What I did today

I don't think working moms (myself included) give ourselves enough credit when it comes to the shit we get done every day. Not only that, no one else gives us the kudos we deserve either. So I thought I would just mention the things I did today - if I can remember them all just to see if I am full of hot air or if the list is as impressive as I am tired. So here goes:

4:00 (am) That's when my alarm went off for the day
The next hour is spent primping, commuting (a whopping 10 minutes) and getting ready for my work day.
By 4:50 I am seated in my chair waiting for something to do.
I spend the next 10 hours working a console in a center that dispatches fire/ems and law enforcement to a two-county area in Washington State. Today's calls included some accidents, civil situations, phone call transfers to other departments, giving out phone numbers to other local agencies, and listening to one particularly loony woman tell me she has alligators, ware wolves and Santa Claus coming out of her...? In between I do have some fun with my co-workers around the area. We gab in our down time, read the latest gossip rags and keep up on each others lives.

At 3:00 I headed for the gym. I only did a cardio workout today, but this week I have increased my speed, time and distance! I am pretty happy with that, but missing the strength training.

3:30 I headed to my MIL's to pick up the kids.

Around 4ish we were getting Bubba's hair cut. He needed it badly so we finally just did it. After the haircut was the traditional trip to the Dollar Store for a treat. The gal at the barbershop was great, Miss I wanted her hair cut too "Me nee" she was screaming as she touched her hair, so the gal sat her in a seat and combed her hair out. She was Miss Special after that.

It must have been close to 5 pm when we got home the kids turned on a video and I started a fire, because it was freezing cold today, and got going on dinner. My original thought was pizza - quick and easy, but I knew I had planned something else, I just couldn't remember what it was. Somewhere along the lines I got the kids a snack, packed my lunch for tomorrow and remembered I had planned French Dip sandwiches. So I re-set the oven, go the aus jus going and started on chicken nuggets for the kids. They sat down to eat around 5:30ish and My Honey got home a few minutes later.

During dinner My Honey and I try to review our days but the kids need just as much attention so it is hard to do sometimes.

After dinner I read the kids a few books then around 6:15 it was jammie time.

It was maybe 6:45 when I took Miss I to bed and started to read to Bubba. We finished The Trumpet of the Swan tonight. I have never read it, its a pretty good book.

After the kids were down I got my clothes ready for tomorrow (I work so early I get all my stuff ready the night before, isn't that thoughtful of me?).

Then I did dishes, folded a few loads of laundry, got some more started, FIXED A RUNNING TOILET and straightened up the house.

Lets see, did I leave anything out? Oh yeah, I also packed my workout gear for tomorrow. And now its nearing 8pm and I just got a call to come in early to work tomorrow. Figures, I have 2 more OT shifts this week too. Oh well. No rest for the weary.

And that's an easy day in my life.

Practical Application

I love to read. I read lots of different stuff. Most recently I am reading The Five Love Languages of Children. Its full of great stuff about how kids (and adults) need to have their "love tank" filled regularly and it goes into the 5 ways that our tanks get full. Physical touch, quality time, gifts, acts of service and words of affirmation. I have tried to figure out my own love language on several occasions and I just don't know. Sometimes it seems to this and sometimes that.

Last night I read the chapter on acts of service. It speaks to being a parent which is the ultimate act of service for 18 years plus "active duty" after that. And how exhausting it can be physically, mentally and emotionally. (No kidding).

Fast forward 8 hours or so. I wake up to get going this morning, I go into the kitchen and 3 light bulbs are burnt out. Not just one, but THREE. (I don't know how, it just happened.) Since I am master-light-bulb-changer, I get to work. I get those done, start to make breakfast and Bubba yells to me "Mom I don't have any clean jeans, and I checked the laundry and there aren't any there either." You're kidding me, right? Nope, no clean jeans and nothing in the laundry room either except a BURNT OUT BULB. So I go to work and get that one changed too.

