Operation: Clean the damn house (and a few other things)

As part of O:CTDH that I started before Christmas, I spent most of yesterday and part of today getting it back in order from Christmas break. Heaven help us when summer comes but hopefully by then it will be a habit to clean regularly and not such a dramatic thing. My house looked like wild raving animals took it over for awhile. But it is much better now! After I did the generaly clean up, I moved on to scrubbing the bathroom. Usually, I just wipe everything down with Clorox every few days and call that good enough. It disinfects, it gets the toothpaste out of the sink, it is good enough (no matter what, the bathroom with always be my weak spot in cleaning). But today I scrubbed the hell out of it. I got out the "soft cleaner" and attacked that mess. I climbed into the shower and went over every inch of it, getting it clean (don't get me wrong, it doesn't look clean because it is old and stained and I think I might have created some toxic gas trying to get it unstained when we moved in but I assure you that it is, in fact, clean). It makes me smile a little every time I go in the bathroom and see the couple of unstained parts sparkle just smidge :) You know you are truly pathetic when a slightly sparkly shower surrond makes you smile.

Tomorrow, I finish the bathroom, which includes the sweeping and mopping, knocking down cobwebs, and scrubbing the outside of the tub and the walls with the Magic Eraser. If I can manage that in a reasonable amount of time, I'll start on my bedroom, which I'm not looking forward too. I have to move my bed and clean all the crap that has fallen under it over the past however many months. Not appealing in the slightest and a definate factor in saving it for last (and the fact that is has a door that I can shut so no has to see the mess when they come over :) ).

Wii Fit is kicking my butt. According to it, I'm doing nothing but gaining weight (which is somewhat odd, since I haven't gained any weight since I had the kids). I gained 50 lbs with The Boy, never lost it, had Ms Thang, lost a little from being sick but gained it back by the end of the pregnancy. Since then, my weight has fluxed a pound here or there but since I started doing the Fit, I've gained 6 lbs, with no change to my diet or activity level, aside from commiting to 20 on the board each day. Something fishy if you ask me! However, I'm a hula hooping champion and I rock the yoga. My sides are also sore (from hula hooping, I assume) and my let leg hurts so it is doing something at least.

TB was late getting out of school and when I asked him why he said "my teacher held me back and told me to talk to you about *sarcastic mimic*being responsible with my hair" He explained that people want to touch the hawk and he doesn't want them to so he was running in the classroom, trying to get away from someone that wanted to touch him. I told him that if someone wanted to touch it and he didn't want them to all he needed to do was say "do not touch me" at whatever volume he needed to use to get results. He said they aren't allowed to yell in school and I pointed out that he can't run in school or hit in school either so what other choice did he have, really? He probably shouldn't snarl, like I did in a pregnany hormone induced frenzy when some old lady that I didn't know rubbed my belly without asking "How would you like if I walked over and grabbed your boob? You wouldn't like that? Then keep your damn hands to yourself, you old bag" Obviously, I don't deal well with handsy people LOL

When I got home, I had an email from the teacher telling me her side of it. She said that "his hair is becoming a distraction to himself and others" She said that he is rubbing it in people's faces (he says this is in response to people pulling it) and letting some people play with it. I don't know if that meant that he is letting people play with it in class and it is disruptive or if he is only letting some people touch his hair and not everyone. IMO, he can't control what other people do, only himself, so disruptions to other people are not my problem. I did point out to him that he can't let people touch it during class and that he can't rub it on anyone, but that is rude and not a little gross. We shall see what the next few days bring. I get the impression that she doesn't like his hair and is looking of things to gripe at him about it. Maybe I'm wrong and maybe it will go smoothly and this will be the end of it. What I do know is that I won't cut his hair to please her. There is nothing in the school dress code policy preventing it (I checked before I ever did it, just to be on the safe side) and there isn't much she can do about it. Except make him miserable and he already hates school and begs me to switch him classes so I don't think it can get a lot worse.

Tomorrow, I get to go buy socks and a replacement bathroom step stool. I bought some at Target in the dollar section that are great. They cost $2.50, are plastic and are higher than average step stools. TB broke our bathroom one tonight and now has to pay to replace it. Any recommendations for step stools you like? I want it to be plastic (the wooden ones are great but I'm afraid they wouldn't hold up in the wet of the bathroom), inexpensive and tall. The tall was critical when we bought it because MT couldn't reach the sink at all. Over a year later, she is plenty tall enough to reach, even without the step stool, but now she uses it in the kitchen to help me cook and the tall is required again so she can reach the top of the counter.

