I bet you thought this was going to be about my kids. Nope. I would be the whiny, cranky, bored one right now. I am still out of work, but had an interview yesterday. The weather here has been crummy. Apparently the midwest is experiencing monsoon season this year. Funds in the household are more limited than usual, so anything that costs money is out. I'm sick of our library, which is testimony to how bored I am, as our library is stunning and I love to read. I hurt my toe with the car door and got a big old sunburn at Aidan's baseball game. We got stuck with snack duty the day before payday, so I have to pull something right out of my butt for that. Maybe it will rain out the game and it won't be an issue at all.
I just feel at a loss. I know these past couple of posting have been kind of rambling, but I am so vastly uninspired lately. I am trying to take some writing advice that I got from a writers magazine. It said to write every day, whether you are inspired or think you have something to say or not. So, dear readers, I am sorry you are stuck with it, but I got nothing. I need something to get me out of this funk, and soon.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Friday, June 18, 2010
Rain, Rain Go Away
Have you ever tried to keep 4 kids of different ages entertained cooped up in a "vintage" three bedroom apartment during summer vacation because it keeps storming? Then you feel my pain.
It's hot and sticky and because we live in a vintage apartment building, we do not have air conditioning. We do get a lovely lake breeze courtesy of lake Michigan (Ooooh, clues to where I live...) but it does nothing for the humidity. The kids are bored. Harry is already sick and tired of Candyland. Which is fine with me as he is the fourth kid and we have played a lot of Candyland over the years. Aidan is a pro and Lego Indiana Jones on the computer. Abby had blessedly been invited to a girlfriend's house for the past several days. Jake is almost patiently waiting for his new skateboard to come from Kohls.com.
They fight on an almost hourly basis. And did I ever mention that we only have one TV? Stupid principles... We definitely need another TV. Right now, I am hiding in the dining room from my kids, claiming to be "working". I am really hiding from yet another episode of The Suite Life on Deck. Who said those Sprouse twins are entertaining enough for another TV show? Wizards of Waverly Place or Phineas and Ferb I can watch though.
Here's hoping for a sunny weekend, so these kids can blow the stink off (as my grandfather used to say).
It's hot and sticky and because we live in a vintage apartment building, we do not have air conditioning. We do get a lovely lake breeze courtesy of lake Michigan (Ooooh, clues to where I live...) but it does nothing for the humidity. The kids are bored. Harry is already sick and tired of Candyland. Which is fine with me as he is the fourth kid and we have played a lot of Candyland over the years. Aidan is a pro and Lego Indiana Jones on the computer. Abby had blessedly been invited to a girlfriend's house for the past several days. Jake is almost patiently waiting for his new skateboard to come from Kohls.com.
They fight on an almost hourly basis. And did I ever mention that we only have one TV? Stupid principles... We definitely need another TV. Right now, I am hiding in the dining room from my kids, claiming to be "working". I am really hiding from yet another episode of The Suite Life on Deck. Who said those Sprouse twins are entertaining enough for another TV show? Wizards of Waverly Place or Phineas and Ferb I can watch though.
Here's hoping for a sunny weekend, so these kids can blow the stink off (as my grandfather used to say).
Thursday, June 17, 2010
What to do, what to do...
So it appears that I will be a stay at home mom for a little while. Aidan and Harry are thrilled. Jake and Abby, not so much. Yeah, I've given up on keeping us anonymous. I re-read my post about my cousin's tattoo and it was just confusing. And I know who I was talking about. So I will be using my immediate family's names. I'm Jenn, my husband is Mike and the kids are Jake, Abby, Aidan and Harry. Please don't stalk us, and I would highly recommend you find an identity with a better credit rating before you steal ours. The last name remains a secret. A girl's gotta keep some mystery, right?
Anyhow, for reasons I am legally prohibited from disclosing in public, I am not working at the moment. Well, I've been trying to clean and take care of my kids which is definitely working, but no one's paying me for it. My little guys (8 and 4) and like pigs in poop with so much of my attention and I am happy to give it to them. There's been a lot of cuddling and playing and thanks to crummy weather, oodles of Playhouse Disney.
The older kids, not so much. I am interrupting their good time. We only have the one TV. I am here to stop all the MTV watching, junk food eating, and friend sneaking over. There is room cleaning, book reading and reasonably healthy lunches. I'd be annoyed with me too. I liked my independence as a kid.
One of the best gifts I have given my kids is that independence. My older kids can take a city bus without me. They can do a load of laundry and cook a couple of basic meals. They can go to CVS for a gallon of milk. They have opinions, thoughts and insights, many of which are completely opposite their parents. They volunteer without being prompted.
