Mother’s Day Wish List

Ok, Joe if you are reading this, I’m day dreaming here.  Honestly, The only thing I want for Mother’s Day is family time and fun with our kiddos.

That said, If I could create the perfect Mother’s Day on a budget, here is what I’d like.

1: I’d like it to be 3 days long.

Day 1 would be for honoring my mother & Joe’s mom.  Making it all about them.  One from 9-12, and the other from 1-4.

Day 2 would be for getting all the little stuff we have been “meaning to get to” done.  Finishing all the projects, so that the rest of the summer was just picking up after ourselves & cutting and maintaining the yard/pool.  This isn’t realistic.  I know that.  I’d need a day that was 100+ hours long with endless energy. :) I wouldn’t be spending loads of money per say, just getting all the stuff done.

Day 3 would be all about me.  Yes, I said that.  Yes, it’s selfish.  But, it’s truth. :)

2: My gift, would be a screen door, like this one from Menards.

screen door

 But, I’d spice it up like this one. (maybe even paint it red)

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Here is where I’d put it.  :)

image1-51Now here is where you can laugh.  This is what you see now when you open this door….

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Yes, the garage…. So, why would I even care if it was pretty, I wouldn’t.  But, I’d like to  be able to open that door and have the breeze come through. (with the garage door open obviously)  More fresh air, more light.  Ahhh!!! Happy Me. Spicing it up would just be fun and would make it more pretty to look at.

That said, if the budget were no option… Truly no option… I’d hire a contractor to re-do our outside steps and out door landscaping.  We have a lake on the side of our house, and a grading issue on the back.  I’d also install a turn key pool cover, and have a spa day with some girlfriends.  Full spa treatments, dinner with hubs at a favorite place.  That would be amazing.  Yet, VERY expensive.  I’d also have a slumber party in our bed with the kids and watch a Disney movie.  (I might actually do that part).

So, there you have it.  My selfish, moment in time thoughts on mother’s day.

My real plans are wonderful.  I’m seeing Joe’s mom, for brunch with my sister in laws.  Then we will spend time with my mom.  She’s still recovering from total hip replacement surgery.  So, time with the women who brought us into the world.  :)  Time with my boys, (and Oreo)… Fun Fun :)

PS, If you want to read something hilarious about Mother’s Day, this had me laughing out loud.  

Lady O

How are ya?

I’m gooooood.

Fracken Busy.  Loving this So much….

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I’m random today :)

It’s a beautiful day, so this post will be short.  I’ve been SO DARN BUSY.  Joe’s traveled, My mom had surgery and I had to step up and help, and finally, my own kids and life.  NUTTY. I just wanted to share a few photos, and wish a very special someone Happy Birthday.

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3 yrs ago yesterday, Lady O (aka Oreo) was born.  We weren’t lucky enough to have her till July 4th, but still, she arrived.  Once we got her, life became forever better.

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Oreo, we love you, I love you, you are the best dog I’ve ever known.

You are love, adored and such a part of our little family.

WIDN

What the F kinda post name is that?

It’s a hash tag people.  I’m borrowing it, from Becca.  She had it on instagram (follow me @amyssassyfamily) a while back, and I feel like it’s kind of a mesh between Jenny’s quick takes, and in the moment stuff for me.

It stands for: What I’m Doing Now.

There is one lil caveat, it won’t be completely truthful….. Since I don’t want to say that RIGHT NOW, Joe is out of town (which he isn’t) or RIGHT NOW I’m in the bathroom typing while I, um, ahem…. which I’m not… GEEZ, Ewww

I really should be doing my follow-up post for Keepin’ it Real, but I’m Lazy. (like you didn’t already know that)

So, WIDN?

Yesterday I walked from our house to Jack’s school to pick him up.  Then we walked home.  I did this pushing his younger brothers in a stroller, with our beloved Oreo.  Things that I should remember for next time…. Leave earlier,  I gave myself a half hour, and I needed 45 min.  Or even 40 min.  Teach the dog to pull.  I own a dog that is capable of pulling 1000 lbs… yet when I tried to get her to help me lug the 76 lbs of kids and 10 lbs of stroller yesterday, she looked at me like “what the F does that mean?”.  Don’t let Lady O go off leash.  The pond near our home is WAY TOO TEMPTING… yes, she took a lovely dip, and we smelled her stank for the remainder of the night…

Lastly, have nothing else on the adgenda for at least 2 hours.  We left at 3:15, and granted we took our sweet ace time coming home, we didn’t arrive home till about 5:15.  I walked 3.63 miles, and the older 2 kids walked a mile and a half or more.  It was wonderful.  My goal is by the end of the school year, to do this twice in one day.  We shall see if I do.

