weeks, and finally I got it! Along with her gunkie nose. Her terrible cough has ebbed to just an annoying post nasal cough now, and she might actually be getting a molar. Is 14 months the right time for getting one? I never remember those things. Her upper gum in the way back is pretty bumpy though.

My Journey

Last week I drove down to my hometown to pick up my mother for a school function she attended with Miss Mouse. My father had to work and my mom can't drive long distances, so I eagerly offered to pick her up. I should point out that she really wanted to get here for the school event, and the only way that was going to happen was if someone brought her up. She would never have asked anyone to do that much driving, but I volunteered. I was actually looking forward to the drive. Three plus hours alone! Even if it was in a car, I was more than happy to do this. On the rare occasions I've been home alone without a child or husband in the house, I clean, or paint or do some project. I never sit and read a book or rent a movie or surf the net, the guilt would be too great. Honestly, since the baby was born over a year ago, I don't think I've been in the house without her in it with me for more than a quick trip home to grab something I had forgotten while she stayed with my mother. So, this trip was a time for me to be alone with my thoughts, and some really good music. No High School Musical soundtrack allowed! I jammed to my teenage favorites and the time honestly flew by. By the time I got about five miles away from her house, I was wishing I had a couple more hours left. The car veered off the exit of my childhood home, and I drove by the landmarks of my youth. The train station, which was full of commuter cars, the firehouse, homes of friends I remember going into. Mainstays that haven't changed locations. The car dealerships and fast food restaurants seem like they're going to be there unchanged forever! Things have left and new businesses have taken their place, buildings torn down and rebuilt differently, trees gone, trees bigger, more homes, bigger homes. The landscape is ingrained in my brain, yet altered slightly over these past 17 years since I left for good. My fingers twist the knob on the radio, and I find the radio station of my teenage years, the music is good, I turn it up, I look around and feel something like regret. I don't know why, I wouldn't change the life I've had since I moved from this place, but maybe some regret of not keeping in touch with the memories, feelings and interests of the girl I was back when I left. She didn't stress so much, she enjoyed things as they happened, didn't fret over situations that were uncontrollable and she was eager for the next stage of life. These days I feel day to day burdens, I rush the day, think "tomorrow will be better" only to drag through that day too. I need to enjoy this stage I'm in, no matter how mundane, tiring and repetitive it seems. I need to stop thinking tomorrow will be better or different when my actions and thoughts are the same as the day before. I am the one that can make the day fun and enjoyable. I need to listen to the music I like, dance around the room, swing the girls around with me, laugh with them until we can't catch our breath. Make it good. I want them to drive back here one day, years after they have moved on into their adult lives and I want them to think about how great these days were and how this time developed them into who they became. I hope they realize things will inevitably change, that is life, but they will leave a bit of themselves everywhere. And when they drive back through those places, the pieces of themselves will be waiting, and remind them of who they were, and where they've been.

My trip home was more then just a drive alone. It ended up being a trip to myself. The myself I haven't thought of for years and had gradually lost. Time and environment shouldn't keep me from the girl I still want to be, along with the women I need to be.

Brief!!

What other words can I use for "don't have enough time to sit here and write what I really want to"? I have a full post coming on my adventures of the past 2 1/2 days but for now, here is Miss Mouse at the party last night.

In this first one, it reminds me of her sitting in a colon or something. (Yes, I'm strange, don't you know that by now?)


Here are her groovy teeth. All the kids are wearing them nowadays, dontcha know.

BLING!!! She lit the car up on the way home!!

Quick!!

I have -16 minutes to tell you that I have not been home since yesterday morning at 7:30 am. I drove 6 1/2 hours within 13 hours. Who can guess where I've been? There was no snow there, that's your hint. Baby is doing much better. Miss Mouse has a bday party to go to tonight, from 6-9!! That seems like a long one to me, so I won't be home until after 10. I will blog more tomorrow on my advetures of the past day and a half! Now I' 22 minutes behind!!ACK!!

Sick

When a cold turns to croup.





We haven't had to use the nebulizer since this past July, so it took a few minutes and some help from Miss Mouse to get back in the groove. But an hour later, she still sounded like a seal barking. I couldn't hear or feel any rattling in her chest, which usually happens when she gets like this, so I called my neighbor and she came up with her trusty stethoscope.

