Happy Thanksgiving From Us

Happy Thanksgiving to you from us!

I'm looking forward to eating way too much today and regretting it tomorrow. That's not much different than what I've been doing for the last week! I'm also looking forward to the short drive to eat that we have and getting to sleep in our own beds tonight. Being close to my family definitely has its benefits! 

My mom is going to be here tomorrow and we have several rearranging and constructing projects to conquer. We're going to switch 2 of my bedrooms and create a craft room with the spare room, or red room as we call it. It has a red couch in it, hence the red room! I have a desk and shelves to put together. I'm so excited to finally have a place for all of my craft stuff to call home and be in one place instead of the 3 or 4 places I have to go look now for my glue gun or the stapler or mod podge, etc. I can hardly wait. I'm also going to keep my sewing machine in a more accessible place so tackling little sewing projects won't be quite the hassle that it currently is.

The kids are also going to have a new swingset by the end of the weekend! They have no clue about it. They know we received a big long box from Fed Ex last weekend, but they have no idea what's in it. I can't wait to see the looks on their little faces when we start assembling it. Fun times ahead, for sure.

Have a fabulous day remembering how blessed we are. I have a hard time deciding if we're blessed or spoiled, but either way, I'm thankful for my Savior, Jesus Christ, who provided for my ultimate need - Eternal Salvation - and daily provides for our every need!

 

 

And a funny picture for the road. Not sure why wearing goggles and sunglasses in the house were so necessary on this day, but she was obviously having a bad fashion day and was just adding to it, I guess. You can't help but smile at her silliness!

Carolina on my Mind

Ever have one of those moments where a song or a whole cd of songs takes your mind back to a very specific place with very specific people? I had one of those today while lying in a chair having some work done in my mouth. I was listening to Passion:  Hymns Ancient and Modern on the office's ipod and almost got emotional thinking back to my days singing on the team at FBC Fort Mill. 

The days when there were 3 Jen W's on the stage and at some point in that year, all 3 of us were pregnant. It still makes me smile. Songs like Praise to the Lord, the Almighty had me imagining the faces of the Vawters, the Michaels, the Hiltons, the Vehauns, the Manesses and so many more - hundreds more - who worshiped so purely and unashamedly. So many encouraged and affirmed me as I sought to use my musical gifts for Christ's Glory. Hearing Fairest Lord Jesus reminded me of my mornings waddling onto the platform with my little Bbop or F6 in my very pregnant belly, hoping I could find enough breath to make it from word to word! He is fairer still today! There are so many songs that I hear today that still take me back to that place. The Happy Song is still way too cheesy for my musical taste, though!

Those were sweet days in my life. Days I wish that I had cherished more then. That team of singers and musicians walked with us through some tough days. Finding that the hubs had a cancerous growth in his mouth and had to have a piece of his jaw removed. Our decision to join the Army, feeling like this was the place we were to focus our lives and ministry. The births of 2 of our children and dozens more!

I'd give almost anything  to be in that ever changing and growing little town for just a few hours to hug the necks of so many dear people who loved us and prayed for us and invested in our lives while we were newlyweds and trying to find our way.  Ultimately, it was a time in our lives when we declared to the Lord "Knees to the Earth - Here I am." and HERE we are! 

I really did get so caught up listening to the music on the ipod that I couldn't even answer the dentist's questions! I had to pause the music just to answer him. I even told him I was too distracted to know what he was asking me.

When I go back in January for my final little bit of work, I will not hesitate to request that same ipod and allow my mind to journey back to those days when the Lord was so gracious and kind to us through some of His amazing people. In my mind, I'll go to Carolina!

Time Change Blues

Am I the only one really struggling with this time change? Wow. It's like I can't seem to get a grip the past couple of days. It's been like full moon times 10 around here. I even went to bed at 9:30 Sunday night thinking that would really help my exhaustion and change my outlook. It only helped a little! 

