Little girls....

I seem to be stuck in the middle of a giggle fest....wee one and her friend are having a blast. They got off the bus together and looked like they could be sisters. They are almost the same height, with long hair and matching smiles. It was raining so I brought them umbrellas. Walking behind them I wished I had a camera....they looked like a picture from a calendar. Wee one had my British umbrella and they walked along saying, "cheerio!" When we came in the door, they both oohed and aaahed over the smell of dinner cooking. I told them it was roast beef and gravy with mashed potatoes and corn....they both started jumping up and down saying how much they liked that....lol. Since then they have played with Polly Pockets, had a fashion show, made movies with my camera, and just recently stuffed their pajamas with pillows and dolls in order to look like marshmallows. They are very cute and very LOUD. They have listened to Spice Girls cd's and are planning on watching "Spice World" tonight. It's been such a great evening watching them play and be engrossed in being kids....

Betsy went to her friends house and they decided to go to the movies. No giggling I'm sure....they are wayyyy too mature for that. Or so they like to think.

As we speak, dh is trying to watch tv, but since that room is in between the girls bedroom and the kitchen, I'm not sure how much of his movie he has actually watched....as they have needed drinks and popcorn, and a hard floor to pull the stuffed-puppy-with-rollerskates around on.

I am just sitting here....all alone. No one is on. Probably enjoying their fun Friday nights out. *Sigh. We really should get a group together and have a chat on Fridays. I think that would be fun.

Okay, I'm off to rewind a movie, charge the camera batteries, and clean up whatever trail of toys/clothes/cd's these girls have left....

Finally Friday....

Guess what is on dh's docket for the weekend???? Yes, he came home yesterday with $150 worth of "tune up necessities" for my car. He is going to give it the works. Right now it is in the shop having the air conditioning switch fixed. Yes, the air works, yes the heat works and the fan, belt, etc. are fine. But that little switch on the front that allows a little or a lot of air to come out is broken. So when you want to use the air/heat, you can only use it on the highest setting. Which of course plays havoc with my hair....I turn it on and my hair flies back, my eyeballs are dried out....thank goodness John doesn't wear a hair piece or it would be plastered to the back window every time we needed to cool down! (now there's a mental image to savor)....

Tonight Betsy is going to her friend's house for a sleepover and then they are going out for the day....oh to be young and have a social life again! Wee one is having her friend come over to spend the night here, and is quite excited about it. Last night she asked me if the friend could come, and I said she would have to ask her dad. She was in the tub at the time, with the curtain drawn when John came into the room. She called out, "Dad, can "h" spend the night tomorrow night?" he didn't respond immediately so she added, "Please? She isn't in my class this year, and we really need to catch up!" Oh, she can work that man....he laughs and tells her okay, and is rewarded with, "Oh thankyouthankyouthankyou daddy, I love you!" Then he gives me this smarmy smile to which I respond by giving him a standing ovation using my hand and one particular finger....

I've been cleaning all morning. I'm almost finished though. I got all the laundry put away and even cleaned out my closet. I have a lot of clothes that are going to the good will....they are still on hangers, but I will eventually get them packed up. I have been putting off doing the girls closets....because I hate the thought of it. So much to get rid of, what to keep, what to store....I wish this house had better storage. This is why I hate living in a ranch. I loved my two stories....it just seemed like we had more room.

I'm on day 4 of WW and doing okay. I bought all sorts of "good" food yesterday, and hopefully I'll be able to stick this one out....at least long enough to eat all the expensive crap I bought! LOL....It cost less to join for three months than it did to buy all this stuff! It will be worth it though, even if I could lose 20 pounds. I would be very happy with that. 

Well, I've sat here long enough. I need to finish up and start sewing....

Thursday - shopping day!!!!

WooHoo....it's shopping day! I am looking forward to milling about the stores, humming along with canned music, enjoying quality time alone.  My freezer is stocked with meat, but everything else is bone dry. My fridge is completely empty, and my pantry doesn't look too good either. I am pretty sure all of the cereal is molded together like rocks, because when I pick up a box it doesn't shake but rather thumps. The girls haven't been eating cereal for breakfast lately, and here in the humidity state, once you open a box, you had better eat it fast.  I tried a handful of Golden Grahams the other day and instead of the crispy crunch I was expecting, I got more of a "damp cardboard" kind of feel. Yuck. So, I will only get the cereal they really like this time....I also need to stock up on some veggies. I have been making wee one some healthier lunches. No chips but carrot sticks and dip, an orange (which she loves), that kind of thing. And peanuts....she loves peanuts in the shell. When she takes them for snack time the kids all go crazy and ask her for some. She's also crazy about tuna salad. I can eat plain tuna, or tuna casserol, but I have a thing about tuna salad. I might be able to eat a small bit when I first make it, but the next day, forget it. But, she has no problem with it, so I suck it up and make it....lol. Betsy never asks for much. There are usually two things on her list....decaffinated cappiccino and Mountain Dew. I suppose one cancels the other out? We have not been buying the MD since the kidney stone incident though, so she is going to have to choose something else. She does love the sub sandwiches the store makes....she is a Subway girl all the way....I think she could live on them if I let her! So, anyway, I have to make my list when I get back from the bus stop and head out for my morning of fun....

