Life in the Shoe

2011-09-28T15:56:00.000-07:00

Namaste, I love you too...

2011-09-25T17:29:00.001-07:00

Today - Rainy
Crash - Happy to have The King home "I want ladder for dinner"
The Princess - Whereabouts Unknown
The King - Happy to have a day off
Me - Exhausted

Conversations overheard:
Daddy(while in the middle of a repair project): Sh*t!
Son: What's Sh*t?
Daddy: Nothing, don't say that!
Son: Okay I won't say Sh*t...
Daddy: I just said don't say that!
Son leaves the room to see what Mommy is doing...

Well it's been long enough I guess it's time...

2010-11-16T20:22:00.000-08:00

Today - Chilly, Windy and altogether grim

Crash - Potty Trained...FINALLY

The Princess - Moody

The King - Things are looking not so great on the job front...

Me - Still feels like parenting is brand new...everyday is a new challenge and new memory.

Today was a pretty successful day as far as that goes. Got the kitchen and laundry worked on. Jonathan learned to make the letter "J" during school time and is now recognizing his nickname when written as being him. I would count our transition to "School Time" well under way. We are also on day 23 with no accidents number one or two. Woot!

Had to rely on my girlfriend for dinner and watching Crash while I went to get The King from work. He told me that he had been demoted and given a new shift. He is also going from salary back to hourly. This could be a good thing heading into flu season but I am trying to get him to update his resume' anyway. GRRRR The company has a history of sending people home when the volume is low and business has not been good.

Onward to tomorrow!

Make up days 6, 7 & 8 of 10

2010-02-10T16:56:00.000-08:00

Today - Raining

Crash - More agreeable

The King - Handsome

Me - Working hard for the...wait, am I supposed to be getting paid for this?

Okay, so I have missed a couple of days, here's a recap...

Monday - The weather was beautiful, but Crash was still overdone from having the Princess over the weekend. Would not listen, at all, in any way, or whatsoever. He and I went to pick the King up from work and of course the little angel had no problem falling asleep three blocks from picking the King up. He didn't want dinner and went to bed hungry for the first time. I didn't get to sleep until 3AM, I don't like Crash going hungry AT ALL!!!

Tuesday - The weather was beautiful but Crash didn't care. Still didn't want to listen to mom for sh**. We waited for the King to come home and the King had to spoon feed him dinner.

Today - The weather was Portland's liquid sunshine, but Crash was MUCH more cooperative. We walked through the neighborhood in the rain for an hour, he still didn't want to nap. Once he cuddled up with mom in her bed though he fell right to sleep. Note to self: Workouts are ALWAYS good, even if mommy isn't feeling up to it.

I also found out that dear friends are going to be moving out of town March 1st. I think that sucks for us, but is just what they need and I cannot find it in me to be anything but happy for them. I can't wait until coffee this Friday! Additionally, the Princess has requested to spend the night with us before Valentine's Day, very gratifying...but I can't help wondering if this is going to set Crash off...again...

Going to pull Crash out of the bath now...

Partly cloudy with a chance of "Say What?"

2010-02-07T18:50:00.000-08:00

Today - Partly cloudy with a chance of "Say What?"

Crash - Very sweet

The Princess -Very happy

The King - Satisfied

Me - Feeling pretty good

Well dear reader, been an interesting day...Breakfast was Blueberry muffins with banana, both girls & Crash up by 8:00 & it was my morning to get up with them. The girls played inside & out and were even kind enough to play with Crash for a bit outside.

We were a bit derailed when the Princesses other household called to tell us they would like her back by 4:30. That was the point that they also chose to let us know that they would be keeping her with her new third household (long story...see 2009) on our next scheduled weekend. Grrrr

I made plans with the other little girl's mother to go ahead and make sugar cookies for Valentine's Day so we could let them get together and told the girls that we would go ahead and plan another sleep over for some day soon. Frowns turned upside down.

