My Life is an Open Blog

Noah and I have been a little stressed out this summer, to say the least.

We have the looming deck project for one. We have spent a lot more mental energy on that than physical, although we have pulled a lot of nails out too. It is just really hard to built a deck around 3 kids, bedtime, rain, jobs and fun.

Pretty much my house has become totally trashed this summer. Meal planning has gone by the wayside. Laundry is hit or miss. Mostly miss.

So a couple of nights ago I suggested that we each make a list of what we consider our own individual stressors, and then compare them.

Actually I wrote down both lists while Noah lay on the couch and dictated.

That is the way we roll.

It was actually kind of interesting.

There were things on there that we can't change right now. Length of commutes, etc, but there were several things on both sides of the lists that could be taken care of with some strategic moves.

Like maybe we should just hire someone for the next project. At least until our kids are a little older.

But my big one is the house. I was keeping up with my nursing job, meal planning, keeping the house marginally neat, kids, friends, volunteer stuff, blogging. But this summer it has all fallen apart. You see the only way I was keeping all the proverbial balls in the air was by not sleeping or resting.

Kids and friends, groceries and exercise by day. Supper, kids to bed and then I would spend all evening cleaning up and preparing for the next day.

And in some ways I am ok with that. But I am going to start homeschooling in the fall, and well, basically I need a little time to sleep.

So today I started yet another major house purge. And it will continue for the next 2 weeks. I am hoping if I do this often enough I will start to see some improvement.

Maybe.

I can hope, right?

Cutting up Pizza

Yesterday I took the older two boys to a birthday party.

The birthday party was for their little friend Anna, who turned 3.

My boys were the oldest ones there. I left Lincoln at home with his aunt.

I asked them what they wanted to get Anna. Deacon chose pink lotion and a mustard colored loofah with a pink duck attached. Roman said he wanted to give her cereal. He proudly presented her with a box of Apple Jacks and My little Pony fruit snacks.

It was nice to be there with 2 kids who I didn't have to chase. I even managed to hold my friends baby for awhile while I helped Deacon and Roman with their craft.

It felt good to be able to be able to help with someone else's kid instead of always being helped. (can we forget for a second that my sister was helping me with Lincoln at home? Maybe we can't).

And then it was time to eat. I grabbed the boys punch. I handed them plates filled with pizza slices, fruit and chips. Then I made up my own plate exactly like theirs and we sat down to eat. I looked around. All the other moms were furiously cutting up their kid's pizza into tiny bites and helping them handle cups of juice.

And I didn't have to. My kids are bigger. They are older. They could handle regular pieces. (can we forget for a second that I don't even cut up pizza for my 2 year old, and haven't since he was maybe13 months? Maybe we can't).

When we left the 3 of us walked to the van. They stayed right by me and no hand holding, carrying or correction was required. (Can we forget for a second that it is not always that way? Maybe we can't). They climbed into their own seats and I made 1 quick click to buckle in Roman. Deacon did his own.

And we drove away.

I love babies and I love young children.

But everyonce in awhile it is nice to see a little glimpse of the future.

Controversial Monday: Bathroom Reading Material

Now, I don't have any reading material in my bathroom.

And I don't judge people who do.

Really. I don't.

If they want Reader's Digest, the paper and crossword puzzles in the general vicinity of 3 year old overspray, that is their business. But it is not for me.

And if I ever use someone elses bathroom I would never consider touching the bathroom reading material.

I don't care if you have reading material in your bathroom or not. But what I do want to know is what about when you visit other people's bathrooms? Would you ever consider purusing their reading material, or is that some sort of violation of appropriate bathroom code?

Boy, I can work myself up

I can be a little high strung.

Now, not about everything.

I am pretty relaxed about my children.

But if it rains on a prime deck building day.

or something ends up costing a little more than expected.

Well, sometimes I can act like it is pretty much the end of the world as we know it.

Living with an extremely laid back husband can be helpful.

But it can also be bad.

Because sometimes I just want him to panic with me.

So I spend all my energy trying to get him to panic.

Sometimes it works, and sometimes I think it makes him think that I am insane.

I am working on it.

Just heard these lyrics to a new Daryl Worley song,

"Man, I know it's tough,
but you gotta suck it up
To hear you talk you're
caught up in some tragedy
Sounds like life to me."

So today, as I sit here I
watch the rain falling onto my partially constructed deck and
listen to the computer game that Noah and the boys are playing

and I tell myself:
This is not a tragedy.
Really, it is good.

New Pictures of the Boys

Tuesday Firsts!

My kids are getting a little older and moving into new territory.

My husband is also changing a little.

Me. I am still the same. Lots of plans, not as much action.

But all that being said, I have decided to do a "Firsts" post to highlight some new things going on.

Here goes:

*I made a potato dish for supper tonight. I have been wanting to try this particular recipe for 9 years (got it at my bridal shower), but never have because *gasp* it takes 2 hours in the oven and this girl never considers supper more than 1 hour and 45 minutes prior to it needing to be eaten.

*Noah came in a few minutes ago from his run. I told him they had cancelled my shift so I wouldn't be leaving at 10:20 as planned. He said, "sweet. I guess I will go out and run another mile." WHAT!?? Noah voluntarily running MORE? What is this new world I am living in?

*A couple days ago Noah and I helped Deacon put together a little home for a toad he caught. I, of course, did not touch the toad because I am opposed to animals of all kinds.

*I watched my husband kill some flies in the house so that he could feed them to said toad.

* I had to release the toad today because we were afraid it would die from starvation if we did not. My little boy cried his eyes out in the backyard over his "pet". I gotta admit, although I felt a little bad for him, I was kind of like, "dude, when he dies of starvation you won't have him anyway. Isn't it better that he be free?" I wished Noah had done it because Noah has a lot more compassion than I do.

*Lincoln finally agreed to wear big boy underwear instead of just a birthday suit.

Well, I am off to eat my root beer float, which my husband picked up for me when he filled my van with gas (he is learning, dad!)

Good night!

Controversial Monday: The Complimentary Mosquito Slap

Have you guys been there?

You are sitting around a campfire and out of nowhere you get slapped upside the head.

Why?

Because someone wanted to kill the mosquito that was perched on your ear.

Or, you are on a lovely evening walk, talking about all the deep secrets of your life when suddenly you are gasping for breath from a sharp whack to the back.

Why?

Because someone wanted to kill the mosquito that was setting up a phlebotomy lab on your shirt.

I am not a fan of the out-of-nowhere-kill-the-mosquito-chop accompanied by blood splatter and a triumphant "got 'em!"

What about you?

Is it ok? Is it socially acceptable? Is it better if your spouse does it? Is it alright for a perfect stranger to do it, because after all, we are all partners in the mosquito eradication business?

What say you on this August Monday?