So, I'm lazy!

I posted 2 days ago about the Flyladys program to help you get control of a chaotic life. And I have yet to do the first step of shining my sink. UGH. Not sure if I'm lazy or just defiant. I have done a few other things, but just not that one very begining thing. I feel like such a naughty thing I'm not even sure I wanna even try any more. The thunder is rumbling and it's really cool here today, and I'm still only want to sit on my tail and do nothing. What is my major malfunction already?? Kai

I say-

I'm playing along with Shannon at Rocks in my Dryer . It is a list of eight things I say every day. Here goes:

1. Gimme some Sugars! I gotta have my LOVE!
2. What is she squalling about now? (Meaning Emma cuz she will just scream for no reason or for any little thing.)
3. BE NICE TO YOUR BROTHER/SISTER!!!
4. Okay, time to pick up. (Usually the living room)
5. You do that one more time and you will go to your bed!
6. I love you honey!
7. Someone find Emma's binkey.
8. Stop whining. I can't hear you when you whine. Use your big girl voice and then well figure out the problem. (usually to Hannah cuz she whines about EVERYTHING!)

Okay...not much uplifting there, but you get the idea...LOL. Let me know if you wanna play too. Later Gaters, Kai!

Flylady

I know there are alot of people out there that have tried the Flylady way of trying to get ahold of thier chaotic lives. I have tried it....sort of....a few different times over the last 5 or so years. I am signed up to her reminder group so I can get her daily reminders, but I have honestly never ever followed them. And I probably won't. I don't think I can handle that many things to do in one day. At least not for the first few months. My mind just does not work that way. Not at the moment it doesn't any way. I can't keep up with more than one, or maybe two, if I am in an exceptionally good place that day, things at a time. So....on to trying to get my life in order. I know that getting counseling for my depression will help. But I have to be proactive as well....I guess. At least that's what everyone tells me. I don't know if I'm crazy or not. But I know the Flylady works for alot of people, so I'm gonna try. I'm not going to kill myself. I will do what I can when I can. And if I have a bad day......I just have to give myself the permission to be human. I am only one person! When I have 6 people in a house where no one ever puts anything away and just dumps their trash on the floor....it's gonna take more than one day to get control of it. Especially since I am pretty much alone in it. I have to figure out how to get the kids all involved in helping. And I have a few ideas, but getting them to do things without fighting me....as usual....is the key. Anyway....off to shine my sink and maybe do another load of dishes. Later Gaters, Kai.

Mount Washmore

I am very grateful that I didn't live in the time before automatic washers and dryers. Gratitude not withstanding.....I DISPISE doing laundry!!! Well.....not the washing and drying. That's not so bad, but I can't stand folding and getting it all put away. Not real sure why. But due to my depression the amount of dirty laundry has gotten so piled up it is scary. It had taken over the back part of the house in the form of 4 overflowing hampers and all over the floor almost up to our knees. We had gotten afraid of walking through it for fear of some strange creature poping out at us. Something kind of like Gollum from the Lord of the Rings. But I finally got sick of it. I'm still not feeling better, but I just couldn't stand to look at it any more. So yeasterday I braved Mount Washmore. I spent the whole day washing, drying, and folding laundry. Though I only did 6 loads, I managed to calm the beast to being only in the 4 hampers. Everything is up off the floor now. The biggest problem is that I have so much junk in my bedroom that I can't put it away. And it is all....YEP...Laundry! Most of it is clean and just needs to be put up. It's just getting time in there to do it without Emma up my butt. I think we have too many clothes. I know alot of people only have enough for everyone to have one outfit for every day of the week, but I don't think I could do that. But I am working on whittling it down. I did manage to get in my room this afternoon, with the help of big bubby to watch the monkey. I got almost all the clothes gone through and put away. I have 3 big black garbage bags full of things to go to the Goodwill. So it's a start. I need to put the clothes on the dryer away, but that has to wait until Emma is up from naps. Anyway....I managed to make myself a laundry schedual ala Flylady. I have tried her ideas in the past, but had a hard time keeping up with her schedual. Just too much for me. So I am gonna to try adjusting it to my needs. Which is her suggestion to begin with. I don't think I will ever have a perfect home, but I can't live like this much more. With or without my depression. I am really hoping that if I get help with my depression, I will be more able to do things. At least that is my prayer. Well.....at least I did something. Most days I don't do much of anything at all, but sit on my butt and watch tv cuz my brain just won't let me move. I don't know what the change is, but I'm working on it. We'll see. Okay...off to get more accomplished. Or maybe not. I'm not gonna push it. Slow and steady wins the race. Later Gaters. Love, Kai.

