I've learned some things this week. Here they are, in no particular order.
1. I have had too many migraines lately. It's time to go back on those lovely drugs that make me feel awful, but take the pain away. With needles and everything. Joy.
2. I am the least important person in this family. No matter what I say, the opposite results. i.e. if I tell Drew NOT to hit the girls, he hits them anyway. Why I even bother speaking is beyond me.
3. I really dislike fowl of any kind. See here if you are new and unaware of my dislike. Now I have a new reason to dislike fowl. We have wild turkeys. They muck up my gardens and eat my seedlings. I live on the "wildlife preserve" side of the road, which means I cannot ask my neighbor to come shoot them. I need to learn how to use a bow and arrow. Stat.
4. I shouldn't blog when my children are awake. Things like children climbing furniture and pulling small children across the floor occur when I blog. Harkens back to #2.
5. The sound of children screaming is like a hot knife in my eye. Doesn't bother me so much when I don't have a migraine. Today I would like to pull my eyes out.
6. Apparently I've learned many things, since I'm already up to #6. Too bad I have to go deal with #4.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Thursday, May 29, 2008
The naptime dance
I am waiting, rather impatiently, for Annabelle and Isabelle to fall asleep. What I am hearing is my name said over and over and a lot of banging in the cribs, not blissful silence. Naptime here has become some sort of crazy dance. The girls are forcing me to only put them down once a day, but so far WHEN that time of day is hasn't been established. I rue the end of two solid naps a day. Because Meg was a daycare kid at the twins' age, she was used to a nap every day after lunch, and took one until she was 3 1/2. Drew fought me on naps and rarely takes one anymore, although he appears to be sleeping as I type because a small person just can't get up before 6 every day and not eventually crash. I would love to get the girls on some sort of a routine to minimize the insanity of only one nap a day, but I'm not there yet. I want them to nap twice a day, damnit. But I think I have to resign myself to an afternoon nap schedule here soon.
The main reason I want them to nap today is because I haven't been home all morning. I drove Meg to school today, drove Drew to school, then as I was about to unload the girls for a snack and nap, Doug called. He had gone to the other house on a way back from a meeting, and found that the washer hookup had been slowly leaking since the washer was removed Saturday morning. So, I emptied the dehumidifier, loaded it into the van and drove to the other house. After getting that all settled, we drove to the school my mom works at to pay them all a surprise visit. I hadn't brought the girls in there since the day I was discharged from the hospital after they were born, so it was a fun little visit. After a trip home in which the girls took a small snooze, they fought lunch and are now apparently going to fight a real nap. I am tired and crabby. I want everyone to rest so I can maybe accomplish SOMETHING, ANYTHING before Meg comes home and we do the softball practice shuffle.
As the girls are still making way too much noise, I ought toknock some heads together go settle them down. Then maybe I'll take a nap too. Ha.
The main reason I want them to nap today is because I haven't been home all morning. I drove Meg to school today, drove Drew to school, then as I was about to unload the girls for a snack and nap, Doug called. He had gone to the other house on a way back from a meeting, and found that the washer hookup had been slowly leaking since the washer was removed Saturday morning. So, I emptied the dehumidifier, loaded it into the van and drove to the other house. After getting that all settled, we drove to the school my mom works at to pay them all a surprise visit. I hadn't brought the girls in there since the day I was discharged from the hospital after they were born, so it was a fun little visit. After a trip home in which the girls took a small snooze, they fought lunch and are now apparently going to fight a real nap. I am tired and crabby. I want everyone to rest so I can maybe accomplish SOMETHING, ANYTHING before Meg comes home and we do the softball practice shuffle.
As the girls are still making way too much noise, I ought to
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
A Monday Tuesday
My day started off much like hers, with a massive migraine that was a holdover from yesterday. And the stupid thunderstorms that we are supposed to be getting, which would relieve said migraine, are going all around us. HELLO! I need a thunderstorm. Please. Thank you.
(The playset!)
But anyway, we had a really lovely weekend here. Doug met his father at our other house Saturday morning and they took the old tenants' junk to the dump. Hooray for that chapter being over. Our new tenants move in this coming weekend. Saturday afternoon friends from our old neighborhood came up to visit. We hung out in the yard, getting eaten alive by black flies, even with our fire pit going. It was nice to visit, catch up and have the kids play nicely together. It's always a bonus when that happens.
