tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19936989718510682372024-02-07T01:24:55.943-05:00Chronicles of ChaosWendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09864437498964223993noreply@blogger.comBlogger117125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1993698971851068237.post-55482116704323137222012-05-17T10:59:00.003-04:002012-05-17T10:59:54.924-04:00Shoulda Coulda WouldaThere are a lot of things I could have done differently yesterday:<br />
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1) Should NOT have fed my daughter a greasy yet very delicious looking cheeseburger about 10 minutes before her soccer practice. Had I NOT done this, I probably would NOT have been called to come pick her up about 20 minutes into practice because she was complaining of bad stomach ache. Clearly, that was NOT a good idea.<br />
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2) Should have gone to CVS and not Walgreens. For starters I had to go there 2 times before they correctly filled a prescriptions. AND, this one is going to be hard to believe....I actually had to leave the store without buying my items because they had no pen at the register for me to write a check. That's right. The incompetent woman behind the counter could not find a pen. Albeit she wasn't willing to look very hard, nor was she willing to ask ANYONE else working in the store to help out with that. I wonder what the corporate office would say about the fact they let paying customers walk out because they are too lazy to find a pen. I'd love to be a fly on that Executive's wall!<br />
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3) Should not have left my wallet at home and therefore could have avoided item #2 all together.<br />
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4) Should NOT have assumed my son would think to take his own school bag home from his cousins house. I should have know I need to assume responsibility for EVERYONE's EVERYTHING AT ALL TIMES. CLEARLY!<br />
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There must be more takeaways from the day....but my brain is too fried to remember them.Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09864437498964223993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1993698971851068237.post-51313280974207686342011-10-17T11:21:00.007-04:002012-04-26T09:37:20.588-04:00Too little too lateI wrote this several months ago:<br />
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"I've not been writing here in awhile, but have to break back in after something Jason said to me yesterday.<br />
After a hectic (albeit very beautiful fall weekend), Jason wandered into my bed after already being tucked into bed, and after giving that look of, "Why of you out of bed?" he said,"<br />
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************************************************** <br />
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Then I got side tracked. I guess. And never finished the sentence. I have NO idea what he said. I thought so much of it at the time, that I clearly wanted to write it down and now have NO recollection of what it was. How can that be??<br />
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It occurs to me now why I started this blog: So I could remember certain things that I never wanted to forget. Of course I thought I they were things that I would want to remember in 10 years.....not recent history. I must be getting old:( Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09864437498964223993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1993698971851068237.post-34049064925107434572011-03-30T17:29:00.001-04:002011-03-30T17:29:57.845-04:00Came home today to both kids sitting on the couch reading their books. Followed by a "teaching" session where by Abby taught Jason to multiply by 5's and 10's. Apparently yesterday was 0's and 1's and tomorrow is 11 and 3's. I am told he got a 100 on his test. I guess I shouldn't feel so guilty about going back to work.....Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09864437498964223993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1993698971851068237.post-34540943339633669722010-10-22T13:01:00.004-04:002010-10-22T13:07:05.952-04:00Not only does she now do dished (albeit for a fee), she makes her own scrambled eggs, from start to finish!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaQ-Rc72pocJtd7kqlk5UjB66_no5rnZFJtwzxjSAKMwwaHDvsBdcvQVt9wwLNoVkwbwB_Xc8tq8ZJl8J1m4n-V3rmozFhUFw7-yHz9Pp2S5F2Lkq_wxsTQCSLfXjRRVMvQwLYwwzRjc9j/s1600/photo.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaQ-Rc72pocJtd7kqlk5UjB66_no5rnZFJtwzxjSAKMwwaHDvsBdcvQVt9wwLNoVkwbwB_Xc8tq8ZJl8J1m4n-V3rmozFhUFw7-yHz9Pp2S5F2Lkq_wxsTQCSLfXjRRVMvQwLYwwzRjc9j/s320/photo.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530917525415733874" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Despite her new maturity, she looks so small there in the kitchen, standing on her stool.Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09864437498964223993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1993698971851068237.post-19669467119622673492010-10-05T08:29:00.004-04:002010-10-12T14:25:16.432-04:00Not to harp on this not working thing but....Sweet Pea keeps asking me what I do all day and I simply do not think I need to validate myself to my 8 year old! She was particularly irritated the other day when it was raining and she asked why she had to go to school. She actually does not understand why, or how, she can be expected to go school when it is raining out. It is an outrage to her. Why, she says, does she have to go to school when I can stay home all day and do "nothing." That's right - "nothing." She thinks I do nothing all day. What I want to know is, does she think this because I used to work and now I am not, so therefore I am doing nothing? Do kids whose moms have always stayed home think their moms do "nothing?" That cannot be.<br /><br />On another note, JJ is growing by the day. I swear every morning he wakes up bigger than he was when he went to bed. I see him curled on the ground, unable to move or get dressed as he should be doing, and cannot believe how big he looks. <br /><br />Despite his growth, he continues to be the lazy human known to man. For months now Jonathan and I have been a little concerned he is not quite reading yet. Sweet Pea was an early reader so though I know the range of normal is VERY large, our perception is slightly skewed because of her. Every night he wants us to read to him and really not all that interested in giving it a go himself. Then the other day in the car, he started reading signs out loud: "School Bus", "Do not enter", "Open", "Closed". I was shocked. The boy can in fact read and simply just chooses not to because why read himself when we can do it for him. I do not know why I am so shocked. This is the same boy who I took to the doctor when he was a baby convinced he had some muscular disease because he was not climbing steps or even feeding himself. Turns out - perfectly healthy, just plain lazy! And least some things never change.Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09864437498964223993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1993698971851068237.post-59790660983645435112010-09-24T11:53:00.006-04:002010-09-24T12:17:57.825-04:00I think I might be the worst stay at home mom....My house is a mess. I cannot seem to keep up with the laundry. My kids come home from school and though I have had all day to myself, I really just want to watch Oprah. It is her last season you know.<br /><br />The problem is, when you have so much time its hard to motivate because you can always do it later. It similar to when I was in high school. The semesters I was busy doing extra curricular activities were always the semesters I did best in school. You were forced to budget your time and get things done when you had the chance. When I was not so busy, there was more time to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">procrastinate</span>, and thus I was less efficient.<br /><br />It's not that I am not doing anything....I am busy. I do structure my day; I go to the gym, take the dog out for her exercise, go to the grocery store more times then I care to admit, spend some time networking and looking for jobs. But these boring mundane household tasks, I just cannot motivate to do them.<br /><br />The good news, I am able to cook more. I made this delicious lemon, shrimp and asparagus risotto for dinner the other night. Of course the kids would not eat it....but Jonathan and I enjoyed it. I love risotto and rarely make it anymore. We just don't do the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">carb</span> dinners as much as we used to. But this is worth it once in a while. The ultimate comfort food if you ask me.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaPrG78YO57McOFVBI8ezhWsqiJg3uKPUyU2JJG1iBuOiUVutEH-dGiatyHCmQzjqmNH_hEa9jmAIwWyKc-IeVTSPnjGAYqx3BkF5UujWXsZIFdvHxKAZaCPUYsfOcKwelHcP85bDqLqbi/s1600/photo.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaPrG78YO57McOFVBI8ezhWsqiJg3uKPUyU2JJG1iBuOiUVutEH-dGiatyHCmQzjqmNH_hEa9jmAIwWyKc-IeVTSPnjGAYqx3BkF5UujWXsZIFdvHxKAZaCPUYsfOcKwelHcP85bDqLqbi/s320/photo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520512708974852194" border="0" /></a>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09864437498964223993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1993698971851068237.post-47457600213283410342010-09-20T14:22:00.003-04:002010-09-20T14:43:28.943-04:00Creative MindsAfter accusing my children of lying to me about brushing their teeth, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">JJ</span> said to me,<br /><br />"Mom, we're not lying, we're ACTING!"<br /><br />Clever....very cleaver.<br /><br />**************************************************<br />We, along with the rest of the world, went apple picking this weekend. I think I am over apple picking. It seems absurd to me to pay $30+ for apples. Most of which will never make it out of the bag. There are just too many to eat. And too many to put into pies. And nobody wants your apples, or you apple pie, because they have their own apples and apple pie.<br /><br />It's fun as an outing, unless of course you go on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Yom</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Kippur</span>, which is what we did. Thus we could not even eat the apples, or more importantly, the cider donuts they sell at the orchard. This is a mistake I will not make again. That is, assuming by this time next year I forget what a rip off it is, and go back...which is usually the case.Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09864437498964223993noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1993698971851068237.post-70417168468602603082010-09-01T09:01:00.005-04:002010-09-24T11:52:39.781-04:00First Day of 1st and 3rd GradesSweet Pea let me take her picture:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgoqQguLapdmdo6O9TmJ117EXxOFWk_Y_7XVNmAy0K7AYUAltV7P1x6MPdxq-lE3kRVEQOQ0GuoYx6RudEkf1fTgiT_c0Lpk9vtCk8jYBsMKPNnRZJEdAVt1bsZojQhY8XTRJrkZM85ZeH/s1600/IMG_0306.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 234px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgoqQguLapdmdo6O9TmJ117EXxOFWk_Y_7XVNmAy0K7AYUAltV7P1x6MPdxq-lE3kRVEQOQ0GuoYx6RudEkf1fTgiT_c0Lpk9vtCk8jYBsMKPNnRZJEdAVt1bsZojQhY8XTRJrkZM85ZeH/s320/IMG_0306.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511931937507668978" border="0" /></a><br /><br />JJ was not as obliging:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAEUq8t5GfwKKv0dgUPZ7oSFrLcM9XPR2jWf0hu-lvm5qSlzml2wvdaVqb6zF0TEvc8HGMvMI4rDzq_tFZHauV_WGgG3PDKdtc_n-FSKyiGVQmvl0yhoiant1-bd0c95vXPlVd10FJuQFE/s1600/IMG_0307.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAEUq8t5GfwKKv0dgUPZ7oSFrLcM9XPR2jWf0hu-lvm5qSlzml2wvdaVqb6zF0TEvc8HGMvMI4rDzq_tFZHauV_WGgG3PDKdtc_n-FSKyiGVQmvl0yhoiant1-bd0c95vXPlVd10FJuQFE/s320/IMG_0307.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511931191975562786" border="0" /></a><br /><br />But then gave in to the guilt:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgiU8BnU0FUxK4f8no0pjwvH52hc9DE24PABXZ7M6zb_Vr1xwFuTe991JmrmwjxKJWRD7SdlEhP2C-0j2WFI4W8e9dF8Eqn8kEydOQocb53Pgxp1YFvjLX93M_sCKfd1rr21nEGS_L-caT/s1600/IMG_0308.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgiU8BnU0FUxK4f8no0pjwvH52hc9DE24PABXZ7M6zb_Vr1xwFuTe991JmrmwjxKJWRD7SdlEhP2C-0j2WFI4W8e9dF8Eqn8kEydOQocb53Pgxp1YFvjLX93M_sCKfd1rr21nEGS_L-caT/s320/IMG_0308.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511931199954968994" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />He woke up very early this morning, very excited about the first day. (Though he had to fall asleep in my bed last night because his stomach hurt so much. A case of the hebegebe's is my guess.) He hopped on top of the bed and said:<br /><br />"I love you like a piece of pie."<br /><br />"A piece of pie, or a pizza pie?" I asked<br /><br />"A piece of pie."<br /><br />"But you don't like pie." I pointed out.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">A pause.</span><br /><br />"A pizza pie!"<br /><br />Can't beat a pizza pie.Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09864437498964223993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1993698971851068237.post-46743260083520691382010-08-24T13:26:00.004-04:002010-08-24T13:53:14.940-04:00Top ten nine things about a rainy vacation...1) Little to no laundry to do.<br />2) No sunscreen application and no risk of sunburn.<br />3) No real reason to shower.<br />4) No pressure to get out to the house by 10 AM for fear the beach parking lot will fill up.<br />5) Lots and lots and lots and lots of time to read.<br />6) No sand in the house or car.<br />7) No traffic.<br />8) Lots and lots and lots of trip to the candy store. (But note: cut kids off before 8:30 PM or else all hell will break loose at bed time.)<br />9) No worries about not fitting into your swim suit because of how much you are eating.<br />10) ........<br /><br />That's the best I can do. Nine. Can't come up with another thing. We are on day 3 of a week long "beach" vacation and have had little to no glimps of the sun. No even just no sun - a summer nor'easter really. Worst still, the kids have chosen this as the time to decide they do not want to watch, or like, tv. Really? Could the timing be worse?<br /><br />Here is a picture of the tide during the storm. The picture does not do it justice. Think "perfect storm."<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTYsocaOyG2q-Zg2bVc5LzGS4PJ57m5YFSXinQLSW-SnvK3g46CXA2P7bZ9ONzqJha-69LW1yHm-ow_SLmGFr9Q_yWfITyO3CGg_830vmDbn0ytRzUVSYhuVyupskVpX2oxdQf-m81QcGa/s1600/Beach.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTYsocaOyG2q-Zg2bVc5LzGS4PJ57m5YFSXinQLSW-SnvK3g46CXA2P7bZ9ONzqJha-69LW1yHm-ow_SLmGFr9Q_yWfITyO3CGg_830vmDbn0ytRzUVSYhuVyupskVpX2oxdQf-m81QcGa/s320/Beach.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509034572475870194" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here is a picture of the other kind of perfect storm - kids stuck in the house for days.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioKTeW7dG6whtepg0X4OKTcSOkplxMDIG-pXGk13Gl7NNGmn9-mEHRgLCbja0rTrEQ3VxjKM_RVLPH9iJ8SYsfs6cGvbIyXTrhykrS4-XBN53vpUeb3CCP1usuJcKmYJDWyPn4BviDIl8l/s1600/Abby.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioKTeW7dG6whtepg0X4OKTcSOkplxMDIG-pXGk13Gl7NNGmn9-mEHRgLCbja0rTrEQ3VxjKM_RVLPH9iJ8SYsfs6cGvbIyXTrhykrS4-XBN53vpUeb3CCP1usuJcKmYJDWyPn4BviDIl8l/s320/Abby.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509034576516561058" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And this.....we packed all this before we saw the weather forecast. Thank the lord. It may be the only thing that gets us through.