Pros and Cons of Working At Home

We recently got laptops at work and have been given the option of working from home when necessary.

Since my area got TWO FEET OF SNOW last weekend, and school was canceled Monday AND Tuesday, I exercised the WFH option yesterday. I am also working this morning to make up for a 1/2 a sick day I took last week when #3 got sick.

So I've been working from home with Diva and Daredevil underfoot. #3 went to day care - I'm under no delusions that I can draft and negotiate contracts while taking care of a 1 year old.

Pros of Working From Home

• 2 hours of my life back (that's my usual total commute time)
• Can work in my pajamas
• Can have the TV on in the background and find out important info like Balloon Boy's father was sentenced to 90 days in jail
• Can focus on work rather than office gossip
  
• Can throw a load of laundry in every so often
  
• Save $ on gas and food expenses
• Can light a fire in the fireplace to enjoy while working
  

Cons

• I had to stop working in order to break up a fistfight over . . a couch cushion.
• Diva and Daredevil can't seem to stay out of the room I'm working in (under normal circumstances, I could go for hours in our house without seeing them, but as soon as I tell them I have to work and they have to entertain themselves for a few hours, forget it.)
  
• "Mom....I'm bored....Mom.....I'm hungry.......Mom.....what are you working on?.....Mom....when are you going to be done?.....Mom, what's 24 minus 6?.....etc."
• Instead of going to our awesome cafeteria to get a yummy breakfast & lunch, I actually have to make it myself. And clean up.
  
• Can't get to the work gym for the awesome classes they have there . . Zumba, Step and Pump, Kickboxing, and Body Blast.
  

All in all, I think the pros outweigh the cons! And now I'm logged off until January 4th....happy holidays and winter break to all!

To all 24 fans . . watch this . .it's hilarious!

And Merry Christmas!



Can't wait for the new season of 24 to start . . .love me some Jack Bauer!

Life is Overhwelming, but Good

So our Thanksgiving week trip to South Carolina was quite chaotic, but it was great to see Hunter's family. The week was not without challenges on the health front, though.

#3 was sick the first part of the week with a pretty bad cold, and Daredevil got sick (fever and vomiting) just before we were to make the 12 hour drive home on Saturday, so we stayed an extra night (not good for my sister and law and her family, who were sharing living quarters with us).

Thankfully he recovered fairly quickly (after an ER visit) and we were able to make the trip home Sunday, and I continue to hold my breath that neither of my other kids (or their eight cousins we visited with last week) get it. We got in so late Sunday night that I kept everyone home from school Monday and called in sick to work. I just couldn't send the kids to school when they we got in at 2 a.m. the night before.

I should go on vacation more often. I returned to work on to find out (a) that I was promoted to Vice President (yay!), and (b) I won exclusive use of a locker at the gym at work for December via random drawing for loyal members. Yay!

Unfortunately, the VP promotion did not come with a raise (wtf?), which I really could have used, but OK. I'm just grateful to have a job , and it's very nice to be recognized. I interact with lots of executives in my job, so it's nice to be a little closer to their level.

Life is good, except, as usual, I'm feeling a little overwhelmed. Today is December 9th, and I have NOTHING done for the holidays. Well, not nothing - the tree is in a bucket of water in the garage and I've bought a few gifts online, but that's IT.

Christmas cards? Not even designed yet. Address labels? List not updated yet, and the printer is out of ink. Decorations? Still in the basement (Actually I think the box of Halloween stuff is still in the dining room). How many times the kids ask about when we will decorate the tree and house? Daily. However, I did fold the laundry last night and carried it upstairs! And I've been keeping up with my exercise classes!

So you'd think this weekend we'd get caught up, right? Not a chance. Friday night: a party for Hunter's work, the second of three parties we must attend, and Saturday: Diva has a dance performance, then Hunter and I are attending a family wedding overnight; and Sunday, birthday party at the local skating rink.

So I'm taking a day off tomorrow. Not to shop, although I need to do that. But to CLEAN and DECORATE my house. I'm afraid I'll spend all day cleaning and get nothing else done, and that might very well be the case. I was hoping to squeeze in an eyebrow wax, pedi, and possible spray tan so I don't look like a winter ghost with ape feet and caterpillar brows at this wedding, but at this point I think it's wishful thinking.

