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March 31 Middleclass House WIfe AwardsOK....I am not the Best housekeeper....no no dont try to argue I know it. But I try. I dont throw everything in closets....that is what the garage is for...ha ha ha. But seriously the house was appraised today and I went into HYPER drive. If I did not know better I would say I was nesting. No I am not preggo again, but it felt that way. Good thing though, the house looked great even if we did not. The lady was SO nice and usually it is a dude. This time it was a lovely woman named Linda. I KNEW she would appreciate that I had candles lit so the house smelled like frsh laundry but then it occured to me. I was DOING laundr, so wouldnt the house smell like it already? Well it looked and smelled great. Till you looked at me and the kids. We were still in our jammies. Covered with jelly, I think. I gave them toast while I did last minute stuff and it seems that they TRULY enjoyed it. SO now that I have spent the last 6 hours in cleaning overdrive, I will go have my first cup of coffee and something to eat myself. It is so funny how when I get into overdrive I forget things like that....I will take care of everyone around me, but I am always last. I think that is every mother, huh? Well....better go enjoy the house before the kids discover something and it is trashed. It can take me hours to clean but only moments to destroy. URGH! How do neat freaks maintain? March 29 The TankWe are pretty open around here. Not that we run around naked and swing from vines and chase animals or anything, but we talk pretty frankly about our bodies. I do not use "baby words" for body parts. My kids know that a boy's body part is a penis and a girls body part is a vagina. (Of course when Riley says it, it sounds like a dance number...she says, "Pa-china" ...but I digress). So yesterday, when discussing for some reason his "parts" Patrick cracked me up to the point I almost had to excuse myself.
"What are these?"
"Those are testicles."
"I call it my tank"
"Why?"
"Because when I feel full and I have to go to the bathroom to empty it, my tank is full and then it is not. Tank is easier to say."
"I see, but that is not it's name. They are testicles, and actually your pee is not even inside them, it is up inside your belly in your bladder"
"Oh."
Later when asked what he is doing....
"I am in the bathroom, I had to empty my tank and badass"
Oh dear. March 28 Chef Mini MeI like to have the kids help me cook. They like to help, I like to think I am teaching something and, what can I say, the kitchen is more fun when we do it together! This morning there was a colander left out from last night's pasta. It was not used because I dont like the handle on it, it is one of the plastic ones that looked cool but in practicality was a little better then putting the hot, wet pasta through a flimsy paper towel. WOW I guess I liked it even less than I thought! Anyway, RIley likes to play with it so I keep it around.
"Well, baby, that is a STRAINER for getting the water out of pasta when you cook it so you can add the sauce and make it yummy to eat once it is all cooked right" "Oh, Ok" and off she bounds with her Bubba while I make breakfast.
"Ok, Here's the stranger, but you know Riley, I dont think you are supposed to talk to it without Mommy, so use it quick and dont make friends, we dont know this guy" My prickles get up and I walk out to see that they are using the strainer but somehow heard Stranger when I explained what it was. Well, I am teaching them something, but it seems we are still a bit confused, huh? I laughed my way back to the coffee maker and made a mental note to wake up a little more before engaging in social commentary with my toddlers. Ha ha ha March 27 It Be's Like Dat SometimesOk not the most grammatically correct sentence, but that is how it is...or how it be. I am an alumnus of a sorority (hard to believe I am sure if you read me I bet...ha ha ha) but I have moved away from my base chapter at Cal State Northridge. Actually, I think my house, Sigma Kappa, closed it's doors on the CSUN campus, but is still active as alumni throughout the So. Cal region. I have been blessed to have been "adopted" by the UW Sigma Kappa house alumni group, they have been very gracious with my relocated crazy self.
