Spreading Holiday Cheer

For a few hours over the past two days, my kids have spent time in the car while I've been making some special Christmas deliveries. I never knew that spreading holiday cheer could be so painful.

Yesterday, for example, I got lost and almost lost my patience too. Amid the conflict, Sadie was whining constantly about wanting to go home. I finally said "Sadie, I'm sorry, I'm lost and I'm unhappy too". Smarty pants replies, "but Mom, you got yourself lost" (implication: you should be able to "find" yourself). She's not entirely the sympathetic type.

Today, I got smarter about the whole gig. I discovered that pain-free Christmas cheer costs $9 and change, the cost of 2 Happy Meals and a LARGE Diet Coke.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all GOOD LUCK in these final hours before the big day!

Surprise!

This afternoon was one of THOSE afternoons. By 4pm, after returning from the school (after volunteering in Brooklyn's class) with a very angry, overtired baby; I decided to take action. I divided up cookies that I accidentally burnt last night, divided them into bags, and divided them up between my three big kids to go outside in the yard and "hide for the squirrels". Perfect. They were already dressed to be outside and it would give me time to feed Jackson put him down for a nap before dealing with the post-school, I have to tell you every detail of my day, I have a pile of papers for you to read, we should write a note to my teacher, I want to read my book with you, general MADNESS. So, having divided the cookies, I smugly went upstairs to feed Jack and complete my awesome plan. I was halfway done when the kids burst into the house: "Mom! Mom! You have to come see something we found!". Panic.

First thought: dead animal. Second thought: Half dead animal.
I calmly asked: "Is it alive?"
Answer: "Maybe"
Question: "BROOKLYN, did it used to be alive?"
Answer: "Mommy, you just have to see"
Question: "Can you please wait while I finish feeding Jackson?"
Answer: "No Mommy, really, you need to come see this, or it might disappear soon"

AHHHH!!! It must fall into that barely alive category! My kids have found some half dead possum or chipmunk or rat or maybe a squirrel. Apparently, it's still mobile...how I am going to clean up?...AHHHH!!! I am a huge germaphobe. Thoughts of rabies and haunta virus and other crazy animal illnesses are going through my mind.

So, I quickly put down Jackson, who was not impressed as he wasn't done eating and tried to calmly race down the stairs.

At the bottom of the stairs, I rounded the corner, glanced into the kitchen at my overly eager children and saw...

A sled. Full of ice. Sitting on my kitchen floor. Almost ready to "disappear" and not alive and not used to be alive. Just ice. Apparently, the kids were excited to find that their sled had filled with snow, melted and subsequently was filled with a large slab of ice. They had all worked to drag it into the kitchen to show me their find and ice skate in the kitchen.

Thank goodness.

Not Just a Mom

Sometimes, on rare occasions, I try to do something other than the dishes and laundry. 

I made “Colorburst Cupcakes” for Brooklyn to take to class for her birthday.  Not only did they have fancy frosting, but you can almost see on the side that there were three bright colors of batter.

 

These Peanut Butter Brownies were super-rich, but very delicious.

 

 

And these “Halloween Lanterns” were fun, easy, cute, and cheap to make.  Gotta love Mod Podge.  Too bad I’m posting so late, you’ll have to make yours next year.

What Have I Done Wrong?

I wish I was a morning person. I wish I could wake up perky and happy and ready to take on the day.

I don't.

I wake up tired, grumpy, and crabby. I say things that I don't remember but I would regret if I did. Of course, I still force myself sometimes to get up early, but I usually head to the gym or out to run and clear my head before I have to be a mom.

For the sake of those who do not know my kids. Let me define "early". For me, sleeping in is 7am. "Early" is 5am. Tyler (and most of my other kids) consistently wake up "early". There are multiple rewards, incentives, bribes, and threats in place to encourage them to stay in bed until 6am. Most mornings, at least Ty gets up earlier and goes downstairs and occupries himself. We made an overly big deal about his sisters "sleeping in". We can hope.

So, the funny part...

This morning, Ty comes into our bedroom. "Dad! You're going to be so proud of me! I slept in! The girls got up when there was a 5-4-5 on the clock, but I slept in until there was a 5-4-9! Which is bigger Dad? Who slept in?!"

Ughhhh....

