So, about my last post...

I saw something on my Twitter today that made me feel sort of bad...

"If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back."

(Of all people, Ashton Kutcher tweeted this.)

How true is that?

I do understand moms are in fact, humans. I feel like we do deserve to have a bad day, even though my bad days are unpleasant for everyone around me.

But in the grand scheme of things, I am thankful that I have these problems...as weird as that sounds. I have children. The man I call my husband is a great father to our children. I have a great, supportive family, and sisters that are best friends. My friends get me.

As long as I have those things, my life is good. It is just hard to realize that when you have those kind of moments.

My solution...print out that saying and put it on my fridge. Maybe it will help me get through my bad days and enjoy my good days even more.

Stick a fork in me - I'm done.

Thankfully, I have a great husband. He knows the minute he hears my voice over the phone how my evening has been. His dad needed help doing a few things tonight so even though it is past bedtime, he made sure it was okay with his parent's that he brought the girls.

"Do you care if I bring the girls to give Alaina a break?", he asked his mom.

Here I am, sitting on the couch, typing away, in silence. I need of a time out.

I truly feel like being a mom is the hardest job on the planet. Things just naturally fall onto your lap. No matter how great your husband is, how involved your kids dad is involved, it all point backs to the wife. The mom.

Today was one of those days. I feel like all I said was..

"Girls, be quiet...girls, BE QUIET!... {As I am yelling.} ...please listen...clean up your room....etc."

One of those days I feel like a failure as a mom.

It is exhausting. Tiring. Emotionally depleting at times.

But it is so worth it. The rewards are so much greater than the roughest day times ten.

And the best part about it all? Tomorrow is a new day...another chance.

Labor Day

I saw this Labor Day meme on a new blog I read and wanted to jot it down. Bear with me, I hardly remember anything from Zoa's pregnancy and delivery but I will do my best!

How long were your labors?

Macie: About 14 solid hours.
Zoa: About 12 hours.

How did you know you were in labor?

Macie: I was induced. Boo for the pitocin drip!
Zoa: Induced again...I wanted my dang water to break but it just did not happen on it's own.

Where did you deliver?

The hospital.

Drugs?

Macie: Wanted to wait as long as I could for the big epidural. After staying at 3 cm for hours, I wanted to epidural.

Zoa: I don't remember, but I got the epidural.

C-section?

Nope.

Who delivered?

Macie: After Dr. J did not show up after being paged for one hour saying I was at a 10, Dr. P graciously delivered Macie after delivering a patient of his.

Zoa: My doctor, Dr. U.

Play along if you want!

(Image via.)

Q & A...Part Dos.

Melissa (who cracks me up...totally reminds me of myself!) asked...

How did you decide on your kids' names?
Funny stories! Macie came pretty easy. At first we could not decide on anything! Then one day, Jeremy was at work and called me asking me what I thought of Macie. Here is how the conversation went:

Jeremy: Hey babe...about the baby's name...do you like Macie?
Alaina: Yeah, that is really cute! I like it!
Jeremy: Are you sure?
Alaina: Yeah...
Jeremy: Okay, I gotta get back to work. Love you! Bye!

You always hear of couples spending hours and hours, researching baby names, discussing, asking everyone what they think...not us! We always have been fly by the seat of our pants, so why not with this? With her middle name, 'Jae', my mom came up with it. It is a small combination of letters from mine and Jeremy's name. Macie Jae...it fits her perfect!

With Zoa...another story. I am still angry at Jeremy!
The entire pregnancy, Zoa was Abigail Paige. Macie would talk to Zoa while she was still in my stomach and call her Abigail Paige. I loved the thought of having a little Abi running around.
Fast forward...I am getting induced.

Jeremy: What are we naming her?
Me: Ummm, seriously? Abigail Page.
Jeremy: I am not really sure if I like that...
Alaina: %%*&@^#$@!&(*^% (Just kidding!) What? We have called her that this whole time!
Jeremy: I think I like Zoa, after my grandma.

Pause here...moms, you know by this point, I do not care if we name her Esther, I just want this baby to have a name!

Alaina: Fine, I I just want to call her Abi.
Jeremy: Okay...well, let's make Zoa her first name, Abigail her middle name and call her Abi.

After having the baby, Jeremy immediately starts to call her Zoa. And it stuck. Ugh!! But she does make a cute Zoa, if I do say so myself.

That's that...how we decided on our girls' name. :)

I can't think of a title.

Is it normal for moms to feel so very unappreciated?

It has been one of those nights. I'm goin' to bed.

