Category Archives: parenting

Prodcutive Weekend

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I start every weekend the same way.

With a drink.

No just kidding.

It’s only milk and cookies for me on a Friday night.

And a Thursday night. And a Wednesday night but that’s beside the point.

I start every weekend by writing a to do list.

I usually put a craft project for me, an activity with the kids, cleaning chores to be completed, a house project, grocery store list, returning items list, piano practice reminders, any sports listed for the week, reminder to walk the dog, and about 30 more things.

Usually I have broken up the tasks by day so as to not feel too overwhelmed.

Thanks to one kid with walking pneumonia, one with a fever, and one with a sporting event, this weekend was looking doubtful in terms of productivity.

But amazingly,  I fee like so much was accomplished in our house, whether it was on the list or off the list.

Jambalaya was cooked. Homemade hot pockets were made. One birthday present was bought. Two Valentine packages were wrapped. Many books were read out loud. One basketball game was played. Three Shots on Goal…MADE! One trip to Gymboree. One birthday present bought. One item returned. Cleaning all bathrooms from top to bottom. Four frames hung. A billion pieces of laundry washed. Three episodes of Say Yes to the Dress viewed. Ten Super Girl cuffs made for birthday party. And One Boy Scout Proboscis monkey project completed. And for those of you who are not familiar with the Proboscis monkey, it may win ugliest animal ever.

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Told you.

All in all it was a good weekend. Now hoping I can get two out of three kids out the door tomorrow so I can start working on my Monday list.

Time Out

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Have you ever put your child in time out, walked away, only to walk back 20 minutes later to discover your child still sitting in the same space even though you had completely forgotten about them?

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No?

Me neither.

Classic Movies to Share with Kids: A Printable List

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OK I have assembled my list of “Classic Movies” to share with your kids. Thank you for your suggestions, you had several movies I had not thought of.

My disclaimer: The movies I think would be appropriate for certain age groups may contain words or actions you may not find appropriate for that age group. Please don’t go off my recommendation alone if you have not seen the movie. Read reviews and determine if they are right for your children.

I have broken up the movies into 3 categories: When They’re Younger, When They’re Older, and When They’re Much Older. My kids are 10, 7, and 3 and no one has seen anything from the third category.

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 Click here for the above printable.

 And here’s a look at what the list looks like now for our family.

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Looks like we need some more movie nights soon!

If you think of any that I’ve missed be sure to let me know 🙂

Taking Pictures with Only One Child

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People with only one child do not understand.

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Just think how easy it must be for them to get a Christmas card photo.

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There’s never anyone touching or bothering someone in the picture.

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No one has suddenly sprouted bunny ears in the picture.

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There’s no arguing about everyone facing the same direction.

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But then again, I could be wrong.

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 Happy Weekend Everyone!

Remember Newtown

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Really there are no words.

Just shock, horror, fear, anger, sadness.

Someone lost their oldest child.

Someone lost their youngest child.

Someone lost their only child.

20 little kids just starting out.

6 educators trying to save those kids.

Go hug your kids and tell them that you will love them forever and ever.

Go thank an educator who watches over your children everyday.

And don’t forget.

Ever.

Remember Charlotte.

Remember Daniel.

Remember Rachel.

Remember Olivia.

Remember Josephine.

Remember Dylan.

Remember Dawn

Remember Madeleine.

Remember Catherine.

Remember Chase.

Remember Nancy.

Remember Jesse.

Remember Ana.

Remember James.

Remember Grace.

Remember Anne Marie.

Remember Emilie.

Remember Jack.

Remember Noah.

Remember Caroline.

Remember Jessica.

Remember Avielle.

Remember Lauren.

Remember Mary.

Remember Victoria.

Remember Benjamin.

Remember Allison.

Remember this tragedy when people say we don’t need gun reform.

Remember this tragedy when officials talk about cutting funds for the mentally ill.

Remember.

Mr. T Preschool

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I was driving Caroline to school the other day when she said, “Faith and Ava were touching my nap mat during quiet time.”

I said, “What did you do about that?”

Caroline said, “I told the teacher.”

“And what did the teacher say about that?”

“She said, Stop touching that nap mat you fools!”

I sat there for a moment driving.

“Caroline, I don’t think your teacher said that.”

“She did.”

I’ve never heard anyone at our house say those words so I’m guessing she picked them up during a Scooby Doo episode.

Once  we got to school I told the teacher what Caroline had said. I told her I knew she hadn’t said it, I just thought it was funny.

The teacher laughed along with some of the other parents standing there.

As I walked away I started to smile and chuckle and the thought of a teacher saying, “Stop touching that nap mat you fools!”

Maybe this is a new education movement I’m unaware of.

“The answer is 8 you fools!”

“We never use pen during math you fools!”

“You always turn in your homework on Friday fools!”

I’m thinking of getting Caroline’s teacher some gold medallions to help bring her to the forefront of this movement.

Believe

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I think this will be the last year my oldest will believe.

In fact, he may not even get to the 25th but I’m crossing my fingers.

Now, we haven’t completely sheltered our kids – they’ve known sadness, been aware of world events, and been a part of serious dinner conversations.

It’s just that, to believe, is so magical and child like. Once he stops believing, he’ll be so much more grown up than he was just moments before.