Her lungs are clear, and she doesn't have a fever which is good, but I hate to listen to her croaky cough. I am just going to sleep lightly tonight in case she has a coughing fit so I can get her outside in the cold air for a bit. That should help her!

Thank goodness for nice neighbors!! Neighbors that have that medical ejumacation! I thought her lungs sounded OK, but to actually hear it from someone that knows is very comforting. Let's hope baby mouse is better tomorrow!

Weird Observations Wednesday

1. The baby had a bad night because of a cold that she and I have. She sucks her two fingers, but that is hard to do when you have to breathe through your mouth. Anyway, when I got her up this morning it looked like she had a couple of cornflakes in her hair. Nope, just dried boogers. (gag)
2. How come when I'm breastfeeding I do it every and anywhere, but when I'm not, if I notice my bra showing, I get embarrassed and look to see if anyone noticed?
3. When I tried to get pictures off my camera the computer said "Sorry, camera/scanner busy." I spent the rest of the afternoon and evening thinking of things my camera could be doing. At Starbucks with the camcorder? On my bed watching TV and eating Bon Bons? One thing is for sure, it wasn't in the kitchen mopping the floor. Bitch.
4. When does cleaning stop being fun? Middle Mouse always is asking to use the baby wipes to 'clean'. She will hit the walls, frig, floor, toys, but when does that joy stop?
5. Also, when do chubby thighs stop being cute? Adorable on the 14 month old, not quite true for the mom.
6. Why do the kids feel the need to tell me every time the baby burps, poots or is in the corner pooping, but when she is climbing up the side of the couch and trying to swing from the mirror they become mute?

Birthdays Aren't What They Used To Be

Happy Birthday To You,

Happy Birthday, Dear Husband, Happy Birthday to you.

Birthday dinner? no

Birthday cake? no

Birthday present? no

Birthday card? no

Birthday kiss? no

Wow, pretty shitty when you turn 36 and have to leave for work at 6 am, work in bitter cold temps, go to a seminar after work in wet work clothes, and here I am typing at 8:20 and you still aren't home. Remember when your birthday was all about you and people were nice to you, and you got gifts and a special meal, and maybe even got to wear a crown all day? Yeah, then you become an adult, and have a job, and kids, and a wife that has to take said kids to school, and preschool and then Brownies and doesn't get home until 7:40pm and throws the kids into bed and has to prep for the next day of school, and dance class so there is no chance of any fancy stuff, like a hot dinner. But that doesn't even matter anyway because you are somewhere in your truck driving home so that you can wake up at 5:30 the next day and do it all again.

Pretty shitty, huh? Not to mention a wife that can't get your picture from being sideways.

Do You Know The Muffin Man?

Because I seriously need him to call me.

Breakfast is awful around here. If I've made pancakes, they want cereal, if I serve cereal, they wanted muffins and I think you get the picture. I try to let them all sleep as late as they can during the week, which is 6:30. Any later and we are a mess. 6:30 gives us time to eat, and do the normal morning things without anyone (me) blowing a gasket. So I get up and start the breakfast meal as they are waking and no one except the baby is ever happy. On Sunday afternoon I lovingly prepared these muffins filled with strawberry preserves from scratch. They sat and cooled on the counter. They smelled wonderful. I was patting myself on the back for having such foresight. "If they want muffins I'm covered and we have cereal, all set!", I was thinking to myself. Then the baby who was in my arms spied them on the counter and started using her back foot to kick me and her right fist was yanking my hair out and I'm sorry, she can have a bite of the friggin' muffin already, I didn't need that abuse! So I break off a corner for her and I might as well have a bit also, and... something wasn't, let me have another small piece, no, something wasn't right. What is wrong here? It wasn't terrible, it was just so bland, so pancake-y, so off. I went through my mind, and yep, forgot to add the sugar. Never added the dang sugar.

Whoooo's Loooooking At Me?

This guy or gal was sitting on a branch right outside my bedroom window. He/she sat through the four of us pointing, the camera clicking, the baby whining and never moved. So I decided to push my luck and open the deck door to get a clearer shot, which is right below.



Helloooooo there,

Chilly day, ain't it?

"Please, leave me be."

This sucker sat through me opening the deck door, it creaking wide, the baby making a mad dash to get out on the deck, the elders grabbing said baby, the loud protest of same baby and only just flew away as I type right now. Just one of the simple joys of living in the middle of a forest.

