White Trash Summer

* Please note: The term "white trash" isn't meant to offend anyone... but rather to describe a way of life that is common in  Alberta... and MANY other places.



Picture this.......

J is wearing inside-out batman gonchies and red crocks.  L is topless.  Wearing a diaper that is FULL of sprinkler water.  There are wagons, water guns, Tonka trucks, dandelions and sidewalk chalk sprinkled all over the lawn.  The boys are fighting over the hose... and the trucks... and the wagons.  Why can't they fight over who gets to pick the dandelions.

I am sitting at a picnic table that is in desperate need of a sanding and a paint job (any takers).... next to a patio table that no longer has chairs... but the table sits there as if it's waiting for patrons.

Now Luke is crying because he needs a nap (he didn't agree with me when I suggested it earlier).  He might be upset about his diaper situation too.

I periodically yell over to J "STOP THAT," "Don't spray me," "get your gonchies back on," "get off the grass seed," "IT'S NOT YOUR TURN!!!!!!"  Then I see L coming out of the garage with a bottle of spray and wash that he collected from the recycle bins... nice.... "NOOOOOOOO, YUCKY... PUT THAT BAAAAAACCCCCKKKK."  It's empty... but still.  Is there anything that little boys WON'T get into???

I brought the laundry outside to fold it... otherwise it won't get done.

My view is not that great.  A few houses... most with treed backyards.... cool.  But this one house has the original shingles (probably from 1984) that have been through 56 hail storms and a close call with a funnel cloud.  lol.  The fence hasn't been painted since 1984 either.  They use their deck as a storage container.  The tent that is set up in the backyard has been there since June.... I think it might be a storage container too.  They periodically park in the back alley (NOT in a parking spot... just amongst the weeds and old mattresses that they have).

The only thing that could make this a more trashy scene would be if I were barefoot, pregnant (I'M NOT by the way), smoking a ciggy and drinking an Old Milwaukee Beer.  Oh, and maybe if I gave the boys some Red Bull to sip on.

But... we're happy... and we're not worried about being Trashy.  The kids are having a blast.  Little Lukey is learning about sprinklers, taking turns, how dirt tastes and how it feels when you ignore nap time.  Jake is just LOVING being outside... where you can use your outside voice and run and run and run and roll around in the grass and nobody cares.  He's "cleaning" the house and the shed and the fence and the neighbours windows (I'm sure they'll appreciate that) with the sprinkler.  "Mommy, I washing John's house because it's so dirty of bugs."  They are enjoying life... they are learning a lot... and they are just being little boys.  It's awesome.

I could tell you about the inside of the house... but that's a whole other blogpost.

Enjoy your trashy summer.  :)

Hoarders

We're all hoarders... in our own little way.  Some more than others.  Some, enough to qualify for a spot on the TV show.  Others, not so much.

I've been hanging on to MANY things for MANY years... and I'm starting to realize that having a house with "great storage" is actually a hinderance more than a bonus.

Since I married Chris (Aug. 2005) I have been "hanging on" to much.  Why?  I'm not really sure.  Maybe it's hereditary..... have you seen my mom's garage?

Maybe I'm scared that I'll need something some day... or I'll meet someone that needs something that I may have.... or maybe there is value in my "things," so I better hang on to them.

Wanna hear about my collections?  Stop reading if you don't.....

• "Memories" and photos and things of significance.  This isn't bad... but there comes a point where you need to ask yourself if there is REALLY a need to keep everything.  :)

• "Teacher Crap" (that IS a term of endearment).  Since high school, I have been "collecting" teacher resources, bulletin board items, bajillions of worksheets (and I pretty much HATE worksheets), books and treasures that "might come in handy in a classroom someday."  I have a single car garage that is MOSTLY full of teacher stuff.  I promised myself that once I had been teaching for 5 years that I would weed through it and only keep what I was using.  Well, I've been a "teacher" for 7 years.... but have only been in the same position for three of those.  Just recently I have decided that I'm waaaay better off borrowing, copying and finding what I need... WHEN I NEED IT.  The reality is, google does such a good job that I don't really have a need for so much of this "stuff."  Yesterday I filled a garbage can with "get rid of it" stuff and a 1/2 ton truck with "donate it" stuff.  I'm heading back today to purge some more.  :)  We are having shelves built in a 10x10 shed.  THAT is the space for this "teacher stuff."  Anything that doesn't fit in there has to go.  Easy Peasy.

• Kids (more specifically, boys).... Have you noticed that Chris and I have quite the collection?  ;)  Aren't they handsome?

• Clothing:  Kids clothing, my clothing, things that "might fit again" (although we all know that it would be so out of style by the time that ever happened).  I'm also getting rid of a lot of this stuff.
• Pounds.... YIKES.... maybe you haven't noticed (yeah right).  Over the years I have become really good at packing on the pounds.  I'm hoping to de-clutter in the weight area too... enough is enough... I want the old Melanie back.  :(

• Office Supplies: those of you that get your kicks at Staples would understand.... the rest of you just won't... it's ok.
• Books.  Seriously, if I had a dollar for every book that I have because I thought I would (or should) read it someday I would be a MAJILLIONAIRE.  Time to sort through, purge, and stop collecting.  My Children's Book collection is even more of a problem.  YIKES!
• Friends... I collect friends.... old and young... near and far.  And I am NOT de-cluttering this one. 

Truth is, I probably could have made this list waaaaaay longer.... but then I'd be hoarding your time... and that wouldn't be cool.  :)  So I'll stop.  

Make a comment... tell me what you have been holding on to and why.  I'm dying to know if I'm alone in my collections.