Yes. There are two skills I would love to learn. One is unrealistic for me currently. But the other is possible.
The first one is be able to build anything I can think of. Carpentry skills. I have so many ideas that I would love to be able to just make them. But currently I’m pregnant. And I have so many other jobs to do when taking care of a family and household. That when I do magically have free time I don’t want to do anything productive. And that magical free time is going to dwindle away as the next baby comes.
But I’m so happy I’m married to a man who has over fifteen years of carpentry experience that he can bring my ideas to life. (If he had the time) but he can at least make them a reality.
The second skill is small, but I wish I knew how to spin the pizza dough in my hands like professionals do. I still use a rolling pin. But I would love to learn that skill. But I don’t want to waste the dough by trying. So unless some true master of pizza came to our house I’ll just stick with my way of making pizza.
The master would at least be impressed that now I make my pizza sauce from scratch. So I might impress them with my skills of making things from scratch.
This skill would be useful because my family seems wants to eat pizza at least once a week.
And I will say, even though I can’t build things. My husband says I’m a great helper when he is building. I’m good at helping. Helping is easier when I have no idea what’s going on. I just hold things when they need to be held, or give things when things are needed. So I am helping to build my ideas. The construction plan is him, but I’m helping with the inspiration and execution.
In case anyone is looking for a great pizza sauce recipe.
I don’t really know the answer to this question except like the simple answer of: my quiet time at bedtime.
But today I spent the early morning doing a puzzle with my daughter; and it was relaxing. I haven’t felt that way in a long time. It’s probably because we are on a vacation. So there’s no dishes, laundry, or cleaning.
So maybe vacations relax me; which is the purpose of a vacation. To relax.
So yeah, I don’t really have an answer…
Maybe playing solitaire. I’ve been playing solitaire at night to fall asleep. Because watching a movie or show keeps me awake.
Since I’m a stay at home mom I’m with my kids all the time. 24/7! Especially since I’m going to homeschool, it will be more so.
It’s why my husband works so hard; he wants me to be home. He wants to know what his children are learning. So he does the hard job, for me to stay home and do my hard job.
And it is. It is a hard job. A typical day:
Wake up at 7:00am. Because that’s when my son wants to be up. We snuggle on the couch for maybe 10min then we wake up sis sis. Then by 7:30 I’m making breakfast. Either pancakes, waffles, egg sandwich, etc. everything homemade. Also while I eat breakfast I clean up the kitchen. Hand wash dishes, load the dishwasher, clear counters. (Only if I didn’t do it the night before.)
Next: School time. I spend about 20min on a reading lesson, writing lesson, and comprehension. She only seems to have a short attention span. And even 20min is difficult.
Next: we go outside to water garden and flowers. It takes a good amount of time. A two year old makes everything take longer.
Now it’s 9am. So usually I spend time cleaning the house or doing laundry. Both my son and daughter “help”. I tell my daughter to do things and she procrastinates until I’m annoyed. My son likes to help mama, but sometimes it’s more work for me.
By now it’s 11am. I’m hungry. Being pregnant, I get hungry early. So I begin to prepare lunch. It’s usually leftovers from dinner. And if the food was tolerable to my daughter then lunch takes a while for her to eat. My son is already a vacuum cleaner. Haha! Everything is gone!
1pm: since I’m pregnant I take a nap at this time. And thankfully my son still takes naps and he takes one with me. My daughter just has her own quiet time. She does puzzles, drawing, reading, etc. Or I turn a movie on for her and she watches it over and over until we wake up. Kind of depends on how she is doing that day.
3pm: I try to do a fun activity with them. Either playing a board game to work on math, Art time, or cooking lesson. But depending on how she is behaving by this point; I tend to get her started on her chores. She has 3. Clean her room, rinse a load of dishes or put away dry dishes, and sweep kitchen/ dining room floor. And normally she procrastinates. I will usually start to prepare dinner and then continue dishes or laundry. Those two things never seem to be done.
4:30. Daddy gets home!! All the built up chaos erupts from the kiddos. I’m preparing dinner at this point and my husband has to just soak up time with his babies.
It usually takes me about 1-2 hours to get dinner done. Depends on what I’m making. But remember it’s 100% from scratch. Like tonight we are having steak burritos. Like something from chipotle. And I have to make the tortillas tonight.
But after dinner. It’s about 7pm. I have “cleaned” the kitchen. I’ve gotten to a point that my husband can make his breakfast in the morning without tripping up. Sometimes I get the kitchen clean; especially if the dinner was easy to make, but I tend to gravitate towards difficult recipes.
