Let the count down begin

So here is where I tell everyone who reads this that I am a horrible Mom, Really, I am. If you do not believe me, just read on.

My wonderful parents are coming for a visit next week. I can not wait to see them. I love when the come out. It is always fun to go see them, but there is something so special about them traveling all the way here, just to see us.  Plus, as an added bonus my kids adore my parents. For weeks now all I hear is, when are Grandma and Grandpa coming. Seriously, I am excited too, but I can only answer this question so many times.

Now, here is the best part, when my parents leave, they are taking my kids with them. Yes, you read that right, They are taking them. For 17 days, I will be kid free. Now, this is why I said I am a bad parent, I am looking forward to the alone time. Please understand, I love my kids, and will miss them. But can you imagine, I will get to clean Lauren's room and it will stay clean. There will be no one making messes as fast as I clean. I will get to finally organize my closet. I am planning to paint the kids rooms. Ohhhh, there will be no one asking thousands of questions or whining. No one to cook breakfast,  and lunch for....hmmmmm I think I will enjoy the break, but I will definitely miss them. Plus, just between you and I,  I am always fearful that my kids will realize how much better life is at Grandma's and not want to come home. Because let's face it, there is no where more fun and entertaining then Grandma's. 

So please, let's all hope I have a wonderful and much needed break, my kids and parents have a wonderful time together and at the end, my kids still want to come home to be with boring old Mom and Dad!!!!!  AMEN!!!!!!

Meet Jo-Jo

Meet our newest member of our family, Jo-Jo. Shawn and I have been wanting to get the girls a kitty. They just love Papa Jim's kitty, Kramer and we knew they would love to have one of their own.

Now we find our selves saying things like, please don't throw the cat. Please don't sit on the kitty and of course our all time favorite, please do not lick the kitty. (yes, of course that is Olivia....)

The other day, I walk in to my office, where are temporarily housing all of the kitties necessities and I see Olivia throw that cat into his cat box. "Olivia, what are you doing?" I say, and she very innocently replies, " I put the kitty in the box." Here is where I got to explain the difference between putting and throwing and that if the kitty needs to use the box, he will do it on his own.......

The cat and the dog are doing surprisingly well together. The very first night the cat just puffed up into a little fur ball and hissed at the dog. Laney just laid down and watched in what we can only assume is pure and simple wonder. Wondering as to what this little puff ball was, why it was in her house, and why her people were fawning all over it. Laney is a little jealous, but Shawn makes sure she knows, she is still his favorite!!!

FRIENDS

Do you ever just stop and realize how lucky you are? Well, last Wednesday, I was sitting at my friend Michelle's house, at her dining room table with 13 other women. As I looked around the table, I realized that I consider each of these amazing women to be my friend. How lucky am I?  I have always  had one or two close friends and then of course, my Mom and Sister. But, never have I been so blessed to have this many people I would actually call friend. Not acquaintance, or yeah, I know her, but FRIEND.  And some of these women are my closest friends. 

This group of women make up the Bible study group that I am part of. We have come to know each other so well. We pray together, we share our fears our hopes and dreams. We love each others children. We love and respect each other. It just amazes me how fortunate I am to be welcomed in to such an amazing group of women.

Maybe not the best idea

So, I finally got my kids a sandbox. Yes, Lauren is 4 years old and has never had one. Well, I must admit, they love it. I set it up last night and they have played with it for hours on end already. Sounds good right?

Well here is the part I don't like. Do you know that a little sand goes a very long way? Seriously, I have been finding sand everywhere. We had the sandbox on the deck, but then the deck was covered in sand, so every time someone walked out side they tracked sand back in the house. So now the sand box is on the lawn. Which I am sure Shawn will complain about how this will kill his grass or something, but I can not have sand every where.

Now, after I moved the sand box I had to clean up all of the sand, so what else do you do by vacuum. So there I am, outside, on my deck vacuuming. I am sure all of my new neighbors think I am nuts, but Oh Well.

So, I go to bring the girls inside, I get out my trusty baby powder (thank you Dawn for this tip: Baby Powder gets off Sand, who knew?) Anyway, I basically douse the kids, but I think we get most of it. I bring the kids into my now spotless house (did I mention I was cleaning while they were playing outside) immediately take them to the bathroom and wash their hands. All is well, right? Well, I just went into the family room to turn off the TV and there on the couch, where Lauren was sitting, is a huge pile of sand. WHERE DID IT COME FROM? I washed her, doused her in baby powder and  shook off her clothes before she came in, yet there is still sand..... Then I go into the bathroom to turn off the light and I feel sand sticking to my toes. Are you serious? I just mopped. UGH!

Maybe this sand box is just not that great of an idea........But of course, it makes my girls happy and in the end, I guess a little sand is worth. plus, it gives my house that beachy feel........

My first attempt

Okay, fist and foremost, let's be clear on one thing. I am not a writer. I love Math! Okay, if I could do Blog of quadratic equations I would be thrilled. But, no! My friends continue to encourage me to set up a blog. So here we go. I  make no promises that I will remember to keep it up to date or that you will find much more than a few pictures and some bizarre posts from me at Midnight, when I should probably be in bed asleep next to my hubby, but instead am glued to this computer. I gave up my addiction to TV.  I found that it was taking up to much of my time, but now I am severely addicted to my computer.  So much so, that I am desperately feeling the need to get a new cell phone, just so I have the internet and email in my back pocket. Pathetic, I know.

Now, you may fast be realizing that I named my blog The Ranting of Denyse for a reason. I am a babbler, ranter if you please. I love to talk and when I am writing, unfortunately for all of you that decide to read this, I write like I talk, What ever comes to mind.

So, again, I do hope you all will check out my page sometime to see what we are up to and feel free to leave comments, reminding me that I have no business writing and should really stick to arithmetic!!!!