2007- Our year in review

Wow, where has the time gone ?
This year seems like it went by so fast.
It has been a year of transitions for our family. Back in January I lost my job of 6.5 years and spent seven months unemployed.

Being unemployed allowed me to spend the summer with my children, something I've never gotten to do before. We didn't have money to take fancy vacations or do much, but we still managed to have fun and enjoy each other's company.

I was truly blessed with a job offer right before school started, it was just in time. I am happy to say I still love my job !

Daisy and Pinky's pet cat Oreo died earlier this year and my dog Asia escaped, never to be seen again.

I've watched my son go from being shorter than me to being taller than me...just in one year. He's also maturing into a delightful young man. I am so proud to be his mother.

'Cole became a teenager this year. I miss that delightful little girl who stole my heart so completely many years ago. I look at her now and see a beautiful young woman blossoming right before my eyes. Every day I ask myself how did she grow up so fast ?

Daisy and Pinky had a rough year, partly because they are growing up and partly because they are questioning who they are. They'll be ten next year...I just can't believe it.

Granny was ill in late summer, but she recovered nicely and is at home being her ornery old self.

We are looking forward to a wonderful new year full of adventure and grown and learning.

Christmas

Because of a last minute shopping spree (Wal-Mart at midnight) on Christmas Eve Eve, I had to wrap ALL the presents Christmas Eve. I promise that will never happen again. I wrapped from 1 o'clock to 3:30. I was so tired I couldn't even see straight.

The family Christmas party was a BLAST ! There were about 12 kids just bouncing off the walls...but they had so much fun.

We had a lovely Christmas Day ! We discussed the reason why we celebrate Christmas and how blessed we are just to have each other.

The kids got a nice amount of stuff, without me feeling like I went overboard.
Pickles got a few video games, clothes, a movie and a new jacket. Daisy and Pinky got Leapsters with 2 games, Baby Alive Wets and Wiggles (think I'm going to regret that), clothes and two other dolls. 'Cole received jewelry, a few video games and clothes. I got 2 pairs of jeans, some cooking utensils and some porcelain figurines. Granny got a new comforter set, a sheet set and a heated throw.

I'm just happy it's over until next year.

A Flower with Grass-Is-Always-Greener Disease (Part 1)

Daisy seems to think every child in the world has such a wonderful life...except for her.
Why ?
Because Daisy and Pinky are not allowed to play in their room when I'm not home.
Because of the level of fighting/arguing that goes on between Daisy and Pinky we decided a long time ago that they cannot handle being unsupervised and playing in their room. They seem to do a little better when I'm home, and I can redirect them or put them in time out.
But when I'm gone and Granny is in charge....all heck breaks loose.
Yesterday, Granny called me to report that Daisy was crying and upset ("Everyone likes Pinky better, no one likes me"), because Pinky was breathing on her. Daisy was laying in her bed (bottom bunk) and Pinky was laying on her bed (top bunk) Pinky was asleep, but snoring rather loudly. Daisy felt like Pinky was being loud on purpose.
I had to roll my eyes at the silliness of this typical situation.
When I try to explain to Daisy that that behavior is one of the reasons why they aren't allowed to play in the room together, it seems like she just can't understand. Like it can't possible be HER behavior that is causing the problem. It must be because everyone hates her or as she says "Everybody else gets to play in their room and they don't get in trouble for fighting. I should have my own room"

To which I answer; "Daisy, dear.... you and Pinky fight every single day about something, If I can't trust you to play nicely together, then you have to come out of your room."

Daisy: "Well, why can't we watch tv when we come out of the room."
Mommy: "Because I don't allow tv watching during the school week."
Daisy: " Everybody hates me."
Mommy;" Why do you feel that way Daisy ?"
Daisy: " The cousins don't have to sit in a time out."
Mommy: " You don't really know that, dear...you don't live with them."
Daisy: " Is it snowing outside ?"

And just like that the conversation is over. Her mind is in a totally different place and there's no way to reach her.

It seems like a combination of her age (9) and personality. She has always been a negative person. Part of it goes back to her self-esteem issues. In her mind, I don't think she feels lovable.
She certain is my most trying child. It's hard to reason with someone who doesn't know how to be happy.

Ahhhhhh....relief

Friday afternoon I spent an hour getting four wisdom teeth removed, and except for feeling like someone punched me on the side of the face...I feel GREAT !!

But I keep wanting to eat things I know I can't eat...like cheeseburgers and french fries.
It wasn't half as bad as I thought it would be. All I remember is the doctor asked me if I felt anything and the next thing I know he was calling my name and the surgery was over.

It's supposed to snow today, so I had to run to the grocery store for a few things. luckily we made it back home before the snow started.

My Christmas shopping is just about done. I just need to pick up some stocking stuffers and a few clothing items for the big kids.

I hope everyone has a lovely weekend.

What do you get for the kid who destroys everything ?

Pickles is a great kid. He is funny, kind-hearted and just an all around great person. I hope he never changes.

But when it comes to toys... He is a one-kid wreaking crew.
He doesn't really own any toys, usually because once he touches them they mysteriously get damaged in some way.
I've tried remote controlled cars, electric guitars, board games, portable game systems (he had a Nintendo DS...once), an electric scooter, action figures... you name it I've bought it. The only thing he owns that hasn't been destroyed (yet) is his Playstation 2 and the games that go with it. I am amazed that it has lasted 4 years.
He's asked for some pretty pricey items for Christmas this year and as much as I'd LOVE to get them for him. I just can't see wasting all that money on things that won't last longer than a week or two.

I'd like to get him something that can hold his interest and won't end in up as a pile of rubble, but my mind is going completely blank. (any ideas ?)
I did buy some clothing for him and a bucket of K'Nex. He's also getting an MP3 player (he wants a Zune...I don't think so).

There must be something out there that is Pickles-proof....

Christmas Spirit Award

I'd just like to thank my blogfriends Eric and Jen who gave me this very cool award.
Thanks guys.

Things I've Done Today

8:30- Started my day.
9:15 Fixed Breakfast and read newspaper.
10:30 Took movie rentals back to the store.
11:30 Took air conditioner and outdoor toys out to the garage.
12:15 Fixed Lunch
1:00 Went to the Honeybaked Ham Store to pick up ham for Thanksgiving.
2:00 Ran to Family Dollar for Laundry Soap.
3:00 Dusted the ceiling in the kitchen (don't ask)and dusted ceiling fan.
3:45 Started laundry
4:00 Swept living room and upstairs hallway.
5:00 Started Dinner
6:00 Did the dishes.
6:15 Placed clothes on hangers so children could put them away.
7:00 Gave the kids leftover Halloween Candy...because I was too tired to fix a proper snack.
8:00 Supervised bath time. (Basically just me yelling at everyone to quit splashing)
9:00 Redid Blog Template.
9:30 Tucked all children into bed.
10:30 Finished Laundry (Not really...but I'm not doing anything else today.)
11:00 Go to Bed(Hopefully)

The Tooth that Refuses to Leave

I finally got my nerve up and went to the dentist. (Mostly because the throbbing of my tooth keeps me awake at night) I almost scared myself silly reading about tooth extractions on the Internet. Then I came across this picture, which completely and utterly freaked me out.

