I forgot!

I am currently making dinner.

I know. Shocker!

But I am.

And since Delaney and Todd are off to soccer, I knew I had plenty of time to get it done. We are having baked potatoes and I decided to pop them in the oven instead of my usual nuc-ing . Only.....I couldn't remember HOW to make them in the oven. It has been so long since I have done potatoes in the oven, I wasn't sure I was doing them right!

I actually had to resort to the Better Homes and Gardens cookbook! And....I was wrong. I had to up the oven temp or they would have been baking another 1/2 hour or so after Todd and Delaney came home! I vaguely even remembered having to put foil on them!

My grandmother would be ashamed if she were here!

But it got me to thinking, as I was scrubbing those potatoes, about how much we don't remember.  Simply because we don't do them anymore.   Like calling someone on the phone vs. cell phones, emails and text messages. Going to the movies instead of watching On Demand. Playing a board game vs. Wii!

It is almost like we have gotten lost in our world of fast conveniences. It is so much easier sending a text than it is to write a whole letter. I remember writing to family and friends and making my letters so long I had to add an extra stamp on it! Does anyone even use a stamp anymore? I think the postmen have become very lonely lately!

Gone, it seems are the days of picnics outside and walks at night. Gone is sitting and chatting over a glass of iced tea. Gone is family game nights that require everyone to communicate. And gone are baked potatoes in the oven.

It is almost sad.

Sad that we have missed out on the things that take time and bring us closer to others.

And really sad that I actually had to look up 'baked potatoes'!

Thank God for Good Homes and Gardens!
Who knew I would be blowing off the dust for baked potatoes!

Oh how I love teenagers!

This morning Megan was complaining about her hair.  The sides were too long.  She hates it.  She wants me to do something about it.  I ask her what and this is what I get...........

Megan- I don't know. 
Me-  Well you have to tell me what to do.  Do you want me to comb it in the ponytail or cut it.
Megan-I don't know!  It's just stupid!
Me-  Well you have to tell me.  I can cut it shorter if you want.  Which do you want me to do?
Megan- I DON'T KNOW! 
Me- Fine. *snip*
Megan- Now it looks stupid!
Me-Well do you want me to blend it in more?  Or leave it?
Megan-I DON'T KNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was at this point I got fed up and walked away.

Her solution to her chopped hair?  To recomb it so that the long pieces that didn't get cut came down.  So now she has short side bangs......chopped longer pieces........and the original long pieces that were "stupid" that she complained about eariler!  Nothing like having the tiered look.........

And a very frustrated Mom!

Where is my Bahama Mama?

My week really got no better.  It has been filled with cleaning up, trying to put daycare children down in other areas since the daycare area is still under repair, emptying out a dehumidifier and falling waaaaaaaaaaaay behind on laundry!

My Monday has been like the past week. Nuts!  I had late daycare arrivals who came just as a new little one woke and was demanding feeding, all at the same time I was trying to do learning work and clean up and make lunch and change diapers and..............!  Let's just say that by 1pm I was ready to hide under a pillow!  My house looks like a bomb went off and I have to say it is making me hyperventilate.  And no one seems to be interested in helping to set anything back to rights.  I either have to look the other way and understand I cannot do it all at one time and alone.  OR sit there in a stare down with toy boxes, rolled up carpets and laundry baskets and get stressed.  Unfortunately, it seems like the last it going to be the winner.

And this morning was just the topper to my week.  It was 4:50am and I hear thunder.  I fly out of bed cause I know that, since no one actually listens to me, Ryan's soccer equipment is still sitting outside on the deck.  And there it was in the dark and the downpour!  Ryan forgot them.  Todd ignored them cause it "wasn't his job".  So Mom got to get up before the break of dawn and drag in dripping and now God-awful-smelling cleats and try to unsuccessfully dry them out before Ryan had to leave at 6:30! 

It didn't happen.  They are still in the dryer.

I have been awake and dressed since.  And spending my morning running downstairs every 1/2 hour to turn the dryer back on.  At some point I not only have to attack the house again to attempt to get it in some sort of order but also figure out how to get the cleats to Ryan...hopefully dry.

*sigh*

I need a vacation!

Or a drink!

