Manic Monday 8/31/2009

Are you usually late, early or right on time?

I like to be a little bit early. I'm hardly ever late. I think it's rude to be late, honestly.

What would be harder for you, to tell someone you love them or to tell them that you do not love them back?

It would be harder to tell someone I don't love them back. I don't think I've ever had to do that.

Which would you rather have: a high salary or job satisfaction?

Job satisfaction. There's no point doing a job you hate, even if it's for a ridiculous sum of money. Too much and stress resentment comes along with that.

Friday Fill-Ins 8/28/09

1. He was a size 2.5 when I took him into the shoe store yesterday. We walked out with brand new size 5.5 tennis shoes for Aiden! His poor, scrunched up toes were screaming, "Thank you!" Funny thing is, I had to drag Aiden into the store. He swore that his old sneakers were fine, but I could tell he was walking funny.

2. Being on a regular schedule and getting the children back in the routine of going to school is what I look forward to most this time of year.

3. My best friend is my husband.

4. The house is kind of too quiet with the kids gone, to be honest with you. My mom was right!

5. Appearances can be something people put too much emphasis on.

6. The last person I gave a hug to was Quinn, last night before bed. He gave me one, then came back a few minutes later for another. It was a long, "I don't want to stop hugging you" snuggle hug.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to not having to make 4 lunches! Tomorrow my plans include sleeping late, spending the day being lazy, maybe by the pool, and keeping the babies in nursery @ church! Sunday, I want to get the house tidy because community group is meeting here.

Guess What?

I'm not doing a meme today! You get an actual, true life, it happened to me story!

Dinnertime lately has been a battle. Three of my children are pretty easy going when it comes to what I cook. They'll usually try everything on the plate without much hassle. It's just the one (ahem, Camryn!) that raises her nose in the air and refuses to even consider touching food to her tongue if it's not something she LOVES to eat (chicken nuggets and pasta, anyone?)

I'm at my wit's (wits'?) end with this child. I have tried everything I know to make this a tolerable situation, short of just making her favorite meals every night (that's not really feasible, nor is it fair, really). I didn't know what else to do.

My husband finally suggested that we let Camryn be involved in the menu planning and/or cooking. No, we're not having pasta and chicken every night, but at least she can suggest things she'd like to try to make and eat. Okay. Now we're getting somewhere.

Tonight she helped me peel, slice, boil and mash the potatoes. She added the butter, salt, mayo & milk and whipped up some great mashed spuds. They were tasty.

I made fried okra. She added the flour and shook up the bag. Then I showed her how to know when to add the okra to the oil and how to turn it and brown it.

I made a grilled chicken using an Asian flavored marinade, and Camryn actually complemented it. She ate the potatoes and all of her okra. It was the nicest, most controversy-free meal we've had in a L-O-N-G time.

So as we were eating dessert, I commented on how pleasant dinner had been. I said, "No one argued, no one left the table in a huff, no one slammed a door in frustration...."

And that's when Aiden said:

"NO ONE HAD TO CALL ANIMAL CONTROL!"

And that was it. We dissolved in fit of laughter.

It's been a great day. I hope it was for you, too.

Friday Fill Ins 8/9/09

I know it's Sunday, but here is this week's Friday Fill Ins...two days late.

1. Sleeping late and not having a set schedule are my favorite summertime pasttimes.

2. My favorite John Hughes movies is Some Kind of Wonderful.

3. My kids' hair is something I love to touch. I love snuggling them on the couch, because they put their heads in my lap while we watch TV and I can run my hands through their hair until they get sick of it.

4. The full moon is so bright it lights up my kitchen at night (we have a Solatube in the ceiling).

5. I am hungry right now. We didn't eat lunch, which is typical of Sundays around here. We are headed somewhere (don't know where yet) for supper soon.

6. When daylight fades it means the house will be quiet soon.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _____, tomorrow my plans include _____ and Sunday, I want to _____! (I'm leaving this blank 'cause it's irrelevant now.)

The Australian Judge Gives It a 9.6

As I travel along this path called Adulthood, I gain more and more insight about the reasons for the things my mother always did. Things I never understood.... until I started (gasp) becoming my own mother.

For instance, I always thought that my mom got up at an insanely crazy hour. I like my sleep, and I have always been good at sleeping. I practice a LOT. I don't like waking up early. Mom was usually up around 5:30, I think. I was always asleep, so I'm not 100% sure of her wake up time. I just knew it was really freakin' earlier than I'd ever consider being up and about. She still rises with the sun. Crazy.

For two weeks now I've had a bad cold. It's the kind of cold that keeps you awake because you're so congested you cannot breathe, whether you're reclining or sitting up. You lay in bed trying not to wake your spouse with your throttling nose blows. You drain the dregs of what was a glass of tea at midnight (but is now a flavorless puddle of tea-flavored water) in an effort to wet your dry throat and stifle your hacking cough. You finally give up trying to go back to sleep (sleep is hard when you can't breathe, no?) and seek solace in another part of the house. My solitary place is my office.

Three times this week I've been up before the sun. And you know what? I've discovered that Mom is a genius.

It's Q-U-I-E-T before the break of day. I can actually think and spend a few moments collecting myself before I'm hurled head first into the insanity of my daily life. I can imagine it's a lot like the few moments a competitive diver spends collecting him/herself before diving into the pool below. Time to concentrate (all alone) on the task before you gives you so much clarity. It's amazing.

I think I'm going to set a goal for myself for the coming school year. I am going to try to wake up at 7 am in order to give myself 30 solitary minutes to just chill before I start the day. I'll be able to greet each child with a smile instead of barking at them to get up (because I'm mad that I had to get up only 2 minutes before). I think it might just make life a little smoother and happier.

We'll see.

Thanks, Mom.

Manic Monday 8/3/2009

Would you rather go a week without bathing, but be able to change your clothes, or a week without a change of clothes, but be able to bathe?

I can't go a week without bathing. I hate having greasy hair and a stinky body. I would much rather wear the same clothes everyday for a week than not be able to bathe. ::Shivers::

If you had to be trapped in a TV show for a month, which show would you choose?

Don't laugh too hard at my answer, please. I would choose to be on Tori & Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood. I got addicted to that show last summer amd turned my husband onto it this year. Tori & Dean just seem like they're so real, so fun, so.... normal. I mean, Tori makes her own baby food fer crying out loud (with veggies she buys @ the Farmer's Market, where she goes without an entourage...just her and the kids and the camera crew.) That might all be staged for the show, but I think they'd be a riot to hang out with. I just finished Seasons 1 and 2 that I got from Netflix and I think I just have a big ole Tori & Dean crush. (That's Tori Spelling & her hubby Dean McDermott for those of you who have no clue what I'm talking about...)