I'm alive.....

Sort of. I have started the ball rolling to finally get on some medication for my depression. It has gotten to the point that I cannot ignore it any longer. I have spent the last month sitting on my butt on the couch and doing barely anything that I am supposed to be doing. I can't keep up with anything cuz I can't make myself get up and do anything. I sometimes feel like I am walking into a wall just crossing the livingroom. I haven't been crying or anything like that, but it's been close. I've been trying not to complain about it much here in internet land, but I need to explain my absence. I am alive....sort of. But as soon as I can get seen by the State mental health people that my dh goes to...maybe I'll be able to do more and be better. That is my prayer. If I stay off and don't post much.....now you all know the reason. Cuz if it's not that I'm busy with family and kid stuff....but mostly it's been the depression. I just haven't had much to say that has been good....so I just haven't said anything at all. So now you know. Later Gaters....gotta go get Josh from work. Kai

Yesterday was a Beautiful day. We had a lot of fun. There is a brand new park over by Overholser Lake that the kids wanted to go to. So we went around 10am.....before it got toooo very hot. The kids just loved it. Especially Emma. She just ran and ran and ran. Each time she went down the slide she would say, "I go whee!!!"
Later in the day we went to the Mobile home park swimming pool and they got even more excersise. We all had alot of fun. Emma sat in her ring with a seat and then she kicked her feet too move herself around and kept saying..."I swimming". It was very cute. I so need to do more things like this with them. I felt alot better getting out and doing something other than sitting on my butt. Well......Here are some pics I took at the park. Click on the thumbnails for a bigger view. Hope ya like em. Later Gaters, Kai!





Hannah on slide

Bubba-roo

What a face!!

"I go whee!!!"


Hannah on Swing

Emma Rock-a-bye

Caleb on the rock wall

Birthday X 2...

We had a really nice evening at the park on Monday. Celebrating Josh turning 17 and Emma turning 2. It was alot of fun. There weren't many presents for Josh cuz we got him a stereo and it was already set up in his room and inlaws got him a nice desk chair. So that was it for him. But he was happy. Emma made out well. Her new obsession is with "Rella" ...Translation, Cinderella. So I centered everything around that. She got a cute Cinderella doll, dress, and plate set, along with a carrier for her beloved babies. Her cake was a Disney princess cake and there was a small one for josh but it was plain. It's hard to plan party things for a 17 year old boy. Never thought it would be, but it is....LOL. He is chomping at the bit to move out next summer, so I am trying to think of things he will need when he leaves. The stereo was something I thought he might like/need, and it was. He helped pick it out, and is very happy with it. Emma loves all her new toys. Her grandparents got her the wagon and an outfit and her aunt and uncle got her a care bear. The kids all had alot of fun playing at the park. But I didn't have a chance to take pics of them.....oh well.....Next time. Later Gaters, Kai!

DADDY AND HIS PRINCESS

DADDY, BUBBA AND SISSY ALL HELP
WHAT A HAUL....LITERALLY!



4 PRINCESSES BIRTHDAY CAKE


ONE HANDSOME DUDE

BIRDIE KIDS. JOSH 17 AND EMMA 2

PRINCESS EMMA IN HER NEW CINDERELLA DRESS

GIGGLE BOT

Kindergarten Graduation

Today was Little Miss Hannah's Kindergarten Graduation. It was too cute and she was so proud. Anyways...they had a little ceremony, complete with grad hats that none of them could keep on, diplomas, and a small reception afterward. I am so glad they did this. Neither of the boys had anything like this. I can't wait to scrapbook it! LOL. Later Gaters. Off to finish getting ready for Josh and Emma's birthday at the park this afternoon. Kai!




HANNAH AND MELODY....BBFE!!!

THE LITTLE GRADUATE.....CLOSED EYES AND ALL!

AIN'T I TOOO CUTE!!!

HANNAH RECIEVING HER "DIPLOMA"

MY FAVORITE PART OF KINDERGARTEN WAS.....

THE WRITING CENTER.

Midnight visitor

Well...Miss Hannah isn't a baby any more!!! She lost her first tooth last night. My kids are just growing up to fast. Sometimes I wish I could slow down time to half speed and others I wish I could speed it up and get all the kids stuff over with. But mostly I wish they would stay little, cute, and sweet. Every time Emma says "Wuffoo" I just melt. Translation....Love you! She can be soo sweet and lovey but then she can be a major tyrant that I just want to give her away. But all in all I just want my babies to be babies forever if I could.
Having a 17 year old in the house and a 2 year old at the same time makes me see how swiftly and how short time really is. Especailly since one of Joshuas friends was killed in an auto/train accident this week. It is soo sad. But I'm just very glad it wasn't Josh. I think it'd kill me if anything happened to one of my kids.
I don't know how Tyler's mom is handling it! I know it's a sad note, but I gotta go get Hannah from school. Later Gaters, Kai!

