It is so wrong that today is June 1st and yet I still have to send Caroline off to school for four more days. Someone please put this school year out of its misery. I’m especially bitter today because we stayed at the pool until 8:00 on Saturday night, came home and put Caroline to bed, and had to WAKE HER UP at 8:20 a.m. Sunday morning so we wouldn’t be late for church.
If not for the fact that we had to worry about last night being a school night, we would have been well on our way to establishing the perfect summer schedule.
But enough about my problems.
Let’s talk more about me.
Over a month ago, I wrote a post and mentioned that y’all could ask me questions in the comments. Then I spent the weekend in New Orleans and then I took a week off the blog and then I just completely forgot all about it until a few people emailed me and asked if I was ever going to answer those questions.
Truth be told, I didn’t remember that there were so many of them. I’ll answer a few today until I see something shiny and get distracted. Then if I remember, I’ll answer some more in the next few weeks.
Okay, the most frequently asked question was:
“Okay,my question is this. I wonder why you tell us your name and your daughter’s name but all we get with the hubby is a capital ‘P’. Is he a secret service outdoorsman?”
Yes. He is a secret service outdoorsman. Our secret is out.
“Do you and P plan on having more children (naturally or by adoption)? Has Caroline ever asked for a brother or sister, or does she like to have the whole spotlight to herself?”
This is a complicated answer filled with many layers like an onion or a parfait. The short answer is we don’t know. We are a happy little family of three and life is easy with a five and a half year old. She can make her own sandwiches for crying out loud. It’s just a matter of time before she’s doing the laundry to earn her keep. Why would we want to start over with a newborn that will require a significant portion of our income to be spent on diapers for the next three years?
Because of the chubby legs and the cheeks and the way they smell. And the onesies. That’s why.
So my official answer is it’s not necessarily in the plan but I’m good with whatever God has for us, however that may look. His plans always end up being better than mine.
(I don’t want to leave the impression that it’s a fertility issue because P could pretty much wink at me across the room and I’d get pregnant. At least that’s how it worked six years ago)
As for Caroline, yes she asks for a SISTER. And YES, she likes to have the whole spotlight to herself.
How do you eat all the junk you eat and stay thin? Do you work out tons? Eat sensible foods that you don’t blog about? Or is the love of guacamole and corn dogs just a clever facade to make us identify with you more?
I would never kid about my love of guacamole and corn dogs. I’ve always had a beautiful, meaningful relationship with both of those items.
Truthfully (and don’t hate me) I’ve been blessed with a pretty dang good metabolism, although it is with deep regret that I inform you it is starting to let me down as I venture later and later into my thirties. However, I do watch what I eat and eat junk food in moderation. Well, except for when I have PMS and there isn’t a piece of chocolate or a bag of Doritos that is safe for at least five counties.
As for exercise, we have a love/hate relationship. I love the way it makes me feel, but I hate doing it. There are people who talk about a runner’s high or whatever. Yeah, I don’t get those people. Which probably explains why the “30 Day Shred” has turned into the “52 Day Shred” and I feel like I’m going to throw up every time I hear Jillian Michaels say, “Are you ready?”
Because NO I AM NOT READY. I will never be ready.
Unless we’re talking about chips and queso because then I am always ready.
I feel bad for people who don’t watch “Lost” in a weird sort of way because it’s probably the best TV show ever written in the history of mankind. So would you just consider renting the first season and watching if for me?
No, but thanks for asking.
I’m sure it’s a lovely show but I prefer my television shows to be realistic. For example, finding the love of your life among twenty-five contestants during a six-week journey through various hot tubs, helicopter rides, and private concerts by Martina McBride.
How hard or easy was the decision to leave the outside work place and be a stay at home mom?
I spent ten years carting around Olive Garden to doctors’ offices in the rain, snow, sleet and hail (not really on the snow and sleet) only to listen to complaints about how I forgot to bring enough Diet Dr. Pepper for everyone. I sat in countless boring meetings where everyone seemed to be excited about lipoproteins and blah, blah, blah except for me. I lost hours of my life I’ll never get back attempting to fax sheets filled with scotch-taped receipts that did not care to be wedged through a fax machine and rebelled by becoming completely indecipherable to the accounting powers that held my reimbursement fate in their hands.
It was not a hard decision to leave.
Except for the nice salary, sweet insurance and free car.
Free gasoline? I think I miss you most of all.