I Love These

"The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new." ~Rajneesh

Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body." ~Elizabeth Stone

I'd like to be the ideal mother, but I'm too busy raising my kids."~Unknown

"By and large, mothers and housewives are the only workers who do not have regular time off. They are the great vacationless class."~Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Because I Said So....

....that is just one of the many uncountable lame things I have said in the past seven years, since I became a mother. It all started as soon as Miss Mouse was born. My husband would ask "Why?..." about something related to the baby and I would not always be able to give a reason, but it just had to be my way. He is pretty easy going and knew nothing of newborns, so he just accepted my bizarre routines and requests, thank God!! Looking back now, I don't know what would have happened if he contradicted me or questioned my rationale. I have a feeling it wouldn't have been pretty. Here are some more crazy ways and sayings of mine, things I never thought I would do or say even though I always knew I would have kids:

• Driving around aimlessly for more than an hour because the baby fell asleep in the car
• Licking my finger and using it to wipe a mouth (yuck! even when I do this I shudder)
• Holding a baby through an entire naps and twice through the night. (don't regret this one bit, but never thought I would do it)
• Hiding in a room to eat something I didn't want to share with the kids (selfish mommy!)
• Sing and clap because someone shit in a toilet
• Say "Stop looking at each other then!"
• Say "If I have to tell you one more time..." and never finishing the sentence.
• Sniff a heiney to see if it stinks
• Hide food inside other food (shredded zucchini in sauce never gets discovered)
• Dislike a three year old because he was apologetically nasty to mine
• Dislike the mom because she let the nasty happen

Over time I know I will remember more and will be sharing those as well. Feel free to add your own, I'm sure I've done it too, no matter what it is.

Here are the girls back in December. They were really having fun, although the picture doesn't show it.

**Edit** My husband reminded me of something he said last week, and if you knew him 17 years ago you would find it both hysterical and sad, he told the girls to "TURN DOWN THE MUSIC!!" And he meant it! This from the electric guitar playing, stereo blasting boy I fell in love with!

Revelation

Today I had a revelation. I am really married to a man that is ninety something trapped in a body of a thirty something. I have been married to this person more then eleven years, lived with this person more then thirteen years, and have known this person more then eighteen years, yet never figured this out before today. I feel bad for him, trapped in this youngsters body, not being able to wear the plaid pants pulled up to his armpits like he really wants to, but someday he will, dammit! Anyway, here is my proof: I went Wal Martin' and grocery shoppin' today and here is what I wrote on the list:

1. T.P.


2. bananas


3. granola bars


4. tampons*


5. dog food


6. milk


7. bread


8. chicken


9. salad


10. cold cuts


11. cheese


12. soda


13. juice boxes


14. bacon


15. fruit cups

This is what he added:

1. beer


2. great northern beans


3. sardines


4. potted meat


5. Lucky Charms


6. glade air freshener

What do you think the air freshener would be for? Hmmm, I just can't imagine. Now, you might think #5 would smash my theory to bits, but it's just his way of trying to feel young.

Yum!!!!!!

What kind of meat do you think they use? Alpo?

*I just had to mention, that even though I had my tubes tied and singed last year, I get nervous each month and I appreciate the fact that I'm buying tampons. Ya know what I mean?

EEK!!! A MOUSE!!

Right now, the kids are in the kitchen with dad. They are making snow cream. Here is the recipe:



Get a big bowl of white snow.... yes, it has to be white
Dump in milk
Add vanilla
Throw in fist fill of sugar
Stir well
Slurp loudly while going "mmmmm, mmmmm"
Declare it Best Dessert Ever

