Nobody Told Me . . .

. . .  I would have very little time . . . to do anything!

As if I need more proof that I stink at time management lately, I wanted to post this particular topic on Friday, but alas, it's Monday.

I used to be able to manage my time quite well. Before kids, I worked 20-30 hrs a week, went to school full time, completed all my homework (yes, I was that student) and got decent grades. While I was teaching and preggers with Avery, I could take naps, eat tons of cheeseburgers, plan lessons for 3 classes, teach those lessons and keep my grades up to date. Oh, and also coach two sports. After Avery, while staying home, I could keep a clean house, make dinner, raise a kid and plan practices for volleyball and track, attend those practices and games and still manage to do the wife/mom/friend thing.

Well, all of my time managent skills have flown out the window. They are non-existent.  Those skills must be with my quick thinking brain cells somewhere. Those seemed to have disappeared during the second trimester of the second pregnancy. They have yet to return. The jump from one to two kids continues to challenge me, especially in this area. I used to read. I used to exercise. I used to clean. Sort of.

My house is an embarrassing mess. My poor, mostly tidy husband. I cannot keep up with the laundry. If we did not have enough underwear to last us a month, we'd be in a tough place. If I do happen to complete a few loads of laundry, I cannot seem to find the time to fold them. Ugh, I hate folding laundry. Then I have to put it away! What the heck!

I can get the grocery shopping done. Dinner made. I keep the kids pretty clean and tidy. Myself, clean, but not as tidy as I would like. Keep the kids from wrecking each other or the house and spend quality time with them. I think that's the tough part. I can always tell the difference on the days that I spend time with Avery during Nate's morning nap and the days that I clean the kitchen instead. She can develop quite the rebellious attitude.

Anyways. I know that there are many solutions to my time management issues. One is get up before the kids. I hate that idea. So much. I know some moms that stay up super late and get up early. That seems so terrible to me. Yuck. Although, I know once I create the habit, it should get easier. I also understand that the time I get to spend with the kids is far better than anything I could be doing. Its just tough because sometimes the state of my house makes me want to cry.

I would like you to know that I do get to do fun things. I have a standing Thursday hang out with my besties. Shout out to Megelle! What the what! And Mike is really purposeful about me having some time on the weekends. He obviously helps with the household chores. I just feel like I should be able to take care of all that.

So, just know, when you see some awesome looking baked good on my facebook page, most likely my house is a mess. Toys are strewn about. I probably havent haven't cleaned my floors in a week.

How do you manage your time? What do you wish you had more time for?

Nobody Told Me . . .

. . . that I would miss my music this much.


I love music. It takes you back. It lifts you up. It makes you feel.

My kids love music. We dance in the kitchen while I make dinner. We sing in the car. Nathan flails his arms to the music. He especially gets into it when a song has a jam out session in the middle. Avery enjoys action and movie songs. She's particularly fond our friend Dave's (DSM's) Creation Song. She's begun to ask what every song is about, most notably if it's a song to which I sing along.

The music I love the most is not kid appropriate. Snow Patrol, Dashboard Confessional, Dave Matthews Band, Foo Fighters, Lifehouse, and so on.

I have a playlist on my iPod titled "Depressing but Necessary." I think we should all create such a list! Avery is incredibly perceptive to emotion and these songs would literally make her sad. Needless to say, I don't listen to them very often. Then, when I finally do indulge, I realize just how much I've missed my dear friends.

So, by now you're thinking, "What is on this playlist?" There are 101 songs on the list, so I cannot share them all. but here are my top ten. It was incredibly difficult to choose.

Mikelle & I at a DMB concert. 

In no particular order:

1. Crack the Shutters - Snow Patrol
2. Need You Now - Lady Antebellum
3. What If You - Joshua Radin
4. Everything - Lifehouse
5. Hallelujah - Kate Voegele
6. Collide - Howie Day
7. Rest Stop - Matchbox Twenty
8. Crash Into Me - Dave Matthews Band
9. Hands Down - Dashboard Confessional
10. Round Here - Counting Crows
11. Crazy For You - Madonna (It just came on and I can't eliminate any of the above!)

What are your favorite kid-inappropriate songs? Or perhaps a kid-inappropriate band?

PS - I have a new commenting system on here. You can log in with a FB, Twitter, Google or Yahoo account. You can also create your own Disqus account with only your name and email. I know that some of you had difficulties creating an account with the old system.  

Additionally, as much as I love reading your comments on Facebook, I would love it even more if I got to read them here!