Online banking and parenting belong in the same post...That's my mind for you!

Online Banking is such an awesome thing...I don't ever have money but my bills are always paid. As soon as I get them, I schedule a payment online to when I get my next paycheck and...I never see my money...It comes in and out the same day...wonderful, isn't it??? At least I don't have to hang on to them or see them taped in the fridge, send checks and stamps, and I even file them w the transaction number on :) (efficient)...I don't think about it much anymore...
Me and money don't bond too much...In fact, I opened my account today to schedule some payments and saw too much money. I then realized my sod check hadn't been cashed yet...optical illusions checks provide until they are cashed...I don't even balance check books anymore, to be honest. I just make sure the checks I write get cashed and that's all...
I had a "aha" moment today...I was laying on the sod (that's where I spend most of my time now), soaking up the moment, watching the girls play kitties w my friend Maria and she asked "are you going to be kitties all day??" and Kyrsten said "Yes, like a dream"...This kind of phrases amaze me...and what parent doesn't like their child's dream coming true (as many as they might be and they will change)...
She was telling everybody in the store, and the neighbors, that we bought yogurth yesterday, so excited "My mommy bought me yogurth at walmart" (We buy yogurth every time)...
It so great that scars are so superficial they get cured w special lotion, that awies get calmed down with kisses, that yogurth and pretend kitty playing are dreams reached, that "I love yous" and kisses are the order of every day, that their heartbreaks are so easily forgotten about...I'm scared for independence, for the years to come, for the realities they will learn about, for the facts (true and not) that will shake their thoughts and start wearing off their innocence. There's a phrase that goes "To be a parent is to know your heart will always be walking on another body"...Toughest job on earth, and most rewarding...
Wow, from online banking to parenting...keep you guessing...
Good Night!!!

Basement Clean Up

After working until 5, eating a snack w the girls at home, going to the pool and eating dinner...I decided to clean up the basement...I had the excuse to empty it for a friend of mine who's moving to put boxes in (eventhough I doubt she will) and a yard sale on Saturday...My basement is located underneath my kitchen and it's about 40 feet by 15 feet (maybe...I could tell you better in meters)...it has a little room that's about a third of it...so I put my stuff there, reorganized it and set aside things for the sale...I also brought up the bigger girl clothes and I reorganized and boxed up (and labeled) those too...
There is not too much there...2 winter clothes boxes, 1 (learn American people) Christmas box, one little autumn decorations box, about 5 sleeping bags (for all my camping trips), a box of oil to make deep fried turkey (which was supposed to happen last thanksgiving), a big pot, a tent, haloween costumes and pumpkins for next year bought on sale and a few pieces of luggage...Pretty good, huh??? I plan to keep it that way...but ask me in 10 years....I think I should go through this stuff once a year at least to make sure I get rid of things as I acquire them.
There's quite a bit of if-the-world-ends water bottles...I did keep most of them in case I have water problems...But if the world is going to end...I'd rather go first and not suffer...water will prolong the agony. Plus, I'm so stubborn that, if I want to survive, I will...just because I'm stubborn...
OK people I guess it's time for bed...I'm exhausted...

Creating lasting memories for my choiceless children

Potty training update: this morning first thing...POOP IN THE POTTY. While I was taking the trash...We had ice cream to celebrate...This evening poop in the potty again...this time Olivia was needing assistance so I read a book to her while she did it !!! One pee too...but still lots of puddles...I'm wondering if it s more expensive to buy diapers or the cleaning products while potty training...I know it's better to get rid of diapers in the long run but it's a pain to be cleaning up so much (specially as much as I like cleaning).
Today I gathered most of the stuff I need for my sworn financial statement, which is the last divorce paper I need to submit....what a pain!!! Here (wining) is what I don't find fair...just because I have all kinds of insurances for all kinds of situations because I like to be ready, I need to present copies of everything...Michael, at 37, has nothing, so, lucky him he only has a few papers to present (he probably won't even find those anyways)...I just think it is pretty dumb that we still have to do it if we've agreed on everything ourselves...I'm confident I will be taking that in the next few days...
I spent a lot of the day today dancing and singing like crazy (only twice did my dtrs ask me to stop singing...maybe  was getting too crazy)...HOW FUN!!! I encourage everybody to do so...I live in a corner w big windows so a few people mght have seen me...to be honest, I wasn't paying attention...but there's a few houses on the market in the neighborhood, I might be attracting buyers...I'm just that amazing...
It is 8 pm and both my kids are sleeping by their own free will. I guess I will sort out papers to see what I can file in my file cabinet and throw away...Maybe I will do so while watching Weddind Crashers...I haven't watched it in forever...my script memory is failing...
C U l8er!!!

How much more can I drag the divorce before you stop reading???

Michael and I have finally agreed on the terms for our divorce so we have filed today together...We still need to fill out a sworn financial statement, which sucks because he has nothing to write on it and I need to be finding out, how much my life and retirement policies are worth, bank statements, etc, etc etc...and he has nothing so he doesnt have to worry about it too much...Regardless, I'm super excited things are finally on it's way.
Today, I organized the girls' closets, I specially threw away lost sock, and old ones, reorganized drawers and put away all winter suits and dresses and hang the summer ones (which had been patiently waiting for a few weeks on top of their dresser)...On Sunday, I moved all the furniture, put glow on it, re arrange some stuff, gave away toys and now I'm really happy with how it looks. There's nothing like giving away that makes me feel better...I think I'm the other extreme of hoarding...When thinking about an object, hoarders think "I (or someone in this planet) will need it for sth"...I think "The less the better"...
I really like big organizing projects...Upkeep is not my thing...Needless to say, cleaning day will be tomorrow.
OK, I'm tired and my battery is almost out so it's time for bed!!!
Nite nite

I'm back

As serial killers would say..."I'm back" (twisted sense of humor)...
I was gone for 3 weeks...three weeks that I took a break also from the internet, most of the time.
I am so relaxed, I don't even have jet lag tiredness...
I had so much fun with my family, such a great amazing experience going to a cruise for 8 days, which I never thought I'd do. There was entertainment all the time: from music, dancing and games on the deck to shows in a full blown theatre every night. Breakfast and lunches in a buffett every day and dinners in a fancy restaurant every night. Lots of family time next to the pool...
I though Kyrsten, who's a little shy, would take sometime...but I think she felt how excited my family was and how loved she was, so she was interacting with everybody all the time...Olivia amaze everybody w how smart she is too...They had such a great time...And I did too..I had a lot of help and a lot of fun. I was so rested that after the second day I couldn't nap anymore.
I loved catching up w my friends in Argentina. I don't have a lot of friends but gosh I have amazing ones. I love them soo much!!!
I was happy to be home as well. Eventhough my house was a mess, the kids can be alone for one minute while I go to the bathroom or cook...They can play with their things...They can see their daddy...
We had arranged w Michael before I left, that they would be with  him for a whole week when I got back...so I'm taking advantage of this week.
I have started to go room by room and organize and throw away, and rearrange, get rid of expired medicine, try to put the majority of toys in the girls room, give away clothes, throw dead plants (there were only two...my plants are so used to me not watering them that they survived 3 weeks)
I made a list of every room in the house and I'm crossing off as I go. I started by the rooms with the least work so I would feel accomplished and crossed of those..and then I can take my time with the ones that require more work. I have my room (just getting rid of more clothes), the girls room (getting rid of toys and clothes) and the kitchen (major overhaul before painting the cabinets)...I feel good!!!
Ok, thank you for not losing hope!!!
The traveler,
Cata