Just a few things I want to rant, I mean vent, about today:

1.  I know I can't control what my ex does but it does NOT mean I can't be annoyed that my ex and his mother, who is like my BS13 and BD11 mom when they are at their dad's, spend such a ridiculous amount of money on my two for Christmas.  I just bought both kids new winter coats last March.  BS's was from Hollister and BD's was Columbia.  NICE winter coats.  Apparently they needed new ones because they got 2 new coats for Christmas.  Extremely irritating.  They also bought BD a $400 bike because her other bike (that wasn't even 2 years old) wasn't good enough.  This is because just like their dad, they don't take care of anything and leave it outside to be ruined by the elements and then just go buy new.  Well, grandma buys the new for all of them.  She enabled my ex to not grow up and be wasteful.  They bought BS a snowboard, helmet, goggles, etc.  and he has NEVER been skiing or snowboarding or anything!  We live hours away from the closest ski resort!  Just ridiculous.  How about putting money away for their college?!

So they received the normal $500+ in gifts there and come back to our house where we spent $30 on thoughtful gifts and we are taking them to indoor waterpark next month.  I do not believe in spending more than $100 per child for Christmas anyhow because it is not the reason for the season.  It just burns my a$$ that they constantly give them their every whim and are teaching them to be entitled brats.

2.  DH allowed BM to come for an hour on xmas to see SD6.  Warned her that there was a video recording her and no whispering.  (We are currently in court for her being emotionally and mentally abusive).  Couple of hours later DH and I are watching the video to make sure that BM didn't do or say anything during her hour.  We see SD sitting on couch while we are in the other room.  Then you see SD pick nose and wipe it on her pants.  I point this out because I had just noted to him an hour before that I had to wash OUR DD's stuffed elephant because it had buggers on it from SD.  When I pointed out the elephant bugger he said that it was probably from DD. I noted that DD didn't have a runny nose and SD did.  Then he says how that's just normal kid behavior.  Yes.  It is.  HOWEVER, can you please address it rather than ignore it?!  GROSS!  She will let snot run down her nose and not blow her nose until you tell her.  Even though she can feel it.  It is disgusting and embarrassing.  Just now I heard her sniffling and asked if that was her or DD.  She said she didn't sniffle.  I told her to go blow her nose anyhow and, shocking: SHE HAS SNOT POURING OUT!

3. I asked SD to go hang up her ballet stuff in her closet on a hanger yesterday.  She goes up to her room and a minute later comes back down.  I know she didn't hang it up because everything takes her an eternity to do and that was much to quick.  I asked her if she hung them up and she says yes.  So I go up to look and surprise!  Not hung up.  I came back down and asked her to go get me a hanger.  She brought a hanger down.  I said 'Now that I know you know what a hanger is, why did you not hang up the stuff like I asked you to do and lied about it?'  She says nothing, like normal.  I said that she could go get me her new barbies and such on her floor of her room that she got for xmas and was playing with.  I then put them where she could see them.  Then asked her if it hurt her to see them sit there and not able to play with them.  She said yes.  I said good, then you know what lying does to you and others.  Every time you lie you are either hurting yourself or someone else.  And you keep choosing to do it the past few years even after you know it is wrong.  DH finally got home from work a couple hours later and I told him about it and asked what he wants done in the future.  Of course he says that I can handle it however I feel best.  

Basically, he doesn't want to deal with it at all.  Later before she went to bed I said he needed to address it with her so I am not the bad guy in this situation.  I heard him ask her why the stuff was there and that lying is bad, blah blah blah, for about 30 seconds.  Then he sent her to bed.  DH parenting sucks and causes us to argue ALL the time.  Mostly beceause I can't even discuss Stepbrat's behavior or how he should address without him feeling like I am picking on her when I am simply asking him to PARENT her! And Stepbrat saga continues.  

4. It is xmas break and I am a SAHM so even though my older 2 are at their dad's I am stuck with stepbrat ALL DAY and my DD.  So I spend my day making sure that Stepbrat plays nice with DD and that she doesn't pick her nose and wipe it on stuff, blows her nose, washes her hands and basically behaves like a civilized brat while DH is at work.  I need to go return xmas stuff but this would require me to take Stepbrat with, which I hate doing.  

Xmas break with stepbrats = misery.  

Okay, rant done for now.