Not Everyone's Mama

Who has a steam cleaner?  Who out there has wished that their steam cleaner was a steam mop?  I know, I know, there is a Shark Steam Mop out there, but I actually hadn’t heard of it until recently.

I do know that I LOVE my steam cleaner.  I use it every time I clean, especially in the kitchen.  Nothing makes the faucet sparkle like cleaning it with steam does.  Spill something on the stove while you’re cooking?  No need to scrub, get out the steam cleaner, a blast of steam loosens it right up and you wipe it away.

I clean my kitchen chairs with my steam cleaner (I have a 20 month old and a 3 year old who get goopy sticky hands, then touch the chairs – a good zap with the steam cleaner every couple of weeks on top of wiping them down daily let’s me know they aren’t germ infested).  I clean my couch with my steam cleaner (I have a leather couch now, but I used to use it on my microfiber couch also).

I have always wished that my steam cleaner had

• a bigger water tank to go longer while cleaning
• more attachments to get into hard to reach areas (cracks and crevices)
• a mop option

The mop option was my biggest dream.  You guys know I have 4 kids.  Things get spilled in tiny out of the way spots and no one tells mom.  I notice when it’s dry and hard to get off.  I’ll get out my steamer and blast it.  But, wouldn’t it be easier if it was a mop?  Then I wouldn’t have to get down on all 4’s to clean those spots.

My dream came true on all fronts!

SWEET!

I was sent the Gruene Steam Cleaner/mop to try out.  Like I said, I have owned other steam cleaners, but this one takes the prize.  It has a MUCH bigger water tank than my old one does, which is so very awesome.  I can get my whole couch done at once rather than doing a part of it, stopping to let the steamer cool down, refilling it, waiting for it to warm up, then starting the process all over again.

This one comes with so many more attachments than mine did.  Seriously.  Mine came with the window tool, 3 small brush heads, and a couple of the bent angle ones.  That’s it.

Look at what the Gruene Steam Cleaner/mop comes with –

• Squeegee Hand Tool – Designed to make quick work of cleaning windows and mirrors.
• Garment Hand Tool -  Great for taking wrinkles out of clothes and curtains. It also works great for sanitizing matresses, Nylon Brush Set Includes three brushes to handle most of your cleaning needs.
• Large Brush for wide coverage – Great for scrubbing tile and grout lines. Triangle and Detail head brushes for getting into tight spaces. Wire Brush Makes short work of cleaning golf clubs. Designed to take the elbow grease out of those really tough jobs.
• Scraper Nozzle – Perfect for removing wallpaper. Seriously it cuts the job in half.
• DirectJet Nozzle – Shoots out a jet of steam. Great for hard to reach areas.

Do you see that under the hose?  Yes, that’s the scraper nozzle, it lets you get into cracks (like between the stove and the counter where grease can collect and it’s IMPOSSIBLE to get to.  That alone would have sold me on it.

That it converts into a mop?  I would have bought this one on my own. 

A little from the company –

If it is floors you are tackling, simply fill the water tank, and seconds later steam is at your fingertips. Using steam means that you can toss out that bulky, messy, mop and bucket and trade it in for a better way to clean. Never again will you barricade the kitchen while you wait for floors to dry, when you use Gruene Steam the floors practically dry as you go. If you have children and pets you will love that Gruene Steam is chemical free system.

Perhaps one of the most unique and innovative features of the Gruene Steam Mop and Hand Cleaner is its ability to convert to a hand steamer. Unlock and remove the center section, and viola! The Gruene Steam Hand Steamer comes with 10 attachments. When attached to the hand steamer these tools make even the toughest jobs a breeze.

Take for instance the Garment attachment, this tool can be used to steam the wrinkles out of clothes, lift stains off mattresses, and even remove wallpaper. The small, large, and angled nylon brushes can be used for anything from removing stains and mildew from tile or grout to cleaning countertops and sinks.

Don’t forget, steam is nature’s disinfectant so when you use Gruene Steam you sanitize as you clean!

You guys know that I love anything that is chemical-free.  (One of the reasons I clean with steam to begin with!)  Not only do I have kids, I have birds.  Their little respiratory systems can’t handle what ours can and lots of stinky smelly things can kill them.  I’m always looking for things that make cleaning easier that is healthy for them and my kids.

So, the question is, does this work as well as my old steam?  Enough so that I would be willing to give my old steamer to Goodwill or a shelter?

Let’s see!  I let my kitchen floor go for a few days.  I have 4 kids and while even my 11 year old is capable of making a mess, my 3 kids who are 6 and under, they can completely destroy the floor within 30 minutes of me washing it.  I let them just be themselves for a few days, as much as it drove me crazy, when they spilled something, I let Katiana clean it up her way (dry towel, no soap, leaves a sticky mess for other dirt to collect to).  I prayed during those days that no one, please God, don’t let anyone knock on my door.  Especially anyone from the apartments.  Egads!