First words

What were your kids first words? Because my kids are DYING to know! They have been on this huge "first word" kick and I'm a little tired of talking about how TB's first word was "bye-bye" and MT's was "Ba-Ba" (what she called her brother).

So spill so we have new first words to talk about! :)

Having a screaming fit

So last night, after a big fat pity party, I decided that I yell too much. I yell all the time about everything and it isn't cool.

My New Year's Resolution is to try to chill out a little with the kids (RF is still fair game but he is a big boy and can't just deal). Will I never yell? Ha, fat chance of that! But I am trying to not have it be my first response to any negative behavior. So far today, I've been working on it, with mild success. Of course, it is the first day and it is just an anomoly that the kids have actually listened better and fought less but positive re-enforcement is positive re-enforcement and I'll take what I can get! :)

I called it a goal last year and I met both of them to some degree. I didn't lose weight but after I posted, I decided that I didn't care about losing anything, I just wanted to move more and I did. I also paid off the van and over half the student loan. The rest of it will be gone once we get our taxes back this year. So if last year's moderate success is any indication, hopefully this year will be as good (sad that I call less that 50% done success but again, I take what I can get LOL)

Getting Fit

I got my Wii Fit on Saturday. Of course, I was sick and couldn't play with it. Yesterday I felt a lot better so I was able to see what the big deal was all about. I did the body test and it determined that I was 25! Woohoo, go me. I did 40 minutes of various activites on it yesterday because I'm trying to unlock all the other activities. I may be unbalanced on the balance games, I can do yoga like nobody's business! I scored yoga trainer on all of them! Apparently, years of doing yoga on and off have done something for me. I spent 20 minutes on it today and would have done longer if TB hadn't been all in my face, demanding his turn. I also do a fairly decent job of hula hooping but the best thing I found today was a running game. You hold the Wii remote in your hand and run in place, trying to stay behind the lead runner. TB apparently loves this game and it is perfect for those days when he is crazy and needs to burn some energy. He has his little Mii and he can run wild on the fit. Who says that video games are worthless?

Quigs, my house has gone to hell with the kids being home. Give me a couple of days to get them back to school and get it cleaned back up and then you can come over and play on the fit with me after the minis go to bed :)

103

So I did 103 books last year. Here is my final list, including commentary on most of them. Some of them, the commentary is self explainatory. Like Twilight and HP need no comment. Others, I commented on the whole series instead of the individual books. And some of them there just isn't much to say about so I listed what topic they were. That happened fairly frequently with older books, since I can't remember much about them :)

Maid for Murder Barbara Colley Meh

The SPQ Field Giude to Men Jill Conner Brown May Funny, more fact than fiction

Really Unusual Bad Boys Mary Janice Davidson May Romance

The Royal Pain Mary Janice Davidson Feb Funny

The Royal Treatment Mary Janice Davidson Feb Funny

Valentine's Day is Killing Me Mary Janice Davidson Romance

Hot Mama Jennifer Estep Superhero romance better than Karma Girl

Karma Girl Jennifer Estep Superhero Romance

Wife for Hire Janet Evanovich Typical JE

To have and to hold Jane Green BORING

Obsession, Deceit and Really Dark Chocolate Kyra Green Funny, like JE

Passion, Betrayal and Killer Highlights Kyra Green Funny like JE

Sex, Murder and a Double Latte Kyra Green Funny like JE

So Much For My Happy Ending Kyra Green Not as funny as other books by her but decent

