Motherhood is a dirty job

I try to keep a clean house; even more so since we moved. My house is not a museum but overall it is clean. Bathrooms are clean; dusting occurs regularly; dishes get done; floors get mopped and vacuumed. However, some projects simply get delayed, and then procrastinated. Today I jumped into conquering the oven; it was time especially after Collin's latest batch of deer jerky.

Here is my latest cleaning tip for oven racks and gas burner stove grids.....

I thought I was pretty clever. They soaked for two hours while I scrubbed, wiped, rinsed, and scrubbed some more-- the oven and the stovetop. I have a self-cleaning oven but I hate the smell it emits so I decided to use the good ol' fashioned way - elbow grease. I worked for 2-1/2 hrs. and there was still room for improvement but the tub trick worked.

Gross, huh???? You can see the tub USED to be clean in the first pic but now this is the gross disgusting mess. The stovetop isn't perfect but much improved. (How does it get that bad anyway when I wipe it down daily?) Like most cleaning adventures, this puts me into 'if-you-give-a-mouse-a-cookie cleaning mode', first the oven, now the tub, then? It's like crazy pregnancy nesting, but I'm not pregnant!

 

This cleaning project is a lot like motherhood and life. Life is messy. It gets dirty even if you do your best to maintain things. Then you reach a point where you have to stop procrastinating and pull up your bootstraps (or your cleaning gloves) and work hard. No one likes to do the dirty work but dealing with it and making it things better is rewarding. The new situation may not be perfect but hardwork pays off.

 

 

Monday musings #3

Another Monday is quickly upon us and I feel the need to blog. Things are rolling along at a swift pace and before I know it the kids will be out for summer and asking the dreaded "what are we doing today?" So on this May 6th, here's a little brain dump...

• Spring is here in full bloom and we've got the Zyrtec to prove it.
• Ian had his football evals last Saturday morning; they had about 750 kids total on the day for the program. And they have more registration this Sat. THAT is a big football program.  (and it only goes up to 6th grade)
• Maggie turns 15 on Sunday. We are debating over who gets to rule the day since it's Mother's Day.....I say 'I get the day b/c I brought you in to this world!'/ she says 'but I'll only turn 15 once!'
• She starts with orthodontia on May16th....happy belated birthday to her, muhahaha.
• We took a road trip this weekend down to Seabrook to attend a crawfish boil held annually by one of Collin's college buddies. Crawfish, cocktails, lots of laughter, and fresh seafood to take home from Galveston Bay. Simple goodness; thank you for the hospitality Adams Family :)
• The family dipped their feet in the warm waters of Galveston Bay. I think the first comment was 'this is sooooo much warmer than the Pacific.' Fritz was running around like a crazy fool so he loved the water too.
• I filled my car up for $41.75 today. I paid $2.76 per gallon with my Kroger discount. Sweet.
• I exercised today. Yes, you should mark it on your calendar right along with me.
• I am doing a 5K in two weeks. Let's hope I don't embarrass myself.
• Dinner tonight is broccoli beef and fried rice (scratch) with orange chicken (frozen Costco) and fresh pineapple. Tomorrow is gumbo (shrimp, chicken, saus.) with rice. Help - I haven't meal planned for May completely. I did buy fresh basil and parsley plants today, though.
• still doing Flylady; I love having my house clean. Yes - I know we haven't been here a month and I'm not totally unpacked, but my family can make a huge mess in a short amount of time. It was very refreshing to be able to hit the road quickly and come home to a relatively clean house. And the laundry is a lot less annoying since I'm doing small manageable tasks. (and the kids are actually keeping their dishes out of the sink and putting them in the dishwasher, woot.) Small victories.
• I did get a quick fix on my camera lens at a local camera shop (they literally called the guy the lens chiropractor and the lens cracked when he 'fixed' the tweek; it works so I'll call it good for now)
• Things to do....DMV remains on the list; add schedule a doctor's appt for a physical for me; find the hardware for the boys' bunk beds; get the old fridge and gas dryer put on Craigslist.

