clean house and meatballs!

Finally, on Saturday, I got to clean my house! Carl kept promising he'd take care of it. Of course he didn't, he could live with pigs and be content if it meant he was able to watch all of his tv shows. I spent 6 hours scrubbing, mopping and vacuuming our house back to cleanly organization....while I was home alone with the toddlers. It feels wonderful to have a nice clean house again. Then, the girls and I walked with Auntie Cici to Ms. Brooke's house. It was such a beautiful day and it was wonderful to spend a time outside. The kiddos saw Brooke's neighbor's sprinklers showering the sidewalk, and decided to run through. Laney and Turner seemed to enjoy the sprinkler and the puddles the most. It was an enjoyable afternoon.

Yesterday, I relaxed. I read magazines. I laid on the couch. It was wonderful. I still have papers to write :( In the afternoon we headed to Cici's because her dad was visiting and making his "famous" meatballs! The meatballs were delish and we really had a great time.

I totally forgot...

Another one of our very close friends became a father last week! Pam gave birth to Owen Fehnel on Saturday. When Carl spoke to Andy on Sunday both mother and son were doing well. We can't wait to meet the newest addition to the Fehnel family! Congrats Andy and Pam, we love you :)

Done!

Well at least my paper for training and development. It's not my best paper, but at least its finished. I turned it in about an hour ago. Everything that I have remaining for the semester seems more managable. I have been looking forward to getting this paper completed so that I can start the "organize your house in 21 days" plan i read about in "woman's day". ps. i only read woman's day because it comes to my house because my grandmother in law subscribed to it for me by accident. i also need to start spring cleaning...i printed out martha stewart recs (again don't laugh, but i totally heart martha stewart) and i hope to be able to at least quasi-spring clean this year.

With the weather getting nicer, i always have spring fever around this time. i can't wait for the awning to go up on the front porch. then i can take my laptop outside and get some schoolwork completed outdoors! (especially since i'm dedicated to completing two summer courses).

Tonight though is a relaxation night, especially since i have to work on another group project on thursday night. i think we may walk to the target and superfresh to pick up a few things we need. after the kiddos go to bed, we are watching mr. brooks...which we have had from netflix for almost a week and just haven't found time for.

enjoy the beautiful day today!

At least we're having some potty successes...

Well I was able to spend some extra time out back with the family on Saturday afternoon. We had a cookout and all ate the picnic table (a first since the girls were too little last year) and it was great! We did also go to the O's game yesterday, rain delays and all. We didn't stay for the end of the bottom of the ninth...calling another rain delay at that point instead of calling the game was a little silly. The best part, the girls didn't have any potty accidents! It was awesome, especially since I haven't looked into pull ups yet so they are really just wearing big girl underwear everywhere.

The bummer of the weekend...I'm not as far as I had hoped to be on my paper. This paper is not hard like the paper I took forever to write last semester. I just don't feel like writing it. The professor has given very little information about what he is looking for, which makes me even less excited to work on it. I am spending a little time at work today doing some research to tie all of my ideas together and hope to work on it a bit more tonight (well a lot more since its due on Wednesday).

In the meantime, please pray for Brooke's dog Sadie. She is sick and will be undergoing more tests tomorrow. We are hoping that the vets will be able to help her!

Paper writing

So here I am, on a beautiful Saturday afternoon, while my daughters are supposed to be napping, but are instead jumping off of their beds, writing the dreaded training and development paper. I have reached the point when I HAVE to write it, it is due on Wednesday and I have a chat on Tuesday. I have spent the morning reading and trying to organize my thoughts. I have also spent the morning sitting out back with the girls drawing with chalk, blowing bubbles and having lunch. I am dreaming of spending the late afternoon doing the same.

Unfortunately, as usual, I am lacking some serious motivation. My goal for today...at least 10 or 11 pages. Number of pages completed: 1/2. Updates to follow.

visiting baby Ella

Yesterday my family went to meet the newest addition to the Wattenschaidt family, baby Ella. Of course Ella is beautiful with very thick very dark hair. I held her for almost an hour, and she is so sweet, she slept the whole time (so she has not officially met me yet ;)). Laney and Alie were not as interested in her as I had expected, perhaps because she was asleep. They did have a great time playing with Ryan and Rocco and running around the living room like crazy people. Laney even told Carl that she had to go potty and used the big potty at Becky's! Woohoo!

I'm so happy for Becky and Ryan and I'm looking forward to watching Ella grow. I'm sure all three girls will be great friends someday soon and we can all go shopping and lunch at Italian Gardens.

ahh

So the one situation worked itself out...ahhhh!

But now I'm looking for a new "work" bag. My current work bag has fraying straps and really does not seem to be cutting it anymore. I have been looking at some bags on REI and I'm treking out there this afternoon. In the past I have used Vera Bradley bags, but I feel like I need something new, something not Vera. I'm not sure what I have in mind, I guess we'll wait and see what I find.

