If I knew then what I know now . . .

. . . I would not have cried nearly as many tears in high school!!  Last week I returned from my 20^th reunion and can I just say that time and children are the great equalizer.  Those who we thought were untouchable are tortured just as much by their children as we are.  You know the kids I'm talking about - the “popular” kids. . . the ones who would have slushied me in high school - Oh yes friends, I was an original "Gleek".  Maybe someday when I've had too much to drink I'll post one of those photos.  Actually who am I kidding, I don't need to be drunk to embarrass myself! 

Speaking of, here’s what I learned about reliving the past and fast forwarding to the future . . .

Over the river and through the woods . . .

. . . does not even begin to describe the 22 hour trek we took to get to grandma's house.  We took the Superego and the Ego to Colorado for summer camp and have descended upon grandma and grandpa.  Though it was a loooooooooong drive, the girls did great . . . well, until the last 45 minutes when they lost the privilege of using all of their electronics and decided that literally butting heads would be a good idea. 

Here's what I learned about visiting grandma's (and grandpa's) house:

Mommy, why is your hair so big?

. . . is what the Ego and the Id asked me in response to this photo

In preparation for my 20^th High School Reunion next week I pulled out some photos and lets just say that I thought they only had big hair in Texas.  Holy crap . . . I could not find one photo without big hair.  I think the better question for them to ask is “why did you temporarily tattoo yourself for a school dance”!

Of course, lets not forget that this question is coming from children who on a daily basis torture me by looking like this

   

Speaking of their shenanigans, got another Dear Mrs. Dugdale phone call the other day.  It appears that the Id (the baby) “kissed her friend on the cheek and she learned how to do this by watching her mommy and daddy”.  I guess I should just be grateful she didn’t say “sh*t, I don’t know where I learned it”.  Now THAT would be something I would have said!

My children and their shenanigans are my mother’s best gift to herself!

I’m off to drop 2/3 of the trifecta off at summer camp and am not sure how the Id is going to survive as an only child; or more importantly, how I will survive as the sole source of entertainment for that kissing, make up wearing, cheerleading (oh yeah, did I mention that I’m going to be a cheer mom – oh yes mommies, this is gonna be a fun chapter), crazy little child. 

Do they still have drive thru liquor stores in New Mexico?!  I’m gonna need one of those.

Outsmart yourself . . .

Ok, it's once again been a long time since I blogged.  I tried to last week, but the right side of my computer stopped working and it just wouldn't have been the same blog if yu cud ny read every ffth wrd!  :)

I had some good stuff too, including chronicling what it's like to have 3 tired and whining kids with front row seats to the shortest 4th of July fireworks show in history.  Whose cruel joke was that?!

Anyway, on to this week . . .

This week it appears that I had to outsmart myself . . . months ago.  I was all set to do three days of Camp Runamuk – even sent out an e-mail to all my kids’ friends with days and times, what we’d be doing, etc.  And then the Superego (the 10 year old) says to me “mom, I think this is the week that we are going to the Boys & Girls Club all week”.  Of course I told her she was wrong, and just to prove my point I would call the Boys & Girls Club.  You know the rest of the story . . . the children are at the Boys & Girls Club this week!  Of course I sheepishly had to call all the moms to tell them that well, I have mommy brain and have lost my mind.  BUT, we will postpone!  After laughing hysterically at me, they all had the same response “no worries”!

Of course, about 2 minutes after dropping the children off it dawned on me - the children are at the Boys & Girls Club ALL WEEK LONG . . . as in, 6 hours a day or more of uninterrupted time to accomplish my mommy things.  Can you see the angels singing?!

Here’s what I learned about getting a few extra hours to yourself and the secrets of SAHM summer survival: