You Heard it Right

The five children were huddled around my laptop watching The Backyardigans do the Black Eyed Peas.  They were all singing together, "I gotta feelin, that tonight's gonna be a good, good, night."

Gracie pipes up to sing out the "WooHoo!" part.  She comes in perfectly on time and in pitch.

I watched them sing together.  I love moments like that.  The song ended and a couple of the kids scattered.  Jadon and Christian had another request.  As they stood side by side while I searched for the video, Jadon says, "Christian!  Get out of my grill!" 

I gave him the mom look mixed with a half smile because it was so funny.  I told him that wasn't very nice.  He continued to tell me, "But his grill was all up in my grill."

I then opened a new window on my computer where I jot down my blog ideas.  I typed, "Get out of my grill."  Jadon yells at me for writing this down and wants to know what it's for.  He'll see it all when he's older.  Muwahhaahaa.

MY BRAIN IS MUSH

Literally.  I am afraid that at any point in time my brains will begin to ooze out of my ears.  I am on information overload.  It's invigorating and exciting and completely exhausting.  As I transition into real estate I am 100% dedicated to do whatever the company asks of me.  I'm putting in a lot of time at the office, in training classes, and here at home. 

I am trying to find balance for the next three months, which is sure to be the busiest.  I have already forgotten snack day, student of the week, and car building night at rangers.  Joe bought me a day planner which he reminds me of every time I forget something.  I just need to get the kids appointments on there with the work stuff, in order for it to be effective.  Joe is a managing machine and I am not.  I need to get there.  To do lists are becoming my new best friend.  My mushy brain needs all the help it can get.

Here is my list for today:

1. Finish laundry (which is like one load and two to fold.  Joe killed the mountain yesterday)

2. Send out a few work emails/reply to a bunch of emails

3. Cut the kids fingernails and toenails...10 fingernails + 10 toenails x 5 kids = 100 of them.  Ugh. 

4. Prepare a CMA

5. Don't forget to take the boys to practice

6. Figure out what's for dinner

So, that's it.  I have nothing witty to say.  My brain is mush.  Period. 

If you are looking to buy or sell, or if you know someone who is, call me anytime.  I'd love to help.  RealtyUSA is an amazing company and I couldn't be happier that my brain is mush.

Today...

I am wearing... the Moo Moo-ish thing Joe bought me for Christmas.  I knew it would become a favorite when I tried it on and felt it's soft, cotton, goodness on my skin.  It's too bad it's so ugly. 

I am wondering... what I am going to make for dinner.  The daily task is my downfall.  I don't even know what day it is.  Alas, I'm thinking pizza.

I am thankful for... my husband.  As I make this transition into real estate he has picked up my slack in the home and with the kids.  I need to remind him I am thankful and tell him he's my hero.

I am overwhelmed by... real estate.  Training has been amazing and has me thinking and dreaming about houses non-stop.  It's exciting and invigorating and overwhelming all it once.  It's a good overwhelmed.

I am eating... I'm actually drinking diet hot chocolate.  It's gross, but I keep drinking it. 

I can hear... Elia and Gracie playing together.  As Gracie gets older they become closer.  Elia tells Gracie what to do and where to go, and she listens.  It's quite adorable.  They are currently playing with Bingo and the Princess in their dollhouse.  That's what Elia named them.  I'm glad Gracie snuck into our family.  Elia wouldn't have a friend for life if it worked the way we planned.

I am going... to get back on the healthy eating train.  After girl's night, of course.

I am hoping... my children stop pretending to be cats.  Jadon started the game last week.  They've all been crawling around and meowing non-stop.  One cat is enough in our house.  It's driving me crazy.

Around the house... it's presentable.  We are keeping up with the basics but that's it.  It's going to need a major Spring cleaning soon.  I'll happily do it this year because it will be the last time I have to Spring clean in this home. 

One of my favorite things... hot tub fun in the winter.

Random picture for sharing...

100th Day of School Tradition.  Christian's 100 Thumbprints collection.

Wordless Wednesday

Happy Valentine's Day!

Enjoy your day with the ones you love!  I will be posting about my romantic (and weird) overnight with my hubby tomorrow.  Until then remember...

Valentine's Day is for lovers.  Show your lover some love today.  Break out the big guns.  Spice it up.  Do some tricks.  Take some pictures.  Put some dents in your wall.  Have some fun.

Stroller Wars

1 Doll Stroller + 2 Girls = Not Enough!  The war has been on.  Battle stroller is wreaking havoc in our home.

Elia got her first baby doll stroller on her 1st birthday.  It was a Fisher-Price Learn to Walk beauty.  She loved it.

As she got older she played with it less and less.  Unless of course she was pushing Woody or Buzz Lightyear.  She liked to torture them by putting them in the pink thing.