Anyway, today I recieved The Triangle which is our publication that details current EK news and conference schedules, etc. Among them is an "In Memoriam" section. I always glance at it, but have yet to find someone whose name I recognize. Until today. I am NOT that old, I am only 38 though this year I turn the big 39. I am not even sure how I know this name, I am not sure I knew her specifically, though we were both musicians, both EK's, and I too attended classe at Cal State Fullerton as well as CSU Northridge. So. Cal is one long shopping mall, so that is kinda easy to do, and unless you have been there you wont understand that, if you have, you get me completely.
But today, there was a gal who died last July at the age of 45. The only other death I have personally experienced in the house was that of a fellow sister, Rochie, who died while we were still at school. I am not sure why I am so sad. Maybe it is because someone I know of is gone. Maybe it is because it reminds me I really am not as "young" as I think I am. More likely though, it is because in an age of telecommunications, web surfing, blogging, text messages and email we are disconnected and we find out about events through newspapers or magazines that are personal.
I am thinking about my Sigma Sisters...wishing you all well...even from afar I send you good thoughts, hope and above all friendship. Love in Sigma ~ Julianne, Zeta Epsilon, CSUN '91 The Queen Of The ThroneOn another note....my sweet baby girl went to school today with NO DIAPER! NONE! She is wearing Big Girl underwear and this is a HUGE deal in the Pierson household. HUGE. She is VERY proud of herself and we are very proud of her. No more babies....where did the time go?
Way to work it Rileyanne! She now knows where ALL the good public potty's are. Her favorite at the moment is Kohl's because they have a Family resteroom where there is a little person potty next to a big person potty. Also a little person sink next to a big person sink. This is all important stuff if you are conducting a potty party, which often, she is.
The queen of the throne.... Not All But Some...While my Kay-Kay and "E" were here, we went to many places. Not pictures have been downloaded, but again I am feeling sad that they live so far away! There was a time I would drive to them almost every day and take them every weekend for some period of time....but watching them with my brood was a blast and my oh my how my kiddo's adored being with them!
Speaking of betrothals...Kay Kay decided since Riley was INSEPERABLE from her "E" and they were the same age difference as her parents that it was meant to be and whenever she could she snapped a picture of them. Here is a favorite: March 26 FINALLY!OK, on to Politics again....I have a little less than 5 seconds here but I have to write something....I just saw Chelsea Clinton's response to a college student who asked about Monica Lewinski-gate and her family. Chelsea was PRICELESS and so awesome. "Wow, in the -however many - colleges I have spoken at, you are the first to ask me that question. It is none of your business." AWESOME> I have said it before, and I still stand by it. Mr. Bill Clinton was not the first, he wont be the last, and if he had JUST aid, "You know, that is between me, the girl and my wife. I did, we are working on it, t is a non story, move on" whouldn't that have been great? I mean, sure it is gross, tacky, yucky, my man better know better, but you know, GET OVER IT and it really is NONE of our business. I feel violated by all the sex scandal sluminess going on. Lets move past it, shall we? I do not need to know who does what with whom, I need to know where you will take our policy and what you do with the economy and our war strategy and educational and health plans. I do not care nor do I need to knwo how or when you get your rocks off so long as no one gets hurt, keep it to your damn self. Urgh! You go Chelsea. It truly is none of our business. Enough already.
On that note....I am still stuck as I bet many of us are...on the pendulum swing of Obama vs. Clinton. I would vote for either if the Democratic party could just decide and stop tearing itself apart. Please God do not let us have McCain. Four more years of war mongering with a man who has admitted he is weak on the economy when ours is about to tank is just not a good idea. I heard a reference today sorta saying that Obama and Clinton were like the Ice Skaters Kerrigan and whats-her-name (You know the one - who got her trailer trash hubby and bodyguard to swing a bat at Kerrigan?). In the end, a third party won the Olympics that year, so I guess in that annalogy McCain is the young and fresh faced Oksana Baiyoul (sp?). None of them are skaters, but the in fighting really is a disservice to our party. In a historic year, why are we so anxious to tear each other apart? I have heard more about past scandal, race, sex, and short sighted gaffes than I have heard about policy, plans, and strategic differences. Enough with the dirty politics already.....lets get down to what is what and stop with the Sorority house bickering or I will call the tribunal and maybe we can get a surprise from the Super Delegates and a paddle board. These people are acting like children.....ENOUGH! March 24 Bobble Headed FreakSo.....Last week was wonderful but hard. My best friends kids came (pictures to follow soon - do not fear) and for a week I had two teenagers and two toddlers. I was up till midnight with the teens and up by 6 with the babies. I am wiped out. I now have a cold that will not be ignored and feel like a bobble headed freak. I have that conjestion that just makes you tired. ARGH! I need a vacation from my vacation!
