For breakfast EvieG had a lovely bowl of organic oatmeal sweetened with honey in front of her this morning. So healthy. So unappealing for a five year old.

Labels: DDM, EvieG

There is a brain malfunction every time I want to give an order to one of the Wee Ladies. Or each time I get riled up and want to give one of them the what-for. I can never, for the life of me, get their names right. And I usually go through the entire list of names before I finally get it correct. Three times and I'm out.

There are only three of them. Why do I fail in calling them by their real life names all the time? It is a server loading error. I am thinking quickly and trying to avoid catastrophe when it happens.

To Spark Plug- "Hey! Ev-, The Dest-, Spark Plug! Whatever your name is! Get off of the counter before you break the handle and your arm!"

The really sad fact is that I will still get the wrong name even when there is only one with me at the time. I asked The Destroyer to move out of the way of the mop and called her EvieG. EvieG is at school and Spark Plug was upstairs at the time.

Man!

I remember my mother doing the same thing with my brothers and I. And I was the only girl! She still got it wrong. I also remember it most when she was angry. Only back then I ended up with Uncle Jeff's wooden spoon over the forearm by mistake.

Will I ever get it right? Will they start to take it personally that their mother doesn't know who they are? Will they start a tally chart of all the times I screw it up and bet on it?

It's like my memory is failing at 33 years of age. We already know that I have trouble remembering some things. I don't want to forget my kids all Notebook starring Ryan Gosling (is that right?) and Rachel what's her last name? I forget.

What would be horrible is if I confused them and accidentally called the wrong girl on her sister's birthday.

EvieG: Hello?

DDM: Oh hi, Honey! It is 9:08 pm and it was 17 years ago that you were born! I wanted to wish you a happy birthday!"

EvieG: Mom. It's me. EvieG. My birthday is in July. It is only April. I was born at 10:59 am. Remember?

DDM: Oh, sorry. Wrong daughter. Have a good sleep!

EvieG: Ok. Hey mom. You better call Spark Plug. After you hang up. SPARK PLUG. Not The Destroyer.

DDM: Got it.

I hope that this doesn't happen. Thank goodness I have three daughters. What would happen if I only had one? What would the wrong name be then?

I need one of those brain teaser books to keep my memory sharp and mind strong. Is there some kind of food I can eat to improve brain function?

Maybe a beer will help. I can speak fluent french when I have beer. It's true.

All's I'm sayin's all.

PS Enter the contest to win a Green-School tote! Go to Contact Us and submit your name and e-mail!

Labels: DDM, Guilt

We are on the homestretch now. I can't wait! I can't wait to have the last of the Wee Ladies diaper-free.

The Destroyer is not yet 2, but is potty training. The third always amazes me as far as how quickly they do things to keep up with the older siblings. She wants to be just like her big sisters. She likes to play with her sisters, eat like them, dress like them, do things all-by-herself, and is even ready for a big-girl-bed. She is climbing in and out of her crib.

One random day, she decided she was going to use the toilet. She said, "Toy-wet," marched in, sat down, and did her business. Let the confetti and balloons fly! We cheered and made a big deal about it. She is very proud of herself and side skips around the house laughing all giddy like.

She has been using the potty off and on for the past couple of weeks. She is still having some trouble telling me in time or getting herself there. Her bladder is the size of a pea and she is going what seems like every 10 minutes.

I can't believe that we will have everyone out of diapers soon. This makes me so happy. I never thought the day would come, especially when I found out I was pregnant for the third time when I was mommying Spark Plug who was only 4 months at the time. I thought that the heavens were out to get me.

But every day we are getting closer to more freedom and independence.

And next it will be the naps. The Destroyer is on her way to dropping her afternoon nap.

That means ice cream in the park in the afternoon. And day trips.

We will never be home because our social schedule will be so full. Like really full.

I can't imagine being able to go out for long periods of time! It has been almost 6 years. You won't be able to keep me home! It will be like a whirlwind of ladies out on the town.

We will start with a trip to the park.

All's I'm sayin's all.

PS Enter the contest to win a Green-School tote! Click here to read about it!

Labels: DDM, The Destroyer

I was away for the weekend and had the chance to hang out with some really good pals. We went for some pints and then of course, the bill came. So out came the wallet. I was the only one at the table with kids. And my wallet clearly reflected that. I was the laughing stock of the table as my curious friends insisted I show them all the crap that I have accumulated in my wallet. A mom's wallet was indeed revealed.

