Mothering Many

I have tried three times to take a short nap today. Each time one or another of the people I share this house with has refused to cooperate. Muhahahaha, I shall wake the ones that finally went to sleep from their naps, and then I shall send them all to bed early tonight and then I shall go to bed early myself. So why am I so tired? I got up at 4:45! It was totally worth it though, because I have been able to get so much done! I was even able to get outside with the kids today before it got so hot that it felt like I was sitting inside an outdoor fireplace. Speaking of which, that’s something I’ve never really understood. If you are cold, why not just go inside?

The older kids played baseball with some of the neighborhood children, and I sat and watched them and knat. Yep, made up word, LOL, past tense of knit. It seems like it’s been forever since I was out with them, but in fact, I think I only missed 2 days. We had a good time, and I;m already looking forward to getting up early tomorrow. Wonder how I’ll feel about that in the morning????

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I went out Saturday, all by myself. I had a splendid time, just rejuvenating. I got my hair cut and walked around looking at clothes, and then I went to the bookstore. I was amused by some of the clothes I saw. One brand (I think think it was Liz Claiborne???) had a line they called golf, and it truly was golf apparel ladies, as in, it had little golf bags embroidered all over it. Golf bags! I elected not to buy any of those capris, since my little fashionistas already tell me I look like I am about to go play tennis anytime I wear a skort and tennies. Heh. I never thought I’d get to the point that I saw my clothes through my kids eyes, but………if I say to them “I’d prefer you not to wear that, because it would embarrass me”, and they acquiesce, then maybe I can think about whether my clothes embarrass them. Besides, it’s fun shopping for myself and blaming them, LOL!

Hmm, I am aware that I should have a menu plan here today, but alas, I do not. I seem to have slipped a gear where my memes are concerned. I’ll try to do better.

AND! I found out this weekend that my 5 year old does not know the alphabet song! We used to sing it everyday in school, and then all the students learned it, so we stopped. We’ll be starting up again so Batman and Drama can learn it, and then we’ll stop again or awhile. The summer of math is going well. I think we’ll be done with the book by the end of August. I should probably order the new one sometime this week.

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Navtej Kohli has been gracious enough to sponsor a post about my favorite charity. In fact, he’s sponsored several across my different blogs, and I’ll be highlighting a different charity for each sponsorship.

The Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, located in Asheville, NC is the largest non-governmental source of funding for childhood brain tumor research. In addition to funding research, they provide support and education for families of children afflicted with this disease. In 1991, when the PBTF was created, the diagnosis of “brain tumor” was a death sentence. They’ve worked hard to change that, and their efforts are paying off–they now fund a scholarship for brain tumor survivors. If you have seen motorcyclists participating in the “Ride for Kids”, this is the organization for whom they were raising money.Charity Navigators rates the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation four stars.

I want to thank Navtej for the opportunity to talk about an organization that’s making a difference for children in my state and elsewhere. And can I just take a second to say that I am appalled at some of the salaries the heads of some charitable organizations are pulling. Like……….10 times our yearly income. The mind boggles. Truly.

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Yes! I bought 30 pairs of socks. That would be 6 identical pairs times 5 kids who ought to be old enough to get 2 socks at a time into the laundry but consistently fail to do so.

Yes! I did work on that section of my room that I showed you on Tuesday. I spent about three hours cleaning this morning, along with the children, and substantial progress was made in several rooms, including mine.

Yes! I made some Rockin’ Good Chicken Salad the other day, and I will totally share the un-recipe with you soon.

No! The laundry is not caught up, and I am not sure that I will ever see the bottom of the hamper again!

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Well, I didn’t get that section of my room done. By the time I got ready to clean, Drama was sleeping in there. Instead Idismantled the reading nook. As lovely as it was to have it, it caused massive congestion problems there at the door/dining table/laundry area, etc. So, I moved the chair into the living room again, and since the nook was immediately put into use as the laundrycart zone, I just took a picture of the chair in it’s new/old home.

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Ok, ya’ll. Frealz. If you think I have it all together, please close the window now. Just click the x and go, becasue what I am about to show you is just plain scary. In fact, it’s so bad that it’s going to have to be dealt with as this week’s Tackle it Tuesday. Are you ready? And are “they” gone? Ok, here it is.

