So, I think  I am a little crazy.  I don’t even like to take all 3 kids to the park together because someone always has to go the bathroom right in the middle of everything and it’s difficult to leave what we’re doing to get to the bathroom, etc., but today I am taking everyone to the zoo.  A friend and her daughter were suppose to go with us, but the daughter is sick.  And since we have talked about going to the zoo all week….it’s off to the zoo we go.  Wish me luck!

So with the coming of fall, kids in school (yeah), a nursery at the gym…I no longer have any excuses for not getting fit!  This is the year.  Last year while I was pregnant, again, I spent a lot of time getting the house in order and organized in anticipation of the new baby.  Now with the new baby here, I am going to spend some serious time getting myself in order.  So, I started today.  I went to the gym.  I thought there was a class at 10 am, but it starts next week which turned out to be fine since then I could start slow.  I got on the treadmill and walked for 2 miles.  Then I stretched and did some situps.  Then after visiting the nursery to feed #3, I got to take a shower…all by myself without worrying what my children were doing!!!!  That fear is what they don’t tell you about in the birthing class.  Next I picked up #3, and off we went to the grocery store, which is very easy to navigate with only one child instead of 3!  First we ate lunch there-a great salad.  Then we shopped.  Since I just ate, I wasn’t tempted to get all the foods that are bad for you.  I basically bought all fruits and vegetables…a fresh fruit bowl with pineapples, grapes, cantaloupe, green melon, apples, and blueberries, then more grapes, bananas, green peppers, lettuce, potatoes, onions, celery, mushrooms and carrots.  I already have a lot of chicken and beef in the house, so now I should be set to have healthy snacks and meals at all times.  So after I picked #1 and 2 up from school we came home and had fresh fruit for our snack!  Tonight I am meeting my book club out at a restaurant, but I know they have Weight Watcher options at the restaurant so I’ll pick one of those. 

So, day 1 down-working out-check…eating healthy-check check. 

Wish me luck on day 2!

Here in Oklahoma, summer is over.  It’s official.  Why?  Because school has started.  “What?”  You say, “Already on August 13?”  Yes, actually many school systems started yesterday on the 12.   Now really, in these economic times of distress…with everyone wanting to be a little thriftier..why wouldn’t you start a little later so that you’re not fighting the August heat.  Because the August heat is usually a killer in Oklahoma.  So, now every school air conditioner is running full force.  I guess when it’s not your money;  you’re just not as thrifty.  The schools get out like mid-May here, so there is time to readjust their schedule later into the year.  Additionally, it just passed in Oklahoma that schools can count hours instead of days to get their full time allotment.   So one school is adding hours onto the day and closing on Fridays.  I would love that!  I know as a working parent that might be difficult, but perhaps in what you save in after school care, you would spend on Friday care.  So, maybe it would even out.   

On a sidenote that will now become the main issue, I always think it is ironic that some districts that have really short school days (Milwaukee:  I’m talking to you) don’t think there is any connection to short school days and low test scores.  Now that’s like saying there’s no connection between me being a really good golfer and the hours I practice.  Now, sure there are going to be some people who are just naturally good at things and don’t need to practice as much as other people, but we all know to be GREAT at something you have to practice.  And to remember that when you’re not practicing-they are.  So, why in all areas except education do people accept that you have to practice.  I’m a good, quick reader.  Why?  Because I read a lot.  I practice reading all the time.  Therefore, I am faster than a lot of other people who don’t read all the time.  Sure everyone reads a little everyday.  It’s hard to get through the day without reading, but I go into withdrawl if I am not reading a book or two, a magazine and 1-2 newspapers a day.  That’s my practice.   So schools:  start teaching your students how to practice by example.  If your school days start after 8 am but end around 2-please examine what you’re doing and the result you’re getting.  And then DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!  Which I am sure you will do only to change everything in another  year or two.  That’s the great thing about schools…there’s always a new reform right around the corner.  But sometimes the reform you need is simply more practice.

