or I could just take care of things now

 DRUM ROLE PLEASE...

at exactly 10:57 tonight, APRIL 15th, I completed our taxes YET AGAIN.

AND I WAS 1099'd!!!!!!, had to figure out a 982, and am still panicking over a 1099-S I'm not sure should have gone somewhere other than where I put it.

IS THERE NO END TO MY MANY SKILLS AND ABILITIES?!

...No, really.

I feel a strong need for more appreciation over here.  I'm handling way too much I think.  Too much.  I need to hear something like, 

"Your interpretation of Maslow's Self-Actualization in his Hierarchy of needs 

as it relates to personal and private spirituality is spot on Nicole."

-or-

"Wow, I didn't realize that when I had all my babies on welfare, you had to go to work and leave your babies behind so you could pay your medical $$$ bills.  I think I'll go off welfare now."

So that's not going to happen.  Instead, how about that VIOLET? 

Isn't she the bees' knees?

Yep- I'm going to need a bit more uplifting etc.  Valentines might work"

 In my line of profession, I'm just not going to receive a significant amount of validation. 
Chubby Baby helps.
Mother's Day might too.
...or I could just take care of things now:

"Holy smokes Nicole- I didn't know you could read TAX CODE 

and come out on the other end of it alive!"

-and-

"Seriously? Have the 6-year-olds dance AROUND cowboys hats?!  GENUIS!"

Hello for now.

Hello for now.

 

This is me right this minute thinking many things.  Namely:

1. Really?  It's already time for wrinkles?
2. I should be sleeping.
3. Thank the Lord:  Tomorrow is a half day for students 

So, lots to catch up on.  I shall eat the elephant task of updating one bight at a time.  Here are some misc. events.  PS: Just because life is undesirably scheduled, no excuses to forget anything Nicole!

Let's start with braids.  Annie and I are totally into braids as of late:  

 Also, is it possible to be in love with a bill?  I am.  This is the best bill EVER! It may just be top 3 in the reasons to move to Bloomington.  Really!  It means we can have an acre of grass and pay next to nothing to water it.  So happy to pay this every year.

 AND here is a minor SAMPLING of the projects we have been tackling.  When we get discouraged, we look back at some of these before shots and realize we are making progress after all.  More to come on the yard.  I feel like we've moved Everest back there and finally turned the corner on things.  Finish line please.

 Have I mentioned my girls LOVE Grandma Polly.  Baby V is named after her.  The best part about Grandma Polly are the compliments.  I could be the worst Mother on the planet and she would still think I could fly to the moon.

 We planted TULIPS last fall and they are SPECTACULAR.  Here they are just starting to pop up on St. Patrick's Day... which by the way I TOTALLY FORGOT!  Thank heavens it wasn't a school day and my kids were older or they could have held it over my head for eternity.  We were sitting in church and suddenly Quinn pinched me really hard.  I couldn't figure out why for the longest while.  I had even been wondering why so many people were wearing green.  I'm losing it!

Also evidence that I'm losing it:  In a one week period I found myself 3 TIMES driving down the road with the van door wide open.  One time a cop turned on his speaker to tell me to pull over.  Real fun to have, "YOUR VAN DOOR IS OPEN, PULL OVER!  YOUR VAN DOOR IS OPEN, PULL OVER!" blaring at you while you are driving past the middle school you work at.

Told you I am losing my mind.

I mean, really- losing my mind.

More to come.

Let me introduce you to the Christmas culprit.

• My girls are awesome!  Annie loves to spell.  She knows that B is for Bob, V is for Violet, A is for Annie, and C is for Grandma.  Smart girl.  Grandma Cindy is quite proud.  V is talking up a storm as well.  Lots of dadada and nanana and, if I'm lucky, a mamama.

• I miss them SOOO much when I am at work.  I have this slight problem of getting super duper annoyed with stay-at-home moms who complain.  I need to lighten up but seriously, I cannot WAIT to be home bound with these two perfect girls.

And the countdown begins.  May 23rd and they are all mine all the time!

• Here is my little family at our church Christmas party. Ollie loves to cuddle and her favorite as of late is this little rag doll that Annie named Angelie (where she came up with that I know not).

 Annie was never much of a snuggler so V is making up for it big time.

•  In case you were wondering, we did make it to and through Christmas.  It took Annie three days to open her presents mostly because our holiday was jammed pack with family events.

•  Poor thing.  Grandma Polly broke her wrist in two places.  She is not very hindered by her injury, she says, because she chose which arm to break when she fell so she chose her left.

•  Let me introduce you to the Christmas culprit.  THIS is the exact photo I sent in for the furniture warranty claim.  The couch happens to be the only thing in our house we bought the warranty for.  Lucky us because Annie decided to decorate it along a 10 foot span that is quite visible from our entry way.  She did it right before Thanksgiving so, along with all of our guests, we had the good fortune of enjoying her foray all through the holidays.