I posted over at Quad City Moms Blog today about my Candy Crush addiction. http://www.quadcitymomsblog.com/2013/08/12/candy-crush-addiction/
Yes…I am hopelessly addicted to that darn game. I am going public with it. I tried to hide it for a long time, but there comes a time when you need help. Come check out my post.
So we are on our Christmas “vacation” or holiday “break” from school. And as I do dishes two or three times a day, fold four loads of laundry, bake cookies that stick to the cookie sheet, chase the kids around the house, “Get down! No jumping on the couch. Have you lost your mind?!”…I wonder when the “break” will begin because I think I’m losing my mind.
When you are a mom, the term “vacation” or “break” doesn’t really mean time off to relax or get things done. That term is deceiving. It means chasing the kids around the house, being a referee to the fighting and bickering, “Mum, Bradley said ha ha to me” and “MOM! Collin threw a car at me.” It is thinking (and really believing) you are going to get all kinds of things done with this “extra” time, like organizing the closet and cleaning out the cupboards and then get all stressed out because you barely got anything accomplished and are counting down the hours until daddy gets home because mommy is really starting to lose it. Where is my break? And why wont these children nap?!
I will admit, the first week or so was fun; waiting for christmas, baking cookies, wrapping presents, playing games, making crafts, admiring the christmas lights. But ever since New Year’s…well, I am totally over it. I am ready to get the hell out of the house!
I need to work for my sanity. I need to see people. I need to talk to somebody over the age of 3. Now, Bradley (my 7-year-old) is pretty good company and we have some great conversations…but it’s not the same as seeing people “out in the real world.”
I love my kids. I just don’t want to be home with them every day, all day. I will lose my mind…sweet and cute as they are. I really don’t know how stay at home moms do it. It’s just not for me. I find myself wishing for work so I can have a “break”…oh, the irony.
Must be time for a mommy night out…or a drink, either one or both will do.
How do you make it through “breaks” and “vacations” from school?
xxx
I appreciate good customer service; a friendly smile, thanks and come again, that sort of stuff. But there is one store that I now avoid. I thought I would share my experience because in the end… it was funny, even though I didn’t start laughing until I was in the safety of my car.
I wont tell you the store, but it is one of my favorite stores and it seems that I am there at least once a week for diapers. But next time I’m going to the other one down the street, because they do have them on every corner.
So it all started a while back when I ran out on my lunch break for a major necessity. I was in a hurry. I went directly to my aisle and grabbed the pretty pink and green package and immediately headed for the check out. I didn’t stop to look at the clearance items. I took the shortest route to the check out. I only have a limited time for my lunch break and there are some errands and necessities that you must rush for, and this was one of them.
I go to check out. I’m the third person in line. I start to get irritated. The cashier, who sort of looks like Napoleon Dynamite but with less hair, thinks he has to start a conversation with everyone and is overly friendly. ‘C’mon, dude,’ I complain in my head, ‘I don’t care what they are doing this afternoon. I don’t care what they think of that brand of toilet paper. Speed it up.’ I shift my weight. I try to distract myself with the magazines and with the gossip about the new Twilight movie coming out.
When it is finally my turn I avoid eye contact and pray that he does not try to start a conversation about the weather or what is coming on prime time tv tonight. I answer simple questions with short responses and grunts. I do not make eye contact. I do not smile. I am avoiding as much conversation as possible with this man. I just want to get my feminine hygiene products and go back to work.
But then the cashier totally confuses me with his question. He asks, “Do you want your pads in a bag?”
Huh?! I say no, but I wasn’t really paying attention. I look at his pale skinny hands holding my pads out to me. “Yes. Bag, please,” I say flustered, changing my mind.
He kinda threw me because normally people don’t ask if you want your items in a bag, they just put your crap and receipt in a bag and you go. And he’s a guy and he’s asking me about my pads. Just weird. Just give me my pads so I can get out of here. And please don’t announce anything else about my period. I’m not embarrassed about buying these type of items, I’m just not use to a man commenting on them.
“Here you go,” he finally says, holding the bag out to me.
In my car, slightly irritated and very confused, I ran the conversation over in my head. I couldn’t help but laugh thinking of the situation; his dorky friendliness, my confusion. But he might as well have announced that I was on my period. What a strange one.
Next visit. I buy diapers. “Looks like you have a little one at home,” he says.
I want to say, ‘No, I just like throwing my money away on diapers for no reason,’ but I don’t. But really, why else would I buy diapers? Then when I’m waiting to swipe my debit card he comments on my nails. “Your nails are really nice. Are they yours?”
“Yep. Grew them myself,” I say, maybe a little sarcastically. I don’t feel like talking about my nails when I just want my stuff and go.
