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"!!

A Kid by any other name....

would be just as confusing.

I recently found myself calling my 2 girls by a nickname... "chicky". I call both of them by the same name, I don't know why. They don't resemble chickens, they don't sound like chickens (okay, maybe they do squawk a lot), and they don't act like..... oh wait they are picky and squawk, and peck at each other (or pick I should say). I digress.... so I don't know why I started this, but it has stuck.

Hubby doesn't seem to understand the concept of one nickname/two children. He thinks they should have different names, so he says Lauryn can be "chicky" and Liyah can be called, "ducky".

He is totally missing the whole picture.... if I call them "chicky" and "ducky" then I have to stop and think of whose name I want to call. I would once again need to use the last few remaining number of brain cells to think of which child I wanted and which name to call. 'Sides this way I can call one name, get both kids and explain/tell/direct/correct both at the same time!! GENIUS!!

Besides, this is still better than calling out "hey you", hubby should be thankful I have kept that nickname for him only.

Where there is utter chaos...

There is my household.

I arrived home from work last night @ 7:30 pm and my dear hubby was looking pretty scatty. He'd had a rough day with everyone in the house (except me), keeping him busy. He said he was going insane, methinks me understands!!

Why else would I start a blog and label it Sane is a 4 Letter Word! Because in MY house we don't talk about sanity!! It's all about the INSANITY . He says he can't multi-task like I can, my response was I do it because I have to, not because I want to!! I mean come on, I ENJOY my family, but do I want to do laundry, help with homework, cook dinner and button the back of princess dresses all at the same time?! NOT HARDLY! But I do, and life goes on... somedays I only have to do dishes, help with homework and talk on the phone at the same time!

Maybe hubby has seen the light, and decided that said, insane wife still has some sense in her noggin' and won't be bringing home any more babies w/o getting my take on what that would entail. Good note, the puppy slept all through the night! The first night since we got him that we haven't been woken up to take him out for a midnight pee. Let me say it this way, WE got woke up, but HUBBY got up to take him out!!!!!

I also want to report a flicker of light at the end of the tunnel... this morning as I was packing lunch for Lauryn (yes, I remembered today) she; yes SHE, reminded me that she would have to pay a $1 today if she wanted to dress in casual clothes tomorrow (Fri.). Those who don't know (who maybe read this blog and I just don't know it yet), she wears a uniform to school and they are doing a little fund raiser in February for something or other (honestly I did read the newsletter, it just escapes me right now). So since she remembered she took a dollar and is going to school casual tomorrow.... good way to use those brain cells chicky, now if you would only remember what I tell you 2 minutes after I tell it to you!

A Day.....

Well, Greg thinks that I have a connection with the weatherman. This is like the 3rd day since I have been back at work that the girls have had a snow day!!! Ha, ha, ha (evil laugh intended here)! So I'm taking a day "off" @ work. Greg is stuck in the house with GP (dementia), Lauryn and Liyah, Maddy (12 yr old beagle/boston terrier), Alex (10 wk. old boxer/lab) and a cat called "Little Momma" that really doesn't require any work except to put some food in her bowl 2x's a day!!

But let's put his complaining into perspective readers..... I'VE BEEN HOME FOR 2 DAYS WITH THE EXACT SOME PEOPLE/ANIMALS (ok the girls were in school those days). BUT, I also vacuumed, swept the entire house (those of you with animals in the house know why), mopped, cleaned 2 bathrooms (including tub/shower), did at least 12 loads of laundry (including loads that had peed on doggy beds), fixed good homemade meals, did grocery and household shopping, got gas in BOTH vehicles, picked up Rx's, banked, paid bills, dressed GP, undressed GP, helped toilet/feed/walk GP and a multitude of other little, "non essential" things like shower, brush teeth, and toilet myself!!!!! Plus, last but not least, help Lauryn with her homework, referee fights between the girls, the dogs, GP and the dogs and GP and the kids, clean up spills (5 drink spills) and pee spots, make sure the girls have clothes out for school, gym bag is packed with clothes and tennies, teeth are brushed, jammies on and then when Greg gets home from work he helps me tuck them in!!!! Aaahh, now I get to put GP to bed and clean her up, get meds for her, make sure her electric blanket is on, and that she is covered up! Aaahh, now I get to make sure Greg has had his dinner (usually I make sure that it is still heated up and set it on the table for him) and clean up the dinner dishes. Finish up the last load or two of laundry and put them away. Aaaahh, now I get to sit and relax, maybe read a book for a few minutes before I get to go to bed!! Knowing that the next morning will start it all over again, with getting the girls breakfast, dressed, teeth/hair brushed, coats/boots/hats/mittens on and backpacks and lunch boxes in hand and out the door!! (okay, I do have a confession to make... Monday night Lauryn didn't get her homework put in her back pack and it got left at home, and Tuesday morning I didn't get her a lunch packed for school so she had to get something out of the "backup drawer" @ school [she had ramen soup and choc. pudding]).

Thank God for Aunt Jane (who picks up Lauryn for school) and Aunt Cheryl (who picks up Liyah for school 2 days of the week) and for Grandma Lucas (who brings Lauryn home from school) otherwise I would have a lot more to do in one day!!

Everyday is not this crazy... if you think this sounds crazy. Somedays are worse, some are better. There used to be days where I didn't have to clean up after, walk, or feed an extra mouth. Those were good days. There are also days where Lauryn doesn't have homework!

Other than that, each day is pretty much the same.

Greg made a statement this morning as I was getting ready for work that he was going to be home all day and bored there like he was bored at work (there really isn't a whole lot to keep you busy for a full 10 hours @ Pete's house). I thought I'd like to smack him upside the head, but he wasn't close enough and I didn't have the energy to walk over there! I listed about 5-6 things that he could do today. None of which are things he probably "wants" to do!

LOVE TO ALL MY FAMILY, EVEN GREG! This too shall pass, and then it will start all over again tomorrow!

WARP SPEED

When you have a mini van with 2 children, 3 adults, 1 puppy and enough luggage for a weekend + Christmas gifts for the Frump family.... you just wish you could get to Columbus faster than 9 hours. It used to be a 6- 6 1/2 hour trip, now not so much.

I REALLY don't want to make a trip like that one again anytime soon. I don't think my "nice mommy" persona can stretch that far again. It hasn't been fun OR easy to deal with the new addition to our family. The puppy is cute, the puppy poops and pees at random times, the puppy nips and scratches and the newness has worn off for the girls. So now I'm dealing with shoes, toys and books being chewed, people being chewed and Maddie (our 13 yr old beagle/boston terrier mix) getting mauled by a very hyper, playful puppy.

Here is a list of things that have doubled since the puppy came. Animal feeding (ie. $$), animal hair (on clothes, furniture and floors)(ie. sweeping and mopping), animal beds (ie. laundry), animal barking and whining (ie. noise on top of noise), animal pottying (okay, this hasn't exactly double because Maddie is trained and goes to the door when she needs to).

As you readers can tell, I'm still not on the "happy side of life" with this puppy. I hate the fact that now I'm not only cleaning up messes with GP, but now her puppy too! I think I would have gotten over a grown dog quicker than I seem to be getting over the addition of this puppy!

I'm thinking about telling Greg he can stay home 3 days a week and I'll take the 3 days of work!!

Any great suggestions about how to train a puppy quickly and efficiently? I would really appreciate it, Greg would probably appreciate it too!