Where have I been? Walking around trying to figure out how to make my dream house a reality. I haven't had much success. In fact, my house is so messy that I walk around trying to figure out which mess I want to tackle. Truth be told-I just want someone else to come and do it. This is a problem because noone has ever come and organized anything for me!!!
Hopefully, I will have some pictures of something more uplifting than laundry soon. No guarantees.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
My Little Thief!
(summer 2009)
It has happened again.
I went to retrieve my blow dryer from under my sink and I was greeted by my old dryer, the dryer that Ashley kept "borrowing" because she liked it better than hers. After a few weeks of this(mine was better than hers) I bought a new dryer. The new dryer has found its way to Ashley's bathroom. Along with my new curling iron.
I am left with the old ones of both! I am also left without toothpaste, mascara, eyeshadow,shampoo, conditioner, eye makeup remover, my hair pick and anything else that she needs.
It is a good thing that she is so beautiful or I might really start to get irritable!
Monday, September 20, 2010
Hoarders Here we Come!
The other day Mitch and I sat and watched the program Hoarders. It is basically a show about people that have a real severe case of OCD where they can not get rid of things or they compulsively buy too much. They have usually been turned into the health department or turned in for some other public code violation. These houses are bad. I mean mounds and mounds of stuff on top of more mounds and mounds of stuff. So disgusting that it is hard to imagine anyone living in these homes.
When I was a girl my Mom often used this phrase in reference to us needing to clean our bedrooms, "you need a scoop shovel in here it is so deep". Well, I am here to officially say that I have never needed a scoop shovel to clean anything in my house! On this program they did use scoop shovels, and industrial sized dumpsters and face masks. It was really sad actually, because most of the people featured really did have a mental disorder that was the underlying factor to this utter filth.
Mitch watched with me in utter dismay. He kept making comments like, "how could anyone live like that?" "Why don't they do something about it?"
The comment that I jumped on was "our house could never get like that." Oh, really? I told him that our house could be the beginning stage of a hoarders episode within one month. That is why I am constantly asking them to pick up, dust, vacuum, doing laundry, taking mounds of stuff to the garbage and continually sending things to the DI(local thrift store).
I have actually been part of a couple of clean up efforts in my life that were close seconds to the Hoarders show. I learned all those years ago that anyone can get their life in a mess. It is a constant, every single day effort.
Today I have been doing some basic housecleaning. Things that no one notices unless they haven't been done in a long time. Dusting for example. Does anyone ever come in and notice that the house is freshly dusted? Not unless it was so dusty before that you could write in the dust--or there were cobwebs hanging all around.
What I discovered while dusting is that I ignore my piano room. It is a small sitting room as you walk into the house. We use this room for reading, playing the piano and housing the Christmas tree in December. I realized that in February when I took all the remaining Christmas decor from on top of the piano I never replaced it with the normal decor-which is a bunch of family pictures. It is now the end of September--I have had nothing on the piano for eight months!!! Should I put the pictures back up or leave it empty until Christmas again? Maybe some spooky Halloween decor?
I also discovered that when my children dust they really do a poor job!(surprise) The end table looked like it hadn't been dusted in months. I am wondering if it was dusted by me in February and not since. I also discovered that my children like to stash things instead of putting them away. My #3 child is the worst at this. I found a complete (dirty) outfit stashed behind a row of photo albums, empty pop cans under the chair and an electric fish tank stashed behind the chair. All of these items had been given instructions to be put away. I usually add to that command---"in the appropriate place." Somehow I think that my children have misunderstood what exactly the appropriate place is!
So here I am at 2:26 in the afternoon, still in my gym clothes that I put on at 4:30 a.m. I have been cleaning and decluttering for hours. However, if you walked into my house you would never know that I had done a thing today.
Just trying to keep one step ahead of the authorities! Please don't turn me in the next time you visit!
When I was a girl my Mom often used this phrase in reference to us needing to clean our bedrooms, "you need a scoop shovel in here it is so deep". Well, I am here to officially say that I have never needed a scoop shovel to clean anything in my house! On this program they did use scoop shovels, and industrial sized dumpsters and face masks. It was really sad actually, because most of the people featured really did have a mental disorder that was the underlying factor to this utter filth.
Mitch watched with me in utter dismay. He kept making comments like, "how could anyone live like that?" "Why don't they do something about it?"
The comment that I jumped on was "our house could never get like that." Oh, really? I told him that our house could be the beginning stage of a hoarders episode within one month. That is why I am constantly asking them to pick up, dust, vacuum, doing laundry, taking mounds of stuff to the garbage and continually sending things to the DI(local thrift store).
I have actually been part of a couple of clean up efforts in my life that were close seconds to the Hoarders show. I learned all those years ago that anyone can get their life in a mess. It is a constant, every single day effort.
Today I have been doing some basic housecleaning. Things that no one notices unless they haven't been done in a long time. Dusting for example. Does anyone ever come in and notice that the house is freshly dusted? Not unless it was so dusty before that you could write in the dust--or there were cobwebs hanging all around.