No one knocked and all was set for the review.

It’s disgusting you guys.  Let’s see if the Gruene Steam Cleaner/mop was able to clean it up quickly.

(Don’t mind the stain under my stove, it was there when we moved in, even with the steamer, I can’t get it up.  And that is Alyce’s little mouse voice at the end.)

My thoughts?  LOVE IT!  Definitely will see if a shelter can use my trusty old steamer or donate it to good will.  It still works, but I love this one so much more.  The mop is so easy to set up, extremely easy to use, and works great!  I’ve been using it daily since I did this video. I still use my other mop (the one with the reusable microfiber pad) to get in corners, under counters, under the stove, but for the majority of the cleaning of our linoleum floors, I’ve been using the Gruene Steam Cleaner/mop.  It is incredibly easy to use, as you can see in the video, I’m holding the camera with one hand and running the mop with the other.  No backaches, no breaking out in a sweat because it’s so much work.  It is fabulous!

Since I’m using it as a mop daily, I also am using the steam cleaner part more than I did my old one.

I pulled my old one out for once a week deep cleaning.  Now, I’m using this every day to just keep up on it rather than using a dish cloth. With all of the attachments, I’m going to it more often because I have better tools to clean different areas with.  One thing I love to use the steam on is those pans that are under your burners on your stove.  They can look clean, but a little invisible grease can turn into a burned on ugly mess after awhile. 

I also love the steam cleaner for really getting in and disinfecting the bird cages, toys the kids have (I use it on their outside toys a lot to blast away dirt that has gotten stuck in crevices), the high chair, behind the faucet on the sink, the wall behind the sink, the toilets (around the hinges of the lid/seat), door knobs (especially in the wither when the flu is going around), there are so many places I use my steamer at.

It seriously is the one cleaning tool that I pull out the most.

I’ve even used steam to clean stains in the carpet before I clean the whole carpet with my carpet cleaner.

This is one of those cleaning tools that I think is worth the money.  You literally can use it to clean everything and you get your money’s worth.  I had my old steamer for 4 years and never had a problem with it.  I envision this one being the same.

Keep an eye out on my mom’s blog.  She will be reviewing it as a steamer soon!  (I know it’s coming, I shot the video!)

Definitely gets a big humongous

for being a safe, chemical-free, green cleaning tool that in the long run saves you money

Popularity: 9% [?]

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I recently was sent the Libman Freedom Spray Mop.

Detachable, 18 oz. cleaning solution bottle allows you to use and refill any solution you choose. Machine washable, scratch-free, deep cleaning pad provides a greener clean while saving you money. Self-powered solution sprayer with comfort fit trigger eliminates the need for batteries while letting you control how much solution you spray onto your floor.

I have one word to describe this – GENIUS!  Seriously.  I have my big plug in floor scrubber, which I love, but when the floor isn’t too bad, I have always wished I had something simpler than getting out the mop and bucket.  I mean, if I’m going to go to that trouble, I’ll use the machine.

I won’t use the other brand that so many people use, you know the one with the bottle of cleaning solution and the throw away pads.  I tried it a couple of times and for some reason, my floor felt sticky after using it.  Plus, I use natural cleaners in the house because of the kids and the birds.  Birds respiratory systems are different than other animals and so many things are bad for them, harsh cleaners, air fresheners, smelly candles, etc.

Do you know how excited I was to see this?  You can fill the bottle with YOUR choice of solution.  Myself, I clean the kitchen floor with water and vinegar.  It doesn’t smell as nice as some cleaners, but it works just as well for what I need it to do.

Plus, no pads to have to keep buying!  Let’s face it.  With 4 kids (3 who are 6 and under), the kitchen floor gets messy all day long.  Do you know how often I was buying the pads when I used the other one?  A lot.  With this, the 2 microfiber cleaning pads are perfect!  One is washing while I’m using the other one.  I’ve been hand washing mine because I use it so much.  I have been filling it up with the vinegar and water each day and just using it as needed.

Even if I had to use my big machine, I would still pull this out.  My big one doesn’t have attachments, so I can’t get under the counters easily.  This slides right under the counter, right up against the table legs, under the fridge.  LOVE IT!

The trigger spray (no batteries! Another plus) reminds me of a bottle of cleaner you would use to clean your windows.  Squeeze the trigger, out sprays your cleaning solution.  And it’s not a little squirt, it’s a nice wide spray.

Here’s a little more about what you get from the Libman Freedom Spray Mop:

• Freedom to choose any cleaning solution you want to put in: Your favorite cleaner, plain water, environmentally friendly solution etc. Removable bottle for easy filling.
• Freedom from costly and wasteful disposable pads- reusable microfiber pad can be machine washed up to 50 times. Safe on all flooring surfaces.
• Freedom from batteries- trigger sprayer allows you to control how much liquid is coming out
  Just grab and go, no heavy messy buckets to lug around
• Quality manufactured in the USA (Arcola, IL) by a 4th generation family owned company.
• Sold fully assembled in the mop and broom section of your favorite store
• The Freedom Spray Mop will be available at retailers nationwide beginning August 2010 with a suggested retail price of $19.99 to $24.99.

