what's worse?

Being sunburnt all over OR being sunburnt in little patches only where you missed applying sunscreen?

I'll spare you the scary photos.

Why raise modest children?

When I type that I realize that you may think that I mean children that are not prideful or vain, and while that is certainly important, what I truly mean is children who have a regard for decency of behavior, speech, dress, etc (as defined by dictionary.com).

Why mention this now? Because I went shopping at the mall tonight with my two oldest daughters who are 11 and 9. Because all they wanted to look at buying were the trendy mini-skirts, the spaghetti strap camis and plunging necklines. "ooh, isn't this cute, BUT dad would never let me wear it." After the second or third time hearing this I had to ask my dear daughters, "Do you know why?". The eldest responded, "because it shows too much skin." ME - "Why is that a bad thing?" Then, utter silence....and if you have daughters, you know utter silence doesn't happen very often (at least in my experience so far.)

This conversation was a great teachable moment. I proceeded to tell them about how you can dress in a stylish and tasteful way without bearing so much skin. I imparted to them the fact that boys and men are visual and that exposing too much skin is temptation and that they want boys and men to be attracted to them for more than their looks.

It was a great conversation that ended with a great laugh when my 9 year old piped up and said, "I'm never marrying a professional wrestler." I had to chuckle and ask why. Her response, "because they show A LOT of skin and if it's not right for girls, it's not right for guys either." Methinks this conversation may need to be revisited in a few years....

Dear Santa....

I know it seems a little early, but my kids have been working on their wish lists for some time, so I figure, why not?

I know I should ask for world peace and food for the starving kids in Africa.
I know I should ask for love among my brothers and sisters (and a hammer, probably showing my age there).

But I'm all about keeping it "real" these days.

So,

for Christmas I would like,

A Family Celebration of Christ free from arguments, strife, and guilt.
5 more hours in every day
A housekeeper
A landscaper
A personal chef
A live-in babysitter (well, I do have an 11 year old who is good for short stints).
A dumpster
A weekly date night with hubby
NO MORE TOYS!

If you can't deliver, don't bother stopping at this house.....

My 11 year old dear daughter's christmas list

I thought I would share Sha Sha's Christmas "Wish List" (her title, not mine).

Divided into two parts, the first part is predictable and has seven reasonable items.
I won't bore you with it.

The second half is titled "Wishful Thinking", and subtitled "(probably won't happen)". This will have you laughing. I'll refrain from commentary on it...

1. an email address
2. A facebook account (I know this won't happen).
3. A Nintendo DS
4. My own room
5. On/off switches for my 3 siblings
6. a car
7. to be allowed to babysit


A couple of these are reasonable. But I certainly got a good chuckle out of a couple of them too.

Toddler sleeping delusions

Our last Saturday before soccer begins. No where to be, nothing pressing to do....Gray skies, cool weather makes for great sleeping in...

Except, we have a sweet toddler girl who would sleep until 7 or 7:30 on school days (yes that is sleeping in around here), but today has to awake before 6! Hubby went in and tried to reason with her! Yeah, that worked!!???!!

So I picked her up and brought her into our bed, with hopes of more visions of sugarplums. Yeah....not happenin....

First she struggled free from my arms and touched Dad's face. Dad rolled over and ignored her to which she began chanting, "Daddy, Daddy, Daddy, Daddy" 10 million times.
I snuggled her, she kicked me.
I tried giving her some space, she grabbed my arm and pulled it back around her.
She kicked me and jumped on the bed.
She used the bed as a drum.
She talked. What's with all the repetition?
She has some kind of a secret conspiracy going on with the cat too. He was meowing and running all over the house.
Why did I think she would go back to sleep? She is 2, and a bundle of energy....

I gave in....and got up....took her down to breakfast...to which she said "Dark in here, mommy?!" and I very calmly stated, "That's because the sun is still sleeping and I wish we were too!"

Oh well, plenty of time to sleep later,

Staycation Day one

Today was Family Staycation Day One! On the agenda was a round of mini golf and a visit to the outdoor community theatre showing "The Wizard of Oz".

Nini got a hole in one on the second hole, only the second time she has ever played mini golf!



ShaSha took everything very seriously and didn't miss very many of the hazards.



The boy enjoyed "guiding" the ball, OR using the club at a baseball bat.



Gigi enjoyed hitting the ball on the first two holes, but then she discovered the water hazards and enjoyed picking up all the balls and throwing them in!





Then, tonight we went to see the Wizard of OZ. Here everyone is enjoying cotton candy before the show. I am a mean mom. This was the first time that 3 of my kiddos have ever had it! (It was Dad's idea tonight!)