In all seriousness, it was a decision that was one of the hardest of my life because it was a step of faith to walk away. We had no idea what the future would hold but we knew it was the right time for me to leave.
As for being a stay at home mom, I think we all know that I’m just in it for the glamour and the opportunity to clean my own toilets.
As a teacher, I know EXACTLY what you mean about the end of the year just getting here already. I was daydreaming (driving) this weekend thinking how glorious it would be if the state superintendent of education announced that all schools were OUT. School after June 1 is just wrong.
Hey, you answered my question… but still wishing you would watch LOST! =]
I agree it really stinks when the school year goes into June. We got out on Friday only because my kids go to a private school, so we pretty much have to pay a second mortgage for the privilege of ending in May.
Can you start a petition to the State Board of Education? I’ll sign right after you. I’m completely over this school year!
My kids have FIVE days this week. Finally finished on Friday. Whew! I can totally relate to your frustration, girl.
(But let me tell you, next year will be worse for us. Rumor has it that my daughter’s high school graduation won’t take place until June 18!!! Can you believe that?!)
Thanks for answering questions. Here in GA (hate to brag) school was out on Friday!!!!
By the way, loved Caroline’s bangs. Just wish my daughter would let me cut her hair!
“onion or parfait” Ahhhh, another Shrek lover!
Ditto on school. I’d like to just blame BISD b/c I am really good a that but the state is the problem. You know parents asked for this? No one asked me!
Melanie – we live in Naples, Florida and hello…..we get out June 10th! Are you kidding me???My cousin lives in Tyler, TX and I think they are done Thursday. AND the worst part is we started the 18th of Aug….people who went a week after us are getting out before us! How is this even FAIR??!! Mama needs to sleep in!
I was married for 4 years when my first Autumn came along. I loved spend time with just me and Paul. My girls are 6 year, 3 month and 1 day apart. We were so happy and content with just one! It took me over a year with each girl to get pregnant. When we finally started to think about it I didn’t want to have a second until they would be at leat 4-5 years apart. I wanted Autumn to have all my time, then If I did have a second child. Autumn would go to school Lillie would get all our time.
Sometimes now when Lillie and I are out having fun I feel bad for Autumn in school. But I have to remind myself that Autumn had the same amount of quality time with me and paul.
Don’t worry about the timing and be content in happy with the joyful little girl that you have:-)
I hate to brag, well, not really, but here in Jacksboro, TX we got out at NOON last Friday. That was after going until the first week of June last year. I think there was enough griping that they MADE SURE we weren’t going to do that again.
Hon, you really have to stop with the school whining!! WE are in school until the 17th, and that’s only cause we’re a private school….the PUBLIC schools are in until the 24th or 25th. See how lucky you truly are??
If people would listen to your podcasts, they’d know your husband’s name….
My daughter got out May 20th, but she started in the middle of August. Do you guys start later? I remember as a kid, I did not start school in the fall until after Labor Day.
“because P could pretty much wink at me across the room and I’d get pregnant. At least that’s how it worked six years ago”
LOL! My OB said something similar to me after I had my third kid.
The glamour of SAHMs. I have a list of all that glam to accomplish today.
By the way, the podcast was hilarious as usual. Poor Travis was cracking me up with his game. I think you and Sophie should start a comedy tour.
You are so funny! I loved your answer to the junk food question. You are a woman after my own heart! Love you, girl…
I do heart you…probably because you can read my mind (if faxes only worked that way!) and express it to a T. I have the same love/hate relationship with exercise and thank the good Lord for keeping His word when He promised to never give us battles we can’t fight, because I haven’t exercised since I was 5 months pregnant…two years ago. This time around I’m too lazy and I keep saying it’s because I’m carrying a boy who wares me out and makes me lazy. Seriously, thank God for a good metabolism because I should be 300 pounds by now, at least.
And, c’mon. You know your ovaries are screaming at you to provide them with some relief. Besides, Caroline will be old enough to change diapers and fold laundry and – ahem – change and fold those cloth diapers that don’t cost hardly a thang 🙂 You could promise her, in return, to boss him/her around all she wants when the baby is old enough to understand. That will be plenty insentive for her.
Brilliant. Love this.
All of my comments are essentially the same, aren’t they?
Graduation was last Friday but believe me school has been out since the end of the testing in April. We just had to go to the building every day and try to keep them under some control. Not so much fun.
