Project 365: Day 75 - Milk is Not Just for Drinking....

Children handle boo boos very differently. At least my children do. If Peanut falls down and gets hurt, he immediately jumps up, lets out this horrific wail and then he's done. It takes about two seconds. He is able to brush it off fairly quickly without the need of any significant babying. Big E on the other will milk a boo boo for all its worth.

Just tonight, he came up to me and indicated that he needed a band aid on his wrist. Upon closer inspection, it appeared that he somehow got a bruise right at the base of his palm. I think he must have popped a tiny vessel or something like that. Regardless, he wasn't bleeding, but he insisted on a band aid. So, being the loving mother I am, I tenderly obliged. To most moms, there is nothing about this story that seems out of the ordinary. But in my world, milking it goes to a new level.

As Big E walked away, after I gently applied his band aid to his wrist, he was limping.

75 of 365: Poor baby. I may have to carry him to bed over this one.

Good Night All!

Project 365: Day 74 - Characters.....

This week's character.

74 of 365: Golf or Vader? Which should I tackle today??

Good Night All!

Project 365: Day 73 - Chef Wanted.....

I wish I could cook. I really like cooking, but I'm not creative and have to follow the recipe explicitly. And even though I don't have the time to cook and I don't have the time to be creative, I still manage to collect cook books. The pictures are so enticing that I tell myself, "ok this is the one. This is the book that changes it all." And of course, said cookbook sits in a pretty little corner of my kitchen collecting dust.

But still, I really wish I could have that drive to just walk through the door after a long day of work (and pulling multiple muscles in my back and shoulder trying to keep each child on "his" side of the car while sitting in traffic) and whip up some fantastic meal that both me and my boys love. I would feel proud that I could cook something so wonderful. I would be elated that my boys couldn't get enough. And I would be satisfied that my children are getting a nutritious, well balanced meal. Instead, I run through the door, turn on the oven, change clothes while it preheats, separate the boys from whatever fight they're having, and throw in whatever frozen concoction we decide on that night. It's really sad. And I feel guilty.

I try to read the articles about "easy meals for moms" and "quick and healthy", but nothing seems to stick. I'm either overly pressed for time or my kids wrinkle up their noses as if I asked them to eat a live snake. So the rare time I do try to be a "real" mom and cook "real" food, it usually goes uneaten and I end up throwing together two ham and cheese sandwiches.

I honestly don't know what to do. I'm seriously asking for some feedback tonight. Please tell me what works for you. do you cook all day Sunday and freeze everything for the week? Do you cook a really wonderful meal, but only every other night during the week? How do you handle even the pickiest child?

I just need to hire chef. Anyone looking for a job? The pay is minimal and the kids are super impatient. But the joy of knowing you helped a talentless cook in need and prevented the future bad eating habits of two great kids would be priceless!!

73 of 365: Another pic that has nothing to do with the post. Whatever....

Good Night All!

Project 365: Day 72 - 100 Things About Me.....

So I saw this post from another blogger a while back and thought it would be a neat thing to work on. Can I come up with 100 details about myself??? Let's see:

