Is It Naptime Yet

Wednesday I had no internet so I cleaned.

I planned on cleaning anyways. I really needed to clean my bathrooms, which had been painfully neglected in the last three or four months while sewing and rehearsing for the play, but having no internet really helped me to stay focused on the task I needed to do. I cleaned the girls bathroom first, then mine, then my shower, then the floors got mopped. They had both been cleaned in all the places they could be cleaned. I even organized under my sink and threw out a trash bag full of make-up and other stuff I was storing for a later date, but really never going to use again, or shouldn’t use again. Now my bathrooms are in harmony and I won’t feel completely mortified if someone had to use one of them.

After cleaning the two neglected bathrooms I took a shower and prepared dinner. I waited for Jon to come home, mostly because I love him, partially because he could get the internet working on his laptop. Our computer had been turned off since noon, or when our air conditioner decided to start blowing room temperature air, something it’s done twice this month already, the second time being just Sunday. (A different air guy came and fixed it yesterday, at least I hope it fixes the problem, I guess time will tell.)

Once the cool air started blowing again after having the air off for over an hour, I would normally have turned on my computer to use the internet, but something is going on with the monitor. The brightness is messed up, but not only that, it’s brighter each time you turn it on. So the first time I was at 50 for brightness, and I had to turn it down to 30, to make it manageable to read. Then the second time I turned it on I had to turn it down to 20. So I’m avoiding turning it on unless completely necessary, or until we get a new monitor, which hopefully will be this weekend. Hint, Hint honey. 🙂

I realized I have a slight addiction to the internet, or really what’s on it. It takes up a lot of time, and I get easily distracted. Chats take longer than expected, I’m not complaining, but I know they take up a lot of time when I should be doing other things some days. I get lost in blogs or social networks, or I even look for things to take up my time so I don’t have to do cleaning or do what I’m suppose be doing.

It was a blessing to not have the internet so I could stay focused, but it stinks that I want it so much.

Each of us have our distractions, for Lilah it’s Mario Cart that takes up her time. We got it for her birthday and since then, she is always wanting to play when she wakes up or after breakfast, but she knows she has to wait till after lunch. Since we were in the play, she actually didn’t get to play it till a day or two after her brithday, but then she got to play it a lot, for the times were were home. Earlier this week I would just let her play, usually after lunch till later in the day, but other days, and from now on, I’m limiting it to just an hour a day. Since I made this rule Wednesday. I just set the timer and then she’s able to finish the games she’s playing after it goes off, so it’s really over an hour a day, then it’s off with Mario, unless someone else wants to play. Since an hour of play was so short Lilah actually asked if she could save up her days and play for a long time. I said yes, but only up to two hours a day. She actually didn’t ask at all to play today, the off day, so she’ll have two hours tomorrow to play. Yesterday when I had her turn off Mario Cart she found The Friend to read, something she hasn’t done in a while, so I think I’ll stick to my rule so she finds other things to do.

Eden waste time mostly by playing. As in she plays instead of cleaning something up or getting dressed or even coloring. The funny thing is she will play with nearly anything. The crayons become their own little people, her sandwich becomes something if she’s tired of eating, the clothes do something exciting, or really the chair she’s suppose to use while folding her clothes. Then with toys it’s pretty obvious that she’s going to waste time by playing when she’s suppose to be putting them away. I sometimes have to keep a close eye on her, since she’s so easily distracted, but sometimes it’s me who’s so easily…..

So what distracts you or keeps you off task?

Disclaimer: Due to several things I don’t have any pictures in this post. I hope to remedy that once I remedy the situations around not being able to use my computer. Life.

Earlier this month we celebrated Lilah’s SEVENTH birthday. That’s SEVENTH in case you missed that. I really can’t believe how fast they grow.

