Different Fairy Tale Ending

I kinda loathe the fairy tale princess/damsel in distress since the stories are sad usually (mother and/or father are dead or sick or stupid). I try to keep it to myself though because Gretchen seems to like these stories. I try not to push the Disney version on her (in fact I shy away from it) and would rather she hear the Brothers Grimm version since it seems more gritty. Anyhow, this post shows what could have happened to our lovely princesses and it cracks me up!

Progress

Some months ago I posted about learning Photoshop (though it's not technically the Adobe product). I have gotten better with it. I made Gretchen's birthday invitation with it. I also re-did her blog and put up a new banner. I'm going to re-do my blog and the boys' blog too with new banners. I still haven't learned everything I want to but what's important is that I have goals. I've been keeping a personal goal list on my computer for a while and though I haven't updated it in awhile, it reminds me that I want to do more than just work and parent (two worthy activities of course!). Though I won't share everything on my list (too embarrassing!), a few things that I am still thinking about: learning to sew (my mother made clothes for me and I want to do that for my kids), learn to play an instrument (I wanted it to be guitar but maybe piano is more my speed), learn more web 2.0 stuff (I am kind of learning xml to alter my blogs - it would be cool to make my own app for anything!), and of course, lose weight (never leaves the list just moves around it). I have accepted that until the kids are older, it will difficult to spend a lot of doing any of these things but hey, I never thought I would have a vegetable garden but I did accomplish that! (Steve took it over but I am okay with that - he is way better at it than I am).

Another Mindless Post about Jon and Kate Plus 8

So I am a fan of Jon and Kate plus 8. I started watching it before I had the twins mainly because the kids are a little older than Gretchen. I have found the show reassuring on developmental and behavioral issues with her - it's like a reality check: oh 2 year olds just don't eat sometimes, or preschoolers just cry over everything. While I was pregnant with the boys, I was even more interested since they had multiples and I have found great comfort in knowing that "it can be done" without the marriage falling apart or the kids being neglected. Needless to say but I will say it anyway, boy am I disappointed now. They have some real problems now that I am not sure I want to see. On the 0ther hand, I believe you should always try to work out your marriage problems no matter how grave so I am rooting for them to make it. I don't need to see that on TV but I do want to know that they are trying to fix it. I have been reading a lot of internet stuff about them and many people are saying we should just not watch the show. In my heart I know this is probably the best thing for the family, I just love those kids. Maybe they should stop doing the show but do a few specials every year so we can still see all 8 of them. TLC... You listening?

Spring is zooming by

and I have nothing to show for it...... House is still a wreck, kids are still wonderful but making me crazy. I am really dealing with intermittent guilt at being overwhelmed with two babies. I hate to say how hard it is because it's not like I'm ungrateful. I am so grateful for my children but wow! It is a lot to take. Steve and I are doing our best but there is friction and suffocation at the day to day activities. Then other times we simply rise above it all and choose to be happy. Why every moment cannot be like, I don't know. I guess choosing to be happy is working in of itself sometimes.....

Bizarro Dreams

I haven't had a ton of time lately to blog... I barely do twitter compared to all the folks I'm following. Heck, I don't even update Facebook every day like I used to.... Excuses, excuses... A lot of that has to do with Sean being in the hospital and the car accident... Like on Lost when Ben pushed the frozen donkey wheel, I feel like that whole ordeal pushed me out of my groove and has me skipping through time instead. So, I thought I would post something today because my dreams have been so weird lately. Most of them I cannot remember for very long but I wake up knowing I had a bizarre sleep experience.

Long ago work colleagues have been in my dreams. My friend Rachel just moved back here from Iowa and I had a dream that she came over to dinner before she made a long journey. ??? I don't know. Then other dreams are easier... A guy I used to work with who constantly accused me of taking his jokes too personally (when they were at my expense....) had a baby a few years ago. In my dream he is trying to suffocate one of the boys and I walk in and catch him. I go bananas on him and suggest we do the same to his precious one. At least with this dream, I know it's because I am worried about Evan (he seems to be behind Sean a few weeks in the respiratory virus). I think the dream represents how going to the pediatrician makes me feel dumb because all the ever tell us is give him more breathing treatments. Or they end up in the hospital like Sean and Gretchen.

I think the weird dreams have also been coming this week because Gretchen has taken to waking up at 2am and staying awake a few hours at least once a week. Last night she was up and was calling us. I dreamt that she had the flu and was throwing up everywhere... Nice, huh?

At least it's Friday! I plan on sleeping as much as our children will allow tonight. I think if I don't, my mind and my body may go on strike!

Did I mention I think I have allergies? Nose is running and eyes are watering....