I finally get to sit down around 7:30pm. By then my feet are swollen. I’ve been on my feet for over the past 4 hours. A long time as a pregnant woman. But sitting is not long. Not long after my kiddos want some stories and I’m walking to my daughters room. Reading a handful of books.
8pm. Bedtime starts. Not always. Bedtime is not a set in stone time for me. If they are rambunctious still I let them get their wiggles out. So I should say usually I let them play another hour.
9pm bedtime. Showers and brushing teeth. Then we say goodnight to sis sis first. She tends to not go to sleep until much later. She is just not allowed to leave her room, unless for potty time. Next my son hangs out with my husband; they watch the show Expedition Unknown. (I don’t watch it…I should though; it would be a great way to fall asleep.) But after a while my son falls asleep and I lay with him in his bed until I know he is 100% asleep. Then I climb into my bed finally!! Usually around 10:30. And sometimes I fall asleep. But lately I’ve been so tired I can’t sleep; so I wait for my brain to turn off.
…
That’s a typical day. And I do that pretty much everyday. The only changes would be if I want to bake something. Like bread or cookies, brownies, honey buns, donuts, etc. I like to bake yummy things.
But I’m with my kids all the time. And yes I feel like I’m about to go insane sometimes but then I remember that I’m not having to do a job. Like a normal job. Like my husband. I didn’t mind working; I just love to be home more. It’s a fun exhausting job!!
I was never a popular person with following trends. I was always a step behind. Which I was fine with; I was blessed to have what I had.
Like when the iPod came out I still rocked my Walkman. Then the shuffle came out and I got an iPod. I had that iPod for several years.
Around the same time, I had one of those awesome flip phones. It could flip two ways; I thought I was some cool stuff. (Turns out my husband had one too. Haha!)
I remember life before the internet. I was just so young that I was just outside playing. It’s not like it was an obvious milestone. It was just my childhood. But I remember when the iPhone was new. But I have no idea when I got my first one.
My family took turns using the upgrade with our cellular plan. I know I used an upgrade for the awesome flip phone!!
I can say life was simpler. I miss it; but I use my phone for everything now. My blog, new recipes, digital art, movies, FaceTime, etc. I could use a laptop for all those things but the FaceTime is so lucrative living so far away from family.
If could switch to an iPhone that could only call, text, take photos, and FaceTime, I would. But I don’t think those exists anymore. And if I’m allowed all the options I’m going to use them because they are convenient. So it’s a never ending spiral of being dependent on my phone.
But life before the iPhone is no longer attainable…which is saddening.
I could list the “easy answers”, but I want to go more in depth. (The quotations is because I like to do the things, but I’m not claiming to be the best.)
I could list art, writing, swimming, dancing, etc. However I want to list other things I’m good at. That are unique to me.
Like I’m good at being a fair referee. No matter if I’m playing or not I want it to be kept fair. This was a skill I needed in coaching. No matter what, I kept it fair. Especially in ultimate frisbee. So much cheating would have gone on if I didn’t keep them honest.
I am also good at befriending the ones left behind. I would say I prefer it. Usually there is that friend that doesn’t fit into the group; and the group alienates them. Unless for severe reasons, I usually gravitate to those types of people. Being different is not a bad thing; it’s just different. My favorite saying is, “Normal is a setting on a washing machine.” I don’t know where it came from but that’s pretty much my motto.
I’m good at not procrastinating. This helped a lot when I was in high school and community college. I was the student to get the homework done weeks before it was due. (I was a definite teacher pet…) but I would turn in the assignments early so that the teacher could give me feedback so that my assignments would receive A+!! Yes, I was that student.
I think I’m also good at admitting when I’m wrong. This one has taken many years; but I believe I’ve gotten somewhat better at. But believe me, there are times where I want to be petty and not say a word, but I’ve come to realization that it’s hurting me not the other person. For me to be happy, I need to admit mistakes, forgive, and move onward.
Thinking outside the box is actually quite difficult. Because you may start off thinking you’re one thing, but putting it into words is impossible.
I actually have a few things I have collected over the years.
The first: Glass figurines.
I don’t know why I actually started to collect them. I think it was because my grandma really enjoyed buying them and gifting them to me. I can remember the first one well. My grandparents took me to Disneyland for a birthday, and my grandma bought me a sleeping beauty figurine. That was the start. Then for every birthday she gave me a new figurine. I have so many, but with little kiddos they have been living in a box a few years. Once my daughter is bigger I’ll let her see them.
