my pride slides down the drain

I vacuum the house as Ben pokes me in the butt with his green pool noodle squealing Mommy Mommy Mommy Play Mommy Mommy Mommy.

how to isolate yourself

Have kids! People will stop calling and inviting you to do things! They will get annoyed when you call and act irritated when you come over! It's so much fun!

my boys

home owners

Ryan and Angela Bartlett: home owners. I not only won't believe it until I sign the paperwork, I won't believe it until I have slept in that home for thirty straight days without the real owners coming to kick us out and replace us. Are we really going to live in that home? Our home? Yes. Do I believe it yet? Not really.

time out

Time outs for Ben represent a two-minute hellish existence free from the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse cartoon that is on a constant loop in our home. When he is in time out, he screams, "Mickey...Mickey...Mickey...I want Mickey" until the time out is finished and he returns to his favorite friend. He's watched so many episodes of this show that he has started saying the lines before Mickey gets to them, answering the questions before they are asked. He acts out the scenes, mimics the dance moves. When he wakes up in the morning, the first word out of his mouth is Mickey. When it is time for bed, he sadly shouts "more Mickey" knowing that he will have to go several hours without.

everything at once

We just put an offer down on a house. We will hear about the loan in about an hour. Everything is happening at once! I am driving Ryan crazy with my anxiety. I asked him so many questions, he left the room. I wish I could leave the room. I baked a pie because I can't stand waiting, but it didn't take long enough. Agh!