This year was Lilah’s turn for a big party, but with the play going on, finding a weekend to give a big party was a problem, so we talked and discussed and decided a real party at Chuck E’ Cheese is what we would do this year. Real as in we pay for the special treatment and have an official party there, rather then just going there on her birthday and playing games. With the real party, Chuck E’ Cheese came out and made a visit. Lilah was sung to and danced with Chuck E’. She also got to go in the ticket blaster and won 760 tickets! (Really we both went into the ticket blaster, she thought it would be really loud inside and was nervous. She was literally shaking before it was turned on, then it wasn’t that loud and she was fine. ) We invited some family and friends and I think she had lots of fun with the attention being on her. Then the cast of kids for Cinderella sang to her before our opening night performance. It was a little low key, but we still tried to make it special for her and help enjoy her day.

Lilah is growing so much and definitely showing her independence. I’m amazed at how giving and kind Lilah can be and I know she loves her family. Sunday afternoon I was cuddling and playing with the girls in my bed and Eden asked me to tell a story. I told a very short one and then asked Eden to tell one, but she was saying she couldn’t think of anything. I then suggested we get something for her to tell a story with, since she takes nearly anything and will start thinking and making a story up with that object. Lilah really liked this idea, even as Eden seemed skeptical, so Lilah brought Eden our bin of small toys of fish and bugs so Eden could tell a story. Eden told a couple and then Lilah took a turn telling a story with the different toys. I loved being a part of this genuine and kind moment between the girls. Sometimes it’s easy to remember all the arguments and disagreements the girls have, but really Lilah is a wonderful big sister. Throughout the whole play Eden stayed by Lilah’s side while I was performing and practicing for the play. Lilah helped Eden with very little complaint and the togetherness they shared was priceless.

As Lilah grows she tests her growing independence and it can be difficult, but I try to remind myself that she’s getting older and is trying to figure who she is and I’m just here to guide her, not control her. It’s interesting to see Lilah grow and rewarding to watch and be a part of it.

She was my first baby and who made me a mother. I wish I could pause time and have more time with her in these precious years.

I love you Lilah and I am so happy to be your mother.

So I spank my girls.

I don’t spank them, but I spank them. Like I say, “Spank, spank!” as I pat their bottoms. Sometimes I pinch and grab them too. I’ve realized I do this because their bum is their final body part that continues to remind me of them as a baby. Sure it’s not nearly as chubby, but it’s the only thing that remotely has any chub on it, since they’re getting so big.

Recently Lilah seemed to become embarrassed when I spanked her. It would be just us, as in the four people of our family, and she’d be all “Hey you spanked me in front of everyone. Don’t do that.” Sure it was in a slightly whiny joking voice, but it seemed to have a ring of “Please stop spanking me, I’m getting to big for it.” So I told Lilah I would stop spanking her if she stopped spanking me. Believe me, the spanking is not one sided. There have been many times when I’m in making sandwiches or cooking in the kitchen and a little girl decides to start spanking me, sometimes two little girls at the same time. Sometimes, I was grateful I was using a sharp knife so I could tell them to stop.

So I stopped spanking Lilah as long as she not spank me, and if either of us slip, the other gets to spank us back.

Jon thought this was genius. He told me how he thought Lilah was growing up and becoming aware of her body and that’s why she wanted her bum left alone. But he thought the part that was genius was my deal that if she spanked me I get to spank her, so she controls the play spanking, and then can allow herself to be a part of the more child like play if she wants.

Really, I just didn’t want to be spanked anymore, and if I didn’t get to spank her, she didn’t get to spank me.

I thought it was the only fair way to end the great spanking debate.

Lilah with our naturally dyed eggs
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Eden with our naturally dyed eggs
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Our eggs. Jon hollowed an egg out and dyed it will green tea the week before.
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Easter baskets.
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Easter morning.
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Easter egg hunt at our house.

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Girls showing love.

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The skirt I made Lilah. (I wanted them really long since everything you find for girls barely touches their knees now.)

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Hunting eggs at Grandma Harvey’s house

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I just loved the look on Lilah’s face

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Happy girls at the end of a long Easter day.

My blogging has been very few and far between lately. There are a lot of different reasons for that.

One reason is Facebook. I spend a lot of time on there, and it’s easier to do quick little updates than to write a long blog. Something I hate that I’ve begun doing. I need to make more time for my blog, since I do see it more as my journal.