Here they are enjoying the pre-show entertainment.




The acting, staging and costuming was very good! Gigi loved the Munchkins so much she bonked her head into my face and gave me a fat lip! I love the full lips of Angelina Jolie, but not this way! (And no, I am not sharing any photos!)









Our reward for this day? Some great smiling faces, laughter, memories, oh yeah - the fat lip and a sunburn for mom too!

The first challenge

Today is the first day of Melinda's Operation Organization challenge. For eight weeks starting today, we all pick an area of our homes that NEEDS some ORDER. We announce it on Friday (starting today) and then work thru the week to complete it. Pop on over using the button in the right sidebar to check out the rest of the details.

Now for my First Mission (yes I choose to accept it, I even created it!) HA!

First, I have to tell you, I love shoes. I wear mostly flip flops for casual wear, but like some variety with in the flip flops and I love dress shoes, especially little flirty ones! So I buy/own/hoard shoes!

Before I show you my "before" pics, you have to promise not to cringe. This is all about keeping it real and honest and trying to improve our lives.

With that said - This is my current organization system.


I know - embarrassing!

This is what happens when we are running late and I can't find matching shoes -



And I also have a bad habit of discarding my shoes wherever I walk into a room. (I have mentioned before - I am a barefoot kinda gal at home!)


foot of the bed


doorway to bedroom


next to dining table

So in addition to cleaning up this mess, I am also going to attempt to keep my shoes in one place in the house or put them away.

Of course - I do have help scattering my shoes -


And finally, proof that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree -

Come back next Friday to see how it turns out and what I've chosen for my next challenge.

The truth hurts....

Is it bad when you pull into the gas station with the 32 oz yummy iced coffee for 74 cents and your toddler starts chanting, "Coffee, Coffee, Coffeeeee!!!?"

Is it bad when your 6 year old son in the car notices a McDonald's bag and tells his father - "Mom must have needed coffee. She's crazy when she doesn't get her coffee!"?

Is it bad when the barista at the Target Starbucks remembers you and offers the extra shots when he sees you?

I love me some coffee. I am probably (read definitely) an addict.


photo by Nikki L.

Outtakes

Recently overheard at our home -

Sha Sha (11) to NiNi (9) - "Why do you always come to me with your problems?"

Dad to girls - "Are you sure you want to paint your desk 'Home Depot' orange?"

Mom (you don't really think I'm giving you my age in parenteses, do you?) to girls - "I swear that if you move that pile of stuff one more time without putting it away, I will dump in all in the trash!!!!!!"

NiNi to mom - "Dad needs a pudding knife? Where is it?" (She meant putty knife.) A lot of confusion ensued until we figured that one out....

The boy - during a conversation about crossbred dogs, "So that dog is a terriyaki, since it is a terrier and Yorkie?"

Gigi (2) to open jack-in box - "Daddy in the box?" Do you see a resemblance?
Later, she would giggle when it popped out and say "Hi, daddy!"

HA!

We woke up Saturday and told the boy we were going to a family reunion for grandma's family. He bacame very concerned and serious and asked, "Who died?"

Took all my effort to not die laughing.

A Recipe for de-cluttering

I have several projects that I have neglected FAR. TOO. LONG. So I decided to tackle one this week. It has taken me several days but I think I finally did it.

Here is the before.


This is the out-of-control stack of magazines.


The cookbooks that had taken up residence on the counter.


The cabinet where the recipes need to fit. I forgot to take a photo before I pulled out the magazines.

You see, I love to cook and try new recipes. So I like cooking magazines, and recipe books. Is there an addiction to recipes? It's probably just hoarding... I hate to get rid of recipes, because who knows, I might one day try them. So I finally decided that after asking all the rest of my family to de-clutter and let stuff go, it was time to be a big girl and let some of these go. Sniff!

I started this collection 17 years ago, shortly before getting married. As I was weeding thru I found lots of recipes I remember trying, liking and losing in the abyss of the collection. So now I can welcome them home! I also found recipes that I know are older than my almost 11 year old daughter, that I have NEVER made!

I had an inordinately large amount of dessert recipes! Gotta love me some desserts, even though I can't really eat them right now with the weight loss goals and all....

Needless to say, I ditched quite a few recipes, and was only slightly scared that I might have tossed something that I shouldn't. I was only slightly sad, because you know that you can find almost anything on the internet now....

So here is the finished result.


My kiddos made the covers of my new binder. Don't you like the way they mis-spelled recipes?


