Lizzy-isms

People tell me all the time I should write a book full of "Lizzy-isms". If I had a dollar for everytime I've been told that, I'd be a millionaire. But, that hasn't happened, and I haven't written that Lizzy book. Yet. I have started scribbling down "Lizzy-isms", and just ran across a scrap of paper full of them in my purse. Here are the best "Lizzy-isms" of the past few weeks:

• Lizzy, Morgan and I went to a wedding. We were sitting in the pew, waiting for the ceremony to begin when a lady we didn't know sat down beside us. I smiled at her, Lizzy started talking to her. Her opening line... "Hi. I look beautiful." No self esteem issues here.
• On the way home from that wedding, I pulled over on the side of the road to calm a screaming Morgan. While I was getting her settled down, Lizzy got out of the van to "stretch". The next thing I heard was Lizzy yelling "That looks like a snake!". I freaked out a little, then realized "that" was not a snake at all.. Lizzy had pulled down her pants, and pooped.
• Lizzy has had weddings on the brain lately. And motorcycles. She told me "When my grow up and my get married ten times. But only five of those husbands can ride on my sparkly motorcycle though".
• Last week Sheena and I took the kids to Minnesota for a quick vacation before school started. We stopped at Target to buy some really important video games for Jake. Sheena and I decided to get Starbucks while we were there. Lizzy offered to hold Sheena's bag while she got her coffee. Sheena thanked her. Lizzy replied, "You're welcome. Maybe you pay me five dollars?". Sheena laughed, and said no. Lizzy responded, "Maybe three dollars?".
• I have to remind Lizzy to wash her hands everytime she goes to the bathroom. Apparently she's listenng. She told me "My found an easy way to not be sick. Just wash your hands with soap for five minute. I saw that on tv." Ok, so maybe it's not me. Anyway, she's learning to wash her hands. I consider that a success.
• Lizzy is having tough time sharing. I told her to share with Jorja, and she replied "I am sharing. All by myself."
• I have no privacy. Seriously, I haven't peed in peace for years. And there's usually an audience when I'm getting dressed too. I need to get the lock on my bedroom door fixed. Lizzy walked in on me getting dressed the other day and commented "My like your fat boobies, Mom". Gotta get that lock fixed.
• A few Saturdays ago it was just Brad, the little girls and me home so we went out for supper. Clam diggers were on special, so Brad and I each ordered one. Lizzy wanted a drink, but of course we told her no and explained there was booze in there and she has to wait until she's 21 to have booze. The next day, she was telling people how much her mom loves booze. Nice.

There are so many more Lizzy-isms. I could write all night. Instead, I think I will put the computer away, and go snuggle with my Lizzy. Because those snuggles are the best thing ever.... coming in a close second, the always entertaining Lizzy-isms!

The Numbers Don't Lie

I am not a numbers person. Numbers scare me. I am not good at math. I can't balance a checkbook (I used to be able to do that, but I apparently lost that skill in childbirth) My kids know better than to ask me for help with math homework. Yet, I am amazed by numbers. I think it's because they scream "organization" and "routine", two things I absolutely love, and wish I had more of. I also love numbers because so often, it is numbers that tell the true story. So, for the past few weeks, when I haven't been writing, I've been keeping track of numbers.... and I've discovered, the numbers don't lie....

• 993.3 - the number of miles I drove last weekend... in three days... with five kids and just one other adult. Sheena and Jorja rode with my four kids and me to Minnesota for the weekend. We spent time at Chrissy's, went to the Minnesota Zoo, where we met two of my favorite neices and one of my favorite sisters-in-law, and ate at Olive Garden (thanks to my dentist for the $20 gift card, I could afford to take the kids there!). We came home in one piece, I survived on Diet Coke and beer (thanks Shane) and I think Sheena and I are still friends. We made millions of memories, and I survived with only one injury (Jake kneed me in the leg...hit a vein and lef the biggest bruise I've ever seen.. I just tell people you should see my son!)
• One - the number of school days complete in this school year. I kind of feel like a bad mom for being so excited about today. It's the routine. I love it. But I do have a little guilt about not even driving my kids to their first day... I had to be to work early, so I made them get dressed, took a picture in our usual spot on the front step (I have never been allowed to take pictures of them at school....soooo embarassing!), then I left for work, and they finished getting ready before walking to school. It's only one mile, but it was the first day of 6th and 4th grade....oh well, they survived. Supposedly they didn't even fight on the walk. I'm not sure I believe them. And, in keeping with my mother of the year pursuit, not only did I make them walk to school, I was late picking them up this afternoon! Oops.
• 19 - the number of hours I've already put in at work this week. I know that doesn't seem like a lot to those of you who work full-time, but for my part-time gig, it's just one hour away from being out of hours. How the heck did that happen? I've been so busy this week I didn't even realize I'd been working that much, until I filled out my time sheet today (in a nice, organized way... just like I like it!) The good news is, I probably get to leave work early tomorrow. But add to those 19 hours all the hours I put in organizing a PTO open house, and it's through the roof. I think the open house was a success, but there are over 800 left over ice cream cups and close to 300 extra bottles of water and I haven't had more than five hours of sleep in the past week.... but still, it was actually kind of fun. You know why? Because I'm a nerd, and actually like organizing big events like that.
• 50 - the number of pounds I keep thinking I'd like to lose. I have some motivation now... Brad and I get to go to Hawaii in March. I should really get motivated...
• 22 - the number of M&M's I just ate. I should probably not buy them anymore, or I'll never lose those 50 pounds.

