A magical, wonderful appliance: used only by a mom.

I'm not a person who stays on top of the current trends or fads. For one thing, I'm too cheap-and for another; trends and fads are continually changing. But-in our home we have a contraption that I think all households should invest in. Since it was already in the home when we moved in and the owners manual cannot be located; I'm not sure if there is a warning against husbands and children using the 

shiny metal box: perhaps they are afraid of being shocked with a volt of electricity or maybe green slime will drop from the sky and fall on their heads-either reason, it seems only me (the mom) is able to touch it.

 

This miracle sent from Heaven is known as a dish washer.  Yes-it actually washes dishes.  Unfortunately it doesn't load itself with the dirty dishes and it is unable to put the clean items away, but man or man----it sure can clean.  In our home-it seems like only the mom is able and willing to fill it up with the dirties and put the clean ones away.  If you want a room to clear out all I need to do is open the door of this magical appliance and the crickets can be heard.  chip, chirp, chirp.....

 

Don't get me wrong-they know how to do it and will help when asked---but that is the keyword: ASKED!!!!!   I think I will take a week off and do absolutely nothing unless I'm asked.  I wonder how that would go?!?!

 

I took this photo today because Kyra was being so goofy- This is honestly what I deal with every single day.  That girl is so silly and loves to make silly faces and make mom smile.

Easter 2013

I can't believe that Easter has already come and gone.  I haven't really been in the spirit of decorating the house for Easter, but I felt bad that nothing was out for the kids.  I finally pulled a few baskets and eggs out a week and a half ago, making the kids excited for the Holiday.  Like every year-I waited until the last minute to decorate eggs and of course Devin was at work.  For those that know me well-you know that I really don't like messes-so dying eggs seriously almost puts me into a frenzy!  I stress, hover, pace back and forth with paper towels, and wish the project was over 5 minutes into it.  This year Kyra was into it and wanted to do her eggs by herself.  This consisted of throwing the eggs into the dye-causing the dye to spray EVERYWHERE the newspaper wasn't.  Yep-I had so much fun.  ;-|  I tried to keep a smile on my face so the kids would have fun.

 

Easter morning we woke up and the kids and I hurried to get ready to get to church by 8:20am; the hunt for eggs had to wait until after.  Poor kids---they could see the eggs and candy but being the mean mom I am, made them wait.  teeheehee  (the power of being a parent)  Tristan LOVES to hunt for eggs, Cortlynn thinks she's almost too old for it, and once Kyra figured out some had candy in them, she was done.  She found one, opened it, and began to chow down.

 

The rest of the morning consisted of me making deviled eggs and a snicker/apple salad for a get together with Devin's family.  Unfortunately Devin forgot to mention to me that the get together would be at the park in Shelley, so no one was really dressed appropriately.  Oh well- the kids enjoyed being outside and playing on the playground equipment.  I think Kyra went down the slides over a 100 times, even the big/fast one.  I couldn't get to her fast enough and she flew off the bottom and landed face first in the sand.  When the poor girl stood up and began to cry-a ton of sand came pouring out of her mouth.  She had sand stuck in her molars, up her nose, stuck to the back of her throat---nasty.  BUT-she got back up and continued to play.  We had an egg hunt for all the kids---there were eggs everywhere: some had candy, old gag gifts inside, and some had money.  Tristan being the competitive little man he is-had to dump is basket once because it was so full and headed out again.  When it was all over-he had found $17.25 in MONEY!!!!!  He was the big winner.  ALL of the big kids were upset that a 6 yr old came out with all the funds and they were lucky to find a dollar. 

 

Sitting in the sun and chasing Kyra around for hours was exhausting.  By 6:00 I was almost in tears begging Devin to go home.  I get so tired-especially on the weekends.  Usually-I end up crying due to the fatigue and Easter Sunday/Easter weekend was no different. 

 

Overall, the kids enjoyed Easter and everything that came with it.  Until next year.............

 

I asked the kids to look at me and smile and this is what I got.

What a big helper she is.

I have a ton of pictures of Kyra making these funny faces.

On the Hunt for eggs.

Mission completed.

 Devin took the camera and wanted me to pose for a photo.  I posed--in my sexy, model pose.  HAHA  Check out that baby bump!  These two photos will probably be the only two of me pregnant with this little bundle of joy.  So enjoy~

Now this is a photogenic group!

Grand Baby Linden

A couple of weeks ago for Cortlynn's 6th grade Health class she had to take care of a sugar baby.  This was only a 24 hour project but I think she got something out of it.  I personally think the project should last for several days with "fake" money involved so they have to pay for childcare, supplies, and everything else that comes with having a child.  Maybe that project comes later with the electronic babies.