Fab Fave–Mint M & M’s

Yeah baby.  I love these guys.  It’s the best money ever spent (almost) at Christmastime.  I keep wishing M & M’s would branch out like Peeps, perhaps having Mint M & M’s for Halloween, or Easter (or the Fourth of July or Labor Day or Valentines Day or the 16th of March).  Anyways, I see ‘em, I buy ‘em.  I used to worry, “if I buy them now, I will eat them; then I will end up buying/eating another bag and overindulge”.  Then one year, I missed them entirely.  Never again.   Today marks bag #1.  These, I do not share with my kids, I sometimes don’t share them with Jake. 

A Holiday Tradition

I recently read an article in Real Simple. It was a letter to a “Miss Manners” type of writer at Real Simple.  The question was about holiday cards, whether one should still mail cards or if digital greetings are appropriate.  Last year, I ranted on how I feel about digital greetings; this article opposed my view.  The article points out that when it comes to newspapers, books, email etc.; we have no problem going digital.  Why not Christmas cards?  I love Christmas cards.  I love to get them.  I display them in my home and feel warm fuzzies everytime I look at them.

At any rate, I’m working towards something here.  A freebie.  I am writing about how much I like Shutterfly (which  I do); in return, I get some holiday cards.  Nice deal.  If you’re interesting in getting the same deal (50 FREE cards); click this link.http://blog.shutterfly.com/5358/holiday2010-blog-submission-form/

They have beautiful holiday cards.  I like how this one looks contemporary, but still a bit traditional: http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-photo-cards

As you have noticed, I love their baby announcements.  This card was so fitting for my pictures.  http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/birth-announcements

These are pretty cute.  Fun change from the traditional calendars.  Maybe I’ll have to make one for Jake for Christmas. http://www.shutterfly.com/calendars/desk-calendars

Jackson Birth Announcement

Delivered Delight Blue Birth Announcement

Find hundreds of elegant baby birth announcements at Shutterfly.com.

View the entire collection of cards.

Happy Halloween

 

I can’t even post the words “Happy Halloween” without thinking of my favorite annoying decoration that met it’s demise this year.  We had this scarecrow from a sample sale at Kohls that sang and danced.  He would say “Happy Halloween”; then sing and dance to the tune of MC Hammer’s “Can’t Touch This”; then he said “Trick or Treat”.  Lame.  It drove me nuts.  I have only hung onto it because we have had it since Brooklyn was almost one year old, and the kids adore it.  Now I associate MC Hammer with Halloween.  And now, the decoration is broken.  Sigh.  Mixed feelings on that.  Anyways, my “baby” Brooklyn wanted to be a “flower fairy”.  I made her this crown.  The costume as a whole wasn’t the vision I had seen, but she liked it enough and it was super simple.  Brooklyn’s school has a fun tradition.  A few kids from the high school band come to the school and the entire elementary school “marches” a few blocks around our neighborhood in their costumes with the marching band leading the parade.  Fun, cool tradition; we came and joined her and we marched right past our house.

 

Very early on, Ty saw a TV show on Nick Jr. and decided he wanted to be a “very scary vampire” with “gooey teeth”.  This is what we ended up with.  To be honest, I’m not really big on scary and bloody and gorey for Halloween.  We tried to do enough “scary” to keep Ty happy; but enough “cute” to keep him rated G.

 

 

Sadie was an adorable cowgirl.  “The rootenest tootenest cowgirl in the wild wild west”.  Yeah, I admit, I wanted her to be a cowgirl (I love Jessie from Toy Story) and it worked that she agreed a cowgirl would be fun. 

I have a few more pictures to come.  I was hiding out and blogging kid-free.  The kids found me.   Aren’t the expressions on the picture above funny?  This, surprisingly, was the best shot we had.

Baby Love

 

Do mothers love all of their children equally, of course.

Do some mothers sometimes like some children more than others?

 

 

 

You tell me.  This stage of babyhood is amazing.  We’re beyond the grueling schedule of a newborn.  Because my kids prefer to develop verbal skills before motor skills, we’re still not doing more than rolling so he’s staying out of things.  However, verbal skills are still limited to “mama” “dada” “baba” and “gaga”; thus, no sassiness.  Smiles and laughs abound.  Crying usually means, “I just need a nap!”   Would you like him more?