Time to start reading again...

Spring has me sitting outside a lot with the girls while they are playing. I have been thinking that during their playtime, I could pick up a book and start reading.

I have decided to start with The Love Dare. Rugby season takes my husband from me a lot of the time...practice two times a week which puts him at being home around 8:00 and all day Saturdays for game day. Most of his games are in St. Louis which is a couple of hours away.

This makes for a very moody, cranky, irritable, crabby, impatient, and downright mean stressed wife and mother. I try to think of the positive...at least he is not in a bar...etc. but I know this book could do me a lot of good right now.

Anyone care to join me on a quest to read more? My personal preference on books include true crime and books on parenting and health but I would love to broaden my horizons. Feel free to share what book you are reading. Maybe we could start a little book club. Let me know your thoughts...

A Friendly Reminder...

Isn't it funny how sometimes things just happen in perfect timing? God sure knows what he is doing...

As I was going through my blog list, I read a post Drea wrote made me think and re-think immediately regret my post from yesterday. I recommend you check it out.

Tonight, I am going to try to be a better parent and thank God for what I have, instead of vent about what I don't have. Thanks for the reminder, Drea.

I'm off to eat some food, pack and workout!

Never in my life...

...have I wished I was at work instead of home.

Until now.

My girls are putting me over the edge.

Please pray for me...

So much for that...

This morning, Jeremy and I were up at 5:00 to do Plyometrics. It is the first day since starting this last week that we have worked out in the morning. Plyometrics is the "Mother of P90X" and, to put it bluntly, a sweat-fest. Hard stuff, let me tell ya.

We finished at 6:20 so I go to hop in the shower. Once again, NO HOT WATER! I thought I could just take a cold shower, it can't be that bad, right? Wrong! I decided to just put my head under the faucet, wash my hair and see if it will warm up.

Negative.

I fix my hair and I am out the door in my pajamas, headed to my dad's. Showering was not optional after this morning.

On top of that, my back is still sore from last week's workout and all I want it a massage and a hot bath.

Maybe this is a sign we should stop P90X.

Just kidding!

Resolutions.

At dinner last night, I talked about resolutions with the girls. After explaining what it meant, they decided to make a few themselves.

For a while now, the biggest struggle of mine is coming home. It should feel like a sanctuary and my mind does nothing but race the minute I walk in the door at 4:00 every afternoon.

"Girls, put your shoes up. Put your coats away. Is it really that hard?"

The girls' "revolution" (as they pronounced it) was to pick up for 15 minutes every day, as soon as we get home. This is something I have tried to get them to do. Set the timer on the stove for 15 minutes and everyone pick up. You will be amazed at what all you will be able to do. I feel like we could all have so much fun, if they would just listen.

Also, the promised to be nicer to each other.

Story time:

For Christmas, Zoa got a Leapster 2 from Santa. The next day, she felt she should clean it was BODY SPRAY. Ruined. Water damage. After extensive surgery on the Leapster, it was revived. But, before we found out is was going to pull through, Macie said she would save up her allowance to buy her one.

How flippin' sweet is that? I was so proud.

But, yeah, we will see how long the 15 minute pick up time will last. I'm crossing my fingers!

Did you make resolutions this year?

Accomplishment.

Jeremy and I have done nothing but go go go today and it has been great. Even though we spent all but a few minutes at home, in our my pajamas, we got so many things done around the house.

About a week or so ago, our hot water stopped. None. We managed to get it fixed within a day. It worked fine. The next morning, no hot water. Jeremy's dad came up and fixed it, while at the the same turning it up.

Last night, I took a super hot bath. It was fabulous. Jeremy took a hot shower. Greatness. Before we left for dinner, Jeremy checked on it downstairs. Ummm, we had 1/4 inch of water in one room in the basement. Thankfully, nothing was destroyed but it meant it was too hot and the valve opened up to release some pressure.

So today, Jeremy cleaned up the basement, added a hose to the pressure valve so the water would never flow out again, and fixed the hot water once more. (Hopefully.) While he was doing that, I watched some television - The First 48 was having a marathon. After a couple of episodes, I got up to clean. All my laundry is done, including all of my "Hand Wash Only" sweaters. Beds are washed...nothing like clean sheets. I cleaned the laundry room and moved the coats back to the coat closet in the loving room. My car is cleaned. Jeremy and I went to work on the garage next. We are having a bunch of things hauled off on Saturday from there.

Accomplishment. There is no other feeling like it.

(Almost) Done with Christmas Shopping!

