I have a confession...

Can I just be like Maxine?

 
I'm a terrible house wife. I get very, very tired of cleaning/picking up the same things over and over again. I can keep it picked up and I do vacuum the rug and sweep the floors and clean the kitchen every day but the rest. ick. I hate it. I wish I was OCD about it. I wish it drove me insane. I mean, on one hand it does. It's an organized mess. Laundry is my nemesis. Bathrooms (with little boy pee all over them) make me want to curl up into the fetal position. I DO clean, I really do but I hate it and I never want to do it. I need HELP in this dept.  I try to clean one thing every day but nothing is ever all clean at once and that just annoys me so then I think, well, why bother?!? When I had just Conner, the house was always clean...always. I mopped twice a day (clearly I had NOTHING better to do). Then I had Parker and it was a little worse and I mopped once a day. Now I have 3 of them (all mobile) and I mop every other day and the bomb of toys gets bigger and the craziness is louder (and I'd totally have more kids, if we could!), but I need to clean this hott mess and simplify my life.  What works for you? How do you get organized and how do you keep everything clean?

Crazy boys

Yesterday the boys created something in the playroom that included a slide, an inflatable cube and my newborn posing bean bag. They loved it and had a great time...until they started fighting and then Parker had a fit.

Speaking of Parker..he has decided that he doesn't like to nap anymore. The days are extra long (and loud) for this mama. Last night, he was running on the driveway (Josh JUST said, park, don't run on the driveway, run in the grass) when he fell. He busted his lip and hit his nose. He's tough though. After some ice, something to drink and tylenol, he was all better. I was still shaking. My poor little guy.

hmmmm

so, the last time I blogged...it was about my half marathon. Nothing more, nothing less. I know I've been slacking but being a SAHM to 2 very active little boys and trying to run a business is no small task. Unfortunately, the blog  has taken a back seat. Since my half, Conner turned THREE (omg, so big) and we went trick or treating. The kids were pirates and so, so cute. Parker was so funny trying to keep up with Conner and Jack (the neighbor, he's five). They were so, so wound up though.

Conner's party was fun, but it was super cold! I think it was the fastest park party ever! He got lots and lots of craft stuff, which made me very happy. We have way too many toys and things like craft materials are always welcome here.

I started back at the gym. I really need it. I hate the way I look and feel. We already pay for it so...might as well use it. I'm really sore but I like it. It means I did something.

We went to Louisiana a few weeks ago. Someone special got married. It was so, so, so nice to see MY family (for a change). It has been TWO years since we have seen my Granny and other members of my family (aside from my siblings). It was very long overdue. I actually cried when we left. It's so hard to say good bye to people that genuinely love me and my kids and my husband. I don't feel that kind of unconditional love here (in GA). I think that Josh does but I certainly do not. I digress.

Conner is still going to school. He was loving it but then last night he asked Josh if he could use his truck to knock the school down so he didn't have to go...um yea. no. I don't know why he all of a sudden doesn't like it. He didn't listen on Tuesday and he didn't get a sticker but...knocking it down might be a little much. School IS at a church. LOL!

Cupcakes

Last week, the kids were actually playing and not hollering at one another so I was sitting down (gasp) for a minute. Anyway, after a few minutes, I decided that they were way too quiet. I got up and went to check on them (they were in the kitchen). Here's what I found.[gallery link="file" columns="1" orderby="title"]

>A Glimpse

>

*Disclaimer*I'm not asking working moms or even other stay at home moms to feel sorry for me at all. That's not what I'm going for. I'm just trying to shed some light on the "glamorous" life of staying at home. It's far from glamorous. It's hard, exhausting, frustrating and challenging. Moms have enough challenges, working or sah so please don't judge, be jealous or compare. Take what you have, be thankful and live it up, good moments and bad.

