I'm Copying...

I love reading posts from other SAHMs. They make me feel so normal! Today's post is totally unoriginal. I stole the idea from Lisha and Debby...because they're in the same boat I am. And they rule!

I'm a talker. I love to talk. I will talk to anyone. Including myself. And that's how I feel most of the day...like I'm talking to myself. Because my kids? Don't listen. AT ALL. I repeat the same stinking phrases and ask the same questions over and over and over.......

Why are you doing that?

What are you doing?

Will you please leave your brother/sister alone?

Are you trying to make me angry?

Do you need to potty? If you don't potty, you're going to have to wear one of Sissy's diapers. (This is only directed at Elliott.)

Janna, are you a dog?

Will you please use your fork?

Are you listening to me?

No, you can't have any gummies.

Because I said so.

Gabriel - you are NOT the voice of reason.

That's it.

I'm done.

Go to the corner.

NOW.

I'm calling Daddy.

If you can't play nicely, then you can't play at all.

Do you want me to take all of the toys?

Do you need to go in the playpen?

Does Mommy... climb on the tv stand? (...jump on the couch? ...spit? ...whatever?)

I love you...but you're making me nuts!

Who wants to talk to Gramma?

I luv ooo, too, Jawa.

Who wants a smacking? (No, I'm not abusing my kids...they line up in front of me and ask me to smack their buns like bongo drums. Then they ask me to pinch their heiney cheeks. It's actually really funny!)

Does someone need to be tickled??

Elliott - your girl parts are showing.

Good job, guys.

Thank you!

No. Mommy doesn't need help in the bathroom. And no, this isn't a diaper.

Yes my coffee is still hot.

I love you very much. Now go to bed.

The Hosers are "napping" right now, so I have a short reprieve from having to talk to them. But in less than an hour they'll be down here again. And if you're anywhere near my neighborhood, you just might hear my shrill voice saying some of the above.

Just In Case You Were Interested...

...here's more about my fourth favorite subject - Me! The lovely Miss Lisha tagged me in her latest post - and if I don't respond, she will probably come up here and beat my sorry ass senseless. So, as not to cause her any embarrassment (come on - we all know I can totally take you Lisha!!), I'll give in....

"I have to admit 7 personality traits about myself. I can accept this award with the following conditions: I must list 7 personality traits about myself and I must pass this award onto 7 other blogs that deserve such fine recognition for the personalities that they share with the blogging world." FYI - since I don't read 7 other blogs, I'm only tagging 3 of my homies!

1) As we all know, I'm aggressive. And I'm ok with that. I don't have a problem with confrontation. I like making people uncomfortable. If you don't like it...I honestly don't care.

2) I'm extremely impatient. I hate long lines, holding on the phone, poky walkers, drivers who come to a completely unnecessary stop before turning (you're not going to roll your SUV - just turn the damned thing!), wishy-washiness, whiny kids...you get the idea. Those things are a waste of my time.

3) I'm loyal. I may not always be the nicest friend you have, but once you have me...I'll be there forever. Even if you treat me like garbage. Even if we don't talk.

4) As tough as I am, I'm also very thin-skinned. While I really don't care what people think of me, the nasty things they say do hurt my feelings. But after licking my proverbial wounds, I hitch up my Big Girl pants and move on. This is a trait I have picked up since I had kids. I wasn't like this when I was a teenager.

5) I'm funny as hell. Go on. Try to deny it. You know you can't.

6) I'm selfish. I don't think I need to elaborate on that.

7) I have a wicked memory. I remember everything. Lyrics to obscure songs, random trivia, what I wore to school on the first day from 2nd grade through senior year, what Jon wore on our first date...all kinds of useless stuff.

** Here's a bonus. Even though isn't exactly a "personality trait", I'm going to add it. My Mom and husband call me "Princess Tender Nose". I have an overactive sense of smell. It's crazy.

So...there you have it. Most of those traits are probably no surprise to you. I am who I am.

So...my tags.

Erin, Cheryl, and Katie.

Yes...No...

Lisha always has something fun to read on her Blog...and today was obviously no exception. So...here's my response to her post...

1. You can ONLY answer Yes or No.
2. You are NOT ALLOWED to explain ANYTHING unless someone messages or comments you and asks. -- and believe me, the temptation to explain some of these will be overwhelming. Nothing is exactly as it seems.

