Moms…Just Exercise At Home

Posted on September 8, 2015 by Jennifer

I was watching TV the other day when a segment came on about how moms could easily exercise at home. Now, before you get onto me about watching the segment, I was doing what most moms do, I was multi-tasking – watching the segment, folding laundry, and monitoring my youngest in the shower.

What the host said about exercising went something like this, “Moms, it’s so easy to exercise at home. You just have to make the time.”

Yep. I agree. You just have to make the time.

But the “it’s so easy part?” Nope.

Every single time I try and exercise at home while my kids are there something like this happens:

Now a few things are happening in this picture:

1. I am being real with you and showing you that when I attempt to exercise at home I do it in my pajamas. I feel no shame.

2. Our play room is a mess.

3. Little people always seem to gather around once that rocking jazzercise type music comes on. I feel like the Pied Piper.

In this case, I was attempting to exercise with a you tube video on the computer. Little person hears the drums and synthesizers and join me. The exercise I am supposed to be performing is to swing my leg back and forth then up and down. Therefore, my little partner is trying the same thing but she sticks to mainly just kicking forward and laughing hysterically as she rams her foot into my rear end.

Moving on from that exercise we attempt to strengthen our backs by rolling over and laying down on our tummies. This naturally leads to the “Mommy is a horsey” exercise. It is neither productive nor comfortable for Mommy horse.

Trying to do crunches?

That of course leads to little one leaning on your legs trying to start the well known parent exercise of “flying airplane kid.”

So it is usually at this point that I just give up. It’s just not worth it TV ladies.

For now I will just stick to biking with my kids to school and my swim workouts which are away from home. I’ll still watch the TV exercise segments of course but I will probably just work on building those folding t-shirt muscles.

Mom Fail…Number 8,745…the School Supplies Edition

Posted on September 3, 2015 by Jennifer

After returning from vacation in the middle of July my soon to be 4th grader asked, “Are we ever going to buy school supplies?”

“Well son, seeing as we still have five weeks before you start school I think we are okay.” My reply didn’t really satisfy him or his sister who also had a case of school supply mania.

Three weeks before school started I caved and took them shopping. We bought everything required except for the folders my son needed. Somehow I missed seeing those on the list.

My 4th grader needed blue, red, and yellow folders with brads for school.

First off, why in the world do they even sell folders without the brads in the middle?

No one buys them and they are quite useless.

Moving on.

Fast forward to two days before school starts.

While out shopping I found the blue folder that was needed and scooped that up but could not find a yellow or red folder.

All together, my husband and I went to about 6 different stores looking for these folders.

School started and by the 3rd day of school my son said that he really needed the folders.

I suddenly remembered that I had a stash of school supplies saved in case any of the kids that I teach need something. Old folders, binders, erasers when they go on sale. You name it, I probably have it in my box.

Searching through the box I found a yellow folder with brads but it had someone else’s name on it. I crossed that name out and handed the folder to my son. He was less than thrilled when I showed him the folder. I promised that this was just temporary and that I would still look for new folders.

Cut to the next day and another store folder failure.

So desperate times come for desperate measures.

I asked my husband where the electrical tape was. Somewhere in the back of my mind I seem to recall us having red electrical tape. He found the tape and we were in business “making a red folder.”

I proclaimed the folder perfect.

My husband said, “really?”

“When Andrew looks into his desk he will know which one his red folder is, it’s great.”

Great is probably not how my 10 year old saw it the next morning but he took the folder and put it into his backpack without a fuss.

A few days later I was cleaning out a drawer and happened to find an old plastic red folder with brads that was already labeled with Andrew’s name.

Thank you to hoarding school supplies from kindergarten!

Andrew was happy to take that red folder to school and bring back the green and red folder.

I thought all was good on the school supply front until yesterday when Andrew brought home a note saying he needed an extra blue folder with brads for a different class.

I shouted to be husband, “Honey, have you seen the blue electrical tape?”

Mission Accomplished…Saving Money with a Chart

Posted on September 1, 2015 by Jennifer

Look who accomplished her mission of saving for a stuffed animal!

Last time we left off my six year old was busy working odd jobs like folding towels around the house in order to save enough money to purchase a Build-a-Bear stuffed animal. She was keeping track of her savings using the chart I made for her.