Hapy Mother's Day

I am not the perfet mother....far from it! That's for sure! But it's nice to be recoginzed for my efforts. My two middle kids brought me breakfast in bed of cerial and juice along with their homemade gifts from school. My oldest gave me a DVD set of Fiddler on the Roof, Westside Story and Guys and Dolls. It was so sweet that he remembered how much I like old musicals. Haven't gotten my gift from dh, but he is working today and I'm sure I'll get it tonight. We are going to my inlaws for dinner tonight. My sil, Amy, and I are making dinner for her. She is making enchelads and mexican rice. I made pico de gallo, guacamole, and strawberry short cake. I will be giving her copies of the pictures of the kids I had taken at Easter. I hope she likes them.

I hope all you mommies out there.....and all you someday mommies....had a wonderful blessed day. I love my kiddos and I know you all do, and that we all love being showed love and appreciation for all we do for them. Have a wonderful day! Kai

Not much blog worthy....

Lately...sorry guys. I have been dealing with an on going health problem that has had me down and out for a while. And I haven't been able to do much of anything much less post here. And I'm not feeling much better to tell the truth. But I'm here for now and am trying to make the best of it. If I could get some anti-biotics into me I'd be better, but I don't see how that's gonna happen anytime soon. So pray for me and send me good wishes to feel well enough to do the things I should be doing.

_________________________________________

Just a quick thanks to Miss Kayla for the help in figuering out how to play around with my blog template and make it look all pretty. How do y'all like it??? Do you like my doll I made??? I thought it was cute! Anyway.....big GRACIAS to Kayla for the help!!!

Not much else other than that for now. More later....I promise. Later Gaters, Kai.

Rain, Rain...don't go away....

Please stay for the rest of the day! You are so lovely and refresing...and you so match my miserable mood. Rain, Rain...don't go away! Please, please stay the rest of the day......

At the moment we are having a lovely down pour of rain. After a day of pouty gray skies......It is FAN-FRIGGIN'-TASTIC!!!! Alot of people wish the rain away. Not me. Hardley ever. But mostly not today. I just love the rain. As long as there isn't alot of wind or lightening, like now...I think it is just lovely. I am down, depressed, and sad today, and even though I like rain, for the most part, the dull grayness of it matches my mood. Kai

Poor Hannah

By the end of the day last Friday, Hannah looked like a rashey red balloon. Her face was so swollen she was unrecognizable. I took her to the ER Saturday morning. They gave her the steroids that her dr should have given her. I was soooo irritated at them. Anyway...she's alot better now. Her rash is doing alot better and the swelling is gone. She has some scaley skin we're having to deal with. I am also having to deal with people thinking that Poison Ivy and Oak are contaigeous....UGH. Ummmm......hello......it's from a PLANT not a virus! Once the oil is gone....you can't get the rash from someones allergic reaction. Don't be dumb!!! Oh well....she's alot better and that's what matters.

Other than that it's been a rough week for me. I have had a hard time just functioning. I think it's been the raiging head of the PMS monster doing me in. Now that Aunt Flow is here maybe I'll feel better. We'll see. I have alot to do. The house is a huge wreck...not that that is any different than usual, but I just can't seem to make myself get up and do anything. Mark was unhappy with me yesterday cuz of it. Oh well.....that's how it goes sometimes.

Caleb went to Tiger Safari yesterday with his Gifted class on a field trip. He had a BALL. Just would not stop talking about it for anything and even got to bring back a piece of lizard skin. Hannah gets to go to Martin Nature park on Friday. She excited about that too. Tomorrow is Joshua's 17th birthday...I sure can't believe he's that old already. It seems like yesterday we were taking him on the plane home to Kodiak to my mom's house. Emma turns 2 on Sunday....my baby is getting tooo big!!!.....Time for another baby I guess....LOL. Later Gaters, Kai.

Rashes and Potatos....

I got the kids up and going for school this morning. They were supposed to have Doughnuts for Daddy for breakfast at school....both of them were really excited about it, too. So was daddy...give him free Krispy Kreem and he's a happy camper...LOL. Well....I get the livingroom lights turned on and see that Hannah has broke out in this horrid bright red rash all over her face and arms. I take her clothes off too see how covered in the rash she is and low and behold she has it under both arms down her torso. Between her upper thighs and all over her arms and face. It is hot to the touch and itchy. The kid got some poison oak on her hands a few days ago and from what it seems this is an allergic reaction to it. She went with daddy and bubby to the doughnut thing but then Mark brought her back home. I called her pediatrition, and it took them 4 hours to call me back and tell me to give her OTC Clairatin over the weekend and if she isn't better on Monday to bring her in. UGH....I was irritated to say the least. I sure hope the Clairatin helps cuz she is just downright miserable.

