10 Things I Can Live Without...

1) "I'm DONE!!!" announcements coming from the bathroom, implying that whichever child is sitting on the toilet is expecting me to wipe their butt.
2) Going to the bathroom and seeing that a bowel movement was not flushed. It makes me wonder what else was not done after neglecting to flush...
3) Potty Training. Do I really need to go through this torture yet again to be diaper-free for the first time in over six years?
4) Slaving over a hot stove for dinner and then hearing, "Yucky!" It makes me want to serve liver and brussel sprouts for ten days consecutively (I'll give you yucky...).
5) Everyone else getting sick every time one of the kids getting sick.
6) Me getting sick every time everyone else is sick because I don't get any sick days.
7) People giving me the eye when I say I want a margarita at 9 o'clock in the morning.
8) People giving me the eye when I get a margarita at 10 o'clock in the morning.
9) Having to wake up in the middle of the night because Sam is screaming that he can't find his blankie (usually he's lying on top of it but doesn't realize it).
10) Fighting (Elysha told me today that for Mother's Day, she was going to be nice to Joey and not fight with her. "Just for that one day," she said so proudly...can't wait!).

A Whole New World

We got back last night from Disneyworld and happy to be back. It wasn't as painful as our Seattle vacation but we all breathed a sigh of relief upon entering our home...especially Sam. He ran into the play room and grabbed his guitar and played for a while.

I'll share more of our trip soon. Just wanted to say that there really is no place like home (and the luxury of preschool).

The Unforgiven

The girls were driving us crazy this morning. Why do my kids pretend to not hear me? I know that the parenting books tell you to get down to their level and talk to them. But seriously, while I am getting their stuff together, getting dressed, changing Sam, and cleaning up, I am supposed to go over to where they are, get down on my knees and ask them in a normal voice, "Girls? We have to get going in a few minutes. Can you please get your shoes on?" Yeah, right. It is more like, "Get your shoes on now and don't make me tell you twice!"

And of course, when the kids are asking me for something, it is rapid-fire. "Can I have juice?" One second later..."Moooom, CAN I HAVE SOME JUICE?" One second later..."CAAAN III HAAAVE SOMMME JUUUICE!!!" Usually, within those five seconds, I am thinking, well, how much milk have they had today? Will it spoil their upcoming meal? Have they had other sweets today? But by the third time I have heard their demand, I get fed up and just say no...and quit whining, you're driving me crazy!

Anyhow, this morning the girls were misbehaving, Chang was sick so he got back into bed after taking care of the kids in the morning. I was trying to get them ready for a birthday party and it just was not happening. I got fed up and took away birthday cake from them. Because the cake wasn't right in front of them at the time, they were acting nonchalant. At the party however, when they couldn't have cake, they were no longer playing cool. Joey got mopey but understood that it was punishment for her own behavior. So though she was frowning, we talked, I told her I loved her and she accepted the situation. Elysha, on the other hand, was not having it. She was sitting on the couch at the party, very sullen and upset. I was talking to Joey and didn't notice initially. But then the mom of the birthday boy came up to me and asked if Elysha was okay. I looked over at her. Her arms were crossed so tightly that her hands practically met behind her back. Her lips were so pouty that she could have passed for an Asian Shiloh Jolie-Pitt. I tried to cuddle with her but nope, she was mad! After a few attempts to hold her, she walked away to find her sister with whom she could commiserate.

I promised the girls last night that we could make chocolate dipped strawberries so after their nap today, we made some. I think Elysha has forgiven me now.

Dear Diary...

From time to time, as I am preparing for Sam's party this week, I wonder why am I going through so much trouble. He is not going to even remember it. Isn't that the irony of it all? Next year, Chang and I have decided we are putting a moratorium on birthday parties. But the girls are going to be five and four, so if we really follow through and not do any parties next year, I can already imagine the amount of whining we will need to withstand. Is it worth it? A couple weeks of endless errand running and hundreds of dollars vs. God knows how much whining...I am beginning to doubt myself.

Yesterday I went to Costco, Michael's, Whole Foods, and Bed, Bath and Beyond all before 1pm. Then I came home, fed Sam, got stuff together for the girls and then picked them up from school. We went to go get their flu shot (I'll leave the details for another post, but let's just say that it took a couple nurses to hold one of the girls down) and then went to a pumpkin patch in West Hollywood as a reward for getting their shots.

Today I went to Staples, Target and Walgreens in the morning. Poor Sam, he is suffering so much since I am messing with his nap schedule everyday so I can run errands for his party that he won't even remember. I was in the dollar bins section at Target and they had these cute wooden instruments which I thought would be perfect for the babies who are coming to the party. Unfortunately, a lady was already looking at the toys and felt it necessary that she shake, clap, or snap every freakin' instrument in the bin. I don't know what criteria she had but apparently, some castanets just weren't snappy enough. What was she expecting? It was the DOLLAR BIN! I hovered and breathed on her for about five minutes while she investigated the quality of these "made in China" toys. Finally, she stepped away when my close breathing was starting to mist on the back of her neck. Either that or maybe it was because I kept sticking my finger into her ear. I'm not sure which of the two was more unnerving but my strategy worked.

I don't know why I thought it would be a good idea to plan a party for the day after Halloween. What was I thinking? I still need to make Sam's picture collage tonight like I did for Joey and Elysha's parties. Plus, I think I am going to bake some mini cupcakes tomorrow. I think the only reason I haven't jumped off a ledge is because I had a chance to go out twice this week for my monthly mom meetings with church small group moms and tonight, with preschool moms. I ate some desserts, drank a cosmo, laughed until I peed in my pants, and came home refreshed. And I have the best hubby who put the kids down so I could go out and relieve some stress. Thanks babe.

Elysha must have thought she looked pretty hot with her face painting

Joey, posing prettily as usual