Saying No to Systems Badge

My husband Michael is always trying to systematize my life. Why would a responsible woman like myself need that, you ask? Well, because I lose things a lot. A lot. I never set things (keys, debit card, wallet, phone) down in the same place. Therefore, I am constantly hunting for them.

Yesterday at Meijer I buckled the kids in and unloaded the groceries from the cart into the car. At some point during the span of those two events, I misplaced my keys. Whoops. I looked all over the front seat. Not there. I looked behind my seat and in my purse. Not there either. Hmmmm. I knew they had to be around somewhere. I was, after all, sitting in my car that had previously been locked before I clicked it open two minutes beforehand. So, I got out of the car and opened the trunk where the groceries were. Nope. My one last hope before I freaked out -- I opened the sliding door and aha, there they were tucked behind Ella's car seat.

I got back into the driver's seat and sat for a minute thinking about the ridiculousness of this situation. I thought, "I need a system. I need to always set my keys in the same place." Then a new thought occurred to me. "I don't need a system. This is good for me."

• Searching for my keys keeps me on my toes. (I never know where they might end up)
• Searching for my keys keeps my brain stimulated. (As a mother of three littles, I am in danger of brain muscle atrophy)
• Searching for my keys increases my critical thinking skills. (I'm thinking of many different places my keys could be and many different scenarios that will play out if I can't find them)
• Searching for my keys builds my character (patience)
• Searching for my keys develops my spiritual life (Dear God, where are my keys? Please help)

Forget systems. I would forego so much personal growth if I implemented them.

Today I lost my phone. I scoured the house inside and out. I could not find it anywhere. So, I got on Facebook to find someone online to call it for me (Critical Thinking). I've had to do this several times. My great friend Julie Gleason was live on chat, so she called my phone a bunch until I found it sitting on the roof of my van in the driveway. Add to the list:

• Searching for my phone helps me build relationships and rely on others (Hey FB friend, can you call me?)

All that to say, I'm thankful for the growth in my life due to lost keys, phones and other personal effects. Keep it coming.

A few asides:

• I did get up at 3:45 a.m. to prepare for my Royal Wedding Party. It was a riot. I haven't laughed so hard in awhile! Pics are on FB.
• I have a bite on my eyelid that I thought was a bite, but then today I thought it was a pimple. So I kept picking at it and now it's so swollen I could barely see out of it earlier. Gross. I think it is a bite. All my neighbors told me they didn't even notice it while we were playing outside today. Liars. "See that giant pink unicorn that just landed in the front yard?" "Uh, nope, what are you talking about?" My eye now protrudes like Dobby the house elf! Great look for my 30th birthday weekend!
• Have you ever read the children's book, Have You Filled A Bucket Today? I totally recommend it. It's a really easy way to teach kids how to be loving and thoughtful.

I'm throwing Snow White in the trash Badge

Well, so much for uninterrupted Timer Time. Dang it. Ev and Jack have each been out of their rooms twice this afternoon. Ugh. Don't worry though. I'm sticking with it. I will get some free time.

This morning Evelyn asked me to give her a makeover before we went to our Bright Beginnings play group. I asked her what she was talking about and she told me she wanted me to make her prettier than all the other girls that would be there. Seriously? So, I went into this whole shpeel about how everyone is equally beautiful and God makes us all unique and special in our own way - we don't need painted nails or makeup. I felt proud of my lofty oration until she asked at the end, "Can you still make me prettier?"

How in the world does she even know what a makeover is or what it means to be prettier than someone else? She told me it's from Snow White. I've watched Snow White and I don't remember that part. Does she get a makeover by the Dwarves? I thought she redid their cottage? Whatever. I'm throwing that movie in the trash. Done and done!

Then at play group, Evelyn painted a picture and brought it over to me. In front of other moms she announced it was a TV. Really? Not a dinosaur like that girl or a bug like that little boy? No, a TV. I felt exposed. Darn that Red Box. We have been frequent patrons these past few rainy days.

Two asides ...

1. I will be wearing my wedding dress at 4:45 a.m. tomorrow morning drinking mimosas with a few of my girlfriends. You all are welcome to join us. Royal Wedding time!
2. I am making veggie meatloaf (weird and impossible, right?) tonight. It's amazing. Trust me. Vegetarian meals are always better. They have to be because vegetables are, well let's be honest, gross. So they have to be seasoned super yummy! This recipe doesn't even have any!! Here it is...

• 3 eggs beaten
• 1 pint small curd cottage cheese
• 2 cups special K cereal
• 2 cups rice krispies
• 1/4 cup ground walnuts
• 1/4 cup oil
• 1 package of liptons onion cup of soup
• Ketchup

Preheat oven to 375. Mix all ingredients. Place in 8X8. Cover with foil. Cook 45 minutes. Take foil off. Add Ketchup and cook 15 minutes more. (You can use all Krispies or K if you need to!)

Enjoy!

I'm Going to be a Better Blogger Badge

I suck at blogging. I was so excited about starting this daily "journal" of mundane motherhood feats and I just haven't stuck with it.

Well, I'm going to do better. I must do better. There's something therapeutic in looking back over my totally chaotic day and giving myself a few badges. And I must admit there's something super gratifying in other people knowing about my successes and failures. Call it vanity, neediness, affirmation junky. Whatev. I just don't want to be on this crazy journey alone. I want people in on it.

Heck yes I just bounced Ella on my knee, played Chutes and Ladders with Jack and face painted a rockin' butterfly on Evelyn's face - all at the same time. Who can do that? I thought breastfeeding and stirring a pot of soup was an accomplishment. I have come so far as a mother. Um, and I also just walked Cody, pushed Ella in her Little Tikes car and helped Jack and Ev ride their new bikes around the entire block. It's true.

If I had been documenting all the kick-ass things I've done in the last two years since I started this blog, I would have like 30 vests full of badges in my closet. Currently I only have one with just a few pieces of flair, at least according to this live document. And that just won't do for a girl who is about to turn 30 in a few days. I need all the badges, back slaps and atta girls I can get, especially when it comes to mothering and wifing and friending and on and on and on.

So, here we go. Some new vests - fully flaired - in my closet this year. Year 30 (technically 31 as my dad says, meaning I don't need to have a big bash or many presents for my bday this year because my official 30th was last year. Whatever Dad). Happy birthday to me.

Today's Badges

• I started this thing called Timer Time. Jack and Ev are no longer taking rests. It's driving me crazy. I need to not see them for at least one hour during the middle of the day. So, for my sanity and their safety, we've started Timer Time. We bought colored timers from the Dollar Tree (Thanks for the recommendation from my friend Corinn) and both of them have to stay in their rooms for 60 minutes until the timer goes off. They are only allowed to come out to go to the bathroom. If they yell to me or ask questions - discipline. They can do whatever they want in their room - except yell to me or ask me questions. Get it? It's worked fabulously for two days. Ask me in a week how it's going. We'll see. But I'm encouraged today.
• I took all the kids in their rain boots down the street to a large puddle and let them search for worms and get totally disgusting and wet. I almost barfed at one point as Jack proudly showed me his hand covered in worms. Bleh. I told him how awesome it was. Ew.
• I've also decided that if I'm wearing an outfit that I feel cute in and it doesn't get dirty, I'm wearing it two days in a row, maybe even three. I'm on my second day of a sweet Arcade Fire t-shirt. I'm on day three of a pair of black skinny jeans. Why stop the good thing I've got going here?!!