Friday, December 9, 2011

The Tree Is Decorated

There is a reason why my Mom didn't let us help decorate the tree until we were oh, say, teenagers.

If you don't know me well, let me start by saying that I lean more towards the obsessive/compulsive side of things.  If you do know me well, I assume you have a mental image of this evening.

I can usually watch my children make giant messes and put their toys away in the totally wrong place (as long as it's off the floor, I'm generally happy).

Decorating the tree, however, is something that I have lovely mental images of: slowly taking ornaments out of their boxes, picking the perfect place to put them - you get the idea.  That is not what happened tonight.  It started off well enough: Molly was putting non-breakable ornaments on the bottom branches and Emmett was busy pushing one of Molly's dolls around in its stroller.  Which was great.  Until Molly got her stool to put ornaments up higher.  Then Emmett just wanted to push Molly off the stool so he could get on.  Molly started yelling because Emmett was pushing her.  Then Emmett noticed the ornaments and pulled some of them off the tree.  Molly started yelling because Emmett was knocking things off the tree.  Then Molly wanted to start pulling ornaments out of the box herself, which meant that my lovely organized tree turned quickly into 90% of the ornaments on the bottom 1% of the tree.  And I tried to keep my head from exploding.  At one point, I just left the scene and put E in pajamas to keep from losing it while Molly kept pulling things out being like, "Oh look at this one!" then putting it down & grabbing another one, "Can we do this one next?"

I know... I know... I need to relax and enjoy the moment, that I'll be sad when they're older & they don't care about decorating the tree.  So I'll try.  And if not, next time I'll just go put my pajamas on.

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Was It Worth It?

Seeing everyone's posts this weekend about the great deal they got at this store or that, I had to ask myself - was it worth it?

Was it worth spending your Thanksgiving plotting which store you would hit first to try to get that one thing you "had" to have?  Did you miss a moment with your family that you'll never get back while pouring over the ads?

Was your desire for a $200 TV worth the big-box employee having to leave their Thanksgiving dinner to get to work in time to have their store open at midnight?  Or the employee who worked a split shift on Thanksgiving to get stock out and set up the promotions so that they didn't get a chance to spend the day with their family?  Was it worth the Target employee who crashed her car because she was so exhausted after her Black Friday shift?

We talk about the greed of the 1%, of the big businesses in America... maybe that greed is not so far away after all.  When people are pepper-spraying other customers, maybe it's time for all of us to take a good look in the mirror.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

My Kids Crack Me Up

This morning, Molly has been particularly funny.  The last thing she's been doing was having her birds, Jewel and Blue (from Rio) hitting each other and then making them apologize and have a time out.  While doing this, she's saying things like, "Blue it is not nice to hit your friends.  Say you're sorry to Jewel and then go sit over here in time out."  Then putting them on the trampoline while she jumps - which I suppose is a pretty good punishment if toys are really like they are in Toy Story.

Right now she's practicing tracing letters on her Leapfrog thing.  And doing an incredible job.  It's crazy how one day they just decide things are interesting.

Emmett's vocabulary is exploding lately - I love this stage.  It's adorable when he says, "Bye!" and gives people big hugs and "Whee!" when he does anything fun.  But I think my favorite thing is when he goes & sits on Molly's potty and says, "Poop."  And sometimes he actually does - thankfully he hasn't figured out how to take off his diaper yet.

Monday, November 7, 2011

I Bet My Monday Is Worse Than Your Monday

I bet my Monday is worse than your Monday.  Here's why:

1) The toilet was clogged this morning.  Thankfully, the hubby took care of that one.

2) Hubby's car won't start.  Luckily the kids & I were dressed, so we drove him to work.

3) While taking the hubby to work, the dog ate all of my daughter's Halloween candy.  Chocolate, gummy bears, Nerds - everything.  Wrappers and all.  At least now my living room & dining room are freshly vacuumed.

4) After cleaning all the dog mess, I finally got a chance to use the bathroom.  (Did I mention I needed to do a #2 before leaving to take the hubby to work?)  While in the bathroom, my daughter used her potty that's downstairs.  Her little brother decided to pick up the full potty and dump it all over the kitchen floor.  So I got to mop that up.  I'm just thankful he didn't decide to bring it in the living room.  I'm pretty sure he was trying to be helpful and dump it in the kitchen sink.

5) I start my new job today.

And now that I'm sitting still, I'm pretty sure I stepped in pee and not just mopped floor because my socks smell like pee.  

I'm going to go shoot myself in the face now (and then change my socks and wash my feet).

Thursday, September 29, 2011

My Period Wants Cheese

I have my period.  I want cheese.  If you're still interested, please read on.

