Bribery is the best!

Oh how I must bribe the little one. Miss Mia is on her first official day of potty training. (this is where I don't give up after 2 hours) I made a composed pile of all the notes from friends, family, and my beloved efriends. And came up with some good ideas. So this morning, I am hoping I removed my last diaper from Mia.

For your viewing pleasure, and for sake of keeping notes of what works. Here is what I have compiled as what to do...

• NO more diapers. All gone. Make them disappear. Diapers = confusion
• Make a BIG deal, and I mean a BIG deal out of her new big girl pants. Even if it means Alex has to wear them outside of his sleeper...(I'm willing to walk around in just my big girl pants and a tshirt if that's what it takes.)
• Have a fancy bribery tool handy. I have chosen a small IKEA jar (because god knows I have enough) filled with bright yummy MnM's. She pee's. She get's an MnM. She Poops...well that is for another week, I am just working on the pee for now
• I am willing to also create a large sticker chart if necessary.
• I did have to put my cheering skills to good use. She peed in her potty today, I think I peed myself I was so excited, I cheered, I danced (the cabbage patch and the running man, Piper was witness) and I rewarded with kisses, high 5's, fist bumps (yes she does this) thumbs up, and the holy jar of MnM's.
• She is now down for her nap. I made a HUGE deal out of her big girl pull ups, as so she does not get confused thinking there are diapers. No siree. (and thanks to the fact that Alex was taking a nap he didn't have to wear the pull ups) Then we also bribed her to bed for nap a little earlier then (I was getting a little off schedule) she get's to hold and watch my very nice Tinkerbell globe, with lights, song and glitter. Then it goes back on top of the dresser (far far away from her)

So HOORAY for me, HOORAY for Mia, and HOORAY for potty training...

Cigar water and ruining the YIPIEE buzz...

When my beloved Starbucks had it's final day, I spent the morning then the late afternoon there. Thus getting me some free stuff! 8 free cookies, a toffee, chocolate caramel bar case, and a bag of ground coffee.

Now I have never had Starbucks coffee. Not just the straight "coffee" I drink Mocha's. So I took it home, poured it into the old coffee pot (removing my store brand grounds first) not sure if it would be any good... let's just say it will be hard to finish the store brand and not only exclude myself to good coffee...

Ed on the other hand says it tastes like cigar water. Well.... more for me then!

Sorry to ruin your "Yipiee buzz" or the "Yahoo buzz" you had going this morning Mi. I know you were dead set on coloring all over your placemat (you can with dry erase markers) but I quickly took away your empty plate (previous host of your breakfast banana) and whisked you off to the front room for your morning dose of "The Sunny Side Up Show" on Sprout t.v.

She got over it faster then I thought, but the little voice "Yipiee" or "Yahoo" and some now and then "Woowees" are just enough to make me want to let her cover the walls in ink. But then I quickly come to my senses and realize that is a bad idea...

Anywho, I am off to enjoy my cigar water, and go blog surfing!

I need all help and advice. NOW!

(notice the stink eye look...)

Save me dear god. I have now realized that potty training a 27 month old is absolutely the worst job ever. I am about 2 hours into it and I can't handle it.



I have a potty chair.

It is in the t.v. room with her toys.

We went through the whole routine, of ripping off diaper and sitting.

She will not go naked (meltdown included)

I tried the big girl pants, she doesn't want them.



Now when I pulled out the small pretty jar with mnm's in them, that got her attention (thanks Sara!)

She took off her diaper. Sat. And of coarse said "pleeease mommy" with those little cute eyes batting, and pretty girl voice.

So I said if you potty, you get 1 mnm. Let's pretend once.

She dropped diaper, sat, I gave mnm.

Now she is having a meltdown and wants more.

Thank god I am a mean mommy. And I won't bend. I took the small jar of mnm's and put them up on top of the t.v. where she can see them for motivation and the potty chair is in front of the t.v.



(now that I have typed this she has calmed down...never mind, temporary distraction from Mickey Mouse...she is back into full whine... that is a whole nuther task we are tackling. "The I don't understand whining, talk normal please")



So any advice would be great. I know it's just day one, or just the first few hours. But I really think she is ready, she HATES being dirty, wants to be changed, and is very interested in the potty chair, toilet, and big girl pants too.



help me....

Mia v.s. Alex

Jen put in a request and her you go. Not much of a difference. Picture of me with the pink and green room, is myself and Mia, (she's hiding!) and the brown room is me and Alex (he's hiding too!)