Took a couple of very unnerving phone calls, hopefully it will turn out to be nothing. Ate potato soup for dinner, yum on day three. Looking forward to bed time for Crash and some QT with the King <3

Day 4 of 10

2010-02-06T22:25:00.000-08:00

Today - Grey & overcast

Crash - Happy the Princess is here

The Princess - Hyper and unfocused

The King - Glad to be home

Me - Tired

Enjoyed a delightful evening with friends/family; Crash was up until 10:30, but asleep before we had gone 20 blocks on our way home. Uncharacteristically, it was easy as pie to move him (car seat and all) into the house. We shucked the car seat in the living room and he was almost eager to get to bed. The Princess was AWESOME with him while we were there and we felt well visited.

I made it to the airport perfectly to pick up the Farmer from the airport, flying in from Hawaii... They had a great trip. Grama seemed in very good spirits : )

The Princess and the girl next door made muffins with me tonight. We made blueberry and then I made the mistake of adding some preserves to the center...blueberry nipples...great...

Parenting Class

2010-02-05T14:48:00.000-08:00

Today - Gorgeous, sun is shining & birds are singing

Crash - Awesome, for a two year old...

The Princess - gets picked up at 3:30

The King - Spunky

Me - Feeling like I am NOT the worst parent in the world

Started the parenting class today. It seemed like a mixed bag of people and I am looking forward to seeing how they develop during the class. There are some parents in the class that really seem to want to be involved and better their relationships with their kids and there are some that seem so involved in their own head space that they are not really getting that into the class...since it was one of the silly getting to know you sessions, I couldn't really tell.

I got the good news that Jonathan is going to be starting the relief nursery on Thursday of next week....Woo Hoo mama is going to have 3 hours of peace two days a week plus, they watch the kids in another room while we are in class. That in and of it's self was a blessing today, but I can't wait to actually get the house back under control. It's hard to clean with the normal cleaning supplies when you know your toddler is only one step behind you and can't wait to get his mouth on that item that you need to use 409 or some such to clean.

Going to try to refine my husband's potato soup recipe tonight...I will let you know how that goes tomorrow. Just so you know, dear reader, I am trying to post every day for 10 days to see if posting a blog really does help relieve some of my stress. If it does I may have to go ahead and make it a regular deal again, who knows. I have also placed a hold on "The Happiness Project" by Gretchen Rubin with the local library. I am looking forward to reading the book, and if it seems applicable, starting my own happiness project.

Day 2 of posting for 10 days straight

2010-02-04T14:55:00.000-08:00

Today - Raining off and on

Crash - High-energy

Me - Better than Yesterday

Today started with Crash bouncing down the stairs...boundless energy, that one. Picture me stumbling downstairs behind him with a screaming tooth ache. Daddy met him with a banana and a smile. I downed two Ibuprofens. We made it through breakfast(if you wanna call it that). He had Yogurt & I had a breakfast bar. I made him a PB&J around 9:30 and we left for the Library at 10:00.

Apparently Thursdays are a hard day for moms in Portland...The classroom was already filled 5 min before they were set to start the mommy & me reading room. We ended up out in the Library with all of the other disappointed toddlers. We ran into Sims again, we had first met them at the Friday mommy & me...I chatted a bit with his mom, I think she seems cool and the boys totally liked each other and are almost the same age.

Potential playmate? Keep you fingers crossed for me...Jonathan NEEDS to start playing with other kids. I am soooooo excited to start the VOA class. Hopefully, there will be someone that he particularly gets along with and I will be able to get some better coping mechanisms.

We also made sure to get the car cleaned out. I am going to be picking up MeMAW and Papa Fuzzy at the airport. They are flying in from Hawaii, soooooo jealous! Maybe someday...

Let's try this again...

2010-02-03T15:25:00.000-08:00

Hello again...

You missed one heck of a year....2009 good riddance!