So after two hours in the dentist office and countless x-rays of my entire mouth, my tooth and I are still united.
Sigh...
I don't need a dentist. I need an oral surgeon. I could get it pulled today...if I were willing to go to Pickerington, Ohio. (I don't drive AND I don't know where Pickerington is...but I'm pretty sure it's not on the bus line)
So "Throbby" (my affectionate name for the problem tooth) is still hanging out in my mouth, but not hurting due to a lovely prescription for a painkiller (and an antibiotic)

I think Throbby is trying to ruin my Thanksgiving, by making it impossible for me to eat.

Trick-Or-Treat 2007

Two witches, a demon

skate-boarder and an

evil fairy/angel.

"Wii" Are Addicted

I swore I would never pay that kind of money for a video game system, but the Nintendo Wii (Wii is pronounced "we") looked like soooo much fun. I had spent the past month and a half trying to find one, but didn't have any luck.

Yesterday, I was looking through the Sunday Advertisements and saw that Meijer was going to have 10 Wii's in stock that morning. I really didn't believe we'd get one and I still wasn't sure it would be worth the money, but off we went to the store. As I steered my cart into the toy aisle I spotted an employee and the store manager putting one Wii box in the display case. My eyes must have lit up like a kid at Christmas because the manager took one look at me and said "Oh, you look like you want one of these."
I bobbed my head like a pre-schooler on a sugar high.

The rest happened so fast it was like a blur. Paid for it. Finished grocery shopping. Couldn't even concentrate, I was so excited. After dinner I hooked it up to 'Cole's tv.
And wowie wow wow... It was so fun !
We all took turns playing bowling, boxing, and tennis. No one argued. No one got angry about losing. We laughed and had a really enjoyable time. Plus, we got a heck of a workout. Boxing and tennis really require a lot of movement and I even worked up a sweat.
Best money I've spent all year.
The kids are excited about next weekend because we still have two more games to try, baseball and golf.

Pickles Cooks Dinner

There's no pictures of this, but I should have made a bigger deal about it. (actually I was kind of negative and it probably wasn't as enjoyable for him as it should have been...I'll do better next time)

I planned the menu and wrote out a grocery list for him. Pretty simple menu. He made Chicken Taco Pasta Bake, Garden Salad and for dessert Breath Mint Pie.

We went to the store and I handed him his list. I told him to gather the items on the list and off he went. I went to do my own grocery shopping.
He had about 10 things on his list. It took him a while to find everything (about 30 minutes) and I had to help him a bit, but overall he did pretty good.

Hopefully he learned alot. (but mostly he made a mess)

Dinner was enjoyable, he did a great job.

We will absolutely have to do it again.
Next time I'll take pictures.

Parenting Burnout and the Single Mom

I'm tired. There I said it.
Somewhere along the line I stopped being the parent I want to be and need to be.
I know I'm supposed to take time to rejuvenate myself and meet my own needs, but there's just not enough hours in the day for that.
I try to find quiet time at the end of the day when everyone is in bed, but find myself picking something up or just trying to wash a few more loads of laundry.

There's always so much that needs to be done. So much laundry, so many things to plan, so much stuff to pick up or clean up. (and don't even get me started on the girl's room)

I haven't been in the mood to pull out the board games this whole entire year. I think we only went bike riding twice this year. It's so much easier to do things with the kids outside the house. Saturday we went out for lunch at Steak and Shake and went to a movie ('The Game Plan'). and I was actually pretty relaxed.

Maybe it's cabin fever.

All I know is I feel stressed without any reason, and it is such a strange feeling because I don't know what is causing the stress.
The kids aren't acting any different, my job is remarkably easy, I'm earning more money than I've ever made, and yet I almost feel suffocated.

I used to be the fun parent. We would play games together, I'd give the girl's pedicures and manicures, we'd play legos together (that's strange, I haven't even seen the legos this year.).

Maybe I need a vacation.

It's time to make some changes, I know that much. I certainly can't go on like this.

Holiday Crunchtime

Pardon me while I freak out.

Ahhhhhhhhhh ahhhhhhhhhh ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Ok. I'm better now.
Where did the year go ? Wasn't it just June ? Didn't school JUST start ?
Now there are 62 days until Christmas.

The Christmas season is my favorite time of year. I love the family togetherness of my sister's Annual Christmas Party. I love watching the looks of surprise as the kids open their presents. I just love the meaning and the spirit of the season.

But I hate the shopping.
I try to do it early, because I'm soooo not a mall-shopping type of person. I do the majority of the shopping online, so much so that it seems like the UPS guy is at my house more than I am.

I've made mental notes of the things the kids want for Christmas. I cut back on the over-indulgent aspect of it about two years ago. Now the kids get their presents based on this:
Something you want.
Something you need.
Something to wear.
Something to read.

That little list has helped simplify my life so much and it helps me to be able to enjoy the holiday so much more.
The kids were used to getting mountains of stuff so it has been quite an adjustment fot them, too.

Apple Picking 2007

Last Saturday we were invited to go the Apple Orchard with my friend Marcella and her children. The kids spent the afternoon climbing a large dirt hill. (I have a picture of this....I think, but the camera needs batteries)

It was nice catching up with Marcella. She got married back in September to her boyfriend of two years.

After apple picking and dirt-hill climbing we took the entire gang to CiCi's Pizza. A great (cheap) place to eat for large families.

Grocery Day

Today was our weekly grocery shopping day, so I spent the day shopping with Pinky and Daisy.

First off let me say.... I love my daughters. I really, really do. But I hate shopping with them.

For my daughters the grocery store is like... Disneyworld.

It is a huge place full of interesting sights and sounds and people. To them it is almost as fun as Chuck E. Cheese. They could easily spend HOURS just poking the meat in the Meat Department.

I spent the entire trip saying:
"Please quit poking the meat."

"If you touch that again I'm going to make you buy it."

" Could you come back over here...please."

" We do not swing our sisters around in the store."

"You only have $9...no you cannot buy a $20 toy."

"If you keep playing in the store you are going to get hurt."

Five seconds after I said that last thing, I heard a BLAM from behind me. I look back briefly, Pinky is sprawled in the middle of the aisle.

I simply turned around and kept walking.

I'm a sympathetic parent...really I am. But after you've been told to STOP IT... well Mommy just isn't in the mood to kiss your boo boo.

So Pinky finished the shopping trip holding her hand in the air like a flag. (She had just the smallest scratch on it.)

Daisy had a piece of wisdom for Pinky after the incident. She told her

"Well, Mommy did tell you to stop."

Sometimes in order to learn something you have to learn it the hard way.