I gained about 8lbs more with Mia, I didn't hold back eating with either one. And both of these pictures were taken the day before I went into the hospital! Mia's was May 31st, yes two days before she was born, but I was in the hospital on the first of June, the Princess decided to take 16 hours and 13 minutes. Unlike her angelic brother, who's picture was taken on April 24th, went in on the 25th, he was born at 4:06 pm, with 35 minutes of pushing.

There you have it. Nice comparison shots!

Jesus flying fucking chirst already. VENT

Aaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrggggggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!! Ffffffffffffffuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuccccccccccccccccccccccccccckkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk!!!!!!!!!!!!

Better.

Alex would NOT eat his fucking beef. Yes I know start veggies first, well I already opened them, so by day 5 he can eat some damn level 1 beef. That took a half hour (bottle included) the dogs barked, Sophie the douche bag would NOT come in the door, so she barked if I closed the back door. But she wouldn't come in if I opened it. Not leaving it open to many flys and bees.

Maggie was all in my face because she could smell the beef from Alex's pured cat food looking dinner. Mia was fine, more confused at my random shouting and growling. But the whole time sang "It's time for a snack! It's time for a snack"

Can't let the dogs bark, Ed is sleeping in the t.v. room in the subfloor (or basement) Bah, then I was caring Alex upstairs to hose off the 1/2 a jar of beef from his naked little man chest, and I do the most ANNOYING thing, ya know when you walk into a door and clip your fucking hand on the door?! WTF!?!? It could have been worse I have been known to misjudge the door hole, and just clip my whole damn shoulder on the door frame.

Jesus. It's not like I don't still have a shitload of stuff to do today, but NO let's aggravate me to the point where I just say fuck it and go stare at the t.v.

45 minutes till Mia and Alex go to bed. Oh fuck, the cat just yacked on the floor... eww... it's like a sausage of barf... anyone else wanna pick a fight with me. Because RIGHT now I would be a good candidate for a total psychotic ass wooping on any random tard that chooses to speak to me...

Maybe I will just piss away some time, and find the theme song to Noddy, that could make me better...

Ode to Mi

Your amazing, your beautiful,

your feisty, your sweet.

Your spunky, your funny,

your outgoing, and neat.

You laugh, and play,

you create and imagine,

you think, and grow,

your smart, I know.

I love you with all my heart,

I loved you from the start.

There is never a day I don't love

and adore you,

I love to watch and capture the

moments of all that you do.

Mia Nicole, I love you.

Mommy.

Mia and Alex talk about squash and leatherface...

I had a very eventful evening. I have again decided to try and feed Alex food. Mia chooses Butternut Squash. As I am feeding Alex, she is supervising from the footstool. And what do you know, just a few days before little man is 5 months, he eats 2.5 oz of food! (afterwards hungry man chooses to eat a whole bottle with rice!) So while Mia is curiously peering over the arm of the highchair, she keeps saying "Look at me, I am yeverface" translated to "Look at me, I am leatherface" now I have never seen the movies, but I did see Idle Hands, with Devon Sawa, Jessica Alba, and Seth Green. There is a scene where Seth Green says' "Look at me, I am leatherface" and it is just too damn funny. So the when Mia said the other day... " Look at me" I in return said "I am leatherface" and well it just stuck. I think it's just freaking hill-air-ious! (go rent the movie, it's a scary funny movie)

So as I am preparing the above mentioned bottle, Mia is sitting at the table eating her waffles for dinner, with Alex in his highchair watching her. I can hear Mia say "hello" and he says "gerbergahahhhh haha eeeeee" Mia says "ok" Alex again says "gerbergahahhhhh haha eeeee" Mia laughs and looks at me (I was watching from across the kitchen) my heart just melted. Not only was I super excited that my big boy just ate his first food today. But this was Mia and his first ever conversation together. Gibberish it was. But it was music to my ears.

I quickly call Ed at the video store, they start up there conversation again, and he got to hear it! I need to make a mental note of how cute it was, and remember that when they are threatening each others lives in a few short years...

Motivated = progress

On all different sorts of levels, I am motivated, and so it is in result, I have made progress. No matter how small, or insignificant the progress is. The big thing for me is the motivation is there.

Diane and Joe watched the kids yesterday = I was able to prep for Stamp Camp, clean the art room, and hang out with Ed. We had a huge beer can chicken on the grill with stuffing and grilled veggies.

