I'm Not 7

Lately I've discovered a problem in our house. 


My kid bugs me.


Ok, so he doesn't bug me (all the time)... but his need for CONSTANT attention is exhausting.. and at times, frustrating. 


I totally understand that he's 7.... all he wants to do is play. All he wants is for every second of his day to be filled with fun. He's a kid.. that's just how they think. 


But the dilemma is that I, how ever young I may be, am not a kid. Not by a long shot. 


Playing video games, basketball, football, or chess online are not on my list of fun things to do. Nope. Not for me. 


This kid would play the Wii all day every day if I let him. I let him stay up Friday night as long as he wanted, and I woke up at midnight and he was still in the living room playing the Wii. I couldn't handle it.. I made him go to bed. The Wii at midnight?? Who does that?


As we speak, this is what he's doing:

Playing the Wii

I feel bad for the kid... I really do. He's an only child.. and will be forever. We don't live in a neighborhood where he can go out and play with other kids. He's pretty much stuck with his mom.

And I can only play so much... I just don't have it in me to PLAY for hours on end. I know, I suck... I'm horrible at this aspect of motherhood... What am I supposed to do??

Not to mention that there are dishes to be done, groceries to put away, a house to clean, a yard to care for, dogs to look after... on and on and on... these things can all wait awhile so we can play a game or two.. but they can't wait another 11 years (though I sure wish they would).

My son is also the only kid I know who flat out REFUSES to entertain himself... unless it's with the Wii or computer. He will not play with his toys alone.. won't go in the backyard to play alone... nothing. This kid won't go into another room if I'm in the sitting or lying position. He literally thinks that if I have time to sit still, I have time to play. 

HELP!!!

What is a mother to do with an only child? 

Beat By The Bunny... Twice

A couple weeks ago while at a new bakery in town, I came across a bunny. 


But not just any bunny.... 


A bunny made of BREAD... I just so happen to be a lover of all things carb... 

Isn't he adorable?!?!?

So after seeing Mr. Adorable... I did what I always do when I see something cute that comes with a ridiculously high price tag.... I googled the recipe to make my own.

I came across this little gem online and figured I'd give it a try.

Attempt #1:

Saturday morning I started bright and early since I knew this sucker would need to rise for awhile. The first problem I ran into was my lack of honey... I didn't read the recipe thoroughly because I failed to buy honey at the store. So I just left it out... figured it wouldn't make too much of a difference anyway. And this was just going to be the practice bunny. I had plans to make more for Easter. Second problem came about an hour after my dough had been left to rise. It was flat... didn't rise AT ALL. This one had me stumped for a bit... till I read the back of the yeast package. Apparently yeast that expires in August 2010 won't work in April 2011.... Ewwww... yuck! Can't believe I even still had that yeast.. let alone used it.

Attempt #2:

That night I tried again... and I even had the honey.. and some brand new good-until-2013 yeast. Mixed every thing accordingly... and then stuck it in the oven to rise. See it was cold at our house and we were going in and out from playing outside so I didn't want to turn the heater on. I decided to just warm up the oven, turn it off, then stick the dough in there to rise. About a half an hour into the rising process, I turned the oven on again, very low, just to make sure it stayed warm in there so my bread would rise. Well, apparently I didn't turn it off soon enough.. or it was just on too high period... or letting your dough rise in the oven is just a bad idea.. Because after the hour of waiting, my dough had slightly risen... but had also started cooking in the metal bowl it was in. 

I am not a YEAST girl. Not one bit. 

I fully admit that every bread I make is yeast-less. 

This was a bread & bunny failure... and my poor little Drew was so disappointed. But he cheered right up when I promised to take him back to the bakery and order an over-priced bunny just for him.

Yeast - 2     Me -0

What's Up

Seems as though I've given my camera a little break... I used to take pictures like crazy, but lately... nothing. But I'm happy to report that I am living in the moment and while I may not be taking pictures, I sure am making memories. 


This morning I let Little Man put my blush on for me. He thought it was the neatest thing... and he actually did a decent job.


Drew planted tomato and onion seeds about 2 weeks ago. I am SOOO not the garden type... but I do love watching how excited he is about his little plants. And more than anything, I love watching my son grow... 


Last night Drew wanted to have a dance off. He danced to an Nsync song which cracked me up!! He said he had no idea who these guys were but the song had a nice beat. Love that kid.


Then he recorded me dancing to "The Thong Song".... it was hilarious!! He asked if that's how I used to dance when I was little.  *Note to self: destroy that video immediately!!


A man at work turned 82 on Wednesday.... 82!!!! and he isn't just doing some nonsense office job. This man is out in a shop with heavy machinery! It kills me to see someone his age, and in his physical state working so hard. 


I painted a sign for our house this last weekend... it took over 3 hours and by the time I was done my hand was killing me. I have no clue how people can paint professionally on a regular basis. 


This weekend we're going to the flee market at the Rose Bowl... and hoping to not buy too many things that we don't need. Wish me luck. 


I love that certain things remind me of people. Yellow daisies, cigars, pancakes, chocolate chip cookies, my nails.... I love how random things can flood me with memories.

Oh How I LOVE The Beach

I am a HUGE fan of the beach.
It is my absolute FAVORITE place to be. Favorite!!


I love love love SUMMER. And look forward to it all through Fall, Winter and Spring. 

Lately I've been feeling like yuck.... can't really explain it... just yuck. 

And I've decided that it's because I'm going through BEACH withdrawals. It's been WAY too long since my toes have been in the sand. My nose is aching for that salty sea air. I want to feel the sun literally burning my skin. 

I NEED THE BEACH!!! I NEED SUMMER!!

