If you are a regular around here, you will have heard me rant on and off for about ten six months of the year that I HATE WINTER (I whine about it far too much to link to any of those posts; you can check out my September to April archives).
Then we went and traipsed off to Mexico, which only fueled my hatred of winter. Why live somewhere where there is SNOW and ICE and NOT-WARM-NESS, when we could instead move to Mexico/California where there is Sun! And water! And WARMTH?
Summer finally arrived here, and while I have made the occasional complaint about the heat (TOO HOT FOR CLOTHES)(DON’T VISUALIZE THAT), I have been pretty happy that I live in the Land of Summer.
However.
I am at that point in the summer where I am a little tired of it all. The Sun! And the fun! And the packing up two tons of snacks/drinks/sand toys/towels. It is tiring. The sun sucks the energy as it is. Now add a thirty pound child on one hip and thirty pounds of crap gear on the other, and you can see that by the end of the day, I AM DONE.
A greater issue than the whole tiresome traipsing is the fact that I miss the routine of fall.
I like routine. I thrive in a routine. I am a Type A girl – LACK OF ROUTINE MAKES ME CRAZY. Also, a leetle grumpy.
I am trying to be Little Miss Positive, but it’s an uphill battle. There is no rhyme nor reason to our days. At some point, we venture to the beach. We get groceries. We run errands. Woo. NONE OF THIS INVOLVES DITCHING DROPPING MY KIDS OFF AT SCHOOL SO I CAN THINK FOR A MINUTE OR TWO.
Add in the fact that I seem to be stuck making the same seven barbecued meals a week and I am weary of it all. I keep pulling recipes out of magazines, but when I sit down on Sunday nightss to menu plan, it is all I can do to keep my eyes open. If I could have the weather of summer with the routine of fall, I would live in a perfect world. I might also have the energy to try a new recipe or five.
The kids are the same as I am. They are SICK AND TIRED of summer. Fun, schmun! It’s grown old.
It’s a daily battle to get them to the beach or water park. They kick. They scream. They want NO PART OF IT.
I had to force her to play with that spray gun. Graham finally listened to me and grabbed one too.
Then he stormed off.
Emily got him GOOD. She was proud of her bad self.
Boy, WAS HE MAD.
He thought he would do better on the other end of the park where Nathan was hanging out.
Nope. Soaked. All thanks to Nathan.
Nathan found this only slightly amusing, what with the whole, “We Hate Summer” attitude the kids have been sharing with me.
I am such a cruel Mom for putting them through all of this torture.
Before I know it fall will arrive. So will the cold weather. I really do love summer, so I best quit my belly achin’ and enjoy it while it’s still here.
Or maybe if I keep complaining, Murphy’s Law will kick in and the summer weather will NEVER LEAVE, just to spite me. Here’s hoping.
* A play on the title of Loralee’s photo caption post. I am SO HAPPY I took that photo because the comments are making my day.
Wait. Where Was I?
Date: Tuesday July 29, 2008Posted in: Emily, Family, Graham, Nathan, Parenting, domestic bliss
Life has kicked me in the hiney.
I thought about doing a tangent about using the term “ass” instead of “hiney” and how God used the term “ass” in the Bible, and I could make it all funny and such. Except that fellow Jesus lovers would get all upset with my swearing. Then I could talk about how Jesus turned water into wine, and hung out with “sinners”, so maybe “swearing” was not a big deal back then. But then I thought that maybe the humour would fall on deaf ears and so I let that tangent idea go.
Wait. Where was I?
Oh, yes. I am feeling a little overwhelmed. Nothing unusual, if you are a regular around these parts. Life gets all CRAZY and I get all FREAKED OUT and then I WRITE A BIG RANT POST and you guys are all, “IT’S GOING TO BE OK” and I am all, “I KNOW” and “I LOVE YOU GUYS”. And “WHAT WOULD I DO WITHOUT YOU???”
Wait. Where was I?
Ah, yes. Crazy. Per usual.
I cannot blame this particular brand of crazy on work, as I am currently not working. I am “just” on full-time parenting duty. This involves hanging out with children who do as I say, act as they are told, and say, “Yes, Ma’am!” whenever I speak.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Wait. Where was I?
