So What Wednesday

After months of hardcore "nudging", I have finally convinced Bethany to continue with band next year.

I am so jealous of my friends whose kids are getting out of school this week, while mine have to stick it out until next Wednesday. Why our school district has to have more days than all other school districts in southeast Michigan is beyond me.

Trying to provide vegetarian, gluten-free meals for Chris and I, and regular food for the kids is tiresome and not a good scenario for someone who doesn't much like cooking to begin with.

My almost 12-year old child is apparently a bad influence who is bound to negatively impact the lives of her peers because she is allowed to watch most PG-13 movies.

My day was made when a favorite teacher from high school commented on a picture of my friend and I on Facebook, and remembered what we gave him for Christmas 20 years ago.

I still have not watched the new season of Arrested Development on Netflix.

I have allowed myself to get sucked into Candy Crush.

I am determined to have A Plan this summer, so our days don't get wasted away arguing about whose turn it is to pick a show on Netflix and losing brain cells to Mindcraft.

My neighbor was trimming out her hastas and gave me some cuttings to plant in my yard, and my opposite-of-green thumb cannot even handled that simple gardening task. The poor hastas don't look well. Maybe I should talk to them or something.

I have been falling asleep for a few hours around the time the kids go to bed, and then waking up in the middle of the night to do all the crap I was supposed to get done after the kids were in bed. This is not conducive to feeling well rested in the morning.

What are you saying So What to this week?

So What Wednesday

Oh it's REALLY a So What week around here.

So what if our family room is totally torn apart? We completely re-arranged our living room on Mother's Day:  moved the piano from the living room to the family room, swapped chairs, brought cabinets out of the family room & into the living room and hallway. And now our family room is looking pretty dang, well...let's just say I wouldn't invite you into that room if you were to drop in for a visit.

So what if I chose to spend my Mother's Day cleaning and re-arranging furniture. Once in awhile I just get this itch for a CHANGE and that was the day. So now our living room looks totally different. We still need a few things to complete it, but I am really happy with the changes.

So what if my darling daughter has completely peeled the leather off the seat of one our dining room chairs...in tiny little bits. And she's working on a second chair. New chair covers have been ordered, which should solve the problem for the time being. Since our dining room is adjacent to our living room, the new covers will go along with our living room transformation.

So what if I'm playing store with Mathilda while writing this. She has half of my attention. Give or take.

So what if Mathilda's preferred hairstyle of late is a headband worn hippie style.

So what if we skipped preschool yesterday because I didn't feel like doing bike day. No one tell Mathilda. If she catches wind of this at school tomorrow she is not going to be a happy camper.

So what if Mathilda is now arguing with me about wearing her nightgown to play outside. Yes we've moved on from playing store. This kid never wants to take her nightgown off.

So what if the blog has been relocated to the backseat of my life these past couple weeks. Maybe longer. I'm still here, and I usually post on the Facebook page pretty regularly. But I'm definitely a bit behind in my blogging responsibilities.

So what if it's sounding like I'm going to be missing Mattie's end of the year school picnic to attend a blogger event. I am sure I can find someone to step in for me and take her so she won't miss out.

So what if I brought my (uninvited) kids to a wedding last weekend. Just the church, don't worry. I'm not rude enough to bring them to the reception and demand extra plates. Just rude enough to walk into church (late) with four uninvited guests.

So what if I'm going to take this opportunity to plug a giveaway I have going on that's ending in 2 days. So go on and enter to win 4 personal training sessions from Swift Results Personal Training. Thank you!

So what if I'd like to promise you that I'll have more giveaways going live later today (I have about 6 I need to post!) but I'm just not sure I'll be that with it. I'm battling a headache and a child who is itching to get outside and play.

What are you saying so what to today?

So What Wednesday

My allergies are worse than they've been in a LONG time. Ohmygosh, I am miserable. I'm about to go take my third allergy pill of the day and go to bed, before 11:00.

I think I've already mentioned this, but I have started the Couch25K program over again. I completed it in December and ran my first 5K race, and I even ran a 5K at the gym a week or two ago. My friend tried telling me I should skip ahead to week 4 on the app, but I'm not gonna do it. Baby steps. Some day I'm NOT going to feel like I'm about to drop dead when I'm running.

I'm so tired and it is messing with my basic brain functioning. If there is something important that I was supposed to do for you, please kindly remind me.

This week we are having the weather I've been dreaming about for months. Perfect. Beautiful. Warm.

