I had one of those days last Friday where I realized I truly had a boy. It was a series of events that required me to clean up after him all day! First, my son got a hold of my daughter’s bottle of water and dumped in the living room. Then, he tipped over the dieffenbachia tree and spilled the dirt. Finally, he used a plastic cup to scoop clean (thankfully!) kitty litter from the original box and dumped that around the kitchen and nearby half-bath. Unfortunately, our shop vac is on the fritz since I tried to vacuum packing peanuts in the basement a while ago, my vacuum hose is dying and the new Shark stick vacuum (which I finally returned today) just doesn’t cut it. So, I cleaned up the old fashioned way: a broom!

This also was the same day that we found out he had broken our digital camera (I’d known it was dropped but I didn’t discover the it-costs-more-to-fix-than-to-buy-a-new-camera button that had popped off until later). I liked our camera so I’m looking to replace it with a similar, but upgraded, one: A720IS. Sigh. It’s definitely been a different experience than when my daughter was a toddler. I’m glad it’s summer so we can spend time outside and let him rip the leaves off trees instead of destroying our things inside!

I really wanted a little kitchen for my darling kids, who both love to play with their plastic food, grocery cart and mini pots and pans. But, we just don’t have the space and even the little ones are pretty expensive. So, when I saw this make-your-own oven in Parents magazine, I juust had to try it. I let my daughter help so it’s got a little personality, and she thinks it’s really special. We took a moderately sized cardboard box and I cut off two of the side flaps with a box cutter. I used those to cut out knobs and glued water bottle lids to it. I cut one piece of black construction paper to the “door” and lined the inside with tin foil. I printed off the computer four “hot” burners and used packing tape to adhere and protect it. Avery colored and glued random bits of cardboard on the side and, for whatever reason, took apart a pen that wasn’t working and glued some of the springs on top.

Bonus: it doubles as a robot!

So, you’d think Home Depot was Home Depot, right? I am spending 8 days visiting my parents in Tucson, AZ, with my husband who took precious vacation days to be here with my family. It has become clear that our kitchen project is imminent, so we figure we might as well do what we can while we are here. I’ve already drawn out what we want on graph paper, with measurements (I’ve made my husband measure with me for the umpteenth time). The next step is to legitimize it at the kitchen center and get an estimate for the cabinets we want. We’ve got the time, we’ve got the babysitting and we’ve got Home Depot. What could be simpler?

I made an appointment and excitedly arrived at the kitchen design center. Well, it turns out that Peggy at the Home Depot by my parents’ house is on commission, and she will not take the time to electronically lay out our kitchen. I burst into tears. Seriously. I am so emotional about getting this kitchen done that the lady made me cry because she won’t help me complete step 2 of about 2,541. I can understand this particular store wasn’t going to benefit, but it wasn’t like we were keeping her from “paying customers;” we were the only ones in her department the 30 minutes we were there.

Not only this, but she tells me this Home Depot cannot get the cabinets I wanted, and she cannot get the number for the Home Depot nearest me (to find out if that’s the case there, too, or not) because “there are thousands of Home Depots.” Really? That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. That just about put me over the edge.

So, I am thankful that we don’t live here and won’t be working with their kitchen design center. And, I hope to have a better experience when I finally arrive home. I was mistaken to think that one Home Depot is just like any other, but I would imagine employees still should be trained that customers come first, no matter where they are making their purchase (I planned on Mills Pride cabinets, so it’s not like I was taking the design to a competing home improvement store). The good news is, I submitted a comment on the Home Depot web site, although it didn’t appear to go through (I got an error page), the next day I received a nice response and should be getting a $25 gift card to encourage me to come back. It seems whenever I expect to get something like that I don’t, but when I don’t even think twice about it, I do. Funny how things work out like that. At any rate, I am thankful for their quick reponse and appreciate the gift card offer. 

It was the best day of my life and it was … not so much. For the past five years, I have watched my already decrepit kitchen slowly but surely fall to pieces. We were planning a kitchen redesign three years ago when I was pregnant with our first, Avery. But, when my opportunity to work part-time fell through (or, more accurately, was taken from me), it became financially impossible for us. So, we very sadly put it on the back burner.Now, the rate of deterioration has increased. In the past few months, two shelves have fallen and then last week ….

The Shark 2-in-1 vacuum is one of my favorite Christmas presents (although I bought it myself!). It’s light and easy to use so not only does it make cleaning my wood floors a snap, but my daughter LOVES it. So, she often helps by vacuuming up after meals and after many of her messes. The only downside is that it’s not cordless, but that may be for the best  since Avery uses it a lot–and she’s not quick–and it never loses power. I bought it at Target on sale for $10, and it’s been worth every penny!

Today was our annual Christmas cookie baking day with our good friends. There were three moms and three young girls (as well as a couple toddler boys and one baby!) so we wanted to have them help. This day is more about spending time with friends and having fun while making memories (with flour on your face!) than making perfect Christmas cookies. The yummy treats the girls are able to have fun helping with were:

We almost had a disaster this morning. The toilet was nearly overflowed. It was clogged so I was avoiding it (I have limited success with  the plunger). But Avery just had to flush it. I thought we’d be okay but I tried to plunge then she flushed again before I could stop her. Yikes! Now the water is slowly but surely … rising! I plunged in a panic to no avail. So, I had Avery grab the phone so I could call my husband–although I really wasn’t sure how he could help me short of coming home to save me from a toilet water flood.