This is what it looks like on my side of the bed. Sigh. I am out of room for my shoes and shirts. I have been trying to fugire out what to do with this stuff for so long that i actually squealed with glee when I read about closet cabinets a few minutes ago. Because, ya’ll, look at it. It’s sad. And I have to clean it, and I can’t wait until I get a closet cabinet, I have to do it today.

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So, this is going to be an interesting week. The van has conked out again so I have DH home during the day. This is a mixed blessing, since we can’t go anywhere or do anything, and it’s frustrating for both of us. So, today we had our big meal at lunch, and we will do the same tomorrow.

Monday: country fried steak, mashed potatoes, green beans
Tuesday: shake and bake chicken, noodle side dish, spinach
Wednesday: beans, rice, possible sausage
Thursday: leftovers
Friday: don’t know yet, but it’s in the freezer, LOL

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Today I am blessed that the folks at church were happy with the website stuff I set up for them. w00t!! The week has flown by in a whirlwind, and I have much more to be thankful for than that, but it is a big relief.

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I’m having one of those weeks where the hurrieder I go, the behinder I get. Do you have those? I’m sure you do, LOL! Right this second, I’m trying to figure out how it came to be that I went three days without posting here. And also, if the laundry will ever be completely done again. And how to get Drama to go potty in the actual toilet instead of wherever the urge hits. And maybe how to change our current eating habits without making everyone totally angry at me.

One of my children is beginning (ha?!?) to have a real weight issue. Now, I’ve struggled with my weight all my life, and she doesn’t know it yet, but she’s headed for a hard time in a few years. I don’t want her to be taking diet pills or to deal with esteem issues, so changes are in order here. I don’t buy stuff that’s marked low fat, as a rule, since they all taste pretty bland to me and I prefer to have just a little of the good stuff, or even none at all that to have a flat substitute, so I will needing to look at different preparation methods, and more raw food choices. Summer is here, and that is a great time to put out healthier choices. We’ll be needing to be a little more active, too. Notice I am saying “we”; what’s good for her will be good for the rest of us, too, I think.

So! less frying, more walking. And what’s going on at your house?

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We’re ho-oo-ome! We got in late last night, and I have been so sleepy all. day. long. I haven’t done much of anything beyond survive, and that was more or less successful depending on whether you require any amount of grace in your definition of survival or if just continuing to draw breath qualifies. BUT!!! FUN!!! Oh my goodness, we had so much FUN!

The girls rode several hard core thrill rides, the ones rated 5. I rode one, my first ride of the day, and then I stuck with 4 and under. Note for the future: Casses take special care. They are not meant to be turned upside down. You may spin the Cass, you may jiggle the Cass. You may even make the Cass go very fast, and she will laugh her fool head off. But do not under any circumstance turn the Cass upside down whilst you are spinning her very fast. No, no, no. If you do that, your Cass will not be able to walk, and you will be sad for her.

The water park was incredible. I really liked the water slides, and could have ridden on those over and over. It was so fun to slide fast down the tube, and then shoot out the bottom, like mail through a chute. And this brings me to the topic of mailboxes. We’re going to need a new one shortly, I do believe. I joked earlier that mailboxes were the one item where my large family size did not affect my purchasing decision. We may need the food service size can of green beans, but we have not yet reached the point where we require a commercial mailbox. I guess that’s a good thing, since I don’t find those very attractive at all. I’ll continue to browse the residential mailboxes until I find one that I like and I can afford. It will probably be a plain-jane metal box, which is kind of a let down after looking at these by Dahlhaus. I’ll just hint that I don’t want my neighbors to feel badly, instead of indicating TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR A MAILBOX!!!??? That’s a lot of beans and weiners. Which brings me around to grocery shopping.

I must go to the grocery store sometime between now and Saturday. Either DH or myself or both have been flying for the past few weekends, and so no serious shopping has been done. He’s going to be out again this Saturday, and if I don’t procure at least some snack stuff before then, the kids may want to cook some ladyfingers, and I am afraid they will be mine

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