Today - Raining

Crash - 2 1/2 Walking, Talking and Amazing

The Princess - 9 going on 19

The King - needs dynamite to ignite him (thankfully this seems to be my new middle name)

Me - Looking forward to the parenting class starting Friday. Crash and I are going to begin classes to help me deal with my toddler without, hopefully, damaging him permanently.

I don't know what I did to deserve this wonderful kid, but whatever it was I am SOOOOO glad! Crash is awesome and almost always does what I ask, when I ask. He is a toddler though, as such he is testing his boundaries constantly. Today we screamed from the Dollar store to the closed Library (duh mom, should have checked the hours before we left) and half-way home. He was upset because he wanted to go back to the Dollar store to play around. My fault, of course, I should have used a shopping cart instead of a basket.

We are looking forward to having the Princess this weekend. We don't see her other than every other weekend, and frankly, I am not sure how much longer that will last. I really think it might be best given her age, if we switched it to her coming to see us when she wants to as opposed to a regulated every other weekend. She is very high energy and doesn't always listen the greatest. She has also started pushing her boundaries with us again.

I am still feeling like a mixed up mess, but every day is a new day. Since I think I might be crazy, I can't be... right?

2008-08-25T15:43:00.000-07:00

Please click http://dragcave.net/user/banzaii666
or my poor little eggs won't hatch...

Surviving...gasp

2008-06-17T23:30:00.001-07:00

Well I have safely survived since my last post. Boy have things been busy here in Graperland! I am still sorta' shell shocked...

To recap:

We got the princess starting Wednesday of last week, per my earlier posts. This did create HAVOC in our household. Crash (the not yet a year old baby), loves his sis! He is used to seeing her at the end of the day on weekdays and every other weekend. He OVERLOADED on sis, he did sleep well...once we finally got him there. Talk about stimulated. We also had the neighbor kids over on Friday

The King had to work Saturday, but was still able to get up with the baby and let mom sleep in. He also managed to squeeze in a game of Monopoly with the Princess. He didn't have to be in to work until 2 PM, but had to stay until 9 PM. I don't know if I fully conveyed the SUCK of this in my previous post. It did SUCK, the baby stayed up until 10:30 PM Waaaaaaaaaaay past his usual bed time so Daddy could put him down. He was asleep within seconds of daddy picking him up.

Talk about a disgruntled mommy...I wanted to sleep in sooooooooooooo bad on Sunday, but it was Father's day and the Princess needed to be returned by 1:00 PM for a BBQ at her mothers. So mommy was up by 7:30 AM and the princess joined us about 8:30 AM...and we finished the Father's Day preparations. The Princess and I did a Father's Day card for the King and wrapped the pocket knife the kids gave him, Crash also scribbled his mark on the card and we took him a cup of coffee in bed around 11:00, the lucky bastard, I'm not bitter...never...

Then the Princess and I left at noonish for the dollar store and then her mom's house. We needed to re-stock the Princess Store so she would have new things to "buy" with her Princess Points. By the by, if anyone is dealing with an essentially cooporative step-child and is looking for a good way to get them on their side, I highly recommend rewarding good/positive behavior by giving out points (of whatever sort) before bed. Take the time to reinforce all of your positive interactions throughout the day, one-on-one and let them spend them on tangible immediate rewards the next day. It puts them to bed with a good feeling about both of you and they can look forward to playing with their new thing. This can get expensive, especially if you have items to choose in several "price" ranges. We ended up spendin WAY more than I had planned, but I wanted to re-stock for summer, they also had some great things. I can't wait to see her face tommorrow!

Today we had the Farmer and her parents, my grandparents over. They were coming in for a doctor's appointment and decided to come by for an hour or so and see the baby. They ended up getting here about 2:30 PM and left about 3:30 PM. Needless to say, I spent most I my morning hystarically trying to restore order to the downstairs. I succeeded better than I had dared hope. I was able to excavate a table and chairs in the dining room, moved the computer to a new desk. Moved the desk that had been there into the dining room, to become the Princesses very own place to have STUFF. Vaccuumed both the dining room and living room, and cleared the front entryway of all of the various accumulation. I also did 3 loads of laundry, just to make the piles look more managable. When will the laundry end????? hee hee ha ha ho ho...