Sunday was our family cookout. My parents, my in-laws, and my brother-in-law and his family came to spend some time out in the yard with us. We joked that is was awfully nice of us to have twin babies so that the grammies each had one to push on the swings! Thank goodness our families get along so well. It certainly would make things awkward if they didn't.
Yesterday we went to the town "parade". It is a bit of a joke, as it is very small and literally lasts only a couple of minutes. But, we saw friends and it was nice to feel like we belong here in this little town. Part of the reason we moved here is that Doug has worked here in town for almost 10 years and is established here. It's nice to be on our own and making our own friends and we can start to establish ourselves in the community. It feels good doing that for ourselves and our kids. After the parade we worked hard in the yard, mulching and planting dahlia bulbs.
In all it was a great weekend and I was sad to have it end. Doug isn't on vacation again until early July so that's a long time for me to be doing most of this on my own. I will have our babysitter starting to work 2 days a week in a couple of weeks, and that will alleviate some of my stress (I hope!).
Here are some of our weekend photos:
(Drew at the parade)
(Meg at the parade)
(Seriously hot and tired babies, at the parade)
Friday, May 23, 2008
A good day
Yesterday was a good day, despite the gray clouds and the distinct chill in the air.
At 7 am the Lowe's delivery man arrived via pickup truck to deliver the parts for the playset. I was glad they didn't come in a Lowe's truck, as we live on a bumpy dirt road and have neighbors. We didn't want to wake them up. The long bar for the playset was NOT in the truck. Nice delivery man made a call and said he'd head back to get the long bar. BUT, when awesome installer man Roland arrived, he had the long bar with him! A good sign. Roland spent from 7:30 to 4:30 at my house yesterday putting up the playset. It's missing a swing and the parts to put together the kids little table with awning, but for the most part, it's done. I'll post pictures soon, I promise.
Drew had a field trip to the Maine Wildlife Park yesterday, which I chaperoned with the twins. This park is 10 minutes from my house. Even though we were cold, we had a good time wandering the park with some of his friends from preschool and looking for the animals. Annie and Izzie were gaga over the "deahdeahdeah" and the bears. The male peacocks were strutting their stuff and showing off; there is even a white peacock which is pretty amazing.
After prying Meg and Drew from the playset, Meg had a softball game last night. For a surprise, my in-laws came, along with my niece and brother-in-law (he was picking her up from the University of New Hampshire and we told him he MUST come see Meg play). After confusion as to who we were playing (the team on the schedule didn't show, so we played another team whose team didn't show; weird) the game got underway. Meg was 2 for 2. She was 0 for 3 Tuesday night and really frustrated, so she was wicked excited to get 2 hits and have a huge cheering section. And at the end of the game, she got the game ball! She was over the moon. She is 7 and the ages on her team go up to age 12, so we were so incredibly proud. Her coach signed the ball and it's on her bureau in her room. We borrowed a bat and some balls so she can practice this weekend too. I'm glad she enjoys this sport so much. She seems to be a pretty good player so far.
We collapsed at 8:30 after getting the kids to bed, had a dinner of bagel, egg, cheese and bacon and watched some of the Celtics game. Too bad they didn't win. I'll have to give my Garnett bobble-head a talking to today. Now I'm off to take pictures of the playset and watch Drew swing like a fool.
At 7 am the Lowe's delivery man arrived via pickup truck to deliver the parts for the playset. I was glad they didn't come in a Lowe's truck, as we live on a bumpy dirt road and have neighbors. We didn't want to wake them up. The long bar for the playset was NOT in the truck. Nice delivery man made a call and said he'd head back to get the long bar. BUT, when awesome installer man Roland arrived, he had the long bar with him! A good sign. Roland spent from 7:30 to 4:30 at my house yesterday putting up the playset. It's missing a swing and the parts to put together the kids little table with awning, but for the most part, it's done. I'll post pictures soon, I promise.
Drew had a field trip to the Maine Wildlife Park yesterday, which I chaperoned with the twins. This park is 10 minutes from my house. Even though we were cold, we had a good time wandering the park with some of his friends from preschool and looking for the animals. Annie and Izzie were gaga over the "deahdeahdeah" and the bears. The male peacocks were strutting their stuff and showing off; there is even a white peacock which is pretty amazing.