All this leaves me with not much to do. Oh, there is lots I would like to do, but alas, they all cost money. I am thinking this is going to be a long summer...
Anyhow, for reasons I am legally prohibited from disclosing in public, I am not working at the moment. Well, I've been trying to clean and take care of my kids which is definitely working, but no one's paying me for it. My little guys (8 and 4) and like pigs in poop with so much of my attention and I am happy to give it to them. There's been a lot of cuddling and playing and thanks to crummy weather, oodles of Playhouse Disney.
The older kids, not so much. I am interrupting their good time. We only have the one TV. I am here to stop all the MTV watching, junk food eating, and friend sneaking over. There is room cleaning, book reading and reasonably healthy lunches. I'd be annoyed with me too. I liked my independence as a kid.
One of the best gifts I have given my kids is that independence. My older kids can take a city bus without me. They can do a load of laundry and cook a couple of basic meals. They can go to CVS for a gallon of milk. They have opinions, thoughts and insights, many of which are completely opposite their parents. They volunteer without being prompted.
All this leaves me with not much to do. Oh, there is lots I would like to do, but alas, they all cost money. I am thinking this is going to be a long summer...
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
A couple of new lessons learned
1) Do NOT click on the "weird stuff" category on ebay. Just don't. Unless you really need a slightly used ball gag. Which I do not thank you very much. Stupid curiosity.
2) While Old Navy's Vneck tees are rather sexy and vanity sized (thank you Old Navy, I always feel thinner in your clothes) they do NOTHING for you walking home in a downpour. I am pretty sure I won the stupid mommy wet Tshirt contest today. Good thing I was wearing a decent bra. I saw the clouds. I listened to my husband say " Wow it's going to storm" and I proceeded to stroll to the library with the little boys instead. Then I continued to have a leisurely ice cream with them. Actually, a frozen custard. They are apparently different.
3) Ice cream and frozen custard are different enough to be corrected by three employees. Because my four year old really needs to know the difference. Dude. If it's frozen and on a cone, my kid will call it ice cream. Get over yourself.
4) Scented deodorant gives me a migraine.
5) Old Navy flip flops are slippery in a downpour and hurt my feet. But they are pink and only $2, so I will continue to wear them.
6) There are things in the ebay "weird stuff" category that I do not even want to know what they are for.
7) I cannot stop clicking on the "weird stuff". I am glutton for punishment.
2) While Old Navy's Vneck tees are rather sexy and vanity sized (thank you Old Navy, I always feel thinner in your clothes) they do NOTHING for you walking home in a downpour. I am pretty sure I won the stupid mommy wet Tshirt contest today. Good thing I was wearing a decent bra. I saw the clouds. I listened to my husband say " Wow it's going to storm" and I proceeded to stroll to the library with the little boys instead. Then I continued to have a leisurely ice cream with them. Actually, a frozen custard. They are apparently different.
3) Ice cream and frozen custard are different enough to be corrected by three employees. Because my four year old really needs to know the difference. Dude. If it's frozen and on a cone, my kid will call it ice cream. Get over yourself.
4) Scented deodorant gives me a migraine.
5) Old Navy flip flops are slippery in a downpour and hurt my feet. But they are pink and only $2, so I will continue to wear them.
6) There are things in the ebay "weird stuff" category that I do not even want to know what they are for.
7) I cannot stop clicking on the "weird stuff". I am glutton for punishment.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
I blinked
Tonight, the 6 pounds 4 ounces that shook my world to it's very core and changed my name permanently to Mom graduated 8th grade. Of course he is now 5'11, weighs roughly 175 pounds and a mens size 12 sneaker. He's also wicked smart, funny, sarcastic, kind and gentle (when he thinks we aren't looking).
He always stays to help Sr Christina at church, not because he needs the service hours, but because she may need his help. He was infuriated at the Rosa Parks bus story, not because of the blatant racism, but because didn't the man know that a GENTLEMAN always stands for a lady? He requested his school stop playing "Superman" by Soulja Boy (I probably spelled that "wrong", sorry Soulja) because he found the lyrics offensive to women. He held his own discussing politics with his dad and I when we voted for Hillary in the primary and he wanted Obama. He can give me a withering dirty look when I embarrass him in front of his friends (all of whom think I am pretty damn awesome, by the way.) He is on his second "girlfriend" though he has no money and can't drive, so his dating abilities are pretty severely limited.
The trouble is, I swear, ten minutes ago, he was brand new. Just an instant ago, I was a terrified new mom, trying to convince my discharging nurse that it was not a good idea to leave me in charge of a whole human being. Oh, I am still a terrified mom, as going into the high school for a meeting caused me to have a bit of a panic attack. But I don't know what happened... I must have blinked.
