Pats on the back never last long...

2/21/13

Hosting/Teaching preschool
Made dinner
Went to THREE stores with FOUR kids
Kept the two youngest of those four asleep through two of the stores (Jonah was woken up after I got him in the van after the second store by a whistle one of the other kids blew!)
12 Loads of laundry done and put away
Made a billion hair bows
Grocery Store
Supply Run to Warehouse
Fed the kids by myself
Put them to bed early by myself
Had the house cleaned when John got home

Feeling:  Nothing more satisfying, I can't be replaced.

Then to humble me... the next day...

I fed my kids french fries and cheese grits for lunch. 

And I want to give Jonah back to the Indians...

(It's days like that first one posted that makes me wonder why I can't get that much done every day?!?!?!?!?!)

Random...

Parenting....

I get those email updates from Graco... Today's was:

"Welcome to your 9th month of parenthood!"

Ha!!

I am actually in my 108th month of parenthood...

I mean, let's be honest, any parent of a lot of kids could be writing those updates Graco is sending out.

It's like the piece of paper with what my baby should be doing at nine months that I got at the Doctors office on Tuesday for Everett's 9 month check up.  It has all the information on it that was on at least one exam in my child development class in college!  (and all the other classes where I had to learn child development too for my first major)  It was useful though, I made it into a paper airplane to entertain Jonah while we waited for the Doctor to come in.  Then Jonah flew it to its final landing in the trash can.

What I need is a page of updates on how to get my almost six year old to stop using a whiny voice when she wants something and how to get her to do her homework more willingly!! That is a handout I would read in its entirety!  (Oh, wait... I kept a text book from college specifically for that... Time to dust off that sucker!)

Blogging....

So, only a very few of my friends blog regularly anymore...  I don't really read very many bloggers of people I don't know (like 2 or 3). So I have no bloggers to read anymore.  Not so sad about that, but I am sad that most of my friends no longer blog!!! 

Listening...

This is what I have been listening to the last few days while cleaning or cooking in the kitchen.  This is my friend Becky's friend, who was on The Voice last year.

Pat on the back....

I just made dinner for tonight!  I love having something out of the way that I know needs done later!!
 

Recently...

Trevan - I love this kid and he boggles my mind at the same time.  I love (or am I embarrassed?) that I never check his homework.  Someone asked me how much homework he has a night, and I couldn't tell them.  I was like, "Well, he reads for at least 20 minutes every night..."  I guess I know he will ask for help if he has a question, because he did that for the first time last Thursday.  I have glanced over his shoulder a few times and told him he would have to rewrite whatever it was he was writing because his handwriting was too sloppy.  I was getting tired of having to remind him to put away his shoes/lunchbox/backpack every day after school, so I made a chart for him to check after he does it and I haven't had to remind him once since them.  Realizing what helps make him tick is one less weight on my shoulder.  I'm a chart person too, so I get it.  He has been helping me do the dishwasher almost everyday without complaining and without payment.  I love him for that!!!!

Mallary - This girl is going to give us a run for our money... At back to school night you would have thought she was running for student body president running from kid to kid, not wanting to sit with us because she was too busy talking to everyone or saying hi to everyone.  She was the queen of the carpet while I sat in  her class and I overheard her telling kids what to do and where to go. Hmmm.... I wonder where she got that from??  Her teacher stopped me when I ate lunch with her last week and raved about how much she loved Mallary, what a good listener, helper and wonderful she was, and how she could go on forever talking about her.  Not even ten minutes later, the TA in Mallary's class stopped by and said, "I just want you to know I have to refrain from taking your daughter home with me everyday, she is so adorable."  She went on and on about her, while I listened dumbfounded.  Apparently, she could see it on my face, and said "Well, just be thankful that is how she is at school!" 

