Show and Tell.....Father's Day ideas, flashbacks and Summer of the Bucket List

Well, G is feeling better.  Too bad R came down with the same thing he had.  It doesn't seem to be as bad, though.  With a kid being sick you have a little bit of leverage when one kid is in a "picking" mood.  "Leave her alone, she doesn't feel good" seems to work a lot better than "Quit fighting or I will tape your hands together for the day!" 

So, Father's Day is coming up and like always I tend to be a procrastinator.  I can not say what I created for my dad because he reads the blog (Hi, Dad!) but I will give YOU a super cool gift idea.  And, no, I'm not being paid or given any discounts for this, I just really like it.

Shutterfly has their photo books on sale for 50% off plus you can use the free shipping code for items over $30...just use code SHIP30.  Let me tell you my love/hate relationship with Shutterfly.....I love the end product.  They produce beautiful books that we really do cherish.  (Love) They also take FOREVER to create. (Hate) They offer excellent deals when you sign up for their email list and even if you don't. (Love)  Sometimes, when you use that amazing sale code the very next day you get an email advertising for an even better deal.  (Hate) 
Story of my life, I knew they were having a 40% off sale on their photo books, which let's face it, are pretty dang expensive and I won't buy them without some sort of a sale.  I also noticed in the nice reminder email they sent me that the 40% off sale ended last night.  So, I was busting my behind to get my project finished before the cutoff of midnight.  I completed it.  And then I stood up in all of my Rocky-esque glory after tackling a huge project and high fived my husband.
I woke up this morning and checked my email as usual and guess what....Shutterfly sent me a friendly email letting me know about a 50% off SALE. Seriously?  Grrrrr.

Oh well.  Maybe this is a sign that I need to make another one. 

With Shutterfly, I have noticed that if I try to upload using the massive Shutterfly photo uploader they like you to download is joke and always shuts down.  Just use the simple uploader and load about 10 max at a time, more if you're brave.  Another easy peasy thing to do is use your Facebook pictures, they give you an option to connect the accounts and it works super easy.  I also scanned a bunch of old pics and used PicMonkey (my not so secret obsession) to edit rotate and crop my pics.  Here's a few of the gems I found.....

I am loving just how awkward we all look here.

I'm guessing this was about 1983

Another great idea for Father's Day or any day really is this deal I saw on Coupons and Freebies Mom's newsletter.  I have to be honest with you, her newsletters are in my mails every morning and I usually just delete them because I don't ever feel I have the time for coupons.  Well, my mistake because this is not just for coupons.  Once again, this chick has no idea I stumbled across her newsletter today and found something I like, I just wanted to share it with you.  At Canvas People you can get a FREE 8x10 canvas and you only pay the shipping.  It's about a $44 value.  (which seems a bit steep to me anyway....)
I am Mrs. Skeptical so I wanted to try it out because who doesn't like free pictures?  I did try it and did work.  I paid $14.95 shipping to my house in the great state of Tejas.  I used the picture of G I took the other day with the one tear streaming down his face.  You can find that link here....at Coupons and Freebies Mom. Tip: don't add on any extras at Canvas People. No frames, no effects.  I went to PicMonkey (shocker) ahead of time and did anything I wanted to the picture and uploaded that.  Here's the discount page at Canvas People.

In that same newsletter I noticed another freebie that caught my eye, this coupon for free pair of prescription glasses from Coastal.com.
I am obviously a horribly unorganized person because I couldn't find my prescription therefore...I can not take advantage of this deal.  You have to pay shipping of course.  This seems like a great deal and they have some super cute frames.  I was really digging this clear pair that I noticed....oh well.  Next time. Find the link to the deal here. 


It's been almost a week now of keeping these kiddos busy and I gotta tell you....it's not easy.  Usually with the age ranges I have in my house we can find SOMEthing to do for SOMEone.  But during the summer it can get a little rough until we go on vacation.  Somebody is bored at some point.  What to do but go to Pinterest for inspiration.  I found quite a few pins that I will definitely be going back to for some motivation. 

Source: djpeach.blogspot.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

Source: missbananapants.blogspot.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

Source: blog.landofnod.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

Source: birthdaypartyideas4kids.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

Hope everyone is having a germ free week in their house and a fantastic summer so far!


What do you have planned to do with your kids this summer to keep everyone from catching the Boredom Blues?

Poolside action, new hair do's, and movin' on up.....

Yes, G is still sick.  Low grade fever, stuffy/runny nose, sore throat.  Yet, he still wanted to go to his great aunt's pool to swim yesterday.

I should have held fast and made him stay in but I just couldn't.  The boy needs a pool like I need chocolate.  Plus, R was bored out of her skull and T was off on a river adventure with a friend. 


So, off to the pool we went.  Luckily, it was just a bit breezy and I was able to sit and read while my husband rough housed with them in the pool. 

We also witnessed some snails..um, enjoying each other in the sunshine.

Who knew that an innocent afternoon at the pool could turn into a living biology lesson? 