Or a drink on vacation!

Or a drink and closing my eyes and pretending I am on vacation!

............Whatever works!

Adult swim at 5pm! Grab your floatie!

I thought I would pop on and shout a HEY!  It has been a week and I didn't want you all dying to know just where I am and the exciting things I have been up to!  Cause I know it keeps you all awake at night just thinking about it!

I would love to say I have indeed been on an adventure but I would so be lying. 

To begin, my MIL is in the hospital.  Make a long story short and exclude the many details, she has a kidney infection which turns out to be a good thing.  It saved her life.  She started over the weekend with pain and while in the ER they noticed her blood thinner was much too high as well as pain killers that were recently prescribed for her arthritis.  She probably would have bled to death or had a stroke.  So the kidney infection did end up being a positive.  Although, I doubt she saw it that way after 12 hours in the ER.

She is still in the hospital on her little 'mini vacation'.  She gets to kick back and relax while people visit her with flowers and candy in hand and watch soaps all day! 

(Come to think of it, maybe I will join her!)

And Monday, which was looking to be my relaxing night at home, ( my ONLY relaxing night at home for a good week) turned into the making of our indoor pool.  It was not on purpose but my washer had other ideas.  By 4:30 my basement was flooded with a full cycle of a load of darks.  It was not pretty!  And it extended across 1/2 my basement.  Now if you know my basement you know this is not good.  In fact, very very bad.  Which is why I was rather shocked when my plumber says he won't be able to get to me till the next day!  See, I have a finished basement.  With a pergo floating floor. Which houses my daycare. 
Water + no plumber+ wood floor= BAD BAD THINGS!

And to make the night even better.....Todd had just left for swim class with Delaney.  And Ryan was at soccer.  That meant I was on my own with water that was a bit more than my old towel and mop could handle! The only helpers were Megan and a 5 year old.

It took almost 5 hours and hauling rugs and toys and sucking up water with a borrowed wet vac.  Now I am in prayer. "Please dear God do NOT let me have to replace my flooring.  Cause I so do not want to have to call my home owners insurance company and file ANOTHER claim!! I doubt they will be happy with me."

We called a service clean up company who said they would come out for $150 to just look at it but would recommend tearing up the floor anyway.  And we called several flooring companies who said to leave the floor and use dehumidifiers and fans.  We haven't even attempted to call the insurance company yet.  But I am thinking, sadly, that call will be coming.  There is no choice.  The basement is my job.  It cannot be ignored or done when we 'get the money'.  I can only hope that the flooring company is right. 

So.....till then swim classes in my basement will resume this morning at 10am with adult swim to follow at 5.  Bring your floaties.  Bring your wet vacs.  But most importantly, bring your bottle of wine!  Cause I think I need it!

Amazing Monday

I was walking round upstairs doing some things and had sent Delaney downstairs to play with her friends.  About 5 min later I hear someone on the steps and walk over to investigate.  There sat this.....

I asked Delaney how it got up there and she said she did it.  She tells me that her and her friends removed the laundry out of the dryer and she brought it upstairs.  After a lecture about caring something like that upstairs without help, I sent her on her way with a thank you.  Then sat there in amazement. 

Now if only my 5 year old can get the teenagers and daddy to do that!

Wonder how her and her friends feel about cleaning bathrooms!?



And in conclusion....

After our soccer game we headed off to Duffields.  They were holding their fall festival and I was in the mood for a hayride and pumpkin pickin!  I got a little more than I headed out for including apple cider donuts that are currently sitting on my counter as we speak, calling my name!

8 to 2 in our favor and a icecream IOU

How to easily take down a canopy.

Step #1 Wait for a really rainy and windy day.

Step #2 Sit back and wait for the wind to catch your canopy and roll it across your deck and bend in 1/2, thereby taking out the rail, new light fixture and disassembling the canopy in one smooth and easy process.

Step #3 Then spend a 1/2 hour outside in the rain removing the remains of the canopy so that it doesnt continue to fly in the neighbors yard.  Or better yet, into your neighbors brand new car!

Step #4 Spend all day Saturday taking a bent up frame apart and hiking it to the dump and fixing the railing and light fixture!
Done!