Jonah - I love having him home without the two oldest during the day.  He loves to tell me not to feed Everett when I'm feeding him.  He loves his reading time with Mom everyday.  He is potty trained and was a super fast about it.  At the beginning of August one day, I literally had no diapers left for him and decided I wouldn't buy anymore either.  He had one accident everyday for four days in a row.  He pooped in his pants two times. He hasn't peed in his bed once, I thought he had, but he made it out of bed just in time to pee in his pants!! So we had him potty trained with a total of about 8 accidents (to date...), and that included a lot of long drives!  Go Jonah!!  I never even bought a single pull-up!  He was 3 yrs. 4 months!  I'm a firm believer in waiting until your kid is ready then you don't have to worry about cleaning up messes.  For real, I'm just really lazy and don't want to clean up any messes!  We didn't use a little potty or do the let him go naked thing all day.  I gave him chocolate chips for peeing (and cheered really REALLY loud - to the point that he started doing it as soon as he got on the potty for a few days) and told him he could play on the DS when he pooped in the potty - and it worked!!  But, that first day I had to listen to him whining for me to let him wear a diaper because he just wanted to poop in his diaper.  He finally couldn't hold it anymore and the DS was calling his name I guess!!  Yay Jonah!!!  and thank you for making something in my life easy.

Everett - Homeboy is 9 months now and about 23 lbs.  He has only gained three pounds since he was four months!!  He is definitely thinning out.  He now has his first tooth (the earliest of any of my kids), and just started cruising (a few side steps holding on to the edge of something) this weekend.  We just can't keep that baby down.  Unfortunately, all of our traveling and him being sick has now made him think that it is always okay to sleep with mama.  So, now we have to work on training him back to sleeping in his crib all night again.  He started feeding himself Cheerios (broken in half) last week (AND they were FROSTED!)  That just goes to show how much you change as a parent.  I would have NEVER given Trevan frosted Cheerios.  He probably had them for the first time as a five year old or something (IF THAT!)  HA!  He also recently started not liking baby food that he has always eaten and then we started giving him a banana in tiny pieces instead and he was down with that.  So, our baby is growing up!  Fast!  Stop it!  He is so super smiley and during the day loves to follow Jonah around.  He gives you hugs and likes to scratch your arms and his face with his sharp nails!! 

started 6/2/13 finished 7/8/13

Dear Mom,

There are still lots of times I want to call and talk.  I'd tell you about the crazy shenanigans of your grandchildren and how I'm losing my mind.  I'd ask you how the heck you raised us without killing us.  There are many times I think back now and wonder why you didn't literally wring my neck.  For instance, when I pulled down the chandelier from the ceiling in the living room, or when I'd scream at you at the top of my lungs.  How you kept from slapping my face I will never know.  Jeremy and Jeryl playing sock basketball using the curtain rod as the basket must have been annoying sometimes too.  Now, when I think of the few times I saw tears fall down your face because of us being mean or rude or maybe because you didn't know what else to do with us makes me tear up a little bit, because now I can relate to that feeling.  I'm sorry.  Man, I wish you were here to commiserate with.  Like, did you ever think to yourself, "If I have to clean up one more mess today...  I might....  lose it?  crawl in a hole?  lock myself in my room?  lock my kids in their room?" 

Mallary would just eat you up if you were here.  She would love you!  She asks about you sometimes, and I hear her ask Trevan about you.  I think Trevan kind of brags to her that he remembers you and she doesn't.  Her love language is touch, and she would just love that you would hug her to pieces.  She would also do your hair.  She has taught herself to braid!  Five years old and braiding... maybe she could have even taught you.  She is a determined little girl.  She's in gymnastics and has taught herself how to do handstands and headstands.  She starts in the same swimming class as Trevan tonight too!  She is so teachable.  It really makes me sad sometimes that she is missing out on that relationship she could have had with you, and having such a great grandma like you.

Trevan would still crack you up.  I just can't figure him out.  He still runs around the house like crazy, but doesn't put that same energy into running on the soccer field.  One game this year, I was cheering, and all of a sudden I realized I sounded like you cheering for us at all of our games and such.  I laughed out loud and told my friend next to me that I was my mother!   I wish you could be here so my kids could hear your cheers from the sidelines.  "YAY!!"  You would still marvel at this kids memory.  It kills me.  I wonder if you were here if you'd make him practice his handwriting like your mom did to me when I was young?