Even though the afternoons are still the same length, they just seem to be dragging. I mean it's only 5:34 as I type this, but it sure feels like it's about 8! Shhh...don't tell the little tornadoes, but last night they were on their way to bed at 7 instead of 8. They're going to do the same tonight! I will use this whole getting dark early thing to my advantage as long as I possibly can.

The tornadoes thought that they were late for school the past 2 mornings because it's been broad daylight as we're getting in the car. I secretly check to see if the other moms in the neighborhood are getting in their cars because I feel the same way. 

Hopefully the sun will shine tomorrow and the grey skies will go away. Grey skies never help my outlook on my want to stay in bed and do nothing days. If not, I'll do just that tomorrow. I hope F2 doesn't mind watching CSI episodes all day.

Ooh and Aah

I often think about very strange things and this post is going to be absolute proof of that fact! So here we go...

Since the beginning of the year, they've been advertising on Playhouse Disney that on February 14th, Playhouse Disney is going to become Disney Jr. Sounds strangely like the move Noggin just made to become Nick Jr., to me. Nonetheless, Playhouse Disney is hosted by 2 monkeys named Ooh and Aah. They're quite amusing and have some catchy songs and skits they do between shows on Playhouse Disney. I should also add that Ooh and Aah are puppets. I didn't mention that before.

My wondering is about the future of Ooh and Aah! Are they going to be out of jobs when Disney Jr. starts on Monday? Are these monkey puppets dispensible to the people at Disney? I know it doesn't really matter - they're puppets for crying out loud!

Moose A Moose and Zee didn't lose their gigs on Nick Jr. when they made the switch so maybe Ooh and Aah are safe, too. I guess I'll find out early Monday morning when the TV comes on.

You can obviously tell that I've spent all but about 30 minutes of the past 2 days stuck inside my house since this is occupying my mind when I'm not wondering if these children are ever going to get past their fevers and coughs! I think we're going to brave the invisible (truly invisible, like not really there) ice that closed F5's school today.

A Typical Week?

I've yet to determine what a typical week in our new town looks like! For the past 3 weeks or so, things have just been abnormal. Last week, F5 was sick and missed school on Monday and then they were out of school Friday for snow. Our PWOC group was cancelled on Tuesday so instead of getting home around Noon from that, we got home at 10:30am. We didn't go to church Sunday because I have been sick for several days and didn't feel like spreading my germs to other unsuspecting churchgoers. Today, F4 woke up with a fever and I've not been feeling so great so we skipped PWOC. There's also a chance of rain/freezing rain here tomorrow! Next Friday is an early dismissal from school and then F5 is out of school for President's Day on the following Monday. It could be March before we have a full 7 day week where we do what we would normally do during a week and then once we get settled in to that, it'll be Spring Break!

For someone who needs a little bit of structure (not much) and wants to have an idea of what to expect from day to day, these little interruptions in normalcy just don't get me all excited. I've watched lots of TV and have had time to work on ripping recipes and articles out of my stack of magazines that need to be gotten rid of. I did make a valiant attempt to make homemade pretzels for the kids. They were edible, but I think I've finally learned my lesson in attempting to substitute whole wheat flour for all purpose! Things never turn out right when I do!

Please, Please, Please, Lord, let us establish some sort of routine in our lives and quick!

Christmas in November

A few weeks ago, probably a month or so ago, Cpt came home from work full of surprises. The first surprise was homemade tamales made by the mother of one of his classmates. They were delicious and reminded me of one of the things I miss about El Paso at Christmas time! The kitchen staff at FBCep always sold tamales by the dozen in December and we would eat them for months at the house.

Then he had another surprise - - tickets to see Michael Buble' in OKC! We've talked many times about artists we would be willing to pay full price for tickets for and Michael has always been on the top our list.

