Spring Break is Coming!!

Hubby is trying to go standby on an earlier flight tomorrow so I won't have to go back and forth to the airport twice. His flight would get in ten minutes earlier than the in-laws, so that would be FABULOUS.

I've got all the Easter basket stuff bought and hidden, swimsuits dug out/purchased, and now I just need to run to the store and stock up on a few things to take with us on the vacation. The hotel room has a full kitchen, so I am all for TAKING food with us. Otherwise you overspend horribly on the food on location.

Picked up Sherlock Holmes yesterday. To a hopeless anglophile who loves writing/reading victorian-era fiction, this movie was a TREAT. And quite fun, to be frank.

Had the yard service come and do a "spring cleanup" and the yard looks so much better. They whacked down bushes, cleaned up the beds, and made everything look nice. I am hoping we don't get any more frosty mornings, or my little tulips won't make it. They're not up yet, but after this weekend, with temps in the mid 70's, you know they'll start peeking up.

And then next weekend we'll get a foot of snow. Nothing surprises me now. ;-) I wouldn't be shocked at all.

Well, this stream-of-consciousness post must come to an end! Happy Wednesday, everyone! And a shout out to my friend Devon, who is seriously considering ark-building on the East coast, glad you're safe!! Hope the car is okay!

BBBZZZZZZTTTT.

Okay, Losers. Doesn't anyone watch Vampire Diaries??? Oh, yeah, I forgot. I'm the juvenile loser and probably one of the few adults who does watch it. ;-) The necklace is Elena's Vervain Pendant that Stefan Salvatore (a.k.a. Delicious Vampire Brother #1) gave to her so she could "resist" the charms of Damon (a.k.a. Delicious Vampire Brother #2.) Like any of you care. *wink*

It's Spring Break next week, and I've got a TON to do before then! At least the house is clean, but I have to get everyone "swimsuit ready" in the next couple of days, which means I need to buy some, (or redistribute) and get Lil' swimmers and floaties for Thing Four, and get myself a pedicure, and call about 8374 people and run around tying up loose ends. Thursday will be fun. The grandparents fly in at 2pm, and Hubby flies in at 9pm, and we go to the airport to pick him up and straight to our vacation destination from there. CRAZINESS. So I basically have today and tomorrow to get everything ready.

It's going to be SEVENTY degrees on Wednesday and Thursday! Can you believe it? In MARCH of all months. Unheard of.

Had a showing yesterday, and the people were in my house for nearly an hour. 50 minutes, actually, and they walked around the yard, gesturing afterwards. (Yes, I was spying on them from my car one street over, hey, YOU'D do it!) We haven't heard what they thought of the house, but usually, if I am not interested in a house, I don't spend 15 minutes in it. You can usually tell in the first two minutes. I mean, WOW.

Fingers crossed! Prayers uttered!

My to-do list is scaring me. I'd better get going!

I'm a Total Loser.

See this? Brownie points to anyone who can guess what it is. And I just ordered myself one.

Yep. Total loser.

**UPDATE** My mom just called me and asked me if it was a "bug." LOL

okay, here's a hint:

A Post About My Tween Daughter. And Deja Vu.

Since my oldest child is twelve, and a girl, she is going through a literal "trial by fire," it seems. And what's scary, is I remember having these exact issues when *I* was in elementary school. And junior high.

So, here's the advice I give my daughter. She usually doesn't listen the first time, but after she gets burned, she DEFINITELY listens. (Because you know tweens, they don't like being told what to do most of the time! They need PROOF.)

1) Girls are MEAN. Especially at this age. You know the movie MEAN GIRLS? A little over-the-top, yes, but essentially, they nailed it. Even the nice ones can suffer from Jekyll/Hyde-ette Syndrome. Especially when popularity is at stake. So, when one of them acts crazy, remember it's HER, and not YOU. This is very important.

2) Two's company, Three's a crowd. This mixture never, and I repeat, NEVER works with girls. I don't know how many times I have told this to Thing One. She's had two friends over, and SOMEONE always ends up getting alienated. She goes over to someone's house where it's three girls, and someone is always left out. There's a reason why the phrase "Third Wheel" was invented. A third wheel never works. The two wheels get along just fine without it, thank you very much. I have yet to see a "three girl" situation end well. Case closed.