Labels: DDM

At Scarlett Lounge this week, you can enter to win one of five Green-School totes! Click here to read about it.

Labels: Contests

Spark Plug: What's that smell?

EvieG: Mom, what is that smell?

DDM: It's that truck in front of us. It is the exhaust that smells. It is yucky isn't it?

EvieG: It still smells. Is it that cement truck beside us?

DDM: No, that is the same smell from the truck that just turned a second ago.

After driving through for a coffee:

EvieG: I smell that truck at the light!

Spark Plug: No. That's mommy's coffee.

EvieG: Oh.

All's I'm sayin's all.

PS Have a great weekend! Thanks for reading and I will be back on Monday.

Labels: DDM, EvieG, Spark Plug

I can't behave improperly at all anymore when the Wee Ladies are in my presence. I am constantly on. I have to be aware of my habits because I have 6 eyes on me watching my every move. It's like my own version of the paparazzi, only their cameras are their sponge-like-minds. Every time I step out of line, it is made public.

Here are some things that I used to do, but can't do anymore in front of the Wee Ladies because a) I will be called on it, and b) I don't want to completely misdirect and corrupt the wee minds of my girls:

- drink from the juice container
- get away with NOT wearing my seat belt from the mailbox to the house, or in a parking lot as we cruise around
- wipe my nose on my shirt
- eat directly from the pot of spaghetti
- leave the tap running while brushing my teeth
- steal cookies after telling everyone no more snacks until after dinner
- say anything at all inappropriate- for the record, I never curse or swear in front of them. The worst I have said is crap and shoot and it has been repeated.
- forget to always cover my mouth when I sneezed or coughed
- watch The Young and the Restless
- take a handful of chocolate chips or marshmallows right from the package (and I wonder why they go into the cupboard to help themselves)

Here are some of the things I hear when caught in-the-wrong:

"Moooom! Put your seat belt on! We need to be safe!" (Thanks, Dora)
"Moooom! Get a plate! Don't eat from the pot! That's rude!"
"Moooom! Cover your mouth when you sneeze! We don't need to get your germs!"
"Moooom! You said no more cookies till dessert! Why do you get another one?"
"Hey! Marshmallows are for hot chocolate and Krispie squares! Can I have some?"
"Why is that guy on top of that lady, Mom?"
"Do you need a Kleenex for the gold in your nose?"
"You shouldn't drink out of the container. You'll spread germs and you are supposed to put it in a glass, mom."
"(Gasp) You just said a bad word!"
"You always turn the water off when brushing your teeth. We need to keep the Earth clean."

Of course, it is EvieG firing these statements at me. I should call her Little Miss Responsible. Spark Plug stands behind her sister and says, "Ya!", and The Destroyer just goes into the cupboard or fridge and helps herself.

Am I this anal? Because these kids are just repeating what I have said. It is all learned. I should call myself Large Bottomed Mrs. Etiquette by day and Large Bottomed Mrs. Relapse by night. Because you know that once they are out of my sight or in bed, all of these habits resurface in full as I sit on the couch watching crappy TV with a tub of ice cream and a fork, a jug of Tropicana on the side table, a bag of chocolate chips, and use my shirt as a Kleenex.

Oh, and there should be a big, flashing neon sign above my head that reads, Off Duty.

And while I am off duty I would kindly ask that all cameras and camcorders are turned off too. We don't need any evidence of my bad habits exposed to the Wee Ladies.

They have already witnessed enough.

And I will try to do my best to keep it in check. But there are no guarantees.

All's I'm sayin's all.

Labels: DDM, Responsibility

I have concluded that sometimes things happen, even when we try our best to make sure our kids are safe and sound. I also find that the more kids there are, the harder it is to keep everyone happily in one place, all the time. I had a bad experience yesterday with Spark Plug. She is fine and I am almost fine. And I decided that I am going to tell you about it, after giving it some thought.

Labels: DDM, Drama

There is definitely an increase in the sibling blame game happening over here. There is a lack of accepting responsibility for one's difficulties, hardships, and inconveniences. It is funny to watch the pointing and the blaming. It is interesting to see the speed at which the blaming occurs. Even the dog gets blamed for stuff.