I'm Too Depressing For My Own Good

Sometimes when I'm alone, and that is usually in the car, I think of things so depressing, it affects the rest of my day and sometimes the next day. I think of the future. My kids future. (Why I make it depressing must say something about me, but that is another story.) I think of the times when they will be old and feeble. When their now taut, peachy skin is loose and paper thin. Their hair is white and sparse. Their bones are brittle and their backs are hunched. If they still have eyesight, it is weak, and their hearing is bad. I think of them sitting most of the day, alone, with their thoughts and memories. I think of them at this stage of their life, because this is when I will be long gone and unable to give them the help, care and love they will desperately need. Just as when they were babies, someone will need to take them to doctor, administer correct doses of medicine, clean their clothes and make sure they are eating properly. They will need someone to talk to, laugh with and confide in. Someone will have to mother them and it can't and won't be me. This disturbs me deeply. I worry about if there will be a someone available to them. Will they all have offspring? Offspring willing and happy to help? Someone only after their best interests? So many questions, and no answers. I am a planner. Notes, lists, reservations and confirmations are what I'm all about. If I could reserve a future person for each of them I would in a heartbeat. I would give them an instruction manual on what to do! The planner in me would work overtime to cover all bases, with references of their childhood to bring them back to these times they are living now. It is scary, not knowing and being unable to help their future selves. Am I normal? Does anyone else think about these things? Sometimes I think I have truly lost my mind, and I know my husband believes that to be true. The odd thing is, I never think of the two of us as old. I guess I should be having those fears for our own future, but I never, ever place us there. We will just die. Together, at the same instant with no pain and when we are old and have accomplished all we wanted. Uh, yes, we WILL!! Anyway, I need to start thinking about something else now or my whole weekend will be shot!

I Can't Make This Shit Up

Picture this:

Me, Middle and Baby Mouse in the grocery store to literally buy 5 things. Baby strapped up front, Middle bouncing along next to cart. Suddenly, Middle bursts into song:

"BRIT-NEY SPEARS! BRIT-NEY SPEARS!
BRIT-NEY SPEARS! BRIT-NEY SPEARS!"(in a cheerleader voice)

Baby joins in:

"FRA-NA HO! FRA-NA HO!
FRA-NA HO! FRA-NA HO!" (while shifting her shoulders)

What the hell do you think the other shoppers were thinking about me? In my defense, you cannot listen to a radio station without them commenting on her. We live in the car, so I guess this sort of thing was bound to happen.

Oh, Troy!!!

Guess where we were last night? It involved lots of loud music, fireworks and ice.





YES!! High School Musical, the Ice Tour! Wow, what anticipation has been in our house since Santa brought the tickets to Grandmas house! We have had a countdown going for the last two weeks. The big night finally arrived, and not one day too soon for mommy.

My girls had never been in an arena bigger then the Civic Center, so they were mighty impressed by the size of the Times Union Center. Here they are at the railing with their new H.S.M. souvenirs.

Look at Middle Mouse, so happy! So amazed!! So alert!! She was listening to everything. Like, when the character Sharpay says:

"They are turning my talent show into a farce!"

She heard:

"MOM! Did you hear that? Sharpay said the show is a FARTS! Mom, she said the show is farts, farts mom! Did you hear me say what Sharpay say its farts momma, farts Sharpay says its farts. Why farts? Mom Sharpay says da show is a farts"

And so the following 5 minutes were lost on us due to the misinterpretation. Luckily, Miss Mouse was there to bring us back on track.

"Look Mom!!"

Here is a final shot of the cast. We were pretty far up and they move so dang fast on those skates! They ended up having a great time, and were conked out before we reached the highway.

Talent

Do you know anyone who can take something mundane, like an egg carton, and with five minutes and some wall paper border and paint turns it into something you would display on your mantle? Are you that person? Well, I am not that person and have never known anyone with that kind of skill, until I met Him. No, not Jesus Him! Him, my Husband! To tell you the truth, he really annoys me, actually. I mean, we can't even go on a nature walk without him finding 58 things to bring back to the house and mess around with to create something that looks like it should be in Home and Garden magazine. I see a piece of slate in the yard and think "Oh goodie, a nice flat rock for my drink to rest on!" He sees a future template for him to engrave my name. And that's what he did. I often wish I had an office so I could hang it, my slate name tag, on my door. Forget about when he has the typical art supplies at his disposal. The girls and him go down to the basement and I never know what might get brought upstairs. I can smell the paint and hear the air compressor and can only wonder. All I know is I've got about 75 minutes to myself! They are so lucky to have his creative mind at their disposal. I can only imagine what future school projects will get the benefit of his artistic touch. Where I usually want to guide their hand for a steady line, or pick eye pleasing color combinations, he just lets them go for it. There might be helpful hints, but in the end, the artwork is 100% theirs, and usually comes out nicely. And the pride in their face is enormous.

