House of Estrogen

Low Cal, Low Carb, Low Caf Does Not a Happy Mother Make

Dear Family,

The raging lunatic who was stomping around the house this morning, throwing the baby's sippy cup, kicking toys, and yelling at everyone in her path was not your mother. She may have looked a bit like her frenzied, agitated twin, but she was not your mother. Please excuse her behavior. Your real mother promises never again to drop the caffeine cold turkey while simultaneously reducing carbs and calories. Clearly, that did not work out. Your mother plans to return tomorrow with a smile on her face and a tall skim half-caf latte in hand.

Love, Mom

Smiling like...

Nina described Addison tonight like this: "She's smiling big... like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich!"

I can't say that I've ever seen a PB&J smiling, but given Nina's tone of voice, it must be a very happy sandwich variety!

Thirsty

Poor third kid learns early how to fend for herself!

 

Simple Woman's Daybook, April 27

 

 

For Today...

Outside my window... sunny and hot, hot, hot! I'm not sure I'm ready for summer weather yet! 

I am thinking... that Addie may have an ear infection. She is seriously mad at the world right now.

I am thankful for... Elise's Girl Scout troop leader. She works her butt off with that troop, and I know Elise really learns a lot and grows through all the activities, service projects, cookie sales, camping trips, etc.

From the kitchen... roasted red pepper chicken lasagna, salad, and rolls.

I am wearing... the sweaty T-shirt, shorts, and sneakers I walked in this morning... need to hop in the shower once Addie goes down for a nap.

I am creating... a kitchen with healthier, lower-cal snack items. I went to the grocery store this morning and stocked up on fruits, veggies, yogurt, and some 100 calorie snack packs.... gotta start eating better.

I am going... to work on completing some "Acts of Green" this week. Check out the "It's easy being green" link in the sidebar over there <-- (on the left, scroll down a bit). It will take you to the One Million Acts of Green website. Let me know what Acts of Green you try!

I am reading... my photography class lesson. I'm doing an online photography course with some friends, so this week I've worked on reading the first lesson and doing the homework assignments.

I am hoping... that I stop having dreams about Elise's ITP recurring. Not good dreams - at all.

I am hearing... Addie talking to herself contemplating a nap, and Usher's Yeah on my iPod.

Around the house... various to-do list projects I'm hoping to finish up today - a couple laundry piles (actually manageable this week!), Elise's camping gear that needs to be aired out and cleaned, a pile of winter clothes to be boxed up and sent to my ebay trading assistant.

One of my favorite things...  my mouthguard. Weird, huh? I love that thing though. I'm a clencher, and that mouthguard has eliminated the sore jaw and headache that I so often awoke to in the mornings. I can't sleep without it any more!

A few plans for the rest of the week.... picking up more T-shirts at the Ronald McDonald House, a "Dining for Dollars" dinner for Elise's school, tumbling for Elise, a b-day party for a good friend's son, and our company picnic.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing... the big girls this morning before school. It was tough work getting that smile out of Nina. She had been pouting all morning about having to wear sneakers to school rather than flip flops.

              

To read more Daybook posts or learn how to participate, visit The Simple Woman's Daybook.

Where Does She Come Up with This Stuff?

In the car today, driving past a house with a big inflatable moon bounce in the front yard...

Nina: "Ooooh.... can we go jump on that?"

J.C.: "No, we don't know them. They are probably having a birthday party there later this afternoon or something."

Nina: "Or maybe the person who lives there died, and it is just still out there."

 

House of Estrogen Sporting a Shirt for the Ronald McDonald House

For the past several years, I have helped out the Ronald McDonald Houses of N.C. with their "Sport a Shirt, Share a Night" fundraiser. The Ronald McDonald House provides a home away from home for the families of seriously ill children being treated at a hospital far away from home. These families frequently have to leave their homes and jobs for weeks or months at a time while their child is receiving treatment. The Ronald McDonald House provides a comfortable bedroom, a fully stocked kitchen, areas for rest and play, and a place where families find support, compassion, and understanding. If families are able, they are only asked to pay $10 per night for their stay. By "Sporting a shirt" purchased for $10, each shirt provides a free night at the house for a family who isn't able to pay. Today was "Sport a Shirt, Share a Night" day, so as you can see, we are providing almost a full week at the house for a family dealing with the frightening path of caring for their seriously ill child. When Elise was in the hospital a couple weeks ago, I thought many times how grateful I would be for a Ronald McDonald House had her condition been more serious and something that had to be treated at a hospital in another state. I can't imagine what I would have done if I had just shown up at the hospital, scared and anxious about my child and had to worry about finding a place to stay as well. I'm just thankful (on so many levels) that we weren't in that situation. It is comforting to know that Ronald McDonald Houses are there when families need them though.