{insert Marvin Gaye song here}

Little known factoid of mine...I actually have a snail tattoo...odd, I know.

Our plans for the rest of the day include staying cool.  And I have a hair appointment, that I finally was able to keep.  I am at the point of crazy with my long hair.  I'm thinking of chopping it off but know I will regret going too short.  Here's what I have in mind but just a bit longer. When I have time and mula to spare I would also like to incorporate some honey color highlights throughout using that baylage technique. 
What do you think about this?

Source: uberchicforcheap.blogspot.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

My husband also started his new job today which has had me singing The Jefferson's theme song in my head all.day.long.  I am so proud of him.  He works so hard, which also makes it possible for me to stay home with the kiddos.  Love him.

Hope everyone has a fantastic rest of the week.  Be present, be engaged...be as fabulous as you want to be.  Even if that includes having dirty hair and staying in your pj's one day. Hell, make it 2.

Brothers and sisters pushing buttons, runny noses and low grade fever. Hello weekend.

G-man has been feeling awful all weekend.  He's had a low grade fever, just enough to make him feel yucky.  Yesterday, he also started to have a sore throat, runny/stuffy nose and goopy eyes.  It stinks to be sick during the summer. 
He still wants to go out and play even when he's in a horrible mood and the big kids seem to be hitting every nerve. 

I'm hoping he gets better soon because I think he's getting a touch of cabin fever.

Check out that pitiful tear....I finally managed to get him to smile after he had enough of the big kids

One of the big kids walked up....look at that face.

We did find a pretty cool little inch worm, these always remind me of Slimy on Sesame Street

T, a teen, still can't quite grasp that he's going to 8th grade

R, my soon to be 5th grader

Hope everyone is having a fantastic Memorial Day! 

Days like this.....are what make everything alright.

G has had a low grade to moderate fever since yesterday afternoon and luckily this all fell on a weekend where Daddy can help out with Mr. Sicky Pants. 

This morning, we all slept in....T didn't drag himself out of bed until around 2.  I treated myself to a pedicure because I was sick of staring at my naked toenails.  While there....my nail tech told me that my itty bitty hot pink mole on the said of my calf was considered lucky.  Not sure if this is just something she made up or it's a Vietnam thing but hey, I'll take luck anyway I can get it.

After my fortune teller visit/pedicure I was itching to keep on going for the day.  I nixed the idea of taking R to the antique shops nearby and decided we would head to "town" and finally get some more Duck Tape (duct tape or duck tape...that is the question, I found it here, and they are pretty interchangeable) because she has been on a creative kick.  We have so many duct tape wallets laying around it's not even funny.  She now has her eyes set on an Etsy shop.  We'll see.  I told her I wasn't quite sure of the demand out there in the Etsy world for another duck tape crafty pants. 

By the way.....by town....I mean 25 minutes down the road.  In Small Town, Texas, nothing is really close by unless you live in a city with more than 10k people.  So, that means that the closest Target, mall or bookstore is about 30 minutes away. We're used to it so that honestly isn't a bad drive.


R and I included The Boy in our Duck tape hunting trip and he was super pumped about stopping at Hobby Lobby.  We all had fun though despite the lack of testosterone in the store.  T managed to find a Goo Goo Bar which he hasn't had since a hurt tooth incident that called for a dentist appointment.  After Hobby Lobby, of course we had to go to Target.  We also made a stop at Chick fil A where we laughed and stuffed ourselves with waffle fries. 

We also made fun of T's hair.  He couldn't get it to go down for anything before we left the house so he had a sideways Alfalfa going on.  I promised I wouldn't post the pics on Facebook....so I'm not.  Just here.  hee hee

In Target, R found the only thing that would make her life complete.  A set of fake nails that are said to last for 7 days.  I'm not betting on it.  I can relate to this extreme need.  I used to wear my one fake nail I snagged from a carnival of some sort all the time.  It wasn't a fake nail, rather a fake top half of a finger.  Strange, I know, but it slipped on over my finger and I totally felt like a grown up with it on. 

While walking into Target, I dared T to keep a British accent the entire time we were there.  He had to keep it even if he had to ask a Target employee a question and when he had to call his Dad to ask about a video game.  He did pretty good and lasted about 35 minutes.  There was no prize...just the satisfaction of seeing people's confused faces listening to the boy who was obviously faking what he thought to be a British accent. 

So, a good day over all.  B and little man stayed home and played baseball in 30 minute intervals so he didn't get too hot.  Baseball is G's newest obsession and he has even started turning his precious baseball hat around the right way and that has not happened in the 2 years he has been sporting it.

1. R and her amazing duct tape wallet and out of control fake nails
2. Target turned library
3. The hair do of the day...and the attempt to cover the camera
4. The look over the shoulder as I faked him out, telling him a certain cute girl had just walked into Chick fil A.
5. The smile :)

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend! 

Best fruit dip ever.....the recipe is now in your hands

When I was a kid my parents and their friends had a lot of get togethers.  The kids all entertained each other, running around causing mayhem while the parents enjoyed their margaritas and neighborhood gossip.  

