Meet the new members of the Family!

We have some new additions to the family residing in Christian and Jordan's room! Thanks Kedrick and Kori for the tank!

Presenting Conner, a green anole, and Zippy and Donna which are green tree frogs.

Christian the Entrepreneur

Over the last few years, Christian has really worked at being quite the business man. He always has a new idea for something he can sell. In the past he has sold art work (his own), lemonade, candy, popsicles, toys, vegetables, and others. He and his friends have also had ideas to start different businesses; a cleaning service (We could use some of this enthusiasm at home in his own room!), detective agency, etc.
His latest scheme has been to invent and make his own candies and sell them on the curb. As you can imagine I am a little leary of this idea. I wonder if my kitchen and my sanity can handle this adventure! He has given Paul a shopping list for ingredients to make some of the following candies:
cherry chocolate chews
banana split cupcakes
8-10 different flavors of gum
taffy
The combinations he has come up with sound fun but the ingredients and recipes aren't quite what they should be. We have also pointed out that it will be difficult to get customers to come to a roadside stand in winter, not to mention how cold it would be for him to sit out there. He is convinced that now is the best time for Valentines day. I think we might try to make it a joint effort in the spring so it will be warm and I will see if we can come up with some recipes together. Wow! having creative kids is fun but sure time consuming!!

WFMW - Take control of your garbage can

My sister gave me one of these wonders one day and I thought it was one of those inventions that make you say "duh, I should have thought of this!"

It is an elastic band that reminds me of a giant hair elastic. It goes around the top of your garbage can to hold the bag in place. No one likes to try to find the edge of that garbage bag when it has slipped under the garbage. Unfortunately, someone must have forgotten to take mine off before gathering the garbage and it disappeared. I thought I would have to make my own from some waistband elastic and hope it held up to constant bag emptyings until I found them at my local dollar store. I bought 5 just in case! :) These work for me! Check out what works for everyone else at rocks in my dryer.

Jenna's following in big sister's shoe-prints

Jenna is taking after her big sister. She spends all day putting on everyone's shoes and walking around in them. She usually spends the majority of the day with one of Emma's sparkly silver shoes on. I guess one is sufficient and Emma's are small enough to still be able to walk around. (Emma wears a size 6 and Jenna wears about 4½). I am wondering how these girls ended up with the shoe gene, of which I am completely devoid. I guess mine is just dormant. I even tried to talk Paul into finding me some shoes the other day because the ones I have, either have holes or the soles are coming off! How pathetic is that?
Anyway, this little hobby of Jenna's is really messing with our mornings. She tends to put on whatever shoe she comes upon, and then leaves it somewhere else in the house, often the most unlikely places. Many mornings, as the carpool sits honking in the driveway, the whole family is frantically searching for one misplaced shoe.

Emma's Peter Pan syndrome

Emma has informed us multiple times, sometimes tearfully, that she doesn't want to grow up. She doesn't want to be a mommy. She doesn't even pretend to be mommy to her dolls. I have to admit this has made me question my example of motherhood. I wonder if my life really looks that miserable. Maybe all she sees is a stressed out adult who works doing things she doesn't like (cleaning toilets, laundry, the list could go on and on and on) and yells a lot. I take comfort that when asked why, she has said that she doesn't want to stop being Emma. We have had many conversations about things we learn, opportunities in her future, and the fact that she will still be Emma. We have even shown her pictures of Paul and I as children. Unfortunately, she can't seem to understand it that way. So for now, I just tell her that she doesn't have to grow up now and she won't have to until she is ready. This is okay with me. She is growing up too fast as it is.
Meanwhile, I'm working on having more fun during my days, listening to music, singing, dancing, and laughing. She is right. I need to show my happiness and be crazy sometimes. It sure helps to beat the January blues!

WFMW - winter accessories storage

*This is a post that bears reviewing as we head into cooler weather (at least I have faith it will cool down). This has saved me so many headaches looking for that stray glove or having it all fall down on me from a top shelf somewhere.