Today we had Music class.  This is offered at a local church and is free.  The songs are about Jesus, the kids love it, and it’s a nice way to spend an hour together.  I have watched Max go from a non-walker/minimal talker, to running and singing along to almost every song.  It’s so cool.  The songs come home too, we have sang many at home while making dinner.

Speaking of songs, I feel like I’m always the last one to the party, or jumping on the bandwagon.  I have not a clue when Macklemore released the Thrift Shop song, but I just recently became a fan, and let me just say, I downloaded the clean version, and now if you say to Max “I’m gonna pop some tags, only got $20 in my…..”  He says Pocket, then you say “I, I’m hunting, looking for a come up, this is stinkin’…..” and he says Awesome.  Yes, I told my kids he says stinkin’ in stead of the other real word that is bleeped out so to speak.  I’m loving the song, as Falen would say, It’s my Jam.

Falen, who the F is Falen?  Why the F am I all saying F all of a sudden?  Well first, Falen is a local djay here in MN, and she’s HI-larious.  When she’s on the radio and feels the need to swear, she just says the first letter.  I have now picked up on this, and am thankful.  I have a potty mouth, and am un-lady like in my vocab at times, thus I’m substituting the letter for the word.

So, that’s WIDN.  Other then laundry, tush wiping, and snot wrangling….Not really interesting… but it’s fo real.

 

Keeping it real: Update & new topic

I really like keeping it real, and in keeping with that theme, I thought I’d talk about other subjects.  I tend to feel like I’m the only one going through stuff, or that I’m looney, and in fact sometimes reading someone else’s life and daily drone, somehow ends up helping me.

I have already posted what was the trigger that led to the end of nursing here. I just wanted to update you quickly on how things are going.  First of all, Max has slept through the night, even sleeping till 8 am some days, basically since that post.  Give or take a day.  This is BLISS.  I can’t believe how great it feels.  I’m having actual dreams again, feeling less exhausted (most of the time) and happier.  Regarding nursing, Max still asks.  Not every day, but once in a while.  I say it’s “all gone,” and he moves on.  We snuggle, and it’s all good.  Emotionally I’m better too.  I really thought it was going to be harder, but it’s been nice.  Chapter closed.

Onto a new subject…

Do you work?

Part time?

Full time?

Do you ever wonder what women who don’t work do?

I know I did. I was like “what the hell do they do all day?”

Well, I’m here to share what I do.

I work part time, 2 days a week, 10 hours each (at the actual office).  These days, I’m up at 5, out the door by 5:40, gone till 5:15.  The night before, I pack a lunch, set out my clothes, style my hair, and get my bag ready for work.  Once I’m up, I am washing my face, brushing my teeth, getting dressed, making coffee, and running out the door.  I like to sleep as long as possible.

On those evenings, I pick up the kids, and once I’m home, we play outside (if the weather is good) until 6 when Joe gets home.  If it’s not good out, I make dinner and play with the kids.    Then it’s a walk, or more play with the kids.  At 7:45, the kids are offered a healthy snack, allowed 10-15 minutes of tv, and then they brush their teeth.  While the older ones are watching tv, we read to Max, and he goes to sleep.

We have been blessed that with all 3 kids, we don’t need to rock them to sleep, lay with them, or anything extra.  Max says good night to all, and then he’s put in his crib, given his blanket and nukie, and he goes to bed.  This is the same for nap time.  We then read to the older twp boys, and they have the option to look at books for about 10-15 more minutes.  Then it’s lights out.

The only variation in this routine, is the addition of a bath/shower.  Those are started at 7:15 to allow time for all 3 to go together, or to separate. We don’t bathe our kids nightly.  Yes, I said that.  Jack and Max have very dry skin (from their Momma, poor kids)  So, we do bathing every other night, and maybe every third day in the summer, but only because of the pool.

We try not to have any events on the nights I work, but like I stated in other posts, we are keen on the kids having activities, so if that’s the case, so be it.  Sometimes, Joe and I skip the kids meal, and we eat together later to allow more time to actually have a meaningful conversation without interruption.

Once the kids are down, on the nights I work, we kind of crash.  We catch up on DVR, have conversations on what is going on the other days of the week, or just go to bed.  Those days are non-stop, and I have great empathy for mom’s who work full time.