For weeks I lived anticipating the night, but the reality of going to a concert and losing an evening at home less than a week before we were set to move almost ruined the day for me. Nevertheless, we pressed on, got in the car and had a fabulous evening with Michael! He puts on a great concert and even says that he knows his fans spent good money to come see him so he wants to just have a party during his performance and that he did. There were moments when things were a little PG-13, but his music and his stage presence were wonderful. His opening act, Naturally 7, were fabulous, as well. I hope we get to see him in concert again some time!

Tick, Tick, Ticking Away

Is that song now stuck in your head? "Time is ticking away, tick tick ticking away." That's how I feel about my life right now. In so many areas, time is just passing me by and I'm not taking the opportunities and making the most of them. In the midst of what is already the busiest month on the calendar, we have the privilege of adding a move to the craziness! Needless to say, my mind is so full of 'things to do' that I find myself just paralyzed in my procrastination. So paralyzed that finding a piece of paper to write these things that come to my mind never happens!

Other than a ceramic Christmas tree attached to my all season Coton Colors wreath and the children's constant conversations that begin with "I want that for Christmas," you wouldn't know that Christmas is just around the corner! I do feel badly for my children whose mother is terrible at consistency and beginning and keeping traditions. One day I'll do better...until then, I'll just listen to the clock tick away reminding me of the many plates I should be spinning, but haven't made it out of the cabinets yet!

Donors Choose

America's schools are in financial trouble! We're all aware of that and if you're not, you must live under a rock! Cpt is a former high school teacher and many of our friends are educators so we have contact with many who have been affected by the financial crunch facing our schools. Many have been furloughed, basically mandatory time off without pay, several days over the past several years. The purchase of new and more advanced materials and teaching aids isn't an option in many places.

A few months ago, I became aware of a website called Donors Choose. It's a website designed to help teachers find funding for various projects or supplemental curriculum items for their students. The idea is genious! Donors can go to the website and search by school or subject or city and find various projects posted by teachers waiting to be funded. My friend Mr. Dearybury has had several projects funded. One we even helped fund! It was such a fulfilling feeling knowing that we were able to contribute a miniscule amount of money to see students in his classroom have access to new teaching tools!

If you're looking for a way to invest some small change or big change in a project that will help shape the education of children in our nation, I think you should go browse Donors Choose! You may even see your alma mater has a project you could help fund. I'm sure Mr. Dearybury (Mr. D) would love to have you help him fund a project! I'm not being paid to endorse Donors Choose, but some times I come across an effort or organization that is doing something valuable and I think it's good enough to pass along.

To read a cool story about the impact Donors Choose has had in California, read this story HERE.

I've Been Booked

For quite some time I have wanted to have my blog printed in book format. When the world is going paperless, I want more paper! I have this fear that one day blogger will disappear and so will all the stories, pictures and memories I have recorded here.

This blog has served as a scrapbook of sorts for me and our family. I'm not a scrapbooker, even though I have tons of supplies! My poor children don't even have baby books that say much about them. Honestly, I'm not even sure where they are at this point.

In place of scrapbooks or baby books, I have recorded quite a bit here in cyberspace for all the world to share with us. As I was editing which posts were included and which weren't, I had to laugh at some of the funny things that have happened to us that I had completely forgotten about! It was also eye opening to how much I blogged the first year and how little I blogged last year. Hence, why I attempted to blog and post more pictures in the last couple of weeks.

I was so excited to open the mailbox today and have the 2007 version of the book there to greet me. I couldn't be more pleased with the quality of the book with slick pages and colored pictures. I can't wait to just skim through it from time to time and laugh at how far we've come. 2008 and 2009 should be arriving in the next day or so.

If you're looking for an easy way to print out your blog, I highly recommend Sharedbook. I had a 15% off coupon code through The Cutest Blog on the Block that came in handy at checkout. I have attempted several other websites to print the book, but have found them cumbersome and quite slow. The speed and ease of Sharedbook was quite impressive. The only thing I had a hard time figuring out was how to access my book after I had loggged out and logged back in. I obviously was able to figure it out and there was probably as simple solution that I just missed.

