A day in SEPTEMBER

Welcome to September. Here is our day. On this particular day I decided to document, we had a BAD day. One of those days you just want to run away, with your hands over your ears, and sit in silence.




It all started at 6:52 am...which I totally get is NOT that early.











And this is what I woke up to! 2011 Individual Income Tax.
It's super exciting. It really is.









When the kids woke up, I wouldn't describe them as happy.







Unhappy was a little more their style on this particular day.










I was stressed, and they were crabby. Miles was teething, and in the mood for NOTHING. Plus I woke up to messes galore, which is probably one of the worst feelings imaginable.












Mike calls this bench, my bench. It is not necessarily my stuff, but rather it is stuff he doesn't know what to do with, or doesn't want to deal with, so he leaves it for me. (I kid you not, this is what he told me).








Oh, I had a bunch of clean laundry to fold too.















And no kids' dishes.














They were all here. Dirty. This IS a good day!














Can you tell he's feeling it? I seriously don't know if he could be any more grouchy.










On this day in September, Miles threw THREE tantrums in the first 30 minutes he was awake. Below, is number three.

















Somehow (by the grace of God), we made through the morning. we got dressed, found something to eat, washed dishes, cleaned up the bench and folded laundry.

We also watched TV which is quite evident below.






On this day in September, we also ate homemade macaroni and cheese for lunch, with grapes on the side. We found it quite fun to put our cup in our bowl and drink that way.











Really. It was fun.










On this day in September, it was pouring rain all day, so we made a fort.









Then we put Miles down for his nap, and Lacey and I did 30 day shred. Level 3. It was hard.















Then we colored. Because that is what this little girl LOVES to do!












She's pretty good at staying in the lines.








After Miles woke up from his nap, it was her turn to be crabby. She was in and out of her room for the next 45 minutes or so. It was rough.

I heard a lot of screaming on this September day.










I made corn chowder for dinner, which was a medium hit. Next Daddy came home and ate. Finally the rain eased up so we pulled on our rain boots and went to find some splashing puddles!








Starting with small ones, but we found some bigger ones too!













Swinging with Dad, always a hit!










We came inside because Miles kept sitting in the puddles. He was soaked, but it wasn't warm enough out to be walking around soaking wet. They were in bed by 7:55, which means Mike and I were able to watch some season premieres in peace. It was rather amazing.

So this was our day in September. It was a tough day. At least the first half!

Coming Soon!

So last night I was in bed, ready to sleep at 9:54 pm. This in and of itself is an amazing feat. Scratch that. It is not as amazing as the fact that we had both kids in bed by 8:00 so we could watch The Office alone. That was more amazing.

Anyway.

I could not fall asleep. Isn't that always how it works? Finally in bed early and then you just cannot fall asleep. I just kept thinking of wanting a new camera and where I could find the best deals, and if I really have to wait until Christmas. Then I was thinking about how Beauty and the Beast is coming out of the Disney Vault on October 5th and that is just in time for Lacey's 3rd Birthday and I want to get it for her, but where is the best place to go wait in line. Thankfully, I'll be in Fargo dropping the kids off for a week, so I am assuming Fargo has shorter lines. I won't even be with Lacey on her 3rd Birthday, what kind of mother am I? etc. etc. etc.

Probably something to do with the 4:00 pm pot of coffee I had.

Then at 3:50 am Lacey starts screaming. So I bolt to her room. I am not sure if my bolting is just a mama's instinct, or if it's so she doesn't wake up her brother. I certainly don't bolt out of bed when my alarm goes off! She is sobbing cause her pillow is crooked.

Yes. I kid you not.

Then she says she is thirsty and needs a drink of water and she needs a vitamin. When I tell her she can't have a vitamin and pathetic sobbing ensues, I give her a vitamin and cringe when I think about the sugar settling on her teeth all night. No one is ready for battle at 4 in the morning. You would have given her the vitamin too.

Anyway, now that you have heard about my night. Stay tuned because my DAY IN SEPTEMBER is on it's way!! Don't forget. I want to read all about your day too!!

just try yoga

Last Thursday I attended the Accounting and Auditing Student Conference held here in Minneapolis.