“They’re really nice,” he says, reaching for my hand. Ick! I pull back. “Is that red polish or some other shade? What is it called?” he asks. Like I would know the shade anyway. Now I know he is just trying to be friendly, but he’s trying too hard. My nails, which are really super long right now and painted a deep burgandy, do stand out a little bit, but I just figured it was because I rarely ever paint my nails, maybe once every three months or for special occasions, which seem to rarely happen.
“Don’t know,” I reply. “Just something I had in the cupboard,” I say, trying to discourage him from further conversation. I look away. I don’t know the technical color, the brand, or anything like that. Your job, as a checker, is to scan the items, put them in the bag, smile, be nice, and say come again. You don’t have to get to know every single person that goes through your line.
Then he asks if I want my diapers in a bag. Yes. Geesh! Let me outta here! It should not take this long to check out. Shut up.
Think I’m getting my diapers at the other store next time. I can’t imagine what he will ask for some of my other purchases.
Do you need some Midol for that pms?
Do you have any crazy cash register stories to tell? Please! Leave them in the comments. I need a good laugh!
xxx
This has been one of the busiest and craziest weeks. The twins have been sick. Double the babies means double the puke, double the poop, and the smell…ugh. But we made it through and they are feeling better. And then I was sick. I never get sick! But double the babies also means double the germs…I guess my immune system couldn’t take it.
One exciting thing that happened this week…I published my first blog post over at the Quad City Mom Blog. Go check it out HERE! It is about my first time donating blood. It is a topic that has been really important to me since my complicated pregnancy with the twins. Blood donors save lives!
Thanks for all the support and thanks for reading!
xxx
I just want to thank everyone again for all your support and encouragement in everything I do. It means a lot to me.
You can find me in the newspaper at the below link!
http://qconline.com/archives/qco/display.php?id=563551
My Reader’s Digest story is here.
And the original blog post about kindergarten, Milestones, can be found here.
Thanks everyone for reading! And don’t forget to vote on Facebook for my Reader’s Digest Story. 😉
xxx
I was looking through the newspaper before work. The headline read, “Will SpongeBob make your kids stupid?” I laughed to myself, but I had to read the article. I LOVE SpongeBob. I would love to “live in a pineapple under the sea” and be his neighbor. I think I would name my pet snail Snuffles. SpongeBob and I could walk Gary and Snuffles together to go and visit Sandy, I have always wanted to check out that bubble thing she lives in… but I digress.
SpongeBob making our kids stupid? Oh, please. So I read on. The main points of the article that I read are based on a study published in Pediatrics, the Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and are as follows (and I am copying from the newspaper – The Dispatch’s Monday, September 12, 2011):
I OBJECT!
I just had to laugh. I let Bradley, my kindergartener, watch “SpongeBob” before he went to school this morning; which, according to the study, is very bad for learning.
One part of the article says, “Parents should realize that young children are compromised in their ability to learn and use self-control immediately after watching such shows. ‘I wouldn’t advise watching such shows on the way to school or any time they’re expected to pay attention and learn.”
That is just what we did. We haven’t had any problems.
So now we might alternate watching “SpongeBob,” the Disney Channel, or PBS in the mornings before school. But most of the time SpongeBob rules.
We love SpongeBob in this house and he is staying on our tv. What about yours?
xxx
If you want to find out more about this study or opinions on it, just Google, “Will SpongeBob make your kids stupid?” and you will be bombarded by articles, blogs, and lots of opinions. It’s crazy.
“You need a puppy like you need a hole in the head.” Well, I guess I must have a hole in my head because we have a new puppy. (Where in the world did that expression come from anyway?)
He’s cute, like most puppies. He craps alot, too; like most puppies. I just wish it was easier to clean up. I mean really, I already have 3 butts I clean regularly. Can’t wait until he’s fully potty trained. Yuck!
But meet our new addition to the family, Mickey! a,k.a. Brad’s dog.
Mickey
Adorable, huh? I know, I know…who couldn’t love a face like that? Me. Some people see cute furry creatures…I see a poop machine, a larger dog food bill, vet bill, etc. I will admit he is cute and I love his clumsiness. It is quite endearing. I just rather not wake up to a pile of crap.
The other morning I found him in one of the bouncy seats pawing at the toys. Super cute, now get out (I tried to get a pic but he moved). Because he has tried to climb in there with the babies, too. But I remind myself, he is still a baby. Just a furry one. He just needs training.
I try to have an adventurous attitude. I need puppy training too.
I do like him…I like him best when he looks like this (see below):
It usually takes me a while to get used to a new animal in the house…I’m sure he will grow on me soon enough.