Mommy Goes Bananas for.... Elisabeth Withers

The first time I heard this woman sing was on Emeril Live and I was immediately was captivated by her voice. Elisabeth has been captivating audiences in the Broadway production of The Color Purple.
Her song Simple Things from the album It Could Happen to Anyone just blows me away every time I hear it.

So if you have a moment drop by her MySpace page and take a listen...

http://www.myspace.com/elisabethwithers

and her official site http://www.elisabethwithers.net/

Pumpkin Spice Bread

It is October...right ??
Then WHY is it so stinking hot ??

I feel like I'm living in the Bahamas instead of Ohio !

But I didn't let the heat stop me from making Pumpkin Spice Bread.


It really did taste like Pumpkin Pie without the crust. Granny requested pecans and golden raisins in one loaf and while I'm not a fan of raisins in my Pumpkin Bread...it wasn't too bad.


Pumpkin Spice Bread
Submitted by: Delora LucasRated: 5 out of 5 by 26 members
Prep Time: 10 MinutesCook Time: 1 Hour
Ready In: 1 Hour 10 Minutes Yields: 32 servings

INGREDIENTS:
3 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs, lightly beaten
1 (16 ounce) can solid pack
pumpkin
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 cup water
DIRECTIONS:
1.
In a large bowl, combine sugar, oil and eggs. Add pumpkin and mix well. Combine dry ingredients; add to the pumpkin mixture alternately with water. Pour into two greased 9-in. x 5-in. x 3-in. loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees F for 60-65 minutes or until bread tests done. Cool in pans 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack; cool completely.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2007 Allrecipes.com

Oh Where, Oh Where Did those little socks go ??

Mommies you KNOW what I'm talking about !
At the beginning of every school year I buy each of my children two bags of socks. School has been in session for two months and guess what ?!?

NOBODY HAS ANY SOCKS !

Where did they go ?

I asked the small children to please look around their room and see if they could find any socks. Five seconds later they came to me and said "No, Mommy we can't find any socks."

So that means mommy must brave the disaster area that is their room and hunt down renegade socks. My search yielded 4 socks, a pair of clean underwear, and two nickles

There are no socks in the laundry hamper. There are no socks under the beds. There are no socks here or there. I can't find those darn things anywhere.

Is someone sneaking into the house in the middle of the night and stealing the socks ?!?

D0 the kids sell the socks ? And if they do what is the going rate for socks these days ?

I suggested to my sister that parents should just buy socks in bulk. Just get a giant industrial sized Box O' Sox. She laughed. Apparently she is not yet aware of the great sock mystery.

That's okay, her grandchildren will soon have her educated about the issue.

Meanwhile, I guess I'll be buying more socks.

Another Month Comes to a Close

The Autumn colors don't look like this and probably won't this year because of our exceptionally hot, dry summer. September has been a quiet month, with a few exceptions.

Daisy and Pinky's pet cat Oreo died last week. Leaving a quietness in our house. There's no cat jumping down the stairs or chasing her favorite ball around the living room. There's no cat to lean against your leg when she wants something. There's no cat purring in your ear to wake you up in the morning.

In other news we had Parent-Teacher Conferences last week for the big kids. It went pretty well. Pickles is still having trouble in math, but his teacher says he has the time to work with him. Hopefully he has the patience.

I had my first performance review at work... it went really well. I have to admit I do love my job. I couldn't ask for a better place to work.

Today is Granny's birthday. She is 69 years young today. I'm fixing her favorite dinner and she relaxing like she always does. Happy Birthday to my favorite old coot !!

Farewell to Our Little Friend

You will be missed by our entire family.

One Sick Kitty (Day 2)

Well, Oreo is home and while she's a little shaky, she is eating and drinking and being her normal little unpleasant self. (the vet bill DIDN'T put us in the poor house either)
The hypocalcemia was caused by her getting into something poisonous. We just don't know what it could be. I've gone over every inch of the house trying to figure out what she could have licked or eaten. I just don't know.
It would have to be something like antifreeze, but we don't own any antifreeze. (She's an indoor cat, so we know it has to be something from inside the house)

I just want to make sure she doesn't get into it again... hard to do when you don't know what you're looking for.

One Sick Kitty

Oreo is sick.

We're not sure what is wrong with her, but I can tell by the way the veternarian was calculating the bill it's not gonna be pretty.

**UPDATE**
The vet called and said that Oreo is hypocalcemic, which means she has low blood calcium levels. (her level is 3 and should be between 7-11) So Oreo is getting an IV and some medicine and hopefully we can pick her up tomorrow.

Labor Day Dessert Recipes (Part 2)

This recipe is sooo cool and refreshing. (and simple) Everyone loved it.

Frozen Lemonade Pie
1 (14oz) can sweetend condensed milk
1 (6 oz) can frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed UNDILUTED. (don't add water)
1 8 oz. container frozen whipped topping, thawed.
2 (9") prepared graham cracker pie crusts.
Garnish: lemon slices and fresh mint.

Fold sweetened condensed milk and lemonade concentrate into whipped topping.Spoon into crust.FREEZE until firm.Garnish, if desired, before serving.

Labor Day Dessert Recipes (Part 1)

I probably should have taken pictures, but the food was gone before I could find my camera. Take my word for it though....these desserts are wonderful

Apple Cider Pound Cake- I didn't make the caramel glaze, but the cake was delicious without it. Tasted like an Autumn day.

Apple Cider Pound Cake With Caramel Glaze
CDKitchen http://www.cdkitchen.com
Category: Pound Cake
Serves/Makes: 12 Difficulty Level: 3 Ready In: 1-2 hrs
Ingredients:
***Pound Cake***
1 cup butter or margarine
1/2 cup shortening
3 cups sugar
6 eggs
3 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon allspice
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup apple cider
1 teaspoon vanilla
***Caramel Glaze***
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup buttermilk
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons corn syrup
1/4 cup margarine
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat 10-inch tube pan with nonstick cooking spray.
For pound cake, soften butter and shortening. Gradually add sugar, beating for 1 minute. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating for 1 1/2 minutes after each addition.
Sift together flour, salt, allspice, nutmeg, baking powder, cloves and cinnamon. Blend together cider and vanilla. Add dry ingredients to butter mixture alternately with cider mixture. Stir until well-blended. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake for 1 1/2 hours, or until done.
For glaze, combine sugar, buttermilk, baking soda, corn syrup, margarine, vanilla and cinnamon in medium saucepan. Bring to a rolling boil over low heat. Boil for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Top pound cake with glaze.
Recipe Location: http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/155/Apple-Cider-Pound-Cake-With-Ca79496.shtml
Recipe ID: 50280
This recipe is from CDKitchen http://www.cdkitchen.com
© 1995-2006 CDKitchen, Inc.

Happiness Is....

My favorite time to go to the library is Saturday morning at 9am. Right when they first unlock the doors. It's so quiet you can actually hear pages turning. Kids don't really start coming in until noon. So all morning it's like being on an island surrounded by books.

It has to be one of the best places to go when you need some quiet time.