3) If your friend decides she hates you for some reason, don't worry, tomorrow will be the opposite. Aw, I remember this one vividly. I had a "friend" (I believe the term today would be "frenemy") named Heather in grade school. She was a piece of work. One day, she was nice to me and we were the BEST of friends, the next day she had half the girls hating me along with her for some egregious offense I'd committed, and the NEXT day, we loved each other again, and were BFFs--and the NEXT day I was the one who had half the girls hating her because she was a moody butthead. This is normal behavior, unfortunately. Kind of like the weather in Texas. If you don't like it, don't worry, wait five minutes and it will change. ;-)

4) Some girls will never change. As in they will change ALL the time. Thing One has experienced this firsthand. There is a girl, who, for the life of me I don't know why, has decided Thing One is her perpetual "Frenemy." She has honed right in on her. She texts her all the time, and sometimes she's super nice, and other times, she's super mean. We've had sleepovers end in tears. We've had sleepovers where they pledge their friendship over and over and act like sisters. We've had fights. We've had love-ins. I have constant whiplash from the neverending moodiness on this one girl's part, and I have repeatedly told my daughter that this girl is volatile and selfish and she will never change. And the other girls just "put up" with her because they fear her wrath. Thing One agrees with me, when they're on the outs. She disagrees with me when they've made up, too, and tells me this girl has changed. Oh, no. She hasn't. Some girls never do.

I say, once a Witch, always a Witch. All of you have met girls like this. They're not even that popular, but all the girls just kowtow to them and appease them because if they don't, this girl will make their lives miserable. What's that saying? "Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer?" Yes, it seems girls learn this rule at a very early age, these days.

The last piece of advice I'd give (and probably the most important):

5) No Boy is Worth Fighting Over. ahem. Especially in SIXTH grade. Maybe later, but all Sixth grade boys are dorks. End of story.

Now, if only she'd listen to my advice. I've realized the things daughters hate most, is when their mothers tell them "I used to be your age once. I know what you're going through." Girls, as much as you hate to hear this, it is TRUE. We have "walked in your shoes." We have been accepted and rejected and put up with craziness, just like you. So, please, unstop your ears and listen to our advice. We love you and only want what's best for you. We want you to be strong, and happy, and crazy Jekyll/Hydette-free.

I don't think boys have this problem. They aren't emotional wrecks, in general, like girls. (I don't mean to be so hard on my own sex, but it's true.) Boys keep things superficial. Boys play sports together. They play video games together, not MIND games. Boys are pretty evenly tempered, for the most part.

*Sigh*

I am SO in for a very long ride...I just hope at the end there aren't any casualties.

I know, you're probably thinking: Frustrated, much?

Is it Already Friday?

Quick post, because I am RUNNING, because I have a showing this morning! Hooray! And one on Sunday. Which, frankly, is exciting!!!

I'm going to do something for "me" today, and get a full set of brisa nails. I know, they need to be maintained, etc. but I love the look of flawless french manicured nails. There's just something about them that says "hey, I actually CARE about what I look like! Granted, I may loathe them after I get them because I like to type and text, but we'll see how that goes. I need a "pick me up." I'm getting the highlights touched up on the hair next week, too. Sometimes we just need to do nice things for ourselves! Because we're worth it!

Okay, I sound like a freaking commercial. But it's true.

Yesterday was COLD. With wind chill, it was probably in the twenties. Today should be better. I'm going to get optimistic and pull up all my driveway/walkway stakes. Which of course just TEMPTS the snow to fall, but I'm done with them. They're ugly. And I need to list my snowblower on Craigslist. We won't be needing it in Charlotte!

*Lara does a happy dance*

Have a fabulous weekend, everyone!

Mundane Post.

I survived "tight schedule" day yesterday, and actually it turned out to be just fine. Got a little hairy at the end because Thing One announced she had to go to a friend's house to work on her Ancient Greece project, but it worked out. And we all had ZERO cavities at the dentist. Which is a bonus. Except he recommended I get the lone silver filling in my #14 molar taken out, because it is starting to crack my tooth. So, Monday I'll get it replaced. Feh. But necessary.