Your first couple of sentence reminded me a lot of my blog post today. In fact, I thought of you while I was writing it.
Come sing the song with me! 🙂
I know P’s real name!! 😉 I would feel really smart and almost like a detective or something because I know it…except that I heard it on a podcast.Oh well,I still feel smart! 🙂
May your summer be abundantly blessed with late morning wakeups.
I love checking your blog as I sit in my stuffy humidity filled classroom in the mornings…if only my students could write with as much “voice” as you do…
-High School English Teacher…who is also in school ALL WEEK.
I so agree w. Margaret, school has mentally been out since testing ended in April for my son as well.
Even the teachers are focusing on “the summer”. I think my son has had 1 assignment since testing and his semester exams were completed the first week in May. If I wanted to keep him home and continue “school” .. then we would get truancy letters!
Don’t get me wrong I am looking forward to summer as well in 4 more days, but it kills me that I am sending my son to school to watch movies, get on the internet, play tag football, 4 awards assemblies and have end of the year parties for two weeks.
When I was teaching .. and even though I was tired by May, we did try to do a little educational “something” with the kids through the end of the year.
Just think, though, if you have another child, then you will have TWO to trade off on the chores, and you may never have to clean another toilet again.
In theory, that is. I have seven children, and still have one or two to train in the bathroom cleaning….
Yes, we were in the “wink across the room” camp. But God had a special plan for us. ‘Cause our plan only included four.
Which four they are varies from day to day.
I’ve totally fallen off the shred wagon in the past week and now am afraid to see just how far the faithless have fallen. I’m afraid I won’t be able to walk up the stairs for another week.
And that metabolism thing….just wait for 45 my sister….just you wait.
Cleaning toilets! I knew there was something I forgot to do this morning between eating bonbons and my pedicure.
Yeah, right.
This stay at home thing isn’t a walk in the park, but I wouldn’t trade it for a million perfect faxes.
Oh, and my metabolism seemed to change drastically this year. It’s rather unfortunate that my two BFFs are Ben and Jerry.
You can thank the geniuses at the Texas Legislature for this last week of school being so late. In their infinite wisdom, they decided that no public school in Texas could start until the week before Labor Day a couple of years back. Lucky, lucky us. 🙂
love your answers – they make me like you more
I am a sucker for reality TV, too…..
And enjoy that metabolism while you can…….
Just thought I would mention that.
Oh, my…you described my life as a pharmaceutical rep to such a T that I got bored with it all over again. I only lasted 6 years though before I realized that the 2 little pills I had to care for at home were much more important to me than the free car. Not that there’s anything wrong with a free car, and gas, and insurance…Maybe we can work that into the SAHM benefit package somehow.
I feel your pain, sister. We don’t get out of school until Wednesday. Apparently it’s critical that they be at school for these last three days so they can have parties, watch movies, eat popcorn and snow cones and cotton candy, and sign yearbooks.
Oh, and not that it’s any of my business, but as an only child myself, I’m a strong advocate for having another baby. 😉
I totally agree that being a stay at home mom is so awesome compared to sitting in boring meetings. At least I keep telling myself that when the two little ones are screaming at the same time. LOL
Summer schedules are great staying up later because it stays light longer.
Five days this week AND four days next till we find our summer freedom… or at least my kids will be on sort of a summer work release/ parole program since I will still be working (earlier) mornings and my oldest will be herding cats, I mean watching his younger brother and sister till Mama gets home around lunch time. Thank goodness we had one child so far ahead… on that note, wait another year and a half, adopt a baby and get pregnant right away and then Caroline can be your built in baby-sitter. 🙂
You are HILARIOUS! I woke up my 4 month old laughing at you! And, she is a SOUND SLEEPER!! hahaha
Here’s a question: Can I borrow some of your wit? 🙂
yet again, I am laughing out loud. I know I say that all the time but I bet you don’t get tired of hearing that you are HI-larious, as my kids tell me all the time. (insert sarcasm) You forgot the M&M’s but that’s ok. Don’t you love Jillian telling us over and over that we can’t get Anita’s abs for free? and thanks for extending the TC giveaway, I love that my odds just got smaller! 🙂
I think that all of you people who are itching for this school year to be over have lost your minds! Remember how you felt last August after having to entertain your little angels for three months?! Yes, I’d love to sleep in for once. Yes, not having to make a sack lunch every morning will be great. But I’m in a panic about how on earth to keep my son entertained all summer long. I wish I could send him to camp, but I’m afraid that for financial reasons he will be in Camp Mama. There’s a reason I’m not a homeschooler! Wish me luck.
