check!

So this is just a brief check in. I haven't written in a very long time. I tried to make this one of my priorities, but life wasn't having any of that! It isn't much different in the chaotic house that the crazies and I live in. An email from an old friend asking about the lack of entries made me wonder why in the hell I haven't just sat my butt down and typed away. It takes me a little nudge from someone here and there to even remind me of the things I once loved doing and now cannot even find 10 minutes to do. I hope that the nudge comes again and I will be forced to not just do a silly check in, but an actual account of the insanity that still resides within my brain. If you are reading this, thank you. And for whatever it is worth, was great to hear from you old friend.

New improved insanity.... :)

Do you ever feel like life puts you at the top of waterpark slide and pushes you down? The fear is overwhelming, but somewhere along the way you realize this is a rush you're glad you didn't miss. It has taken every bit of energy to sit and put thoughts to paper again. I have written many drafts, but none have actually made it there. I honestly think it starts out great, but after looking it over, I realize i'm trying to mix pancake batter and cake mix into the same bowl. I have so many thoughts in my head right now I'm trying to sort them out. But what ends up happening is that I start off sorting by color, then partly through start sorting by size, and then ultimately realize I had another pile for content. It's got to be one or the other... I cannot have all of these piles of thoughts just laying around. The funny thing thing about that is that I feel like my mind has gotten so much more clear these past few weeks. Like my heart is in full bloom and my humor has found it's way back to it's twisted home. Life has been derailed more than once over the course of the last few years. Not knowing where you are going or which direction you are headed gets to be just a little too much sometimes. I remember looking up and feeling like i want to give up. Something always brought me back to the insanity i call "home". My goal this year is to get back to doing the things i love the most. Writing. Making sure that each day is filled with laughter and sillyness. My life has so much more than just my dolls now. I have found my life as it was meant to be. And isn't that just a 'woo hoo' for me?
I want to be pushed to do the things i love and have let fall to the side of my feet. Life was meant to be lived in such a way that you wake up smiling knowing that today you see the sun like you have never seen it before. Welcome to my new insanity. I hope that it will be as entertaining as the old insanity. ;0)

Introducing, Rylie! aka: personal shopper!! :)

School clothes shopping is always the best part of going back to school. School supplies had been purchased weeks ago and newly bought clothes managed to stay untouched and in mint condition for over a week now. So... today was the 'pick up a few more items' day. Or.... maybe we should rename it to 'i have 3 daughters who am i kidding, it's full out shopping day..... again!'. Have I ever mentioned that shopping is NOT on my "fun things to do" list? Well, now you know. After hours and hours of bouncing from store to store, waiting outside of dressing rooms for Bryanna, inside dressing rooms with Lauren, and trying to convince Rylie that she did NOT need to consult with her sisters for every single item, we were finally down to the last pair of shorts for Lauren. Yipee!!! I grabbed the items we were purchasing, put back the NO WAY ARE YOU WEARING THOSE and instructed her to hurry, get dressed so we could finally head home. (this is where I pray everyone is as visual as i am)We are standing outside the dressing rooms, patiently waiting for Lauren to get herself dressed and out. I am leaning against a clothes rack, Bryanna standing there slouched, and Rylie flying around like a boomerang. After about 10 minutes of drooling, i asked Bryanna to PLEASE go tell Lauren we were leaving. I see her go in and come out quickly and not too far behind is Lauren, marching with little fast steps. As she comes through all the rack of clothes I notice two things... One, Lauren is wearing shorts that are about 10 times too big for her and Two, Rylie has all of a sudden emerged laughing so hard her face has turned crimson red, her dimples are so deep in her face, and she is starting to tip over and fall on the floor. Lauren has a hand full of excess shorts bunched up in her hands with a very confused look on her face. I say, "Lauren! It's time to leave... what are you doing"?
She gets the 'are you kidding me' look and grits her teeth saying, "I am doing what you asked... trying clothes on"!
Okay... here is another 'HUH?' moment. Right after she finished her sentence, Rylie's laugh became louder and louder as she struggles to find air and say, "I am playing jokes on her"!!!