And to end on a sappy note, go hug your loved ones. Last week I lost a high school friend to a random freak accident (that happened while her loved ones watched in horror and could do nothing). In the blink of an eye she lost her life. RIP dear Paula.  It has been a serious reminder to me that even with all the busy stuff going on (as noted in my brain dump above) I always have time to stop and tell my kids and my husband 'I love you' before they walk out the door.

New blog address/ relocation ramblings, episode 5

I figured it only appropriate to adjust my blog address to reflect our location. So, now it is www.hall6intx.blogspot.com I hope the handful of people who read here can still find me.

SO how is Texas?
I would answer with so far/so good.
Here's a picture of the house from when we first arrived.

and here is a view from the backyard

this was from the first time Ian and Fritz were out there running around.

We really love the view. Tons of birds, squirrels, rabbits, turtles, ducks, an occasional crane, and geese sometimes.

 

Overall, it is really nice. Our neighborhood is located in a nice community and Amanda and Ian are able to walk to and from school. Sean and Maggie take the bus from a stop three houses down. (Can I say the mornings are quite pleasant with different wake times and out-the-door times. Maggie has about 35min on her own with no one to argue with about the bathroom. Small victories.) There is tons of shopping close by so I feel like I'm still in Irvine yet don't know where I'm going most of the time. The kids seem to be adjusting and making friends. Ah, friends. I miss them so much. (especially this little chicklet, Miss Gracie - this is how she said 'good-bye' to each of us/ with nose kisses and forehead rubs)

 I am pretty much the lone ranger. Fritz keeps me company as I unpack and ramble about cleaning. I am pretty sure the friendly folks here think I'm crazy because I'll talk to anyone.....gotta have some adult conversation. The weather changes enough that it always makes for nice conversation, ya know.
I keep telling myself to 'give it time' but I'm not known for my patience.

One of the reasons we moved was to be closer to family. And we already took advantage of that opportunity. Our roadtrip to NOLA this weekend was swift but fun. The kids got to hang out (literally) with my Mom and the cousins for a few. Add in some great food, SNOBALLS, and some time with the Caluda family and I would call it a success.

Collin and I made it to the Theta Xi 50th Anniver. Formal. We got to dress up like grown-ups and hang with some old friends. We even went to The Bulldog (same location/new name), a bar we used to go to in college. So, it was even more fun for me because I had friends :)

So as Ian would say 'life is good!'

(except for the barf that Fritz just blessed me with, thanks pal)

Monday musing (minus the morning part)

Yes, it's Monday but not even close to morning. I'll count the Monday part good and move along with some musings.
--I was so tired for free coffee at Dunkin so I went back to bed and then made my own later. Two nights of crappy sleep will do that to a person.
--Amanda doesn't have strep, thank goodness. She has science state testing on Wed. so we really need this virus to be gone.
--We love the pond.....it is so peaceful and has just enough wildlife to have us take notice. Had a random weird crane there this weekend along with some geese passing through. I'm sure Fritz thinks he has moved to the Great Frontier. Amanda did catch the first fish so that was a sweet surprise for her.
--The kitchen is 'almost' together. I think I have two boxes left. I hate thinking I might want to move some stuff around so for now I'm going to see how functional it really is. Still wondering where the flatware organizer is, guess I should get to those last two boxes.
--Ian is signed up for football. (Sean will play through middle school.) Navigating a new system is a very strange feeling.
--I'm trying Flylady again. I know the basics (shine your sink, etc.) in my head but keeping tasks small and manageable is a good reminder. I tend to do 'if you give a mouse a cookie' style cleaning and then I become a frustrated beast. Two big bonuses - laundry is under control and I LOVE having my bed made and looking purdy.
--Back to cooking again :) Pork loin in the oven slow roasting with orange marmalade across the top, pine nut couscous, and cantaloupe for dinner today.
--Deadliest Catch started last week. I really love those guys. Miss my favorite Capt. Phil.
--We are supposed to be heading to NOLA this weekend for Collin's fraternity formal (50th Anniversary).....excited at the possibility of hometown crawfish and seeing some friends we haven't seen in a long time.
--I bought my children their FIRST loaf of Sunbeam bread, ever! They like Texas even more now. And they are wondering what happened to 'wheat bread Mom'.


