A conversation about cleaning

Blake: Mom, we've got our pajamas on now and we're going to bed. (5-10 minutes after they were sent upstairs ... a record?) Good night, mom!

Me: Good night!

Blake: Mom, I wanna tell you something.

Me: Ok, what.

Blake:It's so much nicer up here when the upstairs is all picked up and there isn't stuff all over.

Me: Um, hum! (You think?!)

The kids were sent upstairs right after we got home to finish cleaning up their mess. Blake and Julia don't work so well together though, so I sent Julia to pick up in Chase's room instead, and left Blake upstairs to work on the bigger mess. (They were upstairs a good chunk of the day while I was at work, but they were up there together and so all they did was make each other scream and play a little bit.) I set the timer, and each time the timer went off I went and assessed the work. If it was obvious they had been working hard, they were fine and got more time to keep going (10-15 minute time slots). If they weren't, they lost a toy -- as in its gone for good.

Blake lost an ambulance toy (that is basically broken anyway), and Julia lost a Barbie dress and her Disney Princess tea set (pieces missing and broken). Then, I gave Blake a break upstairs and "let" him collect and crush cans instead, and had Julia work upstairs on what was left. She was all set to freak out over how much work she had to do when she realized Blake had done most of it and calmed right down. Man, she gets overwhelmed easily. But, I can relate to that.

I used the time while they were cleaning up to work on the kitchen ... so it was time well spent for me too.

Well, it's 10:20 and I'm exhausted so off to bed I go. Just thought I'd share that little conversation between Blake and me from the top of the stairs. :)

Happy 5th Birthday, Julia!

All we did today was celebrate by singing Happy Birthday and blowing out the candles on 5 cupcakes. No birthday party, and I didn't have a gift for her yet. She did get a gift from Tyler's parents. She loves it ... it's princess figurines and comes with little plastic dress-up clothes. Lexi will love them.

My in-laws head to Tyler's sister's graduation from Boot Camp today ... in South Carolina, and my parents are in Alaska this week. So, definitely no parties this week. We haven't had a party for Julia ... ever. We've always been moving or just about to move around her birthday, pretty much. Would like to have a party, but as usual ... not sure we can afford to! *sigh*

Anyway, happy 5th Birthday, Julia! She told everyone she saw today that it was her birthday so no one was off the hook! LOL!

Love you sweet girl,
Mom

Meet Lexi ... and other news

On July 2nd, we brought home Lexi ... a (believed to be) Pomeranian-Cocker Spaniel mix puppy that is 9 months old. The family she was living with was not able to take care of her the way they felt she needed, so they found her a new home with us!

She was called "Puppy" for 9 months, so we chose a 2 syllable name for her that we all liked. (Tyler changed his mind after a day or two, but by then we were all used to the name and couldn't think of anything else.) I think she is starting to respond to her name and know it is her we are talking about ... so that is exciting!

She loves Tyler and follows him everywhere ... and she likes the kids too. The kids all like her pretty much. They all (though Chase the least until tonight) tend to freak out a little bit when she gets jumpy (she sure likes to jump!), but they are getting used to her being around. When he's out of the way, Chase thinks it is hilarious to watch her run around and he giggles. It's pretty cute!

It's definitely an adjustment having a puppy in the house. She has peed on the floor at least 4 times. She likes to pick up socks or other clothes on the floor. She likes to chew on the kids' Little People and other small toys. She bit the head off of a small plastic dinosaur from a kit Chase got for Christmas ... but that was no big loss as I rather dislike those small plastic figurines anyway. She had us up very early after her first night here, and I don't get to sleep in after my alarm anymore because as soon as she hears it she starts to whine because she wants out of her crate. We have a runner cable that Tyler installed outside, so Lexi has a safe way of being let outside without direct supervision (plus the yard is fenced and gated if the kids haven't forgotten to close one or both gate(s).)

She's not exceptionally fond of being put in her crate yet ... hoping that will ease as time passes. But, other than that, she seems pretty happy here!

Well, I AM going to be in bed before 11 pm tonight, so off I go. I just wanted you to meet Lexi!

Oh yeah... and we're buying a house! (If you know me, you know which one, lol.) Closing will be sometime later this month. Hopefully NOT the last day of the month ... they are going to start thinking I plan this stuff to happen this way if this keeps up! The last day of each month is a busy day in my department. So, that is our other news. I am excited to make it official and will be so relieved when my parents can move on without the added stress/worry of owning this home!

Thanks for reading!
Melinda