It keeps getting better

It's almost 11 pm and I'm all wired up from finishing a home project. I have issues...I admit it.
Today, my amazing friend Maria came to my house to sit in my new lawn :) and help me put grout in the porche (after 6 months of just tiles)...Sometimes you just need friends to push you a little to do the things you can do. I feel so accomplished and it's all that much special that we now can always look at it and know we did it together!!!
I forgot what a pain it is to clean up the tile after grouting, and even more with porous tile...But it's done and I'm super excited there's a room in the house that is finished (even if it's the porche).
After a week of projects it is extremely hard to catch up w the laundry...I try to keep up w it because I don't particularly enjoy when it piles up and I have to do it all together. However, between sod, cleaning for yard sales and grouting, my laundry has suffered. I've folded it all and tomorrow -between getting of work and getting ready for a BBQ/date- I'll have to put it away. Hopefully Mary Poppins will come and put it all away by magic.
Yes, I have a date tomorrow. Sort of. It's barbeque and there will be more people, which should make it easier. I still think getting set up is a good idea, except for the fact that the people setting me up seem to get a lot of expectations and anxiety which might not be good for their health. Meanwhile, I feel relaxed and unpressured because there will be other people and not just one to stare at :P. I'll keep you posted.
I have Pandora on. I love it. I have realized I am a much better person when I have music on. I'm a better mom too. It difuses my tension. Plus, I love to sing and dance (fast and slow) with myself, my cleaning utencils and my children.
I've been smiling a lot lately, I think I'm just happy. Period. It's a waste of time not to be...There's so many beautiful things in this world...Honest, that's what I feel.
OK, go be happy people, and smile, it takes 28 muscles as opposed to the 37 to frown...Now relax your faces and go face the world!!!

Rainy Saturday Calmness

Tonight I made a trully apalling dinner. I believe my children should eat what someone made them without saying anything just out of respect for whom made the meal...but I couldn't make them, I threw it all away after a few bites...I made whole wheat rice and pour a can of (healthy harvest) mexican style soup...It was so salty I was feeling the water retention happening in my body...gross...I think that, aside from how long it could take to cook a good meal, what I hate about cooking is nights like this when I fail...I'm so conceited...I'm supposed to be good at everything, right? So, the more I have meals like the one tonight the more I hate cooking...
Going to a different subject, I have another strategy for peaceful time "away" from the kids...Today, there were too many messes happening...so I reached my boiling point and said "we are taking a bath...The girls were super excited and I got to clean up the kitchen and even do some laundry at the kitchen table while listening to the girls in the tub in the attached bathroom.
We dance a lot here all the time (at least once a day, with or without children, I must admit)..Today I put a mix of Sugarland from youtube and dance like crazy w them...Awesome...
We also made (burnt) chocolate chip pancakes (they were still good), baked cupcakes. I didn't have the paper thingys so they didn't come out in one piece but we still frosted them and put sparkles on them.
I realized today, after more than a year of having my new oven that when it's baking it's not hot on the outside...What a mind-blowing fact...generations and generations of "don't come close to the oven; it's hot"...now kids can put their hands on the glass and look at the goodies baking (sort of toy-store image)...Genious...And it took me 1 year...I probably have used that oven 15 times in the last year in my defense...if that's even a worthy defense.
I feel like a pretty good mom today...like I'm better, that's what I feel. I feel like I enjoyed the time w them even more, less tv involved, lots of reading books, baking (that's what good stereotypical American moms do), went to the park, taught them to clean their own messes...I was not perfect and they did drive me crazy more than once...but I feel like a better mom today.
Today, Potty Training Boot Camp started for Olivia. She will be 2 years old :'( in 2 and a half months...It's time...This is  when Kyrsten started...and not to compare but...Kyrsten got the idea from a friend she saw and she pretty much potty trained herself in a few months, no rewards involved...Olivia has her sister to show her...and now candy is involved (food is the way to her heart and reason anyways)...Kyrsten doesn't understand she will not get a candy everytime she goes potty...Any suggestions of how to explain her??? (I've tried) I got rid of a dog for going in the carpet and just when I thought I could walk barefoot in my carpet....NOOOO...4 puddles, one poop and 2 potty instances today...
We'll be butt naked all day tomorrow as well (not me, just Olivia...Kyrsten will get a choice...but not to church)...
OK, I've been pretty lenghty lately...I'm glad to be helping people fall asleep...
Buenas Noches!!!

Dont Worry, Be Happy :)

I'm happy. (period). Bills are paid, I am healthy, my daughters make my life. I'm happy. Things could be better, always; but I dont focus on that. It actually pushes me to improve, if I can or let go, if I cant, which reminds me I need to make an appointment w my therapist...She left me a very concerned message mentioning I never miss therapy...I think, as crazy as I am, she misses the most sane person that goes there and actually makes progress...I love her, she's a little crazy herself. More to come about my therapy sessions (I know you're really looking forward for this).
Today I am very thankful that Michael sent his eye-candy mechanic to take a look at my car and fix some things. He told me the car is in very good shape over all which made me feel good about my investment and gave me hope I wont have to do too much to it in the future as long as I keep it up. Michael doesn't help me a lot so I dont expect him too. Therefore it's always a bonus when he does. He watches the girls most of my work week which is a ton of help.
Moving to another subject, my diet didnt go well today. I ate no sweets but a few extra stuff so that's not good. However, I went back an forth to work in my bike, then to Safeway (only 6 blocks) and then for a 4 mile walk (about one hour)....that's more excercise I've done in a long time combined together...I dont think my butt got the memo: it still does the "earthquake" move...not looking forward to wearing a swimsuit yet.
I have a (people from the) South theme Party and for an unrealistic second I considered being a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader (Texas has been included), but the though of me in that skimpy costume would not attract men, it would make people cover me w blankets...so, I still don't know what I'm wearing...Any ideas???