Many things remain on the list of things to do (exercise! [I did get out once last week, lol], DMV trip, camera repair).....and several have been added (paperwork for Mag's ortho consult & 15yr. well check, mail assorted things like the old Direct TV receiver, find out about Lone Star Storyteller contest for Mag & Amanda).

For now, I'm off to put out a HotSpot for 5-minutes as Flylady has reminded me. I think I can get one of those boxes done if I work fast.

Relocation ramblings, episode 4

Houston we have a problem........
we own a gas dryer
the laundry room requires electric

6 people
loads of laundry & bedding to wash

I do not have the smarts or energy to try make it work like they did on Apollo 13
Cue depressing movie music

Relocation ramblings, episode 3

subtitled: Embracing the Chaos --

• Last week I posted about not being ready for 48*. Well let's just say that yesterday's 41* and thunderstorms was really cold. And even the people who aren't new here were cold too because every Starbucks drive-thru was packed. Apparently everyone else was seeking refuge in the form of a caramel latte as well. It is April, right?
• I dropped my beloved Canon camera the other day and tweeked the lens :( So my daily photos are now done with my phone. Not happy but it still counts.
• This week school lunches have been made in the hotel. It's called 'making it work.' I can't wait to have a real kitchen again.
• School busses are a beautiful thing except when you miss it (or the driver leaves early and at least five students end up calling their parents for a ride home from school, grrrrr)
• I could survive with food in a cooler (no fridge) if I had to. However, a washer and dryer is a NECESSITY. Having no washer or dryer (and paying $4 per load to wash & dry)  is a royal pain. I am dragging my feet on doing anymore at the hotel because ours will be set up this weekend. Save about $20 and wait or scramble for more quarters? I think I'll wait.
• My brother magically appeared here yesterday. Apparently he travels to the area quite frequently with his job and the office was about 5min from our hotel. Sweet. Another bonus to living here.
• Right now I am savoring the sunshine, watching the breeze blow on the pond, listening to the birds sing, and waiting for the carpet cleaners to finish. The phone guy just left and two pods have been delivered. It's time to cowgirl up and move some boxes ya'll.

Relocation ramblings, episode 2

the journey continues:

• it is possible to get the center gum part of a Blow Pop without biting into the candy part. It took me an hour. And much ignoring of the temptation to 'just get it over with' as the kids kept insisting.
• the Forest Gump soundtrack remains awesome
• Jimmy Buffet is not so awesome in the kids' minds, parrot-heads they are not!
• the world is SMALL when you can run into Irvine MTV friends while eating in Deming, NM
• over our 1500 mile trek, we managed to get 40 states in the license plate game - Alaska and Maine included, but Rhode Island and Vermont remain missing
• hotel living isn't horrible
• $3.50 per load of laundry using the hotel machines is horrible
• Collin did a great job with the final selection of the house - it is spacious, in a great area, and the view is spectacular :) I would share video if I could figure out how to upload it
• I feel lost all the time; sort of like I'm on the Amazing Race without the crazy challenges
• there is lots of amazing shopping close by
• there are some buffalo within in a couple of miles of my house too
• I wasn't prepared for th 48* rainy weather we had today. It's April. I am only armed with a sweatshirt. Looks like I need to watch the weather.

Spilling out my brain

Random brain dump:
1) Appointment to get screens repaired/replaced, check......apparently the kids have been using the windows when they play hide and seek, lovely.
2) Our 6th graders at work are at outdoor camp this week.....yeah to a drama free week (at least ones that involve the 6th graders, lol)
3) My best friend's Mom is in the hospital/ substitute Grandma to my kids......prayers, love, and healing thoughts for sweet MarJane
4) Lasagna is in the oven! woot!
5) I packed the pantry - down to figuring out what ingredients I would need for the remaining dinners and what spices I would use, the rest got packed. Does this make me crazy or organized?
6) When I look around I don't feel organized.
7) We move in 19 days........eeeeeekkkkk.
8) Sean and Maggie are rocking with school; I can only hope they keep the momentum at their new schools.
9) I need to do online registration for their new schools.
10) Someone told me we are moving just in time for tornado season. I didn't need to know that.
11) What does a tornado siren sound like?
12) I never have had nightmares about hurricanes or earthquakes, but I have about tornadoes. What does that mean?