 

Since her baby was a girl, she had to come up with a name and make sure she was properly dressed.  The name she chose was Linden (my friend had a baby girl that she named Linden a few days prior to this and Cortlynn LOVED the name)  thanks Sabrina ;-) 

 

We found a diaper, cute hat, and a dress that my grandma gave Kyra---unfortunately it was a doll dress and grandma didn't realize this.  Oh well-we put it to good use. 

 

I had to get a few photos of my grand baby and had to post them here.  Kyra LOVED the baby and I hope she has the same reaction to her baby sister when she makes her appearance in a few weeks.

 



 

I took several photos and didn't realize until now I didn't get any with Cortlynn.  Oops-- These were taken while I was babysitting and Cortlynn was taking a shower.

Frustrated!!!

To label me frustrated would be a complete understatement.  I don't think there is one word that can describe exactly what I am: perhaps a mixture of descriptive words---frustrated, embarrassed, pissed off, disappointed, perplexed, stressed, angry, and overall OVER IT!

All of this is thanks to Devin's (yes-I realize it is a community property state and what is his is mine, but not this) house in Arco.  AKA the house from hell.  I seriously believe there is a massive black cloud that hangs over this piece of crap property that will haunt me until the end of time.  Most people would think having a rental property is a great way to make an extra income and doesn't take a bunch of work:  LIE!!!!!!   Since the beginning-this has been a pain in my side.  We've had a tenant pass away inside the house, a tenant die in a horrific car accident while living in the home, and another tenant who passed away in a car accident shortly after moving out.  We've had renters who I would actually classify as squatters, not renters.  To be called a renter-a person must actually pay rent.  The current "squatters" seriously haunt me in my dreams.  I am losing sleep over these inconsiderate butt-holes that are constantly coming up with excuse after excuse. 

I love my husband and he can definitely be a "jerk" but not when he needs to be.  He really shouldn't be a landlord because he is too nice and takes people for being honest individuals that would never lie or cheat him.  The current situation is horrible and I will admit--embarrassing.  BUT-I'm going to break it down for everyone to read---I'm not looking for sympathy, I'm just hoping other people don't make the same mistakes as we have and currently are.

Monthly Rent for a 2 bedroom house:  $350.00   (this is less than my first apartment I had by myself.  Also-daycare for one child is usually twice as much as this amount.  When we file our taxes every year-we get a warning message stating that we need to actually charge $600.)
****We pay $93+ a month for the city bill:  technically--their rent ends up being $250.00/month

The current squatters are 7 months----yes, you read that right; 7 MONTHS behind.  Go ahead laugh--I would laugh too-if I stopped biting my lips from crying.  Don't think that nothing has been done in an attempt of collecting money.  I've typed up countless letters, notices, and even an eviction notice (or two, or three, or four)---the last eviction notice Devin handed to the guy and actually told him, "You've pissed off my wife and she told me to give you this eviction notice.  It's not the real one, yet...."    Can you guess what I did when he came home and told me this---yep-flipped out as only a pregnant women can.  Not a real one?????  WTH Devin!!!!!   The amount of money we have received from them in the last 15 months wouldn't even buy a case of Vaseline---and believe me, we need that case.  ;-{

Devin has been promised the money is on it's way---the money is in the mail----since October; with the last call coming in last Thursday stating the past due rent was put in the mail the day before.  Here it is Monday and still no money:  I didn't realize if you mailed something in Arco--it travels to the Pacific Ocean via the Pony Express-gets on a boat and travels the entire length of the ocean, only to get back on the Pony Express to get to us in Pocatello. 

The phone calls upset me as well----my patient husband is so nice---says thank you, has small talk with him, and continues to tell him that he understands.  The messages he leaves are also nice with thank you's and please call us.  I've decided to take things into my own hands.  I've called him and left messages----let's just say, he usually calls back within a couple of hours; not the normal 5 day turn around.  There are no thanks you's or pleases uttered from my lips.  I'm to the point where I will be heading out to Arco--8 months pregnant--with an eviction notice in my hand---Once it is delivered and the "legal" time frame is up--I will than be filing a small claims suit.  What else is there to do????? 

I sat Devin down last night and expressed my frustration with the situation and how stressed out I am over it:  I don't think he really understood until I broke down just how much money we have lost in the past year.  Thankfully the house is paid for and we don't have a mortgage on it---but we still have the monthly city bill and the yearly taxes----  I wish we would just list the property and get rid of it.

I think I'm done venting for a moment--but just remember---being a landlord isn't all sunshine and roses with a bunch of money----it's a lot of work, stress, and frustration.  I wouldn't recommend it--invest in a metal detector-you would make more money in the long run.