I'm not sure what these numbers say, other than my mind works in really strang ways. I'm actually ok with that. And while this has been a super, crazy, overscheduled few weeks, I honestly wouldn't have it any other way. I am happy to do things for my kids, even if that means spending my free time doing volunteer work. People constantly say to me "I don't know how you do it". I want to say, "do what?". I'm just living my life. It's no big deal. Yes, I have four kids. Yes, I work part time. Yes, my husband works crazy long hours. Yes, my kids are busy with activities (just football and basketball right now... piece of cake!). Yes, life is crazy, and it may be another 18 years before I get the organization and routine I crave so much, but that's ok. I am so thankful to have these four blessings who make me smile, scream, and laugh every single day. If you ask me, the numbers say life is good. And, the numbers don't lie.

Lizzy's Treasure Hunt

Lizzy is on a treasure hunt. She's taken all the cushions off the living room couches, searching for "treasures". What she's found makes me smile and cringe all at the same time. Her "treasures" are clues to our family's busy life and interests, and signs that I really should clean more often. Here's what she's found so far:

• half of a Barbie pizza
• a pair of earrings
• a necklace
• a bag of tootsie rolls
• a baby bottle (a clean one.... I think I would have smelled it otherwise!)
• a tag ripped off a new shirt
• a pop cap
• a lego
• a cell phone (a toy one... again, I think I would have noticed if a real one was missing!)
• a Barbie necklace

I have made her return the cushions and stop searching. I'm truly scared to think what else she may find!

Never Enough Time

I'd like to paint my toenails tonight. I've been thinking about it, and adding it to my daily to-do list for weeks now. I even took the bottle of nail polish along on vacation last week. I still didn't get my toenails painted. But while my toenails may be ugly,  my life has definitely been beautiful.

I didn't get my nails painted (or my book read) I did have one of the best vacations ever last week. The kids and I spent a couple days at my parents house, then went to the Black Hills to camp. Yep. Me and four kids. In a tent. Sounds crazy, I know, but it was so much fun. Jake and I set up the tent while Lexi watched the little girls. After a quick trip to Wal-Mart to buy the camping supplies we didn't pack (really important things, like marshmallows and hotdogs) we went back to the campsite to do some cooking. It pained me to pay five dollars for a bundle of wood (knowing we have piles and piles of firewood at home) but we bought two bundles and did our very best to get the fire started. In fact, we burned up an entire notebook, a pizza box and a cardboard box, trying to get the fire going. That's when I realized Brad is always in charge of the fire at home... I just drink beer and rock babies. Jake did his Cub Scout best, but the firewood was a little damp, and the fire just wouldn't take off. Finally, my cousin and her family arrived and her husband was able to get the fire going. But by that time, everyone was too tired to enjoy any of our yummy campfire food. So while everyone went to bed, I sat up and enjoyed the most wonderful fire ever, all by myself. I should have painted my toenails by the light of the fire.

The rest of the weekend I kept thinking I'd find a few spare moments to paint my toenails, but between the family reunion, the sight seeing, the eating, and the visiting (so fun visiting with cousins I haven't seen for years, meeting their kids for the first time, and meeting other relatives I didn't know I had.... thanks to facebook, we won't have to wait until the next reunion to catch up!), I just never got it done.  I still haven't. You see, vacation takes a lot out of a mother. There's the lack of sleep, the unpacking, the laundry, the going back to work. All that together leaves absolutely no time for pampering, no matter how ugly the toenails.

Even as I type this, I can't help but glimpse at my ugly, unpainted toenails and think I really should be taking care of my feet. Maybe I will. The boys are at a movie, the little girls are sleeping... maybe I'll make Lexi paint my toenails for me....although, now I'm kind of used to the "natural" look. Maybe I don't need toenail polish afterall.

Baking Up a Storm

It's no wonder I can't seem to lose any weight. My oldest and her friend have become awesome bakers. Seriously. At least five days a week, they're in my kitchen, whipping up some yummy cookies, bars, or desserts I just have to taste. And because they're such good bakers, everything they make is delicious, so I don't eat just one.