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB11TZhes2aYbq5WNbn9LQo_0_IMdtJFm4rMhps6Tm5ja642F3j28umHE1B9HzNHe1Z3FmhKh54Pm2fnKYiyLLwYCxScBU1qRievqbhF-tGhXRo8V9Xb0fEe8FIaLFyDf3wwWMKY0jMRRR/s1600/photo.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB11TZhes2aYbq5WNbn9LQo_0_IMdtJFm4rMhps6Tm5ja642F3j28umHE1B9HzNHe1Z3FmhKh54Pm2fnKYiyLLwYCxScBU1qRievqbhF-tGhXRo8V9Xb0fEe8FIaLFyDf3wwWMKY0jMRRR/s320/photo.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509034584516072930" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Don't worry. It's not just Jonathan and I here. No, we could never drink all that ourselves. My parents are here too. That should be enough for four people - don't ya think?<br /><br />Wish us luck.Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09864437498964223993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1993698971851068237.post-78443889024629187142010-08-16T09:21:00.006-04:002010-08-18T10:25:42.976-04:00Operation Garage OrganizationFor the past 6 months we have talked and talked and talked about getting a garage organization system. In fact it was one of those <span style="text-decoration: line-through;">slightly annoying</span> things Jonathan started planning in his head when we first looked at the house. Along of course, with the surround sound stereo system which is still a work in progress. Because, you know, it was way more important than the heating system or the electrically work.<br /><br />So we looked on-line. We looked through many a catalog coveting the way they made it all look so simple to be organized. We went to The Container Store and after about 10 minutes we were so overwhelmed with both the design process and cost, we left.<br /><br />But there are some things that can motivate you to take action, fast. That, here in Massachusetts, is Tax Free Weekend. That's right - no tax on most anything up to $25oo. And I can tell you, we had no plans to spend that much on a garage system.<br /><br />So after failing to motivate on Saturday, on Sunday we moved full speed ahead. After a very satisfying brunch with friends where we totally overloaded on carbs (bagels, coffee cake, french toast, monkey bread......seriously it was a carb-nival. Yes, I totally just made that word up! ) we were off to Home Depot. I think the carbs by the way may have been the secret to our success. Because I am pretty sure I could not have put up with the unruly behavior of my children had it not been for the carbs in my system. They were, the children that is, a NIGHTMARE. Literally, wrestling in the isles. It was horrifying. One the sales people who came to help us said he would have come over sooner but was mesmerized by the wrestling match taking place right before his eyes. It was one of those moments when you want to grab you kid and shake some sense into them. But since that would be child abuse, I went with the eyes. You know that look....when you look them straight in the eyes with a bit of a squint and say, without speaking, "If you do not stop that right now, I am going to make your life a living hell!" And they look back at you in horror and proceed to behave, for about 2, maybe 3 seconds.<br /><br />Anyways, asking some questions about different options, we went with the Rubber Maid system. It is much more affordable then the Container Store option but just as functional and expandable.<br /><br />Below are the fruits of our labor. (Well, Jonathan's labor really.) By the end of the night we were fully organized! I post these not because you care about our garage but because I want to remember how it looked that first day...as I know it will not last.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJfd3ow2RvNXzl5GPXrrTx9wVKPCJxBqvsHbMg7aUJk0MzutRZlgN5L0kJIRj8QyE1FZnDXD04fdHDtaQtAVochnFKhRqy9uOJIs1DfHkThUDtqSkd2Y5vLyPZmFk2jVe9MKAJqx4gG8N-/s1600/IMG_2982.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJfd3ow2RvNXzl5GPXrrTx9wVKPCJxBqvsHbMg7aUJk0MzutRZlgN5L0kJIRj8QyE1FZnDXD04fdHDtaQtAVochnFKhRqy9uOJIs1DfHkThUDtqSkd2Y5vLyPZmFk2jVe9MKAJqx4gG8N-/s320/IMG_2982.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506753568895226050" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8iNpIooUEyzMfCosAfaBKut85seU5BTbQwCJXAsqM2KAenRPAOLpDRK3IVUyMxmmsqSPBtLaholngeusYXzCDRrZI23lYuUEVMUbEaivsql7wzcbXM0F3qx3C4uEV7XJSJ5CFqxYe2659/s1600/IMG_2981.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8iNpIooUEyzMfCosAfaBKut85seU5BTbQwCJXAsqM2KAenRPAOLpDRK3IVUyMxmmsqSPBtLaholngeusYXzCDRrZI23lYuUEVMUbEaivsql7wzcbXM0F3qx3C4uEV7XJSJ5CFqxYe2659/s320/IMG_2981.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506753557581209202" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYKtSw_NwzJ5iy00qkBmCsJm2Q1h4bMGsDhYqa6GNbKeaFZZQZD0EG_-BlO-ZpkSc5sjirHIKv64dyUmoWhjtWq4C1vfSZWMWtnyffUQsSSydMgXJRK8vIHLcch3WAwOW-1ZVEhagDH1VH/s1600/IMG_2980.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYKtSw_NwzJ5iy00qkBmCsJm2Q1h4bMGsDhYqa6GNbKeaFZZQZD0EG_-BlO-ZpkSc5sjirHIKv64dyUmoWhjtWq4C1vfSZWMWtnyffUQsSSydMgXJRK8vIHLcch3WAwOW-1ZVEhagDH1VH/s320/IMG_2980.