Labels: Battle

We used to have a CD player in the van that held and shuffled 4 CDs. Now we only have one working CD compartment. The other 3 have been jammed with coffee change, thanks to The Destroyer. I always said that I would only play age-appropriate music for the Wee Ladies. I find that I am slowly moving away from this and have gradually been introducing them to radio and music genres of all kinds.

Labels: DDM, EvieG, Responsibility, Spark Plug, The Destroyer

I was hoping I would be asked to participate. And I have. I am going to be a part of tonight's pot luck.

Labels: DDM

I don't hoard and I try not to keep stuff around to pile up. And so it is not surprising that I am typically not one for collections. The only collections I ever had were a sticker collection when I was 8 and a chewed gum collection on the side of my dresser in my room.

My in-laws came to visit last weekend and my MIL brought three RBC Olympic coin collector cards for the Wee Ladies. It has become a mission to find 3 of each coin for them, even at the risk of losing coffee money.
Still stuck on the chewed gum collection? It grossed most of my friends out, except my one best pal who had one of her own. And we contributed to each other's too. We would chew a wad of gum until there was no flavour left. We would get it all balled up, remove it from our mouths, and placed it in its designated spot. I think I had around 40 pieces. It smelled really nice and fruity as I made my way to the bathroom. We were so proud of our accomplishment.
My MIL thought it would be a good idea to have the Wee Ladies collect coins in celebration of the 2010 winter Olympics in Vancouver. So she brought the cards along with a few coins to get them started. We got them placed appropriately and glanced at the chart to confirm which ones were in circulation and which ones we have to wait patiently for.

And now we search, collect, and wait for new ones to come from the Royal Canadian Mint. There are 17 to collect in all. EvieG has 6. Spark Plug and The Destroyer both have 3. EvieG has doubled them. My MIL thinks that come the time, they should all trade to make sure they end up with them all.

I don't know. Here's what I foresee-

DDM: (accepting change from my Starbucks grande mild with double cream) Oh look! I just got the curler! Do we have that one yet?

EvieG: No! I want the curler for my collection!

DDM: Well, what about your sisters?

Spark Plug: I want it!

TheD: Ahhhhhhhh!

EvieG: Well, I think that we should fill up my card first. And then we can add to Spark Plug's and then to The Destroyer's. How's that sound?

DDM: Hmmmm, that's not really fair is it? Can we come up with another idea? Maybe you can trade one of your coins with Spark Plug for the curler?

EvieG: Nooooo! I don't want to lose my coins!

She has a point. Why don't we just fill up one card at a time? Do Spark Plug and The Destroyer really know what is going on? At least EvieG can actively participate. I think we might have to do this all stealth like because there is no way we will have 3 of the same coin all the time. And if we make it a very public addition to one of the collector cards, and it is not Spark Plug's, she will have a rangy for sure.

With this collecting in mind, I have now become obsessed with looking at all quarters and loonies. I am searching through coffee change, my wallet, through pockets, Hubby's change, and am even planning my payments with the intent of receiving quarters for change.

What is happening to me? Will I not rest until all 51 coins are in their rightful spots? I will not rest until this task is completed. This is going to drive me to insanity if I am searching for Olympic change for the next year. And you know I will get really annoyed if I keep getting the same figure skating pair over and over and over again. Or if I keep seeing that regular caribou, or special addition in celebration of Canada's veterans. And all I will need is one more. The Olympics will come and go and it will be the damn speed skater that I needed.

EvieG is the star of the week at school. We sent her off yesterday with her favourite books, some pictures of the family to share with her class and then the piece de resistance- the coin collection. And she told her class all about it. I am making her into a obsessive collecting freak.

We will get them all. Oh yes, we will.

I lied. I just remembered my other collection. Bazooka Joe comics.



All's I'm sayin's all.

Labels: Battle, DDM, EvieG, Mission, Spark Plug, The Destroyer

Is it just me who feels like going to bed some nights at 7:00? Why am I so friggin' tired all the time? I am blaming it on February and the lack of vitamin D.

Some days I feel so old. In the morning I wake up and give the bags under my eyes a pat-down. I don't jump out of bed and have my chores completed by 8:00 am. I struggle some days to get going. I think about the days when I slept in until 10:00 am and refused to EVER schedule a class before 10:30 am. And coffee is not my magic potion. I sometimes drag my way through the day, anxiously waiting for bed time, no matter how many cups of caffeine I have consumed. I remember having all sorts of energy at night. Where did that go? Is this part of aging? Or is it motherhood? Or both?

