You remember those pranks you played at summer camp? Did you ever do the one where you used toilet paper and "wrapped" someone up in their bed? It is so light wieght that they sleep through you doing it. You pass across the top to a friend on the other side and they roll it under the bed to you, then repeat. They can't break out of it in the morning. That whole "united we stand," "three strands braided are stronger than one" thing.
So here's the thought from the "in"side of sane: Do it to my 3 year old. It won't leave any marks on her (thinking of child services, etc.) She won't keep getting out of bed. It's cheap enough, soft enough, strong enough, will dry up tears and tinkling in pants, etc. Hmmm.....

ok, so I've had some interest in the "hampster wheel" idea. I got the genious, my dad, on the project. For those of you that asked, here's the 411...


" Using an exersise bike to power a tv would be a lot easier than trying to use a hampster wheel. It also would be a little hard to run inside a wheel and watch a tv off to the side but fun to watch someone do it!! Belt drive an automobile alternator (junk yard, Delco with internal regulator) with the bike. Use a small inverter (Walmart, 120 watts) to turn the 12 volts DC into 120 volts AC for the tv. Nothing to it! I would think about 5 minutes for the kids and 15 minutes for you would be about all you want to do at once. Good luck!

love
Dad "

I need to do this. Now, to get the parts...but first to convince my husband.....better wait 'til he gets done building the sunroom. On that note, it looks like it will get finished in a few weeks. Yea!!! Look out kids, mom's on a creative streak.......

We survived!!! Nothing like taking your kids and messing with their internal clocks to set the stage for some wonderfully peaceful days. HA! And let me say again, HA! Outside of the freezing cold temps, getting lost everytime we got in a car (don't you just love MapQuest, wrong directions 3 out of 4 times!), whinning, tired children, crazy schedules, lots of unknown people, and family tensions, we had a great time! (-: The wedding was beautiful, the kids adorable, bride looked amazing, groom smiling, snowman cute, husband wonderful, babysitter a blessing, coats warm, flights uneventful, movie good, chocolate awesome....thank God I'm home. Can't wait for my own bed, pillow, etc. Now, if only the kids will go to sleep!

I AM GOING TO FREEZE!!!! Talking to the bride today, she said it is suppose to warm up tomorrow (Wed.)........to 10 degrees!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bbbbrrrrrrrrrrr! I'm cold just thinking about it. This Florida girl has not gotten THAT use to the cold. Okay, so long underwear (husband's, hope he doesn't get cold), tights, stockings, longjohns, fleece pants, wool socks-3 pair, sweatpants-2pair, have I forgotten anything?, oh-leggings, THEN the jeans? What? 14 sizes bigger? I can't even pack all that into my suitcase. It'll look like I'm playing strip poker and went and put on every article of clothing that I own. You know when you dress up little kids for winter outdoors and they toddle through the door looking like a human popsicle, stiff as a board with arms stuck straight out the sides and unable to bend at the knees? Yea, that's what I'm going to look like. I probably won't be able to sit down in the airplane seat. Oh, this is gonna be good....

But the girls are going to have fun. I got them waterproof mittens yesterday. There is suppose to be at least an inch of snow up there. There is no way on earth we would be able to keep them from digging around in it and playing. I hope we get a lot of snow this year in NC. We have the perfect sledding hill that ends in our front yard. All the kids come out and play. Especially the BIG kids. Yes, dads, you know I mean you! It is so cute to see them (men) out there playing. They go knock on each other's doors: "Can John come out and play?" I guess it's true, that they never grow up. Naw, really, the truth is there is a little kid in all of us. You have to let the kids out to play from time to time. Fun is healthy! Okay, off to bed. Warm bed. hmmm. Electric blanket warm bed. hmmm. Zzzzzzzzz.....

Today was a "Mommy & Me" day. Nana has the youngest and I took the oldest out today. I started this about 2 years ago, right after her sister was born. We try to do whatever she wants for the day. Usually doesn't work out that way, with all that I need to get done. (It is easier to do a lot of things/errands with just one.) But today was a good day. We went shopping for shoes and tights for the them to wear to the wedding (required attire) and then she got to pick where we ate for lunch. Chick-fil-A. Big surprise. NOT! They love that place and a new one opened up nearby and it is nice and clean. We had a lot of fun. I love my girls!!!! I can't wait til they get older and I have time to sit and do their scrap books. I'm gonna love doing the "Mommy & Me" pages.

And, yes, I'm going to the wedding. (Read posts below for that story. You won't believe it!) Don't be too disappointed, those of you who counseled that I pick the cruise instead. After all, if I had picked the cruise, I would have had to step out of my comfort box on the "in" side of sane. Right? Hee Hee Hee

Couldn't resist...
I received this email today:

Interesting Thought for the day: - Gotta love the logic.
>>>>If you consider that there have been an average of 160,000 troops in the Iraq theater of operations during the last 22 months, and a total of 2112 deaths, that gives a firearm death rate of 60 per 100,000.
>>>>>>>>The rate in Washington D.C. is 80.6 per 100,000.That means that you are about 25% more likely to be shot and killed in our Nation's Capitol, which has some of the strictest gun control laws in the nation, than you are in Iraq.
>>>>>>>>Conclusion: We should immediately pull out of Washington D.C.

Now that's MY kind of sane.