Jonah...  Mom, he has one speed and one volume;  fast and LOUD.  Oh my word.  Thank goodness he is so cute...  If you could just be here to help this kid be potty trained, that would be great!  But, he has no interest whatsoever. 

And, Everett...  He's delightful.  John's son for sure being so chatty and friendly.  I've yet to see him make a crusty face - except when I tried to feed him cold applesauce.  That would have made you laugh.  Mallary still talks about it and how funny it was. 

I wish they could have you in their lives...

Mom, I have four kids...  I feel like I can't get anything done.  I guess the fourth does that?  You had five... I now understand why it seemed like you were in the kitchen all day!  Oh, I have tried so many soup recipes you would love!!!!! 

On another note, I'd also give you props for starting a new trend... how did you know gray was going to be the color to paint your walls? You could tell Jeremy he doesn't know anything when he talks about gray walls being so ugly.  I bet he wouldn't say that now.  Though the gray has been painted over now. 

Anyway.... 

Wish you were here. 

XO

Motherhood is...

Motherhood is being creative...

Maybe they should just include rope (or ribbon...), duct tape, and packing tape with the purchase of a baby gate, because you'll end up needing all those things once your children destroy it trying to get through it. 

Hangin' with my homies...

"Homegirl needs a haircut."

"Homeboy needs a new diaper."

"After Homeboy's soccer practice."

This is the kind of talk that goes on in my head.  I now refer to my kids as homegirl or homeboy.  I haven't used those terms since maybe college or something??  But, now, on a daily basis, in my head, I refer to my kids not by their names but by homegirl or homeboy. 

The other day I figured it out.

I can't remember my children's names, or I go through the list, "Jonah, Everett, Trevan..."  way too often so my subconscious figured out by itself that Homegirl or Homeboy would just be easier. 

I have yet to say it outloud, except maybe once when talking to John about one of our kids.

It's just too funny. 

Hopefully, it won't get so bad that when I introduce my kids to people I say, "and this is Homegirl... I mean Mallary."
  

Priceless

I used to think that having children didn't require all that much money.  I mean, once you got past the initial purchases of cribs, car seats, and strollers you just had college to worry about, right? 

Riiiiggghht... 

What was I thinking?  I had no idea. 

I have four children.  Four children to feed.  Four children to clothe.  Four children that need swim lessons.  Four children to play sports.  Four children that get sick and require doctor visits. 

Doctor visits...

I was planning (hoping?) to pay down some debt pretty heavily this year.  That goal may not be attainable. 

Starting in January, I have been to the Doctor for just two of my children at least eight times.  I have also purchased four different antibiotics for those two children.  Trevan had/has molluscum contagiousum, which one got infected, treated for a staph infection...  Everett got an ear infection when he was FIVE WEEKS old!  (Children, I'm sorry you got my bad genes with your ear infections!) 

My friends, just this week I have spent over $300 at the Dermatologist, Dentist, and the Endo Dentist guy to give me a root canal!!!  And, I haven't even gotten the final bills on those things...  (For the record, root canals... it could have been worse, but compared to the pain of the infection in my tooth (teeth?) all last week and this week it was no big deal.)

With all the bills that have started coming in for Everett's birth and biliruben tests, etc. we will be meeting deductibles rather quickly this year.... and it's only March 1st! 

Last year was the year for car repairs, this year is looking like it's the year for medical expenses.  (Though, John did get a flat on his way to work last week, and ended up having to get two new tires...) 

Now that my children eat more, wear out the knees in their jeans more, wear out shoes more, waste more (of everything) - they require more money! 

I get it now.  Kids are expensive! 

Priceless.

But expensive. 

My Grandma said I shouldn't have any more kids...

(Most of this was written over a month ago...)

I think I get to this point in all my pregnancies when I ask myself why I have kids, and I wonder if I'm just a glutton for punishment. (I know some of you are thinking,"You're just now thinking this???")

Earlier last week I had one of those days... (Even when I was typing this, my two youngest were making an orchestra consisting of a cheese grater and a whisk, and a collection of stainless steel bowls and whisks, I'm not going to lie, those thoughts were still lingering...)