Can you tell I love this?  Totally gets a HUMONGOUS

for being an awesome alternative to cleaning your floor, for being simple, for being cheaper, and thank you thank you for not needing batteries!  Do you know how often batteries disappear around our place?

So, you can see how excited I am.

Woot woot!  I’m telling you, when you try this, you will absolutely LOVE it!

Thank you to Mom Bloggers Club and Libman for providing me with a Libman Freedom Spray Mop to review!  Love love love love it!

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My dishwasher broke.

Remember the other day when I listed the pros of apartment living?  This falls under that category.  Not the dishwasher not working, the fact that I can just ring up maintenance and ask them to come fix it.  No finding a repairman.  No going to Sears and getting a new one.  Just sit and wait for someone to show up. (I’ve been waiting since April for my microwave buttons to be fixed.  Let’s hope I don’t have to wait that long.)

I hope they get to it soon.  If there is one appliance I can’t live without, it would be the dishwasher.  That’s my one requirement anywhere we live, I need a dishwasher.  My least favorite chore is doing dishes.  I HATE getting my hands dirty.

Ask my mom. This is not something new.  It’s been going on since I was younger.

When I was younger, my brothers and I split up the house into rooms for our chores.  We’d alternate every week.  One week I had the kitchen, Steve had the living room, and Josh had the dining room.  (Abby, 11 years younger than I was, was too young to have her own room to clean while I lived at home for quite awhile.)  After the week was over, we’d rotate and I’d go to another room to clean.

When it was my turn for the kitchen, I dug my heals in.  I did not want to do the dishes.  I would not do the dishes.  I hated the dishes.  Doing the dishes (or not in my case) caused A LOT of friction between my dad and I.  My mom and I came up with a solution.  I would pay her as much as she made at work to do the dishes for me.  When my mom went back to work, she was a cashier at a local grocery store while we were in school.  It was important to her (and to us) that she was home when we got home. I want to say when I was 15 years of age or so, so 20 years ago, my mom made $6.50 an hour.  She’d keep track of how long it took her to do the dishes (and she wasn’t speedy about it, were you mom?).  She’d keep a record of it and when I got paid from my own job, I owed it to her.

I think the lesson there is life is not free.  Or, stuff has to be done even if you have to hire someone to do it?

Ok, I’m not exactly sure what the lesson was I supposed to learn, but I didn’t have to do the dishes and that was all that matter.

Now, there is no one to do the dishes for me.  The kids are too young and Pato doesn’t load the dishwasher the way I like it done.

I’m not doing them by hand.

I know, I know, my hands wash.  Let’s just call it my own little OCD thing.  Maybe it’s a phobia?  I don’t care.  I don’t like my hands dirty.

Here’s hoping they fix my dishwasher quickly.

I doubt it though.  They are dealing with the city inspector right now.

That’s why I didn’t post yesterday, well, except for my Rubicon post.  (That was an excellent show BTW!)

I just needed some downtime after all the stress of getting ready for the inspection.

Maintenance was here by 9:30 AM with the inspector and I think we passed.

It was a different city inspector who came this time. He walked in with maintenance, looked around the living room, rolled and unrolled my shade over my sliding glass door, waiting for maintenance to check the fire alarms, and walked out. They were in here a total of 3 minutes.

I’m all, wait a second, where’s the white glove? I dusted, I scrubbed, there’s not a speck of fuzz on the floor, you’re supposed to open stuff, inspect like you did that one time. Take some pictures like you did of my jalapenos and my daughters’ room. Look, there’s nothing in my fridge that shouldn’t be! I even cleaned my freezer! Come on! All that stress for 3 minutes.

I am happy though, if they would have looked closer, they would have seen a few stains that I couldn’t get out of the carpet, a couple of chipped spots on the walls, etc.

That’s done and over with…..until October when they put the air conditioner covers on again and come to inspect all over again.  Unless they find some other reason to inspect, I’ll know if I find a note on the front door of the building.

Blah.

And now I wait.  Wait for them to come fix my dishwasher, my microwave, my shower door, my refrigerator door, and I guess my toilet seat, which I didn’t even know was broken.

Smoke alarms work.

Do they ever test the sprinkler system?

I have sprinklers in each room of the apartment.

How do they know if those work?

Things that make you go hmmmmmm.

I’m off to empty out my dishwasher, pile it all in the sink, and hope they call and tell me they will be here today so I don’t have to wash them all by hand.

ETA – I had to share this, I say it over on The Bad Mom’s Club.

And to think I thought Christiano was a pretty good dancer when he just waves his arms, bounces up and down, and spins in circles.

