Mudder

It has been a long day of fighting, playing, running around, and existing. There was even that one time where I had to get something done for work and it had to be done right then, but Autumn didn't care.  She asked to sit on my lap and started to turn my chair and yell at me when I didn't pick her up. I got mad and moved her away to finish this very small task, but that did not make her happy. She came back over with big tears in her eyes and yelled at me and said desperately, "mom! That wasn't very nice!!!"

She was right. I looked at her and saw these little sad eyes and I picked her up and told her she was exactly right, it wasn't nice at all. 

I apologized and she nicely responded that it was ok and that we are friends. 

Sigh. Who is mean and treats their friends like that? 

I have guilt now. 

It didn't help much when she started calling me Mudder and Greg Fodder all night.  Oh guilt and stress and regret how I hate you. 

Tomorrow we try again.  

I love this

No matter how stressful the day is, finding pictures on my phone or iPad like this makes everything better again. 

The day she rode her bike

Today was the day Ivy rode on two wheels. She started the other day and was doing great, a little wild, but if her dad got her started she could do the rest.

We didn't really have a time line to learn... Until today. Her cousin Evan took his wheels off today and just got the whole bike riding thing. This made Ivy crazy. I picked her up from school and told her the wonderful news. She painted on a smile and informed me that she probably rode further than him. Because she didn't, I said no.  

"Well, I can do it too and I have a lose tooth."

It is true, her tooth will come out any day but honestly that had nothing to do with anything, but it was all she had. She was devastated. 

Not to be out done by cuzzy, she came home from school, ate lunch, watched a show, and suited up to ride. We discussed balancing and moving without pedaling. After our small discussion and a few tries on her own, she was off by herself. And she could not have been more pleased. 

If I were in her head, I would have heard it saying...... Phew ! That was a close one!!!

A month shy of turning 5, she can ride her bike and her tooth should be out any day now, both of which make her seem terribly old. 

May 28th, the day she rode her bike....also known as the day a bird pooped on my head.  

Autumn

I said my next post would be about Ivy. Autumn is hijacking that. 

1. Yesterday she asked me to hold her ball. I said I couldn't because my hands were dirty. She responded by saying, "well, in that case, I will set it down". 

2. Today I didn't have any appointments at work and decided to wear jeans and a t-shirt. I told her I was going to work and Kiki was coming to watch her. She looked at me and said, "wait, that is your work outfit??". 

3. As I was carrying her to the car today she said you have a big tummy just like Kiki. I said I do? She pointed to my ever small chest and said, "yes, right here". I told her that wasn't my tummy and showed her where that was. She asked what the other was called and I said, breasts. Then her 2 year old self said, "you and Kiki have breasts". That was weird. 

4. She has been wearing her leotard since Tuesday. It is Monday. Literally. To bed. After her bath. All day. One day she pretended she was changing and then put something on the top. 

5. She wears a 12 mo hat everywhere and would wear it to bed if it would stay on her head.  I have got to find another. 

She gets more hilarious by the day! 

Note: most of her pictures have a messy face. She HATES her face and hair washed. 

I have no idea why I don't have a picture of the favorite leotard!?!?

Updates of the Forgotten Life

April has come and gone and here I sit with nothing documented for my future.  It is seriously so very depressing. 

First things first, we made it through the no washer period of our life. 

I look back now and I wonder how that is possible.  How in the world did I manage with 3 kids to not have a washer for 2 1/2 weeks?  Well, let me think.  We made our way to the laundromat on one occasion.  Being there was horrible.  My kids were insane and thought it was one fantastic day.  I was stressed after I realized I only had enough cash for 2 loads (I mean seriously, no credit cards still?) and I had no concept of how many clothes fit into those big machines and people were staring at me.  I panicked and just tried to wash the most important things and get out of there.  People were just sitting there watching us, people who regularly do their laundry there and I could feel their judging eyes as I probably did a laughable small amount of laundry.  We hauled in all of our baskets and then when I realized I didn’t have enough money, I had Owen haul them all back outside as quickly as possible.  There was also the amazing part where Autumn was standing in front of the washer, screaming that she needed to go potty.  I was hoping to at least get our loads going, but as the crying escalated, so did my sweat and I took her.  The best part was the time I realized that I STILL HAD A WORKING DRYER at home! Considering that 1. I had no more money with me and 2. I just really wanted to be done, this was fabulous.  We loaded up all of our wet clothes and went home to dry. 

So, we did that once and then I was too traumatized to go back.  The time we loaded up our clothes and washed at Emilee’s house was much more amazing. 

All in all, we survived but I am so happy that is over.

That was fun.

Next up, Ivy. 

April 2nd??!?!

I have been saying for ages that I needed a new washer. First it started leaking water and I thought it was a goner. However, thanks to You Tube, Greg was able to fix it and postpone the inevitable. 

Second, the tub somehow got off balance and shifted to the side, causing the washer to shake vigorously, making me wonder if it was going to shake out the door. Greg did not fix this. 

Third, I went to change the load yesterday and the clothes were very wet and simply lying there on the bottom rather than the side. They looked suspiciously like they missed their spin cycle.  I started it again on rinse only. On our way out the door for school, I passed by the laundry room and it smelled of burning wires and a dying motor. The clothes were resting in a tub of water and the washer was silent. 

I was able to get the clothes to drain and there is even a chance it may work again, but the smell of burning wires makes me hesitate.  I really don't want to burn my house down and always look back and say, I knew the washer was dying. 

So, I bought a new one. The only problem..... the delivery date of April 2nd of course! That is right, I have no washer for 2 weeks. I barely have time to think, much less gather my three kids and all their clothes and head to the laundromat.  

I have a solution, we already have eat everything in the house week, and now I will be adding to that the "wear everything in your drawer week and once you have done that, pick them up off the floor and wear them again." 

It is the only way. 

The most expensive farmer's market yet

Up until last summer, I hadn't had a steak in about 4 years.  I was at the farmer's market looking for a local pasture-raised chicken and ended up buying an organic, 100% grass-fed Kobe beef steak. It was expensive but oh so delicious. 

We don't eat a lot of steak, but decided it was time for some more. While I was teaching yoga one Saturday morning, I sent Greg and the kids to the market. 

That was my first mistake. 

My second mistake was not being more specific about what Greg should buy. 

The last time Greg bought the steak, they were out of the Kobe beef so he bought the Angus beef. He had no idea how much the other kind was. 

He and the kids unloaded and located the booth of the local ranch. He studied the beef, minus the price, and picked out 4 fabulous Kobe beef steaks. He took them to check out and handed the girl his card. She rang him up and gave him the receipt and his card, while calmly letting him know that his 4 steaks just cost him $165.00. He panicked for all the obvious reasons. I am sure he considered his options, he could grab his card and just run away, he could pretend the kids picked out more steaks than he wanted, he could act cool and tell her to throw in one more, or just smile and say thank you. The last option won, although he really wanted to put one or two or three back. Too bad that wasn't an option without looking like a total loser for a) not knowing Kobe beef was $45.00 per pound or for b) failing to look at the price.  

We have eaten one of our steaks because clearly the rest are for special occasions only. Of the one we did eat, I actually think the little girls ate more than both of us. It about killed us to share. The delicious costly steak was practically wasted on little mouths with no ability to appreciate what they were eating. 

When I googled Kobe beef just now, I found something that said Kobe beef is one of the most highly coveted beefs in the culinary world. 

Greg now knows this.