Kissed any one of your Facebook friends? Yes.
Been arrested? No.
Kissed someone you didn't like? Yes.
Slept in until 5 PM? Yes.
Fallen asleep at work/school? Yes.
Held a snake? Yes.
Ran a red light? Yes.
Been suspended from school? No.
Experienced love at first sight? No.
Totaled your car in an accident? No.
Been in a vehicle at more than 100 mph? Yes.
Driven a vehicle at more than 100 mph? No.
Been fired from a job? No.
Fired somebody? No.
Sang karaoke? No.
Pointed a gun at someone? No.
Done something you told yourself you wouldn't? Yes.
Laughed until something you were drinking came out your nose? Yes.
Caught a snowflake on your tongue? Yes.
Kissed in the rain? Yes.
Had a close brush with death? Yes.
Played spin-the-bottle? Yes.
Sang in the shower? Yes.
Smoked a cigar? Yes.
Sat on a rooftop? Yes.
Taken pictures of yourself naked? No.
Smuggled something into another country? No.
Been pushed into a pool with all your clothes? Yes.
Broken a bone? Yes.
Skipped school? Yes.
Eaten a bug? Yes.
Sleepwalked? No.
Walked a moonlit beach? Yes.
Rode a motorcycle? Yes.
Dumped someone? Yes.
Forgotten your anniversary? Yes.
Lied to avoid a ticket? No.
Ridden on a helicopter? No.
Shaved your head? No.
Played a prank on someone? Yes.
Hit a home run? No.
Felt like killing someone? No.
Cross-dressed? Yes.
Been falling-down drunk? Yes.
Made your girlfriend/boyfriend cry? Yes.
Had Mexican jumping beans for pets? No.
Puked on amusement ride? Yes.
Seriously & intentionally boycotted something? Yes.
Been in a band? No.
Knitted? No.
Been on TV? No.
Shot a gun? Yes.
Skinny-dipped? No.
Gave someone stitches? No.
Eaten a whole habenero pepper? No.
Ridden a surfboard? No.
Drank straight from a liquor bottle? Yes.
Had surgery? Yes.
Streaked? No.
Taken by ambulance to hospital? No.
Tripped on mushrooms? No.
Passed out when not drinking? Yes.
Peed on a bush? Yes.
Donated Blood? Yes.
Grabbed electric fence? No.
Eaten alligator meat? No.
Eaten cheesecake? Yes.
Eaten your kids' Halloween candy? Yes.
Killed an animal when not hunting? No.
Peed your pants in public? No.
Pooped your pants in public? No.
Snuck into a movie without paying? No.
Written graffiti? No.
Think about the future? Yes.
Been in handcuffs? Yes.
Believe in love? Yes.
Sleep on a certain side of the bed? Yes.

Good times!

Growing Up

My kids are growing up. Yeah, I know...duh! But it seems like they are growing up extremely fast as of late.

When I signed Gabriel up for T-Ball, I thought to myself, "Gee. He's 5. This is the first sporting program in what potentially will be a very long line of sports for him." When I registered him for Kindergarten, I realized that he really, truly is a bonafide Big Boy now. When he amazed me this week by recognizing over 50 of his sight words, I was thrilled. I was even more thrilled when he picked up a "Dick and Jane" book and read the first five pages! He read half of "Hop On Pop" yesterday, and I just sat and stared at him. He's growing up! And I'm getting more and more excited! I'm not the slightest bit saddened, and this doesn't feel at all bittersweet.

Elliott's growing up, too, but she seems to be having a few "pains". Or maybe it's me that has pain...as in Elliott is a pain in my butt. She grows through phases where she is incredibly sweet and cooperative...and then she turns into a raging three year-old beast. She whines, cries, screams, throws tantrums (for hours!), hit, kicks, bites...you get the idea. After sitting down (with a glass of wine) and thinking about it, I realized that all of her "beastly phases" coincide directly with a growth spurt. So...hopefully she'll grow up. Soon. All of this being said, for some reason I do miss my wee little Elliott. It feels very bittersweet that she's such a turd...I mean Big Girl.

Janna's almost 2. And I have no idea how that happened. She's still my "baby", only she's not really a baby anymore. She's about 50% potty-trained, uses complete sentences, is starting to pedal a tricycle...she's just growing up. Which is also very exciting. And not sad...which surprises me.

It's Been A While...

Things around here have been insane!! So insane that I haven't had a chance to post anything even remotely interesting for weeks. So...to recap...

We went home for Memorial Day. The highlight of the trip for Elliott was going yard sale-ing with Gramma. Miss E had "7 cash monies" to spend on whatever she wanted. She spent $2 of it on "normal" girly things - a Barbie nightie, Barbie skirt, and a Cinderella dress. She spent $5 on this:

As soon as the mask is placed over her face, she says, "Please, Mommy. Call me Darth Vader. Not Elliott." The mask (which of course has caused all kinds of issues in our house because a certain Boy loves Star Wars more than life itself) "talks" and has a voice changing thingy. All kinds of fun.

Gabe's favorite part of being home was riding the 4-wheeler. Personally, I think the things are extremely dangerous and I will never ride one. I hate it when Jon takes the kids out, but I'm overruled.

Janna's favorite part of the weekend, aside from simply being at Gramma's (the girl is a mini-me...enamored with her Gramma), was getting her "new" bike and helmet.

Since we got home, things have been quietly busy around here. Gabe's still in school - and doing very well. He's registered for Kindergarten, too. I chose to sign him up for the multi-age classroom (provided he gets in, he will be in a class with Kindergartners and 1st graders - and I think he'll do extremely well). He's also still enjoying T-Ball, and he's actually getting better!!

Elliott's once again pushing all of my buttons with her refusal to eat...listen...leave her siblings alone...you get the idea. While I realize she's three, and her behavior is "typical" of the age - it's annoying. And it's making me crazy. Here's to hoping that she'll calm down a bit over the summer!

Miss Janna is still pretty easy. She's very chatty and attitudinal (gee, wonder where she gets that?!). She started using complete sentences, and the kid can count to 20! I can't believe she'll be two in a few weeks.

So there you have it. A very short recap of what's been happening around here. A whole lot of nothing that actually keeps us all fairly busy!!