Have a great day!

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Remember back when I reviewed What To Wear For The Rest Of Your Life I said I was going to get up the nerve to go through my closet?

I did it.

We had a bunch of clothes that needed put away and I thought before we do that, I’m going to go through my closet and get rid of what I don’t wear anymore.

Holy cow.

5 garbage bags for goodwill, 1 to the dumpster, and 1 bag of t-shirts to Jordan later my closet and my dresser are cleaned out.  Woohoo!

Though, I was sad.  Getting rid of my size 10’s and 12’s was like admitting I’m never going to wear that size again.  I still am holding out hope, I’ve just resigned myself to the fact that after having a breast reduction and then nursing 3 more babies, I’m never going to fit into those cute little shirts I used to wear without looking like I’m going to bust out of them.  And how often am I really going to wear black pants with glitter bursting out of them?  It’s not like I hit the club anymore. 

Plus, Pato said if I get down to that size again, we’ll buy me new clothes.

On the plus side (pun intended), I also got rid of anything size 18 and up and all of my maternity clothes. (Do you know I had some size 28Ws in there from before I lost 80 lbs – that was before I had Katiana.  Why hold on to those?)  I kept my 14’s and 16’s, the sizes I can still wear now.  I did get rid of some “stay at home mom” clothes.  (I know, there are some very fashionable stay at home mom’s – I used to be one, but lately, not so much.)  Got rid of a lot of t-shirts, sweatshirts, and jogging pants.  I wouldn’t get rid of any yoga pants.  I need something to wear at home.

My side of the closet is just a tad bare.

Now I need to go through the garage.  That’s where all of my old “clubbing” clothes are.  I had some of the cutest dresses to wear out.  I couldn’t fit my left thigh into one now.  Plus, some of them were downright dangerous.  I had a halter dress that I wore …… One.Time.Only.

I had gone out with my friend for her birthday and we each had a jumbo margarita.  You know, the fishbowl size margarita.  I drank the whole thing, by myself.  I didn’t drink much back then even, so that knocked me flat on my butt.  We went out dancing and my boyfriend at the time sidled up next to me and is doing something with my dress.  I shoved him away, thinking he wanted to get frisky on the dance floor. 

My friend came out to me and started dancing with me.  She leaned in and said, your boob is hanging out of your dress.

Oh yes it was.

Flopped right out over the top of the elastic band.  Thank god for the strings tying the dress behind my neck.  Without that, I might have lost the whole dress and not realized it.

I was MORTIFIED!  Drunk or not, I was so embarrassed I hid in the balcony until everyone was ready to leave.

How drunk do you have to be to not feel that your boob is out bouncing in the air?

Pretty darn drunk.

Never wore that dress again.

So, some of those dresses out there, I won’t be missing too much.

In other news, Pato has a toothache again.  After last time, he was supposed to get it taken care of after the infection was gone. Well, once it felt better, he didn’t feel the need to get it done.

Here we are in full on cleaning mode because of inspection this week, washing walls, windows, everything, and his tooth flares up again.  I had so many things I needed him to help me with yesterday.  Instead he was in bed all day.  I had to run around and get his prescriptions the dentist ordered, both antibiotic and pain relief.

He was in bed until about 6 last night.  Then he got up and started folding clothes.

None of the big stuff I wanted done is done yet.

His face is all swollen and he talks funny now.

He’s getting the tooth pulled at 10:30 this morning.

Then he better come home and help me with stuff.

I’m so sympathetic.  I really am.  But it’s inspection week and city inspectors are the worst.  They are ones who open things.  I do not like the city inspector, I do not like him, that detector.

Dr Sues I am not.

Have a great day!

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I posted yesterday that we have inspection this week – again.  I’m not thrilled about it.  But, it’s what you do, right?

I was searching Craig’s List, determined that I would find a carpet cleaner.  I’m tired of the rug doctors.  24 hours of using it and your $50 is gone.  Pato had already grumbled that there was no way he was putting out $200 on a new carpet cleaner, so I had to be resourceful and make it worth his while.

I got lucky.

I found this.

Hoover SteamVac Dual V with SpinScrub Hand Tool

Do you know how much that is new on Amazon?  $251.51

Guess how much I paid for it?

$70!

She said she only used it 2 months before she inherited her parents Kirby.

Insert a huge squuuuueeeeeeeeeel here.

I almost skipped to my lou all the way to the car with my carpet cleaner.

I think it works better than the rug doctor we usually rent.  It took me less time, didn’t hurt my back like the rug doctor does, and with the hand tool, I got out things that I didn’t think were ever going to come out.  I can’t use regular carpet cleaner on my carpets because of the birds.  I used purex in the soap part, water with a bit of white vinegar in the water part, and sprinkled baking soda on the floor before I did it.  I couldn’t believe how well that worked either.  I did the same with the floormate when I scrubbed my kitchen floor the other night, vinegar and baking soda, cleaned better then the cleaners I normally use, and it went faster.  Surprisingly, nothing smelled like decorating easter eggs when I was done, so that was a plus!