During the day, I still carry out my mom duties just fine. I do all the things I need to and have fun playing with the Wee Ladies. It doesn't change the fact that there are days when bed time couldn't come fast enough. I'm not going to deliver some line about needing to really absorb all the time I have with the Wee Ladies because life is so short and that they grow so quickly and I simply MUST savour every second. Not today, friends.

Today is a day where quiet time is savoured and any chance I have for some alone time will be appreciated.

And I refuse to feel guilty about it. As moms, we feel guilty about so much already.

Maybe a bowl of chocolate ice cream is in order.

All's I'm sayin's all.

PS As mentioned yesterday, I am trying to sort out having some ads placed on the site through BlogHer. One ad is a survey, but just to clarify, it is NOT for my site. It is for the BlogHer site.

Labels: DDM

When I prepare the Wee Ladies for the bitter cold weather, I dress them appropriately. Or so I think. I've realized that I've got nothing on the layering abilities of older generations.

Have you ever noticed that when you leave your children in the capable hands of a grandparent, older aunt, uncle, or even great-grandparent, they have this inherent need to make the kids look like tightly wrapped sushi rolls? Like sausages wrapped in phyllo?

When our kids get winter-dressed by someone of an older generation, they have the following layers applied for their trip outside:

- undershirt
- long sleeve shirt
- sweater or sweatshirt
- winter jacket
- leggings
- pants
- snow pants
- 2 pairs of socks over the leggings
- scarf wrapped around 100 times so they can barely see
- hat
- ear muffs
- 2 pairs of mittens
- snow boots
- blanket wrapped around their laps if they have been put in the car

The kids can hardly walk. This is why most times they are carried from Point A to Point B. They waddle and bump into walls because they are so heavily layered, they lose their bearings and balance as they fight to maintain their center of gravity.

All of a sudden you hear the old, "Is she feeling well? Is she teething? Oh! She is cold! Look at her cheeks and nose! They are bright red! I hope she's warm enough!"

I stand there thinking, she's not cold, she has all her teeth, but she might be running a temperature. I bet she is feeling nauseous because she is overheating. Can 2 year olds get BO? Man, they have her wrapped up tighter than Fort Knox. This kid could for sure live outside in the frosty winter climate with all the crap she is wearing. She is a kid version of a layered clubhouse sandwich!

Then the crying and complaining starts. Whining in a muffled, damp, scarf voice, they say, "Mom, I'm hot! My seat belt is too tight."

I say, "Look kids! The moon is out!"

"But mom! I can't look up!"

Man. Oh. Man.

I feel like someone is going to call in and accuse me of neglect. In a hurry, I have been known to take the Wee Ladies out without a hat or mittens. Kind of by mistake. Sometimes I have evaluated the temperature and made an executive decision to take them in the car minus the snow pants. Depending on where we are going, I have even put them in their padded Crocs instead of boots. They're insulated. We're not going outside! We just have to go and get some groceries.

I don't have the patience to go overboard in the layering. I think they will survive without that extra t-shirt. I dress them how I dress when I go out in the winter. I am not walking around all Lady GaGa in nothing but some hosiery and a dress made from PVC. I think I dress for the outdoors properly.

Plus, when the Wee Ladies are out and about, they end up trying to remove most of what has been put on. Mittens always come off. I am always finding gloves and mittens in the yard, or tossed down beside the seats in the van. We have an entire winter outer wear clearance section in the van. The Destroyer takes off her boots and socks most days while we are cruising around.

I know what my elders would say right now. They would look at me over their bi-focals and state the naked truth that if I had put stockings on her in the first place and she tried to remove her socks, well then, she wouldn't be sitting in her bare feet when it's -15 degrees Celsius.

What I can do, they can do better, right?

Whatever. She'll learn won't she? She'll eventually learn that it is not a good idea to take off her socks in the winter.

That's right. Tough love.

Will I change my dressing habits? No. Will I feel guilty when I am out-dressed by the resourceful previous generations? Nah. I'll let them dress the Wee Ladies if they feel so inclined to dress them as a child should be dressed for the harsh temperatures of the wintry outdoors.

And just for the record- I would NEVER buy earmuffs.

All's I'm sayin's all.

PS February's Who's DDM? is up. Go and have a peek.

PPS I am trying to sort out having some ads placed on the site through BlogHer. One ad is a survey, but just to clarify, it is NOT for my site. It is for the BlogHer site.

