Taking control of my life

If only I could.
Haha.
I'm glad I can't. ;)


We are trying to control a bit of our mess...it seems these days there is just too too too much to do, and never enough time. Perhaps being more organized will at least give us a feeling of "control". So we now have a new-to-you filing cabinet--maybe just maybe those mounds of papers that are ALWAYS stacking up on the desk and the buffet and every other available space that we don't eat off regularly shall disappear.

Also, the disaster downstairs, as well as my overflowing kitchen cupboards, have somewhat subsided now due to the sturdy shelving/pantry that Philip made. It sure is nice to have 60% of the junk off of the floor and "neatly" put away where you can easily find it without tripping and breaking your neck--or breaking what you were looking for. ;)

Matthew is also trying to take a bit of control of his life.

Or shall we say, of his balance? He indeed INTENTIONALLY walking now. He's still pretty lousy at it still, which makes it so much cuter to watch.

He rarely attempts "going for a stroll" without coaching. But who wouldn't want to spend some time helping him?

Mostly Munchkin Matthew

Matthew the Munchkin

A smile to cheer up my day,
My baby will give so cheerfully
Any old time I take the effort to play
A silly old game of any old kind. I say,

"Wouldn't you want to join him?"
He'd love to have a companion!
Someone to fill up this empty container
With playdough would win his deep favour.
(For Matthew is feeling a bit hungry again
And it would take the edge off of his stomach pain.)

And what could be the source of this severe hunger?
If it were his first steps, that would be no great wonder.
Unfortunately mister Matthew is not letting go
Of that hand he's desperately holding onto.

At last, an apple to restock a portion of that energy
Required for keeping the position of baby number three.
Number three? So where are the others?
The other two wonder of wonders?

Nathan and Melanie also went to the park,
And enjoyed it all, but the fear of a bark

On a certain particular dark corner of trail
Where they fear the wagging of more than a tail

(That's the wagging of a tongue I'm referring to)
Now my work is long overdue...adieu!

Nightmares

Do you ever wake up from nightmares?

Poor Melanie does sometimes now. We went to visit a friend of ours today. The last time we visited this friend there were several spiders downstairs. Melanie woke up 3 times in the following night and needed some serious comforting from her mother. Indeed, her room is not being overrun by spiders...but it's not easy to convince her that this is true. This time Melanie's little friend found a toy plastic bee and brought it upstairs (since Melanie was NOT going to venture anywhere near where spiders might be) and shoved it in Melanie's lap. TRAUMA!!!

Kids these days! ;) It would have been hilarious if I could have dispelled the vision of endless nighttime visits to Melanie's bedside. I still think it was a BIT funny though, but I didn't let Melanie know that. :o


Matthew thinks spiders might be tasty...if only he could get a hold of a nice juicy wriggly one!
Mmmm.

I better have a rest today in order to stock up on sleep for tonight. ;)

Too late to think straight...soon it will be too early to think.

While walking (or more accurately, blowing,) about in the neighborhood we saw some Canada geese.
Nathan: "What do they eat, Mom?"
Mommy Roze: "Looks like they're eating grass right now. Maybe they eat bugs too."
Nathan: "Or maybe they eat other green things too?"
Mommy Roze: "I don't know, Nathan."
Pause.
Nathan: "Maybe we can look it up on the computer when we get home."
Mommy Roze: "If you remind me."

(We forgot.)


Philosophical thoughts of mine:

Some people learn, and some people never learn.

I hope to, eventually, belong to the first category. Unfortunately, I have not arrived there yet. Not even by a huge stretch of my imagination. I really feel that I am the only one who makes very similar, and often times exactly the same, mistakes SO frequently.

The most obvious mistake that comes to mind is the one of overestimating the ability or capacity of something. I love to double recipes so that I can freeze something and save myself the work next time I want something. Unfortunately, most times I do this, I have a bursting mixing bowl, a boiling over soup pan, or better yet, a ballooning bread maker.

Did you know there are very good reasons why manufactures only give, at most, two sizes of bread loaves for their machines? Yup, it probably is because the machine can't handle a double of the full size recipe. In fact, it probably can't even handle a double of a "dough cycle". I have seen by experience that anything doubled in the bread maker will, first of all, not mix properly. Secondly, even if it is not baking in the bread maker, it still requires space to rise, and a double recipe just doesn't fit. Thirdly, it is also hard on the mechanical workings of the machine. This bread maker may have a premature breakdown--just like my front loading washer.

I am glad I am not an appliance of mine!

Play dough

There is nothing like play dough to keep these two from fighting for, occasionally, even an hour! It is a highly cherished activity that I intend to keep as cherished for those moments when I really need everyone to get along!