I got my bedroom, the hallway, and the living room done.  Today is the kids rooms.

Speaking of the living room, first I cleaned the area rug, THEN my husband picks it up, throws it outside, and said he’s going to go get a new one.  Couldn’t have told me that BEFORE I cleaned it?  I was planning on cleaning the carpet under it, so thank you for moving it at least.

I love me some Craig’s List!  I can clean my carpets whenever I want now.  Don’t have to nag at Pato for a week before inspections that carpets need to be cleaned and to please please please go get me a rug doctor. 

Yippie!

I’m telling you, it’s the little things, like clean carpet whenever I want that makes me happy.

I get to reclean the kitchen today.  I had it spotless Friday night.  Then Pato made supper yesterday.  I don’t know what blew up, but the floor needs a good scrubbing today (I’m just a Hoover girl I tell you, because now that I have the carpet cleaner and the Hoover FloorMate there is no excuse for my floors to ever be anything but spotless.  Well, except finding the time with 4 kids to get it done.)

Before the floor needs scrubbed the counters need cleaned, and I just washed the sink FULL of dishes that he left me.  On the plus side, the chicken enchiladas?  Excelente! 

Off to find more stuff to clean while I wait for the kids to get up and finish their rooms.  Then I’ll get in there and clean their carpets.  Eventually I need to go pick up Woodstock’s cage too.  He’ll be here next Saturday!  Woot woot!

I suppose I should clean off my desk again too.  I swear I just did that.

Have a great day!

To the FTC wo/man – I have not been paid or compensated for my post in any way.  Hoover didn’t ask me to do a review, nor did they know I was doing a review, just love my new Hoover SteamVac that I bought all on my own – or my husband did.

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I was planning on going to Henry Doorly Zoo today with the kids and Pato but completely spaced the fact that today is the birthday party of Katiana’s best friend.  She can’t miss that.  Neither her or Olivia would ever forgive me!  Plus, Nano started running a fever yesterday.  I’m thinking he might not be up for a long car ride and time out in the sun today. 

So, today’s plans are to run to get Olivia a birthday present because I forgot about the party, drop Kat off at Olivia’s, then go grocery shopping.  Yippie!  I’m hoping while I’m gone that the house will miraculously clean itself up (because I doubt that Pato will do it).  Otherwise, I’ve got a kitchen floor to scrub, living room to vacuum, and various other things that need done.

I’d like to say Happy Anniversary to my mom and dad.  Yesterday was 33 years of marriage for them.  That sounds like such a long time.  As a rebellious teenager who hated my dad and thought he was too strict and mean and just not a very nice person, I would like to say now that I am so glad my mom never took my advice and left him.  Not that she would have listened to a 15 year old, but ya know, glad she stuck with him, and him with her, through a period where I have to admit, I wasn’t very nice myself to my dad.

My parents got married when I was 2 1/2 and my dad adopted me when I was 3.  He’s the only man I’ve ever known as my father, and I love him dearly.  It takes a special man to raise a child that isn’t his biologically, to give that child his name, and call them his own.  (I have to say, I’m lucky myself in that Pato has done the same with Jordan.  Jordan’s dad is in his life, so Pato can’t adopt him, but he loves Jordan, considers him his own, he’ll tell you he has 4 kids, not 3 and a step child, and Jordan calls him dad.)  I can’t imagine my life without my dad and I can’t imagine my mom ever being happy without him.  We’ve come a long way since my teenage years.  Mom, dad, I love you and I am so glad that yesterday was number 33!  I’m glad you made it through me.  Couldn’t be easy having a teenager try to come between you all the time and pit one against each other.  You are both very special people and I adore you!  I hope you had a wonderful day!  Mom, I’m rooting for number 35 to be celebrated in Hawaii (if you take us too!   Just kidding! How romantic would that be with 4 kids, their spouses, and 10 grandchildren along for the ride?).

My mom wrote a post on her blog last month about how they met.  It’s a cute story if you want to go check it out!

One more picture I stole borrowed from my mom’s blog.  It’s my mom and dad with all 10 grandkids.

That’s my 4 on the left and in my dad’s arms:  Jordan, Alyce, Katiana, and Christiano.  Then my brother Josh’s daughters, Taylor and Cambria in her arms.  Beside them is my brother Steve’s girls, Sydney and Jadah.  In my mom’s arms is my sister Abby’s little girl, Mikayla, and beside mom is Josh’s son, Carter.