WFMW: (Cereal) Brand Loyalty

I am fiercely loyal to Kellogg's and General Mills for their wonderful sugar-filled "breakfast" cereals. I love them almost as much as I love my children. I often buy a box (or two) of Cookie Crisp Cereal just for me and hide it in my private cereal stash.

I can't even understand the concept behind cereals such as Cocoa Comets, Apple Dapples and Apple Cinnamon Toasted Oats (which sounds like something you'd feed a horse...in Autumn). My brain says why buy fake when you can have the real deal ?? I know, I know it's cheaper and more cost effective, but they taste like cereal-flavored cardboard.

Don't let there be a cereal sale...with coupons !! My eyes get misty just thinking about 6 boxes of cereal for $8 with a $2 off coupon.

and don't even get me started on Toaster Treats (fake Pop Tarts), which look like oversized postage stamps (and taste like fruity paper).

For more Works-For-Me-Wednesday Tips head on over to Rocks In My Dryer.

Things Kids Say (Part 2)

Pickles and I were walking home from visiting a store in our neighboorhood when he noticed a billboard. The billboard said " Thanks President Bush for supporting America's older citizens. AARP"
Pickles looks over at me and the conversation goes like this:
Pickles : "I have that."
Mommy: " You have what ?"
Pickles: "AARP."
Mommy, looking confused: "Do you know what AARP is ?"
Pickles: "Yeah, it's some kind of disease."
Mommy: "Ummm...no. It's an acronym that means the American Association of Retired Persons, it's a group that does stuff for older people."
Pickles: "It's not a disease ?"
Mommy: "No, son....it's not a disease."

First Day of School 2007

Everyone had a great first day, despite some first-time riding the school bus jitters for the little ones.

Mommy Goes Bananas for.... Officemax ?!?

Some women go bananas for this. I go bananas for this.
If you check out their weekly ad link you will see why.

I actually had dreams about 1 cent crayons and 25 cent pencils. (You get 72 pencils for a stinkin' quarter....A QUARTER !!!)

I'm more excited than a kid at Christmas. I feel like dancing.

and yes, I will travel all the way across town to get to this store...by bus, without any hesitation.

Because I MUST have those pencils and crayons and folders and paper.

Just a testament of how parenting can cause a grown woman to go temporarily insane.

I can hardly contain myself.

My Top 10 Favorite Educational Websites

1. Merriam-Webster's Word Central Online Dictionary and Thesaurus- Words, Words Everywhere !

2. Starfall- Learn to Read at Starfall.com. Designed to teach younger children how to read using phonics.

3. Iknowthat.com- Educational games so fun your kids won't realize they've learned something.

4. Spelling List Helper- You can customize this helper with your child's words and they can learn them using the Look, Cover, Write and Check Method.

5. Internet4Classrooms- A site for teachers, this place ROCKS !! Lots of resources for kids in grades K-8.

6. Using English/Irregular Verb List- Never know when this site will come in handy...but sooner or later you'll need to know something about idioms or irregular verbs.

7. EasyTestMaker - Several different test formats that you can customize. You have to register to use the site, but most of the content is free.

8. The World Almanac for Kids- Detailed in some areas, but not in others this site is handy for getting an overview of important subjects.

9. Phonics Interactives- Phonics activities for grades K-6.

10. WebMath- 'Cause even Mommy doesn't have all the answers. This is a great place to go when you get stuck on a math problem.


Do you have a favorite educational website to share ? Leave a comment. Let's try to make homework time a stress-free time. :)

Picture of the Day- Sunday

Pinky and Daisy at the Zoo a few months ago. Daisy decided that the "business end" of the goat needed to be groomed.

The Things You Find in a Boy's Pants

Everytime single time I do the laundry I have to inspect the pockets on my son's pants. I stopped being surprised at the things I find in his pockets a long time ago. It's like he has his own built-in storage facility (or trash collection).
Things I've found so far :
1 battery from a Nintendo DS
$5.00
Wrappers from every food he consumes during a day
Pencils sharpened down to a 1-inch nub (just can't bear to throw those away, I guess)
Assorted Game Boy games
Markers (which are soooo much fun when they pop open in the washer or dryer)
Gum (another fun find, especially when it melts in the dryer)
A cd
Rocks
shoelaces (no idea why these would be in his pocket and not in his shoe)
Lip Balm
Bratz Doll shoes (stolen from one of his sisters I'm sure)


There's nothing worse than settling down to relax while doing a load of laundry only to hear "Clank Clank" from the laundry room and knowing that I have indeed forgotten to check his pockets. I never know what I'll find, but it's always interesting.

School Clothes Shopping with a Mid-Sized Family

We went school shopping today, the goal was to get enough clothes for the first three days of school. We ended up with:
10 pairs of jeans
2 skirts
12 shirts
3 hoodies
4 pairs of shoes
miscellaneous school supplies
24 pairs of socks
24 pairs of underwear
4 Bookbags
Grand Total $ 537.56.

I chose three stores and we were able to get some great deals. Of course, by the time we got to the third store the kids were acting insane, I was tired and had the beginnings of a headache and the stores were really crowded. Not a good combination, but we survived.

The Downside to School Starting

Pickles, to me, is a great kid but he has a few school issues. He has struggled with most subjects and does horribly in Math. He has very basic understanding of mathematical concepts. Math, for him, is like expecting a Preschooler to understand Algebra.

Every year I come in and speak to the teachers, especially the math teacher. I try to explain to him or her that my son really needs a teacher who is patient and understands his limitations. He starts off every year with a willingness and a thirst to learn and by the middle of the year he's been beaten down by the failures he's endured.

Every year I have the same problem... Yes, he looks and acts like any other child in his grade, but after you spend some time teaching him you begin to notice that there is a problem, but you just can't seem to put your finger on what it is.

Every year I encounter teachers who are less than passionate about their jobs (the 6th grade science teacher spent her classroom time shopping online and watching YouTube)

Pickles has already been tested for a learning disability, and they claim he doesn't have one. So why can't my son understand math ?? His teachers last year said that he wasn't a "serious student" and that he "acted like he wasn't interested in the work".
Well, duh, it's kind of hard to be serious about something you don't have a clue about.

When he was in the 5th grade his teacher stated that " he asks too many nonsensical questions."
I had to (nicely) explain to her that it's not nonsense if you really don't understand what's going on.

He does not understand.

But.....
He does have the ability to understand. It just takes a little more time and effort to get the information into his head.

Pickles has worked on math all summer, he still is not even close to being where he should be. He getting better at it, but it's going to be awhile.

Maybe I'm not ready for school to start yet...

I'm Ready, I'm Ready

You can always tell when it's time for the kids to go back to school:

They fight over every little thing.
They complain about being bored a million times a day.
They ask an unusually high number of silly questions....like "Mommy can you make pants ?" or "Mommy can you flush an egg down the toilet ?"
They ask how much longer until school starts.

I am sooooooo ready to send them.

Picture of the Day- Monday

These are older pictures, but they always make me laugh. Especially the one of Pinky (the short kid in pink), she has some of the funniest expressions.

