The car...

Margot's 2006 might be on it's last leg.   We've started looking at cars.   I've looked at the Prius and last night I started looking at the Volt.  

There are tax incentives now to buy the electric cars and they make the cars really reasonably priced.   PLUS....who wouldn't like getting 36 free miles per charge and great highway mileage when the automobile turns to gas mode?

Up, up, and away!

We have become dear friends with L and G.   They are just like our kid's grandmas and we love them dearly.   They are a bit older than us and I know there could come a time when we would need to take care of them.  

I haven't even broached the topic of what they would want to do and I can imagine that ideally they would like to stay in their own home as long as possible.  

They have a beautiful 2 story farm house and in order to make things easier it might make sense for them to have a stair chair lift.   

Back to work!

After almost two years away from work having babies and raising the children - I'm back!!!

It's been an OK transition.   At times I miss being home and then there are other times that I really do like being out and about and love my job.

We've been trying to figure out the balance between work and home.   Now that I'm back it means that the cooking and cleaning has to be shared.    This isn't happening.   So it means that I'm still taking care of kids, working, and then the other stuff is still on me.

Thank God we have a housekeeper that comes every other week to help out.  

The paycheck has been nice too.  

Are you in trouble?

I'm so glad that we have been responsible financially over the years.   Despite me staying home with the kids, have three babies, and buying a new house - we have managed to stay debt free.  

Our friends have not always been so lucky.   In fact, my friend Erin was talking about requirements for bankruptcy and it seems like over the years it has become harder and harder for people who struggle financially to start over and claim bankruptcy.   

This economy has been hard on everyone and now that we are coming out of a recession I can imagine many people would like a new beginning.  

Busy mamas...

Life has been crazy!   Summer is upon us and we are in the middle of fixing up the house, hardening, and renting out our house so that we can travel!  

I have us booked for almost every weekend in July and August and the good thing is we are going out of town and making money by renting our house!

The bad news is....it's going to be crazy and the turnaround times are sometimes just one or two days!

We're back!

We got home yesterday around 5pm.    To say the least this morning when the kids crawled out of bed they were exhausted!!    Graem was in tears when she got on the bus and Emmy was fighting with us (as usual) about what she was going to wear.

It's 70 degrees today and she's wearing a long sleeve shirt and TIGHTS under her pants.  

What can you do?

Booming!

Yesterday the market hit a homerun!   All of our stocks went up and for the first time in a very long time it was nice to see a positive portfolio.

This is not always the case and in the past few years nothing has been on the rise.   We've been looking for alternative investments.   One of our friends does silver rounds.    They swear on it and also enjoys the hobby of it.  

Back to the grind?

Right now I'm trying to figure out what my job situation will be like in the fall.   My old boss has been writing me and asking me back to my job.   He's such a great person to work with and he's since been promoted to a regional director.  

Now, I'm in the middle of negotiations and trying to get more money.   Ideally, I would only be able to work M,W,F 8:30am-1:45pm.    That's only 15 hours a week.   Then I could do the computer work sometime in the afternoon.    That would probably bring me right around 20-25 hours per week.  

Spring break...

starts this afternoon when the kids get off the bus.   DAMN!?!

I wish I had something figured out...

It's snowing outside.

Tomorrow K and the boys are coming over along with E and the girls.    I think it will be fun for the kids to play and the mamas to hang out and enjoy.  

Of course, wouldn't you know it...today is the day that the cleaning lady comes.  

Easier and easier...

When I was in college I remember going to the gas station to buy cigarettes.   The good ones were $1.99 per pack.    It's bizarre to think that was 18 years ago AND they have since gone up 5 times that amount!

I have friends who go through  famous smoke free shipping.   Not only do they get a good deal on smokey treats - but you can't beat free shipping!

Luggage

I have had such a hard time trying to find Graem a good piece of luggage.   She had a great report card and I told her for every 4 she got that I would give her $2.   Let's just say I'm going to go broke doing that.   Especially, when Emmy starts getting grades next year!!

I thought I'd find something good at TJ Maxx but really wasn't impressed with the selection.   This morning I'm going to try Kohls and hopefully, they will have something good!

Yikes.

This morning I went to put some of Emmy's socks away and realized that her whole dresser was falling apart.    Looks like we are in the market for a good set of drawers for her!     We hadn't planned on buying a full outfit for the kids until they were older but it looks like the time has come.

UGH!

Furniture

We are still trying to figure out how the kids are all going to fit in our house!   We have bunk beds in the girls room and eventually when the kids get older we will spread them out into their own rooms and separate the beds.

I've heard that kids furniture nyc has some awesome furniture that are not only great looking but also functional.   

SO EXHAUSTED

Last night was such a bad night.    I'm exhausted.   Keane was up constantly.   Margot was snoring.  