I think this is a great place to stop.  I know that I’m supposed to be talking about what I do when I’m home, but I also think it’s important to note what goes on when I work too.

What’s your day of work and home like?

 

Well, that will teach me

Remember a few posts ago when I said Max might take a nap, and I’d get a few posts out of the nap time.  Well, I did.  The beauty of wordpress (and maybe blogger) is that you can “schedule” your posts.

So, last week I scheduled yesterday’s post.  Thinking, like most years, that Easter would be most of the same, run here and there, all day long and finally at 9 pm pass out.  (I’m have a wordy post about my feelings on holidays, if I can just grow the balls to type and post it.)

Anywhoo….

You make plans…

God laughs.

Well, it isn’t that funny.

Saturday, we went to our local Grocery store at 7:30 am for an egg hunt.  The kids loved it, and we were up anyway. Then we headed to Target and Trader Joe’s for our actual groceries.  We were on a high. We’d come in 90 bucks under our bi-weekly budget, which was amaze balls, because we are currently broke.  Taxes kicked our bottoms this year.  You’re welcome uncle sam.

After putting away most of the groceries, we headed down the basement to our large chest freezer to put away extra frozen items.  That’s when I screamed.  Joe said, “what’s wrong?”  I replied, “I’m standing in water!!!!!

WATER PEOPLE.

In the basement that I just spent months renovating!!!!!!!!!!

Now, here’s the bright side.  It was in the laundry/storage area.  This isn’t finished, but with a sump pump going off every minute and 45 seconds, and standing water on the floor, I was FREAKING OUT.  Also, because the timing of this was PERFECT, I had an eye appointment, so having one of us to clean up the mess and the other to watch the kids wasn’t gonna happen.

Side bar: at that eye appointment, I learned that a certain eye retailer which made my glasses last year, screwed up the left eye lens.  This explains why I’m having headaches, depth perception issues etc.  UGH.

Back to the basement: after a frantic call to my neighbors and in-laws; the kids were taken and Joe began work on attempting to fix the issues.  Thank God for the help of my in-laws and neighbors.  We are blessed that way.  I don’t want to worry about it now, because just when I was drying the tears and worries about that, Easter morning happened.

Our Easter started out fine.  My DSLR was giving me issues and I couldn’t take photos at first…   But for us, we were on time and getting settled to head out to my dad’s for our first of 3 stops for the day.  15 min before we were to leave, the phone rang.  I was all “Who would call this early..”

It was my dad.

On his way to the ER.  He was having chest pains, shortness of breath, and couldn’t get it to stop.

Hadn’t we just been here exactly a week ago? Celebrating him.

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The short version is that all tests came back fine.  He was in the hospital for 36-48 hours. They don’t know what’s going on, and this isn’t the first episode.  This scares me a bit.  I’m so lucky that he’s fine, but I hate not knowing what’s going on.  He was discharged Monday evening.

In a nutshell, planning a post about the future, and saying all is well can backfire just a bit.

The rest of Easter was good.  The kids had great fun.  We are all home and safe.  That is what matters most.

How was your Easter?

11 years and a name…

This year seemed harder then years past.  I’m sure that is because this year, Easter fell on March 31st, and the same thing happened the year she died.

That Sunday, 11 years ago, I slept over night in the ICU.  She had a staff infection, so we couldnt’ touch her with our hands. We needed to have gloves.  I remember that the Aunts (aka her daughters, and my mother) had been taking turns staying overnight incase something happened.  They didn’t want her to be alone when she died.  She’d been living alone for many years after my grandpa left her, and thus why they didn’t want her to die alone.

This weekend was Easter, and the year before, we had her, and her ex-husband, my grandfather, together for the very first time in my life.  They split when my parents got married, and I wasn’t born yet.  Now, my Grandpa was mentally pretty gone, but she knew he was there, and she cared for him like no time had past.  She cared like it hadn’t mattered that he’d left her after cheating on her.  He’d left after 25 years of marriage.  But, there she was.  She took her own home made spegatti and made it into mush, so he could eat it.  That memory sticks with me.  She had this heart of gold.

Since it was Easter weekend, and the Aunts were tired from the bedside vigil, they asked the Grandkids to take turns at bedside.  Mind you, the doctors had told us that she was basically gone.  We were keeping her alive, and it was up to the Aunt’s as to when we were to turn off the machines, and let her go.  So, Saturday night was my turn.  The ICU was packed.  Scary people, drug addicts screaming, sad families.  The waiting room where I was to sleep was also packed with interesting comings and goings.  I left around midnight.  I went into her room, pulled two office chairs together, and tried to sleep.

