I need a Superhero Badge :)

Seriously folks. My washer 'broke'. I was washing a cheap bathmat Spanky 'used' when I took off his diaper to take a bath.  I dumbly popped it in my fancy washer and half-way through the wash, I got an OE message. I looked it up--clogged drain.

I panicked. I cannot live without a washer. I have four children--three are not very neat and the fourth has a very specific wardrobe. I cannot live without a washer.

Fixing things is not my thing though. I have difficulty hanging a picture on the wall, I can't tell the difference between a screwdriver with the star and the one with the line (I know one is called a flathead though). I usually leave fixing to the husband but he was busy and would be busy til late. I needed it fixed.

I did what I always do. I called a handyman. He would not be able to arrive til the following afternoon and would charge a hefty service call for a clogged drain. 

Surely there had to be a better way. I goggled the name of my washer and found the manual. I found the page that showed the drain filter and instructions on how to clean it. It didn't look that hard.

I popped open the cover, put a bucket under valve, unscrewed it and out popped the very nasty yuck covered filter, oh and a lot of water. I cleaned it, replaced the filter popped back on the lid, tried the washer and BAM it worked.

I canceled the handyman. No need--Lisa the Super Hero is in the house :)

So I do this just about every weekday at five

I prep dinner and I turn on Malcolm in the Middle. I'm not sure how it started. I always thought the show was funny but not funny enough to watch like everyday. 

Yet after dealing with fighting, whining, boo-boos, feeding starving children and keeping the home from being condemned by the Board of Health, the 3o minutes get me through the day. It's gotten to the point if we are out around 4:15, I start getting everyone ready to go home so I can catch my show--even though I am pretty sure I have seen every single episode twice now.

And then when it's over, I get that second wind. Like I handle the next few hours til bed time. It's my Malcolm in the Middle Magic.

So I'm wondering if I am alone here. Do any of you moms reach the end of your rope around 5 everyday? If so, what do you do when you need to wind down?

And if you need a quick break from it all. Watch this. Now. Seriously.

"Hey Finn, it's Michael Buble!"

My oldest son Finn is potty training. He's three and 1/2 and let's just say I feel like I'm the Titanic--it's that wet around here.
Anyway, we have been trying to give little rewards--chocolate, toys, cars (the toy ones but I would gladly get him a cheap C car if he guaranteed no more accidents, EVER). The rewards worked at first but they are getting older--how much sugar can one boy take? So I remembered on Dr.Phil, they rewarded a boy for using the potty by having a superhero call him. I decided to give it a try.
"Hey Finn, if you pee on the potty, Lightning McQueen, wants to call you."
"No, no mcqueen"
"How about Bob or Larry (Veggietales)"
"Don't wanna talk to tomato or LAARRREEE"
"I think Santa might call"
"NO"
And then remebering his love for big band music, specifically Michael Buble, I said "Do you want Michael Buble to call you on the iphone?"
"Yes." (he's whispering) " I wanna talk to Michael Buble on the iphone"
And we have success!!! I'm not sure if it was Michael Buble or the chance to use the coolest thing in the world (at least in his mind) the iphone BUT it worked!!!
And then dorky me has a neighbor call our landline (not my cell) and say it's "Lightning McQueen"--no wonder he's messed up!

Mom makes a New Year's Resolution, Kids suffer

OK I said no coffee for me unless it is a homeschool day. Well, today is a cold, stuck-in-the-house-because-the kids-have-their-schedules-all-messed-up (appaently staying up til midnight one night means you need to stay up til at least 10 the following night) and I had the urge to brew some yummy chemical enhancing beverage aka full caff coffee. I got the grounds ready and suddenly remembered my post from less than 12 hours ago--NO COFFEE UNLESS IT IS A HOMESCHOOL DAY.
The good mommy dumps the heaven sent grounds and grabs a water to stick to her resolution. Not me (evil grin). I told the kids we need to get ready for school and immedietly set them up for practice work-math speed drills, phonics spelling, literature work, etc. They thankfully did not complain (boredom it appears is powerful in the young gradeschooler!) and voila, it's a homeschol day. I enjoyed my coffee guilt free (even if I did have to microwave some of it and hour later).
Wonder if I can pull this off tomorrow?