You would often times find the kids gathering up a communal plate (or if you were like me, just one for yourself because you are unapologetic and selfish with food) of goodies.  Every time we were at a certain friend's house(Hi Sarah!), her mom supplied us with endless amounts of this amazing fruit dip.  Fanny was already an ultra cool mom.  First of all, she was from Holland.  As a kid, people with accents are way cooler than anyone else.  The fruit dip was not the only thing bringing me happiness from that house....she also made us buttered toast with chocolate sprinkled on top for breakfast!  Seriously, so good.

I was in love with this fruit dip.  So in love, that when B and I got married, this was probably the first recipe I asked for from anyone.  I called my childhood best friend's mom, Fanny, and asked her to give up the goods.  Luckily, for me, she did and I have cherished it ever since. 

This fruit dip has been present at almost every one of my kiddos' Birthday parties, a few Christmas morning brunches and countless friend's houses for an addition to a meal, party or shower of some sort. 

At first, I didn't want to share the recipe with friends, but eventually I started to share it a little bit.  Now, I pass it on to you.  It is almost sad how easy it is but you will need to keep this in your recipe book....or let's get real here, your Recipe Pinterest board.

Beware....once you take this fruit dip along with some cut up fruit to any event, you will be asked to bring it again.  But, come one....isn't it great to be needed?

You will need 1+1+1+1....
1 brick of cream cheese (softened)
1 jar of marshmallow creme
1 splash of vanilla
1 c. powdered sugar

Voila!!!

Tip: the organic cream cheese works so much better than Philadelphia.  It is softer from the get go so you don't have to leave it out to soften too long. It's a lot easier to mix as well.  I have used reduced fat the past few times and I couldn't tell a difference either.  Just use whatever you have on hand.



In a large mixing bowl, mix the cream cheese and marshmallow creme on medium low until combined.  Then pour in your cup of powdered sugar and a splash of vanilla.

Mix well on medium and be prepared for flying powdered sugar....


Don't forget to do this...

the perks of being the only kid at home at the moment....

This is important too....

we did have to switch it to a smaller bowl...

and then you have this.....

Fanny's Fruit Dip

For large crowds we usually double the recipe....and believe me, you would rather have too much rather than too little.

We have served it with every fruit imaginable but the favorites are strawberries, grapes, kiwi, apples and pineapple.  To up the cuteness quotient, just slice some fruit and put it on top of the dip. 

Go forth, my friend, and take a big ol' bite out of that goodness.  If it's served with fruit the calories don't really count.  Promise.

Are you done taking pictures now?  Can I just eat this apple already?

I'm Blank Because.....

I stumbled across an amazing blogger this morning...and by stumbled upon, I mean I saw a pin on Pinterest and it directed me to her blogging brilliance. Little Miss Momma might be a blogger you regularly follow....I feel so out of the loop.  She has a great post to get you out of your writer's funk and listed her own posts to give you some fresh, new ideas.  The "Blank" topic came from that post.  

I seriously get over excited when I find a blogger that I truly enjoy.  In her post listing the 10 topics and prompts  I realized that I had already done a few of these but there are some on the list that I can't wait to write about.  Life List...I'm talking to you.

I'm weird because

I keep my hair long....just so I can pull it up
I don't wash my hair everyday (gasp!)
Putting on lipstick feels foreign
I am an extrovert that has issues walking up to a crowd...
I don't brush  my hair every day either....true story
I compete full throttle in games with my oldest child. He's 13...and he usually beats me at Scrabble anyway
I love the feel of sand in between my toes but a walk in dew dampened grass gives me the heebie-jeebies
I hate goodbyes
I have a tattoo....of a snail
I eat lunch like a kid...throw me an apple, cheese and Goldfish and I'm good to go
When I walk through a clothing store...I touch everything
Movie trivia? Bring it.  I've got this hemmed up, I know every character actor you never wanted to know about
I still smell my kids' heads
There is no cuddling, snuggling or spooning in my bed...when it's time to sleep you need to mosey on over to your side of the bed, homeslice
I'm weird about smells....I use a face scrub because it reminds of my grandmother
Growing up I thought I would someday marry David Bowie or Tim Curry. Yes, I realize that they both dressed in drag at some point. No, I don't want to know what Freud would say about that.
Clearance sections are my friends
I would rather go to Walgreen's and spend more money and have no line to wait in than enter Wal Mart, ever
I would rather be the passenger than the driver anytime...except for when my husband's driving
I pray more in the bathroom and my car than I ever do kneeling
I will stop a conversation mid sentence to point out a beautiful bird flying overhead or a cloud in the shape of something crazy


I'm a bad friend because...

I hate talking on the phone
I have a hard time getting out of my "home zone" on the weekends
I'm a grudge holder
I'm a bad listener
I talk too much
I have conversational ADD



I'm a good friend because....

I'm loyal
I love my friends to pieces
I will go to bat for you, sister
I like a girl's night out...even if I'm not good at planning one
Laughing a lot is a favorite past time of mine
Your kids = my kids
I will not judge you because I love you and probably because I have been there



random thought...is it sad that I have way more I'm weird traits than good friend traits?


