girlymama

are you nuts?

Clearly. We're going camping this weekend! In a tent! With our kids!  Nighttime low -- 42 degrees. Burr. We will be huddling together under the down comforter for warmth a la Waltons.

So I probably won't be posting tomorrow, since I have to pack 68912864 more things and somehow shove them into the van. We'll take pictures! Only I guarantee I will not be in any of them, since the only beauty treatment that will happen all weekend is the occasional brushing of teeth.

blogger, know thyself

This is for 3 of my loyal readers who are perpetually bored at work. I expect to read your results tomorrow, okay you guys! Thanks, Marianne & dcrmom.

After taking this, I realize I am a "Casual" Type A personality. (You are shocked, no?) "This is a woman who has the same tendencies as her compulsive sister. She, however does not go to the extreme. While her environment is always neat and disorder distresses her, she does not obsess over it. She has managed to place relationships in their proper perspective, yet struggles keeping them there. In a nutshell, she is a more easy going or relaxed version of an A - Compulsive."

According to this, I am an otter. Which means: "Otters are very social creature. Otter personalities love people. They enjoys being popular and influencing and motivating others. Otter can sometimes  be hurt when people do not like them.  Otter personalities usually have lots of friends, but not deep relationships. They love to goof-off.  (They are notorious for messy rooms.)  Otters like to hurry and finish jobs. (Jobs are not often done well.)"  Humm. Not sure that's quite right. My type-A keeps me from having a very messy room, but I am social.

My brain color is blue. So that means:

     

  What Color is Your Brain?  

BLUE:At work or in school: I like to be with people, sharing with them, inspiring them, and helping them. I work and learn best when I can take into consideration people and the human element. I flourish in an atmosphere of cooperation. With friends: I always look for perfect love. I am very romantic, and I enjoy doing thoughtful things for others. I am affectionate, supportive and a good listener. With family: I like to be happy and loving. I am very sensitive to rejection from my family and to family conflicts. I really like to be well thought of and need frequent reassurance. I love intimate talks and warm feelings. Take this quiz!

Quizilla |
Join| Make A Quiz | More Quizzes | Grab Code

And my favorite quiz: What Jane Austen character am I like? Why, my favorite, ELizabeth Bennet of course! "You are spirited and quick-witted. You like nothing more than to be outdoors in the fresh air or at a lively ball, however, you are also able to enjoy your own company at home with a book. You are stubborn, but fair and loved by all those around you. You love to make jokes and laugh at nonsensical things,and tease people but you detest snobbery of any kind and won't be patronised by people who think themselves superior to you. You are often too quick to judge people but you are not afraid to admit when you are in the wrong." Humm. I actually hate to admit when I am wrong. Anywho, I also had a strong dash of Emma in me, which I believe explains my fascination with celebrity gossip: "You are such a busy-body and love nothing more than poking your nose into peoples' business."

i just killed...

the biggest spider I've ever seen in my house.

The entire downstairs smells like Raid, my hands are shaking, and the spider corpse is behind the tv stand and I refuse to touch it. Husband can deal with it. But its dead.  I managed to kill it without touching it. I seriously toyed with just standing there and watching it until Husband came home, but I was afarid it would move and that would cause me to faint and then it might crawl on me or attack one of the children.

I hate spiders.

fat days...

Nuthin' like cleaning out your closet and trying on that stack of jeans to find out that NONE of them are comfortable, except for that pair you bought 3 months after the baby was born to motivate you to get your ass in shape. And (the following is terribly embarrassing and I cannot believe I am putting this out there)  last week I bent over and the button of my jeans popped off!!  These were not old - these are my newest pair of jeans! AAARUGH!!

I am no longer kidding around here. I need to stop baking cookies. Well, I need to stop eating cookies. (I love cookies. Sniff.) And working out more. 2 days a week of Pilates is not cutting it any longer, my friends.  My clothes do not fit and it is cheaper to lose weight than to buy new ones. (Although, I really would prefer to just buy new ones.  I really love the styles this season...)

SO. I'm officially motivated. I must do this. I will exercise. I will not eat cookies. (umm.. cookies...) I will not look like a frumpy mom!

ps
I must also thank dcrmom who was looking so darn skinny and cute in Bible Study today that she made me feel like an ol' frump. You go, girl! You're smokin'!!

now this is just silly

These are some terms that people actually googled to find my blog in the last 24 hours:

how to dress a suburban fashionista (my personal favorite)
flatsy patsy
bachelorette party pics
hate bugs in crawlspace
crazy girls
fun crazy family
boobs
and 4 variations of "wets the bed"

this is hard to write for a perfectionist like me...

