Yet another post that lacks direction

So sorry to ramble on, but the holidays have begun to hit us with obligations, errands, and outings. In a desperate attempt to document my life, I may end up boring scores of potential readers and for that, I truly apologize. My life is not glamorous, outrageous or even vastly original. But it is MINE and I like it the way it is, thank you. See the title of the blog? There ya go...

This morning, I actually considered keeping the kids home from school as I am TOO tired to do the whole drivetoschoolgetdressedcleanclean, pickuplunchesnaptimeworkonsightwords, backtoschooldriveonhomemakedinner, breakupfightsreadsomebooksgotobed, fallasleepintheirbedswakeupatmidnightgotomybed, can'tfallasleeptill6a.m.RIIIIINNNGGGG and it starts again. Throw in the fact that I have to go shopping for the cookie baking I do on Friday with my Mom and sisters and I am just feeling overwhelmed. I'm sure that having more than 2 hours of sleep would help, but I had better take advantage of whatever energy I have this morning and shop cuz I am probably crashing around 1 o'clock.

Oop. Gotta make some pink milk and toast. Toodles.

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FYI
Julia Roberts uses gDiapers!! check it out. Good publicity.

A stupid post.

Again with Laurie Berkner and her dinosaurs... singing, singing in my computer. And Corinne is sitting on my lap while I type and she types her fingers on the desk. Her baby doll is partially diapered with a disposable diaper that never got used before I switched to gDiapers (she put it on the doll. I can't even describe how it looks... hysterical is the best I can do.)

Justin has been doing so much better this year... Praying, hoping, begging for it to continue! His teacher is very consistent with the WHOLE class needing to be accountable for their homework. Plus, homework is a nightly thing, which is JUST what Justin needs. Consisitency. Perfect. Every night, after about a half an hour break from school, they sit at the kitchen table and do homework. If Evan doesn't have any from school, then he does his kindergarten workbook and practices his letters and writing. Corinne does her "homework" at the kid table I brought up from the basement and colors pictures. It's working out! It really is. For half an hour a day, they are all quietly (sort of) working.

Phone's ringing. Gotta get to kindergarten soon. Will post more exciting details soon.

The lady with the crazed look in her eyes? That's me.

Yes. I have packed. And repacked. And obssessed. And played out every possible scenario of trauma from the time we leave our house to the airport, in the air, landing, checking in, being at the parks and beach. The tantrums, the confusion. The lost "fill in the blank" the forgotten something, the whining.

And yet. I KNOW that there will be loads of fun and sweet memories tucked between this. So I forge on . Because I must. Because vacations are what makes daily life tolerable. (that and some Arbor Mist. Mmmmm... alcohol....)

Please don't let Justin freak over some miniscule detail at the airport. Would they really kick us off? If so, do you think Patrick would just volunteer to stay home while I take the two younger kids? Would that be bad? Hmmmm...

Please don't let Corinne's new diapers leak on vacation. Let me be a great spokesperson and rave over how convenient they were (especially after listening to my sister on the phone today. She just bought some gDiapers and changed the first poopy one today... and succeeded in overflowing her toilet.... Oops. HOLD THE HANDLE!!)

Speaking of those diapers, she just got up and was wet and so I am now wet. You know you're truly a mom when your shirt has pee on it and you say "Meh. It's just a LITTLE pee. It'll dry."

I must go for she is watching "Minninininie MOOOUUUUSSSE" while eating her peanut butter sandwich that MUST be open-faced with her new clean dress on (the pee, remember?). Potential for MUCH mess.

Good morning!

Woke up this morning to find Justin dressed and smiling. Ahhh. What a refreshing change! But it was only because he was SO excited to go to Day camp! First day today. He and Patrick just left, so I have a few minutes to type with Disney Sing alongs in the background (AAAYYYYY!!!!!! My sanity!!!!!)

