Sharing a Diary Pic

This picture is making it's way around Facebook, and I find myself compelled to share it.  It's true and accurate.  Never underestimate the amount of crap rolling around in women's brains.  This is just how we are wired.    Next time a girl thinks you're mad at her, think of this. Enjoy...

Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day, I  hope everyone is taking advantage of the break and the freedom.  My mom was heading to look for jusr the right flowers for my Grandfather's grave, he was a Navy man.  Here at the Casa de Chaos, we are celebrating with another breakfast table and probably some more yard work balanced with pool time. 

 The minis are already swim suited up and eye balling the slip and slide and the hose.  Yesterday they tore it up pretty much all day out there.  Yeah, they hauled my monogrammed cooler up on the playset and filled with water for their shooters.  I never imagined having boys and that level of craziness happening in my backyard.  I grew up roller skating in my basement with my girlfriends, rocking pigtails.  I grew up dressing dolls and coloring.  Now I deal with this all day (and night).  I must admit, they have more fun that I ever thought possible.  I am so lucky that they are BFFs, not that I gave them much choice. 

I opted for this fun color on my toes, Strawberry Margarita.  I am debating a gel mani this week, my nails keep breaking  and I think the gel polish would prevent that.  Plus they have so many great nude colors, I think it's a perfect option.  Assuming I can get out of the house this week sans minis.  This week will be the 1st week summer vaca and they don't have camp or anything.  I will be working from home, so it should be fine for a few days, and I plan on bringing the laptop to the library and working while they check out 84,000 books.  Friday I have to be in the office 8-5, haven't formulated a plan for that yet, but it will work out.  It always does.  That's what I am learning as the children get older and things are starting to fall into place.  I have long been famous (infamous?) for being a control freak. For wanting everything spelled out, written down and firmed up weeks in advance.  I have been learning lately that life doesn't work that way.  It's great to have a goal and a some intentions, but I am trying to be more flexible and adaptable.

I haven't quite mastered minding my own business and keeping my very strong opinions to myself. 

That's a chasm I just don't know if I can cross. 

But, with this pedicure, I can sure try.

Weekend

Clearly I have lost all sense of pride, as I am posting a pool pic that points to (screams?) several "concerns". 

One, the subject of said photo is unlikely to show up on Pinterest as a leg workout inspiration. 
Unless, of course, we are looking for a "before" shot. 

Two, I should be spending this weekend pulling the Casa de Chaos together, but instead have spent it poolside, at graduation parties and generally accomplishing nada.

 Three, we live in a neighborhood where such a high percentage of our homeowners can't/won't pay HOA dues that the pool deck looks like this.  I know, for a brief second you thought it was sand.  Alas, it's sketchy concrete.  That wants to be power washed like a fat kid wants cake.

Four, I need a pedi. I assure you that upon completion of this post, I am heading to my favorite mani/pedi place.  Cheap and easy.  Just the way I like it. Time to opt for a more summer-appropriate polish color.



After Mass today, we made our weekly pilgrimage to Waffle House.  I made the minis wear red, white and blue today and they agreed only in exchange for extra jukebox money.  Ryan says he's not getting a haircut all summer. He is incorrect.  Also, let the record reflect that the minis were allowed to stay up last night past 9p to watch a movie.  This is such a rarity (like NEVER) that I was assualted after the movie ended with "You are the BEST mom, like ever" and "If we don't tell anyone, can we do that again?"

Hitting "publish" on this post without spell checking and heading to manage the pedi situation.

xxoo

School's Out...

...for summer.  Don't lie.  You kind of bobbed your head and sung some Alice Cooper as you read that. 

It's ok, we all did.

Today was the last day of school for the minis.  It's not a secret that they love school, but everyone is ready for a break and some pool time, maybe me most of all.

I joined them this morning for the school awards ceremony, which was long but cute.  I appreciate the fact that the school doesn't give awards just for the sake of giving them.  They recognize what needs to be recognize and they move on.  I found it interesting to hear Jack's take on the awards that he and Ryan earned.  Jack says his perfect attendance award was a bigger deal than his brother's academic award because, and I quote, "I had to rally EVERYDAY and go to school.  That was hard.  Ryan didn't DO anything, he was born smart." In a lot of ways Jack has a great view of life.  Remember this incident with the spelling test a few years ago?  He's just, as we say in the South, good people.

So after the awards, we headed home and set up the Slip and Slide.  I worked this afternoon from the sofa and they did what little boys do. We made popcorn and watched a movie tonight.  I tucked them in and kissed them good night.

I told them I'd be sleeping in tomorrow until I was sore from lying in my bed, so they best entertain themselves in the morning.  It's been a long school year, but you know what?

We rallied.