After prying Meg and Drew from the playset, Meg had a softball game last night. For a surprise, my in-laws came, along with my niece and brother-in-law (he was picking her up from the University of New Hampshire and we told him he MUST come see Meg play). After confusion as to who we were playing (the team on the schedule didn't show, so we played another team whose team didn't show; weird) the game got underway. Meg was 2 for 2. She was 0 for 3 Tuesday night and really frustrated, so she was wicked excited to get 2 hits and have a huge cheering section. And at the end of the game, she got the game ball! She was over the moon. She is 7 and the ages on her team go up to age 12, so we were so incredibly proud. Her coach signed the ball and it's on her bureau in her room. We borrowed a bat and some balls so she can practice this weekend too. I'm glad she enjoys this sport so much. She seems to be a pretty good player so far.
We collapsed at 8:30 after getting the kids to bed, had a dinner of bagel, egg, cheese and bacon and watched some of the Celtics game. Too bad they didn't win. I'll have to give my Garnett bobble-head a talking to today. Now I'm off to take pictures of the playset and watch Drew swing like a fool.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
The incompetence of people
I'm not going to sugarcoat it; people as a whole are incompetent. Customer service is horrible and if you want to talk with someone on the phone, well good luck to you.
It is 6:54pm EST. Let me explain why this matters. I am waiting for a delivery from Lowe's. Yes, the new playset for my children was to be delivered "this afternoon". In that vein, I waited here ALL AFTERNOON for the delivery. The only time I left my house was to drive 1300 feet to the end of my road to pick up Meg from the bus. And when I picked her up, I promptly turned around and drove home again. Still, no delivery. At 4 pm I tried calling the department at Lowe's that handles our playset, but I had two screeching 16 month olds, one of whom unplugged the phone while I was on hold! At 4:30 I asked my darling husband to make a call for me since I obviously had my hands full. He spoke with the sales manager, who said he'd call the delivery driver and find out the scoop.
We are STILL waiting for someone to call and let us know where the playset is (6:59 pm). Now, this wouldn't be such an enormous issue if the ONE AND ONLY playset installer in all of Lowe's wasn't arriving on our doorstep at 8 am tomorrow to put together said playset. Hard to install something that we don't have in our possession. Doug and I are taking bets about where our playset is. See, we live on a private road that we named ourselves (ok, I had no say in it, but that is totally beside the point). There is another road, in another town, with the SAME NAME (and this is not a common name. It's a sports name. A hockey name. But that's all I can tell you). When we moved here, Time Warner Cable actually sent the cable installer to the street in the OTHER TOWN. Do you know what is on that street, in that town? A HOCKEY RINK! Not a residence. For the love of Pete. So, we fully expect that the lovely people at Lowe's will tell us that when they went to deliver said playset to that other road, lo and behold, there was no house. Hi. I have a PHONE. One that rings and everything. If you are confused, call ME. I will be glad to set you straight. I might even be polite if you call me 7 hours ago to let me know where the playset it. Again, beside the point.
It's now 7:43 pm EST and I have not seen a delivery truck, nor heard a single word from Lowe's. It's taken forever to get the swingset installation scheduled because my awesome parents had Lowe's order an extra long beam so all 4 kids can have swings. And that had to be specially manufactured in Virigina. And shipped by horse and buggy or some load of crap from Lowe's as to why it's taken so long to get it. When I was working as a lawyer and did something wrong, my boss let me have it (he didn't believe in sugarcoating either). I think Lowe's is going to get an earful.
It is 6:54pm EST. Let me explain why this matters. I am waiting for a delivery from Lowe's. Yes, the new playset for my children was to be delivered "this afternoon". In that vein, I waited here ALL AFTERNOON for the delivery. The only time I left my house was to drive 1300 feet to the end of my road to pick up Meg from the bus. And when I picked her up, I promptly turned around and drove home again. Still, no delivery. At 4 pm I tried calling the department at Lowe's that handles our playset, but I had two screeching 16 month olds, one of whom unplugged the phone while I was on hold! At 4:30 I asked my darling husband to make a call for me since I obviously had my hands full. He spoke with the sales manager, who said he'd call the delivery driver and find out the scoop.