I'm sad because...


my kids are growing up at a rate that seems way too fast
childhood just seemed easier in the 80's and 90's...or am I just in denial?
my extended family all lives far away...and I only get to see them once a year
I can't get motivated to finish a book
sometimes, I feel like we are doing things all wrong
I want to move but I know we can't just yet
I'm done having kiddos and I miss being pregnant and having a newborn
traveling out of the country is just out of reach at the moment
I miss my sister....she lives about 3 hours away yet we only see each other once a month (sometimes).  I would love to be able to get away and go spend time with her...by myself
I can't do it all.


I'm happy because....


my family is just the family I was intended to have
I met my soul mate at the age of 17
we are a little wacky and weird and I'm good with that
Summer time!
my dad gets a new lease on life
The Hubs has been offered a new job within the company and I kind of feel like singing The Jefferson's theme song
the Emerald Coast is just a little over a month away
my kids love me
I am deeply in love with  my husband and thank God everyday for him...even though sometimes I want to squeeze his face off, I still appreciate him and know that we are together...forever.  Plus, I don't really think he could afford the child support for three kids.
I get to be a stay at home mom...I will always be happy about this, even when I'm paying bills and thinking, "Do we really need electricity?"
I have a huge shade tree in my front yard, this makes me happy
I have a relationship with THE most amazing man in the world.  He also has a beard, which I've always really gotten down with.  He likes to dress like a hippie and is building a house for me and my family, right now, in what some may call paradise but I just refer to it as Heaven. He totally took all of my mistakes off of my shoulders and put them on his own.  He loves me unconditionally, even though I'm completely weird and random.  Even though, I can be a bad friend and a crappy homemaker.  Even when I forget to pray or if I lose my patience.  This dude truly loves me.  And THAT makes me happy.



I'm excited for....


this summer when we will once again road trip it 12 hours away
making memories....as a family
the kids making memories at camp on their own
last day of school!
new babies coming into this world that I will get to snuggle and rock and then hand back to their mommies so they may deal with dirty diapers and sleepless nights
Hubby's new job.....every other Friday off! Score!
moving my blog to Wordpress at some point in the near future
next year's brand spankin' new adventure of homeschooling my youngest
attempting to make yoga a part of my life
putting my toes in the sugar white sand of the Florida panhandle in July




I hope that you can find some inspiration here in my weirdness and create your own Blank post.  Leave me a comment with the link so I can check your post out and let Little Miss Momma know, too because I'm sure she would dig the fact that we all got a little jolt of writing energy from her.

Moving on up.....watch out world!

This week has been all about moving on up in the world.  My husband was offered a job promotion and now G graduated from pre school! 

This graduation thing is really throwing me off this year.  He has been with the amazing Mrs. Holly since he was 2 1/2 and now at 5 1/2, he is ready (more than ready) for Kindergarten. 

The thing is....I will be the teacher next year.  For the first time. 

Out of all three of the kiddos, they have all gone off to Kindergarten with smiles on their faces but tears streaming down my face.  Many thoughts have run through my mind....and have people have not been shy about offering their opinion on the matter but I honestly believe that this is the right move. 

A little nervous? Yes.  Excited?  Definitely.  I am pumped about this new journey and I am confident in our decision we made as parents.  G is already on his last set of Kindergarten sight words and is well on his way to being a great reader.  The other 2 kiddos were in the same spot when they were that age but I honestly just thought that Kinder was the next step...so they went.  Homeschooling has evolved in my mind since then. 

I don't see any reason why not, actually.  He will be able to learn in a loving, encouraging environment.  He will learn about things that sometimes get passed over in public schools.  Yes, he will be the only "student" at home but he will have plenty of social interaction. 

I am excited about all of the possibilities that are out there.  He will be able to have experiences that he wouldn't be able to have in a traditional school.  I have been given the run down by many well meaning family friends about all of the things he will miss about being in a traditional kindergarten but I am positive he will be fine.  He has been in a structured pre school since the age of 2 1/2 and knows how to line up, sit quietly, do his work, keep his hands to himself...all of the little things that some kids are learning in kindergarten.  He will be just fine. 

Now, onto the graduation.  The moms who were in charge this year were amazing and I have no doubt that the main mama in charge could make a successful party planner.  The theme this year was the circus and everything was just too cute.  I realized when I was uploading pictures that I never took pictures of the table all decorated.  So, just imagine it and know it was genius. 

My boy all ready to go

the dudes....

his award this year....Most Clever :)

Our graduate trying to escape from picture taking....

G and his magical pre school teacher, the infamous Mrs. Holly :)

G and his Pop and Gran :)

G and his Boogie :)

Keeping up with the (internal) Jones's....life in the pressure cooker

Feeling the pressure....

If you are a parent then I can pretty much guarantee that you have succumbed to the parent pressure that seems to hover over us like a smog cloud.  We talk to our kids about peer pressure and shiver at the thought of our kids actually giving in someday.  We lecture and give examples and read books about keeping our kids feeling good about themselves and standing up to those who are pressuring them. 

