A post about suicidal thoughts...not a fun one at all.

My daughter, the oldest of my 4 children, told William she has been having suicidal thoughts for the last month.

I know. That's what I said too.

I'm not sure how to take this. I know that she has been having a very hard time lately. Her dad is very ill, she and I have been clashing constantly, she is going downhill in school. We won't even talk about the dreaded IB project, which ended up as a huge bone of contention.

My first thought was that this was a cry for attention. As a teenager, with 2 much younger sisters and a brother with learning disabilites, it appears as though she comes last on the list of "Kids who need our attention." And yet, the reality is that as a teenager, she probably needs it more than ever.

I have always said that Taylor appears depressed to me, from the time she was about four. My family doctor at the time just brushed it off with his infamous quote of "It's a parenting issue." I fully admit to not being the perfect mother, far from it actually. But surely I am not such an awful mother that I would lead a child to suicide?

She said this to William last night, after we did our hospital trade off and he came home. Before I had left, I had asked her and Liam to do a bit of cleaning...Liam was to do the few dishes in the sink and sweep, Taylor was to vacuum and take out the garbage and recycling. As I was getting ready to go out she sat down at the computer. Now, the computer has become a HUGE issue. She gets on it the moment she walks in the door and is on it off and on throughout the night. You ask her to get off, and it takes her forever. So, she sat at the computer and I said "No way!" and went to grab it. I picked it up and she freaked. "You can't take it! I bought it!" Yes, she did buy it. But this is my house, and my rules override her ownership of the things inside it. She was trying to grab it off of me and I was trying to get out the door. She ended up yelling "I'm not going to do anything! I'm just staying upstairs!" and ran up the stairs crying. My friend was standing there during all this and I said to her afterwards that I thought Taylor was about to hit me. She had thought the same.

William ended up taking the computer back home with him, but didn't let her use it. He said that he was quite upset with them when he got in, for other than the dishes nothing was done. This is when she said it to him.

Which made me say "Is she using this to get out of doing things?"

I thought this even more when this afternoon I had to ask her twice to get off the computer to spend 10 minutes cleaning her room. The third time I said "Are you ever going to go do your room?" it was because I could see her shadow as she was dancing in the kitchen. She got upset, said "This is why I feel the way I do!" and started running up the stairs. I said "What do you mean by that?" And she said "If William didn't tell you I am not going to!"

So, I'm sorry, but she wants to kill herself because I require that she accept some responsibility as a member of this family and actually spend 10 minutes cleaning? She wants to kill herself because for years I have let her get away with doing absolutely fucking nothing and now that she is required to help out she doesn't want to? She is using suicidial thoughts as an excuse to get out of household chores?

And in my head I know that this can not be so. I know that there has to be way more going on with her. And yet a part of me wonders, is she really that manipulative of a child? I don't know. I really don't know.

I thought that things would be so much easier once she turned 13. I remember my teen years like they were yesterday and so I thought that I would be much more understanding of her. But guess what? The teenage Taylor is not the same as teenage Emma. I never would have talked back to my mum (at 34 I still don't talk back to my mum, I just bitch after I get off the phone), I never had the smarts she has, or the confidence she exudes. And yet, she must be sad. And I was a sad teenager. I had thoughts of suicide, but even at 14, I could tell you they were only for attention only ("Wouldn't so and so feel awful if I killed myself?") and that I would have no idea what sort of attention my death received if I was actually dead.

I'm calling for counselling tomorrow for her, not for the first time. Previously, I was told I needed a notarized letter of permission from her father. Well, waiting for him to get it together and do that was a long wait. I don't think he even understood what I was asking of him. This time I am just going to have to say that I'm not so sure we have time to wait and hope that they are willing to accept that.

Why you don't want to have asthma

Saoirse is in the hospital, as many of you on facebook and twitter know. Thank you so much for your messages wishing her well!

We were hoping she would be home today, but it looks like she will be in until at least tomorrow morning.

I will post about this in the next few days, once she is home and better. For now I will leave you pictures of her in the U of A ER, where she had her worst moments (temp went up to 39 and stats dropped to 88) and later on, after she had been transferred to another hospital (miles away from our house of course!) where she looks much better and was happily playing with a magna doodle borrowed from the playroom. ("Mummy, that is exactly what I wanted for my birthday!")