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506753554030442914" border="0" /></a>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09864437498964223993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1993698971851068237.post-77727558930841927022010-08-12T12:52:00.006-04:002010-08-12T13:31:33.107-04:00Love (NOT!) LettersDear Costco,<br /><br />Please do not fill your store with candy, toys and flannel sheets, when it is mid-August. Halloween, Christmas, Hanukkah, and winter, are months away. To put these things in your store now only makes us feel bitter. Can you not just let us enjoy with is left of summer? Do we really need to be reminded of the dismal winter ahead and of all the things we have to do come September. Really? <br /><br />I promise, we will come when the time is right. But that time is not now and you would be much better served by showcasing the margarita mix and tanning lotion. I would buy it just to keep the hope alive that summer lives on.<br /><br />Sincerely,<br />Pissed off Customer<br /><br />***********<br />Dear Guy at Costco who I know was only trying to help,<br /><br />Please do not help me again. Yes, I appreciate your efforts to help me lift that heavy carton filled with diet coke. But when you dropped it HARD, in my cart, one of the cans popped open. When I got to the car, the carton was flooded with diet coke and leaked all over the place. I had to go back into the store and return it for another one. So next time you try to help, please do not.<br /><br />Sincerely,<br />Not so grateful woman, who by the way is a lot stronger than I look.<br /><br />**********<br />Dear Gisele,<br />I really meant to write this sooner - sorry for the delay.<br /><br />Yes, you are pretty. Yes, you are rich. Yes, your husband is HOT. But no, that does not mean you can impose your opinions about motherhood on the rest of the world. You have been a mother all of.....a few months. Right? <br /><br />I am so glad that breast feeding went well for you. But surely you can understand how it may not for some mothers and that it should clearly be a CHOICE that every woman has. You get that, right? Because it would be a shame to think someone so pretty, and rich, and talented, is really not so smart.<br /><br />Sincerely,<br />Just another mom who tried to breast feed and got mastitis twice before giving up AND still tried to breast feed the second time around.<br /><br />********<br />Dear Self,<br /><br />Please stop telling yourself you want a job that you don't really want. It just makes the whole thing that much more frustrating when you don't get the job.<br /><br />Now go, find something you love do and find a way to make money doing it. Go...go now....and stop telling yourself its never going to happen!<br /><br />Sincerely,<br />Self<br /><br />WooHOO - I feel so much better now!Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09864437498964223993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1993698971851068237.post-46795233188466546492010-08-11T07:08:00.005-04:002010-08-11T10:21:27.391-04:00This is why this kid gets away with murder:ME: JJ, What am I going to do with you?<br /><br />JJ: Dump me in a bowl of chocolate so I can lick myself.Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09864437498964223993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1993698971851068237.post-60381381356750488912010-08-06T12:34:00.004-04:002010-08-06T12:49:33.307-04:00Some addictions are definately worse than othersI am addicted to looking for jobs. I may even enjoy this more than I would actually working in any of these jobs. It's like the ultimate challenge - to find the perfect fit. Not just for me, but for anyone I know looking for a job.<br /><br />My favorite place to look? Craigslist. There are some very decent postings there and I don't think it gets as wide of an audience as some other more advertised sites. I am, however, a little frustrated that some people who post there think they can get away with paying a lower rate then if they advertised elsewhere. Just this morning I saw a part-time attorney position. The rate? $15-$17, depending on experience. My first reaction was: <span style="font-style: italic;">Are you kidding me? I could baby sit and make more money than that.</span> In fact that is what I pay my baby sitter! My second reaction: <span style="font-style: italic;">What experience warrants getting $17 over $15?</span> I mean really....<br /><br />If I could just figure out how to make a career out of job searching, I'd be on to something. Some may call that "Recruiting" but I don't want to work for the companies. I'd much rather find people jobs. And you can't really ask people who are unemployed to PAY YOU to find them a job. Right?Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09864437498964223993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1993698971851068237.post-83106078632132501322010-07-21T14:34:00.004-04:002010-07-21T14:54:53.404-04:00Today, you can call me GoldilocksI am having one of those days, when nothings seems not quite right and I am easily annoyed by pretty much.....everything. For example:<br /><ul><li>Starbucks. How do they get away with charging so <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">freaking</span> much for their beverages? I ordered a medium iced mocha (decaf) with skim milk. It cost $4 something. FOUR DOLLARS for a medium drink. Half of which is ice. And it tasted like chocolate milk. Not sure there was even any coffee in there. I am so done with them.