I use hanging shoe storage pockets for many things including office supplies & craft supplies. My favorite use is for winter hats, gloves, scarves, ear muffs, etc. I hang mine on the inside of the coat closet. I like the clear ones. My kids can easily see what they need and because they are at their level, it is easier for them to put them away.


For other great ideas, check out Works for Me Wednesday over at We are THAT Family.

My best (worst) WalMart story

Cami brought up a point that led to an idea. I just told my "Supernanny" WalMart story but it's not my best.

I was in a WalMart in Puerto Rico. I was in the restroom, which for those of you who know me I spend a lot of time in them, looking for them, etc thanks to the teeny, weeny, itsy, bitsy Huntington bladder I inherited. You name anywhere I've been and I can probably tell you where the bathroom is! There's another one for my short list of talents! Don't you wish you had my wealth of knowledge and experience?
Anyway, I was washing my hands with a generous amount of soap (how I hate public restrooms) when a lady exited a stall behind me. She then very politely explained that she had just had a manicure and therefore was unable to do up her pants. She then asked me to help her button and zip said pants. I know what you are thinking... "run away, run away". Unfortunately it was one of those moments in which I was so shocked by the request it didn't even occur to me to say no. I dutifully went over and began to try to button her skin tight, white stretch jeans over her ample belly. She must have had plenty of kids to develop that paunch. (So sorry for the visual you now have burned into th back of your brain which will permanently haunt you.) She then informs me that I must zip them first and then I will be able to button them. At this point, my brain kicks in and I think "What the ____ am I doing?" I finish zipping and buttoning her pants and exit the bathroom. Paul and I often enjoy exchanging strange stories that have happened to us. As I left the bathroom he said "You'll never believe what happened to me!" to which I replied, "I don't care what it was, I can top it!"

Now, here's the idea part. Everyone seems to have a WalMart (or other public place) story. Now that you have heard my best story, I would love to hear yours. I know Cherise has a WalMart story involving a man and the size of his underwear. If you haven't heard it, you should really ask her to tell you sometime.

Leave a comment and share your best public place story!

The Supernanny??!!?

As I was thinking about those matriarchs in the grocery store line. I was reminded of an experience I had in WalMart a few months ago. Now, first of all, let me say I am not a WalMart fan! They never have enough big carts to hold my brood, checkout lines are obnoxiously long, and returning anything there is like going through a criminal investigation. Having said that, I find myself there more often than I like because they carry some things (mainly craft items) that other superstores do not.
Anyway, I was standing in line at WalMart one day thinking my kids were being pretty good. No one had run off, there had been no blood, I had done relativly little screaming, and they were accepting my no answers to each candy bar they asked for. (They had to try asking for each variety on the off chance that the chocoholic in me might be tempted enough by the chocolate of one particular brand to say yes.) And then, the lady behind me catches my attention and says, "It looks like you could use the Supernanny" Yes, she had the nerve to say that!! Have you seen how the kids act on that show?! I think my chin actually hit the floor. Don't get me wrong, there have innumerable times that I freely admit I was in desperate need of the Supernanny, and I foresee many more in my future. This was not one of those times. I proceeded to tell her in the calmest voice I could muster that they were actually being pretty good for the amount of shopping we had done.
In all fairness, looking back, I think she was using the statement as a conversation opener so she could brag about her grandkids. I'm just not sure why she would choose something most mothers would consider an insult as a way to open friendly conversation!

The middle lane of the parenting highway

We seem to be in the middle lane of the parenting super highway.

There are those parents in the Right Lane who are just beginning, merging into the chaos and confusion. There are so many worries, so many questions: which diapers, bottles, pediatricians, what should we do now? There are the blissful moments, pulled over on the side of the road while baby naps or is adorably cooing and wrapping those small pudgy fingers around your finger. The rapture at baby's firsts: smile, laugh, steps, words... I can still remember the right lane in a fuzzy, rose colored way. I even get to visit over in the right lane every once in a while, usually when I'm up in the middle of the night for some one on one time with a child. Though the right lane seems peaceful to me now, I wouldn't want to go back. Yes, we really are done! I am content with fond memories to help me remember that I love these crazy kids.

