Operation Make Mommy Happy

Okay, so I had a bit of a meltdown Tuesday evening. It was a meltdown I'm sure many mothers before me have had. It included statements/questions such as: "No one around here listens to me," "Why can't you put trash in the trash can," "Do I really have to remind you every day to put your dirty dishes in the dishwasher," and a few others. I ended up in tears. I was feeling overwhelmed with things to do at work and at home and I hit a breaking point.

Fast forward to getting home from work yesterday evening, and I walk in to a nearly spotlessly clean house courtesy of the kids in what Aidan coined "Operation Make Mommy Happy."  Apparently, after I had retreated to bed the night before, my husband had gathered the kids together and had a talk with them about me being stressed and them taking responsibility for their chores without being told repeatedly to do them.


God bless my husband and kids for putting up with me when I get crazy like that.  They are so great for doing what they did and I made sure they know that they always make me happy.

Doubly Blessed

I find myself getting sentimental when I start thinking about my babies turning 13 five days from now.  I can't believe it's true!  As a young, unmarried woman, I obviously wasn't initially thrilled at the idea of being pregnant, and when I found out I was having twins it was more than a little shocking.  But once they were born it didn't take me long to realize that I had been doubly blessed.  They have grown to be smart, funny, thoughtful young men who have given me many happy memories and will undoubtedly supply many more in the coming years.  Happy Birthday (a little early) Brady & Bryant!!!

Mmmm Mango-Rita

Today I am thankful for happy hour with the girls and that tomorrow is Friday.

If You Can't Stand the Heat, Don't Come to My House

I don't want to be a whiner, but it is REALLY hot outside.  Why today--the hottest day of the summer so far--did my air conditioner have to break?  Is it some cruel cosmic joke?  Of course, I understand there are many, many worse things going on in the world and I am infinitely blessed, but I just hate being hot.  I don't know that I could have survived before air conditioning came along.  I probably would have been one of those women who always got the vapors and needed my fainting couch.

I digress.  I write this post to vent my frustration with companies who choose to be so greedy at the time people are in worst need of their services and to say that I'm thankful that in this instance I wasn't at their mercy. We happen to have a family connection who will be doing the work for us, but he couldn't get to us until tonight. To find out what was wrong and get the parts, we put in a service call with a national chain.  Said chain quoted $1000.  We thanked them kindly for their diagnosis and sent them on their way.  

The parts necessary to complete the repair as they quoted (I won't get into the fact that we probably don't even need everything they quoted) cost a total of $220. Our family connection has told us these types of repairs take 2 hours or less.  Assuming the national chain can get the parts at a similar price, that leaves roughly $800 for the 2 hours of labor--$400/hour!?!  Even if you calculate in the technician's wages (he probably only gets $15/hour), benefits, workers compensation, liability insurance, etc., I can't imagine it would be anywhere close to $400/hour.  Ridiculous!

I feel better to have vented, and I will close by saying that I am SO grateful we weren't at the mercy of this company.  Thank you Josh!