Movie Night Madness

I have to confess I am a sucker for watching movies as a family. It's one of the things that we can do as a family that doesn't require us to leave the house, dress fancy, or worry about being somewhere on time. Plus we can do it in our pjs and eat junk food what's not to love?

It can also lead to the shocking discoveries and confessions. Highlights of last night:

The hubs,"No, I never watched Lilo and Stitch, I always figured it was about a rich girl in Hawaii with her koala"

Me, "No, I've never watched the Goonies, therefore I have no understanding of your socially relevant quote."

The hubs to the kids "Does anyone want a root beer float?, anyone at all?, we need to make some room in the freezer."  cue blank faced non responsive children.

15 min later

The oldest "So when are we having rootbeer floats?"

The best part is we have been doing movie night with the kids since they were still itty bitty. We have watched some awesome movies, we have watched some trite and mediocre movies. There have been a few movies that have been turned off as horrified parents realized that oh this really wasn't appropriate for the kids. Some nights we have had someone missing because they had work or a sleep over but generally movie nights are something consistant that we do together. I will take what moments of happiness we have even if they are in front of a big screen.

Balance

My goal as the year closes is to find more balance. I need to quit trying to live my life like there are 24 usable hours in each day. Things have to give and it's ok to be more elastic and go with the flow. No one ever died because they ate a Costco muffin instead of one made from scratch (I will be opening the box and putting them on my own plates though, because I'm classy like that).  It's going to be ok for me to let go and say I am not Wonder Woman there are some major changes in my life and I need to focus of priorities.

The priorities of being a mother, wife, student, employee, and myself. My plate if full and instead of scooping more on to it I am going to savor what I have. I am going to a lot my projects to a set amount of time and if it takes longer than usual to get them done so be it. No more last minute competitive crafting because I saw x, y, or z on sale. We don't need to have hand sewn Christmas pants and accessories (yes I've been that mom lately, yes I kind of want to kick my own ass). I am really working on saying no to Pintrest (it makes me feel inadequate and competitive.).

School for me starts in a little of over a week and I have to say I feel ready but anxious. It's been a long time since I was in classroom and I am so grateful I don't actually have to go to school. That I can log in during the wee hours to work on my home work and classes instead of having to attend in person. Still its going to take time and dedication and that means adjusting how I do things. It also means that I still have to get done everything I do know with one more addition. Good things the kids aren't getting a puppy for Christmas.

Its going to be ok even if we are a little shabbier are the edges while I make the transition and things get adjusted. I just need to keep my goals in mind and check the to do list. Oh and breathe. I better also add the local to go restaurants to my speed dial list.

My holiday gift giving

It's time for me to admit it. I use a lot of bravado at the holiday time, I paint on a brave smile and try my best to make everyone happy. The truth is I spend a lot of the season feeling like I haven't done enough or made lavish enough purchases. Would I like to give far beyond our means, you bet. I just don't want to give people things I want to give people something more.

I wish I could wrap up my true Christmas wishes for everyone but how do you wrap joy, a child like sense of wonder, a moment of perfect happiness, love? How do you wrap the wish that someone always have enough and than just a bit more? I wish I had a way to put those things in a box. To wrap it with paper, ribbons, and tie a bow on top. So I could hand you a present  that is more elegant mere words to all of you, and my family. If I could wrap up a box with support,  hope and encouragement you'd be receiving that too.

So since I can't figure out how to place my wishes for you in boxes, plus can you imagine the whining I would be doing about all the wrapping. Please know I wish you the Happiest of Holidays, the Merriest of Christmases, and may your New Year be the best yet.

I'm dreaming of a white christmas

That's right I said it. Secretly I'm dreaming of a white Christmas and it being that ideal picture perfect movie Christmas. The kind of Christmas were we sip hot cocoa while gazing out the window at the drifting flakes, there would be a plate of cookies perfect for snacking, and everyone would be happy and pleasant.

The reality is if it does snow or as it happens more often ices it will not be ideal. It will be the stress while I work to cover shifts from home, keep everyone entertained, hope the hubs is either off due to weather and not driving around for his work. There will be the worry of did I lay in enough groceries or are we down to the last crust of bread and sip of milk (every storm it happens we run out of something "essential") or worst the last roll of toilet paper. The mad dash to get everything finished while being home bound and still semi secret. Without tears, injury (I'm notoriously clumsy), or a disaster in crafting.

The dead line for a lot of my to do list is drawing closer. I still need to finish gifts and mail them, write out the Christmas card, start baking cookies and making candy, not to mention finding something to wear (that's a whole other blog post), wrap the presents, stuff the stockings, and find the holiday cheer.  It always seems like I won't get it done unless I rush to the wire. So it's time for me to make my list and check it twice.

So while I'm dreaming of a white Christmas, I'll be just fine with a Christmas thats about 40 degrees and temperate. If your having a dream holiday send me a picture over in facebook land. You can find us at www.facebook.com/sweetmoeandco

My war on Christmas

It started a long time a go before it was trendy. My worry that the season's messages was lost with the children. I will never forget the moment I realized we had lost sight of the meaning of Christmas. We had been unwrapping presents at their 3rd (for our families, the bigs usually end up having somewhere between 6-8 Christmases due to mom, dad, and both sets of grandparents, I guess there are some benefits to divorce) it happened. The dreaded duplicate gift. Instead of the oldest being graceful he loudly announced "I all ready have this can we go to Fred Meyer's NOW and exchange it." No we didn't go to Fred Meyer's that night but that was the moment when I realized we needed to show them that Christmas means more than give me. It means we take extra time with the people we love, that we give to others, and we build solid memories that are based on more than a mountain of things.

Christmas for us also means not going into debt for things we don't need. Are there things that we want and would love to give our children that we don't yes. I think every parent has that moment where they would like to be able to afford things for their children but can't because the funds simply need to be allocated to other places. It wouldn't be responsible for us to go into debt to provide them with things that will be forgotten in a few months and they don't need. Will they get presents?, yes but they will be things that they can enjoy as a family, a new zoo membership, a renewal of our OMSI pass, and other assorted things that we can do together. Stockings will be stuffed for fun too. However we just won't be buying a mountain of things to show our love this holiday season.

We will be working on our giving this holiday season and we need to make it a real effort for it to be a whole year long activity. So far we have done a stocking for charity, I've sewn hats for the hat drive, and I need to drop off things for the toy drive. While it's a good start I really want to make an effort to do more this year. I want to build up in them that it is good to give.

It's also the time for Christmas traditions. We need to go see the tree in Pioneer Square because its something I've done ever Christmas but my first in Portland. That shiny new Zoo pass will include admission to zoo lights. I want to load up the van with the kids, cookies and cocoa and see the light displays that folks have worked so hard on. All things that will take time and hopefully give us some happy memories.

So that's my war on Christmas it's a war on debt, wrapping paper and bows. It's about a return to simpler time. Where the holidays meant time with the people you love not a mountain of boxes and remorse when you get the bills in January.

C is for cancer

Quick note before you panic, no I don't have cancer. Deep breathe everybody and read.