The Middle Lane seems to consist of parents who have multiple growing children. Parents who speed from one place to the next frantically trying to get from point A to point B, C & D in their day. We kiss boo boos and soothe feelings, nag them to make their beds, and try to remember to laugh as the laundry piles ever higher. The worries and questions get bigger: schools, extra-curricular activities, friends, etc. We are no longer questioning the things we did in the beginning. With subsequent children we don't buy brand name, measure formula exactly, wake with every sniffle, or make all baby food from scratch. Not to mention that those multiple children start to get more expensive! (Dear Santa, we would like A Wii, snowboards and lessons, electronic devices etc.) Time is not your own. You have basically given up individuality, hobbies, and selfish desires for the privilege of being somebody's mom or dad! You realize that the little moments of love and joy that happen amid the chaos make it all worth it.

The Left Lane, consisting of parents with teenagers and children leaving home, appears to speed by at an alarming rate. Though I haven't reached this lane yet, I watch my neighbors, siblings, and people in public places. It seems your IQ drops a few points as well as your popularity. And although you have 6 blissful hours (or so it seems to me) during the day to accomplish all those things left unfinished for the last 10 or 15 years when there was still a little person shadowing you, the after school hours seem to be even more jam packed. Increased independence in the form of children getting themselves from point A to point B and hopefully doing their own laundry has it's appeal. However, the worries multiply like rabbits and are big ones: college education, preparing for missions, friends and society with more influence than their old, out of date parents. Boyfriends, girlfriends, and marriages are coming at you head on! The prospect of changing to the left lane makes me shudder with trepidation, nay terror!

As parents speed along in their own lane, they often look at the other parents in neighboring lanes. Those in the Right Lane invariably say, "I will never let my kids do that!" or My kids will never act like that!" We in the Middle Lane, often look at the sweet new parents in the Right Lane with indulgent smiles and chuckle with nostalgic reminiscing about their protective concerns. All the while, those parents in the Left Lane are laughing heartily and somewhat maniacally at our concerns about beds being made, force fed balanced meals, and actually stopping the car to breastfeed.

As for those parents who have pulled off the superhighway of parenting for good, except for tending the grandkids once in a while, I find myself wondering what they think. I tend to think of these matriarchs in two categories, (usually at the grocery store checkout). There are those who seem to sympathize and want to help and cheer those of us still speeding along. Thank you!
Then there are those who seem to have lost all memory of what being a parent on a daily basis was all about. The disapproval in their stance and glare is almost palpable as they watch me go through the agony of keeping my kids from the candy displays. Grocery stores cleverly set these up at the checkout as the last and final torture in the never ending game of "pleeeease can I have?" "Preeety pleeease..." "pleeeease pleeeease pleeease..." Sorry, I got a little side tracked. I digress. I tend to ignore these disapproving folks and pass them off in my mind as never having had children or suffering from post traumatic amnesia brought on by having their own.

If you see us passing or being passed on the superhighway of parenting, honk and wave. You just might make our day!

What about YOUR house?

Okay everyone, we are looking at building a new house this year, and I need some help! I have been looking at floor plans until my eyes are crossed, my head is pounding and I am leaking square footage out my ears. Unfortunatly, none of the plans have exactly what we want, how we want it. Yes, I am being picky because I want this to be the house we retire in (hopefully).
I would like anyone's input who would care to put in. The poll questions are:
1. What do you love about your house?
2. What would you change?
3. What other features would you like to have?

Thank you for any input you may wish to give!

Christian is missing some body parts!

Christian began the new year missing some things! Namely his tonsils and adenoids. He is doing really well. He is just a bit lethargic and reluctant to talk which,as you know, is unusual for Christian. I wished they had Lortab for kids when I had my tonsils out! He says the worst part of having his tonsils out was when he woke up from the anesthesia and had the shakes and crying. Now he has just been laying around eating popsicles, Slurpees, and sherbet. What a life!