Things NOT to say to a pregnant women.

I admit-I have been an emotional roller coaster for months: thanks to the pregnancy and other things but mostly because of all the extra hormones.  I take comments too seriously at times-I take things way too personal-and I will either cry or scream if what I hear "upsets" me.  Over the last couple of weeks I've decided that there are a few things that people (mainly those of the male species) should not say to a women in my current (pregnant) condition. And NO--my husband wasn't the one that said all of them to me. 

 I'm going to share a few of them:

*"Wow-you really look tired."
       Really?! I had know idea.  Did looking like I just exited a boxing ring give you that clue? I thought bags under your eyes and pitch black circles were the new fashion statement.

*"Did you just pop the button on your coat?  Maybe you should wear a bigger coat."
      Grrrrrrrr----yes-let me get my "fat" coat out of storage.

*"Why are you so moody?"
    Hmmmmm--I wonder??? 

*"Did you know that you cry a lot, especially when you're tired?"
    Nope-I hadn't noticed.

*"Are you really going to eat all of that?"
   Yes I am!!!  Gotta make sure I fill up my fat coat.

*"Oh---I thought you guys were done having kids."
   As you can see by the belly--you thought wrong.

* "How can you be tired?"
   Seriously???

And one of my "favorites"

*"Wow-I couldn't get to sleep last night, I just couldn't get comfortable."
    I didn't even bother with a response on this one.

Crashed out, Super Heroes, and 12th Birthday

 My little 2 year old is extremely stubborn and doesn't want to do anything unless SHE wants to.  This includes taking a nap.  Even when she was a baby-she would not sleep; why would being 2 change that??  She will get so tired that eventually she will just crash.  Some of the places she's fallen asleep in are funny and I just have to get a photo.

Long Valentines Day--She was watching her baby show and the next thing I know she's snoring.

She fell asleep while eating pizza and watching the Super Bowl.
 

 Tristan loves to dress up and play super heroes.  Yesterday he put on his Green Lantern costume and Kyra ran upstairs to his room and found the Spider Man costume.  It was so cute.  They "fought" each other for well over an hour.

On the 20th, Cortlynn turned 12.  I can't believe she is 12!!!  Where does the time go?  On her actual birthday someone from the Beehive class came over and decorated our front door with a bunch of bees and a sign telling her Happy Birthday and welcome to the Beehives.  (it's a church thing)  it was really cute.  For her birthday dinner she wanted to go to Pizza Pie Cafe and I wasn't going to complain--I love the dessert pizzas and we had coupons for free meals for all the kids.  ;-) 

I debated for several days whether or not I was up to having a party for her and her friends.  I caved, and on Friday she had a party.  Due to dance practice it couldn't start until 7:30pm and went till 10:00pm.  I'm not kidding---after 10 minutes I was ready for bed and for everyone to go home.  I thought 5/6 year old boys were loud and out of control---nope!  11 and 12 year old girls are 100 times worse.  They were crazy!!!!!  Cortlynn did have one of them stay the night and I'm so glad there was just one; I don't know if I would have survived a sleep over with all 7 girls.  Tristan even told me several times that I needed to go tell "those girls to be quiet".  Good ol'Tristan.



Not one of my most "fancy" cakes-but she loved it.  And was even more excited when we cut it open and it was Red Velvet.

Maternity Clothes: Yes or No?

I don't know if people know this but I HATE spending money on myself.  I am so cheap and/or tight that I swear diamonds could fall out of my behind when I walk down the street.  I don't like the time it takes to shop, I really dislike trying on clothes, and I can always think of something better I can do with the money I was going to spend. 

Well-I came to a point the other day where I decided I needed to purchase myself a few maternity clothing items.  I haven't purchased anything new (maternity wise) since I was pregnant with Tristan and he is now 6.  Looking thru my maternity clothes a lot of them were from 2000 and I didn't realize how "old" the fashions make me look.  I have some ugly maternity gear.  I pulled out my prego pants and have 1 pair of full length and a pair of capris---that's it.  I actually had another pair, but I must have purchased a size too big becuase I had safety pins all over the waistband.  I broke down and went to Old Navy Maternity.com----I found a few really cute items.  But guess what---I didn't pay full price; HECK NO!!!!  Everything I purchased was on clearance, I had a 15% off coupon on top of that (for each item), AND a free shipping coupon.  Now-I'm patiently waiting by my door for my box of much needed maternity wear and I hope they fit.

Don't worry--I won't be posting any photos of myself on my blog and/or facebook because unfortanetly I'm not one of those women who are cute pregnant.  ;-)