Not Me Monday

I had not planned to do a Not Me Monday post today so didn’t change my mind and stop to write one, just because MckMama is giving away a neat prize. You can check out My Charming Kids to see the prize and other Not Me posts.

I did not put up a stink this weekend about going to a conference with my husband. I love to travel so jumped at the opportunity to drive six hours for a one day conference and the chance to be around total strangers with not enough time to get to know anyone.

I am totally comfortable leaving my four daughters at home under the supervision of our 17-year-old. So on Saturday when she threw a Rubik’s cube at Anna, I did not think, “That’s it, I’m not going.” I’m sure that there was a good reason for her throwing the cube so there’s nothing for me to worry about.

I didn’t ask people to check on the girls while we’re gone because there is nothing to worry about. They’ll be fine. Really.

I did not leave them a typed list with detailed instructions and emergency phone numbers just in case. Because they’ll be fine.


So I did not stop on our way to the Wisconsin Dells at the first Taco Bell we saw for a chicken burrito, even though we’d had lunch only two hours before. I only eat healthy food and don’t care for fast food so wouldn’t make an exception for Taco Bell, just because I like their bean burritos.

We did not drive all over the Wisconsin Dells to see what eating places were available and then end up back at the restaurant next to our hotel.

I did not drink three glasses of root beer. I lecture my children all the time on the evils of carbonated beverages so wouldn’t have a blind spot when it comes to root beer. We all know pop is bad for teeth, bones, and waistlines.

I didn’t call the girls the first chance I got to make sure they’re okay. Why wouldn’t they be? They’re good kids.

I didn’t look around the meeting and see that only one fifth of the men had brought wives and think that I could have stayed home and avoided the whole uptight Mom leaving the kids at home routine.

I have not tried figuring out what is a reasonable amount of time to wait before calling again to make sure the girls are all right. They’re fine. I’m sure of it.

Maybe next year we can bring the girls.

Not Me Monday - Bread Machine Blues

I have not been frequenting garage sales this summer.

That was not me you saw buying the van console Keith said was ugly. It goes in my van, not his pregnant roller skate Geo Metro. I looked beyond the ugliness and saw a trash can, coin sorter, and four cup holders. I do not get excited over cupholders just because whoever designed our eleven seater van only put in one cupholder. We don't mind sharing one cupholder. My kids love to share

I did not buy a bread machine at a garage sale for $5. Since I already have a Bosch Universal Machine that mixes dough for six loaves at one time, and six people live in our house, buying a machine that only makes one bread loaf at a time isn't practical.

I did not see a wonderful machine that facilitates virtually mess-free bread making. No greasing bread pans, no forming loaves, no heating up the house. We could enjoy homemade bread without gaining weight because with one loaf, no one could pig out.

I was not bothered that it came without an instruction manual. You can find anything on the internet, right? So I couldn't find the exact manual. Close enough works for me.

I was not fazed when the first loaf was too big. Experimenting is how you learn. Less flour and yeast next time.

So after two weeks of trial and error and getting the hang of it, I did not feel confident enough to try the time bake option. I did listen when Keith suggested I not try something like that overnight just in case something went wrong. Wise man.

I did not add leftover oatmeal from breakfast to the dough like I would with regular bread.

I did not get alarmed when the girls noticed smoke coming out of the bread machine. Or when I looked in the machine and saw the dough had risen way too high and had fallen down outside the pan on the heating coils and made a royal stinky smoking mess. The dough had already started cooking so I couldn't take it out to finish cooking in the oven. There was cooked and uncooked dough everywhere so I couldn't get the pan out of the machine.

I did not plug the machine in on the back deck and let it finish cooking and smoking outside without stinking up the house.

Maybe it was the oatmeal?

Being frugal, optimistic, and hard-nosed, I did not cut off the burned parts and make the girls eat it anyway. So the texture was a little strange.

Keith did not shake his head and say, "You're something else."

Click over to My Charming Kids to read what MckMama and other bloggers have not been doing this week.

Not Me Monday - History Lessons

I am participating again in MckMama's Monday blog carnival. This week's assignment is to highlight something crazy or embarrassing our kids have done. To read other Not Me posts, check out the fun at mycharmingkids.net.

If you're visiting today, please use my comment box as a guest book and consider leaving a note and tell where you're from.

I did not give Andrew and Kiah an Usborne book about the Ancient World when they were ten and eight and then not pay attention when they asked why the Greeks didn't wear clothes. I always give my kids my unidivided attention and make every attempt to answer their questions, so I did not say, "I don't know."

So when I came in the house after weeding the garden and found them dancing naked in the living room, I did not freak out and say, "What in the world are you doing?"

Andrew grinned from ear to ear and explained, "We're Greeks."

I was not momentarily confused, wondering what being Greek could possibly have to do with being naked. Then I remembered their earlier question.

"Let me see that book." I hurriedly found the section on Greece and sure enough, those immodest ancient Greek Olympians did not wear a stitch of clothing when they competed. Apparently the early Olympics were R rated.

My kids are half Scandinavian. There is not a drop of Greek blood in their body. But even if there was, we don't exercise in our birthday suits.

So I did not put The Ancient World book on a high shelf, give them a book on Pilgrims, and tell them to get dressed. Nope, not me.