Diane and Joe still have the kids today = We woke up, went to breakfast, the bank, dropped off Stampin' Up! catalogs to Tammy and Annette, got gas for the truck ($59 GAH!!)

Dropped off and I, let me repeat, Ed sat in the truck while I got to go in and answer ALL the questions about the kids, us, our Religious upbringings, the "godparents" oh they look of sheer terror when I told her about the "Jewish" godparents... after enjoying the look and confused head turn, I quickly told her that my "Catholic" sister was going to be a third godparent over both children. (because Alex's godparents, Nikki and Loren aren't Catholic or Christian either)
That was fun, happy I did it. Clear your calendars the Baptism will be either the Sunday before or after Turkey Day.

Dropped Ed off at home, so he could devote his love and attention to all the dog shit out back. I ran to the grocery store, getting lost in the Halloween isle (LOVE IT!) Didn't get much, just some of those cool window clings that look like blood streaming down.

Came home, mowed the front lawn, Ed finished while I edged, trimmed and blew away all the grass. Ed went in to lay down (before going to work, then to work, then to work...) I hosed down all the webs and mess from the front of the house and garage. Looks pretty! Moved the bird feeder, filled it. Dumped the water garden, moved what was left inside for the winter. So now the front of the house is prepped for decorating. (I SO badly wanted to do it today, but I still have to shower, iron Ed's clothes, and go get the monkey children from the IL's)

I will save that for another day. After Ed goes to work, and I bring home the tots, I will bathe, feed and off to bed with them. Then I will go back down to the art room to clean and finish prepping for class.

Possibly some dishes to be done, but don't hold your breath, and don't even ask about the laundry. It's a small joke, I should probably eat... maybe Taco Bell on the way there. Speaking of, I got a cool email from Spark People website, about working out in the morning. Sounds insane but I think I can do it. I am fat, tired, SO out of shape, and 25 lbs is needed to be gone from my body! Could you imagine if I actually did it? Well at least there's motivation there, right?

Well I must take my sweaty ass to the shower, and go get my tator tot children. Oh and the main reason I got so much done? My Comcast connection was down last night and this morning. So I decided to stay away from here. Hmmm, amazing the things I could get done if I would just walk away...

Full Swing!

Well the babies are born, and business is back up again. This is the greatest thing about being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator. I can work my business around me. When I had Mia I took 3 months off and with Alex I took almost 5 months off.

I am still able to take orders, and now with the new feature on my personal Stampin' Up! website, my customers can order from me right there! Have it shipped right to them! Getting hostess benefits and all!

I have been spending as much free time as I can down in my art room, cleaning it up, and prepping for class. I have my first class on Wednesday! It's called "Go Faux or Go Home" everyone will walk out with a bitty book of at least 15 faux techniques. Like how to make faux buttons, faux tearing of paper, faux linen... all in mini page protectors, with a sample and directions.

The point of the book, is so they can have it sit right by them, when they are working, look up a technique, and wala! Plus the huge upside to faux techniques is for mailing cards. Once you start adding buttons, and brads, and big ribbon, the price on mailing one card gets to be more then you may have bargained for.

So I save my big buttons, or bulky items for 3D projects, scrapbooking, or cards I will hand to someone.

I also changed up my classes a bit. I rescheduled the time for 7 pm, instead of 6 pm. Hoping Mia will be in bed, and my mom can help me with Alex. I am also offering the class if you can't attend. I will make a project for you for an extra $5.

Well I am off to the basement to the art room, Ed just took the little ones to his parents for the night. Quality time for them, and I get some me time right now, and Ed time when he gets back!

Pay it forward with a weiner.

Today was Cameron's birthday party. My friend Shavonne's Man Pants turned 5 yesterday. I left the house early, so we could get something to eat. I was thinking KFC, or Tac*o B3ll, but then I remembered I would be just a few blocks from the hot dog stand I loved growing up in Joliet.

Pulling up to this sign always means, GREAT hot dogs, AMAZING sloppy joe's, and THE BEST Root beer in a big glass mug are waiting for me inside!

So I tote Alex in his car seat, the diaper bag, and Mia too. All of us go into the cute bright orange little place. I was all excited since this was the first time I had my kids somewhere I grew up. I sit Mia at the counter, on the big orange bar stool. The girls comes up and I say I need a regular hot dog for Mia, a cheese dog with Ketchup, mustard and onions, a sloppy joe, and a large root beer too!