Selling out her mother

We were at a birthday party this afternoon. We had been out since 9 in the morning and I foolishly did not bring a spare nappy. I thought to myself that as long as Sophie doesn't poo we are okay.

The party was from 1-3 and just after 2 one of the mum's said "I think she has pooed."

I take a quick peek and can't see anything, but definitely there is a strong smell coming from that direction.

"Oh no, she hasn't...but I think she must have a really smelly fart."

Sophie goes on about her business (playing with a stuffed animals and sticking them through the coffe table) until about 15 minutes later when she sits on the floor and yells at me "MUMMY!!! I POOED!!"

And not just once, she said it over and over "I pooed, I pooed, I pooed." So really I had no choice but to admit that yes, she had pooed, and that I, the most forgetful mother in the world, did not have a nappy. Of course, she was the only one in nappies there. So that is how she stayed until we got home.

I just realized as I was typing this, that out in the car were 3 new pairs of panties...totally could have out her in them and just prayed she wouldn't pee. Feck, forgetful and stupid.

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Should I be concerned about Saoirse? She has never been an overly affectionate child, she'll kiss me but her dad usually only gets hugs and she is not one to say "I love you." If you ask her who she loves and name people she will usually answer yes, she loves them but only once has she ever said "I love you, Mummy." At school they were singing that song that goes "Skinnimarinidink (or however it is spelled) I love you, I love you in the morning and in the afternoon, I love you in the evening underneath the moon" You know the one I'm talking about? Anyway, she can sing it properly and does, but sometimes she will go "Skinnimarinidink I don't love no one." Seriously? What the hell is that? This is a child who is told numerous times daily that she is loved. She laughs when I ask her why she says that. I am really worried about it and I'm not sure if I should be or not. I guess I am going to have to bring it up with her doctor when we see him again. I worry that she will be the child who ends up killing the neighbourhood cats.

She also was telling me the other day that her back hurt. "Oh," I say, "Do you need to go to the doctor?" She says "No, I like the pain."

So odd. Odd and worrisome.

So freaking sweet I could eat them up.

Can you tell which one is the troublemaker?

Pondering again

Tonight I went over to the soccer field to watch Liam's practice. There were no parents around- they were all sitting in their nice warm cars. Wusses. I sat down on a picnic bench not to far from the field, but far enough that none of the boys (and the lone girl) would notice me watching.

As I sat and watched Liam I wondered when was the last time I picked him up? When was the last time he sat on my lap? When was the last time he gave me a kiss goodnight?

It seems that without me even noticing he has grown up. I remember he was the one who said no more kisses at night, a year or two after he said "MUMMY! Do NOT kiss me in front of my friends!" I think that was in kindergarten so I suppose night time kissing ended when he was in Grade 1 or 2.

When did I stop carrying him around? When did I stop picking him up if he had a fall? When did he stop sitting on my lap for a bedtime story? What happened to my little baby boy? My toddler who refused to wear a nappy and pants so that he could play with himself whenever he wanted? My sweet little boy who loved his mummy more than anything in the world?

These are milestones that I thought I would remember with regret forever and it saddens me that they passed without me even really noticing. It makes me very aware that one day Saoirse and Sophie won't want to be carried around or need me to lift them up to high places or sit on my lap for a story or even just a cuddle. How much longer do I have with them for them to be my babies instead of my growing up too quickly girls? For how much longer will I be one of the two most important people in their lives?

And then my legs began to freeze and I wondered just how it is that homeless people survive in this city. It wasn't even really cold out tonight, just a wee bit chilly. How in the midst of -30 winters do those who can't get into a shelter make it through the night? I know I often complain about what I don't have, but tonight I was extremely grateful for what I do have- a family who loves me, a home with enough rooms that we can all find privacy should we need it, even if it means locking yourself in a bathroom for 15 minutes (Mummy's time out- a slice of heaven), 2 comforters on my bed to keep me warm rather than a raggedy blanket or nothing at all, food in my cupboards, books on the shelves, pictures on the wall. I have a home and a family to fill it, and tonight while I was freezing outside watching my son play goal in his favourite game, I knew I was a very lucky girl indeed.

A computer free day. Sort of.