I realize why New Years' Day is one of my favorite holidays - it signifies that this holiday craziness is over and life will get back to normal!!

My Twilight Obsession Continues

I finished New Moon in record time (4 days). I read it every chance I got, even if it was only for 5-10 minutes at a time. CAN'T WAIT to see the movie, and to start reading Eclipse.

Stumbled across this link - the house used in Twilight as the Cullen's house is FOR SALE. If you've got $3.3 million sitting in the bank and like Vancouver, this house is for you! Check out the fabulous photo gallery.

Despite the facts that (a) I don't have $3.3 million, and (b) I'm a total wimp about cold weather ever since living in Florida, so I would never survive in Vancouver, I LOVE this house and would live there in a heartbeat.

What I like about it:

• The open floor plan and tons of windows
• That it's contemporary. I've never lived in a contemporary house and would love to
• The library! I could put ALL my books in one place, instead of stuffed all over the house on any and every shelf/cabinet I can find.
• The fabulous kitchen
• The to-die-for pool area
• Everything else!

OK, time to snap out my self-induced fantasy real estate coma. Counting the days til I can go see New Moon!

Tardy to the "Twilight" Party

I must admit, I had always ignored the whole "Twilight" thing. I thought I just wasn't into vampire stuff. Sure, I liked "Interview with a Vampire" and "Lost Boys", but I just didn't understand the whole Twilight craze.

Hadn't seen the movie. Hadn't read the books. Didn't get what everyone saw in Robert Pattinson.

Until a few weeks ago.

Diva and Daredevil had been begging, so we got "Twilight" from Netflix and watched it.

Wow. I was hooked. I watched it twice and enjoyed it even more the second time.

What a fantastic movie. So well done. And Robert Pattinson - I totally get it now. I'm so on Team Edward.

Being the book fiend I am, I just had to read Twilight, the first book in the series by Stephenie Meyer. I couldn't put it down. I read late into the night and finished it in a couple of days.

Now, the next book in the series, The Twilight Saga: New Moon, opens as a movie this Friday. I am furiously reading New Moon in every spare second (even while blow drying my hair) and CAN'T WAIT to see the movie.

We are heading away next week to visit Hunter's family down south, and once there we plan to see New Moon en masse with his family. That is, if there's a volunteer to watch #3.

The tally in my house:

Team Edward: me, Hunter, Daredevil
Team Jacob: Diva

Next up on the reading list: Eclipse, then Breaking Dawn

Go Team Edward!

A few shots of our Halloween, which was rainy, but very warm for this time of year (70's). These shots were taken before we went out and got drenched.

#3 loved her first trick or treat - she rode in the wagon and looked at books, even in the pitch dark. She didn't mind the rain at all, and didn't want to take her costume off, even though it was drenched!

Key to the following photos:

Diva = "Heavenly Devil"
Daredevil = "Metal Biker"
#3 = Chicken Little

This costume SO fit Diva - part angel, part devil.

The mask looked totally different in the catalog . . .

The sky is falling!

Below is the front of our house. Our skeleton is a fellow Phillies fan and wanted to show off his team pride. We love our Phils even though they are down 3-1 in the World Series. We believe. We have our fingers crossed for a win tonight.

Go Cliff Lee!

Hope you had a happy Halloween. Can't believe it's November already!

Book Sale Madness

I admit, I have a problem with books. I love them and have WAY too many.

My favorite thing to do is browse used book sales and come home with an armload. This ensures I'm always reading books that are a few years (or more) old, but who cares.

Some of them I read, some I put on the shelf for later, and some of them I sell on Half.com when I'm done with them.

I haven't done the book sale thing in a while because I was concentrating on GETTING RID of books, which were overtaking every shelf in my house. I sold a bunch online and gave a bunch away. Hunter said my book collecting was getting out of hand, and I had to reluctantly agree.

So now that there's room on my shelves again, time to go book shopping! The library a block from my office had a Buck-A-Book sale last week. I waited til the last day, when it was "Bag of Books for $5". I got many books I am SO excited to read (in all my spare time).

