Monday, March 29, 2010

Unwanted House Guest

We have an unwanted house guest. He showed up a couple of months ago, seemingly out of nowhere. He is sneaky, he fibs, he blames others, he take things, and he makes a mess. I have never seen this person before, but he is always around. He is the "Invisible Guy". My 4 year old introduced us. This was actually very polite of her. She was proud of herself for doing the introduction. She even showed me where in the room he was standing (kinda creepy).

So, most days, when something goes "wrong" or rules are not followed and I call my kids out on it, my 8 year old looks at me a little grin on her face, starts to bite her nails and goes slightly red in the cheeks. She can't get away with anything! I can read her like the back of my hand.

Now, this is a different story when it comes to my 4 year old. She doesn't look up (very clever with no eye contact), she keeps her voice steady and says "The invisible guy did it". That's it!! She laughs a small little sly laugh and continues on with her day. If I press her about the situation then I get the same answer over and over and over..."The invisible guy did it".

I am kinda stuck about how to get rid of this unwanted house guest. The other day, in front of my daughter, I started to pack some invisible suitcases. She asked what I was doing and I told her "The invisible guy has to go back to his own house now"....and what do I get....Nada...nothing...she ignores me. So I am thinking that she understands that I am kicking Mr. Invisible out...Oh how I was wrong.

Tonight when it was time to clean up the toys before bed, I said to my girls, "Clean up time. You made the mess, you clean the mess". My 8 year old rolls her eyes at me (which I must say she is slowly perfecting for when she reaches her teenage years), and slowly starts to help. My 4 year old looks at me all sneakily and tells me "I don't have to help. I didn't make the mess" and my response to her is "well, who played with the barbies then?"

"The Invisible Guy"!!!

ARRRGGG

...to be continued

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Olympic Hangover

I think I am still suffering from an Olympic Hangover a month after the games have ended.



I miss having the TV on all day with Olympic coverage.
I miss being able to hop on the skytrain and riding downtown to where all the hustle and bustle was.
I miss all the red and white that decorated the city.
I miss the buzz that everyone had.
I miss the happiness that took over everyone for those 2 weeks.
I miss the kids trying to mimic the event that was on TV whatever night.
I miss hearing about how great our city is from all the international press.
I miss the tear jerker recaps at the end of the day.
I miss the feeling of knowing "The World is Watching".
I miss the nostalgic feeling that I had.
I miss watching others revel and party.
I miss seeing all the pictures everyday.
I miss the national pride that seemed to have come out of nowhere.
I miss Canada being #1 in the worlds eyes for once.
I miss seeing the kids get excited and cheer when medals were won.
I miss it all.

Monday, March 22, 2010

UpSale

So I went to renew my car insurance today. I still had a few days, but figured, let's not leave it to the last minute. I was in the mood to be quick. My 4 year old is still getting over being sick and the baby is just starting to get sick. Let's hope my 8 year old isn't going to join in on the fun, and when I say fun, I use it loosely. If all 3 kiddies are sick at the same time, I don't think I'll make it out alive!!



Like I said, I wanted to be quick. I had just dropped my 8 year old off at school and I had fifteen minutes to kill before the insurance office opened. I popped over to my favourite coffee shop for a fuel up and spoiled my 4 year old with a doughnut. Soon it was time to head back over to the insurance office. I literally opened the door the second the open sign came on. I walked up to the counter and was greeted by a very nice looking woman. I explained to her that all I wanted was to renew my car insurance, no changes, everything the same as last year....done and done!!



It all started off well. Until she tried to UpSale! (I don't know if that is one word, but I am making it that way because it looks pretty!). With a big, pretty smile on her face, the agent tried to swoon me into taking a larger amount in my liability. (This just means that if I get sued for an accident that I will be insured for a certain amount.) I politely decline as the amount I am covered for is more than I'll ever make in my entire life, and I think that makes it a massive amount!! Now, this is where it gets good. The very nice, big smiling, swooner of an agent, explains to me that if I don't have a larger amount for my liability than when or if I get sued, the person doing the suing will take my house, my car, my savings and everything else I have. WOW lady, this just got serious! The smile faded from her face and she was now in total work overdrive. She was hell bent on making this sale. She figured me for an innocent, naive woman who would make this deal.



The kids were starting to get restless. The baby was trying to climb up and over my shoulder. Trying to get where?? Who knows...but he was really not wanting to be renewing insurance any longer. My 4 year old insisted on leaving there with a balloon and when I said 'No' the mini meltdown started. I wanted to leave.



In my nicest, but most firm voice I let out "no thanks"...it wasn't good enough. She immediately started crunching numbers, showing me all her calculations to save me .93 cents a month. Again, in my nicest, but most firm voice I let out "no thanks, I'll just keep everything the same". This would surely work....or not. She picked up the phone and dialed the head office to probe into how I could save more money.



Now, I don't want to seem ungrateful to her. She was really trying to save me my overall monthly payments, but she was oblivious to the snotty nose, coughing, mini meltdown, climb all over mom kids.