Mia proudly hands her my debit card, and the girl tells me that they only take cash... aarrgghh... the only downfall to cute, little stands like this one... she tells me there is an ATM at the shell behind them... ok, everyone... lets go, mommy only has $4 and that won't buy all that... the girl then says..."today it will"... I gave her a baffled look. I wasn't sure if she was serious, since a hot dog is $2.25 itself... I tried to tell her to just give me close to $4 worth, but she insisted that we get it all.

I couldn't thank her enough. She said, it looked like alot of work to unload the kids, and to make me repack them in the truck, drive around the corner to the ATM, pay the ATM fee, come back, unload them, so she said "it's no big deal"

Yes it is. Now a days ain't a damn thing free, or close too it. I know if I went to a chain restaurant they would have just said no, and I would have had to pack up the kids and go. I really appreciate it... I want to pay it forward. And since I have a business of my own. I will... stay tuned to see what it is...

Oh and if you happened to be in Joliet, Illinois. Be sure to visit "Hey Hot Dog" it's on Ruby Street(Black Road), about a block east of 6 corners, sit relax and enjoy some damn good food.

Bunch of this and that

It's 2:24 both kids are FINALLY down for both of there first naps of the day. 7 hours since we all got up. I am zonked, but hoping to get something done now that the little ones are attempting sleep!

A mess of a house, I would like to have presentable for Ed when he gets home later. He is at the above pictured place. Selling beer at his bar there. This is his last set of games, Cubs against the Cardinals, then whenever the playoff games start.

I am also sweating my ass off because I refuse to turn the air on. This weather is a pain, 87 during the day, and 57 at night. Few more hours of heat...

Me and the kids dropped off some Stampin' Up! orders off at the Park District, then to the bank, and to Taco Bell for some cheese wraps, and Volcano tacos! Yummy!

I took two garbage bags and filled them up with all the clothes on Mia's floor (she pulled them ALL out of the drawers. I need to seriously go through what fits, what doesn't. Then what to keep as a memory in her baby box...

Still doing laundry, still need to clean the art room for Wednesdays class, and work on the class project itself! Mow the lawn, that probably won't happen till Tuesday. Good god you won't be able to see the house after this weekend! Kinda has that cute abandoned look again.

But mowing the lawn with require, weeding, culling plants for the winter, moving the dirt piles from the back to the front for the new garden... and probably messing with the fall decorations...

Alright, nuff procrastinating... gatta go...

A short story on short hair...

Lets start at the beginning. See this little creature I am holding. Well because of her I took this perfectly normal blonde hair...

Had some crazy post partum adventure, and dyed my hair "chocolate velvet" see below...

This has been in my head ever since P!nk came out in 2000. Her hair was pixie short, and hot pink. I liked it, but as the years went by, she got a mohawk, in many colors, and different lengths. When Alex was born, I was living out my mohawk dream through him. Well fuck it, I just went ahead and cut it all off. I mean I obviously wasn't happy with this safe mom hair cut I was rockin'... do I look happy to you?

So yes, I paid the nice girl, Jessica, at Fantastic S*ams to cut my hair like this. She was great and even pulled up a picture of P!nk online right there in the store.

Ed just shakes his head, knows that I have a lot of feisty in me, and if a mohawk is what I want, there is no holding back! Mia just keeps pointing at me saying "Silly Mommy, silly" even Alex just keeps looking at it.

I think it's fun, different, and well as we all know I crave attention like the best of us attention craving monkeys do! So what better way to get the attention of every normal haired person in the hick town I live in, then to cut off all my hair, and stand what ever is left on my head straight up.

Here are a few pointers in case you are interested in getting a fashionable mohawk yourself...

• You need WAY less shampoo! Yikes, I kinda forgot the first time, and lets just say I need to remember Mrs. Erdman's (my first grade teacher) rule of thumb. A little dab will do ya!



• This also goes for conditioner



• I have been wanting to go back to my natural color, and with out realizing it until yesterday, I just cut off all the dye... now to see what blonde is left of the real color...



• You may forget that you have a mohawk, and wonder why everyone is staring at you. Especially weird when your driving and people just stare.



• Buy this fun stuff called "Hard Up" for your mohawk.



• Yes you can actually have a bad mohawk day.



• I look best with make-up done and mohawk styled (otherwise it's dark circles, and a fuzzy strip of hair)



• Be sure to have witty responses for all the ones you will get from others.



