Luckily we found him quickly. The neighbor caught him and called my cell.
He’s such a punk.
misadventures
meltdown
As we’ve been settling in to a new place, there have been remarkably few bumps in the road. The kids have adjusted beautifully. The house is great, we’re slowly making new friends and getting plugged into our new community.
But this weekend, we hit a wall.
We had several epic meltdowns about seemingly inconsequential things. We ended up talking a lot – about how this has been an incredibly stressful few months and that its ok to cry and have a little meltdown once in awhile.
I think now everything is doing well – but I’m sure its not the end of the bumps in the road.
I think we need to cut ourselves a little break and let ourselves recover a bit longer after this summer.
*****
We’re full swing in activties here. Dance, music lessons, running, clubs, Sunday School… and I’m a soccer mom again.
*****
The pup is doing well. We had a few rough days last week, but he is definitely making progress! We’ve still got a lot of work ahead of us, but I’m seeing the light at the end of the tunnel… although it probably has dog hair on it.
parenting exhaustion
Parenting has been so… hard lately.
I can’t even think of one thing in particular. (Well, I can think of SEVERAL THINGS IN PARTICULAR, but they are not fit for the blog. TRUST ME. They are that good. Or that bad. You know what I mean!) So its not just one particular child or one particular issue. Its just… everything.
Maybe its stress that is impacting all of us, right down to little Colin. Maybe its the upheaval of moving and of an increased amount of traveling for both me and my husband at work. Maybe its just the end of the school year craziness. Whatever it is, it seems like things just aren’t quite normal around here. The whining and such is at a high point. The house is a mess, everyone is tired and sniffily and coughing (Thanks, Allergy Season!), and our schedule is so packed it is getting hard to fit anything else in.
Whatever it is, it has been rough over here. I can feel my patience running thin by breakfast and I hate it. I don’t want to be a naggy, frustrated, shouting mom.
I want a lazy Saturday, lounging around in our PJs and watching a movie on impulse while gobbling cereal on the couch. I want to have time where we’re just at home – no one having to rush to a game or rehearsal or practice or work… just hanging around. I want to have a movie night with popcorn and snuggling. I want to go out and do something fun – not because its some kid in preschool’s birthday party, but just because we want to.
Maybe soon.
7 weeks
Seven weeks from today there will be movers here.
Packing up our house and loading everything up to move us into storage.
Seven weeks, you guys. SEVEN WEEKS.
(breathes into a paper bag)
I just want to cry. How are we going to get everything done that we need to do? Go the places we want to go, see the people we need to see? With the end-of-the-school-year craziness and my husband’s parents arriving from overseas for a visit, I’m just seeing life flash before my eyes.
Half of me wants to stay awake and not miss a moment. The other half wants to wake up in August!
finding peace
I’m having a lot of anxiety lately.
I’m a planner. Its the Type A in me. I even make spreadsheets for vacations. Multiple spreadsheets. Clothing spreadsheets, activity spreadsheets… everything printed out and organized in a folder. I’m super fun to travel with, really. (Its completely genetic, too. My mom and sis are the same way. You should see it when we go on vacation together. EPIC.)
So the fact that we have a moving van booked for a day in June, yet NO IDEA where that moving van will be going to is really getting to me.
I’m trying my best to believe what we keep telling our kids.
That this move is a great adventure. That everything will work out. That there is a home for us. That God is taking care of us.
But some days, its hard to believe the words coming out of my mouth.
Especially when we call to make a bid on a house and find out it sold hours before. Especially when we find a house that fits exactly what is on our ‘Dream House” list and have to watch it slipping out of our grasp. Especially when I have to tell the moving company, “Actually, we don’t know where you’ll be moving us to.” Especially when my daughters are disappointed about a house and ask questions like “Why wouldn’t they want to sell us their house? We would love it and take care of it!” and we have to explain that its about money, not who wants it most. That one is a hard lesson to learn, even as an adult.
I’m just praying for peace. For a house that we can love, where we can raise our family, where we can be part of a community and share with people around us. Praying that I can believe the things I’m telling the kids.
Wait for the LORD;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the LORD.
Psalm 27:14
more ways in which i am totally on the ball
I called the dentist yesterday to make an appointment before we moved. Luckily, they had an opening for the very next week. Yay!
I asked the receptionist, “Can you just check when I last came in? If its less than 6 months, my insurance won’t pay for it.”
She checks… “Um, you were last here in August 2011. So you’re good.”
WHOOPS! How did I forget to do to the dentist for like 2 years? I really, really honestly thought I went last summer! Guess not. Maybe I should call my doctor. Wonder when I’ve been there last…
***
The other day, I was so on the ball. I got up and decided I was going to put dinner in the crock pot. (Don’t you LURV the crockpot? Come home and dinner is done!) With this recipe, you have to brown the meat and veggies before you cook them. So I threw the meat in the microwave to defrost while I helped the kids pack up their backpacks and get on the bus. (I was just SO on the ball! Look at me multitasking and everything!)
I had SUCH a busy day – meetings, lessons, work, craziness…
Around 1pm I suddenly realized something.
Have you figured it out yet?
Yup. The meat was still sitting in the microwave.
Well done, Mel. Well done.
how colin is singlehandedly supporting the clothing industry
Colin’s brand new pants I just bought him last week:
Me: “Colin, what did you do?”
Colin: “What?”
Me: “To your pants? How did you rip them?”
Colin: “I was running!”
Me: “Were you being chased by wolverines??? How did you rip them running?”
Colin: [thinking] “I’m not sure!”
Although, while I complain about him ripping all his clothes – he literally only has ONE pair of pants without holes at this point – its not nearly as bad as the underwear battle. Moms of boys, PLEASE tell me I’m not along in this battle!!!
Colin: “Mom! I’m ready for church!”
(walks in the room wearing ripped pants and an Angry Birds t-shirt)
Me: HOW are THOSE church clothes?”
Colin: “I’m wearing underwear!!”
Well, PARDON ME, I guess I missed that very important and OBVIOUS distinction.
rememory impaired
Gracie left to go to school. I came back inside and went to make myself another coffee (cause that bus stop was cold!) and what is sitting on the table?
Gracie’s lunch.
Gracie’s homework.
Gracie’s class folder.
Gracie’s library books.
Basically, everything.
She want to school with an EMPTY backpack. I asked her, “Didn’t you notice it was light?”
“Mom, I don’t really pay attention to stuff like that.”
Sigh.
well, they shut me up
“Kids! I told you to clean up! Why didn’t you? *insert rant* I mean, WHY is there a huge pile of toys over here on the floor?”
“Mom, those are the toys we want to donate to kids who lost their houses in the storm.”
“Oh.” silence. “Nevermind.”
Way to go, Mom.
she’s got me pegged
Overheard in IKEA: “Look, Mom! This kitchen is perfect for you! It already has WINE!”
… as everyone within hearing cracks up laughing.