Rylie decided it would be great fun to pick out a few items of clothing, take them into the dressing room, only stick her arm in and holding back the giggles, tell Lauren, "Here.. Mommy wants you to try this on". She came back 4 times and did this!! It was only after she had tried on 2 mens's shirts and her second pair of women's shorts that Bryanna was sent in. Bryanna and I looked at each other and began to laugh outloud as Lauren scowled her way back to the dressing room mumbling under her breath. Rylie was still tickled to tears that she was able to "joke" her into trying on all those ridiculous clothes.
Rylie... oh my little doll Rylie!! Have I ever told you that you and you alone are almost as funny as your Mommy?? hee hee

Inspired Insanity

Trying to force inspired insanity is kind of like trying to open your eyelids after they have been super glued shut. When you look for the good within the bad, sometimes you find that laughing won't help you find it any quicker, but it will at least look like you didn't get there with your face sliding accross the dirt! I try as best I can to not let the moments in life that make me want to pout like a child, scream like a baby and throw a temper tantrum lead me.I imagine that some would read my blogs and wonder what kind of Mother would write such things to embarass her children. Well, actually... that kind of Mother probably wouldn't read my blogs. Eh... too bad!! So getting through the potholes of life, the sinking ships of the day and the moments of pure delightful insanity, I come to you full of smiles and sunshine. Only with the help of my new addiction, Starbucks, do I bounce off the walls of your brain and pull you into my crazy world!! Please wipe your feet at the door.

I am ashamed to say I haven't been carrying around my notepad and pencil to jot down all 'crazy' the girls display. As a matter of fact, even my mental notes are roaming at the bottom of my purse. I am here to let out a big WOO HOO for the end to summer. Back on schedule!! Earlier bedtimes, less fighting because they aren't spending every minute of the day with each other, and no more driving to work singing the theme song to iCarly, Spongebob and Wizards of Waverly Place. Our resident teenager is currently boycotting home until the very last possible moment. My littest doll keeps reminding me that we should 'sell that girl already' when referring to Lauren. And Lauren, well... she has new battle scars to show on her first day of school. OH THE EXCITMENT SHE HAS!!

This blog makes no sense and has no point whatsoever. Who cares!! I felt like writing tonight and I smiled the entire way through. Are you surprised? Naw!! People don't smile enough if you ask me. If you can't find a smile... borrow one, steal one, grow one. Whatever it is that you must do, always remember to smile. My life with my dolls allows me to continue doing just that. Hope to see you again sooner rather than later. Cross your fingers!! <3

Dr. Lauren to Emergency... Dr. Lauren to Emergency!!

Oh my dolls!! What funny things have you done for me lately??
Lauren is my gimpy girl these days--- 22 stitches to the leg! OUCH! At least this time she didn't lecture the doctor and make me sing while her stitches were being put in.
Lauren is our family 'accident child'. We are all very clumsy, but when Lauren does it.... she goes BIG!!! Last year at this time, she sliced the side of her foot. So there we were, Lauren bleeding all over the place. The doctor comes in with a needle full. He sits down and explains that he will be injecting the contents of the needle into her wound. It wasn't going to hurt, but that she would feel the pressure. He goes on to explain it will help numb the pain of him putting in the stitches. Here it goes.... needle in, and OMGsh!! Lauren wanted to rip his face off!! She gave him a look I had never seen (except on me, of course). She grabbed my hand and squeezed! UGH.. please give me some of whatever it is she is getting! STAT!!!
Whew, we got through the needle. On to stitches! Before the doctor breaks out the sewing kit, Lauren, with her big beautiful chocolate eyes says, "Mommy, will you sing to me while he is putting in the stitches"? Oh goodness! Now I'm the entertainment? I was just the squeeze toy a few minutes ago.
Of course I couldn't say no. And on we go! The doctor and his nurse swaying back and forth as they are sewing her up, me singing away!! LOL
When he was done, he proudly announced it was his first time stitching someone to live entertainment! Yikes! (i guess i was glad he didn't stitch my mouth shut, hee hee)
"All stitched up"! the Dr. tells Lauren.
"See, it wasn't bad at all, was it"?
OH NO-NO-NO!! Why did he have to ask that question!?!?!
Lauren looks at him with a softer kind of crazy and said, "You said that needle wasn't going to hurt. It did! Clearly you lied to me"! (oh heaven help me, she's going off)...
she twitched her head to the side and scolded him with her finger shaking up and down,
"I really think that if you are going to be doing this kind of job, you should tell kids how much it really hurts! It isn't nice to lie"!!

I wasn't even sure what to do at that point. She did tell him 'thank you'! :)

So with the first visit, and this last one on Monday, Lauren is thinking she has the hang of this whole 'stitch' thing and is confident she might be able to repair herself next time. Hmmm..... saves me a co-pay! Woo hoo!! If she does a really good job, we will take outside appointments! :P

Bryanna!! That was just MEAN! (giggle~giggle)