Thank God I don’t have lots of readers depending on me to write.  I mean really…May 7 was the last time I wrote?  I mean sure, I had a baby 10 days later-a very healthy baby boy.  We love love love him.  But I haven’t had one minute since then to post?  I find that hard to believe.  Although I did pack up the fam-newborn and all and move to Oklahoma for the summer and only got re-connected to the internet yesterday,…so does that count as an excuse?  Perhaps…Anyway-like I said we’re in OK for the summer.   We bought a house here.  Just trying to do my part for the econonmy.  We are loving it.  The hubby came in on Friday for the week.  We had a big swimming party on Saturday with lots of friends and family.  Loved it.  And that folks is why we came for the summer…friends and family.  If you have that-you have everything.  I’ve stolen a quote from a book about job hunting, but I think it sums up nicely many things..

                   “Ordinary career sucess is a real good job, but real career success is a real good life.”  Ernie Zelinski.

We are trying to figure out for our family what that exactly entails.  I keep feeling that even if you live until 90-life is short.  All the mottos apply-just do it, don’t blink, JUMP.  Sometimes you just have to do all of that. When I lived in Holland, my friend Laura and I noticed that the Dutch work to live and that Americans Live to work.  So, in that sense, I want to be Dutch.  I want to work just enough to pay for my life but not let my life be only about my work.  I want to have time to watch my kids grow up and play outside.  I want to just spend time with my husband.   And enjoy that time.   This summer I have had a lot of time to watch the kids play and it has been wonderful.   And peaceful and calm.  I told my husband that if we do nothing else this week, I want him to sit outside with me on the porch at night and watch the kids play.  Our yard is nice and big and PRIVATE.  I LOVE IT.  After having our last 2 houses without a fence and no privacy plus having neighbors who didn’t understand boundaries-physically and mentally-this is heaven.  I said this summer I wanted to isolate myself and be an island…and when I’ve wanted to do that -we can.  Now, we love to have friends and family over.  We love to entertain, but on our terms.  I don’t want to be responsible for the neighbor kids or talk with the neighbors everyday.  Let’s just wave and be on our way.  I invite many people into my life-let me invite you.  Don’t just barge in.  Okay- enough written.  Babies are waking up and needing some loving-so go watch your kids play today.  You’ll thank me for the memory later.

So be it resolved….that I will severely limit my fines at the library by renewing frequently all of my books online from the library.  It seems that I always have one or two books overdue, and while I don’t mind paying since it is much cheaper than buying the book or renting the movie…it still irks me when I have a fine.  Usually because I have already finished reading the book and just haven’t returne it to the library.  Therefore I must announce my new love:  online renewal.  I have used it before, but now have decided that it is my new best friend!  Technology coupled with laziness…priceless.

We have hit the “why” stage with our oldest child.  Thankfully only one child can talk.  Everything is WHY?  Why is the sky blue?  Why is there wind?  Why is there rain?  EVERYTHING is WHY!  We try to keep patient and answer with love in our voices, but it is hard sometimes.  You want your child to be curious and learn by experiencing the outside world, but sometimes you just want….quiet.  It is also sometimes difficult to give an answer that a 3 year old will truly understand and be content with.  Sometimes we have to remind ourselves that he just wants to know the time-not how the watch is made!  Like the other day when he asked how Baby was going to get out of my stomach.  HHhmmm.   I don’t think I am up to telling the entire truth on that matter.  My husband said the baby was coming out of my belly button.  I just said he’s coming out at the hospital.   I kind of skipped over the exact how.  I think that is my right as a mother to edit the information he receives.  It’s traumatic enough to learn how you arrived in the world when you’re a teenager.  No need to start the trauma this early.  I’ve lots of years to do that to my children.  So, like all phases of child-rearing, I know the “why” phase will pass.  Until it’s the next two’s turn.  And then when it is all over, I will think back and reminisce about the sweetness and innocence of it all.  And that makes me smile today.

Motherhood is impending for us again.  This will be our third and probably last child.  I feel like I have been pregnant for the last 4 years-and with a 3 yr old, a 17 mo. old and now a baby due within the next month-I kind of have been.  So, while we are VERY grateful for the miracle of life, we are ready for Baby Henry to make his appearance.  We are not quite sure when he is coming except sometime in May.  Not all of his dates match up, but we’ll take him when he comes.  Of course the doctors don’t like that things don’t match up and want to read all sorts of things into it…but we just want him to make an appearance and however he appears will be loved.