The last 3 days, I have wanted cheese.  I went to the grocery store to deposit a check and bought myself spinach/ricotta ravioli.  I had them for lunch the other day.  Yesterday I made myself spinach dip because I really wanted more of the ravioli.  Today I made myself a quesadilla & forced myself to put chicken in it because I probably would've put an entire package of cheese in it otherwise.  Dairy will do in a pinch (like the Hershey bar I engulfed), but if I could figure out how to just fry cheese in a pan without it sticking, I probably would.  Repeatedly.

Since I had Emmett, my periods have been insane.  It's like being in high school again.  Migraines, extreme cramps, acne - you name the symptom, I've got it.  Is this common?  I can't wait until my OB/GYN appointment next month so I can get this under control.

On a side note, Emmett can fall asleep for his nap any time now.

Friday, September 23, 2011

What To Write

I've been having some issues deciding what to write lately.  Everything seems short enough to be a Facebook status update.  

That and the fact that I started watching a couple of little boys every day.  If I thought I was tired with Molly & Emmett...  So we're settling into that routine.  

And Molly started school.  The first week was really rough.  She would scream bloody murder and her teacher had to call me to pick her up because she was upsetting the other kids.  Want to know what will make you feel like a crappy Mom?  That.  She's always been so independent and outgoing.  I was wondering where my bold, wonderful little girl went...  Yesterday we had Dad drop her off and she finally stayed the whole day.  Thank goodness!  I know she'll love school once she gets used to not being home with me and makes a couple friends.

Sunday, September 4, 2011

I F**king Hate Spiders

There is a HUGE spider in my house.  It was last seen running under my dryer at approximately 10:00PM last night.  Now every time I walk into my kitchen, I am going to be paranoid until a) I find it and kill it or b) I forget about it (at which point I'm sure it will make it's return).  Getting Molly her milk & juice this morning was torture.

I spend most of spring on a house-wide spider killing bonanza.  I'm not excited for a round two this fall.  But those are (while creepy) run of the mill spiders.  This thing is big and fast.  Mike tried to kill it several times for me last night before it made it's eventual escape.

Ugh.  I f**king hate spiders.

Saturday, September 3, 2011

Sometimes Dads Need a Nap, Too

I'd like to know why it is that on the days Michael lets me sleep in, my children feel the need to either continuously make noise in their rooms or (like today) do what sounded like jumping jacks from below in our room to keep him awake.  How am I supposed to not feel guilty about getting to sleep in until 9AM (and then feel guilty about not eating the lovely pancakes & bacon my husband made for me while watching 2 kids while I slept) if they don't let him take a nap in the afternoon?

I'd like to apologize now for the above run-on sentences.

Today Molly & I took Jack the Dog to Petsmart to get groomed and then have a Mommy/Molly outing.  We had to go to Target to get her school supplies.  SCHOOL SUPPLIES.  Seriously.  How is she almost 3?  It's insane.  I'd like to ask Target to please start carrying a 10-pack of 2 oz Crayola paints.  Now I have to return the 18 pack of the wrong thing that they did have.  Oh well.  It was fun to hang out with her.  I forget how entertaining she is on her own.  And she got some super-girly Chucks.  How cute are they?  Of course, she wasn't interested in any other clothes, except for a pair of jeans and a t-shirt with an elephant on it.  I'll just hope she gets lots of clothes for her birthday...  After shopping we went to Friendly's for dessert.  Molly was super excited to get a sundae with her lunch - it was her first.  She picked the Cone Head.  Clearly, she's not my daughter.  I'm all for the most stuff you can put on top of your ice cream - I would've gone for the Build Your Own.  Mmmm... ice cream.

Now time for some laundry...  I guess I should get on that.  How much longer can I make this post?

Friday, August 26, 2011

Such a Slacker

I know, I know.  It's been awhile.  And quite honestly, I'd really like to be taking a nap right now instead of writing.

Also, I feel like I should be preparing for the impending storm, but instead I'm watching Days of Our Lives while the kids nap.  Taylor creeps me out.  She has such big eyes.  And now you know my dirty daytime TV secret: I love me some Days.

So, what's new...  LOVING the new van.  Other than the fact that I can't park it for crap, it's amazing.  Molly & Emmett love the DVD player.  Molly especially loves her "earmuffs" - the headphones that she gets to listen to her movies on.  She does still need a van, something involving her license plate letters "FMV".