Here are all the titles I put in my $5 bag:

You Don't Have To Be Thin To Win - The Official Chub Club's Workout Program (Molnar) (because I can always use a little diet/exercise inspiration)

The Spontaneous Fulfillment of Desire: Harnessing the Infinite Power of Coincidence (Deepak Chopra) Hmmm, sounds interesting.

Bill Neal's Southern Cooking (Neal) I love regional or ethnic cookbooks.

Good Food FAST (Hiller) - good recipes here ...esp one for pumpkin bleu cheese soup that I thought I might try after carving pumpkins, but alas, I was too lazy.

The Palm Beach Story (Roxanne Pulitzer) This looks like a good smutty beach read. I used to live near there, so I like stories set in places I've been.

Maximum Success - Changing the 12 Behavior Patterns That Keep You From Getting Ahead (Waldrop/Butler) I love self help books.

Everything You Never Wanted Your Kids to Know About Sex (But were afraid they'd ask) (Richardson/Schuster) - because "the talk" with Diva, age 9, is coming soon, and I need all the help I can get.

Generation Risk - How to Protect Your Teenager From Smoking And Other Dangerous Behavior. (Newton) The teen years are coming soon (sometimes it seems like they are already here)

The Juicing Book (Bauer) I've been curious about the whole juicing thing. Wanted to learn more about it.

Snowboarding Know-How (Weiss) This one's for Daredevil. He's been begging to learn to snowboard.

Cook Right 4 Your Type (D'Adamo) This is the companion book to Eat Right 4 Your Type, which professes that you should eat a certain way according to your blood type. Intriguing to me, I wanted to learn more about it. At a minimum, hopefully there will be some good healthy recipes there.

Psychology in Sports - Methods and Applications (Suinn) I'm an armchair psychologist - have always loved the psych stuff and sometimes think I missed my calling (since I am obsessed with psychology and self help books). Thought this may help me (and my kids) become better athletes.

Books on tape - Tourist Season and Lucky You (both by Carl Hiaasen) Love anything by Carl Hiaasen. He is a great mystery storyteller, with most of his crazy stories set in Florida. We drive 12 hours each way to visit my in-laws a couple of times each year, so books on cd are fun in the car while the kids are watching a movie.

I'm so excited about my 14 books for $5. Can't decide which one to read first . . .

WFMW: Need some creative pumpkin ideas?

Want some new ideas for carving pumpkins this year? Check out this gallery of Wild and Wacky Pumpkins here

My favorite is #21, "Mooning 2"

See lots of Works For Me Wednesday tips here

Happy Columbus Day

Yes, it's 10:21 p.m. on Monday night, and I'm just getting to the dinner dishes. It's been that kind of day. Busy, but very enjoyable. I had a day off work (love those bank holidays) and the older 2 had school, so it was just me and #3 today.

We had so much fun, and the following thoughts kept creeping into the back of my mind: 1) she is growing up so fast, 2) by working full time I'm missing it, or at least some of it, and 3) I can barely remember when the older 2 were this little, so am I destined to forget #3's general cuteness at 14 months too?

Hunter is away on a business trip (returning very soon) so that explains why I am doing dishes at 10:30 at night. We had to quick eat dinner & do homework so we could get to Diva's dance class at 7:30. Usually Hunter and I divide and conquer this one, since it's a little late for #3 to be at our athletic club, but what can you do? While Diva danced and Daredevil played pickup basketball, I watched #3 in the kiddie maze while simultaneously watching the Phillies/Rockies. Multi-tasking at it's finest. Go Phils!

Haven't forgotten Daredevil's birthday pics. Just haven't had a spare 10 minutes to hook up the camera to the computer. Hopefully I'll get to it this week!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAREDEVIL

Today my baby boy turns 7 years old.

Seven years ago today, we were living in Florida,

and on a sunny October 4th, 2002,

our Daredevil came into the world.

So today, I decided to take a walk down memory lane and revisit each of his past birthdays.