Number two: Physical Movies.
I know the world has become digital over the years but I love owning dvd or blu ray movies. My family has always done this. I’m always wanting to add to my collection; as I walk by the five dollar Walmart bin. I once dug through that bin and organized it. Tells you what a party person I was when I was a teenager. I found it quite fun to do, a late night at Walmart. Haha!
My husband’s and mine’s movies almost filled one of those sleeved cases. Two hundred total.
Third Collection: Awards
This one doesn’t seem like a collection, but I’ve kept all my ribbons, medals, trophies, and plaques, from my many years of swimming. That bin weighs a ton. But in the past I’ve enjoyed pulling them out and thinking back to those days. They were some of my favorite memories. From the age four all the way to nineteen. I don’t know what I’ll do with them later on in life… but I like them, so I will move the heavy bin around from home to home. (Or the husband will move the heavy bin. It really is heavy!)
I have other things I’ve collected. Decks of cards, dice, art supplies, books, stuffed animals, etc.
I have troubles with throwing things away. Or giving things away. Because you never know when you want to play cards, and I’ve slowly collected them over the years from different places.
When you are about to play a board game and it’s missing the dice….? I can help.
Art supplies. I never have to buy any. I just take the supplies that people are giving away.
Books. I’m planning on homeschooling my kids so depending on where we end up living I want to have almost a library of books. Also…then there is no fear of a weird inappropriate book coming into my home. Every book in our home I’ve read and approved.
Stuffed animals. I kept a large percentage of my childhood stuffed animals. Which worked great with our kiddos. They both love the various animals.
So even though I collect various things they all have a purpose. It works out; my husband also likes to collect things. But his collections seem to always need to spend more money. Haha! My collections are cheap, whereas I try to keep him on budget.
Enjoy your Thursday!! Hubby is home!! The house is a happy house once again.
Fluke Spring Snowstorm
Randomly started snowing today. The snow flakes looked almost the size of my sons hands.
This is tough. I guess it would all depend on what time in the year is it? Because it’s it supposed to be Spring and it still snowing; Nope I’m definitely Not a fan!
But if it Summer and you have been slowly melting. Like you feel like your face has melted down to your shoulders. And the only relief you feel is the cold shower before bed; then yes! I’m excited about the cold coming.
Just where we live I would only wish it would stay in its designated months.
Like one year. (I was dumb, and impatient.) I had planted a massive amount of seeds inside. Because I wanted a huge garden. And since it doesn’t start to warm up until mid May I had to keep everything inside since January.
But seriously enough was enough! It looked like a green house in my enclosed patio. That needed space was no longer accessible.
So. It was around the 2nd week of May and it had been sunny and rainy for most of it. I had been told to wait until after Memorial Day, but I was impatient. So I spent almost 8 hrs transplanting all the plants. Tomatoes, Lettuce, Onions, carrots, cilantro, potatoes, green beans, sweet peas, cucumbers, etc. Everything you could think of I had started from seed. But importantly from heirloom seed.
But so I transplanted everything. And it was all fine. Everything was happy to have more sun and way more space!!
Only to have a night frost happen 2 days before Memorial Day and kill almost everything. I think 2 of the 13 tomato plants survived. All the green beans froze and shriveled. Everything above ground perished. I was so sad. Because we had been planning on having our vegetables covered for at least a few months.
But I was impatient and I suffered the consequences. Our harvest that year was so sad.
All this to say. I like cold, but not when it springs up from no where and ruins all your hard work. Because I had been told by several different local people that the frost was over; that it should be fine to plant outside. But that’s what I get for not listening to the year-round farmers in the area. They are the ones to listen to, because it’s their livelihood is at stake.
So to answer the question it would be yes. I like the cold after the hot hot Summer. But also no; if it has not departed in a timely manner.
I miss Spring. Anywhere else, Spring is my favorite season.
Enjoy your Monday. 🌸
I did not have a relaxing Sunday like I had hoped. Instead my kiddos decided to have meltdowns all day, since their daddy is away on a trip. We miss him dearly. I miss being sane.
So a shout out to all the good husbands out there! Your help is always wanted. You keep us, moms, at bay from insanity! Give your husband a hug today. Just randomly. I’ll give mine a virtual one. 😊
Photo By: emily2jane 5-19-24
My daughter picked me so many wildflowers!! We are going to plant some today.