Summer means sleeping in, being lazy, swimming, sleeping in and SLEEPING IN! Of course, not for me, but the girls get to sleep in a bit. So... of the dolls, Lauren is my early riser. She wakes up with the sun and wonders why everyone else doesn't. Bryanna and Rylie are of the same mold. An earthquake could be happening and they will think someone is rocking them to sleep. Not to mention, they are the crankiest children when forced to wake up before NOON!
Sunday morning was going to be busy. Bryanna was having her end of softball party at the park at 10am and even knowing this information 2 weeks ahead of time, I was still un prepared. In true procrastination style, I waited until the morning of the party to pick up the fruit to make my fruit trays. Lauren, being my morning sunshine, was all smiles that morning and happy to tag along to the store. As we got ready to head out, I woke up Bryanna, which took about a good 20 minutes of shaking and pulling of her toes and instructed her to get up, get Rylie out of bed (that was really just mean on my part knowing the chaos that was coming) and help her get ready. I figured once I got back home, Bryanna could head to the park to meet up with her teammates. I tried to hurry myself along knowing the battle Bryanna was up against at home. Although, I did chuckle in my hands a few times thinking that she would now understand what a difficult job I had all year. (Okay.. I will admit.. I slowed down a few times down the aisles)
So, we get home... I open the door and lookie, lookie!!! Rylie is sitting so pretty on the couch. Hands in her lap, dressed so adorably. Her toothless smile so big, dimples so deep in her cheeks. She said with a high pitched voice, "Hi Mommy"!
WOW!! I was IMPRESSED! I told Bryanna what a great job she did and thanked her several times before she bolted out the door. I finished up my slicing and arranging of the fruit trays, wrapped them and grabbed the keys. "Let's go, dolls"!
Rylie jumped to her feet and sweetly asked, "So, Mommy, how many people will be at MY party?".......... UMMMMMMMMMM... HUH??!!!!
"My party. How many people will be there?"
My brain started to put it together and all I could think of was OH CRAP! I was trying so hard not to laugh at what Bryanna had done. I was irritated she had thought of that and I had not! So now I have to tell my smiley little doll baby that her sister was very mean (yet, so creative... secret kudos to Bryanna) and the party wasn't for her. Good thing her 6 year old mind forgot all about it once we got there. I am definitely trying that out on Bryanna one day, though! HA!! Genius! lol

Woo Hoo for ME!!

I have made two new friends. Toss and Turn! Well, they aren't new I guess, but they are becoming frequent visitors in my bedtime life. They fight with each other and are always putting me right in the middle of their battle. Eventually I am forced to 'break it up' and jump to my feet with an unbalanced landing and cloudy vision. I drag myself to the kitchen for an unwanted glass of water, then peek in the fridge for no reason at all, head to the bathroom to admire my bedhead, my puffy eyes and slouching shoulders. I crawl back into the ring aka: my bed, and start to make rules for Mr. Toss and Mr. Turn that will undoubtedly be ignored. Well things are going to change soon...
The dolls are officially out of school and in my brilliant brain, I start to think of the most selfish positives I can. For example... Yipee!!! I get to sleep in an extra HOUR!!! Woo Hoo for ME!! I don't have to help them get ready for school because grandma doesn't care if they show up in pajamas! Woo Hoo for ME!! Feed them? Really? Naw.. that's okay, grandma LOVES making breakfast for them! Woo Hoo for ME!! Baths??? Umm... well, they will be getting in the pool the minute they are done eating breakfast (or shall I pretend 30 minutes later), so they can shower after that... AT GRANDMAS! Woo Hoo for ME!! Okay, no more 'Woo Hoo'ing'... but Yipee for ME! :)

I made it through another year of school without a straight jacket! I would like an award please! I am a frequent passenger of the Crazy Train and I want my damn award already!! Big sigh of relief that I am here. Yes.. I know.. It is like a marriage when everything in the beginning was an everyday thing and now... well, ya know.. when I think of it, or am in the mood... I tickle the keys to write a little somthin'. Hee Hee.. do they make little blue pills for this sort of thing? Oh gosh! Did i really say that! ahaha... and on that note... let's end this entry. hee hee hee

Woo Hoo! Insanity lives!!

Lalalalalala!!! Do you think that if I filled up a page of singing to the rays of the sun I could hold your attention? Yeah.. didn't think so!! Hmm... let's see... life continues on the crazy path that I stepped on so long ago. It's gotten more challenging since I am a single mother raising 3 barnyard animals. The circus turned me down when trying to negotiate vacation for the girls. For some reason, they think caging them wouldn't be good. And WHAT? It's no different than the closet I keep them in at home!! Ugh! Okay~okay.... I really am kidding about that. My girls don't keep me on my toes, they knock me down with a perfect blend of insanity and laughter that just cannot be explained in words.
Have I mentioned to you that my cutest little blue eyed doll Rylie is somewhat of a racist? Tell me you don't think that is funny! Just try it! She has her own racial profiling going on. You can tell if someone is a Mexican if they are holding a tortilla in their hand. Hey... I am just repeating!! Oh please! No gasping! She IS Mexican... I know it.. she denies it.... give a girl her dream why don't you! Sheesh!!
Lauren has earned the blue ribbon for #1 MOMMY PATIENCE TESTER. A few times I think I actually saw the wheels spinning while she was working out a debate in her head. I am careful to word everything so there couldn't possibly be any loopholes. At this very moment... I still haven't figured out how to do that effectively!
Bryanna... well... she is going to be 13 in a couple of months! Yup! Enough said!