So we found out the Mini's great grandpa is dealing with cancer. Which you could say well it's not you mama or your husband so what's the big deal. Especially as you don't come from a super close family that all lives up the road from each other.

 The big deal is just that we aren't a super close family. I don't live just up the road. What I can do is really limited especially since I can't afford to travel cross country. You might than ask why if you care why  don't you have him move out so you can care for him. My answer to that is I feel that as long as he is confident in the care and treatment he is receiving than we need to support that course of action his is most comfortable with. As long as he is able to make the decisions it's not my place to make those choices. When he can't make those decisions for himself it will be the duty of his children. I'm not washing my hands of the matter I am just trying to find my place and accepting the process.

So hence the guilt and the worry because there is really nothing else to do. Sure I can text, call, and be encouraging. I can be supportive to the rest family too. So now we are at acceptance and waiting. Waiting to see how treatment goes. Waiting to for the next steps we have to take. I guess I should be glad that Mini is still young enough that I don't have to explain what is going on to him. It's kind of a blessing. There is also the worry that this is going to be one more member of family that he won't know. One more void that will be part of his normal.

C is for cancer, it's also for crappy; as in cancer is crappy. I know not a super profound thought but I don't feel profound. I feel inadequate and pinning on a ribbon won't make things better, if it does for you great. Maybe in time I will reach that point too. I don't even feel anger. It would be easier to be angry if one wasn't aware that cigarettes have been linked to cancer. It's not a mystery so one can't go on a crusade for a cause. There is a crusade for a cure and maybe I will feel militant later but at this moment I just feel meh and that's ok, because c is also for cope.

Why I don't do 30 days of Thanks

Let me start by stating hooray for everyone who makes an effort to post for 30 days things they are thankful. A double hooray for everyone who posts things that are honest and or funny. I do love that you make the effort. Please don't think I am writing this because I am an asshole.

I just don't do the 30 days of thanks because in honesty I have enough that I should be thankful the whole year round. Not just around this ne time of year. What I need to do rather than post on a Facebook wall for 30 days  is make sure that I stay mindful through out the year of the things I am thankful for. Even if it is things that aren't super awesome.

So here's my big list for this year:

• That The Hubs works like a mad man so I can work from home, go to school, and parent. That he comes home and parents and doesn't just say no that's womens work. He has never questioned a financial choice I have made even when I do. He also is the instigator of a lot of our fun. Also that he has never complained about my going back to bed with baby in the morning when he is leaving the house. I could of done much worst when it came to having a partner.
• That The Bigs exist. Yes they are a reminder that the hubs had a life before us. They also though are growing up to be semi decent (I would be an asshole if I said my kids were perfect and than you would all laugh at me). They love the Mini Man ( they also have yet to say what the hell old people you are to old to be having another baby). They feel comfortable enough to call this place home and admit in public that we are one of their sets of parents. Plus the oldest will let me tag him on facebook and doesn't feel ashamed of us yet (that we know of). I do try and keep their life on my blog minimal because I respect their privacy. So its more little highlights when they pop up I hope you understand.
• Mini Man is a healthy, happy, normal one year old. No he isn't composing works of Shakespeare and he still is nursing and isn't potty trained. He has made us laugh and smile more. Little man has a wicked sense of humor for one so young (the child appreciates a good fart joke) what more can I say.
• My extended family including my parents, in laws, out laws, cousins, aunts, uncles, and all you people that have become family regardless of us not sharing any kin folk or blood. You have to know that knowing you are there does my heart good. It doesn't matter if we are getting together on the regular or I see you once a year or once a decade. Thank you for being part of me and my life. I spent a long time isolated and I am better with you.
• Total first world things. That we have a roof over our heads and can afford to pay the bills. That we have enough to buy groceries we like to eat not just substance food. That I have a washer and dryer in our apartment so I don't have to wander to the laundry mat. The occasional cup of coffee and dinner out. You get the idea. There is a lot for me to be thankful for. We have enough and than some.

Oh and you of course dear readers, I am thankful for you.

Happy First Birthday, Miniman

Dear Miniman,

Tomorrow, is your first birthday! Happy birthday to you and Hooray we have made it through your first year. We are both a little older, a little wiser, and thankfully while you have grown bigger mommy has not.

My what a year it has been. It seems like just yesterday we brought you home from the hospital on a blustery Thanksgiving Thursday. My did we have a lot to be thankful for; including that dad managed to get the turkey in the oven so we could feast that evening. You have come along way from being a bundle I could hold in my arms to being an independent boy. The milestones along the way may seem to be mundane to others but to us they have been magical. The first time you rolled over, sat up, crawled, babbled, walked, and everything else. Even the messy stuff has been wonderful because it meant you were a healthy little boy. Every day I am grateful that I get the opportunity to share the joy of being part of your life. Thank you for being mine.

While I don't know for sure what this next you has in store for us. I have some ideas. I can't wait to share our next adventures even if it is trips to the pediatrician, runs to the grocery store, diaper expeditions, potty training, and other everyday things. You make the mundane an adventure.

If you are reading this in the future and wonder why Mommy wrote your birthday letter a day early its because I wanted to be able to spend tomorrow totally focused on just us. Doing the things that you enjoy. Plans for the day include sleeping in, a lunch date, plenty of play time, picking up your cake and other things you enjoy. Mommy is taking a day to celebrate you. No work, no distractions, just silly, sweet, shenanigans.

I love you,
Mom

Please just get them vaccinated

To start with I'd like to thank Toothpaste for dinner for putting it so eloquently. (P.S. I love you guys and if I have offended you by sharing in the blog post I will pull)

We live in the Portland metro area and while I respect your right to make parenting choices when your parenting choices affect my family it makes me sad. I'm looking at you whooping cough spreaders. While I know that vaccinations are not 100% effective and a cure all I would appreciate not having to wonder when I take my child out and about what am I potentially exposing him to because someone decided that little Timmy or Timantha doesn't need to be immunized for x, y, or z because well we live in such a progressive community and first world country.

There is a reason why we immunize. Just because your parents had you immunized against the big diseases doesn't mean they are gone it just means that there are fewer active cases around do to number of members of our society that have received the immunization for the disease. Your little Timmy or Timantha is not automatically immune and there fore has the ability to be a plague monkey spreading their germs all over. Which means  your parenting choice has now affected my parenting choices. So thanks for that. I will be spending the winter wondering as each new "outbreak" is made public if I have had interaction with someone you had interaction with. Should I be monitoring my little family and be prepared to go into quarantine mode at a moments notice?

That's right I said it quarantine mode. When we get sick we don't go out and about we bunker down. What better place for us to be sick than in our home rather than gallivanting all over. I would much rather puke in my home toilet and hope that I can get a Safeway delivery of groceries and Tylenol rather than run out and contaminate the Metro area.

So in conclusion, please do the big immunizations and pass me the hand sanitizer. It's germ season and I feel filthy. Also if you have a legitimate reason for not immunizing I can respect that but say something don't just hope on the we don't immunize band wagon because its the hip thing to do .