I’ve never actually truly broken a bone. I’ve been hurt. Severely hurt, but it’s never been broken.
I can think back through my childhood and remember sprains and deep bruises, and torn muscles. But no broken bones.
I wore roller blades in the house without a helmet on the second story, and fell down the stairs. But miraculously I was okay.
I tried the “sledding” when on a skateboard with my dog towing me, and she went so fast I fell off the skateboard and scraped almost all my skin off my limbs but no broken bones.
Swimming, I hit someone in the head with my thumb so hard they got a huge bruise, and my thumb throbbed, but no broken bones.
I ran into a teammates shoulder (with my face) and got my lip pressed into my braces. Lots of blood but nothing broke. Not even the braces.
I punched myself in the face with a paint scraper. Gave myself a minor concussion and lost some blood. An Ambulance had to come and take me to the hospital because I passed out while standing. But no broken bones.
I hurt my back enough that it stopped my swimming career, but the doctors couldn’t find the culprit.
There’s several more things. I know I sprained the same elbow more than four times. But it was never enough to break any bones.
Probably why my kids are so resilient. Their bones are strong like their mama.
I guess the only time it might have counted was when I was really little. I don’t know exactly what age…eight…ten…? Something like that. Just imagine two brothers and one sister. Plus two hula hoops over lapped. The brothers were on the outside, the sister (me) in the middle. The brothers begin to play tug-o-war. The sister trips and falls, and the brothers fall on top of her. Which causes the sister to bust up her lip and twist and chip a tooth. So much blood.
I still have it to this day. I could get it capped but it doesn’t bother me. It also has memories. Yes, some bad memories, but also I remember playing with my brothers. That day was almost twenty years ago. Wow. Time does fly.
So I guess I did break something. One tooth. I’m doing pretty good for being a adventurous child. I did so many dumb things in the past.
Enjoy your Sunday!! I will be having a quiet peaceful Sunday with my kiddos. ❤️ Also!
That the government had to pay stay at home moms a salary. I know, I know. If you magically come up with something for the government to do it just makes taxes go higher…
Instead let’s say this…If you are a stay at home mom, your husband gets a tax break.
Because, us, stay at home moms do so much. And I wish I could help out my husband financially. I know I do in a sense. We don’t have to pay for daycare, cooking, cleaning, laundry, gym, school, etc. It was about 2 years ago, when I looked up to see how much money would a stay at home mom make; and it was about $160,000 a year. I just looked now, and it’s saying closer to $180,000.
Really. Tax break would be awesome!! Like you naturally get, say $20,000 tax refund plus your other additional tax return. I think that sounds amazing!!
Just something extra for all our hard work. An extra incentive for having the greatest and hardest job of all time!! Seriously!! My days seem to be like Tetris…how much can I fit into a day?!?
So I don’t know if this actually counts as a business idea. But it would be truly awesome!!
Just an idea…
.-.-.
We are tough,
We are strong.
We are enough.
Our days are very long.
We feed you.
Bathe you.
Teach you.
Even prepare you!
Payment you might ask?
No money for us.
It is said,
Give us your love instead.
.-.-.
To all the mamas out there!
Digital Art: By emily2jane “Just Pretty” 01-11-24
I felt inspired to do a pretty picture. Probably because it’s so cold outside. I miss all the colors.
Describe an item you were incredibly attached to as a youth. What became of it?
Mr. Pinky!!
I got a big pink bear for my first Christmas. My mom says I fell into him and gave him snuggles instantly!!
I don’t know why my giant pink bear became a boy bear but that’s what’s his name was and still is.
Yep! I still have him. My kiddos play with him now. I also have pictures of my kiddos giving Mr. Pinky hugs and kisses.
He still looks good for being so old. He has dirt marks that I guess I couldn’t get clean. Lipstick marks because when I was little I would find a lipstick smear it all over my face and give Mr. Pinky extra big kisses. Haha!
But he also is slowly falling apart at some seams so I sacrificed a pair of my shorts and he now has shorts on. It was kind of disturbing to me that the shorts fit him perfectly… I’m the same size as my giant bear…not cool.
But we will have to see how long he is around. Maybe he will get snuggles and kisses from grand babies in the future. I don’t know what is the final plan for Mr. Pinky. But he will stay with me as long as possible. Or unless one of my grandkids in the future desperately needs him. We shall see.
emily2jane 