I have tried so many times to get back to doing what I love the most, next to my girls of course. Writing was my getaway from reality. Wait! Umm, that's wrong. It was me documenting MY reality. And WOW! What a wonderful reality I have. The chaos continues in such a way I couldn't possibly be anything but smiley!! Looking at my life from the outside, you might see that we don't have much of anything. I disagree and ask that you look a little closer. The blessings I have are coated with fun and uncontrollable happiness that only lives where I allow it to. A perfect life for me is a life that has my dolls in it. My little racist, debating, drama queen dolls!! Life is fabulous. Welcome once again to my insanity!! You'll love it here!!!

Still squeezing the lemons life hands me

In my crazy world, things continue to change on a minute by minute basis. My girls adjust accordingly and manage to help continue the laughter within my marshmallow walls. I am handed these scripts in my life that I shake my head at and wonder what the ending will be. Will the insanity get the better of me? Oh my goodness.... I hope so! I am comfortable living life through grape soda colored glasses. They give off that extra fizz that sometimes I cannot manage to find. I try to teach my girls that in life you will meet people that will not be so positive. They will try to knock you down the mountain we have climbed together. It's okay to feel compassion for them. Not everyone will look at life the way we do, and in the end, you will still have a smile on your face with many around you, while they will continue to spread "moldy" vibes that will only make others turn away. It has been so long since I have sat and written anything. I keep scheduling time and the schedule disappears with the sock in the wash. My intentions are good, but I suck at motivating myself for this ever needed therapy. I have this basket full of "life lemons" i can't seem to catch up on. I'm sick of lemonade..Ewww. I already know what the first few entries will be. Yup! looking over this one already and haven't seen one sentence of running into doors, explaining the one eyed donkey, pull my finger or even the Food City story. Maybe this is my start.... again! I miss writing. I miss putting down my funny stories of Rylie and the "Mexican Kids". I haven't written in the book either... figures. So with this non funny, weird kind of spill your guts to get out the yucky, I hope to be making you laugh soon!! Until then, expect an "off" few entries... hope you stick it out with me!!
Valeri

A Holiday Story.... 2008 Christmas

As a parent I love watching my kids get excited for Christmas morning. And c’mon, who are we kidding… the bribery that comes along with Christmas…LOOOOOVE IT! It’s a pleasure having something to hold over my kid’s heads. A threat of Santa not stopping at our house is enough to buy me at least 30 minutes of quiet time here and there. And I really do love the fact that every year my little brother dresses up like Santa Clause with a tapeworm. He walks around the yard for a few minutes to really bring that “GET YOUR BUTT TO BED” plea. So, this weekend we put up Christmas lights around the outside of the house. We carefully placed our moving reindeer in the yard and anchored down the spiral Christmas tree in the decorative rocks. It was fun to watch the girls draw Holiday Greetings in chalk all over the driveway and on the sidewalk. It was equally as sad to watch the sprinkles of rain come and ruin the masterpieces they had just finished. We packed everything up, stored it back in the garage and lit up the lights. Well, most of the lights anyway. It never fails. I plugged them all in before Eric climbed up the ladder of death to string them along the tall peaks of the house. I KNOW they all worked. Every last one of them WORKED!! Up at the top, the icicle lights hung so pretty. He was irritated and said it would get done tomorrow. Umm. No. So here I go. Since I am about oh…. A foot and a half shorter than Eric, I actually had to climb to the very top rung. I replace 2 broken bulbs that were NOT there before, put the ladder back in the garage and stepped back to admire. What the hell? Now there is another portion that doesn’t work. I feel as if there is some Christmas Light Fairy laughing at me.I am such a visual person that I can actually see this little elf-like fairy with his mini sling shot taking out my bulbs. I shake the crazy out of my head and continue on. This time it wasn’t as high up. Again? Where are these broken bulbs coming from. Okay… we are good now. All the lights work on the front peak. I put the ladder BACK in the garage. Step back. Are you kidding me? Above the front porch! Forget it. Eric can do it another day. So we have a break in the flow. The lights are imperfect. Goes with the theme. I just noticed that the moving reindeer has a broken neck. He is thrashing around like a hunter just shot him.I am trying to maneuver his stick body to get the head back where its suppose to be but my clouded by the "psycho light fairy" judgement, I forget to unplug him first and go about a good, oh, 10 minutes before I realize that the back of his body WILL stop moving enough for me to mount his head if I just unplug the "soon to be tamale meat" reindeer!! Okay….. He’s fixed and I am done. In the house I go.... and a light wind…..the spiral tree is down for the count. I often wonder if things like this happen to everyone. Eric has this amazing ability to just walk away. He leaves it for another day and all is well in the world. ME? Well, it has to be done right then and there. I usually only give up at breaking point. All is NOT well in my world. So I wrapped up my Sunday telling the kids to leave the Advent alone! Don’t touch the soldier boy! Rylie! Those cranberries are decoration not food! No Rylie… you cannot open the tiny presents on the table… its decoration! I have NO IDEA where the stuffed Santa is! Rylie…. Did you open all of these little presents and then crumble all of the Styrofoam? I AM TAKING ALL OF THE DECORATIONS DOWN TOMORROW!!!!!... and the excitment of Christmas is done.....I think the Advent is for me. I can countdown the days of holiday chaos and look forward to normal everyday chaos. Chat with you soon!