Saturday, I enjoyed a full day without my wonderful husband or girls. I went shopping and loved every minute of it. Target, the mall, Hobby Lobby...it was pure bliss. I am almost done with the girls. I have just a few more things that I am buying on Amazon.

That night, we had our work Christmas parties. First, we went to mine where I won the grand prize, which retails for about $500.00!! More details on that to come. Jeremy's party was next, followed by a trip to Taco Bell. Good times, good times.

I am starting my menu up again. Can you believe we have not done any serious grocery shopping in over a month?

Off to eat some food and look at the ads from the paper. Hope you had a great weekend!

Sunday Night Snapshots

Jeremy is at his championship flag football game. I am so happy the season is over, although I know he gets bummed about it. Oh well!

Macie, Zoa and I are just doing whatever at home while he is gone. Macie has been on the computer, while all I hear from Zoa is, "You get the beeeeest of both worlds...". That should be enough to tell you what she is doing.

I checked on Macie a few minutes ago, and before I snatched the computer up from her, we put the 'ole camera to use...

Look at the camera and smile...


Put your head up!


What happened to your smile?


Funny faces!!


Not too sure what happened, but Macie moved!


A lot of laughs and fifteen minutes later, we have a keeper!

Hope everyone had a good weekend!

Target vs. Chuck-E-Cheese

Last night, Whitney and I went to Target with the girls. We spent ten minutes in the $1.00 section before making our way back to the food for what I needed. I needed one thing and Whitney needed a few things. While we were browsing for some cheese sticks for a snack, this is all I heard:

Mom, I'm hungry.

Macie is being mean.

Mom, go back!

Go baaaaaack!!!

Uuuughh!

Zoa won't let me have this!

No, I don't want it now. *Pouty face*

I DON'T WANT IT!

Finally, I just left. I made a mad dash to the pharmacy to pick up a prescription for me. (I should have asked if they sneak me a couple of anti-insane pills in there!) Whitney and I check out and I walked out of there, with nothing but a prescription for me, a can of Pringles for the girls, and three $1.00 notebooks for the girls.

On the way back home, Whitney said, "I can see why you dread shopping."

To put it bluntly, I do.

I explained it this way to Macie when we got home:

"You know when we go to Chuck-E-Cheese? Now think about if we all went in there and I told you that I wanted you to come out to the car with me, or I made you go grocery shopping with me instead of playing, or if I told you you could not play in Chuck-E-Cheese because I needed you?" "Tell me how that would make you feel? TELL ME!!!" (Just kidding on that part!)

I asked her if she understood what I meant and she said she did. Now if she understood enough to be more patient when we shop, only time will tell. I plan on having the same conversation with Zoa.

Am I wrong for wanting them to be this way? I am all for buying them things, but if I want to make a quick run to Target, or just look around for that matter, is that too much?

I understand they are children. Their attention span is next to nothing. But also, they are getting to the age where they should be more patient, learn respect, take turns...etc. I just don't want to have that kid.

They are perfect angels when I have them one on one. Fun, patient and really a blast to hang out with. But it is when you get them together, it is as if their goal is to break down mom.

I am truly exhausted. Any suggestions?

A Confession

I have not been grocery shopping in three weeks. Yes, three weeks.

Which is kind of expensive if you only buy enough groceries for one week at a time. We have been eating out way too much. I had every intention to use the menu I made. But it just seemed to fall through the cracks, so to speak.

Coupons have not been clipped in weeks. With the exception of clipping this past Monday night. I have a six inch stack of inserts just begging for some attention.

My house resembles this. Laundry has been kept up enough to wear clean clothes every day. At least that's a plus!

The last three weeks have been an emotional roller coaster. But it is time to start putting my house back in order. You see, I clean my house if I think the UPS guy might walk in. I hate having a dirty house and I get embarrassed easily.

"What will they they of me?"

I am way too worried about what people think of me.

But... tonight is the night. I need to at least make a dent in this ever growing list of things to do.

In fact, I must clean tonight. We re-listed our house, with a lower price, and about ten realtors are going to come take a peek at it tomorrow.

This weekend I will go grocery shopping. With my clipped coupons.

Hopefully, a sense of normalcy will start to take affect. One can only hope.

Any confessions you would like to share?

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday: Bedtime Prayers

Years ago, after feeling a little scared to have our girls say the standard 'Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep', I started looking for other bedtime prayers that we could consistently say with our specific prayer requests. I found this one and love it...

Five little angles, watching over me
One for my head, one for my feet
One to sing, one to pray,
One to take my sins away.

For more Wordless Wednesday, visit 5 Minutes for Mom.