More to Come

I think every day about what I am going to put on my blog, but just don't seem to have time to sit down and do it! So a few days turns into a week and on and on! So here's just a little catch up post with some of highlights of things that you might hear more about soon.

1) We do have a contract on a house at Fort Hood! Yippee Skippee!! It's a beautiful home and I can't wait to live there. I'll fill you in on the details of how this contract came to be later and I might even include pictures.

2) I am going to do my first giveaway very soon. I was mailed the book Faith Deployed specifically to use as a giveaway here, but I need to read the fine print about how I am really to do that. So stay tuned.

3) Bailey scored 2 goals in his soccer game last week - - not today. His team didn't score a single goal today. We really are a scrappy team, but it's fun to watch and the boys seem to improve in different ways every week.

4) I've become entrenched in couponing and it's been quite discouraging on some fronts and encouraging on others. Just tonight I found myself giving the hubs the 411 on why shopping at CVS is so much better than Walgreens! I'm sure he's glad to be informed.

5) I'm pooped most days dealing with the busyness of our lives. I don't think I was this mentally and emotionally exhausted when I worked part time, was pregnant and the hubs was deployed. Oh wait, I did have a cleaning lady then.

6) From here on out, the kids and hubs will be named in code on the blog. I'll still put up pictures, but am working on nicknames for them to use here that could be as simple as their initials. I'm not sure yet, but those of you who know us personally will know who is who.

7) Appropriately the 7th thing on my list, we're celebrating that the Auburn Tigers are now 7-0. Who would've thought? It's been an interesting football season and every Saturday I get to hear how much DirecTV sucks because we don't get ABC or CBS. That could be a whole post in itself! Not only can we not watch SEC football, but we can't watch CSI or Survivor. I know we can watch them online, but it's just not the same to me.

Look forward to elaborations on most of my 7 points in the near future.

Offended by Ignorance

Yesterday I had to take Jenna Beth to get her 15 month shots - 4 of them! While we were hanging out in the waiting room for the nurse to get ready and get an empty room to do them in, I overheard a statement that has greatly bothered me.

A lady with 4 kids finished her appointment and walked through the waiting room. As she did, a man seated across from me said "That's why we're going to have to start paying for Tricare - All these people having a bunch of kids." He then rationalized their 2 kids because both he and his wife are soldiers and they only have one child per servicemember.

Those of you not familiar with military families may not realize that many military families have multiple kids - like 3 to 5 and there are others with more than that. I would venture to say that many of us with large families incur less healthcare costs than some families who only have 1 child. To make such a broad statement is just a sign of his ignorance.

The entire time we were at Fort Bliss, Maverick had one doctor's appointment and that was to get shots! Bailey went to the emergency room once and that was with a broken arm. The only time I ever went to the doctor at Fort Bliss was when I was pregnant. As a matter of fact, since 1997, the only time I have ever been to the doctor was pregnancy related or for an annual exam. My mom taught us at a young age to just suck it up and I've been doing that all my life!

I don't doubt that there'll be a day when we have to pay out of pocket for some of our Tricare benefits, but it's not because people have too many children who require coverage. I can think of many reasons why the cost of military healthcare has increased.

One being that we're a nation at war and have soldiers who are incurring life changing physical and emotional injuries. Many of these will require lifelong medication, therapy and many other services due them based on their military service and healthcare benefits. These are the men and women who are defending our freedom and aiding in providing freedom for families around the world. I'd be glad to pay a portion of my Tricare premium to make sure they receive proper medical care.

Another reason our healthcare costs are rising is because people live longer. Years and years ago when the government decided that people can serve full time in the military for 20 years and then retire with pay and healthcare benefits until they die, they had no idea that we'd be paying these benefits to these retirees for 40 or 50 years! People live longer now than the government ever imagined. As it is now, retirees do pay a portion of their Tricare premiums out of pocket. These are men and women who fought wars that have secured our freedom. I'd pay part of my premium for their benefit, too.