Creeping thru the Blog door little by little...

The little fools and I are back in full swing! And woo-hoo for us!!! I haven't been here in awhile, yet it always feels like I never left. So during our time away... we have had cute readings about seasoning... for instance... Winter is a cold seasoning. Rylie's book report was a spicy summary of the four different kinds of "seasonings". We had the cold seasoning, the seasoning where the flowers bloom, the seasoning where the leaves fall and the really hot seasoning that is sometimes put in hot sauce! hee hee hee.. Rylie is sooo cool!! She gave me the, 'I already know what they are called' look and asked me not to "cheat her" by giving her the answers. So, I let her create her spice filled book report with yummy descriptions of the year.
Lauren has been on her game! She is like a human recording device. If I don't choose my words carefully, I will inadvertently agree to all sorts of things. Its the loophole she clings to with a tight grip and an open ear. I actually have used her in a few different situations with Bryanna. The minute I call out for my 'Lifeline'.. "I'd like to phone a friend", Bryanna knows her loophole was never really there in the first place an her battle has ended before the "but mommy's" can begin.
Bryanna has discovered a world where ears don't exist, the fear of losing an eye due to extreme rolling no longer scares her, the thought of sucking her teeth down her throat is a known impossibility and the only thing that matters in life next to going to school for socializing purposes is the all important ability to text 27 people at once. This world of hers seems to have many signs that say 'OFF LIMIT'. Lucky for me I don't read Drama Queen..... speak it, a little, reading... naw!

So Bryanna, in all her queen-ness, is a mirror image of me in some areas. We both love a good laugh and we love it even more if we are the ones providing the entertainment. Today, she called to inform me that she ran into a pole at school. Most moms probably would say first, "are you okay"? Not me!! First off, she was cracking up. I knew she was fine. Secondly, through the tears I was crying just picturing the 'BOING' of the pole, there was NO WAY I was in any condition to speak!
Every time I ran into something flashed through my head like a "Valeri's most clumsy moments" clip in fast forward. I love it! My little fools are so clutsy like me! No tears! No running for cover because they are sporting 5 shades of embarrassment red... Nope! Not my girls! They embrace it! They know that in this house the most dangerous thing to trip on is your shadow.. and watch out!! So it's an update kind of post with the hope that my regular postings will become 'regular' once again!! If you are still here.... yay!

AWWW... Found this old one in my Archives... When Rylie started Kindergarten last year!!

Hey, I kinda like being able to come in here and just write. So..this was the second week of school for the girls. Rylie started Kindergarten this year. I seriously believe whole heartedly that the 3rd kid gets the shaft! When Bryanna started, I was weepy and excited. I was nervous and weepy. I was weepy! I hugged her before school and after school like I was sending her to an orphanage or something. I never wanted to let her go.
Lauren... I was less weepy and more excited for myself and welcomed a bit of life on a schedule. I gave less of the Please don't leave me hugs and gave more of the I am really going to miss you now hurry and get your back pack hugs.
With Rylie,I really wasn't weepy at all. Excited... yeah, but more so because I didn't have to drive across town and drop her off anymore. The hugs I gave her on the first day were, I am going to miss you and thank you for finally being in school now RUN or you will miss the bus.
A thought crossed my mind as I am typing this... if you don't know my sense of humor you are probably putting your hand over your mouth and gasping at the horrible mother I am. If you do know me, well then you totally picturing Rylie running for the bus with her way too big backpack, pig tails flying through the air, with Bryanna and Lauren trying to hold on to her hands and avoid mailboxes at the same time. All the while I sit there laughing that I actually sent them 15 minutes before the bus.Okay, I am done for today. Stay tuned... and don't take me so seriously. My house is wonderfully chaotic.