Then comes Gracie.  As she approached one and began to learn to walk, she took a liking to the stroller. 

Let the battle begin.  Gracie actually loved putting baby dolls in the stroller.  She seems to be more girly than Elia.  Now as you can imagine, Elia decided she has to have the stroller.  She expresses that it's her favorite stroller in the whole wide world.  Sure it is.

They do pretty well with sharing, for a few minutes.  Then there is screaming, hair pulling, and crazy girl fighting. 

Gracie: If you don't give it to me I'm going to rip your curls out.
Elia: Sticks her tongue out to tell her what she thinks of that idea.

Elia: I'm so cute there is no way mom is going to let you win this.
Gracie: I will drop you to the ground and rip it out of your hands so fast you won't know what hit you.

Gracie: Please just let me try for a second.  I'll give it right back.
Elia: Since I am 2, I know that trick.  It's not gonna work sister.  I've got my hands super glued to this thing.

Don't let these pictures fool you.  They look cute and it looks pretty civil, but it's about to get ugly.  It's time for me to get a new stroller.  Actually, I'll either have to get another identical one or purchase two new ones.  I'm not stupid enough to bring a new variety in without getting two.  That would just set me up for another nightmare.



Wordless Wednesday

Oh, the Horror!

When the boys were younger, they got into EVERYTHING.  I used to get so annoyed because all of my friends who had girls did not have this problem.  They could have their homes fully decorated and their girls wouldn't touch a thing.  The decor in my home was stripped down to a nice throw and some decorative pillows.  Everything else was just an accident waiting to happen.

Some of the boys favorite things to get into were eggs, sugar, toilet paper, and paper towels.  Jadon was so quiet about his work I wouldn't know what he did until it was far to late.  It was awful.  The egg messes were pretty bad.  You are probably wondering why I didn't have my goods locked up.  We did.  Jadon was the MacGyver of little boys. 

One particular day the boys did something that will go down in mommy meltdown history.  While I was in the bathroom, probably taking a few extra minutes to regroup, the boys got into....Dawn Direct Foam.

"Oh, the Horror!"

If you use the stuff you know it only takes a small squirt to do a sink full of dishes.  That stuff creates suds for days.  I entered the kitchen to see the three boys covered in the foam.  Not only were they covered, but the entire kitchen and living room floors were covered.   We have hardwood floors.  So, picture if you will two entire rooms filled with the sudsy foam.  I'm pretty sure I uttered a few curse words in my brain, repeatedly.  They had turned the two rooms into an foam skating rink.  I laughed a little as they slipped and fell during my yelling.  That will teach them.

I threw the boys in the tub and scrubbed.  They were probably terrified and regretful that they unleashed the crazy mom.  Their skin smelled of the lime surge scent for days.  Now I had to clean the floors.  It was morning so I couldn't save the mess for my husband.  I got some wet paper towels and began to scrub.  "Oh, the Horror!"

My wet paper towels only created more sudsy bubbles.  Then I decided to poor a small cup of water on the floor and wipe it down with dry paper towels.  That was dumb.  This created even more soap.  I ended up using all of my bathroom towels and about 3 hours of my time cleaning the mess.  I had to wet a small section and wipe it with a dry spot on a towel.  Rinse and repeat about a gazillion times.  That clean-up was worse than any poop disaster, baby puke, or boy vomit I have ever had to clean. 

Sometimes I wonder how I made it through the boys toddler years.  Really, and we are all still sane.  I can even look back now and laugh.  Boys will be boys.  But, take it from one mom, if you use Dawn Direct Foam, lock the stuff up.

Blah to Hoorah!

I was not going to post today.  The flu has been strategically attacking each member of our household.  It's times like these the big family bites you in the butt.  It's gotten Gracie, Elia, Joe, and last night it hit Jadon. 

This morning I woke up feeling not so great.  Great.

I straightened up the house and was about to plop my fat on the couch with a cup of tea and "The Bubble Guppies," our new favorite kids show.  Then I remembered it had been five days since I took my exam.  I went to the DOS website and logged in.  I covered my eyes and slowly spread my fingers apart until I could barely see.

It said, "PASS!" 

I screamed and had a mini dance party.  Now my head hurts.  But, I passed!  I really, really, really, did not want to retake this exam, even though I could, and many people do.

So, once I file my paperwork I will officially be a Licensed Real Estate Salesperson with RealtyUSA.  I had that interview last week and got the job, zit and all.

Tonight, I start my training which will run 3 days a week for 3 months.  I'm really hoping I don't start throwing up on my first day.  Especially since I was so excited that my zit was gone.

Thanks for all of your encouragement.  Love to you all.

