Thursday, September 30, 2010
Breakfast of Champions
Whenever someone feels guilty eating a caramel bar I point out that it has oatmeal in it and thus counts as breakfast. I don't recall mentioning this to Patrick however so I was a little surprised this morning when he got out his bowl, went over to the pan with caramel bars in it and demanded that I put one in the bowl. There was some militant pointing involved, I had no choice but to give in.
Not sure how to feel about this...
Anna got a punch in some good behavior card at school and she was so proud telling Sean about it. She had answered a tough question about what a community is. Proud to say that I sit down and review vocabulary words with the kids every night and of course as I drive them around town. I keep a list with me at all times and we just review them when we have a spare moment. Ha. Ha. Ha. Of course she learned it on TV! Good old Martha Speaks taught her that one. Cyberchase is teaching her about fractions and the Bachelor is teaching her about drinking and hot tubs. She may not have to actually study until college, unless she goes to a really fun one, then who knows, she might just slide into MBA school without even noticing.
The other incident that we aren't sure how to feel about happened when we were out on date night this week and the waitress asked if the check was together or separate. I found it hilarious at first, reminded me of Modern Family where Gloria plans a trip to Hawaii for the whole family and surprises Jay with it. Everyone talks about how generous Gloria is and Jay finally says, where does everyone think Gloria gets her money?? Anyway, then we later wondered just what the waitress was thinking... awkward first date, who pays for that? Or business colleagues with separate expense accounts? Should we have been making out at the table to help clarify the situation? It could always be worse... I remember more than once people thought my high school boyfriend was my brother. Definitely knew how to feel about that comment.
The other incident that we aren't sure how to feel about happened when we were out on date night this week and the waitress asked if the check was together or separate. I found it hilarious at first, reminded me of Modern Family where Gloria plans a trip to Hawaii for the whole family and surprises Jay with it. Everyone talks about how generous Gloria is and Jay finally says, where does everyone think Gloria gets her money?? Anyway, then we later wondered just what the waitress was thinking... awkward first date, who pays for that? Or business colleagues with separate expense accounts? Should we have been making out at the table to help clarify the situation? It could always be worse... I remember more than once people thought my high school boyfriend was my brother. Definitely knew how to feel about that comment.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
10 Months
Yes, 10 months about 11 days ago... anyway, Emily is crawling everywhere, getting lots of teeth and starting to pull up. She says ma-ma a lot which might refer to me or perhaps to the bread she wants me to give her. She also says something that Anna thinks is her name and we're all going along with that. Anna is having some pretty serious middle child drama, anything to make her feel special. Hard to believe we will be in the new house before her birthday! Tuesday mornings she has me to herself and gets to enjoy a quiet nap, hence computer time.
Monday, September 27, 2010
The Packing
I was so proud of the two boxes of stuff I packed up, had them sitting by the stairs for Sean to take down to storage, but apparently forgot to tell him that's why they were there. Almost 15 years we've been together and he still can't read my mind? So today when I snuck off for a shower, letting the Incredibles babysit Patrick while Emily was safely locked in her room sleeping, Patrick tested his incredible strength and knocked one over. I didn't wrap the Christmas dishes that well since I figured I was just going to drive them across town myself, so they of course broke. If we can keep this system up we will have very little to move which is a good thing now that I think about how many trips across town this is going to involve...
Here is a random motorcycle shot. He tried to bring it to mass on Sunday but I refused to let it out of the van.
Here is a random motorcycle shot. He tried to bring it to mass on Sunday but I refused to let it out of the van.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Sunday Comments (in no particular order)
Best Cake Ever: www.carolinescakes.com
The caramel cake is worth every cent (and calorie). We first had this at the Outer Banks Keenan Reunion thanks to the Buffalo Keenans. Warning, it is not as big as the picture leads you to believe, and thus if you try to share it with 35 Keenans, you will get a very thin slice. So to make up for that tease, I am eating the entire thing by myself (pretty much), thanks to the best in-laws EVER for my birthday treat. I did share with a dear friend who is going in for surgery though. She is very thin and needs the calories, and I'm not totally selfish and heartless. Of course I am not letting my own children have any. I mean, come on, they think the best dessert ever is an Oreo, it's good for them to have something better to look forward to someday. I have also learned that something else delicious is coming in the mail and that I need to hurry up and finish this one. I am afraid that the second piece (TODAY's second piece) may have pushed me over the edge though. Sean, you have permission to have some after your shift is over tonight, I suppose you have earned it.