But Mmmmoooooommmmm everyone else has one!!!

The oomph was knocked out of my sail by 6 grubby hands and 3 perfect smiles!! Sometimes a day will come that starts with so much energy, you feel the downfall almost immediately. Today was a special day in our household. Bryanna, my 12 year old, got a cell phone. Yes... I know... seems a little late these days, but hey... I told her she wasn't going to get one until she was 16. I caved.. i cracked... i gave in ... and what kind of mother does that make me anyway???? THE COOLEST EVER!!! OH YEAH! OH YEAH! OH YEAH!
Okay, maybe not THAT cool. I WAS in fact the last mother on earth to get a phone for her daughter you know. What? You didn't know? WoW! I was tricked! So I have been hearing the complaints and the "this and that" about why i should get her a phone. I have actually been hearing this since i think she was in the 2nd grade to be quite honest with you. I had to listen to the "but mom... so and so has had a phone for this amount of time and why can't I have one because i think i am passed the age where i should have gotten one and is it because you don't trust me because i will be soooooooo good and i will do EVERYTHING you say and i won't ask for anything else as long as i live". (yes... that is exactly how i heard it too) So I broke down, I did it... all the way home I laid down the rules that would be thrown out the princess diva Bryanna's window the moment we got home! UGH! I have threatened to take it away more than half a dozen times already. I am trying to remember what it is like to be her age.... and OH MY GOSH I have to do this 2 more times!! I just opened a box of insanity and there is NO prize at the bottom! Oh wait..... lookie here... it's a box of Insanity with marshmallow chaos in it! Awwwww... and I thought there wouldn't be a surprise! So wrong! I'm sliding down.... here comes the crash... wait for it... wait for it......

Farts are always funny in my house!

Okay... I have sat at this computer for about 45 minutes now. My concentration stinks today... I felt drool starting to make its way down my chin! UGH! Seems that these days I am struggling for funny stuff to write. I attempted to write about the "One eyed donkey" that was chasing Rylie the other night in her sleep. Every time I thought about it, I cracked up laughing. So I sat here, like I am now, and put words down. Hmmm, that didn't seem funny...as a matter of fact, it seemed kind of sad! WHAT? I am growing a conscience NOW?? OH~NO!! What will happen to me if I no longer thought the girls falling, tripping, running into things wasn't funny anymore? I had to walk away. Shaking my head in disappointment, I left the blog un touched. I needed a sign... a big ole' 'HAHAHAHAHA! LAUGH AT HER!' sign. That night I waited. I was desperate for the girls to fall.. anything! I contemplated tripping them then realized that might be taking it a bit too far. I thought.. okay... let's ask them a question and wait for a funny answer. Oh my gosh! It's not just me! The girls aren't being funny! What is my chaotic world coming to??? A serious one? I need back up... reinforcements... I tried to take a deep breath, close my eyes and put myself in a funny place. This is NOT working! Goodness me... I am panicking. Hyperventilating. I can't breath. I.... I... nothin'! Sheesh. I let myself slip farther and farther into an opposite state of insanity. I can't do this.. oh wait... what's Rylie doing? She is walking towards Bryanna.. I see the look... I think I see something in her eyes... yes... Yes.. YES! Woo hooo! Rylie just farted by Bryanna, Bryanna got up and stomped her way to the room mumbling under her breath as Rylie fell down on the floor laughing. Okay, farts are ALWAYS funny!! Geez... you just can't lose with those can you! Rylie has an amazing way of being a disgusting cutie. Ha! you never thought you would see those two words put together did you! Okay, so today's blog... a mushy mess of nothingness trying to stop the drool from hitting the floor. I don't know if it worked or not, I guess I am going to find out soon enough!

An all about me post....

Ohhhhhh.... its a doooozy tonight! ~~ SIGH ~~~ Sometimes therapy writing can be a good thing and sometimes it can be a very-very bad thing. Hmmm, which will it be tonight. Well, since my blog is about the girls, and perhaps this might be a family site... I will keep it on the very nice level. So I have often said when life hands you a lemon, you chuck it as hard as you can at the next person that comes along. Well, what if you get the whole lemon tree? Am i allowed to shove branches up their nose? Life has always been easy for me to smile through. I believe whole hearted that you smile because you remember the things you are thankful for and not the things that have brought you down. In an instant a smile can turn into a frown, a heart can bear a scar and eyes that once had a twinkle will start to dim. I have this amazing ability to pick myself up by the dragging soul and get through life knowing that everyday will be amazing. Sometimes I start the day with a heavy sigh... but it always end on a good note. Everyone needs a "Stephanie" in their life. She is my best friend and the one who talks me out of the freezer with a gallon of Rocky Road Ice Cream. Life seems to be insane in one form or another. Hey wait a minute... this has nothing to do with the girls at all! Sheesh... its all about me tonight. Hmmmm, what can I put in here so I feel better about this post?? Wow... I got nothing! hmmm.... let me think.... (insert blank thought here)...
okay... well since these were suppose to be an every other day kind of postings, this one doesn't count!!

