Drowning: update

I can't explain what kind of motivation I've been given by all of the comments on the last post, "drowning."

Moms have sent emails, left comments here, posted on my fb wall, spoken at church all saying they feel the same way! I can't help but feel like we're all floating in our inner tubes with coolers now. So nice not to be alone!

(and I've even checked off lots of chores on the list!) after all, everybody gets fed, bathed, put to bed, and the laundry gets done, the toys get put away.... Momentarily at least. It's all in preparation for the next day.

I just wanted to say thanks to all the moms who instead of passing judgment on how messy my house / life is, said "me too!"

I tell Gracie these things several times a day. I hope she feels the way I did when I heard "this is hard to do... Let's do it together"

Drowning

The laundry is so outta control, I can't face it. Frantically go to another room to escape and the toys/shoes/books/random items are covering more than 50% of the floor - move to another room to escape the clutter and the sink has dirty dishes in it from yesterday..... Students are emailing something about technical difficulties and no Internet connection etc and so on and Gracie nearly missed her nap today, which would be a disaster for her and me.

I need to make some baby food, clean the house, fold clothes, plan dinner, engage my kids, earn my paycheck, and FIND, much less talk to, my husband. My car is filthy- inside and out, and fruit flies have taken over my home. Somebody needs to pick up my dry cleaning and basic needs are demanding a trip to the grocery store.

I need to call and check on my friends (in case they feel the same way I do right now), and I need to pick up some gifts for some engaged folks and some soon-to-be parents.

The fridge could stand a good clean out, and the check book hasn't been balanced since gas hit $3+.

It just goes on and on. And the worst part is, nobody - myself at the top of the list of nobodies - cares! I care only enough to lament these woes, but I do not care enough to face the mountainous to-do list.

I've fallen and I can't get up! I've fallen behind on everything. Literally everything... If I could think of one thing that does not need attention right now, I think it might help, but in reality, the laundry pile won't shrink by thinking happy thoughts.

I know that if I want to feel better, I need to be able to be inside my house - I'm outside right now so as not to be attacked by a demanding chore. Gracie is napping (a very late nap that we may pay for later) and Clara is quietly sucking her thumb in her stroller beside me.

I don't want anybody to clean it for me or grade for me or raise my babies for me (grocery shop for me, sure). I really want to do it. I WANT to be good at it. I want to be GOOD at it. I WANT to be GOOD at it. I want to maintain a blissful existence, complete with positive attitude and sickening smile. But,let's face it, I am not that girl. I'm not that wife. I'm not that mother. I'm not that employee. And I'm not that friend. You know, the one who has t all together. Who never loses the battle against madness and never gets down because of the little things and always sports a fresh manicure to boot.

I'm just not. And no amount of (my husband telling to have a) positive attitude will turn me into her.

I am negative, mismatched, late, behind, chaotic, edgy, disruptive, inappropriate, out of shape, cheap, and a bad tipper. But my friends keep hanging out with me. My kids still light up when they see me, my husband still makes his way home (eventually), and my mom still introduces me as her own.

So, I've decided. We will continue in this mess just like we have been for ages, but no longer will I fight the current (to keep with the drowning analogy). Let's just embrace the lazy river approach.

I never wanted to go white water rafting anyway.

Clara and Gracie are on board!

The Ivy house

I quite enjoyed myself while Bryan worked hard to get the jeep and trailer out of the mud (for the record, his mother-in-law told him he would get stuck...).

At any rate, I was summonsed to help him get out of his mess. While he was busy with wenches and the ranger and the trailer etc, I took lots of pictures of the Ivy house.

This is my great-grandmother's house and it is OLD. It's creepy to walk through the house for various reasons. One, stray animals have been known to be spooked out of hiding and spook intruders. Plus, it's creepy because I have memories of going to this house when I was little. Anytime you go back to a place that you remember when it was in working order or with people living in it and then you see it falling apart and completely abandoned, well, it's just plain creepy.

On the up side, I did spy lots of windows and doors etc that I want to claim and put in my house.

Side note, I remember hitting my head on that sink and throwing up on that porch. Ahhhh memory lane.

All in all, it was a fun time, and we did get all of our vehicles out of the mud. Maybe some people should listen to my mother (myself included).

Dr's visit for everyone!

Gracie feels the need to steal Clara's thunder, so on shot day, Gracie decides to dive head first off the toilet.

The good news is Clara is a whopping 14 lbs and Gracie is 25! Also no stitches for the big girl thank goodness

I guess we had to have some excitement around here since Christmas is over and Meck Meck went home.

Jimbo and Caroline's jalapeño bread

So easy and oh so yummy! Wayne and Mel are coming to dinner tonight. They are the best dinner guests because they always bring something yummy...like steak!

I'm making bread and peach cobbler and that's it. Aren't they fabulous?!

Caroline, if you read this, just pretend that this is actually how you make this bread. I have lost the actual recipe , but I just go with what I feel in my heart to be right.

Split a loaf of bakery bread
Melt a stick of butter and brush it on both sides of the delicious inside
Mix shredded cheese, Parmesan, mayo until you get something that looks like that picture of goo

Spread on one side
Top with jalapeños
Wrap with foil
Bake at let's say, 350 for oh, I don't really know... 30-45 min.

EAT

Ok for cobbler, melt stick of butter in 9x13. In separate bowl, mix 1 cup each, sugar and flour. Add milk to flour and sugar. Pour over butter- do not stir/mix. Add one large can peach(or any flavor) pie filling. Again, no stirring.
Bake one hr at 350.