<br /></li><li>I didn't get a job that I had pretty much forgotten I applied for, that I didn't want anyways and would have turned down if offered to me. But still.........</li><li>There is a fuse in our house that keeps blowing, even when nothing is on. Not sure what to do with that one. Call an electrician I guess.<br /></li><li>Cannot think of what to make for dinner that does not require much cooking, that everyone will eat, and will be satisfying enough so as not to want to eat a sleeve of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Oreo's</span> for dessert. I think they call it "take out."</li><li>Cannot sit outside - too hot. Go inside - too cold.</li></ul>Yup. Goldilocks.Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09864437498964223993noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1993698971851068237.post-54428890972514952492010-07-15T08:18:00.004-04:002010-07-21T14:57:31.754-04:00A lost opportunityI don't know how my kids can pass up a freshly toasted and buttered bagel. It is so delectable! I made one for Sweet Pea, after the first two attempts at her breakfast failed, and she refused to eat it. Now I realize she might be not have been all that hungry and clearly had some generalized anxiety going on - her mood was unpleasant, to say the least. but do you really have to be HUNGRY to eat a buttered bagel? I think not.<br /><br />I had to rush the kids off to camp but on my way home, I'm thinking: <span style="font-style: italic;"> It</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">would really be a shame for the bagel still sitting on the counter to go to waste. I'll just eat it for breakfast when I get home and have little salad for lunch.</span><br /><br />Well, I guess Lucy had the same thought because the freaking dog ate my bagel! I wonder how she'll like her little salad for lunch.Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09864437498964223993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1993698971851068237.post-25512885417383739342010-07-07T09:21:00.004-04:002010-07-07T10:03:10.613-04:00Why oh whyDo my children leave dirty socks all over the house, as if the place is one big hamper? I have found them on the floor in pretty much every room. Even on the kitchen counter - Gross!<br /><br />Do you know there is a place in Hickory Hills, Illinois called The Dirty Sock Bar and Grill? I am not sure I'd want eat there, though I supposed it's really no different then my own home...Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09864437498964223993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1993698971851068237.post-33517687592120946002010-07-02T12:27:00.004-04:002010-07-02T13:00:38.148-04:00The Danger in House Work after 5 PMWhy is it, when you have two kids, a husband, a dog, a job (albeit part-time), and a house to take care of, does it still not feel acceptable to sit down when you have the chance and just <span style="font-style: italic;">RELAX</span>. Why do you (or should I say, I) feel like I always have to be doing something. Even when I do sit on my butt, I feel guilty. I should be doing <span style="font-style: italic;">SOMETHING</span>.<br /><br />So yesterday, although I had a horrible headache and was so tired...the kind of tired you are when every step feels like an effort, I decided I really should be productive. There were dishes and laundry and endless other little tasks to be done.<br /><br />I did the dishes first; loaded and unloaded the dishwasher, and then headed upstairs to put the laundry in. We had just gotten a new laundry detergent...one of those <span style="font-style: italic;">high efficiency </span>formulas that apparently you must use when you have a high efficiency machine. I personally feel like this must be crap and a marketing ploy to make people spend more money, but the sales person who sold us the machine did his due diligence and sufficiently scared me enough to believe I would ruin my new machine if I did not use the specified detergent. Anyways, as this was a new kind of the detergent, I was not sure how much to use. Jonathan hand placed the new detergent (which is in a large BJ's style container) on the shelf about the washer and dryer. I filled the cup part way with detergent and as I was trying to turn the container around, to see how much more to add, the container came flying off the shelf, and dumped what was already in the cup and then some, over my head. I was covered in laundry detergent. It looked as if I had been slimmed with laundry detergent.<br /><br />I wish I had thought to take a picture but really who needs evidence of such a mishap.<br /><br />There was nothing I could do except head straight for the shower where I proceeded to rise off all the detergent. I have no idea what this stuff could do to you skin and hair - I mean it is<span style="font-style: italic;"> high efficiency</span> shit.<br /><br />After getting dressed, I went back to wipe up the walls and floor in the laundry room which were doused in detergent. And then did what I should have done in the first place. I poured myself a glass of wine and read a magazine on the deck.