I had had one of those days where I would have called my mom to commiserate. Really, I can imagine how the conversation would go without having to talk to her anyway; I know the things she would say, and the inflection in her voice as she would say them. But, it doesn't matter how old you get, sometimes you'd still just like to talk to your mother.

There are just times as a mother that at the end of the day you feel like you've failed - that you are doing a horrible job, that you are screwing up your kids, and what in the heck are you even doing??

I was laying next to Jonah to get him to stay in his big boy bed, and as I listened to him breathe deeply as he drifted off to dreamland, I just cried thinking of all the above statements.

On Sunday, I commiserated with my dad (and sisters, and anyone who would listen...) over the phone about how horrible my day was. (Trevan puking all over (and on me) on the stand at church at the end of primary program practice, finding Jonah's artwork on our perfectly clean leather chair...)

My dad retold me the story of taking the family (five kids) to get our pictures taken (probably at Olan Mills), and after waiting for an hour and a half in the lobby, my little sister, then two years old, puked all over him.

Here's the thing, I've heard that story many, many times, but let me tell you - it takes on a whole new meaning once you've had kids, and have tried to dress your family for pictures, and keep them out of the dirt, and make sure their hair looks nice, and keep them quiet in waiting room until it's your turn. It is A LOT of work to pull off a family picture. Then, after waiting an hour and a half, getting puked on? Oh my word. I never really appreciated that story until Sunday. I couldn't really have gotten it before, because I didn't have kids to really understand what all that entailed.

It's funny, but you never grow up imagining that you'll one day feel like you have to explain why you want kids, or why you want more kids when you already have some. But, here I am getting ready to do just that, despite the fact that, even today, I would have traded my daughter or two year old for a tall mug of hot chocolate...

Trust me, there are plenty of moments when I want to scream, "WHY DID I HAVE KIDS?????" Or when I say to my husband or my sisters, "Why am I doing this again??" But, there are more moments when I think to myself, "That's why I have kids, and am having more."

You often hear parents say, "I want to give my kids all the things I never had." Well, I want to give my kids the best of what I had and have, and one of those things is siblings! Life would have been so boring without them, and I would have way fewer funny stories to tell!

(Presently 12/20/12 - Yesterday, I got off the phone with my oldest brother, and he is just too funny. I got off the phone thinking how much I love my siblings. I was telling my older sister that a few hours later, and how people ask if we get along, etc. My sisters and I did not get along as children, but they are my besties now fo sho. In the past five years there has been one time that I had an issue with each sister, where I really did not like them very much... for a VERY BRIEF time period. And to our, or my, credit they were during very emotional/stressful times in our lives. I think that if we were to not get along or something our mother would haunt us from beyond. We are all different, and have different quirks, and we love each other because of them and in spite of them I guess. We like to run away together and love having our girl time! We laugh so much when we are together and I want my kids to have that same thing!)

I briefly worked for a caterer when we lived in Maryland. He was a middle aged man, and I was talking to him before an event, and I was telling him how I was a stay at home mom, and he said he thought that was wonderful, and then he told me that he and his wife only had one regret in life - that they didn't have more kids. They had three. I thought that was really interesting. He just went on and on about how he thoroughly enjoyed being a father, and most recently a grandfather for the first time.

I can not even imagine my life without my siblings. Each of them for different reasons. My siblings are all pretty awesome. I can brag about all of them for one reason or another and love them, and love being around them. And, sisters?!?!? I love my sisters, we have so much fun together. What would I do without my sisters? Especially after losing my mom. I want Mallary to have that!!

I feel like I'm creating the world that my kids are going to be living in.  I want them to have a built in support system of sorts with siblings. I feel like my sacrifice of headaches, bad days, etc. will pay off when I'm not around anymore and they need help, they will have each other to lean on. But, even now, I love seeing them turn to each other for help or comfort.

Last night, Jonah hurt his wrist or hand somehow and was in pain. Well, I sat on the couch ready to hold some ice on his hand, and Mallary jumped on the couch and said, "Here, Jonah, you can lean on me." He snuggled right against her, and she stroked his hair and kissed his head, and asked me to feel his forehead because he felt kind of hot, etc. There is just something so sweet about watching your kids love, protect, or help each other.