Love it. But I seriously need to stop reading at work… the laughing is giving me away.
Ugh! I’m a teacher in NE Texas and reading at work! haha…Yep we go until this Friday too! This week is our flex week though so we only have the kids that either missed too much or failed their TAKS tests. 27 students to be exact! What a joy! Oh well…gives me time to get my room ready for the summer..I usually have to do that on my own time!
Love your blog and de-lurking to comment on the second child issue. I have three siblings and can’t imagine life, as an adult, without them. When we’ve had major life troubles, when our Dad died, as our Mom ages….can’t imagine not having siblings to help, to talk to , to be there. Give Caroline a lifelong friend. Someday you and P won’t be there.
My son-in-law is a phramaceutical rep. So I sent him your answer to question #5 as I know he can empathize completely.
I almost cried when my dad told me they were creaming corn on Saturday. We are leaving for Pearsall as soon as I can get through the carpool line on Thursday. We’ll be hitting Sea World next Tuesday – about the time it’s topping 100 degrees and the crowds are at their worst. 🙂
You ought to go into politics the way you skirted around that first question. We are still wondering why you call “P” just “P”….and you show his picture. Mysterious!
I don’t remember if I even sent a question or not.
I remember having that luxury about my weight but it ended in my early thirties and then when I really started to slow down I had a baby in my late thirties.
I know P’s real name. I’ll tell people for five bucks.
: )
Truth be told, I didn’t remember that there were so many of them. I’ll answer a few today until I see something shiny and get distracted—
—This cracked me up because one of my good friends calls me ADOS (Attention Deficit… Oooo, Shiny)all the time!
With a friend like that, who needs enemies? 🙂
As a nurse, I have to say I love you whether you love us or not. We are not all that bad (just most of us). You would like me though, I’m sure of it.
The school thing. We have to go until June 12 because of all of our snow days. I kid you not. You would die. It’s cruel and unusual to live here.
Chelsea,
I’ve got 5 bucks. I bet his name is Patrick. Or Peter. Or Phil??
I am new to this website and am loving it. You have a great sense of humor. I was a stay at home mom for our two grown girls. We’ll be married 25 years in July. I loved every minute of being a stay at home mom. Well, except for the times that…! Now that I have all this time on my hands (right), I can read blogs like yours. Thanks!
Good Stuff!
Oh, and by the way, you don’t live in Houston. So, unless you are really into driving way out of your way to see a doctor that your husband is probably real skeptical about anyway, my referral to a Houston chiropractor was just stupid. My dad does know a few in San Antonio too. Is that where you live?
I loved this post!
Since I’m a newbie to your blog, it helps me to get to know you better.
Thanks!
-FringeGirl
We are on week TWO of preschool summer vacation. I am getting twitchy. Trying to find a few activities to keep the 3 year old busy without being all over town all the time too….
No pressure or anything, but if you ever DID break down and decide to watch season one of lost, I give you my word you would finish it in 24 hours, and you would call me the NEXT DAY, and you would say, “OH, I’M SO SORRY I’VE BEEN MISSING IT ALL THIS TIME AND WHY DIDN’T YOU TELL ME AND I LOVE IT AND MY LIFE WILL NEVER BE THE SAME.”
But again, no pressure. 😉
Are you gonna’ tell us P’s name or not, DANG IT?
Or am I gonna’ have to stalk Sarah (previous comment) to find out?
It’s torture, this mystery! And while you’re add it, share with us why he’s called P.
Are you reading this, Big Mama? WE MUST KNOW!
Excellent post. Makes me smile.
I’m a PA and we frequently get lunches brought in by pharmaceutical reps. I am often so embarrased by what some of the staff says to the reps and the constant complaining! I just want to tell them to be thankful that you got a free lunch!
I just want to thank you for getting me started on The Shred. I did complete my 30 days last week; I am proud to say I did not skip a day!
Now, I’m taking a breather and decreasing to every other day. It was getting a bit annoying to make it a daily routine. As for changes, the only difference I’ve really seen is toning in my arms. That’s it, though. Nothing dramatic or shocking. However, I’m really glad I’ve stuck with this, and it has become something normal so that now I feel odd to miss it.
Thanks for getting me going!