We had a good weekend! Just spent the day on SAturday at home and then swimming (wait, that day wasn't great. Scratch that. Reverse it.) But Sunday was good! My MIL and Aunt in law took me and the kids to Chicago on the train (PAtrick was at a White Sox game with my dad and brother in laws). We went to Printer's Row book fair. It was nice and all, but I think it's more for the atmosphere than the incredibly great deals on books. You can't get books cheaper than the library, you know? But anyway, the kids each got a new book and Justin got a new GREEN White Sox hat (it has a shamrock on the back... hmmmm.) so the day was good for him. And Corinne spent the entire train ride making an older couple laugh at her antics "Mo choo choo! MO choo choo!!" So, if you saw a group of ladies walking around downtown yesterday with a 5 year old in the stroller, a baby in the sling (passed out on the way home) and an 8 year old with a GREEN hat, that was ME. Beautiful weather, kids were pretty good (a bit of whining, but that's not unusual, right?) and hanging out with family. Oh, and for the people wondering about the gDiapers' absorbency, I didn't change Corinne once from 8 am to 4 pm (bad mommy) and she didn't leak and doesn't get rashes. I was also able to check her diaper in the train station upon arrival and it was a snap. But BOY do I wish I had some cards to pass out. People always look twice when they see the diapers, but if I just tell them about them, they won't make the switch. If I had a card or something, though.... Hmmmm.....Make the switch!
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I am packing!! Patrick thinks I'm nuts, I think he's crazy to think that we can just throw some stuff in bags at the last minute! I've been making lists for weeks now. And I'm washing everything that I couldn't find, so HELLLLO???
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My posts of late seem to be pretty dull. I apologize, loyal readers and friends. I am only able to quickly journal my days and then rush back to the family, but I WILL have some riveting posts soon. I SWEAR. Don't leave me!!!!

Aaaaannnnnd, Corinne's crying cuz Mimimimi mouse is over. And Evan wants to play Zoo Tycoon on the computer. And I need some coffee!!

gDiapers are here!!!

Ok. I am officially a Mom with nothing better to do but get excited over diapers. Sigh...

BUT !!! They are soooo cute!! The gDiapers just came in the mail (ordered on Sunday night, delivered on Tuesday morning. Not bad...) and OMG her butt is so cute in them! Corinne is sleeping right now, so we'll see if I figured it out just right the first time, but they seemed pretty simple - except that I thought the liner was HUGE when I first saw it. I think I understand why, now. To make it the right shape with lots of absorbency! They kind of remind me of those massive pads they give you in the hospital after giving birth. But inside the liner? Cute! And her butt is actually smaller than with the disposables (shallow? Is my butt too big, Mommy?) , which, to be honest, was an issue with me. Let's see how they stand up to naptime... Of course, her disposables leaked often, too. So leaking wouldn't be a reason to not use them. ONLY if they leaked a lot when she poops. Crossing my fingers!!

I think I am becoming that mom that talks about recycling and environment... What next? Organic?!? :)

I feel invigorated. I feel useful, proactive. I feel less helpless, more helpful. If I contribute even 1 year's worth less of diapers to the landfills, I will have made a difference. And, knowing my kids, she will be in diapers till she's 3, so we're talking 18 months or more. Let's see... 18 months times 5 diapers a day (give or take for those icky days...) equals.... 2,737 diapers! Eeeewwww.....

I now feel the need to let everyone know. I am the test subject for my sister. If I like them, she's thinking about going green, too. So thanks, Sheryl! Your post made a huge difference to the environment!

GORGEOUS day out AGAIN!! The broccoli is sprouting and so are the watermelons (my children's picks... Oy.) I have tons of laundry to do but FIRST, I must bathe. I reek. :) TMI...

It's not easy being green...

Actually, it's not been too hard to make the changes, gradually. And in honor of being better to the Earth, "greener" as they call it, I have just spent some moola on gDiapers. (thanks a lot to PB&J Mommy!) I really hope they work out well. They are a bit more than the generics we usually buy, but I can't honestly say that we don't spend money in stupider ways (um, McDonald's, fancy coffees, candy at the movies) so I couldn't use that as a cop-out. The clincher for me, is that they aren't cloth diapers. No washing poop for me! Just flush 'em. No problem. Crossing my fingers that they are as good as they claim. But why don't they have plain old white diapers?!? I don't always want my kid in colors. Patterns show through white pants, you know.... :)

Spent the day outside at a birthday party (Justin threw a fit and had to be taken home early, Evan pooped his pants-yes, he's 5- and Corinne was an angel even without her nap!). Planted some strawberries and Pat and Justin bought some flowers to plant out back. Got the van cleaned this weekend (YAY!) and I am no longer embarrassed by my vehicle.

Gotta get to bed and watch my recorded shows! Desperate Housewives, Extreme Home Makeover, and Brothers and Sisters. Oh, DVR... how I love thee!