UND on my caller ID
I am a loyal alumni, but there is a limit. That limit is 1 and 3. Do not ask for more money until I can fly my flag again. Also, you have lots of money already. Let's just say there was a high five yesterday after the 3rd loss, celebrating the timing of us canceling the season tickets. You know what I am going to love way more than a bunch of heartbreaking football losses? Hardwood floors in the kids' rooms. They are going to look awesome, unlike the defense AND the offense.
Hoarders Support Group
Whenever I get a box in the mail, I quickly pack up some of our stuff for the move. I know, I could actually make an effort to go get boxes and do this for real, but that would require planning. This is about all the motivation I can manage with 5 weeks to go. So as I am packing up stuff I won't need for 5 weeks it occurs to me that unless it is holiday stuff, it is stuff I can probably manage without forever, so I reflected back on some lessons learned from the show Hoarders, and started filling up the van.
I have posted about this so many times that no doubt some of you question whether there is indeed anything left IN my house. Yes, yes there is, thanks to the children and their little backpacks. They're like circus cars... how can so much crap come out of one bag, night after night after night. I think magazine sales would be more successful if you didn't punish the parents by giving the children prizes to bring home. No, I do not need 3 squishy brains, thank you. Every time I throw one away, another appears. Are they mating behind the dryer? How is this possible? And if I step on one in the middle of the night and think that it's a snake, well, someone is going to have to pay for my therapy. Ah, well, the army is good for something! That and how they pay for packers and movers if you move on their schedule, i.e. not just to another house in town because your children are too loud for your current home. Which brings me to my final point tonight:
LOUD CHILDREN
Now that we have decided to move, it can't come soon enough. It seems that the children grow louder every day and I spend most of my day trying to keep them quiet. Someone is always sleeping or working and the remaining occupants try to prevent that. I keep hoping that when Sean has to call the ER with results that they don't notice the noise in the background because it is also loud where they are. I was just going to start training the children to make hospital type noises and use medical words (code brown instead of change my diaper, for example) when we lucked into this new house. We will miss this house but I am ready for more wine, I mean, more space.
The caramel cake is worth every cent (and calorie). We first had this at the Outer Banks Keenan Reunion thanks to the Buffalo Keenans. Warning, it is not as big as the picture leads you to believe, and thus if you try to share it with 35 Keenans, you will get a very thin slice. So to make up for that tease, I am eating the entire thing by myself (pretty much), thanks to the best in-laws EVER for my birthday treat. I did share with a dear friend who is going in for surgery though. She is very thin and needs the calories, and I'm not totally selfish and heartless. Of course I am not letting my own children have any. I mean, come on, they think the best dessert ever is an Oreo, it's good for them to have something better to look forward to someday. I have also learned that something else delicious is coming in the mail and that I need to hurry up and finish this one. I am afraid that the second piece (TODAY's second piece) may have pushed me over the edge though. Sean, you have permission to have some after your shift is over tonight, I suppose you have earned it.
UND on my caller ID
I am a loyal alumni, but there is a limit. That limit is 1 and 3. Do not ask for more money until I can fly my flag again. Also, you have lots of money already. Let's just say there was a high five yesterday after the 3rd loss, celebrating the timing of us canceling the season tickets. You know what I am going to love way more than a bunch of heartbreaking football losses? Hardwood floors in the kids' rooms. They are going to look awesome, unlike the defense AND the offense.
Hoarders Support Group
Whenever I get a box in the mail, I quickly pack up some of our stuff for the move. I know, I could actually make an effort to go get boxes and do this for real, but that would require planning. This is about all the motivation I can manage with 5 weeks to go. So as I am packing up stuff I won't need for 5 weeks it occurs to me that unless it is holiday stuff, it is stuff I can probably manage without forever, so I reflected back on some lessons learned from the show Hoarders, and started filling up the van.
I have posted about this so many times that no doubt some of you question whether there is indeed anything left IN my house. Yes, yes there is, thanks to the children and their little backpacks. They're like circus cars... how can so much crap come out of one bag, night after night after night. I think magazine sales would be more successful if you didn't punish the parents by giving the children prizes to bring home. No, I do not need 3 squishy brains, thank you. Every time I throw one away, another appears. Are they mating behind the dryer? How is this possible? And if I step on one in the middle of the night and think that it's a snake, well, someone is going to have to pay for my therapy. Ah, well, the army is good for something! That and how they pay for packers and movers if you move on their schedule, i.e. not just to another house in town because your children are too loud for your current home. Which brings me to my final point tonight:
LOUD CHILDREN
Now that we have decided to move, it can't come soon enough. It seems that the children grow louder every day and I spend most of my day trying to keep them quiet. Someone is always sleeping or working and the remaining occupants try to prevent that. I keep hoping that when Sean has to call the ER with results that they don't notice the noise in the background because it is also loud where they are. I was just going to start training the children to make hospital type noises and use medical words (code brown instead of change my diaper, for example) when we lucked into this new house. We will miss this house but I am ready for more wine, I mean, more space.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Revenge of the Baby?
