For those of you who think that my girls haven't given me any good writing material lately let me tell you.....

Monday Lauryn stayed home sick from school and Liyah has no school on Mondays. I'm in the bedroom folding yet another load of laundry and wouldn't you know I have two little girls walking into my room saying, "look mom, we're clowns". They have taken a dish of body butter that Liyah got in her Valentines box and smeared it all over their faces, arms and legs. Whoohoo!

I didn't panic, I didn't even raise my voice. I just looked at them, must have been with a confused look on my face 'cause they laughed and said again, "we are clowns, we have makeup on".

Taking a deep, cleansing breath I said, "well, we'll have to shower you two to get all that off you"

So they hopped into the shower and let the water rinse them off, while I walked down the hall to their mess. Lotion all over the floor, all over my only pair of dress shoes (Liyah was playing dress up) and an empty dish from the body butter!!

Still, I didn't panic, I went and made sure they were cleaned up and dried off. They got clean clothes on and then they started cleaning up the rest of the mess. Liyah scrubbed the carpet and Lauryn got the shoes. Thank the good Lord for whoever came up with the idea of baby wipes, they seriously work to clean up anything!

The carpet is clean, the shoes are shiny and the girls never felt so soft!!!

When things don't quite measure up

Well, as you readers know Greg's new drum kit is in the walk in closet. Which in itself is a wonderful thing because we can close doors and hardly hear him in the rest of the house. But that has definitely posed a problem with the wardrobe facilities. So after two weeks of hanging clothes in the girls closet and stacking things on our bdrm. floor we are finally getting our new armoires put up. The problem is... when we measured the wall from the corner to the window we got one measurement, thought we'd matched it up with the measurements on the armoires and then placed our order for the right ones.... BUT when Dad put together the first wardrobe last night it now covers about 1/3 of our window! So with the other one going up today we will now have a window that is only 1/3 of what it once was. It is a great south facing window and gives us lots of heat, but it isn't like we sit in the bdrm. and look out the window.

That is soooo minor, what about when your children don't measure up?!?!

I have 2 beautiful daughters, and having come from a family of 4 girls, and thought that as a mother I would enjoy the girl time, the bonding over Barbies and cooking. I thought that we would enjoy fun and games, would talk and carry on like girls do. I was wrong, my girls are strong willed, defiant, back talking, disobedient, and flat out ORNERY!!!

It's not that I don't love them, with all of my being I love them... but I'm so tired!! Who in their right mind would dream of a relationship with their children like this?

Now, I'm not the kind of mom who expects great things from her children, and pushes them into multiple things to make them better. I don't expect them to be over-achievers, just to reach realistic goals (like picking up and putting away their toys).

What is a parent to do when their children buck at every turn, when they argue about each point, when they push the limit of every request or demand?

Greg and I are reading some books about parenting strong willed children, I've found one greatly consoling thing from reading these books.... I AM NOT ALONE!

So when things don't measure up to our expectations, when the armoire is too big (or maybe the house is too small), when the husband buys more things (or eats out when the pantry is stocked), when GP doesn't eat her food (until you put a cookie or coffee in her hands) and when your children do nothing but argue with you (about every day things, things we do every day), just remember others are going through the same thing (well maybe not the wardrobe thing, that could be a personal problem).

Well, if you're going to be jealous

make sure you are jealous of something really worthy!!

Greg and I made a trip to Kenosha, WI last weekend and picked up his new drum kit he found on ebay... no you may think that I'm jealous of them, I'm not.... although he did tell me last night he loved them.

Actually, I'm jealous of a bathroom.... and definitely NOT your ordinary bathroom. OH, NO! This is the bathroom on Hwy. 50 coming out of Kenosha (as you're headed to Edgerton, WI (shout out to my buddies the Bahrs). It is the bathroom at the.... get this.... Mobil gas station!!!

Okay, my bathroom's not that bad, but this one.... THIS ONE..... WOWWW! I really wish I had taken the camera out of my purse and taken pics... but I was too dumbfounded.

They had coffee brown ceramic vessel sinks with, antiqued bronze faucets shaped like old fashioned water pumps. They had gorgeous tile on the walls with a 2" border of celery green small glass tiles. In the stalls they had wrought iron pieces of art as well as beautiful black and white prints of tulips (my favorite flower).

The great thing is, I walked out and found Greg over by the beverage coolers and we looked at each other with a gleam in our eyes and both burst out with "did you see", "was your bathroom like"... it was too funny.

Greg wants the sinks, I'll take the b/w prints....heck, I'd take the whole bathroom!!

Sunshine, sunshine

I've had a fun day looking up vids on YouTube that have to do with sun, sunshine, sunny, etc. You get the pick maybe?! It has been such a dreary February that the first 4 days of March have been a godsend. It makes me feel better than dealing with strong willed children!!

It's now looking like a neck and neck race to the finish. Will Lauryn win with the "That's so boring" and rolling of the eyes move, or will Liyah catch up and pass her with the "But I don't want to" whine with the wide open mouth and squinty eyes?!?!

I will update.

You KNOW it's love when.....

your wife gives up her walk-in closet for you to set up your drum kit!!! That's about all I can say!

Besides we are going to go to Wisconsin to pick up aforementioned drum kit and we get to see my BEST friends Kim and Paul!!! There may be some sangria's and margarita's imbibed, pretty sure of that. I will be the first time in FOREVER that Greg and I have gotten a hotel room and had the evening ALONE!!!!