He can rattle off the names of Civil War battles, go into detailed plane descriptions, and listen to eight straight hours of football coverage.

But he still believes.

When I hear him discussing reindeer characteristics and sleigh routes with his brother I smile.

So I think we may go see the Christmas movie before it hits the dollar show in March and buy the extra large gingerbread house to work on as a family.

And hopefully we’ll get through this last season with everyone believing.

Easy Advent Calendar with a Paper Bag

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***I am reposting this from 2 years ago – the only change I will be making for this years advent calendar will be at the end of this post***and sadly, I have to report that there was no big Powerball win for us last night – here’s to hoping no one won!

Last year the kids and I made a paper bag Christmas tree which they partially decorated using markers. Here’s the way our advent tree works.

On December 1 they receive a paper ornament which states something we will be doing, watching, or making that deals with Christmas.

One of the boys gets to glue it onto our tree. The next day the other one gets to glue it on.

On certain days they receive their ornament before school while other days they receive their ornament after school (it depends if I have my act together or not). Here’s a picture of the finished project.

advent treeHere’s a close up of some of the ornaments. Some days they would receive one ornament while on other days they would receive a bonus one.

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There is a small part of me that cringes when these are glued onto the tree every which way. I do have to tell myself that having symmetry in this craft is not the purpose. But oh how I sometimes try to make suggestions of where the ornament could be placed.

This year I’ve made a tentative list of activities for our family. Some will change based on schedules and weather but it’s a start:

  • Wed Dec 1 – Watch The Grinch
  • Thurs Dec 2 – Make Christmas cards for grandparents
  • Fri Dec 3 – Choose Angels from Angel tree
  • Sat Dec 4- Andrew’s Christmas program
  • Sun Dec 5-Shop for Angels
  • Mon Dec 6 – Have hot chocolate & marshmallows
  • Tues Dec 7 – Watch Frosty’s Winter Wonderland
  • Wed Dec 8 – Turn in Angel gifts & get cookie at mall
  • Thurs Dec 9 – Watch Santa Claus is Coming to Town
  • Fri Dec 10- get tree?
  • Sat Dec 11-Photo with Santa at school
  • Sun Dec 12-make snow globes
  • Mon Dec 13-Assign & Hang Stockings
  • Tues Dec 14-drive around and look at lights
  • Wed Dec 15-?
  • Thurs Dec 16- Andrew’s school Christmas party
  • Fri Dec 17-Alex’s school Christmas party
  • Sat Dec 18-Frisco downtown – Santa parachutes in?
  • Sun Dec 19-wrap some presents
  • Mon Dec 20-Go see Northpark train display?
  • Tues Dec 21-Make Christmas cookies
  • Wed Dec 22-Aunt Amanda, Uncle Ryan, and Gramma & Grampa arrive
  • Thurs Dec 23-Aunt Kelly & Uncle Ben arrive
  • Fri Dec 24-go to ICE! display in Grapevine
  • Sat Dec 25 – Christmas

***Changes this year – Now 3 children will be placing ornaments on the tree *** Our activities each day has changed *** I am using large brown craft paper that I also use to wrap gifts in***

Do you have any unique ways your family celebrates the holidays?

I’ve Got the Power

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By the time you read this I just might be a millionaire.

I mean a gazillionaire!

Yep. You guessed it.

I fell into the Powerball craze.

 

 

 

 

The jackpot is currently at $500 million and it’s going to be MINE, ALL MINE!

Well, except for the part where I give a lot to charity but really most of it’s MINE!

Oh, and maybe my husbands’ too.

When we discussed going to buy a lottery ticket he said, “Sure. Go buy one.”

Which of course meant, “Buy five. It will increase our odds greatly and we will become kazillionaires. There’s a 10 in my wallet.”

I obliged and bought the tickets.

Of course, I brought along my two oldest children because this was an important life experience.

Yep, taking them down the dark and dirty road of gambling.

As we were walking into the store, Andrew said, “Let’s buy a mansion if we win.”

(I’m sure he totally meant, let’s buy a house for someone else…yadda …yadda…yaddda)

At that, Alex, my oldest, said, “Andrew, we’re not going to buy a new house. Mom and Dad just refinanced the house and that was a lot of paperwork. They aren’t going to want to do that again. You have to think of something different you want.”

Practical. That will be good when we are BAZILLIONAIRES!

So, if I don’t post tomorrow I’m probably in Tahitit in the celebrity suite at the finest hotel there having a massage (contemplating how I will help the less fortunate, obviously).

Oh. And if you win? I’m totally your best friend, right?

Our Thanksgiving Break

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Thanksgiving is a time of family, food, and fun.

We had all of that.

Plus a whole lot of vomit.

Yes, family, food, fun, and vomit – all parts of our Thanksgiving celebration.

And unlike many of you who only had three days of family time, our family was lucky enough to have 9 days off together.

Yes, nine days of being together (sleeping in the same room allowed for a quick response time)

Nine days of food (aka Gatorade and Saltines).

Nine days of fun (My entire next paycheck is headed to Redbox).

Nine days of being thankful for our washer and dryer (vomit, enough said).

And while I am thankful for that time spent with my family, I am hoping the 12 days of Christmas turns out differently.