We all had a wonderful visit, Grammy gave me an early birthday present, I loved it! She gave me a hilarious card, I have to remember to share it with the neighbors. I also got a great purse and some CUTE tanks. Grama ROCKS! Crash was on semi-good behavior. He was very sleepy by the time they got here and he has a little cold, so he was a bit crabby. He didn't seem to recognize Grammy & Grampa, but he hasn't seen them much lately, not as much as ANYONE would like. The Farmer keeps making me feel like I don't want to share him, it isn't that, come on, gas there and back is close to $40 and we seem to be up there more than not. Besides we are going up on the weekend of the Fourth and will be up there plenty long enough for birthdays for all...

Crash did manage a couple of things on his own for the first time today. He managed to put all of the rings back on the cone, and he also managed to make a squeeker squeek on one of his rattles. He is AMAZING to me. He did do the rings while the Farmer and his great-grandparents were here, he also played a rousing game of peek-a-boo with us. Once again, Crash gives a great visit.

We are all looking forward to Daddy's Grammy coming into town this weekend and need to have the entire weekend cleared. I also need to get the kitchen whipped into shape again. When will the dishes end, I think you get the idea...

Anywho, she's a kick and I am looking forward to seeing her. I hope Crash is a good sport about it.

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What would I do with out her?

2008-06-12T11:50:00.001-07:00

My next door neighbor, and best woman (call her The Lady) ROCKS! I met her when I was working in HR for a call center, we struck up a warm friendship over cigarettes and shared funny anecdotes about our families. This was 7 years ago and it was also where my husband and I met. Through the years we have brushed across each other from time to time but never really stayed close. I have always felt she is one of the warmest most well-grounded people ever. Shortly after the King and I began dating, she moved in next door to him. They used to date. No, it's not weird. They are the worlds best exes and have a good friendship.

Over the course of time, she and I became close enough that I asked her to be my maid of honor in our wedding. Once our son was born she consented to become his god-mother, we still need to make that official at some point. She is a bastion of sanity in my otherwise crazy world. When the Princess is being particularly royal and Crash has totaled himself, she is always there to help me put the pieces back together.

Speaking of, Crash is presently visiting next-door. Mr. I don't need a nap...I can stay up all day and all night and all day and all night and all day... you get the idea.

Today, we are all adjusting still to the Princess being here all day, and overnight even. I think Crash is going to adjust eventually but I may not be here to see it. There will be a small mushroom cloud where I used to stand. I am glad my kids seem to like each other, when they don't hate each other. This is normal and all to the better. I could wish however that Crash didn't fall apart every time the Princess is out of the room. I know it will pass...before I pass out?

Oh dear dog, what was I thinking... Oh yeah, I wasn't

2008-06-06T21:18:00.001-07:00

So my mother-in-law is coming into town this weekend, she's due here on Saturday at noon. The Princess's mom and step-father were kind enough to let us have her until Saturday evening, so she will be able to see her Grama on her dad's side. I am looking forward to seeing her again. She is so sweet, and very good with the baby. I'm sure it will be a full house working on an insane asylum.

School ends for the Princess on the 10th of June and we begin getting her from Wednesday through Friday and every other weekend. This continues until school begins in the fall.

Then the following weekend, Crash and I will be spending Father's Day 60 miles away with my family. Leaving the King and the Princess to fend for themselves all day. This will be in celebration of my niece's first birthday, that is if her little brother hasn't ruined plans. I just had a call from the Farmer and she says that they are inducing my sister-in-law tonight. Either way, my mother assures me that Crash needs to walk for Great Grammy SOON! Also, the King has to work Saturday...Happy Father's Day, my love.

