Working 9 to 5

For the past month or so I have been working at church on Thursday and Friday (the hours are actually 8:00-4:30). I have been filling in at the secretary position until someone is hired. I really enjoy it. I feel like I am actually contributing to society but, I miss my kids terribly. One of those catch 22's of motherhood. Anyways, I am working Monday thru Thursday this week. I must say I have an entire new appreciation of working Mother's. I only went back to teaching for 4 months after The Belle was born. So, I knew a little what it was like although, she was only 4 months old so it was much easier in the sense of packing and her not really knowing I was gone. But, now we have to pack every toy, blanket, book, and anything else she deems necessary. And not to mention packing for The May. Then they both cry when I drop them off which is not easy on the emotions. So, for all of you working Mom's: I have a completely new appreciation for all the work you do.

Mary Poppins Is In My Back Seat

The Belle and I went to Wal-Mart today with all of the other folks in town. Husband quickly agreed to keep The May (due to the fact that she was 30 min away from taking a nap). So, I am driving down the road jamming out to Laurie Berkner and her band when I look in the rear-view mirror and lo and behold Mary Poppins has entered the car. The Belle is holding an open umbrella, sucking her thumb, and dancing to Laurie's singing. You would think the girl has never seen an umbrella, it is her new favorite toy. It has rained here for the past few days. We typically stay inside when it rains and are not forced to use an umbrella but, due to our busy schedule we have been forced out into the rain. She is completely obsessed with playing with the umbrella at all times. First thing she did when we got back into the car: opened the umbrella. So, when I called her Mary Poppins she was clueless and asking a million questions: "Who is Marwy Pawppins? Is she cowming to our house? Where does she live?" So, now I have to find the movie so I can introduce the two of them.

BTW: Husband agreed to 4 tickets to Playhouse Disney Live! I am so excited and of course I can't tell The Belle until time gets closer because I will never hear the end of it.

Have any of you seen this?

As all of you know (from previous posts) The Belle LOVES Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Well my friend Julie called me today and said guess who is coming to town? Drum Roll Please......Playhouse Disney Live On Tour! So, I was curious if any of you know if the show is worth the $10 million dollars we will probably end up spending on it. I am also wandering if The May (17 months old) will enjoy it? I know we will have to pay regular price for her and I don't want to waste the money or bore her if she won't be interested in it. I am very excited about the possibility of going. There are 2 showings 3:30 and 6:30 both on Friday. I am thinking we will go to the 6:30 showing so naps will be behind us. I just emailed husband the link to see what he thinks. If anyone has any comments or suggestions please let me know.

Busy Bees

Last week was a hectic week but, fun. Our church had a marriage retreat this past weekend. I helped my friend Milissa organize and plan the event. I was mainly in charge of some decorating and games. We had so much FUN! All week was spent getting things together. By the time we got there I was exhausted but it was well worth it. It was so refreshing to spend time with Christian couples that want to deepen their relationship with Christ and each other. Husband and I received a huge blessing from it. The girls spent the night with Grandmama and Pappy and had a blast. We are just as busy this week with bible study, gym, church, cooking for some friends who just had a baby, husband has a night lab, I am working at church on Thursday and Friday, small group parenting class, and dinner with friends on Friday. Please don’t mistake me for complaining because I do enjoy being busy believe me I would rather be busy than bored.

Dear Santa, Happy Valentines Day

Yesterday me and The Belle made these cute little foam heart necklaces and rings for Valentines. She was very excited about today although she isn't sure what it is all about. When she woke up this morning I told her "today is Valentines Day." Her eyes were squinty and in a very sleepy voice she said is Santa coming on Valentine's Day? I tried to explain that Santa has nothing to do with this holiday and that Valentines is to show someone how much you love them. I had to go to work at church so her and The May went to stay with Grandmama and her 2 cousins. On the way to Grandmama's she was telling The May today is Valentine's and John, Emily, and Reba are going to be at Grandmama's and their going to bring presents. Then again I TRIED to explain that no Uncle John, Aunt Emily and Reba (their dog) would not be there. Today is not Christmas! Poor girl was so confused. But, once we got there she was better. Her cousins bought her and The May matching flip- flops for Valentines Day so, she was very excited about that. Well, just a month away and we get to explain Easter.

What's For Dinner

So, I went grocery shopping with The Belle and The May yesterday (after our trip to the park). Stocked up on lots of good food but I was very indecisive about what I wanted for dinner. Husband was too tired to think so I asked the girls what they wanted for dinner?

The Belle: Um, I fink I want, um some puhpuh (purple) m&m's.
Me: No, we don't eat m&m's for dinner and plus I don't think they make purple m&m's. How about tacos or pizza (frozen of course).
The Belle: Um, I fink I want, um tacos.
Me: Are you going to eat tacos?
The Belle: No, I will eat puhpuh m&m's.
Me: Thinking to myself; why am I having this conversation with her? So, I asked The May what do you want to eat?
The May: WaWa (granola bar)
Me: Ok, time to be the parent! We are having tacos.

