Drama?

I was once told that if I didn't have anything 'good' to blog about go with safe cute pictures of kids and stories of their cute-ness. The thing is that now I have admitted to reading all kinds of blogs and was also told that they are like soap-operas I only want exciting dramatic blogs. And I think my own blog is lame and lacking substance or drama or anything that might get (or keep) people reading it. I am bored when no one updates. I don't update, am I boring people? Probably. Am I crazy here? I think so. The story line in this soap of Mer and the kidlets is the one you get up and go to the bathroom during, you go get a snack, you don't bother watching or paying attention, I know because I am doing it, even if you aren't. The story line of crazy Mer and the bitch about life fest will continue and again it will try to be un-censored. ha!
Do you really want to hear cute/smart kid stories? Seriously. See their adorable faces? Really?

Special

Special means retarded. Is what I hear in a sing song voice from a Chilean woman when I say/ hear this word. It's an old story and not worth retelling, because well... that's it. Never mind.

We went, we are home. When I can censor myself effectively without being phony I may even blog about it. Until that time comes I will blog about something else.

Other new things... I miss Chris this has to be the longest 10 days of my life. 2 more sleeps. I need some more friends that are within reasonable driving distance or even walking distance. I need friends that are not my family so that I can puke shit out without causing a full scale riot.

My kids are cute! They are smart. And when I play with them my days are that much better for it!
I would like to pick up some November business if anybody wants to party I am ready. There are some great new books out and I have some great ones here! I do have a show coming up in November on the 10th at Shannon Hall from 10-3pm. There will be lots of other vendors there, it's call Holiday Shoppers Expo and I hope to sell lots there and maybe even get a party or 2. Tell your friends See you there?!
lol
later

Going

I am going the 8 hour drive. CBP is my uncle. We are leaving in 2 hours. We will be there in the morning. I am too busy for this. I will be checking in once I get there.
ta ta!

more few things..

Airplane plans are changed. No can fly on Wednesday. No can fly on other days. Do I drive 8 hrs? to go anyways? visit 3 days.
OR
Do I drive 3-4 hrs maybe drop kids off and have a bit of a break? Do I visit other people.
OR
Do I stay home and just solo-mom it for the couple of days? I can go shopping in the states either way.
It's just that the money spent and the company is different. Kids were looking forward to flying to see cousins. I was looking forward to NOT driving.
fuck fuck fuck fucking fuck fuckers.
Any adults want to drive with us on Wednesday?
I don't do well with changes of plans.
fuck.

Few minor things

* I don't know when Daylights savings happens I just know it's going to be soon as it is autumn.
Michael was normal this morning he woke at 6:15 (or so we guess). He tried to fall asleep on the way to coffee at 11. He had lunch, I had coffee with a friend. He tried to pass out on the way home from coffee I didn't let it happen. I am being a hard ass about no naps I need night sleeps.
We watched Peter Pan together this afternoon, he lay on me and said mommy, I encouraged him to sleep, he said his tummy was hurt. I had given him a yogurt before the movie. I feel badly that I thought his lactose intolerant guts could handle a small yogurt. He passed out a bit, fitfully. He lay on the floor on his blankie on his tummy and whined for me 'mmmooommmmieeee'. I comforted him.
We decided to get out and get some air, the sun was shining fleetingly. A bike for Gabriel and a wagon ride for Michael. It was short lived. Came home made a few calls that I remembered I had to return today and decided on dinner......something easy on his tummy, he does look pale. Pancakes was decided. Pre-pancake he puked. No pancake for Michael. Ok 1/2 a pancake much later. He fell asleep when I went to get Chris. So did Gabriel mind you.
We had a family movie night the Muppet Movie. Gabriel didn't get it and Michael didn't seem to notice anything about it (he wanted Aristocats). They are asleep.
I am most likely going out of town for a couple of days, the weekend really, coming up. woohoo! I am excited. I have alot to do to prepare.
If my original plans don't pan out I will probably go elsewhere, but not stay here to solo-mom it.
Other things but I fear this is boring so I'll stop.
I'm going to look at the weather forecast for Wednesday!
**Updated** I googled it and it's the 1st Sunday in November this time. Daylights Saving Time.

nobody else blogging?

