We got the bikes. Comfort bikes.
Wednesday we spent the day riding around Portland in the heat.
We did the East End trail, stopped for lunch at Artemsia, it was great. We apparently aren't too out of shape, we managed just fine, and thanks to comfort we were not laid up the next day.

The big boys are still with the grandparents.
I talked to them today. They sound so little on the phone, I miss them.
Sunday is the reuniting day.

I'm still trying to find child care, so that I can go back to work 3 days a week.
Found a great center, we won't name any names, but they only do full time slots for my infant, they will take the older boys part-time, but not the infant, oh sure he can go part-time, but I just have to pay for full time.

I'm definately openly obsessed at this point. All I do is call or visit places, or research them on-line. It's gotten so bad in fact, that I have found that I am a bit of a detective. Here's how it works.

I find these potential nannies on craigslist, they give me their name or e-mail address, and I find their Myspace page. Then I check them out.

Most of the time I deem them unworthy. I am not a snob, I was young once too, but open admission to drug use, ya what can I say honey, you are out of the running.
Or pictures of them half undressed, totally drunk, giving the finger, it just really takes the wind out of my sails.

I don't have to do this detective work of course, but it's much like the "wet paint" sign, so irresistible, that you just have to check.

I must go, more laundry to do and Myspacers to spy on.
Hey 20 something girls: if you want the job, keep your boobs in your shirt and your drugs to yourself.

I'm not that old, after all I've got Myspace! But clearly I'm old enough that these girls and I, are simply NOT on the same page.

The kids are at their grandparents.
We really don't know what to do with ourselves.
I spend all my time complaining that I need a break, then I get one,
and I can't think of where to go, or what to do.

It's awful quiet around here. We miss them already.
Today, we are going out and buying some bikes.
We decided we need exercise. It's part of the "don't lose your mind" plan.

We needed to find fun activities to do with the kids.
Fun used to mean going to Bubba's on a Friday 80's night and getting fairly intoxicated. Now don't get me wrong, I still enjoy that, but these days it's tempered by the fact that now matter how I feel the next morning, I still have to perform as a parent. There is no calling in sick.

So fun is going to mean grabbing the kids and lunch, shoving them in the back of one of those tow along thinga-magigs, and joy riding.

How we are going to prevent them from slapping each other around in there; I have not yet figured. We must be getting older, because we are now considering "comfort" bikes verses mountain bikes. But I suppose, we aren't going to be doing much off-roading with the little guys in tow. Although....

That's it, if they wanna fight, we'll just head down a rough trail and shake it right out of em. Mmm. this is good, I'm on to something.

So it's been a while.
I've been just a tad on the busy side.
Does anyone else out there feel like this is not what they signed up for?
With motherhood I mean.
Now let me preface once again, by reminding you that I LOVE my kids and I can't imagine my life without them.

However, my life has become something of a quagmire. I deal in poopy diapers, hitting, tired children, crazy going to bed routines, and time outs by the dozen.
I am beginning to lose my mind.
So I have decided to go to work part-time. Finding good childcare is very difficult and totally expensive. I either have to make finding childcare my full time job, or chose some toothless woman who will sit them in front of the TV all day. The respectable daycare centers have a huge waiting list (like 2 years), and they cost an arm and a leg. Example: USM daycare center would cost me $150/day for my three kids. I have my associates in liberal arts, I don't think the jobs I qualify for can recoup that cost. So this family will lose money when I go to work. Can you say INSANE!

Anyone out there wanna start a daycare?
It seems to only way to guarantee the quality and availability, and it's probably easier than calling all around greater Portland explaining what I am looking for.

It would be one thing if we were talking about something like shopping around for a pair of sandals, but I'm looking for good childcare for my three babies.
Well they aren't babies, they are however, all three in diapers. I'll save the potty training entry for another time.

I swear I used to be a nice girl, so positive and upbeat, never sarcastic.
Well folks, if you've made it this far in your reading maybe you understand.
It ain't easy being a mom, and it's totally underpaid and undervalued in this country!
I'll spin that soapbox the next time we talk.
Until then, I'll be changing diapers and losing my mind.
over and out.