I spend too much time on the computer. No denying it at all. I sacrifice housework in order to read all your blogs. So it's totally your fault that my house is a mess. Anyway, on Friday (before yet another big fight this weekend) I decided to go computer free until my house was lovely and clean. The main floor anyway, who goes upstairs? And we won't even talk about the basement, where my fear of giant spiders keeps me from making an effort to clean, sort and organize.

For your enjoyment I present you with "A Day in the Life of Emma, sans computer (mostly)."

7am. Alarm goes off. Girls (who moved into our bed in the middle of the night) awake. Force myself out of bed. Not a pretty sight, as there is a lot of rolling and heaving due to my newly bad, bad back- as compared to the old bad back. Do morning like stuff. Wake up Liam. Open Taylor's door to wake her. See state of supposed to be cleaned room. Cancel her planned sleepover for evening.

7.15. Do a load of laundry. Fold what is in dryer. Go upstairs to put away just folded clothes along with 2 baskets of laundry that were left prior to my going away 8 days ago. Apparently, am only one in family of 6 with laundry putting away abilities.

7.45. Give girls breakfast, make cinnamon toast and tea for self. Skim through newspaper.

8.30. Have wasted 45 minutes! (How, not sure as Edmonton Sun is little news and all car ads.) Do another load of laundry, fold another load.

9am. Do dishes.

9.15. Sophie says "Play me!" It's the first time I've heard that and how can one resist? We put together a wooden puzzle.

9.30. More laundry! Wash, dry, fold.

9.45. Sweep kitchen, bath and hallway. Prepare to mop (first proper one in ages, usually just cheat and use the swifter) by moving furniture and other stuff. Mop.

10.30. Clean out girls shoe basket and vacuum area rugs from kitchen and hall while waiting for floors to dry.

10.45 Clean bathfroom and scrub out kitchen garbage can. Question why people in family put garbage into can when there is no garbage bag. Why can they not get garbage bags out from under sink first?

11am. Talk on phone with friend Tanya. Multi task and put away the girls laundry and Liam's laundry.

11.30. Play "I got you" with Sophie. This consists of me grabbing her and say "I've got you!" and her saying back "No! I got you!" Have cuddle with Saoirse and read a few books.

Noon. Make lunch for William and girls. Visit with William for 20 minutes that he is home. Must have ate myself. Hmmm...can't remember!

12.30. More laundry. Wash, fold, dry, put away, does it never end?

1pm- Put Sophie to bed in my room. Talk to friend Jen while cleaning girls room.

1.30. Saoirse asleep on livingroom floor, cover with blanket. Do lunch dishes and dishes found in Liam and Taylor's rooms. Clean livingroom, minus vacuuming.

2pm. Am satisified with day's effort. Turn on computer. Twitter, facebook, a bit of messing around. Hear sound of running water. WTH? Look over at Saoirse who is peeing on floor in sleep. Has no panties on. Why? Dry her off, move to sofa, wonder how this doesn't waken her, scrub rug.

3pm. Get dressed. Shutup. I can stay in my jammies all day if I fancy it. Sophie wakes up while I am in room. "Mummy? Hi Mummy!" Come downstairs, Sophie sits with my while having a drink and we watch my beloved Eli Stone (the season finale which was taped while I was away.)

3.30. Taylor home. Calmly discuss state of bedroom. Talking to myself, I decide.

4.10. Leave for massive book sale at the Air Museusm.

4.40. Browsing books. Have all Irish novels I come across. Bugger. Desperate for new reading material.

5.30 In super long line up. Take some pictures, peek at some of my books.

6-ish. Pay $66.15 for 57 books! Wait for Shelley who is somewhere in the crowd. Start reading The Dress Lodger and realize have read before. Trade for Erma Bombeck.

6.20. Go for dinner.

7.40 Stop at scrapbooking store. Buy paper and supplies for 5 layouts.

8.30 Arrive home. Sort through books. Read girls a Dora book. Sophie throws up. William cleans inital mess up, and I scrub away at the leftover stain.

9pm. William puts Sophie to bed. Saoirse and I read books.

9.30 Go on computer. Saoirse falls down stairs. Not in bed, as she slept until almost 5pm) Saoirse falls down in livingroom. William takes her to bed.

10pm. On computer.

