Meanie!!

I have come to the realization that I am one of the strict parents at my daughters school. I don't really care that I am one of the strict ones, but I always figured I really was pretty easy going. The signs were there I guess...

La would come home with a new bad habit de jour. I would correct it. I kept finding my self saying "I don't care what so and so does, in my house that is unacceptable." I would hear whispers and giggles between LaLa and KiKi along with shifty eyes. They know they are doing wrong and don't want to get caught.

I guess my biggest problem is with the language that comes out of her little mouth. This morning it was "What the heck?" Ok, yes, I know heck isn't TECHNICALLY a bad word, but it is a slippery slope and heck is only one small step from hell. There is no way I am going to let my six year old run around saying "What the heck!" or "What the hell!" It just isn't happening. Of course explaining this to her is excruciating. She questions everything, cause she's six and she can. Then finally I explode with, "You are allowed to say 'What in the world!' and that is final!" Then I wander away muttering "What the hell is wrong with children nowadays..." under my breath.

I Bet My Morning Was Crappier Than Yours

This morning I was awoken to the siren call of "Moooooom, pooooop!!!" Just the thing I want to hear at 7:30AM.

Apparently, when a dog gets into the leftover chicken curry it has the same affect as it does on people; massive craps. The rug in my laundry room- covered. Actually it looked like Lizabeast was spinning cause she made a perfect circle of poo.

So I spent my morning yelling at LaLa to get dressed while I was cleaning up Indian induced dog poo. See? I guarantee my morning was crappier.

Dear So and So...Exhausted

Dear Self,

Being in bed before midnight would be ideal. Being ASLEEP before 1:30AM would be amazing. Just sayin'.

Sleep Deprived, Kat

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Dear Road Works Bloke,

Thanks for letting me know about the work on the bridge outside my house and the impending jackhammer noise. It is nice that you remembered that I have children and would need to move them into my bed for the next two nights due to the noise outside their bedrooms.

Very appreciative, Kat

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Dear Self (again),

You truly are boring. There is only so much Antiques Roadshow, Heir Hunters, and Country House Rescue you can watch without being considered middle aged. Oh well. *Flips Antiques Roadshow back on*

HA!, Kat

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Dear Sandra Bullock,

Your performance in The Blind Side was brilliant and you definitely deserved the Oscar.

Blubbed the Whole Way Through, Kat

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Dear Readers,

Feel free to link up. I am now going to take a nap.

Love Ya, Kat

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Military Life Rambling

I hear and read about trivial complaints everyday. It has gotten to the point where I just keep my mouth shut. I could scream "Do you want to take my place?" Of course I don't, cause that isn't my style. I would rather stew. Then I think, "Geez o peet. Really, I am getting off easy. My husband is on an air base. He isn't doing foot patrols. He will be back in just a few months rather than doing a year rotation like a soldier in the Army and Marines." Then I feel guilty. Should I feel guilty though?

I am jealous. I am jealous that others get a "normal" life. My families life will never be "normal". We will always live like nomads roaming from base to base. My husband will always be gone for stretches at a time. We will always celebrate most holidays either alone or by traveling to see family or friends who live hours away by plane or car. I will miss weddings and funerals. My kids will get to know their grandparents by chatting to them on Skype and through all too short visits. I sometimes wish for a "normal" husband with a "normal" nine to five job. Then I realize that I wouldn't be me without this crazy and definitely not "normal" life.

A "Sugar Milk" Review

As you know, I am normally not a review type of girl. This time however, I am compelled to write a review for my friend, Ron Mattock's book "Sugar Milk", not because we are friends, but because the book was brilliant. I "met" Ron a couple of years ago when I stumbled upon his blog "Clark Kent's Lunchbox". I quickly came to adore him, his lovely wife, Ashley, and their (between them) five children. When I found out that Ron was finally going to publish a book, I was chomping at the bit to get my hands ahold of it.

Ron's book "Sugar Milk- what one dad drinks when he can't afford vodka" is a humorous look at his journey from corporate America, where he worked as an executive in "residential home building industry" to a stay at home dad to his two step daughters. The housing bubble burst and he found himself in a world of uncertainty and Care Bears (and I am sure the Care Bears were the terrifying bit). Many men have been felled by such overwhelming odds but he battled on with humor and grace (mostly humor).

There were tales of the chaotic dating world*, a corporation which used "The Secret" for their business model, and school orientation nights, but my favorite tale has to be the about Ron and his famous pancakes. With much embellishment, Ron, explains why each Saturday without fail, he will be up at the crack of dawn making pancakes for his darling step daughters. It isn't so much motivated by his ego and knowing that he makes the best pancakes west of the Mississippi River, but more for self preservation. See, Ron's step daughters, Allie and Avery, made him, to quote the Godfather, "an offer he couldn't refuse". Although, I am sure that was just an embellishment, right Ron? Right?