In other news, I have to be a braggy mom for a moment. Laney used the potty today! 3 times already!!! I'm really excited about it. Props to Brooke for her daring act hanging with 3 potty training toddlers :)

a couple of things

I'm feeling frumpy again. I hate that feeling. It's the feeling I get when I feel like none of my clothes look the way I want them to, my house isn't as clean as I'd like it to be and my workouts are comprimised for other things. I guess in a sense, my feeling of frumpy-ness is more a feeling of uncomfort. It is a product of being a mother. Since Laney and Alie were born, I have been uncomfortable in my skin and I am frustrated both with myself for not getting my pre pregnancy body back and with being frustrated about it in general. Silly I know, yet when I look in the mirror in the morning, something generally seems wrong with how I look (although I am loving my hair!). I need to find a way to balance all of these things going on in my life. I know I can, I've done it before. The distractions (which I believe are necessities in life) jump in the way of my hyperscheduling self. I'll let you know when I figure it all out.

Not helping the total situation is the fact that I have been spending time with someone who is a total downer. To me he seems constantly overly critical of EVERYTHING. Its weird how one person can really affect me. Aside from some venting, I'm really not sure how to deal with this person..ps, cutting him out of my life is not an option right now. I have cut back the time that I spend with him, so hopefully that will help...ugh!

one day left!

Tomorrow is the last day of Destination Towson and I have to say, I am glad! I have grown to dislike both Destination Towsons (accpeted student days) and Open Houses. From the admission counselor standpoint both have a whole lot of standing around and doing nothing. Plus, we're supposed to be here early. I hate coming to work earlier than usual. This morning I didn't even bother to take a shower, so of course I feel gross. I'm thinking of heading home in a few, just to take a shower. It's a bummer that tomorrow is Saturday and I have to work, but at least its the weekend.

PS. I have come up with some plans for my front yard (and potentially for the backyard). More on that later though.

crazy crazy everywhere

Its that time of the semester again; the massive rush to write papers. I am supposed to be working on a group paper which is due on the 16th, but I feel like I might be the slacker group member this time. The paper seems so abstract and not thought out that I am having difficulties writing my segment. ugh! Since I do have some pretty decent group members, I'm sure it will all come together in the end, but for now I guess I should focus on putting my section together. The biggie is in my other class. We wrote a shorter paper a few weeks ago, and I am anxiously awaiting my grade. I hate trying to write longer papers when I am unsure of the professors grading style. I am hopeful (yet hope is fading quickly) that we will get our papers back by Friday. I need to start my 20 pager on training and development as it relates to my current employer. For some reason I feel like once I get these two assignments completed, I will feel more relaxed about the end of the semester....although I'm sure that won't be the case.

In other grad school news, my program is changing. When I started HRD, students could complete it entirely online. While completing it entirely online was never my intent, I have to admit that I have enjoyed the flexibility that online courses have allowed. Starting in the Spring of 2009 (the semester in which I will hopefully graduate), HRD students will no longer be able to complete their degree online. Online coursework will still be offered, but some courses will need to be taken in a traditional classroom format. This change is causing quite a stir amongst my classmates. I do feel for those students who joined the program thinking this was a feasible option for them, only to have the program change one or two semesters later. How frustrating! I am excited for my summer courses though (very strange feeling). They both seem pretty interesting and I'm hoping to bring some new ideas back to my current position.

I'm taking to take all of this in stride, still enjoying my personal time with my family and friends. I spent last night hanging out with Brooke and watching DWTS and The Hills. Tonight Brian and Chrissy are coming for dinner. And of course, its DT time again. Have I mentioned I need a vacation recently?

Rosie O'Donnell

Rosie was on Good Morning America today. Back when Rosie had her talk show (in 1996 according to GMA) I adored her. I thought that I wanted to be just like her, strong willed, independent, and content with who I was. I was impressed by everything that she did.

Fast forward to today. I was impressed with her on Good Morning America. I know that she has had some very public debates, both about her sexuality and about politics but I think that she handled the questions about politics very well this morning. Now, 10 years after Rosie's talk show, seeing her reminds me that everyone is entitled to their own opinion and that there are two sides to every story. I remember watching her a few years ago on Martha Stewart's show. She and Martha were talking about their friendship and I was impressed with Rosie's support of Martha. Rosie never talked about whether she felt like what her friend had done was right or wrong, but that she was her friend and as her friend would support her through her rough time.

I guess I still think Rosie is a neat person.

Yay for Becky!!!!

One of my dearest friends Becky is a new mommy and I am so excited for her! She gave birth to baby girl Ella Margaret last night, a few days before her due date. Becky reports that Ella has a full head of very dark hair and that she is absolutely beautiful (as if I had any doubt that she wouldn't be gorgeous). I can't wait to go see her. Alie finally got her wish...Becky's baby "got out"!

sit back and smile

this week my wonderful daughters have given me so much to sit back and smile about. to little girls, small things seem so exciting and i love to watch the excitement and wonder in my girls faces as they appreciate new things and play new games. saturday evening, as well turned wendy's lights out to give the earth a "rest", auntie cece and the girls played hide and seek. laney and alie loved running all around wen's apartment looking for their auntie, and i loved laying on the couch watching as they laughed, searched, found, hugged and yelled "again". one of my favorite things in the whole world is to watch my daughters laugh and play together.

then, on sunday night after their bubble bath, they wore their new princess nightgowns that i had been saving for a special treat. alie loved to spin and watch her new nightgown swish around her legs. laney ran back and forth across the room with her arms behind her back, admiring her new nightgown. these two little girls are the most amazing gift that i have ever received and i am so thankful to have them!