So Bueatiful

"It's so bueatiful, Mommy"

That's the first thing TT said to me when he came outside this morning.  I was in the middle of hanging diapers to dry.  He was referring to the diapers being bueatiful.  And I can see where he would think that.  All of the bright colors, gently swaying in the breeze, the bright late spring sun shining down on them.  Like little flags across the side of the yard.

But for me it wasn't just the diapers that were bueatiful.  It was a bueatiful day with my bueatiful family.  At the time ERP was happily in his bouncy seat watching me and listening to the birds.  TT started helping me hang the clothes.  The morning went on, and RR helped with the chores.  The boys played.  Husband played with the boys.  I got in on the action. We had an easy lunch and the house was clean and full of laughter.  Then my mom showed up with a cake.  Yum!!  Cake and then naps.

What more can you ask for?

While TT was sleeping I did take the diapers off the line.  He cried when he noticed they had been taken down.  "So pretty.  Go?" he asked.

But its alright.  I am sure the summer will be filled with many more days like this, complete with diapers on the line.  At least I can hope so.

What to do?

I came downstairs from tucking in TT and started to look around and wondered "what do I want to do tonight?".  Without a further thought I started washing diapers and doing the dishes.  While I was SOSing the chili stuck to the bottom of the pot I got to thinking "This is NOT what I want to do tonight.  I want to do something that makes me happy."

I could.....

• work on putting together picture frames
• yoga!!  I've been meaning to do that for a few weeks
• watch "I Didn't Know I was Pregnant", because I've been meaning to watch that show for months
• do some school work, I didn't get to it this weekend and one of the downfalls of a self directed course is not pushing yourself sometimes
• research Easter ideas on Pintrest, it's been weeks since I've been on Pintrest
• look for ties for the boys for Easter
• mount and hang up some art work the boys have done for me
• start reading a new book
• print pictures of TT and actually start his scrapbook
• work on RR's scrapbook I have all of those pictures of him already...
• and breath.....

Then my thoughts started to change.  I should...

• put away RR's clothes
• fold TT's clothes
• put away my laudry
• clean out the pantry, why do I always look to clean when I want to relax?
• dust the light fixtures in the kitchen, see above note
• put away the Christmas coffee mugs, um yeah..... I think I have a problem

I really need to start doing things on my make me happy list.  The cobwebs can wait another day; I tell myself that when the boys want to do something.  I try and find a balance.  Must balance myself more... can you hear my chanting?... must balance myself more....

Fifty-one

My washing machine has been slowly going for the last few months.  Half the time the clothes just weren't spun out when the load was done.  But the problem was easily fixable, just run another spin cycle.  OK, OK I was treating the symptom and not the problem.  This fact hit home about a month ago when I went to run "another spin cycle" and my washing machine laughed at me.  Actually it was more of a grinding clanging sound.

Not good.

This was a Sunday and the laundry was fairly caught up, I was just doing a "bonus" load to teach Turkey how to operate the washing machine.  Yes, he had reached that magical age where he could start helping with the laundry.

A week went by and after church we went to the laundromat.  I felt prepared and ready.  I had gone to the bank on Friday and had $20 in quarters.

Then, before I could blink that $20 quarters was gone; AND I still wasn't done loading the machines.  I surveyed the piles around us; and somehow everything we owned was dirty.    How was this possible?  We had stopped using our cloth diapers when the machine broke.... OK, ok, cloth diapers really don't make up the bulk of our laundry.  It was nearly 2 weeks worth of clothes, and sheets, and towels, and more towels.

Sigh.  I considered becoming a nudist family.  Me and the boys would have no issue with this, but Husband yeah... not so much.  So $51 and 3 hours later our laundry was done.  You read that right - fifty-one dollars at the laundry mat.

The next week I was able to get away with spending $7.50, by washing everything in one load and drying it all at home.  And I only washed the essentials.

Sure the break from doing laundry every day has been wonderful; but it really is a pain in the butt to schlep to the laundromat not to mention the other small fortune we've spent on disposable diapers, refills for the diaper pain... and the poor rash that Monkey developed from all those disposable diapers.

Our washing machine served us well for nearly 9 years, but it's time had certainly come to an end.  We had considered fixing it; but the repairmen wanted $40 to just come to our house.  So alas we finally broke down and bought a new one. For an added bonus I was able to SELL the broken one, and get someone to haul it's poor tired broken frame out of my basement.

I never thought I would say this, but I cannot wait to get home tonight and do some laundry.  I'm actually looking forward to trying out my new machine.  It's the simple things, isn't it?

Chores

Yesterday Turkey said to me, after I asked him to get started on his chores "You don't care about me".

I replied "I do care about you, that's why I have you do chores".

Daily he has to clean up after himself, put his clothes in his hamper and feed his fish.

Weekly, every Sunday, he has to empty the trash cans in the bedrooms and bathrooms, clean the toilets, and take out the recycling.

As I request he has to set the table, dust, vacuum, put away his clothes, feed the dog or cat, and clean his room / playroom.