But what about the parent pressure we put on each other?  I've never been a victim of some parent on a street corner trying talk me into buying the newest iWhatever yet I still feel like I'm pressured.  I haven't witnessed other parents hovering in a corner of a junior high bathroom tempting me with fliers for the best camp to send my kid to or watched another parent open up their trench coat to display the newest Abercrombie clothes to buy.  Yet, I still feel pressure and I know that I am the one doing the pressuring.

It isn't that bad with the younger kiddos, they are 5 and 10 and luckily the only thing they want more of is toys...which we can plainly see they have enough of and it's easy to say "no" and move on.  With our 13 year old, it has gotten worse as this first junior high year has gone on.  I have a feeling that because he is a boy, I have probably gotten off easier than the parents with girls this age.  Only because of the clothes....as long as his pants are long enough and his shirt fits, he'll wear it.  The only clothing issue this year would be the shoes.  He wanted a pair of Jordan's....which he promptly got for Christmas.  I'm sure next year the Jordan's will be out of the picture and a new fad will ensue.  And I know that I will get those too.

Why?  Because the shoes are the smallest of the parent pressure issue. 

Ever since he hit about 4th grade, we have been trying to make sure he is involved with every single thing he wants to be involved in.  Whether that be a sport, a camp, a group of friends, parties, dances, vacations.....it's never ending. 

There are certain things we will do every year....vacations being one of them.  I have said before, that making memories with my kids is super important.  But at what point do these memory making things become too much? 

Our teenager and our 10 year old are both going to camp this year.  2 camps, as a matter of fact.  Church camp and regular camp.  Both camps will be a few days away and both camps are a few hundred bucks.  T will also be attending the Auburn Soccer Camp after our family vacation. 

We are already trying to plan for next summer while we're at it!  I was introduced to the EF Tours a few months back and the Summer 2013 trip to Italy sounded like an amazing experience for T and I both.  There goes a few thousand dollars....each.  Just last night, T was offered to go in on another trip with EF to Washington DC and New York.  He also expressed that he would love to go to Cambodia for a mission trip that summer. 

He will be in 8th grade next year.  8th grade!  I see the ridiculousness of this, yet I still feel the need to figure it all out somehow.  He doesn't need to go anywhere next summer but I pressure myself into these crazy ideas that we can handle it all.  And he's so up in the air, as most teenagers, that I don't think he is even focused on one of those trips.  Did I mention that next summer will be our 15th wedding anniversary? 

15 years is HUGE.  I have always wanted us to go somewhere really nice for our 15th anniversary.  All of us, as a family.  Which would be virtually impossible while also sending our teenager around the world. 

This seems easy.....15th wedding anniversary only comes once.  T will have plenty of time to travel and experience these wonderful things. 

But sometimes, telling your kid no can be so hard.  And this is why this generation is spoiled rotten with impossible expectations...we are raising them this way.

I feel the need to fit everything in when really I should be focusing one making one thing really count. 

Running everywhere, making sure everyone is included, that they can be at every party, every concert, every movie opening night...is just crazy talk. Yet, we all are fully fluent in that crazy language.

I need to pray for more confidence and strength in my parenting. 

What do you feel the most parent pressure about?


I am joining the Women Living Well blog hop for the first time today, what a wonderful thing to stumble across on days like today. 

It takes a village....{K5 Learning Review}

Every parent needs a little help when it comes to helping their children learn.  The saying is correct, it really does take a village to raise a child...and sometimes that village includes an online learning tool. 
K5 Learning is a wonderful tool to include in your everyday routine.  Your pre schooler through 5th grader takes an online assessment of reading and math skills than move on to work independently on over 3,000 lessons and activities.  All of the lessons are animated and interactive, keeping even the youngest child's attention.  Parents can have as little or as much participation as they choose, K5 Learning does a lot of the work for you.  The lessons are chosen automatically, according to the results from the assessment taken at the beginning.  Progress is tracked, just like a report card, so you can log in as a parent and see how each child is doing on their lessons and where they may need more work. K5 is extremely easy to use for both parents and kids alike. The log in page alone is easy enough for kids to manage on their own.
G, my 5 year old really enjoyed the reading activities and my 10 year old daughter liked testing herself on her math skills.  The reading for G was a great exercise for his sight words and right on point with the age level.  Both of the kids really gravitated towards the opposite things, like I said, G loved the reading and R liked the math and that's really what they stuck with.  They enjoyed what they did with K5, though. R loved challenging herself with her times table.  It kept their attention and their focus for a decent amount of time.  Plenty of time to get what they needed for the day.  In my opinion, K5 Learning makes a wonderful supplemental tool to your child's education. 
I only see K5 improving as it grows.  I would love to see K5 expand to junior high levels in the future.  It is definitely worth a try, especially with the 14 day free trial.  After the 14 day free trial K5 is still very affordable.  At $25/month or $199/year and there are great discounts for siblings, a wonderful price for an amazing program. 
The most important part of learning is using it repeatedly.  Keeping all the new things they learn up front and fresh in their minds is important, which is why I believe in K5 Learning and all that is stands for.  I stand for anything that proves to help educate a child in a positive, reaffirming way. 