The weekend of the 21st & 22nd, the King also has to work Saturday. UPDATE: I have just been informed that his Grandmother will also, tentatively, be joining us that weekend, on Saturday. We won't have the Princess, sad that she won't get to see Grama : ( Maybe her parents will let us borrow her for a day, like they did this time... Oh yeah, Happy Birthday to me, the mad mommy, on the 23rd.

As it stands we will have the Princess on the weekend of the 28th & 29th, and we could celebrate her birthday as well as Crash's on this weekend up on the farm.

The weekend of the 4th, 5th & 6th, the King and I will be off until Monday morning, and we could do a long weekend up on the farm. We have a family reunion that will be happening, potentially for the last time I have been informed, on Saturday the 5th and will need to attend any way. I have been informed by the Farmer that our attendance is not optional. Since we will have the Princess, she should enjoy being partially in charge of the horses? Maybe with her older cousin? That could be fun...

If anyone sees me on the 12th or 13th of July, I am a figment of your imagination...this is not the March Hare Mommy you seek...

Little girls...

2008-06-05T17:25:00.001-07:00

We had the Princesses best friend over today after school. I wonder why it is that 1 little girl is a handful and two is the end of the known universe?

I remember what it was like when I would have friends over, what I don't remember is the liquid crack this apparently used to shoot into my system. I have just watched them run all over my two story, 3-bedroom apartment like it was a certain speedway in Indianapolis.

They had an attack of the giggles that was sustained until they were separated due to lack of oxygen and managed to take an hour to put down a cheeseburger each. There was also time to color two fuzzy posters and play a rousing game of hide-and-seek. Oh yeah, they also managed to play outside with the neighbors, keeping the other neighbors, good friends of ours, who were home sick, awake while they were trying to nap and it looks like world war III would have been less disastrous to my upstairs.

If this is two hours, it's gonna be a loooooooong summer.

A moment please, for the cats...

2008-06-05T11:34:00.001-07:00

Our cats are being particularly cute today and exhibiting perfectly average behavior for them. Their person, however, feels they are being so good they need to be acknowledged for their contribution to our daily lives.

As I have mentioned Emi is our resident athlete. Crash figured out some time ago that if you wave around the feather on a stick, the cat will try to get it. Well he had just woken from a morning snooze and needed to get some pushin' done before he could get on with his day. He was being a bit cranky about it, so I got out the "kitty fishin' pole" and called Emi. She obligingly came over and began doing all of the customary gymnastics. Look folks she flips, swats and pirouettes, only $19.95 and all this too could be yours. Kidding, I wouldn't part with her for the world.

Boo, from a safe perch on the back of our futon, looked on with mild interest. He then looked at me as if to say, when one of the adults have the pole, maybe he could understand taking
the time to try to get the feather. Otherwise fetch is the only game
suitable for a cat to play. He then curled up and went to sleep, the only other acceptable way for a kitty to pass the time indoors.

I love our pets! I find they keep me sane, spending 99.99999999% of my time with a pre-verbal infant! At some point I am sure I will vent about how frustrating it is for most of your conversations with your son to be one sided, but I don't have time right now...

May your pets be as entertaining and anthropomorphized as ours.

From walking to running...

2008-06-05T11:14:00.001-07:00

Well folks, crash has finally begun to take-off. He has started walking for the first time today. Daddy had just gotten home from work and he was very ready to see him. He was playing Daddy is a jungle gym in the living room when daddy stood up and backed away saying come on, come here and holding his hands out. Jonathan stood and began walking, proceeding to a run, as it will when it is your first time ever and flung himself on Daddy.

Yeah! We've known it was going to happen soon, for about the last two months. He just pulls himself up and around so easily. It is really unbelievable to be able to watch him grow, I can't believe he's almost a year old. It seems like just yesterday we were bringing home this 6 lb. 6 oz. baby boy, and now we have a toddler.

I also got to have The Princess this afternoon. On Wednesdays her mom picks her up from here at 4:00 and she doesn't get out of school until 3:00 so we only got about 45 min. together today. This was a good thing... It seems that she is being encouraged by persons who shall remain nameless, to express her attitude. SHE'S SEVEN!!!!!!!!!!! I can't wait until she's sevenTEEN. Thank goodness she is basically good natured and mom backed me up when I said "You know, not everyone likes attitude." I might have completely lost it.