11pm. Do dishes for the third time that day. Clean livingroom and watch the last 2 episodes of Survivor.

1am. Go to bed.

There you have it. An almost computer free day in my life. Odd that the next day we had a big fight in which my love of the computer was mentioned. Hmmm. There's no pleasing some people. Will admit that he is partially right, but not completely.

It's time to face the truth

I have spent 31 of my 34 years living in the province of Alberta. "Albertan" has not always been a title I have carried proudly. In my teen years I had been known to say that I was British first, Canadian second, an Edmontonian third and an Albertan not at all.

Because Alberta and I? At total ends of the political spectrum. I have been left wing since I discovered the phrase "gay rights." Alberta has had a Conservative government since before I was born. And before that it was Social Credit. Don't let the word Social fool you, that government did not lean to the left at all.

It pains me greatly to say that I live in the only province that does not protect gay people in its Human Rights legislation. Thankfully, this is superseded by the Canadian government, who protects the rights of ALL Canadians, no matter what their colour, sexuality or religion.

It annoys me to no end that it is April 23rd and there is 2 feet of snow on the ground. Honestly, what the fagoozie?

I hate the name Alberta. I really do. I know it was named after Queen Victoria's daughter and I know that Canada was a part of the British Empire, but could they not have picked a better name?

I hate the mosquitoes that invade each and every summer, if only for a few weeks.

Anyway, there are things about Alberta that I most definitely am not fond of (but there are also things I love...the mountains, the free Catholic education, the one time "aren't you lcuky you live in the richest province in Canada?" cheque for $1600) but it is time that I sit back and say:

"I AM ALBERTAN."

And why do I say this?

Because William and I have joined the ranks of all road worthy Albertans and are almost the owners of a truck.




We are buying this truck off of my brother, who is off around the world on a 3 year tour. He's currently in Mexico and hoping to get to Florida soon- Hello Thom!- Although I really wanted a mini van the truck is a necessity if William is to become a sub contractor. So many thanks to my brother, who is waiting until William's permanent residency arrives and we can go for a loan.


I leave you with one of my all time favourite Albertans, Corb Lund and the classic Alberta song "The Truck Got Stuck."

English bloggers beware.

As all of you on Twitter know, yesterday my mother told me she is definitely moving back to England. She is going over in September to find an apartment (and to take a cruise AND to go to Dubai.) This is a move she has wanted to make for years but held off on as she worried about how I would do. Seriously. I guess she now thinks I am together enough or that I am a lost cause.

At first I was really sad about this news, for although my mum and I hit a rough patch earlier this year, the reality is I really do depend on her quite a bit. Free babysitting, free advice, answers to "how long do I boil an egg for" (yes, I really did call her with that question once upon a long time ago), she arranges to get my taxes done, she is the lender of money. Hmmm, no wonder she wants to move.


Trying to look positively at this news I realized it would mean a reason to go to England every few years. And do you know what that means? I can meet all my favourite English bloggers (and Canadians living abroad.) Happy days! Tiger Lamb Girl lives not far from the town where my mum will be living, Ms Cellania lives even closer. Ms Cellania is Beccy's mum and I can hope that visits to our mothers coincide. Suburban Mum, Hannah, Sally...I'd love to meet you all.

Yes, there are certainly pluses to my mum moving home in the next couple of years. Meeting bloggers is definitely one of them.

A weekend away

I had a great weekend away. For the most part. I'm very insecure, and those insecurities were out in full force this weekend. I don't think anyone else noticed, but I was certainly aware. I have yet to download photos of what I made, will try and do so tomorrow and will put them on the new blog. I only managed 30 cards and one project, though I did manage my goal of 10 scrap pages (although a few were from kits and therefore pretty much already done for me.) I did get pretty organized though, so have hopefully have made it easier to stamp at home.

Anyway, here's a few pictures.


Only 5 of us went out on the Thursday and we have great weather. We had heard that there was a snowstorm in Rocky Mountain House/ Nordegg but were lucky all the way out. We woke up on Friday morning to a lovely snowfall though. This was not so great for the other 9 girls who were driving up throughout the day though.


Along with the crafting and card playing there was some dancing. This is Kate, Shelli and Shelley.