Of my list there is only 1 new thing to read so I figured that means I will have to blog instead of read blogs.
I let the kids play in water today... in the sink. My largest towel is fully saturated and I am not freaking out.
It's raining :)
I am probably going to see my sister next week (weather permitting).
I have lots to do this weekend and not much to do right now.?
I slacked around the house this morning when I should have gone out.
I will have to go out in the afternoon... maybe this will be how Michael looses his nap and maybe then I won't be up at 5am tomorrow. Maybe also I should wait to make any adjustments to his timetable until after daylight savings time which happens this weekend doesn't it?
I haven't taken pictures of the kids in ages... maybe I need to see them doing something cute instead naughty.
Boys need haircuts, maybe I'll do that today too.
I took them to the dentist on Tuesday. Gabriel loves it there and can't wait to go back, maybe that's why he doesn't brush well? lol
Michael wouldn't open his mouth. yay!
Time to go!

Questions about Michael

Why does Michael wake at 5am or earlier and hardly go back to sleep until 6ish (which is when I give up)?

Oh my, should I try and take away naptime so that he sleeps better at night?

How many tantrums can he have before 7am? (The current count is 3, it's 6:40am)

Why are his tantrums so cute that I just laugh and smile? How soon will that change?

Where did the rash on his right ass come from?

I know there's more but my brain has just frozen.

Don't call at naptime, I will be sleeping.

What next?

I don't feel like writing about anything on the list, because if it's about work then I just rant and nobody likes a whiner and it's not that bad it's just that I need to work it for it to work and last night didn't work. If I write about preschool what do I say? He loves it, he loves his new teacher, he grows and basks in structure, he is waaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyy better behaved than he was in the summer, that is proof enough for me. If I write about neighbours what do I say? I don't know them, not really, barely know their names I feel like I don't have a right to since we are merely tenants. If I write about the schedule it might just come back to the work thing or the walk thing or the I never see my husband wah wah wah thing... I know I see him alot more than lots of you see your husbands but I am not used to it and I don't have the strength (read: daycare, nanny, babysitter, help) for it. oh oh I could write about what's new in other areas of life, but it's far to personal (read: has to do with monies). blah, maybe I can do better later.

Kids Sleepovers

My boys are 4 and 2. They have been having sleepovers at Grandmas house ever since they didn't need boobs in the night.... ok maybe not quite but G since about 18mo maybe and M since I don't know when but really it's been practically his whole life. They don't sleep away from home very often and when they do I hear nothing but compliments on their behaviours. They've been having monthly sleepovers with the K family for... at least 8 months. At first M would get picked up in the night and more recently it was decided that he may as well spend the whole night. They are never overnight in a situation that I don't trust or condone. They have only slept over with the K family and their grandmas, it's not like I leave them with any random mom from preschool or passing neighbour.
So why am I talking about it? Why do I sound so defensive? Because I recently discovered that I am not 'normal' in this respect.
The primary example: L has never left her 4 year old A overnight.... in 4 years, not with anyone EVER. L's mother lives in a near by (30mins by car) community to L and L and her mother are best friends. Over drinks one night it comes up that A has asked to spend the night with Gran, L says 'no, Gran can spend the night with us'. Her own mother! Not the mother in law, that I can understand as so few women get along with their mother in laws, but her own mom. I responded to L by telling her of the numerous times I have felt comfortable and left my boys with my mother, my mother in law and even the K family. She was blown away. She was fixed on the K family... how could I let the boys slumber at such a young age and am I not pushing them to grow up a bit too quickly? Simple, the K family are stable, there is a mom and a dad, a boy and a girl, a sad old dog, a big house with bedrooms and a playroom for a basement.... It's not like they are staying up watching movies and talking about girls drinking cola and eating chips in bed. In case of emergencies there are 2 parents if someone needs to take an emergent child there is someone to stay and keep the others without having to pack everyone up. They do watch a special movie, they do have a popcorn and brush their teeth. they are asleep by 9/9:30. G tells D to be quiet I want to sleep. Later L's friend C says to me how lucky I am to have people and family near by who I can trust and that we can do this. I thought that A and A were best buddies since L and C are, if I still lived there would my boys have slept over yet? (Yes with folks) Not with the girls apparently. Who knows?
What I do know is that the K family are better (and less expensive) than any teenager that I ever was or ever hired to put my boys safely to bed in a timely and appropriate manner.
Questions:

• When/if you babysat for other people did you do your best to follow the bedtime plan? Or did you shoo them to bed when the car pulled in the driveway?
• Who would you trust? A local teenager sitter or you own mother? Your mother or a good family friend?
• Do your kids do sleepovers?
• Don't you need the break? Don't you deserve it? Don't your kids?

