We Want to Know

On Wednesdays, I am linking up with Mamarazzi for We Want to Know Q&A!  I missed last week due to internet problems but had already answered the questions.  So, you're getting two for one today!  Feel free to link up!

Chores....maids and cleaning supplies, oh my!


(1) Fantasy style, money is no object, If you could pick one type of help which would it be? And why?
A. A maid
B. A nanny
C. A personal chef
Definitely a maid.  I love my kids, I enjoy cooking, and I hate cleaning.  This one is a no-brainer for me.  This fantasy maid would have to be full-time because that's what it takes around here.  If I have to pick up Dora Memory cards one more time in a day, I just might scream!

(2) What is your least favorite household chore?
Cleaning the bathtub.  It's just a lot of work.  Maneuvering myself between the tub and toilet is no easy task.  Because I hate it so much, I don't do it nearly enough.

(3) Your least loathed (or favorite) household task/daily chore?
I really don't mind vacuuming.  The worst part about vacuuming is that all the toys have to be picked up off the floor first.  But I really don't mind it.  I would vacuum all day long if someone would come in and clean my bathtub.

(4) What is your favorite cleaning supply? Do you have any magic cleaning tips to share with your readers?
I love anything that smells good and I even posted about the best smelling cleaning products once!  Right now, I'm addicted to Mr. Clean with Febreeze in it.  I have a spray cleaner for the bathroom, one for the kitchen, and a bottle to dilute in water for bigger cleaning jobs.  Magic cleaning tips- nope.  Wish I had some to offer you.

(5) What is your usual housework avoidance activity? Besides playing along and linking up with the fabulous Mamarazzi, Queso and Crazymama for We Want to Know Wednesday?
Obviously blogging, and most recently, messing around on my new phone.
 
 
Last Week's Questions:  Let's talk Favorites:


{1} What is your favorite room in your house and why? Bonus points for a picture.
I would have to say my Living Room. It is the largest room in our house and the first thing people see when they come in. It has a huge picture window that I love looking out and it's where we sit and talk when friends come over. There is no television in this room, so it's typically less chaotic than other rooms of our home.  (By the way, it's way too messy right now to take a photo.  Sorry, no bonus points for me.)

{2} What is your favorite time of day and why?
I should be saying that my favorite time of the day is when Hubby gets home from work. But let's face it, that's the most chaotic time of the day. I usually shout a quick "hello" from the stove as I'm rushing to get dinner on the table. Many days, the kids and I aren't even there when he gets home from work. My most favorite time of the day is when I put Baby Girl down for her nap and I listen to the quietness. I sit down with my lunch and a funny show on TV. It's so relaxing and peaceful...I long for it every day.

{3} What is your favorite genre of music (or band/singer) and why?
I get in different moods when it comes to music. I love anything from Harry Connick, Jr. and Michael Buble' but I also enjoy black gospel. Sometimes, I get in the mood for classical and every once in a while, I enjoy a good country song. Pop music is OK too, as long as it's low key. I don't listen to anything by people who wear dresses made out of meat.

{4} What is your favorite "go to" snack? Is it something you keep on hand?
There's not one particular thing, but boy, do I love to snack! I love a freshly popped bowl of popcorn but I'm usually too lazy to pop it. I can't stand the microwave stuff. Of course, I'm a big chocolate addict and have to have a little something sweet after meals. Right now, my go to snack is whatever I got on sale with coupons!

{5} What is your favorite form of exercise or way to keep moving?
I would prefer to not be moving but I know it's good for me. Once the weather breaks, I will start running again. I have to take the winter off because of our treacherous weather and I don't own a treadmill. I ran a relay leg in a marathon the past two years. The first time was 3.4 miles and last year was 6.3. I nearly died last year. Not literally, but I thought I saw the light comin', baby!

I'm Baaaaack!!!

Well, sorta.  I'm here, but not 100%.  I saw death this week.  Of course, I'm exaggerating, but I felt closer to death this week than ever before in my life, I think. 

Tuesday morning, I woke up at 4:00 AM, sick as a dog.  I'll spare you the details and just say that I spent a lot of time with my toilet.  I broke out into a cold sweat and felt like I was going to pass out.  I've never fainted before and only felt like I was going to once.  (That was during childbirth.)  I think I came pretty close to losing it there for a while.