Still, I realized I am the old fuddy duddy at times. I do not text, though I have a blog. I am a dichotomy of craziness I tell you. Texting is just, well impersonal. I know I know the insanity of it coming from a person who airs her laundry in a public forum. Still, I feel if you wanna talk to me, talk to me for the love of the Lord above. Do not type little sayings and do NOT sit on the couch and keep your phone in your hand so that you are always in touch. What the hell? My cell is for emergencies. I rarely have it with me. You want me, call my house, leave a message, I will call you back and we will chat or set up a date and oh I dont know have coffeee....how novel. The teens were forever on the text qwest it was distracting and just sad. No LOL here.....I am officially old.
It was great to see them though and show them about. I was sure it would make me glad I only had two, but it made me kinda wish I had a bigger family. It was a fun, crazy love fest and I miss them already. I half hoped that the plane would be cancelled in a storm so I could just kep them. :) ha ha ha but their lives, school and most importantly their Mama would miss them too much. OK ok ok take off little birdies, but come back soon! We live too far apart.
March 14 Lovin' da SugaOK not the best formulated sentence, but it gets the point across SO well...my babies LOVE the Sugar! I picked Patrick's little friend Lila up from school the other day and we had a little time to kill while her Mommy was at a Dr appointment, so I took the wee cheribs out for some "fun" in the shape of a donut. We do NOT do this all the time, hardly ever, in fact this was Riley's first time ever at a donut shop, but I believe that the gal is hooked...check out the look of pure indulgence on her wee little face:
Not so with Patrick's chocolate old fashioned...dig in son:
Ahhhhhh the good life! Viva DONUTS! March 13 Planning MavenNext year is in its planning stages....yes already. You see, my son is set to start Kindergarten. Here you have a choice, half day is free, but if you want to get into the lottery to get picked for full day Kindergarten you pay a small tuition. I signed him up for that option not knowing last week if we would make the Lottery. Well, it is official...we did. I have mixed feelings. I felt that was a smart thing, wait and see, if he never made the lottery, then there was nothing to stress about, if he did and my initial reaction was sadness or worry, well maybe that would answer the dilemma. (I know SO passive aggressive, but you see you could not sign up later to go into the lottery, so it was this or nothing, does that make sense?) Well....baby boy Pierson GOT IT! And you know, as much as I do worry and feel a little sad (who wouldn't) I am mostly really really excited for him and all he would learn. So there is my answer, I guess...
Many of my friends though are worried that this is their last year to "have their kids home" so are opting to do half day kindergarten and of course, "Why wouldn't I want that too?" well...in a word, him. He is SO needing extra stuff, stuff that is his age (not fun for both him and his sister which I sometimes cave to since I have both) and the interaction and stimulation will be good for him! I think the schedule will be too. Plus it is a feeder into the QWEST program which he may qualify for, so that is good news too. Many of my friends will still be hauling their children to many activities on the other half of their day in half day kindergarten, like gym classes or dance classes or whatever, and I thought that the added structure at his own school was well worth it not to be shutting in the car and the stress of multiple appointments all over the place. No one's decision was easy, or right, or wrong, but I think he will grow so much this way and I am so proud of him and look so forward to all he will learn and grow to be. My little dude. On that note, little Miss. Thang is starting to read a little. We were watching a PBS show and she spelled S-T-A-I-R and S-T-A-G-E. Holy cow! She is all about independence and I swear other than that whole needing more maturity she is just plugging along with Patrick so well on so many levels. She likes to dress up in Daddy's jersey too: SO, planning summer stuff, camping, school, I will be planned through Christmas by April I bet. Whew! No wonder I am so tired!