It is so funny that for thousands-millions of years women had babies pretty much only assisted by other women who had had babies and NOW…..things are very different.  Yes, women and babies died sometimes…but for the most part your body knows instinctively what to do.  Amazing.  Simply Amazing.  It truly is a miracle.

So, in order to help with the national economy retail crisis…I have decided to do my patriotic duty and shop. I know it is a brave move on my part, but really, I love my country. I am willing and able in these trying times to help out. So far this week, I’ve helped out TJ Maxx, Marshalls (twice), Target (twice), Sam’s Club and Walgreens. I think of this week as MISSION BIG BOX. Next week, I will refine my shopping at the specialty stores in the area with MISSION SHOP LOCAL. Currently I am working on what I call “destroying the evidence.” That means before my husband gets home, put everything away! Luckily he’s not home until tomorrow from his vacation. Where you ask did my husband go? Oh, Vegas. With friends. Without me. The pregnant wife and mother of his two small children. So, not that I am quid pro quo type person. But really. I think a little shopping and a day at the spa (a full day at the spa) are not out line. Since after number 3 comes, I will never be alone for the next year or more. And when I say never alone, those of you with small children know what I mean. Again, I say all I am trying to do is help the economy. There’s really nothing in it for me. I mean the new bedding is for Jacob. The train decor is for the playroom. The new drapes are for the windows. Once again, it is for everyone else. I’m a giver.

Quick note to stay that under all of my bins in the kitchen I discovered ceramic countertops.  Okay, I had seen them previously like once or twice but now they are clear and clean.  I had at least 4 junk buckets full of junk.  Now I have none.  I have decided having a junk bucket just encourages you to have more junk!  So I will try to not have any more.   I wish I had done all this before I cooked Christmas Dinner-when I really needed the counterspace.  Oh well, there’s always next year.   I organized my junk drawers and found all the pens, calculators, and tape we couldn’t find a few weeks ago.  So, it is simply amazing.  It is like shopping at your own house without spending a penny. 

On Wednesday night/Thursday (New Year’s Eve and Day) our big plans are to organize the study.  You know all those piles of paperwork you think you need, but then never file correctly.  That is our wild night in.  Today, maybe I’ll tackle a toy/bookcase in the living room.  Maybe.  I am feeling pretty crafty.  Let’s see what happens next….

Okay, with the new year approaching quickly-my New Year’s Resolution is to get ORGANIZED!  Seriously this year.  I’m not even joking.  I started with the bathroom on Saturday, and I must say it turned out very well.  Once I get the new curtains hung, it will be DONE.  It was quite a feat since we have 4 adults (my brother and his fiancee live with us) and 2 children here and all of their bathroom items in one bathroom.  We have another bathroom, but the only shower is in this bathroom, hence all of the items.  And we have no built in storage.    So, about a year ago we brought home a 6 cubby bookshelf which I thought would solve all the problems…but didn’t because then you just have open storage showing all your items.  Not what I wanted.  Not that I have any items I am embarrassed of, but does everyone who visits our house need to know what type of deoderant I use?  I think not.  So, then I started looking for baskets, but could never find the size I wanted.  Also, good storage baskets are never as cheap as I think they should be.  I thought about looking for tins and such, but taking 2 toddlers to the antique mall to search just doesn’t hold much appeal. 

So finally, like a year later, I thought what about boxes covered in fabric?  I have loads of fabric.  I used to have a source that would sell it really cheap.  I would then buy loads of it for “future projects.”  Most of which, I never did start or complete.  So, I found just regular little packing/shipping boxes, covered them in fabric, sorted out everyone’s items to a particular box….and done.  Organized in a pretty and cheap manner.  That then lead to a full cleaning of the bathroom….and now I think I should just now allow anyone to use it.  It looks so pretty.  Okay, they can use it.  But I will be on the lookout for clutter offenders.  So now I am off to another room.  Probably the study.  Our kitchen really needs some help, but it is tooooooo overwhelming.  I always leave the kitchen for last, because at least by then the rest of the house is done. 

So if anyone has any great tips…let me know.   I try to do just one room at a time, so that I feel progress.  My friend Jenny says, “start with one surface at a time, and put like with like.”  So I try to employ those rules too.  I am open to new ideas on organization however…