My Best Day So Far

A seminary teacher in high school used to say that when asked how our day was going we should answer "it's my best day so far." I always thought it was just a titch on the hokey side, but if we were discussing my day today, it would be an utter lie. Today was a bad day. Actually it all started Saturday night. Yes, I know it's Monday, so that can't be a good sign. I chaperoned the school dance on Saturday night which was just fine. I sat with a friend from school and actually got some grading done. It actually got me inspired to go crazy and stay up late and do some grading. So I was up until 2 a.m. finishing grading. It was kind of awesome, except the next morning when my children were up at 7. So last night, so tired, I don't get to bed until midnight (stupid, stupid laundry which is its own topic of discussion for another day). I was just getting to bed when Olivia woke up, scared. Of everything she said. I laid (lie, whatever) in her bed for an uncomfortable 20 minutes or so and then came back. Soon after Miles was up. This basically continued all night. I'm sure there were more than 20 minute spells, but then, for some reason I was stressing about my dreams. So the alarm goes off at 5:45 this morning and the only way I can get myself out of bed is promising myself that I'll only go a half day. Well, then I remembered that our car is still in pieces in the school's auto bays. So it was looking like a full day for me. Jeff ripped his pants getting into the car this morning (bad day for him too I guess) and everyone was grumpy and tired. We got to school and I suddenly remember that I am teaching an ACT Prep class after school until 4:30. I have nothing prepared and proceed to go to war with the copy machine. As it's jamming repeatedly and I'm about to lose it, I get a call from my dad's nurse--this can't be good. Then I get a text from my bro (because this nurse is persistant and will try all available numbers) that my dad's toilets don't work, both of them. So while the paper is jamming I am worried about this. Classes are fine, really fine, but it's a long, long day. We are still working on toilets (okay mostly Andy is, but we're trying to figure things out) when we're headed home--oh, did I mention that the auto teacher was gone so we're now going on day nine without the car? Olivia falls asleep in the car on the way home and then is super grouchy, so is Miles. At one point they're both screaming their heads off and I want to do the same. Then just an hour or so ago, Olivia threw up everywhere. She is so sad and pitiful. I took a shower and my towel bar just fell down so I really think it's time for bed now.

Please pardon the pitiful--I know my life is not really that hard--crazy post. I just had to tell somebody about my most inconvenient day. As Lilly with the purple plastic purse's teacher says "maybe tomorrow will be better." Here's hoping. Even if I am staying home with a sicky-head cute little girl. Exhausted and signing out.

Jenny

p.s. I know that this rant has some very serious grammatical problems. Particularly in the form of my verb tenses. I hope you will forgive me. If not, feel free to edit. Use a red pen :)

Our Turkey Day

I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder. ~G.K. Chesterton

Olivia & Miles chillin' & watching the parade.

This picture doesn't really need a caption because it is so awesome.

Good, good food at Aunt Cindy's house.

Happy Family. I've been dreaming about those rolls.

Oh, man the kids are full.

Miles & Cousin Payton

Olivia's friend Natalie had a fun birthday party, complete with face painting.

A True Romantic

Warning: I'm about to speak in total generalities. I make no apologies; it's my blog. I pride myself on being rational, calm, capable, logical, clear-headed and all those other good things. Therefore, it comes with great pain that I announce I am true romantic. I have supressed it as long as I can. I've been to New Moon tonight and LOVED it! I was sucked in, the entire time. It made me happy. Despite nine happy years with the same man, some part of me craves the drama and passion of new love. Maybe it's just the way we women are wired. I think it's the reason why I'll have dreams I'm on a first date...it gets a bit awkward when I realize that my husband and kids are home waiting for me. I basically don't think my subconscience can let that excitement of new love go. I have no idea why. But it may be why so many women go crazy about books and movies like Twilight. I admire Stephenie Meyer's ability to tap into our subconscious (and not too surprising that the idea for the books came to her in a dream).

p.s. What is up with this new fangled rule about one space between sentences?!? Who gets to change these things? And why did no one tell me?

p.p.s. I don't care; I refuse to do it. See. Two spaces. It's the right way.