Crazy came ' a callin' and I answered on the first darn ring! Sheesh!

Wow! I made it here again! Woo Hoo for me!! I am so slacking on many things these days. Writing, which has always been my getaway, is beginning to be yet another stress making me breakout like a teenager! UGH!! So I find myself whining more and more like the girls. Hey... sometimes it works, other times it starts a laugh fest. That is when I stomp my feet and head for the nearest door to slam. Not really, but gosh! I really ~ really want to!! We had another birthday (sigh), 36 feels the same as 35! WHAT? C'mon! I want a birthday party for all of my friends at Peter Piper Pizza! And why can't I have a princess birthday cake? Does anyone stop and think, maybe... just maybe a cool rock poster for my room would be appropriate? Oh yes, maybe it is because the inner working of this house is driving me to such a high level of inssanity (so needed that extra 's'), I can't stand myself. I find myself laughing for no reason. A creepy kind of laugh if you can believe this. I want to jiggle my eyeballs and run around the streets with my arms flailing while screaming "COME GET THEM BARNUM AND BAILEY.... COME GET THEM"!! Naw... I'm just venting. Ha ha! I think I would lose myself if the circus came 'acalling' for these precious animals I call daughters. My Rylie smiles and it puts things into place. Her dimples get me every time! Lauren is my wee bit of sanity that whispers in my ear....{ I love you Mommy... you're the best}. Bryanna brings all the chaos into my world right now. Her borderline teenage hood is kicking my butt! I know for a FACT I was not this difficult. I would shine my halo everyday before school, and on the way to the homeless shelter I would stop at the Orphanage to read the kids a story. (is anyone buying this)? Ehhh, okay... well I still wasn't this difficult. It's gonna take more than a whole roll of SHHHHHH Tape for this one!
Okay, so this blog is taking a little longer than I wanted. I contemplated putting in a serious thought, (bleh) made myself a little nausea's. Ewwww! Me? Serious? Ummmmm ... NO! And so with that, lets end on this...Life is only meant to be serious some of the time. Enjoy the laughter while you can. Forgive the imperfections and smile knowing that you and only you can love your kids so much your heart will want to explode!! Smile ~ Laugh ~ Be Happy!!!

Back into the swing of thangs!! Woot Woot!!

Ugh! It seems like forever since I have actually sat down and written anything. My good intentions have become nothing more than a thought that passes through the space between my ears. Summer has passed me by with a pat on the back and a slap in the face. WAKE UP SUNSHINE.... A WHOLE NEW LIFE IS AHEAD!!
My Junior High Princess has become my Junior High Drama Queen with an attitude bigger than that little girl can handle. I keep saying that one of these days her eyes will roll right out of her head. I have started carrying a cup around just in case I need to catch those pretty blues on the way down. I am battling the 'make up' pleadings and the "OMGsh... I'm gonna be late.....AGAIN"! I can only do so much before my brain starts turning into oatmeal. I have started adding milk and sugar already.... breakfast anyone? I was hoping that the summer months would allow me to reload. Hmmm, wishful thinking as always. I truly know better than that, but... it would be so unfair to my spirit if I just came to grips with the fact each year is a little crazier than the last. I have always said I live for chaos. That is still a true statement, however, I think we may need to tweak it a little. I am trying to come up with a new way of describing my life. And OH MY is that ever hard. My girls are still the cause/inspiration/motivation for my insanity, but life has taken a new turn. Insanity now has many meanings and some are proving to be harder than others to get through. I continue to find the humor in everyday life. Humor is what keeps the smile on my face and our feet planted on this quick sand ground we are dragging ourselves through.
Hmmmm, so with this first posting after so long, I will get back into the swing of things and continue on with my funny little stories about my girls as they happen. Thank you for sticking it out with me! Yay!!! I am always happiest when I am making fun of the girls!! Look for an every other day post! I might be able to handle that right now!!! Hoping all of your days are filled with smiles!!! See you very soon! Mwah!