The first birthday fiasco

 

It's almost Mini's first birthday and I feel like a failure. Not at being a mother but at knowing how to handle the birthday shenanigans. Every year birthdays with the bigs have become more complicated what was once presents, take out, and cake has turned into  multiple celebrations to accommodate everyone's schedules and custody agreements. Add to that googling or hitting pintrest for first baby party ideas and seeing what other people are doing the next thing you know you know you feel like a failure of epic proportions.

 

I understand if you have the means and desire to rent a location, hire a dj, custom cater a formal event by all means do it. Just the thought of that feels all sort of hollow and empty for me. More like a party for the parent than for baby.

 

So here is where I am at we are going to celebrate birthday with the bigs, cousin, grandma, aunties and uncle before his birthday. He will be sharing the celebration that grandma is hosting with his other scorpio cousin who is being gracious about sharing. There will be cake, presents, family, and that will be enough of a party for his birthday. On the actual day of his birth we will do presents from me and dad, dinner and I will bake cake number two. We will not be breaking the bank on presents or expecting anyone else to. Mini is turning one all of his needs are met. There are things that I would like him to have but nothing that he needs. Being the boring mom that I am its some clothing, books and hopefully a new interactive toy to replace the bouncer he outgrew (I say hopefully because Costco sold out of the one I liked at our local branch so we need to make a grand adventure because it was less than 50% cheaper to buy it there than on Amazon). No it's not really exciting but it's enough and than some.

 

I feel horrible that for a moment there I almost bought into the competitiveness that is birthday parties for babies. He's going to be one and while it is a big mile stone it doesn't require catering and I need to remind myself that I am not a bad mom for keeping it simple and focused on baby. In fact I might be kind of a genius.

 

 

Curious George, you're a good little monkey

 

 



I have to confess a few months ago I had reached a level of burn out with Curious George. I was reading through our extensive collection and all I could think was he never really deals with any consequences what am I teaching my child. So I shelved the books and took a break. I know silly of me to worry about consequences when I am reading to someone who is still working on a good grasp of the English language. However with Halloween being earlier this week I pulled out our books looking for Curious George goes to a Costume Party. Thinking I would read a non spooky seasonal story to Mini.

Let me say I can happy reevaluate my stance on George. He doesn't need  consequence for his actions generally the issues occur when all he is trying to do is help. Who am I to tell my child to not make the effort to help others or any of the other actions that get George in to "trouble".  Worst like most toddler aged people George has no real way to fluently explain his actions or justify them. What has gotten him into trouble is either the desire to help or his curiosity. Plus he generally does deal with some sort of consquence: when he shares his snack with the zoo animals he gets in trouble with the zoo keepers, when he gets lost the man in the yellow hat has to find him, etc.  Is it perfect not really but generally we do learn a lesson from the little monkey.

So while I will be explaining it is important to wait, listen, follow instructions, etc. The monkey is back off the shelf and in the rotation. At least until the next time I need a break from his antics.

Orange Crush Cupcakes

Happy almost Halloween, everybody!

If your a busy person and pintrest seems a little to demanding (serious there are some great ideas there but I am often cooking or crafting with a wee helper hanging onto me and I need to do things cute but fast) and you still need a last minute treat may I suggest these cupcakes.  While this batch ended up decorated as pumpkins I heartily endorse you doing whatever you have the time and talent for.

Ingredients:
1 boxed cake mix (I used a Duncan Hein's yellow cake mix but feel free to use a white cake, or funfetti,  Duncan Hein's was on sale this week)
eggs and oil that the boxed recipe call for
1 cup room temperature orange Crush soda (or any soda really I bet you could get some interesting results using Jones)

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare the cake mix according to box directions substituting soda for the water. DO NOT add soda and water. Scoop batter into lined cupcake tins  ( I find that an ice-cream scoop works really well for ensuring even sized cupcakes but if your ok with no conformist cupcakes they all taste the same). Bake cupcakes for 18-21 minutes or however long your box instructs. Personally our cupcakes were done at the 15 minute mark. I would be really careful to not over bake. Cool, frost and decorate.

Our decorations where achieved by using a can of vanilla frosting that was tinted with red and yellow food coloring to desired orange shade. Assorted jelly belly beans (please keep reading for my disclaimer at end of blog before you add me to the list of people to boycott) where used as the pumpkin stems.

Cake has a delicious moderately orange flavor. I'm sure it could be enhanced with extract or zest. However I was again baking with a small person aka Mini attached to me. I generally don't improvise either on the first try with a recipe. Next batch I shall tinker and see what I can do to get a little extra flavor oomph.

Now the handy dandy disclosure. This blog is not sponsored by anyone. If someone wants to be a sponsor or have me endorse a product send me an email and we can talk. Until that time all products are paid for by me and preference is given to items I either all ready own or are on sale. The JellyBelly disclosure I  all ready had them. In light of their current stance on gay/trans issues I will not be buying their products for  consumption again. While I respect their right to do what they want with their profits I chose to support equality regardless of race, religion, or sexuality. So to sum it up, my blog my opinion, hate bad, and while I won't purchase products from companies that I don't agree with but  I won't throw out unconsumed things that haven't expired.

Happy Halloween everybody, be safe out there.
Moe

The Halloween candy quandry

It's almost that time of year so like a good neighbor it's time for me to go buy the candy for the few trick or treaters we do get. So the questioning begins of what to buy? Do I :

1. Buy what I, the hubs, and the bigs like?
2.  purchase a multitude of options bearing in mind allergies, parental preferences, and a million other what ifs?
3.  go to #TFAW and buy their bundle of comics and call that more than awesome enough and risk children not enjoying awesome literacy?
4.  I just ignore the door bell and knocks and pretend we aren't home?

If you know me the truth is number 4 isn't a real option especially as the only trick or treaters we usually get are children that are awesome and preplan to come see us. I would hate to disappoint them. What I will most likely do is be prepared with the old bushel basket stuffed with an assortment of full sized candy bars I've been hording. For craft projects like the candy boards I made last week. I generally do keep a decent assortment on hand either for crafting or being prepared on short notice for birthday presents. A few kabob sticks, a bit of profanity, and assorted crafty items and viola you can head off to little Jim Bob Susie's birthday without me looking like mommy who forgot.

The truth is it is hard to be prepared especially living in Portland and it's competitive. While I can appreciate the parents who are offering dye, gluten, and sugar free options I don't necessarily want to be part of their club.  It's not that I don't respect their lifestyle its that its not the lifestyle we've chosen to live. Maybe I should grab a few bags of pretzels or Sun chips to throw into the mix but I doubt I actually will. That means I've caved too and lost the true spirit of Halloween enough candy to last until Easter.

How do you pick what to hand out? Has anyone else eaten the first bag of Halloween candy? I'm going with I haven't eaten the whole bag because there is a sad pile of unconsumed Crunch bars still laying in the bottom of the basket.

Happy 6 days till Halloween!