I really can't say enough about this book. I tore through it cover to cover devouring each word. It is funny, thought provoking, heart wrenching and heart felt. What more could I ask for in a memoir penned by one of my favorite bloggers.

Also, Coldplay, Ron? Seriously? I'm with Ashley on this one.

*OMGoodness, Ron, that chick was skeevy. Ick. Ick. Ick.

Dear So and So...Tea Fueled Ranting

Dear Child on Bus,

LaLa does not read "baby books". She is just starting out reading. I understand that you are a year ahead of her and see the books she reads as simple, but please keep your comments to yourself. Keep in mind that any criticism that you offer undos all the praise that her teachers and myself have bestowed upon her and makes her think less of her reading efforts. Plus you had her in tears. Do you really want to be that sort of child?

Mama Bear, Kat

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Dear Roadworks Guys,

Thanks for being done with my section of the road. Hopefully, now I can shower with reckless abandon.

Stark, Kat

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Dear Rent-A-Kitty,

You are a sweetheart, but if you don't stop with the clawing of my sofa we're gonna have words.

Just Thought You Should Be Aware, Kat

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Dear Emergency 4 Cups of Tea,

Thanks for helping cure my migraine.

Love, Kat

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Dear Kitchen,

What do I look like? The maid?

Obviously, Kat

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Dear Readers,

If you have a letter please link up!

Love you all, Kat

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Bits and Bobs

I have random in my head and it isn't Tuesday. Oh well, here we go.

The unfortunate naked incident and the fact that KiKi has been getting up at 5:30 in the morning has lead me to the realization that blackout curtains are a must. I don't do 5:30 in the morning, not even for my children.

I have yet another dental appointment this morning. I refuse to make any more appointments after this. If they can't fix the rest today then my teeth can just fall out. I really don't give a toss anymore.

I am enjoying the sun here in England, now we just need some warmth from it. A nice 65 degree day is in order.

Going in search of more art supplies today after my dental appointment. Also need pens for the house. My kids seem to have swiped every single last pen in the house.

I got a blog reader. It is the only way I am ever going to be able to keep up with all the blogs I like. If you are new around here, leave me a link to your blog so I can check it out.

Also, I am going to CyberMummy10 down in London in July. Excited does not even begin to cover the emotion. Finally I am going to meet the ladies behind the blogs and twitter profiles!!

Oh For *&^%'s Sake

I live out in the middle of nowhere. There are literally fields everywhere around me. Sometimes I forget that there is a two lane road that runs directly in front of my house. It is a fairly busy road during the day time hours, but at night, pretty desolate.

This week they started nighttime road works. Not a big deal. Some noise. No big deal. No big deal until it is midnight, you step out of the shower, you realize you forgot your towel. Then you tiptoe out to the hall to get the towel and only then as you look out the window directly in front of you, naked as a jay bird*, in a brightly lit hallway, and remember the roadworks crew working on the road out front of your house.

Hope they enjoyed the show (or at least aren't scarred for life).

*au natural, disrobed, exposed, in birthday suit, in the buff, stark naked, without a stitch.

Dependent on Technology

I woke up Sunday morning feeling sluggish. It was entirely too early according to my body's internal clock to be awake on a Sunday morning. I checked my computer's clock. Nope it was half past 8. A decent time. I got to work making breakfast, tidying and going about my days activities.

About 7pm I slowed down and got back on the computer. I waited for my husband to get online for a chat. And waited. And waited. He finally showed up an hour later. I asked him what he had been up to...same old same old...

I tuned the TV on to watch Mansfield Park (I am a sucker for Jane Austen). Wait. What time is it? Only 8pm? What? This must be wrong. It is 9pm. I know it is 9pm. My computer says it is 9pm.

Ah, but my computer was made in America. It thinks daylight savings happened, but it hasn't yet in the UK. I was living my life an hour ahead of time thanks to faulty information. So, I ask, are we as a society too dependent on technology*?

*I of course ask this as my three year old is sitting here "writing" in Open Office on my six year old's netbook.

Dear So and So...Exchange Kitty

Dear House,

I'm sorry. I have neglected you for entirely too many days.

Workin On It, Kat

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Dear Lucy (cat that I am cat sitting),

I am not sure what your nick name should be. I have been thinking either exchange kitty, rent-a-cat or POW in training. We have four months to sort it out. I am probably gonna ask your real momma for visitation when she gets back to England.

Stay off the countertops, Kat

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Dear Readers,

Here are some videos of Sam and Lucy (rent-a-cat) for your viewing pleasure. Umm I don't think they like each other much yet.

