Thursday, February 26, 2009

The (not so) happiest place on earth



So, tomorrow I’m leaving for Florida. My husband and I are taking our kids to Disney World with some other friends of ours. The kids and my husband are so excited that they cannot stand it. So are our friends. I’m not so excited. I know it makes me sound like a spoiled brat to not be excited for a vacation, but I cannot help myself. Here are just a few of the reasons why:

• I have a deep-rooted hatred of all things Disney – even as a kid I hated Disney. Just the thought of having to spend a week surrounded by Mickey Mouse and all his friends makes me throw up in my mouth a little bit.

• My idea of a vacation is somewhere with incredible scenery that I can hike, play in the water, snorkel, etc. I’m not a big fan of paying for someone to entertain me – I prefer to entertain myself.

• Along with that, I don’t love crowds.

• The economy right now really scares me, and I think I’d prefer to take a cheaper vacation and save money instead.

• In the 7+ years I’ve been married, this will be my 5th trip to a Disney location. (Prior to that, I’d only been to Disney once). I want to go somewhere else.

But, I’m going. And I’m planning on being a good sport. I will do whatever the group wants, and I’ll try to do it with a smile. I’m sure seeing my kids enjoy it will be fun too. I am also going to try really hard to make it to the beach for one day. I’m not sure how much blogging I’ll be doing the next week, but I will be updating Facebook, so you can check in there if you’re interested. And if you want to be my Facebook friend, email me and I’ll send you a friend request.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

A funny thing happened on the way to my blog post

**Sometimes when I start a post, I have a specific topic in mind, but as I write things go completely in a different direction. I usually hit "delete" and they get lost to cyberspace. But today I'm posting one, because I think it is exactly what I want to say.
I just haven't been myself lately. I don't know what is wrong - maybe I've got a touch of the SAD or something. I'm just totally unmotivated to do anything - eat well, workout, clean my house, blog. And I've been super-duper grumpy. I haven't had a visit from my Aunt Flo in over 3 months, so perhaps hormones are to blame. And I am still recovering from pneumonia, so I'm sure lingering illness is to blame. But I just feel blah - and like a fat, lazy, bee-otch.
My poor sweet girls have been bearing the brunt of it. I've lost my temper with them far too much, and they don't deserve it.
Last week, my husband was working late, and I was doing my best to be supermom. I had just started the bath for the girls and sent Bryn in to potty. I got G in the water and turned off the faucet, but I could still hear water running and dripping. Bryn was still inside the closet that houses our toilet, with the door shut, but I could tell that the water was coming from in there. To my horror, I saw that water was coming from under the door. She had flooded the bathroom (apparently because she tried to flush an entire roll of toilet paper, and kept flushing, and flushing, and flushing to make it go down).
I suppose it is pretty humorous now, but at the moment I wasn't laughing. I'd had a long day, and was looking forward to getting the girls to bed so I could pound out my frustration on the treadmill. Instead, I was going to be mopping the bathroom. I began to clean up the water, and the more I cleaned, the more rage filled me, and I'll admit that I got right in Bryn's face and yelled at her. What she had done was naughty (because she'd done the same thing the night before, only with not as drastic results), but she certainly didn't deserve the verbal lashing I gave her.
She simply hung her head and got into the bath. I proceeded to wash her while she remained sullen - I knew she felt badly, but I was still fuming. I washed her hair and body without either one of us speaking. After about 5 minutes, she finally broke the silence:
"Mommy," she said, her big green eyes filled with tears, "I so berry sorry I flooded the bathroom."
Ouch. Her sweet apology melted my heart and I was instantly sorry for being so mad. I hugged her naked, wet body, and we both cried. I told her how sorry I was for yelling, and explained that I loved her more than anything.
A normal person would have learned from this, and tried to be nicer. But not me. Apparently I need lots of lessons. This one came from G, a couple of days after the flooded bathroom incident.
It was a Friday - my day off. Bryn was playing in her room and G was helping me hang up daddy's shirts inside our big, walk-in closet. While she was in there, she noticed a headlamp that actually worked. So, she decided to go spelunking in the closet. She got behind the clothes, and moved along the wall looking for treasures - but all she found were boring boxes filled with things like mommy's old maternity clothes. She was undeterred, and was sure there must be something of value in there. She moved all the boxes into the center of the closet and dumped them out - all in the space of just a couple of minutes.
This was very uncharacteristic of her - Bryn is my mess-maker and G is usually the one who likes things clean. So, needless to say, I was shocked when I looked inside the closet to see if she was finished hanging up the clothes and saw the huge mess she had made. We were supposed to me making things cleaner, not making them more messy. And I was mad. This time at least, I refrained from yelling, but I told her very firmly that she was going to clean up the mess.
Defiance took over, and she told me there was no way she was cleaning up. She was done cleaning. It was time to play. She and I have such similar personalities that we actually butt-heads quite often and this time was no different. Neither one of us was backing down: I insisted she was going to clean, and she refused. We argued over it so long, that we probably could have had it cleaned up if we'd worked together.
But, I'm the mommy. I was going to win this one. So, I told her that she was not coming out of the closet until it was done and I shut the door (there is a light in there, so it isn't nearly as bad as it sounds). She screamed. She cried. She banged on the door. But she knew she was defeated, and eventually cleaned up. When she was done, she sulked out of the closet and proclaimed me the worst mommy ever.
"That is just fine," I calmly told her, "Maybe you want a new mommy."
"Yes," she said. "I do want a new one."
Good. I can play the reverse psychology game. I told her to pack her things, and that I would take her to the orphanage. She could live there and then maybe one day, a new mommy would come and take her home. But the orphanage is awful - there would be no one there to play with her, no one to hug her, and she may never have another mommy again. And she will have to do lots of chores there, every day, and won't have nearly as much time to play. Am I really so bad that she would choose the orphanage over me?