I put the magazine pages that I kept in binder sleeves and organized them by category.


Someone at a Bible study I go to showed me this over a year ago. Purchase a photo book that has pockets and slip in the recipe cards you have. I got this one with room for 700 cards at Target for $4.99.



And look, now I have room for more recipes...

My girls are already discussing what recipes they want when I die. Hmmm, should I be worried?

Everything you (n)ever wanted to know....

Mrs. Nurse Boy over at Poop on Jelly tagged me to share! I've known Mrs. Nurse boy for 11 years (yes dear - that long!) and she is one great person. Go on over to her blog and check her out. Enjoy!

1. What are your current obsessions? What do you mean by current? I think I just continually add to my list. Unfortunately the most recently added are Bejeweled and checking Facebook every time I enter the house.

2. Which item from your wardrobe do you wear most often? Jeans, a solid scoop or v-neck tee and a ponytail holder. Flip flops right now too.

3. What's for dinner? Something low fat, low cal, low glycemic value, low carb, sigh.

4. Last thing you bought? A Kindergarten graduation card and present for the boy. Sniff!

5. What are you listening to? The sound of kids playing outside, traffic noise from the nearby highway, and the wind blowing thru the trees.

6. If you were a god/goddess who would you be? A domestic goddess who has it all together and looks put together and not frazzled at the end of the day.

7. Favorite vacation spots? I really like the outdoors, driving vacations, museums, and oddball attractions. I made hubby drive 3 hours out of our way one year so I could see a windmill in Iowa.

8. Reading right now? Saints In Limbo (fiction), Mama's Got a Fake I.D. (second time, non-fiction - great book). And I have a few others started too.

9. Four words to describe yourself. Self-conscious, loyal, compassionate, and kind.

10. Guilty pleasure? Ice Cream and my other was Potato chips (but alas the potato chips suffered the high cholesterol diet cut.) And of course - Chocolate in any size, shape and form.

11. Who or what makes you laugh until you’re weak? Hubs and the boy. They have the same sense of humor. It can also make me angry if I'm in the wrong frame of mind.

12. Favorite thing to do in the summer? Doing stuff with the kids. Zoo, picnics, park, backyard, etc. Although I am fond of sleeping later, staying up later, not ironing school clothes, not making school lunches, etc.

13. Planning to travel to next? We'd love to do a long weekend somewhere close this summer, like St. Louis or Omaha, but we're not sure if it will fit in the budget yet. I am going to San Fran in the fall with hubby for a weekend before one of his business trips. It will be my first time away from the kids for more than one night.

14. Best thing you ate or drank lately? Yikes. Best tasting? Probably Zarda BBQ ribs that we had last Thursday night because I couldn't cook at home because of another plumbing issue. Best for me - ice water.

15. When did you last get tipsy? In college, many years ago, before I knew better. I don't drink anymore because I don't like feeling like I am not in control of myself, and my dad was an alcoholic when I was little (and violent), so the stuff kind of freaks me out.

16. Favorite film? Once again difficult. If you asked me in high school, it would have been "Dirty Dancing". I know I shouldn't admit it. I really enjoyed "The Usual Suspects" several years back and I love the Janette Oke series, and "Enchanted" was super cute.

17. Dream vacation? Hawaii or a tropical cruise with hubby. Although I do want to take all the kiddos to DC.

18. Least favorite thing about driving in the boondocks? The possibility of hitting wildlife. I killed a hummingbird yesterday. It flew right into my dashboard. I am glad the kiddos weren't with me, I never would have lived it down. I also can't stand the fact that there are no landmarks or marked streets. "You know, turn left at the 342nd tree and then drive until the dirt road becomes more gravel and dings up your car..."

19. Least favorite part of your day? The time after the kids get home from school until hubby arrives. Homework, fighting between siblings, dinner prep, ICK!

20. Why do you blog? To complain. Honestly. I hate to admit it, it's like a valve to release the steam. If you don't release it - KABANG! Hubs words are frequently gone by the time he gets home and his ears start burning if I dump it all on him.

21. Major Pet Peeve- Clean laundry being put back in the hampers or thrown on the floor after I have cleaned and folded it.

Rules of the meme: Respond and rework. Answer questions on your own blog. Replace one question. Add one question. Tag 8 people.


I tag:

Heather at Sugar N Spice and Mostly nice
Tracey at Tracey Crafty Scraps
Lisa at Cheerios Underfoot
SturgMOM at Sturgmom, In general

AND
Anyone else who wants to participate. Only do it if you want to, No pressure! If you do, leave me a comment so I can check yours out too!

