D was home last weekend, but there are no pics since we just did usual things which now feel unusual when he is with us. Friday we went to the skateboard park, lunch and then D and M did story time at the library while the big boys and I looked for books. Saturday and Sunday were running errands and playing outside when it was pretty. Monday D stayed for the whole day and left in the evening (flying overnight) to return to VA. That worked beautifully because he got to take M to preschool and pick him up. We went on a 'date' to the grocery store while M was at school. The big kids got to see him after school also, play some catch and go out to dinner before dropping him off. I enjoyed not yelling at children, not making decisions, not doing laundry(yet it got done--must be the laundry fairy), and generally slacking for the whole weekend. Can't wait till D comes back! Or till we get there....Who am I kidding, he will be here many times long before we get there.
I am feeling negative about the house thing. Our first house sold in 4 days. Our second house sold in 2 weeks. It has been more than 75 days on the market; I know it is a bad market, but this is getting to be a bit much. I used to love this house. I used to think this house was the prettiest house in the world. It is now a prison. I am beginning to think of marking tallies on the wall for days on the market. It will sell eventually....maybe. D joked that by the time we lowered the price enough for it to sell we might have enough money for a down payment on a 8 x 8 garden shed at Home Depot. Of course, that would be after selling all the furniture that we wouldn't need. Gallows humor--that's what keeps me going.
I have been cleaning in hopes that we might get showings this weekend. Let me give you my tip for keeping your wood floors sparkling. It sounds insane and like a ton of work, but after you do the in-depth cleaning it lasts for nearly a month with only dust mopping. First dust mop. Then mop with water and let the floor dry. For the next part you will need the Orange Glo Mop system (this site is not endorsed by Orange Glo nor have I received any kickbacks from Orange Glo, but if they want to send me some free product I would write a further GLO-ing review in another post on thisblog with a minuscule audience). Put a little water on the microfiber pad of the mop (do not soak it) and then spread Orange Glo directly on the microfiber pad. I know it says to spread it on the floor and you can do that, but your wood floor will look like it has chicken pox forever after if you follow their directions. Listen to me, put the Orange Glo directly on the mop and go mop your wood floor. As mop begins to dry go put on some more cleaner on your microfiber pad{love the word microfiber}. Mop the next section. When you are done stay off the floor for at least 30 minutes so it can dry completely. I have had several others try my method with terrific results. And if it seems like I am over the edge OCD about my clean and glowing wood floors, you're right. I am.
happythankyoumoreplease is a movie that looks interesting to me. The story seems interesting and there is a character in the movie who has alopecia universalis (areata is the scalp only like me, universalis is all hair all over). I went to look up information about the movie and found an interview with the actor who played the woman with alopecia. She made a very big deal about the fact that to prepare for the role she shaved her eyebrows. hmmmmm.... She shaved her eyebrows only to prepare for this role and found it very transforming. hhhmmmm...I wonder if she took on the role of a quadriplegic she might sit really still in a chair for 10 minutes and find a deep understanding of paralysis. Maybe I am too sensitive about this subject. Just saying that for a woman to have visible hair loss it takes an emotional toll. Still want to see the movie anyway.
I had the gutters cleaned and moss killer put on the roof last week. D and I looked at the roof in May and thought summer would take care of the little moss we had. Summer never came. So I had the roof blown off and moss killer put on to help get rid of the thick layer of moss we had. How thick? Let this little LEGO man show you....
All moss and about 75% of the roof was covered.
Quick kid update.
M: D now calls him 'el diablo'; a bit more palatable than my flat out calling him satan I suppose. he loves preschool and the teachers love him though he can't seem to tell me a thing about his day when he gets in the van. He is night waking and comes to my room and gets hugs or goes to E's room and crawls in bed to cuddle. Not sure how long that is going to last considering E came down complaining about waking up with bear on his face. M loves to ride his bike and build with the cardboard blocks in the playroom. He hates eating what everyone else has for dinner. He likes to do the opposite of whatever he is told to do, especially when I am the one telling him to do it.
G: is G. Wiggling teeth and biting his nails down to nubs. He loves school because he is a sponge. His favorite subject is reading. And math. And science. And library. And art. And, well you get the idea. After school he can be found on his bike or playing with his buddies from the cul-de-sac. Inside his favorite thing to do is read or write and illustrate a story. G is getting a bit of a sassy mouth; he is in first grade and I would be worried if he wasn't trying to sass me. Just waiting for the experimenting with 'bad words'.
E: E is preparing for an adventure with 4th grade camp. I will write more on that in another post. He is confident in class (thanks Sylvan Learning Center--worth every penny, and E will tell you the same thing). His teacher is so awesome that parents and students love her. Homework is a bit more this year, but it applies to what is being done in class and is valuable and is checked (checked, just wanted to say it again). E just wants to go to his friends houses to play; he says it is football, but I wonder if it is really video game football. E swings from mature and helpful to an antagonist for me and the brothers.
Hope to get some pics of the kids this weekend if we go to the pumpkin patch.
love and hugs, B
Wednesday turned out to be a terrific day for all of us. E woke up feeling very nurturing. While I finished a few things before breakfast he turned on the TV and did some kids yoga with the little brothers. Our school system has late start on Wednesdays so the elementary doesn't begin until 10; usually this means an extra hour of mommy pushed past her limit nagging them or all boys being sent to their rooms, but yesterday they pulled off cleaning the playroom and their rooms without my involvement and were rewarded with some TV time. I read books to M's preschool class and then attended an awards ceremony for the older kids where both boys were chosen as the "Otter of the Month" for their classes; this month's characteristic was enthusiasm. Yes, I have a house full of strong personalities. G let me take his picture, but E was too cool to stop and acknowledge me.
After school there were ice cream sundaes to celebrate the enthusiastic otters. We then attacked pumpkin carving. D was disappointed we didn't wait for him, but I think it is fun for the kids to see their pumpkins lit up for several nights. We have an extra if he really feels the need to carve a pumpkin while he is here this weekend.