Why I'm embracing Sweetest Day

Yes this Saturday, October 19th is Sweetest Day! A complete holiday created by corporations to get you to spend money but it does have a valid purpose. How often do we take that extra moment to say thank  you and I appreciate what you do to people? This last year has also been full of a lot of changes for us with the arrival of Mini and my altering my work schedule. It's meant that the bigs no longer have their dedicated dad time on the weekends because he is also needs to parent Mini and there is a significant age and needs difference. I felt it was very important for them to know that even though we don't say it constantly we do recognize that is has been a big change and we do appreciate how they help.  I find it wonderful how attentive the girls are with their baby brother he can barely move with out them being ready to find out where he wants to wander to. Big brother has changed diapers with out being asked. (if you need a moment to pick yourself up off the floor after reading that I understand, I did too when he told me he had changed a diaper without saying anything). There are so many things that they do that they don't have to and aren't expected too that I had to say we do notice and we are grateful.

This week Mini and I took a walk to Enchante here in Milwaukie. They specialize is sweets and make wonderful chocolates. I wasn't expecting to find horse shaped chocolate but I did which is phenomenal because our PonyGirl sure does love the horses. I wasn't able to find anything as specific for the other two but I hope its the thought that counts. Mini and I also wrote a little note to each of his siblings that says thank you and I love you and I appreciate how you help care for me. By we wrote I of course mean that I as mom did some creative interpreting and helped him sign his name in crayon. Not something that cost a lot of money but I it is a way to place a little extra emphasize on what they do and that we do notice and appreciate.

I went the crafty route and Dad gets to help take the credit. He is the on that introduced me to making candy boards when he sweetly made one for my birthday years ago. It was one of the best and silliest presents I have ever received. If your not familiar what you do is spell out a message on poster board and work  candy bars in to your sentence. Here is one of the ones I made.

It reads Happy Sweetest Day. Today is a day to say thank you and appreciate loved ones. We know it can feel like a zoo. That's why its a lifesaver when you rally and help. Hopefully you didn't snicker at what nerds we are for this corny note. Again not a lot of money spent and pretty silly. Which I think is just what we needed.

What do you think is there a place for "Hallmark" holidays?

Our house is fueled on goldfish

Oh crunchy cheesy fishy crackers how I used to loathe you. Now though I accept  you, my baby loves you, the bigs love you and so does our cat. Its funny the things that you accept once you have childern and how you adapt.

 At one time in my life I would of said it wouldn't be an issue if Costco didn't have the family sized box on the shelves. These days its a grocery emergency when the box is empty and there is no back up in the house and you don't have a coupon for the big box store. For the fishes we will pay shelf price and no you simply can't just buy the generics or the all natural according my highly trained munchers they taste funny it has to be the fishes. 

So we make sure that we don't run out and all to often I am picking up fishes from the floor or the sofa or an empty plastic fish container from the van. Its ok because they make them happy and there are worst things.

I should add this post was in NO way sponsored by goldfish. It was brought about by catching the cat eating Mini's abandoned container of  goldfish the other night and finding the box of goldfish in the living room last night after work because the bigs and Mini were sharing a snack while I was at work.  I wonder if there are any left I feel peckish.

Your baby is 46 weeks, this week mommy should

When I first became a mom signed up for several websites that send you the weekly email about baby's  growth and development. Which I love its great to be able to compare mile stones and see where Mini is versus the curve. Sometimes there are bonus articles and ideas that I can use too. However there is also the section of what you should do for mommy. I am a great big heap of I have not scheduled a lunch with friends (unless eating at desk at work counts), I have not booked a spa day (there are two boxes of hair dye in my bathroom that I have opened to read the instructions),  and forget date night without baby. Would I like to do those things? Honestly yes but they just aren't priorities.

Every time I get the email I dread reading that section until I think of the positives. Mini has never been left with  sitter so I could go grab lunch with friends and I have the friends that if Until than I may steal one of the hubs beanies. I have roots big deal and I need an eyebrow wax. I'm not at Bert and Ernie stage yet.  Date nights well that would first require both the hubs and I to be off work at the same time. I think we have that scheduled for Halloween but even that priorities will not on us having a romantic interlude but the kids and chores that we need to do.

So yes my baby is 46 weeks old and I still haven't completed a single one of their recommendations for mommy. Do I look a bit hobo like yes...maybe. Am I writing a blog post while still in pjs ...indeed. Does that make a failure no it just means I have different priorities.

The rain is here

It's official the fall/winter rains have started here in Oregon. Which means a real change to how we do things. As much as I adore fresh air it means our walks and outings are going to have to be timed carefully to avoid the downpours and more layers are going to need to go on. I have always loved the rainy seasons until now. Now with baby I have to say I kind of loathe the pitter patter of rain drops on the windows. I'm sure my feelings will change again when he is big enough for rain boots, puddle jumping and other outdoor shenanigans.  It has and is giving me more time to think about things that we can do inside. I'm also making a lot of head way on craft projects about the house but this is the first year I don't find myself embracing the fall here in Oregon.

I meant to put together a longer funnier blog post this morning but we don't have a lot of funny going on right now. The hubs is working crazy hours again. Mini has been teething and battling the seasonal change congestion. I never thought I would pick someone else's nose willing but you do what you have to do as a mom. The heat has gone on in the morning's to take off the chill and damp and the house reeks of baby Vick's.  I am still trying to figure out this whole work/home/mommy balance and baby is 10 months old. I can't say that I thought it would be easy but I will say I had hoped for less turbulence.
 
That's all I have at the moment folks. Rain bad but necessary, the baby has the sniffles, the hubs is working a lot and I'm still here.

I found "my parenting tribe"



I used to be jealous when I saw people posting that they had found their parenting tribe. I would wonder what is wrong with me that I don’t live a life where I have this sister/friend counterpart that comes over and cleans my fridge, bakes bread, meal exchanges, etc. Than I realized I don’t think I could handle having someone that involved in my everyday parenting life, some days I need for us to sit around the house in our pjs. If it works for you wonderful but it isn’t for us.

What I have realized is I do have a much larger and if not as hands on tribe they all support me and help in their own ways.

• When my computer imploded this last week I didn’t end up needing someone to come fix it but I had offers and advice. More important I had support and empowerment so I felt confident in trying to repair it myself. While at the same time I knew if I couldn’t do it help was just a phone call away.

• When I was worried about Mini’s speech (yes I know he’s ten month’s but they give you a huge scary check list for his 9 month appointment with doctor) nobody in my tribe of friends, family, and people I casually interacted with said “Moe your being crazy,” instead my tribe stood up and they worked with Mini by talking to him too. When that appointment came we had more than 3 words that he was confident in saying.

• When I have needed child care in the last year my mother in law and my former sister in law and her children have both stepped in. How lucky am I to be able to say my child has never had to go to daycare. He has always been able visit with family when I have not been able to care for him because I am at work

• My work even has been supportive about what’s best for baby. I have been able to change my shifts from graveyards to working weekends and from home to keep baby out of daycare. I have two coworkers with boys older than Mini that have graciously passed me hand me down clothing and toys which I in turn will be able to pass on.

There are a lot of other examples I could include but I am sure you get the idea. Just because I don’t have an additional family/tribe to physically co parent with doesn’t mean I am handicapped or missing anything. It means that I have been able to include more people in my parenting journey. True not all of them are family. Some of them are friends and acquaintances that I interact with both out and about and others are digital.