These two glass pendants are just some of what he has recently created. We have so many floating around the house I am always wearing a different one. Every day I wear one, I get a compliment and an inquiry. I proudly say "Oh this, my husband made this." The deacon at church now always checks my neckline and remarks how nice his work is. I actually brought one for her this week, but she was out with the flu.


His technique for these is a bit complicated. He has very long, thin glass sections and melts them to be pliable. At a certain point he infuses what ever color and twists, or elongates to make the shape. I'm sure other things take place, but that is my description!!

I have decided to write about his different artistic outlets each month, since it will take me many days to share all he has done.

60,80,6,44,99,90,60,90,3

Middle Mouse has been into numbers now for several weeks. "I used to be thwee but now I'm fouwa." She tells that to everyone, strangers, me, grandparents- anybody who will listen to her, gets a full explanation of her age. "See- one, two, thwee, fouwa, that's how many!" She uses her fingers on her right hand, then will repeat the process on her left. She tells me "Mom, I love you 60 90 80 3 28 40 million points!!", with a big grin and waiting with huge eyes for me to say "Wow! That's a lot!" Then she giggles, and changes her mind. "No, I love you 99 99 59 70 8 9 88 60 22 1 40 9 30 BUCKS!!" It is then expected of me to nearly fall on the floor with amazement of how much love she either points or bucks me. This child of mine has no cap on showing her emotions, no matter how high or low the number she is feeling you . This is a rare picture of her, because she is not smiling in it. You will know with one simple glance in her direction if she is mad, sad or up to something. You don't even need to look when she is happy. Oh, when she is happy!! The house shakes with her merriment, the floors rumble and walls vibrate! There is singing! Loud counting! And if you do look at her during all this, you will see an entire face that smiles, not just a mouth. Sure, she will be grinning, but the eyes light up, the cheeks are rosy and her whole body is in motion. That state of glee is usually how you will find her. My wish is for her to always stay like this. For her anger to always leave quickly, for her smile to always be easy and lingering and most of all, I hope I can always be the one to make her giggle.

Fun, Fun, Fun

We went to the mall today so the girls could each get another Webkinz with some Christmas money that has been burning holes in their piggy banks. In this mall there is a terrific area for small children to play in. I would say it is ideal for four and under, although as you can see my almost seven year old had oh so much fun. She knows to be on the calmer side since most of the people in there come up to her waist. The mall workers do a super job of keeping this section really clean. There is a spot for strollers, shoes and a hand sanitizer dispenser that never has lotion in it, but whatever. That's why I tote around so many baby wipes. Well, not the only reason!



Want to know the best part of this little spot? Aside from the comfortably padded benches for parents, and the cush-y, soft-y, climb-y thing-ys for the tots?

Well......

It's FREE!! Yes, this is my mostest favoritest part. I can just walk right in and spend an unlimited time and know my kids will have fun. Even Baby Mouse. Especially Baby Mouse!! The first time we went several months ago she wasn't even walking yet and just had a ball. The last time I went down was with the three of them during the Christmas break, just to kill time. We had lunch in the food court, went to this play area for quite a while, walked through the pet store, got a snack at the dollar store (yes, they have snacks!) and no mall visit is complete without browsing Claires. A relatively cheap day out and a happy group of kids. Of course, if you have kids that always beg for you to buy stuff and whine about not getting things at all the different mall stores I guess this wouldn't be a great place to go. I'm very fortunate that the girls know not to constantly ask for things, and won't throw a fit at hearing "no" to a request. Sure, they might try every once in a while, but I set a precedent long ago about not buying stuff every time we go out.

Here We All Are

I just wanted to show the flip side of my little one. These are the moments that I have to remember as opposed to yesterdays' moments. Otherwise I might just have to put her on ebay!

It took about seven tries for this so-so shot!! My Dad was laughing at me because I kept telling my husband "Another!!" My Middle Mouse kept pulling her eyelids down to look like a zombie, the baby wanted down, my mom blinked, he didn't zoom in enough twice and I'm still not thrilled with the result. Oh well, it was after dinner, everyone under 4 foot was wound up from the excitement of having company and from an afternoon at TreePad for a birthday party. That place was loud I tell you!! Of course they loved it. I made a pork roast in my crock pot, twice baked potatos (yum!) and some vegetables with a salad. The best part is, no worries about dinner for tomorrow due to all the leftovers!

