Turn me loose, set me free!

I have never denied that my Andrew is a handful, but I am beginning to wonder if he is more than even I can handle.  It appears that the little Houdini has finally figured out how to unbuckle his 5-point harness carseat!  I say finally because I kind of knew it was coming, although I had hoped it wouldn't be until he didn't actually need to use a carseat anymore.

  No. Such. Luck. 

 For several months he has been able to loosen his straps by pulling the strap adjuster lever, which is no easy task for someone actually buckled into the seat.   After he mastered this he got to work on the chest clip, which I knew wouldn't take him long to figure out because he had already figured out how to unbuckle the straps of the grocery cart and it's basically the same concept.  Well, about a day and a half later he had the chest clip mastered.  Well, friday. Friday he did it.  He was able to actually UNBUCKLE the carseat.  You know the big red button?  Yeah, well he can now press it hard enough to release the buckle!  

Lord. Help. Me.

So what's a mom to do, aside from duct taping him to his seat (which I'm fairly certain he could wriggle out of anyway)?  I am at a loss.  I'm not sure my sanity can handle being stuck at home during the day because Andrew can't be trusted in the carseat!  But I'm also not sure my nerves can handle anymore glances into my rearview mirror only to discover my little monkey halfway out of his seat either!  

A lot of times I will drive with one hand and hold on to the strap adjuster with the other to keep him from loosening it but this really isn't practical if I have to do anything other than drive in a straight line!  I have had to pull over numerous times to re-strap, re-tighten, and re-DIRECT Andrew's attention from his straps.  But now that he can do a full on un-buckle you may not be seeing Andrew and me out in public until he is 4 ft. tall and 80 lbs.  

Lord. Help. Me.

Show Us Where You Live Friday.

I have been reading Kelly's blog for some time now and have enjoyed "Show us where you live Friday" since she started it several weeks ago.  She chooses a different room of the house each week and everyone shares (if they would like too) their room of that week.  Up until now I have just been a lurker, having fun peeking at everyone elses great rooms, but thought I'd participate this week (at least partially). 

The theme this week is Children's Rooms.  I have three children but I have decided to share my Hannah's (9) room this week, mostly because she is my only daughter, her room is so cheerful and because she is home sick today and wants me too!  Maybe the rotation will make it to kids rooms again and I'll show the boy's rooms!

So without further ado.... 

Hannah's Room

The letters she and I worked on together.

Hannah is an avid reader and loves listening to music.

Her fish "Fred the Red Fish" sits on top of her bookshelf.

Hannah's nightstand, complete with some treasured pictures, a lamp and her latest read!

 

These canvases (that she made with little help) hang on either side of her window

Hannah painted this when she was 5 and it has hung somewhere in her room ever since!

Thanks for visiting!

Yummy Goodness!

Is there anything yummier than home grown veggies?  Well,  I can think of a couple of things, but that's beside the point.   Anyhow,  over the weekend we went to my mom's house for a barbeque.  When we pulled up my stepdad, Al,  was showing off his garden to his nephew.  Row after row of healthy, lush, colorful vegetables.  Admittedly,  I have never had much of an interest in the actual planting and growing part of gardening but I certainly enjoy the fruit (or veggies in this case :)) of Al's labor.  This year he scaled back a little on his planting as it getting more difficult for him to keep up, but nonetheless, everything he did plant is wonderful.  He has cucumbers, green beans, onions, tomatoes, squash and some other stuff I didn't recognize!  

One of my favorite things each summer is homemade pickles and fresh homemade salsa, yum.  

This was my dinner last night.  Fresh steamed green beans...... along with some brown rice.  That's it.  No more. No less.

Yummy Goodness!

