Welcome to the Real World

I find chores and boys so interesting.. The older boy (20 years old) has been home for 3 weeks going on 4.. has done no laundry at all.. I think he's taken one shower.  I heard yesterday that he told his younger brother to do his laundry for him.  I told Max he was not to do Shelby's laundry and if I caught him doing it he would have consequences.  He can do it himself.  Same thing with the cleaning.  They clean their rooms and bathroom.. that mostly means dusting in their bedrooms.  I don't let them use my vacuum because next time I try to use it it's broken.  So I vacuum.  They dust their rooms, do their laundry and clean the bathroom.. and I think that's a deal.. they are the ones making the bathroom all scummy so they can clean it.  I started this years ago when I talked and talked to them about being more careful in the bathroom if you know what I mean.  Not a fun conversation for a stepmother to have with two boys.  I had my husband talk to them first.. nothing changed and they both thought it was a big joke.. and the horrible thing is the bathroom had carpet.. yuck.. so I told them they would have to clean it.  Max does a pretty good job.. Shelby does the bare minimum and has to be sent back to do it over several times.  Acts like he's being tortured.  He works today but it's later this afternoon.  I told Peter to get him up so he can do his laundry and cleaning before he leaves.. I'm sure it will be an ordeal but that's what everyone has to do.. Welcome to the real world!

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to the best Mom and Nana ever!!

Max's Birthday

Friday was Max's 17th birthday.. I can't believe that when I first met him he was 5 and just turning 6.. We went to Mad Mex.. good food and we had a good time.. He didn't want us to tell them it was his birthday.. he didn't want a cake.. didn't want anyone to sing to him.. On his "real" birthday, I made him brownies.. put a candle on and sang to him.. he just laughed..

Mother's Day

Here is my Mother's Day so far.. too bad there isn't sound because they are both snoring! Don't tell them.. if either one sees this they will kill me!

Our Home

Last time I posted pictures of our house that we lived in for 5 years.. still on the market.. We now are renting a 3 bedroom townhouse.. Going from over 5000 square feet to 1700 was quite a challenge.. We had way more furniture and stuff than could fit.  We had already moved and were living in a furnished corporate apartment and that time was ending so we had to get a different place.  We had a couple of days at our house to pack it up and move it all.. We could have tried to sell things but just didn't have the time.  Not one charity was willing to come pick up the things we wanted to give away.. and we are talking major stuff.. We finally found a church who helps refugees.. they came with a couple of trucks and took everything for us.. they were grateful.. and so were we.. the pastor came and brought with him 5 men who were refugees.. they had nothing.. they were so happy to receive the things we gave them.. the pastor told us that many of them live in an apartment that has no furniture.. they sleep on the floor.. they don't even have blankets or pillows.. We were so happy to be able to help them..

Even though our house now is so much smaller.. I love it.. We don't have to do any maintenance.. I don't even have to change a light bulb.. No lawn mowing or yard work.. it's wonderful..

Cleaning

I'm not a stranger to cleaning.. it's not my favorite thing to do but it has to be done.. I've sold 3 homes.. and let me tell you I was lucky or blessed that each sold on the first day on the market.. Now we have a home that has been on the market for going on 3 years.  With the last two houses Peter had to move on for the job.. and I was left to sell the house, take care of the kids and dogs.. I was by myself for about 6 weeks each time.. the last one was the most difficult.. Peter and the boys were gone.. it was just me and my puppy.. I had a cleaning service once a week.. but every day I cleaned the entire house from top to bottom.. I think I was getting compulsive about it.. what kills me is that the house has not sold.. I have no idea why.. it's a beautiful house and in a great area.. the price has been lowered but still it sits..

Gladys Kravitz

Ok.. I've become Gladys Kravitz.  I think I'm the only one home during the day in our unit.. The windows are all looking out on the parking lot.  I like to open them when the weather permits.. so I hear every car or truck going by.  If I'm expecting a package I look out and other times not.. but I pretty much know the comings and goings around here.  And wouldn't you know that just when I am near a window something happens that is worth talking about.. I didn't even intend to look out to see something.. oh well as they say in Pittsburgh I'm a nebshits.. but I prefer nebbynose!

Spring is Here

We've had a lot of rain lately.. raining today and so I have decided to stay home instead of shopping and errands.  I have never really taken to the notion of "spring cleaning" but it seems that is just what I am doing.  I've only felt sick a couple of days this past week and am feeling much better the last few days. 

The carpets are being cleaned tomorrow so I feel I have to get things done for that.. maybe I don't really.. but last year the guy said "I can't believe how much dog hair is in the carpets".. I said "yeah, me too" since I vacuum all the time.. who would think that such a little dog could produce so much hair??  I took his remark as a criticism.. like I don't clean enough and in reality that's all I do.. Of course the days I don't feel well nothing gets done and that is the problem.. NOTHING that I usually do gets done.  The guys are good about doing the dishes, trying to keep things up.. but it's my job to do the major cleaning.. vacuuming, dusting, cleaning bathrooms, kitchen etc.  Here is a picture of the cute little puppy who makes me clean more than I would like!  Sleeping on mommy's pillow!