I need 4 hours of sleep.

Hosed.

We just got our tax bill.   Ugh.  Shockingly, they are similar to what we paid last year.   They didn't add the addition to the value of the house.   

For what we pay in taxes I'm glad to know that we have amazing schools and services.   The first department and police department are great responding and I really don't have any complaints.

I was glad to see that the fire department looked at many different hydraulic hose manufacturers when accepting bids for the upgraded work they needed done.   

My TV shows...

So I go through phases of shows.   These days I'm watching RHOBH and Vanderpump Rules.   When I go to LA we are going to the restaurant SUR.   I can't wait.   The food is suppose to be pretty decent and the ambience is noteable.  

I'm also excited to go in style!   We have rented a limo for 5 hours and will enjoy dinner and then a nice little drive around Hollywood.

Out of the loop...

It's been months since I've been in the loop when it comes to politics and happenings!   I try to catch up on the internet but I feel like I don't get the full story.   Plus, each time I sit down I only get 2 minutes of reading before a kid starts crying!!

I just read an article about marty hanaka.    It's hard to know the full story because I've only read what's out there.   

Electronic cigarettes?

I was just watching television and one of my shows has a girl using an electronic cigarettes.    What a bizarre concept.   I must look into this.   I see the places in the mall and keep walking.

Do you actually inhale?   Does it contain nicotine?   Does it have a battery?

Another Monday...

And the kids are home?!    Martin Luther King Day.  

We slept in a bit and then I made the kids clean up the house a bit, I cooked dinner, and then we went for lunch at the mall.   I can't believe that the four of us almost finished off a large pizza!  PIGS!!

We walked the mall and picked up birthday gifts for the upcoming parties this weekend.    I swear I could go broken from all of these parties.

Ugh...filters.

It seems like everything in our house goes at once!   Right now we are battling the plumbing and trying to figure out why we have a slow drain in our kitchen.   Margot bought a snake the other day and wasn't able to pull anything out but sludge.  

Today I'm going to call the plumber out to see if he can do some piping work to help the waterflow.

I'm glad that we don't have to buy the iqair prefilter this month!   However, we do need to replace our fridge filter.   

Miss 8 year old.

I can't believe I have an eight year old!   How crazy is that.   This kid is HUGE.   She's in the 95th percentile for weight and height.  This kid is THICK!!  

She's becoming a bit more independent and has gotten to the stage where she doesn't talk back when asked to do something.   She just ignores!   Which in my book is just as bad.

She also appreciates quiet time away from us and her annoying little sister.  

Pool.

My uncle and aunt have a pool in Michigan.   When we were visiting it was so awesome.   The water was warm and the kids loved the diving board and water slide.    I had always thought that there was tons of maintenance involved in owning a pool.   It sounds like my uncle calls out a guy to come out once a month or so to do the chemicals and it stays looking good.

The shocking part was that he spends about $1,000 a month warming the pool!  Maybe he needs to look into getting a new electric pool heater!

Girls trip!

In March I am going to meet up with some of the ladies that I have known for almost 10 years!   We were all on the same internet board when I was trying to get pregnant initially.   Over the years we have all been able to have kids.   I think Graem is the oldest...and I have the youngest with Keane!

I'll be gone for 4 days and already I can tell that I'm going to miss the kids and Margot.   I'm excited for going though and can't imagine being on an airplane where I'm not juggling snacks and getting Sprite all over my lap.  

I will be...

that mother who is constantly involved in their kid's life.    I have no problem with looking over my kid's shoulder when they are playing with the ipad or listening in on the playdate!  

Our neighbor has a 14 year old and we are just starting to see some of the things that go on in the "life of a teenager."   There have already been incidents with marijuana usage and sneaking out of the house!  

I hope that I always have honest children.   However, if I ever doubt what's going on I'm all about best opiates drug test in order to make sure that my kid is not using drugs!

I might be hooked on...

total trash television.

These days I've become a bit obsessed with "Secretly Pregnant" and "Prison Wives."   Keane has been taking pretty good naps and what better time than for me to watch my trash television and catch up on some blogging!

Of course, I have to pause my television when I write or I end up writing what the television is telling me!

Pop a wheelie.

We have reached an all time low at our house.   You know those tacky laptop computer carts that you have seen in office spaces?

Yeah, well we have one in our living room!    Truth be told, it's been great.   We can tilt the laptop in an ergonomic position and you can set it up right over the couch so that you can watch trashy television and use the computer at the same time!

One.

So my little man is one year old.   I can't believe how quickly it has all gone by.   I remember being pregnant and now that seems like years away!  

Keane's sleep is so inconsistent these days.   SOmetimes he sleeps great and through the night.   Other times he wakes up every hour on the hour.    This weekend was brutal.

Why couldn't kid #3 have been a good sleeper?