Caroline had saved about $23.00 when I received an email from Build-a-Bear announcing a 40% off sale on the stuffed animals. This meant that the stuffed animal Caroline wanted that originally cost $28 would now be on sale for $16.80! This would be a big savings for her.

When we started this money saving process I told Caroline that if she bought the stuffed animal I would buy an outfit for the animal. Any other accessories she wanted to buy would be her responsibility. Once we knew about the sale I told Caroline to kick her saving into overdrive because we needed to get to the store in a few days in order to use the 40% coupon. The sale would give her an opportunity to buy the animal and an accessory.

The day of the big purchase came. Caroline laid out all of her money and counted it. We made piles 100 (when counting the coins we counted to 100 and she knew that meant she had one dollar).

Just a quick note about how I taught my daughter to count nickels and dimes. We worked on knowing that 2 nickels has the same value of 1 dime. So when we lined up the coins we lined them up into ten cent amounts. Looking at the coins in vertical groups you see 10 cents, 10 cents, 10 cents, and 5 cents. By having her line up the 2 nickels on top of each other she knew they were the same value as the dime. Putting her fingers on these coins she would count: 10, 20, 30, 35.

After all the money was counted, Caroline had saved $27.93. Not quite the $30 goal but I knew with only 1 day left in the 40% off sale we needed to go to the store now.

Caroline walked right to the stuffed animal she wanted – Risa the Rock Star Rabbit. With each rock girl you get to choose a star that goes inside of her. Caroline chose the word, “fearless.”

I turned down every opportunity the Build-a-Bear workers tried to ~~extort~~ get more money from Caroline. Don’t you want a talking heart inside for $5? Don’t you want a bubblegum smelly in your animal for $4? No we don’t. It’s not in the budget.

After getting her bear stuffed , choosing an outfit and pair of shoes for the newly named “Blueberry,” we made our way to the check out. Caroline gave the animal and pair of shoes to the clerk who totaled up everything. In what I can only call fate or a small miracle from the money gods the total came out to $27.93! The exact amount Caroline had.

I had Caroline count out her money and give it to the clerk. Yes, I am that mom who will make everyone else behind me wait. It was a big moment for her and I wanted her to be able to see it through to the end. After all, since we had exchanged all of the 100’s into dollar bills at home she only had to count out $27 in bills and the 93 cents in coins.

Here’s the end result!

Caroline really loves “Blueberry” and is proud of the fact that she worked hard to get her. I am sure she’s going to request another money saving chart at some point and that will be fine. What I am most excited about it when she gets to the money counting lesson at school and she kicks some serious coin counting butt.

Well, that and when she starts folding my towels again.

The Night Before Kindergarten…

Posted on August 21, 2015 by Jennifer

My little one is going to kindergarten and I couldn’t be more excited for her. She’s grown so much and come such a long way it’s time for her to go. But I will admit I will miss spending Fridays with her. Whether we were sewing together, playing board games, reading books, or just hanging out at the mall she was always by my side.

I changed up “The Night Before Christmas” for all those mommas out there who are sending their little ones to kindergarten this year. Enjoy!

*And for the record, I don’t plan to get into golfing. It was late and that’s all that rhymed to me at the time 🙂

Twas the night before kindergarten when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

The backpacks were hung by the front door with care.

In hopes that the morning rush would not cause momma to swear.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of crayons and markers danced in their heads.

And momma in her jammies and dad in his shorts,

Had just settled down to watch the TV report.

When all of a sudden Momma shouted out so,

“She’s so little I just don’t think I can let her go!”

Dad tried to reassure Momma that little one would be fine,

He consoled her and reminded her that it was time.

“She knows her letters, her sounds, her numbers, and more,

It’s time to let her move on and go through that school’s front door.

There will be PE, music, art, and recess too,

Think of the fun she’ll have with her playground crew.”

Momma said, “I know that she’ll love school and her friends too,

It’s just that I’ll miss her and everything that we do.”

“Don’t worry,” said Daddy, “Little one is now big and ready to go,”

“And now you will have time to become a serious golf pro.”

So with those words of encouragement in her heart,

Momma knew now she would not fall apart.

She gathered her covers, fluffed her pillow, and grabbed a good book,

Rolled over and read all about eagles, chip shots, and those awful duck hooks.*

The next morning the whole family got up and had breakfast together,

Brushed their teeth and hair and looked up the weather.

Shoes were put on and backpacks grabbed from their hooks,

And off they all went, little one without a second look.