1. I like beer. (First thing to come to mind 'cause I'm drinking one right now)

2. I have imaginary conversations with people often.

3. I have imaginary conversations with myself even more.

4. I think this might be because of the beer. (note to self - don't drink and type)

5. I live in Atlanta.

6. Well, I live in a suburb of Atlanta (but doesn't everybody?)

7. I prefer the mountains over the beach.

8. I have a low tolerance to heat.

9. Hence number 7.

10. I have twin boys.

11. My grandmother has twins boys.

12. Apparently that is hereditary.

13. I am currently separated.

14. My soon-to-be-ex and I are still very good friends.

15. I always feel the need to follow #13's statement with #14. ????

16. I have competed in two sprint triathlons.

17. I believe that "competed" is such a strong word.

18. I have completed two sprint triathlons.

19. I enjoy running very much.

20. I hated running when I was younger.

21. I have completed one marathon.

22. Sometimes when I'm walking down a long hallway, I have the sudden urge to do a cartwheel.

23. I'm not very good at cartwheels.

24. I like tattoos.

25. I have a few myself.

26. I'm not a big drinker, but I really craved beer when I was pregnant. Weird, I know.

27. I can't drink red wine.

28. The smell of vinegar makes my gag reflex go insane.

29. I'm relatively patient and overly optimistic about life.

30. I try to see problems from all sides.

31. I like to think that is what has helped me have a good relationship with my STBE.

32. Of course, I still get pissed sometimes, b/c I KNOW I'm right!

33. I am very impulsive.

34. I cut my own hair.

35. I have very curly hair, so now one knows the difference if I make a mistake.

36. I color my own hair, too. See? Impulsive. When I want something, I want it right then, before the moment passes.

37. I have a terrible memory.

38. Maybe that's why I'm so impulsive. I better do it right then or else I'll forget that I wanted it in the first place.

39. Because of my awful memory, I try to write down every time my boys say something really funny.

40. I think "Mama, my butt is all out of air" is my favorite one of all!

41. My parents were divorced when I was about two or three.

42. I was raised by my father and a wonderful step-mother (but don't tell her I called her that....)

43. There are only about 5 baby pictures of me.

44. I have literally thousands of pictures of my boys and they are only four.

45. They might be traumatized about that when they get older.

46. I have two brothers and one sister.

47. I am a co-middle child, but i have no complex about it whatsoever.

48. My youngest brother always got away with murder. (I know that's not about me, but still....)

49. I am very close to my siblings and my parents.

50. They all drive me crazy.

51. Wow, I just passed 50 and I'm exhausted. What......that's a fact, so it counts.....

52. I'm still not used to going days without my boys.

53. After having my boys alone for four days, I'm ready for a little break.

54. Yes, I can have my cake and eat it too.

55. I'm on day 72 of my project.

56. I love this project, because it forces me to journal my life in a way that I wouldn't have done so before.

57. This project is hard because it forces me to come up with material every single day.

58. I don't think my life is very interesting.

59. But it is very full (thank you boys).

60. I'm a nail biter.

61. Quitting smoking does not help curb the nail biting.

62. Smoking is grosser than nail biting.

63. I started smoking because my boyfriend smoked.

64. That was pretty stupid of me.

65. I quit smoking because my mom quit.

66. That was pretty smart of me.

67. I also quit smoking for the most obvious and important reason, my boys.

68. I love watching my boys engage in deep conversations with one another.

69. I also love when they engage in deep conversation with me.

70. I always wanted boys.

71. I never thought I could handle a teenage me.

72. I have been in the same profession for 14 years.

73. Growing up, I wanted to be a writer or Stevie Nicks.

74. I get the most compliments on my blue eyes.

75. I'm legally blind in one of them.

76. It would take a whole post to explain why.

77. I'm a very just person.

78. I believe in rules and people following them.

79. I have a degree in sociology.

80. I majored in human services and minored in criminal justice.

81. I work for a law firm. (seems fitting)

82. I can't type without looking at the keyboard.

83. But I can type very fast.

84. I love being a couch potato sometimes.

85. But I don't like laziness.

86. I hate scary movies. Really hate them.

87. I love British romantic comedies.

88. I love period films even more.

89. The last film I saw at the movies was Eat, Pray, Love.

90. Not as good as the book.

91. This year I've read four books.

92. That is a record for me.

93. I'm trying to teach my boys the joy that comes from reading.

94. Kind of hard when I just figured it out myself.

95. I want my boys to always feel secure.

96. I know that will always be hard because they shuffle between their parents.

97. Being a single parent is the hardest things I've ever done.

98. Being a happy single parent makes me proud.

99. I hope that my boys are proud of their mama.

100. I like to think they are.

72 of 365: Just a shot I like....

Good Night All!

Project 365: Day 71 - Unwelcomed Guests....

I am finally able to say good bye to the monster living in front of my house. For three months he took up residence at my front door. And I was too paralyzed to kill him. He wigged me out terribly, so I couldn't ever get close enough to whack at him.

But now, thanks to a friend, he is gone.

71 of 365: Good bye big red hairy monster. I'm gonna miss how you kept everyone away from my house. Maybe it's not such a good thing you're gone.

