SETTING THE BAR

Why am I THE "Mother of Chaos"?  This blog is an example. 

I started this sucker in December of 2009, over 3 years ago. I made one post, then got sidetracked with a new baby at the end of that month, and completely FORGOT I had a blog. For about 2 years. Then, I remembered a little over a year ago when I saw some friends' blogs. I didn't want to start a new blog from scratch, but darned if I couldn't remember what that stinkin' blog I started was called, where it was hosted, a URL to get there, or any password information on it. I knew it was out there somewhere, floating around in cyberspace, but that was about it.  

I finally just found it, on the eve of St. Patrick's Day, when I'm supposed to be making preparations for tomorrow's big Day O' Green. Instead, I'm sitting here realizing that since no one remembers that this blog exists, the chances of anyone reading it are ridiculously small. I kinda like that idea… like a little diary in multimedia form maybe? 

Anyways, feeling like a crappy mom tonight. I'm actually doing this because I've got so much to do for tomorrow that I'm overwhelmed, and doing this seems like cathartic avoidance, albeit unproductive.  I've been sick all week, and so have 3 of my 4 kids, so all the things that I would normally do for the holiday tomorrow I haven't done.


For example, for St. Patty's a couple of years ago I decided to "set the bar", figuring I could always add a few things and tweak a bit in the coming years.  I planned about a week in advance, making sure I had all my supplies, and did the following:

• Turned all the toilet water green (including the tank water for a 2-flush surprise)
• Got hubby a green mustache to surprise the boys
• Had matching green hats for all 6 of us which we wore at mealtime
• Had matching green shirts for all 6 of us
• Made a leprechaun trap the night before with my oldest boy, who was then 4
• The kids woke up to huge tubs full of green presents.  There was a green footstool, a green football, green colored gardening supplies, green butterfly nets, green packaged treats, St. Patty's books, etc. Also included was a note from a leprechaun that came to our house.
• Breakfast was Lucky Charms with milk that turned green as we poured it into the bowl and green orange juice that did the same, with a shamrock straw
• Lunch was served on St. Patty's Day plates and consisted of green grapes, nuggets, green mac-n-cheese & green lime Kool-Aid to drink.  There was green cotton candy for dessert
• Snack time brought us green fruit smoothies that turned our tongues green
• Dinner was traditional corned beef & cabbage, potatoes, carrots, broccoli, green cauliflower and biscuits

This year, I've turned one toilet green, because I happened to notice that I luckily have some green coloring left.  I saw a leprechaun trap on Pinterest made from an empty Kleenex box - it looked like it would take about 10 minutes to do - so that's what we did tonight about 10 minutes before bedtime.  Besides, we had plenty of Kleenex boxes to use since we've all been sick. 

That's it. The entire scope of my plans and efforts so far this year. I have no special meal for tomorrow planned or bought, although my hubby did buy a box of Lucky Charms last week that isn't completely gone yet, so there's that. I have no decorations up except a few window clings on the fireplace & front door glass that my hubby brought home on a single sheet and helped the boys put up. He also bought some fake green facial hair, but I haven't even begun to think of how to use it yet. I know I've been sick, but this could have been planned a week or two ago! What happened?!?!  My sweet angel boy is 6 this year, and VERY excited about that leprechaun trap.  He can't wait to see if we catch the leprechaun or if he plays tricks on us. Next year, he'll be a wiser and older 7, and may not really care anymore.  We've been doing St. Patty's Day themed schoolwork all week in homeschool, building the excitement, for what? I HAVE DROPPED THE BALL!!

I sit here looking at my new Silhouette Cameo that I haven't had time or energy to cut anything out yet with in preparation for tomorrow, wondering what on Earth I'm going to do, and blogging to release the stress so I can think more coherently.  I'll tell you one thing, internet diary, next time it's time to "set the bar" on something, I'm setting it lower!