Once we sit down to eat The Belle says where are the puhpuh m&m's?
Note to self: no more dinner suggestions from the children.

Boy Panties

I know little boys don’t call their underwear panties but I don’t have boys nor am I one so it is hard for me to not call them panties. Anyways. The Belle has become very opinionated on her clothing attire including her panties. Several months ago we were in Wal-Mart and she saw some Mickey Mouse boy panties. Well, of course she just had to have them and since she didn’t have a variety of panties I gave in. So, that night after her bath we put on the new panties. Since I have never worn boy panties I was not aware of the design of them. She put them on and said “Oh Mama these panties are so cute they have a pocket in the front.” I explained to her that yes that is a pocket and it is very cute. We have since received Minnie Mouse and Daisy Duck panties that she loves and I try not to bring out the boy panties anymore.

DESTRUCTION!

My sanity prayer for the day:
Dear Lord,
Please grant me sanity. I am grateful for the two blessings you have given me. I am pretty confident that their actions that drive me crazy are consequences of my sin. Please forgive me for failing to be a faithful servant. Help me to love my children as you love me, unconditionally.

DESTRUCTION!
I am not sure what has and is taking place around here. My level of insanity has risen to an all new high. All of the following events have brought me to this new level (all have happened within the past 7 days).

The May fell down the stairs outside (while trying to wear husbands slippers) which caused a serious gash on the nose and causing me to FREAK out. Not to mention this happened the day before her 15 month check up. I am still awaiting the visit from Children and Family Services.

While making tea in the Mr. Teamaker, The Belle decides to pull her Winnine the Pooh stool up to the counter. She then proceeds to move the pitcher out from under the tea maker. Which in return causes tea to flow freely all over the counter. Neither adult in charge realized this until several minutes had passed. I am now taking tips for removing brown stains from the counter top.

While getting ready to go to gym, The May climbs on top of the recliner onto the top of the kitchen counter with a purple permanent marker in hand. The counter becomes her canvas. Luckily, bleach erases purple permanent marker.

After getting the girls out of the bath, The May disappears. I begin to look for her. She is under the kitchen table splashing around in spilled milk. Her entire sippy cup has poured out under the table. The extremely nasty part is the fact that there is cat hair and old food under the table also. She has now made a paste mixture with all of the above and is rubbing it on her recently bathed body.

Sunday night, while husband is watching the Super Bowl The Belle has the need to find Daddy a tie to wear. In search of the Christmas Mickey Mouse tie that husband’s grandparents gave him she pulls down every tie from the rotating device. When I find her the device is still rotating without a single tie on the rack.

The event that lead to the above prayer happened tonight. Husband and I are watching the nightly news discussing how terrible it will be if Monica's ex-boyfriends wife becomes President. The girls are in The Belle’s room. We assume playing in their Rose Petal Cottage. A good 15 min. passes without either of us checking on them. Husband goes to look in and quietly comes out and announces he is going to begin supper. Intrigued at what he saw, I make my way to the room. Before I go any further there needs to be a little explanation. The Belle’s closet is a combination of all the 10 gazillion scrapbook items I own, all the clothes I could wear pre-children, all the Christmas ornaments and decorations, several magazines, and all the gift bags that I will re-use. So, basically it is a junk closet. As I enter the room, I find the two precious children that I brought into this world standing on top of the biggest pile of junk. Neither child is standing on the floor. Both girls have stamp pad ink all over their hands and clothes. Little green handprints are covering the wall. Every stamp I own is out of its designated box. Every piece of clothing has become their mountain and every gift bag has been taken out of the designated bag. All ribbons are unraveled and every inkpad is missing its lid. Humpteen million pictures are scattered about along with every magazine. The Belle also managed to somehow confiscate a bag of Doritos into her room. The entire bed and top of her dresser? Is now covered in crumbs. I could go on and on.

Husband is now gone to his Monday night bible study. My only piece of sanity at this point is the 2 liter of cherry coke (which is 1/2 gone) that husband brought home today along with the 1/2 gallon of Blue Belle ice cream that awaits me in the freezer.

Note: I am holding The May while she is screaming. She just closed a clothes pin on three of her five fingers. 8:00 can not come soon enough!

AND: Our inside cat has FLEAS! I have been picking those nasty little creatures off of him all day.

Growing Up

The Belle has begun to show a strong interest in reading. She has always liked books and always wants us to read her books. Her first love is Mickey/Minnie Mouse so, combine them with books and she is thrilled. I bought her a little vintage Mickey Mouse board book in the dollar spot at Target and she loves it. The sentences are short enough that she memorized it. It is sooo cute to hear her read it. She uses the same voices I do when I read it to her. (I have such a range of emotions seeing her grow up.) What is even cuter is when she reads it to The May. The May calls all Disney characters "Minnie' so, when she does not correctly identify the character The Belle quickly corrects her and re-reads the page to her. I love to read so, hopefully both girls will take an interest in it also.