Sunshine really helps to improve my moods & I'm so happy we've had plenty lately. That said, I dread when I'm getting ready to drive somewhere and  I look outside and see nothing but blue skies. My eyes are super duper sensitive to light AND I broke my only pair of sunglasses.

Last weekend Chris and I finally removed an old rose bush that has been taunting me since we moved in. We took down the whole flower bed and put down grass seed. It was not a nice rose bush, don't feel sorry for it.

Now I have to transplant all my tulip bulbs. Hoping they take!

I got bangs last week. I'm still getting used to them, but I think it's all good.

Today was one of the warmest days we've had so far this year, and here's me in jeans and running shoes all day.

I painted my toe nails in my van yesterday. Specifically, while parked outside of Lucy & Connor's school, getting ready to go inside to work on book fair stuff. The smell of nail polish gives Chris a headache, and I was wearing open toe shoes. Had to be done.

What are you saying So What to this week?

So What Wednesay

Once again I am a day late posting Travel Tuesday. I try, guys, I really try. Some nights I just cannot peel myself off the couch. It's like I've been drugged.

I feel like there's a conspiracy theory somewhere with the weather forecasters around here. They'll say it's gonna be a beautiful, sunny day, and that at the last second sneak in a little "possible showers and thunderstorms" comment.

We thought we were going to have a perfect day for Mathilda's field trip to the farm yesterday. And then it rained and got cold. But we still had fun, riding ponies in the rain and all!

I was at Ikea twice this week, Monday and Tuesday. My mom and I went Monday, and she forgot something. As it happened, Mathilda's farm field trip was in Canton on Tuesday, about 10 minutes from Ikea. When we were there on Monday, Mathilda got a cinnamon roll on our way out. She said she'd get an ice cream cone next time. So Tuesday she got her ice cream cone.

I have a really cute picture of Mathilda eating her ice cream cone, but I cannot for the life of me figure out how to share a picture from Instagram on Blogger. #technicallychallenged

I posted a picture of my blooming rhododendron this morning, with a comment that maybe it's time to take down the Christmas lights and cut the grass. And like magic, the lawn service just showed up to cut the grass. Happy day.

In Michigan we have what we call Construction Season. It lasts about half the year and is a real inconvenience. Especially because they never fix the roads right the first time, so they'll be re-doing them again in a couple years. My nearest freeway entrance is closed and now the main street nearest my house is under construction for God knows how long. Just a little something to make life more interesting!

Today I don't have anything planned until after school and it will feel good not to be driving 100 miles. Mathilda will enjoy staying in her jammies until 4:00, when she has to get dressed for dance.

Our television is being uncooperative today and I'm glad.

I lost Connor's boy scout camp registration form, which is due today. Always flying by the seat of my pants!

Tomorrow is my big day. Getting my hair cut. Maybe if it happened more than once a year, it wouldn't be such a momentous occasion! While I'm there I'm making an appointment to get my hair colored next week. Because if I don't make the appointment while I'm there, who knows how long it will take me to pick up the phone again?! And yes it would have made more sense to get my cut & color done on the same day, but the only appointment time I could get would not leave me enough time to pick my kids up from school. So after tomorrow, I can take a break from sock buns.

What are you saying So What to this week?

Be sure to visit Life After I Dew to read more So What Wednesday posts!

So What! Wednesday

I continue to be perpetually behind. This week I will once again be publishing a Travel Tuesday post on Wednesday. With any luck, that is.

I have totally fallen of the wagon when it comes to running. However, I did run a 5K at the gym the other day. I am super proud of myself for running the whole time, even though my time sucked and I stopped two times to tie my shoes and have a sip of water.

Despite my best intentions to eat healthier and feed my kids healthier foods, I bought two boxes of Cap'n Crunch yesterday. #1, it was on sale. #2, Mattie was begging for the rainbow cereal (aka Crunch Balls). #3, there is a new cinnamon flavor, how could I not try it? #4, Cap'n Crunch is just too wonderful not to share with my kids every once in awhile. They have been informed that they are not to eat it for breakfast before school. I try not to let them get all sugared up before school.

Remember how I said I was going to start cooking breakfast for my kids more often? Yeah, well they've been on a multi-week cereal streak. I'm just not feeling the motivation in the morning. Could have something to do with the average four hours a night of sleep I've been getting? I do usually cook breakfast at least once every weekend, that's something!

Last night I was in bed before midnight, and it felt good to get a good night's sleep! However, I still didn't get up and cook my kids breakfast.

It's raining AGAIN. Not sure what that has to do with So What Wednesday, but dang it, our basement has had enough of this already!! The grass is super green though, and flowers are blooming all over the place.

