The Richmond's

8 Days Til Christmas!


Yesterday I managed to get some cards ready to get sent out, went grocery shopping and got things I need to make Buckeyes and tonight when I get home from my corporate training I plan on getting them started. Friday we leave after we get home from work for Cortland so time is ticking!

I want to blame my lack of getting alot accomplished yesterday on Maddie. Yes, dear sweet Maddie...ha! She was a holy terror, not listening, telling me what she didn't want to do and that she wasn't going to do it. Example--after several times of telling her not to do something and her doing it anyways I told her to go face the wall for a time out. Maddie's response--no, I don't want to face the wall for a time out. My response--I don't care what you don't want to do, you aren't listening so you need to go face the wall. Maddie--I said I don't want to and I'm not! I reminded her once again what she needed to do which led her to stomping to the wall and telling me that she doesn't love me. Ah......that old card....I remember saying this once or twice when I was a kid in rage, but I also remember not getting away with it. So I knew that I was in trouble when this happened at 8ish in the morning. Ok, so fast forward to nap time. I really wanted a nap because I haven't been sleeping to well at night with my hip hurting. So, I told Maddie to come and lay down with me on the couch and cuddle which usually pleases her and she will fall asleep with me. She had gum in her mouth and I told her she needed to get rid of it. She didn't want to throw it away, said she wanted to swallow it, ok, fine, I'm not going to fight this battle, swallow it, pitch it, do whatever but get rid of the gum in your mouth. I THOUGHT she had gotten rid of it. Silly mommy,tricks are for kids...I dosed off only to wake up because I heard Maddie walking around. Imagine my reaction when I wake up to find a big wad of gum in her bangs. Yep, you got it, gum in her hair, exactly why I told her she had to get rid of the gum in the first place. So what did I do? Did I cut it out? Nope. Did I try peanut butter or ice like everyone has talked about that works so well? Nope. What did I do? I attempted to see if I could just slide/pull it out and ultimately took a pretty nice chunk of hair out from the root. Ok, it might not be a big deal, hair grows back right? Let me just tell you, that image moment has been running through my mind ever since I did it, what the heck was I thinking pulling at it? Now I swear when I look at Maddie its noticable that she has hair missing which I'm sure is not detectable to anyone and I keep having these thoughts that I just ruined her hair and caused trauma. Geez. Is my fun for the day over though? NOPE. I finally got Maddie to fall asleep so I could attempt to get rid of some stress only to wake up to the smell of nail polish. Now this time she was asleep so it had to be when she was up the first time carousing around the house as if she owned it. I didn't inspect her at first, I just wanted to track down the smell and the bottle. I went in her room to find a few splotches of hot pink nail polish on her bedsheets and asked her where the bottle was, to which I got a shoulder shrug and "I don't know" than she told me it was under her pillows, I tore her bed apart only to not find the bottle in question. At this point I told her, guess what, you just lost your movie for bedtime tonight. I'm not sure why but I remained calm, no screaming, just numb, LOL. I proceeded to get her ready to go to the grocery store with me and when I looked down I saw this:


I asked her, why did you get into the nail polish and do that? She said, because I asked you and you said later but I can do it. Shocker of the year, a kid that doesn't want to wait. Another shock to me is that she was able to get the lid off, I have them on pretty snug, obviously not snug enough! Who am I kidding, this is the girl that survived her cord being wrapped around her neck 7 times and came out perfectly pink, she has super human strength, I should have known a measly nail polish bottle would be no big task for her. So as we were finishing getting ready she was telling me how she can't wait to show her friend Emily the next day and I see this:


Oh Maddie, at this point she is giving me this cute 'I'm so proud of myself' look and I'm not nearly as upset as she thinks I am. Gotta say though, she didn't do too bad on her fingers!

Last event of the evening, after we get back from the grocery store and have everything in the house my last trip was to go get the mail. Well, Maddie had already taken her coat off and was on the move so I figured no big deal that I go out. When I went out the door she came running after me and I told her its too cold for you to be out here without a coat get in the house, she kept coming and I told her 2 more times, get in the house. I heard her stomp into the house as I got the mail. When I get back up to the house guess what? Miss Maddie closed the door and locked me out. Yep. You heard me right, locked me out. Did I panic? Nope, I had my keys in my pocket, but I rang the doorbell first to let her come and unlock the door but I guess she was to busy because she didn't come. I let myself in and asked her why she did it, she said " Because you took to long and you can ring the bell" GRRRRRRRRR. Smarty pants.

Needless to say I'm almost happy to go to work today. Hope everyone has a good day!

Love and Blessings!
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Philippians 4:4