Finished FAEFEVER late last night (that's three books in as many days, I didn't know I had it in me!) and although the ending was shocking, I wanted to pick up the next book immediately. Problem was, it hasn't come in the mail, yet! It was supposed to be here already! ARRGGH!!

So, I get to wonder whattheheck happens until it does. My friend Mik, who recommended the books, is highly amused, I'm sure, because I'm freaking out that I can't keep going. (Yes, Mik, I can feel you grinning from here!) :-)

We have showings this weekend!!! Hooray! Granted, they're right during the time we get ready for church, so that will be tricky, but I am excited. It only takes one, right? Cross your fingers for us!

I am looking forward to a busy but good day. But I have put off the laundry for WAYY too long. My boys complained they can't fit any more stuff down the laundry chute, and my daughter says she's out of socks. (No, Lara, you will resist the urge to BUY her some! Just do the freaking laundry!) SO, Laundry Day it is. At least I have the kids fold and hang their own stuff. So it's not as bad as it used to be.

I can't believe it's Thursday already!!!

CUTTINGITCLOSE.

I'm having a "cutting it close" day. You know those days, where you have a VERY tight schedule, and you can't waste any time, because if you do, the rest of the schedule will be upset? Yeah, that's me today.

I have a lunch at noon (at Panera, if any of you feel inclined, try the Napa Almond Chicken sandwich, it's to DIE for) and then at 12:45 I have to leave to go to a 1pm meeting. Then I HAVE to leave that meeting at 2:15 (whether we're done or not) to run and pick up my son at 2:30 from school, so I can run him to the dentist (3pm appt) and then I need to run back to the school, pick up my other kids at 3:15 and bring them back to the dentist, so Thing One can watch Thing Four, so *I* can have my dentist appointment. Oh, and I get to lug a TWO-year old around with me on this entire adventure. Lucky for me he's one of those "old soul" toddlers. It's really a lot like toting around a little adult, masquerading as a baby, sometimes. Yeah, I'm lucky.

Ugh, though. Like I said, very tight schedule! But after that, it's business as usual. Homework, dinner, relax. It's all good.

I blasted through BLOODFEVER yesterday. I read a little in the morning while Thing Four was eating breakfast, I read a little while kids ran inside the house, outside the house, asked for juice, asked for snacks (yesterday was a half day at school and I told the kids they could have friends over/go to friend's houses afterwards) and then, last night, from ten pm to midnight, I finished it.

Reading FAEFEVER today. Well, not until tonight, because I just don't have the time. But man, they are fun books! Not for the faint of heart or closed-minded, though. Consider yourself warned. ;-)

35 realtors came through my house yesterday. Apparently the response was overwhelmingly positive (yeah, I hope so, I "killed" myself creating a certain atmosphere). Which hopefully means they will keep my house in mind when they have clients looking for a great house with the best schools, only minutes from two major companies. :-D I still maintain that I know we're going to sell it when we're "supposed to," but being apart (Hubby is in Charlotte, and has been all this time) really sucks. Soldiering on, soldiering on...

Happy Wednesday, everyone!

Babies and Vampires and Fae.

Yesterday was a GOOD day! The sun was out, it was a cold wind, but at least it was in the 50's. This morning there was frost on the ground. THAT could get dangerous around here, for farmers and plants in general. Luckily none of the trees have started blooming, yet. Of course something must be happening, because Thing Three had an itchy throat and eyes this morning, requiring a Claritin. So it begins. Things One and Three have bad seasonal allergies. Poor Thing Three wakes up with a stuffy nose every morning. But at least the Claritin works and he's fine after a few hours.

I never get allergies, unless I'm pregnant. Weird, huh? Our bodies get so...weird, when we've got a baby growing inside them.

Speaking of babies, it seems we are having a "boom" in my church ward. Everyone seems to be either pregnant or having babies. It's crazy! I had one lady take a look at me on Sunday and she said "You need to have another baby!" Kind of funny how people like to do that.

Um, no.