They love their grandchildren and the grandchildren love them.  I think we need some more boys in the family though, Abby?  Josh?  Steve?  Snap to it!  I’m done reproducing.  Knock on wood and praying to the God of IUDs

I can’t believe Taylor is going to be 12 this month.  She was my first niece, the first grandchild.  I still remember the day she was born.  I told mom I’d run to Council Bluffs to take grandpa to a doctor’s appointment at the hospital (a 1 1/2 hour drive each way).  I told Shelley, who was overdue at that point, now don’t you go having that baby while I’m gone.  What happens?  I get a call while we’re (Abby and I) were at the hospital with grandpa, Shelley had Taylor!  I told you to wait for me to get back home darn it.  That beautiful little baby is almost a teenager now, time flies so fast.  Jordan will be turning 12 in February.  It’s not right I tell you!  He’s already talking about when he can drive.  In Iowa you can get your learner’s permit at 14.  He’s counting down the days.  I’m suddenly feeling like 14 is WAY too young to drive, even though I started driving then too.  No, wait, I was 15, because I failed the permit test like 8 times or something ridiculous like that.  That’s sad.  On the plus side, passed the driver’s license paper test and driving test the first time with flying colors.

I hope you all have a wonderful day!  I’m going to go jump in the shower, then get Katiana up and showered to go to the party.

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I actually wanted to title this SIGH but I figured my mom being out of the hospital topped that.  

They released her yesterday.  She had to schedule a time to get her gall bladder taken out. (Who knew that that organ could cause so much pain?  Ok those of you who have had gall bladder attacks probably know.)  I can’t remember if she said she was doing it the 17th or the 20th.  Either way she’s home!  And it’s something fixable!  YAY!  Love you mom!

Now to the sigh part.

Jordan went to his dad’s yesterday for a week or so. 

I miss him already.

I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, I never think about how much Jordan helps me until he’s not here.  I know I expect a lot of him, he’s my oldest.  My parents did it with me.  Your parents did it with you.  There’s just certain things that come along with growing up.  More responsibilities, more privileges. 

Privileges – Katiana is mad because I’m taking Jordan with me to see the midnight showing of Eclipse when it comes out.  She wants to go.  I’m sorry, you’re 6, you’re not going to see a midnight showing of anything. 

Responsibilities – Really, he doesn’t have a lot more than the other kids, except maybe to help me more with Nano when I am trying to do things for the others. 

I think I also expect him to listen to me the first time more than I do the others.  I’m starting to expect that of Katiana and Alyce, and am working on it with Nano, but Jordan is 11, he knows what is expected of him.  He really is a good kid, I adore him, he just gets a little mouthy sometimes.

So, he went to his dad’s.  The girls needed to get the living room picked up.  I need to vacuum.  You see, my big vacuum cleaner with attachments is burning something inside when you run it.  I need the hose.  I can use the Hoover Stick Vac for the majority of it, but around the entertainment center, under the bird cage, under the couch edge, I need the attachments for that.  My vacuum finally burned a whole in the carpet.  (Thanks Eureka!  This vacuum is only a couple of years old.) 

So Pato took the broom and swept by the entertainment center, under the couch edge, swept all those little crumbs to the middle.  While he was doing that, he took the broom and pulled everything that Kat and Alcye had stuffed under the couch while they were “cleaning” out and now my living room is a crap hole.  I’d take a picture if I wasn’t so embarrassed.

The girls wouldn’t do ANYTHING last night.  I mean, sitting in the middle of the floor surrounded by everything, not playing, not having fun, just sitting there doing NOTHING.  This went on for a couple of hours.  Then Christiano went in and grabbed Alyce’s bowl from lunch out of the sink (child pushes chairs and loves to climb).  He dumped the leftover ramen noodles all over my kitchen floor.  Friggin’ nice.  Do you know how hard it is to sweep up ramen noodles?  Can’t use the vacuum.  One of the kids tried that once.  Decided to sweep it up with my vacuum.  Plugged that puppy right up.  For the record, so does wet cereal and canned green beans.

In the middle of all this, I finally cleaned my sewing machine and tried to use it.

I’m searching the internet for a downloadable copy of the manual for a Singer Model 717.  (It’s old.)  No, but I can pay $20 to have it shipped to me.  That would be great if I didn’t want to use it NOW. 

I’m looking all over trying to figure out how to wind a bobbin.  I thought it had to be like my grandma’s old Singer that I used to sew on with my mom.  It has to be under the foot, right?  I spent an HOUR trying to figure that out.  Until I noticed that you wind the bobbin on top of my sewing machine.  That banging you heard last night?  That was my head on my sewing machine cabinet.

Then I tried to thread it.  The few times I used this sewing machine, my ex mother in law had to come over and thread it for me.  I think I got it threaded right, but then again, I’m not sure.

I didn’t thread it right did I?  Someone else said I might have the bobbin backwards (which way does it go?  I flipped it 20 times) or it might be the wrong size of bobbin.  Tension?  Timing?  Who flipping knows. 

I know!  My mom!  Who has never worked with my machine and really, how can you tell someone how to do it if you’ve never seen their sewing machine?  Plus, she was soaking in the jacuzzi tub trying to relieve the stress of the past few days.

