Ok, so let me confess first: I argued today with a 4-year-old about our family computer. She is home sick – well, banned from daycare until her belly is better (which, I am happy to say, will likely be by evening!).

So I’m working from home. Usually, I’m pretty successful. Today, she’s a bit more demanding.

As my husband said, “She’s a social butterfly and you’re not being social.”

Yea, no kidding!

I broke out the stickers, the coloring, the movies. She even brought out all her clothes from her “summer” box to “try on” to make sure they fit. That one was her idea.

But after a bit, well, she wants the computer. My kids like the online coloring and a few kid-friendly sites.

“I’ll give you five drinks then it’s my turn.”

She took five sips of her juice pouch.

“Mom, are you done yet? I’ll eat five crackers.”

She ate five crackers.

“Mom! It’s my turn.”

I finally looked at her, aghast, and said, “I am not arguing with a 4-year-old about the computer. I’m almost done then I can do an interview with paper and pen.”

Two seconds later: “Are you done yet?”

Oh, and the best part, “Mom, just figure it out.”

AHH!!! She’s 4! Really! I swear. She talks like a 12-year-old sometimes, but she’s 4!

I’m amazed how her mind works. Just now – after eating lunch – she said, “I’ll pick out a few movies to watch.”

She came upstairs with 12 in her arms.

At least THAT will keep her busy for awhile.

“Which one do you want to watch?” she just asked me, “Star Wars? Star Wars? Star Wars?”

Guess I’ll be working with “Star Wars” in the background!

As I mentioned last week, I was sick for a few days. And since then, well, I’ve been playing catch up! But I hope to get back into the blogging return soon.

So what’s kept me busy? Name it! Any mom has a list, but to mine you can add remodel project.

Last February, my husband and I made the decision to walk away from a home we were thinking of buying and remodel our own house. That turned into months of chaos downstairs as we took out the 6-year-old carpet and vinyl and put in snap-and-click flooring. Then we put up wainscotting and crown moulding. It took from February to the first week of October to put every last piece of furniture back into place. It’s beautiful and I’m so excited we did it.

In December, we took up the carpet in the loft and hallway upstairs and started the process anew.

On top of just stepping around the dozens of toys that are now in my bedroom, my son is sharing a bed with his sister for a few weeks (months?). His asthma and allergies led us the decision to remove the carpet, so the focus is first on his room. Everything from his room is now spread out between our bedroom and his sister’s.

This weekend, we’ll be taking out the carpet - yes, carpet - that the builder put in the bathrooms and putting in tile.

It’s just a bit at a time, but I know it will be well worth it when we’re done. And we’re so happy we made the decision to stay put. While several homes on our block have been foreclosed - or abandoned - some are starting to be purchased and just last week a family (WITH KIDS!) moved in.