About now I am ready to do some yelling and screaming about how APPARENTLY, I am the only one that knows how to do ANYTHING AROUND HERE, and I remember what I have read about words of affirmation and I wonder who I will destroy if I choose to loose my temper. Because I have been there. I have had my spirit crushed by words thrown out in anger and frustration by an unthinking, reactive parent. And its taken me years to get over it. And I realize that its a strong secondary language for me, but acts of service would probably be numero uno.

Now the challenge of explaining that to My Honey.

The things I am proud of looking back to this morning are that Bubba is self sufficient. He knew where to look and took the initiative to check for jeans before he had a meltdown and that I was able to reach DEEP inside and keep my cool.

Kiss me Kate

Back in the day, a very dramatic, Shakespeare-loving actress/mom started a children's acting troupe for her kids and others that were interested. She called it "The Short Shakespeareans". I was one of the original kids, 29 years ago.

Last night we went to see the Short Shakes perform "The Taming of the Shrew." My first play. It was pretty cute. The actors and actresses range in age from 6 to 12. They memorize the whole play in the language of the times and everything. My sister and I took our 5 & 6 year old kids. The did pretty good until the last hour (turns out the play went until 10:30). Its a great experience. Bubba's favorite was the "guy that kept coming in falling all over the place" and my nieces' favorite were the horses.

I'd really like to share more but I am so tired. (Still)

Family Time

So they all came over. What a handsome group of kids. They had squirt gun fights that were a blast. Everyone involved (including me) ended up quite wet. Even Punkin Head. The boy in yellow is my nephew, he's not running because he is afraid, he is just done. He had a pretty big day. We all did.

It did make my day to have the whole family over for dinner. My mom, aunt, sisters and all the kids. Too fun. If the weather holds, we get to go to the Lake tomorrow. Cross your fingers.

Random vacation notes

So I am sitting on the boat (yesterday). You read that right. I took the laptop out on the boat. Why you ask? Because I am boat-sitting, not boating. The trailer is broken so My Honey has it at home while I boat sit at the park. It’s nice though, being on the boat. Silly me, there isn't any wireless access out here though. Duh.

Our trip to Issaquah was un-eventful save for the teenage-ness. Either I have totally forgotten what being a teen is or my youngest sister is just a disrespectful little wench. My Honey describes it this way, “it’s allowed, so she acts that way.” She was fine at our house last week, cooperative and very few snotty remarks (which were expected). I returned her a brat. I felt bad until I realized that is how she always treats her parents. Oh no you dint. Not in my house. Not while I pay for all your expenses including your text-messaging, talk till late, stupid cell phone. No way. I am just furious with her. What a shit. Was I that bad? I really don’t think so, my mother would have sent me packing. Seriously.

The kids actually stayed an extra night in Issaquah, we are going to exchange them this afternoon, and My Honey and I went out last night. I found a new favorite drink, Irish Whiskey, straight up. Mmmmmmm it was good.

While my dad and his wife were here I wanted to do something for them. His wife was easy, I scheduled a massage. She was in heaven. My dad was a little more difficult. I ended up taking him to work with me for a few hours. I think he liked it. He is a total techie kind of person. He sells computer programs and trains people how to use them. So he watched and listened as I dispatched. Yeah, I think I done well.
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While the kids and I were away, My Honey demo'd the downstairs bathroom!! Yay! New shower coming. Now I need to find a book on tile designs. Or a website....

The trailer got fixed, now we can boat and not have to worry about the boards on the trailer being rotten, breaking off, damaging the boat. I guess that's what happens after 13 or 14 years.

Finally, tomorrow (Tuesday) is our anniversary. 15 years. We are so old.

Vacation

Here we are in Issaquah. Its been kind of nice to escape the heat. Did I mention the heat? It was 110 degrees on Tuesday at 5pm. For the fourth or fifth day in a row. When we left yesterday at around 11:00 it was already 94 degrees. We got to Issaquah and it was in the 70's. Its pretty refreshing but I cant wait to get home where its hot and I can lay by he pool and relax.

Its kind of nice to have nothing to do for vacation. When my return-to-town plans changed, it was no big deal. Grandma & Grandpa want to keep the kids Saturday night in Issaquah and then exchange them half-way on Sunday - BONUS an extra kid-free-day.