A first romance

My sweet boy is in a kindergarten class of 6 boys and 1 day a week one little girl is added to the mix. These boys are great friends. They love each other and get along so well. They treat this little girl with respect. They look out for her.

So yesterday my son and another little boy got into a fight over this little girl. Apparently my son was holding her hand and one of the other boys got upset. They then argued over who was going to marry her! For goodness sake, they are 6!

Thank goodness he wasn't thrown out of school for harrassment for holding her hand!

When I asked my son about it he blushed and said that he and his friend had "worked it out" and were okay. I didn't ask how they resolved it....maybe I should have.

Science experiment?

You may have noticed that I haven't blogged much the last couple of weeks. I even missed a couple of Menu Monday recipe posts (audible gasps all over blogland ignored).

Another confession, I haven't read many of your blogs either. (Okay, don't go egging my house or anything, nothing personal, K?)

I can come up with lots of excuses like -

A school fundraiser that occupied my time.

Family for Easter dinner. Therefore also, recovery from Easter dinner.

Sick kiddo.

Bad attitude.

But, so much for excuses, the truth is that I thought I needed a break from blogworld. I had convinced myself that "slacker mom" had emerged from blogworld and taken residence in my home.

Thus my science fair experiment is born.

Observation: I seem to be spending a lot of time blogging. My housework seems to resist blogging as a means of getting done.

Question: Is blogging and following blogs mutually exclusive from housework completion?

Hypothesis: If I take a break from blogworld, my time will be available to accomplish "stuff"!

Method: I took a break from blogworld and attempted to not let something else take it's place.

Result: I didn't get more done. I did get stuff done, but probably about the same that I would have even when I was blogging.

Conclusion: I miss blogworld! I miss my fans (all 3 of you)! I miss having some outlet besides hubby (who ignores half of my rants anyway!) So, watch out blogworld, I am back!

What will they be?

It is so entertaining and awe-inspiring to watch children develop into people. To watch their talents and abilities emerge, and to wonder and help them discover the calling on their lives to utilize those best.

I think I have definitely discovered my Gigi's calling....She will be an artist! The world is her canvas! She is too young at 22 months to know, you say?! See for yourself.....

Exhibit A


Exhibit B


Exhibit C

(This is the top of the bench in our entryway that hubby finished himself...)

See what I mean? She isn't fussy about medium. She prefers ink and graphite (pencil), but will make do with whatever is handy. (Translated, whatever she can get her little hands on!) She isn't partial to her canvas either. It doesn't have to be boring old paper! In a pinch, a hand will do!



Who wants to be the first to buy a masterpiece before she becomes too pricey? You know what? We could even have her come to you and personalize it on your furniture, walls, coasters, or any other place that needs an artist's flair!

What to Wear????

About 2 months ago, hubs and I started the South Beach "lifestyle change", (diet is a nasty word around here...). Hubs has lost 50 lbs and I have lost 24. It is wonderful! BUT, it does have its dilemmas. While my children are outgrowing their clothes, mom and dad are shrinking, and the clothes are not.

My favorite pair of jeans can be removed without UNZIPPING them! I finally caved and bought a pair of jeans and 5 tops (three from a second hand store and 2 from an outlet. I plan to lose another 20 lbs at least.

But the problem remains, what to wear? I went shopping this evening in my favorite pair of jeans (I admit, Stacy and Clinton would toss them in a sec.) I felt like I belonged to the hip hop scene with my pants slipping down around my hips.

I went out to find another pair of jeans and a nice dress. I don't want to spend a fortune, since I plan to lose more weight. I went to JCPenney, Dillard's, Macy's, XXI, and Lane Bryant.

JCPenney had a few that looked great, if I wanted to show all my cleavage to the entire congregation Easter morning.

The saleslady in Macy's didn't even glance my way. Besides, the dress I wanted to try on was $200. WAY beyond my price range!

Dillard's sales staff followed me like I was going to steal something! Come on, I know the jeans look bad, but I am definitely not going to spend my money here if I'm treated like that!

XXI- I felt like I was in high school again....BIG MISTAKE! I'm sure they all thought I was shopping for my daughter. Some of the salesgirls looked the age of my daughter (10)!

Lane Bryant was one of the places I HAD to shop before I started losing weight. I had to beg the saleslady to unlock a dressing room for me. I tried on two dresses there and could have fit my two year old in with me.... That was a positive!

Needless to say, I came home empty handed. But I did see some beautiful shoes....now I just need clothes to wear....

Stacy and Clinton, where are you when a girl needs help????

Keep, return or exchange?