Updating…

Mr. Adorable Jackson.  So happy in the Johnny Jumpup.  Wish we could use it more.  It too closely resembles a slingshot to have it up very often.  One of his siblings would launch him…

We signed the kids up for an intro to soccer class at the Y.  I think they had fun.  It was interesting just to watch them.  Ty was probably more worried about flirting with “coach” (cute girl trainer from the Y) than actually playing soccer.  That’s worrisome.  Isn’t getting boys super involved in sports a way to keep them from getting super involved with girls?  Maybe.  Maybe not.  Jack was a good sport and watched happily while Sadie usually went swimming with Mom or Dad (depending on who was watching the big soccer game).

 

Hey, just a sidebar here, but if you’re a blogger and  you’re still using Google to post to your blog, you’re missing out.  Windows Live Writer is AWESOME.  It makes it so much easier to post more pictures, more things around…love it.  Thanks for the hint Karen.

Here I Go Again…

Every day that Jake goes to Chicago for school, and is gone ALL DAY, I resolve that I will spend my night getting all of those things done that I can’t get done during the day (which, let’s be honest here, is EVERYTHING…I don’t get anything but kids done during the day).  But, every night, I get those kids to bed and I then somehow end up here.  Blogging.  Something I don’t have time for, but don’t have the sanity to live without.  I’m not a Facebook girl.  I don’t feel like you need to know what I am doing every five minutes.  I do love to share pictures of my adorable kids.  I do get more sentimental about them when they’re out of my hair.  I love ‘em again.  Even though just a few minutes ago I wanted nothing more than to not see their cute little faces.  I keep thinking about a blog post from a friend.  She wrote about how ironic it is that by the time you have your fourth baby, you are so much more easy going, so much more able to just ENJOY a baby (including the crying, screaming, sleepless nights, fussiness, etc); but by the time you have your fourth, your life is so full of other responsibilities, it’s hard to make the time to take in that baby like you would like to.

 

Ah, such is life.  Here’s to a few more of those pictures…

 

Awhile back, we made a quick weekend trip to a lake house about an hour from Madison.  On the way in, we stopped in Madison at “The Old-Fashioned”.  I read in Rachael Ray about their onion rings.  They were ranked top four in the nation.  Yeah, they were pretty good.  I don’t know about top four, I mean, onion rings are onion rings.  Fried onion deliciousness.  Worth checking out if you’re in Madison, Wisconsin.

My pediatrician would turn me into social services for this one.  Yeah, not only has he had Oreos, but I couldn’t deny him a few onion rings.  Jack gives them 5 stars.  Way tastier than Cheerios and mushed up bananas and sweet potatoes.

This is one of just a few lake pictures.  A few hours after this was taken, Sadie took a dive in the drink.  She just stepped off the dock.  She had previously REFUSED to keep her life jacket on, Jake and I both ended up in the lake “rescuing” her.  (She was FINE, I was there INSTANTLY…Remember this post "Sunk")  Anyways, end story, Jake took the camera swimming with him, so the picture fun ends here.

Preview–Family Pictures

I wanted to post one of these.  Of course, I chose to post a picture of two of the most cooperative people in our family.  (Ha, ha…or maybe it’s just the only picture where Jack isn’t crying).  We got some great family pictures for Christmas cards (which I ordered this weekend, yay!).   More to come…

Artsy

My kids make up for what I lack in the creative department.  Brooklyn had picked a random assortment of yard waste (pinecones, leaves, berries, flower petals, etc).  She created THIS.  On her own.  It was probably in her favor that I didn’t try to help.  I think this whole creative gene skipped a generation.  My mom (and sisters for that matter) are crafty, artsy, talented types.  Luckily, my daughter is too.

Someone Else's Mushy Oreo

Me? Eat Oreos? At 7 months? Be serious. I have very responsible parents.
***
Just in case your child accidentally ingests something like an OREO at 7 months, don't worry. The parenting books are wrong. It does not ruin his taste buds forever, just for a few weeks.

Race Finish

Oh yeah, that race I ran...like months ago. I finished it. It was weird. My time (how long it took me to do a mile, on average) was the same as it was for my triathlon. Guess as I look into next season, I'll work a bit more on timing...shouldn't I theoretically be improving? It was a fun day. We spent the afternoon at the zoo in Madison with the kids (other than the part where I had to just change and wash my face...but had no where to shower). I'm not sure if that was worse for me, or those around me.