Labels: DDM, Fun, Responsibility

The birth order amazes me. From the first to the second to the third child you see the characteristics and behaviours that are apparently 'typical', even though we try not to make our Wee Ladies products of birth order norms. Or do we contribute to it a little bit?

Take EvieG. She is the first born. She is fiercely independent, Type A, orderly, helpful, obedient, hates to disappoint, and can be a bit of an over-achiever. She is academic oriented, yet artsy. She is sensitive and emotional. She worries. I am always encouraging her and telling her how proud I am of her. She eats it up and then tries to outdo herself. Some say she is a typical first born.

Spark Plug is our second oldest. I hate the term 'middle child'. We prefer not to use it. I am a middle child. I, like Spark Plug was fiery, and some would argue I still am. People always say how the middle child gets tossed to the side because the expectations are set for the oldest to abide by and the youngest needs the attention. I don't buy it. Spark Plug is sharp, adorably sweet, thoughtful, and loyal. She can be very demanding and temperamental but she is also often very sensitive and eager to please. She tries so hard to be a 'big girl'. She is doing more and more all by herself and we are proud. People also justify her behaviour by saying, "Oh, she's the middle child and they are just like that." That bothers me. We don't blame improper actions on her place within the birth order. It is a combination of our parenting combined with her talent of manipulating us. We spend just as much time with Spark Plug as the others, and sometimes more. She likes to be in the spotlight. She refuses to be tossed aside. She would never be anyway because we wouldn't let that happen. Some say her sparkiness is typical of a middle child.

The Destroyer is the baby. And she tries her hardest to be heard. All the time. She is easy going and strong. She is tough as nails will get right up and keep going when she falls. She needs to keep up with the rest of them. And so she has developed quicker than the others in all areas. She also picks up all the bad habits of the others. She is most cuddly. She is super sensitive and anytime she makes me angry because she has pinched her sister yet again, she puts her hands over her face and cries (or pretends to). She says weeping, "Sorry, Mummy." She hates to disappoint. But she is physical and solid. She pushes back, pinches, and stands her ground. If the others bang into her accidentally, The Destroyer is usually the one left standing. Some would say she is a typical baby of the family.

Do we ask EvieG to do too much and accept responsibility for too many things? Maybe sometimes. But we also make sure she stays a kid and let her explore and express herself as she needs to, in a way that encourages her positive growth.

Do we give into Spark Plug? Yes. At times. I get mad at myself sometimes for doing so. Because now she has a bad habit of whining to get attention and to get what she wants. She is growing out of it, but she still does it. And I still give her the attention. I don't regret it because I know she will turn out just fine.

Do we baby The Destroyer too much? Sure. Sometimes I am guilty of this. And she has me figured out. She knows the right time to come in for the cuddle, to say sorry, to give me a hug. And then she quits her crying and is laughing in the moments following. She is a mummy's girl and her wanting to be with me leads to my letting my guard down sometimes. But I also let her manage on her own a lot. And so she has to survive to keep up with the others, so she is also very independent.

While the Wee Ladies naturally fit in their respective categories according to birth order characteristics, we also definitely contribute to shaping that too. A little bit. Even though I try to stay away from being typical.

Because I am not satisfied with being typical. And don't want the Wee Ladies to be typical either.

All's I'm sayin's all.

PS Who's DDM should be up and running today. It will be most definitely up over the weekend.

PPS Have a great weekend! My in-laws are coming to visit. The Wee Ladies are so excited, as are we, and Hubby and I get to go skiing tomorrow! Thanks to my MIL and FIL.

Labels: EvieG, Spark Plug, The Destroyer

This is always a difficult day for my family and I. It was 13 years ago today that my father passed away at the age of 53. I was a month away from my 21st birthday and my parents were a month away from their 30th wedding anniversary. The years have been tough as I have grown and changed and established my own family without him.

My father was an incredible man. His love for his family, nature, and his work infiltrated everything he accomplished and it rubbed off on my 2 brothers and I. He worked hard to provide us with the best opportunities possible and he, along with my mom, steered us to be the best we could be.

Not a day goes by when I don't think about him, what he would say, think, or answer. I have had a million questions I wish I could have asked him.

The worst part about not having my dad around is that he never got to meet the Wee Ladies. They all would have adored each other. And I know he would have helped me teach them the important things that he taught me. He was such an impressive force in our lives and I sometimes feel cheated that he was taken from us so soon. He had so much living to do still.