I have friends that work outside the home, inside the home and those like me who stay home to be primary caregivers to their children. While I am thrilled to be able to stay at home with my boys and I wouldn't have it any other way (or I'd go back to work) I will say that being a stay at home mom is hard. Not that being a working mom isn't; I can't speak from that point of view. As a stay at home mom, I can assure you that I am not refreshed, stylish, sane or fit. My house is never all the way clean, my laundry never all finished and put away. I'm sure you are wondering why...well, I have 2 small kids that need my attention constantly. I always have toys everywhere and it's not because I refuse to pick them up, it's because the boys take them out over and over. I am responsible for the care of everyone else in our house, including the dog. I do all of the shopping, all of the bill paying, all of the cleaning, all of the preparing of foods, all of the baths, all of the laundry, all of the everything. I prepare meals for 4 people every day. I choose to make Parker's baby food. It saves us money. I am the one that worries about money and how we will pay which bill when. I never, ever get a break. I ask for them all the time and I am told that they can watch one kid or just a simple, "I can't". I actually had a doctor's appointment this morning. I asked for help and I was told that the person would only watch one child. I NEED someone to watch both of them. It's a drs appt not something fun. So, I rescheduled for next week and I'm praying I can find a sitter. Otherwise, I'll have to reschedule again. It's very hard asking for help and constantly being rejected. I have a gym membership but by the time we are all ready to go and the kids have both been fed, Parker is demanding a nap. Yes, he will sleep in the car but leaving him in the gym nursery will surely wake him up and then his nap will be 25 minutes. That leaves me with a cranky baby. Josh is gone all.the.time. He works 12-14 hours a day six days a week. He leaves by 6:30 in the morning (before either kid wakes up) and doesn't get home until 7, and that's the earliest most days. That is a very long day for me. It leaves me feeling very much like a single parent most days. Yes, he comes home but by the time he gets here both kids have had dinner and Parker is ready for bed. And, I'm tired. Parker gets up 3-4 times every night and he is awake around 6am. Conner doesn't nap anymore so I don't get any quiet time at all. Conner doesn't go to bed until around 9 or so every night and by then, I am completely exhausted, physically, emotionally. Just done. But I'm not because I have to clean the kitchen, set the coffee maker, take a shower (showers in my house don't happen unless the kids are asleep) and get myself ready for bed. I typically don't get into bed until after 10. Parker is up by 11, then 1, then 4 and then 6. Sure, I stay home and don't have to "work" but I can not rest. I have a very active 2 year old and a 6 month old that is crawling and getting into everything.

A Glimpse

*Disclaimer*I'm not asking working moms or even other stay at home moms to feel sorry for me at all. That's not what I'm going for. I'm just trying to shed some light on the "glamorous" life of staying at home. It's far from glamorous. It's hard, exhausting, frustrating and challenging. Moms have enough challenges, working or sah so please don't judge, be jealous or compare. Take what you have, be thankful and live it up, good moments and bad.

I have friends that work outside the home, inside the home and those like me who stay home to be primary caregivers to their children. While I am thrilled to be able to stay at home with my boys and I wouldn't have it any other way (or I'd go back to work) I will say that being a stay at home mom is hard. Not that being a working mom isn't; I can't speak from that point of view. As a stay at home mom, I can assure you that I am not refreshed, stylish, sane or fit. My house is never all the way clean, my laundry never all finished and put away. I'm sure you are wondering why...well, I have 2 small kids that need my attention constantly. I always have toys everywhere and it's not because I refuse to pick them up, it's because the boys take them out over and over. I am responsible for the care of everyone else in our house, including the dog. I do all of the shopping, all of the bill paying, all of the cleaning, all of the preparing of foods, all of the baths, all of the laundry, all of the everything. I prepare meals for 4 people every day. I choose to make Parker's baby food. It saves us money. I am the one that worries about money and how we will pay which bill when. I never, ever get a break. I ask for them all the time and I am told that they can watch one kid or just a simple, "I can't". I actually had a doctor's appointment this morning. I asked for help and I was told that the person would only watch one child. I NEED someone to watch both of them. It's a drs appt not something fun. So, I rescheduled for next week and I'm praying I can find a sitter. Otherwise, I'll have to reschedule again. It's very hard asking for help and constantly being rejected. I have a gym membership but by the time we are all ready to go and the kids have both been fed, Parker is demanding a nap. Yes, he will sleep in the car but leaving him in the gym nursery will surely wake him up and then his nap will be 25 minutes. That leaves me with a cranky baby. Josh is gone all.the.time. He works 12-14 hours a day six days a week. He leaves by 6:30 in the morning (before either kid wakes up) and doesn't get home until 7, and that's the earliest most days. That is a very long day for me. It leaves me feeling very much like a single parent most days. Yes, he comes home but by the time he gets here both kids have had dinner and Parker is ready for bed. And, I'm tired. Parker gets up 3-4 times every night and he is awake around 6am. Conner doesn't nap anymore so I don't get any quiet time at all. Conner doesn't go to bed until around 9 or so every night and by then, I am completely exhausted, physically, emotionally. Just done. But I'm not because I have to clean the kitchen, set the coffee maker, take a shower (showers in my house don't happen unless the kids are asleep) and get myself ready for bed. I typically don't get into bed until after 10. Parker is up by 11, then 1, then 4 and then 6. Sure, I stay home and don't have to "work" but I can not rest. I have a very active 2 year old and a 6 month old that is crawling and getting into everything.