Happy Place

Boy, I've read through my last few posts and you can feel the tension rising off of me. This new background and picture (it's a Moon Flower from my summer garden) are my sincere attempts to relax.

I had a wonderful visit with the boys. We went to Mt Vernon in the rain and freezing cold, but we had the place to ourselves. I saw and learned so much. I highly recommend this form of tourism for those strong enough to brave the elements. My cousin, Luke, updated my music list. I now have fledgling "hipster parent" status. I will never fully achieve this, though, because I cling dearly to my "nerd mom" status. Tonight, I actually said to Caroline "There's a dictionary on that shelf, feel free to utilize it.", when she asked me how to spell excuses. I say these things partly to strengthen her independence, but mostly to irritate her. Mind you she was spelling excuses as part of a witty comedy she and her friend are co authoring (Be still my book worm heart! You gotta love that girl).

I almost had a peaceful evening (there will be no discussing the day). I baked more Amish Friendship bread (I need to find someone to give these starter bags to, I'm drowning in bubbling batter.). I played around on the computer and petted the dog. Callie really is my best friend. She loves me no matter what. I also believe she shares my tendency toward smart ass humor. You should see the looks she gives the kids.

It was this look she gave them when after 1/2 hour of bliss, I started barking orders like Louis Gosset Jr from An Officer and a Gentleman. "Clean up your junk! Put away your shoes! No markers in the den! We only draw on paper! I don't like it when dresser drawers are left open! Did you feed the rabbit? Put away your homework! Who's game is this! Can you hear me?! Do you even listen anymore? (Well, duh , Mom of course not. You shout the same things every night). That's it you're going to bed! Rob, do you see this? Can YOU hear me?"" Well you get the picture. Oh by the way, dry erase marker will wash off of a four year old's face very easily, not so much a sweater or the carpet.

What made the usual insanity funny was Rob. He kept singing "high anxiety" in a 20's voice and at one point started singing "We're going to go insane, ha ha." After we got the kids in bed and he made the same old joke while slicing the Amish bread ("I think I'll pinch a loaf."). Then he paused and said "I'm still making the same tired old jokes 20 years later. Is that why you still love me?" Well, it kind of is why. If all else fails, laugh.



Random additions:
I feel very much like Doogie Howser when I write this. Good or bad, I don't know?

I prefer the blog to Facebook. This is soothing and I am the master of all here. Facebook, while initially amusing is too over stimulating. It's like ADHD combined with no sleep: wired. I still enjoy seeing every ones walls and pictures. Just don't expect me to add too much flair or play games etc.

At Last

The indecisive ever changing blog background has now found a more stable home (at least for now). I found a soothing background with nature and stuff. Yeah!

Look at Me and My Bad Self

I am so excited. I just figured out how to add a link to my blog from Facebook. Maybe the little wise a** geek who called me a "techno peasant" this summer can take it back. Nah, I'm still pretty technologically inept. Facebook has proven to be another awesome time suck that will help me add to my ever expanding "blogger butt." I do really like seeing what all my classmates are doing. I love seeing so many of them with happy families.

My poor Caroline has the stomach yucks now. I need to go tend to her.

I forgot

This message is for my father inlaw: read Risk Pool by Russell Russo. You'd really like it.

Major Frustrations and Sweet Observations

My number one fan, my father in law requested a new post. I hope he knows what he is in for. Well, I had a post planned about changing jobs and taking a leap of faith. It was going to be lovely. Then I made the fatal mistake of going in after work today (Lily is still sick) to deliver girl scout cookies. Oh boy. Upheaval and crankiness! I am generally a pretty good listener and pretty easy going (inside I'm a jumble of Type A anxiety), but I have lost count of how many people have dumped on me this month. Granted I want them to have someone who can listen, and I try to give good advice, but I think sometimes all of us forget the listener might have worries and things going on in her life too. Yeah, I try to make it all a joke, but some days I want to just curl up and cry my eyes out. Ok, I'm off my moral high horse. I really do like being needed. Oh yeah, as I pulled into the garage to drop off Caroline before I went to my friend's baby shower, Caroline threw up all over the garage floor. So I got a bucket of hot soapy water and tried to clean it up without messing up my "Yay, I'm going to talk to grown ups" outfit. I succeeded.

Despite being very over booked and over worked, I have so much to be happy and proud of. For example, I am witnessing the birth of a teacher. Caroline has been tutoring a little girl in the first grade class that I co teach. I have never seen her so dedicated and compassionate. She is determined to help this girl read enough books to earn her reading tee shirt prize. She asks me professional questions about how to help her. It is like speaking with a fellow teacher. Caroline has even made flash cards and collected little erasers to give her a small incentives. All of the sudden she has gone from the kid who only cared about dogs to the champion of the primary grades. She watches over the kindergartners on the bus and when they see her in the halls its like they've seen a rock star. Will I tell her she's a natural teacher? Heck no. That would be the undoing of all of this.

Lily continues to be a simultaneous stinker and sweetheart. Every night at bed time she asks me how much I love her. I make up silly answers and spread my arms wide and say "This much!" she replies "That's a lot of much." Then she asks if I'd give this hug to Daddy and hugs me and if I'd give him this kiss and kisses me. Man she could melt your heart.

Unless of course she's cracking you up. Like asking for a " closh wash" (wash cloth) or singing "ABC cheese Qrstuv." Or how about insisting her name is Lillain Elizabest. She can also be a little tyrant. Some days she wakes me up by patting my facing and saying "Helloo, get me some chocolate milk." I open one eye and growl "Excuse me?" She'll respond with "Hellooo, get me some chocolate milk pleeasse."

And don't forget my "mannys" will be here tomorrow. Yay!

Pepto Pink

Need I say more? Don't worry, Lily isn't really getting Pepto.

Feats of Vomit

How, how, how, for the love of Pete how? How did Lily manage to projectile vomit while coloring in a coloring book with her feet (I've told you my kid's unique)? Oh man I'm caught here in a vomit purgatory! When my sitter called me at work to share the news I yelled "No, I don't want it!" I think I shocked my new principal. She gave me a perplexed look. That's ok she's seven months pregnant with her first. She'll find out soon enough.

I think the most frustrating part here at home is that Lily doesn't understand she's sick. She throws up them continues to run around stirring her digestive juices. Then she throws up again and asks for fruit snacks. I say no and she looks at me like I slapped her. The crummy part is today was the day the bi weekly cleaning lady came (I'm not spoiled, it was that or give up sleep). So far Lily has thrown up on the carpet, her giant coloring book, her clothes, the blankets, and, oh yeah, the "throw up bowl." She has managed to grind a saltine into the rug and spill flat Sprite. Why can't she just sit in a feverish stupor and watch cartoons?

Someday, she will call me to inquire about why her own child won't just sit still and be sick. I'll smile and send her a copy of this.