Here's teeny tiny Daredevil with Hunter and his very proud big sister shortly after his birth:

When he turned one, we were in transition from Florida back to the Northeast, and we were living with my parents since we couldn't find a house we could agree on.
We had a small party at my parents' house.

For his 2nd birthday, we had FINALLY moved into a new house,

and used his birthday as a kind of housewarming party.

We rented a big moon bounce and invited tons of people,

a much bigger party than any 2 year old needs.

Since it was so much fun, I don't have many pictures.

So here is one of him right around that time - he's a talker, so he always looked like this!

Spider-Man was the theme for his third birthday in 2005.

This was supposed to be a pony-riding party at a nearby park,

but a Nor'easter storm nixed that plan.

Instead we painted pumpkins at home!

From there we went to pirate theme for his 4th.
This year we wised up and had it at the local kids' paradise, Boomers Family Fun Center

(Yes, he was Captain Jack Sparrow for Halloween that year)

Then it was Army dude for his 5th in 2007. Boy, the Army tank cake was a lot of work!
His party was at a place called Moonbounce Adventures.
Yes, it is just that - a huge warehouse full of moonbounces.
Perfect for a gaggle of 5 year old boys!

(He has asked for a replica of this cake for this year)

In 2008, for his 6th, we had Guido the Magician come do a show at our house.
His tricks were amazing, even the adults couldn't figure them out.
He used the kids as his assistants, they loved it!

So this year, the theme is BOOT CAMP. We have an obstacle course and a "rescue your fellow soldier" relay planned. We have camouflage hats and face paint, and dog tags for all the boys,
and of course, the tank cake.

Hunter is getting to live out his fantasy of being a member of the military by playing drill instructor. Of course, being a hunter, he has head-to-toe camouflage already in his closet. Even better, it is supposed to rain buckets.

Daredevil is SO excited! The more mud, the better!

Pictures to come soon.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAREDEVIL......YOU ROCK AND WE LOVE YOU!

.

Works for Me Wednesday: Win Ugg Boots!

Seriously!

I don't have a pair. Diva tells me Ugg Boots are so 2004, but they are all the rage here in my tiny little town, which finds the trends at least 5 years after they hit N.Y. and L.A. So of course she wants a pair too.

The main reason I don't have a pair is that I can certainly find better uses for the hundred or so bucks that they cost. But they do look really comfy. I saw this and couldn't resist. Go here to enter.

See other Works for Me Wednesday tips here.

Name Change!

I've decided to change the name of this blog. In the back of my mind, I've always thought having "Working Mom" in my blog name sounds kinda redundant. All Moms work, whether they they happen to have a job outside the home, or not. Duh.

So, I'm changing this to simply "Overwhelmed Mom". Maybe at some point I'll come up with something a bit more clever, but until then . . . .

Not Me Monday!

Here goes . .

I DID NOT, on Monday, the first day of Diva's dance class, tell her to wear tap shoes that were a full size too small. I DID NOT forget to go to the dance shop and get her new shoes prior to the start of class. Nope, not me!

I could have easily bought them right from her dance school, but it's located in our hoity toity overpriced athletic club and I absolutely refuse to give them one more penny than what is required.

So, on Tuesday, in preparation for her Wednesday lyrical class, we traveled 20 minutes out of our way to go a tiny little mom-and-pop dance shop, where we got tap and jazz shoes (and a leotard, and tights). All at a 10% discount, yay. But we were still missing lyrical sandals, which they didn't stock. Whatever lyrical sandals are.

I DID NOT stay and watch Diva's lyrical class, not because I particularly wanted to watch Diva, but because I DON'T KNOW WHAT LYRICAL DANCE IS. Nope, not me. I still don't think I know, but it looks pretty athletic. And fun.

I DID NOT miss more than one at-bat during Daredevils' fall baseball game because I was chasing around my third child, who thought it would just be grand to either to sit in the mud, lay on our neighbor's Tinkerbell blanket, or grab a book out of another mom's hands. Nope, not me.

Hunter and I DID NOT break Daredevil's heart when we told him Cub Scouts wasn't going to happen this year. Ya gotta draw the line somewhere. Flag football, fall baseball, and karate, (not to mention Diva's activities) - we just couldn't fit it in. Maybe next year.

