One clone, please, preferably wealthy.

Oh, if only I could just have one extra me, life would be so much easier.

I haven't contributed to the Ottawa Moms blog in over a week, for no other reason than it's been simply too busy to do so. I would like to point out that I am a mother to three boys, who all require an incredible 110% of my time, energy and attention. I field several "Come see this!" calls daily, as well as endless piles of laundry, several mystery stain cleanups on everything from babies to baseboards, at least five referee stints in an evening and I moonlight as a perpetual dishwasher. I'm starting to consider sock sorting an enjoyable hobby because I get to sit while I do it.

I've been trying to scale back our hectic lifestyle. Not only due to the obvious time restraints going on, but also because most things we do cost money. And try as I might, I can't find a single money tree in the backyard. This does not bode well for the $2000 we need to shell out at the end of the month for Declan's new hearing aids. While they're normally covered by the Quebec government in their entirety every seven years, it's only been two. We lost them when we moved last summer. Somewhere in the 2KMs separating our old and new homes, there is a pair of child's hearing aids. We miss them and wish they would find their way back. However, after emptying every single box, searching every pocket, every drawer and both vehicles several times over several months, we've had to admit defeat. On February 26th, Declan will receive his new hearing aids and I will be dancing a jig of joy because the television will once again be at a reasonable volume. The house will not sound like it's in the middle of a Backyardigans concert. That alone is worth $2000.

Still, with only one income this is going to require some careful budgeting. Mark and I are not strangers to the concept of budgets. In fact, we prepare one every two weeks and it includes everything from mortgage payments to coffee money. However, I've discovered that having a budget is not enough; sticking to it is actually important, too. Who knew? If I have $200 to spend at the grocery store, I can't spend $240. If I have $5 left for entertainment purposes, I can't buy myself dinner. A joykill, I know, but crucial if we want to avoid the debt trap we were in only a few short years ago.

Staying home costs nothing, so staying home I shall do more of until these hearing aids are paid off. In the meantime I can console myself with my very clean house (I'll have lots of time for that), the need for only half a clone (the half with arms would be best, so that I may prop it on a stool to wash some dishes), some delicious homemade coffee and endless free entertainment, like blogging. I may also invade the homes of my friends without the usual Tim Hortons coffees in hand. They might have to haul out their coffee makers, but I'd like to think my company is worth it most days.

So, you will undoubtedly see more of me 'round these parts now that I'm terribly poor. However, I may spend at least some of that time trying to uncover that money tree. It must be back there somewhere...