To Mr. E6 in the waiting room of the pediatric clinic at Reynolds Army Community Hospital, get your facts straight before you start saying stereotypical and slandering statements toward families who choose to have multiple children. Trust me, you're not paying for our contraceptives, so we're already saving you money!

What I Should Be Doing

After a few minutes of absolute drama and chaos, all the children are asleep on a Tuesday afternoon. I've spent a little bit of my quiet time reading and getting somewhat caught up on a Bible Study I'm doing. Now I'm sitting at the computer reading an article about a woman who found out her birth mother was a murderer by watching a movie about her or something to that effect. You can read the story here, if you'd like to waste a few minutes of your day, too.

Here are the things I should be doing and will be doing as soon as I finish this post...

1) Clean off the dryer!

2) Put away my coupon mess from my grocery shopping preparation earlier today.

3) Take pictures of a few things we need to sell on Craigslist and get them posted.

4) Unload and Reload the dishwasher.

5) Secretly put some backyard toys in the trash can.

6) Work on VBS name tags and other details that I can do from home.

7) Go get JB out of her crib since she has now interrupted my remaining minutes of quiet with her cries for help.

Why The Hiatus?

To say things here at the Wade Residence are busy is quite the understatement! Between promotion ceremonies, funerals, a broken arm, a walking baby girl, and a fast coming move, we've been non stop for the past 2 months. The time to just sit and do nothing is no longer available around here. It's also amazing how once a routine gets interrupted, it's nearly impossible to get it back together. I'm really optimistic that in a few months things are going to slow down dramatically for me. I can't speak for everyone else in this house, but I'm looking forward to more do nothing days - more agendaless days! Hopefully once I get these agendaless days I can be a better blogger again. Until then, I make no promises other than look forward to sporadic posts about meaningless things!

Bath Robe Model

This isn't a new picture, but I know it's been a while since I've posted many pictures. Jenna Beth in all her clean cuteness!

I've got a ton to do this week to get ready for LT's return, at least I'm assuming he's still LT. I mentioned once on FB that I was trying to squeeze 365 days worth of projects into 30 days. Believe it or not, I've somehow managed to get a few of my closet organizing/purging projects done. I've got 4 different sets of things that now need to be donated or consigned at various places. It feels good to walk into my closet and not feel like everything is going to fall on my head! I still have plenty that could be tossed or done away with, but there will be time for that later.

Still working on the losing the end of the baby weight. I've lost about 5 lbs since I started hard core Weight Watchering a couple of weeks ago. I still have about 7 to go to be at Wedding Day Weight and that's the ultimate goal! I'll let you know if that ever happens.

A Parenting Rant

I usually try to keep my work life and my personal life as separated as I possibly can. That's a little difficult in the line of work I'm in because my friends are people that I deal with in my role at work and the place I work is my extended family, etc. Nonetheless, today I'm on a tyraid and my blood is boiling and I'm just a mess!

If you read my Facebook status, it says something to the gist that I'm convinced that the reason so many kids don't have respect for rules and authority is because their parents don't.

You see, there are parents, I know you won't believe this, that think way too highly of their preschoolers! They want their preschoolers to have the same privileges as their 5th graders. One of my biggest frustrations comes from parents who want an exception made so that their preschoolers can participate in an activity that is intended for older children.

I'm very black and white about this. When an activity is advertised as Kindergarten - 5th grade, who is that activity designed for? Kindergarteners through 5th graders!! I don't care how advanced you think your child is or how gifted they are or how unique they are, if they don't fit the age bracket, they don't participate. Who wants to be the choir director of a choir of children with ages spanning from 3 - 11? NOT ME!!! Do we not know how vastly different the development of the children on the ends of that spectrum are? What 11 year old wants to hang out with 3 year olds?

When we ask for exceptions on things like this, what else are we going to ask for and what are we telling our children about the rules and parameters put into place by those in authority? You're telling them with the right amount of negotiation that kid can do anything they want to do. You're telling them that this rule doesn't apply to them. You're telling them that you, as the parent, don't have any regard for the person or entity responsible for putting that rule or parameter in place. You're setting an example for your children that they're only going to follow in the future.