I'm confused by the fact that I get different colored tulips every year. This year I had purple and purple with white. The bunnies gobbled them up before I had a chance to take a picture.

I think it's so cute how the bunnies run wild in my neighborhood, I don't even care if they eat all the tulips. Every time I look outside I see bunnies.

Mattie is watching The Great Fairy Rescue again. I don't know how many times she's watched it this week alone. She still pretends to cry at the "scary" parts. Which are not really scary.

I need some new shoes that are somewhere between boots/winter shoes and flip flops. I've been wearing my running shoes far too often when I'm not actually running. And those things are too expensive to waste tread on non-fitness activities. What kind of shoes do you wear when it's way past time to pack up the winter stuff, but the temps are barely out of the 40s most days??

What are you saying So What to today?

So What! Wednesday

I fell asleep on the couch last night about 30 seconds after I sent Bethany and Connor to bed. I only intended to rest for a few minutes, but I woke up at 6:30 this morning. Now I feel like I need to get my pajamas on and get in my warm comfy bed.

The relentless COLD rain is not helping to motivate me this morning.

I know we desperately need rain in Michigan - I don't think I've ever seen the lakes so low - but come on! Couldn't it be like 60 degrees and raining instead of 45 degrees? That would totally be tolerable!

I just remembered that Bethany asked me to wash some of her clothes last night, when she woke up complaining that she has nothing to wear to school. Oops. I'm 99% sure she is exaggerating. If not, third day jeans never hurt anyone.

Chris is starting a job that requires afternoon hours. Planning out my schedule just got a whole lot more fun.

I'm sitting here blogging when instead I should be in the kitchen making Lucy's lunch.

My kids are like an obnoxious little herd of baby elephants, stomping through the house, up and down the stairs.

I must sheepishly admit that there is STILL a suitcase in my living room and a cooler in my kitchen. Maybe I should do something about that today?

I also still have not scheduled a hair appointment. And it's needed...badly!

I am literally pining for summer. I cannot wait!

What are you saying so what to this week?

So What! Wednesday

I'm counting the days until I'm due for an upgrade on my phone. Iphone, here I come. Finally. Hopefully I make it until then without either stomping my phone to bits or throwing it out of a moving vehicle.

We got rid of our home phone that we had through our cable/internet provider and replaced it with Magic Jack. I've had an untold number of people tell me that it keeps breaking up but I don't care. Not going back. And also, it sounds fine on my end.

Because we are slightly nuts, we decided to leave for Florida at 10 o'clock at night and drive straight through. If you never hear from me again, you'll know that our plan back fired and the kids once and for all sent us straight over the edge of sanity.

I've just enjoyed about six hours of being home alone and reveling in the silence. Even my dog has slept quietly almost the entire time. Bliss.

I'm not sure how I'll handle it if we get back from Florida and it's still wintertime in Michigan.

Getting ready for a family vacation is daunting, and I can almost see why some people opt not to travel when their kids are young. Almost, but not quite. Daunting, yes, but so worth it.

I believe this will be our third year in a row celebrating Easter away from home. I like it that way.

A goal of mine this year is to get a passport, just in case. I have no plans of international travel at the moment, but I like the idea of being able to do so if the opportunity comes up.

I cannot fathom the idea of going an entire year or more with no vacation whatsoever. I get that money is an issue, it certainly is for us. But something inside me starts going a little haywire if I don't get out of town every now and then. I would absolutely tent camp if that was the only way to do it. Or course, I actually enjoy tent camping, so I'm not sure what my point is there.

I feel a little guilty leaving my dog at home while we're on vacation. If only she weren't a big, neurotic, shedding fur ball, then maybe someone would let her stay at their house and she wouldn't miss us so much.

What are you saying So What! to this week?

So What! Wednesday

We are leaving for Florida in one week and I am completely and totally unprepared. I need to get a game plan here!

I'm kind of concerned about how traveling is going to mess with my diet. I am bringing all my Shaklee 180™ stuff with me, but it's really the driving part that is concerning me. I like to munch on candy and junk during long car rides, especially when I'm driving. It keeps my mind focused and helps me concentrate on the road.

After not wearing to a hat to school for three or four days, Mathilda once again wore a hat to school yesterday. I continue to do my best not to make a big deal out of it. I've been telling her for weeks that she can't wear hats anymore when it's spring because it will be too warm. Ha. I believe the high temperature is going to a whopping 30 degrees today.

Bethany has bronchitis and I feel so bad for her! I know how she feels because I used to get bronchitis all the time when I was a kid. It's not fun.