"These are candles that need to be blown out. "


"These are candles too, Mom."
(My daughter has an excess of originality and creativity.)

I think soon I should make another batch of play dough, and NOT green this time. Maybe even a few different colors--that might help with the creativity. ;)

Kinda tired, kinda grumpy

I'm afraid I don't have "it" anymore.

There are days when you have "it". Those are the days you are organized, you work hard, you get things done, and you still have time for the important people in your life, and the important people (if they be your children) listen to and respect you (a little, at least).

It's been an off day,

or is it a week by now?

Or perhaps even more than a year?

At any rate, when you don't have it, you don't have it.

When you don't have it, things just don't get better.

I think it's time to break open my day planner, make that dreaded monstrous TO DO LIST a visible reality, and start tackling it.

It is also time to tighten the discipline regime!! If the kids are driving my bonkers, then it's probably because I'm letting them drive me bonkers.

It's almost depressing how quickly the organized, scheduled, consistent, motivated, and kid-listening-somewhat-better pattern deteriorates into chaos.

NO MORE MRS. NICE GUY TOMORROW!

Just a regular play day

It's sure nice when the kids keep themselves occupied so nicely!



Yesterday was a rainy day. It's one of two days we get to stay home all day for this week. I love to stay home! (Some days.) Sometimes the kids don't even fight very much either!! Since Sunday was super busy, Monday became a minimum-amount-of-fighting-needed-because-we're-so-glad-to-see-our-toys-again day.


Unfortunately this isn't always the case, and some guidance...or just a new activity is required just to keep the peace.


For some people all that may not even be enough.

Intelligence in the family

(Or the lack of it)


Some days I wonder why my kids aren't always very intelligent. It's a well known fact that Philip and I are the brightest, wittiest, and smartest couple ever in existence, so I really don't know what went wrong!

For instance,

do you really think this is the best possible place in the park to be getting your sand supply from? Supplies are pretty low elsewhere it seems, otherwise WHY would they try scooping it in such an awkward fashion from the most uncomfortable place available?


Matthew does not have the inherent "intelligent look" that is always combined with brilliance, but at least he knows to avoid THAT sort of a problem. In addition, he can avoid siblings who might subject him to traumatizing ordeals such as the "pouring of sand on another's head".
Perhaps I have found an exception to the aged rule: smart looks make smart people.
Melanie, however, who does appear to be intelligent, has a knack for being in the wrong place at the wrong time, which is a sure sign of nonbrilliance. Maybe there are two exceptions?
(Perhaps I should just say three, to be on the safe side.)

However wise it is to wile away our time at the sunny park on a gorgeous spring day, sometimes it is necessary to pull ourselves away do important things at home. (Wisdom, shown by responsible actions, is a sure sign of intelligence.)

The important things to be done include:

Tying Nathan up with a string so that Melanie can pull him around like a doggy (after which she must follow the doggy's every instruction on how to be an appropriate owner),

Having a little sustaining snack if necessary (preferably canned milk like Pooh bear),

And affectionately reaching out to each other, to encourage mental growth.

More laughs

But these are not as genuine.


Melanie thought the video of Matthew laughing was so cool that she should do one of her own. She isn't quite as convincingly humored.

Nathan doesn't want to be left out either.

Unfortunately Nathan doesn't seem to understand that he can be viewed better if he stays were he is instead of chasing the camera and getting as close as he possibly can without becoming part of the camera.

Giggle puss

A video of Matthew. He's so much easier to catch on camera/video 'cause he's always hanging onto me. Or hanging out with me.

Hope this cheers up your day.

Looks can be deceiving.

That's right. I do not feel this lively and perky. I look more like the teenage kids me and my kids saw stumbling across a road with rather "stoned" looking eyes. The good news is that I don't even need any drugs to get that sort of an effect. ;) Just exhaustion will do!

Instead of a bedtime story, since Daddy wasn't home this evening, we went for a bedtime walk. We meandered do the train station and back, and the kids were full of energy (from the Jello dessert, I'm sure) and full of questions.
It sure is nice to do something out of routine occasionally!
And it was just gorgeous out!

After all, it wasn't windy, like this morning.

This morning I lost four or five bags (I reuse my grocery bags to save myself 5 cents a bag) as a big gust of wind lifted them out of the bag I was gripping tightly and sent them careeening down the road, past a car (who's driver thought it looked hilarious) and then across a busy road.
I feel bad for littering.
I didn't even pretend to chase them, they just went to fast. And I couldn't leave a kid for the sake of a 5 cent bag, could I? Even if it was more than one?

First

"Maybe you should go first, Matthew!"
"Hahaha"
"Where's Nathan, maybe he will..."


"oh, never mind..."

"Mommy?"

The best of plans...