2nd Day on the New Job

I like it. I'm sore.
Even my brain is tired from having to get up at 5am. Heck...even my hair is tired.

I now know how zombies must feel.

Funnel Cake Sunday

We had a nice quiet Sunday. I took a nap and tried to mentally prepare myself for starting work tomorrow. I love nice quiet days like this. I decided to try a new Funnel Cake recipe, because nothing lights up this Mommy's face like fried dough. They came out PERFECT. Even better than what you get from fairs and festivals.

Funnel Cakes (http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Funnel-Cakes-IV/Detail.aspx?src=etaf) Yields: 12 servings

INGREDIENTS:
3 eggs

2 cups milk

1 teaspoon vanilla (or the flavoring of your choice)

1/4 cup white sugar

3 2/3 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons baking powder

DIRECTIONS:1. In a medium bowl, mix salt, baking powder, and half of the flour. Set aside.2. In a large bowl, cream eggs, sugar, vanilla and milk. Add flour mixture and beat until smooth. Continue to add remaining flour, but use only enough to achieve desired consistency. Batter will be thin enough to run through a funnel.3. In an eight inch skillet, heat the oil to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).4. Put your finger over the bottom opening of the funnel, and fill the funnel with a generous 1/2 cup of the batter. Hold the funnel close to the surface of the oil, and release the batter into the oil while making a circular motion. Fry until golden brown. Use tongs and wide spatula to turn the cake over carefully. Fry the second side one minute. Drain on paper towels, and sprinkle with sifted confectioners' sugar or cinnamon sugar.

So Tell Me Again Why The Toilet Seat Is Wet ???

Why ?
That's all I want to know.

You can't even get near the downstairs/Pickles' bathroom without smelling it first.
I've asked nicely. I've begged. I've threatened.
Please. Please. Please Baby, Baby Please.
Lift up the toilet seat when ya go.

That's all I ask.

And yet he still doesn't see the grossness in having to sit on a wet toilet seat.
It's not just that the seat is wet, but the entire area around the toilet has sprinkles on it too. Ewwwwww...

I feel for the boy, I really do. I understand how difficult it has to be to be the only male in a house full of females. But cut me some slack... ewwww

Granny believes he's going for some sort of World Record in Long Distance Peeing. Because it seems like he has to be standing in the doorway of the bathroom trying to work on his aim.

He spends about 30 minutes every morning cleaning it and scrubbing the floor. It still smells funny.

He doesn't seem to be able to understand that if he would just lift up the seat he probably wouldn't have to clean the toilet every. single. day.

He even asked me to pay him for cleaning it. LOL
Not going to happen. Ever.

Ewww...

Picture of the Day- Wednesday

Oreo the Cat decides she wants to be a rapper when she grows up.

Things Kids Say

I've had a toothache for a few weeks now and the pain from it usually flares up in the evening. I was having a conversation with Pickles about it today, here's how it went. :)

Mommy: This tooth is driving me crazy.
Pickles: Doesn't it have a filling in it ?
Mommy: No, it's gonna have to come out.
Pickles: If you put some Vagisil on it, it'll stop hurting.
'Cole: No, that's Viagra. Vagisil has side-effects.
Mommy: !!??!!

I had to explain to them why those products are NOT for teeth (while trying not to hurt myself laughing) they finally understood and were completely grossed out.

My work here is done. ;)

What's For Dinner ?

Granny graced our table with Great Northern Beans with Smoked Turkey and Cornbread Saturday and I cooked Fried Chicken, mixed vegetables and macroni and cheese Sunday.

And now.....I have no idea what to cook for the rest of the week.

Eric at Panda Curry made some delightful looking chicken and pork skewers that I may have to try.

Going back to Work

Next week I go back to work. I've been unemployed since the company I worked for eliminated my job back in January. I have truly enjoyed being home with the kids these past 7 months.
The new job is great, it's just down the street from my old job. lol It pays well, has excellent benefits, every major (and some minor) holidays off, plenty of opportunities to advance.
But I'm just not excited. I just feel cautious. I worked for the same company for 6 and a half years, I loved working were everybody knew me. I hate thought of being the "new kid on the block".
I know it'll be great. I know it will.

Our Yard Sale

We had our first yard sale yesterday and it was tons of fun. Just being outside meeting the neighboors was really cool. We sold a lot of girl sized clothes, a bike, a carpet cleaner, a bath spa and a bunch of movies we don't watch anymore and made $72.
Today the kids are going to put out stuff they don't use so they could earn some extra money. They were amazed that people would actually pay money for our stuff. I told them people will always pay money for things in good condition. So now they're excited.

Happy Birthday Pickles !!

Yesterday was Pickles 12th Birthday. He wanted to see Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, so he and I went to see it. Just mother and son. We stopped and picked up a birthday cake and for his birthday dinner he wanted breakfast for dinner. He wanted a t-shirt from Johnny Cupcakes , a new controller for his Playstation 2 and he wants the last Harry Potter book that is coming out next week.

We spent a lot of time talking about his firstmom and about drug addictions. He seems like he is starting to understand things, but with that understanding there is anger. He said he really felt angry at her. We talked about how a person who is addicted to drug is controlled by the drug and even when they are in danger of losing everything the know and love, the drugs prevent them from realizing the truth of their situation.

True Love

Binky the Rabbit and Oreo the Cat have been in love ever since Binky wandered into the laundry basket Oreo was sleeping in. They're so cute together.

Good Deal Hunting

Pinky, Daisy and I spent a lovely Saturday out and about visiting thrift stores. I found eight pairs of girls short/skorts and eight shirts in nearly new condition. Lots of nice stuff from The Children's Place, Limited, too, and JC Penney. Pinky and Daisy found a bunch of teddy bears to add to their collection.

I spent a grand total of..... $50.

I just started visiting thrift stores this year, and have been amazed at what I've been able to find each and every time we go. I usually spend somewhere between $600 and $800 a year on just summer clothes alone. This year I've spent an amazing $400.

I love a good shopping day.

Now if I could just learn to save all the money I'm not spending I'd be in good shape.

Happy 4th of July

Despite some afternoon rain, we had a lovely day. I grilled some shrimp skewers and we had crab legs and corn on the cob. We just lounged around, still trying to recover from the fireworks show yesterday.

Pickles accompanied me for my morning walk and we talked about how his sisters act and the things they do to drive him crazy. He's a good kid, he has a good heart. I know he feels forgotten somethimes because he's the middle kid, but he rarely gives me any trouble (except for the uncanny knack for being in the wrong place at the wrong time).

He's changed so much in the four years he's been by son. A few months ago he told me that all he wanted in the was to be loved. I hope he realized how much I really really do love him.

Fighting the Good Fight

We spent yesterday evening watching fireworks at Red, White and Boom and had great fun, but what truly amazed me was the number of half-naked teens and pre-teens we saw while we were out. How did they get out of the house dressed like they were going to a nightclub ? (Don't answer that, I already know ;)) No parents in sight and surrounded by over 400,000 people.

