The Witching Hour...or my version of it...

So here's how my day went...It was pretty much ideal. I woke up before the girls so I could enjoy a cup of coffee in the quiet of the house before the girls woke up. I had a perfectly serene coffee moment and even spent the time texting Hoss. It was fabulous. Then the girls woke up and we snuggled on the couch while they watched their allotted one episode  of Netflixs each. Ashlynn calls me her Scooby Doo buddy and we were pals while we watched. I gave her, her meds. I heated them up my homemade breakfast burritos, I had my Fiber One, and we started off the day right.

Then in the later morning, in-between playing Scrabble with Hoss via app, we got dressed and ready to start our day. We cleaned the house and I even played dolls with Brielle. We were planning to go to the science center and walk around Balboa Park. I had gotten a coupon in the mail for Michael's though and so we decided to hit that up along the way. Brielle had been asking for polymer clay after she was introduced to it by a friend. So, with coupon in hand we went to the strip mall to get her a starter set. Then while we were there they asked for yarn and we picked up some of that too. Then they saw the Dairy Queen and, as it was a hot day, we got dip cones at the request of Ashlynn. Talk about one who is prone to advertising and suggestion, they have me pegged! Anyhow, we sat and people watched and ate ice-cream. It was awesome.

After that we were supposed to go to the science center, but they were so excited about their new crafts that they wanted to go straight home; and since we have an annual pass to the science center I decided to let them be excited and we went home.

Home was fabulous. I turned on the classical music and the A/C and the girls crafted while I got a couple things done on the computer that I had been avoiding. Everyone was blissfully happy, no joke. It was great! We stopped to go to Brielle's swimming lesson and then took her home to shower so we could head back out to Ashlynn's first swim team practice. She was so jazzed. She was a trooper. After lap 20 I was a little worried for her, but she only cut the pool twice.

We got home at 6:30 and I prepared stir fry, rice and watermelon. This is pretty good for me. Since Hoss has been gone our staples are ramen, mac & cheese, cereal,  PB&J and whatever else I can throw at them. I usually try my best to avoid even sitting at the dinner table because it just makes me sad because of the two empty seats. Anyhow, I made a real dinner and we sat together and ate it. I read to them during dinner from their body book for girls (a great conversation starter) and we had a lovely meal that was shared with Hoss via text.  We talked about our summer and the girls suggested it could be better if they had unlimited electronics access.

Then we actually got a chance to blog (I've been having a hard time fitting it in) and Ash wanted to play her new scrabble game so we started that while dad was texting everyone...and that's when my perfect day went downhill...the witching hour. The one we all dread that takes apart our parenting and the calm facade we treasure and throws it down the drain with the garbage that is called life.

It started with Brielle. She was playing with her polymer clay fairies and had brought out the craft bucket so she could decorate the blueberry container she salvaged for their house, but when she was done I guess she was cleaning up the contents and she threw her fairy in too. So yeah, she starts freaking out (its 7:45 which is fifteen minutes to bedtime) and dumps the bucket on the floor. Now this is a bucket that is chock full of glitter and sparkly things and bits and pieces of every cherished craft we have ever done and she says "Oh mom I guess you are going to have to vacuum again today huh?" and I'm thinking "add that to the list of crap I have to get done now that I'm exhausted" but I answered "Yes, I guess so" and then she bursts into tears and a fit because she just found her fairy and it's wing is broken off.

So she is completely inconsolable, remember its bedtime, and I have to calm her down enough to tell her I will fix it with super glue after she goes to bed (add that to the list along with the dinner dishes I left for later because Ash wanted to play scrabble) so she's still convinced that it will never work and is going to be in a bad mood the rest of the her short evening. So I ask the girls to go brush their teeth and Brielle starts to throw things and tells me that she wanted to play chinese checkers with me on the same app and "it's not fair" that I played with Ash and not her. So I have had it and send her to the corner to figure out a nice attitude, while I tell her that she doesn't get to play because she didn't do her reading and she doesn't get iPad time until her reading is done and she didn't want to do it today and Ash did. In the meantime the craft bucket is still all over the carpet and the dogs start sliming it.

So in comes Ash from the bathroom, where I sent her to brush her teeth, and I can sense from the time she spent that she hasn't brushed her teeth and when I ask her if she did she says "No, I just went to the bathroom" so I send her back. Which would normally not be a big deal, but because it's the witching hour she trips over the dog and jams her thumb. So she's screaming and crying and worried about the dog and I'm dealing with her finger and still hearing Brielle in the corner in the background. So I get Ash calmed down and send Brielle in after her hoping to just get them in bed with my sanity in tact.

