A Day in the Life ...

... of ME. 

I know your excited because I have such and exciting life, right?  Lately I feel like my kids have swapped places.  Jace is no longer my 'harder' child.  Brooke, my sweet little angel,  has recently grown horns.  She is constantly saying naughty words, getting into my makeup, draining the tub water onto the bathroom floor with a cup, peeing her pants and then hiding her smelly underoos all over the house, lying about the smelly underoos, stealing food out of the pantry or fridge and smashing it into my carpet, and screeching so LOUD that I feel like I'm going bonkers sometimes. She literally has this horrific high pitched scream that she uses all the time.  I think I'm losing hearing in my left ear and the sad thing is that I'm debating if it's such a bad thing. .. then maybe I won't have to hear her anymore. Okay I'm exaggerating a little.  I don't want to lose my hearing.  Back to Brooke. She also has decided that she doesn't need to sleep.  2 nights ago she was up until midnight.  I put her back in her room about 12 times after which she would just change into a new dress, make a mad dash for the fridge and use it as a large pouch to fill with cherry tomatoes or mini carrots (at least she's choosing healthy foods?).  Finally after about 6 dress changes and trips to the toy room, pantry, or bathroom I just locked her in her room.  She then continued to pound on the door screaming.  Poor Jace has to share a room with her.  I unlocked the door to stop the screaming so Jace could get some rest.  I woke her up early the next day to try and get her off of her crazy sleep routine.  She got up and was happy to be awake then didn't take a nap all day and again stayed up until 10:00pm that night.  Doesn't this girl need sleep?  I know I do. AHHHH pure exhaustion here.  Also the other night (this is a different night) I got out of bed to find Brooke on my kitchen counter taking fruit from the fruit bowl and throwing it on the kitchen floor.  I asked her what she was doing  - "I'm feeding the ants, mom" completely nonchalant like it was to be expected.  And bright and early this morning I found this:



I cropped the horns out of this picture - it makes her look angelic.

That's right - caught with her hands in the cookie jar. 
Okay no jar (I WISH I had a cute cookie jar ... hint hint).  I also discovered this:

Messy rice all over the kids table/chairs in toy room.

Which means that sometime in the wee hours of the morning she got into the fridge again and obviously was eating rice.  She left a huge mess on my carpet and her little play table/chair set.  I think I may need a straight jacket to put this little 'angel' in at night.  She could probably just get out of it though.  Remember her Houdini days when she liked to take her diaper off all the time and play with ... well, you know ... what gets left in diapers.  I tried EVERYTHING from safety pinning her clothes onto her with 'kid'-proof safety pins, to duck taping her diaper on - nothing worked - she could always get out.  Thankfully she grew out of that stage.

Don't worry she does have a sweet side too.  I just wish it would make an appearance more often as of late.  She does say the funniest things, though.  Wherever we go she tells random strangers "I have two grandpas!" with the biggest smile on her face thinking that it's the most important news in the world.  Also, while helping her onto the toilet in the park's restroom she looked up at me and told me "You're the bestest mommy.  I love you a million.  I like it when you play with me at the park."  Times like those melt my heart.  I can't ever stay mad at her too long.  She's just SO happy to be alive and I have to admit... sometimes it is quite hilarious to watch her dash to the fridge,trying not to be spotted, and sneak off with a pouch full of cherry tomatoes, running back to bed.  I love my sassy little snow white.  She brings lots of laughter into this house.

On the other hand,  Jace has turned into such a big boy lately and such a sweetheart too.  Today when he got home from school he ran into the back yard and brought me this:


For you, Mom.  I love you.  It smells really good just like you.

 You're right it does smell really good.  Thanks sweetie! 

I'm on a make-up strike today.  Don't judge me.

Today I'm tired.  I'm sure you can guess why.  That's why I look like that (look up) and that's why my house looks like this:

Yep, my house is a wreck, Brooke is running around in underwear, I'm letting my kids eat their lunch in front of the t.v. watching cartoons (they get mickey mouse chicken nuggets, carrots sticks, and grapes today), and I'm blogging about it instead of cleaning it up.  Sometimes you just need to vent.  I am looking forward to lunch though.  This is what I get:

What is that?? you ask...  a green smoothie I say.  A pear, a tangerine, a banana, orange juice, water, and a BUNCH of spinach all blended up in my magic bullet.  I hope it gives me the energy to get through the rest of today and help curb my cravings for these:


Chocolatey Chip Cookies - YUM YUM!

I'm going to be SO chalk full of healthy stuff that I won't even want one....I hope.  I'm finding it harder and harder to stay thin as I get older.  My jeans have suddenly started to get uncomfortably tight.  I have decided to make some changes to my diet instead of hoping that they just shrunk in the dryer.  I am going to be eating a fiberlicious breakfast and green smoothie everyday for the next week to see if it will help curb those sweet tooth cravings I have from about 9pm on.  Dinner will be dinner because I'm still feeding a non health conscious husband and mac n cheese loving kids.  The other night I made Bulgogi (Korean Lettuce Wraps).  They were both healthy AND good.  Thanks for the idea Jen.  I got the thumbs up from the husband and kids.  If you have any healthy, fun, family approved, delicious recipes - please send them my way.

In the mean time I will be enjoying my green smoothies, and my kids, and my husband ... who lately is non-existent except in the middle of the night when he hops into bed after a day full of studying/ test taking.  He has another one today.  I hope he does well.  He is putting in a LOT of effort.  I miss his witty comments and hugs.  I did get to enjoy watching Jace in his first play last night!  He was SO cute.  He missed 2 days of school this week do to one day of a yucky cold and another day of  FAKING SICK. Yes, he is a kindergartner and is already faking sick so he can stay home and play.  I cured him of that fast.  He had to stay in his room the whole day.  It was very boring and he told me he wouldn't ever fake being sick again.  He was a preacher in the Thanksgiving play and did an awesome job even if he didn't know all the actions or words to the songs.   It was quite hilarious being just the 4 kindergarten classes.  I'm hoping I can find one of the other parents who recorded it to put it on youtube  or something so I can show you all how adorable he is. 

I almost forgot. Check out some of the projects I finished for family night:

Family Night Chart

 so the kids stop fighting over whose turn it is to pick the games or conduct - it took me all of 15min. to make.   &

updated heath food pyramid.

I actually started working on this before we moved.  I just needed to glue the mini magnets to the laminated pictures.  I did a family night lesson on keeping our bodies healthy.  The kids loved it.  They took turns putting each food into it's right box.  I find them moving the pieces around all the time.  I want them to know what is healthy and what is not so they can make better choices.  We also had them make a healthy dinner with their play kitchen set.  It was quite fun.

Oh, I have to tell you about the conversation I had with Jace this morning.  I will put Jace's script in bold so you know who was saying what. - 

Mom, I need to talk to you.  Okay, what's up.  Look at me when I'm talking to you.  Alright, what's so important.  I've been thinking and we have two options here.  We can either set up the Christmas decorations here and stay here for Christmas or we can have Christmas decorations at Nani & Grandpa's house but we can't have both.  Because Santa might get confused as to where we are?  Yeah, THAT'S what I'm worried about. Okay.  We don't have to put up decorations here if you're worried about Santa getting confused. Okay, good.  Thanks, mom.  I love you.

I'm a little sad about not getting to put up my Christmas decor but thought it was hilarious that he was so concerned about it and had really been worrying about it.  I think it's funny when kids pick up things we say too.  Look at me when I'm talking to you - he's such a nut!  Wow.  I've really been rambling.  I better go clean up my house. 

ta ta for now ...