I remember hearing someone screaming in the next room, waking up, and sitting beside her.  I remember putting on gloves, being annoyed with the fact that I had to, and telling her I needed her to come back, telling her I wanted to have her for more time.  I remember reciting the Our Father prayer, over and over again.  She had taught it to me when I was a little girl.  I remember begging God, to let some miracle happen or let her go. I also remember being angry the next day at Easter, because Joe wouldn’t come with me to the hospital.  He didn’t understand what I was going through.  He didn’t like hospitals.

Easter came and went with a numbing sort of feeling.  Joe took the brunt of my pain, and soon Monday was here.  I went to work, and during lunch, I was told I’d had a phone call.  I called back to learn that the time had come.  I called and told Joe where I’d be, and he offered to come.  I declined him because I was already aware of how he felt about hospitals.  I went, and on a snowy Monday, April 1st, I stood at the very head of her bed, next to my mother, and said goodbye to one of the loves of my life. I walked out of the room to see Joe standing there, hugging my Aunt, and waiting for me. I’ll never forget that he did that.  It still gets me every time.  At the time this song was gaining popularity, and it was very fitting.  Still is.

My grandmother was Josephine.  Or, Grandma Jo.  Or, Jaws… was what her friends called her.  She was one of the most beautiful souls to ever walk this earth.  And, while the grief has passed, I miss her. so.damn.much. Especially this time of year.

The silver lining in this hard and sad story is that we named our daughter after her.  Our daughter’s name is Josephine Catherine… After her great grandmother, and grandmother (my mom).  When I think about them, together in heaven, I am comforted.  I also know that Grandma Jo’s arms are full.  She’s holding the babies I never got to hold.  One in each arm.  She’s loving on them, and watching over us.  I thank her, for all the love she gave when she was here.  11 years has flown by, it seems like only yesterday I was sitting in her porch, playing cards, and having the time of my life.

Insta Thursday

Have I mentioned i love insta-gram?  I could take and post photos sometimes hourly on a good day; but I try not to :) .

I thought I’d share are a few photos captured a weeks ago.  This week there was kind of a pause in picture taking.  I’ve been fighting yet another bad head cold (3rd one this winter) and it was really kicking my rear until today.  Hoping I’m heading in the healing direction.

I love these next 2 shots probably the most in this little grouping.  The first below, is of my dad and Jack.  My dad isn’t the type of grandparent that babysits a lot, or really ever.  If I’m in a jam he will help. But, he is the grandparent that comes to dinner as often as we invite him, has us over to his 5 acre wooded lot to go sledding, makes it to 90% of the kids sports, and is always willing to help us DIY or do a project.

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One day both of my parents came to my house for lunch while the kids were on spring break.  This is rare for me, because my parents divorced when I was in kindergarten.  So, getting them together for a meal doesn’t happen.  In the last few years though, after both of them fighting seperate forms of cancer, and both getting hip replacements (mom is having her’s in April) they have become friends.  So, seeing them together, with just me and the boys, is always a treat.  Here are Nana and Max checking out the never ending snow.

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Here is Lukey sleeping in a chair we were given from my dad.  This makes me laugh, because every piece of furniture in that room, except for an ikea 4 square cube, was given to us for free.  This is actually great because our kids treat it like leaping pads sometimes.

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Here’s Max in a pair of boots my dad got for Jack.  At the time, I thought my dad was nuts. They are Sorel boots and they are tiny.  They cost like 60 bucks at the time.  Yet, they have lived through 3 kids perfectly, and are a favorite of our little man.

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One other thing I love, is that the boys love to help us cook.  I love that Joe cooks, and I mentally thank his mother for this skill on a weekly basis.  I hope my boys will continue this with their partners later in life too. Jack, helping daddy make dinner.

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This one cracks me up.  These two ya-hoos are partners in crime these days.  Chasing each other, snuggling, laughing, playing, and LOVING peanut butter.  By the spoonful, if I let them.  Max’s shirt is also one of my sassy favorites.

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Finally, there are these two lovely beauties.  Wanda the Washer, and Dave the Dryer.  We LOVE them.  They make laundry so much easier.  Wanda likes to leave her doors open so she doesn’t stink (she’s so risque’).  They are made by samsung, and after some research, a recommendation from my neighbor and a big sale, they were also easy on the pocketbook.