It has been a rough couple of weeks for our family. Big Sister starting school (and all the ensuing chaos, including separation anxiety & reverting to bed wetting). Little Sister being two in general (ie grumpy and moody). I was really struggling with anger towards them - they were just driving me crazy! I started leadership at Bible Study (Me? Are you sure you want me to do this?) My business is slowly starting, but not as quickly as we want. Husband traveling every week and his annual review (read "raise") that was supposed to happen in August. We've taken on new responsibilities at church.  Our house is torn up for repair of water damage & mold. We have no money (like, really. This Target clearance shopping is no longer purely for sport.). Friends of ours are in crisis. Husband and I are being very snippy to each other. I'm exhausted by my every day life - and I'm tired of being so tired.  Life is just no fun these days.

But I really feel like I turned a corner this weekend. Last Monday, I literally prayed myself out of bed. ("Please, God, help me get out of this bed. I don't want to. Help me survive this day and this week.") Now, that's a great attitude, right? But over the week, God changed my heart. I had several really good talks with Husband.  I had most of Sunday "off" - even snuck in a nap and my wonderful Husband took the kids so I could be alone. In the house. (For, I think, the second time since we moved in a year ago!) I'm feeling better about things.

I've learned I need to keep my attitude in check because I discovered that my attitude shapes the attitudes of my entire family - kids and husband. I should not be relying on God to survive - I should be relying on Him to thrive where I am, in this time and place.  I am letting my stress and exhaustion permeate my entire life - and it is making things worse.  And I am not trusting God to take care of us.

Now my prayer is to show God's love to my family. To serve them joyfully as onto the Lord. To be faithful in my responsibilities as a wife and mother and friend. And to trust that God will provide for us. I don't feel like doing this, even now. But I am claiming the promises of God in my life - that He is sovereign and in complete control and He will guide me through this stressful and uncertain time in my life. I have no idea how, but I have faith that He will do it.  Pray that I can keep that faith in my heart and live my life accordingly.

naptime in our house

In our house, we have naptime from 1-3. Ellie is outgrowing her nap (dang it!) and she is allowed to read or play quietly in her room during that time. But she basically needs to be out of my hair for two hours a day.  Because I need a break she needs some downtime.

Anyway, Ellie hates to miss out on things, so she has taken to checking with me about every 15 minutes as to whether it is time to get up yet:

Ellie: "Mommy, am I awake yet?"
Mommy: "No, not yet!"
Ellie: "Okay."
(20 minute pause)
Ellie: "Mom, am I awake now?"
Mommy: "Nope!"
Ellie: "Okay."

some pictures from iraq

here are pictures that my cousin sent from Iraq. She's a nurse. 

Pray for Angie!

tagged again

1. If you could build a house anywhere, where would it be? on the ocean, somewhere warm

2. What’s your favorite article of clothing?
comfy-mumfy sweats. i'm a glamour girl! (although my favorite shoes are my knee-high black boots.)

 3. Favorite physical feature of the opposite sex?
chest. and arms.

4. What’s the last cd you bought?
can't remember. i i-tune. but i did get 'sesame street all-time greatest hits' from the library recently. and i will regret it for the rest of my life.

5. Where’s your favorite place to be?
home. or on the beach.

6. Where is your least favorite place to be?
stuck in traffic.

7. What’s your favorite place to be massaged?
shoulders. i'm a very tense person ;-)

8. Strong in mind or strong in body?
um, both. (is there any other answer someone would give?)

9. What time do you wake up in the morning?
6:00, 6:09 and 6:18. 

10. What is your favorite kitchen appliance?
dishwasher. (this is my first one! i love it!!!)

11. What makes you really angry?
rude people. and anyone who is mean to my kids.

12. If you could play any instrument at all, what would it be?
i used to play piano, and i'd like to learn again.

13. Which do you prefer…sports car or SUV?
sports car. bmv. silver. convertible. (but in reality, i need an suv.)

14. Do you believe in an afterlife?
yup

15. Favorite children’s book?
i like waaaaay too many to pick just one.

16. What is your favorite season?
i like them all.

17. What is your least favorite household chore?
cleaning the bathtub

18. If you could have one super power, what would it be?
apperation. (we're looking at 30-hour flights to india. wouldn't it be great to just be there instantly??!!)

19. If you have a tattoo, what is it?
nope. chicken out in the waiting room. was going to get a daisy. (cornball - thats me!)

20. Can you juggle?
tried to learn. not pretty.

21. The one person from your past you wish you could go back and talk to?
my dad who died 6 years ago

22. What’s your favorite day?
saturday. hands down.

23. What’s in the trunk of your car?
3 strollers and a training potty and a blanket for picnics.

24. Which do you prefer, sushi or hamburger?
does anyone else think this question is stupid? red meat of course!!!

I tag B. And C.

my first design

Well, I spent the afternoon designing this:

                                            

It holds two diapers and a travel-size wipes. To throw in a purse, car or diaper bag. I need to work out my pattern, but what do you think? Would you buy one?