Waiting

I hate waiting. Which doesn't really seem true if you know that I am chronically, irritatingly early for everything. I guess I hate waiting when it's about something utterly out of my control. Waiting to find out where the company will transfer us this time, waiting for medical results, waiting, waiting, waiting.

I like to make decisions. I like to take what is known and make the best decision to move forward. Good news, bad news... whatever.

Last Wednesday I took my scariest final. The class was pass/fail. 75% on each individual exam passes. Anything below does not. The results of all the other exams in the class don't matter. The scores in all the graded classes don't matter. If you have a bad day on this day - you repeat the year. The whole freakin' year. SCARY. (I mean really, what's a $50,000 day... right? O.M.G.)

When I walked out of one section of that exam, I knew I had made a mistake. A mistake that would make other questions wrong because they depended on the right answer to begin with. There was nothing I could do at that point but wait. Wait to see if I had been right on enough of the rest of the sections. Wait to see if I would move on with my classmates, or if I would have to figure out how to pay for another year of school and daycare.

Today we got a message that said they'd post the scores after they had a chance to meet with those who had failed. They said they sent e-mails to those students. I nervously, obsessively checked my inbox all day long.

No message.

Which, I believe, means that I can take a huge breath and move on to the next year. So, tonight, finals are (finally!) finished, and I am moving forward.

I am done waiting on this one.

Beer me.

Gummy Bear Dance

If you ever wonder how my kids pass the time... this is it. I found them giggling like crazy watching this video. And the long version, and the french version. Who knew?

She's seven!

Meadow turned seven this week! Here she is with some of her loot.

New, bigger bike.
MP3 player and cake.
She loves music.
This is a variation of how I have seen her every single second since she opened this gift. I have actually had to say, "Pull one ear out so I know you can hear me."
Flowers from Nanny. Awwww.
The sound that goes with this picture is this "Beeeeehsst" (of both worlds). Hannah Montana. Like, duh Mom.

She had a blast.

Oh holy hell...

People! My brain is mush. Finals started Friday and they will continue through this Friday. And I know, I decided to do this and blah, blah, blah... BUT! Sometimes, when you have a very full brain it is almost impossible to comprehend that you also are responsible for exchanges like this in the car this morning:

Meadow: "Mom, are scorpions arachnids?"

Me: "I don't know... maybe we can look it up later when we get home if you remind me."

Meadow: "Hunter says they're animals."

Me: "I don't think they're animals, but I don't really know so we're going to have to wait until we can look it up."

Meadow: "But Hunter thinks he's right!"

Me: "Would you two just be nice to each other please? I don't know what scorpions are and we can't find out right now, so you're going to have to wait until we get home tonight."

Meadow: "But-"

Me: "No more buts! We'll look it up. Nobody is right and nobody is wrong. Be nice or be quiet!"

*Did you see my head explode? Because it totally did. And you have no idea how hard it is to drive headless.*

**UPDATE**
She was right. Scorpions are part of the arachnid family. So there you go, you learned something today.

Happy Mother's Day

I've had a lot of jobs. Radio producer, radio sidekick, marketing director, barista, phlebotomist, window-washer, telemarketer, waitress... it goes on, but this is getting ridiculous.


Oh! And Mom! I've been a Mom for almost a decade. Holy crap that means I'm getting old...


I've heard it said that it's the hardest job in the world. And some days, I agree. There are times when it is painful. Mindnumbingly difficult. But there are so many other days when it's not. Like when I get to spend the summer at the pool "for the kids". Or when one of them tackles me and gives me a giant squeeze and out of nowhere and says "I love you" or "you're pretty" or "you're the best mom ever" or, or, or...


So it's true that I've had a lot of jobs. And I will have more. But being a mom is the only job I will have for the rest of my life. And I have to say that it is, hands down, the best one I'll ever have.

Another fantastic parenting move

Today, while I was playing with River, he belted me right in the face. It kind of came out of no where. One minute we're laughing and playing and the next minute - he whacks me. HARD. So the conversation went like this:

"Ow! That hurt. No-no! No hit. Say you're sorry."

"Shic."

"No, say sorry."

"Shic."

"Sorry."

"Shic!"

"Sorry. Say sorry to mommy."

"Shit."

And I lost it. I laughed. And now he thinks he can whack me and cuss like a sailor. And I am so screwed. Shit.

Isn't it fabulous?!

Do you love the new design? Because I do. Jen from this place deserves all the credit. She was easy to work with, really reasonably priced and fast!