13) Does any want to buy a sweet Mustang? Please :)
14) It's 6:29pm and the sun is still shining. I like that.
15) At 6:29am this morning, the sun wasn't up yet but I was. I don't like that.

And that is a little sample of my brain. I'm sure there is a blonde joke in there but I'm too tired to think of one.

"Holding it together"

Before Collin left for Texas, Ian informed him that he wasn't sure I could "hold it together" for very long. (I think this is hilarious, albeit true) So it's been a week and I'm doing ok 'holding it together'. I've surely had my moments of insanity but I had those long before the added miles between my husband and I. It's pretty much our hamster wheel of a routine so I can't complain. It's just really lonely. Sigh. Doing this solo isn't easy but now we have a light at the end of the tunnel.

Yes, our contract on a house started today!!!! We will soon exit this little cracker box we call home. The kids are beyond excited to have their own rooms; I am excited that the Xbox will be OUT of my living room; and we are all excited about some elbow room. Not sure we have an official countdown timeline just yet, but I'm sure the time will fly. For now, I'm thinking Spring Break........

Here is a picture of the new place we hope to call home soon -

Happy to have a house that ISN'T STUCCO!!!!!!

Yes, we moved. We moved from 2900sqft to 1500sqft; with four kids, a dog, and a cat. I'm still not unpacked because I don't want to. I hate the chaos around me but can't bring myself to add one more thing to my plate. Between work, finishing up school assignments with the kids, running everyone to activities, and the regular demands of life, I simply haven't to energy to lessen the chaos with unpacking.

So there is the lovely mood I'm in. Thus the reason for no posts.

Back to your regularly scheduled program.

Spring Break - Day Two:
Donuts for Breakfast!
Packing focus is the boys' room and upstairs bathroom. Girls are working in their rooms (if you want to call it that). Maggie came into the boys' room and said "wow, it's empty in here!" I wanted to respond with "Yes, that's because we are working and you are a distracted and sitting on your butt." BUT I didn't and simply said.......'well, yes we are moving in a week my dear.'
I'm having a hard time understanding how I packed the move when we moved in here 6-1/2yrs. ago. Ian was a 6mo. old! I guess he slept a lot more. So frustrating that they are older but not necessarily more helpful. That's likely my own doing --- need to work on that.

Side note: yesterday wasn't ALL work and no play. We ventured out to the local trampoline place called SkyHigh. Holy cow --- wall-to-wall trampoline madness, launches into the foam pit, trampoline dodgeball. Super fun!

Off to order some new checks and situate the utilities............

Yes.....it's really happening. We are officially moving. Back to our old neighborhood,  it's only about a mile and a WHOLE different ballgame of packing since we aren't going across the country (yet!). It's a good thing; I try to keep telling myself that but the thought of moving in nine days just makes me want to barf as I look around at the chaos. We held a huge garage sale (the picture doesn't even capture all of it) and we were able to get rid of some things. Since then I've hauled two van loads to Goodwill also. We are moving from 2900sqft down to 1500sqft. It will be cozy (don't laugh; just let me pretend!) and I'm thrilled about removing the chore of vacuuming stairs from my list! I'm not sure how the girls will do with sharing a room, but we'll get it figured out eventually.

This week is Spring Break for us. Right now that means them arguing over the television and the SceneIt Disney game and I am online pretending that the house will pack itself. I'm hoping to make an adventure up to the Ronald Reagan library to aid Sean in a school project; catch the Disney movie African Cats; and maybe hit the beach if it's warm enough. Oh.....and the girls are auditioning for Oliver. (I want to but I know my limitations; just say No to another commitment). Did you notice that packing isn't at the top of my list? Someone send fairies; I just want to take a nap.

