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They Call Me Mommy

By KIMBERLY BROUGHAM KANE

Did you hear it? Can you smell it?

Posted November 20, 2009 at 7:45 pm
Filed Under Motherhood | Leave a Comment

That, my friends, is the sound of my little kitchen as it hums a little convection tune while the homemade pizza cooks within its happy, air-warmed walls.

Oh, and note to self:

Before you put a pan FULL of dough and cheese and toppings and sauce into the oven … measure the EMPTY pan to see if it will fit in said happy, air-warmed incubator.

We had one Pizza Loaf tonight.

That Would Be Me …

Posted November 20, 2009 at 9:35 am
Filed Under Motherhood | Leave a Comment

Doing the happy dance because my new oven is supposed to be installed today. Well, not exactly the oven I was promised, but I am learning to be content with the situation. I cannot wait to fire it up tonight (I hope) and get some baking going.

I did not …

Posted November 16, 2009 at 9:47 pm
Filed Under Motherhood | Leave a Comment

Skate around my bathroom floor tonight on two Chlorox wipes to “mop” it because I just couldn’t make myself get out the “real” mop.

Hear my youngest child ask, “WHAT’S THIS???” when she spied … (cough, cough) store-bought bread on the counter. Remember, my oven is not working and my new one is not here yet.  She has rarely eaten store-bought bread. This should be interesting.

Eat okra gumbo AND homemade pizza AND bread pudding made with cinnamon rolls at my mom’s house tonight. Well, the kids were dying from pizza withdrawal and they don’t eat okra gumbo anyway. So I made the pizzas, brought them there to bake, and had to taste it all.

Convince my friend to swing by my house so I could admire her 10-year anniversary bling. Her dh had asked for my suggestions and took one of them, much to my surprise. I felt like I had a part in her gift and I wanted to see it … so she brought her shiny hand to me and I LOVED the gift “we” gave her. It was a good anniversary for them. Love ya, LD and C.

Get the kids ready to go to town early so that we could avoid the rain that was coming our way, only to drive right into the torrential downpour as we headed to L.C.

Did not sit and sit and sit in said torrential rain in the one (right) lane they have open on Hwy. 171, watching all those people I yell at drive by in the left lane and then beg with blinkers to get into the bumper-to-bumper parade. Why do people do that?

Hear my precious #4 say, “We don’t say that Mom!” when I expressed my disgust with those “stupid” drivers. She was right. We don’t say that. I apologized and said I wouldn’t say it again. I’ll just think it from now on.

Fight our desktop computer all day to open e-mail. It never did. I ended up logging on using the laptop. It is not as convenient and I don’t like it, but I could at least check email.

Actually wear a JACKET to go to Stuff-Mart tonight. I mean, really, it’s only NOVEMBER!

Old-Fashioned Sunday

Posted November 15, 2009 at 8:37 pm
Filed Under My life, Sharing | 1 Comment

Thought I’d share a few pictures from our special church service today. It was a lot of fun dressing the kids. They loved it. Little Man won for best-dressed boy.

 

Old Fashioned Family

 

My little old man

 

Little ladies ready for church

Wordless Wednesday on Thursday

Posted November 12, 2009 at 2:52 pm
Filed Under Motherhood | 1 Comment

Sorry it is a day late … my Wednesday got swallowed up.

Enjoy!Little Man smiling

Little Man at 1st chess tourney

I’m still here … I think … kinda

Posted November 11, 2009 at 5:55 pm
Filed Under My life, Sharing | Leave a Comment

I won’t even begin to tell you how incredibly busy we have been. I still don’t have a working correctly oven. There is one on order and will be here … someday … but not right now. You have NO idea how much I depend on my oven. I’ll just say this, baking bread without an oven–not so easy.

The kids are great. Grand Poobah is great. He had his first Trikke escapade. No broken bones, just serious road rash on one arm. No more Trikking before the sun comes up.

I’m still walking 5-6 days a week. I’m up to 4 miles now. I’ve lost 30 pounds so far! Yeah me. Still have some fluff to go, but I feel like I’ve finally got a routine that is working for me.

#1 is going to be on KPLC’s morning show tomorrow promoting her writing groups’ conference. She is joining local writer Curt Iles. She has to be there at 5:30. ‘Nuff said.

Little Man is in the throes of science fair planning and  brainstorming. That’s what we talk about almost every time he is my walking partner.

#3 is doing very well with her school work. She lost another tooth. She is loving chess and wants to know what she can “start doing” next. That would be piano, Little Lady. She begins lessons in January.

#4 is just as cute as ever. She is learning so much and has thoroughly enjoyed our Thanksgiving study. She can tell you quite a bit about the Mayflower, the Pilgrims and Squanto.

Other than the oven not working and having my own taxi service, I am looking so forward to Thanksgiving. It is my favorite holiday. My mom is here … against the odds. We will have all of her siblings with us this year, which is a miracle in itself since they are spread out all over. My Granny will be here too! Love having her anytime we can convince her to make the trip.

So, I promise more updates. Especially about my journey to the new oven. It is a story to tell. (Of course it is.)

Did you hear the one …

Posted November 3, 2009 at 9:38 pm
Filed Under Humor, My life | 1 Comment

About the woman that cooks everyday and bakes every week and loves to feed her family? Yeah, her oven is not working.

That would be me.

Where is the umbrella? It’s pouring here.

Oh, and I have a killer new recipe I’m dying to try out … but I can’t BECAUSE MY OVEN ISN’T WORKING.

