Tomorrow is our Open House from 11am - 2pm, and we have been cleaning for it all day. The bathroom and kitchen are sparkling, the new carpet was installed this morning in H and G’s room, the living room and family room are all picked up and clean as a whistle, the flowers are cut and in vases, and we are ready to vacate the premises as soon as our agent gets here tomorrow morning. We’re heading to town to see family and wait it out, we’re even taking the dog with us, so the house will be at it’s best and show really well. As soon as it’s over we will head back so we can talk to our agent and hear the feedback from any of the walk-throughs we get. So here’s hoping we generate a lot of interest, and we get lots of people going through. We’ve had quite a bit of interest and traffic already, but we only need one, just one to buy this house, and then we can move. Although the prospect of actually having to pack up all of our stuff and move sounds so much more un-fun when I really think about it. Hmmm, maybe we can live with just one bathroom after all…..

   Not too long ago, I was searching for sites that were all about some of my own interests and hobbies, and after a few google searches, I was surprised at the number of groups that came up, it was a bit staggering really. I found some incredibly fun places, and have been having a fantastic time meeting new people from all over the world, talking about stuff I truly love, uploading pictures of finished projects into galleries, swapping ideas and sharing project advice, and getting new and interesting ideas for more projects to start as soon as I can get my stuff out of storage. I knew there were places out there, I just had no idea there would be so many to choose from. So if you are into photograghy, beadwork, knitting, crocheting, embroidery, sewing, jewelry making, quilting, heck, anything really, google it, and you will be amazed at the number of sites and forums that will pop up, waiting for you to join in the fun. So get out there and see what you can find!

   Here is a link for a pretty incredible story….wow, what must that last month have been like for her?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20995289/wid/11915773?GT1=10412

Mathes was playing with one of his toys yesterday, shaking it and trying to get one of the pieces out that was stuck inside. He asked me for help, which I had no problem doing. So I began shaking it too and peering inside the little slot on the side, looking to see just where that errant piece had gotten lodged. With my eye pressed to the opening, all of a sudden I see a spider, inside the toy, charging straight for me! Of course, being the calm, cool and collected person that I am in the presence of a spider, I panicked, (”AHHHHHHH!”)  threw the toy across the room as hard and fast as I could, and began yelling for my husband to come quick! Craig saunters over, and when I explain my “trauma” he examines the toy, sees the spider as it dizzily crawls out, informs me it’s only a tiny spider and was probably far more frightened of me than I am of him (doesn’t he know me at all?!?), and then proceeds to squash it at my insistence. What also grossed me out was that Gracen had this same toy in her crib with her last night, right next to her face. All I can think is that spider crawled inside that toy, thinking it’s a great place to lay her eggs, and the little sac is in there now, evilly pulsating (because all evil egg sacs pulsate, didn’t you know) waiting for it’s moment of revenge, where they will all emerge in the Spring to wreak havoc and avenge their mothers untimely death at our hands! Ok, just a tad overdramatic, but I’m still a bit freaked out by my eye level view of said arachnid. Hey, what can I say, I’m a big baby when it comes to the eight legged creepy crawlies. *shudder*!

Creamy White Chicken Chili

I created this recipe based on one Heidi told me she had sampled in the grocery store and loved. This makes a mildly spicy chicken chili with just a touch of ‘heat’. If you prefer more spice and heat, use a packet of ‘Hot Chili Seaoning’ instead of the ‘Mild’ for some more ‘kick’.

4 TBSP. margarine

1/3 cup flour

1/2 tsp. garlic salt

pepper to taste

4 cups chicken broth

1 (4 oz.) can chopped green chilies

2-3 cups frozen corn or 2 (15 oz.) cans corn, drained

3 (15 oz.) can great northern beans, rinsed and drained

3-4 cups cooked, cubed chicken

1 (12 oz.) can evaporated skim milk

1 pkt. mild chili seasoning (use ‘Hot Chili Seasoning’ if desired)

baked tortilla chips and shredded cheddar cheese

    In a large pot, melt the butter, add the flour, garlic salt and pepper. Whisk until all combined and cook for about a minute. Add the broth and whisk until thickened. Add the green chilies, corn, beans and chicken. Stir to combine. Add the chili seasoning packet and mix well. Bring to a boil, and cook for 1 minute. Reduce heat, and add the evaporated milk, stirring to mix well. Cook over low heat 30 or so minutes, stirring to keep the bottom from sticking. Serve in bowls topped with baked tortilla chips and shredded cheese. Yield: about 8-10 servings.

   Last night I found a large container filled with photographs I forgot I even had. The ones that really took me back? The stack of about 8 photos of me and two of my cousins on a hike we took, 9 years ago, to the Windcaves. Banna, do you remember that? Sept. 19th, 1998 it was you, me and Em, and we hiked to the Windcaves that day, as kind of a “last hurrah” before Fall really set in. I had forgotten all about it until I stumbled across those pictures. D and C even thought our pics of us “climbing” the rocks were real. Those still make me laugh. Was that before of after we started working at Convergys, I can’t remember. I have to say though, we looked really hot in those pictures. Yep, you heard me……hotties!

   This week has been crazy busy! We have been showing the house a lot, which means more cleaning, tidying, and freshening-up than you can even begin to imagine. It’s helped us to get a fast routine down, and we can have the house in pristine, show condition in 45-60 minutes, start to finish. Hey, not an easy feat when you consider how many little ones I have waiting to undo every bit of cleaning I manage to get done. There is new carpeting going in one of the upstairs bedrooms next Friday, then we will be leaving for a few hours as our agent holds an Open House on Saturday.Our agent has been very aggressive and has our house splashed all over real estate websites, mailed and emailed the listing to tons of other agents and made a gorgeous color brochure type of handout for the box attached to the sign on the lawn (I’ve counted them, there are a lot being taken). It has been so nice to know she is going all out and really getting our house “out there”.