She arrived at the school front door a little nervous and shy,

But daddy told momma, “Your eyes must stay dry.”

Down the hallway and into the classroom the family all went,

Dad taking photos to mark this momentous event.

So as the clock struck eight, it marked the time for parents to leave,

Momma kissed her little one good bye and just had to believe.

Little one gave a quick hug and right then Momma knew she’d be okay,

“I’ll see you at three big girl, I can’t wait to hear all about your wonderful first day.”

“Happy Kindergarten to all, and to all a good-year!”

Love you sweet girl! I know you will have a wonderful kindergarten year!

*Duck Hook: A shot that flies sharply from right to left for right-handed players. It is usually hit unintentionally, since it is difficult to control.

Water Slide Persepctive

Posted on August 19, 2015 by Jennifer

The other day I took my kids to a local swim center. This facility is awesome since it has an outside section with a lazy river, two areas which have small water slides, water guns, buckets, a pool, and an inside section as well.

This year the pool added big water slides – you know the kind – where you have to be 48 inches tall to slide down. They looked really awesome and my boys had a great time going down them for hours.

I, meanwhile, hung with my six year old who will, unfortunately, probably be 17 before she hits the 48 inches mark. Thankfully, she didn’t mind since she was having a wonderful time on the smaller water slides and the lazy river.

At one point my 10 year old came over to me and said, “Mom you should go on the water slides. They are so much fun.”

“Yes, they do look fun but I don’t think I can go down today.”

Here was what I was thinking when I said no to the slides:

1. I have a strapless suit on and I really don’t want my top to slide down.
2. Caroline is not tall enough to go down the slide so I don’t want to leave her.

Let me tell you what wasn’t my concern but what my 10 year old must have thought as to why I turned down this water slide opportunity.

“Mom, you can go. I looked and the weight limit says 300 pounds so you should be able to go.”

“Well thank you for checking on that son but my answer is still no today.”

I mean, really.

Friday Favorites…August 14 Edition

Posted on August 14, 2015 by Jennifer

I thought it would be fun to share a few of my recent favorite things here today. It’s totally random but I think a lot of fun.

It’s August, 99 degrees outside, and I just bought some Christmas fabric. Is that wrong?

I don’t know what came over me. I was purchasing some fabric for a DIY project in the boys room and all of a sudden I saw this fabric and knew it would be great for Christmas time. I love the modern colors – let’s face it, red and green are nice but sometimes something different is great too.

So I guess the etsy shop where I found this fabric is one of my new favorite places too. Head on over to FRESH MODERN FABRIC for some sewing inspiration.

Last summer our entire family got into watching America’s Got Talent on NBC. Yes, I admit with Howard Stern, Heidi Klum, Mel B, and Howie Mandel as judges things can get a little spicy but most of it goes over the little kids heads. We really enjoy sitting down all together and watching the talent – both good and bad. Right now they are in the final stages of the competition where we get to vote from home. The kids love it and can’t wait for the next episode. The way my 10 year old talks you would think he is running the actual show and personally knows half the cast. Since the show is long, two hours, we always record it and then watch it commercial free.

The Goodwill Box a.k.a We are cleaning and discarding like crazy over here. Right now we are decorating the boys room, decorating another room, and cleaning out the garage. Because we have moved around multiple pieces of furniture I have gone through almost every nook and cranny in this house. I have a cardboard box in the garage and every time I come across something we don’t need I place it in there. When the box is full I drive it to Goodwill and start a new box. Love the feeling of getting organized – although that’s still a ways a way since not one of the rooms is done.

Sausage, Pepper, and Mushroom Hash – My husband made this meal last week and it was absolutely delicious – the only part we skipped was the egg at the end. I was so glad to finally have a wonderfully filling meal. We tried one of those home meal delivery services and disliked 2 out of 3 of the meals they sent. I signed us up for the vegetarian meal option (mistake with a capital M) and it was quite awful. The one meal we both enjoyed had orzo pasta, tomatoes, avocado, and chickpeas in it. Next time I would make it without the chickpeas because I really dislike anything made with chickpeas – do not offer me your special hummus recipe, it is like all the others out there – tasteless and gross. So I’ve gotten slightly off topic, sorry chickpeas will do that to you. Anyway, the sausage & pepper hash was wonderful. Actually every recipe we’ve tried from Iowa Girl Eats is great.