I was told by a reliable source that the VAMPIRE DIARIES books are crap, and to NOT read them. That the show was much better. Interesting. Usually it's the other way around.

I blazed through book one of Karen Marie Moning's FEVER series yesterday. Well, mostly last night. Oh. My. Heck. was it good. (Devon, read them! Put down whatever you are reading and READ them!) Anyway, I've never been really "into" urban fantasy before, but if one wants to get initiated into it, I've definitely found the books. They are awesome.

I need to run, now. We have a group of realtors coming through in two hours, and the house has to be perfect. Eeeeek!

Had a good weekend. Thing One had a couple of friends over to spend the night Friday, and since I'm a WAY cool mom, I drove them to the local Walmart at midnight to pick up the New Moon DVD, which is funny because they got home and only got a quarter into watching it and they all fell asleep.

Of course, now that I'm hooked on Vampire Diaries, Twilight just seems a little ridiculous. (Did I just type that out loud?) Oops. I can't help it. The Salvatore brothers are FAR more interesting than a sparkling veggie vampire. ;-) And Vampire Diaries came first. There are people who dismiss the show as a "Twilight Spinoff." Well, the books came out in the 90's, so that would NOT be the case. The Chicken came before the Egg, this time around. I bought all the episodes on iTunes, and they are FUN. And lucky me, the new shows start up again this Sunday!

Have to take Thing Three to the Dr. today to get a cyst removed in his leg. He's terrified, of course, but it needs to come out. It got infected a month back and became big and painful. The dr. says since it's in the skin, it will continue to get infected/be fine/get infected until it's removed. So, we're opting for pre-emptive action.

Took the kids to Barnes & Noble Saturday night. We went a little crazy, but I always think it's money well spent when it's spent on books. I got some great research books about lost civilizations, and archaeological terms. My bookshelves are exploding. I need to have one of those seriously dedicated libraries in my house, where I have one room entirely shelved out just for books. Trust me, I'll fill it. The Kindle/all other e-readers are great for escape reading, but for RESEARCH, you just can't beat a glossy book with pictures. And I can't get enough of them!

The sun is out! At least that's a good thing about today...

My Kids Keep Me On My Toes.

My kids are funny. As in, they are COMPLETE opposites. Thing One is smart, she's in the Gifted and Talented program for reading and writing, but she's essentially failing math. She turns in her assignments, but her tests are baaaaaaad. Thing Two is a different story. I have to practically stand on his back with a whip to get him to finish his homework and turn his assignments in on time, but his tests scores are fantastic. (He has a semi-eidetic memory, so he doesn't even have to study most of the time). Thing One hates that he can do that. I would, too.

Funny how two completely different kids came from the same two people. Isn't it ironic how that works?

I have a new "OMGosh I LOVE IT" show: The Vampire Diaries. I was doinking around on iTunes last night, and I ordered the pilot and first few episodes for fun, and MAN was I instantly hooked. And no, I'm not fifteen years old. I just happen to love a good show with eye candy actors! ;-) I was hooked on Gossip Girl until season three (at which point the writers lost me) so I've been looking for a new show to fill my "guilty pleasure" category. I've found it. The cool part is, the books came out in the 90's, WAY before "Twilight" ever existed. So, the show isn't another "Twilight Wannabe" like I originally thought. It's the ORIGINAL Twilight.

;-)

I ordered Karen Marie Moning's FEVER series last night, on the recommendation of a good friend. Can't wait to read them. I'm on a reading splurge as of late. I am liking good escape reads. They're ever so much more fun than the historical nonfiction I've been reading lately!

I'm taking Thing Four to the jumping place today. He loves it, and they have "Mommy and Me" hours where you can go for as long as you want for $6. That is totally worth it, to see him grin and jump and the look of pure joy on his face when he slides down the long slide. Kids are so fun!

I hope everyone has a safe and happy weekend!

Deer and Movie Stars.

There was a herd of about 10 deer in our backyard this morning, all of them were does. It was strange to see so many of them at once. They looked thin and skittish. There was one doe who was larger than the rest, and she seemed intent on watching the house while the others foraged around in the empty lot next to our house. Our subdivision is one of the last wooded subs around, because most of them are getting cleared nowadays. People want to grow their own trees, I guess. I say, if the existing trees are healthy, why mess with them? Oh well.