More than once, when Jonah has gotten hurt, he has gone to Mallary or Trevan for a hug of comfort before coming to me. I try not to let it hurt my feelings...

I'm not sure where we were when this happened, but one time, Mallary was totally scared of something. Who did she go and hide behind? Not me or John, but Trevan. It melted my heart just a little. I loved that she knew her brother would keep her safe. I just hope she always feels like that.

There is nothing that brings my kids closer together than a thunder storm...



Taken 8/14/2011 - We let them sleep together on the floor in our room during a thunder storm, and I thought this was very telling of their relationship - her brother letting her use him as a pillow.




Taken 9/2/2012 - The only way we could get them to go to bed during this storm, was if we let them sleep together in Mallary's bed. Safety in numbers I guess...

And more recently, last week, on a day that Jonah was sick, I look over and see Mallary had covered him up, snuggled up next to him and was rubbing his back and singing to him, and he fell asleep like that. It melts my heart, and makes up for those moments when I think I'm a horrible mom, and makes me think, "Well, at least I might be teaching them how to show comfort and love to someone..."

And so when strangers say to me, "Well, it looks like you sure have your hands full!" I should respond, "Yeah, and my heart is pretty full too."

Tuesday Tips - How a busy mom cleans her house

Oh boy, have I got experience in this department... 

Here's how to get your house clean with three children running around:

FIRST:  Have your four (almost five) and two year olds pull out every strainer, grater, and mixing bowl you own (about 20...) and line them up in the living room for what may look like some cooking competition. 

SECOND:  Ask your children to clean them up.

THIRD:  Threaten your children to clean them up.

FOURTH:  Threaten again and count to three. 

FIFTH:  Re-organize all the bowls and dishes your children "cleaned" and stacked up for you.

And that is how you get clean, organized cupboards!  Oh, wait... it was already clean, and organized... 

How to get your child to clean their room:

FIRST:  Have child dump out every toy basket in their room.  Pull all their blankets and pillows off the bed.  Pull all of her clothes out of her drawer.  For added measure, have her bring in a few baskets of toys from her brother's room and dump those out too. 

SECOND:  Ask your child to clean her room.

THIRD:  Threaten your child to clean her room.

FOURTH:  Count to three and deal with the theatrics that follow.  "But, it's too much for me to do by myself!" "I can't fold my clothes!"  "I don't know how to fold my clothes!"  (said the girl who volunteers to help mom with laundry by folding her clothes...)

FIFTH:  Child cleans her room in ten  minutes...

SIXTH:  Be a little suspicious - especially if she cleaned her room and STILL can't find her soccer shorts.

SEVENTH:  Enter said room yourself, because you need to find child's soccer shorts in less than thirty minutes.  Notice toy baskets STUFFED with clothing.  Not toy clothing... 

EIGHTH:  Maybe get a little mad...  Make child dump ALL BASKETS out and start over. 

NINTH:  Help/direct child in cleaning her room. Watch as she pulls back the blankets on the bed she made up, to see all of her other clothes shoved there and under her pillow.  Help fold up clothes and determine what is clean and dirty. 

TENTH:  Room is clean!  Oh wait, no soccer shorts.  Ask child to make sure there are no other clothes anywhere.  Child says, "Oh yeah..."  Pulls back the blankets from the foot of the bed, more clothes, and soccer shorts!  SCORE!  Put remaining clothes away, enjoy the clean room that will last for about a day.

See???  Ten EASY steps to get your child's room clean...

How to clean your living room:

FIRST:  It helps to be missing something, say, one hair bow to match soccer uniform, and one navy blue sock to match soccer uniform. 

SECOND:  Tell your children to find it.  NOW! 

THIRD:  Watch children destroy living room.  All blankets, coloring books, notebooks pulled out of the ottoman bench and strewn all over living room.  All pillows must also be thrown in the floor. 

FOURTH:  After all the chaos, nothing is found and we have to hurry and leave for soccer without the missing items.