True at times I could use someone to come help me clean my fridge, or hold baby so I can work on a craft project its not something I need everyday. I have found it equally rewarding to see my son learn to wave because that’s what the clerk at TFAW does when we leave. Or to give knuckles with the help of cousins and the gents at Wong’s where we get take out. I get some great support to from my family my younger brother Farmer Chuck, both my parents, my mother in law, call or text. My in laws have a family dinner biweekly that I don’t always make but husband, Mini and the Bigs do and they are able to frolic with cousins, aunties, uncles, and grandma. What we have works for us so that makes it perfect.

The Candyman

http://www.seasidecandymaninc.net/

I promise this is my last post about the wonders of Seaside until the next time we make a trip out there.

The Candyman is the only place in Seaside we have ever gone as a family for a candy stop and while I am sure that the other stores are nice and would get us our sugar fix it just wouldn’t be the same.

To start with they have at last count 190 flavors of taffy, assorted chocolates, $1.00 Tillamook ice-cream cones, Jelly Belly beans, and other assorted candies. So that means no matter whom we are with we never hear “I don’t like anything here, can we go somewhere else.” One stop anything is always good when you have a large family. Plus the prices are fair and there is a rewards program. True you have to spend $100 to get $10.00 in free candy but someday we will remember our punch card and hit the limit and it will be glorious.

They also have the wheel of chance and where you can win free candy or tickets to the hall of mirrors. No matter how busy or empty the store is one of the amazing staff is willing to man the wheel. Plus no matter how your spin goes you get a piece of taffy so everyone is a winner. Trust me with our little herd everyone coming out with a prize a great thing. Even Mini has gotten his chance to spin the wheel, no taffy for him yet though. He’s just a little to young.

The staff is truly amazing. I would have to say one of the biggest reasons why we continue to make it our go to destination is they employees. I can’t always say that we have the best and most well mannered children and while we have never had a melt down in store (thank heavens) we have never felt anything but welcome even when they are being rambunctious. As a parent feeling welcome with my children always makes me feel better about spending my money especially when it’s on something frivolous.

Oh I should add the disclaimer no one has paid me for this post. This is my personal opinion. I will happily review products and companies in exchange for freebies but this is not a sponsored post. This is just a little love to one of the places that we have had happy moments at as a family. If you want to visit them:

Seaside Candyman Inc.

21 N Columbia Street Suite 105 Gearhart, OR 97138-5813

If you buy a grandma a burger

If you buy a grandma a burger make, sure she understands the menu. Due to regional differences what she thinks will be a delicious beef burger with extra vegetables (hence it would be called a veggie burger) and what she actually ordered a veggie burger ie faux meat patty masquerading as delicious beef patty with all the same fixings but none of the cowie deliciousness.

I should say in my defense I made the presumption that she understood what she had ordered. Who would order a veggie burger without understanding what they were committing to? I presumed it was part of her eating healthier and locally which was part of my confusion with the order. Why wouldn’t you order a burger after we went to a place called Bebop Burgers where one would presume the specialty would be a burger? Finally while we waited I had to ask why she had ordered the veggie burger. Followed by the key question of do you know what a veggie burger is? What a grandma expected was a regular burger with extra veggies what she got was a textured soy patty with burger fixings.

On a plus note grandma learned that it’s a good thing that Mini will share his delicious order of chicken to make up for burger disappointment.

Seal Shenanigans

Sometimes a trip is just what you need and today was a pretty perfect day. We ended up out in Seaside, OR with our company at the Seaside Aquarium.  Of course my being a non-native Oregonian I had to feed the seals with baby because they looked so cute and this would be an awesome bonding experience. What I expected was something a long the lines of feeding the goats at the zoo. You know some dry pellets and delicate nibbles from out hands.

What we got instead were raw chopped sardines. I know these are seals I should of at least expected fish. However just when I was questioning the wisdom of the enterprise, is when the awesome occurred. These were not passive goats in an enclosure that were going to prance up and snack out of our hands. These were adorable seals that would pander and perform for delicious (I’m presuming, no sardines were eaten by this mommy) sardine treats. We got to interact with them from behind a safe space and watch them splish and splash, flip, ponder, and play for the fishy morsels.

By the time we finished we all smelled a bit fishy but we also had smiles and memories of seal shenanigans. Definitely worth a five dollar investment and getting over the aversion of throwing raw fishes.

It's time for a new pediatrician

So I think it is time for a new pediatrician. I have tried to like the doctor that was assigned to us since day one for Mini. It’s not just that I don’t feel that my concerns are being addressed it’s that at our most recent appointment he wanted to have the FAT talk.

I will be the first to admit I am not a dainty flower of a woman and I married a large man strangely enough Mini is a big boy. Instead of being congratulated for having a baby in the top 100 percentiles his doctor wanted to discuss how to manage his weight because as he so delicately put it your husband is large, and odds are your son is always going to be big.   Right now Mini is primarily breast-fed and I intend to keep nursing him until at least a year old. Yes he has started solids but guess what thanks to Mini we all eat better because I am very conscious of what habits he is developing. I don’t want him to grow up having food and weight issues. As his mother I want him to be a healthy happy boy who grows up to be a healthy happy man . Having spent years having food and body issues I am not going to project a complex of fatness on an infant nor am I going to cut him off from breast and give him water. He is going to continue to nurse until we wean and when he eats solids it’s going to continue to be a healthy mix of fruits and vegetables, meats, and grains. What we are going to do instead is change doctors.

I have spoken with multiple moms in the metro area and not one has voiced a similar issue with their child’s doctor. Most of the nursing mommies I know say their little ones also went through a round phase and that as their movement increased their tummies decreased. I admit if after we wean and Mini is walking solo he continues to have a weight issue I will be happy to discuss dietary changes or what I can do to further reinforce healthy meal time choices but in the mean time I’m going to let my baby be a baby.  

Thank you Hannah Montana

Thank you Miss Miley Cyrus, as a step mother to two girls I can not imagine any better way to teach them to be respectable young ladies than by saying look at that young woman. She is out there showing no respect for herself, her family or the generation that grew up idolizing her as Hannah Montana. Right now I am so grateful that we never embraced Hannah Montana.

The truth of the matter is I feel kind of wrong even blogging about Miley. She is acting out and getting attention for it. While I understand people are saying she is doing this to show she is a woman and evolved past being a Disney star however she started out as a wholesome family character with a youth fan base. I do understand that she has grown out of that. However even if she did want to shed that persona she didn't have to act a fool on national tv during prime time.  A woman can be sexy without being sleezy and you don't have to be naked to be provactive please see Marilyn Monroe if you need inspiration.

This whole incident makes me realize I need to take some extra time to sit down with the girls as they get older and talk to them about what it means to be a woman. It doesn't mean you get naked in ill fitting underwear and parade your body. Being a woman means you are grown and act accordingly. It means you take the time to take pride in your appearance before you go out the door. What you wear and how you present yourself are how people are going to perceive you. Yes that is shallow however that is the society we live in. So cover yourself up, take the time to groom yourself, keep your tongue in your mouth, and don't act a fool in public.  As much as dressing inappropriately might get you attention for a minute it won't get you respect or a phone call in the morning (gah sidebar I'm not ready to be thinking about the girls being that old yet). I have time to work with our girls and I do hope they come to realize that classy will get you much much farther than trashy.

