My day started out with my delightful annual ob/gyn exam.

Middle of it has been kids fighting. ie: "stop it" "no, YOU stop it" X1000.  Then Alex charging Abby a quarter for him to stop throwing a ball at the wall between their two rooms. Then him teasing Camille into a crying frenzy. Then me losing my mind and saying things with clenched teeth and ( Read more... )

We got back yesterday (actually early this morning)  from our family reunion vacation in Utah. We drove 12 hours yesterday and got in at 12:30 am. To say I lost my sanity in that car with three kids for 12 hours would be the understatement of the millenia. It was nice to see my family, of course, but I never want to get in my car again. I will walk ( Read more... )

All THREE kids and I are going to the dentist. And there is only one hygienist so that means whoever isn't in the chair has to keep Camille occupied.
So far I have packed (seriously you have to consider this like a trip):
Books
Sippy
Snacks (for all three kids)
Mini Thomas game
diapers :(
scooter for older kids to ride around in the parking lot
whatever  ( Read more... )

Before I got married, my older brother, Scott, who hardly says more than two words to me most days told me, "Whatever you do, don't have kids [if you want to be happily married]." I don't know if he was joking. I'm sure he was, but there was an underlying tone of serious desperation that I have never forgotten.

Today, Camille and I got escorted out ( Read more... )

Emily: "Doesn't anyone ever realize life while they live it? Every, every minute?" 
Stage Manager: "No. Saints and poets, maybe; they do some."

Our Town, Thornton Wilder

One year ago today, Dad, my life changed forever as I knew it. I don't know if you were a poet, but I do believe you were some version of a saint. Thank you for now helping me realize ( Read more... )

I have been fighting with my pre-teen son (who is supposed to be the even tempered child) for two days straight. I literally weep for his teenage years. Let alone my daughters teen years (who is most certainly NOT even tempered ( Read more... )

A couple weekends ago, Abby and I were in SLC for the clearing out of the house I grew up in, along with all my siblings. I haven't completely picked myself off the ground since. It was a tough day for obvious reasons: watching stinky strangers rifle through the things you have become accustomed to for 30+ years as part of your family, then having ( Read more... )

My kids have been home from school about 3 weeks. I am already done. Camille has already watched way too much TV. And it is already in the 100's. My daughter's friend has been practically living over here because I quote, "My mom is grumpy and tired and is taking a nap" and I have been feeding her and even washing her clothes (as needed) and ( Read more... )

Lately my life is all about my mother. We just got back from an eventful journey via airplane to SLC to go visit the retirement center she is moving into in about two weeks. The flight was only 'eventful' because my mom can barely walk two steps (she has to be pushed in a wheelchair if travelling distances more than about 20 feet)  without help and ( Read more... )

I survived the holidays and my Mom's 80th birthday. I only had one nervous breakdown including very innapropriate language in front of the children. My poor family gets the brunt of it.

Why am I having a nervous breakdown at all, you may ask (or not)? My Mom. My sister and I and our families have been her primary caregivers since she's been in AZ ( Read more... )