FIFTH:  Come home from soccer, listen to husband ask children why the living room is a disaster.

SIXTH:  Listen to husband complain about messy living room while he makes the children clean it. 

How easy was that? Only six steps to clean a living room!!


And, that, my friends, is how a busy mom cleans her house - SHE DOESN'T!!!  Because she is too busy cleaning up what was clean moments before to worry about cleaning what is actually dirty!

October 2010 - Visitors

My friend (and fellow Rec. Major) from college stopped in for a short visit.  I was hoping to post a picture of us from the old days along with this post, but I'm too lazy, and most of those pictures for some reason were of our backsides.... 

Her daughter, Jamie is the same age as Jonah.  I think she liked him...

Jonah seemed happy about the situation too. 

The only pictures I got with all of our kids together.

Future Recreation Majors like their mommies? 

It was fun to visit with Michelle and her kids!!  

Vacation Diaries

Does your children waking up at 5:30 AM to watch cartoon network sound like a vacation to you? 

It's not. 

Those stinkers. 

Tuesday Tips

Here are some money saving tips just for you!

TIP #1:  Instead of buying new toys, just buy a pack of paper plates.  They are a highly coveted item from my pantry! 

TIP #2:  Why do we buy chairs?  It's so much more fun to sit on the table...

TIP #3:  Seriously, no need for new toys... Just show your children where you keep your kitchen towels, and they'll stay busy for days!

TIP #4:  Why do we buy Barbies?  A piece of string can keep your child occupied all day - the possibilities are endless!

Not even kidding, my kids fight over string...

TIP #5:  Buy new batteries!  (On sale or with a coupon, of course)  It makes your child feel like they have brand new toys once you get those new batteries in them!

The best thing I did this day was to put batteries in the Zhu zhu pets from last Christmas... the kids loved it!

TIP #6:  Don't waste your money on those pretend dishes when your kids could just use the real thing!

These two items are Jonah's favorite toys.  A small stainless steel bowl and a tiny whisk keeps him busy for hours! 

TIP #7:  No need to waste your money on buying spoons plus you won't have to wash them after meal time!

My children teach me so much about saving money...

So far today

This is another random, old post from 2010, not sure of the date exactly, but I'm pretty sure it was after this we decided not to allow multiple children to sleep in our bed at the same time...


5:50 AM - Wake up to screaming, hungry baby who also woke up Mallary down the hall.

Take baby to bed with me, Mallary follows.

I try and nurse hungry, crying baby, and I'm just not satisfying enough: fuss, eat a little, fuss, eat a little, and so on...

Trevan wakes up and joins the party.

Trevan and Mallary fight over blankets.

Jonah thinks about going back to sleep,

Mallary decides he needs to be kissed and talked to instead.

Jonah doesn't go back to sleep.

Trevan and Mallary fighting more over blankets.

Send Trevan to get dressed for school and make Mallary go with him.

Pray not to lose it with my children.

Ten minutes later....

I find Trevan playing in his room in his underwear - which is not what he wears to school...

Oh, the joys of having children. 

so...

I really didn't blog much in 2011...

and I only blogged half of 2010...

2012 will be different...

maybe...


I keep thinking about a few things I need to write down from 2011...

Trevan - Finished Kindergarten (ending the year with holes in the knee of 13 pairs of pants! - that's got to be some kind of record, right???) started first grade, started losing teeth! (cue forgetful toothfairy...  did you know the tooth fairy can't fly when it's raining?  that's how Trevan explained the absence of money under his pillow...), learned to read, learned to swim (mostly), is still an easy kid (thank goodness),  he's a picky eater which is kind of annoying (who's kid is that????), he likes to pick out his own clothes to wear (I've learned to be okay with it...), he's a good big brother for the most part, played baseball and basketball for the first time, so thankful he is my oldest!