Elle King’s song Ex’s and Oh’s – Love this song! That’s a good thing since it’s on the radio practically every hour.

This LEGO clock: BEST PRESENT EVER from my sister. My boys have this in there room and get themselves up everyday for school. It is so much easier to get them up with the sound of “beep beep,” than my voice singing, “good morning my loves.” Imagine that. Seriously, they get up and start the day all on their own.

I am loving these Tucker + Tate ‘Marin’ Canvas Slip-On Sneakers for little girls. During our tax free weekend I picked up a pair for Caroline to wear to school on non PE days. She picked out the green pair in the store even though I was campaigning for the pink.

Okay those are some of my recent favorites.

I’d love to know what you are loving right now!

It’s a Little Warm Here in Texas

Posted on August 7, 2015 by Jennifer

Here’s our 10 day forecast.

The heat index is supposed to be between 105 and 110 degrees.

There really are no words except that it will be ridiculously hot.

Our weather has been hovering right at 98, 99, or 100 for the past 2 weeks. One day our weather man predicted we would be having a cool front coming in. I’m not going to lie, I got extremely excited when he said that. Five seconds later I was crushed when I realized that meant our temperatures “would only” reach 95 that day.

Cool front = 95 degrees in these neck of the woods.

Cleanup Hitters of the Fridge

Posted on July 1, 2015 by Jennifer

Do you ever notice that moms are the cleanup hitters of the fridge?

Everyone else can open up the fridge, look at all its contents, and declare, “There’s nothing to eat.”

But moms on the other hand, look at the same contents, and think, “There’s enough in here for 2 more meals. I’m not going to the store.”

I am always eating strange meals for Saturday and Sunday lunches.

A few tortilla chips, with some leftover guacamole, some grapes, and some broccoli reheated – sounds like a meal to me!

Some leftover pasta, a tomato, a piece of swiss cheese, and some Italian dressing – sounds like a meal to me!

My boys always look into the fridge on these days and promptly say, “Can we have mac n’cheese?”

What? Don’t you see all of the possibilities when you look in there? More importantly, don’t you see the fact that Mom doesn’t have to go to the grocery store and spend money when all of this is still available to you.

My husband is really on the boys side of things. I see him wander around the kitchen opening the fridge, opening the cabinets, searching up high for….the cooked lasagna I keep on the top pantry shelf? Who knows.

But last Sunday I couldn’t have been more proud of my husband. He opened up that fridge and promptly fixed himself a meal of leftover potatoes mixed with some leftover spaghetti sauce!

Sounds like a meal to me!

What Happened to Your…?

Posted on June 30, 2015 by Jennifer

You know the rule about never asking a woman if she’s pregnant?

Even if she’s so round in the belly she looks as if she’s having triplets?

You. Just. Don’t. Say. Anything.

Well, I was asked something along those lines today.

After I swam for an hour with my team, I was drying off with a towel and just throwing a dress on over my suit to go home in. I put my shoes on and turned around to grab my bag all the while talking to another swimmer who was also drying off.

When I turned to grab my bag he yelled out, “Oh my God! What happened to your calf?”

I looked up to see him looking at my calf wide eyed and with his mouth gaping open.

I glanced down and saw all of my varicose and spider veins swirling around my right calf. Looking back at him I said, “Having kids, that’s what happened to my calf.”

Well, he was pretty mortified.

As he should be.

“I’m so sorry, I just didn’t know. It looks like you had a big accident.”

“It’s fine.”

I walked away. I got my kids from the waiting area where they had patiently eaten lunch and read books for the hour that I swam and we drove home.

Only to tell you the truth, before I got home I did shed some tears. Not big sloppy boohoo tears but those silent behind the sunglasses kind.

Yes, I look at my calf and think what a nightmare but there’s always that little part of you that thinks maybe people will not really notice as much as you think they do.

And then they notice and it just feels bad.

I sulked a little but I’ve figured out what I’m going to say the next time this happens.

“Oh my God! What happened to your calf?”

“Oh this, yeah it’s bad. But what happened to your head? It’s so shiny! Although on the positive side I guess you save a lot of time in the morning getting ready.”

Skiing for Spring Break

Posted on June 2, 2015 by Jennifer

Since we are just 2 days away from being done with school this year I thought that now would naturally be a good time to share some spring break photos. For their Christmas present this year, my sister and her boyfriend gave our kids a ski trip to Blue Mountain in Ontario, Canada. The kids and I had never been on skies and my husband had only been on once decades ago. We were excited but a little nervous.