Somewhere in the mayhem, the insurance agent gave up the UpSale. At first I was proud of myself thinking that I was firm and put my foot down and she accepted that...but then I turned around and saw someone waiting behind me. Fresh Meat.

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Gas Prices

I hate having to fill up the car with gas. Gas stations don't scare me or anything like that. It is just that I hate the final result of the fill up. The price. I usually only fill the car half way. Now, sometimes this is because of time and children. I hate standing there (as we are in a self serve area), and hearing the kids getting restless in the backseat. Seat belts usually come off, and kids start exploring the car. Or I am usually on my way somewhere, and probably running late as it is. It's a time saver. And don't get me started about the weather. I refuse to stand in the cold for one second longer than I have to. So, if I have half a tank, meh, good enough. It will last me for a few days.



Like I said, the big reason why I hate filling up the car is 'cause I don't want to see the final price at the end. I know this is silly. It is no different than doing twice the amount of work and spending the same...I get that. I am not in denial here. It must be psychological or something. I bet a lot of people do this...right?!



I also have a tendency to gasp when we drive by gas stations, thus causing the driver, usually my husband to swerve slightly. I gasp at the price per liter...I gasp because the gas station two blocks away was three cents cheaper. Or I gasp because I actually did fill up the tank the other day and the price has come down! I can never win with gas prices.

Friday, March 19, 2010

The grocery shop

So, I was out recently and had all the kiddies with me. We were doing a quick grocery shop. In and out. Fast, fast, fast. There was going to be no chances for the kids to whine, cry and yell. I had my route all planned out. Up this aisle, down the next three, around the apples, and to the till!

We walked in to the store and things were great. I grabbed a basket. Now, normally I would have gone for a shopping buggy as I had all 3 kiddies, but again this was going to be a quick grocery shop.

I had the baby in my left arm, basket on my right arm, 4 year old pulling on my back pocket of my jeans, and and 8 year old following behind. We started to make our way to the first aisle where I was to pick up formula for the baby. So far, so good. Everyone was still with me. We hopped over to the next aisle to pick up dish detergent. My oldest had started dragging her feet. We had to hurry up. The kids were going to be losing steam soon. We rounded the corner and then the bomb hit!! The 4 year old bomb that is. She spotted the yogurt. You know the little kids mini yogurts, fun sizes, fun colours. Those ones. Crap!! In planning my route out, I forgot about those damn yogurts. I should have doubled back instead of rounding the corner!
I keep going. I try to ignore the cries that have begun. I walk faster and harder as my daughter is now pulling on the pocket that she was holding. She wants yogurt. I must defuse this bomb now!

"Honey, we have yogurt at home"
"NOOOOOO" she screams at me

She didn't know it, but I had my husband buy some the night before. It was in our fridge, at our house, but she was not believing me one bit. It was too late. I try for approximately 7 seconds to reason with her until I give up. It was now going to be a mad dash to get the remaining items and leave the store ASAP!

We leave the dreaded yogurt section and we continue on with our shopping. I swear that the faint music that normally plays in the store was NOT on and that my 4 year old was EXTRA loud that day, great combo. I walked along with my brood of children and we finished our shopping. I ignored all the stares and bad looks I got from all the other shoppers. Who cares what they think. Well, I care a little. Not in a way that I would have changed the how I handled the tantrum, or not in the way that I would never leave my house with children again. But in the way that I wanted to know their crazy thoughts so I could have a good laugh. I wanted to know exactly what the snooty old lady was thinking as she picked up her eggs and glared at me. I wanted to know exactly what the young teenager was thinking as he walked by with a big bag of chips. I also wanted to know what the pregnant lady thought as she pushed her cart in the opposite direction of us...haha. YOU WAIT PREGO, IT WILL HAPPEN TO YOU!

I pay for my groceries, get the kiddies in the van and off we go. Quiet all the way home. No mention of yogurt again!

Saturday, March 13, 2010

"Hello, 911"

"Hello, 911. What is your emergency?". That is how it started. One of the worst days of my life so far. OK, I exaggerate slightly. I can look back on this day now and laugh my little behind off. The day this happened...not so much.



So, I was walking up the stairs into the house. As always, my hands are full. I have a baby, a diaper bag, a doll left behind in the car by my 4 year old and probably a bunch more loose objects. I have my cell phone tucked in my coat pocket (as I usually do). My beloved cell phone that I had only had for a few months. It was pink. YAH! It had a cool screen and it slid open to to reveal letters for texting. Yah, I'm in total aw of this phone. NEVER had something so nice! Anyways, back to the story. . .

I am about half way up the stairs when I hear a voice coming from somewhere. The TV was off, no radio, my husband was sleeping after his night shift and the kids miraculously were quiet. It took me a second to figure out that the voice was coming from somewhere on ME! CRAP, with all the stuff I was carrying, I had somehow dialed someone. Probably someone in the phonebook, or history...no big deal. I would just pull my phone out of my pocket and say Sorry and get on with my day. I get to the top of the stairs, and drop everything (expect the baby of course). I reach into my pocket and the voice is clear now. It repeats itself, "Hello, 911. What is your emergency?" %*#&!!! Are you freakin kidding me. My phone dialled 911. OMG! So, what do I do, I hang up on the dispatcher. STUPID STUPID STUPID!! I should have just explained to her what happened. Oh well, right, on with my day. Not really though. 2 minutes later my cell phone rings. I know it's her and I know I'm in big trouble!!