Mallary - tried a few different "hair styles" (some of her own making...), learned to whistle! (a four year old that can whistle??  I'm so proud considering I was like 12 or something when I figured it out.) she often comes up to me and randomly gives me a hug or a kiss on the cheek,  she loves her papa, she started preschool (me and three other moms rotate teaching) and asks every morning if we're having preschool that day (we're still working on the days of the week thing...), she loves holidays and hates to see them pass by (already she asks when it will be Christmas again, she sounds like a northerner when she talks, i.e. :  cah (car),  she likes jumping on the furniture (and apparently likes getting in trouble for it), she always wants to eat at Olive Garden - she loves the salad?!?!?!, she likes to know where I am in the house at all times, she also likes answering the phone, she loves dogs, she likes me to snuggle with her during the day, who can resist a four year asking, "Mom, will you snuggle with me?" 

Jonah - is the most adorable little boy on the planet.  not a big talker still (but will sign please, more, more please, and thank you),  his favorite word is "GOP" (how he says, 'stop,' can you tell he has older siblings??), loves to play with cars, he pats people (you just have to experience it to appreciate it...), he hates hair cuts (unlike his sister), he loves pushing around this little doll stroller (no dolly, and actually no seat either, so a stroller skeleton...), started climbing on everything, loves sleeping in his own crib (every time we came/come back from a trip that first night we put him back in his own bed he's in heaven! It's adorable!), he gives open mouth kisses on your lips, he'll give you a hug and pat/rub you on the shoulder/back, he loves to jump on his bed, and he loves to jump anywhere, he'll eat most anything, and actually really likes spicy food, his smile still melts my heart.

Christmas break?

What break?  It's definitely not a break for me...

I was wondering if maybe I should coordinate a children's swap for next year's Christmas break...

1.  It took ME more than half a day to clean their bedroom.  Trevan did help a little bit, but I banished Mallary to her bed because she was getting on my nerves really, really bad.   I needed to make room for the new toys.  (Read:  They have too many toys!)  I seriously think that next year in lieu of toys, I'm putting new batteries in the toys they haven't played with in ages because they needed new batteries, and wrapping those up and putting them under the tree.  I'm kinda serious.  If I take the toys out of circulation now, Jonah really would never know...

2.  My kids bought games on my Nook without me knowing it.  When I told John about it, he blamed Trevan because he can read - though Trevan pleads innocent and said Mallary did it... 

3.  I cleaned and organized Jonah's bedroom last night, only for my kids to completely tear it apart today - empty out the bookshelf, empty every toy basket, etc. etc.  Do kids have something against a clean floor?  I think so.

4.  We've been in our pajamas since Christmas.  To our credit, we have changed into different jammies within that time period... well, except Mallary.

5.  I usually wait until after New Years to take down our Christmas tree, but ours was dead, and I am ready for a clean house, so I took it down today with the help from my kids.  Only one ornament got broken...  "Mallary do not throw the ornaments..."  About five minutes later, she throws a glass heart I've had since high school, and it breaks.  She is banned from "helping" anymore. 

6.  The one thing I am enjoying about Christmas break?  No cooking!  That's what I love about the holidays - leftovers!!!! 

Hope you get a break on your Christmas break!  

Halloween!!

What are your traditions for Halloween? 

We have one that surprises people...

When Trevan was two or three, we went trick or treating with my brother and his family.  After the treats had been gathered, we went back to their house and watched their girls devour the candy they had dumped out on the floor.  There were no limits placed on how many pieces they could eat or anything.  I thought that was interesting, so we ended up doing it too. 

So, I am here today to be a myth buster.  Your kids will not get sick if you let them eat a ton of their Halloween candy in one night.  (and, if they ever did get sick, wouldn't that be a great lesson to them?)AND they will NOT stay awake all night bouncing off the walls.  Who came up with that stuff??  It has yet to happen to us, and our kids sleep like babies.  Hello?!  They are exhausted from all the trick or treating! 

What I have found is that my kids have learned how to monitor themselves.  They stop when they are full, and give us their buckets.  We let them have their candy when they ask for it.  Well, we do make them eat breakfast first.  The other benefit to this great tradition?  The candy doesn't hang around very long.  Although, our kids kind of get sick of the candy, and stop asking for the leftovers - so it usally gets dumped.