We flew up to Toronto and then took about a two hour drive to Blue Mountain. Our hotel sat right on this skating pond and had little shops all around.

Here are Caroline and Andrew wearing their “Dallas Winter Wear.” We had to borrow real ski clothes from Derek’s sister and all her generous friends who let us borrow clothes.

And yes…we did go swimming on this snow covered day.

We signed up the kids for ski school which was from 10:00 – 3:00 everyday (with a 1 hour break for lunch). Caroline had just turned 6 ten days earlier so she qualified to go to all day school with the boys. She was a little reluctant on the first day but went along since “her boys” were with her.

She’s the littlest one on the right.

It was amazing to see the kids in ski school. The instructors had the kids going up the magic carpet (ride that you stand on to get you up the hill) almost immediately and even more impressive is that they were coming down almost as fast. Our kids enjoyed their first day but I know Caroline definitely got tired of falling down.

Once the kids were situated in their lessons, all of the adults took a beginning lesson where I promptly fell down. Did I fall while moving? No. I fell while standing still listening to the instructor. Once the beginning lessons were over the instructors sent us over to practice on the same little hill the kids were already practicing on. My first attempt at getting on the moving magic carpet? I fell. They had to stop the whole dang thing for me to get up. Complete fail.

Once we had gone through the various stations and practiced what we were supposed to practice my sister and I asked the instructor what was the next station. The guy pointed up at this enormous mountain and said practice on that. What? That can’t be. There must be more stations. After practicing on the baby hill a few more times my sister and I worked up the courage to try Mount Everest. Trust me. It seemed enormous from the bottom.

When my sister and I attempted the chair lift for the first time we got on with two other people. For some reason they never pulled down the bar which is supposed to go in front of you so to say that my sister and I were panicked for about 4 minutes is a complete understatement. We held on for dear life and were never so glad to be at the top of a mountain.

Until we looked down to the bottom and sheer panic took over.

Somehow we each manged to get down. I’m pretty sure toward the end I was racing down the mountain at 40 miles an hour. After that experience we promptly went back to the baby hill and told the instructors that we needed some serious help. With some help and a private lesson the next day we did get a little better but it’s a safe bet to put your money on Lindsay Vonn this world cup racing season and not one of us.

After ski school ended at 3:00 we picked the kids up and headed back to the hill/mountain until 4:30 everyday. For us it was like when we go to Disney – up at the crack of dawn and at the park until the fireworks at night – we were committed all day.

The kids at the top of the practice hill

Aunt Kelly & Caroline

Andrew & Uncle Duke

Alex, Dad, and Caroline (in her tuck) coming down the hill

At the end of day one the boys were begging to go up “Big Baby,” also known as Mount Everest to me. I kept saying no but their dad and uncle won out (caved) and took them up. Once Andrew got off the ski lift and looked down the mountain he threw himself down on the snow and said, “I can’t do it. Get me down.” He was completely heartbroken to find out that he had to ski down. It took a loooooong time for him to come down the mountain with my husband. He’d ski a tiny bit and then fall. Ski a tiny bit and then fall. And so on. For a long time. But…he finally made it down and promptly announced that he was done for the day.

After spending 6+ hours on a cold mountain what treat do you naturally turn to?

Ice cream of course!

Day 2 – Andrew & Alex take snow board lessons, Caroline continues with ski lessons

Lots of falling on your bum is apparently par for the course when learning to snow board.

Alex ended up loving snow boarding so much that he took lessons again on his 3rd day. He impressed everyone by even going down some blue trails on the 3rd day.

Dad and Caroline going up the magic carpet like pros

Snow board victory!

Aunt Kelly

Finally a picture of me coming down Mount Everest / Big Baby.

Ski Lift Fun – Andrew and classmate below

Mom (me) & Caroline

Caroline & Dad

Andrew & Alex

Day 3 – Last run of the trip – from the top down – Andrew, Alex, Derek (Dad), Caroline, & Uncle Duke – not pictured, me: I was too slow and still making my way down Mount Everest / Big Baby.

Blue Mountain Photo Spot documenting the miracle of no broken bones!

And finally a family photo at the top of the mountain…could it be we already have our Christmas card photo in March?

Great trip…wonderful memories…thank you Aunt Kelly and Uncle Duke!