Five Things & Some Glasses

I was tagged by Jared (who Olivia told me she likes) and plus it's fun to say random things about yourself.

Five Things I Don't Leave the House Without:

1. Keys

2. Children

3. Clothing

4. A Caffeinated Beverage

5. iphone

Five Cartoons I Watched When I Was Younger:

(side note, never that into cartoons)

1. Smurfs

2. He-Man (because Andy liked it)

3. Care Bears

4. Strawberry Shortcake (which O now watches)

5. The Flintstones

Five Things That Terrify Me:

1. My Children Being Hurt

2. Dark Parking Lots

3. Failing

4. That I Won't Be Good Enough

5. Worms

Five Things I Hate/Dislike That Everyone Else Seems To Like:

1. Seinfield

2. Call Waiting

3. Science-Fiction

4. Pizza Rolls

5. Mountain Dew

Five Things I Want To Do Before I Die:

1. Live in a Foreign Country

2. Travel, Travel, Travel

3. Skydive

4. Be Skinny

5. Publish a book (good one, Jared)

Five People I Tag:

1. Shannon (now you've been double-tagged and have something to say in your blog, because you're too busy living your crazy life to blog)

2. Brooke (also crazy busy but I need to hear from you)

3. Eliana (because you're nice)

4. Lynne

5. Shanna

Oh, I got new glasses.

Amazing how clear the world is.

Jeff got some too.

1. 
   

Dennis Quaid Wants a Coffee!

If you need a good laugh today...

All Hallows Eve

We had a lovely Halloween. Olivia celebrated at school on Thursday (as the kids weren't at school Friday) and then again on Saturday. The whole thing was confusing to her; she kept asking, "Is this the real Halloween?" I appreciated the fact that it was a bit spread out and not all crammed into one crazy day with school the next day. We went out to dinner with Grandma, and then went to her neighborhood's Trunk-or-Treat. What a haul! Olivia really had so much fun. Then we went to Grandma and Grandpa O's and got to see cute cousins in their costumes.

Miles was a centipede of sorts--I just called him a glowworm (never mind the fact that he had lots of little feet).

A long and tiring day for this cutie.

Olivia as a fairy. Loved her costume this year!

She kept calling herself a fairy godmother...or a butterfly.

Sure, why not?

Huh?

Final word...what's up the kids coming to the door and just standing there with their pillowcases open? Hello? I think "trick or treat" and "thank you" are a bare minimum on this hedonistic holiday.

Random Thoughts for a Random Life

There was a time when I was organized, when each thing was always in its place. My car was always neatly vacuumed and smelled of fake new car scent. There was a time when the only reason I was tired was because I went to bed too late. There was a time when I didn't have so much crap, every item in this house had a home, and things always remained when I put them.

Now my home is a disaster, with mounds of books, dress-ups, toys and other random unsortable items everywhere. Now my car is caked with mysterious sticky stuff and my new mode of cleaning the car is to just shove it all in the back. Now I can't ever find items like my brush, lipstick or shoes because a little Miss has always "borrowed" them. Now I am always tired, a perpetual state that I think I'll never recover from. Jeff often asks me, through the mess and muck, with a puzzled and slightly disturbed expression on his face, what happened to me. See, now he's a clean freak too. But the sentimental truth is that NOW my life is so content, so happy, and so filled with the squeals, shrieks, and screams of little ones that I don't consider myself too often. And I'm much happier that way. Now I'm slowly learning that much outside of family and friends doesn't matter. Sure the messes annoy me, let's be honest here, but man, I think I may just have it all.

The kid has this expression much of the time. Love it!

Miles and Payton chillin' on Grandma's bed. (Yes, they are holding hands).

"I'm gonna eat you!" He's a hungry kid.

O wore this garage sale find for several weeks. I think the band-aid adds a lot.

Me and the kidlets. Why is it that only Miles is capable of looking at the camera?