Which led 'Cole to comment about how I was ruining her life because she couldn't "go hang" with her friends. I had to look at her like she had gone temporarily insane. Surely this kid didn't think she was going to go gallivanting around unsupervised.

Why do I have to be the bad guy ? No, you cannot run around by alone down here. Why would you even ask such a question ?!?

Oh, I'm sorry for ruining your life, but I'm the Mom...it's what I do.

Shameless Plug

NappyGear is a collection of clothes for people who wear their hair naturally and it's my sister's company. She's been working on this project for a few years now, right after she started getting her hair loc'ed.

So I just wanted to support her in this endeavor and share these wonderful designs with the folks who read Mommy Goes Bananas.

Thanks

"Nobody Likes Me" and How to Foster Self-Esteem in a Flower

Daisy's favorite things to say daily is "Nobody Likes Me". I remember when I started giving all the kids nicknames, Pinky was easy because she loves the color pink, and 'Cole used to be Long Tall Sally Or LTS, because she's so tall, Pickles name is a play on his real name and even teachers and kids at school call him that.
But Daisy was difficult, it took me forever to pick a nickname for her and one day while I was looking at my garden it came to me. Daisy. So I told her her nickname was Daisy. She instantly got teary-eyed and said "Nobody likes me, everybody calls me names."
So I had to explain...
"Um Daisy is a nice name, it's the name of one of my favorite flowers. I like daisies because even though they aren't fancy or showy they are just simply beautiful...like you."
She was OK with it after I explained why I picked the name for her, but it seems like she is very sensitive to anything she perceives as negative...even if it's not.

She gets picked on at school, but only because she tattles (A LOT). She doesn't know how to make friends (she does know how to, but she doesn't THINK she knows how to.)

She constantly compares herself to everyone around her and uses that to decides whether or not she is successful or a failure.

For example 'Cole draws very well and Pinky is good at gymnastics, but because Daisy is not great at either of those things she feels like a failure.

Until the day we went to the park so I could teach them how to play tennis. Daisy picked up a tennis racket and hit the ball like she had been playing her whole life. It was amazing to see how self-assured she was out on the court and I knew I had found her "thing".

So now comes the hard part, finding other things she's good at so that it helps build her up. Because she needs that.

My Favorite Things

Some of the things that bring me unending joy...

Roses from the rosebush in our front yard.

A smile from my daughters.

The laughter of my son.

Ice Cream.

A cool Spring day.

The sound that fallen leaves make when you walk on them.

The first snow of the season, and how it makes everything look so fresh and white.

The laughter and smile of a baby.

Butterflies

Learning something new.

Sitting on my patio on the porch swing enjoying the peacefulness of my backyard.

Fresh clean sheets.

Strawberry cheesecake blizzards from Dairy Queen...mmmm.

Storms that come at the end of a long hot day, cooling the air.

A really good book with a great story and interesting characters.

Almost anything from Bath and Body Works, especially anything Warm Vanilla Sugar or Creamy Coconut.

Picture of the Day- Sunday

Daisy and Pinky yesterday at the Zoo.

Whatta ya mean there's no water ??

I went downstairs this morning to do one of my least favorite chores (wash dishes) and to my suprise when I turned the faucet handle nothing came out.

So after calling the water company and making sure it wasn't my fault (they were working on something), I informed Pinky and Daisy that there was no water so they couldn't flush the toilet, then 'Cole and Pickles came in from the library and I told them the water was off.

So for an hour I had to explain that:
1. If you flush the toilet it only has enough water to fill itself one more time.
2. No water in the house means...no water in the house. No, you cannot use the downstairs bathroom, because there's no water there either.
3. No it's not just our house, the neighbors don't have water either.
4. The icemaker can't make ice, if there's no water.
5. No you can't wash your hair, because there. is. no. water.

The quote the day is from Pickles who asked me with a look of total disbelief on his face:
"So you mean if you turn the handle on that faucet no water will come out ?"

Right son, there is no water.

Luckily it's back on now. Just in time too, I was about ready to go screaming down the street.

Can You Spot a Fake Smile ?

Spot The Fake Smile
I thought this test was pretty interesting.
Results
You got 14 out of 20 correct

It was harder than I thought. (and some of the people were creepy looking)

If you take the test share your scores. (reply in the comments section of this post)

What Are We Reading ?

We just started on 'The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane' by Kate DiCamillo.

What's it about?

Once, in a house on Egypt Street, there lived a china rabbit named Edward Tulane. The rabbit was very pleased with himself, and for good reason: he was owned by a girl named Abilene, who treated him with the utmost care and adored him completely.And then, one day, he was lost.Kate DiCamillo and Bagram Ibatoulline take us on an extraordinary journey, from the depths of the ocean to the net of a fisherman, from the top of a garbage heap to the fireside of a hoboes' camp, from the bedside of an ailing child to the streets of Memphis. And along the way, we are shown a true miracle — that even a heart of the most breakable kind can learn to love, to lose, and to love again.

What do we think so far ?

I've already read the book, and even though it starts out slow, it is absolutely worth reading. Its has a great message about holding onto love even when it seems like everyone has abandoned you. I recommend this book for children ages 8+. It does portray some violence towards a child. (child is slapped by his father) Children who have moved multiple times in the foster care system, might understand how Edward feels and how a little of himself dies away everytime he moves.

Farmer's Market

Today we did #11 on my list of 101 fun things to do over the summer. First we went to an outdoor farmer's market, we met a woman who sold lavender soaps and satchels. She gave Pinky and Daisy a handful of lavender to put in their pockets, so they could smell the aroma all day.
Next we went to the North Market a huge indoor marketplace. We wandered around and looked at the different types of fruits and vegetables, we saw different types of breads and meats. We found a Italian bakery and drooled over the cannoli, but ended up buying some delightful cream horns. We taste tested salsas made from Peach, Mango and Raspberries. Pinky and Daisy tried a hot and spicy salsa that made them run for a water fountain. We bought the Raspberry Salsa and some red tortilla chips and got some huge strawberries on our way out to the outdoor eating area.

We sat outside and enjoyed our cream horns and then walked back downtown to catch a bus to go home.

A wonderful day. Very relaxing and peaceful. I love days like this.

Sand Eater ?

We did a nice little craft project Saturday, we made sand art pictures by gluing colored sand to paper. Today I find out that 'Cole ate the leftover sand from her project.
ATE the sand. (she said she wanted to see what it tasted like)
Doesn't sand taste like....sand !?!?
Still scratching my head over that one.
Even the twins don't do stuff like that.

In the words of Captain Jack Sparrow (Pirates of the Caribbean)
"I wash my hands of this weirdness."

Tough Stuff

A few months ago 'Cole had asked me about any paperwork that I had received when I adopted her. I had some things, but I had misplaced them. I found them yesterday morning, I debated all day about letting her see them.

She had a very rough beginning. There were many instances of her being abused by her (very young) biological mother. She still bears the physical scars of this abuse to this day.