(he is crashed out for real; I did catch him before he slid off completely)

You know your house is on the market (and you have a showing) if:
1) you can clean for five hours and you still can find little things to nit-pick and never be DONE!

2) you put apples on the table as a decoration when you ALWAYS keep them in the fridge b/c I hate room temp. apples.

3) you consider clearing the kitchen counter a success by dumping the mail and school papers into a plastic grocery bag and stashing it into the pantry (for sorting during Monday night football).

4) you think 'mopping' the kitchen floor with a hot, soapy dishtowel is perfectly acceptable.

and THE BEST ONE YET:

5) you stash the CLEAN dry laundry waiting to be folded INTO THE EMPTY WASHING MACHINE b/c it's out of sight :)

So ----
in case you were wondering:
1) yes, we are moving. The house is on the market. Where we will end up is unknown at this point? For today I am focusing on maintaining the house and just enjoying the rest of the summer.

2) Amanda's MRI is Monday (8/23) with doctor follow-up in the afternoon. THANKS to everyone who has been so supportive over this time.

3) Football is in full swing. It's all football all the time with some travel baseball and Oklahoma theatre stuff thrown in.

4) The Pacific Ocean was 59* yesterday. Cramp-your-feet kind of cold! But the beach was still awesome. Even better that Sean packed the food/drink bag and all the beach stuff while I finished getting the house ready for showing. Planning more beach time next week b/c that's how we roll.

5) Book suggestion --- Five Little Monkeys Go Shopping --- great little math problem solving book while still being about that silly monkey family. Fun read aloud.

6) Another trip to Goodwill today -- that's five in about two weeks. I feel ten pounds lighter. Why is my butt still big?

Another brain dump.....it's all I have energy for........

we are moving. Don't know when or where to, but it's in the near future. Made another Goodwill drop off today. Collin put sod in the front and painted a lot this weekend. I added a lot of flowers here and there along with decluttering.

Had a productive weekend with beach time on Friday and Monday. Can't complain about the beach. Newport had a SUPER low tide while we were there and we wound up with a little lagoon and sandbar. It was surreal.

Maggie's room is done including the closet, dresser, and desk. Moving will be easy, keeping it neat is the hard part for Mag. Working on the boys room currently. Why don't I feel like I'm accomplishing much.

First Oklahoma dress rehearsal tonight. Need to get ribbon for a sash.

Amanda's MRI is scheduled for 8/23 with doctor follow-up the same day.

No news on the job front for me.

What should I make for dinner? Needs to be re-heating friendly b/c the boys need to eat after football and we'll be at theatre.

Hate living in limbo, but Balboa bars make me happy.

Why wait for spring cleaning? Join me in my insane adventures. (if I didn't know better I'd think I was pregnant and nesting big time, I'm N.O.T.!!!)

It all started the day after Christmas. I had to shuffle some old toys out of the way to have a place for the new ones (in hopes that the boys would actually put them where they belong -- hey, a girl can dream). And it's been all If You Give A Mouse A Cookie style cleaning since then. I wound up completely gutting the boys' room; then my bathroom; then the hallway bathroom; then I vacuumed all upstairs; then I de-funked and prepped the fish tank for more fish; then I started Maggie's room (note: started, b/c it's going to take a while).......tomorrow is more for Maggie, the family room, and the downstairs floors.

What is wrong with me???? Normally, if I keep up laundry and dishes I count my blessings.

It DOES feel great to be getting all of this done. My plan is to conquer closets too before I run out of steam. Like I said, A GIRL CAN DREAM.

I'm here, but I'm snarky, snippy and pissy so I figured it best that I avoid blogging. We are back from a nice weekend camping. Dance recitals are officially done. Footloose finishes this weekend for Maggie. We leave for vacation with family next week. So, for today, I am cleaning this pit and hauling more stuff down to the neighborhood association dumpster that we have for a short bit. Already tossed - some old patio chairs, the old Weber grill(rest in peace), one shower door (the other shattered in my hands, niiiiiiccccce), an old play kitchen, the Little Tykes table, and the old ironing board.