I'm sure I have more to say, I always do, but I'm done for now.

Changed

Well, Bubba came back from Portland a little more .... grown up.

Its kind of strange, he seems a lot more independent since he came home. From that first day of playing in his room alone to sleeping ON THE TOP BUNK to his "aura" he is just a little more grown up. All of a sudden he seems like a big kid, not a small child anymore.

We went for a walk the other morning that passed his new school. As we were talking and passing by he all of a sudden exclaims he has a tummy ache. Curious, he was fine when we left. So I ask him if he might be nervous about going to school, and is that causing his tummy ache? Maybe he says. So we spend a little time talking about it. He was nervous about making friends. So I reminded him of his first days of preschool and how he made friends there. Later that day we had a new babysitter. Bubba had never met her and they hit it off right away. They were chatting it up, becoming fast friends (quite honestly, this happens for him very easily, making friends is the last thing I am worried about when it comes to school). Just before I left for work I noticed a teachable moment.

"Hey," I said looking from him to the babysitter. "What just happened here?"
"I dunno" he replied.
"You made a new friend." I told him. He pondered it a moment and then agreed with a grin that he did. So I told him that's how it would be at school too. That he won't have any trouble at all making new friends.

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Work has been hellacious. Busy and lots of overtime. At least the 12 hour shifts are going by pretty fast. It sucks that they are such the norm and a 10 hour day feels like a short day. And then there's the crap too. I notice myself being sucked in, being a part of the problem. I need to turn it around before it becomes my obsession.

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My dad and his wife and Little D are coming over tomorrow. I really shouldn't be sitting here posting anything, I need to vacuum, sweep, change the guest bed, put away laundry (that is sitting on the guest bed) straighten up the living room, family room, run a cloth through the bathrooms, and do the dishes before I go to work at 1. Seems like maybe I should have kept my Girl Thursday for the summer after all. Maybe I will call her, shoot with all this overtime I should spend it somewhere right? The challenge was leaving he an empty house. Oh yeah, that's right.

Bubba has been gone a week. He and grandpa are coming home on the train on Sunday or Monday. What fun. They are peas in a pod, they should have a great train ride just talking about boy things.

And still no baby. Poor SIL. Her actual due date isn't for a week or so but she is feeling so done. That's the way it goes. Babies have their own time table from the time you are making them until much, much later in life.

Speaking of which, still no actual walking out of Punkin Head. Maybe my Dad and his wife visiting will encourage her? They are due next Thursday and will stay until Sunday, then my sister (D) who is 15 will stay another week (give or take) with us. Me and the kids will return her sometime after the 12th because then I am on vacation FOR TEN DAYS. No work for 10 days. I am looking forward to it.

We have plans for a BBQ and my other sister (L) is going to be in Chelan so we will have all the kids out there for a few days and who knows what else. Hopefully the weather will turn summer again, for the past few days its been not-so-warm.

School's out

School's out for summer!!! Bubba gets to go on a trip with Grandma to Portland for a week or two. Grandma is heading down to help my SIL before the new baby comes. So it will just be me and Punkin Head for several days or maybe even a couple weeks starting Thursday!

My dad and his wife are coming to visit after the 4th for a few days which will be fun! They are going to leave my 15 year old sister and I will return her when I go on vacation around the 12th. Hopefully the weather will be nicer and we can visit fun places like the water park, maybe even take out the boat (novel idea, it hasn't been out in two years). It should be a great couple weeks between now and the 4th. New baby on the way (a niece), oldest kid out of town for a few days, then grandparents coming into town. Then it will be time for vacation and our 15th anniversary and maybe "Cousin Camp".

My sister is coordinating a Cousin Camp in July where we are trying to get the 4 cousins (on my side of the family) together for some overnight fun in Bremerton complete with a cook out, s'mores, tie-dye t-shirts, field trips to the zoo and water parks arts and crafts. Don't you want to be 2-6 years old again? So by the end of July we should be tuckered out! Ready to coast through August and then back to school.

Jeez, will the summer really go that fast? I hope not, I want to enjoy some of it!