The potato bandit has struck again. It is about 2 ft high with curly blonde hair, brilliant blue eyes and a giggle that would turn anyones day bright. Her name is Emmaleigh and she will be 2 on the 30th of this month. And she is the funniest thing ever. She loves her baby dolls alot and her new pink Easter bunny....But her favourite toy by far are the potatos I keep a bin in the Kitchen. She gets a big mixing bowl, or pot and fills it with the taters and carries them all over the house. I took pictures of her putting her babies in the potato bin all lined up with the potatos standing gaurd, and the biggest grin ever. As soon as I can I will post them. My cutesie bootsie...LOL. Later Gaters, Kai.

A change of plans....

So dinner yesterday was supposed to be homemade chicken fingers with taters and gravey, and green beans.....Well, Marks boss wanted me to come take care of the clothes at the store (which I do once a week) and so I wasn't able to get to make chicken fingers. Was planning on doing it today, but while I was at Walmart I saw a bag of tortilla mix and decided I wanted to try to make some of my own. SOOOOOOOOO.....my plan for dinner has changed. I am going to make chicken fajitas with homemade pico de gallo and guacamole and chips. Sounds really good to me right now. I just love mexican food! It's my favorite.

PICO DE GALLO

5 large tomatoes, seeded and diced
1 large onion, diced
1 jalapino pepper, seeded and finely minced (leave the seedes and rib if you want it spicier)
1 bunch celantro, chopped
salt to taste

Mix all these things together in a bowl and chill for at least an hour, more if you can, so the flavours can mingle. Serve with tortilla chips for dipping or use as a condement on tacos or fajitas! SOOOOO good!

GUACAMOLE

4 avacados, peeled
1 Tablespoon lemon juice
3 Tablespoons premade salsa
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon garlic powder
salt to taste

Mash avacado and add remaining ingredients. Taste and season to your taste. You can add hot sauce if you want more spice or add medium or hot salsa. I use mild cuz my kids don't like it hot. I have to usually double the recipe cuz they all inhale it so.

Hope you like these. Remember....they are just the way I do them. I'm not 100% sure if the amounts are right cuz I am writing them from memory. Sorry if it's wrong in any way. Later gaters, Kai.

Abbo's and Ocean's

My youngest child will be 2 in about 10 days. She is just adorable and as smart as a whip. My husband and I are always amazed at some of the things she does that seem above her age leval and ability. For example: The other day I was sitting in my favorite spot reading my book and she comes to me and pulls on my pants and says..."Ocean, Momma. Ocean, Momma." Well, we do not live anywhere near an ocean, and I am pretty sure she doesn't know what one is. So I told her that I didn't understand her. She says it again....I give her the shoulder shrug and say again "what baby? What do you want? I don't understand." She puts her hands out infront and says, holding out one hand..."Abbo" which translated is apple, and that I did understand. Then, with the other hand out says...."Ocean, Mommy. Ocean." She was correlating apples and ORANGES to get her point across so I could understand what she wanted. She knew that we keep them both in the same drawer in the fridge and the somehow they were related. IE, both fruit or something. It just floored me that she could make that kind of connection at her tender age. What a smart baby!!!

Yesterday and Today.....

Well....yesterday went well enough. I got alot that I wanted to do done and the kitchen is much better. I got the really bad counter cleaned off and the floor mopped, which I wasn't sure I'd do, but went ahead and did anyway. The dishes are finally all caught up...or at least until I finish the cookie, then I'll have to do them again. Today will be a day to spend with the kids, and maybe get a little laundry done. I hope to work on my bedroom later today after Josh gets up and around to help with little E.

Okay....Lunch is un imaginative...just hot dogs and chips. Dinner will be homemade chicken fingers, mashed potatos with gravey and green beans. Later Gaters, Kai.

Kids n' Cookies

Well.....Mark had a meeting on the south side of town today and I didn't have a way to get Hannah home from Kindergarten, so she stayed home, which upset Caleb, so he stayed home too. Then Josh woke up with a sore throat, so he's here as well....UGH! Oh well...no biggie. We'll just have a fun day watching movies and baking cookies together. We're gonna do a batch of Snickerdoodles and Chocolate chip if I don't get too burned out. I make wicked, kick butt cookies, if I do say so my self. So...Here's my recipes for anyone interested.....