March 12 Confessions of a Middleclass HousewifeMy husband is about to embark on a new aspect of his career. I am so proud of him in so many ways. He holds us together, he supports us, he loves us, he is a great man and father! There are so many things about him that make me swoon, but for a few days he will be going to Chicago on business and I have to admit I am looking forward to being able to make my bed, keep my bedroom picked up and keep control of the messiness of the house - also it is kinda fun to miss him when he will only be gone for like 5 minutes...this is a VERY short trip and we will be so busy, but I like the return home after missing him. Am I crazy? I miss him, I appreciate him a little more and I look forward to him in ways that just are not there when he is here every day. Some women hire babysitters when their husbands leave town to go play at clubs or whatever to regain their youth, I look forward to girlie movies (that make me miss him even more), clean sheets (that make me miss his warm presence when I watch Jon Stewart late night) and less mess....ha ha ha. Let me get it straight, we are both slobs, it is true, and our priority is to play with the kids if given a choice between playing hide-and-go -seek and doing the dishes, well play will win every time. For both of us.
Today I am doing laundry to get ready for my best friend's children to visit for Holy Week. We will be celebrating by doing a bunch of Seattle stuff and Church stuff and Easter. Harry will only be gone for a few days after all, not even the whole weekend, and these kids are older, so it will be an interesting dynamic. My best friend's husband will be joining us for some of the week too, so it will be a very wild and dynamic week of sight seeing, celebrating and all out chill time with favorite people who live way too far away. The kids are so excited they cant sit still. Though no one is excited that Daddy will be gone for a few days, when he gets back he might be able to take a few days before starting his new role to hang with us and I am busily looking up local hikes and such for us to do as a family SO much to celebrate - St. Patrick's day, Easter, Daddy - whew! Good times!
So, the House Frau is cleaning, shopping so I have home made meals ready all week and planning excursions that are both toddler and teen ager friendly. No small task, let me assure you. In there I have to work in the Stations of the Cross, confessional (for me, I have neverlooked forward to guidance so much before - if you have seen my entries on my work situation you know what I am talking about) and masses. Plus many trips to and from the airport, plus the car needs to be serviced and the animals need shots and baths, whew! A mommy's work is never light! Lest you hink we just sit and eat Bon Bons....not that Bon Bons don't sound lovely but I am recently down 15 pounds, thank you very much, so keep them away from me!
New favorite things:
BSN Dessert Protein Powder - it is 25 g of protein, very little sugar and a little bit of heaven. If you try the Chocolate Pudding in milk, it is like you are drinking chocolate pudding! A scoop in your coffee and you have a caffinated power shot! WAY better than Starbucks - it is a rocket ride to slimsville, I love it! There is also a flavor called Cinnamon Roll - that in some coffee is better than anything I have EVER had. I dont even need milk or sugar or sweetners! (Course it helps if you have not had actual sugar or sweeteners for a while - oh and you gotta keep a spoon handy because it needs to be stirred a lot)
Chlorox and Mr. Clean - Am I a crazy person for loving the way a house smells after you use real cleansers? I know with all the tree huggers up here who only use vinegar I am not a favorite, but seriously, I am a sucker for these cleaning things....Target LOVES me for this by the way! The people there only wish they worked on commision!
You Tube - when my kids need incentive there are two video's that they love and we watch from a 90's band called AQUA; Patrick loves "Dr. Jones" and Riley is ever the girlie girl she really loves "Barbie Girl" ha ha ha
Thats all my rantings for now...the kitchen floor is calling me with is need for scribbing! Where are the Bon Bons again? March 10 BUSTEDB-U-S-T-E-D you have got to agree, you busted, hey hey, you busted....