There is always a bra situation at Goldeye! Normally they are hung over the fireplace, but this time Donna put Shelley's bra on over her shirt.


We always have a game before our Saturday night gift exchange. This time it was toilet paper brides. I thought Patti and I had done such a great job with our 80s bride (third from the left) and then I saw the others! Some people can work wonders with toilet paper. I was threatened under pain of death (not really) not to show the picture of the brides from behind as the bride on the right was in a thong. But I said that if my body looked liked that at 40 (or even now, at 34) I would have been walking around naked. As it is a thong has never even been near my butt cheeks, not even on days I know I am going to succeed in my ongoing quest to get laid.


Shelli and Shelley. I absolutely love Shelli (and I'm not just saying that because she knows my blog address) because she is so very funny. She can tell an incredible story. She is a home care nurse and we talked all about voiding. Normally this would not be a funny situation but listening to Shelli talk about having to tell 90 year olds how to do kegels and to make sure they are doing it right by inserting their finger was hilarious! I also learned how to make sure my bladder is totally empty to avoid any of those laughing so had I need depends moments. Lean to the left, lean to the right, stand up, sit down. Apparently I've been doing kegels wrong since I was 13 I'll keep doing them the way I do them though, because some of you long time readers may remember that I have a special talent. I guess that's what happens when you do kegels wrong.



There are more pictures on facebook. I'm pretty sure you can click through them on my facebook profile thingy on the left hand sidebar, should you not be a facebook fan. And what is wrong with you if you are not, I would ask.

Stuff I've been meaning to write about but haven't got around to...

Last Friday, Taylor and I were joking around and she said something sassy about me. I said "How can you say that to me, the greatest mother ever?" And because I am so not a great mother I couldn't even call myself that without laughing. I commented on that fact and Taylor said "You're better than a lot of other mothers." Yes, she did. I know. I almost died of shock. She did end it with "But you're not the greatest mother." Which is true. And hey, I'm better than a lot of other mothers. You take what you can get in this dog eat mother world. Coming from Taylor, who as you know I have huge issues with, is a big compliment indeed.

And do you know why I am a pretty good mother? Because I trust her. Oh, and I tell her grown up gossip. That she is threatened with death not to repeat. The thing is I do trust Taylor. She's a pretty good kid. So far she has been pretty open with me...I know what girls drive her crazy and I know which boy she likes. (A bad one, but of course...what is it with girls and the bad boy??) I didn't make her close her nexopia site, though I did make her lower her age by a year. "But all my friends are saying they are 15!" Yeah, I so don't care. I went over her site and her friend list, making sure she had no identifying items on hers. So many of her friends list their school. One of her friends has sxxi as part of her name, along with a suggestive picture. I told Taylor that if she were to do something like that her site would be down and the computer gone before she even had a chance to explain it.

Anyway, I'm a good mother! Happy days. However, her friend Dana has a great mother. She doesn't yell. I agreed with Taylor on that one, I said I would like Dana's mum to be my mum. They have a fantastic relationship, super close.

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This weekend at work I saw a picture of a dead fetus. I think it was about 18 weeks along and it was dressed in a gown. The thing was, it didn't look at all like a baby. It looked like a giant pigs foot. My friend who is in the know tells me that at that point, when they die, they do come out quite 'mushy'. It was still quite pink so it hadn't been gone long I imagine. Anyway, it was something I shouldn't have seen and I have literally being dreaming about it at night. I think it was the gown that did it. Otherwise you wouldn't have know that this was someone's baby that they had loved and were excited about seeing. It just made me very sad for those unknown parents.

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Sophie was stamping in a colouring book but when I came in from the kitchen she had stamped herself.


She even did a pretty flower around her belly button.


In other Sophie news, she sings bits and pieces of the song "Skinnimaridinkedoo" (however it is spelled). She kinds of hums to herself until she hits "I love you" and then at the end she goes "do be do be be do do." It is hideously adorable. Total personality that child.


This weekend Saoirse fell and scratched her elbow. She noticed it today. And freaked out. "I'm hurt! I'm hurt!" She made me wrap it in a face cloth and for about 2 hours she walked around as though she had a cast on. Wouldn't use that arm at all. Such a drama queen! I had a good laugh over it.



I'm all packed and ready to go for the weekend. I do have a suitcase in there but for the most part it is the all important crafting supplies.