What did you miss?

Starting with yesterday:

"Good times" in Chelan. Oh yes, the Lake beckoned and we answered. My sister was at her in-laws condo and so were we. Beautiful weather, comfortable pool, lotsa food, lotsa Mike's Hard something or other and cousins. All 4 of them were together, and they did pretty well. Turns out my son is kind of a brat. He hits a little more than I think is okay and we need to work on this. I don't observe him playing very often so I had no idea. Although I am pretty sure that the school would tell me if it were a problem. It might have been more an excited thing, being there with the cousins and all. Trying to share, toys, attention, that kind of thing.

I say "good times" because the other day we were driving somewhere and I hear my son say "good times Mom, good times" out of nowhere in the back seat. Funny stuff to me because a couple people use that phrase at work when things are out of control and I KNOW I didn't bring that one home with me. So I ask him where he heard that ... TV. Of course.

Sunday, Saturday and Friday - work, work, work. And it was busy, busy, busy. Friday night I was dispatching fire and EMS and I was pretty sure I would need a book to pass the time. Boy was I wrong. Not only was I busy, I was super busy. So busy that the fire folks (chiefs, firemen and EMS personnel) I talked to the next day even commented how busy it had been. Its must have been busy for them to notice.

The rest of last week? Uneventful. I don't remember anything major, I have a couple Bubba stories, but for the life of me I cant think of a single one right now. Punkin Head is practicing her standing alone. And she can finally walk behind her push toy she got for Christmas. All these are good things. She just might walk before she is 2 years old after all.

First Reader

My mom found this book First Reader by Phyllis Schlafly at the Goodwill. WHAT A STEAL. It's a $60 book! Sheesh, she paid a dollar. Maybe.

Anyway, I was searching Amazon and EBay for the workbook, no luck.

Its quite the book, takes kids through the paces of learning to read. By the time they make it through all 160 pages they have learned to read words like "completely, kangaroo, seventy, candidate and woodpecker".

I like how it is arranged, how it builds upon itself. Anyway, an Amazon search revealed a little more about the author (and what people think of her.) YIKES! Good thing I like to know for myself, I might not have given her a chance!

Apple Blossom "little weekend" was great! Can't wait to share a story or two. In fact there are exactly two I want to share and a bit of gossip (about me!) But it will have to wait until a more sober state. We are trying this new whisky... mmmmm. If I weren't so lazy, I might be an alcoholic. Truly. I LIKE the taste of most liquor. But once it is gone, its such a hassle to replace.

Its a wrap

The rest of the week was just as nice as Wednesday.
Friday a massage
Saturday's baby shower: good event. Not the great success I wanted it to be, but it was good. We had tried to get a masseuse hired to do a chair massage for everyone, and it didn't work out. But the rest of the thing was good.

• Here's an interesting side note of my life: I called 3 people to do the chair massage . . . I actually talked to them, in person, it wasn't like I left a message. All of them said they would get back to me, only one did. All of them are people I know and see on a regular basis, not just a business I called out of the blue. I get really bummed about myself when these things happen. And I kid you not, this kind of thing happens ALL THE TIME. It always has . . .

Sunday small group at our house.
I did kind of loose my mind on Sunday evening. I didn't eat the best lunch (cheese & popcorn with a diet coke chaser) and then gorged on the cheesecake brownies I baked for group. Yeah, that's not enough good calories for me. So I was a screaming, impatient mess. I stopped myself and counted to 10 many, many times.

(It's Monday now) I did remember to at a healthier lunch today; salad, ham & cheese sandwich. Hopefully I will have a better afternoon today. Maybe we will plant a garden. I have been toying with it. Radishes, lettuce, cucumbers. Like last year. Only this year will I actually work in it or not??

Have I mentioned that me and My Honey are leaving town for a long weekend in less than 2 weeks? I am so looking forward to it. 3 nights away. Me, Him, the beach and a one bedroom cottage. Could there be anything better? Not that I can think of. Well, okay, if it were at an exotic location with white sand and 90 degrees, that would be better. But I will take what I can get so, San Juan Islands it is.