Haven't seen any wild turkeys, yet. I suspect it is only a matter of time.

We had a showing last night, but my realtor called me because they couldn't get in. The lockbox was jammed and they couldn't get the key out. I had to give them my garage code and they went in that way. UGH. I mean, talk about a lame first impression of a house! Instead of going into my foyer and seeing everything at once, they had to go through the GARAGE, and go in through the mud room!

Yeah, I'm sure they were SO impressed. Feh.

Thing One had a meltdown this morning. The theme at school is "dress like a movie star." She put on this cute dress and leggings, and we accessorized with sunglasses and lots of jewelry, and she looked great. As soon as I pulled up to the school, it looked like NO ONE had dressed up (we were a bit late and I suspect the really dressed up "movie stars" were already in the school) and she said she wasn't going in. I told her yes she was, and she pulled off all the jewelry and sunglasses and marched into the school in a huff. I lost my temper and told her she needed to get some backbone. I mean, she's friends with all these girls, and they've known her for four years, they aren't going to laugh at her! And she's so worried about if they'll think she looks stupid or not. I guess that's a twelve-year old for you. She wanted me to turn the car around and take her home so she could change. I kicked her out--lovingly. She has to learn that life is Messy. It isn't always "according to plan." Heaven knows I've showed up at school dressed up for something and I felt like a Big Embarrassing Turd the whole day, but isn't that supposed to be what it's like?

Oh well. She probably won't be speaking to me after school. Which is fine. She has a test to study for. ;-)

I have a lady from the Relo company over today, to assess my household goods. I think her eyeballs are going to fall out when she sees how much STUFF I have in my back storage room. I mean, it's all organized into tubs and looks nice, but the sheer VOLUME is a bit much. I need to do one more "go through" and throw more stuff away before we actually do move.

Lots to do today, better get to it.

Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah.

WHEW. Thing One has started aerobic conditioning in the mornings so she can have an "edge" in volleyball, and she asked me to wake up at 5:30 this morning and work out with her. She did the elliptical and I did the treadmill.

I. Am. Dead.

But it's a "good" dead. But dead all the same. Because I was a numbskull and stayed up late watching a movie last night, to take my mind off of the house drama. The pick of the night? The Jane Austen Book Club. It was just okay. I felt like giving myself a little Hugh Dancy last night, but he used an American accent in this one, so, he wasn't as sexy. (The first movie I saw him in was Ella Enchanted, and I was ready to become a member of the Prince Char Fan Club right along with my daughter, you know it!) He's still adorable in Austen Book Club, but the whole movie was so predictable I was rolling my eyes at most of it.

We have another showing tonight. Different people. The other people yesterday were only in our house for about 15-20 minutes, and I think if you want to BUY a house, you stay in it a little longer. Darn it. Oh well. We'll sell our house when we're supposed to. I truly believe that.

Okay, I need orange juice. Happy Wednesday!

PLEASE.

We had our first showing this weekend, on Sunday. The people are coming back today, at 2:30 to see the house again. I'm not getting my hopes up that they'll make an offer on it (ohpleaseohpleaseohpleaseHeavenlyFatherpleasepleasepleaseletthemloveitandbuyitohplease) but it would definitely be nice! Maybe you guys could throw a little luck/prayers/chanting my way? About 2:30 Central time? ;-)

ANYHOWI'MNOTDESPERATETOSELLMYHOUSEORANYTHING, Had a great weekend with Hubby, but he's back in Charlotte and we're still here. It is pretty brutal saying goodbye at the airport, but hopefully we won't have to do that for too much longer. Thing One started Volleyball yesterday, and Thing Two called me from school, he was in so much pain he couldn't stand it. Left ear. Took him to the dr. and he's got an ear infection. Probably leftovers from being sick. We got those numbing drops in his ear and antibiotics, and he already feels better. Crisis averted!

I didn't get any editing done this weekend, but after today's craziness I plan on getting some done. For now, I have to go room-to-room and make sure every bed is perfect, everything is vacuumed and dusted, and the house is perfect for the showing. They clearly liked what they saw the first time--now they'll probably spend more time and really LOOK at stuff. (pleaseohplease!)