If that was only the end...ahhh...but it isn't. So Ash and Bri finish and I send Bri to the living room to tackle the craft mess and Ash to their room to clean it up. Brielle, of course, ends up putting another fairy in there accidentally and has to start all over when she was just about done and I follow Ash into the room to make sure it's good and the pets are fed for the night. She had already grabbed water for them in a cup and that sloshed all the way from the kitchen to the bedroom. Then somehow her dress ended up slung across the standing, swivel mirror and as she eagerly rips it off the heart decoration on the mirror comes off with it. And this is the mirror we painted and glued every heart and jewel to specially for Brielle's birthday and the centerpiece is now broken. So she's devastated and starts freaking out to Brielle about how sorry she is and can I fix it?! Well, sure....add that to the list along with the laundry because your swim suits and towels are needed in the morning! So I'm trying to be calm but I'm at the end of my rope and even if I  don't raise my voice they can sense it and so she's apologizing profusely to both Brielle and I and it makes me feel awful because I know she didn't mean to. And Brielle is upset about it and everyone is feeling a little flustered.

Of course all I want is a glass of wine by now, but it's still a list of chores away. So yeah, I get them changed into Pjs,  in bed and settled. I started vacuuming and feeling like we made it, but we didn't. The girls remembered that they hadn't gotten their kiss from daddy. It's a chocolate kiss from a jar he decorated for them before he left so they can have a kiss every night from him.  I told them to stay in bed and went and got them one. Well, they have been sleeping in the guest bed together and it has white sheets and a white comforter...I bet you can guess where this is going. Brielle says "oops"; I turned on the light and somehow her mouth of chocolate had dripped onto the comforter and as I told her to get up and go wash her chin she wipes it with her hand and puts that hand onto the comforter as she gets up.

So here I am trying my hardest to hold it together and she's feeling bad and I am scrubbing furiously at it with a dishcloth and I finally get it all up and tell them we need a hug. Well, Ash holds back and I tell her to come over and when she gets gets up there is a chocolate dripping on her pillow too. I sent her to the bathroom and we had our hug and then I finished cleaning it up. All this in the span of about 30 minutes.

Here I sit an hour later feeling like a terrible mom for not holding it together better. I am exhausted. The laundry still needs to be folded but the dishes are done, the house is vacuumed and the water is cleaned up.  The kitchen and living room surfaces are wiped down. The mirror is fixed and so is the fairy. Hoss texted and I told him I needed to sit on the couch and have my wine. Of course the glass is still sitting in front of me full though. I can't drink it. I worry that, as a somewhat single parent, Ash could have a bad seizure and we would need to go to the hospital and what kind of mom would I be if I had a glass and couldn't safely drive her or tend to it. I might have a half of one, but somehow it's soothing just to hold it until it's not cold anymore.

I don't get it. How does such a perfect day melt into the atrocity that makes me want to crawl into hole and hide until it's over? We were doing so good. How do these things come when I am at my weakest and feeling tired from the day, it's just not fair. Oh well, I just figured I'd share. The witching hour won tonight, but I live to fight another day. They are now asleep and I will be soon too.

First swim team class!

Dear Daddy,

Today I had a fun day. It was my first class of swim team class. It was awesome. I loved it very much. It was really cool. There was this girl and you know she had like a sassy voice that Brielle uses all the time...you know...she got put at the back of the line because she was slowing everyone down and then she got in front of me and said "I get to go in front of you because I passed you". And I told her to ask the teacher and she said "I am going to ask the teacher" and I said "yes do" and after I told her yes she started to go off about how people who say that are mad about stuff and kept going on and going on. And I went and swam then told her..."Oh look I got here first" and then she said..."because my googles weren't working"...so I wanted to say "yeah right!" but I didn't because it would be rude and I am not a rude girl...Ok maybe sometimes.

I also got yarn to knit with. And you know how I love to knit sometimes! I am knitting a hat. The yarn I got is white with other colors in it. It is called loops and thread. We went to the craft store. Thats where we got everything. We also got polymer clay. Brielle loves Polymer clay. We first used it with B. That's how we got the idea to buy it. Mommy took us because she had a coupon. Then while were there I begged her for Dairy Queen because it was at the mall we danced at remember the Christmas Tree one?

I dyed their hair pink...They love it, but it sure did fade fast! 

Bri hamming it up while Ash was swimming

Dear Daddy,

I love you and miss you. Today I had a great day! It was super fun, except when a kick board punched me in the face at swimming class. I love you. Blog back to me if you can!

Today with our polymer clay (what Ashlynn was talking about) I made fairies out of it. They are really cool little things. That's what I would call them at least, but you can call them whatever. It doesn't matter to me that much. Well, I hope you have a great day and I just wanted to write to you on the blog today. Oh and daddy I hope you knew that Ashlynn loved her present that you gave her. She just got it. (he got her a flag flown over the base).

Love Beanie. Muaahhhhh!

Their polymer clay things they have been making

Another day...

Dear Daddy,

I love you and I miss you. Today I'm having a great day. I watched Muppets Treasure Island. I liked it a lot. I have already watched it before. We watched a lot of TV today because Ashlynn was sick again because of her medicine.

Today at swimming lessons I had a lot of fun. It was fun because it was fun. I know that really makes no sense though. I did a lot of lap swimming at swim lessons.  We also watched a lot of Scooby Doo. Misses Piggy was really chatty in the Treasure Island thingy. Well, I'll blog to you tomorrow. I love you.