Even though it doesn't help things, I sometimes envision my dad walking through the fields holding my girls' hands as they listen for chickadees, and try to spot the deer roaming around. I also picture them picking wild strawberries together and feeding the trout. These are all things we did together and that meant so much.

And so if he can't be here to do those things, then I will. I will try and fill that gap. I will give them the opportunity to experience the things he would have done with them.

I will be sure to tell them as much as I can about him, the things I remember about him, and how much he would have loved them.

I will also make them understand that he is watching over them because I believe it to be true. I think they know it too. They already know him as a cardinal, one of his favourite birds.

I miss my dad. And on this day I always take some time to grieve. It always makes me feel better.

All's I'm sayin's all.

Labels: DDM, Reflection

Everywhere I go my entourage comes with me. I have them wrapped around my finger, they usually do as I ask, and go wherever I go. They also keep me on routine and will let me know if I divert from the schedule. They depend on me to keep them busy and going. I also realize and admit that I depend on them just as much. We make a great team.

The three members of my entourage play distinct roles. They all have certain jobs, some with more responsibility than others. The smallest of the group keeps my meal times on schedule. By continually going into the cupboard and bringing food to me, we keep each other full. She also keeps me spry. By threatening to destroy the place, I am always on my toes. The middle manager makes sure we are dressed and have brushed hair and teeth. She makes sure we have an appropriate amount of product applied every day. We stick to a routine that keeps us looking presentable. She always makes her demands and feelings known. She is an open communicator. The oldest of my entourage carries the brunt of the responsibility. She keeps me on schedule, she cleans up after us, and makes sure the beds are made. One day when I had an outside commitment, I came home to a tidied living area and clean dishes. The only problem was that she slightly grazed her index finger with a serrated knife while she was in a sink full of dishes. She sometimes plans events for us, like a trip to the ice cream store, or a party. She brings me flowers. She gives me the best back-scratches.

My entourage follows me everywhere I go. We are our own posse and people move to the edge of the sidewalk to let us pass. We turn heads. People notice us. I choose to think that it is not because of the loud screeching or running all over the place and that instead it is our unique and strong stage presence.

I sometimes have to get bossy as the head honcho of my entourage. I shoot my mouth off with statements like:

-Hurry up! We are going to be late!
-Did you hear what I said?
-Can you bring that to me please?
-Don't be rude to me!
-Follow my instructions and stay with me!
-Can you take this for me please?
-That is not how we behave!
-Good job!
-Don't touch!

I depend on my entourage just as much and have to perform to the best of my ability to make sure they are happy and satisfied as members of my team. They keep me in line and I do my best to meet their demands. We have an agreement in place that will last the better part of 18 years. There is some room for negotiation. I don't want any to become completely disgruntled. That would be bad and then they would become unmanageable. As stated in the contract, I am in this for the long haul.

I often here things like:

-I don't like that!
-I don't want that snack!
-I want to wear my Tinkerbells! I don't want to get dressed in that!
-I want to stay home!
-I'm ready! I want to go too!
-I'm hungry!
-JUICE!!!!
-I need to go potty!
-Get up! It's a sunny day!
-Thanks!
-That's beautiful!

Most days I love having an entourage. It is nice to be taken care of and also to ensure the satisfaction of my bunch. We are a close knit group who do everything together. We share fun times, trying times, we take pictures of monumental and important events. We keep each other on the straight and narrow. We always forgive each other for our bad moments. The put up my 'hormonal imbalances' and I with their toddler tantrums. We balance each other out.

We can't live without each other.

As the time passes, their jobs will evolve, as will mine. The next job on their list? To answer the phone and take messages for me.

But for some reason, I have a suspicious feeling that I will have to take more messages for them as they plan their time off from the entourage.

And then they will demand vacation pay.

All's I'm sayin's all.

PS February Who's DDM is written. I am having technical difficulties getting it posted. Stay tuned and check back....

Labels: DDM, EvieG, Fun, Spark Plug, The Destroyer

For some reason I can't stand sock shopping. I never know what size to get for the Wee Ladies and I never know what the best kinds are. Tube socks from Wal*Mart, or those socks with the treads on the bottom from Joe Fresh? Or something else? Price is a big issue when it comes to socks. Why? Because they always disappear between the foot and the end of the drying cycle.

