The Marriage

When you get married you have no idea what you are in for. You think you do, but really you don't. You may think you know where you want to live and how many kids you would like to have, how you want to decorate the house and even what kind of family car you would like to drive. But then reality of life sets in. The reality of..... how much you can afford together. How long it actually takes the Wife to get pregnant, and the job factor. Are there "lay-offs"?? Wanting to be a stay at home parent? Then there is the constant compromise in a marriage. The man might have to work late or travel a lot in his job. The pay might get cut back or no increase at all with your growing family. I mean what person really thinks and is prepared for situations like these when they get married. OK... maybe the OCD"S. But c'mon!!

In a marriage  a person changes. They are not the same person they are or think they are when you were first married. Being together and life alters you. When you thought you would never leave the city, because you loved the charm of the city life, then Boom.. you have kids. And know you are looking in the suburbs for a home with a yard. Then you might take up gardening and canning. And maybe even learning how to lay down tile by your neighbors. Again ... did you see this in your future...
No.... and I will tell you why. Cause when you were looking at the Man on that special day everything was wonderful. Nothing, not a damn thing could or can ruin what the two of you have. It was and still is, to an extent a blank canvas.  Always .. I mean always remember why you said yes. Or asked him to marry you. You chose this, no one forced you ....... and remember to laugh and have fun getting to know one another.

Thought I would be a teacher

So for Christmas Santa brought bikes to all the girls. How fun I thought. But with where we live it snows... so it's not like we can just jump on and go for a ride.Madison my oldest is the only one that knows how to ride her bike. So on a warmer day in March, a balmy 55 degrees I  thought I would teach my red head how to ride her bike. It was spring break, and we have been laying low all week, so I woke up made pancakes and bacon and told the girls of my plan. They shouted with joy ..... "finally". So with everyone bundled we were off. The older two were walking their bikes .... (our destination would be the church.) Me helping guide the baby and Adrianne ...well.... she started crying the moment we left the drive way. Cried down the street, and around the corner. Cried down the next street until we made it to the church. Cried the whole time at the church and just for an extra performance she threw her helmet and with tight fists, throw them down at her side.
While she was off doing her performance of Nellie Olsen from Little house on the Prairie. I thought I would come into teacher mode and teach Miss Juliet. Well ........ didn't work out so well. She started crying saying she wasn't strong enough, and proceeded to whip her ponytail around in utter despair an 8 yr old girl could go through.... while learning to ride her bike. SO with 2 down and the little one getting tired I thought I would hang up the teaching hat and lead everyone home. Adrianne is still crying. Down the block around the corner, down another block, the made the last turn to get on our street ... crying. Such a mother's moment. What the Hell was I thinking. Teaching my daughter how to ride her bike. Hmmmmmm...... this duty might have to go to her father.

STRIKE!!!!!!

I know a lot of Mothers go on Strike at their house. I usually do an annual one. This year was like any other year ... no results. The last straw for me was going to the family room, which is in the basement and looking at the monstrosity. I had cleaned the whole family room two days before. The super clean. I even cleaned the baseboards. Don't ask why.. it was a freak thing.  As I am standing with my mouth open looking at the mess, I am also watching the bologna being picked up from one end of the couch to the other. THAT WAS IT!!!!! I had it. This was the moment I was feeling like I am working on an assembly line. Breakfast, clean house, laundry, lunch, clean house, laundry dinner. You get my drift. I wish I was one of those woman that just didn't care, but I do.

Growing up I always thought that the house came first and me second. Well.... I get it now. It's not that the house came first but that the mom was the one who picked things up. Yes, children help but really, I mean really sometimes that takes more effort than you want to give. I know Just call me Mother of the Year.
Well the strike didn't last very long. 3 days. Then I couldn't take it anymore. SO I guess it's  ......................  Game On

Baboo ..... that is what I call my 4 yr old. She is a little stinker and a half. Super smart and super sassy. This morning, this snowy Friday morning I woke up to a very upset stomach and what we like to call ..poo runs. I think the pizza I had last night is not agreeing with me at all. Which just sucks. I have many things that I wanted to get done today. So I told Baboo ... that mommy's tummy is not feeling good, despite what Mr. Man says ..Playing sick. Don't worry, he will pay for that later. So she says to me ......"Mommy I will will take care of you today. I can bring you some water, scratch your back, and you can watch me play on the compooter. That will make you happy". She says this while I am on the throne of course. Cause when do you really get to go to the bathroom by yourself. NEVER. I love my little girl. That is the one thing about having girls. Many Mommies.
The thing with motherhood is, no matter how sick you are or how many broken bones you have you still have to WORK! Still have to change diapers, make lunch, put kids in time-out with their tantrums. So on days like today.. I like to enforce the day of T.V. day. And I feel absolutely o.k. with it. Motherhood does not take a day off. Unless you are one of the lucky ones that get to go out of town for an overnight-er. Then look out Mr. Man you make not recognize the woman with you. Ahhhhhhh..... back to the toilet I go

I love this face!!! Picking nose and all ......... But.... She is getting her molars in and she is 2 1/2 yrs old. Need I say more. Why is it when another person's baby cries, you hardly hear it. But when your child cries it gets to your core. She has a scream that we could sell to the movie industry. AHHHHHGHGHGH

But the baby being the baby in the Family I totally get how they are able to get away  with things. I am the first child in my family and always was so annoyed when my brothers got away with murder. Drove me nuts!! I get it now... it only took for me to have a family and grow up, but I get it now.  Not that I want to have any more kids but knowing this is the last time you are at this "stage" The last time you get to see little buns. And being able to hold them in your arms and give them lots of kisses, and they can't escape because they are too small. I get it. I think what's hard is knowing how I felt as the first child seeing all the discipline go down the tube with the last 2 siblings, trying not to mimic that with my own family. It's hard. Really hard. In motherhood a lot of it is Monkey see Monkey do, from your mother. And trying to change that takes a lot of effort. But I will try.

I'm still here in .... Utah!!!

I never thought I would be living in Utah  ..... I'm a Southern California girl born and raised. When I was a little girl and I would come to visit , I thought "nice place to visit not to live". It seemed like such a small town to me. Still is a little city. But when you meet The MAN, and his job is based out of Salt Lake what do you do. You stay and raise 4 girls. Yup 4 girls!! And you buy a 5 bedroom 3bath house on  3rd of an acre and try to figure out gardening and raise ducks and chickens. Yup... The little beach girl has gone wanna-be country.  Who would have thought. 

The little town we live in is like a little time-bubble. Neighbors with horses and chickens. Kids riding their bikes together down the street and walking to school together in groups. I didn't know how important that was to me until I had my girls. I always considered myself a city girl. But with the changing world today..... you look for the Norman Rockwell town to raise your kids in. Wanting the idea of safety and space. 

As time goes by and as I get older, my views and priorities have changed.  Good bye Ralph Lauren..... Hello Walmart.  Good bye afternoon lunches with girlfriends .... Hello Mac-n-Cheese.  Good bye smooth legs.. Hello Razor every other week. Sorry Mr. Man. Good bye sleeping in ... Hello to little children wanting good morning kisses.  Good bye little sports car ... Hello Minivan.
I'm not complaining. It's just different . There are days where you just need to have diarrhea of the mouth and get it off your chest. But would not change a thing ........ except for the Ralph Lauren part. That would be nice to have back