As requested....

I was told to post a picture of my necklace I got from Lisa Leonard Online so here it is:


(I told you I would get one!) Please bear with me. It took me forever to figure out the best way to use my camera to get everything clear. This is the best I could do.

I highly recommend Lisa. It was quick shipping and if you sign up for her mailing list, you get 15% off your first order. There are so many things on her website I love. Hopefully, I will remember it come time for Christmas and my birthday!

Umm, yeah. My kitchen called. They want their table back.

New carpet sounded fabulous last week. The price was right and it was a nice neutral shade but dark enough that it could cover any spills, drips or crayon marks. I guess I forgot how in order to get new carpet, the old carpet must be ripped up. In order for it to be ripped up, everything has to go out of the room.

our kitchen table area

view number two

our living room
But, you know what? It will all be okay. Because I get to go to bed on this tonight. Nice, right?


On top of that, has anyone else's children been hyperactive this week? I don't think I have ever disciplined them more than I have this week.

I hear a glass of wine that is calling my name.

Pushing through the week...

This week has been nothing but do this, do that. Do you ever have one of those?

No matter how many times you clean the kitchen, it is still dirty...
Mop the floors but regret it immediately after you hand your children sippy cups of Kool-Aid...
Fold laundry, but your laundry room is never empty...
Clean out your car, only to wish you cleaned your house because it really needed it too...

Some weeks are a struggle to get through. Working moms and busy non-moms understand what I mean. I could not imagine what I would do if I came home to a clean house everyday, with everything put in it's place.

But then I have to be thankful. I try to remember that:

I have little pink clothes that need to be washed...
I have a car to clean...
I have a house to clean and floors to mop...
I have food to dirty dishes...

Today after work, the girl's have a teeth cleaning at the dentist. They are excited (starnge, huh?), which makes me happy. This means that they can go back together, with me in the waiting room. Don't think I am a bad mom - they actually do better at stuff like this without me there. That means I can get a few minutes of alone time. I brought my new purse (I got for $10 on clearance!) and plan on switching everything over. Is that pathetic I plan on doing this? Hopefully, you say no.

Jeremy and I had to laugh when we saw the appointment reminder postcard.

Dear Macie and Zoa,
This is to verify the appointment you made with our hygienist for your dental cleaning and oral cancer examination.

Wow! Talk about preventative care. I didn't realize they check six and three year olds for oral cancer. We know that is the standard wording but it threw us both off guard.

After we get home from the dentist, Jeremy and I will be getting the bedrooms ready for new carpet. In order to do that, everything needs to be removed from the closets and floors and put downstairs. Once the carpet is in (next week sometime), we will move things around a bit. The computer will come upstairs and the toy room will go downstairs.

If I seem 'maxed out' for a while, you now know why.

Ready, Set, Stage!

This weekend holds a lot of organization. (If this dang headache will go away!) I want to clean out the closets, including our hall closet. It is the one for all our linens, bath towels, and whatever else we have that does not have an official home. Looks like my night is planned out for me!

Saturday, we are having a stager/interior decorator come take a peek at our house. We are not sure sure what we are doing wrong. Everything is non-cluttery (is that a word?) in our house. Hopefully, she will give us some insight on what to do to make our house more appealing to the eye.

That evening, we will be heading over to our friends' house, Adam and Desera. Adam and Jeremy have been friends for years, and it just so happen Desera and I clicked very well too. They used to be neighbors of ours so we don't see them as often as we like, but when we get together, we make up for lost time. The kids play and the grown-ups do their thing, (and I get to hold Broderick for hours) so everyone is happy.

Something else I wanted to mention, please take a look at the right side of my blog. Good Search is a search engine that let's you pick an organization that can benefit from you using their website. Go look at it, it's pretty neat. It is powered from Yahoo so it is a good search engine. And if you don't have a foundation or charity you would like to help, use the one listed below the icon.

Other than that, nothing exciting when on this week. I started school shopping for Macie's uniforms...which by the way...Old Navy and the Gap are having some great sales! I will probably head to Kohl's this weekend also to pick up a a skirt or two. Are those not so cute!? I am also loving these socks!

Jeremy wanted to try to plan the menu for this past week. He never did it. I never went shopping for food, so we had what was in our cabinets. Want to know what it was? Salad, spaghetti, leftover spaghetti, and burgers. Tonight, I am not sure what is going to happen.

Alright, that's all for now! And Kara, I want you to start posting weekly pictures of your baby bump - as soon as you start showing!

Have a good weekend lovelies!