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What was your week like?  What are your Easter plans/traditions?

****I was not paid by Samsung or Instagram.  These opinions are my own. 

For Giggles

When I leave my ipad laying around, you can guarentee that 1, or all of the men in my life have found it, and used it.  The thing they like to use most is the photo booth app.

Last Saturday morning we were practicing our new motto.  Taking/Making time for just us. The kids would be leaving to head to Grandma and Grandpa V’s for the night, so we were not cleaning or working the endless to-do list.  Instead we were playing.  Playing included: Floor hockey, tickles, wrestling, dancing in the kitchen. AND, they showed me what the big deal is with photo booth.  P.S.  I only included a few, but in truth their were at least 30 of them. So.Funny.

These made us cry with laughter the most. Enjoy.

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Gratitude

Dear Joe,

You are traveling again.  Oh, how I dread when this happens.

I’m what some would call clingy, needy, a spaz.  I’d like to think I’m just thrilled to be near you at any time, for as long as I can be.  I adore you.  You are my very best friend.

That said, I think I’ve finally figured out the reason this job has required you to travel.  Other then the obvious need for the work :) .  I think God is challenging me to learn more independence from you.  Having you gone this time, I was almost smug with confidence.  I was able to drop you off and not cry, the house ran like a well oiled machine, and I started to think it was you that dragged me down when you were home.

I was wrong.

Yes, very wrong.

When you are home, I’m just lazier (sp?).  I let you wait on me, put the kids to bed and I relax.  The list goes on.  When I don’t have you here to fall back on and share the work, I kick into high gear and the house and kids are better for it.

I’m sorry I’ve been lazy. I’ve been in a big funk, and with the changes we have made, and the new choices I’m making for me and my body, I’m feeling so much better.  Happier, more like me, and just overall happy.

Plus, I appreciate you so much more when you have to be away.  Thank you for all you do at the office for our family.  For the ability for me to be part time, and have such a wonderful work life balance.  But, really, thank you for all you do at home.  You are a godsend.

I can’t wait to have you back home tonight.  Time with you, is the only way I want to spend my time.

I love you. So.Much.

Quick takes

I’m playing with fire right now.  It’s the time in the napping hour when M could wake at any moment, and this post will be tiny.  Or he could sleep, and I could get a few more posts to be scheduled.  I’m hoping for the latter.  I have so much to say, and no time to type it.

Activities. Do you put your kids in them?  Our kids are what some would call very active.  I don’t think so.  I like having a schedule, having some busy-ness, and down time too.  Jack is in hockey, he is in an open skate time now, and will do a clinic in the summer to keep up on his skills.  We did this clinic because mostly, it’s during the week, during the day, so it makes the weekends have more time for pool time. Both kids will play spring soccer, and Luke is in gymnastics now.

This summer, they will both do soccer, vacation bible school, and Jack will do a 4 day football camp, as well as a spanish camp at the end of the summer.  However, in the fall, he will play flag football.  He’s VERY thrilled about this.  So, there it is.  Active, yes… Crazy? not really.  They each play a sport.  They each have VBS, Jack gets 2 clinics extra.  I’m defensive about it.  Why?  I have no clue.  We value what team sports, and what group activities can teach.

My dad turned 70 yesterday.  He’s the most un-70 year old I know.  It makes me feel weird that he’s 70.  He’s acting like he’s feeling it, but he’s beyond active.  For example, in December of last year he rode this ride.  Joe and I won’t even ride it. 60 MPH folks.  He said he’d have rode it again if there had been time.  He goes to Sturgis, travels a ton, and plays hockey with the kids.  Yet, I know that 70 isn’t 50, and it makes my heart hurt to know that our parents are now well into their grandparent years.  I know what’s ahead, and it scares the hell out of me.

Finally an update on the last post.

I’m doing ok.  I’d be lying if I said there weren’t some ugly cry tears the 1st night.  We let Max cry it out, and the first night was an hour and 30 minutes.  The second night was an hour.  He has asked a few times to nurse, and when I say no, he accepts it.  I’ve started to go through the baby clothes and I find myself misty eyed at the fact that it’s over, and excited to purge the stuff.  I’m excited to sleep full nights, focus on the fun ahead, and snuggle the kids as much as they will allow.  This is a good, hard, change.  But, it’s the right choice.  Thank God I have a supportive hubby.