EvieG has about three pairs of socks left and none of them fit very well. Her drawer is made up almost entirely of singles. I have no idea where they went. It is time that someone heads out in search for new ones. She is not a fan of socks and would rather run around in her bare feet, even in the dead of winter. She also has issues with her socks. She gets 'bumps'. When she puts them on, she complains that it feels funny; that there are bumps rubbing against her toes (this is the seam along the toes that she despises). She is not Type A at all. I conclude that she must be up to something. It is not completely fair that I blame the AWOL socks on the dryer. It could be EvieG herself responsible for their disappearance! Arguably, they could be stuck in the couch, under furniture, in the back of the closet, or in another drawer.

I feel like Nancy Drew. Or the Dana sisters. Only I don't have a twin to solve the mystery with. What would Carolyn Keene say?

It seems peculiar too that many of Hubby's socks have also gone MIA. Every time I fold another load of laundry, there is a 95% chance that I will end up with random singles. Socks who have lost their partners. So sad. But so annoying. There have been times when I think a) it would be nice to take apart the dryer just to see how big the party is in the back, and b) maybe I should check the garbage to see if the Wee Ladies accidentally threw them away. Did they have holes and Hubby got rid of them? Or were they mismatched and then thrown away because they weren't properly balled up with their partner? Maybe The Destroyer flushed them down the toilet along with that whole roll of toilet paper.

Spark Plug and The Destroyer share socks. Hand-me-downs, obviously. As I mentioned, I hate sock shopping. I have some singles in their collection as well.

As far as my own collection, I have holes in the majority of the heels. But it becomes a matter of being unable to find the time to go sock shopping for myself and that it is highly unlikely I will find socks that are the right shade and softness.

Funnily enough the dryer has opted not to eat any of my socks. I am sensing a conspiracy here.

Where are the missing socks? Where is my Dana twin to solve the mystery?

Instead of blaming the dryer for eating the socks, perhaps I should solve this by giving Tom Cruise a call at his Telluride home and tell him that I have a whole other movie for his Mission Impossible series? He can be my Dana twin. I challenge Tom Cruise to help me find the party guilty of stealing our socks. And then I challenge him to find me new ones. Good quality ones. Ones that only Katie Holmes would buy for Suri.

We all know it is the Mission Impossible series that will keep him employed. Chances of solving this caper side in our favour.

All's I'm sayin's all.

Labels: Battle

We have been adding onto and reinforcing our fort. Complete with tunnel. It is tough work and sometimes a mom just needs a quick break.

Isn't that awesome? Hubby did most of it yesterday. We are squaring off and finishing the far wall.

The weather is amazing today. The sky is cloudless and the sun is teasing us with its warm rays. It is Groundhog Day and that wee albino of a thing has of course predicted 6 more weeks of winter. What makes him the authority anyway? Who really listens to a white-rodent-of-a- groundhog who has two red, beady eyes that look bloodshot because he has been keeping himself warm all winter with a few hot toddies?

While EvieG and Spark Plug and I were working on the fort, I found myself distracted. This is not unusual for me. I went from reinforcing the fort to building my own snowy chaise-lounge.

I took a break. I laid down in my recliner and for a few minutes tossed out thoughts of cleaning, laundry, dishes, meal preparation, sick kids, and snotty noses. I sat back and chilled. I let the sun hit my face, hoping it would release just a few freckles on my fair and pale complexion. I bet a little vitamin D would make me feel rejuvenated. It is nice to have a day that is not -15 degrees and forcing us to be holed up inside.

Here I am, comfortably laying back in my snow chair. Thanks to EvieG who took the camera, aimed, and pressed the button. She did pretty well, considering the snow glare is pretty bright today. Although I don't drink beer during the week, and definitely not until after 4:30 pm, I thought it fitting that I start chilling one beside my snow chair for later.
EvieG said, "Mom! What are you doing? You have to work! We have to build the fort!"

I said, "Just a second. I will be there in a minute. Just after I return from the Alps. Play amongst yourselves...."

We got back to work and enjoyed playing amongst ourselves. A quick time-out is something that never fails to make you feel better. A little imagination, and you can go anywhere you want.

And if there is going to be winter around here until Easter (because I know that wee albino didn't want to tell the whole truth), then we will make sure we maximize the perfection of days like this.

All's I'm sayin's all.

Labels: DDM, EvieG, Spark Plug