I'm really busy studying for finals. They start Friday and go through next week... EVERY DAY. So I'm going to go shove my head in my notes, but I will try to be a good blogger and not ignore y'all too much.

We're ba-aack!!!

We have survived the mold. It was removed from the house. They even clean the air. It's pretty crazy.

Then Mike went to work on the damaged area and I've got pictures. He would be totally sad if he knew the pictures were taken before the trim was done - but he doesn't read the blog - so it'll be our secret. Shhhhhhhh!

Anyway... River turned 2! I still feel like I was just pregnant with him last week, so it's hard to believe he's 2. Also, we still call him "the baby". I don't think we're going to stop until he's shaving and demands it. Even then, I suspect we will still call him the baby behind his back.

The big kids are going on a three-week break from school. (It's that crazy year-round thing.) They'll be at day camp for two weeks and then I'll get to be with them for the last week, when I'm done with finals. I am so very excited to hang out with them.

Here are some random pictures:

Lola, before we shaved her hair off for the summer. But OMG she's so cute!
River with some of his new birthday gear. That little chair is one of the coolest things ever. All three of the kids love to play with it. River's getting more territorial about his stuff which can be amusing from time to time.
This is one of three that I took of the boys this morning. Hunter was trying to make River happy while I was getting dressed (toddler translation: Mom abandoned me! wah!)
Not sure if he's cool with me yet.
Aren't they sweet?
Look how pretty they are. They promised to never, ever flood my basement. So long as we both should live...

Look! There's a floor! And the toilet is back where it belongs! Also, there is no toilet paper. Hmmm. Better fix that.
The long view.
Seriously. He is such a happy baby. I could just squeeze him!
She is funny. And always making me laugh.
See you soon!

Going dark

Well, I'm posting from Panera, which also happens to be where I am trying to do my homework. Why you ask? Because the basement is now off limits and my wireless connection is somewhere down there - unplugged.

Here are the main points:

There is black mold down there. (It looks black, I don't know if it's actually THE black mold.)

I have learned about adjusters and mitigation teams and mold doctors and blah, blah, blah...

I am actively holding my hands over my ears with my eyes closed and singing something along the lines of "la la la la". I will stop when somebody tells me something fantastic, like "it's all taken care of and we've decided to cover all of it".

I will post again when we are back up at the house.

Moral of the story (i.e. What I learned from this valuable life experience): DON'T DO LAUNDRY. BAD THINGS HAPPEN.

Back soon.

Water World

Today I thought I'd be super productive and delve into some mid-week laundry. I was home, writing a paper and I thought I'd multi-task. Because I'm fancy like that.

So I popped in a load and ran an errand and came back home. And I went to throw the clothes in the dryer and then I noticed something.

THERE WAS A POOL WHERE MY LAUNDRY ROOM USED TO BE.

So I was muttering some choice words, which I won't type because sometimes I'm shy. And then I tried to see where the water was coming from. I didn't see it, so much as I heard it from the washer area. And the washer was just running water, although curiously there was no water in the washer - just wet clothes. So I shut the machine off manually, cranked the water lines off and then I grabbed a towel and called my husband - while I was standing in at least an inch of water.

That's what I call re-prioritizing. And yes, in case you were wondering, it totally included beer.

2 to 1

I've talked before about how much River totally favors his Dad. But I really haven't said much about Hunter and Meadow, except to say that they favor me for most things which has its pros and cons.

And then Mike relayed the following conversations he had with each kid:

Mike: I've got medicine for you right here.

Hunter: Are you sure I'm supposed to have two?

Mike: Yes.

Hunter: Would Mom think so?

*hee hee hee*

Mike: Come here and let me comb your hair.

Meadow: Are you allowed to comb my hair?

*huge belly laughs*

So, if you're keeping score - that's one for him and two for me.

Because I am totally competitive like that.

Dude Airport - Bud Light - Extended Version

I've got tons of schoolwork, so I'm phoning in this post. But seriously, I love these commercials. I saw this one the other day when I forgot I was watching The Daily Show on the DVR. For once, I was glad I didn't miss the commercials. THAT is a fortunate accident. Anyway, enjoy.

It's a good thing he's cute

I call this series : "Why River Is NOT My Friend."

In case this isn't clear - he's trying to fill the cup he just spilled from where it's dripping. Because apparently when he dumped it over he wasn't really aware how that would impact his thirst.
I've been spotted... I should smile.
But I'm thirsty so I'm just going to get a little more milk.
He is soooo not my friend.
Does anybody know how to make a lazy susan corner cabinet childproof?

See how he tries to lay on the charm.*(&%! He gets me every time.
Duuuuuude.