It all started a few weeks ago, when we had a rummage sale. The girls thought it would be fun to have a lemonade stand too, and to have cookies to go with the lemonade. They spent every spare moment the week before the rummage sale baking. They made no-bake cookies, rhubarb bars, cute little sunshine cookies, and seven layer bars.

Their bake sale wasn't a big hit with the rummage sale crowd, but those of us sitting outside manning the sale for two days sure enjoyed the goodies. My mom was in town too, so the girls baked some speical treats just for her, and of course, Grandma paid for them. Since then, Grandma has bought three more batches of goodies.

I'm not sure if her love of baking is because of the money (Grandma pays very well for her treats!), or if it's just something fun to do. It would be easy for me to be frustrated and annoyed with Lexi's baking. I've spent a good chunk of change buying ingredients, she never cleans the kitchen to my standards, and she's lost one of my new measuring spoons. But, I've decided to let that stuff go. I remember going through the same phase when I was about her age, and I'm pretty sure I wasn't very good at cleaning up the kitchen either. Besides, baking is good for Lexi. It's taught her to plan ahead, helped her keep her math skills (especially fractions) fresh, and work as a team (Lizzy, Jake and Tess often help with the baking...which requires patience on everyone's part). Plus she's so proud of her creations, I can't possibly be mad about the mess. I have, however, made her start walking and running with me everyday. That's the only way I can justify eating all the delicious goodies she makes!

Good Clean Fun

I'm not a big fan of bath time. It stresses me out, to be honest with you. I don't have the patience at the end of the day to fight with Lizzy about washing her hair, or to wait for her to be ready. Tonight, however, I found the patience. I scrubbed both Morgan and Lizzy, then took Morgan out of the tub while Lizzy played. She doesn't usually play in the tub very long, but tonight was different. Maybe because I left her alone and let her imagination take over. I had a long list of stuff I needed to do (Morgan wanted to be fed and put to bed, Lexi was baking brownies, the kitchen was a mess, there was laundry to fold, Jake was gone, Brad was working). While I started tackling that to-do list, Lizzy entertained herself in the tub. It didn't take me long to stop doing my chores and listen to her creativity, innocence, and imagination come to life.

Lizzy has a whole family of rubber ducks in the tub: there's Brad, Jody, Lexi, Lizzy, Morgan and now finally a Jake duck too (thanks to a successful Target stop earlier today) She's even got a Tesslin duck (Lexi's best friend who practically lives at our house).

I had to grab the video camera and get tonights duck conversation on tape.. here's the scene: Brad and Jody are on a date, Lizzy tags along, Mom gets mad at her and takes her home where Lexi and Jake are supposed to be babysitting. And in the second video, Brad and Jody are still on a date, Jake is going to Mary's house, Morgan is floating in the water, and Lexi, Tesslin and Lizzy are going to the park.

All this, because I let her play in the tub. Maybe bath time isn't so bad afterall.

Such Nice Neighbors

Our next door neighbors Trent and Heather don't have kids, and after living next door to us for six months, they probably never will. I'm pretty sure my kids, specifically Lizzy, are good birth control (just not for us! Why is that? A topic for another time...) Anyway, these DINKS (double-income no kids) neighbors of ours are super nice and claim they love our kids, even Lizzy. They say they get a "kick" out of her, her outfits, and her antics. This week, they contributed to those antics....and we will get even...someday, somehow.

Heather obviously likes kids, as she is a third grade teacher at one of the schools in town. A couple of days ago she knocked on the door, and by the time I got there, she had already given Lizzy six green pom poms on long wooden sticks. She said they were left over from school and she thought Lizzy would have fun with them. I said I knew Lizzy would have fun with them, and they looked like a great thing to play with in Trent and Heather's yard. She laughed, and walked away.

While it's great to have such sweet neighbors, I have been losing sleep over how to get back at her. These pom poms are the messiest and most annoying toy we've had in a long time. I'm really surprised no one has poked an eye out yet. Every time Lizzy shakes them (which is quite often) about three dozen little green papers fall out of the pom poms. We have green paper everywhere. Brad thought the paper shredder exploded all over the house. Lexi spent a good hour this morning picking up all the green pom pom pieces. But as I look around the living room now, you'd never know it. There is green paper all over...yet the pom poms don't look any worse for the wear. Do they just keep regenerating new paper? It's the strangest thing.

At any rate, these pom poms have become Lizzy's new favorite toy. I managed to capture a few of her games on video this afternoon . They are not only pom poms, but also drumsticks, a violin, and a cross. What I didn't catch on tape was the pom poms being used as a green wig for Morgan.

Yes, our next door neighbors are sweet. We like them a lot. But...as you watch these videos, please help me think of how we can get even!