Luckily, Hubby was off work.  That had to be the hand of God because there is no way I could have survived without him.  My mom had a huge project at work and wasn't able to help me.  Hubby brought me drinks and ice chips, helped me off the floor when I didn't have the strength to get up myself, and took care of Baby Girl.  He even made the kids' lunches in the morning and helped them get ready for school.  He was absolutely amazing!

The bad part is that my friend was having surgery Tuesday.  I was supposed to keep her 4-year old daughter and cook dinner for them.  All the plans were set.  I felt horrible cancelling on them.  Her husband had to leave the hospital to pick up their daughter at home and take the morning babysitter back to college.  On top of that, they had no dinner that night.  I felt like a horrible friend.  At that point, I could barely lift my head off the pillow.

Also, Tuesday was our appointment to get the internet fixed.  Hubby had to handle all that alone while I dragged myself from the bed to the bathroom.  The technician was there for 2 1/2 hours and talked on the phone for two of those hours, Hubby said.  The guy totally did not do what I wanted and tracked mud from my garden all over my house.  We now have two computers and only one of them is hooked up to internet, the one without all my files stored on it.  Why in the world would this guy think I only wanted one computer hooked up? 

Thankfully, time passed, I began recovering, and our home now has internet again!  I am still extremely weak and am fighting a horrible hangover headache.  Already this morning, I gave Baby Girl a bath, cleaned the bathroom (because it disgusted me after all the time I spent in there lately), and washed my sheets.  I feel as exhausted as the day I ran 6.2 miles.  BUT- I am alive and very thankful for it.

I hadn't had a gastrointestinal bug like that in quite some time.  I only remember one other time in life that I had it that bad.  It was Valentine's Day 8 years ago and I was pregnant.  Hubby and I went to a concert and spent the night at a hotel.  I got sick at the concert but thought it was morning sickness.  When it didn't let up, I realized I was sick.  Being sick in a hotel while pregnant is the absolute worst.  Thankfully, I was neither pregnant nor away from home this time.

Hopefully I will be back to regular posting soon.  Thanks for waiting out this time with me, if you're still around.  Have a great day and avoid the flu!

Good news!

My Internet is still down but I now have access to time-wasting things again...I got a new iPhone 4S! This is my first smart phone and it feels so nice to join the 21st century! This means I am once again in the communication loop, although it's difficult to blog from a phone. Thanks for your nice comments on my last post...I miss you all too!

Back to my phone- what app can I totally not live without???

A Letter to You

Dear Friends,

I have not passed away, I am not in the hospital, and I have not slipped into a coma.  My internet is down yet again and probably won't be resolved until early next week.  Being without internet is like having my right arm tied behind my back.  I feel lost without it and can barely function.  I am, however, getting a lot more done around my house.

Currently, I am at my parents' house to do a quick email check.  I thought I would let you know where I am and ask you to not give up on me.  I'll be back soon!

With love to my readers,
~she~

Feeling Accomplished

I feel that I must update you on my recent Ikea situation.  To quickly recap:  our family recently made a weekend trip out to Ikea for a few new purchases.  I got home several hours later to realize that I didn't have the necessary wooden slats for the bed we bought Baby Girl.  I called the company, which was less than helpful.  In my frustration, I wrote a great letter to Ikea, spelling out every detail.  In response, I received a form letter telling me to visit my local store to pick up the needed item.  I gave up and decided to ask my dad to make slats for the bed.

Meanwhile, Baby Girl has been sleeping on her old crib mattress in the middle of her bedroom floor.  I've barely talked to my dad lately...he and I have each been so busy.  I know he doesn't have time to make slats of wood so I haven't asked him.  I told myself that I would call Ikea back and ask for a manager some day while Baby Girl was napping.  I'm a procrastinator.

Yesterday, I was feeling adventurous.  As I put Baby Girl down for nap, a wash of guilt overwhelmed me that I was allowing her to sleep on the floor.  I'm a better mom than that.  I went right to the phone and called Ikea.  I politely explained to the operator that I've had a bad experience and wish to speak to a manager.  One thing I've learned in my life is to start off the conversation politely.  The person I'm speaking to didn't directly offend me, so there's no use being mean to her.  A person can be nice and firm at the same time.  If the situation rises to the point where I have to bring forth all my wrath, I can do that.

