School supplies

Do you remember buying new school supplies every year? 

I loved it.  My mom would take us out on that special day, School Supplies Buying Day, and she always made it seem so special.  Just the thought of getting fresh clean notebooks, really sharp pencils and brand new markers made me giddy.

My favorite school item of all time was the almighty Trapper Keeper (Old School obviously).  

Do you have a favorite that you remember fondly?

It Takes Two

So here’s the deal.  I have had it.  We have hit the crescendo of summer fun.  The laze-a-fare of relaxing and summer time “cool” has hit the skids.   

I’m done and so are they. The fighting and screaming and hitting (yes hitting) seems to be more main stay than not.  I DO NOT LIKE THIS TREND!

And now…it is over.  We have started the “It Takes Two” policy at our house.  I know, you are wondering, what the hell does that mean?   

Well, here is how it works: If there is hitting, screaming or fighting between two (or three in our case), everyone involved goes into a time-out and then they come out and talk to each other…apologize for their wrong doing and work it the FUCK OUT.    There is no coming back until this is done. 

This approach has been successful for the past two days.  YES, two days, which is good.  The deal is this, these kids are smart and they know how to work the system.  The really hard part of being a parent, is that they will change and morph and get smarter and understand what you are trying to do. 

Think on my friends.  We are smarter…at least for now.

And you?

I was reading through my favorites list this morning when Andrea posed a question on her blog:  Why do you blog? 

I’ve never written about why I blog, which is funny in a way.   As I sit here and think about that question what comes to mind is simple…I blog to quell the crazy within me and to simply remember. 

At this point in my life, with three small children, life is funny, hard, joyous, and a constant struggle to keep all the plates in the air spinning at the same time.   

This blog let’s me look back, assess and find humor in sometimes some not so funny situations and then let’s me share them.  I know I’m not the only woman who feels crazed by daily living.   

And those precious moments…those times that you never want to have end and you never want to forget, I have those too.  Saved up to read over and over again. 

Tell me, why do you blog?

Just random thoughts

Did you know if you simply forget about the cat vomit on the floor behind the chair and come back to it three weeks later… it just vacuums right up.

My dad’s cigar smoking buddies have a new nick name for him, Terminal Tom.  They find this just hysterical.

I haven’t had hemorrhoids since KP was born and now I have an entire blackberry patch growing in my anus three days before a 1/2 IRONMAN.

It is the beautiful Minnesota summer days, when I really appreciate being able to stay at home with my kids.

Techno-tard bag

There has been a serious change in my technology over the past week and just so you know, I am not the quickest on the up tick.

We got new cell phones (I brought mine on a bike ride and my water bottle spilled all over it…and broke it), I’ve moved my email and calendar from outlook to gmail (so Adam and I can share each other’s calendars and make partying together so much easier), my site has moved to www.wordpress.com for a hopefully more visually appealing look with better usability and then my lovely husband has added www.delicious.com to my site (which is a cool way to list and share your favorite sites). 

The one problem…I have no real idea how to use any of it.

During the past week I have only added two contacts on my cell, home and Adam.  That really helps don’t you think?  I already know those numbers.  And I’m pretty sure you still can’t leave a message.

I am up-to-date in my calendar to the end of THIS month.  Does it really matter what’s going on in August?

I’m hoping this blathering will at least post on my new snazzy looking site, because about five minutes ago I needed help knowing my user name and password.

Adam, I know how much this pains you to have married a woman who can barley instant message.  I’m so sorry.

Is that you Helen?

Do you have an Inner Voice? One of those little voices inside your head that tells you things, that many times are nasty, not nice or just down right insulting.

Well, funny enough, I do. When I hear The Voice I usually picture a devil on one shoulder and a saint on the other having a conversation. OK, maybe a fight, over me. My Voice has typically not been so nice. It has told me of hardship and failure due to my actions or inactions or my plain old stupidity.

An interesting shift has occurred this summer, my Voice has become, how should I say it…different.

This season of training has been grueling. To any outsider looking in I am sure I seem like a freak that needs to see a psychologist for my exercise addiction. But through this rigorous training I have found kindness within myself, for myself.

I have found my inner self cheering for ME. There is no talk of failure. There is only talk of striving for the best that I can be. My own Voice encouraging me, cheering me on and pushing me.

I really like this new Voice. So much in fact, I’m thinking of naming her.

Any thoughts?

Foible

Do you have one of those “things”, chores or details that if not done the way you like to do it, just kinda bugs you? I do.

I will not take the laundry out of the dryer unless it has been fluffed and I am ready to fold it immediately. Clean clothes left in a basket to get cold and wrinkled might as well just get washed all over again.

How about you?

Composting

I have been wanting to compost for about a year now and have never gotten around to it. My biggest hesitation in composting is that #1. I don’t want to make my own bin and #2. I don’t want to spend a ton of money on a bin.

That said I ended up finding a deal (thanks to my friend Cindy) through Hennepin County. They are working on going green and trying to spread the love to the county residents.

So if you want to give it a go and try composting, it will cost you $30 for a bin, as long as you are a resident and get there before they run out.

Must have still been hungry

Yesterday afternoon Adam and I had the fortunate opportunity of having his mother come over and watch the kids while we went out for dinner and a movie. Our dinner choice was sushi and as we headed to the movie the sun was still out and people were bustling. I caught two bikers out of the corner of my eye checking out a map. I could have sworn one of the women had on bike shorts that said CULVER’S up the side of the thigh.

Noth’n like displaying butter burgers on your very own prime real estate.

Bunched UP

I’ve got mind clutter. The kind of clutter that consists of lists of have to do’s, have to buys, have to organize, have to plan, have to schedule for, have to find time fors, have to have to have to and I can’t seem to get it done. And if by chance I do get something accomplished, the next time I turn around, it’s undone again.

I’m spinning and can’t seem to wade through it and make sense of it and put it all in its place and keep it there.

These “things” that I feel must get done are, I am sure, not so important if I could stand back and see the larger picture. But right now, it feels like the only thing I can control and when life feels this unruly; I feel crazy and undone and so very off kilter.