We complain because our kids grow up too fast and are so much more mature at 10 than we were when we were kids. I can tell you why! When I was 3, my mother didn't have me in 3 extra curricular activities! I was playing with barbies and dolls and pretending I was Mary Lou Retton in my bedroom. I was swimming in my swimming pool with a life jacket on. I was watching Captain Kangaroo. I didn't do my first extra curricular thing until I was in Kindergarten and that was 3 months of Tball! Nothing else was even available as an option.

My other issue is that once you let one 4 year old participate in activity they're not old enough to participate in, what message are you sending to all the other parents of 4 year olds? So once one exception is made, you might as well say, if you're 4 and you want to do this, come right ahead! What a nightmare for those in charge that weren't prepared for this entirely new age group of children!!

Rules and regulations are in place for our protection. The God of the Universe established that! Rules and regulations are in place to allow us to do things at proper times!

Let's stop forcing our preschoolers to act like their 10 and let them be preschoolers. Let them not sit in the circle at story time if they don't want to as long as they're not disruptive. Let them make messes and teach them to clean them up. Let them fall off of stools or down stairs because that's part of their learning process. It's how they learn what's safe and what's not. Let's stop giving our preschoolers all the rights of children much older than they are.

Let's learn to say NO to our preschoolers or else we're going to be saying YES to things that we're only going to regret in the long run. Parents, we must set the right example for our children. They are little mirrors and whatever you do in small amounts, they will do in excess. Let's be the ones who teach our children how to properly show respect and regard for authority.

Most Often Heard Words

I've realized in the past couple of weeks that I say the same things over and over. I'm sure must other mothers can empathize.

The most commonly used phrases lately are "Leave her alone." This is said to both boys who cannot leave Jenna Beth alone. They can often be found surrounding her with chairs or pillows and toys to 'cage' her in because they like to pretend she's their puppy. I told LT the other day that she crawls all over the place, at least wherever Maverick will allow her. He's usually a road block or the door closer that leads her where he wants her to go. Bailey always takes her bows out of her hair. Maverick always takes her socks off her feet. The poor girl has become their new toy and I look forward to the day when she can fight for herself.

Another commonly used phrase is "Stop making that noise." I say this to Bailey when he makes his aggravated scream sound. I don't know how to describe it other than it being a deep, growling noise that he makes when Maverick is chasing him or wants to play something that Bailey doesn't want to play. It's super annoying and quite unnecessary from the mommy's perspective.

The newest phrase is "Don't say anything else about it." I have to say this when Bailey, who cannot let things go, talks on and on about the same thing or asks the same question 10 thousand times! It's how I have to end the conversations where I have already given an answer that can't be changed and no amount of negotiation or further discussion is necessary. One night it was about playing with a car track at the church that I had no control over. We were on our way there and after 15 minutes of the same questions, I finally had to tell them they'd have to ask their teacher and I didn't want to hear any more about it. I may have a harsh approach, but somehow my children have to learn that you can't pester or annoy your way to getting what you want!

What do you hear yourself saying ALL THE TIME?

I Love My Life

I saw Julia and Julie or Julie and Julia the other night with a friend and have been motivated to blog a bit more again. So that's one inspiration for this post.

The other inspiration has come from Facebook! I've become friends on Facebook with several people, well, MANY, from high school and from my old youth group at Bellmead. Pictures inevitably pop up of me with huge hair, curly perms, chubby chipmunk cheeks and very poor clothing choices. It's a little embarassing, but I guess we have to just put those things in the past and try to make better clothing and hair choices now and in the future. The 80's and early 90's were just bad fashion times altogether.

Then the pictures pop up of ex-boyfriends and their current family and I think to myself, that could've been me. My next thought is usually thank the Lord it's not!

