I don’t usually do much for V-day, but with a 2 year old, this year will be filled with celebrating fun holidays together. (St. Patty’s Day is next… whoo hoo!)

We’re having my father-in-law over for dinner, so we’ll have someone to share all of our love (and food) with.  I just made some cupcakes with her – spice cake with vanilla frosting and red sprinkles.  Yum!   Also on tonight’s menu: Salad, Lasagna and Garlic Cheese Bread.

My friend Jenn made me this cake last V-day.

POSITION :
Mom, Mommy, Mama, Ma
Dad, Daddy, Dada, Pa, Pop

JOB DESCRIPTION :
Long term, team players needed, for challenging, permanent work in an often chaotic environment.
Candidates must possess excellent communication and organizational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call.
Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities!
Travel expenses not reimbursed.
Extensive courier duties also required.

RESPONSIBILITIES :
The rest of your life.
Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily, until someone needs $5.
Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly.
Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat in case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf.
Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers.
Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and coordinate production of multiple homework projects.
Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks.
Must be a willing to be indispensable one minute, an embarrassment the next.
Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices.
Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst.
Must assume final, complete accountability for the quality of the end product.
Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and janitorial work throughout the facility.

POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION :
None.
Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills,
so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you .

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE :
None required unfortunately.
On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.

WAGES AND COMPENSATION :
Get this!   You pay them!
Offering frequent raises and bonuses.
A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because of the assumption that college will help them become financially independent.
When you die, you give them whatever is left.
The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.

BENEFITS :
While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and no stock options are offered;
this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth, unconditional love, and free hugs and kisses for life if you play your cards right.  

I’ve been married five years, and a mom for almost three of those years.  Before I was a mom, I worked full time, and since becoming one, I’ve worked part time.  I stopped working October of last year, and with the move and the new baby, we’ve had a LOT of changes going on.  It’s always been important to me to be able to stay home with my kids, and our finances changed drastically when I went from FT to PT and now to NO TIME.

I am officially a Full Time Homemaker/Mother/Wife.  And juggling these new roles is not easy!  I can be a slacker and spend lots of time on the internet, talking on the phone and/or reading books, but quite frankly, that is not what I signed up for.  Staying at home is no easy task, and making the transition is going to take some time and effort. 

I’m going to attempt to use the Flylady as a guideline for keeping house.  I’m re-reading my New Bride Guide book given to me by a friend before I got married.  And I just ordered a few books from Amazon to help me with my budgeting, living on one income and spirituality.

At some point this year, I will pick up some side work to bring in some extra money.  In the meantime, I’m going to focus on my new Full Time job and give it all I’ve got.

Stolen from Trail Mix Up.

Copy it to your own blog and leave a comment.

Aprons – Y/N? If Y, what does your favorite look like?
I never wear aprons, but I’ve found some boutique shops online that sell them and I may just order one up.  Cute!

Baking – Favorite thing to bake
I’m not big on baking, but I do love to make pumpkin bread every once in awhile.

Clothesline – Y/N?
My very own washer and dryer… finally!

Donuts – Have you ever made them?
In high school Home Ec.

Every day – One homemaking thing you do every day
Make my bed!

Freezer – Do you have a separate deep freeze?
Yes, we got one last year.

Garbage Disposal – Y/N?
Yes, thank goodness.

Handbook – What is your favorite homemaking resource?
“The New Bride Guide” by Ellie Kay.  A friend of mine gave me this book before I got married and I love it.  Also, reference a lot of online sites :
www.Christian-Homemaking.com
www.Flylady.net
www.allrecipes.com

Ironing – Love it or hate it? Or hate it but love the results?
I never iron… I just hang immediately after they come out of the dryer.

Junk drawer – Y/N? Where is it?
I’m about to start one.  We just moved and there are still many empty drawers.

Kitchen – Color and decorating scheme
Walls are white and cupboards are a pretty blonde color.  Countertops are grey flecked corian. 

Love – What is your favorite part of homemaking?
Making a nice place for my family to be.

Mop – Y/N?
Swiffer

Nylons – Wash by hand or in the washing machine?
Well I don’t wear nylons, but most unmentionables get thrown in the gentle cycle.  Very rarely does anything get hand washed.

Oven – Do you use the window or open the oven to check?
I’m an opener.

Pizza – What do you put on yours?
Pepperoni, or Ham and Pineapple

Quiet – What do you do during the day when you get a quiet moment?
Read, stamp/scrapbook or use the computer.

Recipe card box – Y/N? What does it look like?
I have Grandma’s old metal card box.

Style of house – What style is your house?
I don’t know…   just trying to keep it clean!

Tablecloths and napkins – Y/N?
Since I got my wonderful table, I want to show it off, not cover it up!  I use my placemats from Pier One.

Under the kitchen sink – Organized or toxic wasteland?
Organized

Vacuum – How many times per week?
Once… luckily only the two bedrooms are carpeted.

Wash – How many loads of laundry do you do per week?
8-10.  I have a newborn AND a toddler… need I say more?

X – Do you keep a daily list of things to do that you cross off?
Not daily, but I am a list-maker.

Yard – Y/N? Who does what?
No yard.

Z – What is your last homemaking task for the day before going to bed?
Collecting any towels/bibs and throwing them in the hamper.