The first thing we did with the new van was take a vacation to Boston.  We went to the beach, the New England Aquarium and the Boston Children's Museum.  The kids loved Wingaersheek Beach in Gloucester, MA.  It's on Cape Ann, north of Boston, so the water isn't too warm but it's the perfect family beach.  There was really calm water, water with a bit of waves and great rocks to climb on and around.  Even always-cautious Molly got out on the rocks.  And there's food, restrooms & showers.  The aquarium was crazy-busy, but so neat.  They have a new shark & ray touch-tank that was incredible.  Dozens of rays swimming around and if you held your hand still, they would come up and touch it.  I don't really know how to describe how they feel - kind of like raw chicken...  If you go, let me recommend not wiggling your fingers.  The little boy next to me did it right after they made the announcement not to and a ray gave him a nibble.  On Fridays they have a little kids classroom experience.  Molly got to touch live jellyfish ("they feel like water") and learn about turtles.  The Children's Museum was super-fun.  They have a bubble room, which I think was the kids' favorite, but they really enjoyed everything.

So that's what's new with us.  Hope you're all well and you all survive Hurricane Irene intact!

Monday, August 15, 2011

NEW CAR!!!

So excited - I cannot wait to pick up my new car on Wednesday.

We're getting a 2011 Honda Odyssey in Smokey Metallic Topaz (aka dark brown).  It will have a DVD player for the kids & power everything for Mommy.

And we get to pick it up just in time for our trip to Boston.  I cannot wait to go to the New England Aquarium on Friday and the Boston Children's Museum on Saturday.  I hope the kids are as excited as I am.

Off to dinner - hooray for taco night!

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Date Night!

Sometimes my husband's job is wonderful.  Tonight we get date night - a free movie and drinks & snacks beforehand.  Granted, the movie is the new Planet of the Apes, but it's free so I'm game.  And it has James Franco - I'll have something yummy to look at.  Mostly I'm excited for a night out with Michael.  I feel like it's been awhile.

For those of you who aren't parents - treasure your time to yourselves.  And if you're going to be a parent soon - go out.  I know you feel like crap, but get out.  You have no idea how hard it is to get a date once the little ones are here.  I'm not complaining, I love the kids, but once they're here, you really appreciate and value time as a couple.

Counting down the minutes!

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Big Truck Day

Do you live in the Capital District?  Do you have a toddler?  Then you're crazy if you don't go to Big Truck Day - in theory.

Big Truck Day is a parking lot full of every conceivable big truck.  Buses, construction vehicles, a police car (with a police dog!), etc.  It's fantastic.  There's a cupcake bus (with cupcakes - thank you, http://bettiescakes.com/), ice cream, food for sale.  There are people making balloon animals and a bouncy house.  Sounds perfect, right?

Almost.  Because it's always the most humid day in the world.  We've been twice and as much as the kids love it, I feel like I'm going to die about 30 minutes into the 2 hours that we're there.  If the kids had wanted to stay on the CDTA bus the entire time, I would've stayed there.  Why, you ask?  Because the lovely bus driver left it on with the A/C going.  Bless that man.

I would also like to point out to the crappy school bus driver that she needs a better attitude.  Toddlers love your bus - let them sit in the driver's seat.  Last year's guy was letting them jump out the back emergency door.  It was fantastic.

In the end, it's always a fun day for the kids.  And that's what counts, right?  Besides, I got a red velvet cupcake - yum!

Anyway, here are a couple pictures of my monkeys being cute - thank you to Christina for getting the cutest pictures of them:


Friday, August 5, 2011

Behind the Name

You may be wondering why I would name a blog about my family "Make Yourself Useful."  You can thank Molly for that one.  A couple weeks ago, she was playing with Michael and out of the blue she said, "Dad, you go in a time out and then make yourself useful."  And then we both tried not to laugh, so of course she kept saying it.  The whole time, we're trying to figure out where she picked that line up, because it's actually not something either of us says.  As I was getting her pajamas on that night, she said to me, "I made you laugh.  I told Daddy to make himself useful like Fiona said to Shrek."  Aaahhhh... Thank you, Cameron Diaz.

Have I mentioned that she's two?  I can't wait to see what her teachers think when she starts preschool this fall.

I'm not sure I want Emmett to start talking.

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Let's Start This Thing

I keep trying to think of something "big" to start off my first post.  And not getting very far, so I'll just start with what this blog will really be about - my everyday adventures with Molly & Emmett.

One of my favorite things right now is watching the two of them interact.  Now that E is one and M is almost 3, they're really beginning to play... like today, when E fell on her and they both just started laughing.  They have the same laugh, so when they really get going, it's contagious.  And yes, sometimes they fight like cats & dogs, but I'm going to enjoy the fact that they genuinely like each other - you know, before they turn into teenagers.