Perfecting Imperfection

I now understand why people wonder how I can get everything done. They must think I'm ALWAYS as busy as I have been this week! I'm actually having an okay week - aside from the fact that I'm exhausted. It's going really fast, too. Just when I thought life couldn't move at a faster pace - I'm seriously starting to wonder if someone pressed some sort of fast forward button or something.

I actually don't have a whole lot of time to spend on a blog post today, but I wanted to share some of Nate's artwork from our preschool art show. I had a wonderful time last night. My coworkers (who I would call just call friends if I didn't also work with them) got to play with (and meet) my babies and kiddos. Jerry got to see more of where I work and meet some of the kids I talk about when I get home. It was a really nice night. I was surprised (and then not so surprised) that Jerry stayed the whole time with the kids - from 6 to 8:30ish. I was surprised because I thought he would get bored, but then not surprised once I realized all he had to do if he stayed was let everyone fuss over the baby he was holding. :) Nate and Danika played happily in the play room and both of the twins managed a nap even with all the noise. Personally, I think that David slept so well because he had such a wonderful woman holding him and snuggling him. He looked incredibly comfortable sleeping on Karen and she didn't look too upset, either.

So, enjoy the art show pics...I'll be there again tonight but Jerry will be somewhere glued to the TV. There is a hockey game on tonight and he wouldn't miss it for anything...how much longer are the playoffs? *sigh* Then I'm headed up to my Alma Mater - kind of. :) We are going to a teaching conference at a Holiday Inn nearby. Nunnu is watching the kids in the morning - hope he gets a good night's sleep! Jerry will be home around 1:30 to take over until I get home around 4:30/5:00.

Probably see you again here on Saturday!

Nate's painting is the pumpkin patch!

His pilgrim says, "Nate is thankful for getting to play with Daddy"

Everyone draws a family portrait...this is Nate's.  See Mommy holding Dean and David?  I'm not sure you can tell from the picture, but Daddy has facial hair, too!

The prompt I decided to follow this week was “Friends”.

I talk about it a little bit in this post, but I really want my kids to grow up being best friends…leaning on each other…looking out for one another, etc.

So, here it is – I’m planning on posting a blog post sometime tomorrow (Friday) but wanted to get this up here so that I could get my MckLinky on!  hehehe

I should be in bed.  I should be reading my book club book.  I should be doing laundry or figuring out what I’m doing tomorrow for dinner.  I should be sleeping (really, I should be sleeping).  All 4 of my children are asleep and it’s already 11:04 pm.  I should be on my way upstairs to wash my face, brush my teeth and crawl under the covers…ahh…that really does sound heavenly right now.

However, instead of doing any of the aforementioned should be tasks ~ I will spend the next hour or so reading blogs and catching up.  Days I work are the worst – usually, I can split my day up and include at least 2 times when I can jump online for a little bit…usually 30 – 40 minutes.  That is usually enough time for me to write a short blog post or check my blog reader so that I can get my “fix”.  Days I work, though – that just doesn’t happen.  So…here I am, online and getting ready to read some blogs.

You should go and check out my friend’s post, 40 Days and 40 Nights over at What Little Girls are Made Of.  I practically begged her to write about giving up Facebook for Lent…she talks about it in this post and it’s made me think a lot about how much time I really do spend in front of my computer.  The thing is, my priorities have changed and I do feel better because of it.  I LOVE blogging.  I LOVE that I’m recording memories that my children will actually be able to look back on and read about.  I LOVE reading what other people share from yummy recipes and cooking tips to keeping up with old friends to hearing how someone else deals with the daily ins and outs of being outnumbered by kiddos, too.  When Facebook was the number one place I spent my time at when online, I found myself wasting time – since blogging has become more of a time consumer, I feel like I have things to talk about.  I feel like I learn things.  I feel like I have more of a life.  It may seem slightly pathetic, but I feel like I’m interacting with adults – which happens few and far between when I’m at home with my kids all day.

So, while I should be upstairs, warm and under my covers, I may just take a few more minutes to go and visit some more blogs and spend some time “catching – up” with my friends.

I don't really have anything to blog about this morning.

The thing is...I know that I complained a bit in my last post and for some unknown reason I don't like to leave a complaining blog post as the first post visible on my blog for a long time - it's a karma thing, or something...

So, since I really have nothing to blog about - but don't want negativity radiating throughout my entire weekend - I'm just going to give you some random stuff...in no particular order...with no purpose, really. 

First of all (because I know it is the first question you would ask), yes - we slept a little bit better last night.  That's all I'm saying because I don't want to jinx anything! 

Did you notice my new layout?  Probably not if you are reading through a reader (like I do) - so head on over to my blog and check it out...let me know what you think!  I used The Cutest Blog on the Block and was totally inspired by my friend, Chrisine's new layout.  (you should check her's out, too!)

I made Tuna Noodle Casserole last night for dinner.  Here's the recipe I used.  It's an Allrecipes recipe.  I use allrecipes.com for just about everything.  I have quite a few cookbooks - and I love looking through them, but when I need a recipe for something it is just so much easier to jump over there and find something.  Plus, there are usually a lot of reviews and suggestions for how to improve a recipe.  Since I'm not a big improviser in the kitchen - this is great for me!  I also love the Easy Meatloaf and World's Best Lasagna recipes from there.