Tonight my parents and grandmother are coming up for dinner. The kids love when anyone comes to our house. We don't get too many visitors up here in the boonies. It is kinda nice! I don't have to worry about anyone seeing the state of my house! And when anyone does decide to come up, they make sure to call first to be sure we are home, so I have time to clear the clutter a bit. Speaking of clutter, I can't believe that I found homes for all the new Christmas presents the girls received this year!! It usually takes me until the end of January, just in time for Miss Mouses' birthday, when even more things get brought home!!

Anyway, I am going to make hubby take a picture tonight of our four generations : Me, my girls, my mom and my grandmother. I will post it either later tonight or tomorrow. How lucky are my kids to be able to have a great grandmother still living and doing well enough to brave the trip up to their house for dinner? It is less and less common for children to have any great grandparents alive during their lifetime, and not too long ago we had five generations of females. My Nanny lived to meet and spoil two of my kids, and they still remember "Nanny Jellybean". That's the name they gave her because she always made sure jellybeans were in the house when we came over!! I will post a picture of that someday when I dig a nice one out.

I'll Have...

The 'Daily Special' around here is an order of frustration,

With a side of spicy anger sprinkled heavily with irritation,

Followed up with a warm bowlful of indignation.


To me her loud screams translate into something like "How dare you take my picture during my tantrum!! All I wanted was a quick swim in the toilet!" Oh, how fun the teenage years will be in my house of girls!

Whatcha gonna do,

Whatcha gonna do when she comes for you!

Here's a picture of Miss Mouse taking a break

from patrolling the area!

Bad Boys, Bad Boys..

My oldest daughter has become obsessed with the show Cops. It started over the Christmas vacation. She is usually in bed by 8:00, but during the break from school I let her stay up later. Her body clock is so set though, she never made it past 8:45! Anyway, her two little sisters were sleeping, and we turned the TV on and there was Cops. She wouldn't let me change it, the song reeled her in. She sat intently, listening, eyes wide, absorbing it all. She was hooked. "Why is that man doing that?" she would ask. "Why did they get arrested?" She was introduced to a new world. A world where everyone was loud, disrespectful, usually dirty and drunk. I had serious reservations about her being witness to this new world. I mean, I just relented about a year ago to allow SpongeBob to be on. This was way more then anything Dora or Kim Possible had been through. But, I thought, she is almost seven, in school with kids who might actually live some of this as part of their normal life, and I was sitting right there trying to explain things to her. Well, not only didn't she have nightmares that night, she made me set the DVR to record upcoming episodes! Last week on CourtTV they aired old episodes, one named Cops...Naked! Well, needless to say, all the bad guys (and girls) had no clothes on. This has been the highlight of her new year to date. To see grown people running away from policemen naked! How awesome! She kept saying " I can see their booty", even though it was all blurred out. I am thinking she might want to grow up to be in law enforcement. We were driving home the other night and she asked me how I could see to drive. I told her about the headlights, and flicked them so she could see the difference on the road. She said " Oh good mom, one time on Cops a guy got pulled over for not using his lights, and something else happened and he went to JAIL!" Yeah, just call me if you have any legal questions, I'll go ask her what's what.

Hi!

Hello, everyone! I am assuming I am talking to all my family and far away friends, but if I don't know you, hello to you too. There are a couple of blogs that I read all the time, and I was thinking how great having one would be for me to have as a sort of journal/diary about the kids, my boring day to day life, and for the poor souls who would like to catch up on all that! As a bonus, it is a nice forum for me to go on and on, without getting interrupted! No husband leaving the room mid conversation, no kids ignoring my words, while yawning. At least if people are doing those things, I can't see them. Now I have endless space in which to dissect all the important facets of my life. Like my many embarrassing escapades with the kids in public restrooms! Like all the different ways to slip the words fart/booty/burp and puke into a conversation! And how funny it is!! Like the ways I get sucked into certain things, obsessively! (Maybe one of those things is using too many exclamation marks!) Anyway, I am eager to learn as much about blogging as I can and making my ho-hum life seem interesting to you guys. And if I exaggerate, you are too far away to even know about it.

I hope to post a nice recent picture of the kids. One with them all looking at the camara and possibly with them all smiling. Don't hold your breath.