Working Mom

So I've figured out that one of the crappiest things about being a full time working Mom is this...

Monday through Friday I pretty much deal with the crappy side of my child...literally and figuratively speaking.  I have to deal with the end of the long day crankiness, tiredness, don't want to use the potty, poop in the underwear, don't feel like listening anymore, hungry, demanding, hasn't had enough mommy attention, needy, but don't get too close child.  And on top of all of that, I'm generally wore out from my long day, so my patience is minimal at best.

But I think what's worse than all of that, is that I only get a few short hours each day to spend with my child...approximately 1 hour in the morning and 2.5 hours in the evening.  So this short time is generally spent rushing around preparing meals, bathing, with a little tiny bit of time thrown in for "quality" time playing and snuggling.

Don't read this and think that I'm complaining...I've chosen this path for my life, and I'm happy living it.  I just wish that the few short hours I have with my child each day were more enjoyable, we were all less tired, and I had a housekeeper to prepare our meals, do our laundry and clean up after us...oh, sorry, dream world!

I treasure every moment I get to spend with my child, I just wish the weekday time was a little easier for all of us...

Saying Good-bye...

Tonight we had to say good-bye...

We had to say good-bye to two people that we've known longer than any of our "couple friends"...

And Ian had to say good-bye to a friend that he's had longer than we've been together...

Tonight we had to say good-bye to two friends (and 3 little ones) that we've grown closer to over the past few years...

And tonight, Logan had to say good-bye to three little friends, two of which he has grown up with for the past 2 years...

Tonight we said good-bye to our dear friends Kenny & Christin and their little ones, Rylan, Elle & Blake.  Ever since they said they were leaving, I didn't really think about it too much.  I knew that we would miss them and that it would suck to not have them here.  They are the friends that we can call at 5 minutes before dinner time and make a plan to meet for dinner.  They are the friends that we can invite over and not worry about having to clean up first to make a good impression.  They are the friends that we can say anything in front of and know that we won't offend them, because they will proabably say something worse.  They are the friends that we have laughed with, cried with, and gone through an interesting DUI checkpoint with!  They mean so much to us as friends, that Kenny is the one that performed our marriage ceremony...that's the kind of friends they are.

As with everything...you don't realize how important someone is or how much they mean to you until they are gone.  I know that even though they just moved a couple of states away, doesn't mean that they are gone forever.  It's not like we can't get on a plane and visit them (lord knows Logan would freak out with excitement if that happened!), but they are not 10 minutes away anymore.  We hope to stay in touch with them via things like chat and Skype.  And I promised Christin that I would start blogging again (see...told ya Christin...my first one already!) to keep her updated on the central coast drama.  But they are still a world away.

I mentioned to Ian that I think what makes this change even harder is that Logan is at an age where he knows Elle and Rylan now, and he recognizes them as his friends, asks to play with them, wonders what they are doing, and wants to know when we are going to their house again.  That makes this hard.  It's also hard because now that they are so far away, I feel like he will forget them.  I hope that by Skyping, he will remember them and also remember Kenny and Christin and how important their friendship is to us.

I do wish them much luck and happiness on their new adventure and I hope, hope, hope that we can plan a visit out to see them someday.  But my biggest hope is that someday we end up living close again and can continue the friendship that has developed over the past few years.

It's Been a While...5 Question Friday

Don't ask me where I've been lately because I don't really know.  I do know that I've been tired of using the computer since I sit at one all day long, so the last thing I want to do when I get home at night is sit at one.  Plus I just haven't felt like sharing lately...nothing personal, just haven't felt like it.

 

But then tonight for some reason, I'm sitting here at my computer, snooped at a couple of blogs and saw one post from a blogger mom that said she's tired of blogging...I love when I can relate.  I think sometimes we all need a break.  I'm not saying that I'll be posting regularly here from now on, I'm just saying I was feeling it tonight.

 

So let's do something that doesn't require too much thought...a little 5 Question Friday!  

 

1. What's on the top of your holiday wish list and why?!  A Flip video camera and a Kindle...they're tied for first right now!  I've been wanting a flip for a while because I would love to have something compact and easy to take videos of Logan.  But I would also love a Kindle because I love to read, but I hate buying books for two reasons...1) they cost too much, and eBooks are cheaper and 2) I don't have any more room to store regular books.  We'll see what Santa can afford this year!