Sincerely,
Brielle


Dear Daddy,

Today I had a kinda great day. Half of the day...because I slept the whole time, because of my medicine. Mommy woke me up with some Scooby Doo because I wouldn't wake up. My dream was that the bad parrot in Scooby Doo was trying to get these golden disks and I don't know what was going to happen. While I was sleeping B. came over too and played with Brielle.

Also, at swimming all we did was circle swimming, with lap through lap through lap. I did backstroke, streamline on my back, and breast stroke. Oh and my teachers name is Miss Lacy. She is also the polo and swim team coach.

At dance I did ballet class but I couldn't because my neck was really hurting during tap class. I love you daddy.

Love, Ashlynn.

Home Again

Dear Daddy,

Today we played with R. and we went to her party and then sat down and watched Scooby Doo episodes. We are on the 22nd episode.

Todays weather was rain and it had thunder with it and the dogs went crazy over it.

At R.'s party we went to the beach instead of the park and got soaked. We are maybe going to see R. on Saturday but we are going to see R. for sure on Sunday.

Today we also got our hair dyed "atomic pink". It took a long time, but we liked it. We just did the ends.

Love, Ashlynn

Dear Daddy,

I love you and miss you. Today we went to R.'s party. It was really fun. We also were supposed to go to the park, but there was water next to there and we chose the water instead. We got soaking wet! And we were playing puppies and laying down in the water and walking on our hands. It was really, really fun. I was still in my clothes in the water.

We were supposed to have another playdate, but we didn't and I was happy because we were tired and  exhausted. We also would have had three playdates because there was the concert at the end. And after that we watched Scooby Doo. Me and sister snuggled up on the couch with a blanket and then we watched "Muppets Take Manhattan". It was really fun. The whole group splits up and then comes back together to be on broadway.

Today me and Ashlynn are also being twinnsies. We are wearing the same shirt and jeans.

Sincerely, Brielle

Spy Night Pictures

Hey!

I forgot to post these from last night...well, actually we were at this event until late and then I had to pack up to leave for Kelly's grad...so yeah...I didn't get them posted until now when we are settling down at the hotel. Anyhow, it was a fun night for military family's where they taught them to be spys. The girls had tons of fun. I hope you enjoy the pics!

Georgia

Waiting to board...

Dear Daddy,

I love you and I miss you. Today we had a great day. And just in case you didn't know we are having a sleepover with grammy. Its really fun. We were supposed to go to the pool but it was going to close as soon as we went down there. So that's why we didn't go down there.

Today we flew on the plane and that's why we are seeing Grammy. We are also playing monkeys. Barrel of Monkeys. Its really funny. All you have to do is hook up the monkeys and make decorations with them. The decorations you can put them like across the house and they hook their hands together and go swinging around...and some of them start to fall off and that's how it ends. And they come in a really cool barrel that's purple.

We went to the USO and hanged out and they let us do whatever we want. and there was this old fashioned tv. Literally an old fashioned tv...(it had a vcr connected to it)...and it had those lines on it and it didn't even have a remote!

For dinner we had Applebees and I had quesadilla that came with lettuce for you to eat. And for lunch I had a whole plate of ribs!  

Love, B..B...B...B...Beanie.

On the plane...they did awesome!

Dear Daddy,

Today on the flight it was cold the first part and really bumpy too. I played mineccraft and on mine craft I built a house. And by the way...minecraft...is something you...actually just a video game and you build stuff and houses with it. It gives you stuff you can build with. Well, theres other stuff too. It gives you eggs and my favorite is the swan stuff. And I built three pens that had pigs, cows and sheep. I was building and underwater tunnel but I couldn't because I put water pockets and it flooded. So yeah, I'm going to have to build another underwater thing.

When we got to Atlanta got food. I got Burger King and Brielle got....something Ribs. And Brielle got a shack [sic] of ribs and she ate them all by themselves. And do you know those little cups that have sauce in them? Well, she took a cup of BBQ and just dumped it on them.

After we went to the USO while we waited for Grammy. So we walked in and the lady was so nice. She gives us M&Ms...for free. Then we came into the kids room. It had an old school tv with no remotes, only buttons. We watched Betty Boop and she is so darn sassy! And we watched the original Care Bears and we watched...the original, original, original Casper the Friendly Ghost.

Love, Ashlynn

Eating ribs:)

Palm Springs Pics

Hey Guys!

Once again we are behind. Last night I was babysitting an adorable baby until after the girls went to bed and today we played Mario Party until it was past bed time. So I figured I'd at least post these pics while I was thinking of it and feeling bad. I hope you enjoy them. You can tell that Brielle was exhausted by the time it was over:)

Take care. We'll try to write tomorrow;)

Palm Springs

We were away at a dance competition in Palm Springs yesterday and today. I thought about giving you a warning that we would be away and not be posting for a couple days, but that goes against the opsec that's been ingrained in my brain; so I didn't, sorry! Anyhow, it's too late for the girls to post tonight and they are way too tired, but I figured I'd post this picture from last night at the hotel....I'll get them to post in the morning.

Without further ado...The pic of the girls in the bathtub. (They wanted to sleep in here)