Try it out and let me know what you think!  I'm sure K5 Learning would love to hear from you and they are always quick to respond to any questions.  You can always try out the sample lessons just to see what you think. 

If you are a blogger with children, you could review K5 Learning for yourself for free!  A great opportunity for any parent blogger who is shopping around for way to enrich their child/children's education. 
Mention my name or blog if you try it out, I would greatly appreciate it. 


You can find K5 Learning on Facebook and Twitter so you can pick the brains of other K5 users. 

A letter to my daughter.....

Now it is my daughter's turn for words of advice from her oh-so-wise mama.  I have mentioned to you guys before about how wonderful it is to have a girl squeezed in between her 2 brothers...a nice breather from all the rough housing and destruction.  She loves a good rom-com and is a total crafty pants which I am a teensy bit jealous of.  She also is a girl after my own heart because one of her fave movies would be Pretty in Pink (albeit we skip through the raunchy parts that 80's movies deem PG 13 material)and her favorite guy in the movie?  Duckie, of course!  We love to jam to Otis Redding in the car....her main reason is because of Duckie's lip syncing scene in the movie. 
She also loves to spend time with her grandparents and could spend hours in Hobby Lobby.  I'm pretty sure she might be a Golden Girl in a 10 year old's body and I love that.
Celebrating my kids on Mother's Day comes pretty natural....they did make me a mom.  I could not possibly be more grateful than I already am for these crazy little monkeys.  They have flipped my world upside down and created a person who did not exist before. 
My girl was the biggest of my babes...weighing at a fighting weight of almost 9 lbs 2 oz.  She was the chubbiest baby I had ever seen and the little crochet beanie they had on her head looked like it might pop off and fly across the room.  She had rolls for days.  Simpler times, for sure. 

That's my tenacious 11 year old right there....a beautiful, strong willed, caring, thoughtful, tough chick who makes me heart smile.


My letter to you, my nutty girl.....

There are so many things I want you to know and plenty of years to tell you...yet I worry it will all go too fast.  Take these tidbits with you and keep them somewhere hidden in your brain...pull them out like you would random song lyrics and names of has been celebrities...knowledge that comes in handy at certain times. 

1. Stay creative.  Continue to draw, craft and design to your heart's content.  This will keep your fingers nimble, your mind engaged and your soul happy.
2. Pray. Whenever, where ever, how ever you please.  Take the time to send any gratitude, any problems, any worries or anxieties straight up to the Big Guy.....He will lessen your problems by casting light on the things that matter, the issues at heart or the people He is guiding you towards.
3. Sing and laugh as loud as you please!  Singing is one of those things that I always say is good for the soul. Embrace that voice and project it....always laugh your REAL laugh...no fake laughers allowed!  You have that laugh for a reason, don't quiet it down or make it "cuter" for some one else's benefit.
4. Dance like there's no tomorrow.  Shake it, don't break it....
5. Keep your childhood curiosities alive!  I will always have a picture of you captured in my mind...your blond hair in a tiny ponytail, curled up on it's own accord...white slip with a petticoat, pink kitty cat rain boots, and a dirt mustache.  You would wear princess costumes and play in the mud. You collected rolie polie's and tried to sell them to the neighbor, you would streak across the yard in your panties, and put lizards in your own hair. 
6. Remember that no man will ever measure up to your Daddy.  But don't expect him to.  DO expect him to treat you as good as your Daddy treats me.  Any less? Adios amigo.
7. Keep trying new things.  Soccer was something you said "buh-bye" to when you were 5, picking your nails in the middle of the field didn't seem like something you wanted to continue another season, but you tried again this past fall and...you rocked! You tried out every position you could and did the best you could each time. Proud is an understatement.
8. Keep enjoying your grandparents.  Not many 10 year old girl's would rather be with her grandparents on a weekend instead of finding something to do with people their own age.  Believe me, you make them as a happy as they do you.
9. It's okay to not want to be around a lot of people.  You do not have to be the life of the party....but at least go to the party.  Get out of that box every once in a while and experience people. 
10. Love yourself first. I have always told you how different we all are and different is beautiful. There is not a magic number or a perfect size...there is only the skin you feel comfortable in.
11. Buy a dress that will last through the years.  Classic is gorgeous. You can own trendy but spend money on classic pieces. A line skirts. Nautical stripes.  Good jeans.  A great cardigan. Cashmere sweater.  Shirt dress.  A pair of brown boots. 
12. Do not ever cut your hair while going through a break up, having PMS, or pregnant. You will regret it. I promise.
13. Don't wax your eyebrows or over pluck them.  Keep an arch but don't try to imitate a look of surprise...it just looks silly.
14. Lip balm is your friend. EOS and Burt's Bees. Done.
15. Don't ever start wearing foundation.  If you start, you will never be able to stop.  Your skin will thank you.  Keep it simple; mascara, blush, concealer, eyeshadow, lipstick...all you need.
16. Do wash your face.  Olay and Neutrogena are wonderful choices. 
17. Don't dye your hair. 
18. Zits.....toothpaste really does dry them out. So does Burt's Bees Herbal Blemish Stick. 
19. Enjoy being a kid for as long as you possibly can. Ride your bike, play Barbies, play with your dolls, get dirty.....there is plenty of time to be a grown up but once you're there, there is no going back. 
20. Keep your brothers close.  Know that they will always be there for you...and they will beat the living mess out of any boy who wrongs you.  They will be your closest allies, your confidants, and your enemies all at some time in your life...and you wouldn't be the same without them.
21. Always have at least one best girl friend that you can depend on.  Everyone should have that one person who knows the craziest, grossest, most amazing, most useless things about you and loves you for it all.  You will never regret the girl time you have, the chick flicks, the raw cookie dough eating, the incessant talk about boys....
22. Don't be a follower.  Lead the parade, girlfriend!  Be the kind of girl that people can lean on, talk to and be confident that everything they say isn't going to anyone else. 
23. There will always...I mean always be a group of mean girls at school.  Look the girls straight in the eye and....smile.  Do not ever be in a group of mean girls.  It will get you nowhere fast, I promise.  So after you smile at them, move along to your own group of friend that find it more important to lift others up rather than knock them down.
24. Girls should stick together.  I'm really reiterating the point here, don't tear girls down to make yourself look or feel better. And don't ever let someone do that to you. 
25. Stand up for yourself.  Let your values, morals and principles be known.  Have no regrets for your personality, your thoughts or your views. 
26. Keep an open mind and an open heart.  We have always prayed this over you guys every night....I want you to remember that.  Open minds and hearts are what makes the world go 'round.
27. Be passionate.
28. Boys: 

