Sunday, June 5, 2011

Another day of traveling that went almost as well. We didn't leave the hotel til 830 which was an hour later than I planned on leaving but things worked out fine. We made it to our goal destination and with this new travel plan (that worked so well) we only have 3.5 hours of travel tomorrow. Yay! Next time we try this (as long as there isn't a new little Wallace) I might be ready to attempt it in 2 days again.

I'm excited to see family but tight on finances so more subdued than usual. We'll be taking advantage of lots of FREE stuff this trip. It's a sacrifice I'm willing to make though for our San Diego trip. We've already booked and paid for the hotel and if I can watch my dollars we should have plenty to spend. So much to look forward to this Summer. Though I am mostly happiest wherever I am and if we had NO plans I'd be making the most of that too...

I AM pretty excited my bro is coming back with me though. He's old enough that I trust him to stay with the girls...especially after they go to bed for a couple of hours. Yay for free babysitting! I can't believe he turned 14 this year. Where has the time gone?

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Well, I've taken off for Texas and had such a great first day of traveling. Because of the GPS in my car I decided to play it loose this time and see how far I could get...though I did settle on a goal eventually of farther than I usually go and I made my goal in record time and the kids were good for the most part. I mean, I had a couple of times I screamed at the older two for fighting but overall a good day making great time. Even the hotel went great because we are platinum members of Best Western I got a free room upgrade and the front desk and other patrons had been very nice, polite and accomadating in my limited interaction with them. And THEN the front desk called to say they had some complaints about "screaming children". We'd only been at the hotel like an hour...from like 630-730 and the kids were getting in bed when they called. What I'm trying to say is...yeah maybe my kids after a long, hard day in the car let off a little steam before retiring at a decent time. I mean it's not like they were screaming for hours or even in the middle of the night. What kind of a-hole complains about a couple of loud noises? It just put a damper on a great day...so thanks to whoever the a-hole was for crappin' up my day! :(

Monday, April 25, 2011

So I've been spending a lot of time weighing the important question of wether to have another child or not. It's never a question I've taken lightly...bringing another child into the world and specifically into my life deserves all of my grave attention. Of course this decision probably predominantly effects me but secondarily of course my husband so he gets some say so in the matter as well. But when I asked him (one of the times because I've been bringing it up a lot lately) he said, "I don't really care or feel strongly one way or the other...it effects you more than me.". Though, reader, I just pretty much confessed the same thing it was confusing to hear it actually come out of his mouth. Mainly because I've been putting a lot of thought and time into this decision and ultimately together it is one of the most important decisions we will ever make.

I am getting older. 32 in January. The girls are moving on to new phases, new things, new chapters...I want to be the best Mother I can be and when I try to put my feelings aside (Do **I** want another baby or not?) and just think of them...what would benefit them and be completely honest...I don't think it's beneficial to them to have another sibling. Sometimes I look at my little family and feel so complete. Actually I almost always feel that way. Complete.

I want to spend my time coaching, cultivating, watering, encouraging and being the best Mom I can be to the flowers already in my garden. I want to expand all my energies on to helping them, cultivating them...to be the best women they can be. Having another child is honestly less money and less time to go around...less one on one time. I love my children so dearly and I LOVE spending time with them.

It could be that I never ache for time away from them because I have such an amazing, supportive husband. I never have to be happy my children are gone because he allows me (or I demand) that time when I need it and he's always been wonderful to comply. He thinks men should take an active, involved role in taking care of their children. I think a lot of his willingness to help comes from the fact that in the first 18 months or so of K's life...because of our job schedules you would have probably said he was the predominant care giver. He's always been so amazing and such a wonderful father.

I don't know...I still haven't made the final decision on having more children though this blog may sound like I have. I do feel I'm getting to the age where my biological clock is ticking rather loudly...but I don't want to rush a decision or make one for the wrong reasons.

I have a healthy marriage, a supportive family, I'm a SAHM so I CAN devote my full attention to my offspring...and much like people who are crazy never questioning they are crazy...probably the fact that I can voice the concerns I have means I am aware of them and can make wise choices should I decide to have another child. I would make sure I had the time, energy, attentiveness that I needed to give each child..

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Do you or don't you?

Why is it the shower or while I'm driving down the road or when I'm talking to someone else that I ge these blog ideas and feel like they would be exactly what I needed to say? Never when I'm sitting down at the iPad to write.