I was hoping to work on my curtains this afternoon.

But at naptime
Nathan cried (instead of resting quietly)
which woke up his brother MUCH too early
which made him grumpy ALL afternoon
and evening.
Which made me
tired, grumpy, headachey, sore armey, and exhaustedey
and unable to sew.

Now I am happy to no longer see
any outreaching arms
pointing up at me.

I shall have a good rest
And try my very best
On a fresh new day.
Yay!

Good night.

LAAAA!!

There is nothing like having a grubby little cutey who is composing lyrics just for you!

Wasn't that just so sweet of him to serenade for me and make my day?

My kids were accidentally exposed to chicken pox a week or two ago, but none of them have spotted over yet. I guess they have a day or two yet, since it can incubate 10-14 days. Hmm...I wonder if I am immune to it? Can't remember if I had it when I was a kid or not. Hopefully. Otherwise, I betcha I'd be pretty cranky all covered in spots taking care of three little leopard cubs. I'm pretty sure my kids didn't get immunized for it--although some eager nurse might have slyly slipped in an extra needle when I wasn't looking (can't trust medical help these days :p ).

What shall I do this afternoon? It's kind of too wet outside for Matthew to be out for too long, since he sheds his rubbers as he crawls. Maybe I'll do some more sewing...since my grease stains came out!!! of my fabric!!! Oh yay!

Gadgets

Household gadgets are something that shouldn't be taken for granted.

Having a washing machine that is functioning, and not laying in innumerable pieces in the laundry room, is one of those ways to remind you just how convenient modern convieniences really are.

My washing machine is fully functioning again. It has been for a couple weeks now. It sure is nice to be able to wash clothes whenever I like. Indeed, it is. So much so, that I'm having a hard time remembering to do my "morning load" like I always used to do.


Another great functioning item in my house is this lovely bread maker.

The long (and boring) story behind the breadmaker:
I never thought I'd be a "bread maker person", but someone gave me a free one once. It made the bread turn grey, so we didn't eat any (I like bacon grease, not other "greases" or unknown additives and preservatives. I was so excited about making my own bread that I immediately picked up a used one at Value Village for $7. It lasted 2+ years, so I think it earned it's keep! When it had the biscuit, some kind individual snagged up a free one for me from her mother, so now I have another one!! It also has some added great features--including a GOOD recipe book, a poweroutage stopper feature (it doesn't stop baking the bread mid cycle if the power accidentally flickers or I accidentally unplug it (this had been a problem MULTIPLE times with the other one)...I'll spare the rest of the details...
The conclusion is I'm happy with my breadmaker.
(The cute helper did not come with the free breadmaker.)


If you look on the far left you can see my "eclectic" faucet. It was a cool vice grip handle, for those rednecks out there. (Which includes me, obviously.) Another feature of it was the "transitional off" spot, also known as the "never can turn off the water unless you've got the magic touch" feature, which, I'm sure, our water meter checkers were loving. It also had the bonus "continual dripping" package which would make use of itself whenever an indivudual (being me) was too lazy or frustrated to find the off spot back.

But now my eclectic faucet has been replaced with a non-redneck (read: boring) new one that actually TURNS OFF EVERY TIME and RIGHT AWAY.
It is pretty amazing.

I am truly living a life of astounding luxury.

May I never forget it.

Mommyish

I was moaning and groaning and sighing as my husband said goodbye to my tired self this morning. He was telling me about my two remaining children who were both awake and waiting for me to release them from bed, while the third was clinging to my legs.

As I crouched there at the top of the stairs wrapped in my housecoat and peering through very tired eyelids he says
"Have a good day."
I laughed in a pitiful sort of feel-sorry-for-me way 'cause my kids are all awake and I don't want them or me to be that way.
But he didn't fall for it.

"You have three wonderful children dear," says he, "Have a wonderful day."

I think he is right. About the day, and the children, and the perspective I should have, even if it is 6:45AM and I am tired.


So now I'm feeling sort of mommyish today. It's a drearyish day, with fresh snow, yeah, fresh snow. We are staying at home today. And I am doing chores ever so slowly, and just existing as happily as possible in the same atmosphere as my kids. Maybe I'll even hug one of them spontaneously. ;)


Melanie and I had matching hairstyles the other day, at her request. Braids look 10x cuter on her than me, but they stay in my hair 10x better. So together, we are a wonderful combination.

Gnnn gnnnn gnnnnnnnnn

(Those were soother sucking noises.)

I'm a kid too. My pacifier, however, is not plastic. It's a big hunk of metal with lots of wires poking out of it. But it can be just as disappointing as the plastic version.

Especially in an emergency.

Oh well.
I'm a big girl now.


Gnnn gnnnn gnnnnnnnn.