2. What is your favorite Christmas gift from the past?  I guess I would have to say my first camera that my mom got me a long time ago.  That camera sparked something in my husband that has now turned into his career. :)

3. If you had life to do over, what would you be when you grow up?  A nurse.  I would love to be an ER nurse.  I think I would enjoy the fast pace and the ever changing environment.  Plus I'm pretty sure I would make a little more $$ than I'm making now and I would probably have a little more flexible schedule to spend more time with Logan.  But I LOVE my job now and appreciate it everyday when I walk into my office.

4. When do you put up your tree?  I usually try to wait until about 2 weeks before Christmas because I hate when the tree starts to dry out and the needles start to fall off.  Not only does the mess bother me, but even the smallest thought of fire drives me crazy.  But I think this year we're going to get crazy and put it up a week earlier.  Logan saw a Christmas tree on TV the other day and about freaked out with excitement, so to me that was a sign that it's time!  I can't wait until he realizes that we get to have a tree in our house. :)  Plus the scent always boosts my holiday spirit!

5. What is your favorite Holiday?  Definitely Christmas!  It's a holiday that lasts nearly a whole month, you get to decorate the inside and outside of your house, everything smells good, there are good deals in the stores, people are generally in a festive and good mood, and there is a lot of baking and eating to be had!  How can anyone not like all of that?!

Ok...well that wasn't too painful...maybe I'll be back for more next week if not sooner...maybe!  Until then, Happy Friday friends.  And check out some more 5 Question fun by clicking on the link below.

5 Question Friday

Sorry for the lack in posting lately...I've been pretty sick for the last week with tonsillitis. :(  Hence, I haven't been up for much computer time.  But I'm hoping to get back on here a little more regularly at some point.  We're heading off on vacation next week, so I might have to make my come back after our much needed vacation!

 

Ok, well here we go for our Friday fun! 

 

1. What do you listen to while driving?  If I'm alone in the car...nothing!  It's usually my only chance for some total quiet, so I take full advantage by clicking the radio off.  But if Logan or Ian are in the car, I'm usually listening to one (or both) of them!  And if the radio is on and we can actually hear it, we are usually listening to come 80's tunes or classic rock...that's what we can all agree on. :)

2. What is your least favorite thing about Fall?  Ummm...absolutely NOTHING!!  I LOVE fall!!  It's my most favorite time of year...there is a fun (read: generally inexpensive) holiday, the weather is cooling off but not too cold yet, there is football on TV, there is yummy food like pumpkin bread and pumpkin pie...seriously, does it get better than this?!

3. What does your dream house look like, inside and out?  It looks like my house right now. :)  I am seriously grateful each and every day for my house.  I'm beyond grateful for the chance to be the owner of this house and the fact that we bought it brand new is only icing on the cake.  Yes, there are little things I wish I could change about the layout and upgrades I'd like to make, but this is OUR house and we're going to do everything we can to keep it this way.  Now if I were to win the lottery and have a 2nd house someday, it would definitely be 1 story, on a lot of land, have wood floors throughout, stainless steel appliances, have a wrap around porch and have a barn out back with a couple of horses.  But I'm happy with what I have for now and wouldn't change it for anything. :)

4. Would you ever own a minivan?  H-E-double hockey sticks N-O!!!  I will never drive a mini-van...ever!  Even if our next kid turns out to be sextuplets, I will stuff each and every one of them into some kind of SUV but it will never be a mini-van!

5. Do you wash new clothes before wearing them?  For me?  Generally no...except for underwear.  If I'm wearing something that close to my personal parts, I want to know that they've been washed.  But anything else just gets worn first.  For Logan?  Yes, I wash everything I buy him before he wears it.  Why?  I don't know...I guess that's because that's what the tags on his close tell me to do and somebody suggested it when he was born, so I've always done it.  I'm sure it will get old someday and he too will wear new clothes before they've been washed.

Ok, that's all for now my friends.  Like I said, I might be MIA for a little while during the next coulple of weeks, but I hope to make a come-back by the end of the month!

Happy Friday...and head over to Mama M's for more Friday fun. :)

October 1st 5 Question Friday...ahhhhhh!!