Until that day comes I will be using Miss Miley as our poster child for what not to wear and why we get rid of clothing we've outgrown. So thank you Hannah Montana for giving my girls a reminder that we buy underwear in our size and we cover them up before we go out in public.

 If nothing else they could of gotten that girl some undies that fit and that were in a flattering color/fabric. She can even give me a call and I'll take her to Target.

It's 70 days till halloween

It’s 70 days till baby’s first Halloween and I feel like we need to do something epic. I know he won’t remember it and I’m kind of being selfish because this is totally something for me. I spent most of my pregnancy hoping that he would be born early so I would have an excuse to throw him a costume party every year. Instead little man camped out inside till almost Thanksgiving, which I can’t really blame him for. All last through out my pregnancy I was Googling the newborn costumes for something ridiculous to bring him home in just in case. Here we are almost a year later and I get my first Halloween with Mini in 70 days.

That means it’s time to plan costumes. Most years if we have The Bigs it means I break out the crafts and they get home made costumes. It won’t be any different for Mini. However he is still to little to go anywhere without mom or dad which means we need to figure out a group themed costume because I am feeling like being just that anal about the whole situation. Ideas I am toying with

-Batman and Alfred- for him and dad.

-Batman and Batgirl- for him and mom.

-Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach-all of us.

-The Wicked Witch and her winged monkey-him and mom.

Or if we have The Bigs (which is highly unlikely given that Halloween falls on a Thursday this year.) 

-Justice League

-Avengers

-Wizard of Oz

I just want to do something silly and fun given that this is the first. It sets the bar for the future and it’s a great time of year for photo opportunities. Not to mention with my fabulous powers of procrastination if I don’t start early things happen the day of. A few years a go twas the day before Halloween and I had yet to start the Bigs costumes. I have no wish to ever repeat that level of crafting anarchy. So even though he won’t be trick of treating this year. I do hope to take him to Boo our family and create some special memories.

You might be saying you have two months gesh lady calm down. I completely understand but as I only got to celebrate Halloween once as a child it kind of made a big impression on me, as it was s forbidden. I never want my children to feel left out of something that is such a part of a “normal” childhood experience. That and I have spent years hearing how cute his siblings were and maybe I’m a teensy bit competitive?

If you have ideas, suggestions, hand me downs let me know, thanks.

Candy Topiaries it's a good thing (please don't sue me Martha)

See the top one obviously done by a professional me. 

See the bttom one done by little old me. 

Candy topiaries looked so cute but so expensive of course I could do it myself why couldn't I? It's not like it takes much skill to stick suckers into styrofoam balls? Boy was I wrong. If you want to try this at home run out and purchase the following:

-Doweling cut for as tall as you want your topiary

-Styrofoam balls I used 2  1/4"  balls (you could go bigger)

-All the DumDums (Rite Aid sells them in 2lbs bags or you can order them directly from #Spanglers the manufactures.

-Something to stick your topiary in (I repurposed #Crystal Light container with a cute wrap in duct tape, you could also use mugs, or clay pots, whatever your little heart desire)

-Something to weigh your topiary container down, these are top heavy you NEED balast to prevent falls. (I've used both #Butterfingers and salt water taffy. Again whatever is going to make you happy)

To start with you have to construct your topiary. In my case I inserted 1 chopstick into the bottom of 2 1/4" ball.

 Than you start adding suckers if your thinking about doing this yourself a little hint start at the top work your way outward in an straight line around the ball. It should look like your stryofoam ball a has a mohawk. At the same time try and convince your small child in my case Mini that no he can not have suckers even though they look delish and he wants them all . Pause to comfort child and police area ensuring that no suckers are with in Mini grabbing level. Next working from the top add another line of suckers you should now have an x or t of suckers going around your ball. Start filling in the sides, you may want to do this working from the top down do not work just one side at the time due to the weight issue. Equal distribution is the key for this project. Continue to fill in until one of the following occurs

- you ask yourself do I really want to let my child have this much candy

-styrofoam quits supporting suckers or you run out of room

-you run out of suckers

insert your topiary into base do not let go as it will wobble, add your balast. Congratulate yourself on your awesomeness for not paying a professional stylish.

Working from home


It sounds ideal doesn't it to be a mommy who works from home and thankfully my boss is kind enough to allow me to work 1/3 of my hours give or take from home. I'd like to say that it is all sunshine and lollipops and cute craft projects while mommy is on the phone. The truth of the matter is it is hard but it is so worth it. I love that I don't have to put Mini in daycare and run to the office and at the same time I have the feeling of stress that he needs to be good ie quiet so I can do what needs to be done and bring home my share of the bacon.

On perfect days I am that picture of work from home mommy, a big cup of coffee my little one is nearby quietly and safely entertaining himself with his toys and juice; or even better he is taking his nap craddling his monkey. The minutes speed by and I am able to get everything dispatched in a timely and efficent manner. Baby is calm and happy, mommy is calm and happy, and no one ever knows that I am not in the office. We finish the shift and it's like I am just you everyday stay at home mom.

On bad days its obvious that I am a mommy working from home. I don't expect people to be nice about it or even understand but I would like to say I am doing my best. To provide superior assistance and attend to their needs while maintaing the illusion that I am not being used as a jungle gym, while sitting in a pool of spilled coffee, hoping against hope that Mini will not start shrieking like a monkey who found out his banana stash was eaten. Those days are stressful for both of us. He is still at the age where it's hard to understand why mommy can't cuddle and nurse NOW, not in 15 minutes from now.  Those are the days when the clock drags and your double checking computer versus cell phone time for this shift to be over so at least you only have to worry about baby.

Good days or bad days I am so lucky that I am in a postion where I don't have to commute everyday, pay for a sitter, dress for success , and try to have a healthy breakfast before getting out the door. My office is in my home. I can keep the big bag of goldfish in my desk for baby and me to snack on if needed. On long days he is pretty good about working his nursing schedule around my breaks and being patient. All and all my working works for us.

Monogrammed cupcakes another mistake

I guess I try to hard sometimes to be the perfect "mom" to me home made birthday cupcakes are something special and it means that you have put that extra effort and love into caring that the child has something non mass market and original. Regardless of the time sacrifice you have to make to accomplish it.

 Example for the first round of birthday celebrations at grandma's I made the above birthday cupcakes for the girls, ringed in carefully sorted m&ms and monogrammed with their intials. A project that got started at 9pm at night after working an 11.5 hour day. I still made the effort to get cupcakes baked, cooled, frosted, decorated, and than packaged to survive the trip to grandma's house. I thought this would be a fun bonding project where we could work together as a family and get it done in a timely efficent matter not that I would be working on it solo while the twins ate the surplus m&ms and the hubs wrangled Mini.

While I thought cupcakes turned out ok, maybe I am wrong maybe I just need to give up on trying to do things that are special and unique and instead just order mass produced baked goods from my local grocery. It would sure save time and maybe that would justify the expense?  I have two more weekends of birthday extravaganza to get through (as grandma decreeded that each twin needed her own birthday dinner and we will have them over their birthday <yes that works out to 3 weekends of birthday, plus birthday with their mom too, can you feel the hedonism> )and you may or may not see additional homemade cake pictures. Instead you may see pictures of my surrender and ordering a cake that takes me 5 minutes and swipe of the Visa. I guess I'm just not a modern Martha Stewart and frankly I don't think they care. Does anyone have the number to a good bakery?