I know, expect the worst, but HOPE for the best. That's my motto. Have a happy Tuesday, all!

I'm So Hungry I Could Gnaw My Own Foot Off.

Got lost in Editland last night. But I got to bed just before 11pm. I have decided I need to go to bed at a decent time. Staying up until 1am and waking up at 6am are NOT healthy. I need at least seven hours of sleep. So, 10:30 is when I start winding down, now. I'm trying everything I can think of to ease the chronic tension headaches I've been getting.

Also, I've been eating very healthy, and drinking tons of water every day. Trying to retrain my brain that carrots and celery are just as tasty as cool ranch Doritos and chocolate has been...a stretch. But I am done with comfort food and snacks, because Spring is coming!!! Lara needs to get in shape! Vegetables and fruit, more vegetables and more vegetables. YUM. (yeah, sarcasm again.)

Hubby comes home tonight! Hubby comes home tonight!! WOO HOO!

Okay, do I seem a little excited, or what? It's been three weeks since we saw him last, so the kids and I are VERY happy to have him here for a long weekend. He took Monday off so he doesn't have to fly back until the afternoon. So, we get all day Saturday, Sunday and part of Monday with him. It will be nice. We have missed him. I sound sappy, I know, but three weeks is too long. Then, the first week of April he'll be here for a week, for Spring break. That will be fun. I can't believe Easter is just around the corner!

We have had SERIOUS fog these past few nights. I hope the fog dissipates for tonight--or Hubby's plane might have problems. Fingers crossed! I hope everyone has a GREAT weekend!!!

Just Because I Can.

C'mon, June 30th. You SO need to get here. Fast.

ALERT: THE SNOW IS MELTING, I SAY!!!

First off, I'd like to give a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY shout out to one of my good friends and writer extraordinaire, Devon Ellington! Hope it's a good one, Dev!! Everyone send good thoughts her way, because she got a flat tire on her way to the Cape! Hope all is well and you're enjoying yourself on your birthday trip!

Okay, it's SO weird, but all the snow is almost gone! I was driving around yesterday and it's strange to see everything so...brown and yellow. Dare I hope that Spring might be around the corner???

Neh--we're probably going to get another snow storm soon. This is freaking WISCONSIN, for pete's sake, we don't have Spring! We have Winter, Winter, and then Summer starts. ;-)

Today will be almost 60 degrees, but rainy. Can you imagine what would happen if the SUN came out? Planets would collide, the balance of everything would be messed up! We're not supposed to have Springlike weather in March! Not here!

Oooh, I'm dripping sarcasm this morning! But I do have some good news, Thing Three's follow-up x-ray showed perfectly clear lungs. Hooray! He's still on the antibiotics and we're not missing a dose! I just want to get this kiddo healed and healthy! He's bummed he had to miss his first soccer game, but he wouldn't have made it across the field. And he knows it. His next indoor game isn't until the 27th, so he should be much better by then.

If the sun just came out today, it would be perfect! And now I'm being sappy...

Still wishing I was on a Beach...

Yesterday sucked. It was gloomy and rainy, and I had another headache. I have chronic tension headaches, now. It's stress, of course, but there's nothing I can do but take medicine and hope for the best. FUN.

THEN the day got better. I dusted off an old manuscript and started editing last night. (See my writing blog.) It was great! I looked up from the computer at one point and realized it was midnight, and I needed to head to bed. I love getting lost in a world of my own creation. There's nothing like it!

ANYWAY, we're supposed to have rain for the next three days straight. All I can say is, Thank heaven it isn't SNOW! I'll take it!!!!!

One Reason Why I Wish There Was Such A Thing As Teleportation.

'Nuff said.

Insert Witty and Vivacious Blog Title Here.

I'm a little sad. My soon-to-be three year old, (his birthday is in May) is rapidly changing on me. Gone is my sweet, pragmatic funny kid. In his place I have this whiny I'll-Cry-If-I-Don't-Get-My-Way little id who doesn't listen to me any more, and wants to do everything "his way."