Hello friends...or friend...is anyone out there?!  Well, can you believe that it's already October??  Seriously, I'm ready for fall, but I can't believe that it's already October!!

Well, since we're here, let's get some questions answered... 

 

1. Did you have a pen pal when you were little (or now)? Where were/are they from? Nope...no pen pal.  I very vaguely recall maybe having one for a very short time in elementary school...maybe, but I don't think that counts.  And right now, if I had a pen pal they would suffer from lack of communication from me since I have zero time for something like that.

2. If you could do a different job for one day, what would it be?  I think I would be an ER nurse...because that's what I want to be when I grow up. :)  I think I would enjoy the fast-paced environment and the different people you encounter.  So, it would probably be good for me to try it out for a day before I actually do it!

3. Do you remember your biggest fear from when you were little?  Seriously, can we take a break from the memory questions?  I think we have firmly established that I don't have a very good memory from before yesterday, so let's just skip these for now or I'll hurt my little brain trying to think of an answer.

4. What do you think is a waste of time? Why?  There are a lot of little things that I consider a waste of time, like cleaning my house, doing laundry, watering the flowers...because all of those things un-do themselves rather quickly.  The house is immediately a mess again, clothes get dirty after wearing them just one time and the flowers will die eventually!  Geezzz...I'm sounding a little pessimistic right now, huh?  I guess it's because I don't have time to do any of those things anyway, so I see them as a waste of time!

 

5. What is the oldest item you have in your closet?  Ooooh...I think I have some pretty old pairs of shoes...maybe from about 12 years ago?!  I'm pretty good about going through my clothes pretty regularly and donating them, but for some reason I haven't sorted through shoes in a very long time.  I was actually just noting this to myself the other day that I should probably sort through them and get rid of the ones that haven't moved in the last 3 years!

Ok, there you go friend(s)...happy Friday!!  Woo hoo...it's the weekend!  Anything planned??

Well, in the meantime head on over to Mama M's to check out more 5 Question Friday fun. :)

Mompetition

I just saw the most hilarious...yet oh so true video online.  I've discovered Mompetition!!!  Check out the video below...  If you're a mom, you'll totally understand!




Enjoy!!

5 Question Friday...

Seriously, I don't think the weeks can get any shorter.  And if the weeks are getting shorter, that means the weekends are getting even shorter too...ugh.

 

Here we go!

 

1. If you could speak with a different accent, what would it be (i.e Australian, Scottish)?  Totally Australian!  My boss is Australian, so we joke around at work and try to talk like him a lot.  Plus, we've been to Australia and I loved hearing their accent while we were there.

2. Can you fall asleep anywhere? (i.e floor, couch, deck)  Absolutely not...I pretty much have to be cozy and warm in order to fall asleep...like in my bed or on a comfy couch with a soft blanket.  I can't sleep in the car, on a floor and have trouble sleeping in other beds (i.e. hotels, family, etc).

3. Do you use public restrooms? If so, do you sit on the toilet?  Yes, I will use a public restroom because when you've got to go, you've got to go.  Plus it's bad to hold your urge to go anyway.  But I will NOT sit on a public toilet...eeewww!!  I'll use a seat cover or hover if I need to!

4. If you were stuck in an elevator for 24 hours, what celebrity would you most want to be stuck with?  Hmmm...again with the celebrity question...I think we've established that I'm not good with celebrities.  There is really no one in particular that jumps to the front of my mind...at least anyone that interests me enough to be stuck in an elevator for 24 hours.  I don't think I'd want to be stuck with anyone in an elevator for 24 hours for that matter.  Being stuck in a space that small with anyone for that long, no matter who they are, would drive me crazy!  So I'll pass on getting stuck!

5. Where did you & your significant other go on your 1st date?  Our first official date was at McLintock's in downtown SLO and our friend Kenny went with us!  It was great...they totally harrassed the waitress, thought it was hilarious to order turkey nuts, and then Kenny had to tell Ian to pay for my dinner...right in front of me!  It was a fun and easy first date!

Ok...that wasn't very exciting.  I'm not feeling great and I'm a little tired.  Good thing it's finally Friday.  I have to make the big push to get through the day and then I'll be good and ready for the weekend. :)

Head over to Mama M's for answers that are definitely more interesting than mine!