I try not to let things bring me down that I have no control over, but the weather. Oh this weather is really getting to me. I can't wait to go SOUTH next week!

Since Bethany's been home sick I've been watching more television than I've watched in years. We had one whole day of Say Yes to the Dress Atlanta, and now we're on day 2 of iCarly. When I was a kid I was stuck watching soap operas and boring talk shows when I was home sick.

Sometimes Mathilda's memory blows my mind. I can't believe the stuff this kid remembers. Meanwhile, I can't remember whether I fed the dog this morning.

My little girls try hard to be independent. When they feel like it. Which means that sometimes Lucy goes to school with her hair looking not quite as....smooth...as I'd prefer. And there's often toothpaste all over the bathroom counter because Mattie likes to get her own toothbrush ready.

Connor reminded me that when he was in first grade, I taught him how to make his own school lunches. I told Lucy maybe it's time she learns, since she's in first grade too. She's not too keen on that idea. So much for the independent streak.

Bethany's basketball banquet was Saturday, so now the season is really, completely over. Which makes me a little sad, even though it was hectic with practices and games and tournaments for almost 5 months.

What are you saying So What! to this week?

So What! Wednesday

I made myself a really thorough blog schedule for the month of March. The weekend was really busy and thus I am already way far behind.

I have discovered that counting calories is fun. No, really. I started using My Fitness Pal and I love it. Who knows, once I lose the rest of this weight, maybe I'll continue counting calories and using My Fitness Pal!

Mattie went to school with no hat again and I'm so excited to see her hair again!

Thursday is pajama day at preschool and I'm working in class that day. I think I'm going to conveniently "forget" to wear my pj's. Either that or go out and buy some new ones tomorrow because I don't think I have any cute enough that I'd be willing to wear in public. I'm so not into that pajamas as clothes trend.

I have been so exhausted at night, which is contributing to me being behind on everything. Right now I have a few blog posts to catch up on, some paperwork to do, laundry to switch, and a dishwasher that needs loading. And I absolutely have to be in bed within the next 45 minutes if I hope to get a decent amount of sleep. Not sure I see all of these things happening.

Bethany's basketball season is over and I'm really kind of sad about it. She didn't know what to do with herself Monday afternoon with no practice. It will be nice having her schedule freed up, but it's been so much fun watching the girls play and improve their game and develop friendships with one another. It's a mixed 5th/6th grade team, and seven of the 6th graders have agreed to go on to 7th grade CYO basketball together next year. Enough for a team, yay! And they already have a coach lined up. I'm already looking forward to it.

I'm not a sports fan AT ALL, but I love watching Bethany's basketball games!

I've barely been working out and I still managed to lose 4.5 pounds last week. I'm hoping the number on that scale goes down again this week!

I'm so annoyed with Pandora. I have to keep changing stations because it's playing crappy songs. Plus it totally drains the battery on my phone.

We have somehow gotten through over 11 years of parenting without hiring a babysitter, until this year.

What are you saying So What! to this week?

So What! Wednesday

I'm counting calories for the first time in...well this is technically the only time I've ever really counted calories, with the exception of during college, when I had to do it for a grade in my nutrition class.

I'm really curious and hopeful about getting results from this whole Shaklee 180™/calorie counting/dietary supplement thing.

I feel like a big moron because I rsvp'd for a Twitter party, promoted it all day, got my grid all set up, sat there and waited for it to start, and then realized that it was over because it had actually been scheduled for the day before.

Mattie was a whopping 30 minutes late for preschool on Tuesday. I took her anyway. Her teachers know me pretty well and didn't even flinch.

I can hardly believe it, but Mattie did not wear a hat to school on Tuesday. This was her own decision, I never even asked her not to wear it. She asked me to braid her hair, too. Oh happy day! I'm so proud of my Little OCD* (isn't that cutest nickname? Mom of the Year, that's all I'm saying).

My gym time was kind of ruined on Tuesday when I realized that I forgot to bring my headphones in with me, and my Kindle Fire didn't have any books I haven't read downloaded on it. The gym should obviously have open wifi, don't you agree?

I'm super proud of myself for choosing to have a little bowl of nuts for a snack instead of ice cream. And disgusted that a serving of ice cream is only 1/2 cup. Seriously, who only eats 1/2 cup of ice cream? Why bother? In my former life, I was probably easily putting back anywhere from two to four servings of ice cream at a time.

I sometimes bite off more, okay way more, than I can chew. I annoy myself with this tendency.

I think if I had a first floor laundry room, my laundry problem would not be so ridiculous. Sometimes I forget it's down there until someone starts pestering me for clean socks or something.