What I discovered while dusting is that I ignore my piano room. It is a small sitting room as you walk into the house. We use this room for reading, playing the piano and housing the Christmas tree in December. I realized that in February when I took all the remaining Christmas decor from on top of the piano I never replaced it with the normal decor-which is a bunch of family pictures. It is now the end of September--I have had nothing on the piano for eight months!!! Should I put the pictures back up or leave it empty until Christmas again? Maybe some spooky Halloween decor?
I also discovered that when my children dust they really do a poor job!(surprise) The end table looked like it hadn't been dusted in months. I am wondering if it was dusted by me in February and not since. I also discovered that my children like to stash things instead of putting them away. My #3 child is the worst at this. I found a complete (dirty) outfit stashed behind a row of photo albums, empty pop cans under the chair and an electric fish tank stashed behind the chair. All of these items had been given instructions to be put away. I usually add to that command---"in the appropriate place." Somehow I think that my children have misunderstood what exactly the appropriate place is!
So here I am at 2:26 in the afternoon, still in my gym clothes that I put on at 4:30 a.m. I have been cleaning and decluttering for hours. However, if you walked into my house you would never know that I had done a thing today.
Just trying to keep one step ahead of the authorities! Please don't turn me in the next time you visit!
Friday, September 17, 2010
The Dream
I have a recurring dream. In this dream I walk from room to room in my house and as I open the doors there are lovely decorated and CLEAN rooms. Everything is in its place. The beds are all neatly made. The dressers are dusted with lovely frames sitting on top. The closets are neatly arranged with shoes and clothing neatly placed and the doors are close. The bookshelves are neatly lined with books with the occasional decor item. The floors are vacummed. As I leave the room there is a lovely scent that wafts through the air. As I enter the bathroom there is a bare counter and floors with clean rugs and soft fluffy towels hanging neatly on the hook. As I open the bathroom closet I notice neatly folded towels all facing the same direction. The towels all match the decor of the bathroom. In the main living areas the couch cushions are fluffed and orderly and the couch is ohh so clean. There are pictures on the mantel. There are current pictures in frames on the walls. There are lovely decor items that are up to date. The kitchen is a masterpiece. The counters are completely bare. Sparkling in the sunshine coming through the crystal clear windows. The dining table has a very large and lovely centerpiece and the place mats are all clean and placed just so. I wander around this lovely, oh so lovely home and am amazed at how wonderful it feels.
Then I wake up.
Then I wake up.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Happy 14th Birthday!
Today is my Mitch's 14th birthday. 14! That is big!
*you are over 6 feet tall
*you wear a 13 1/2 shoe
*you have two hollow legs so you eat like a horse-especially after football.
*you love your new dirt bike
*you love your new dirt bike
*you--get the idea!
*you are a pretty mellow guy, rarely do you get very riled up--Thank you for that!
*you are still a very tender hearted boy, even if you don't want to show it
*you are a secret comedian!
*you leave your big shoes everywhere
*you are very easy going
*you are very easy to have around
Happy Birthday! my sweet Bubba boy! You are growing too fast! Thank you for being so mellow, we need it around here. Thanks for trying to do what is good. You have a kind heart.
Will you just try and put your shoes away before I kill myself tripping on them?
love,
Mom
Wednesday, September 08, 2010
Made it through the first day!
So the first day of kindergarten has come and gone. I met him at the bus stop that first day so happy to see him smiling as he emerged from that big yellow bus.
As we walked home I asked him about his first day. "Did you like it?" "yea!" "What was your very favorite thing?"(thinking he would give me the answer that the others do--recess)
He thought for a moment and then said "everything!"
Oh, you sweet little boy, Good answer, good answer!
He then happily handed me his kissing hand and I cried.
Wednesday, September 01, 2010
First Day of Kindergarten 2010!
Hey My Little Man? Who said that you could grow up and go to kindergarten? I am not sure I am ready for you to go. You and I have been great buddies these last almost six years. We have gone everywhere together. You have been my shopping buddy, my nap buddy, my laundry buddy. You have been there as we go to help in the others classrooms, to take the others to their football, dance, tennis and a miriad of other activities. You have spent countless hours in the suburban being hauled around taking care of things.
What will I do without you?
You have been a complete joy to me. Okay, I might not feel that way when I realize that you went to the bathroom in the heater vent or on the floor in the hall or all over the tires of my car! However, all in all you have been a delight and a joy to spend my time with these last five years ten months and ten days! You are the little spot of joy that we were not expecting. I have always called you "our little bumper baby!" What a blessing you have been. There is something interesting that happens in a family when a bumper baby comes along. You are almost five years younger than Em. That is quite a large gap in child years. When you came along there were no other babies in the house. Everyone was old enough to instinctively understand that there is something so sweet and wonderful about a new baby. You were that new baby. You have been loved and doted on. Daddy would say that you have been spoiled!
If loving a sweet little angel boy is spoiling than I am guilty as charged. You have been loved on from everyone in this family since the moment you were born. I have often told Ash that she needs to get all the hugs and kisses she can--they go away much too soon. I am so glad that at almost six years old you are still so willing to hug, kiss and cuddle with me and your brother and sisters.