I went to a "behind close doors" panel, which basically is people working in the field, telling you everything you'd ever want to know what it's really like.

Well, since accountants notoriously work 60+ hours a week during busy season, I thought I'd ask a question about work/life balance. Seems simple right. So how does someone manage relationships, spouse, and family while working so much?

1) Look at me like I am crazy. Really crazy.
2) Tell me that (hahaha) you aren't married (hahaha). Apparently that's a funny idea.
3) Suggest I take a yoga class to relax.

Right. Because when I am working 60 hours a week, the first thing I want to do is leave my family alone a little bit longer while I go to a yoga class.

Think again.

they call it balance.

We've had this discussion in our house lately about who has more pressing things to do. With only 2 weeks of school under my belt, I am already feeling the crunch. Twelve credits, plus preparing for multiple job interviews, working on projects, keeping the house clean, and of course hanging with my babies, all takes its toll and has major responsibilities.

Of course my husband is working 50 hours a week, in the middle of a company franchise, interviewing with another company, and trying to fit in some side work on a weekly basis. He's busy too.

But here is my problem. For the last 3 weeks my husband has had to be working on his "days off" which means that I have been home with the kids for nearly 21 days straight. I appreciate that he's usually here in the evenings. The fact that he is working and making extra money sn't totally the problem because I chose to have kids, so I expect to be here with them and take care of them, (plus the additional money is great). However, I frequently get the "I just need to get this finished so I can get it off my mind and relax." This is my problem and this morning I finally realized why that bothered me so much.

Imagine if you will, having a list of things that you are falling behind on, and every time you think you are going to get the opportunity to work on it, something comes up. Someone else has things that are more important. That's my problem. The things I need to get done aren't of much importance. I am having to stay here and try to figure out a way to read 3 pages of Income Tax while the kids amazingly occupy themselves for those few precious moments. Reading textbooks 2 pages at a time throughout the day isn't what I had in mind when I say I am studying. Stress levels are running high, the list keeps growing. Not a fight. Just a frustration. Juggling has a whole new meaning.

I think he "got it" this morning, so hopefully we can find a little more balance in the weeks to come. Anyone else struggle with balance and juggling of life?

Math

Really the word can send shivers down many spines.

I've always been stuck with the toughest math teachers. I took advanced Algebra freshman year of high school and my teacher was anal. We were to:
-use college ruled paper
-holes were to always be on the left side
-we were to only use a pencil
-we were not allowed a calculator
-we were to show all of our work
- and our equals signs as we worked each problem were to always line up.
Not so ironically, all this thing are very, very normal to me now.

Which is a pleasure since I have to take math this semester. Wait. Finite Math. (I am really not sure how finite math is different than any other math I've taken. All I know is that 1) I shouldn't have to take it because I know all this stuff from previous math classes and 2) They are making me take it if I want to graduate in December).

So during last night's lecture, I just worked review problems. 61 problems in just under an hour, I think he went through 3 problems with the class. See, it's simple stuff! Thank you Mr. Montgomery from 9th grade algebra for making this second nature!

(oh, and Miles can count to 9. It's the cutest thing EVER)!

Blogging: A look back.

Do you know what I love about blogging? It's that I can look back and "remember" things that I would not have remembered otherwise.

Lacey is one month shy of turning 3.
Miles is 19 months and seems to think he can do everything all by himself.

In fact in the last 48 hours, he has developed the not-so-magical skill of SCREAMING if he doesn't get his way.

Anyway, I digress, all that to say that blogging through the years is great.

I love looking back and seeing where we were, what I was struggling with, and what I was looking forward to. Things I thought were most likely the end of the world as I knew it, and small victories with the kids and life in general.

Except for a couple of months after Lacey was born, and a couple of more months after Miles was born, I've got it blogged. (Funny how I blanked out during those same time periods both times...).

Anyway, so take a look back with me at September 8, 2008 and September 11, 2009.

Ironically I didn't blog on September 9th either year, so we're averaging here...

Award

Just call me Mrs. Versatile.

Surprising? Yes. This blog is full of snippets of our lives and my not so good writing and photography skills. But Ashley gave me this award and I accept it with open arms. She likes the name of my blog!? That makes me happy.