I was throwing everything from around the toilet into the tub to save myself a lot of cleaning. The waterfall was imminent! Before Avery returned from downstairs, I found myself flailing down them to grab some towel rags to soak up the water.  When I returned to the scene, Avery handed me the phone. I began to plunge and dial. By the time I was talking with Matt, it seemed the water had at least stopped rising, but I couldn’t be sure. It was just barely to the edge of the bowl by now–maybe about 1/4″ shy. So, he instructed me to turn the shut-off valve so no more (or very little) water would enter the bowl. Phew! I closed the door and considered the bathroom off-limits.

But, I thought, this was an opportunity to let God be the hero. So, I announced that we were going to pray for God’s help. I returned to the bathroom and grabbed the plunger. And I prayed. Avery asked, “Why you talking to God for?” (I’ll have to work on her grammar another time.) “Because all things are possible with God!” I responded. In the meantime, the curiosity of my 1-year-old was piqued. He was waving his toothbrush and coming dangerously close to the offending toilet. As I was yelling, “Back up, get out!” the toilet gurgled and the water disappeared. It’s (kind of) a miracle! I was able to turn the water back on and we once again had a functioning toilet. Praise God! And so we did ….

Prepare 4 cups instant potatoes (usually as 8 servings on the box of “potato flakes”) using about 1/3 c more potato flakes to make it a bit drier than normal.

Top generously with butter and suger, cut into quarters and roll. I’ll post a picture after we make some at Thanksgiving!

Where do all the socks go?

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Have you ever had one of those days when everywhere you go everything just stinks? I am having one of those days today. It smells like a sewer in the basement. The kitchen reeks of sour, rotten milk. The kids room always has a hint of pee, and very unfortunately, I smell cat poop in the living room. And our room stinks of smelly socks and feet! Makes me think, what smells will there be in heaven?

For those of you who have a dishwasher but insist on washing the dishes (probably as well as I do without a dishwasher) before putting them in the machine, please stop. Out of respect for those of us who desperately desire a dishwasher, stop the madness!

According to Consumer Reports:

In our house, I am the dishwasher. I love the look I get from other women when they find out that I have two kids and no machine to do this duty for me. Washing dishes is my most hated chore—always has been actually. It’s time-consuming and gross, and I always, always get wet. And it’s a never-ending task! There are days I don’t think I can bear to wash another dish.

When my husband had the house to himself for four days, he had used two bowls, a plate and a couple spoons and knives. No problem. But after one day of me and the kids, there are four-plus bowls, six or more plates, at least two glasses (I try to drink water all day but keep misplacing the glass), plus a kid cup or two, and nearly a dozen eating utensils. And that’s before I make dinner! Now, I shouldn’t complain. I know I am not the only one in the world who doesn’t have a dishwasher. They are a modern convenience. But I will be so extremely thankful when I can say (one part of) my job has been replaced by technology.

Until then, here are a few tips for making the best of it. One, wash dishes right after dinner. The best way to start the day is not with Folgers (I don’t drink coffee), but walking into a clean, uncluttered kitchen! I have a difficult time with this one, however, because I want to relax. I’ve been working all day, after all. Sometimes this is family time, too. But, by doing the dishes I can get a break from the kids while my husband plays with them. This doesn’t always work since Avery likes to help—thus guaranteeing I get even wetter than usual.

Which brings me to my second tip: have the kids join you. I know kids aren’t always the most helpful when it comes to chores, but it is a great bonding time and, I hope, it will help them learn to understand that contributing to the household is part of being a family. Now that Avery is 3 1/2, she actually can be helpful. Her jobs include putting away the silverware (sans sharp knives of course) and rinsing the soap bubbles off dishes I’ve washed.

The third tip is, if you find yourself washing dishes, by yourself, in the peace and quiet of the kitchen while your kids are occupied somewhere else, use that time to pray and meditate. I know we moms are busy, and sometimes we think we are too busy to spend time with God. In her book, “The Busy Mom’s Guide to Prayer,” Lisa Welchel (yes, Blair from Facts of Life) offers this and many more tips to continuously connecting with our Father, rather than packaging it up into one or two prayer sessions at the beginning or end of a day. Use everyday tasks and objects as inspiration. While doing the dishes, for example, pray Psalm 51:2: “Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.” You can even hang an index card with the  verse (or other verses you want to instill in your heart) above the sink as a reminder to focus on God during this “down time.” I think I’ll go do that right now.

“Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.” Psalm 51:2

See also Oh, and another thing …

Today I am wearing my mommy uniform, so proclaimed by my adoring husband. It consists of black jogging pants (with a stripe so they’re fancy), a red cotton shirt (it’s cool today so it’s a long-sleeve one) and a black matching hoodie. And I guess I have to admit: I wore the same thing yesterday. Is it really that bad?

It’s clean! It’s a miracle in itself that it doesn’t have snot, throw up or any other results of natural bodily functions encrusted on it. It survived a day and deserves a second chance. So, maybe a day or two in between wouldn’t kill me. But it would require more thought. I have enough to do than to set up an excel spreadsheet (those of you know my husband will appreciate this reference) of my favorite cozy outfits to wear, how many times they’ve been worn and when they were last washed. So, I save myself the trouble and wear it two days in a row.

This also saves me from doing unnecessary laundry. If I am not careful, I err on the side of washing, which means something may have only been worn once and it goes in the washer. That’s a lot of extra work that could be saved by ensuring I’ve worn something to its full extent. Makes perfect sense to me. Besides, it’s comfy!

There’s a lot of pressure, at least in some circles, for moms to look good all the time. It’s part of the supermom image. If you don’t have time to do your hair or wear the latest fashions, you must not be a good mom, right? Ridiculous! I find the more effort I put into making myself look like the perfect mom, the less likely I am to feel like one. So, pull your hair into a basic pony, and wear your mommy uniform with pride!

“For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7