Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Shit Is My Life

I usually don't use profanity in my posts.  Well, on an infrequent basis anyways.  So if the word shit offends you, please accept my apologies and I'll understand if you don't read on.

All I can say is:  If the shit fits...

Okay, I should clarify.  I don't mean my life is shit.  Not at all.  I love my life.  I've got a great hubby...great boys...a great living space...great friends...we're all healthy, etc, etc.

No, my life is far from shit.

I'm saying that shit. IS. my. life.

There's a difference.

It all started 5-1/2 years ago when I had my first child -- Actually, NO!  It was 14 years before that when I got my first kitten.  Yes, that's when shit took a regular and very prominent role in my life.

So 14 years of cat shit...followed by 5-1/2 years of kid shit (including one shit withholder)...and now what just might be the shittiest shit of them all...

Bunny shit!

I've written before about Big T's Kindergarten class bunny, Milo, who we came to stay with us a couple of times.  Well, as we were on the verge of getting a pet for the boys...and since Milo is so great - used to being handled, doesn't bite, litter-box trained, cute...I thought he would be a really good starter pet for the boys, meaning we aren't quite ready for a dog.

And did I mention he's LITTER-BOX TRAINED!!

So I put it out there that if Milo ever needed a new home we'd take him in a heartbeat.

Turns out he did need a new forever home as his owner is just graduating from university and will be moving away.

So Milo (aka, Mr. Poopy Pants) is with us full-time now.

Don't get me wrong, I love him.  He really is so cute...a great pet.

But there's a lot of shit!  He does mostly go in his litter box, but he also drops 'lil bombs practically everywhere he goes.  I knew bunnies had frequent bowel movements (there, I didn't say shit that time), but this 'lil dude is a shitting machine!  I've scooped his litter box 3 times already today and probably picked up 50 poops besides.  It's like he doesn't even know it's happening!  He certainly doesn't care.

I think I read that when bunnies are at  a new place, they  mark their territory by dropping bombs, and I hope this is the case.  Because when we had him this past Christmas I remember marvelling about how great it was that I only had to pick up the odd pellet.

I've also read that when you acquire a pet for 'lil kids, make sure it's a pet that the parent wants because basically the parent (aka me) will be doing all of the work (aka picking up the shit).  But despite it all, I'm happy he's here.

I do take full responsibility for this all though.  Guess my boys being completely potty-trained, the withholding issue finally ending and not having anyone else's shit to deal with except my own, somehow on a subconscious level, life didn't feel right; I had to go and get a rabbit.

So there you have it...

Me 'n shit....together again.

Enjoy this short clip of my 'lil shit playing soccer:


Hubby made this wicked two-level condo out
of an old dresser we weren't using.

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

The S Word

I realized something today.

Well, I knew about it before, but I was in denial.  Today this realization slapped me in the face.

Sleep is NOT a four-letter word.

If you're a parent, I'm pretty sure you've heard of this book...


It is HILARIOUS!  And so true.  If you haven't heard it, check it out on YouTube.

While, yes, I often say this in my head with regards to my boys, it's more me that needs to Go The Fuck To Sleep.

I haven't been valuing sleep like I should.  I always say that I don't want my "me" time to be unconscious...I say it a lot actually.  But now I know that it's something I should not and CANNOT avoid any longer.  I need it.  I REALLY NEED IT!

I need it because I feel that lately I've become that mom who yells.  I don't want to be that mom.  Of course sometimes I need to, but I've been going there a bit too much for my liking in recent days...enough that I notice it.  And I notice how it's affecting my boys.  It doesn't work - well, okay, sometimes it does, but the aftermath isn't worth it.  We all know how important role-modelling is and I've seen Big T start yelling at Little K a bit too much as well these days.

It all comes down to sleep...my lack of it.

Back in May I wrote a post about it; in particular, I wrote an apology to sleep.  Here's what I wrote:

"Dear Sleep,  
I'm sorry.  I was wrong to deny you, to think you aren't important.  I didn't mean to neglect you and I hope you will forgive me.  I like you.  I really do.  I know you're just wanting me to feel good, look good and be a happier mom.  So please accept my apology and in future I promise to appreciate you and even fight for you.  This may take a little time, however, so I hope you'll be patient with me  I realize that as I am writing this, the boys are napping and I should be as well, but as another saying goes:  "Rome wasn't built in a day" and this may apply to me as I get used to it all.  When there's so much to do and so few hours in a day, it will be a challenge to fit you in, but I vow to try.  So here's to us, Sleep.  You and me.  Together we'll be unstoppable!"


Looks like I need to make another apology.  