<br /><br />I used to be so good and doing nothing - before I had kids. I hope when my kids are grown that comes back to me. It's a skill I never fully appreciated.Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09864437498964223993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1993698971851068237.post-32212241384866428792010-06-27T16:49:00.005-04:002010-06-27T16:55:34.846-04:00Conversation while on vacation...JJ: Daddy, can you buy me one of those stupid useless toys that I will play with for two seconds and then loose? <span style="font-style: italic;">(Okay that was not exactly what he said, but you get the point.)</span><br /><br />Jonathan: Sorry buddy, I'm totally broke.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Moment of silence.</span><br /><br />JJ: Daddy, how did you break?Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09864437498964223993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1993698971851068237.post-56641318823961605042010-06-18T07:33:00.002-04:002010-06-18T07:48:13.349-04:00Rules for Parents at School FunctionsOver the past couple weeks there have been many, MANY end of the year school functions. Sweet Pea has provided me a set of rules I am to follow when attending such functions with her:<br /><br />1) No hugs or kisses. <span style="font-style: italic;"> Obviously.</span><br />2) No whispering to her.<br />3) No singing - even if everyone else is singing.<br />4) No talking about boys.<br />5) Do not be embarrassing in any way.<br /><br />I am troubled she felt she had to set these "rules" for me, though the only I really struggled with was number 3 - no singing. When there was a group song at her class picnic and I started to sing she gave me a look of death. Guess I won't be doing that again.<br /><br />So far the only one <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">JJ</span> seems to be in agreement with is number (1) - which has been very clear to me all year. When the bus arrives to pick him for school I have to suffer with simply a wave....<br /><br />It's not easy being a parent.Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09864437498964223993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1993698971851068237.post-43220836517410801272010-06-17T19:11:00.003-04:002010-06-17T19:14:17.013-04:00Everybody needs somebody to lean on....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUt05rcgFylalcE7o6ihAG_mCQP_Zshon3_Iil27briWoDG_mmblAe3BHbmNahFQERP6dMG51qPDwPaTy15XAEx9Ao7KR1ieLifvC1SdvXkbW9x_1EjWTZRWM9mg8bc-ziwZ29u6BFWNQR/s1600/photo.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUt05rcgFylalcE7o6ihAG_mCQP_Zshon3_Iil27briWoDG_mmblAe3BHbmNahFQERP6dMG51qPDwPaTy15XAEx9Ao7KR1ieLifvC1SdvXkbW9x_1EjWTZRWM9mg8bc-ziwZ29u6BFWNQR/s320/photo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483884650298605538" border="0" /></a><br />In this case, it happens to be a dog.Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09864437498964223993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1993698971851068237.post-72643209282590692662010-05-06T07:12:00.002-04:002010-05-06T07:19:23.735-04:00<a href="http://www.boston.com/community/moms/articles/2010/05/06/a_hope_that_all_moms_find_their_work_life_balance_at_least_for_one_day/">Here</a> is a great article on work-life balance for moms. It does not contain any secrets to finding the perfect solution. In fact its more of a sobering reality - but still nice to know you're not the only one trying to scream at your kids in silence when on a "work" call!Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09864437498964223993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1993698971851068237.post-71250322579889339602010-05-02T14:30:00.001-04:002010-05-02T14:31:43.998-04:00This is my kids in the morning (on the weekend)...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI2vv4AD0UHhMwwkzDlWY1KIVAQIx5wjCkeNmJ41LCzqHTLKjLE2zbAiodnFLr5tTDw0CDGQR-orbtSdHreW0jzxC3KYBRnP7THARziae7Xt57LM-wJfnJ7-sHgZMJUPINb7JeZguq6fI4/s1600/photo.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI2vv4AD0UHhMwwkzDlWY1KIVAQIx5wjCkeNmJ41LCzqHTLKjLE2zbAiodnFLr5tTDw0CDGQR-orbtSdHreW0jzxC3KYBRnP7THARziae7Xt57LM-wJfnJ7-sHgZMJUPINb7JeZguq6fI4/s320/photo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466742021738059618" border="0" /></a><br />Do you think we're doing something wrong? (Don't answer that.)Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09864437498964223993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1993698971851068237.post-28818993862720252202010-04-17T12:57:00.005-04:002010-04-30T16:26:26.896-04:00Random thoughts...Why when you are driving a specific route to see which way is faster to go, do you inevitably get stuck behind some slow poke screwing up your whole test?<br /><br />Why can you never read those scramble codes that you are supposed to decipher in order to access some secured site?<br /><br />Our plan to have a basement where the kids can play and watch <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">TV</span> has slightly backfired. Now, Sweat Pea thinks it is her OWN private place to "be alone." A little suspect don't ya think? Not to mention still leaves me upstairs with a 5 year old and Sponge Bob Square Pants.