Long Lost Blogger

Gah!  It's been almost 7 weeks since I checked in with you all.  Forgive me, but I assure you things have been turned upside down around the Casa de Chaos.  All good things, but life is pretty different! I started a new job and that has meant several weeks of traveling.  More about that later, but I am glad to be home!  My feet are happy to be back in flip flops, high heels are brutal.

I'd love to go back and fill you in week by week, but that's not likely, so instead I may be a bit non-sequitor.  Tomorrow is the last day of school, and today are the class parties.  I was in charge of the 5th grade class gift.  Sisters can't really accept material goods, so most of our students sent in gift cards.  I wrapped the pencils around a huge pickle jar, secured them with a rubber band and covered it with a ribbon.  I picked up a cheap and easy bouquet at Publix and used floral picks to pepper in the gift cards.  I love the way it turned out.

Spring was full of birthdays for us. Ryan, Jack and I have our birthdays in a 10 day stretch. Ryan's 11th birthday table was on a school day, and of course he got tons of books.

Jack turned 9 the next Sunday, and his loot was more Legos than one can imagine.  We hopped in the car at 630a, and headed for the beach.

For the first time in many years, we went to the beach in South Carolina instead of Florida for Spring Break.  It was great, and super low key.  Exactly what we needed after what seemed an eternal school year.

Two weeks ago we started the End of the School Year Countdown.  Every school day after breakfast the minis open a small little present.  They think it's fun, and it's a great way to celebrate all their hard work.  Soccer is also done for the year.  I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that Jack landed the MVP award for his team.  He's a real hustler and we were delighted for him.  He needs postitive reinforcement that hard work (sometimes!) pays off. 

Alright, I am tired of my own self at this point, but figured that would be a quick way to get you up to speed with what we've been doing and where I have been spending my free time.

I (think) am back to blogging.  I promise more funnies and self-deprecation going forward, as per usual.

Smooches,

Jenn

 

IKEA Part 2/3 and the Extra Day

Leap Day 2012 resulted in a breakfast table, duh. Credit to the BFF for coming up with the theme of 29 February being the "extra" day. The minis were granted :

EXTRA gum

EXTRA playtime

EXTRA special dinner

EXTRA reading time

EXTRA late bedtime

After they left for school, I decided to tackle the bookshelf from the last post.

Then I rewarded myself with an extremely rare burger and a beer with a friend. That's how I roll lately. I self medicate with beer and red meat.

When the boys got home from school, Jack examined my work and (mostly) approved.

Then I mowed the lawn.
Where's my medal?

IKEA

Admittedly I am not that excited about the prospect of IKEA on a Saturday in Atlanta. The idea of fighting through throngs of people who seem to drop 15 IQ points at the front door (this also happens at Disney World FYI) isn't my favorite thing to do. I am also not a fan of putting together, well anything more complicated than a sandwich.

But. Occasionally the minis will request a trip there to have lunch and wander. On Saturday, I gave in.

I have no idea why I find this video worthy of a blog share, but I do. The boys found a bookshelf that they wanted. I told them if they could navigate the bins, find it, lift in onto the cart, wheel it to the checkout and put it in the minivan, they could have it.

Here's what they did:

Yeah...I Know

It's Ash Wednesday. Coach left early this morning for 7a Mass then for a road trip...see you Monday...{insert some snarky whatnot about The Mommy Show}. The minis are going to 9a school Mass and I am hitting up noon Distribution of Ashes.

So yes. I know there is "something on my forehead" and no, I don't need you to "wipe it off". I know this whole Catholicism thing is confusing to a lot of you, and I love and respect the questions on Twitter and FB. Truly.

In the Roman Catholic Church, Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent, the season of preparation for Easter. It is not the most important time in the Catholic calendar. (The 3 Days are). Ash Wednesday is not a day of Obligation, but we are are encouraged to attend Mass.

"During Mass, the ashes which give Ash Wednesday its name are distributed. The ashes are made by burning the blessed palms that were distributed the previous year on Palm Sunday; many churches ask their parishioners to return any palms that they took home so that they can be burned. After the priest blesses the ashes and sprinkles them with holy water, the faithful come forward to receive them.

The priest dips his right thumb in the ashes and, making the Sign of the Cross on each person's forehead, says, "Remember, man, that thou art dust, and to dust thou shalt return" (or a variation on those words).

A Day of Repentance: The distribution of ashes reminds us of our own mortality and calls us to repentance. In the early Church, Ash Wednesday was the day on which those who had sinned, and who wished to be readmitted to the Church, would begin their public penance. The ashes that we receive are a reminder of our own sinfulness, and many Catholics leave them on their foreheads all day as a sign of humility.