Everybody cheer with me now....
Yes that is the anthem of the day. Let's recap shall we? Went to take Patrick to school today. He did NOT want to go. We sorta fought all morning, he did not want to finish his "homework" (I know, pre school....but usually he loves it and it is due on Monday) and then he did not want to get dressed and go. I was running so late I barely had time to throw sweats on myself and put my hair in a cap, no bra even just move it baby. I had been cleaning and doing dishes too. Too many eggs in the air. Of course I look a state, but at his school usually they come to the car and get him out....today however, when I look like a state wellfare candidate, I am late and will likely have to get out of the car. Great. Alas, I made it just in time, and out he ran, and for the millionth time asked his loving teacher if his tacher from last year was at school today. No matter how his current teacher tries, he wont give up his love, adoration or desire to be back in his classroom from last year. ever. I kinda feel badly because it just seems like a jab. Anyway off he goes, I head home and while en route Riley says, "Oh Mommy, I just dont feel good. May I go to bed now?"
WHat two year old asks to go to bed? SO off to bed with her. I just get her to sleep when the phone rings, it is Patrick's school. My heart drops, something is wrong, why else would they call? "Hello, Mrs. Pierson? This is Cheryl from Patrick's school. EVerything is fine, but were you aware that today is Patrick's snack day?" Christ. No, Cheryl dear, I was not. OK now what? What is for snack? "Dry cereal and fruit, some people like to cut up fresh apples or grapes, but you could use canned I guess since you are so late." Nice. I called my Mom, she raced over to watch Riley, I hopped in the car, ran to the store, got the snack (it was supposed to be fruit and dry cereal - I feel badly that I forgot his "big day" as being the snack helper is a HUGE deal to a 5 year old) so my healthy contribution to the next wave of American youth was Scooby Doo Pirate Punch Applesauce - his favorite - and Pirate Cereal Bits (think Lucky Charms with Pirate stuff for marshmellows instead of clovers). Sugar, carbs and nothing organic...the Stepford Wives who shop at Whole Paycheck (Whole Foods) are gonna love me. DOnt they already? Cut up apples or grapes...yeah, I will get right on that in my 5 minutes to save my 5 year old's day.
On my way flying from the grocery store to his classroom I hear Bleep-Bleep- Whirl- sirens behind me. Sure enough I am being pulled over. CRAP-a-roo, scooby doo....I got nailed for going 10 MPH over the speed limit. As the officer is explaining this to me, people are zipping by us like they have been shot out of cannons. "Well, Ma'am, if they see me making an example of you, maybe they will stop speeding as well." Zoom flies another car...zoom zing, zlam, three more, all going way faster than I was, so far his brilliant plan is not working out so well for either of us, but whatever, I was wrong so what can I do? I explain I was going to my son's pre school to drop off snack that I had forgotten, "You should write that stuff down" - thanks for the tip, Eagon. Still he must have felt badly because I had forgotten to put the new insurance card in my car, our insurance is good, I just did not put a new card in the car, and my tags expired last week. He could have gotten me for all of that, but only nailed me for the 10MPH so I am thankful. Now that the lovely and nutritious snack has cost me $130 I am off to the pre school to at least make my 5 year old happy.
I get to the school, they are anxiously waiting for me, I had called to let them know why snack was late but that it was on its way. Everyone was very nice, but I am sure my super sugar turbo boost snack was not expected. The kids proclaimed me a hero, so at least I had that going for me....take what you can get I say. But in my depression over the ticket, now my need to rectify the insurance card and the tags on the car and everything else....I broke my Lenten promise and got myself some fast food. I know I know, but I did. I am weak, but I figure God knows this about me, he will likely b all set to have a very meaningful talk with me soon I am sure.