a. expect to be treated like a lady and they will treat you like one.
b. put up with nothing less than the utmost respect.
c. treat boys with the same respect.
d. don't ask the boy out.
e. never change the way you speak, laugh, dress, or the people you hang out with for a dude.
f. you will have your heart broken. know that you will survive. 
g. Be the apple at the top of the tree.
h. watch what you say, do, text, post or share.  Boys tend to brag about things...true or made up.  You do NOT want to be the subject of any locker room talk.

29.  Never forget how much I love and adore you.  You will always be my girl.  You are the toughest little chick I know and I appreciate your self reliance and your maturity....I also will never forget the little girl who would hide behind my legs to avoid any personal contact with the "outside world".  You have been my breath of fresh air, my mirror, my strength, my source of crazy, my partner in shopping and pedicures.  You also know how to treat a lady to a home spa day like no other.  I miss your shubby little sheekies and your baby fine hair I would have to put mini barrettes in to keep out of your face.  I miss that chunky little 6 month old baby that was squeezed into the bassinet because I couldn't bear for you to be in another room.  I look forward to the young lady you are turning into...the tenacity and the helpful attitude are only sneak peeks at the maturity you have in store.  You are the most affectionate and loving girl I know and I love you more than any words could ever express.

A letter to my boys....

Mother's Day is approaching pretty quickly so of course, I think about my mother and my husband's mother, both of our step mothers but I kind of forget about myself in this equation until the day of.  I think more about my kids....duh. Welcome to Motherhood, peeps.  For some reason, no matter what holiday, they are the ones I think about. 

Even on Mother's Day where we should be having a celebration they have all survived thus far all about Mommies, I still think about them.  This is a good thing, though.  I think about being a mom and what responsibllity, happiness, joys, sadness, craziness and sleep deprevation it has brought me and will probably continue until I am so senile I won't care.

There are many moments where I have felt the need to tuck away a little note of advice or a letter into the kiddos' baby books and there is plenty of time, especially now with T being a nutty teenager, where I sit on his bed and have a little chit chat about what's going on with the world...or in his head.  In honor of Mother's Day this year,  I wanted to write a note to the boys and then to my daughter. Little tidbits that I think they should know.  If it wasn't for them, I wouldn't be a mother....I also wouldn't be finding gray hairs at the age of 31.  But without them, I wouldn't have as much laughter, which in turn gives me super cool laugh lines....I refuse to call them crow's feet or wrinkles, I earned these stripes, fool! 

 

 

What would you have to look forward to in life if not for the advice from crazy relatives?

To my boys.....things I want you to take to heart, think about...okay skim over and somehow make your life even greater.