Killer in High Heels Gemma Halliday interesting series, much like Kyra Green

Bloody Bones Laurell Hamilton Vampires

Circus of the Damned Laurell Hamilton Vampires

Guilty Pleasures Laurell Hamilton Vampires

Killing Dance Laurell Hamilton Vampires

Laughing Corpse Laurell Hamilton Vampires

Lunatic Café Laurell Hamilton Vampires

Dead Until Dark Charlaine Harris Vampires

Dead Witch Walking Kim Harrison Whiny witch, needs to change instead of bitching

Killer Insight Victoria Laurie interesting

Bad Boys in black Tie Erin McCarthy Romance

Bit the Jackpot Erin McCarthy vampire romance

Bled Dry Erin McCarthy vampire romance

High Stakes Erin McCarthy vampire romance

Chopping Spree Diane Mott Davidson cooking

Dark Tort Diane Mott Davidson cooking

Double Shot Diane Mott Davidson cooking

Prime Cut Diane Mott Davidson cooking

Sticks and Scones Diane Mott Davidson cooking

Sweet Revenge Diane Mott Davidson cooking

Tough cookie Diane Mott Davidson cooking

We Thought you'd be Prettier Laurie Nataro non-fiction, fairly funny

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire JK Rowling HP

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix JK Rowling July HP

Good in Bed Jennifer Wiemer Read for book club. It was fine but I wouldn't read any others by her. It took too long and didn't hold my attention enough

Barking Goats and the Redneck Mafia Dolores Wilson Funny

Jail Bertie and the Peanut Ladies Dolores Wilson Funny

Blue Moon Laurell Hamilton May Vampire

My son's goal in life… Dave Barry June non-fiction, typical DB, fast read

The book of bad songs Dave Barry June non-fiction, typical DB, fast read

The hipster handbook Anchor Books June Lame

Narcisuss in Chains Laurell Hamilton June Vampire

Cerulean Sins Laurell Hamilton June Vampire

Me Talk Pretty One Day David Sedaris June Read for book club, it was ok, some stories were good but other were hard to get through. Won't push myself to read any of his others

Obsidian Butterfly Laurell Hamilton June Vampire

Cross my Heart and Hope to Die Nancy Martin June Interesting series. Good characters, good plots

Incubus Dreams Laurell Hamilton July Vampires

Micah Laurell Hamilton July Vampires

Danse Macabre Laurell Hamilton July Vampires

The Harliquin Laurell Hamilton July Vampires

Dead over Heals Mary Janice Davidson July Part of the "Undead" series. Not the best, too heavy

Some Like it Lethal Nancy Martin July Interesting series. Good characters, good plots

T is for Trespass Sue Grafton July Very dark SG book. Deals with elder abuse and stalking

Succubus on Top Richelle Mead July Better than expected with the terrible title.

Blood Noir Laurell Hamilton July Vampire

The Good, The Bad and The Undead Kim Harrison Aug Whiny witch, needs to change instead of bitching

Grave Surprise Charlaine Harris Aug Fairly predictable, not nearly as good as the Sookie books

Grave Sight Charlaine Harris Aug Fairly predictable, not nearly as good as the Sookie books

Curly Girl Aug BORING non-fiction about how to care for curly hair

A Fistful of Charms Kim Harrison Aug Whiny witch, needs to change instead of bitching

Dead and Dateless Kimberly Raye Aug Way too over the top and that is saying a lot since it is vampire romance

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince JK Rowling HP

Fearless Fourteen Janet Evanovich Aug Pretty typical number series

Every Witch Way but Dead Kim Harrison Aug Whiny witch, needs to change instead of bitching

A Charmed Death Madelyn Alt Sept No impression

For a Few Demons More Kim Harrison Sept Whiny witch, needs to change instead of bitching

The Other Bolelyn Girl Phillipa Gregory Sept Better than expected for historical fiction. Prompted other books to read later about real relationships

The Trouble with Boys Peg Tyre Sept FANTASTIC! A must read for any mom of boys

Twilight Stephanie Meyer Sept Twilight

New Moon Stephanie Meyer Sept Twilight

Eclipse Stephanie Meyer Sept Twilight

Breaking Dawn Stephanie Meyer Sept Didn't like as much as the other. The POV change ruined it for me

Midnight Sun Stephanie Meyer Sept Better, even, than original

Creation in Death JD Robb Sept Typicaly JD RObb

Living Dead in Dallas Charlaine Harris Sept Sookie

Undead and Unworthy Mary Janice Davidson Oct More "Undead"

Alibi in High Heels Gemma Halliday Oct interesting series, much like Kyra Green

Designed to die Chloe Green Oct No impression

Club Dead Charlaine Harris Oct This was a decent series. The early books were better than the later books but you have to read the whole, you can't quit part way through

Dead to the World Charlaine Harris Oct

Schooled Anisha Lakhani Nov Decent. About a Manhatten teacher turned high priced tutor and the moral delimas that go along with that

Trick or Treat Murder Leslie Meier Nov Interesting series. Nice that it doesn't HAVE to be read in order to understand what is going on, like other series