 

Remind me never to dress Addie like this again!! She looks WAY too old. It is hard enough on this mama that she is a full-fledged toddler now without her looking like one too! I can still get away with dressing her like a baby at least a little while longer!

Dude, I'm Married to a Ten Year Old

This morning, I see J.C. putting these really funky tires on one of his bikes, so I ask, "What's up with the weird tires?" He responds, "Those are my bike park tires."

Yes... bike park... with the ramps, half pipes, skateboards, and ten year olds on BMX bikes. And then there is my husband... closer to 40 than 30, computer geek, father of three, out there kickin' it with the 10 year olds.

I haven't watched him in action yet, but you can be assured that when I do, there will be video!

Should We Be Nervous?

Elise and Nina: "Do NOT come in our room until we are finished getting it ready."

J.C.: "OK"

(10 minutes later)

J.C.: "Nina needs to come out to take her medicine and brush her teeth."

Elise: "OK. Do NOT go in there to get her. I'll send her out."

J.C.: "OK"

Elise: "Plus, the floor is wet, so if you went in, you might slip and fall."

Simple Woman's Daybook, April 20

 

 

For Today...

Outside my window... rain!! Hooray! I am not usually a fan of rain, but I'm desperate for it these days to wash away the pollen. I thought Nina's poor eye might just jump right out of the socket and run away last night. 

I am thinking... that a run through the Starbuck's drive-through is in order to get me moving this morning.

I am thankful for... nice, fun, friendly neighbors. Almost the entire day yesterday was spent either playing outside with neighbors, Elise at a neighbor's house, or the neighbor girl at our house. It reminds me of my neighborhood when I was her age!

From the kitchen... asparagus and new potatos from the farmer's market, some as-yet-to-be-determined meat on the grill.

I am wearing... jeans, a ratty old t-shirt and flip flops.

I am creating... a laundry-free hallway today.

I am going... to deal with laundry all. day. long. Seriously... that is my only goal for the day.

I am reading... It Sucked, and Then I Cried: How I Had a Baby, a Breakdown, and a Much Needed Margarita, by Heather Armstrong (aka Dooce)

I am hoping... I can find some motivation to lose some weight. I know I need to do it. I just haven't been putting forth any effort to effect any change.

I am hearing... birds chirping outside. They must be happy about the rain too.

Around the house... shoes and socks without mates. Everywhere.

One of my favorite things...  Maggie Moo's Better Batter ice cream.

A few plans for the rest of the week.... picking up T-shirts I have sold for the Ronald McDonald House and getting those delivered, tumbling for Elise, going to a dinner prep place with a friend, and then this weekend Elise is going on a Girl Scout camp-out, and JC and I actually have a double-date planned with friends! I can't even remember the last time we did that!

Here is a picture thought I am sharing... a cute little ruffly bum!

             

To read more Daybook posts or learn how to participate, visit The Simple Woman's Daybook.

Mission Impossible

Your mission, should you choose to accept it... obtain one decent photograph of a squirmy 1 year old, a defiant, uncooperative five year old, and a seven year old with an attitude together in their Easter dresses a week after Easter.

I stupidly bravely accepted this challenge today. I managed a few decent shots of individual kids, but photographing all three together was an exercise in futility. Have you ever noticed that when people have more than two young kids, their Christmas cards are always composed of individual pictures of each child rather than one photograph of all of them together? There's a reason for this.

 

Note to self: Although transitions lenses are very cool and practical for regular usage, they do not work well in photographs. Make Elise take off the glasses next time, Oh... and while you're at it, get her to smile too.