Excuse Me, I Have an Opinion Too!

Last night, we tried on two separate occasions to feed Jack some squash for dinner. He has become quite adept at flailing his arms and screaming in such a manner that he effectively becomes a human windshield wiper; nothing gets into his mouth, if you try to keep feeding him, expect to get sprayed. This morning, I went to feed Jack his breakfast. He was doing his best to avoid me, just like he did last night when we tried to feed him squash. However, I was trying to feed him Peach Cobbler (for heavens sake!). I finally dodged his arms and shoved it in. He got madder until he swallowed it. He paused, mused, then immediately stopped flapping his arms, and somberly opened his mouth for another spoonful. Jack officially has an opinion. I don't like squash. I like peach cobbler.

Happy Birthday Brooklyn!!!

Dear Brooklyn,

I can’t believe my little girl is a not-so-little girl and turning 6 years old today!  Happy birthday!

Today is Wednesday, you were born on a Wednesday.  I remember because it was the day after people had voted, just like today.  We were voting for the President of the United States.  All morning when Mommy was in the hospital, silly Daddy kept watching the TV to see who the winner was.  Then, later that day, our sweet baby girl was born!

A few weeks after your first birthday, we went on a trip to see  your Grandmas and Grandpas in Utah for Thanksgiving.  You loved when we went and saw the Christmas lights at the temple.

 

Grandma and Grandpa J. came to Wisconsin when we celebrated your 2nd birthday.  One of your presents was a baby swing.  Daddy and Grandpa had fun swinging you in our living room.

On your 3rd birthday, we had just moved into our house.  We had a birthday party with your cousins John and Sara; as well as some new friends from church.  We had a Halloween birthday party and you dressed up as a ladybug.

For your big 4-year old birthday, Mom and Dad took you (Ty and Sadie too!)  to a fun Mexican restaurant.  I think it was the first time our family ate at a “real” restaurant.  You got this fun dollhouse as a birthday present!

Number five!  You are in school and had fun with having a birthday at school and being one of the oldest kids in your class.  We made some fun butterfly cupcakes to share at school; you got your doll Katelin from Mom and Dad.

Now, today, you are 6!  Wow!  Brooklyn, we are so proud of you.  My six favorite things about Brooklyn are:

1. You try very hard to make good choices
2. You are a great big sister
3. You are doing great in school and learning to be such a good reader
4. You are always so thoughtful and like to make beautiful cards for all of your family and friends
5. You are awesome at sharing your things and try so hard to make other people happy
6. YOU ARE A FUN, WONDERFUL little girl!  You are happy and fun and make me smile.

WE LOVE YOU!!!!

Another Day in the Life...

This morning was one of "those" mornings. While Jack slept through the night FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER IN HIS 9 MONTHS OF LIFE, Brooklyn had an earache/sore throat and came into my room at least 8 times to ask if she could go watch TV, ask me to look at her ears (I am a nerd, I have an otoscope and know how to use it), complain, ask what time it was, etc...I was exhausted starting the day.

So, here we are. Jack is in his high chair crying, I just finished feeding him and he wants out of solitary confinement. I am fixing breakfast for the kids. I hear Brooklyn throwing up in the bathroom. I go in to help her (she's a dramatic puker...crying and puking and trying to talk to me all at the same time). In the meantime, Ty is literally pulling my pajama bottoms off trying to get my attention.

Ty! Jack is crying. Brooklyn is puking. What could be so urgent?

He wanted to know if he could eat a tootsie roll. And he needed help opening it.

I'm learning to realize that the kid is four. When he wants something, he is completely, totally oblivious to what important or not-so-important task I'm doing. It helps me be MORE patient with him, when he is hanging on me when I'm on the phone, when I'm making dinner, or when I'm feeding Jackson. Maybe it isn't obvious to him. Maybe I need to point it out.

I realized that sometimes I'm guilty of the same thing, in a different way. How many times have I been pushy or insisted that someone do something for me, listen to me, talk to me, etc; when maybe she needs help, is having a bad day, is in more need that I know, etc. None of us, I guess, really know where other people are coming from. Sometimes, we all act like four-year olds.