Another reason is we’ve been so busy. I don’t have time to sit and type out what’s been happening because we’ve been gone all day doing things, and then I come home to catch up on other blogs and Facebook, and then it’s dinner time and then I don’t want to do anything after dinner. On my days home, like today, I just want to clean, except I don’t want to clean at this moment, and get my house back into a more comfortable place, since it’s just been pretty chaotic lately with all we’ve been doing.

The final reason is I think I was a very grumpy mom for a very long time and since I was so grumpy and snappy, writing a blog about our life was one of the last things I wanted to do. I was unhappy and easily irritable. The girls were doing everything in their power to bother me, at least it felt that way, and I was always upset about something.

It wasn’t fun for anyone around here.

I’ve been more happy and less grumpy lately, but I honestly don’t know when or why I started being a more even tempered person. I don’t remember if it was a conscious choice, or if it was an unconscious choice that I’ve just consciously realized. I partially don’t remember because it was a while ago that I feel I became a more bearable person to live with.

I know my family was on pins and needles, wondering when and what would set me off that day. I know Jon tried to help make it so I was less stressed, and when he saw the chaos was getting to me, he would try to help and encourage the girls to also help. I also know that he never tried to interfere, or contradict me and my very strict parenting ways in front of the girls. We always talked about it later, which was hard since I have a hard time talking about parenting because I feel I am the dominant parent. ( It’s difficult when you’re with the children 24/7 and you might feel like your parenting techniques are better and should take precedent over the other parent who only has to deal with it on a more part time basis. )

I can be pretty stubborn.

So I’m not sure why I changed, or really why I was even so upset, but now things are a little better in the house. We still have our hard moments and I still get really upset, but it’s not as regular or frequent. I’m trying to deal with our disagreements with a more even temperament, but I’m still at a lost plenty of times at what to do to improve a certain behavior with the girls. We try to have more natural consequences, but sometimes their is no natural consequence and I don’t like to punish with chores or other things that I feel are just a part of being in the family.

Being a parent is hard, but I’m happy I have Jon as a companion to help me. As we navigate this road together he tries to support me and help me be better, and when I’m being stubborn and don’t want to change, he waits patiently. When he’s being stubborn I also try to wait patiently, since we both have our bad days.

I love you dear and am happy to be on this road with you.

So Lilah is selling Girl Scout Cookies.

We went to a meeting a week ago and as I sat there listening to what we needed to do as independent girl scouts, she sat there reading though the different things you get once you sell so many boxes. Well, she read that if a girl scout sells 500 boxes they get to go to Camp Foxtail, so she wants to sell 500 boxes.

She’s not doing too bad. She’s sold about 160 boxes thus far, and there are still some people we need to contact and we still have one week to try to get various orders.

I am somewhat of a realist so I tell Lilah to work for her goal, but I also tell her it might be pretty hard. We have already used many of our resources, and even though I plan to sign her up for booth sales, I have no idea how many they’ll be able to sell, since sells differ for booths from day to day and hour to hour and they then divide the sales between the number of girls there during that time.

So here’s my little plea to help Lilah achieve her goal.

If you’d like to order Girl Scout Cookies and you haven’t done so already, please leave a comment  and tell me if you’d like an e-mail message that you can directly order from, me to call you, or have Lilah and me come by your house. (I’d have Lilah call you, but I have a hard enough time getting her to talk to people for this in person.)

If you feel that you might have some friends or co-workers interested, and you’d like to ask for Lilah, I can e-mail you an order form to take orders for her, and she’ll deliver them to your work and to your co-workers on the day you select. (My hairdresser volunteered to do this for her so I thought there might be others willing to.)

We’re taking pre-orders till February 1st, though I can get a few more until the 18th. I then will be picking the cookies up on the 19th and Lilah and I will be delivering them the week of the 22nd, before booth sales start.

They’re $3.50 a box and you do not pay till you get your cookies. (I’m wanting to deliver them the week of the 22nd, but I can deliver them to you later if need be. We have till the 16th of March to collect money.)

