Top ten things I would rather be doing than the laundry

1. cleaning the toilet
2. cleaning your toilet
3. getting a bikini wax
4. bathing suit shopping (if you read my last post you will know that right now this is not at the top of my list of favorite things to do- but it is STILL BETTER than laundry.
5. watching the Tyra Banks show (this may not make the list- I might like doing the laundry better)
6. the stairmaster
7. visiting my obgyn
8. swimming in seaweed
9. watching Nascar on television
10. having a mole removed

What would it be like if I had girls? All my friends who do, my heart goes out to you!

Swim suit season is approaching...

This is not a weight loss blog but it is a blog about me. I started blogging to keep the creative juices flowing for my writing. But lately all I have been thinking about is swim suit season which coincides with my 20 year high school reunion. So, I have put a poll on my blog asking you how much weight you would like to lose if you were going to Florida for a reunion. That way if you say, "Oh Betsy you don't need to lose weight." I can say, "Look at my poll. Most everyone wants to lose weight."

I am so far from my goal. I would post my current weight and my goal but I know it is human nature for your friends/blog followers to say nice things. But you know what? Nice comments on my current weight are not going to keep me from the white powdered doughnuts that my kids love to eat on the weekends! So don't be nice!

I want to post a picture of me on the beach from two summers ago when I was at my GOAL weight (after a bout with the stomach bug- I might add.) That way every time I look at my blog I will see that photo and be reminded of where I want to be.

I did strategically place that same photo in my pantry. I think I need to make it an 8 1/2 by 11. I keep looking around it to find the corn chips. (Just tossed the corn chips in the trash. Sorry to anyone who thinks I should be feeding the world with those corn chips. By the time they made it to Africa, they would have been stale.)

I am weighing in tomorrow. If you don't feel like reading about weight, exercise or food just skip over it and read my other posts. This is really just for me. If I post my weight weekly I will feel like I am answering to someone besides myself.

When Does It End?

Last night watching television I saw three young, adult men hanging out with each other just talking. They were brothers. I turned to Jason and said, "Let's have another child." He looked at me with this "Whatcha talkin' 'bout Willis" look. I explained to him that it would be really cool to give Andrew and Patrick another brother (or sister to look after) to play with and have as a friend/sibling when they are older. Well, Jason didn't think that having another baby was a good idea. I agreed with him- especially during these economic times but it sure would be awesome.

Last week I looked out the kitchen window and saw the boys on the swings. My oldest was swinging so high. My youngest was sitting there with a huge frown on his face, very still. I knew he wanted to be pushed but he needed to come and ask me. So I waited. He never came. The next time I looked out there Andrew (7) was pushing Patrick (4) as high as he would go. Patrick was in full, head-back laughter. I loved watching them.

Then yesterday the boys were working together to clean up their blocks. Patrick turns to Andrew and says, "Andrew, are you my best friend?" Andrew responded, "Yes. I am your best friend." Patrick said, "Well, what about David." Andrew- "No, not David. You are my best friend Patrick." Does it get any better than that?

These are the moments that I say to myself, "Maybe just one more." I could deal with the bottles, pacifiers and plastic stuff all over the house again. I could deal with the late nights, the car seat, the stroller...I guess I just don't want these moments to slip away. I worry that there won't be more of the same to follow.

I bet three is great. I bet four is great. Five... not so sure. But two is AWESOME. Especially my two. Andrew is always loving and making sure everyone feels good and is happy. Patrick is choosy with his affection. He doles it out during unexpected times.

I'm going to sit tight (see picture above) with what I have - two very happy, healthy boys. Every day they bring something new to the table- a challenge, an idea, a brilliant thought.

So when does it end? When do I stop wanting more? Perhaps the idea of having more children will always be in the back of my head.
I guess I need to just look at this picture and remind myself of the happiness that I felt at that moment (and so many other moments). There is just so much love that it fills me up.

Motherhood has been the most wonderful experience of my entire life- nothing tops it. So there are times when I want to start from scratch and do it all over again. But for right now I am going to savor this time with my little guys and give them as much of me as possible.

If I post another blog on this topic will you just comment back- "Potty training!!!!!"

Vacation Can't Come Soon Enough

It's mid-March and I am already thinking about vacation. And when I say vacation I mean a trip to the beach. Going to the beach is the ultimate vacation to me. I don't feel like there is an agenda to follow or a place that I have to go. There is the sand, the water, the sun. It doesn't matter if I am on the porch of the balcony looking out, sitting directly on the beach or just listening to the waves from the couch- it's all good.

The laundry can wait. We can snack at 5:00 and I don't worry about spoiling our dinner. If the kids want to stay up late- go for it. That is what the beach is for me- no schedules, no constraints, no have-tos.

I tried to change this picture of me and the boys to a picture of just the beach and water but my computer is not agreeing with me this morning. Oh well. This photo sums it all up for me just fine- Look at the smile on my face. It just doesn't get any wider than that.

87 more days 'til we leave for Florida but who's counting!!!!????!!!

Andrew was four when this picture was taken. Tomorrow he will be seven. Where has the time gone? He's like a balloon that has just been released. Of course he's moving away from me at a much slower pace but a mother never gets that time back. You and your balloon. Me and my baby. But I have released my sweet balloon. He needs to float on his own. He can play 50 feet away from me now instead of 2. The dangers used to be the corner of the coffee table or whatever he could get into under the kitchen sink. Now I worry about who he plays with at school and if he is sitting still long enough to listen to the directions from the teacher.

What a sweet, sweet boy he is. He has the kindest spirit of any child I have ever known.

I'll let you in on a little secret. I tied a string on that balloon that is forever long. I am never letting go!

Thank you Antoinette Portis

Is this legal? I love Skippyjon. I had to have a picture for my blog.

Check her out!

My buddy Shelli is having a contest on her blog. She is giving away a hamster. Ok, maybe not a hamster but some other prize (it's SUPER GREAT but shhhhhh!). I am not that excited to share that on my blog just because I don't need anymore competition out there. So if you go to the link below feel free to enter the contest but don't even dream of competing with me. Ha, ha, ha, ha, HA!

http://faeriality.blogspot.com