Tough tissues....

www.puffs.com This morning whilst sitting in the car at the bus stop, I noticed that wee one needed a tissue, and I gave her one out of the box I have in the console. She took it and used it, and then said in a disgusted tone, "Look what you made me do Mom, now I have to blow the other side of my nose!" Well, gee....I'm sorry you have to expend so much time and energy blowing your nose. I know how time consuming that can be. *enter sarcasm here. So, she reaches for another tissue, uses it and says, "Are these Puffs?" I said, "I don't know, why?" to which she replied, "Because they are hurting my nose!" Then, she mumbles something under her breath that sounded like, "stupid things are hard as a rock...." I couldn't help it....I started laughing hysterically. She really got mad at me after that, sighing loudly-rolling her eyes-turning toward the window.

I have learned to laugh at these moments....because they are precious to me. I was a bit more concerned and emotional when Betsy was going through the beginning of her hormonal changes. Every roll of the eye or smart-alek comment was met with thoughts of her becoming one of those terrible teenagers on Jenny Jones....you know the ones who would be disrespectful to the point they had to bring out the boot camp soldiers? I actually used to purposefully have those shows on when I knew Betsy would be with me, so she could see how NOT to behave. Of course, I never had to worry about that with her....it was my fear that caused me to worry. Having kids so far apart in age has been a blessing to me in lots of ways. I know what to expect now....so I can relax and enjoy the moments of frustration and emotions, knowing it's normal.

However, having kids so far apart can also be a double edged sword. I think about all the things I did wrong while parenting Betsy, and I feel guilty. I was such a young mom, and I was uptight with her. I wish I had been able to be more relaxed with her....to enjoy things more. She was such a good baby-toddler-child and now teen. Sure we had our ups and downs, but the worst thing I've ever had to deal with has been a bit of an attitude here and there. Still, there are moments in her childhood that I replay over and over in my mind, wishing I could have done things differently.  Don't get me wrong, I loved every second of her childhood....I just wish I would have been different.

But I digress....

After becoming annoyed with me, I told wee one that she just made my journal entry for the day. She looks at me and says, "Why? Because I don't like your tissues?" The kid is a goldmine of material....

I have a headache! Take three. Three tablets? No, Anacin Three!

+ =

Oh my aching head....I guess wearing the headphones and blasting music doesn't help....right now, however, my house is blissfully quiet, and I am thanking the people at Dell for sending me the "quiet touch" keyboard. I've had this headache on and off today. It feels like sinuses. I would love to nap for a while, but Betsy will be home any minute, and we are going to start on her room....

I took the dog to the vet today for his recheck. I tell ya, I'm going to go broke before he does! $140 to take some blood and say, "Gee, he looks great!" Sheesh! They test his phenobarbital levels to make sure his medication is preventing seizures. You know what? I can tell you for FREE if it's working....and it is. I always know when his medication needs tweaking....it's like a mother's instinct. He's been with me longer than wee one, so I should know. They gouge me $60 for that test....next time I'm going to ask if it is completely necessary. Of course, it may be "necessary" in order for them to give me the script....so they have me by the proverbial "balls". Yeah, you read that right....no PG entry for me today....I'm goin full out PG-13! I'm doing it because my head hurts and I'm crabby to boot!

Anyhoo....I called customer service about wee one's scooter. I placed the call at 12:00, and hung up at 12:35. Yes, I was on hold THAT long. And no music to listen to....just recorded testimonials about how wonderful their company is, peppered with cutsie pleas to "stay on the line and the next customer service representative will be right with you." So, I finally get someone who takes all my info, then proceeds to say, "I'm going to put you on hold just for a second to transfer you to another department". I am sent to another wait pattern....but I was only there a few minutes before Pedro (that was his name) answered. He took my info and put me on hold....for 10 freaking minutes. By that point I had zoned out and wondered if maybe he had said goodbye, as I was surfing the web whilst waiting. There was no recording or anything, just silence. So, I hung the phone up. Two seconds later it rings, and it's my old pal Pedro, telling me that he apologized for taking so long to process my order. I'm thinking yeah, sure, it's 12:30 and you are probably stuffing your face and forgot me....jerk. We finish the order and then he says, you know, we have an accessory pack that was $49....I'm thinking, how nice, they are giving me something free since they forgot to pack the proper parts....but oh no....he can probably still get it for me for the holiday price of only $19.95. I'm like, if I order it, will you send me all the parts? No thank you.  After I refused his oh so generous offer, he speed talks the rest of his "script", and says the part will be here in the next two to three "business weeks" (huh?) and it will come UPS, no cost to me. No sh**?! Really? You mean I don't have to pay for the missing parts? Well, whoop de freakin do. But, the important thing is that they are on their way and wee one is going to be thrilled....in two to three business weeks....

Guess what I've got????