I haven't washed my hair in like three days, and it doesn't even feel dirty. I think this means I'm not sweating enough when I work out. Which means, obviously, I need to step it up a couple notches.

Even after months of going to my gym, I'm still too intimidated and self-conscious to do the weights when it's crowded. But I know I need to hit the weights regularly, so I have to get over this.

What are you saying so what to this week?

*Yes, it's true that Mattie has some OCD tendencies. Like wearing a hat every.single.day since about Thanksgiving time. I shouldn't make fun...but it's kind of funny, actually.

So What! Wednesday

My kids have been sick, which naturally means that I haven't been working out. And even though it's only been a few days, I know I will struggle to get back with the program.

I just started watching Season 1 of Downton Abbey a few days ago and I love it. I am anxious to get caught up through Season 3!

If you follow me on Facebook, you might have noticed my recent whines about our newly acquired Hulu Plus service. I really hate sounding like a spoiled brat. I mean, I'm basically complaining about having 598 channels instead of 600. Nonetheless, I am annoyed.

I'll get over it. I can totally live without television, so missing a couple shows, or waiting longer to see them, is kind of only a big deal in theory.

We are ready to make the plunge and cancel our cable TV and our home phone. I am totally ready to let the cable TV go, but I'm all nerved up about the phone! I think we found a solution to help ease me into the 21st century - Magic Jack. Then hopefully we can keep our home phone number and everyone is happy :-)

Back fat is almost as annoying to me (on my own body) as belly fat, which has always been my nemesis.

I love days when Lucy likes the hot lunch selection and I don't have to pack her lunch. Our school district hired a chef this year to make our lunch menu healthier, so it's not as bad as you might be thinking. Plus I think she can possibly get more calories in her if she gets hot lunch, and she needs them!

I recently discovered that avocados are really good in smoothies. Who'd have thought? (Well apparently, lots of people. But not me!)

I am so happy every time I walk in Connor's bedroom and see how beautifully clean it is. 

Mattie has no preschool all week and I'm glad about that. She's been sick and wouldn't have been going anyway, so at least she won't be missing anything.

What are you saying So What! to this week?

So What! Wednesday

It's Wednesday, which means I'm saying So What!

I've been skating by on an average of four hours of sleep. This is not good. 

Because I've been so sleep deprived, I've also been having really crappy workouts. I just can't run three miles when I can barely coordinate my limbs to move.

As much as I don't enjoy soliciting auction donations, it is exciting when I pick up the mail at preschool and see a stack of envelopes filled with donations! Plus making dozens of phone calls to businesses has to be good for my phone phobia.

I'm annoyed that we're having a couple super warm January days and they've been ruined by constant rain.

When we have days in the 50s in January, it begins to feel unfair when we then have days in the 20s.

We've started selling off our collection of Thomas trains and it's making me a little bit sad. 

I need to get my hair colored so badly. Oh my goodness. I am way too young for all this gray hair! Yet the thought of the $100+ appointment keeps me from picking up the phone to schedule.

Mattie found a box of ginger snap cookies in the cupboard that has been in there since last summer and she can't stop eating them. I'm guessing she likes stale cookies?

I was running late this morning and drove the kids to school with no make-up on. Please understand, that never happens. I don't even get out of the car, but still.

What are you saying So What! to this week? If you're a blogger, link up with Shannon & share your own So What! Wednesday post!

 

So What! Wednesday

I'm linking up with Shannon at Life After I "Dew" once again to say So What!

If there is ice cream in the house, I can't not eat it. Same goes for candy, homemade cookies, and pretty  much anything chocolate. I am a weak, weak woman.

Monday I attempted my first outdoor run in a month. I got new shoes and I wanted to take them for a spin in the great outdoors. Except it is freezing here in Michigan. Like ridiculously cold.  So cold that my muscles didn't feel like they were working properly, and I was the ONLY person on the trail. And I was way under-dressed. And there was snow on the ground. I lasted about 40 minutes, but I didn't get very far, and I did more walking than running. I think I will stick to the treadmill until the temps top 30 degrees. Because I am not hardcore.

Despite everything I just typed, I am considering purchasing some cold weather running gear so that I can in fact run outdoors when it's freezing cold outside.

My new running shoes make me feel like I'm walking on air. I love them. Thank you to the very patient man at the running store who brought me several pair of shoes to try and did his best to entertain Mattie while I tried them on and made my decision. And also didn't bat an eye while she ran laps around the store.

Mattie's school was canceled Tuesday due to extremely cold temperatures, and I was so relieved.