When you were born I knew that you were the last baby that would come to this family. I had already been blessed with three other wonderful yummy babies that grew up much, much too fast. Because of this, I promised myself that I would try to cherish each new development with you.
I have held you and held you---sometimes much longer than you would like- "Mom, let me go!" I have smelled your head and counted the little polka dots on your neck. I have tucked you into bed with a thousand kisses. I have watched as you have grown and grown. It seems that that just happens.
Today as you excitedly got ready for your first day of school I looked at you with a longing. A longing that I know every mother in the world understands. A longing to hold you just a little longer. A longing to smell your baby neck. A longing to have your chubby little fingers wrapped around mine a little longer. A longing to be the most important person in your world a little longer. A longing that never really ever goes away.
As you ate your breakfast you told me you wanted to ride the bus. "What?" Don't you know that I had planned to take you to school, walk you in to the school holding your hand, making it look like I was helping you? In truth, that walk is for the Momma's. We all want to be able to hold your hand as long as possible because from now on out there will always be other people. I will no longer be the only one that can help you. It is the first day of slowly being replaced.
I know that this replacement is the natural way that we grow and develop. I know that truly I can never be "replaced", however, from now on you are part of a bigger circle. A circle that gets bigger and bigger for you but I will forever be slightly on the edge watching you. Forever on the edge praying for you. Forever on the edge hoping that all the hugs and kisses, wiped noses and bums, the prayers that I have helped you say, the prayers that I have prayed for you, the books I have read to you will be enough to guide you when I am not with you. I have always been close by, you could turn around and I would be there. I hope that I have given you enough for when I am not there.
My sweet little angel boy. You have been a blessing to me.
Now let's just work on not peeing on the floor!
Love, Mom
Forever a little farther away.
Best Buds
(we went to have lunch with Daddy before the big day-Daddy chose a brand new McDonalds especially for this date)
What will I do without you?
You have been a complete joy to me. Okay, I might not feel that way when I realize that you went to the bathroom in the heater vent or on the floor in the hall or all over the tires of my car! However, all in all you have been a delight and a joy to spend my time with these last five years ten months and ten days! You are the little spot of joy that we were not expecting. I have always called you "our little bumper baby!" What a blessing you have been. There is something interesting that happens in a family when a bumper baby comes along. You are almost five years younger than Em. That is quite a large gap in child years. When you came along there were no other babies in the house. Everyone was old enough to instinctively understand that there is something so sweet and wonderful about a new baby. You were that new baby. You have been loved and doted on. Daddy would say that you have been spoiled!
If loving a sweet little angel boy is spoiling than I am guilty as charged. You have been loved on from everyone in this family since the moment you were born. I have often told Ash that she needs to get all the hugs and kisses she can--they go away much too soon. I am so glad that at almost six years old you are still so willing to hug, kiss and cuddle with me and your brother and sisters.
When you were born I knew that you were the last baby that would come to this family. I had already been blessed with three other wonderful yummy babies that grew up much, much too fast. Because of this, I promised myself that I would try to cherish each new development with you.
I have held you and held you---sometimes much longer than you would like- "Mom, let me go!" I have smelled your head and counted the little polka dots on your neck. I have tucked you into bed with a thousand kisses. I have watched as you have grown and grown. It seems that that just happens.
Today as you excitedly got ready for your first day of school I looked at you with a longing. A longing that I know every mother in the world understands. A longing to hold you just a little longer. A longing to smell your baby neck. A longing to have your chubby little fingers wrapped around mine a little longer. A longing to be the most important person in your world a little longer. A longing that never really ever goes away.
As you ate your breakfast you told me you wanted to ride the bus. "What?" Don't you know that I had planned to take you to school, walk you in to the school holding your hand, making it look like I was helping you? In truth, that walk is for the Momma's. We all want to be able to hold your hand as long as possible because from now on out there will always be other people. I will no longer be the only one that can help you. It is the first day of slowly being replaced.
I know that this replacement is the natural way that we grow and develop. I know that truly I can never be "replaced", however, from now on you are part of a bigger circle. A circle that gets bigger and bigger for you but I will forever be slightly on the edge watching you. Forever on the edge praying for you. Forever on the edge hoping that all the hugs and kisses, wiped noses and bums, the prayers that I have helped you say, the prayers that I have prayed for you, the books I have read to you will be enough to guide you when I am not with you. I have always been close by, you could turn around and I would be there. I hope that I have given you enough for when I am not there.
My sweet little angel boy. You have been a blessing to me.
Now let's just work on not peeing on the floor!
Love, Mom
Forever a little farther away.
Best Buds
(we went to have lunch with Daddy before the big day-Daddy chose a brand new McDonalds especially for this date)
First Day of School 2010
August 25, 2010
The first and last year that all my darling babies are in public school!
My first born baby started her senior year of high school--how did that happen?
My last born baby is starting kindergarten--wasn't he just a tiny bundle of joy?
My second born baby is WAY taller than his Momma and his voice has gotten low-when did I say it was okay for him to go to eigth grade?
My third born baby started fifth grade--such a big year, still a little kid but so on the verge of the big kid world.
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