Part II, Day 28: Ready for a Mamacation

I am truly excited for tonight. My mom friends and I are getting ready for what I have dubbed our monthly Mamacation night. We usually end up at a local Mexican restaurant drinking margaritas and snacking while chatting the night away. Tonight, though it seems as though we will be just a few...that is ok. I have had quite a weekend and any time away from the house seems like a bit of heavenly time. That must sound horrible...

All of our kids have been beyond wound up for the last month, as I have complained quite a bit about on here. I have started a new low, low calorie diet that is ok, but is leaving me a little hungry here and there. My darling husband has been baking delectable treats all weekend that I can't eat. (Thanks for the support this first weekend...) The twins threw tantrums when I told them that we were all going to Mass as a family. And now I have a bit of resentment built up toward everyone after they all either ignored me or half heartedly gave me peace today during Mass.

In a fit of anger, I told them that they can just count Christmas, Easter, and their birthdays off from the gifts list. Santa and the Easter Bunny will no longer visit us. I expected tears of rage. Instead, the children laughed at me. Really? When I was a kid, I would have been spanked for that and grounded for weeks. Spanking is not allowed and grounding them in the house makes my life harder... I can't take away video games because they don't even have any! That leaves play date removal. None on the horizon. So I decided to talk to them. They said that I misunderstood. They were sorry that they did not want to go to Mass, and would do a better job.

After lunch of a delectable frittata, I convinced the family to go on a walk with me. In a very short time we covered 2 miles. The kids did not whine too much. The whole time though, I felt like my husband was just along physically. I felt like he was not counting it as exercise and just counting down the minutes until he could leave for the gym for his real exercise.

I am really disappointed in a way with the family today. I feel as though I am making a huge change in my life with no real support. It is so hard to eat this high protein, low carb diet that is also low cal when they are all eating sausages, fresh baked products, crap cereal (I have been forbidden from cereal until they figure out why I am having so much trouble losing the baby weight from 5 years ago). Sure everyone is giving me the we are right here by your side, but the actions are speaking louder than words. I don't expect them to stop eating, I just expected a little more support the first week.

Sorry this is such a downer today. Maybe a little uplifting music will help. On the bright side, I feel better. My reflux has been gone for 3 days and my clothes are a little looser. It is just my heart that feels heavier today.

Day 36: The Deep Clean

Our house is all abuzz because tomorrow my husband's sister and our kids' dear Tante (Aunt) is flying over the pond to visit us. We have been excited to see her since we left her at the Koeln (Cologne) train station back in December. We knew that we were going to be together again in a few short months. It was a sad goodbye, but not devastating...plus the kids all got marshmallow pigs after we said goodbye which sweetened the blow.

For the past weeks, as part of this happiness project, we have been busy cleaning, pitching items, and donating everything that is salvageable. Today, my mother and I kicked this into a new high when we purged a lot of things from the basement monster. We recycled what we could, we donated what we could, and we threw everything else away. My husband actually asked me where our basement was. I took this as a huge compliment.

I also found out something exciting: My son loves, loves, loves, loves to do the laundry. I think we have found a new way to get our 14+ loads done each week! I keep wondering at which pace our washer will wear out (we air dry a lot of things, so that is not as many loads) since the national average is 6-8 loads per family. So far, knock on wood, our machines are holding up nicely and are spinning as we speak.

Tonight, the entire family rearranged the playroom into the adult oasis pictured above. I hope my sister-in-law appreciates that it was weeks of toy removal and repurposing that allowed for this glorious event to happen. With three kids we had so many toys in that small space that you could not even walk in there. The only surface that was clear for months was the treadmill.

This project prompted me to start the deep clean. It is theraputic and is making life so much easier. The best thing is that my son has been so calm for the past two weeks. He is a joy to be around and is truly shining as the star he is. So break out your dust cloths and trash bags...and get some happiness!

This Elton John song is my all time favorite travel song. Safe travels to all traveling today and tomorrow.