Fasting and Abstinence Are Required. The Church emphasizes the penitential nature of Ash Wednesday by calling us to fast and abstain from meat. Catholics who are over the age of 18 and under the age of 60 are required to fast, which means that they can eat only one complete meal and two smaller ones during the day, with no food in between. Catholics who are over the age of 14 are required to refrain from eating any meat, or any food made with meat, on Ash Wednesday."

- Catholicism.com

5 Year Blog Anniversary

5 years! 5 years ago I started blogging as a result of my amazing friend Mandy basically insisting I do so. I think she saw the chaos and hilarity that was my life...or she was tired of hearing about it all the time.

So rather than a ticker tape parade or giving away a kid or a kidney, which is what you all really deserve for hanging with me this long, here are links to some of my favorite posts. Starting at the place one should always start; the beginning.

I love you for reading. I love you for reaching out to me with your comments, your emails and your tweets. Thanks for helping me keep it real.

Here's to another 5 years of posts.

xo,
Jenn

The first post ever. The Bribe and the Copay. http://www.clemsongirlandthecoach.blogspot.com/2007/02/clemsongirlandthecoach.html

Coach's conversation and the Rubber Room. http://www.clemsongirlandthecoach.blogspot.com/2007/08/rubber-room-you-have-guest.html

Boy Scouts and Slid-y Things. http://www.clemsongirlandthecoach.blogspot.com/2007/09/slid-y-things.html

2007 love of Starbucks and disdain for Gamecocks http://www.clemsongirlandthecoach.blogspot.com/2007/10/shaky-real-estate-markets-and-cocks.html

100 Things About Me from 2007. All still dead on except #63 http://www.clemsongirlandthecoach.blogspot.com/2007/10/epitome-of-navel-gazing.html

2007 40 Things about Coach on his 40th. http://www.clemsongirlandthecoach.blogspot.com/2007/12/40-of-my-favorite-things.html

2008 I'm Not From the South http://www.clemsongirlandthecoach.blogspot.com/2008/02/frick.html

2008 I Hate the Weekend http://www.clemsongirlandthecoach.blogspot.com/2008/03/weekend-kickoff.html

2008 Walmart Proposal http://www.clemsongirlandthecoach.blogspot.com/2008/03/seriously-its-damn-tempting.html

2009 Sleep Nazi. Or the post that prompted 117 comments. For reals. http://www.clemsongirlandthecoach.blogspot.com/2009/02/sleepy.html

2009 I AM DONE. http://www.clemsongirlandthecoach.blogspot.com/2009/09/im-done.html

2010 My Summer Vacation http://www.clemsongirlandthecoach.blogspot.com/2010/07/what-i-did-on-my-summer-vacation-part1.html

2010 PMS http://clemsongirlandthecoach.blogspot.com/2010/04/pms-or-thank-you-to-coach-for-putting.html

2010 Situation in a Venti Cup

http://www.clemsongirlandthecoach.blogspot.com/2011/05/situation-in-venti-cup.html

2010 Bird Flu http://www.clemsongirlandthecoach.blogspot.com/2011/08/bird-flu.html

2010 Epic Fail http://www.clemsongirlandthecoach.blogspot.com/2011/12/epic-fail.html

Work. It. Out.

This morning I finally decided (again) to get back on the wagon with working out. Not the angry running I do on the treadmill where I cuss and yell at people in my head, but actual exercise of value. You already know how I feel about Interval Training. Barf. They say old habits die hard, but it must not really be a habit for me because I keep committing and then quitting.

I have written many times about The Female Body Breakthrough and how I had a lot of success with it in the past. Somehow I forget that eating whatever I want and watching too much reality TV is not as rewarding as working out and THEN eating whatever I want. You know and being able to breathe in my jeans.

This morning I looked at the "dining room" and decided that was the new gym space. We moved the dining room table out of there to accommodate the Christmas tree and haven't moved it back in yet, so it's a wide open space. Well, it's a 12x12 space with nothing in it anyway.

So I laced up my trainers and did that crazy dance we all do to get that stupid sports bra on. Grabbed my tubing and the book. Some weights and the bench from the kitchen. Yeah, I have resistance tubing. Coach probably gave it to me for a birthday present or something. Ha. Not kidding.

Three minutes later I was listening to Trey Songz Bottoms Up and it was ON.

Until I whacked the holy hell out of my head on this chandelier. I truly am Mary Katherine Gallagher, so clumsy and awkward it's a miracle I didn't knock my eye out.

I wrapped up the hour workout and patted myself on the back (actually did NOT because I was so sore I couldn't raise my arms, which makes it a gong show trying to get that sports bra OFF) and headed to Starbucks for a Skinny Vanilla Latte. Met a friend for lunch and stopped by the (gack!) sports store and bought a stability ball.

Which I promptly brought to The University weight room and had the Strength Coach (hi Joe!)inflate for me.

Look, I said I was working out. I didn't say I wanted to do actual work. Sheesh.