And then …

Posted November 2, 2009 at 12:36 pm
Filed Under Motherhood | 1 Comment

Did your 3 y.o. totally fall apart by 10 am? And really need a nap, but it is too early? So you and all your kids had to deal with it until you realized you could hang on until noon and then it could be naptime?

This is me today.

Anyone else?

Posted November 2, 2009 at 8:44 am
Filed Under Motherhood | 1 Comment

Have a 3 y.o. up at 5:40 this morning? Time changes … sigh. It’ll be a few weeks before we get used to this one.

Day 2 of “That” Week

Posted October 31, 2009 at 10:54 pm
Filed Under Humor, My life | 3 Comments

I know I am late in completing my review of my crazy week. It has been busy around here. As always.

 You heard about my Monday morning. Let’s pick up from there, shall we?

 We make it to the ortho appointment and they take Little Man back immediately. As expected, he needs MORE teeth pulled. My children have incredibly small palates and could never fit all their teeth into their mouths. We’ve already been through this with my eldest, so it isn’t new, just unfortunate.

From the ortho, we head to the mall to have #3’s birthday picture taken. I’m only 4 weeks late! I have a love/hate relationship with the studio we use. (Please don’t tell my kids I said hate. That is a bad word in our house. I will be severely reprimanded by my 3 year old.)

I am always very pleased with their photos and I feel I get my money’s worth because I am in there no less than 4 times a year. I have faithfully photographed my children every year for their birthdays. Four kids—oldest is 15—yeah, they’ve made some money off of me. That’s okay. I’ve made peace with that.

The not-so-much love part of it is directly related to the laissez-faire attitude they seem to breed there among the employees. There are two photographers there that I request. If one is out, I’ll take the other. They are consistent in their photos; they let me do whatever I want for props, poses, clothes changes, etc. I’ve been going there for a VERY LONG TIME and they really do seem to enjoy seeing how the kids are growing. I also LOVE that they do not put the pressure on me. You know what I mean. I know they get some kind of perk for the sales they make. However, I don’t like being pushed. In fact, don’t push me. Just don’t. That’s how much I don’t like it.

These two ladies understand that. They have learned that they don’t have to sell me anything. I am there to buy pictures. I will buy pictures. Plenty of pictures. I know what my budget is. I will not waste their time. They don’t have to convince me of anything. I know my children are gorgeous and handsome. I know that they take unbelievable pictures. I know they are all models in the making. And I am extremely humble about it all.      

This is my humble look.

So there are all the pros in my list.

However, there are almost never pros without the cons. Kind of like peanut butter is just lonely without the jelly. Or the chocolate, depending on your preference.

So, we get there on time. #3 looks fabulous. Her hair is perfect. We have our poses planned. It is going to be a lovely little photo shoot. Oh, wait. Where is my photographer? My #1 choice is clocking out as I arrive. She assures me #2 choice is “in the building” and will be there momentarily. Really?

We wait. And wait. Now, in my book, 5 minutes late is late. Ten minutes late is really late. 15 minutes late, we need to talk. After about 7 minutes, I start to pace. I roam the store a little. I pass the photographer. Oh look, there she is. Hello Ms. Photographer. We are here for our appointment. She smiles. Yes, I saw you were on the books. Are you ready for us, Ms. Photographer. We were told you had already clocked in from your lunch break. She smiles again, no, not yet. I need to go to the restroom.

 WHAT?

Okay, don’t get me wrong here. I don’t want her to have an accident or anything. In fact, I visit the ladies’ room often. I understand that nature calls. BUT YOU JUST CLOCKED IN FROM YOUR LUNCH BREAK for crying out loud. I guess it’s the mom in me … I automatically think, what? You always go potty before you leave to somewhere. Her somewhere was WORK!

I am not positive about this, but, I think that when you clock in, that means you are ready to work. Right?

Can someone explain to me why she has not gone to the ladies’ room BEFORE she clocks in and places her purse behind the counter? Isn’t that like cheating? Really, she knows what time her first appointment after lunch was. And she knows it is me! And she knows how freaky I am about appointment times. I know she does. She knows I am a little neurotic and somewhat prone to silent, stiff smiles when I am not pleased with a situation. Remember, I am there often.

To say I am a little aggravated is not a false statement. Especially after my whole there-is-no-fire-in-my-house episode.

So, I wait some more. I don’t complain. I just wait. I want my children to see their mommy as patient and understanding. That is what they see on the outside. Good thing they don’t see me pacing like a caged animal on the inside. Constantly looking at the time and mentally clicking down my list of things-to-do-after-this.

Potty girl returns and we get the photos taken. They are lovely. #3 looks like the beautiful little princess that she is. I make my selection. I pay. I leave. And we head back home to start the evening routine. And I am solo. And tired.

We leave the mall and head across town to get Little Man’s allergy shots. It is quickly approaching dinner time. I don’t know if you recall, but it is happily bubbling in the crockpot. However, my mom has invited us to join them for dinner…and I’m bringing what is in the crockpot. Homemade chili. I must now go home, let Cujo, Jr. out to potty…(before she clocks back in, I might add), then bring my bubbling pot of goodness to my mom’s for dinner. And remind #3 to change out of her beautiful dress and put on play clothes. No chili for you! until you change. (a little Seinfeld for you)

We drive. We arrive. We disembark with chili. We eat. We visit. We return home to Cujo and the red-eyed smoke detector. I talk to Grand Poobah several times and he assures me that all will be well when he returns.

I do not sleep much that night. I never do when Grand Poobah is gone. I hear every noise and imagine others. But I know he will be home the next day. That would be Tuesday, right?

Oh my, the next day…a whole ‘nother story.

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