Bogus Before & Afters

I am convinced that all before and after photographs on TV are bogus. 

Advertisements for the following are ridiculous:

• Cellulite
• Acne
• Stretch Marks
• Miracle Makeup
• Diet Pills
• Neck Fat
• Baggy Eyes
• Crows Feet
• Hair Removal
• Hair Growing
• Weight Loss anything
• Natural Tears
• Bingo Arms
• Miracle Foot Creams

The craziest part of all of these advertisements are the before and after photos.  Regardless of the product they are selling and what they are trying to "cure", they are all the same.  In every "before" photo they make the person look as ugly as possible.  The people never have makeup on, their posture is always awful, their clothes are frumpy, and they have a mean look on their face.  Then, voila!  They are instantly transformed into fully made up, happy, confident, people.  How bogus!

Don't even get me started on the other commercials for things such as the Ped Egg, Kangaroo Keeper, Hanger Cascader, and Pajama Jeans.  It's as if these people's lives were horrible and unbearable before they purchased these life changing objects. The utter disgust on their faces of life before the miracle are so hilarious I cannot look away when the commercials come on.  Surely they would never have lived such satisfying lives if it hadn't been for; "their smooth feet without the mess" or "their perfectly organized purses that allow you to move your contents in seconds" or "the hanger that will organize any closet disaster" or my favorite, "jeans you can exercise in." 

Bogus. 

A Pimple, a Sore Arm, and an Interview

Today I have a pimple, a sore arm, and my final interview with Realty USA. 

Of course, today, a pimple the size of a penny would decide to show up on my chin.  Are you kidding me?  I feel like I'm in Middle School again. 

After seeing the pink crater on my face I immediately Googled, "How to get rid of a zit fast."  It seriously amazes me the stuff that comes up when I Google something weird.  The amount of pictures and articles is ridiculous.  Then, there are the YouTube videos.  You couldn't pay me to watch a YouTube video of someone showing me how to "get rid of a zit fast."  That's just plain nasty.  I may or may not try one of the suggested ideas.  My fear is making the thing worse and looking like a complete idiot.

With my enormous pimple I also have a sore arm.  It's actually almost a useless arm.  As I sit here, I can barely type or lift my coffee cup to my lips.  Wait until you hear why my arm is sore.  Wait for it.

I knocked Joe out a couple of times boxing via the XBox Kinnect.  Really, no joke.  While at my mom's we decided to play a friendly game of boxing.  The problem is, I don't do friendly.  I threw some major jabs.  I put all my weight behind every punch.  By the end of three games I was hyperventilating and my arm felt like jello.  I am not exaggerating.  My lack of exercise the past 6 months was evident.  Joe said I only won because I crowded his area.  He's a sore loser.

I could barely sleep last night because my arm was so sore.  When I went to the bathroom this morning I had to use my left hand to get the toilet paper off the roll.  I guess it's time to hit the gym again.

My final interview is this afternoon.  I'm going in with a monster pimple and a gimp arm.  Hopefully, he will not look at my face and not want to shake my hand.  Otherwise, he'll see the zit and wonder why I can't lift my arm.  Here's hoping he finds zits attractive and thinks I suffer from a weird arm disease and feels compassion.

Wordless Wednesday

I'm Not a Fan of Waiting

My exam is done.  I'm happy to report, my pants are dry.  Now, I wait.  I'm not a fan of waiting.

I got to the courtroom at 8:30AM.  My paperwork emphasized the importance of being on time.  It stated in big, bold, letters that the exam started at 9 o'clock. It continued to say the doors would be shut and no one would be admitted after 9AM. 

I waited with three other people for the doors to be opened.  The whole time my heart raced and my palms were sweaty.  I was able to use the bathroom twice, hence the dry pants.  Phew. 

At about five minutes to nine, two ladies strolled in with their hands full of stuff.  They apologized for the delay and said they were stuck in traffic due to weather.  Weather?  OK.  The woman said it would be a few more minutes and then they would let us in.

They posted signs on the doors that stated what my paper stated, "NO ADMITTANCE AFTER 9AM." The sign went up at 9:05.  If I had to wait another 30 seconds I was going to vomit.

We began the exam at 9:27AM.  I was forced to wait twenty-seven minutes longer than what my paper said in big, bold, letters.  Funny.

As the proctor read the instructions she informed us that we would have to wait an undetermined amount of time to receive our tests results.  The results could take five days to three weeks.  So, now I wait.  I'm not a fan of waiting. 

Before I turned in my test I tried to retain every question I wasn't certain of, so I could go home and look up the correct answer.  Then I decided I give up.  I can't change the answer now.  I'm going to turn off my brain and wait for the results.

I'm SO not a fan of waiting.