So I am now instructed to do the following (can I just tell you I am skipping Auditing homework for this...sacrifice).

Answer this question: If you had the chance to go back and change one thing in your life, would you and what would it be?

This is a tough question because I really do love my life and if I had changed one thing, everything that followed would have changed as well. Some days its "why didn't I finish school before having kids??" But then not having my kids would be a missing link into this story of life. Sometimes I think "We shouldn't have had kids 16 months apart" but then if we hadn't gotten pregnant with Miles I would be missing my son, who is PURE JOY, in my life. So this is a really hard question.

We are all writing our life stories, page by page, chapter by chapter, and I think it's the struggles that make our lives SO MUCH more interesting. Who wants to read a story that's predictable and boring? Do you? I know I don't. I like my crazy, don't know where it's going next, life.

But if I had to change one thing, it would be cutting my hair short the summer before my junior year in college (and dying it black-I am a natural blonde). I have been growing it out ever since!

The 2nd thing you have to do is, pick 4 people and give them this award. You then have to inform the people that they have received this award.

I am not picking 4 people because I can't really. I follow a lot of accounting blogs and very few friend blogs (but I do love those friend blogs)!! However I am going to pick one person, because she just started a new blog and I want her to blog more!! My award goes to Seanna!

The 3rd thing you MUST do, is thank the lovely individual who gave you the award.

Thank you Ashley!! I always love reading your blog, and getting ideas of things to do or look forward to do with my duo! Plus little Britt is just edible.

You need to share 7 things about yourself.

1. I am a full-time mom, full-time student. Life is busy.

2. I am scared to death of flying. I guess not scared to death, because I will fly, but I am scared of it.

3. Sadly, I am not creative, but I am gifted in organization so that's a plus.

4. I always think about how much extra money we have to spend on winter attire living in MN. Boots, multiple coats, snowpants, hats, gloves, scarves, mittens etc. It's crazy.

5. I feel as though I am in a weird stage of life right now, prepping to go back to work. I don't have any mom friends that work, so I feel like I am out on a limb. Strange feeling I tell you, and a bit lonely.

6. I cried last night after I put Miles to bed because he is getting so big. He's losing his "baby" face and putting on a "boy" face. He can't do this to me, he is my baby.

7. You know how Gap Kids had the sale on their jeans Buy One get a second pair for $10. Well, we did that for both the kids (because gap jeans are THE BEST JEANS EVER AND FIT THEM PERFECTLY). Well, then we found out they were also running a promotion of Buy 4 pairs of Jeans, get a 5th pair free. So now we get another pair. Who will get it? I am hoping ME!

What's going on over here.

It seems that we have made the quick flip from blistering hot summer, to brisk, cool, fall. It seemed fitting that the last really warm day was August 31st. I am personally pleased with the beautiful, cool weather we've been having. Nothing makes me quite as happy as sweaters and boots.

We've solved the daycare dilemma. Initially, we had decided to go ahead and hire someone and take the money out of our Christmas fund. Which I know sounds totally depressing, but we figured we have quite a bit of time to reimburse that fund. Then a couple of Mike's employees, whom both I and the kids know pretty well, came over for dinner and told us that they would just alternate Saturday's. So we decided to go this route. We'll still be paying them the same, but this way we have a little more flexibility if my parents take them one week, or if Mike takes a Saturday off. That way we'll save a bit of money because they aren't counting on this so much. Mike will just schedule them to work at the store if we don't need them!

You know that "free" money I talked about. Uggs, strollers, and hair color? Well, scratch that for now. I got the stroller (and we love it), but the uggs and the hair color will have to wait. Boo. But I had to spend an extra $127 on school, so there.

So, classes start next week, I am still researching, applying, interviewing, networking, hoping and praying for a job. Most hires happen in October, so after Labor Day is when things start getting intense. I think they should do their hiring in the summer so I'd have one less thing to worry about!

This Hair is No Joke

In case you're curious how we spend our mornings,

we generally spend a lot of time working on this mess.

Can you blame me if I leave the house, hair uncombed, on occasion.
It's a piece of work!