I feel I need to add a post script to this blog. In no way shape or form am I upset about grandma choosing to celebrate the twins birthdays seperatly. (Family reads the blog you know and I am not trying to start some sort of upset). Just feeling that maybe I don't make the wisest investments of my time trying to do the best for my family. To me taking that time to make and create is a way that I do show my love for my family because money is easy but time shows that I care.

Why yes I nurse in public but I'm not militant about it

So last week I saw posts all over for breast feeding week and how we should be supportive of our nursing mothers. As much as it is nice that society is embracing the nursing mother; lots of  women seem to have horror stories too.

 This week in review has really made me feel lucky that  I live in a progressive city where I have never been shamed for nursing. In fact I have often found that I have been more worried about the nursing than I should be. When I first returned to work I had to meet our child care provider to pick up Mini and I was terrified of nursing him in public before heading for home. I would try to get him to take expressed milk via bottle and than it happened. The day where he refused the bottle in public and he was hungry and grumpy and not nursing wasn't an option. So I did it and long story short both of us were a lot happier for it. I was still a little embarrassed I mean were out and about at the #Lair Hill Bistro and while I was trying to be discrete this still was their business. Would we be welcome back as customers and still get impeccable service? All I can say is thanks to the wonderful owners and their being  nursing friendly and their expressing that they are grandparents they understand when littles need to eat when  littles need to eat, that I felt comfortable with continuing to use it as the place to transfer baby, catch up conversation, unwind after work oh and have fantastic breakfasts. It also made me feel ok to go out and about with baby and when he is peckish we find a place and we nurse.


However it wasn't just nursing in public that was an issue at first. Mini is not an only child he has the Bigs who weren't breastfed and haven't had a whole lot of interaction with nursing mothers. It took us a while for everyone to get comfortable with. The Bigs also have another brother by their mother so to them feeding the baby meant making a bottle and feeding that way. It also meant some adjustments. The first few weekends we spent a lot of time hiding out in the bedroom but that was no solution, especially as Mini has gotten better. So we have learned as a family to be discrete and they are pretty good about grabbing me a blanket for him so no one sees anything traumatizing (kidding). It's taken a while but we've made it work for all of us and when Mini needs a meal it's no big deal.


On another there are the militant nursing mothers and while I nurse in public I am not ready to join their ranks. While we nurse in public we are fairly discrete and shy you won't see Mini having a snack while I stride through the grocery store and that's ok too.We are doing what's right for us and they are doing whats right for them. So happy belated breastfeeding week folks

Me 2.0 the new improved version fresh lemon scent not included



I thought I when I became a mom nothing would change I would still be me just with an awesome sidekick. All I can say is how deluded and wrong I was being a mom has made me a better person on so many levels. It’s also helped me in being a stepparent because I can put things into a different perspective. Not that I am a perfect parent I really don’t think any of us are but I think most of us are doing our best and that is perfect.

To start with being a parent has made me focus on what’s important. Is it important to make it to work on time, make it family gatherings in a timely fashion, make it to appointments on time, yes. Anything else is variable the world is not going to end if I don’t make it out the door when I’d like to run errands. If we go out to dinner and it takes us hours to finish that’s ok too. I just don’t feel an urge to rush anymore. As long as everything get’s done eventually  it doesn’t matter so much to me when it gets done.

Financially I find myself being more responsible as well. Not just in paying the bills on time and making sure that groceries are bought but also in establishing savings and looking a head to the future. The same applies with discretionary expenses I used to be pretty self indulgent when it came to purchases now its easier to say do I really need/want this. Is this a good purchase that I will be happy with in the long run or am I spending money to spend money. I admit we still have our expenses my husband smokes, I buy comic books (the kids will thank me someday) and regular books. However things like a pair of on trend boots, or a new purse just don’t seem as important these days.

In regards to being a stepparent I am not a perfect one. I do my best to do right by them making sure they have needs, and wants met. I have also tried to set them on the right path with chores, manners, education, hygiene, etc; all the things that they are going to need when they start flying the nest in a few years. I would be lying to say that I have done a perfect job, while they are pretty well rounded there is a lot they need to brush up on before than. However having Mini has made me step back and realize these are not my children they are my husband’s and its not my role to do more than lovingly guide and support them and him. They are still children they are going to make mistakes and the best thing I can do is correct them now while they are still in our house and listening before they go out into the world and learn things the hard way. Where as with Mini I can make the choices and decisions I want to make with just my husband because I am “just” the step mom I don’t get an absolute say with the stepchildren and that’s ok too. They are not my children to raise. 

I guess what I’m trying to say is being a mom has really made me reevaluate who I am and what is important to me. It’s kind of shocking what suddenly becomes unimportant. Are there things I would like to do for just me of course.  However right now that’s not a priority right now the priorities in my life are 1 husband, 1 teenager, 2 preteens, 1 mini, oh and the cat.  Basically being the mom means I didn’t change at all I just got refined into something better, Me 2.0. I probably could use some fresh lemon scent to go with it though.

The silent ways I tell my family I love you

I don't always say I love you as often as I could to my family and I'm working on it. I'm pretty much the strong silent one in our family but just because I don't say it doesn't mean I don't do things to show them I do love them no matter what.  A few of the ways follow

1. I try to keep the house to semi clean. It's not perfect it is a house that is lived in and we are a big family but I do try and make it homey and tidy. That means dishes washed, floors vaccumed, toys picked up at least in the living room. During a good week that also means floors moped, mirrors polished, etc etc. Sometimes it doesn't all happen and that is ok too. However my husband works hard and I like him to be able to come home and be able to relax and not worry about having to tidy up. The same goes with the step childern I feel if it's not their mess they shouldn't have to deal with it.


2. Laundry. I secretly hate doing laundry, however there is something about having clean clothing available that is wonderful. So I do it not always cheerfully (but if Mini is the only one to hear me grumble it doesn't count, right?) . At the end and the begining of the day there is always clean socks, underwear, towels etc. Whatever people need will be clean and waiting for them

3. Groceries. There are things that I just don't eat and that I wouldn't buy if I didn't have family. Goldfish crackers,  Pop Tarts, fruit snacks, basically an entire cupboard  has been dedicated to the childern and their snacks since we moved into an apartment with a cupboard to spare. The reasoning is that way there is always something they can eat no matter what time of day with out asking permission (that's for cookies, candy, etc). Something that doesn't require cooking or fussing its just theirs. I have all sorts of weird food issues but that is a different blog. What matters to me is the kids don't ever have to worry about not having something to eat.

There are lots of other things I do to show my family I love them, some big, some small, some that cost money, a lot that don't. I'm not the best at it but I hope my family can always say I know I am loved, important and my number one priority.

