Three Thought Thursday: Episode 2

1. So with my second posting of three weekly thoughts, I ran in to a little bit of a dilemma. I literally spent about five minutes while showering last night debating if I should keep track of how many I've done, what number I'm on, etc. I decided at the beginning of the year that I wanted to try to do this every week for one year. So that's 52 of 'em, right? Why not just say #1, #2, #3? Too boring. Next, I thought of calling them "issues" like a magazine. But Lord only knows that I already have plenty of "issues" of a different variety. Why add 52 more? So with the hot water running out, I decided on "episodes". While yes, episodes are often associated with television, it also sounded somewhat southern to me. And I miss southern. (no, Texas is not real southern. Mississippi is real southern.) I could just picture a Scarlet O'Hara lounging with her hand across her forehead having an "episode".

Did I seriously put that much thought in to this? Yes. Am I ridiculous? Yes. After all, I'm pretty sure that roughly three people read this on a regular basis. And two because they're forced to! My parents receive it via e-mail even though they never asked to, and my beloved cousin, Mandi, actually took sympathy on me and requested that I send it to her each time I post so that she could keep up with my musings. Bet she regrets that request now! And the third person? Who knows? Hopefully you're out there somewhere!

2. Want to know something crazy!?! I actually won our family's annual bowl pick contest. Me. Yes, me. The only team I actively followed this year was Tech. All my other picks were at complete random. Whichever team sounded cooler got the nod. I did great through new years and then not too well to finish out. But luckily, I had it in the bag by the afternoon of Jan. 1. Figured I should document it since it's more than likely never gonna happen again. And my prize? A whopping $35! Think I should splurge on a new diaper pail?!?! (Which by the way, my aforementioned cousin and I were discussing these vile things earlier this week and she mentioned that someone needed to create a stainless steel diaper pail so it wouldn't absorb the smell. Why hasn't anyone done this??? Anyone want to make me one???)

3. Last week I professed my love for my Swiffer Vacuum. (ahhhhh.) After some thought, I realized that I spend way too much time desiring new things for myself, my kids, or my house. Usually unnecessary things. So I thought maybe each week I could try to find one thing in my house that I like. Something that I’m thankful for. To make me appreciate what I do have and not lust after what I don’t! Of course, the things I appreciate the most are things I could never find the words to write about on a meaningless blog. So I’ll reserve this for things that I can find words for. Just plain old material things. Not supernatural things like my beloved husband, amazing children, or infinitely loving God.

So this week I think I’ll delve into my love of door knob covers. Yes, the ones that keep your kids from being able to open the door. With not the hugest house in the world, I didn’t think these would be a necessity, but with the mayhem that is Kolbe and Reagan, I made up my mind that it was time to make a few rooms in our house off limits: the laundry room (what, with all the cleaning supplies and my “second pantry,” it’s a breeding ground for disaster.), the office/guest room (Mark studies in there and his books are all over the place. Reagan managed to tear out a few pages of one of his more important volumes…), and our bedroom. For a long time running, the boys have always been allowed in our room. And even now, they still are at certain points in the day. But the fact of the matter is that it’s our room. Mark’s and mine. Not theirs! Every time one of them manages to weasel his way in there, it always ends with my dresser being emptied out, the bathroom cabinets being ransacked, the toilet water being splashed in, my shoes being set up across the length of the bed, or my nightstand being swept clean. There’s pretty much nothing in that room that either one of them needs; therefore, I decided it should be off limits.

So this limits their play to the kitchen, family room, hallways, and their bedroom. (and now that Kolbe goes on the potty, the hall bathroom, too.) If I had known how well the door knob covers would help control the chaos, I would have bought them a long time ago! And as an added bonus, I’ve taken up a practice of allowing myself five minutes every morning to get dressed, brush my teeth, and touch up my face sans the boys. Previously, with both boys in the room, it often took a good twenty minutes or more. I constantly had to stop to break up fights, take away bottles of shampoo, close dresser drawers, etc. Now, I can get the boys interested in something, sneak away to the room and be done in a flash. They usually realize I’m gone and are sitting outside the door waiting for me when I come out. Slightly pitiful, but worth it! Yea for door knob covers!