And let's not forget the margarita mix and the vodka. Yum! I'm not a big drinker, but I will have a few of these over the weekend.


I've started a craft blog, which will have its first entry on Sunday night. As I said in the other post, I owe a few people some stuff, so they can take their pick of what they want.

See ya next week! Don't write too many posts, I'm already 400 down in Google Reader!

My Stampin' Up is here!

My Stampin' Up order finally arrived. I am dying to get into it, but am waiting until I have ample table space and 70 houts of craft time come this Thursday. Can't wait!

Happiness and the Enjoy Every Moment bundle, so the wheel was free.


Full of Life, from the new mini catalogue, and Smarty Pants. I saw a beautiful card using the sentiments with this one, along with the designer paper that I received below on another blog and I can't wait to make multiple cards with it.


In the Stars, from the mini.


Paper. Certainly Celery, a pack each of Earth Elements and Soft Subtles, a special on pre cut and scored Wild Wasabi, and my hostess benefit, the designer paper.


Chipboard. Lots of lettes, ginormous pieces and Simon Upper.


A square punch and the small star one along with some chunky glitter. I don't think my large star punch will make it before Thursday but I am sure one of the other girls who stamp will have one.


I have set myself a goal of 50 cards (many of which will be sent to bloggers, I am determined to ease my guilty conscience once and for all!), 10 scrap pages and 3 projects. It will be a busy weekend, and I am so looking forward to it!

Waiting

I placed a Stampin Up order last Wednesday and I was really hoping it would be here today. I am going away on my crafting weekend next Thursday so wanted to have all my project ideas ready, and I was hoping to cut the stamps out at work this weekend. Hmmm...might have to buy a new book instead.

Hurry up UPS!!!!

It was NOT an April Fool's Joke

Last week, I posted pictures of the terrible state certain rooms in my house were in. And though I did the work I was supposed to do my children most certainly did not. My plans fell apart. I was going to push them and I didn't. I asked them to clean their rooms and Liam did a fair job, Taylor cleared some of the mess that you could see from the door. Within a day or two though, the floor was back to being covered by clothes and other crap, including the bag of gargage she never bothered to throw out.

The whole purpose of posting the pictures on here was because those rooms were in such a state that I needed to hold myself, and Taylor and Liam, accountable. Well, Taylor and Liam could care less what I post on this blog. I, however, was pretty ashamed. I was supposed to post the results by Friday and really? Taylor and Liam's were still pretty disgraceful. I wish that post was an April's Fool joke but it so was not. I'm not sure if you guys are really gulliable or just didn't read the entire post. But I am glad that so many of you have proof that your house is cleaner than someone elses. I say that about my neighbour. Yes, it is true...there are houses worse than mine!!! But keep in mind that I didn't show you my main floor which is generally okay (and really good today because I spent my entire afternoon deep cleaning my livingroom.) You've seen my kitchen before, once upon a time. Picture my house that way, not the messy befrooms way! Please!

So on with the pictures:

My formerly messy closet floor. There are still 2 containers of scrapbooking paper and stuff I need to go through, but generally it's not too bad. Oh, and I never did get to the top shelves, but at least those containers are out of the way. Now that the floors in the closet are cleared, I am constantly finding the girls playing in there.


Liam's room. He's hiding under the blanket there, didn't want me to take a picture of his room which is back to being a mess.


Taylor's room. Yeah. I think it is worse now. They are off school early on Thursdays so I have said that if there rooms are not clean by Thursday evening then don't even bother asking to get together with friends over the weekend. I am sticking to this. I am not asking for the perfect bedrooms, I just want them to be reasonable.


The girls room. This room was cleaned before I even posted the original pictures and it has stayed that way. I go in everyday and have them both help me pick up whatever toys they were playing with. We have also taken down Sophie's crib and taken the toddler bed out of our room- finally! Sophie is sleeping in the twin bed as Saoirse wants the little one. Not that she sleeps in it of course.


A fairly clean closet. They have too many clothes, I think.


No more crib.



Taylor did clean the bathroom, and they have kept it pretty clean.


They are even wiping up the toothpaste in the sink. Or they aren't brushing their teeth. Probably number two knowing my two.


