You know it is going to be a long day when...

There are just some days when you can tell immediately that it is going to be one of "those days."  Below is a list of things that have happened that made me know it's going to be a rough day.

You know it will be a long day when…..

….There is more time outs before breakfast than there normally are in a week.

….You wake up to a mud pie.  On your pillow.

…..You get a call one hour before the alarm should go off asking you to work early.

….. When you are in the shower the 4-going-on-14yr-old starts prepubescent hormonal howling            

…..The kids miss the bus

…..The alarm doesn’t go off.

….You didn’t go shopping so breakfast choices are limited to mac and cheese, canned peas, or left over spaghetti.

….You wake up to a toddler and a cat in the bathroom sink with the water running.

How do you know it will be a long day at your house?

A very good reason

We went back to school shopping tonight. Buying school supplies is a little bit overwhelming at our house. We have to buy stuff for my husband and myself for our college classes,and for our six year old 1st grader, and for all the preschool stuff that I do for my child care (that one is the bulk of the stuff). I was in the check out lane of Target with a cart LOADED with paper, crayons, glue and all kinds of stuff.

Colton was in the cart (buckled in because we've already discussed tile diving out of the cart).  He was loudly showing his displesue at being stuck, saying "I'm stuck!! Getta out! I'm STUCK!" I calmly told him there was a very good reason he was stuck- to save his mama's sanity. The lady in front of me in the check out line obviously was eaves dropping because she was snorting trying to hold back the laughter.

Oh honey, if you think saying that to my kid is funny- you should just spend a day at my house!  :)

Wisconsin and the culture of beer

Our family recently traveled to Wisconsin to visit family. We had scheduled to go for months, plane tickets and all. The morning before we left we received the phone call that everyone dreads. Shane's little sister who was 15 died in a house fire.


It is difficult to deal with the passing of someone close to you, some one so young. But I am so grateful for the faith that I have. I do not feel sad for her. I know that she is happy. I feel sad for those she left behind. I cannot, nor do I want to, imagine losing a child.

But in this post I don't want to focus on the sorrow that the trip brought. I wanted to do a light-hearted post (which Alana would have preferred anyways).

So I thought I'd write a few funny culture shocks I expereinced.

On one of the first days there I needed to get cash out of an ATM. We drove to the nearest (and only) bank in "town." No ATM. So I go in and ask where the closest ATM is. She sent me to the pub. Really. I had to do my banking in a bar. Um... Awkward.

Then we go to a buffet style restaurant. Looks very family friendly.  Inside they had huge posters advertising free beer with the dinner buffet. I'm sorry, I've heard of all you can eat, but all you can drink.... OK.

Then we are driving through town and saw a sign that reads.... "Only in Wisconsin! Beer flavored ice cream."

Yep. Only in Wisconsin. Banking in a bar, all you can drink and beer flavored ice cream. Culture shock.