*sigh*

Why can't they just stay sweet and accommodating? Why do they have to grow up (literally!) so fast?? He's already out of 3T and into a solid 4T, and I swear he's grown just in the last two weeks. He's taller, skinnier, and losing his baby fat. As all my kids inevitably do, and become toothpicks. I don't know what is up with my boys, but they are SKINNY. They eat and eat and nothing. In fact, I rejoiced when my nine-year old finally broke 60 pounds at the dr. the other day. He's been in the 50's for the last TWO years!

My daughter is the opposite. She needs to watch what she eats, and stay active, or she'll have problems. She HATES her brothers. Isn't that the way of things?

Heavy fog today. I actually like fog, if I don't have to be out in it. It's creepy and pretty and mysterious. Especially at night. Why else do they have fog machines for movie sets? Fog is cool!

Just when I didn't think I needed any more books on Anne Boleyn, I found another one, which I will read with great interest. Alison Weir, whom I greatly respect, has come out with THE LADY IN THE TOWER: THE FALL OF ANNE BOLEYN. Apparently she's discovered some new things about the doomed queen, and it will be interesting to see what she's found. She's a magnificent researcher/writer! And she Twitters! (Tweets?) I'm definitely following her.

Lots to do today. I'd better get going!

Better.

Things have calmed waaayyyyy down. The kids are much better, they're in school (but Thing Three can't do outside recess until his x-ray on Wednesday) and I spent a lot of yesterday washing sheets and spraying/wiping rooms down. And the maid service comes today, and if it's another 40+ degree day, I may open the windows and let all the fresh air in.

Laura, I can see why you'd say my kids seem to be always sick. ;-) Actually, they usually only get sick a few times a year (and only in Winter!) but since there's so many of them, it d-r-a-g-s out forever, because they NEVER get sick at the same time. This time around, they've all gotten sick within a week. Hopefully we won't be going through this for a while again, especially with (fingers crossed) the warmer temps!

So, the kids are better (although Thing One was "on death's doorstep" yesterday, she's made a miraculous recovery, and yes, I think she was being overly dramatic) and the house is organized, and I feel much more...together. At least on the outside.

Now, it's time for ME. I need to get MYSELF in order. Stress has made me give in to comfort food lately, and I want to eat healthier and exercise every day like I used to. And I want to do Yoga less sporadically. A good friend gave me a subscription to Yoga Journal and it's been very inspiring! I want to do it every day, without fail.

And I want to get back to my writing and editing. Mostly editing right now, I have two novels I really think could get somewhere, if I just sat my ADD rear-end down and focused on them! Now that the house is easier to maintain, and I have my nights free because Hubby is in Charlotte, I have zero excuses. And I have to say, the itch to write has been REALLY persistent, lately. But that's a post for the writing blog. ;-)

It's a beautiful, sunny day, and things are looking up!

The House of Coughs

Had Thing Three to the dr. yesterday. Pneumonia. I am seriously considering putting him in a plastic bubble. We've got him on antibiotics, probiotics, and heck, I'd dance naked under the full moon and drink shark pee if I knew it would make him all better...for at least two months in a row!!

Now Thing One is down with the fever and cough. I guess at least they're all getting sick at once, so, in a week we'll all be fine. But in the meantime, can you hear me SCREAMING?????!!!!

The super awesome house I found for us to rent GOT RENTED. I mean, the house was gorgeous, in a great neighborhood, it was too good to sit for long. But Hubby couldn't do anything about it because the house was in Charlotte, he was in New York on business, and I was in Wisconsin. You snooze you lose. I'm kind of down about it, but I figure it we were "supposed" to end up in it, well, we would have. 'Nuff said.

Our house is officially on the market! Only time will tell if we get some bites. I have a bunch of sickies laying around today, so I had to cancel the maid service. Which I really didn't want to do, but it's crazy around here. I'm wandering around blowing noses, administering antibiotics and motrin and hugs and comfort, changing sheets and boiling all sorts of concoctions (can I tell you sage STINKS when it sticks to the pot and burns???) and I'm ready for a nap.

a THREE DAY nap...

Sunshine!!!!!