Yay! I can hardly wait.

Puppy update: Alex is still in the family. I still feels the same way about him. He is doing much better about poops and pees in the house and isn't chewing as much!

The princess in all of us girls

My two daughters are quite a picture all dressed up in their princess dresses, jewelry and tiara's. They dance and laugh and name the rest of us "king", "queen" and G.P. usually ends up being the "soldier/knight". We put on music (or the ice dancing on the Olympics this past week) and go all out with a ball. Of course Greg gets to be the prince as well as king, he's the only man in the house. He has to dance with the girls and dip them and bow as they curtsy.

Too often, I feel more like the scullery maid, working in the kitchen. I don't take the time to put on the queen's dancing shoes and join the ball. I've been thinking lately how I think I should be more of an example to my girls of how a woman should be. They are on the right track! Sure, they need to know how to do their chores and take care of a household (as do the "princes" in this world) but they need to be a woman of beauty (INSIDE and out). Feminine and graceful, well-spoken and mannerly.

I don't think that I have owned a dress for about 8-10 yrs. They didn't seem important to my wardrobe, my jobs have needed the play type clothes way more than dressy ones. Lauryn often will see a woman on tv with a dress, hair done and nice makeup on and deem her beautiful. What does she see in me, her mom!?

Does she see inner beauty? Does she see a Christ-like woman / wife / mother? Does she see a woman who cares about her appearance and how others see her?

Most days I have to harangue, bribe or threaten dismemberment and sure death to get my girls to brush their teeth and hair! Maybe the day will come soon where they actually do care about how they look and smell!

Quick story (if she ever has a chance to read this blog Lauryn will probably be embarrassed nigh unto death!):

Tuesday of this week was a wonderful field trip for the kids @ Lauryn's school. They went to a camp in the Gladwin area called "The Springs". Now the day was going to include a lot of outdoor activities, sledding, skiing etc. So of course Lauryn had to dress in her layers and snowsuit to stay warm. Well, Lauryn is still not known for her great success in taking bathroom breaks when she should (especially if she is doing something fun). So at breakfast that morning I was telling her how I was a little worried that she would take bathroom breaks and get to the bathroom when she first felt like she had to go and not wait too long, subsequently wetting her pants. She said these words, "Don't worry about it mom, if I wet my pants I just won't tell anyone." EEEEWWWWW! Now, I've not yet been able to convince Lauryn that her plans are not always the best plans, but I did try again. She didn't want to listen.

So, I sent her off on the trip with GREAT TREPIDATION!!

That evening she got home and said she had a great time, etc..... later on sitting and reading with her I smelled something not so pleasant (couldn't quite place the smell). Then Greg was reading a bedtime story to the girls and mentioned something didn't smell very good... (still couldn't figure out what the smell was). Then on to tucking the girls into bed, I was hanging up some clothes in the girls closet and the smell of urine hit me so strong I know what it was! You know that AHA moment!! I said, "Lauryn, you wet your pants today on your field trip didn't you? Your pants smell like pee" Okay, I didn't give her the chance to lie and have to answer a "did you... " question. I just stated the facts and waited for a response. Here's her response, "No, I didn't" "Ummm, hello I know what urine smells like and your pants are so ripe that I can smell them just standing here." I could go on and on, me stating facts, she denying that anything of the sort happened!

Even as I walked out the door and told her she would be getting up early for a shower the next morning, she denied the fact that she had wet her pants!! HMMMM how's THAT for a strong-willed child!!

I LOVE U LAURYN!! BUT MOMMY IS SOOOO TIRED OF THIS ALREADY!

Winter "Doldrums"

They say that the winter depression hits the worst in February... and I believe it. It is going beyond the "spring fever" stage and the "cabin fever" stage, to outright, I don't want to get out of bed and function stage.

I've dealt with depression for years and it seems that every winter it gets worse. The meds don't work as well as they usually do and I'm a royal basket case.

This winter I'm taking it out on my house. I'm getting rid of some things that I don't want anymore. Don't worry dear readers, it is NOT my children (or husband for that matter). No, I've started to feel crowded, antsy and anxious so I'm trying to delete some of the unnecessary items from my house.

Starting in the Kitch/DR area, I've had this old "china cabinet" from my parents early years. It has been used and abused for over 40 yrs. now it's time to say good-bye. I've emptied it and am waiting to send it to the yard sale fund raiser that Lauryn's school is doing the end of this month.

Next I have a LARGE tropical, flowering "tree" in the corner of my dining room that is just plain getting on my nerves. I think where it sits now is the 5th place I have put it this winter (as I had to dig it up and bring it in when it started frosting out). Now, I'm tired of it being there. I don't care that if I set it outside it will die... hey, quit judging me, I haven't made any other "member" of the family stay outside this winter!! Even tho' I am allergic to the cat and dogs that are living in my house.

I would love to tear down a wall or two and open up the floor plan more. Rearrange some of the furniture in the living room, get rid of a large dresser and get a tall one that doesn't take up so much floor space (use your vertical space people), and then when summer gets here I'd love to add a patio on the north side of the house and have some outdoor furniture to enjoy!

Aaahh, but that is what I dream... reality is that I live in a single wide trailer with 3 adults, 2 children (and all the accoutrements), a cat, 2 dogs and one living and growing "tree"!!