I should start this post by saying I love my mother-in-law. I truly do. However if she doesn't start paying attention the rules I am sending her to the worse nursing home I can find.
Well she outdid herself this time. Allie has wanted a Baby Alive for (and I quote) her whole entire life. Mean mother that I am, I have banned Baby Alive from the house. After all I have two children, a dog and husband that I already have to feed, bathe and clean up after. Why on Earth would I import another one?
One that cries, eats and pees. Because just like the fish (now deceased), dog and baby sister Allie just had to have, I know who will end up having to take care of a Baby Alive.
Did I mention the child has 268 30 dolls in her room? Why can't she just play with the ones she has I will never know. Plus Allie is 9. Exactly when do girls stop playing with baby dolls? I know the answer actually. She stopped playing with dolls a couple years ago. She just hasn't stopped collecting them!
Back to my mother-in-law, whom I do adore. The other day she babysat Allie and when I went to pick her up guess what was in her arms?
Now my mother-in-law loves a sale, a yard sale. She especially loves anything that is free. Apparently one of her friends bought 2 Baby Alives and got one free. As the doll was not in a box but in a gift bag without any accessories I have a feeling that this may not be the whole truth. Close to the truth, but not the whole truth.
What I do know is that "Lilly" is now residing in Allie's room and began crying in the middle of the night.
Guess who slept through her baby's cries? If you guessed everyone but me you get a gold star.
For now my mother-in-law is safe, in her own home. Soon however she may need respite care. If she doesn't start following the rules it might be more spite than respite.
Jen is going to be so freaking proud of me. I think I am following the rules this time! Today is the 27th, right? See I even looked a second time to make sure I was paying attention. Then I thought I could have sworn this was already a topic...turns out that was just about dumping some one and feeling bad about it. And then inspiration by way of a mix tape fairy magically providing inspiration. In the form of an e-mail from Jen telling me exactly what this week's topic is. Phew. Crisis averted.
Since I am so not ready to admit that I suck, I am throwing the best you suck songs into the mix.
Carrie Underwood probably has the best did me wrong anthem and she commits vandalism something we never expected from our sweet American Idol! This you suck song isn't about me but for a rat jerk that just did this to his awesome wife.
Where is that baseball bat? Oh look, Miranda has it. (Quick aside, how many of us think Blake sleeps with one eye open?)
No one can sing you suck better than Ms. Simon. From being vain to not having time for the pain. Her lyrics about those who dare hurt us? Basically she says bite me but in a way that you never realize she is talking about you. Taylor Swift should probably take notes.
And who says you suck better than Carole King? The ultimate song goddess. For your listening pleasure: You go your way, I'll go mine (because you suck).
Okay, I admit I added the you suck to the end of the song title. But it kind of works, don't you think?
And I just realized that I (sort of) broke the rules by only having four songs on my mix-tape. Crap. But wait, I can totally fix this!!!
Should you be the recipient of any of the above songs saying you suck, may I suggest you reply:
Oh and to my husband, should I ever need to send you a you suck tape be afraid. Be very afraid. Because I am so starting with something from Miranda!
Allie: This is why I like it when Grammie babysits. She says I can stay up until 8:30 then she falls asleep and I get to stay up until 10 or 9 central time.
It's that time of the week. To take a moment and think of just 10 things I am thankful happened this week. In no particular order, although I wish I was in a Particular Harbor....
10. There are only 10 days left before the girls go back to school. They just may make it.
9. Going off the grid for a week.
8. Campfires and the friends that sit by them. Until 2am.
7. Boo fell in love with the movie Grease. Her IPAD being the only technology allowed while camping.
6. That Boo doesn't understand the storyline, lyrics or innuendos in Grease.
5. Floating down the river with Boo, Allie, David and David's sister. I just really wish Boo hadn't sent my Margarita into the river. Next year she floats with Sherry.
4. That there are no photos of me falling into the river when Boo and I got stuck on the rocks.
3. That we noticed one of the floats had a hole in it before we started down the river. 2. That Allie had the time of her life going from Campsite #1 to #18 playing with her friends.
1. That there are only 12 more months before we once again go off the grid with 30+ of our closest friends.
We took a week away from the world. A week where we hung with friends, floated in the river, drank margaritas at noon and wine at dinner. A week where Allie ran from campsite to campsite visiting all her friends. A week where Boo broke into a newly engaged couple's tent and made their air mattress and tent into her personal bounce house.
A week without TV, Internet, Cell Service. (Saving grace, we had power and running water)
I really wasn't myself when I came home. See I enjoy all the comforts of home. I am addicted to reading my friends blogs and writing my own. I check my e-mail and texts constantly. I am constantly thinking of things I should be doing at work and at home.
But last week I wasn't myself. I was away from all that worry and hurry. I was a mom hanging with her kids during the day and a wife hanging with her husband by the campfire at night. I laughed with friends, slept past 6AM and sat down for more than a minute.
I was the me I wish I could be more often.
Then we came back. The first thing I did while driving back into the real world was turn on my phone and review all the e-mails that procreated like bunnies while the phone was off.
We pulled into the driveway and I immediately started cleaning, organizing, doing laundry and getting ready for work the next day. At work I realized that I am not irreplaceable but that I still had 200+ e-mails to return.
It took just 20 minutes to undo the relaxation of being away from technology for a week. To start prioritizing things over my girls. These things are important, too. After all the mortgage kind of depends on them. Boo needs her therapies. Allie needs the routine.
I am the planner, the budgeter, the organizer, the over thinker. Once in a while, though, I wish I wasn't myself.