But, I let her see the papers. I don't know if it was wrong or right. I'm not sure if it's better that she knows everything now or later. She already knew bits and pieces of the info, but this was the first time she's seen it in print.

I asked her if she had any questions about what she had read and she asked "What's a pre-placement visit ?" and I explained to her what that meant and I let her know I was available to listen or talk or answer any questions she might have, she said she didn't have any questions and she went back into her room and started watching a movie.

Today she seems...more cheerful than she has in a long time, it almost seems like a weight has been lifted off of her.

I still don't know if it was the right time or not, but if it answers some of the questions she has, I hope seeing that paperwork brings her a sense of peace.

Outdoor Movie Night

We had our first outdoor movie night and it was great. We watched the movie Eragon and ate popcorn under the stars. The kids were so excited to try something new. Definitely something to try a few times a month.

Changing a Behavior

Tonight we sat outside and enjoyed the cool Spring evening. We played Name That Toon and American Idol and had fun being together. Until Daisy (who doesn't handle change very well) started whining to go in the house. (she wanted to watch tv) We ignored her until she started getting annoying, then we all came in.

I probably should have just had her come in and go to bed, since apparently she had to be tired because only tired people get whiny.

One thing I've learned about being a parent is that I am constantly learning. It's always a matter of trying to figure out how to handle any and every situation that pops up. Daisy is good at sabotaging activities where she feels like she's not being the center of attention. It's really all about control, if it (the activity) doesn't happen the way she wants it to, she starts complaining, then it escalates to whining until finally no one is having any fun. I think that will be my behavior focus for this summer, catching the bahavior before it becomes a problem and redirecting her. It's hard to do it during the school year, because I'm not around her that much.

Some days I feel like I'm putting pieces in a giant puzzle, but I'm pretty sure I don't have all the pieces. A picture is starting to form, but I can't make it out. It just drives me to try harder, I can do this.

My Favorite Recipe Sites

Meal planning for families is so difficult so I have a pretty good sized list of my favorite food related websites.

So here are a few...
Meals.com
Food Network
My Recipes
Just Slow Cooking
Copy Cat Recipes and More

Picture of the Day- Sunday

Pinky and Daisy with some feathered friends (Australian Lorikeets) at the Zoo.

A Call from a former foster child

A few weeks ago I got a phone call from a former foster daughter. Her and her sister were the first children that were placed with me. They were with me two and a half years before the placement disrupted. She had undiagnosed RAD, due to almost a lifetime in "the system".

It's taken a long time for me to find forgiveness in my heart for this young lady after what she put my family through. I was the only one who tried to help her in her life. I was the first foster parent who help arrange visitations between her and her other siblings just so they could know each other, I arranged visits at the mother's home just so they could have at least one Christmas with her, together as a family, I gave her all that I could give...but I couldn't fix what years in the foster care system did to a young girl's spirit.

So we had a conversation, adult to adult (she's 20 years old now) and I must admit it was a nice conversation. We talked about work and college, she's moved back in with her biomom, but she feels like she's not in a healthy environment. She doesn't have any children yet. She and some of her siblings have drifted apart (there's 7 of them total) She drives now, has a car. She sounded...ok, almost happy.

And I miss them...not just my first two children, but all of the ones who have been in my home. I pray that they are safe and happy, and that they have allowed God's light ito shine in their lives.

Picture of the Day- Friday, June 8th, 2007

'Cole at the Apple Orchard last year.

Personal Responsibility (Part 1)

Sometimes I just don't understand how my oldest daughter thinks. On Monday she came home and we had this conversation:

'Cole: I can't go on the field trip because I lost two school books."
Mommy: How'd you lose two books?"
'Cole: "I don't know, It was from the beginning of the school year."
Mommy: "So are you going to have to pay for them ?"
'Cole: "Well, I could use my allowance or you could pay for them for me." Mommy: *scratching head* "But I didn't lose any books..."
'Cole: It's not fair to make me pay for books I don't remember."
Mommy: "But...you lost them..."
'Cole: "Can't you just give me the money for them ?"
Mommy: "But... you lost them."
'Cole: "It's not fair, nobody understands."

The money for the books (and her field trip spending money) came out of her allowance fund, she wasn't happy about that, but oh well. I can't ever remember a time that 'Cole has admitted to doing something wrong. She never apologizes. She can be remorseful...it just seems strange/odd, to me. She's the only person I know who can say "I didn't mean for it to happen, but it wasn't my fault." On the other hand, she's an excellent student, she doesn't steal, she doesn't lie, she's a likable, friendly girl. Kids look up to her.

But if nothing is ever your fault, how do you learn from your mistakes ?

Meet The Family

Daisy and Pinky, twins age 8

They came to live with me in October, 2003. They are as different as night and day. Pinky is the quieter of the two, she is a people pleaser, but she has a sneaky side. If she thinks she can get away with something she'll give it a try. Daisy gets up in the morning full of questions and goes to bed at night full of questions.

Pickles, middle child age 11

He came to live with me in October 2003. Pickles is the biological brother of Daisy and Pinky. He is a great kid. Friendly and kindhearted. I feel bad for him sometimes being the only male in a house full of females.

'Cole, the teen age 13

*insert primal scream here* She came to live with me in 1999 at age 4. Exceptionally intelligent and creative. She can be so sweet and then when she doesn't get her way, watch out , her dark side appears. She has a little problem with with prsonal responsibility. In other words...nothing is never her fault. Nothing.

Granny

My mother, age 64

Granny is my best friend. (usually) She has helped me care for my foster children and adopted children. She has supported me in whatever endeavour I have tried. Age is starting to catch up with her and she's forgetful sometimes, but having her live with me and be involved in my life helps to keep me focused.

We also have two dogs, Casey and Shadow, a cat named Oreo and a rabbit named Binky.

Just Thinking....

No truer words have been spoken...

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.
--Marianne Williamson

One More Day

Just one more day of school. Maybe I can make a break for it, while they're gone tomorrow. Get in the witness protection program, get a new name, new identity.

Well, since there's no real hope for escape, I guess I will try to keep everyone as busy as humanly possible and hope for the best.

sigh....

What's For Dinner

I used to love to cook, but now it seems like a full time job, a full time job where the patrons complain and the chef is starting to look at the knives with a gleam in her eye.

Menu *Week of June 3, 2007*
Monday
Lasagna with Garden Salad and Breadsticks
Tuesday
Meatloaf with Mashed Potatoes and Sauteed Green beans
Wednesday
Shredded Barbecue Chicken sandwiches with Corn and Potato Salad
Thursday
Italian Sausage and Peppers over Rice with Tomatoes and Cucumbers
Friday
Grilled Hot Dogs with Baked Beans and Corn on the Cob

I think the menu for the week looks great, but every meal I have to answer the following questions:

"Did you make the potato salad ?"

"Do I have to eat all of this ?"

"Are there onions in this?"

"If I don't eat all of this do I still get my after dinner snack ?"