We have an Easter party to go to tomorrow - so be on the lookout for bunny pictures in the near future.  I'm excited for the kids to get out and have some fun.  Plus, it's somewhere where I know I'll have help with the little guys or chasing the big kids if I need it.  I don't have to worry as much because it will be more than just Jerry and I keeping an eye on them.  *whew*  Although, my least favorite part of any outing is packing the bag - I can't wait for the day when I can walk out of the house without a bag the size of a pillowcase full of all the crap I need to take with me wherever I go.  (Please...Please don't tell me to keep an extra bag packed by the door and just refill it as needed - I don't have enough bottles and the last time I tried that the kids didn't get a chance to wear the change of clothes before they grew out of them!)

Speaking of parties, I'm headed to one tonight, too!  Except this is an "adult" party - no kiddos.  It's a 30th birthday part for a friend of mine.  In fact - it's a party with a bunch of my old High School/College Years friends.  Which could explain why I've felt like I'm in High School again lately.  :) 

Mentally, I prepared myself for the comments I'll get tonight.  Now, I don't know for sure if anyone will say anything - but chances are they will and I just want to be prepared...it gets really old, ya know.  So...if someone gives me the look and says, "So, are you done?" or "I think this is the first time I've seen you in the past 4 years and you haven't been pregnant!"  or "Wow, you must really have your hands full!  How do you do it?" or "Better you than me." or "Did you figure out what causes that, yet?" or "I don't know what I would do if I had 4 kids!" . . . I'll be ready.  I may not say exactly what I'll be thinking, but I will know that it isn't their fault.  They really don't understand.  You see, we didn't plan on having 4 children this close together.  Heck, we didn't plan on having 4 children!  However, I wouldn't be able to pick one to give back - I couldn't (and don't want to) imagine life without one of them!  They have all made our lives exactly the way it should be.  Yeah, it's not easy.  I understand why some people stop at 1 or 2.  I even understand why some people don't have any children.  That's just not for me - I always knew I was going to be a mommy...I always knew I'd have more than 1 baby.  Now, I NEVER thought I'd have twins and I NEVER thought I'd have 4 kids, but I'm happy about it and wouldn't change a thing.

All that being said, my kids are really starting to amuse me lately.  Nate says the most bizarre things sometimes!  Yesterday, he was talking to Danika - they were playing dress up and she had a Sleeping Beauty outfit on. 

Danika: I not Danika.  I Sleeping Booty!
Nate:  Okay, you're a Sleeping Booty!

Then he cracked up - like he actually knew he had called her a sleeping butt or something.  Is it possible?  Could he really have gotten that joke?  Well - he did tell my dad that he wanted to look up "SpongeBob Farts" on his Droid while they were waiting in line to get into preschool.  I know nothing about boys - I think it's time to revisit that book I bought when he was born!

This has to be the busiest week we've had in a while and to be honest I'm not all that thrilled about it.  I do like the fact that you can finally start to see some green underneath all of the white as the snow starts to melt, but it means that my week (or so) of hibernation is over.  It's time to go out and deal with the real world, again. 


I worked Monday (the day I'm usually in my pajamas until noon) and yesterday (which was scheduled off but we used it to make up a snow day).  I was suppose to take the twins to the doctor's today for shots...but I canceled because they haven't been feeling all that great and I didn't want to put their immune systems through anything else right now (and because I need a make up day to stay in my pajamas until noon).  We have a man coming to talk to us about a new front door - which would be AWESOME! - tonight.  Tomorrow, it's back to work again.  Friday is dinner up at my mom and dad's (maybe a little time out with friends later in the evening).  Saturday - we have nothing big planned...but Sunday, I'm making The World's Best Lasagna!  Don't ask me how many points it is...I'm making it (and eating it) anyway.  I've been pretty good this week and I'm soooo hungry for it!  It does take all day to make, though. 

Yesterday, we celebrated Clifford - the Big Red Dog's birthday at school.  Here's the picture I took of Nate for a special project we do with all the preschool kiddos.  Every other kid took their picture by Clifford's head...except my son.  My son decided that he wanted his picture with all of Clifford and that he wanted to sit next to Clifford's butt (exact words).  So, here he is - celebrating Clifford's birthday by taking a picture near his butt. 

The food was yummy. Penn State won! We drank this yummy warm apple cider stuff that my friend brought over all night. She had it in her crock pot to keep it warm. It was Savannah Cinnamon Mix, Apple Cider and Merlot wine. Mmmm... The kids were pretty well behaved. I thought everything was going great.

Then I got a phone call at 1:30ish. My friends got into a fight on the way home and one thing lead to another and my friend's hubby ended up walking out of the house. He'd had too much to drink (he and DH were drinking beer) and my friend wouldn't give him the key s to drive. Smart girl! :) So, he was wondering around the streets. My DH called and he didn't answer the phone so he got in the car to go look for him...long story short - DH was pissed off at him, his wife was pissed off at him, I was pissed off at him for pissing off my DH. I'll be honest with you, every time I've heard about or seen the two of them fight I thought it was mostly my friend's fault. She can be a bit much at times...but I've NEVER seen this side of her husband. It makes me realize that I shouldn't judge people when I don't know the whole story.

All that being said, I'm tired of being surrounded by dysfunctional relationships. I seriously feel like DH and I are the only ones not teetering on the brink of divorce. We are the only ones I know who have not threatened each other with it - EVER. I don't know how others can so quickly say, "Keep that up and I'm getting a divorce." Or as my friend said to her DH last year, "All I want for Christmas is a divorce." Did she really mean it? I don't think so. So why say it? Okay...that's my rant for today. My head hurts a little and I'm not feeling 100% today. Definately feeling the affects of not going to bed before 3 am the last two nights...and the little bit of wine I drank last night. Argh.