I DID NOT self-diagnose an ailing #3 last week with either an ear infection, bronchitis, or strep, only to have the Dr. proclaim she had hand-foot-mouth virus. Nope, not me. By the third kid, I always diagnose correctly when symptoms present themselves.

Nope, DID NOT totally miss that one, even though it's the SECOND time she's had it in the past year since she's been born.

I DID NOT gasp when the same Dr. told the resident sitting in on our appointment that #3's beautiful skin was a little yellow, not from jaundice, but from eating yellow and orange vegetables. (So, apparently you can turn your kid orange from feeding them a lot of veggies like squash and carrots. Who knew?)

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

**UPDATE** For those of you who also have no idea what lyrical dance is, according to Wikipedia, Lyrical Dance is a dance style which combines elements of ballet, modern, and jazz dance techniques. It is most commonly set to popular music with vocals. The choreography imitates or pantomimes the lyrics of the music to which the dance is set. This can include use of gesture, facial expression, and melodrama. It is popular primarily with teenage dancers due to its ease in physicality and often emotional inward focus.

So now we know! And why we need "lyrical sandals" to do this, I still don't know.

Quote of the Day

As I dropped off Diva and Daredevil at school this morning amid torrential rain, whipping winds and a tornado warning, Diva informed me that she didn't want an umbrella - she wanted to "run around in the rain" on the way to the front door.

I explained that while it's her choice, all that will get her is SOAKING WET first thing in the morning, and she would spend most of the day in wet clothes. Not to mention wet, tangly hair.

Now here comes the Quote of the Day. She gave me a sideways glance and said:

"Who came and took all the fun out of your life?"

I was rendered speechless, a rare event for me. No snappy comebacks popped into my head.

Just then, the moment passed, and Another Crisis reared its ugly head - she had forgotten part of her homework and wanted me turn my SUV right around and take the train back home so she could get it.

I refused.

Not because I'm mean. I did feel bad. We live fairly close to the school, so it wouldn't have been a huge deal.

She had worked hard last night copying photos on the printer and gathering stickers so she could decorate her writer's notebook today. She forgot those things.

But I felt this was a good teaching moment. I must admit, I have turned around in the past. But she's in 4th grade now.

Does running back home to grab forgotten things teach her to be responsible?

Further, why should I be 20 minutes later to work because of this?

Every night I tell her to put all her stuff back in her backpack when she finishes her homework. She never does - leaving things strewn all over the place. Drives me nuts.

I used to gather it up for her, just so I could see my kitchen table, but, she's in 4th grade now. She should be doing that herself, so I haven't done it since school started.

I'm trying to subscribe more and more to the mantra: "Don't Do Things For Your Kids That They Can Do Themselves". It's easier said than done, but I'm trying.

Of course, she tried to blame me, because in Diva-World, everything is my fault. "You rushed me!" and "You must have seen it there, why didn't you remind me?" and so on.

I told her that while I'm sorry she forgot it, I am not responsible for her schoolwork.

She entered the school in tears. So, apparently, not only do I have NO FUN in my life, I'm MEAN.

She's only 9. Am I in HUGE trouble, or what?

I think the answer to that, unequivocally, is YES.

FIrst Day of School!

Here are Diva and Daredevil on their first day of 4th and 1st grades. They started on August 31.

I think it's too funny that it's a MUST that the girls get decked out with new earrings, outfits, and shoes, while boys couldn't care less!

Diva could be dressed for a school dance here. (Which, thankfully, her school does not have. )

This wasn't the outfit Daredevil and I had agreed on, but he showered, and he's wearing his new shoes with presumably clean socks, so those are victories right there - which I'll take.

#3 is transitioning too. She's moving from the infant ro

om to the toddler room at her child care. She is very attached to her teacher, so it's been interesting.

OK, I think I'm caught up with our family's current events now.

Life is about to get even busier with the start of fall sports next week.

Diva does dance, Girls On The Run, and volleyball, and Daredevil does fall baseball, karate, and flag football.

#3 spends a lot of time hanging out at these activities.

La vida loca!