SUMMER!

My summer has officially started.
Alivia had her first dance recital, which went perfect!, and school is done as of last Wednesday.  At least for my kids.
We have nothing to do!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And let me tell you, this is a great feeling.
Oh!  And Jackson is FINALLY potty trained.  I was having nightmares of changing his diaper at 10 years old.
So basically, my life is perfect.
And it's summer.
And I am going to make all the recipes I have "pinned".
And I am going to buy bug repellent.  We had no winter here and the bug forecast is scary.
And I am going to get tan.
And I am going to sweat.
And I am going to complain about it being 104 degrees.
And I am going to drink beer by the baby pool.
Oh yes, I am going to enjoy summer. 

                                                             FAMILY PHOTO 2012

Creative Parenting

We all remember what a "handful" my son Jackson is. Right?
Timeouts don't work.
Spankings are nothing to him.
Take away his favorite toy, he says he doesn't care and laughs in my face.
He's not even 4 yet. I've given serious thought to boarding school. I'm just not sure of the financial logistics unless I become a drug runner. And well, that's never a good idea.
So I introduced wall sits. Anyone who has worked out knows these. Also referred to as an "Iron Chair" by some.
Anyhoo, they suck. And when your four, they really suck.

About a month ago I was at a breaking point. The kids were yelling/kicking/hitting/spitting. And it wasn't even 8 am yet. I had just gotten back from boot camp and thought that making them suffer through a body weight muscle building exercise might just work. (You should know that my boot camp is almost always solely and completely and horribly filled with body weight muscle building exercises. Which I openly have a love/hate relationship with.)
IT WORKED!!!
Alivia, who honestly is hardly ever bad, has been perfect since with the threat of more wall sits looming over her.
And Jackson, well, he is still Jackson, but a Jackson who pays attention a little more and acts downright frightful a little less.
I told some other moms about this and they were excited. "Oh, that is such creative parenting." For real, I just want them to stop being bad.

Coffee

I just realized that all I really need is coffee.
If I can have my morning coffee in peace, I mean real peace, then I'm good for the day.
No kid interruptions, husband needing something, cats fighting or whining for food, phone calls (from anyone!).
Just a 20 minute window of peace. With a huge cup of coffee.

That it may be

A new year?
Wouldn't' be complete without the obligatory Happy New Year! and this is what I have planned this year blog.
Honestly, I got nothing.
Ok, I guess that is not true. I do have plans for Valentine's Day already made, but if they fall through . . . then nothing.
I made no resolutions or goals.
Not by decision but just how it happens I am taking one day at a time. Not thinking of what I must be doing but what I want to be doing. This moment. Lucky for you I wanted to blog. ;)
Normally, this "fly by the seat of my pants" behavior would cause me anxiety. (People have plans. Who am I not to have one? That kind of thinking.)
My year was tough. I'd say more than I can handle, but I'm sitting here healthy.
So I am ok with my contentment in spite of being goal less.
I am going to live with this calm, happy feeling. (There's my resolution!)
And of course, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!