Good Night All!

Project 356: Day 70 - Tattoo-A-Go-Go...

Well, I guess I have to begin this post with an apology. We passed out last night around 8:30 due to the fun-filled day with kids. Sorry to miss a day's post, but I will provide two today to get back on track......

About 15 years ago, my mom, my best friend and myself went to get a tattoo. I don't remember the conversations that lead up to actually going to get them, but we went together. my mom got a beautiful flower on her shoulder. My best friend, hearts on her hip. And me? Well, I ended up with what is now called the tramp stamp. Ok, in my defense, it was NOT called that 15 years ago. I have the sun in the middle of my lower back. I like my sun. I got it to show that it is always sunny somewhere. And that the sun will ALWAYS be on my back no matter what I may be going through.

And then a year and a half ago, while I was in my "crazy" stage, I went back to the tattoo salon and had them permanently affix thirteen stars in a scattered pattern down my right side under my arm. There was no real reason why I chose what I did except that I thought it looked really cool and the only significance they have in my life would be that stars don't always have to align perfectly to have a good life. I don't know. I kinda made it up on the way to the tattoo salon.

Regardless of what they mean to me or why I got them, I am happy that I did. I wouldn't change them except to go back and make them more elaborate. I've thought about adding my boys names to the stars and maybe a little color. But regardless, I am happy with them.

So my sister, whose birthday was last week, has wanted me to take her to get one for years now. I usually talked her out of it by making her fearful of the pain. I just wasn't sure if she could handle it. I mean this is the girl that shows off all her tiny scratches and bruises as if they were massive war wounds and tells about how they hurt. So, did I think she could handle the pain of the constant needle? Hell no. But this weekend I decided that it was no longer up to me determine if she could handle it or not. And it was no longer my place to tell her that she couldn't. It was never my place to begin with.

When I got to her place this weekend, I told her that if she was ready then I was ready to take her. I could tell she was nervous driving to the salon, picking at the paint on her nails and not talking too much. We arrived and had to look through their books to see if they had the perfect dolphin to place on her shoulder. I always knew she would get a dolphin. It goes beyond obsession. But it's cute. So we found the right one and they walked us back to Brian's station. Her nerves were still present as she stumbled a little getting situated in the chair and she stumbled again getting her shirt just right. But the nerves were most present in me, as I stumbled asking if she was ok, telling her she's gonna do fine, admitting to Brian that I know I' more nervous than she is, but that she was my baby sister and I couldn't help it. He was gracious and let out a small giggle and assured that he understood.

When it was all over, I couldn't have been more proud of her. (hell I really wasn't sure if I was more relieved that she made it through it or that I made it through it). But it was done and she was happy. And I was happy for her. Brian rocked out the cutest dolphin and baby sis was no longer a tattoo virgin.

70 of 365: The Blue Dolphin....

Good Day All!

Project 365: Day 69 - Sleepover....

Help!!! I'm trapped at Mimi's with a nine year old, a five year old and 3 four year olds!! The boys are having a sleep over with their cousins. And some how I volunteered to stay too. What the hell was I thinking??!!

I totally kid, of course. Everyone is having a great time. It's 10 o'clock and they are all starting to move in slow motion. They hit the ground running as soon as they got here and the excitement is hopefully catching up with them now. Four boys and one girl. G I Joe and painting nails. Play Dough and chocolate chip cookies. My little men love when they get to spend time with their cousins. Probably because the nine year old knows how to get them to the next level in the video games.

I enjoy spending time with my brother's kids, too. We don't get to see them all that often, so i jumped at the chance to lose my mind just a little. Not quite sure where everyone is going to sleep. I'm hoping I can hide in the living room on the couch. Or I may have to bunk with my sister just so I can have a room I can lock myself in. Not quite sure if I'm kidding about that one.

Then tomorrow will be a day filled with festivals and food. And the kids actually won't be with us. I'm taking my sister to do whatever she wants. She had a recent birthday and we're going out, just the two of us.

All in all, it's gonna be a good weekend.

69 of 365: Cousins in a wagon....

Good Night All!