I do have a plan for dinner so I'll call it a successful day and move along.

Let me preface this post in my best Arnold Sch. voice from Kindergarten Cop, I'M NOT PREGNANT. BUT you would think I am with the major nesting going on these last couple of weeks.

It all started a couple of weeks ago when I decided to conquer the boys closet and that began the Great Clothes Shuffle 2009.


I moved on to the kitchen and family room area last week. Tossing junk piles o' nothingness, cleaning windows inside & out, dusting light fixtures, clearing the countertops (haven't seen that granite in a while). It sorta feels like I've lost ten pounds, don't I wish!

So, this weekend I jumped into Amanda's room. The clothes shuffle was the trigger b/c she had stuff to hang but no hangers available. More tossing of clothes involved along with emptying major toys like the Dora Kitchen and the makeup thing. There is a God! I can be rid of these chunky eye sores. We gutted everything down to the bedside drawer......dress-up clothes, books, doll stuff, moved furniture, vacuumed corner dust bunnies.

I started a list of stuff that needs to be done in hopes that when Collin gets a free minute (ha!ha!) he can just do things like repaint her door. Got another list going of things to make life better like a shoe cubby for her closet and a new lampshade.

As of now I feel like I've lost 20 pounds with all the donation stuff and trash going out the door. Why are those pounds still on my behind?

SO it's the end of May.
You know what that means --- finishing up school projects, gearing up for dance recital, mentally preparing myself for the massive amounts of food my children will consume just b/c they are here 24/7, and THE GREAT CLOTHES SHUFFLE 2009!

I've had two bags and a big box sitting here from friends; I am truly blessed with nice hand-me-downs from friends and neighbors. AND I have the labeled boxes of outgrown stuff from the bigs that the littles are now moving into. I'm mostly just doing it now b/c the summer sales are in full bloom and I need to take an inventory of who needs what. I'm REALLY trying to live life on a budget so don't want to fail to the temptation that Target is and just haphazardly grab what I 'think' they need.

But holy guacamole is this task overwhelming. It is just too much for my lazy laundry brain to think about so I proscrastinate until one morning and declare 'I can't wait another day' and just jump into the chaos. I just don't understand how the chaos gets so bad..........I am constantly making a bag for donation of too small stuff (as I fold laundry) and consistently tossing the stained worn-out items. I try to pay it forward by giving good stuff to friends as well. It's just that I have FOUR children- that insist on growing and usually it's all at the same time. Sigh.

The bonus is finding things with adjustable waist for Amanda from Maggie's old stuff. Just a few short years ago, adjustable waist was a novelty that Maggie didn't need anyway. AND if Amanda likes it and will wear it's double bonus! She is the essence of Punky Brewster; jeans and denim must be worn everyday.

Decluttering does feel nice and I'm trying not to get distracted and do toys while I'm in the boys' room. One. thing. at. a. time. Anybody want a toy work/tool bench. How about a Dora kitchen? Wait -- I'm not supposed to be doing toys yet.

Back to the boxes of clothes; pictures later. Happy Sunday!

One of the best movie quotes -- Matthew Broderick from Biloxi Blues "it's hot; it's Africa hot; I don't think I'm going to be able to stay here if it's this hot"

That about sums up how THIS family of SoCal a/c spoiled folks feels.

Our a/c pooped out yesterday so we are on our 2nd night of open window suffocation. During the day it's over 80* in my house. Blech.

Downstairs is bearable in the evening; upstairs is just gross until about 3am when it finally cools off.

As I was 'tucking' Sean in bed, I had to toss out "I'm sure people in India or Africa don't have a/c and they sleep" b/c his whining was just incessant. I'm sure I won some Mom points with that.

Shhhhh, don't tell anyone - I'm thinking about sleeping on the cold tile floor.