I don't know if I've mentioned it but I belong to a playgroup...mostly that I enjoy. But (without naming names) this chick was recently "kicked out" cuz some of the members used words like "stalker", "aggressive", "addict"...in conjunction with her. Her son was called "abusive" and some members even said they felt uncomfortable attending playgroup with her and her child there. Now, this person wasn't a fav of mine but I was honest with her about our particular issues and felt we had closed the deal as aquantinces and she got where I was coming from. She wasn't keeping me from playgroup nor did I feel "threatened" by her. BUT for the safety of the group...the owner and mods decided to tell her she wasn't welcome to attend anymore because of the sheer volume and seriousness of complaints. Two letters went out...one being signed with the mods names (including mine). Well understandably the chick was upset and unfriended me, the owner and another mod. Now I'm all good to go up to here....but THEN some of the VERY people that had been THE most outspoken in their complaints about her remain on her FB friends list.

I get called things....that insinuate that I'm a bad friend, that I'm two faced...and honestly now I feel a little bit bad cuz now this chick (who remember I had no REAL issues with) thinks I'm a total b**** when the "friends" on her friends list are really the problem.

I try to be honest with myself....and that means you blog and I think I AM a good friend. As long as I'm there and I choose to be your friend I can be the best one....when I don't want to be your friend or have a problem then I am honest about that too. Even though people may not like that about me...its what makes me NOT two faced. I lose face with myself as long as I proceed in a game of pretend and maybe even worse...I lose face with other people.

Now these so-called "friends" of hers...and for that matter mine have me wondering. If you'll use words like "stalker" and "aggressive" about her and then pretend to be her friend to her face...won't you do the same thing to me? Now those are definitely not the kind of friends I want or need.

And this is not to be confused....can I have aquantances? Yes. Can I be civil to people that I don't just love? Yes. After all I am an ADULT. But I think people have a right to know where they stand. And also that's not saying I love EVERY. LITTLE. THING. about my friends. I mean yeah...even the ones I like annoy me occasionally. It would be highly irregular if they didn't but airing an annoyance doesn't mean I use words like "stalker" and "threatened" in conjunction with someone and still invite them to my parties.

I guess you could say I walk on the right or I walk on the left....but I hate those who are trying to straddle the fence.

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Recipe

If I could take every life experience, book, movie, lesson I learned and sift them all around and pick out the bad ones or re-organize them so some of them come at a softer time then I would do all that for my kids. Sometimes I think and hope and try to do the good things from my childhood and I try to subtract all the bad and then I never know if I'm quite getting the recipe right.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Back up off me bitch.

I withheld the previous post in my drafts due to my aversion to drama and YOU but you let my name slip one too many times in your blog. I'm tired of it and back up off Steph. She's ALWAYS took up for you and never had anything negative to say and at least she acknowledges your existence. Just one more person you've managed to push away.

I didn't want, need or have to say anything about you to anyone because actions speak louder than words and your coming through loud and clear to everyone. Quit blaming me or anyone else for you lack of friends or losing friends! LOOK IN THE MIRROR FOR ONCE!

I never wrote a blog or spoke your name to more than one or two people unless they brought up the subject and you've been either directly or indirectly accusing me in your blog on at least a weekly basis. Well, like I said I never spoke up because I just wait for you to shoot yourself in the foot because you will but ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

Candace,

I feel like this letter has been a long time coming. I should have sat down and wrote it a long time ago. There are a few reasons I didn't. I don't have alot of nice things to say to you and I do TRY to live by the rule that if you have nothing nice to say you should just shut it. No matter what you may believe of me I'm never rude or mean just for the sake of it. I also never wrote the letter because I honestly believe it won't make a difference. You won't change...you can't and my mind won't change because I'm stubborn and I'm fed up. I also didn't write it because I hate to engage you in any way. I would rather live without the drama and replying to you or acknowledging you in any way just adds to it...unfortunately. I ALSO didn't write the letter because I was afraid instead of just accepting (not your strong point) you would promise to change things or find excuses for them (your strong point) or try to ingrate yourself to me more when I really don't want that. SO..now I will write you the letter..