I took Bethany and her friend shopping Sunday and I was appalled at the retro fashions that look like they came straight out of Winkelman's, circa 1987. Yikes. My grandma always told me that everything comes back in style sooner or later, but some things should keep their place in the past.

People keep making comments to me about me losing weight (I haven't weighed myself in ages - don't know how much I've lost, or if I have even lost anything). And that's great and makes me feel good and everything. But I'm still fairly certain I'm bigger now than I was when Mathilda was a newborn. And I felt fat then. It's all a matter of perspective, truly. I just needed to gain a bunch of weight and then lose it to realize that what I thought in the past was fat was actually not so bad, in comparison. Plus, if ice cream and homemade baked goods keep making their way into my house, I'm in big trouble. Weak I tell you, so weak!

I wish someone would direct me to the island of the misplaced device chargers. How can we have 8 Apple products, 2 smart phones, and 3 Kindles in this house, and only have the ability to locate (on a good day) about three chargers for all of these devices combined? What happens to these things???

Last year we were so spoiled with a mild winter, and now my reasons for hating this time of year are all coming back to me full force.

We now have a one-week vacation planned for this summer, at a cottage in Port Austin. Combined with our Chinese foreign exchange students, that means four weeks of our summer are already spoken for. Wow, that happened fast. 

I got a random gift card in the mail this week and I literally have absolutely no idea where it came from. Not that I'm complaining! But an explanatory note would have been nice to satisfy my curiosity!

What are you saying So What! to this week?

So What! Wednesday

Time for So What! Wednesday!

...so what...

I have so much to do which is basically making me want to do nothing but curl up on the couch with a good book and a comfy blanket. Or maybe a cuddly 3-year old.

I stayed up way last night, to ALMOST finish Christmas cards. Then I had to take a nap this morning because I was pretty useless.

Mattie is still wearing a hat 24/7. Seriously, should I be concerned? Chris thinks her hair is going to start falling out. I have had minimal success getting her to take a few 5 minute breaks throughout the day, and sometimes it falls off while she's sleeping.

Christmas is in TWO WEEKS!!! WTH? It always sneaks up on me like that.

My knee has been really hurting me, but I still have to prepare for my 5K on Sunday. I'm taking today off, and I plan on taking Saturday off. Hopefully I don't make it worse, but must.keep.training.

I have to leave here in a few minutes to pick my kids up from school, and neither Mathilda nor I are dressed yet. Time to get snapping...as soon as I get this post published!

I feel like the biggest slacker blogger lately. I go through bouts of falling asleep as soon as as I sit down in front of the computer at night, and of being unable to concentrate with Mathilda's constant chatter during the day. Sometimes you just have to sit on the floor and do a puzzle, you know? Or go to the "beach" (aka the living room picture window) for a picnic. Or sit and stare at you to-do list, willing yourself some motivation.

I finally put music on my iPod a few days ago. I have had my iPod for a couple years now, and had absolutely no music on it. I was desperate when I started running outside last week. Because running with no music is about the most boring thing ever. And almost every song I put on it is a free Christmas download from Amazon. So what? It does the trick!

One of my oldest friends just had her first baby Monday and I can't wait to meet him! Even though I know I will be insanely jealous and want my own baby as soon as I hold him.

I have this weird thing about doing at least 10 So What! things every week. Maybe Mattie gets that OCD thing from her mother.

What are you saying So What! to this week?

So What! Wednesday

Here's what I'm saying So What! to this week...

...I love new age/self-help books? They're so interesting!

...I'm really annoyed with one of Bethany's teachers, who told the kids that they'll get held back and have to repeat 6th grade if they don't do well on the MEAP* test. Nothing like freaking the kids out even more about a stupid test that matters way more than it should!

...I took Mathilda to an IEP** meeting at the elementary school this week because sometimes it's just  not possible to get a sitter for every little thing. She was pretty good and only interrupted me to ask what color crayon she should use next about half a dozen times.

...I'm still not getting enough sleep. When will I learn?

...I discovered the chocolate covered popcorn at Trader Joe's, and I'm not sure if that's a bad thing or a very, very good thing.

...sometimes I feel like I'm nagging my kids 24/7. (umm, news flash...I am)

...I use to try like the dickens to get Mathilda to NOT take a nap, now I just roll with it when it happens and let her get her sleep when she can. If you're wondering why I would try to prevent nap time, just know that for every hour of nap time she gets, an hour can be added to the length of time it takes to get her to sleep at night. I much prefer nighttime sleeping!