• Be sure to be prepared for "Britney Spears shaved her head and went crazy, are you going crazy?" or "did you pay for that?" and my favorite "Are you a dyke now" nice. real nice. No I am not crazy, well not shave my head crazy, just mohawk crazy. Yes I paid for this, and no I am not a dyke. Thanks for being politically correct on that last one though.



• You can use it to make someone not stand so close to you, by rubbing your mohawk in there face.



• It's SO easy to take care of!

Well that about covers the mohawk, it's here to stay for a while, I like it, for now... man how fun will this NOT be to grow out...

Hoop Jumping!

Ed and I are looking into getting the little people Baptised. Yipiee.

Both of us were raised Roman Catholic, both attended Catholic schools, both baptised, had first Communions, Confirmation, Marriage, all good. We do not attend Church on a weekly, monthly or even yearly basis. We don't see that makes us better Catholics. We just try to live by being good people.

Sorry already if I have offended the masses, Religion or whatever you call it. Is not my thing. I am not a god worshiper, I do not believe in god or Jesus. Please pick up your jaw. I know, it's a shock, and my mom is over it, and she gets why, we have had long discussions on this.

This hasn't always been the case. But because of my sister, Susie, and her Dystonia. I believe it's just life. We are handed a life, and we live it. No on created me from ribs, or whatever. I think the bible is an old, sexist, biast book of stories, told. Half true, half real.

I am sure there was a guy named Jesus, I am sure he died for us. I am happy that so many people believe in God, and Jesus. It's good for people to have good morals and to have hope that someone is looking out for them.

That is there thing. Not mine. I don't need to pray, or worship anyone. I have good morals, I treat people with kindness, and I try to live as peaceful as I can.

My only thing I have against Religions, or faiths, believes, is when you insist that I am a bad person because of my thoughts. Or when I have been told I am going to Hell because of what I think. Who are you to judge? And last time I checked your god is the judge, not you.

So please readers don't hold it against me because I don't believe what you believe. I still read bloggers that attend church, or masses, or whatever you do. I want to raise my kids with good morals, and to respect others. But I will have them blessed, mostly because Ed wants it, (plus it will get some people off my back about it) but also because it will be nice to start there life off with a blessing, and good thoughts from others.

Yes I will lie, and put on a pretty facade, jump through the hoops the church wants us to jump through. Roman Catholic is what we choose, because that is what we were raised. No I do not want to try another type of church or religion, Ed is Catholic, and I am whatever I am.

My kids will be raised happy, polite, with good morals, and not full of the bible. There is WAY to much in that book that just doesn't go along with me, and what I think. Later down the road if they choose a religious life, good for them. I will support them.

I can't believe or pretend to believe in something that makes no sense to me.

Again I am truly sorry if I offend readers. And I mean that will no sarcasm involved. Since I joined SITS I have held back on what I thought about religion, but I feel that this is my blog and I need to get it out there since the Baptism is upon us.

Maybe my honesty will make me loose readers. If you just can't read this blog anymore because of my beliefs or lack there of. I will miss you. But I can't be fake or hide my true self.

I don't down you or your religion or beliefs. Please respect me and my thoughts. I am curious though... will you stop reading now? Do you see me differently then before? Does it matter to you what the blogger believes?

McDonald's

McDonald's is more then just burritos, hash browns, and a coke. It's me and the kids. Mia, Alex and me just enjoying the beginning of the day. Whether it's a busy day or just going back to chill at home. It's no t.v., no barking dogs, no interruptions. Taking time, to just enjoy each others company over a yummy breakfast. Just me and my blue eyed angels.

Disney on Ice!

Who's the cheesy dork? Me! Self portrait of coarse...
We love to wear the ears front to back...
Oh, Mia was so excited! She was in her special Elmo chair, Gramma brought for her, and she had on her ears!
I have now realized that the hardest thing to capture on camera, is anything on ice.
The beginning of the show...

I left my seat for this shot. Diane was in the spirit, ears and all. Mia stood in the isle to see better, oh and there is Ed too (far left)
I was so damn proud of myself. Last shot of Mickey and Minny waving, and I got it! Wee!
Goofy, Chip and Dale, Pluto too.
Goofy, Minny and Mickey (man they skate fast, I have more butt shots...)
Donald and Pluto

Diane got us these awesome tickets, the show was up at the United Center (home of the Chicago Bulls) we had 5th row front and center! Awesome night. Mia had a blast! I really enjoyed the whole show. Of coarse the best part was when you see your little girl just start SCREAMING with joy, when Mickey and Minny come out. Priceless.