Apparently I really am that bad. The orphanage sounded better than having to live with the mommy she has.
So, we started to pack her things. I really didn't expect it to get that far. I was devastated, and I was fighting back tears. But not G. She remained emotionless. It broke my heart. I won't bore you with the details, be we did eventually make up - after many tears and hugs (from both of us).
A few days later, G crawled up in my lap and put her head on my shoulder.
"Mommy?" she asked, "Do you remember that orphanage place that I was going to live at one?"

"Yes, sweetie, I remember."
"Can I work there when I grow up? Those kids really need someone to love them."
AH. Some days I feel like the worst mother. My kids teach me way more than I teach them.

Princess Brynlee turns 3

I'm not even going to say anything about them. They're just pics of the party.












Monday, February 23, 2009

Take 6 tag

I got tagged by Arianne (Little Pink Houses on my sidebar) on this one. Here goes...

RULES~
1- Post the rules on your blog
2- List 6 random things about yourself.
3- Tag 6 people at the end of your post.
4- Let each person know they have been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.
5- Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

1 - I love scary movies but I hate sci-fi
2 - I hate Disney anything (yes, I am headed to Disney World at the end of the week.  Someone shoot me now)
3 - I love all those crazy medical shows on Discovery Health.  I was sad when I heard that channel is going to become the Oprah network.  Apparently I'm the only one who loved that channel.
4 - I bite my fingernails.  My hands are always ugly.
5 - I think cats are way better than dogs - they are much more independent.  Dogs are so high-maintenance.
6 - I am terrified of the current economic state, and what the future holds.  I think its going to get worse before it gets better.

I tag:
Ruhiyyih
Carrie
Lynita
Kristine
Julia
JoJo

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Technology

Much to my husband's chagrin, I am not much of a technology person. He has been wanting a BlackBerry for a long time, and I've been trying to change his mind. I finally relented and went to look with him. I ended up with a pink curve that I am posting from right now. I even got it free! If it works for blogging, I can keep up with blogger in Florida next week. I feel so tech savvy now.

Friday, February 20, 2009

Flashback friday

Today is Bryn's 3rd birthday.  I can hardly believe it has been 3 years.  Knowing that she's my last baby, I've been trying to keep her little, but she just won't listen.  She's growing up way too fast.  She was the most fun baby - so soft and squishy, and she loved cuddles.  She's still cuddly and loving, but she's such a big girl.  A bright, funny, energetic girl who is full of life and not afraid of anything.

Bryn was the sweetest newborn, so chubby that she didn't even look newborn.  And she grew quickly.  By her first birthday, she was already walking and talking.

Now, as a 3 year old, she's unstopable.  She loves music and gymnastics, barbies and princesses.  She loves to sing, and knows the words to dozens of songs.  She's also caring and considerate, and always willing to share.  She got a pack of gum for Valentine's day, and her first comment was that now she had enough to share with everyone.  

Here's an interview that I had with her, just so I could remember her at three years old:

Favorite color: green like her eyes
Favorite toy:  new Barbie from Grace
Favorite food:  Hot Pockets and macaroni (makes me feel like a great mom)
Favorite song:  Zippity Doo Dah
Favorite thing to do:  paint
Favorite movie:  Cinderella
Favorite place to be:  at her house
Favorite word:  the doo dah (????)




Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Love week♥

This Saturday is Valentine's day. I've always secretly hated it, and thought it was just the stupidest holiday. As a single person, it only served to bring me angst. Now that I'm married, its just one more thing to spend money on. But, I'm trying to change my attitude. It is nice to express my love, right? In honor of Valentine's day this weekend, I stole this post idea from my lovely and talented sister-in-law, although I "shook it up a bit". I don't want to conform too much now. Since V-day is coming up, this post is all about loves - both present and lost. Play along if you want to, either by stealing the post idea, or just commenting. Have fun!

First crush: My first crush was in kindergarten. I don't even remember his name, but I remember that he was Jewish, because I was so sad when he didn't come to our class Christmas party. Dang! What was that kid's name?

Celebrity crush: I have always had a thing for Brad Pitt. He is such a hottie. The first movie I remember seeing him in was Thelma and Louise - remember his abs? I do! I've never forgotten.

Biggest crush (aka: the one that got away): I think that every person has had a relationship in which they wanted the person to be "the one", but sadly never will be. My "one" was a boy in college named Hugh. His abs rivaled Brad's, only he was real. He was amazing. He was smart and funny, and so much fun. And he was HOT! I think he's a farmer in a small Canadian town of about 500 people now, so its probably for the best, but I would have married him in a second if he'd asked me.

First kiss: My first kiss was when I was 14, on the stage at church after a youth activity. The boy was named Joe, and he was in my homeroom at school too. We used to talk on the phone for hours on end. I think he's been in prison since. Its a good thing we just decided to be friends shortly thereafter.

First date: My parents were pretty strict to the whole "no dating before age 16" rule. So, the day after my 16th birthday, Peter Carlson took me out. He was a good friend from church and the date was lots of fun. I don't remember everything about the date, but I remember that he was trying to teach me how to drive a stick-shift (his CAR! A manual transmission - this is a PG blog) and I got pulled over by the cops, who just gave me a warning.

First love: I think I've posted about this before too, because I had a naughty dream about him one night. He was another college boyfriend, and he was also amazing: smart, funny, HOT. His name was Darin, and I loved him so much more than I ever had the courage to tell him.

First date with my husband: I met my husband on a blind date. We had talked on the phone for awhile before the date, and I thought he had the best voice. He picked me up at my apartment - I was wearing these tight, silvery pants and a black shirt, high heals, and I had my leather jacket on. (I know it sounds awful, but it was pretty cute back then) He was wearing a sweatshirt. I was a little taken back by that, but we ended up having a great date. We had dinner at Tucci's in Trolly Square and then went to a comedy club. He had an old 70s Bronco, and the doors were frozen shut because it was freezing outside, so we had to crawl in through the back. Believe it or not, it actually ended up being a great date.

Wednesday, February 04, 2009

Conversations with my 2 year old

Mommy:  Are you my princess?

Bryn:  Yes, I am a princess.  A pretty pretty princess.
 
Mommy:  Where is your prince?

Bryn:  Don't have one.
 
Mommy:  What about an evil stepmother?

Bryn:  Don't want one of them.  Too evil.
 
Mommy:  Then what sort of princess-y things do you have.
 
Bryn:  I gots a fairy godmutter.  She's beautiful with curly hair, green eyes like me, and little fairy wings so she can fly.  And she flies over me with her magic wand and POOOF!! turns me into a beautiful dress [as she twirls around].  I love dat fairy godmutter.

Monday, February 02, 2009

If the walls had ears part 2

Remember my post "If the walls had ears part 1"? Since then, the hilarity has continued - especially Bryn. 2 year old are hilarious. Thankfully my kids have learned what orifice their toothbrushes go into, but we still have problems:

Bryn: Look in my mouth! I have a booger stuck to my tooth.

Mommy: We don't do snow angels on the kitchen counter.

G: They call me Stacy! That's not my name . . . its not my name.

Bryn (while watching American Idol): Oh, I don't like that boy. He is hideous!

Mommy: Just blow your nose into my hand sweetie.

G: When I grow up, I want to be a teenager.

Mommy: I wait for the day when my butt will be the only one that I am in charge of wiping.

Bryn: Look at me! I look fab-lee-us!

Mommy: Is it bad to admit that when the girls don't wipe and flush, it doesn't bother me because I feel like we're conserving resources?

Bryn (after I asked her to clean her room): UGH! You're ruining my life.

Bryn: I'm poopin' mom. I need my privacy.

G: Let's make some love muffins.