I mean, seriously, first the van and now Emily is trying to prove me wrong. Guess she thought I wanted to kick off the birthday party early yesterday and was up at 4:30, then 5:30 and then I gave up at 6 and just got it going. Patrick took the lead this morning at 6 and she wasn't far behind. I realize this is standard behavior for years in other houses but in general our kids have learned that nothing fun is going to happen early so no point in getting up before at least 7. I hate when the big girls come trudging out of bed early on the weekend, clearly exhausted but motivated by the thought of unlimited TV shows so I put an end to that by refusing to let it on before 8.
I am usually pretty easy going and flexible unless it interferes with my sleep. I also hold firm when Patrick begs and begs for some of my hard cider. He brings over a little cup and tries to get me to pour him some. Oh and don't go thinking that one sip might cure him of that. That was my plan with my iced tea (unsweetened GREEN iced tea I might add) because surely he would gag like Sean, but no, now he is always swiping that from me. Love when I get in the van and realize after we're on the road that my iced tea is all gone and someone is looking peppy in his car seat. He fell asleep on the way to school pick up though yesterday and even transfered to his bed (floor) when we got home. Talk about a great birthday gift! Also appreciated was the Modern Family DVD, which if you are not watching this show, you have to. Go to hulu.com right now and pick an episode. Or come borrow my DVD and start at the beginning.
I was going to give a shout out to Kitra about how her personal version of Coach Eric Taylor is doing (and if you don't know who Coach Taylor is go get the Friday Night Lights DVDs, now!) but I think a blog mention is now bad luck, based on the van and Emily... I will wait until the season is over and then we can also discuss how he keeps his papers during the game. I am going to have to get a photo of that...
I am usually pretty easy going and flexible unless it interferes with my sleep. I also hold firm when Patrick begs and begs for some of my hard cider. He brings over a little cup and tries to get me to pour him some. Oh and don't go thinking that one sip might cure him of that. That was my plan with my iced tea (unsweetened GREEN iced tea I might add) because surely he would gag like Sean, but no, now he is always swiping that from me. Love when I get in the van and realize after we're on the road that my iced tea is all gone and someone is looking peppy in his car seat. He fell asleep on the way to school pick up though yesterday and even transfered to his bed (floor) when we got home. Talk about a great birthday gift! Also appreciated was the Modern Family DVD, which if you are not watching this show, you have to. Go to hulu.com right now and pick an episode. Or come borrow my DVD and start at the beginning.
I was going to give a shout out to Kitra about how her personal version of Coach Eric Taylor is doing (and if you don't know who Coach Taylor is go get the Friday Night Lights DVDs, now!) but I think a blog mention is now bad luck, based on the van and Emily... I will wait until the season is over and then we can also discuss how he keeps his papers during the game. I am going to have to get a photo of that...
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Go with the flow baby
We just wrapped up a rather hectic couple days with my parents here, various house inspections, contractor meetings, transportation problems, general lack of sleep, etc. and through it all Emily barely made a peep (she even got another tooth during this). We always have kid chaos here but I try to keep things low key for the neglected baby. Today I had to take her on a crazy ride in the stroller to go get the van and then later I had to wake her up from her nap to go talk to the floor guy and she was totally fine. Not a single fuss. I also kept giving her food all day, easier to keep her in her highchair while I cleaned before the inspection, so maybe that helped. Now Patrick was pretty much the opposite so maybe we are just working off the good kid/ bad kid dynamic.
Whatever is working there is much appreciated and frankly, it's all I want for my birthday. Anna asked me if Sean could take her to the store tomorrow to buy me a present and I told her I would rather just have good behavior from her. Yeah, she wasn't going for it, much easier to spend Dad's money. Kind of reminds me of Modern Family where Gloria pays for Jay's birthday trip to Hawaii. "Where does everyone think Gloria gets her money?"
ps Thanks to whoever sent me the awesome cake! I know it's a Keenan, just not sure which one. It's too good to share with the kids...
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