I take my mother and I lunch home, and just as I am about to "dig in" the doorbell rings..I am not kidding you it is a Jahovahs Witness, "Hello, I would like to talk to you about our Lenten responsibilities and how Jesus died for us all on the cross..." Are you kidding me? It was ONE BURGER! Oh Lord, ok ok ok, I am sorry. Now feeling exceptionally guilty, as any good Catholic would, I talk and discuss Lent, Easter, and what it means to me personally that Jesus sacrificed for us to be saved. Yikes. I even made an appointment to further discuss this next week just for good measure and I promise to read their literature so I am ready for their discussions. Now my burger is cold, but to throw it away would be wasteful...another sin...so I will eat it. SO I do. blech. I am sorry I ever even was hungry. Now I must go get Patrick at school, but where are my keys?
No keys. Look in the car, no keys, on the table, no keys, in the door, no keys, in the bathroom, no keys, in the fridge, no keys, I even looked in the dishwasher (because you never know) no keys. OK God I get it, I am sorry, please help me. Call Harry, "Can you go get Patrick?" No he cant, he has a meeting, how can I be this way? I better do a better job about this stuff...yadda yadda yadda....yes honey, I know I get it, I suck today, but at this moment, right now, I cant deal with one more string of guilt so please help me....but alas. I get ahold of my best bud Cathia, who agrees to get Patrick on her way to get her daughter Lila but she does not have an extra car seat. She goes to a neighbor, gets a car seat, gets Patrick and Lila and takes both kids to get Lila her 5 year old shots. She saves my ass. Thank you Cathia! I would do the same for her of course, and have, but still nothing like a friend who can and does bail you out.
SO I am home, Patrick is taken care of, and I find my keys. Riley had placed them on the computer desk where she had found my purse and plastered make up all over her face. She is still covered in mascara and luscious watermelon lipstick along with deep forest green eye shadow, which does nothing for her complextion I might add. She has made criss cross shapes all over her cheeks and the desk. Oh yes and has eaten, swallowed whole, Lord knows how many sticks of sugarless Hubba Bubba bubble gum. How long does that stay in your stomac again? It is really 7 years? Well, that is a capper.
Yep, again I should not be expecting the call for Mother Of The Year to be forthcoming. I will be happy if I an manage to cook dinner without burning down thw house!
March 09 Travel WishesSoon my family will embark on a vacation I have always dreamed of....Hawaii. We will be there for over a week this summer. I have been to a great many places, some were life long dreams come true. Tahiti was my first "real" vacation - not a bad jump out of the gate, huh? My honeymoon was incredible. Several days on Mororea, then a few more on Bora Bora (I liked Bora Bora best by the way, but I think that is because our hut on Mororea was next to a disco - crazy loud teenagers with loud BAD music and alcohol = no fun on the beach...unless you are also a crazy ass teenager intoxicated and into bad music I suppose). Next I went to Germany to see my brother's wedding to the lovely Miss. Nina. There I saw castles, drifted on the Rhine and drank more than my fair share of REALLY good beer - I never liked beer before that trip, now I am a beer snob. In between there were trips to Mexico, Canada, around the US...ultimately through Harry's job we went to some amazing sites; first Nassau, Bahamas to stay at the amazing Atlantis (run do not walk - food was not great, but I was pregnant so I was picky - but the water and the swimming was amazing!) and later to New Zealand and Australia when Patrick was about 18 months old. That was incredible and we almost did not leave New Zealand. I still fantasize about moving there. Yes I have beed blessed with some travel and a very generous thrilling husband who likes to show me the world. I have been bitten by the bug. So, today while perusing the MSN site I found this site and came across the worlds largest swimming pool in Chile. It has become an obsession du jour. I MUST go there at some point! I am making it "a thing" check it out for yourself....I must get down to a bikini so I am not ashamed in the presence of the goddesses that live there. (Or at the very least so that my husband is not too distracted...ha ha ha....nah he is a good guy and he knows I can take him! :) Happy travel dreams! Quote World-Record Destinations - MSN Travel - Slide Show - 1 |
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