Now my next question is, how hard is it to take the machine out of the cabinet.  I’m threatening to haul it out to mom today so that she can show me how to do it.

I almost started crying on the phone yesterday to her.  I think I just felt overwhelmed with the lack of listening from my girls, knowing my mom was going to be ok finally, and this stupid sewing machine.

I was all, I can’t cook, I can’t sew, I can’t crochet, I can’t quilt, I can’t embroider, I can’t do anything girly.  Mom said I can cook.  I said, yeah, conglomerations.  That’s what we call my cooking around here, Heather’s conglomeration.  If it has hamburger in it, I can cook it.  Seriously, don’t ask me to cook steak, chicken, pork, anything but hamburger.  I can’t do it.  When I make chicken breasts, I have to stick them in the microwave after they’ve cooked because I’m worried they aren’t done.

Back when I was younger, I was busy with cheerleading, band, choir, vocal lessons, work, anything but paying attention to the things my mom could have taught me.  Now I can’t do any of it.

You should see the one blanket that I crocheted for Jordan.  Crookedest thing you’ll ever see, and it’s all in a single chain style.  I can’t do fancy.  My embroidering?  Looks horrible.

Ok, off my rant.  While I was trying to figure out my sewing machine, Christiano came up and took off with my phone.  That was on silent from his nap.  I didn’t notice until I wanted to call my mom and beg for my grandma’s old sewing machine.  I’ll trade ya!  No phone.

Do you know how impossible it is to tell a 15 month old to find mommy’s phone?  Get it.  Get mommy’s phone.  Holding my fingers up to my ear, call daddy.  Find mommy’s phone.

He brought me various things, a ball, a DVD case, another ball, nothing that even closely resembled my phone. I was ready to go buy some hair loss products for women in case I pulled out all my hair trying to get him to find where he put my phone

I looked online and used Where’s My Cell Phone.  We turned off all the noise and the lights looking for a flash, trying to hear it vibrate.  You can only use that service every 5 minutes or so.

Finally I went in Kat’s room, I felt her ladder vibrating.  I couldn’t hear it, just feel it.  I got all excited.  We’re searching the bed, searching the floor near the ladder, searching everywhere.  Could not find it.  It took 15 tries from Where’s My Cell Phone to find it.  It had slipped between the mattress and the frame of the bottom bunk, caught in the plastic that we left around the side of the bed.

I had lots of missed calls on top of the 15 missed calls from Where’s My Cell Phone.  Unfortunately, it was almost 11 when I finally found it, so if you called me last night and I didn’t call you back yet, that’s why.  Sorry!

Alright, I’m going to get Katiana moving on the living room that is STILL not done.  I told Pato I would do it, but what does that do except show the girls that if they hold out long enough, mom will break down and do their chores for them.  I think I’ll empty the dishwasher.

Then I shall tear apart my sewing machine and take it to my mom.

Help me!  Help me!

Have a great day!

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I’m looking at my desk and thinking, Pato’s going to start telling me to clean off my….well, I can’t say exactly what he says.  English or Spanish, this is a family friendly blog. 

Books stacked up that I need to read in 3 stacks that are starting to tower over.  My kids put all their papers they brought home from school on my desk, and it’s not in a neat order.  I just saw a popcorn bag behind my monitor which means someone was too lazy to walk to the garbage when they were done with that.

2 boxes of silk flowers that I just for digital scrapbooking and then for the girls’ hair.  And then an assortment of little things, chapstick, bendryl, hot sauce packets, PSP games, sun block, my jewelry box, my box of perfumes, anything else that needs reviewed.  My desk is the catch all for anything and everything that doesn’t have a home. 

I think that has to be done today before the leaning tower of books crashes over and ends up all over my floor.

I’ll clean it off and it will stay that way for 2 days while I hover over it, directing people to place their things some where else.  Stay away from my desk.  The first day I turn my back it will be overrun with various things that aren’t mine again.

I can’t find my new phone case, I’m sure it’s in here somewhere.

Yesterday was Jordan’s last game, and I forgot my camera.  The team pic is a cell phone picture.  Which, is better than I would have gotten off my Blackberry, but even with my Palm Pre, you can only ask a phone to do so much, ya know?

Told ya.  Only so much.   I asked the other parents to send me a copy of theirs.  Jordan is the first kid on the right standing up. 

Look at the sky behind them though.  The clouds and the blue were so pretty yesterday.  I had trouble concentrating on the game.  I was wishing I had my camera to take pictures of the beautiful sky!