Here is the deal. I went away for a conference where I got to meet some of the amazing women (WAY more than I linked to!) that I knew online. I have read some garbage after the fact where people were upset that certain bloggers did not become their BFF’s. GET A GRIP, people.
I went there to meet people that I already had a connection with. I did not expect to be BFF’s with people whom I had never been friends with beforehand. If you did? You had completely unrealistic expectations. Seriously. Another point I would like to make: YOU CANNOT BE CLOSE FRIENDS WITH 1,000 WOMEN.
Shocking, I know.
Wait. Where was I?
Just busy. And overwhelmed. Leaving home for five days threw me off-kilter and I am having a hard time getting my groove back. I am married to Superman, yes, but some things are my forte (Paying bills! Because I am an accountant!) and they waited for me until I returned. I feel like I am sprinting to catch up but am running out of steam. I am also leaving again this weekend for a three-day solo trip to Vancouver (attending a wedding and shooting another). Upon returning, I start a two-week work contract.
Yes, my head WILL explode. JUST YOU WAIT.
Wait. Where was I?
Barely keeping up, that’s where. In addition to being run-down and overwhelmed, I have three little people who depend on me to make meals, clean their clothes, and wipe a butt crack or two.
There are the primal necessities and then there are the emotional responsibilities. Other parents can understand what I am saying here. Kids like boundaries. Boundaries make them feel safe and secure. Every once in awhile, they need to test those boundaries to make sure that they are still there. As per Murphy’s Law, all three kids have chosen THIS WEEK to test those boundaries. HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY.
This morning was a complete and utter gong show. I was trying to get everyone fed, dressed, and out the door. There were shouts (by me) of, “Please get out of your jammies!” and “Stop wrestling on my bed!” and “CAN YOU PLEASE GET YOUR CLOTHES ON FOR THE LOVE OF PETE!!!”
I threw their clothes downstairs while packing the beach bag with snacks and ice water. As I lumbered down the stairs with the gear (Towels, and snacks, and ice water, oh my!), I saw that Miss Emily thought she should help me out by dressing herself.
(Yes, the lighting/photo is crappy, but I WAS CAPTURING A MOMENT.)
Kind of looks like a do-rag, no?
Just wait. It gets better.
I looked in the rear view mirror and caught sight of my three kooky kids. Upon arriving at the beach, I thought it best to capture what I saw.
Kids. They drive you to the bring of insanity, only to bring you back again.
Wait. Where was I?
Right. Crazy, but content. Busy, but blessed. Tired, but peaceful. As I should be.
You may have noticed that little Savvy Source widget under my BlogHer Ads. Feel free to take the quiz if it interests you, and if not just pretend I didn’t say anything. Just trying to feed my Diet Coke habit. Yo.
Jill from Glossy Veneer is running in support of a good cause. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is her passion, if you’d care to participate.
I Have Waited 645 Days For This Moment
Date: Monday July 28, 2008Posted in: Emily, Family, Girly Stuff
Six Hundred and Forty-Five Days Ago, I gave birth to a baby girl.
After having two boys, and having four boy cousins on Matthew’s side, we were pretty sure that we were into the testosterone side of living for the long haul. When the doctor and nurse both screamed, “IT’S A GIRL!!!”, my mind was blown. I wept openly with joy.
For while I have an irreplaceable bond with my boys, I wanted so very much to have a girl. To dream dreams of ponies and of princes. Of pink, and of purple, and of all things pastel. Of rainbows, and of ribbons, and of ringlets of gold.
Except?
My baby girl was bald. Seriously bald. NO HAIR TO BE SEEN.
While I knew in my heart that she would not be bald forever (and that she was beautiful, bald or not), I sometimes wondered if she would EVER GROW HAIR. Seriously. I have doubted the ability of her follicles.
Lately, however, the follicles have finally stepped up to the plate. IT IS ABOUT TIME.
Emily has been growing HAIR. Not pansy hair, but REALLY THICK LUSCIOUS HAIR. Complete with curl. YES!
I have been working on her to let me do something that I have wished for since the day she was born. On Sunday morning, my dreams came true.
No, not the dress (Which is from the box of clothes that Ali sent me). Do you see what I am so excited about? How about a zoom (on the girl WHO DOES NOT STOP RUNNING)?
Still stumped? I have more photos! SHOCKING, I KNOW.
Do you see it?
