Over the course of this weekend my self-esteem took several hard hits–all from my sweet little 5-year-old. The first came as I was sitting on the sofa and she nonchalantly observed “Mom, you look like you have a baby in your belly.” Followed by “Do you? Do you? HELLO in there little baby, I’m your sister!” A day or two later (I’ve been trying to block the memory) as I was bending over putting away clothes in her dresser and my shirt slid up she asked, “Mom, why do you have a fat back?” I ignored this comment, but when I stood up she then said “Mom, your butt is really big.” I finally turned to her and said “Could you please stop telling me these things” to which she quite innocently responded, “But mom, you can’t see it back there.” As if she was really only informing me for my own benefit, since I would have no other way of knowing.

I think I have finally found the motivation I have been needing to get back to the gym…

I do not like cleaning house, neither does anyone else in this house. However, I do like a clean house and get very grumpy when the house starts to get too crazy. I also get VERY grumpy when I am cleaning. I have recently decided to institute some chore charts around here. One for each kid and one for myself (to which Daddy-O can contribute). I am starting it this week so we will see how it goes. I spent this weekend getting Christmas stuff out and then trying to clean. I helped the kids get their rooms clean which was entirely too overwhelming. I am hoping that having a checklist everyday will help them from letting their rooms get that crazy again. As of right now their chores mainly consist of putting their laundry in the basket, picking up their books, and putting away their dishes every day. Supergirl is also in charge of feeding the dog and fish. Weekly they must pick up all their toys in their rooms. I may have to change that to daily. We’ll see how it goes… I was going to add making your bed, but mornings are already so rushed and crazy I did not want to add anything to that chaos.
So what, if any, chores do your kids have?

I am feeling very thankful this year. I have been blessed with such an incredible life. My husband, kids, family, house, job, health, friends, etc, etc, etc. I could go on and on. I can honestly say that I truly love my life. In fact, I have been feeling so happy that a few weeks ago I was starting to freak out a little bit. I realized how long my life has been wonderful and started thinking some sort of tragedy must be right around the corner. I began to get very anxious to the point it was hard to breathe at times. However, I am a bit more relaxed now. I know life happens, and that we will face hard times at some point. But being miserable during the happy times because I’m worried about what MIGHT happen doesn’t make any sense… So for now I am just going to sit, enjoy my big giant sofa, look at our big Christmas tree and enjoy my life.

The other night Supergirl was in the middle of her bath when she suddenly asked “Mom–what’s your favorite part of your body?” Yikes!! All the insecurities I’ve ever had about my body jumped into my throat so I really wasn’t able to answer her question. Instead I said “hmmmmm, I need to think a second, what’s your favorite part of your body?” She responded “I like my eyes because they can see everything—oh, and my nose and mouth because they smell and talk and eat—oh, my ears, too, so I can hear.”

I was dumbfounded. It was such an honest and beautiful answer, where do we lose that? When did I start caring more about my eyes being crooked than the fact that I can SEE… Or more about my nose being puggy than the fact that I can SMELL…. What has happened to me?

I look at my children and can’t help but think about how beautiful they both are. However, what I want them to know is that it is not the beauty I see with my eyes that makes them so incredible. So so so much more.

I could lie and say my lack of posts is due to having a full-time job and 2 kids and a husband, etc, etc, etc. But in all honesty it is primarily due to Facebook… I’m able to get my occassional thoughts out that way, and have completely neglected this blog. Sorry about that (I seriously doubt anyone is left to read this). However, I recently started missing this. I thought I might try to come back a little. I’ve said that before, so we’ll see.

It’s that time again!!! Have a happy day!!! Smile—-A LOT!!! Do something to make someone else smile, hold the door, take an extra minute to help someone or just to say hi, anything—-just do it! You have to, because it’s happy day!
*If you are not faimiliar with Happy Day, learn more here.