*smooches*, Kat

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Dear Readers,

(yeah, ignore the screwed up font, I can't fix it) If you want to link up this week, feel free. Oh and sorry about last week. I totally spaced.

Love, Kat

I Take It Back...Sorta

You remember yesterday when I was gushing about KiKi? I take it back. Well some of it. What changed in 24 hours you ask? Well, she peed in my shower. Not while it was on. Her sister was utilizing the toilet, so she took off her pants, got into my shower cubicle and peed.

I can just see it now. She is gonna be that drunk girl in college who pees in the sink when all the cubicles are occupied.

Bursting With Pride

I was blessed with two children with two very different personalities. La, who my oldest, is sweet, sensitive, high maintenance, and bursting with energy (ALL the time). KiKi, the younger one is laid back, kind, pensive, and very generous. The both have qualities that I love in small children. They are not perfect either. Sometimes they have me so frustrated that I want to pull my hair out in clumps.

There are also moments that I have, like today, where my heart wants to burst of of my chest with the amount of pride I feel for my child. This morning I was dropping of KiKi at her nursery school on my way to church. The teacher was in the class buzzing about, greeting children, diffusing the small problems that each child had. Normal morning there. Then she stopped, turned to me and said "I just want to let you know what a joy it is to have KiKi in class. She is such a sweet child. She is so laid back and she shares with everyone. I just wanted you to know that."

It is just so nice to hear someone say that about your child.

This afternoon I have LaLa's parent consultation. Let's hope I get that feeling twice in one day. Cross your fingers, toes and touch wood.

Mollycoddling Our Children

I was in the kitchen doing the washing up from dinner, up to my elbows in soapy water and dirty dishes, when KiKi came in the room and asked for a peanut butter sandwich. I told her to hold on because I was nearly done. Instead of waiting for me she grabbed the bread and peanut butter then asked for a knife.

"KiKi, I said I would do it in a minute," I explained.

"No, I will do it," she told me in a matter of fact voice.

The kitchen was already a mess. What was the harm? The knife is a butter knife, dull, it can't cut. Frankly, I have had worse than peanut butter smeared on my kitchen table. I decided to let her go for it. I gave her a butter knife and cleared a spot at the table for her.

She placed the slice of bread on the table and started working on her sandwich and I went back to work washing up (keeping an eye on her of course). Sure, it took her a lot more time to smear the peanut butter on the bread than it would have taken me, but she did it on her own. She was proud of herself too.

While she was happily munching away at her sandwich I started really thinking. Do I coddle her too much? Really, if I hadn't been busy, I know I would have just made the sandwich for her. Or, I would have jumped in and started smearing it myself when she didn't get it on the bread exactly how I do it. She is only three after all. She can do it though. She showed me that with a little supervision she can do it on her own. Now, I just wonder, if I let my kids have a bit more free reign, what else can they do?

Neurosis

Have you ever had the thought that you are being neurotic, but then you make peace with your neurosis? Then you take advantage of the neurosis because you now have an excuse for being neurotic. Then you exacerbate the neurosis only making yourself more neurotic. Or is this me just being neurotic?

RTT- Motivation Lacking

It's Tuesday, blah blah blah. Yeah that is about the gist of today. But, hey, don't forget to link up with Keely Amy, the grandmaster flash of Randomness.

It is sunny outside. No, really. Sun. Outside. Sun outside for the second day in a a row even. I have found that sun usually leads to me doing things like cleaning the house spotless and being in a good mood. Today, not so much.

For your entertainment:

I think I know what zapped my motivation! I have three huge baskets of laundry that needs to be folded and ironed. Oh who am I kidding, if it really needs to be ironed I am just going to throw it back into the tumble dryer and let it spin for about 30 min to knock the wrinkles out. That's how I roll.

I also need to go grocery shopping because the only things left in my fridge are bologna, broccoli, carrots, ketchup, pickles, a block of cheddar, and milk. You envy me, don't you?

Alright, time to get to work. Tuesday, you are on notice. Hear me??

The End of the Alphabet

We all know the song A, B, C, D, E, F, G....

Last night I was driving back from dinner, my heart a bit heavy because of news that I had received this morning about a friend*, half paying attention to what was going on it the back seat. KiKi was singing the Alphabet Song and La was just talking, as she does. KiKi then reached the end of the song.

"Bubble you, X, Y, and Zed!!!"

I just laughed and cried a bit. It was a wonderful and bittersweet end to a miserable day.

* My Friend Jenn lost her 6 day old baby Eliza Ann to an undiagnosed heart defect. Please keep Jenn and her family in your thoughts and prayers.