The "in" side of sane is restless tonight. Figures! Husband and kids are actually sleeping soundly, but I'm up. So use to being woken up during the night or having to be up late that the rare chance comes to get needed sleep and my body says it's time to be awake. Great! Now what? I know, weather report:

The rain is falling here, low temps are suppose to get lower tomorrow during the day. Will it snow? Of course not. As soon as it gets cold enough for that, the rain will stop. This Florida girl is not fond of the cold. Personally, I see no use for it other than to have snow. Seriously! And what's up with the run on the grocery stores? The news tonight reported the ever-so-slight-probably-won't-happen-are-they-nuts?-chance of sleet/snow during the day tomorrow. I mean, this is the kind of stuff that melts before it gets to within 2 feet of the ground. There must be a subliminal message hidden in the news that I just don't get. Like, "Quick, run to the store, you don't have enough of ANY thing stored up, you need MORE, world devastation is coming and we won't survive unless you stock up to the gills on everything you can get your hands on at any and all stores." Has anyone seen something like that? Heard of it? Had the urge to drive to your local store after hearing the weather report?

Maybe it's just me, but I don't see the cause for the panic. Okay, so you might need another gallon or two of milk. But water? And spaghetti O's? Like you haven't had all year to save up on water and canned food. OK, chocolate. I can see going for that! After all, in my house it never lasts very long, so there wouldn't be any stocked up. In my house it is an endangered species.

See in Florida, when hurricane season was coming we double checked our stocks and filled in any gaps. You know, canned food, batteries, water, etc. Then we didn't run to the store EVERY time a storm came through. If a really bad one was close (within a few hours) and there was a concern of losing water, we filled the tubs. See, we prepared ahead of time. Planned!

In my neighborhood now, we have the worse luck with electricity. We are the first to lose it and last to have it turned back on. Small, out of the way grid. But, with winter coming, we have extra water on hand ALREADY, batteries, ALREADY, freezer downstairs almost full, ALREADY, extra gas tanks (for the grill) filled, ALREADY......are we getting the point across? And this little wind blowing that is coming tomorrow cause people to rush out to the stores tonight. Silly little people.

Is it just me? I can't be the only one in the world to have two brain cells to rub together and think AHEAD to see the end results? Well, sometimes I feel like I am the only crazy one out here. Then I realize I have a good idea, or a good plan. And at that moment, I know that the "in" side of sane is a place for much smarter people. Care to join me?

Here's a thought from the "in" side of sane: You know those little wheels in hamster cages? They go round and round.... I need one or two. But I need someone to build it to specifications. It needs to be big enough for a two year old and/or a four year old. Any takers? Anyone out there like to build things? Here's a project for you! I think it would be great. Give the girls some way to get that last bit of energy out before bed. Maybe then they won't get out of bed (six times tonight) every night. And on those rainy days, great way to let them get their exercise. Hey moms, how 'bout those days when you just don't have the energy to take them out to the park? Sick mom, alergies again? Flu got you down for the count? Pull out the wheel, they can run all they want. Oooo!!!!! Wait, I got one better!!!! You want to cut down their TV time? Electric bill just getting too high? HOOK THAT WHEEL UP!!! Plug the TV into the wheel. Those kids want to watch that video again for the upteenth time? Then run, children, run. They beg to watch a cartoon on Saturday morning? They pick the show, they run. Dont' want to run? No electricity, no tv, no video. That would be the end of the 'couch potato' generation.

So there I am, sitting down, trying to relax last night. Just finished putting the girls to bed, for the third time, and my cell rings. It's my little sister asking what I'm doing next week. Well, for the first couple of days, it will be hectic. Won't see my husband except if I wake in the night and won't have a chance to sit myself except on the toilet. (Sry, I know, TMI) We leave Wed afternoon for Minn. for the rest of the week to attend a friend's wedding. So for the first couple of days we will be busy filling it with the week's work/chores and then will be gone for the rest of the week. Thinking my sister is calling to say she might be coming for a visit, I am disappointed. She hasn't visited here yet and I was excited to think she was coming. But that wasn't the case. No it wasn't that bad, it was worse! Of course this is all "normal," right?

She is calling to offer me her spot on a free cruise with her sister-in-law (whom I absolutely adore.) AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAArrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrggggggggggggggg!!!!!!!!!!!! The scales got worn out last night with all the weighing of the sides.....go or not go, hmm, that IS the question now, isn't it? Well, let's see...hmmm. We will probably never be able to afford to go on a cruise, and here's one waiting that's already paid for....hmmm. My husband's in the wedding, and so are the girls, but I'm not....hmmm. Been needing a mental vacation for a year or more, the thought of checking in to a mental hospital for a couple of weeks just to get a vacation of quiet and space has been looking REALLY good....hmmm. The chance to hang out with a cool friend who would drink with me and laugh, and dance.....hmmm. Stress over packing for all kinds of weather for me, the girls, husband, stress over getting everything done and packed before Wed, stress over getting everybody where they have to be on time, dressed in the right outfits, stress over trying to find a dress to wear that doesn't look like a potato sack....hmmm. Or throw my fat clothes in a suitcase, grab my id (like they might card me or something - LOL) and go laugh and relax for a week (starting Sunday) with a friend....hmmm.

Normal, yes?! This happens to you all the time, doesn't it.

Ok, don't get too excited. My first blog, my first post, but not my first time on the "in" side of sane. Insane and I are very well acquainted with each other. I am battling insanity constantly. Two small children will do that to some people. Right now it is almost minute by minute. For instance, they're potty trained. Completely. Have been for a long time. Then twice yesterday, the youngest says "Mommy, I didn't hurry to the bathroom fast enough." As I look, she is still sitting there, in the puddle. So where's the camera. I mean, somebody must be creating these situations for a psychology study or something, right?

I keep hearing that this is not a unique situation. That this is "normal." Can you stop the bus? I want to get off the norm. I never thought it would be easy. I've dealt with children of all ages for many years. But this is crazy! Oh, no....Wait....Crazy.....That would be ME!

So, I am going to write about the "normal" things that happen. You tell me......