Mia-ism Perfect huggin' buttsie cheekies

Haven't done one of these in a while, here you go...

Mia folds her hands around each other. Looks at me and smiles. I ask "whatcha doin' Mi?" she replies "my hands are huggin, mom"

Now when Mia has a dirty butt, she goes around saying "Mia's got dirty butsie cheekies" and a usual butt shaking is in order, plus the ever so adorable, turn around 4 times, because she is trying to see her butt shake.

When I cook for Mia, she asks that I "make it perfect" for her. And when I serve the princess. I usually get a "IT'S PERFECT MOM!!" yes yelled at me. But at least I got it right.

That is all for now... hope you enjoyed!

A Day in the life

A Look into A Mommy's Day

I was not tagged by anyone, but instead I tagged myself! I was on Buried with Children, and I too love to answer questions. I see that she tagged my friend over at Maternal Mirth, who then in return might tag me. What a shocker. I just jumped the gun, got to excited, and well... on with the Q and A!
First off, I saw that she had a picture of herself and her 4 kids. Well since I am the mom-a-ratzi around here, it's hard to find a picture of me with both my kids. I know of only 3 picture of me and the tots, of coarse I could find only the one where no one wanted to be held. Happy 4th of July.

1. How many children do you have? two

2. What are the ages of your kids? Mia is 27 months, and Alex is 4 1/2 months.

3.What time of day do you start your day? I have been trying to train the kids that mommy doesn't function well before 8 am, so usually anywhere between 8 and 9 am.

4.What do you eat for breakfast? Coffee, then maybe some eggs, or oatmeal (apple Cinnamon please)

5.Do your kids watch TV? Sprout T.V. I LOVE this channel. Mia loves everything on this channel. Zoboomafo, Barney, The Hoobs, Whiny boy oh I mean Cailu (or however you spell his name. I avoid him, and his whinyness like the plague!) Play with me Sesame. Yes she watches to much of it. I try to limit it to 9 hours a day. Just kidding! Just kidding. About 2 hours then maybe another hour at night before bed.

6.What are their favorite activities? Mia loves the Art room, she plays with her stamps, ink and papers. Oh and her markers too! She got a set for her 2nd birthday. She LOVES to read, even at 2 she will sit and play with her books. When it's nice out, she loves to go for walks, swing in her swing, help me garden, and ride in her wagon. Alex is just starting to play a little. He has some basic toys he holds, and shakes, and squeals at them. He likes to lay out on his blankets and roll back and forth.

7.Do you get a break from the during the day? Are you kidding? I couldn't function with out one. I need at least an hour break, that is nap time. I am usually lucky and can count on two hours. I need to eat lunch, read a magazine, watch t.v., blog, create a project. Something that includes little or no brain power.

8. How do you end your day? Mia and Alex, are in bed by 8 pm, and I am usually making Ed dinner to go to work (he works nights) feed the dogs and cats. Finally after most of the house is kinda picked up, and Ed is out the door. I zone out here, at my blogland. Or I just watch t.v. in bed around 11 or midnight.

9.What is your best parenting advice? Don't let them stress you out. Gah, with a whiner of a two year old, and a little man that needs me all the time. It could drive you insane. But add in two needy barking dogs, and two bizarre cats. It's a lot to handle. But I just take it one project at a time. If something doesn't get cleaned, or done. I am sure it will be here tomorrow.

I can't stress about things, if they see me stressed, it seems to stress them out too.


I also agree with Buried with Children, on her answer. Don't hoover over your kids. The need room to breathe. I let Mia explore since she was able to crawl. Yes I supervised from close by, but if you hoover, they won't know what is out there. It also helps, because she is super independent, and that is great with Alex. (this does not mean leave them unattended for long periods of time.) I watch her from the doorway of her room, or around a corner)

Dancing in the rain

I have always enjoyed this. Not the sideways rain, and heavy winds, kinda rain. But the straight downpour kind.

The kind where it's still warm outside, but the rain makes it feel good. I remember doing this as a kid. But then not again until right after my daughter was born. Mia was just a few weeks old, and it was one of those days where it's sunny, then rainy. So while Mia slept. I went out to the back yard, into the pouring rain, threw out my hands and embraced the rain.