I say hello and start to explain what happened. I insist it was an accident and that I don't know how my phone did it. I am sweating at this point by the way. The dispatcher does her job thoroughly and for a few minutes asks me questions about where I am, Is anyone making me say things, Am I being held against my will, Are there any weapons in the house...ummm.....NO to all. The conversation is coming to an end, I can feel her questions becoming less serious in nature. She believes me (I think). At the end of the call, she explains to me that she is sending to officers over to investigate. I am about to tell her it's not necessary, but stop myself. This would make her suspicious, and I believe this could have led to a "hostage situation" on the news. I kept my mouth shut.

In about five minutes, two big mean cops were going to be pounding at my door. They were going to be mean and possibly cuff me and take me away. I mean, not really, but as I waited those long five minutes, lots of crazy possibilities ran through my mind. I tried to tell myself that this happens all the time. If my phone dialed by accident, I'm sure the cops responded to dozens of calls like this on a daily basis, right. My thoughts were interrupted by a rap at the door. Crap, they're here.

I walked down stairs, opened the door almost in tears because, 1. I was so nervous, 2. I was so embarrassed, and 3. Because I am an uber emotional person. I opened the door to two really big officers. We are talking 6 foot 5 inches....230 pounds of mean looking cop! They asked to come in and duh, I said yes. They explained to me that they would need to search the premises. Crap again!! I say this cause my husband was upstairs sleeping after his night shift. Completely oblivious to what had happened. I imagined the cops opening the bedroom door and him sitting straight up in bed with a WTF look on his face.

While one officer took my info down the other searched my messy house. After a few minutes they were out the door. They were really nice. And you know what, apparently this does happen quite often!! Best of all, hours later, my husband woke up and was completely unaware of the events of the day!

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Bedtime

So, kids are finally in bed. Let me rephrase, the kids are in their beds, lying there, being defiant and all the threats in the world are NOT working tonight. I have decided that Bedtime is the most stressful time in our house. I can control a lot of factors with my children, except one very important one: SLEEP.

My girls, are superstars at prolonging bedtime. On average, it takes about 1 hour to get my kidlets to bed. Yes, we have our routine, and I think that helps keep us on track. We have brushing teeth, which leads into story time and then we talk about the outline of our day for tomorrow. I bring up water for the girls, which by the way, must be in a certain colour cup, filled up to a specific level. We give kisses and hugs, and I make sure the door is open and the light is on in the hall and then the bathroom. We whisper "I love You" down the hall as to not wake the baby, and then I walk quietly downstairs to my waiting couch.

Now, what happens next is always the exciting, dramatic time of the night. I never know who will be coming downstairs first. Better yet, I never know how many times they will come down, or how many times I have to chase them the stairs yelling threats as they jump back into bed, not ever wanting anything in the first place. I never know how many times I have to go up and tell the girls to stop talking, or fighting, or getting out of bed (they have not yet masted the art of the tiptoe).

I am sometimes in trouble by a 4 year old because I have not picked the right clothes out for tomorrow, or even worse, if I forget to pick sometime out, I am in REAL trouble then!!

Someone always needs a water refill, or a blanket put on again, or someone has a sore hand or leg (out of freakin nowhere). Oh the Joys!! But you know, all is forgotten and all the stress goes right away when for the 48th time I am upstairs and telling my 4 year old to go to sleep and she lays there with her eyes closed pretending to be sleeping, but still answers in a quiet whisper, "I'm sleeping, shhh".



After all the stress of bedtime, the hour of running around and threatening to punish the kidlets if they don't listen, I almost always end the night off smiling about my kids. Whether it be a 4 year old that is trying to fool me about her being asleep, or an 8 year old that comes down for that last hug and kiss or a little baby boy that needs one more cuddle with mom before bed, it's all worth it. I love it all!! (OK, most nights!! haha)

I became a "Blogger" today!


Today is the day, that I have become an official Blogger. Now, I must warn you. My grammar SUCKS the big one. I never use proper punctuation. I have run on sentences like crazy, and it will probably seem like I am rambling...but it will be well worth it. I will give you insight into the life of a busy "Mom O Three". We will share good times, and bad times! I will have boring stories, and entertaining stories. I will have sad stories and I will make stuff up too (just for fun). Tooting my horn, I would say I have an excellent sense of humour!! Trying to get it out in typed format doesn't always work, but go with me on it...I can make fun of myself, just as easily as I make fun of others, HAHA!


Today is the day, that I take time for myself. Away from "Momville", "Wifeville", "Jobville" and any other kind of "ville" out there. This is my time, to get it out there. My experiences, my stories, my ... well, that's it. I think you get the picture.


So, welcome to my blog. OH, and by the way, please note, I complain like crazy:)