Sex with Kings Eleanor Herman Nov For the topic, this book was awfully dry. It was very fact based and only talked about a handful of European kings

Better Read than Dead Victoria Laurie Nov This series is another interesting one. It does kind of need to be read in order to understand but you can muddle through if you mess up like I did

Abby Cooper, Physic Eye Victoria Laurie Nov This series is another interesting one. It does kind of need to be read in order to understand but you can muddle through if you mess up like I did

Turkey Day Murder Leslie Meier Nov Interesting series. Nice that it doesn't HAVE to be read in order to understand what is going on, like other series

Too Pretty to Die Susan McBride Nov A little too predictable.

Father's Day Murder Leslie Meier Nov Interesting series. Nice that it doesn't HAVE to be read in order to understand what is going on, like other series

Runaway Ralph Beverly Cleary Dec Kids book. I'm reading it to The Boy and it is over 100 pages so I'm counting it

Have your Cake and Kill Him Too Nancy Martin Dec Interesting series. Good characters, good plots

Bake Sale Murder Leslie Meier Dec Interesting series. Nice that it doesn't HAVE to be read in order to understand what is going on, like other series

Sex with the Queen Eleanor Herman Dec Much better than Kings. More diversity and more details. Way better information

A Vision of Murder Victoria Laurie Dec This series is another interesting one. It does kind of need to be read in order to understand but you can muddle through if you mess up like I did

Birthday Party Murder Leslie Meier Dec Interesting series. Nice that it doesn't HAVE to be read in order to understand what is going on, like other series

New boots

My new boots are FAB!

Worst toy ever

A few months ago, my MIL said she wanted to buy the kids a trampoline for Christmas and she wanted my mom to go in on it with her. Fine, the kids would love that. Then my mom decided that she didn't want to get them a trampoline for Christmas because it would kind of suck to have this cool new toy but be unable to play with it for several months until it got warm enough to be outside. Fine that makes sense. My MIL asked what they would like for Christams since she wasn't getting the trampoline anymore. I told her that The Boy would like to have a Star Wars, The Clone Wars, Elctronic Battleship game. I even sent her a picture of the one we found at Toys R Us so she would know exactly what to look for. She called me a few days later and told me that she wasn't getting him that, she was getting him a remote control helicopter. I told her that was a VERY bad idea, that I wouldn't let him fly it in the house and that she should pass and get what I suggested. It was then that she told that she had already bought and I pointed out that stores accept returns because it was NOT A GOOD CHOICE for a gift.

So today was Christmas with the ILs and it went about as predicted. The kids ran around and made grandma and grandpa quite crazy. BIL and SIL were grumpy that they even had to be there and I was ready to tear all the freaking heads off. Of course, they insist on eating before opening presents, which is practically a hanging offense in our house. The kids refused to eat and then my MIL told them they couldn't have their presents if they didn't eat. That was when I stepped in and told her to back off, that wasn't going to happen. So eventually, everyone got done eating and the kids opened their presents. TB got a helicopter and MT got a "bounce back" remote control car. You run it forward, it runs into the wall, flips over and comes back. Whatever, not driving it in my house. H (RF's niece) a zero gravity car that runs up the walls. None of the toys were charged and the kid whose toy just took AA batteries was told she could drive her because it wouldn't be fair to the older kids who couldn't play with their toys. Good call, get kids toys with batteries, don't charge them and then don't let them play with them either. Super fun Christmas all around, thanks for playing!

The worst toy EVER award goes the helicopter that TB got. First of all, it is tiny, probably not bigger than the palm of my hand. Second, you put 6 AA in the control and hook the heli up to it to charge. You have to let it charge between 30 and 40 minutes and then let it cool for 10-15, so you are looking at nearly as hour of charging time. That's fine, you probably get a couple of days use out of like with the DS and the portable DVD players, right? WRONG! Way wrong, as a matter of fact. For every hour that you charge it, you get 5-6 minutes of flight time!! What a waste of $50! He was bitching and whining about how long it was going to take before it ever got plugged in. After about the second time, I'm going to be done with listening to that crap and I'm going to throw the whole toy in the garbage. Way to get a great a toy, grandma!

I told RF next I'm telling his mom buy only the gifts that I tell you to buy or don't bother buying anything. She can't make good choices on her own so I will give a list of approved items and that will be it. I will not have another year of this!