Sunday, July 31, 2011

And Here We Go Again....

Summer is coming to an end here in north Georgia.  At least that's what the school calendars say.  Here in Cherokee County, we're on almost a year round school.  They get off June and July and go back the first of August.  However they get off a week in September, a week for Thanksgiving, two weeks for Christmas, a week in February, spring break in April and then get out the end of May.  Good schedule, I think, however my hubby feels otherwise.

See he's retired and stays at home with the monsters, uh I mean kids all.summer.long.  ALLLLL.SUMMMMMEERRRR.LLLLOOONNNNGGGG (he had me add that one).  The first couple of weeks, yay!!!  Good times!!!  Sleep in late!!!  But then, ultimately, the "I'm bored" monster rears its ugly head and, speaking for myself, I have done what I SWORE I would NEVER do.  Become my mother.  When I hear the "I'm boredddd...." whine, my natural sarcasm kicks in and I just get the confused look when I ask them if they'd like some cheese with that whine.  Sigh. (Note to self, you ARE dealing with children here).  Then, before I know it, out of my mouth flies the dreaded..."well if you're bored, go clean your room!".  I slam my hand over my mouth!!  Both of them!!  I can't believe I've said that.  I absolutely promised myself as a worldy, intelligent, know it all teenager, that I would NEVEREVEREVEREVER say things like that to my children.

I would calmly discuss with them the things they could do and then (camera zooms in on a peaceful, domestic scene:  Mother and father are playing a rousing game of scrabble with their teenage children, who, shockingly are dressed neatly, combed, cut hair (hint hint Tyler), they respectfully ask their parents if they'd like a refill of their iced tea and when mom gets up to start the dishes, they all jump up and say "no mom!!  We'll get those!  You go sit and relax with Dad".)  Bubble bursts like a professional gum smacker/blower and I'm left with children whose hair hasn't seen a comb in God knows how long, they've been in the same clothes all week, the idea of doing dishes is both repulsive and foreign to them, they argue amongst themselves CONSTANTLY, Scrabble would absolutely NOT be a game of choice, whining is an art form to them, they all talk at once and, before I know it, out of my mouth bursts all those things I swore I'd never say!!  "If you're bored, go clean your room...do the dishes....clean the house...mow the yard...etc".  If I hear another word out of your mouth you will be grounded (except, I add my own flourishes on it such as "until the end of time" (mom wasn't known for her sarcasm).  "Fine, DON'T eat it, but you can go sit in your room for the rest of the night".

I hang my head in shame before you!!  I have become my parents.  But wait, don't we all ultimately "learn" from a parental figure??  Learn even a little something??  So maybe I can put a spin on this.  I've "picked up" some tidbits from my parents so maybe I can use those, but in my own "charming little way".

So when my kids tell me they're bored, I pause and then I say "Well if you're bored honey (see..my "spin") you can go and clean your room".  Kid: "But I don't want to do THAT".  Me: "Oh, so you were hoping I'd say something like, well if you're bored let's go to Disney World?".  Kid: (with a ginormous grin on their face):  "Yeah!!!".  Me: (and yes I'll burn in hell for this but it's fun):  "Sorry...not gonna happen.  Now go clean your room".  I'm giggling right now.  I am SO gonna burn.

But the kids ALWAYS manage to keep themselves entertained, so maybe it's not so bad.



Toodles!

Teresa

Sunday, July 24, 2011

It was 8 years ago....

When my youngest son came into my life.  He was born via c-section and was supposed to be here first thing on the morning of July 25, 2003, but at 5am, the hospital called and said they had a huge amount of births that night and my c-section would have to be rescheduled for the afternoon.  I was PISSED!!  I was hungry and thirsty, couldn't eat or drink and was anxious to not be pregnant anymore.  So I defiantly drank half of a Diet Coke (which, yes, I threw up later).

Anyway, at 1:57pm, Matthew Connor (aka Charlie) came in to this world.

And here he is today:


Happy Birthday sweet boy!!

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Something Sweet My Hubby Did

First of all let me start by saying I am MAJORLY addicted to blogs. Reading them that is. I've tried to "start" 2 blogs (this being my second) and I find it hard not only because I work full time plus have a lot of night meetings plus I come home and cook, clean, etc. But my "get away" (not counting my Saturday trips to the grocery store...yes that's my pathetic version of a "get away") is by reading blogs. Following along with everyone from Linda at Behind My Red Door to Cheryl at Tidy Mom to everyone's favorite, Ree at Pioneer Woman to rug hooking blogs to decorating blogs to cooking blogs. My husband sees me reading them and tells me "you ought to start one". But what would I write about? Who wants to read about my life? I don't do anything special. I'm not a decorating guru or a chef or an interior designer. My house is decidedly "undecorated" in most cases and constantly covered in cast-off plates, empty soda cans, 4 puppies in various stages of sleep, lethargic kids zoned in on the tv or PS3 or Wii. Isn't that everyone throughout America's life? (other than said blog hiearchy).

But then I stop and think...that's probably how Linda and Cheryl and Ree started as well...and now look at them. I realize that reading about their life makes me smile and sometimes cry and gives me ideas. So maybe, just maybe I might be worthy of that as well.

Well, my darling hubby (who I absolutely "under appreciate most of the time) "created" a web page on our email provider. It just melted my heart.   He does things like that because he loves me.  The one he started or created for me via our internet provider has very limited "page designs", so it can't have the "design" aesthetics that blogspot has. And I'm very materialistic and like "bling". : )

So here goes...I promise to try to do this on a regular basis.

I'll tell my hubby that I've taken his advice and started a "blog".

I'll realize that maybe...just maybe...hearing about my regular life might just make someone out there smile. Or, should I ever post a picture or tutorial about something I do...maybe some one will be "inspired" or say "hey...what a good idea!".

I'll maybe actually start to enjoy the outlet that this must be.

I'll actually post some pictures (once I learn how to do it that is).

I can post recipes too. I do have a few "throw togethers" or "concoctions".

I can divulge some of my dirty little secrets. (Do I have any??? I don't know about "dirty" but of course I have some secrets).

Maybe one day my kids can learn a little more about their momma and that she's not just a "mom".

Here's my New Years resolution, 7 months and two weeks later.

Smiles!!

Teresa