Also, for every 6 boxes you buy you’ll be entered into a contest to win 52 boxes of assorted Girl Scout Cookies.

If you’d like to support her but live far away, you can also order a box for Troop to Troop, and the cookies are then sent to our military overseas and I will discount you $0.50, or the cost to mail the money to us.

Thanks for all the support so many of you have already shown.

It’s cookie time!

The girls and I had a girls New Years Eve with Sam and Britta. I gave some details previously, but here are some pictures.

The girls waiting in the tub to hold Squeaks, Britta’s new hamster. Since he had been with them only a week, we took this precaution in case he got out of tiny hands and tried to make a run for it.
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Lilah enjoyed holding him, Eden just watched.
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Britta thought he was pretty silly.
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Here we are with some hats we made for celebrating the New Year.
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Three little birds….
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…. Wait, they’re just three silly girls!
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Sam and me.

Hanging out with Sam and Britta was a fun way to ring on the New Year and the girls and I had lots of fun.

Most are self explanatory….. and I’m being a lazy narrator.

Here is a short little look into our Christmas Eve celebrations.

We were with my family for the reading of the Saviors birth in the scriptures. Lilah and Eden lead one of the songs  and then afterwards is was present time!

Waiting to get started.
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Andrea with a sleepy Z, though I think it was just that particular moment.

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Lilah and Eden leading the music for Silent Night. Eden would just sing that carol around the house and I absolutely loved it.

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Lilah got a cool puppy from Carolyn and Derek, she named him Jack.
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Eden and her dress-up from Carolyn and Derek.
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The girls and me in our pajamas. The girls picked mine out.
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Jon with the girls and Jack.
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Jon asleep in the couch. I think this makes for the third year he’s done this.

Luckily he fell asleep on one cushion so I was able to work around him.

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Our stockings.

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Our tree and presents.
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I have to take one with just the lights….it makes me think of my childhood.

To come….Christmas Day.

So, I need to post pictures, but I thought I’d blog real quick on two things, since I’m not posting any pictures tonight anyways.

First, the girls had their first sleepover. As in we left them with someone not related! Though, I think Lilah being left with my parents while I had Eden was the last time we left a child overnight without one of us there, so this was major.

Lilah and Eden slept over at Britta’s house for New Years Eve. It was perfect because I stayed and hung out with Sam and our girls that night and was able to tuck them into bed before I left. Since Jon was sick and Sam’s husband goes to bed early it seemed perfect for us to have a girls night for New Years Eve.

We had Chinese food, root beer floats, and other not so healthy snacks. We made party hats and the girls played games. Eden fell asleep at 11:40 pm or so and Lilah and Britta made it till midnight. So Lilah was my New Years kissee (kisser? kiss?).

It wasn’t too hard leaving them there since I got to spend so much time with them before I left, I trust Sam completely and I was super tired, but I still think it’s a fun milestone.

Second, Eden is taking dance once more and this time I’m not taking her.

Sam teaches an afternoon dance class, so I signed Eden up for it since she showed interest in it after getting a new Sigg bottle with a ballet dancer on it. I watch Matilda for just a little bit before Matt is able to get home, so Sam just takes Eden with her to class. When Matt comes to get Matilda he leaves Britta to play with Lilah and then we switch kids again once Sam brings Eden home.

I really feel that I’m a safety net for Eden. She seems to be much more shy and reserved when I’m around so I thought with me not being there she might actually participate, and apparently I was correct. Today was just the first class, but she did wonderfully and fully participated.

I’m one of Eden’s biggest cheer leaders, but for some reason I’m also her biggest hindrance. It’s hard knowing I have a somewhat negative affect on Eden. I really want to be there taking pictures and supporting her, but I think I need to support her from afar for a little time. Once she settles in I might go watch, but I want her to really be confident so she doesn’t feel she needs to act shy or be reserved just because I’m around and she thinks that’s how she needs to act when I’m there. It’s difficult because I want to be there so badly, but I know me not watching her is for the better.

I’m needing to let go a little more than before and even though it’s fun, I also hate that they’re growing so fast.