Not too much in my opinion.  Reasonable for an eight-year old.

Tonight I decided it was time he learn how to do the dishes.   And by dishes I mean clear the table, load the dishwasher and wash the pots and pans.  The experience sounded something like this:

"I am going to have to dishes for the rest of my life."

"Ugh..... ugh...."

"This is so boring."

"What is the difference between place and throw?  It's in there."

"Ooooohhhhhhhh."


Clearly he needs to do more chores... ha ha ha....

Books in the Basement

When you live in the sticks (or is it from the lack of municiple funding these days) you need to either higher a private rubbish removal company or buy special bags and haul your stuff crap to the transfer station yourself.  When we moved out here 3 years ago we first opted for the special bags.  However we soon learned that this did not fit into our schedule so well; so we've been a slave to the private rubbish removal business ever since.

Last summer we started talking about renting a dumpster and taking a week and cleaning out all of the "stuff" we have in the attic and basement.  Honestly, we have boxes in both places that haven't been opened since we moved.  But we never got around to doing this; then we noticed some of our neighbors had dumpsters on their properties versus a large can that gets picked up weekly.  So Husband looked into this option and for a bit more a month we now have a small-ish dumpster and a smaller-small-ish recycling dumpster in the far corner of our driveway.

Having these has allowed us to slowly and surely go through all of the things we've amassed over the years and downsize.  It's been liberating to throw out my band jacket from 1990-something, along with other items that were simply taking up space.

However with all the good steps we've taken in downsizing we're bound to pick-up a few new treasures along the way.  One such event that we would find said treasures at is "The Friends of the Library" bi-annual book sale event.  We go the last weekend every time it rolls around and stock up on 50 cent books and the like.

We've been looking forward to the spring sale, coming this weekend, for about a month now... and I had just finished a book so I was really looking forward to going.  But then this weekend while working in the basement I found two boxes of my old books.  Swoon, I am in love.

Right now I am reading "Pink Slip Party" by Cara Lockwood.  This book is a classic chic lit and a fast read.  I couldn't tell you the last time I read it and I am loving every moment.  I also found my copy of "Breaking the Good Mom Myth" by Alyson Schafer.  This was my bible when Turkey was Monkey's age and I don't think I would have made it with my sanity in tact without it.  I am so so so looking forward to diving into this one again.

And then there are my Kurt Vonnegut books.  Oh, I love me some Kurt Vonnegut.  And I'm not talking his standard text of Slaughter House 5, which I suspect every public high school student in 1990s read, I'm talking about his threaded works in "Cat's Cradle" through "God Bless You Mr. Rosewater".  Can you hear my heart beating a little faster... ah... love....


I'm honestly considering starting to pump again at work, just so I can have a 10 minute break to read while pumping.  Hey, it would be beneficial to me and the baby.  Right?

Now, if only I could find my copy of "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith.  Perhaps, it's tucked away in a box in the attic.

I Cheat

At laundry that is.

Small hand towels and face cloths, they don't get folded.  They go into some nice ($1 - Christmas Tree Shop) fabric bins in the closet.

Monkey and Turkey's underclothes, they don't get folded.  Simply put into their dressers.  OK, none of Monkey's clothes get folded; just sorted and stacked in his draws.  Who has time for stuff like that?  Certainly not me.

(Diapers on the other hand are stuffed and prepped once they are cleaned... this is essential for keeping Husband on the cloth-diaper-wagon, as well as a necessity with an ever-wigglier baby.)

Ninety percent of mine and Husband's clothes get hung up - simply because it's easier.

So yeah, I cheat at laundry... and it feels so good. :-)

Man Speak

When I say I am going to do the dishes, what I really mean is I am going to:

• put the dishes in the dishwasher
• wash all of the dishes that need to be done by hand
• put away any food, dressing, etc that have been left out
• wipe down and put away the high chair
• wipe down all of the counters, the stove, table and fridge door handle
• put away any small appliances that had been taken out
• sweep the floor
• and clean out the sink

When I ask my husband to do the dishes, he does just that.  He loads the dish washer.

I need to learn to speak more like a man, because I can't expect him to read my mind and know what doing the dishes REALLY means.  

What does doing the dishes mean to you?

Cleaning

I need to clean.

I want to clean.  Yes, I woke up this morning and felt the want to clean.

But I can't seem to find the focus to do it.

I've had a great cup of coffee and a nice breakfast (2 eggs over easy of course; and a side of toast).

Walked around the house and picked up a few things.

I've nursed the baby a few times, and have started a few loads of laundry.

Then I picked up a few more random things.

I talked on the phone with my aunt.  Then I talked on the phone with my cousin (who is having her first baby in December, so exciting).

Then I nursed some more.

I took Turkey to the grocery store, and ate way too much for lunch.

Oh and somewhere this morning I published a blog post, and now I am writing another.

I need to clean.

I want to clean.

I cannot seem to find the focus to do said cleaning.  Maybe after another cup of coffee (decaf, of course)....