The sun has been out the last couple of days, and apparently we'll have it a few more days, and *GASP* it will be in the FORTIES this weekend!!! I am shocked!

I am going to revert back to a "weather wimp" once I've lived in North Carolina for a while, I have a feeling. Every time I talk to my realtor or a relo person there, they have been complaining about the "cold." Well, to THEM, fifty degrees or snow that lasts one day because it warms up the next day is "crazy cold." But I keep diplomatically silent and just smile. I remember moving to Wisconsin from Dallas, and it was sixty degrees and we were in our coats and freezing our aspergums off, and everyone else was walking around in shorts and flip-flops and tank tops.

Now, I'd go SWIMMING in sixty degrees! ;-) Well, maybe not, but I'd consider it. My kids were walking around with their coats off yesterday, and it is 35 degrees out. (I still got "on" them for not wearing their coats!)

Thing Four is feeling better, the croup is gone, he just has a cruddy cough. Now, Thing Three, who had a stint in the hospital with H1N1 and pneumonia in November (and who has had pneumonia AGAIN since) is now sick. Wheezy, coughing, fever. I am taking him into the dr. today just to make sure it isn't pneumonia again. He sounds awful. He truly has developed a "weak constitution" since the hospital, and I think North Carolina will be great for him. Heat and humidity will be AWESOME for his little uncooperative lungs. Poor guy.

Thing One is coughing now, too. Thing Two is coughing still, but he's doing better. He only got a mild case. At least they're all sick at once. I thought I had gotten it, but I just had a sore throat for a couple days. I'm fine, now. I just want this to end FAST! Especially since our house is on the market, and people are (hopefully) going to want to WALK THROUGH it. The realtor said we could officially start getting showings tomorrow.

Okay, that felt surreal.

Hard Decision.

So, the earthquake in Chile actually shortened earth's days, because it shifted its axis? Freaky. Granted, the days will only be shorter by like, a MILLISECOND, but that is still freaky. As in Biblical Proportion Freaky....

Now, about my post title. I've moved a few times in my life. As a kid, I moved during a pretty crucial time--right in the middle of eighth grade. I had been a "North Side" kid, and suddenly, we were moving to a house on the "South Hill." I remember my fellow 8th-graders, in their usual blatant hostility, calling me a "traitor" and a "snob." Because only "snobs" lived on the South Hill. Yeah. That was fun. Of course, I met some "South Hill" girls in my new church ward who continue to be my dear friends even to this day, (even though we've never managed to live in the same city since college, *sniff*), so it was worth it.

And now, here I am, asking my sixth-grader, Thing One, to leave all her friends she's carefully cultivated over the last nearly four years, and it's a heartbreaking thing to see. In fact, she had a major meltdown on me this weekend, where I held her while she sobbed.

My kids were "all for" moving initially, and one by one, they've turned on me and now they don't want to leave. Trust me, I feel their pain. I moved after fourth grade. THAT was tough. I moved during a very formative 8th grade. Tough, but I got through it. I've moved, during my marriage to Hubby, a total of SEVEN times to Las Vegas, Houston, Dallas, Milwaukee, Denver, back to Milwaukee and now, North Carolina.

We have decided we are DONE moving. Our kids need to stay in one place so they can make/have friends they "grow up" with. At least for as long as they are in the house. Hubby is with a solid, stable company, and we know where we want to live. (Waxhaw, Brenda, in case you wondered!)

So, here's the dilemma: Our house is listed, and we have found a rental for us to live in in North Carolina (in the school district/neighborhood we want) until we find a house. Which means, you guessed it, I would pull the kids out of school, and put them in their new school, in a couple WEEKS. Frankly, I hate to do that, given my experience as a child, but on the other hand our kids miss their dad, and frankly, their dad can't get along very well without ME. (Oh, who said that!) And of course I miss him, too, and it has kinda stunk being apart. Hubby thinks it would be a good idea to get the kids in so they can make some friends who will want to hang out over the summer. I think that's a good idea too, BUT, the kids fall apart at the mere mention of leaving now.

SO, what to do, what to do...

UGH!!!

Croup.

My kids have never had this before. All I CAN say is, it's nasty. And two of them have it.

Yuck.