I promised myself I would never do this, but now I frequently go shopping and buy something thinking I might like it without trying it on. I take it home and try it on and take it back if it doesn't work.

Why this change of heart? Dressing rooms in general. First, they are the size of a small outhouse most of the time. I can barely turn around, much less change clothes or drag a kid or two in with me. They are cold. They certainly don't want you to stay too long. The last thing I need is goosebumps while trying on a bathing suit. Not pretty... The lighting also stinks. Tell me who has flourescent lighting anymore besides dressing rooms. Nothing like an erie blue/white/purple light to show all those flaws! And of course, the toddler. Let's see if I can fit under the dressing room wall or door mom?!!! Hey this lady is trying on the same bra and it fits her so much better, and she doesn't have stretch marks....

I can also live without salespeople's opinions most of the time. Who cares if you like it?! I will probably never see you again! And you don't have an ulterior motive do you, maybe a commission? What matters is if I like it, am comfortable in it, etc.

Needless to say I frequently have returns. Am I ashamed? Not a bit. What do I say when I return it? IF they ask, I tell them I decided I didn't want it! This all leads to a situation with hubs yesterday. He is a sweetie, and took the day off to help me out. I have a sick toddler who didn't sleep the night before and I had so much to do....

Anyway, he proceeded to replace brake light bulbs in my car. He went to the auto parts store and bought the bulbs that the little computer told him to get. He came home and tried to put them in. One was the wrong one. Hubby proceeds to look up another parts store to go to, because he doesn't want to look bad going back to the one where he bought the wrong bulb....

Are you kidding me?! Who cares what the checker at the auto store thinks, if they even notice!!!! Must be an ego thing.....

Open House Discoveries

We visited the school open house this evening. We were able to go to each of our three children's classrooms and see things that they have been working on. I was so tickled by some things that I had to share!

Sha Sha - My ten year old wrote about our family and how we like to play games together. She also wrote about how challenging it is now with our little Gigi (21 mos), considering her propensity for "destroying everything". (Her word choice...)

Nini - Wrote a journal entry about how she wanted school to be shortened to three hours a day and wanted to change the school dress code. She wanted boys to wear tuxedos and girls to wear "fancy dresses" and "the boys and girls would dance together". Maybe she has a future in ballroom dancing?

The boy wrote a book about himself. It was great. My favorite part was where he discussed his favorite sounds. His fav is Christmas wrapping paper.....

This game of life

I always loved playing the game "Life" as a kid. Stop here and get married. Roll for presents. Stop here and add a baby boy! Congratulations! Roll for presents! Roll for a career! Pay taxes! Ending up at Millionaire Acres....Ahh good time!

However, I think a more realistic version is necessary, how about adding -

Child diagnosed with asthma - pay $100 for medicine, $15 for office visit, be annoyed because child used nebulizer attachment to pretend he is Statue of Liberty....

Child comes down with strep throat for second time in two months, spend your day gathering school assignments, additional office visit $15, and more meds $10.

Daylight Savings time - Lose 1 hour of sleep, mom and children all cranky for a week. (Lose a turn).

Soccer season starts - Have exactly 1 night at home a week. Spend $100 for easy dinner options.

Mom over-commits herself - pay $100 for anti-anxiety meds.

Mom loses sanity - $10,000 for 6 months of inpatient treatment.....

(Disclaimer - Any resemblance of these to my own life is ABSOLUTELY intentional!)

New disorders (everyone get your own!)

Do you suffer from an addiction? Are you pre-disposed?
I recently came across a website (might have been a blog, I don't remember) that listed new addictions. I also heard a radio story on it. Here's the list -


Facebook Addiction Disorder (FAD)
Youtube Addiction Disorder (YAD)
Google Search Addiction Disorder (GSAD)
Widget Addiction Disorder (WAD)
Twitter Addiction Disorder (TAD)
Blackberry Addiction Disorder (BAD)
Mac Addiction Disorder (MAD)

I don't know about you, but we have identified some addictions from observations made in our home. Here they are,

DVR Addiction Overload Disorder (DAOD) - Recording 10 hours of TV in one day that you plan to fit into 1 hour at night. Something inherently wrong there, hmmm....

Potato Chip Withdrawl - Okay this isn't a disorder, but it is still going on around here...

Wii Addiction disorder (WiiAD) - 'nuff said. See my earlier Wii addiction post.

Bargain Addiciton Disorder - This is when you buy stuff because it is a "good deal" without any real use for it.... It doesn't really happen around here, just sayin...

How about you? What disorders are you currently facing in your home?