Life:

As I update my neglected blog you might notice that other things have been neglected as well (see previous post). The photographic evidence from 2009 thus far indicates that I took the time to make and photograph cookies though I did not take the time to remember the camera at most of the events that have transpired with my family. Hopefully acknowledgement of my short-comings and redirection of time is penance enough for past transgression.....right?

Valentines Day brought many heart shaped things.....



Every year Nick picks up more tips on how to craft a truly magnificent Pine Wood Derby Car!



Nick and Allie LOVED playing basketball. I was the coach for Allies team (no - I do not have excessive basketball skills but I certain know more that a bunch of 10 year olds - right?). Sadly, the camera did not make it to one game or practice! Zack was not as enthusiastic as basketball. It was difficult for him to transition from soccer, where we had games for all three kids and dutifully cheered for all three kids, to basketball where we only cheered for two of them.

busy...busy...too busy...

I have not blogged on over a month. There are many other things in my life which I have not done in over a month as well. As a wife and mom, most of the things that I SHOULD be doing - I am only doing about as half as well as I am able.

So what is sucking up all of my time?

Cookies.


I launched my cookie biz officially in January and it has been quite successful. All other areas of my life have not been successful though and so - after 4 months - I am going out of business.

We don't need the money, but my kids need a Mom, my hubby needs a Wife, and my house need to be cleaned.

I am kind of sad - but relieved.

Other things that I have neglected that I am now looking forward to:

Going to lunch with friends
Going to bed at a reasonable hour
Spending time with my kids when I am not wearing an apron.
Having a clean and organized house.
Spending more time at the gym.
Getting all of the bags, boxes, and supplies off of my dining room table.
Doing ANYTHING for me that does not involve a rolling pin.
Blogging again.

See you soon!

A Day In The Life Of A Scatterbrain

Last week, several events came together in one great and public display of my own scatterbrain-ed-ness.

Not bothering to check Mr.Z when we left the house for pre-school, I did not realize that he was wearing his 'favorite floods' (black sweat pants that are too short). Not only are they too short, he likes to roll them up at the waist band, taking a few more inches off the bottom.

Not realizing that I did not have his backpack in my car - he happily took a plastic Target sack (which I found in the back seat) instead.

And within the Target sack was his show-and-tell.

About show-and-tell:

Life was much easier when I was in Elementary school and every friday was show-and -tell day. Now, the kids are assigned different days through out the year. Being a scatterbrain - I can not remember these days.

Usually Mr.Z remembers that he has show-and-tell whilst on the way to school. Consequently, we have found ourselves rummaging through the car for some very 'special', show-and- tell items.

So far he has taken:

*A 'really cool' rock that he found at the park - incidentally, I could not tell what was so cool about it.

*A box of his favorite Girl Scout Cookies (that Mrs.A had sold to someone else which I had to replace for them).

*A drawing that he had made on a program from church (who knows how long that had been under the seat).

And most recently -------- a bottle of Hand Sanitizer.

Now, the Girls Scout cookies were fun - but Mr.Z (who is a little OCD about germs) was way more excited about taking the sanitizer to school.

And so I walked my skipping pre-schooler into the building. He had about 3 inches of ankle exposed - due to the 'favorite floods' - and his Target bag was swinging in sync with his skip, thanks to the weight of the hand sanitizer within.

And there you have a glimpse into one day in the life of a scatterbrain.

Today I am Sick....

I did not sleep well last night and have spent the whole day on the sofa under a blanket....

...feeling grateful for the Laptop that the Hub gave me for my Birthday.

My youngest and I are watching cartoons - Tom and Jerry - and he is eating lunch....

...a box of Froot Loops.


He is loving just sitting with me and talking about how he likes Jerry more than Tom - because after all, Jerry is much funnier than Tom.

He just made me a little pile of my very own Froot Loops for me to eat 'when I feel better'.

Who knew being sick would be so much fun.

I get so busy sometimes that I forget that watching a silly cartoon with my little one can be a very rewarding experience.

I am closing my lapatop now - the next episode is about to start.

Ditching the PSP

Tonight one of the offspring who is OBSESSED with video games (as so many young boys are) amazed me. The hub and I keep a very tight reign on the the amount of time that the boy has with his beloved electronic games. He has to read to earn gaming time - minute for minute, and only can play on the weekends.

BUT - on Thursday nights when I coach 'A's basketball team and the Hub is working late the boys have to come with me. So - I let 'N' play his PSP during practice from 8-9pm if he has earned it by reading.

'N' loves basketball - and his practice time is earlier so he is usually tired by 'A's practice and quietly plays his PSP during that hour. Tonight however - there was a free basket in the gym and I was shocked to see him excitedly ditch the PSP, grab a spare ball and have a great time shooting hoops with a couple friends.

This may seem like no big deal - but I LOVED watching my awesome kid not just voluntarily but excitedly emerge from his electronic world to do something else.