I really don't know what I can do to have the older two (especially Taylor) keep their rooms clean. I hope the threat of no friends over the weekend works. As for myself, I'm now following a cleaning schedule and so far it is going really well. If I know I have to clean the three bathrooms before I go out with the girs to the park or turn on the computer than I'll get going first thing in the morning. My problem is that I will fart around all day and get nothing done. I'm working on that one.

April Fools! ?

Did you notice the date on the last post? The post in which I showed you pictures of my very messy house?

Did you really think that was my house? Did you really think I lived in such a hovel? Do you really think I would show pictures if I did live in such a state?


Honestly people.

















I really do live in such a hovel. Well parts of it anyways. My daughter most definitely lives in a hovel like state.

And the pictures? Well, they are coming. When I've charged the battery and taken some photos. Prepare not to be shocked. My children? They are a great disappointment to me.

Shaming myself and those who live with me

How often have I complained about the state of my house on this blog? A dozen times? A hundred is probably more likely. I tend to blame my kids, but really whose fault is that my kids are lazy asses? Totally mine. I did not set chores upon my oldest early enough. I am not strict enough. And, quite honestly, I hate cleaning myself. Well, that's not entirely true. I like it when it's done. I like the results of cleaning.

Anyway, with it being spring break this week I decided that the kids and I were going to do a little (or a lot) of spring cleaning. So on Sunday before work I went through the house taking "before" pictures. Posting them on the blog ensures me that I will make sure you all see the "after". I don't really want to be known as the messiest blogger in the kingdom.

This is the kids room in the basement. I do have pictures of the rest of it (all my crap thrown everywhere) but this is Liam's focus for this week. In this picture he and his friend are on the Wii, totally ignoring the mess surrounding them.

In this room, there are 3 bookcases and the white desk. Yesterday, Liam sorted out the 3 bookcases and went through the rubbermaid containers. He threw away quite a bit and found half a dozen dishes. He'll finish it up tomorrow and then on the weekend William will move around the furniture so they have a bit more Wii-playing space.


This is my closet. It was so bad I could no longer walk in to it and instead of hanging clothes I was just putting them on the dresser. I cleared out the floor space yesterday, and got rid of a laundry basket full of clothes we no longer wear. I then took advantage of William's lack of clothes and gave myself a bit more space by moving some mine over to his side. I managed to throw away a giant black garabage bag of stuff and a large blue bag of recycling.


I still have to do the top shelves.



I told Taylor and Liam awhile ago that I would no longer clean their bathroom and that betwen them they could each clean it once a week. Apparently, they haven't bothered but at least I have proof that they are brushing their teeth.



Taylor cleaned the bathroom Sunday evening and after being sent up a second time to finish it properly by William I would say she did a pretty good job. The one thing she forgot to do is empty the garabage. I'm still waiting.


Liam's room. The floor is cleaned up, but he still has a lot to do.

Taylor's room. You've seen a picture almost exactly like this one before. I'll have to find that link so you can see that it has only gotten worse. She spent almost all day up there but I don't see much of a difference. She knows that her room has to be clean by Thursday otherwise she is missing out on going to a movie with a bunch of friends, including the boy she likes.


I put her laundry here for her to put away. This is probably about 3 piles worth, just gethering there. Waiting.


The closet floor. Sigh. You see where she gets it from, no?


I really have no excuse for why the girls room got so messy. I like to say that it is because I do the majority of my cleaning when Sophie is napping but what about the other hours in the day? This is a really bad example of the room, it has never been this bad before. There are toys everywhere, 2 baskets of laundry, clean laundry all over the bed and a basket of clothes that no longer fit Sophie. This room is all done, Sophie no longer will fall asleep on her own (what the fuck is up with that by the way!?) so when I got home from work on Sunday night I spent 2 hours up there and now it is quite lovely and just needs us to paint and get Sophie into a bed rather than the crib. My girls are growing up.







So there you are. A glimpse into my very messy house. See, I'm not lying in that tagline up at the top of the blog there. On Friday, I am going to a bloggers breakfast and/or lunch with some
of my favourite ladies and then in the evening I will show the "after" pictures. Though I did forget to take pictures of the before in my scrapbooking area. Take my word for it, it was worse than my closet and the girls room. Though not as bad as Taylor's.