He always stays to help Sr Christina at church, not because he needs the service hours, but because she may need his help. He was infuriated at the Rosa Parks bus story, not because of the blatant racism, but because didn't the man know that a GENTLEMAN always stands for a lady? He requested his school stop playing "Superman" by Soulja Boy (I probably spelled that "wrong", sorry Soulja) because he found the lyrics offensive to women. He held his own discussing politics with his dad and I when we voted for Hillary in the primary and he wanted Obama. He can give me a withering dirty look when I embarrass him in front of his friends (all of whom think I am pretty damn awesome, by the way.) He is on his second "girlfriend" though he has no money and can't drive, so his dating abilities are pretty severely limited.
The trouble is, I swear, ten minutes ago, he was brand new. Just an instant ago, I was a terrified new mom, trying to convince my discharging nurse that it was not a good idea to leave me in charge of a whole human being. Oh, I am still a terrified mom, as going into the high school for a meeting caused me to have a bit of a panic attack. But I don't know what happened... I must have blinked.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Kids These Days...
So, my baby cousin B turned 18 the other day. B was a wonderful surprise package to our family that arrived just after my own high school graduation. She is the classic "baby" of the family, using her baby-ness to get her way all while trying to act just as grown as the rest of us. And we all adore her for it. I mean it, we literally ADORE her. Her nickname as an infant was "Precious". Her first Halloween, I stood in my aunt's backyard spray painting white fun fur neon pink so we could dress her as a magic troll doll.
She was one of the first people to ride in my convertible when I was 19. Seeing as it was new, we drove with the top down. Seeing as it was March in Chicago, we left the windows up and the heat on. B begged me to "Turn the wind OFF!" and was not pleased that I couldn't.
My own son is just 4 years younger than B, and my daughter just 6 years, so they have always had a special relationship. My daughter A especially adores her. B spent a weekend with us when she was 8 and A was 2. A insisted on dressing as much like B as humanly possible. That was also the weekend B refused to hold my husband's hand because he was a "boy" even if he did teach her how to hail a cab. Which is a skill she has used recently, thank you very much.
Well, B used her new found adulthood to make a permanent decision. She got a tattoo. Now, I am not anti-tatoo. I have one myself that I got when I was 27. I wanted one when I was 18, but my parents would have killed me, and I was scared enough of them not to do it.
I'm glad B knows she is so loved that we will still adore her, inked or not. But I worry about 35 year old B regretting her choice. Her tattoo screams 18, almost as bad as the theatre masks I wanted at her age. And she put it in a rather conspicuous spot, one that isn't easy to hide. My husband and I have been giving her a hard time on facebook. We've been getting flamed a bit by her fellow 18 year olds who probably don't realize we are people that love B enormously and are trying to make her think about her life a few more years down the road.
What I want to know is when did I get so un-cool to be the one trying to talk someone out of getting inked. When B was 4, we were AWESOME. Now we get the old @@. (That's teenager for eye roll, see, I am awesome).
She was one of the first people to ride in my convertible when I was 19. Seeing as it was new, we drove with the top down. Seeing as it was March in Chicago, we left the windows up and the heat on. B begged me to "Turn the wind OFF!" and was not pleased that I couldn't.
My own son is just 4 years younger than B, and my daughter just 6 years, so they have always had a special relationship. My daughter A especially adores her. B spent a weekend with us when she was 8 and A was 2. A insisted on dressing as much like B as humanly possible. That was also the weekend B refused to hold my husband's hand because he was a "boy" even if he did teach her how to hail a cab. Which is a skill she has used recently, thank you very much.
Well, B used her new found adulthood to make a permanent decision. She got a tattoo. Now, I am not anti-tatoo. I have one myself that I got when I was 27. I wanted one when I was 18, but my parents would have killed me, and I was scared enough of them not to do it.
I'm glad B knows she is so loved that we will still adore her, inked or not. But I worry about 35 year old B regretting her choice. Her tattoo screams 18, almost as bad as the theatre masks I wanted at her age. And she put it in a rather conspicuous spot, one that isn't easy to hide. My husband and I have been giving her a hard time on facebook. We've been getting flamed a bit by her fellow 18 year olds who probably don't realize we are people that love B enormously and are trying to make her think about her life a few more years down the road.
What I want to know is when did I get so un-cool to be the one trying to talk someone out of getting inked. When B was 4, we were AWESOME. Now we get the old @@. (That's teenager for eye roll, see, I am awesome).
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