Deciding I didn't want to be your friend wasn't a short decision or something I made on the fly...it wasn't because of a small incident or wet wipes or whatever you THINK I'm petty enough to drop a friendship over. It wasn't because I found new friends or I'm snobby or whatever other excuse you've came up with that makes me look like the one making the shitty decision here and you were an innocent victim (something I know about you, you like to play the victim). It started long ago...when I first met you I wondered why your kids clung to me and were so loving with me and then I saw you push Elizabeth away one time when she wanted a hug (I saw you push Abby and Elysia away as well) because you were trying to teach her 'boundaries' you said. I thought...well, I'm not gonna tell someone how to raise their kids ..it's not my place. I saw how you 'potty train' your kids which is the stupidest thing I've seen yet. It's not THEIR fault they aren't potty trained til they are 6 or 7 but YOUR fault. They have an accident and you start yelling they aren't trained and stick them in diapers/pullups again right away. You talk loudly and obnoxiously about how they don't WANT to potty train...thereby making up their minds for them. I've seen you let Jacob sit in poop for WAY too long waiting for David to get there so HE will change him. And then you wonder why he always had a butt rash. I've seen your kids shaking from your lack of feeding or giving them basic things like water. I've seen Elizabeth pee herself because you were TOO LAZY to take her to the bathroom and then you YELLED at her because she had an accident. I've seen you sleep all day and brag about how much Jacob likes his playpen (where he shouldn't stay ALL the time no matter how convenient that is for you!) or gripe about what your kids get into when you should be up watching them instead of staying up all night when they are sleeping. I've never seen someone hate being around their kids that much and yet can't wait to have another. You don't need anymore children. You and David have one of the worst marriages I've ever seen. AND IT'S NOT HIS FAULT. It's not, it's not, it's not...QUIT TELLING YOURSELF THAT. He loses his jobs because you are too demanding. TOO DEMANDING. You fight in the parking lot at work! You hang out at his job which is completely inappropriate! You act like you can't believe his work didn't think it was ok to hang in the office for hours. He's gonna wind up losing his current job for many reasons..starting with the fact that you hang out there and use their pool like you live there. INAPPROPRIATE! I don't know if your Mother didn't tell you when things weren't socially acceptable or if these kinds of things ARE socially acceptable in your family but they are NOT the norm. Another topic, inviting yourself to things. NOT APPROPRIATE. If you didn't receive an invite there is SURELY a reason why. If you ask people if you can come...most people aren't going to be rude enough to say no...especially if you have your CHILDREN ask why they aren't invited which BTW is unbelievably manipulative on SO many levels. First..your children should NEVER ever ever know when they aren't invited to something. Why would you hurt them like that? The party I have in mind specifically (though there are more, many more examples) was a FB invite that your kids should never have seen so you TOLD them they weren't invited to something. WHY OH WHY would you do that? And if people aren't inviting your kids...it's not them. There is nothing wrong with your kids. It's you. YOU. People don't invite you to functions because of you. There WILL be something wrong with your kids if they continue to be submitted to your wacky forms of parenting. GLEE IS NOT APPROPRIATE FOR YOUR CHILDREN. Maybe the music...but it's rated TV 14 for a reason. Back to your marriage...i have seen you be so abusive to your husband I wouldn't treat a DOG I hated like you've treated him.. Your divorce was BECAUSE you COMMITTED ADULTERY. I'm not gonna say your marriage wasn't in a bad way but that's your fault too. Oh I believe that David blows up and goes off the handle but I also believe it's after you've pushed every imaginable button to make him do it. I saw a documentary on abused husbands and I 've never seen one that more fit the bill than yours. If I had a wife (or husband) that laid up on his lazy ass all day while the kids were made to watch movies and the youngest was pinned in his playpen or toy room all day until ****I **** got home to do all the work for you...I'd blow up too. If my wife left me for another dude, brought him into MY house and into MY bed and then when he left her because she is NUTSO...she ran right back to me...yeah, that would be some understandable emotional baggage. You got pregnant with Jacob so you could MAKE Jared think it was his. You seriously kept pulling at straws to make him come back to you...and you went that far. Another topic, you carry a gun ILLEGALLY I might add in your glove compartment last time I heard you mention the topic. WRONG, WRONG, WRONG.

Oh, I know you Candace. I think the people that DON'T know you are the ones who still might hold some vestige of hope out for you. I know the little excuses you make for yourself so your self-esteem doesn't completely plummet but what you NEED to do is make some much needed improvements because YOU realize you need them and not because someone else says so.

You try to ride the fence religiously...in other words your a COMPLETE hypocrite. I don't know how you expect people to respect or want to be friends with you when your saying one thing and doing another. You admit to drinking alcohol which you KNOW is against Mormon beliefs and you STILL hold a temple recommend. I know it's for GOD to judge you but as a peer I can't help seeing what I see and I lose respect for you. I don't care if you don't want to be Mormon OR if you do..I have friends that are both but your hypocritical riding the fence is just WRONG on both sides. Mormon or no Mormon.