...I'm so excited to take Connor to Lego KidsFest this weekend! It looks like so much fun!

...my dog likes to come in the bathroom while I'm taking a shower. She cozies up on the bath mat and hangs out with me while I'm showering. If I don't bring her in the bathroom with me, she'll push and scratch at the door until someone comes along and opens it for her.

...I'm proud of myself for finishing the first four days of Couch25K. I never in a million years thought that I would ever be capable of running at all, and now I feel like I can totally do this thing.

What are you saying So What! to this week?

*The MEAP is Michigan's annual standardized testing

** Lucy is in speech, so we have an annual IEP meeting with her teacher, speech therapist, etc. to discuss her progress and make a new plan for the year.

So What! Wednesday

This week I'm saying So What! if...

...I'm as excited as my kids when I get to go on school field trips with them.

...I go to the gym way too late at night sometimes, but I do like being there when it's practically empty so the sleep shortage is a worthy trade-off for me.

...my dog is a total dork, but she is as gentle as they come and I'm so thankful for that.

...I envision a time in the future when I have no pets, and it makes me happy. I love animals, I really do, but I wouldn't be averse to a 5 or 10 year hiatus from sharing a home with them.

...I've already put a decent dent in my Christmas shopping, but it's going to be hard not to fall into my longtime habit of stressing about last minute gifts. No matter how prepared I think I'm going to be, it somehow never ends up like that.

...I have started the Couch25K program for the second time...I've completed the first two days so far.

...if my kids leave their wet towels and dirty clothes on the bathroom floor one more time, they might just find their underwear on the front lawn.

...that spy kit Connor wanted me to help him buy from the Scholastic order form? I told him he couldn't have it because he chose to spend part of his share of the purchase price at the Dollar Store. Then I ordered it through Mathilda's preschool class so it will be delivered in secret and I'll surprise him with it for Christmas.

...even though I was excited to chaperone Connor's field trip today, I totally expected the field trip itself to be boring. And it actually ended up being really fun!

...despite the fact that I enjoyed the field trip immensely, I am ashamed to admit I was snoozing a little during the naturalist's talk at the nature center. I'm sure it was totally a reflection on my wacky sleep patterns and nothing at all to do with the speaker (seriously, he was good!).

What are you saying So What! to this week?

So What! Wednesday

It's time to link up for So What! Wednesday!

So What! if...

...I just pretty much talked Mathilda out of going to Tot Time at the library this morning. I guess the twentieth time of me saying in a super chipper voice, "we could stay home and play today if you'd like!" did the trick.

...Mathilda cracks me up when she talks about when she was a baby. It usually starts something like this, "When I was a baby, I was crying..." You're not too far off the mark, kid.

...I'm frustrated that for some reason the girls' hand-me-down shoes rarely work out. Somehow they never seem to fit the next girl. I have all Lucy's shoes she wore in preschool, and all of them are too big for Mathilda.

...allergies are kicking my family's collective butt this year and it's getting old, real old.

...every day I'm so afraid I'm going to forget to do something on my calendar and I'm looking at that dang thing every couple hours to double check. Coupled with that is the fear that I forgot to write something on the calendar in the first place, in which case I would never ever ever remember to do it.

...the other night I got an amazing 7 hours of sleep, and I felt like crap when I woke up in the morning, like that foggy, head-achy feeling that I slept too long.

...I want to be like Gwyneth Paltrow and work out for an hour and a half every day.

...but my hand still goes numb sometimes when I over-do it, and I tend to get debilitating headaches, and that kind of freaks me out. So then I start slowing down because I don't want to wind up passing out or visiting the ER.

...I need to add a lot more weights to my workouts but they BORE me. Still though, I need to do it if I ever want to see any results.

...speaking of results, how is it that I have increased my workouts by like 200% and decreased my food intake - completely eliminating meat and reducing my sugar intake, yet my jeans are still tight? I'm in it for the health benefits more than anything, but it would be nice if I could lose a few pounds in the process.

What are you saying So What! to this week?

So What! Wednesday

This week I'm saying So What! if...

...I was obliged to accept 3 additional Novocaine shots at the dentist Monday morning, and even then it hurt. However, I decided to figuratively keep my mouth shut and get it over with.

...I am so happy with my new white fillings, I would totally endure the pain and discomfort again to get the rest of my fillings replaced.

...I am relieved the pediatrician finally broke down and said Mathilda has asthma. I definitely do NOT want her to have asthma, but if it means she is at long last prescribed some medication that will help her, that's all I can ask for.