The operator quickly transferred me to a manager, taking my name first.  The manager greeted me by name and asked how she could help.  I attempted to spare her some of the details but explained my story.  My main points were 1) I had no way of knowing I needed the bed slats since the bed was not properly tagged.  2) The first person I spoke to offered no real help.  3) After sending a detailed letter to the company, I was sent a generic response. 

The woman actually listened to me.  She agreed that I was mistreated.  I was proud of myself that I had kept my cool this long.  I didn't feel calm inside.  She said she would open a case for my problem and would mark it high priority.  She said, "We need to get this resolved and get your daughter sleeping in a proper bed."  I loved that response.  She said someone from the head office would contact me within 24 hours.  She also asked if I could forward her the email I received because she would like to handle that also.  I obliged.

Just a couple hours later, I received a call back.  They said I would have to pay for the bed slats but they would be shipped immediately at no cost to me.  I was totally fine with that.  I am willing to pay for what I need but I'm not going to fork out extra money for someone else's mistake.  She said the package would ship out first thing in the morning.

Ahh, sweet relief!  I am so glad that's over and that Baby Girl will soon be sleeping in her own bed!  I'm glad I actually followed this through instead of letting it go.  Just a bit of extra work accomplished an important goal.  Feeling a sense of achievement, I decided to take care of a couple other phone calls I had been dreading.

I called our satellite company and got them to ship a new receiver, completely free.  Hubby was very happy about that!  The representative I spoke to had the same last name as me, which is very odd.  When my father-in-law came through immigration, they told him his name was not American enough and assigned him a new one.  I had never before met a person with my last name, who wasn't a direct cousin.  This man pronounced his name differently, as he was French, but continued to call me by my name, giggling every time he did.  It was actually quite neat.

It's amazing how accomplished you can feel just taking care of a few things you've been putting off.  I encourage you to do the same today and let me know what you did!

The Simple Things

Sometimes, it only takes a simple little thing to make a person happy.  Here's what's making me happy today:

* A sweet bear hug given by Baby Girl, totally initiated on her own
* Bright, colorful paper to write on because it's so much more fun than plain white
* Earl Grey tea -I'm back on it
* When I'm standing at the sink and the heater at my feet comes on
* We are heading toward the tail end of January and have had very little snow thus far
* Putting Baby Girl down for nap and enjoying a peanut butter & jelly sandwich, while watching a funny show I love
* The ability to change Pandora stations based on the mood I'm in 
* When all the kids buy lunch at school and I don't have to pack for them in the morning
* Fresh smelling laundry
* Flannel pajamas and leopard printed gloves
* Toblerone - any candy that comes in triangles is OK in my book

What are your Simple Things today?

Embarrassing Top Ten

Monday night, Son #2 and I went to Hubby's basketball game to cheer him on.  By marital contract, I am only obligated to attend one basketball game a season.  The last game I attended, they lost and I was unimpressed.  The following game, which I did not attend, the entire gym was chanting Hubby's name and saying, "Every week, baby!"  Whatever that means.  Sitting on the bleachers at one of his games brings me back to my teenage years.  I felt like I should be wearing his jean jacket while winking at him as he runs down the court.  Now, however, I only do the latter. 

During a break in the game, the deejay started pumpin' some old school tunes.  It Takes Two was the song of choice, which made my teenage years seem even closer.  I turned to Son #2 and said, "What will you give me if I stand up and start dancing right now?"  His eyes got wide and he answered, "I will give you this iPod Touch to keep for the rest of your life."  The mischievous grin on my face suddenly caused him to change his answer.  "Never mind," he said.  I think he really thought I was capable of doing that.  (By the way, it would have taken a lot more than an iPod to tempt me to behave that way in public...but it's not an impossibility.)

I began thinking of how embarrassed my second son would have been at that sight.  (Certainly not as embarrassed as my dear husband of fifteen years.)  #2 doesn't embarrass easily, but his brother does.  I decided to come up with a Top Ten List of things I could do to embarrass my children!