It’s back. After only a week at work… I don’t feel guilty about working, in fact the schedule is quite perfect. I am home at 3:30 most of the time, couldn’t ask for much better than that out of a full-time job. However, I find myself having to choose between the kids or working out. And the kids win every time. I am going to be so fat!!! First of all, my eating at work is terrible, always has been. Anytime I have a job I tend to ‘reward’ myself with food. I eat out, I eat a lot, I eat really really really fatty food! So–I would like to balance that out by going to the gym. Unfortunately that means leaving my kids here or taking them to the daycare, which I feel terrible about after not seeing them all day. I can’t get up early and go because Daddy-O is gone 2 out of 4 mornings. I don’t want to go after they go to bed, because I am SO exhausted by that time, and then I would have a hard time going to sleep—although this may ultimately be the best solution… My friend and I decided we are going to just suck it up and have wednesday gym dates, where we always both go. It’s only once a week but it’s a start. And I’m going to do my best to not feel guilty. How do you balance your life once you are home from work???

Since last January I have been a full-time SAHM and I have honestly loved every minute of it. There’s nothing like working at a job you don’t really like, having to do more hours than you are supposed to, and feeling constantly stressed to make you realize what a blessing it is to be able to stay home. While staying home I decided to venture into private practice. I learned a lot, but unfortunately realized it was going to take a very long time to build any sort of client base. And I also learned that if I am going to see kids I would end up putting in many hours AFTER school, which means I would not see my own kids very much. We also began to run low on money. For this reason I started looking for a part-time job again. I applied at many places, had 2 interviews, and was rejected by all. Then the week before we went to the beach I get a phone call from a school district telling me they have openings (for school social worker) and wanting to know if I could interview. I was surprised as I was unaware the district had openings and had not applied. I am guessing I applied last summer using their online application and that is why they had my info. So while at the beach I kept wondering why they didn’t have the position posted. I had myself convinced they already knew who they were going to hire and they were just using me to fill in interview spots. However, upon arrival at the interview they inform me they have not one, but THREE, positions open. I called my husband after leaving and told him I would probably cry if I did not get this job They were going to notify people who were getting job offers the next day. So the next day I never moved more than an inch from the phone and was extremely disappointed each time someone else called. By 4:00 I was convinced I was a no… Then at 5:00 I get a phone call saying they were trying to check my references but could get no one, as the schools were not in session yet, so I gave them some other cell numbers to try. 10 minutes later I get a job offer. Hurrah!!!
Good news: I’m making more than I was at my last job, where I had very few days off and worked until 6:00 or later every night!
I’m off at 2:45 every day!
I get school holidays and the entire SUMMER off!
I will be at elementary schools and I LOVE elementary schools!
Bad news: None really…. I will miss Supergirl’s first day of school which I am sad about, but which she doesn’t really seem to mind too much…
So…Yay!!! I start tomorrow. Wish me luck

Today I attempted to make my own QDoba burrito. The following lessons were learned:

Plain minute brand white rice–not the same as the cilantro whatever rice…
Tortilla from Ortega soft taco kit warmed in the microwave–does not have the same elasticity or sealing powers as gigantic tortilla put in super steamer
Pinto beans from can–remarkably similar to pinto beans from warmer

Overall result: Not bad. Obviously no where near the deliciousness of a queso burrito, but still, much better than my usual ortega kit tacos…

Just got home from a week at the beach in Alabama. It was so much fun, and the kids absolutely LOVED it. It is so amazing to be with them as they experience new things, it makes everything so much more fun and exciting. Boomer was an absolute freak over the sand. He LOVED it, he loved to roll in it, dig in it, cover every part of his body with it. He liked the water but not the waves, so he never ventured very far out. Supergirl did great in the water, riding boogie boards, going out in the kayak. They both loved catching crabs and everything else that goes along with the beach. One of my favorite moments was walking down the boardwalk when I hear Boomer scream “Wook at that!!! Wook at that huge cwocodile!!!” while pointing at a small cute green lizard He was very excited!
So while down there I had a revelation that I have been living an entirely wrong life. I would make an awesome southern woman. I could have grown up near the beach, gotten summer jobs waitressing at the little beachy pubs, been all leathery by the time I got this age, gone fishing on the gulf with my dad after school, had flings with the cute little boys on vacation. I tried to convince Daddy-O that we can just move down there now, but he’s not entirely convinced
A few things I loved about southern Alabama:
Sweet tea–yum yum!
The accents–I kept finding myself unconsciously adopting a fake southern accent, it was a little embarrasing–my favorite thing to hear was “more sweet tea hon?”
The speed of things–very very slow, really though, why does anyone need to be in a hurry?
Fishing–I like fishing, although not from a boat cause that makes me sick.
The warm salty breeze that is constantly blowing off the shore–love it.