It reminds me to stay grounded. To remember that it's the simple things in life, like the rain, that are good basic reminders to be happy about what you have. Enjoy the sun, and rain. Even if the sun is to damn hot. And the rain just won't go away. I know snow is a pain. But I love it when it has that dazzling diamond effect over it, after a snowfall.

I know that rain doesn't hurt, and we won't melt either. So today, as the downpour hit. I asked my sister, Susie, if she wanted to go dance in the rain. Since her Dystonia keeps her from speaking she couldn't fight me off, besides a good head shake no. And since Susie, is about 80 lbs soaking wet, I just scooped up my wee sister, and off we went out the back deck doors, into the pouring rain, I had to get her far enough away from the door, so I carried her to the garden steps, set her down. And she just looked at me. I said "you won't melt. This is fun right?" A warm smile came across my sisters face, and we scampered down into the rain soaked garden.

My mom yelled out "what are you two doing?!" I of coarse respond with "duh, where dancing in the rain. Wanna join?" Mom says a "no, but thanks. And don't drag Mia out there, she will get all wet"

As my 2 year old daughter, peers out onto the deck. I instantly run up to the doors, scoop her up, and whisk her out to the garden too. She is laughing, throws her head back and enjoys the rain as if she had done this a thousand times.

Maybe it was just seeing her mommy and Aunt Susie enjoy the rain. But it was what made me so happy today. To see her enjoy something so simple, and make a memory from it. I hope there are many more days to dance in the rain with my Mi and Susie.

Nightlights, sunder, ighning and all

I guess tonight marks Mia's first thunderstorm. Not that we haven't had thunderstorms in the past 27 months. But this is the first on that really affects her. Her room faces big windows that when the lightning hits it shows all the light, she yells that her and Darby are scared.

Sigh, since I started this post about 8 minutes ago, I have been in her room about 3 times. I am usually a "cry it out" or CIO mom. But in situations like this I need to teach her that the rain is outside, and thunder is just a noise. You can look at lightning and enjoy it from the inside.

Since it was so dark in her room. I put this cool night light my mom brought us from Washington D.C. that changes colors. She likes it but it still doesn't seem to be enough to keep her from being scared. I even have her door open, I am at the computer just outside her door.

Maybe I will see if she wants to sleep by me for a while... we will see...

Whistle while you work

A blog that I follow, Half Passed Kissing Time posted about her job, and at the end. Asked this question.

What have you learned from your job?

So I chose to answer it.

I have had so many jobs, I have been a Kennel cleaner, a table busser, a prep kitchen cook. An Administrative Assistant, a casino cashier (twice) a Casino slot auditor (worst job on the planet) a cashier at KMart, and a Personal Banker. I did telemarketing (For insurance co. ugg, that lasted all of 3 days) a Floral clerk at Jewel foods, a bagger too.

From all those jobs. 98% working with the public. I have learned so much about people. I have always been observant, my mother complimented me on it often. I love to watch and learn people. Some I like, some I make not of, never be that way.

I learned that patience is a virtue that we all need to work on when someone is waiting on you. I try my best to be as nice as I can to a cashier, or drive thru. It's a hard job, and it's not the job. It's the people. And those people I am talking about are the not-nice-I-want-it-all-5-minutes-ago-I-don't-care-if-I-ordered-it-wrong-or-that-I-am-running-late. They always take it out on the person waiting on them. Those are the people that live in there little office, and are bitter and angry. Get out of your cube, get some sun, possibly some coffee, and perk up, and slow down.

Now onto the job at hand. The job that I love the best, and get elzippo for pay. But as all of us mom's say, SAH or not. You couldn't pay me the worth of the moments I get with my children. The looks, the hugs, the kisses. I have learned so much already in just the two short years I have been doing this job.

I have learned that I need to take time, to lay in the grass, sniff ALL the flowers, go for walks, play with bubbles, and sidewalk chalk. Take the time to sing songs, and color in a coloring book. I have learned that even if the dogs are barking and Mi is yelling, yet again for me. That Alex is enjoying my time more and more. So taking 20 minutes to hang out and play with my boy is so worth it.

I love every second of being home. I can wait to go back to the working world. I don't miss it. But when both little people are in school. I will be back to working. I have my job, hopefully lined up. Working concerts with my FIL, being a little blonde, I can rake in some decent money being a vendor. Until my debut with the drunkin' concert going public. I will continue to make each day more special then the last.