I just went through my planner and dedicated EVERY free Saturday & Sunday from June through August to the beach. 

There are 13 weekends from June through August. 

26 days. 

But with previous obligations... and "Drew Weekends" (He swears he hates the beach... ) and avoiding Holiday weekends (I don't do crowds).... I only came up with 17 days. 

17 trips to the beach over a 90 period. That is hardly enough. 

I can already tell I'll be using A LOT of my sick days and personal time at work to hit the beach. 

I know Spring just started.... but Summer, please hurry up and get here!!! 

Ms. Paranoid is COMPLETELY Unprepared

Last night, about 5 minutes before bed time, the power went out in our house. Drew was in the bathroom brushing his teeth and I was in my room plugging in my cell phone. 


At first I just thought, "oh great, what is Grandpa working on NOW.." (he's our landlord and lives a few houses over and has the tenancy to cause some electrical issues in my house).


I told Drew to finish up and come in the room. I started wandering around looking for the flashlight. Yes, THE flashlight. Our one and only flashlight. 


I'm going from room to room, opening drawers and cupboards, and yelling to Drew "hey Bubba, where's the red flashlight?" of course he has no idea. I finally remembered we have a little flashlight in the bathroom just above the toilet. (Drew uses it to find his way from my room to the bathroom at night). 


So I grab the little mini light and start searching for candles. Here's where I should mention that I'm really NOT a candle person.... but I remember seeing some of our Christmas candles (ya, Christmas, like 3 months ago... I know) out in the dining room, so I grab those and some matches & head to my room. 


Now Drew and I are sitting in my bed with 4 lit candles and a mini flashlight. Drew is not at all satisfied with this. He's asking me to get more candles and he still wants that red flashlight. I remembered that we had another mini flashlight up in my closet somewhere, so I did some digging and found it. And then I had to find some batteries to put in it... 


Then the drama begins. We start talking about WHAT IF... what if the power NEVER comes back on? What if everything in our fridge goes bad because the powers out too long? What will we have for breakfast? What if I was in the shower when the power went out? What if we were at a restaurant when the power went out?..... this went on for awhile. 


I remembered that the laptop had been charged so we could at least use that to entertain us for awhile till we fell asleep (we ALWAYS watch tv till we fall asleep). I went online & checked with our electric company to see what was going on. They didn't show any info at all, so I called my uncle (who also lives next door), and he said it looked like the whole street was out, and No, it wasn't something Grandpa did. 


So Drew and I spent the rest of our night watching Youtube videos and talking about how UNPREPARED we are for any type of emergency. 


I'm normally a very prepared person. I'm paranoid about EVERYTHING especially when it comes to Drew. But I guess my paranoia doesn't apply to power outages... or natural disasters. 


Not to self:
This weekend, stock up on:
Batteries
flashlights.. like 5
candles.. like 40
food... don't forget chocolate

This Weekend I Learned

This weekend I learned:


1. Drew's weak/sensitive stomach will lead to me cleaning vomit from 4 rooms in the house in under 3 minutes. 


2. My sister thinks I'm bipolar.
    I think my sister's bipolar.
    The fact the we both honestly believe this about each other kept us laughing for hours.


3. Drew talks ... A LOT. But only to me. When we are together he absolutely CAN NOT stay quiet for more than 60 seconds.


4. Cooking requires the use of dishes. Dishes do not clean themselves. 


5. There are some things on Youtube that just shouldn't exist. There are also some videos that will keep you entertained for hours.


6. My itty bitty kid who can explain scientific facts, play chess, name every player for the Miami Dolphins, and name a bunch of presidents, really is only 7... and itty bitty. Just because he talks like he's 10, doesn't mean he won't get scared.


7. Loving someone isn't enough. 


8. My son has no concept of money... unless it's his. 


9. I am BEYOND ready for summer. When I saw that it was supposed to be in the 80's this Thursday I started to shake. I started planning my excuse for calling in sick and heading straight to the beach.


10. When you are in a room of women who are discussing their weight loss achievements and goals, you will get dirty looks as you help yourself to another slice of cheesecake.

I Think I Want More For You In Life....

Friday evening Drew's dad and I ended up having one of our very rare and random phone conversations. 


We got one the subject or work and how he really wants to go back to school. He didn't want to talk about it because he said he realized it just wasn't going to happen. I told him that I hated hearing him talk like that because it didn't sound like the "old him" at all. He used to be fearless, determined, outgoing, so full of life and happy. I told him that I don't see these things in him anymore and it makes me sad. 


He said he agreed... and that I wasn't the only person who noticed these changes in him. His family is CONSTANTLY telling him that they miss the "old him".


Then he says, "well what about you? are you content?"


I said, "No, I'm happy. I'd hate to just be content."


To which he replied, "god, I just don't get you... I think I want more for you in life than you want for yourself."


I laughed. I couldn't help it. So many people question my life.. the way I live.. and the fact that I am HAPPY. 


I explained to him that I've made it a point to be happy, every day for the last 7 years. Every single day I focus my energy on making sure my son is healthy and happy. If Drew is healthy and happy... than I am happy. It sounds pretty simple to me. I have a purpose... a reason... I have my son.


He said, "Ya, but you don't enjoy your job, you have no hobbies, Drew's school and activities are expensive, you live alone, and you never really DO anything. Don't you want more?"


No... no I don't.


Ok, that's not completely true. I'd love a house on the beach.... 


But all in all, I'm happy. Not content... Happy!


I told him I appreciated his concern. It was nice to know that he even thought about these things.. and considered my happiness. But I also assured him that I was more than fine. 


I am a firm believer in "To Each Their Own".... and I also believe you should do everything you can to make yourself happy. 


Content... really? Who wants to just be content?