   The worst part of my week involved some worrisome events with my Dad’s health. Anyone that knows my Dad can tell you he works very long hours, is his own slave driver, and that he rarely thinks of himself while he’s busily taking care of everything and everyone else around him. Thankfully everything turned out to fine, but it still had us all on high alert for quite a while, waiting for the next call with any update. I kept jumping every time my phone rang, I was so keyed up and anxious, I hate that feeling. My Dad is hopefully going to make some much needed changes, and if anyone can keep him on track it’s my Mom. Once she digs her heels in, you’re there for the duration. She’s tough and as stubborn as they come, so my Dad is going to have to take better care of himself, or he will have to face my Mom and the wrath of her ”bear claw” (Rarrr! *swipe* *swipe*). So Dad, listen to Mom, she’s right!

   Craig has been on call for work since Wednesday, so he has been up in the night fielding calls about work and computers and such, then trying to get back to sleep before he has to be back up and out the door for work. The little ones had a Primary Program they had to practice for to be ready for today, and a Fall Festival at school they are involved in for next week, so we have been busy with all of that as well. Add in the homework and reading they each have every night, and we never seem to have a minute around here, but I’m not complaining. Things are busy, but all in a good way, and I am enjoying seeing my children having fun and learning as they go. Mathes has made the biggest leaps and bounds though, and with the start of his preschool along with the potty training, he has really turned a corner. We have made HUGE progress on the potty front, and he has taken the reins and run with it, thrilling me to no end with his success.

   How was everyone else’s week? What’s new with you? I know I’m not the only one running around like a lunatic these days.

   I recently had to place Fiona with our local Animal Shelter, much to mine and my childrens dismay. In the time she was with us, we could see she had been badly treated by her previous owners, and seriously abused. They’re heartless people to have done that to her, a sweeter dog would be hard to find, and it killed me to send her to the shelter, but frankly, as a puppy, I feel certain she will have no problems finding a lovely home. Besides, they are under strict instructions to call me if by bizarre circumstances no one adopts her, so she may not be gone forever. My children are all praying earnestly that Fiona gets a wonderful home, and I am too, she was so sweet with such a mild and happy disposition. We miss her so much already.

   I have read quite a bit about these Smart Cars lately, and they seem like a really great idea. Here is the link to the original article for a quick read:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20842020/site/newsweek/

   As a mother of two teenagers, one on the cusp of driving, I have to say I can see the benefits of owning one for the teen driver in the family. It would be great for back and forth to school, and around town, with less worry of your teen loading the car with all of their friends and drving all over town like a lunatic. But I would still worry about how this little car would do in an accident, I don’t know if I really feel it’s all that practical for the freeway here. But I like the idea behind these cars, as well as the size, mileage, the price, and number of passengers it carries. What do you think, do you like it or hate it?

   Allright, I know some of you will have your own opinions on this matter, but until you have dealt with my Mr.M, you can’t fully understand, so bear with me. We have finally begun to make some headway in potty training him, and yes, he just turned 4 in June. He has fought us tooth and nail, kicking and screaming every step of the way, and it has been so hard to get to where we are right now, but I am not losing any ground, I am determined to only press forward. Seriously, he has all of the power here, and I am at his mercy. If he really doesn’t want to go in the potty, he will make sure he never does, there is only so much I can really do. Potty training whilst trying to nurse an infant is not exactly an ideal situation for me, but I am also SO DONE changing three different bums a day. We were spending insane amounts on diapers, and I am ready to whittle it down to two, and soon just one. Miss G has had the fortune of being there for all of our efforts with Mr.M, so she is picking up on all of the cues, and will be ready for the potty herself in the coming months….but not too soon, I’m not going to punish myself needlessly right now.

Now let me just say that Mr.M is one of the sweetest, kindest, and most loving little boys you would ever find, but he has the willpower and determination to outlast anyone, and if it’s a fight, he is going to win it everytime. I have talked to other mothers about this and was surprised to discover that I am not alone with a child potty training late like this, there are so many others out there struggling just like me. It lifted my spirits to know I had not failed my son, and I really was doing all the right things, it’s more that Mr.M himself just wasn’t ready, and we needed to wait until he was. Well, he’s ready, and I am not looking back, we are going forward full steam, and he has done extremely well so far. I hope anyone else out there that is struggling with their child and any potty training efforts, know that you really don’t suck as a Mom, and the tinkle filled shoes, soaked pants, and poopy underwear are not forever. I know it feels like it, but come on, do you really think you will be packing ‘Depends’ into your childs backpack for their first day of High School? I try to remind myself that it will all happen in time, I just need to be patient.

And patience is exactly what I will be needing with all of the time I will be spending in the bathroom with him, sitting him on the toilet, waiting for him to tinkle. I guess I could use the time to read about pivotal people in politics and history…(Ivana Trump, don’t let me down). So here’s to my big boy Mr.M, and his big boy underwear. And here’s to tinkling on the potty!!! Yay!!!

alternate titles: “That Ivana is so witty and insightful, how did Donald ever let her get away?!” “I just stepped in a puddle barefoot and I’m praying it’s water…” and “Pull-Ups Really Work! and Other Urban Potty Training Myths They Want You To Believe”