An old favorite of mine! (August 2008)

I am finding blogging to be quite the little joy in my life. This weekend is what I like to call "normal". Now please understand, my normal is other peoples "crazy". As everyone knows, it was my 35th birthday. Yes, I know... but if I hear one more 98 year old person tell me I am a spring chicken, I'm gonna knock their walker out from under them and pinch the tube to their oxygen. What the hell is a spring chicken anyways? Okay, so we get the day and evening done with and at about 8:00 on Friday night, the girls get their second wind. We usually play hide and seek, or scavenger hunt, something like that to wind down. That night.... hide and seek it was! Bryanna... easy to find behind the entertainment center. Lauren... little bit more creative, under the pillows on the bed... blended right in. Rylie.... ummm. Rylie? Oh crap, we lost Rylie.....again. Usually, she is the easiest. She gets a little too excited and giggles her way to being found. The girls and I looked everywhere. Under, over, in between... I was getting a little worried that she had snuck outside, but I wasn't convinced. So we continued on. I don't know what made me realize this, but after going through the kitchen a few hundred times, I realized my birthday cake was missing. Yeah, you know where I'm going with this don't you.... okay, so now Rylie AND the cake are missing, and I still can't figure out where the heck she was. Normally my room is off limits because Eric was asleep for the night to get up early for work. It's never been an issue before and I was certain she had just really found an amazing spot to hide. After realizing the cake was also in on the game, I went to my room, opened the closet and found Rylie with most of the cake eaten and the rest of it destroyed. She didn't even look surprised, she was so excited for me.... "MOMMY! Good job! You found me!" She picked up the cake, walked it back into the kitchen ever so sweetly, wiped her mouth upwards, pushed back her hair (I figured out the whole food on the forehead thing)and was ready for another round. I was trying very hard not to laugh at the sight of Bryanna and Lauren's faces when they figured out what was going on. They stomped in the kitchen with their imaginary riot gear ready to attack. They were fuming that she mangled the cake and they only got one piece each. It turned into a bit of a shouting match between Bryanna and Lauren ganging up on Rylie.I couldn't make out quite all of the insults, but Lauren was fit to be tied. You just don't mess with food when it comes to Lauren. The girls were pointing their fingers at Rylie and telling her how mean she was to do this to mom's cake (yeah! I'm sure they were REALLY concerned about me more than the fact there was only half a cake left that looked like potting soil) Well, here we go.... Rylie finally put her hand up, and yelled, "IT'S NOT MY FAULT YOU DIDN'T WANT THE CAKE TO HIDE WITH YOU"!!!
And scene..........

So COOL I border on chilly! hee hee...

When you have children, you morph into this really "cool" parent that really isn't that cool at all. If you have read any of my writings you will understand that my warped sense of humor is magnified by 3! Life for me has taken so many turns in the last couple of months that it is difficult to know whether I should sit and laugh or bury my face in my hands and cry. Well, the crying option really isn't an option, so let's just toss that one out the finger printed window! Let's go back for a minute.... I AM SOOOO COOL! And why is it 'uncool' to say the word 'cool'?? I am confused. I guess it could be like my mother saying 'groovy' but naw, not really! I'm still cool! I want to get a shirt to wear that says, "I am Bryanna, Lauren and Rylie's COOL MOM"! I can wear it everyday when I drop them off and pick them up at school.

Bryanna is starting Junior High this year. I am getting instructions little by little about what I am allowed to do and what is a definite 'NO-NO'. What this child, that has been around me for 12 years now, doesn't remember (and why is that anyway) is that she is giving me the best ammunition EVER! I am in fact taking notes on her instructions (you know where this is going right?) very carefully. I am dotting every little eye with a "roll", and crossing every 'T' with my fingers behind my back while nodding my head up and down.

I thank God everyday that my girls have my sense of humor. The crazy, warped, fall down laughing before someone else laughs at you sense of humor! The insanity they bring to my life is the most loving affection a mother could ask for! That, and a sticky watermelon flavored kiss!! Mwah!

A different kind of entry

Writing about real time is proving to be a bit difficult. I find myself squinting at the screen hoping my brain will gag some words out! My blogs are always about the girls and how they make me insane. Sometimes you will read about how I drive them insane (which I choose to leave out most of the time). I write about the funny things because sometime writing about the not so funny things makes the smile fall right off my face. Every now and again, and sometimes, more often than I care to admit, life offers up a new challenge that you neither want nor ordered. I've always tried to find laughter within the tears. I've managed a smile or two before the frown starts to form. And I, like most, put my hands together and pray that my new challenges will be accompanied by the angels that watch over me and the girls. Today is a different kind of blog. It's writing that I love to do, and so every now and again, one of these slippery little suckers will find its way to my page. My girls are the reason I find new things to smile about, they only know how to love me... and I happen to think that is the most wonderful feeling in the world!!!