Jayde Kerry Brooks

Every Other Saturday-first thing in the mornin'-I turn the TV on to make the quiet go away. I know why, but I don't know why we ever let this happen... Falling for forever was a big mistake

OOC Contact
(all comments screened)

Willow has a new terrifying thing she does. She loves to swim, but she knows it's still not swimming weather, so she's started to fill up the tub and "swim" in it. That would be fine if she was doing it at a prearranged time, but this child is getting up out of her damn BED at night and running water and getting IN the water. All while I'm asleep. It actually started at her Daddy's house, so you can imagine how happy THAT made me when he told me about it. We've tried everything, including those lock things on the handles so she can't turn them, but she's figuring out a way to do it anyway. I woke up this morning at 4 AM and she was in the tub already. When I came in (yelling, I admit), she cried and said she was sorry, but there was NO way I was going to listen to that. She got a spanking and had to come lay down in bed with me, but I couldn't sleep after all of the commotion.

The next step is using a padlock on the doors to the bathrooms, and the kids having to come to me every time they want to use it, which is just utterly ridiculous. Does anyone have any ideas? Like I said, we've used the locks on the faucet handles. We've done the talking it out thing. We've done the yelling thing. We've done the spanking thing. Honestly, if I thought tanning her hide would take care of the situation, I wouldn't be against it. We can't use the door knob covers, because the other two can't work them well enough. UGH. HELP.

The kids came home last weekend with a PS2, a PS3, and a Wii. I'm not even kidding. My ex apparently decided to "spoil [his] children". Sadly, the Wii is now my new favorite thing ever, and I've spent at least two hours a day using Wii Fit and Just Dance to exercise. Yes, really. I'm pretty sure my entire weekend is going to be filled up with it too. It feels good to be moving, at least. I need to lose some weight anyway. Or rather, I need to tone up. Three kids do some massive havoc on the body. Note to anyone thinking about having kids. Seriously. My stomach will never ever ever be the same.

Of course, a part of that could be all of the homemade beanie weenies. They are ridiculously easy to make, and the kids are in love with them, so I make a big pot of them at least once every two weeks. Sawyer adores them because they make him fart. Yes, my son is all boy. And revolting. He does crack me up though. He makes the perfect little kid jokes sometimes, and he's horrific at puns. His favorite one is "How do the celebrities stay so cool? They have many fans! Get it, get it?" Dork. I raised this damn kid. How is he such a dork?

I am feeling generally blah and sick. I don't even have the energy to get up from my chair and go to bed. That's beyond pathetic, seriously. It's funny that my first reaction was the exact same as my sister's on this: I better not be pregnant again. Ugh. I refuse to think this is anything more than the flu.

The extra-special fun thing about this is that I was supposed to open the shop today, but luckily, my manager is a-mazing, so I called her and told her I'm sick as hell, and she's opening up for me instead. I know, I know, I'm the owner, I don't have to always be the one there, but I adore my shop. I love the whole vibe of the place, and I enjoy my patrons. So I'll miss it tomorrow, but sleeping has never sounded so good. That and laying all wrapped up in a blanket watching episodes of Bones so I can drool over Booth-when I'm not dying.

AND I officially have the best sister and soon-to-be-brother-in-law in the world. They're taking the kids so I can conk out as much as I need to. And yes, I totally just sat here and boggled and went "Scott Davies is going to be babysitting my kids today" before a gigglefit hit and I started feeling nauseated again. I am easily amused, and the idea of SCOTT DAVIES actually babysitting makes me giggle, no matter how much I know he likes kids. :P

Okay, I'm going to stop being lazy now, and drag myself to bed. I think. Maybe. Ugh.

I. Am. Such. An. Idiot.

( locked to Jayme )

Thanksgiving was interesting. It's the first year I didn't wear myself out cooking for my family and cleaning up afterward. Of course, that's because we were at my sister's boyfriend's daughter's house... that's pure craziness to explain, hmm? I guess we're the modern American family though, aren't we? It was a full house, and I was surprised and pleased that my kids actually minded and acted like the angels I know they CAN be.

It was good to finally get to meet Scott. I've only been hearing about him forever. I'm... glad Jayme's happy. He's not MY type of guy, which is perfectly okay. He and Jayme seemed happy enough, and he was good around the kids. Especially his granddaughter, who's friggin' adorable, and makes me want more babies ohmygodrightnow. Not that there is ANY reason to think that will happen anytime soon.

Sawyer ate so much he was ready to burst, and he finally crashed out on the floor, playing with his trucks. Piper wanted to sit with everyone, but mostly Auntie Jayme. Willow wanted Melody as her very own doll, and she kept begging to be able to carry her around. The fact that Melody is far too big for a three year old to carry didn't deter her much, and it was only after I swatted her butt that she finally listened to me about it all. Headstrong? My child? Never.

I tried not to let us overstay our welcome, since I know it can be hard to have a bunch of people (especially ones you don't know well) at your house for an extended period of time. Ashton handled it wonderfully, and was a gracious hostess from start to finish. I think I thanked her at least a hundred times, and I teared up at least three times throughout the day. The first year of being divorced at the holidays sucked, but it's getting easier. Slowly. It helps to have friends around.

Friday the kids and I sat around watching movies and I ordered things from online stores that were having sales. That's the way I plan to do Black Friday shopping every year ever for the rest of my life. Simple, fun, and I don't have to fight crowds. Perfect. People are completely insane, and getting myself (with or without the kids) out in the crowds didn't even sound remotely like something I should do. The tea house was open, but I had two managers and four staff running it instead of me. Perks of being the owner.

Saturday was filled with more movies, writing thank you notes, a few little errands (groceries, Wal-Mart for laundry detergent, etc) and sleep. Apparently we all needed naps. Three hours after we laid down, Piper crawled into bed next to me and said "Mumma, I'm starvinnnnnng. Can we eat?" It was after five! Whoops. Classic bad mom move, I put them all in the car and drove to McDonald's. Seriously, sometimes you just have to thank God for Happy Meals.

I don't have the patience for men. I just don't.

Is it really too much to ask that I not be played games with? I am so tired of bullshit games and lies and half-truths and all of that crap.

Note to self: guys in bars are scum; stop playfully flirting. Your ex is an ass; stop listening when he says things that make your heart go pitter patter.

I'm going back to bed. I don't have to open the shop this morning (thank god for good staff!).

I just realized how long it's been since I've had sex.

I depressed myself.