P.S. Thanksgiving note: I am Thankful for the K family and their presence in my life, their strong friendship and their willingness to take my kids overnight again and again.

Not a word of a lie

He calls this one John.
And this one Emily.
He has been calling them that for months. They play together and do rescue hero type things together. I have been meaning to tell you but I just never get around to it. There will be no significance for most of you but I know that someone out there knows why this is so cute and hilarious. I think he thinks of you and can't express it properly, he's only 4 after all.

...just to finnish the story

She called me back shortly before 5pm... I went to her house, nobody came to party, she still wants to buys books, I can't take her cheques, she gets paid on Friday (2 days ago) and will call me when she has the money for the books she wants. She picked out about $120 and I think if I call her she will actually complete the transaction. She would like to try to have a party again. I don't know if it'll be worth it for me. If she completes the transaction then I will be at just under breaking even for that night.... $20 for the sitter, a couple bucks for coffee, a couple bucks worth of gas... Whatever. I may call on Tuesday just to see.
In other news Chris is home. Kids are excited. I am planning what to do next time he is out of town...Suggestions? 20th - 30th of October. We have been re-arranging the house especially the boys room. Gabriel is now on top and Michael underneath. Working on what to do about the crap and the situation in our room.
I know I had been thinking of something else but it has escaped me now. Happy Birthday Jennifer!
More another time I guess

Uh, work?

As you are all aware we work hard over here so that I don't have to go to work. I loathe the idea of going to work. The work that I do is the book thing, you've heard me mention it before (a few hundred times?). Have I mentioned Ms. cheque bounced? I think I have and if I haven't well then know that I got a rubber cheque from someone and, got the money (not on the appointed time or place but that's a whole nother story) and Ms bounced cheque would like to host a party. I said yes (this was before I knew the cheque was rubbery). Tonight is supposed to be the party. We spoke on Monday, where I reminded her to pleas call and see for certain who is coming and who is not so that I can know what to plan for. Our last words on Monday afternoon were 'we will touch base tomorrow'. I called at several different times on Tuesday and there was no answer and by no answer I mean 'the cellular customer you have dialed is unavailable please try again later'. I tried to day and got the same thing until 4:45pm when I got voicemail and was able to leave a message urging her to call me back asap about tonight, and I hope she is ok. I have a paid sitter coming, I will be driving to her house (20 mins away), I have loaded the books into the car. This better not be for NOTHING. This better be good, like $500 good (ps $500 means $150 or so for me). There had better not be any rubber cheques there.
Truth and Judgement time- She is a recently singled mother of 3 kids under age 5. She is younger than I. Although she lives in a townhouse it is in an affluent area (like for sale sign on house down street was 853,000,00 {you know just shy of a million}). The address on her rubber cheque was not for the current address and the address I had on the list for her was a different one altogether. - I know times can be tough and I have nothing but sympathy for that but please just be honest with me if you are not really able then don't say yes. I know it can be embarrassing to admit that you are living beyond your means, but I am human and truthfully I know all about that. ok more to it but must go.

While you were out?

Chris is out of town and I am playing while you were out single moms edition. ha. Ok not really but I do have a few minor projects on the go. Mostly it's about getting Michael in the bottom bunk, Gabriel in the top, and getting the toddler bed out of the room in an effort to make more space.
The problems with this plan are:

• I need to buy a matress for the bunk (meaning unexpected $ required)
• I need to find other places for the stuff that was being stored on the top to go
• I need my room not to look like a place where stuff goes when it has no home, I need it to be a sanctuary of kidlessness

There's more but I can't remember, I got distracted by an e-mail. Spell check not working! hope it's ok.