...I'm still staying up too late. My days are so busy, I feel like I can't get anything done until the kids are in bed. And before I get anything useful done, I feel entitled to a little relaxation.

...finding time to schedule my sick kids into doctor appointments is problematic. I have been to the pediatrician's office every week for the last 4 weeks, plus once to urgent care, AND two kids have an appointment next week, one has one the following week, and I think I'm going to have to get Lucy in there tomorrow. When? When I ask you?! Stop coughing, kids! I mean it!

...there are a couple really fun opportunities coming to fruition for me in the coming weeks that I'm really excited about...

...I understand the necessary evil of school fundraisers, but they're already way past old this school year.

...I knew it would be chaotic having kids in three schools this year, but I didn't fully comprehend just how chaotic. I'm doing my best to keep calm and carry on.

...although I have determined that we will not be turning our furnace on until November 1st, I can already feel myself wimping out.

...I don't think we're going to get to swimming one last time this season as I had hoped.

...while Mathilda was at story time at the library today, I could not resist picking out no fewer than 18 books to check out for the kids. Now the question is, will we actually read all of them?

...Starbucks salted caramel frappuccino...oh so good...

So What! Wednesday

I don't know about you, but this week I am full of So Whats!

Today I totally blew off housework and Mattie and I met our bff's at the park. It was a gorgeous day, and the dishes were waiting for us when we got home.

I sometimes feel like a huge failure as a parent.

I am beyond annoyed because I had a perfect family holiday vacation planned out in my head, and even got Chris on board, and then found out the kids have to be back to school sooner than I thought and we won't have enough time. 

I thought for a minute about letting the kids miss a couple days of school so we could still do the trip, and then found out that Chris has to be back to work on the same day they have to be back in school. Not meant to be!

Mathilda is on a multitude of medications and is behaving like a lunatic. I am not so patiently waiting for an asthma diagnosis and hopefully a prescription for the same low dose steroid Lucy takes daily (and that has made a tremendous difference in her health!). I hate drugging up my kids, but I grew up constantly afflicted with respiratory issues and I can't stand the thought of my kids not being able to breathe like normal kids.

I worked in Mattie's classroom on her first day of preschool, and she behaved much better than I thought she would. Hooray for pleasant surprises!

Sometimes I think that we (meaning Chris and I) need to do something drastic with our kids to change the way they are growing up. Not like join a cult drastic, but something that would change their view of life and the world and help them become better human beings. 

I still read to Bethany and Connor at bedtime. We have been working our way through Anne of Green Gables for awhile.

I have never spanked my kids, but I yell at them plenty. And sometimes I think that's just as bad. But I would still never ever spank them.

The kids have only been back to school for a week and already bedtimes are slipping. There are not enough hours in the day!

I am so relieved that Lucy did not want a big birthday party this year. Yet I also can't help but feel that she got a little short changed. She's so easy to please, and I guess we better enjoy that while it lasts! 

I tried to tweak a frosting recipe for Lucy's birthday cake yesterday, and while it tasted delicious, it was a runny mess. I made do, but it was not at all what I had in mind.

It's 10 p.m. and I'm trying to make a very important decision. Should I go to the gym, or should I do laundry? Or should I go to bed with my book? Either way, I must stick with my 1 a.m. bedtime. This mama requires more than four hours of sleep!

I think I only eat lunch and dinner about 50% of the time. But I never skip breakfast.

I'm not really a big coffee drinker, but I want a Keurig. 

What are you saying So What! to this week?

So What! Wednesday

It's been awhile since I've linked up with Life After I "Dew" for So What! Wednesday. It's time I get back on track, don't you think?

So What!...

...I'm so sad my kids are going back to school today...

... I stayed up way too late last night and had to get up way too early this morning...

...I fed my kids sugary Pillsbury cinnamon rolls for breakfast. Hey, it's a special occasion and they'll only be at school for a half day anyway!

...I'm a little nervous about Bethany walking a mile to school with her friend...she's never walked that far without an adult!

...I'm waiting until Mattie wakes up to eat breakfast because I don't want the blender to wake her when I make my smoothie.

...my kids just finally learned to sleep in for the first time in their lives...just in time for back to school!

...the munchkins are all ready for school early and annoying the heck out of me by hovering around me as I try to write this...find something to do already!

...I should really go to the gym today while the kids are in school, but instead I think I'm going to come home and be lazy after I drop everybody off. Four and a half hours of sleep does not cut it!

...I need to put myself back on a bedtime...

...I'd really like to be one of those people who gets up early and makes it to the 6:00 a.m. spinning class...

What are you saying So What! to this week?