"Thanks"giving

Well, yesterday I was thankful Brian was with me when I ran over a huge metal rod on the interstate. And blew my tire. He definately wasn't thankful...at first...based on his language. BUT he did chill out when I told him how thankful I was for him...he actually smiled...

It's only 6:30 AM right now and already I am thankful for him again...(yea! 2 days in a row haha) because he is the turkey day cook. He can juggle the kids running in the kitchen every 2 seconds. He can handle Lauren, the constant candy-begging-screaming-demanding sweetheart. HaHa.

All sarcasm aside, we are very blessed and have had a fabulous year. Life is good.

Never drill near your FUSE BOX

Wow...well today was F-U-N. The husband and I thought we should accomplish a few things around the house today, and we did. I framed a few pictures, dusted, burnt myself at the tanning salon, he got a hair cut, and we drilled through our main electrical wire leading to our fuse box. whoo-hooo. Certainly not our most brilliant of days, that's for sure! Here's what happened...

We don't have a pantry, and I wanted (and needed) a pantry. We are lucky because the wall the washing machine was on in our kitchen "closet" shares the garage wall. Should be easy, right? Move the washer and dryer into the garage~ have a pantry! Longer hoses for the washer? Check! Longer drain tube? Check! Onto the dryer... Our thinking was to put the dryer out into the garage and drill a hole through the walls to run the electrical outlet. Not smart...especially when the spot your drilling is right below the fuse box. Yikes. Husband yells, power goes off...smells a bit burnt... SCARY...

We freaked out for a few minutes, but then regained our senses when *I* realized *I* have connections. My brokers son is an electrician! Yay! He came within 30 minutes, fixed the severed electrical cord, AND moved the outlet into the garage for us. He didn't charge us a dime and didn't laugh at us OR lecture us. I've found an awesome electrician to add to my arsenal of "peeps"! Thank you Wesley Lamb of Lamb's Electrical. I'll recommend you every chance I get!

Oldest Child Syndrome

I've been thinking a lot about Alex lately. His personality is so much like mine and I want so badly for him to be different...I want him to be more free spirited and maybe not so uptight... but not too wild. I want for him to listen and obey, but stand up for up himself and realize he is his own person. I am shocked at how much he is like me...and confronted with the realization that the personality traits I would change in him are there because of me.

He is this uptight, little bundle of stress because I am an uptight bundle of stress. I expect perfection from him while I let Lauren get away with everything. She literally sucks every last ounce of sweetness I possibly have right out of me. He usually does listen to what I say and makes sure the others are somewhat in line, but the instant he messes up, I jump all over him. The second he tries to look at a book and Lauren cries because she wants to see it, I tell him "just give her the book!"

All I want is for each of my kids to be happy and healthy and to feel great about themselves. I want to be responsible for the best in them and definitely not the worst. Alex is such a perfect little boy with a fantastic heart and it makes me so sad to think that I have not nurtured him as I should. I was 100% "Alex's Mommy" 7 years ago, and now I feel 100% "Mom to 3 kids". I am responsible for his "Oldest Child Syndrome" and I would like to take this opportunity to pledge to back off.

I am NOT going to expect my 7 year old to be perfect. I will not expect that he share unconditionally with his brother and sister. I will carve out "Mommy & Alex time" while he still wants it. I will make sure he knows that HE is special and perfect just as he is. That was my goal when I became a mom and I'm not sure when or how I got derailed, but its not acceptable.

I love you Alex. xoxoxo

Gratitude

I have been trying to write down in a private journal 5 things I'm grateful for every few days. I'll share today's little entry.

1. A positive number in my checking account. Not by much, but it is positive. Come on Friday!

2. In spite of a broken washing machine, we all have plenty of clean clothes and undies. I am not gonna lie, I am SO looking forward to this weekend when we get our new (to us) washer! Some hospital sends its employees into the laundry mat now on Sunday mornings (hellllooooo....that's my time!) and they take up all the good washers AND dryers.

3. Sam's Club Rotisserie chicken. For only $5, that is one awesome, yummy birdie.

4. My clients. Even the ones that tell me EXACTLY what they want in a house, and I show them EXACTLY what they ask for and then they say, " it's just not speaking to me ". Ok. Thankfully they are entertaining. And their loan is approved. HaHa.

5. My children of course. I am so proud of them all. I am also excited for a new day with them tomorrow. Because tomorrow my patience meter will reset.

I NEED A WASHING MACHIENE NOW!

Ugh! Why did I have to post yesterday that being forced to use the laundry mat wasn't bad and that there are perks to not having a washer blah blah...

'Cause guess what? Evan has the stomach bug and only makes it to bathroom 20% of the time. This is a HUGE problem. I have grossssss blankets, towels, clothes etc. that need to be washed um now.

I'm not sure where I'll even be sleeping tonight because Alex's bedding is in need of a good wash thanks to Mr.E so he will be in my bed with Brian. Evan will of course be in his own bed. That leaves one more bed which would be fine expect Evan threw up on that comforter too AND that bed is upstairs with the ever barking Chloe dog. Fun times.

Busy, busy

So, the kids were out of school again today and I had a very full day of work. ( More about that here) I was so busy in fact that I had to cancel Lauren's appointment this afternoon to get her stitches taken out. That makes me feel about two inches big. Really, who cancels an appointment like that for work? I will be there first thing in the morning at walk-ins, so its only about a 15 hour delay. That's my rationalization anyhow.

In other news, I'm learning to live without a washing machine. It's really kinda nice doing laundry once a week - and that's it! Everything is washed, dried, folded, and put away on Sunday. Not Washed here, dried there, and then thrown on the couch until I get around to putting it away. The other perk? An almost pantry in the space where the washing machine was. I will be a tad sad when we get the new washer and have to give it up but we are looking into perhaps moving the w/d into the garage. Cause it really does stink not having a pantry. Till next time!

In case you were curious...

I came home once again at 8 tonight and found.....3 sleeping kids, a nice clean kitchen, and a husband that gets to live another day ....