Back to the grind

Back to work. Back to school.  Back to the same old same old.  Normally, I would be thanking my lucky stars that the kids are back to school after a long weekend off so I can get back to my "routine".  However, on the way home from a great Memorial Day celebration at my mom's I realized I am definitely looking forward to getting out of my routine! Gasp! Did I just type that I wanted out of my routine? Oh, the horror!  Yes, even I, who thrives on schedules needs a change, pronto.  In the last couple of months (probably closer to a year if I am going to be completely honest here) I have been feeling really down and out of sorts.  More so than any other time in my life (and there have been some hellacious one's).  I love and adore my kids more than I ever thought imaginable.  I also love and appreciate that I have the privilege and opportunity to be a stay at home mom.  I am so grateful that Kris works hard so I am able to stay home with the kids but with his job in Sales comes odd hours and a 6 day work week.  So, most of the time it is just me and the kids.  I am so worn out.  Physically, emotionally and mentally.  I feel like I have nothing left in me most of the time.  Certainly nothing positive to offer my children.  I feel like a zombie just trying to get through the day.  I find myself wanting to fall asleep while I play with Andrew and losing my patience at ridiculous things then feeling like a horrible mother afterwards.  I have taken to counting down the hours to bedtime rather than just enjoying my babies.  I am so overwhelmed and I hate this.  I love being a Mom so why don't I love it right now?  This is not me.  I don't feel like me.  What is "me" anyway?  I'm not sure anymore, really.  Everything in my life revolves around my children, and I am alright with this for the most part.  And, while yes, this is the life I chose,  I miss "me".  Being a stay at home mom is my "job".  The most important job I will ever have.  This job has immeasurable perks and rewards.  This job has better benefits than any company out there.  This job, unlike any other, gives you more in return than you ever put in.  This job pays more than any other, just in a different currency.  Hugs and kisses are worth more than any amount of money there is.  But, with all of these perks there is a negative.  The hours.  While most jobs out there offer sick time, days off, and 8 hour shifts, this job doesn't. This job is a 24 hour a day/7 day a week job.  I don't get a day off, or to stay in bed if I don't feel well.  While I haven't for a second regretted my decision to take on this job,  I do miss having a day (or even a few hours) off.  I miss going places alone.  I miss my friends and Girl's Night Out.  I miss my family and just packing up the car to spend the weekend with my Dad.  I just miss life.  Mom's Night Out is coming up.  I probably won't make it..... again.  My precious curly haired niece is having her first dance recital.  I will probably miss it.  My youngest brother is graduating from high school.  I really want to be there.   I am just sad.   There's got to be a balance.  I need balance. So, as summer approaches I am hopeful that I will find some sort of balance and once again be able to love being a Mom.

I will leave you with some photos from our Memorial Day at my mom's.

Have a great week everyone!

We go together

Some things just seem to fit together perfectly.  Just take for example, peanut butter & jelly,  bread & butter,  bacon & eggs,  peas & carrots,  Ben & Jerry, and my personal favorites:

boy & dog

girls & chocolate

boys & the outdoors

me & babies

 peace & quiet

  

However, there are also things that don't go well together.  In fact, no matter how hard you try it is just physically impossible for them to ever live in harmony.  Some examples; water & oil, fire & water, pickles & ice cream, cats & baths and my personal favorites:

Andrew's face & the fireplace

Andrew's mouth & the floor

Hannah & makeup

Andrew & the potty

Andrew & clothes

Have a great weekend everyone!

Not Me! Monday ....... returns!

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

I did not vow to stop doing Not Me! Monday until Stellan (and MckMama of course) returned home safe and sound.  Okay, well, yes I did.  It just wouldn't be the same without them!  Welcome home!!!!

I did not have to clean up a fragrant mixture of garlic powder, cinnamon and baking soda out of the toaster and off of the counter tops, not once but twice after Andrew found the spice cabinet.  He is not discovering the the spice cabinet as a result of me taping the water faucet down so he can't turn it on.  He did not climb up onto the counter yet again to play in the sink, find it taped and scoot to the other end of the counter to find a cabinet full of fun!  

I am not reevaluating my decision in taping that faucet, trying to decide what drives me the least insane, a countertop full of seasonings or a clothed toddler in the kitchen sink.  

We did not have our house SEARCHED by the Lewisville Police Department!  There would have been no reason for this.  I mean,  our house wasn't broken into.  We aren't harboring a fugitive.  I didn't cause a kitchen fire.... really.  Andrew certainly DID NOT PRESS THE PANIC BUTTON on our alarm keypad!!!!!!!!  If this had happened I would have to tell you that Lewisville PD's response time leaves much to be desired when they show up 30 minutes after a panic alarm.  Not that I would know or anything!

I did not record Yo Gabba Gabba the other day just because Jack Black was on it.  I am not slightly obsessed with him, nor do I think he is hilarious and has mad skills when it comes to dancing!

The faucet of our kitchen sink did not break completely off while I was using the sink giving me a shower and completely soaking me and most of the kitchen!  I most certainly did not forget that it was broken and proceed to turn it on again!  A change of clothes was not required nor was a wipe down of the kitchen table, walls and floor!!

Since I was not just a little glad that faucet in the kitchen broke beyond repair,  I certainly wasn't happy that I had to go to Lowe's and pick out a shiny new one.  Oh, and I did not get a whole new kitchen sink while we were there - I love my mustard yellow, porcelain sink too much to ever part with it!

Before (ignore my sink full of "dishes"!) 

After

I was not more than a little perturbed on Friday when I went to pick up the big kids from school and discovered that our district did, in fact, decide to close ALL schools until May 11th thanks to the Swine Flu "outbreak".  Although, I'm still not quite sure how 700 cases worldwide is considered an outbreak when thousands more than that the die every year from the regular Flu and it's not considered a "pandemic. Whatever!

Have a wonderful week everyone!!  I certainly will ;)