Sometimes these pictures from the past have some negative memories attached to them, but they never cease to remind me that I am right where God wants me to be! I married a wonderful marathon running man who loves me and his 3 little bitties more than anything. I have 3 beautiful babies who make me scream and laugh in the same breath! I never in a million years thought I'd live in El Paso and to make it even wilder, I love it here most days. I want for nothing and have so much more than I ever dreamed I would. I really do love my life!

Some days during this season of our lives are harder than others. Some just really suck! Others are bearable! I can rest assured each day that I am definitely right where God wants me to be, doing exactly what He wants me to do.

5 Things That Always Happen

I just got home from taking the 3 kids to return a gate at Babies R Us. The boys are in their room now and Jenna Beth is practicing drinking out of her bottle with a straw so she'll be a pro when it comes time to drive to San Antonio next month.

In all this quietness, I was thinking about 5 things that ALWAYS happen when I attempt to venture out in public with all 3 children in tow. Here they are in no particular order.

1) Bailey ALWAYS has to pee. Do you know how hard it is to take 3 kids to the bathroom with all of their stuff?

2) Maverick ALWAYS poops in his diaper. It never fails. So this makes bathroom trip #2 at least!

3) Jenna Beth ALWAYS seems to be screaming mad hungry at just the time I think I've got a few minutes to look at just 1 thing!

4) People ALWAYS give me that look like they're thinking "Should I tell her about her birth control options?" I just smile.

5) I ALWAYS come home and go directly for something chocolate! It eases some of my built up stress, at least temporarily.

Where Have I Been?

I know you're all wondering that...or NOT!

Here's what has kept me from Blogging...

1) VBS and the week of prep before and now still recovering

2) Visit from GG and Paw

3) A sweet little girl who is the perfect baby for our family.

4) 2 little boys who REFUSE to go to bed at night!

5) Embarking on the 10 Minute Trainer program

6) A house that just doesn't stay clean no matter how much I try (I do have a new housekeeper who comes every 2 weeks YAY!)

7) A new addiction to Farm Town on FB thanks for my mom and step dad

8) Planning a much needed vacay in September

9) Taking short road trips to nowhere just to get out of the house

10) LIFE IN GENERAL!!!!! There are so many things that just don't get done nowadays and I've come to terms with the fact that this is just how it's going to be for a while. Unfortunately blogging seems to be one of those undones.

Yuck!

The weather here is supposed to start getting ugly - as in windy - starting tonight, I think, at least that's what I remember the weather man saying yesterday. This afternoon I spent outside cleaning up bird poop off of everything! and I do mean everything! I wanted it to get done before the wind came and it got put off another week. I haven't let the boys go in the backyard in quite a while because I don't want them playing in bird poop.

The birds have decided that the top of level of the playground is a good gathering place and while they gather, they poop! It was absolutely disgusting and I didn't realize how gross it was until about a month ago. Today I donned some rubber gloves, turned the water hose nozzle to the most powerful setting and went to spraying. I had to climb up into the playground to get all of it. I'm sure I was a sight! I even mopped some of it out and am now soaking my mop in bleach. It's gotta mop all the dirt tracks off the kitchen floor in a few minutes. It's never worked so hard in its life.

I put one of those hideous plastic owl things in the upper part of the playground hoping it will scare the birds away. I think they're absolutely tacky so I put it inside so when they land and see his big scary yellow eyes staring at them they'll leave - at least that's the plan. If this doesn't work, I'm not sure what I'll do to keep the birds away. Some have suggested a shotgun, but that'll never happen on my watch. Do you have any keep the birds away suggestions?

Now the children can go enjoy their backyard again and I might get some sun on my legs while I'm out there attempting to relax and referree at the same time. Doing both is an impossible task!

The children got in trouble in the bathtub tonight so both had to go to bed early. Amazingly they were both asleep by 8pm! I'm not sure that's ever happened here. This may become the new 'normal,' at least on nights when it's feasible.

Off to clean other parts of this disaster area. I miss my cleaning lady!