Or else Brad really is just trying to push me off the ledge of crazy. 😉
xxx
My new motto, which was also my old motto since the twins came, but I guess I sort of forgot for a while, is: “A little bit at a time.” Because no matter how much I try to “get things done,” it doesn’t happen that way. There are way to many interruptions. Just writing the first two sentences I stopped to read Collin a book, cleaned up spit up, and scolded the puppy for chewing on the baby’s toes. Some days it may take me the whole day, “a little bit at a time,” to write a short blog post. I can see it is going to be that way for this one, too. Oh, well. My babies are only babies for a little while and I remind myself to cherish each stage because you blink and they are off to Kindergarten.
Working out is one of the biggest challenges, and I really need the exercise. I have never been this out of shape in my life, but I did just have 3 babies in 2 years…so I will cut myself a little slack. And remember “a little bit at a time.” Because just getting ready to exercise is a workout in and of itself. I carry one baby upstairs and get her situated with toys. Go back downstairs for the other baby and bring her upstairs. I coax Collin upstairs, which usually isn’t too difficult because he is always following me anyway. And somewhere in there I throw the toy for the puppy a couple of times and get him situated.
As the video starts I make funny noises at the babies and remind Collin to play nice. I don’t even get through the warm up and I pause the video to change a stinky diaper. Before I had the babies I would never stop a workout video, I would always finish. Now, I’m getting used to it. If I didn’t stop and pause I would never exercise. I know, I have been there and done that.
Many people give me wonderful advice, “Just do it when they nap.” Brilliant idea. If only I could get them to nap at the same time. As soon as I get one baby to sleep, the other is awake. Lately it seems they take turns for naps. I used to have a really good schedule, but we’re in a transition phase. They did not get the nap memo.
One nice thing is Bradley exercises with me for a little bit. He is my exercise buddy. He lasts about half way, but we have fun together. One day when I was done he looked at me and said, “Wow, Mom! It is working. You are loosing your fat.” Sweet boy. lol.
So I may not get a whole workout (usually not), but the effort was there. Like I always say, “a little bit at a time.” It is so very easy to say I don’t have time, which is true, but I can usually make it work. It’s just getting the right attitude into place, which I’m sure is the same for everybody, babies or not.
Didn’t mean to make this a whining blog post…but hey, I’m not fond of exercising. It just needs to get done like cleaning the toilet.
So busy moms, how do you get your workout in?
xxx
St.Patrick’s Day was a super busy day for us. This is part 3!
Bradley and I went to the book fair at his preschool. There were games, crafts, lots of cool books, and Clifford.
I wanted to take some pictures of Bradley in his Clifford ears we made at the book fair. He insisted on making a video instead. He was super hyper that night, probably because grandparents were around and he knows he never gets in trouble when they are around, most of the time. He also likes to show off. He is still cute in the video, in his own goofy way, even though I’m not sure what he was talking about.
I also took some cute pics. Check ’em out below.
Yep, amazing how much fun you can have with construction paper.
We ended the night reading books and eating Chex Mix. I think next time we will have to make a play. FUN!
xxx
What were you doing at 8am this morning? We were preparing our corned beef and cabbage…and playing Potato Fetch.
This is how it all started (picture below)…need I say more?
Collin picking out potatoes. It's really funny when he takes a bite out of one and says, "Uck!" Not quite what he was thinking.
This one, Mom!
I stepped around the corner into the living room to check on one of the babies. I was only gone a second and what do I hear in the kitchen… “Arfff!” the poor dogs little yelp…AND a potato hitting the floor and rolling.
Really? Can’t I just get a break for a minute? Silly mommy…of course not! Not with three little ones under the age of 2. At least not for another ten years, if I’m lucky.
I hear another potato go rolling across the floor and Murphy’s nails go scrambling across the linoleum. When I get to the kitchen Murphy is carrying the potato in his mouth and is using his cat-like skills dodging the other flying potatoes from the “Big Baby,” aka Collin.
Murphy and the flying potato.
Who needs squeaky toys when you have vegetables!
And this is how Potato Fetch came about. And as I’m sitting on the floor rolling a potato across the kitchen I think to myself with a chuckle, no wonder I don’t get anything done. Oh well…we’re making memories. I rather my kids remember Potato Fetch than me yelling to get out of the kitchen and getting all stressed out. Just not worth it. Well…ok…I did raise my voice a little to stop the WHOLE bag of potatoes from being thrown around the kitchen.
***Note***Murphy’s potato did not go into dinner!!! lol
Check out our short video below of Potato Fetch. (I’ll try to get better at the videos…a little bit longer…a little bit steadier. I’ll practice.)
Eventually supper was started. Aren’t vegetables just pretty?
Tomorrow I’m going to make green eggs. Who knows what will happen, but definitely not fetch with eggs!
Thanks for reading and watching 🙂
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! and watch out for those pesky little leprechauns.
xxx
p.s. I may not have mad cooking skills like Martha Stewart, but she doesn’t have helpers like these! Take that, Martha! HaHaHa!!!
Amanda St.Clair 