Like I said in the title...walking to running.

I get my Purple Pygmy Goats!

2008-06-03T19:59:00.000-07:00

I have decided to rename my husband forthwith and hereafter he shall be known as THE KING.

We have decided that we are going to purchase an island off the coast of Belize and a sail boat. We will be moving there instead of following the conventional family model of purchasing a house with a yard and a white picket fence. The price will be about the same if we want to live in Portland. Lets face it, wages are not what they used to be.

During the course of my conversation with The King he said that he would like to get a cat, meaning catamaran sailboat. I thought he meant a big cat, as in jaguar or panther. He then stated that he would be releasing pigs on our island paradise, I then countered with chickens. He followed with "and you can have your pygmy goats.", to which I replied only if I can dye them purple on their way out!

You heard it here first! When the blackberries gain collective sentience, my family will be safe. Now all I have to do is figure out how we are going to get all of our livestock on a sailboat, somehow I don't think goats are good sailors...this might take some research.

What this blog is to me...and who we are?

2008-05-30T07:18:00.000-07:00

I have never kept a blog before, apologies to those whom I may offend by not following the correct format...

As a mother with two small children, I just wanted a place that I could vent all of those things that make me want to laugh, cry...scream. So that is what this blog is going to be. Below is some background on the principal characters as they seem to me right now...

Me - I am 31 going to be 32 this year. I have a high-school diploma and served in the US Navy under Clinton. Until I turned 30, I was single and had a cat. Now I am married with two kids, two cats and a husband. Talk about adding dependents...I am still experiencing some culture shock.

My Husband (The Boss) - He and I are the same age and have similar backgrounds. He works all day long in the IT field so that I can stay at home and be with our children. I love him deeply and truly feel he is my soul mate. So far we have managed to have a wonderful time being married and having a family together.

My Step-Daughter (The Princess) - She is 7 going to be 8 this year. She is sweet and helpful, she was an only child until her father and I got pregnant. She is still adjusting, talk about culture shock. She is in Second Grade and horse CRAZY. We are really looking forward to Summer Break this year, it's only a couple of weeks away.

My Son (Crash) - He is almost a year old and adorable. My husband makes pretty babies... He is mostly sweet tempered and seems to be pretty smart for a baby. He is still teething on top and very cranky about it this week. His major source of irritation seems to be that he still can't balance while he takes a step. He stands just fine, when he isn't thinking about it. He usually manages to land on his butt at this point, his head is happier now.

My Cat (Boobear) - He is a Siamese mutt with medium hair. He is Tan with Brown points and attitude for MILES. He is almost 5 years old and seems to be okay with the baby, he gets attention when he lets the baby maul him.

My Husbands Cat (Emi) - She looks like a Norwegian Forrest Cat and has extremely long fur. She is the athlete and loves to play. She is almost 3 years old and not a fan of the baby, probably all of that long fluffy fur.

My Mother (The Farmer) - She is a back to basics baby boomer. She had children fairly early in life and as a result is not to sure how to unlock herself from their lives. She has been an empty nester for 7 years now and is still trying to figure out where to go from here. She has a farm in the Columbia River Gorge and loves animals. She works for the school district so she has the same vacation as the kids, she is really looking forward to this summer.

My Step-Father (Grampa) - He is a few years older than my mother, but young at heart. Farming seems to be a joy for him, I think he likes getting outdoors, but he works in the IT field as well. He actually gets to work from home, so we get to see lots of both of my parents. He is very loving and extremely good with the baby, who can stare at him for hours. It's the beard.

I am sure there are others that I will blog about. I will be changing names, both to protect the innocent, and depending on my mood. As I said I will also be venting here. At any rate, if you have read this to the end you are probably one of the people who will know who I am talking about. Happy reading...