Now I just need 'Z' to ditch his blanket that I let him bring to the practice. On one hand I am horrified that I allow him to bring it. On the other hand - he theoretically should have been in bed and hour earlier and has very poor coping skills. Having him lay on my coat on the gym floor under his blanket seems a better alternative to trying to coach while having to lug around a tired/grouchy/sobbing 5 year old.

After all, I have to deal with a not-so-tired/grouchy/often sobbing 5 year old during all other daylight hours.

Conversations with 'Z'

Me: What do you want for breakfast?
Z: What's on the menu?
Me: Ummmmm - Mini Wheats?
Z: Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm............
Me: So, would you like some Mini Wheats?
Z: y-y-y, n-n-n-, y-y-y, n-n-n, y-y-y-YES! That was a tough decision!
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Z: I need to be rich when I grow up.
Me: Really? Why do you need to be rich?
Z: Cause I need a giant mud pit in my back yard.
Me: Do you need to be rich to have a mud pit?
Z: Yes. Cause where else can my elephant play? I also need an ocean in my backyard for my dolphin. And I need to take the mud pit in the house so my elephant can come in when there is snow but I can't take the ocean inside so I guess I will have to get a salty pool in the basement. I also want a whale when I am rich.
-----
Z: Can I have bubble gum for breakfast?
Me: Nope.
Z: Well, how about sugar free bubble gum? Or cookies?
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Me: Aren't you excited for Kindergarten next year?
Z: No. I am excited to go to college so I can get my own pet.
Me: I am excited for you to go to Kindergarten. You will do fun things there.
Z: Oh good! Like going to the pool?
-----
Z: I wish I had my drivers license.
Me: Why?
Z: Because then I could drive my own car and drive to Africa, Greenland, and the North Pole. I would get an Elephant in Africa. I would see if trees grown in Greenland. And I would meet Santa at the North Pole. Maybe Santa will give me a whale for next Christmas.
Me: Where will you put a whale if Santa gives you one?
Z: In a huge pool in the basement.
Me: We don't have a huge pool in the basement.
Z: I know! He will give it to me when I am rich.
Me: How will you get rich?
Z: I will do my best and work hard and get good grades in every school. Then my job will be to train animals, like whales, dolphins, and elephants.
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Z: My favorite food is going to be salad, carrots and turkey when I grow up.
Me: Do you like those things now?
Z: Ew! Yuck! I hate salad and carrots. Turkey is okay though.
Me: When are you going to start liking salad and carrots?
Z: When I am 15 I think.
Me: What is your favorite food now?
Z: Chick-Fil-A Food. And corn.
-----
Me: I like this Valentines Day card that Grandma sent you.
Z: I don't like it. Pirates should not be on a pink card.
Me: Well, it's a Valentines Card and pink is a Valentines Color.
Z: Well I hate the card, but I do like the five dollars in it.
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And while walking past Victoria's Secret in the Mall
Z: Ugh! Bras! I hate seeing girls in bras!
Me: I know! Close your eyes so you won't see them.
Z: Why can't I just see girls with no bras!?!
------

Tick..Tock..Tick..Tock

I hate to waste time. This does not mean that I don't get distracted from what I should be doing. I routinely start different projects that are completely unnecessary. In fact, I happen to be the reigning queen of misappropriating my time with things that are non essential. During the creation phase of such projects I am incredibly unaware of the many things that I should be doing. Those 'things' (a.k.a. responsibilities) , suddenly come rushing back into my brain as soon as I hear the kids walk in the door from school and I realize that my so-called free time has ended, and my to-do list is still quite long.

And so - I have banned myself from the craft store. (And did I mention that my husband is less than thrilled at the number of crafty purchases that appear on our bank statement). No A.C. Moore, no Michaels, no Jo-Ann Super Store. These mercantile institutions are my vice. So - with the banishment of all craftiness I will undoubtably gain many hours with which to accomplish the need-to's.

Now I only need to figure out a way to gain more time by remembering where I park my car. I am not exaggerating when I say that I NEVER remember where it is parked when I have been away from it for more than 30 minutes. I shudder to think of the number of hours that I have wasted as I wander around parking lots, holding my keys in the air, pressing the lock button in hopes that I will near my vehicle and it will answer me with a bleep-bleep. When 'Z' is with me he helpfully calls out:

"Where are you Honda Pilot? Honda! Honda! Where are you?"

A glass-is-half-empty kind of gal might find this embarrassing. Luckily I am a glass-is-half-full sort so I realize that my idiocy, accompanied by child-like helpfulness has caused many a laugh in retail and grocery patrons alike. I am brightening the day of others, and perhaps providing them with a humorous anecdote to share with loved ones over dinner.

And if I were a half-empty type, I could find solace in the fact that my car will never again be lost in front of a craft store.