<br /><br />Why is my idea of a nice Friday afternoon sitting on the patio with a book, not the same as <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">JJ's</span>, whose idea of a nice Friday afternoon is playing tag with me? Does he not know how tired I am???<br /><br />Hump.Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09864437498964223993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1993698971851068237.post-51659775886429262952010-04-17T12:46:00.003-04:002010-04-17T12:54:39.301-04:00Back to workI've been back to work with no time to write. There have been a few things over the past several weeks that I thought to myself, "I have to remember to write that down." And then when I went to post it, nothing. No recollection of what I wanted to say.<br /><br />What I can say, is that I am still loving the <a href="http://chroniclesofamom.blogspot.com/2010/03/i-have-one-word-for-you.html">bread</a>. Except being back to work, its not as easy for me to make. Take last week for example. Made the bread. Left it out to proof. But instead of putting in the fridge after an hour I left it out for, oh, I don't know.....maybe 14 hours. So long that it proofed so much, the lid popped off. Still I didn't notice (or remember) until Jonathan said, "Is the bread supposed to do that?"<br /><br />No, no it's not.<br /><br />Ahhhhh....the joys of going back to work and feeling like a totally competent idiot.Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09864437498964223993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1993698971851068237.post-84462116259810569612010-03-08T09:07:00.008-05:002010-03-08T14:00:19.743-05:00I have one word for you.....BREAD!<br /><br />I have found (actually not true....my uncle discovered this bread and for that I will always be grateful to him) the best bread EVER and I must share it with the world. Seriously, I have no reason to ever buy bread again. This bread is as good as any bread you could buy in a bakery and certainly better than any you would buy at the grocery store. <br /><br />It's dense, yet moist; soft on the inside, yet a crunchy crust on the outside. Perfect on its own, along side a bowl of soup, or for a tasty sandwich. I am telling you - perfection!<br /><br />And it gets better....it is SO easy. I am not exaggerating. You will spend 3 minutes on this bread and have warm hot bread waiting. It is mixed and baked all in one pot. Hence no clean up! The one disadvantage is that it does need to "proof" overnight. I know....those of us who seek instant gratification struggle with this step but if you plan according, and bake the bread while you still have some left, its not a big deal.<br /><br />Here is the even better news. The original recipe (which is a Jacques Pepin's one pot bread recipe) was made with all white flour. I, however, having loved this bread SO much and needing to eat it every day, decided I needed add at least a couple redeeming ingredients. So I substituted 1/4 of the white flour with whole wheat flour and added about 1-2 tablespoons of flax seed. It was AWESOME!<br /><br />See for yourself....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKniSyKC2olFcKpgOS8U48iRsSpNOG6WlTUNO8DIic6-k9LzvvjbM8ibvZ1hJDOSuZ8HImOcMHfcV_-qexeg9XPEae0cKMoJaK6hyphenhyphenoPaUls-jGIUKAnKxXEvSwveRoInpnLW5eS_-7S5L_/s1600-h/bread+1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKniSyKC2olFcKpgOS8U48iRsSpNOG6WlTUNO8DIic6-k9LzvvjbM8ibvZ1hJDOSuZ8HImOcMHfcV_-qexeg9XPEae0cKMoJaK6hyphenhyphenoPaUls-jGIUKAnKxXEvSwveRoInpnLW5eS_-7S5L_/s320/bread+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446270339616069122" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMqRoivvKDL7hNVmmEaqYK_A4cYwD1u6b8itHWFjg431C0QlVTLxZ2j1If3INlv_jxKDE5JFnzWOC7hiBjmaHLAUQqgAIsv4lQvvjDirIVsmx_E7rM-3bacXiTkl6cfzPFza0rp1ROM9Xe/s1600-h/bread+2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMqRoivvKDL7hNVmmEaqYK_A4cYwD1u6b8itHWFjg431C0QlVTLxZ2j1If3INlv_jxKDE5JFnzWOC7hiBjmaHLAUQqgAIsv4lQvvjDirIVsmx_E7rM-3bacXiTkl6cfzPFza0rp1ROM9Xe/s320/bread+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446270489838464130" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here is the recipe - (And just so I don't get sued....I feel the need to reiterate credit for the original recipe* and the method of baking, all goes to Jacques Pepin. Love ya Jacques!)<br /><br />In a 3 quart non-stick sauce pot, mix 2 1/4 cups lukewarm water, with 1 tsp active dry yeast and 1 tablespoon salt. Add 3 cups white flour, 1 cup whole wheat flour and 1 to 2 tablespoons flax seed. (I was not precise about how much I added.) Mix until well combined. Let sit covered for 1 hour. Scrape the sides a bit and push down gentle on the mix to deflate it a bit. (To be honest, this step is called for in Jacques version but I forgot to do it with my version and it did not seem to have mattered.) Refrigerate 12-14 hours. Bake uncovered at 425 for 1 hour. (Cover it after 45 minutes if getting to brown.) Let cool 5 minutes. Take it out of the pot and let cool.<br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><br />*The original recipe was all white flour and contained no flax seed.</span><br /><br />Enjoy! And to all you no-carb, low carb people......moderation is the key.....do NOT deprive yourself of this bread.Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09864437498964223993noreply@blogger.com0