Snickerdoodles

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar (I used light brown)
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
]/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
Topping
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars at high speed. Add egg, vanilla, and beat until smooth. In another bowl, combine flour, salt, baking soda, and cream of tartar. Pour dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, mix well. Preheat oven to 300° while you let dough rest 30-60 minutes in fridge. In a small bowl combine topping. Take about 2 1/2 tablespoons of dough and roll it into a ball. Roll this dough in the cinnamon/sugar mixture and press onto greased cookie sheet. Bake cookies 10-12 minutes, NO MORE. *Cookies may seem undercooked but will develop. Don't roll your dough into too big of a ball; they may not turn out in that much time if you do that. It's a very good cookie, it's just all a matter of getting the cooking time right.

Kick butt Chocolate chip Cookies

1 cup softened butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
2 eggs
2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon each baking powder and baking soda
1-12 oz pkg semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In large mixing bowl, cream together butter, sugars, eggs and vanilla. In different bowl, mix together flour, salt baking powder and baking soda. combine the wet and dryt ingredients. Stir in the chocolate chips. With fingers, place golf ball sized dought portions 2 inches apart on and ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 9-10 minuets or just until edges are light brown.

Okay...my biggest thing I do to make my cookies extra good is I alway try to use real butter and not margarine and I also try to use real vanilla. Sometimes I don't have those things and have to make due, but I like spending the extra little bit to make them as good as I can. Hope you like the recipes. Later Gaters....I'm off to make a mess...LOL. Love, Kai.

In the dog house

I have done something to make my husband angry with me. He won't talk to me...he won't tell me what it is. I think I know, but I'm not sure and I hate not knowing. It drives me nuts! My mom used to let me know she was angry with me and then let me stew about it for hours before she'd tell me and it alway made me crazy. My insides are mush and I am all nervous and upset now. I feel bad for whatever I did, but I can't make amends until I know what it is I did wrong. SORRY HUNNY! Is all I can say for now.

Other than that....day's going well for now. Other than what I just said. I got up and going today...which is always hard for me. I showered, dressed and got the laundry started before Emma woke up...which is always my plan, but it never happens. Then I worked on the kitchen some...it had gotten really bad again and my crap counter is a mess as well. It's still not done, but about 2/3 of the way. I hope to finish it and some more laundry today. It has been too hot to do much cooking the past few days. Had to on Sunday for Easter, but I didn't do anything but sloppy joes yesterday. I want to do a bit of baking, but just can't bring myself to turn the oven on. If it's cooler today, maybe I will. We shall see.

Dinner is Pepper Steak over hot rice, Corn and bread and butter. Don't know if there'll be dessert or not today. Probably not. The kids have been chowing on too much candy from Easter anyway. Later Gaters, Kai.

Strawberries, triffles, and messes.....

OH MY!!! Ala, Wizard of Oz...Lions and tigers and bears....OH MY! First it was Emma dumping a couple of quart pkgs of Strawberries on the floor and scrambling to get a couple "Bewwies" squirrled away to the "LeeWomb" so she could eat them. Amid stiffled giggles, I washed and hulled her a couple and sent her to the "LeeWomb" aka livingroom, to eat them. Then yesterday I made a brownie, vanilla pudding, strawberrie triffle for dessert and it SUCKED!!! To put it mildly. Flavors woulda been fine but for the fact that it was hot here yesterday and my fridge just didn't get very cold and the pudding didn't set well....so we had brownie, vanilla pudding, strawberry soupy slop for dessert last night. Marks family all said it was fine, but I was WAAAYYYY bummed!!! I am gonna try to make one again....this time with better pre-planning and more time instead of rushing it.

The Easter bunny made his yearly visit yesterday and the kids were all thrilled. Josh wasn't happy cuz I made him go to church and he had to turn right around after and work an 8 hr shift at Braums. Oh well.....he's finding out what life is all about is all I have to say. The girls looked really cute in their new Easter dresses and the boys looked oh so handsome. Even if my black wearing teen was in powder blue.....he looked so nice. What can I say....I make pretty kids...LOL. As soon as I can get Josh to email me the pics I had done on Friday I will post them.

Well, I'm off to try to accomplish something around here. The mess part of my title is the whole bloody house...as usual. The living room is trashed from Easter festivities with grass from their baskets all over the place. Laundry is backed up....again. And the Kitchen is too scary to even try to describe. I hope to get a least some of it done. Wish me luck. Later Gaters, Kai. PS....dinner is Sloppy Joes, some kind of rice mix, baby carrots with ranch dressing and some red grapes that were on sale. Kai