Jordan did get injured and taken out of the game.  A boy from the other team and Jordan were going for the ball at the same time, Jordan was defense.  Somehow that other kid kicked Jordan in the knee. (Hence me wanting to scream keep your feet near the ground when the boys are kicking up by their heads at times.  It drives me crazy.  The refs rarely call them on it at this age.  You can do fancy kicks with your legs up high if it’s safe.  If there are players around you, you should get called on it.)  Jordan fell to the ground and I held my breath as he lay there.  I was envisioning 7th grade when I played soccer and one of the girls got kicked in the knee.  She ended up having to have surgery and in a leg brace for a long time.  I was able to breathe again when he got up.  He continued to play, but I could see him talking to the coach when there was no one around him.  He was subbed.  I didn’t realize he was hurt still because he’d kept playing.  I asked him why he didn’t get put back in after half?  Mom, that kid kicked me in my knee.  It hurt to bad to walk. 

I’m an observant mom.

In my defense, we were on the opposite side of the field, and way down by the other goal when it happened.

After the game we came home and I bribed the kids with dinner at Pato’s work if they did their chores quickly.

Don’t judge.

We do what we have to do.

Christiano don’t need no stinking chips.  Child eats his cheese dip and salsa by the handful.  He starts with a chip.  But after a few dips he doesn’t get as much as he wants so he just starts digging in with the hands.  He gets his own bowls of salsa and cheese dip, thank you very much.

It’s really hard to take Nano to Pato’s work.  He’s only content for about 5 minutes.  Then he wants to go hang with Pato.  He starts throwing one of those embarrassing child fits where he screams and arches his back trying to get away from me.  I end up having to hold him and bribe him with whatever I have at my disposal to get through my dinner.  If he doesn’t stop, we pack up my food to take home.  I’m one of those moms that if one of my children is creating a scene at a restaurant, we leave.  The other diners didn’t come to see the 3 ring circus that is my kids.

At any other restaurant, Nano is very well behaved, but when he can see Pato, it’s not cool.  He’s a daddy’s boy through and through.  Unless he wants to nurse, then he’s mama’s boy.

Speaking of nursing.  I’m trying to wean him.  I had both girls weaned at 16 months, which is my goal with him.  He’ll be 16 months on June 23.  I know other people go longer, but I’m ready to have my body be mine again.  I’ve been pregnant or nursing for almost the past 7 years straight.  There was a few in between nursing and getting pregnant with Alyce and less than that between stopping nursing and getting pregnant with Christiano.

I’ve been trying the don’t ask/don’t refuse method.  That’s not going so well.  If I don’t offer, he asks a lot still.  Like, child will try to lift up my shirt.  Usually it’s just at home, but when we went to Jordan’s soccer game a few weeks ago, Christiano was trying to lift my shirt to nurse.  I don’t let you do that at home.  Why would you think you could do it here?  He’s old enough that he should be able to eat or drink something else in public.  I’m trying to reserve nursing for nap time and bedtime and that’s it.  He still is asking a few other times a day.  If I can distract him with something else, I do. 

I think it’s cuz he’s a boy.  I really do.  A boy who takes after his father. 

A man who completely encourages this behavior because he finds it amusing.

Speaking of the father.

Does this happen to you?

We’re going on 9 years together. 

He walked out of his work yesterday when he saw my car pull in.

Swaggered up to the car with his normal, I’m a very confident man swagger.  (See note on swagger below.)

I was all, you know, you’re kind of yummy. 

Want to go back to the cooler?  I did not just say that.  Oh but I did.

I always think he’s handsome.  He’s my Pato.

But every once in awhile that intense, he’s really yummy thing hits me.  You know, that feeling you get when you see someone for the first time that you think is really good looking?  Kind of start crushing on them.  Get a little giddy.

I find it comforting that I still think my husband is hot.

I’m not dead.

I’m just really tired when he gets home from work at midnight.

About that swagger.  The man just exudes something from him.  He doesn’t do anything that encourages women.  He’s gotten hollers when we’re just out and about.  Drives me crazy though.  I’ve been there and seen women leave their number on a napkin for him.  He gives them to his single friends.  I think that’s just cruel.  They are expecting this 6’2” – 220 lb stack of a man to call them.  Instead they get 5’2” pimply friend of the man calling them.  Ladies, don’t leave your number on the table for your waiter unless you know if he’s married or not.

One time I was sitting at the bar with Jordan and Kat (I was pregnant with Alyce).  He wasn’t even waiting on the bar.  He was just making drinks for his tables.

This lady hands him a 5 dollar bill.  He looked at her and she kind of flipped her hair, playing with it.  She said, that’s because you’re just so cute.  It took a lot of effort not to puke right there.

He said thank you and walked away.  (I say he should have given her back the money.)

I said, don’t do that.

She said why?

I said because he’s got a big enough head as it is and I have to deal with it when he comes home.

She mumbled an apology.

I left.

I was raised old school.  You don’t call boys, you don’t ask boys out.  You flirt a little, nonchalantly.  But you don’t blatantly hit on them.

When I see that kind of forwardness with my husband, it kind of makes me see green.

I’ve got to go empty the dishwasher.

Have a great day!

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