Oh yeah....my new computer is up and running! WooHoo! The doorbell rang this morning around 10:30 and who should be standing there but my neighborhood UPS man with three wonderful, beautiful packages for ME! It took no time at all and I was ready to go. I got the fancy schmancy speakers with subwoofer....won't dh love that?! LOL. I can only imagine what our house will sound like with my speakers and his surround sound....

Well, today was the first day back to school for the kids, and my first day home alone. I should be celebrating....however Betsy is home today. Apparently she spent most of her night "tossing her cookies". Poor kid....she's so pale and says she is shaky and her stomach is "flipping". Doesn't sound good....so she stayed home and is resting. I think she must have some kind of stomach bug, rather than a 24 hour thing, as she has been complaining about her stomach for a few days. I'm sure she will be ready for school tomorrow though.

Wee one definately went to school today. Nothing was going to stop her from riding her electric scooter to the bus stop! She so enjoyed the looks of envy from the little boys with their "foot powered" scooters....lol. Of course, you know what riding the scooter down to the bus stop meant....I had to take it home. Now, I'm not a klutz, however, I am not used to riding the thing, so I decided to walk it. My first problem was waving goodbye to wee one. I held the scooter with my right hand and waved with my left....only to accidently turn the acceleration grip and the dang thing lunged forward, pulling me behind it. I quickly got control of the situation however, and recouped, pulling a PeeWee....(I meant to do that!) I decided not to ride it, but walk it home and stopped to chat with one of the other mom's for a sec. I was getting ready to go when I put both hands on the bars and once again turned the power....this time the front wheel popped up and the entire scooter became vertical. I froze for a moment, holding it there praying it would stop moving....and then realized I needed to release my grip. I got the thing back down and this time, turned off the power switch. We had a laugh at that one and I decided I had had enough and went on my way. I did turn it back on and ride it down the street....at a very slow pace. It's pretty cool actually, once you get the hang of it. Anyway, it's parked safely in the garage, awaiting it's true owner.

So, I decided to finish my cleaning today....it's 3:24 and I'm still not done! Dang it. I have been slacking today. But I've done good on my eating. I tried my new low carb Slim Fast....ummmm, a word to the wise, don't ever, under ANY circumstance try this....it is HORRID! Oh man, worse than horrid....just plain disgusting! I like the regular stuff, but this was nasty. So, I decided to go back to weight watchers. No crazy food, I can eat fruit....I think that is the way to go.

Okay, it's time to finish cleaning....I just love this freaking computer though....I LOVE it! Love, love, love, loveeeeeeeeeeeee it! I had to name it too. I went for a name that makes me think of happy things and reminds me of my kids....care to take a guess?

http://pbskids.org/arthur/friends/index.html

Starting the year off in a good way....

Let's see, what did I do today....well, this morning and into the afternoon, I took down the tree whilst John and wee one took down the outside lights. My home is officially de-Christmassed.

After finishing our chores, my husband excitedly came in and asked me if I was ready to go....go where, I asked, knowing full well where he wanted to go, and just exactly what he wanted to do. Looking deep into my eyes, he took my hand and slowly led me to the bedroom....he closed the door and we stood for a moment in the silence. His eyes roamed over my body and with a note of anticipation in his voice he said "you better take those sweats off...." I knew what he wanted, I could sense it. It had been building for a few days and now, finally, he was ready. Ready to fufill the fantasy he had dreamt of for so long. I stood there for what seemed like a lifetime, wondering if I should let him do it....was it the right thing? Were we ready for such an act? He took my hand and said, "Honey, please, take the sweats off....and put on your shopping clothes on....that flat screen tv I want is only on sale until midnight tonight!"

Yeah, you had to know it was leading up to something big!  He has been waiting to go spend some of his Christmas bonus. He's like wee one when she gets $10 in her pocket....they just have to go spend it immediately. So, off to Best Buy we went, in search of the deal of the century. They had some good prices, but I wanted to shop around. Off to Sears we went, but they were much higher. We then decided to try Circuit City....and they had just what we were looking for, at just the right price. Wee one was not happy, because she wanted us to get the tv with the built in vhs/dvd player. I didn't want it because if it breaks, then you are stuck. I'd rather buy them separately, and get a good vhs/dvd player. So, that is what we did. We also bought wee one a desk, speakers, keyboard and mouse for her room. She was happy....and tomorrow we will go and get Betsy her new desk as well. I tell ya, it's like Christmas all over again!

Anyway, we came home and spent 45 minutes getting the tv, surround sound and dvd player set up to actually work together instead of separately. Let me just say that is a job in itself!  Luckily, we only had to try it two times....and it is working perfectly. John is sitting in there now, watching one of his new dvd's and eating a popcicle....like a happy and content little boy! LOL. He deserves it though....he doesn't ask for much....

I, on the other hand, am starting the new year off completely unorganized and way behind in my cleaning. I have been such a slacker lately. I've gotten used to these lazy vacation days....sleeping till 10, and staying up till 12. I'm telling ya, when Monday rolls around, my system is in for a big shock. Between getting up early, dieting, exercising, and getting back into the swing of homework and school (the kids, not mine), it's not going to be pretty. I suppose I should just sit back, and enjoy the mess....for Monday is just around the corner....