Embracing Life

Today over at Mama Kat's , one of the writing prompts is to write down 10 things you would do if you didn’t have to work. Aahhhhhh..... how to narrow it down to just 10????? Read. Everything I could. All the classics, everything on my TBR list on goodreads, and then re-read the BDB books again. Have a completely organized house. And office. And garage. (Although that last one would probably piss my husband off.) Take the children's literature course that my work currently offers.  Volunteer every chance I got at Connor's kindergarten. Make dinner every night.  (At this point, the job falls to Keith who gets home an hour earlier than I do.) Have a True Blood marathon - for I've fallen behind on Season Two.  I'd follow it up with a Haven marathon. And then watch Friends. Finish my damn novel that I've been trying to finish for.ev.er. Visit all the museums in Chicago. Because I'm still a historian at heart. Open the Etsy shop I've been dreaming...

Halloween is coming soon, and we are Halloween people in this house.  For 3 years, I've tried to get a theme going with the kids' costumes.  And for 3 years, I've had opposition from the troops.  The first year, I was able to dress the twins as Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf, but Connor insisted on being Curious George.  Last year, I tried for the Toy Story gang - Connor really wanted to be Buzz.  In my stupidity, I asked the twins what they wanted.  Duh. I ended up with Dora and Handy Manny. Hmpf. This year, since the Buzz costume still fit, I was pushing for Woody and Jessie for the twins.  But Connor wants to be Phineas, of Phineas and Ferb. And the twins - well they got ahold of a costume catalog, and want to be.... everything.   Strawberry Shortcake, the Yellow Wiggle, a pair of crayons, a dragon, a witch, 3 different princess, you get the idea. Until Grammy brought home two costumes from ...

I am a working mother of 3, who has never made it to story time. I leave my children in the care of grandmas and daycare and kindergarten teachers. I feel like I suck today. I can juggle coffee, an umbrella, two bags and a 3 year old, and wrangle them all into the car without spilling anything on myself. I pawn off doctor's visits on others, so that I can save my sick time for the days I have no back-up, which happens quite alot. In fact, I really haven't had sick time at work in 3 years. I usually go to work when I myself am ill so that I can save my time for when my kids need me. I do it all without a nanny, a chef, a personal trainer, or a housekeeper. I feel the need to interject this monologue with a statement that I don't dislike people with housekeepers or nannies, I just wish I were you. I'm a Type A minus personality, which annoys me that I can't be perfect. I'm an overachiever who makes her sister hate her at times because I strive to be the bes...

Usually the sickness and crap hits later in the year, but this time it was apparently on Sarah-time (my sister gives me a hard time about wanting to be early for things).  The last two weeks have almost killed me with stress and worry.  I had one kid with bronchitis and then pneumonia, one with a sinus infection, and the other with a fever virus.  Keith made 2 ER trips in one week, and Friday I was diagnosed with a sinus infection and pleurisy.  BTW, this is my second time getting pleurisy. And it sucks.   Add in a cluttered house, a garage sale, a resale, an uncle getting diagnosed with stage four kidney cancer, and my grandma getting two blood transfusions, and I am struggling not to book a one-way plane ticket to an island in the Caribbean. (Wait, is hurricane season over yet?) Anyway, last night was the first time in over a week that it was quiet and calm. (Except for checking on Connor who had a slight fever during dinner - because hey, why would...

NICU Reunion Picnic Pumpkin patch with Aunt Ann, Lexi and Baby Reid (Nana and Bumpa can come too!) Boo at the Zoo! Chicago Monster Dash 5K (the first 5K Keith and I are doing together) Decorate pumpkins Purge! (The twins club resale is coming up!) Read 7 books for reading challenge Get house/yard/garage in order by Nov 1 (Keith's back surgery) Annual Halloween party Meal planning (seriously this is always on my seasonal bucket lists, and I fail miserably at it each time) Thanksgiving month-long activity for kids (similiar to our Advent calendar)

I'm having the hardest time disciplining Keira. No matter how naughty she is being, or how much trouble she is getting into (like say, for spilling the entire liquid contents of her brother's nebulizer all over my couch...), it's really hard to yell at her. Not that I yell, because that's a parenting thing we are NEVER supposed to do. Yeah, sure. But lately, every time she gets in trouble, as I am in the middle of sending to her to time-out (of which she refuses to go into) or removing her from the situation, she interrupts me with this: Mommy, you are my best friend. And suddenly, I forget what I am yelling saying, and have to stop and hug her. Are 3 year old supposed to be this manipulative?

Don't forget to check out my My Memories Suite giveaway!  (It ends Saturday!) As an added bonus to my blog readers, My Memories  is also offering a $10 discount off the purchase of the My Memories Suite Scrapbook software and a $10 coupon for the MyMemories.com store - a $20 value! Use this code: STMMMS71819 Good luck!

Recently I was contacted by MyMemories.com  asking if I would be interested in checking out their digital scrapbooking software.  Of course, my answer was YES! I love scrapbooking, but am finding it hard to actually sit down and do it. By the time I pull out all my supplies, something else (like non-napping children) comes up.  The idea of trying a digital scrapbooking software is very appealing to me because all of my "supplies" are right there on the computer! I did a lot of playing with my memories suite over the weekend, and I wanted to share my favorite page so far. (Favorite, and also the piece that makes me tear up a little, since it has to do with Connor growing up). Let me tell you, it was so easy! The choices of backgrounds, text, and other fun things are awesome. Oh, and I made this one too: My Memories Suite allows you to add mats around the edge of photos, put numerous text blocks in, and change the layout of your pictures any way you want.  M...

It's always hard saying goodbye. Especially when you are not ready to let go. For the past few weeks, it's just been me hanging on, hoping that this wasn't the end. Despite begging, pleading, and praying You left. One day you were there, and the next, you had disappeared. Did you ask me? Did you consider my feelings? No, you just up and turned your back on me. And appear to be gone Forever. NAPTIME! I miss you. Please please please come back. I can't take it anymore. I need you so that I can actually get work done around the house on the weekends. Or just so I can lay on the couch and read my kindle. No, really I mean laundry and housework. Now this is all I have left: Why yes, they moved her bed to the middle of the room. Every book they own. Some sort of escape mission? I'm left with this mess. And two crying, whining, overly-tired 3 year olds from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Honestly, they only cry and whine from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. But...