10. Dancing in public.

 9. Singing in public. I actually do this one from time to time, but only in front of people they don't know.

 8. Pick them up from school in my dad's 1994 Chevy Lumina van.

 7. Leaving the house with my hair in its natural state.

 6.  Show up to a band concert, basketball game, or other event like other people in my town: in my pajamas.

 5.  While in the car with their friends, ask, "Son, did you just pass gas?"

 4. Calling out, "I LOVE YOU!" as they get out of the car for school.

 3.  Make out with their dad.

 2. In front of a cute girl, saying, "You're right, honey, she really is pretty!"

And the Number One thing I could do to embarrass my children is:
Kiss them on the lips in front of their friends. I can think of nothing worse.

Peter Cottontail

We have a wild rabbit who seems to have made a winter nest in my garden.  I walked by the dining room window yesterday morning and saw the bunny resting.  He looked quite fluffy, which  I thought may be an extra winter's coat. 

Later in the afternoon, I walked by the window and noticed the rabbit again.  Same position, same place.  I wonder if he is a she who may be expecting?  Closer to my house, she would have been able to make a nest in our warmer, more protective landscaping.  I wonder why she is sitting out in the open?  Possibly, she's sick.  Oh dear, I hope she doesn't pass and my girls notice before I do...it will break their hearts!  Although, I'm sure a carnivorous critter would find her before they would.

Big Sis was oohing and ahhing over the animal and stated, "I wish I could just go out there with a little blanket and cover that bunny up!  She is going to be so freezing!"  And I know Big Sis would do exactly that. 

We may have a new outdoors pet.  Any name suggestions?

Still Cleaning Out

I mentioned that we bought a new desk recently.  The reason for that is because my brother, the IT guy, gave my kids a new computer for Christmas.  I think it's because he's sick of coming over to fix mine every time they mess it up.  Their computer won't store anything important.  It will be used mostly for homework and computer games.  He even loaded parental controls onto it.  No worries- I can decide how long they can browse the internet, which sites they go to, and what time it shuts down for the day.

I didn't take a Before picture and this is the only photo I found of the old desk.  You're not missing much...it wasn't a whole lot bigger than that.

Our 1500 square foot house is packed to the max with stuff for four kids and two parents.  There was nowhere to put a computer.  Our current desktop has lived in the corner of the dining room for a few years.  I wanted it somewhere out in the open for safety reasons.  My brother suggested getting a longer desk and setting both computers up next to one another.  They could share the same printer and everything would be kept together.  So that's what we did.

Finding a 2-person desk wasn't easy.  I found one that isn't meant for two people because it had a pull-out shelf on the side.  When Hubby assembled the desk, he left off the shelf.  Now, two people and two computers fit just fine.  BUT....I lost all my drawers.  We have a 2-drawer file cabinet that has been loaded with junk and really didn't get much use.  I knew I had to make it usable.

I cleaned out the file cabinet.  I cleaned out the old desk.  I sorted, I filed, I threw away, I wiped and cleaned.  Wowzers- that was a major job.  If I would have realized all that, I probably would have turned down the offer of the free computer!

Now that it's done, I feel SO much better!  Things are organized and I found lots of really interesting stuff.  I found a lot of old computer software, much of it was older than all four of my kids.  What in the world am I going to do with a 1998 encyclopedia CD?  Guess there was no Wikipedia back in those days.

I found photos, mementos, and videos from Son #1's baby days.  No, I don't have any way to watch the videos, but at least I have them.  Best of all, I found my old, old computer backup, the one that crashed years ago.  It's very important because it contains the very first digital photos we ever took.  I've been looking for it for about two years.  I am really happy to have that back!

I guess I got a really good jump on Spring Cleaning.  Either that, or I'm really behind from last year.  Yep, it's the second one.

I already have my next project in mind- switching the kids rooms around.  We're going to put the girls in the same room and split the boys up.  The bad news is that everyone has to move.  This job is going to make the desk job look like a cake walk.  Can't wait.

Never Too Young

Baby Girl has started asking me to take pictures.  I think it's a great idea!  I place the strap over her neck, make sure her finger is positioned above the button, and step back to have my photo taken.  The cool thing is that she usually gets me in the picture!  (That might be partly because I move around to make sure I'm standing- or squatting- in front of the lens!)

Maybe we have a future photographer here!  I've certainly gotten worse shots on vacation when I ask strangers to take our picture!!!

Here is her work thus far:  (Some are better than others!)