Mommy never sleeps

Mom is always tired because she is the one the kids wake up. I have done a through study of the facts based on my history with the bigs and now Mini Monkey. Its not that the hubs wouldn’t get up with them either its that they don’t try to wake him up. I have tried to ask them why not wake up dad he is the one with the parenting experience for the first couple years with the bigs I was flying by the seat of my pants and Google. Fistbumps Google thank you for co-parenting and for letting me run symptoms by you in the middle of the night.

Regardless I have gotten a definitive answer besides well you woke up. Plus you can’t really argue with that logic. Yes indeed I did wake up because I was either vomited on, you were crying, or the worst you peed the bed and tried to crawl in with me to cuddle.

I love them all I just don’t love the midnight laundry and shower combo. At the same time though you can’t just leave them to wallow in the filthy. You also can't not wash their linens before siblings wake up because siblings aren't always nice and understanding. So being mom you strip the bed find clean sheets, re make bed ideally while child showers tuck them back in than camp out with until they are comfortable and asleep. Than you proceed to wash and dry 2-3 loads of laundry.

Now with Mini we are in week 4 of teething, one tooth is through and one more is almost through but his sleeping through the night is shot, so is mommy’s. Last night at one point I realized I had closed my eyes for a total of 15 minutes before he was up again. While he is very sweet and cuddly while teething he likes to vocalize his discomfort. While we do medicate while he is teething there is always that overlap when the Tylenol has worn off and its to early for the next dose. When even he doesn’t want to open his eyes and deal with it when all you can do is snuggle and hope to doze until either both of us fall asleep or its Tylenol time again.

I thought about including a self-picture to illustrate the long-term effects of my sleep deprivation but this is my blog and I refuse to post any more unglamorous shots of me.

Does anyone else need a cup of coffee?

Present peace of mind

It’s almost that time of year, time for the twin’s birthday. Every year I face the quandary of what to get them and this year I am just not digging the consumerism. They have so many things that they don’t use or play with. I know I sounded like the wicked stepmother but trust me they will be getting some fun stuff because I all ready bought it.

However the huge embrace of commercialism just isn’t happening anymore. I’m tired of us stock piling things that serve no purpose other than they are ours. So it was time to look into alternate gifts.

To start with I have decided that the girls will be getting hooded sweatshirts that have been customized with sharks and horses. Pictures will be posted as I either complete projects or lose my mind. So far I have the linings for the hoods of both sweat shirts cut and have started sewing the horses into the first hoody. It’s going fast this time around than when I made Mini Monkey the prototype (poor Mini get’s the prototypes for crafts like this because he’s the smallest so ideally the project should go fastest or I know if I need to say to hell with it and cut my losses before I work on replicating for the bigs.)

Now I just have to discipline myself to get everything sewn together and that project will be done.

I also bought the fabric for new blankets for them, again in shark and horse themes. So far that is stacked on my to sew table and I haven’t even gotten the initial wash of it done. I also have a few hundred shark quilt blocks taunting me. I really need wash fabric and unbury my sewing machine. On a plus note I did get their old Hello Kitty comforters thrown out so I am forced to be motivated because winter is coming and it’s time they had something that reflects their personal identities rather than matching cuteness.

My coupe de gras though is going to be Dum Dum lollipop topiaries because they look easy and fun. That however could be famous last words. All though sticking lollipops into a Styrofoam ball should be idiot proof, right what’s the worst that could happen?

I don’t know if I am doing the right thing, but I do feel some peace of mind in the fact that I am not buying them presents just to give them things but rather making them things they can use and hopefully enjoy. Thoughts?

                          This is the goal, except for the fact that I have to make 2!

Dear Jiffy Lube Tech

Dear Sir,

I feel I should be honest with you before you chortle with glee and write Penthouse forum; I was not trying to flash you. We were on a road trip and I was using the breast pump while my husband drove rather than have him pull over and nurse. Selfish of me I know. However he pulled into your business’s drive swiftly without announcing it to me.  While I appreciate your rapid customer service I was in the midst of an oh shit moment as you approached. Trying not to drench anyone with milk, spill the contents I had just expressed, or flash you. So in conclusion sir any boob flashing was not a sex act just a mom getting her baby a snack.

Thank you,

Sweet Moe

Yes this actually happened on our recent road trip. While I appreciate the hubs zeal in getting a deal and servicing the van I have come to realize that we both have gotten a bit casual about nursing and pumping. Had I realized that he was pulling into a business I would of gotten disengaged from the pump, poured the yum into Mini’s Monkey’s bottle, and tastefully rearranged my wardrobe before the van stopped. All in all not the most embarrassing moment of my life but at the time it sure felt like it.

I don't think I can call it a vacation anymore

Vacation or a weekend get away used to mean double check the wallet for a debt card, throw a tooth brush in the purse, a spare pair of undies, and maybe a stick of deodorant. A weekend away with baby meant packing up enough of the house so that he could be comfortable in all, have wardrobe choices, back up selects, preferred stuffed animal collection, and various other little people paraphernalia. That was just to get baby packed; than had to pack up the sisters, the husband and myself. The cat was probably thrilled to be in charge of guarding the house I know by the time we (me and mini monkey) had two of the jumbo totes packed, the breast pump, the diaper bag, cooler, jackets gathered, and all and sundry dragged out to the van we were exhausted and we hadn’t left the house yet.

Thank heavens that the hubs did the driving to the beach and back. It took us 4 hours to just make it out of town and to the beach house a mere 80-mile drive. On the way we had to stop for minor incidentals like breakfast, a van full of grandma’s beach arts and craft projects (it’s her birthday celebration and she’ll do what she likes and that means arts and crafts, and more arts and crafts), an oil change (because the hubs works crazy hours and didn’t have a chance to do it before leaving town), Greek food (because we were passing #The Mad Greek Deli and I apparently am grumpy and kind of mean hungry and their food could is stinking awesome) and those were the big stops. There were other incidentals like coffee, gas, diaper change, and gas.

Finally we made it to the beach house and the awesome ensued. The Mini Monkey’s first trip to the ocean; we had driven out before but it was winter so no frolicking in the Pacific. Let’s just say the look on his face once his toes hit the water made it all worth it. I was worried we were going to scar him for life letting him dip his bare toes into the chill. However he loved the waves splashing his ankles and his feet. It was hard to convince him that he couldn’t frolic and splash in them like cousins and sisters. Oh the unfairness of being little.

Sunday was dedicated to breakfast and arts and crafts with grandma in celebration of her birthday. It also involved one tired momma learning there was no espresso with in walking distance of the house. Tie dyed cupcakes getting baked and decorated with appropriate beachy goodness i.e. Swedish Fish and Teddy Grahams in life preserves. We have tie dyed t-shirts, pajamas and onesies that this momma needs to go rinse still. Mini Monkey is still too little to have join family for the rest of the coming week shenanigans. So we packed up (minus a van full of craft supplies) and headed for home.

This morning I’m grateful to be back to the land of espresso and cell phone reception. While I can catch up with you bloggers and bloggees, my eBay auctions, collect our #Geek Survival winnings from #TFAW. I’m a little sad because I know it will be a while before we head west to the ocean again and that shortly my hands shall be multi hued after I rinse out tie dye.  

We'll I'm off but let me leave you with our moment of happiness with the wind in our hair and feet in the sand.