Another rule?  We make them share.  I must have said once, that if they don't share, they don't go trick or treating.  So, they share...  :)

Happy trick or treating!!

Tuesday Tips

At the end of the summer, I was tired of our van being a mess,and decided to clean it out - which inspired today's Tuesday Tips:

HOW TO MAKE YOUR VEHICLE FEEL MORE LIKE HOME

If you're like us, you spend A LOT of time in your car (we've put 42,000 miles on our van in 1.5 years), so here are a few tips to make it feel just like you are sitting at home while sitting in your car! 

Tip #1. You have souvenirs from all of your trips in your home - why not leave a few in your car too?

Tip #2.  Make your kids comfortable by leaving some socks on the floor of your vehicle - just like their bedrooms at home!

Tip #3.  And it wouldn't feel like home if there weren't toys scattered everywhere, now would it??

Tip #4.  Don't forget the stickers!!!  You know, to match the walls and the kitchen chairs at home!

Tip #5.  It also wouldn't feel like home if you weren't able to brush your hair when you wanted to!!

Tip #6.  Make sure you leave lots of shoes on the floor too - to create the same environment that is on your kitchen floor...

Tip #7.  It definitely wouldn't feel like home to you unless there was trash left by your kids for you to clean up after!  So, encourage them to scatter their wrappers and trash!

Tip #8.  Don't forget about the crayon drawings all over the walls at home - you want to be sure to duplicate that in your vehicle!!!  

Tip #9.  You also want to make sure that snacks are readily available...  This works best if they are found in every car seat, and in every crevice or crack...

Tip #10.  What keeps you busy at home (besides your kids)?  Whatever it is, you want to make sure it has a presence in your vehicle as well! 

Let's just say, I was very happy to get my van cleaned out that day - unfortunately, I had already thrown away all the fast food wrappers, and half eaten, old cheeseburgers the kids had thrown on the ground before I got out the camera... 

Tuesday Tips

In my house, throw pillows are for: decoration, tossing on the floor, napping on, supporting your back, throwing at each other, building forts, standing on, jumping on, AND DESTROYING.

Tip of the day: Pom pom fringe = attractive nuisance for children. Not a good idea.

I need ear plugs

Let me preface the rest of the post with this:

Trevan doesn't have school today...

This morning was like most mornings in our home - Mallary and Trevan fighting over toys, Mallary screaming, Mallary or Trevan chasing the other to get a toy, and Trevan repeating something over and over (This morning: Trevan chasing Mallary - Give me my guys, I want to play with them! Give me my guys, I want to play with them! Give me my guys, I want to play with them!).

John came up the stairs telling them to stop it (for the one hundredth time), then came in our room. I said to him: "I know you are excited that you don't have to deal with this today. I bet you get in your car every morning and breath a sigh of relief that you get to go to work."

He said he doesn't think that; but I bet this morning, he jumped in the air and clicked his heels together before getting in the car.

I probably would have.

Let's just say it's been an exceptionally dramatic morning... (with one pleasant period of about 45 minutes where they played perfectly together)

May your weekend be better than my morning!!

Happy Holidays from the Hamiltons

Let's pretend that you are walking to your snail mail box, you open it up, and you find a Christmas card from me!!! (we're pretending, remember?)

You open it up, and find our annual "festive" Christmas sweater picture! Lucky you! (Yes, I went with a reindeer theme this year)



This year we bring you the Hamilton Family Top Ten in 2010:

1. Jonah's arrival to our family
2. Mallary getting potty trained
3. Family Cross Country Roadtrip
4. Trevan starting Kindergarten
5. Adding a mini van to our family...
6. Mallary's favorite thing of the year: Trick or Treating (asked for it every day after Halloween)
7. Online Grocery Shopping for me!
8. Bonding with my siblings in January and creating some pretty funny memories
9. John being surprised with the sex of the baby when Jonah was born! Priceless!
10. Jonah's arrival to our family (I know, we said that already, but he's that special!)

Wishing you the merriest of Christmases! May 2011 be the year where all of your dreams come true!

Love,

John, Holly, Trevan, Mallary, and Jonah