Emily is rocking the Sears pose in order to show you HER MINI BARRETTE.
YES! She has enough hair for a MINI BARRETTE. I may or may not have done a happy dance.
She seems pretty happy about the whole scene as well.
Before you know it we will be dealing with PONY TAILS and BIG BARRETTES and TANGLED CURLS.
I can’t hardly wait.
Which Door Would You Choose?
Date: Saturday July 26, 2008Posted in: Honey, Random thoughts, me, twue wuv
After two weeks of company/me traipsing to San Francisco/more company, Honey and I ditched the kids left our kids in the trusty hands of Uncle Lance and ventured out on a Date Night.
Date Night in our home = Home Depot + Wal*Mart = Dinner out. Dinner Out makes up for Home Depot + Wal*Mart.
So here I am! All gussied up!
Ish.
(Click on it to see all of the Flickr notes.)
Here I am on the highway drive into Penticton.
Lest you think I am (utterly) vain, let me give you a glimpse into our conversation in the truck.
Me: “So, what are you thinking?”
Him: “I’m thinking about driving.”
Me: *Pulls camera out of bag*
After running the necessary errands, we went to Salty’s Beachhouse for dinner.
I may have had a bevvie…or two.
While Honey was paying the bill, I thought I would scoot off to the Little Girl’s Room. I followed the signs to the Restrooms (Not washrooms; they don’t have those in the States), and happened upon the following doors.
Door # 1:
Door # 2:
Which door do you think is the women’s restroom?
Even more interesting…which door do you think I opened?
I generally exist in the plane of “tired”. Three kids, a husband, work, LIFE. I do not believe I am the only one that exists in this dimension. In fact, I am starting to wonder if there really is any other way to feel. I think I used to feel rested, but I also think that Diet Coke counts as health food.
Upon returning home from the trip of AWESOME, my energy resources were quite depleted. As were Honey’s. By the time we walked into the house, hung out with the kids and got them to bed, I was DONE. As was Honey. We talked for a bit and then stumbled up to bed.
Tuesday morning we awoke to more of our glorious summer weather. If Matthew and I were still childless, we probably would have thought, “Gee. That’s nice”, before rolling over and going back to sleep. That is a little hard to do when you have children who pad into your room and stare down at you while breathing heavily.
The kids wanted to head to the lake, as we do most mornings. We had company arriving after lunch, and I should have cleaned the house (and maybe unpacked), but these are good friends. They would have picked the beach over cleaning the house any day.
I usually take the kidlets to the water park so I get to bring less gear (Towels!), as opposed to the other beach, which involves even more gear (Towels, and sand toys, and floaties, oh my!). The monkeys had their little hearts set on the beach, so I sucked it up and packed the van. We left Daddy to work in the office and headed out.
Upon arriving, we discovered that we were alone. Not a single soul to be seen. Just what this weary soul needed.
Yes, I make the kids carry stuff. I don’t have Go-Go-Gadget arms.
See for yourself:
ALONE.
It’s a beach that only the locals know about. The touristy beaches are CRAZY. Just like Miss Emily and her need to wear a pair of goggles on her forehead.
Our company arrived in the afternoon, complete with their three boys in tow (6, 4, and 11 months old). Our house was BUSY and MAYBE A LITTLE LOUD. The kids had fun together and even managed to share a room with only about thirty minutes of me marching up there AND LAYING THE SMACKDOWN before they went to sleep.
Us adults had a good visit in between turning to the kids with phrases such as, “Can you please SHARE?” “Sword fighting is generally frowned upon at our house”, and “CAN YOU TAKE THE VOLUME DOWN A NOTCH?”
Our friends knew that the timing of their visit was a little tough, and were the best house guests a girl could ever hope for. They brought food, helped cook dinner, and watched the kids so I do some stuff around the house. They were even understanding when I fell asleep on the couch one evening. Yes! Come and visit so YOU CAN WATCH ME SLEEP IN THE LIVING ROOM.
At least I don’t snore.
They have moved on to their next destination and we have been getting caught up over here. My office work is done, the house is cleaned, and I have even unpacked. Last night I even slept for EIGHT HOURS STRAIGHT. I feel like a new woman, ready to face the day and brave the beach. I might even be up for company.
Who is coming to visit next?
I promise to stay awake this time.