1. Laugh. Loudly and often.  Throw your head back and laugh, it's good for the soul.
2. Know what else is good for the soul?  Praying. Pray like there's no tomorrow. Pray in the car, pray in the bathroom, pray wherever you need to.  When you feel like saying something really mean, or judgmental, or raunchy....just pray about it because that little Voice that is telling you, "Dude, don't do it...", is God. And you really need to listen to Him.
3. Learn to appreciate music from the 60's. And not just The Beatles. A little Otis Redding does a heart good.
4. Don't always be the loudest person in the room....and don't be the quietest either.  Make yourself present but don't be obnoxious.
5. Watch what you say, text, post, or share whether it is on the Internet or out of your mouth....it never just stays between 2 people.  Never.
6. Learn how to dance.  I'm not talking ballroom here, although that would be cool...I'm talking about dancing. A girl never regrets dating a boy who can move.  (and let's leave choreographed or line dances out of this equation)
7. Smile.  Even when you feel like taking some one's face and pinching it so hard their brain sort of makes a popping sound...just smile. 
8. Travel. Fly, ride a train, take a cross country road trip, backpack across Europe, study abroad for a year....just travel.  Experience the world outside of your safety zone.
9. Don't be a loner.  Yes, sometimes, it's nice to be alone but don't be a hermit....enjoy people.
10. Have one signature move.  Not just a dance move.  It can be the way you smile at girl you like.  It could be the way you make everyone else feel comfortable with a "break the ice" joke or the way you know about every restaurant in the city you will eventually live in.  It can be wearing Chucks with a designer suit or keeping your hair long when everyone else has chopped it off.  Just have something that people will remember you by, and make it a positive attribute.
11. Be a hard worker.  We should do all things for the glory of God.
12. Have an open mind and heart. This is super important. If we keep our heart and mind closed off to thoughts different than our own then we will never be able to grow and learn.
13. Be silly every once in awhile.   There is a time to be serious and a time to get with the program but there also needs to be time in your life to be silly and laugh at yourself.
14. Be easy on your sister...she will always be the girl who knows the most about you yet...still loves you more than anything.
15. Own a dog. The unconditional love from a dog is something everyone should have.
16. Make friends. Nurture those friendships.
17. Keep old friends that matter.  When you move off to college, or even after that...when your searching for a place that has "you" written all over it.....keep those old friends that kept you going through the tough times.
18. Go to church.  I don't care where you are, attempt to find a home church that you feel comfortable in so you can be surrounded by Christ followers.
19. Girls....this one has categories

a. Always be the boy to open the door for your date.
b. Be a good listener.
c. Don't attempt to have the last word every.single.time.
d. Acknowledge and compliment any new thing....haircut? dress?
e. Remember that every girl is not the one for you...she may be drop dead gorgeous on the outside but always keep in mind...there are some girls who you want to date and there are some girls that you don't need to date.  You will become very confused with want and need many times in your life. Pray about it.
f. If a girl seems too high maintenance, a little snippy or snide, self righteous, or rude....she probably is.  I don't care how pretty she is, think twice.
h. Always pay on a date.  Even if she tells you no, get the check...and pay.
i. Only say I love you...if you do love her.
j. Respect, respect, respect.  Give it.  Get it.

20.  Always know how much I love you...the moment I saw each of your faces my heart has never been the same.  I remember the feel of your soft baby hair and the smell of your baby breath.  I can still feel your heartbeat against mine and your tiny, velvety hand wrapped around my finger.  I can see your gummy smile hear your infectious laugh.  You boys are amazing. Never forget it.  


Happy Mother's Day everyone.

Z is for.....ze guilt!

Last post for the A to Z Challenge!  Whoop, whoop!! 


And yes, I totally cheated by using my French accent for my "Z" title.


But on to the reason why I have all of this guilt.

With three kiddos, it's bound to happen, right?  I think even with one kid it happens....

You just can't be there for every, single thing.  You can't.  Even if you do make it to every, single field trip, lunch, class party, brunch, breakfast....you amazing, mom, you.....you might not really be "there".  I have witnessed many of those moms who make it....yet, there they are texting furiously on their iPhone or maybe even just thinking of what else they need to do when they get home.  My problem is when I can't make it to everything and I feel okay about it until.....one of my ever so loving children says

Every time I have something at school, you have to go to something for him! 

The "him" in the sentence is her little brother.  Of course.  I have already made it to a field trip this year and stayed until 30 minutes before they left so I could make it to G's Rodeo Day.  She had another field trip day today but the time they needed to be there was at the same time I had to get G to school.  She has yet another field trip coming up next week...the same day of G's preschool Graduation.  Okay, I get her point.  That's what it seems like.  And ultimately, it's the truth.  I can not be in two places at once. 


INCOMING!  GUILT!

I may be able to see a kid rolling their eyes from behind me.  I might just be able to dive as far as 30 minutes away without ever remember driving there....autopilot, anyone?  I may even be able to pull off that perfect bless-your-heart smile in the nick of time...but I can NOT be in 2 places at once. 

So, what to do? 

Well.....I don't know.  Obviously, I will be at G's preschool graduation.  This is BIG.  Next year he will officially be a kindergartner. 
I will be finding out what time the field trip is so that I can try to make it to both. 
That is about the best I can do right now.

Now tell me why I feel like a loser of a mom?

I know this is definitely not the first time that I've had the mom guilt.  And it won't be the last either. 

What hits your guilt button?


A to Z Challenge is OVER! :)