Here goes:


Dear Sleep,
     It's me again.  I know, I know, I haven't kept my word.  I'm sorry (again).
     I stay up waaaaaay too late.  Even when I know I'm usually awakened each night by one of my boys, and even though I know Big T never sleeps past 6am, I still stay up 'til about 1am.  Okay, sometimes later, but that's only usually when I work really late, like 'til 12am.  I can't just hop into bed when I get home.  I want to check emails, Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest!  For god's sake, Pinterest!
     But I'm not blaming the kids or the fact that I have to work nights (well, only sometimes I am).  I take full responsibility for the 4-5 hours sleep I get each night.
     I guess I'm asking for one more chance, Sleep.  Will you give me one more chance to show you that I value you?  Then will you help my metabolism move at a faster rate?  Will you get rid of the dark circles under my eyes and help with my patience when it comes to my kids...especially Little K who is starting to challenge me (as every 3-yr-old does) when he's never challenged me before?  
     So one more chance, okay, Sleep?  I'll prove to you that I mean this.  Really.  I will.  (Don't look at me like that)
     In Sweet Slumber,  Jill


Phew!  Glad to get that off my chest.


Now I'm going to bed!


Sweet dreams!

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Craftin' It Up Like Crazy

Two craft posts in a row.

Well, with sick kids and being stuck at home all day for several days in a row, it's no wonder.  I'm trying to combat boredom and am so sick of cartoons...I'll do just about anything!

So yesterday it was:

Courtesy of modernparentsmessykids.com
This is so much fun actually.  All you need is a shallow container, milk, food colouring, dish soap & toothpicks.  Who doesn't have this in the house?  It's a quick craft, but fun nonetheless.

Here's how our milk creation went:


Next we did THE BEST stay-at-home activity that we've done in a long time.

Little K wanted a bath...I think it's a great thing to do in the afternoon to break up the day, instead of always just before bed.

It was also the best opportunity for us to try:

Courtesy of meetthedubiens.com

This was great!!  It's so much more fun than the bathtub crayons you can buy from the stores, mostly because it cleans up so easily!

We don't have a bathtub (can I get a collective "awwww" for the Queen of this house?  Feel sorry for me, please) but this was great in the shower.  The boys had so much fun!!

All you need is some shaving cream - I used one I had in the house for sensitive skin and unscented.  Add a bit into a cup, add some food colouring, mix it up and voila!  It actually puffs up.  The boys called them "paint cupcakes".

Check out the fun:






I highly recommend doing this!  I almost wanted to join in, they were having that much fun!

We're home again today so I'm off to check out Pinterest for something else to create!

You can check out my "Get Crafty" board to see these crafts and others here: Follow Me on Pinterest  Only wish they were my idea.  If you have any other kids crafts to share, I'd love to hear about them!  Let's connect over on Pinterest!

Have fun!

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

15 Minutes Of Fun

Ever have every day one of those days with your kids where you just need them to chill out for 180 15 minutes so you can get something...ANYTHING...done?

We've been going stir crazy 'round here for the past week as Big T is fighting off what today seems to be bronchitis...ugh!  He's off and on with fever and the coughing has now become something that needs looking into.  

So when you're housebound for awhile with a 'lil sickie, as much as you think you should be able to get things done around the house, it's pretty near impossible.  Instead your serving duties take centre stage.

In between juice runs, I head over to Pinterest
(gotta love Pinterest) to my "Get Crafty" board to get inspired and I saw this:

Kaleidoscope Rice from www.momtastic.com
It looks like a very cool thing to do...but as I was looking for a quick fix for my boys' stir-craziness, I wasn't about to go there.  

But I had rice...and LOTS of it thanks to a recent Costco trip.

So here's what they got...





They love playing treasure hunt so they took turns going away and finding 'lil toys to hide in the rice for the other guy to pick out with tweezers...

...I got to do the dishes.

Lucky me!

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

While He Sleeps ...

While he sleeps I tiptoe...
to the side of his bed where
I listen to the sound of his breath
in and out.

While he sleeps I smile...
and gently stroke his 
soft, chubby cheek.
He's so little and 
sometimes I forget that.

While he sleeps I think... 
of him as a big boy of 5
to his little brother of 3, 
sweet one minute, ornery the
next and I get sad.

While he sleeps I see...
his struggles of being that big 
boy of 5, wanting to be that
little boy of 3, wanting to play with his
Mom all day instead of being in school

While he sleeps I wonder...
Did I enjoy him enough when
he was 3, like I do his brother
or was I too busy with an infant.

While he sleeps I vow... 
to be more patient, more
aware that he is still so young,
to enjoy him more...
My little big boy of 5.