I think Elizabeth should be in school. I think your controlling and manipulative and the REAL reason she's not there is because you couldn't get your ass up and take her so she was missing too many days and the school was gonna hold you accountable. You can't write a note and say your child is excused. That is for the school to say. "I was too lazy to get her ready properly and walk her to the school bus stop" is NOT an excuse. If you let her watch the shows you do and TELL her the things you do...it's not YOU who should worry about their child but the parents whose children are associating with yours. She needs to learn how NORMAL people act and get a perspective that's not yours. You try to control your husband, your children and manipulate situations. You are no more a germophobe than.....any other person you just use that to CONTROL. You even use your pregnancies as a factor of control. You control your husband same as always ....he just puts up with more. You think you should get special treatment or be considered in a 'delicate' way but that went out with the 50's. You STILL have to watch your kids at the library EVEN if your pregnant...or otherwise..sorry if no one informed you. You meet opposition and roadblocks...problems with the law whichever way you turn and you keep acting like it's everyone else's fault when all you need to do is look in the mirror.

You want to talk about who KNOWS you...your Mother..who I can tell obviously thinks you have problems but doesn't know how to reach you. I was wondering why she was SO happy I was your friend and now I know it's because she sees you need some NORMALCY in your life. Your in-laws ...they are FINE. They've just been putting up with your crazy ass for too long NOT to know you.

I'm not GOD. I try not to judge. I disagreed with how you treated your husband but I kept my mouth shut cuz that ain't my business. I disagreed with your potty training, discipline, homeschooling, and most of the other things you do with your children but that's not my place to say. I believe people's marriage are their business and for the most part how they raise their children but I felt like by keeping my mouth shut I was condoning your behavior and I disagree with it, ALL OF IT. It got to the point where I couldn't keep my mouth shut...honestly the REAL breaking point was when I overheard you telling Melissa at the park about how David was possessed by a DEMON. I can hardly write this because it makes me so FURIOUS. If David was ever possessed by a demon then it's YOU. He can't seem to get away from your manipulative, destructive, controlling ways...but he doesn't seem to want to. That's one of the symptoms of abuse. I knew for a fact when I heard you say, "We haven't had a problem since we've been remarried." that that was the biggest lie because you had had a huge fight not a day or two before you said this to her. Then is when I decided I was done. I was gonna stop pretending you just had some different ideas and just admit that there is something wrong with you. I DO genuinely care for your children and I DO genuinely hope you get some help before you destroy them. I do wish the best for you but for my health, sanity and the sake of my children and mostly my husband who was getting tired of me rail on about all the things you said in our last conversation that I disagreed with..I had to see myself out of this friendship. I have a feeling that people have been trying to help you your whole life and it's never worked. I believe Davids parents are probably good people that want the best for their son and grandchildren and they've TRIED to reach you and then him and it hasn't worked. I know if they've failed then there's probably no way your gonna ever admit you need the help that you do.

In closing,.....your probably furious with me and hurt. I would be too. I KNOW I'm not perfect. I'm not the perfect wife and I'm far from the perfect Mother. I have made mistakes and will continue to make them. My marriage is not without it's own hiccups but I DO NOT have the abusive, cops getting called, "David ran into a tree", anger management class kind of marriage as you do. And my children are not perfect and I've never read a potty training book and some people may find my parenting methods confusing or even WRONG. They may disagree with my corporal punishment or the days we hang in our jammies all day and Kylie may have been late too school for a weeks worth of days this year already...but I am not you. My mistakes don't excuse yours. Too often I saw you use something I may admit as a fault of mine as an excuse for yours. If people felt that way about me or had problems with the way i did things then i wouldnt expect or want them to be my friend. And I'm sure you feel the same. I know your going to have a huge defense to all I've just said and in your mind you'll be right but I really don't care to see it or hear it because it's not going to change mine. I don't think I'm judgmental or mean. I can be friends with people and disagree with one or two things they do or say. My friends can be different from me...many of them are BUT in your case I feel like there's too much and it requires more than a friend...it truly requires GOD or meds (or both). It requires you actually admitting some blame. I think your abusive, manipulative and controlling and I can't be friends with THAT.

When I first decided to put some distance between us then I was going to be civil, polite and even attend the same playgroup BUT YOU started texting other people, asking our friends about it...who didn't even know what was going on...YOU made it impossible to be civil. You are pushy and obnoxious. You drove an even larger wedge between us and there's no going back. Civility is not something you comprehend.

Sincerely,
Ginger