We are STILL waiting for someone to call and let us know where the playset is (6:59 pm). Now, this wouldn't be such an enormous issue if the ONE AND ONLY playset installer in all of Lowe's wasn't arriving on our doorstep at 8 am tomorrow to put together said playset. Hard to install something that we don't have in our possession. Doug and I are taking bets about where our playset is. See, we live on a private road that we named ourselves (ok, I had no say in it, but that is totally beside the point). There is another road, in another town, with the SAME NAME (and this is not a common name. It's a sports name. A hockey name. But that's all I can tell you). When we moved here, Time Warner Cable actually sent the cable installer to the street in the OTHER TOWN. Do you know what is on that street, in that town? A HOCKEY RINK! Not a residence. For the love of Pete. So, we fully expect that the lovely people at Lowe's will tell us that when they went to deliver said playset to that other road, lo and behold, there was no house. Hi. I have a PHONE. One that rings and everything. If you are confused, call ME. I will be glad to set you straight. I might even be polite if you call me 7 hours ago to let me know where the playset it. Again, beside the point.
It's now 7:43 pm EST and I have not seen a delivery truck, nor heard a single word from Lowe's. It's taken forever to get the swingset installation scheduled because my awesome parents had Lowe's order an extra long beam so all 4 kids can have swings. And that had to be specially manufactured in Virigina. And shipped by horse and buggy or some load of crap from Lowe's as to why it's taken so long to get it. When I was working as a lawyer and did something wrong, my boss let me have it (he didn't believe in sugarcoating either). I think Lowe's is going to get an earful.
Who? What? Where? When? Why? How?
Why do the twins feel the need to fill their diapers with toxic goo as soon as I put them down for a nap? Is it that the crib is so comforting to them? Or do they like to make me crazy? Crazy. I tell you.
Why do my kids REFUSE to put ANYTHING away? Is it a gene? Did I pass that gene on to them? Or can I blame Doug for that?
Where do all the baby socks go when I do the laundry? I have about a gazillion unmatched baby socks. I cannot find the matches to save my life.
Who created those annoying musical toys with no On/Off switch? They should be beaten about the head, or at least forced to listen to their obnoxious toy OVER AND OVER AGAIN like I have to.
Why isn't there a coffee IV yet?
When did my little girl grow up to be a big girl who can read anything you put in front of her?
What happens when you change the toxic baby goo? Babies finally nap. ahhh. You'd think I'd know enough to check the noise earlier than I do.
How can I have no chocolate in the house? How is that possible? I mean, there is a bag of lovely Ghiardelli chocolate chips and they're calling my name. How can I resist?
How can I get my house cleaned up without doing the work myself?
Where will I end this post? I could go on and on with these questions. Do you have any?
Why do my kids REFUSE to put ANYTHING away? Is it a gene? Did I pass that gene on to them? Or can I blame Doug for that?
Where do all the baby socks go when I do the laundry? I have about a gazillion unmatched baby socks. I cannot find the matches to save my life.
Who created those annoying musical toys with no On/Off switch? They should be beaten about the head, or at least forced to listen to their obnoxious toy OVER AND OVER AGAIN like I have to.
Why isn't there a coffee IV yet?
When did my little girl grow up to be a big girl who can read anything you put in front of her?
What happens when you change the toxic baby goo? Babies finally nap. ahhh. You'd think I'd know enough to check the noise earlier than I do.
How can I have no chocolate in the house? How is that possible? I mean, there is a bag of lovely Ghiardelli chocolate chips and they're calling my name. How can I resist?
How can I get my house cleaned up without doing the work myself?
Where will I end this post? I could go on and on with these questions. Do you have any?
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Much Ado About Nothing
After my blogging, and all the great advice from the internets, nothing came of it today. Not a word from Meg after school. I even asked leading questions to see if anything came up at school today, but she said no. After reading more information about the incident, it sounds like the woman and her kids had moved out of her boyfriend's house so Meg wouldn't have known them. But WE know the boyfriend (well, Doug does). Turns out he dated the office manager at Doug's office several years ago. I vaguely remember his name in conversations about what a JERK he was to this woman. Makes the situation even more freakish.
But to you dear internets. Thank you. I appreciate all the advice. I really hope I NEVER have to use it.
But to you dear internets. Thank you. I appreciate all the advice. I really hope I NEVER have to use it.
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