" Are there peppers in this ?"

" Are you sure I have to eat all of this ?"

" Pickles sneezed on my food, do I still have to eat it ?"

" Can I have mustard on this ?"

"Can I have ranch dressing on this?"

"Can I have ketchup on this ?"

"If the cat licks it, do I have to eat it?"

After the third or forth question, my eyes start to glaze over and visions of going on strike start drifting through my mind.

Hey, family I'm the only one who cooks around here...you might just wanna stop complaining now.

101 Fun Summer Activities (Or how to keep Mommy from going insane)Part 1

1. Join the library summer reading club.
2. Have a Barbie Doll Bath Day (In the tub or pool and use the sample sized bottles of shampoo for shiny clean Barbie hair)
3. Pull out the family board games and play
4. Play a computer game and compete against each other. We like Nanny Mania and Zuma.
5. Paint t-shirts (or tie dye them)
6. Go swimming
7. Play in the park (try to go to a new park once a week)
8. Have a picnic in the park.
9. Plant a garden.
10. Plan a meal with foods you've never had before.
11. Visit a Farmer's Market.
12. Pick strawberries from a farm.
13. Visit an amusement park.
14. Go to a museum.
15. Visit a festival.
16. Make homemade ice cream.
17. Have a talent show.
18. Do a craft project.
19. Get a big piece of canvas and some acrylic paint and create a mural.
20. Go stargazing.
21. Take a walk around the neighborhood and try to discover new things.
22. Learn the history of your neighborhood. (The library has some great books on local history)
23. Pull out the water guns and water balloons and have a neighborhood water fight.
24. See a movie.
25. Go to the zoo.
26. Visit a pet shop. (you don't have to buy anything, just look at all the animals)
27. Have a car wash.
28. Visit a museum.
29. Make and Bake a loaf of bread.
30. Do a Factory Tour.
31. Go for a bike ride.
32. Decorate cookies just for fun. (or make a cookie pizza)
33. Learn a new language. (Grab a book/tape from the library)
34. Give the dogs a bath.
35. Clean out the garage.
36. Make a fleece pillow(or blanket)
37. Have an outdoor movie night.
38. Blow bubbles.
39. Play with play dough outside.
40 Finger paint with your feet.
41. Put on a Play together (don't forget to videotape it)
42. Make paper airplanes.
43. Make your own soap.
44. Have a spa day.
45. Go see a baseball game.
46. Go play a baseball game.
47. Make s'mores and tell ghost stories outside.
48. Make a pizza.
49. Learn one new thing without using a computer.
50. Make a teddy bear.

101 Fun Summer Activities (Or how to keep Mommy from going insane)Part 2

51. Have a Teddy Bear Picnic.
52. Take a vacation.
53. Go to a beach.
54. Run through a sprinkler.
55. Make your own slip-and slide. (Heavy tarp + sprinkler=fun)
56. Climb a tree.
57. Build a tree house.
58. Go camping.
59. Give everyone a can of whipped cream and put them outside for a whipped cream fight.
60. Learn Sign Language.
61. Learn how to draw.
62. Take swimming lessons.
63. Go to an Airshow.
64. Go see fireworks.
65. look at the living creatures in a creek.
66. Invite a cousin over to spend the week (or weekend)
67. Make doughnuts out of canned biscuits and decorate them.
68. Find out important things about your birthday. Birthday Calculator + Facts
69. Learn about a different culture.
70. Clean out from under all the beds.
71. Watch diet coke fizz when you add Mentos to it. Fizz Factor
72. Clear out a room and go carpet skating Carpet Skates
73. Teach the dog a trick.
74. Learn a magic trick.
75. Grab some joke books from the library and have a comedy day.
76. Read the newspaper together.
77. Do a crossword puzzle together.
78. Have a party for no reason.
79. Visit a neighbor.
80. Clean up the litter in your block.
81. Make coloring books to trade with each other.
82. Go to a free concert.
83. Make a CD of summer music and have a sing-a-long.
84. Go birdwatching.
85. Buy a disposable camera and a scrapbook so everyone can remember their favorite summer things.
86. Visit your state capitol building.
87. Go for a paddle boat ride.
88. Have a slumber party.
89. Play tennis.
90. Visit an Aquarium
91. Go miniature golfing
92. Go bowling.
93. Visit a fair.
94. Visit a family member you haven't seen in awhile.
95. Go horseback riding
96. Take a drive through the country.
97. Hop on a Greyhound Bus and take a short ride to a nearby town.
98. Spend the night at the Zoo. (May need to get a group together for this)
99. Paint each others faces
100. Make balloon animals.
101. Just enjoy each other.

Summer Craft Camp

I was searching for some summer fun ideas and stummbled upon this cool website.
Summer Craft Camp

There are a lot of cool ideas for snacks and games for kids.
check it out :)

One More Week of School

One Long Hot Summer+Four Kids+One Mommy= BIG TROUBLE
I always wanted to be able to spend the summer with the kids. I imagined our days filled with arts and crafts, playing in the park and swimming. Now that I'm faced with dealing with four bickering children for almost three months I'm not feeling it.
I know I should be thankful to have been given this opportunity for Quality Bonding Time, but really what am I supposed to do with these people ?? Being unemployed I/we don't have the money for a vacation or amusement parks.

So here's my short list of Cheap/Free Summertime fun for the Family:
Summer reading club at the library
Make homemade ice cream
Play on the trampoline (must fix it first)
Outdoor movie night (take a tv and dvd player out on the patio and watch a movie or two)
Craft Projects
See fireworks on the 4th of July
Paint Pottery at the Mall @ $6 per person
Tie Dye T-Shirts
Go to the $1 movie (It's .50 per person on Tuesdays)
Buy a Pool for the Backyard (probably the most expensive thing, but it will get a lot of use)
Go to the Zoo (we have a season pass)

Oreo

Cats aren't clean, they're just covered with cat spit. - John S. Nichols

(Maybe they're covered in toilet water...who knows)

Welcome to My World- Intro

My name is Kathy. I'm the adoptive mother to four children. Pinky and Daisy are my eight year old twin daughters, Pickles is my 11 year old son and 'Cole is my 13 year old daughter.

All my life I knew my children would be adopted. I knew it the same way people know that grass is green or the sky is blue. I felt it all the way inside my soul. I imagined having a large family, ten kids. LOL Now I'm pretty sure there's NO WAY I could handle ten. Six maybe...but not ten.



Some of my favorites are:

Favorite Movie : Yours, Mine, and Ours (The old one, not the remake)

Favorite Singers: Tina Turner, B.B. King, The Fabulous Thunderbirds

Favorite Colors: Purple and Blue

Favorite Time of Day: Nighttime, after the kids are in bed

Favorite Actor: Hugh Jackman --->

Favorite Food: Lasagna

Favorite Animal: Dogs

Favorite Vacation: Myrtle Beach

Favorite Thing to Do: I just started gardening, so that's pretty cool. I love to surf the internet, I loved painting but it's been a long time since I did it.