10K -- Fun Run for Kids

Over Labor Day weekend (way back in September...ugh, I'm behind) I ran my first 10K. My ran was super casual, and they had a "fun run" for the kids before the big race. My kids loved it! (They only ran about 20 yards, but they thought they'd done their first marathon)

Caught -- Glow Handed

The night before last, I went into the kids' room to check on everyone. I noticed in Ty's hand, a partially lit glow stick. As I looked more closely, I saw a trail of glow across his sheets near his hand. Then I looked at Ty. He was like a vampire that had indulged in glow stick. The area around his lips was glowing, glow had dripped down his face onto his pajama shirt, showing a bright glow. Did I wake him? Probably should have. A nice, first-time mom would have panicked. She would have woken him up, and showered him with one hand on Ty, one hand on the phone calling poison control. Nope, not me. That's sad...I just figured that if he woke up later in the night throwing up or something, at least I'd know what he ate. Really, all that garbage HAS to be non-toxic, right? Our society is so litigious, my kid can't be the first one to gnaw through a glow stick. They would HAVE to be safe or they wouldn't be gnawable. Right?

You're Never Alone!

Today, I was walking out of church lamenting with a friend about HOW HARD it is when your husband is gone ALL DAY Sunday and how long it feels to do Sunday alone. (Jake thought it would be fun to go to a conference in Orlando alone). And today, my friends, was a doozy. We crazy Mormons believe in 3 hours of church. At exactly 48 minutes into it today, I was ready to go home. I wish I could tell you that my intent to stay was good. I think the only reason I stayed in the end was that sacrament meeting, the meeting where all of the members meet together and I have to manage four kids on my own, was almost over. After that, the three bigger kids go to their own classes for two hours...it was worth enduring a few more minutes of managing them alone to get to have them out of my hair. Did I really say that?
Anyways, on the way out, I was whining about being "alone" today. When we got back to the car, Brooklyn said, "Mom, you were just kidding about being alone, huh, cuz you're not alone. You have four kids!" Oh, the relief, I'm not alone!

Foundations of a Great Education

This morning, both of my kids were very proud that they have learned The Chicken Dance in school. They had actually even learned a way to remember which action to do with each part of the song. Really. It was obvious they had been taught from the same source (we have an excellent, "award winning" educator in PE at our school) This is a very foundational, important skill here in the great state of Wisconsin. I remember when I rented chocolate fountains, they did the polka at every wedding. At one wedding in particular, I mentioned to someone how amazed I was that everyone knew how to dance the polka. She looked at me like I was crazy and said, "but didn't you learn how to do the polka in gym?". Uhhhh, no. I guess I went to a second-rate school. In gym we learned dodge ball, kickball, softball...I must have missed polka day.

Invasion of Privacy

Brooklyn is now email savvy, her spelling and wording is adorable. She wrote this to a loved one this week:

how is hoie ar you too haveg fun in howie
(How is Hawaii? Are you two having fun in Hawaii?)

on oktobr 14 2010 the kindrgonrs had opn hos Wach is
oen a gronaps came To sckoL At 600 We Sho tame
same of the thegs wev bin Doweg in misis butins class misis Brutrin
is or Tehcr. aftr the opin hos me and Mommy and jaKsin want
To the book Far tan we want To mc donols and than to Good wil and than togrit tan
home i love You so so so so so so so so s o mach
love Brooklyn
(On October 14, 2010, the kindergarteners had an open house which is when a grownups came to school. At 6:00 we showed them some of the things we've been doing in Mrs. Butryn's class. Mrs. Butryn is our teacher. After the open house me and Mommy and Jackson went to the book fair then we went to McDonalds and then to Goodwill and then to Target then home. I love you so so....much)

First Day of School

First day of school.  No tears.  Third day of school, I cried because I missed my babies…(Sadie is not in school yet, but we have to play along with her so she won’t feel left out).  Brooklyn goes to all-day kindergarten; Ty is in half-day kindergarten.

Yeah, despite the previous picture and silly faces, he can be quite studious.

Lake Swimming…Again

Man, we ended up spending A LOT of time at the beach this summer.  As I remember, this trip was actually pure pleasure. I left my wetsuit, swim cap, and googles (and bike) behind.  We were just catching rays.

So trashy.  Yeah, in addition to not bringing my triathlon stuff, I also didn’t bring sand toys.  Our kids ended up using empty chip bags.  So, so white trash.  Sadie thought it was HILARIOUS to dump water on my toes.  I was willing to squeal in surprise to listen to her giggles.