Continue reading »]]> Every corner of our home has an animal in time out.

Scene: Bit making her animals bite my face.

Bit- “two minutes, no listen.” (puts animal in corner.

Animal- “I’m sorry.” (kiss)

Bit- “It’s otay, I give you.” (I forgive you)

Repeat until Mommy gets up from the floor.

(kitchen, playroom, front door)

Continue reading »]]> Bit started school this month. Each Monday, she goes for 3 hours, and each friday, for 5. Each Tuesday-Thursday, we stay booked with storytimes, play dates, lunches with G-Dad and other things that pop up.

Tomorrow is a school holiday.

I’m finally understanding what my friends have been jokingly complaining about for all of these years.

Monday morning is my time. Me and the Boy. Bit has her thing, we have ours. Tomorrow, our routines will collide. I’m not sure Bit will notice, since school is still relatively new to her. But I will. I have arranged my Monday morning to do tasks that are difficult with both kids in tow.

But at the same time, Im looking forward to a day with no plans. We go and go and go through out the week, I just want to sit in the (newly reorganized) playroom, do a craft, bake an afternoon snack. Maybe experiement with the cotton training pants with Bit, take the kids to the gym.

And maybe have breakfast with someone else that has a school holiday tomorrow (hint, hint G-dad, Aunt Sarah and Baby P)….

Continue reading »]]> For a few weeks now, I have been escaping for a few hours on my own, each Sunday morning. I usually have an errand or 2 that I want to run without the kids, and I always stop for a while at our closest Starbucks.

It seems that each week, I am running into the same people that have a similar routine. Except… they are annoying.

There is the family that I can’t quite figure out, grandparents, possibly great grandparents, and a 7ish year old boy. He is so spoiled rotten and rude, it makes me cringe when they walk in. Usually he plays his (insert electronic game here) and ignores any conversation the adults are trying to manage with him. Today they were going over his packet of graded work from school last week. He obviously pays as much attention to his school work as he does adults. I couldn’t help but over hear the discussion of how he just flat out doesn’t complete anything. “why did you only answer half of the page”… “I didn’t feel like it.” I feel sorry for his teacher. This part didn’t bother me. It was what happened next. They gave him his own cell phone. Hey, kid that is rude and fails at school… here is something you don’t deserve, are too young for, and won’t treat with respect. Yeah, good luck getting those grades up, grandpa.

Next up is the high pitched lady. I don’t know her name, but I know that her, her mother and her 5ish year old daughter all speak as high pitched and cheery as a cartoon character. She is the epitome of a helicopter parent. Wow. Your kid is 5. She can handle her breakfast just fine. Last week, the grandparents brought her a giant box of chocolates, and the kid threw a fit about having to share her apples with grandpa. Today, it looks like they are on their own, so far. I think they bother me because the mom and daughter are always matchy-matchy, and the take over the seating space like they are the only people here.

There is always one older gentleman on his tablet, and even HE brought someone to talk to today.

I’m not really complaining. I’m just a people watcher, wishing the scenery would change a little next week.

Continue reading »]]> Recently, one of my most favorite stores for kids clothes introduced a new approach at pricing and sales. Everyone has been poking fun at the ads, with the women screaming at coupons falling from their mailboxes, but you know what? They are onto something.

Today, I’m having my usual Sunday morning quiet time away from the house, but I’m still spending it focused on my family.

We are in a transition stage with Bit, as far as potty training goes. We should use up the last few diapers this week, and she has been experimenting with pull-ups for 2 weeks. I am at a cross roads today, on what to go purchase, as we will run out of pull ups by nap time today.

Each morning, she chooses whether she wants to use the potty or not. Then she chooses if she wants a diaper or a pull up. I’m absolutely certain this is NOT a good potty training method, but we are still in a “test the water” stage. Some days, she wants to be a big girl, like her friends at school. Some days she wants to be a baby like brother. I’m sure this is a very confusing time for her, so we are just going with it for now. That is, until I decide what to purchase today.

Pull-ups only came into play because of school. They will not work with her, in regards to toileting, unless she is in a pull up. She is only there 8 hours a week (3 on Monday, 5 on Friday), so it’s not like they will get much accomplished. The thought is that she will see other kids her age use the potty and want to be like them. Peer pressure. It starts young.

Where I’m struggling is the pricing. The above, not quite mentioned store, is really raising the bar in shopping, in my opinion. Their new pricing has appeared to be a few dollars below average, on most items, every  day, no research required. And this momma knows pricing. I have always tried to do more with my budget, especially when it comes to the kids and their clothes. They shoot through them so fast. I can’t afford to spend tons on something they are going to spill on, get dirty in, and grow out of in weeks. (Seriously, weeks. The Boy is 4.5 months and is about 2 weeks away from 9 month clothes.)

So, back to the original train of thought here.  I have spent entirely too long comparing prices at different stores. A few bucks here, a coupon here, a code there, a percent off purchase there, get to this magic amount for free shipping. It’s giving me a headache. I just want diapers (or pull ups) and I want a fair price. I shouldn’t have to hunt so hard for the SAME PRODUCT at 5 stores.

It’s all just a little too much.

That store has the right idea.

Continue reading »]]> I have never been a huge fan of Valentines. Over priced flowers and forced cards don’t do it for me. That was until I had kids. I make sure they know they are loved on a day basis, but it’s fun to get swept up in the festivities.

This year Bit exchanged Valentines twice(story time and school). Daddy brought her flowers monday night and let her pick dinner. She picked chicken and carrots, which meant Cheddars. Yum.

Today all 4 of us shared a breakfast of heart shapes blueberry pancakes. Well. Boy longingly watched us. He is desperate to start eating. One of Bits gifts was a frame to paint, so she got to work on that while we finished up. We went to a monthly kids activity at the mall that was Valentine themed. Bit sang sings, made a craft, had lunch and ride the carousel with 3 of her buddies.

After a long nap, I took the kids to visit their Great Grandparents. We had mailed them a Valentine last week, but it was returned, so we hand delivered it and had a quick visit. Just long enough for Bit to sweet talk Papa into some apple juice.

Since its Tuesday, I had to work. So the kids and Daddy hung out and watched some hockey. When i got home, the 3 of them were waiting in the doorway with flowers for me.

It was a fantastic day. Bit had fun, Boy had another “first” and I got to spend time with my loves.

I’m very thankful for days like these. To be surrounded by love and giggles is the perfect way to celebrate.

Continue reading »]]> Each year we set goals for ourselves, and rarely look at them again. I thought I would check in on them today and see how I have been doing for the last 6 weeks.

I made a rather huge list of goals for the year, but each was attainable.

So far I have surpassed the “2 more new recipes a month” goal. I have the time to put more into dinner these days, so we usually try something new each week, even if it is a new snack. One of our favorites has been peanut butter granola balls and homemade chocolate chip cookies.

We have been making at least one extra trip to the park each week. When it was too cold to be outside, we played marching games inside and went to a bounce house place.

I have been more diligent about me time. I take Sunday mornings for myself now, and have been better about taking a break at nap time.

I have been better about using up the kids “good clothes” and writing here.

Total fails:

Talking to my girlfriends more, more play dates (but this week we have 2), more date nights (although we have 2 planned this month), gym time (but this week looks good), and the more water thing. Some days are great, others, not to much. I need to be better about the gym time. I get too easily caught up in doing other things. The plan is to go each morning, but i let other things, like oil changes, naps, bottles, and grocery shopping get in the way. I have recently discovered work out videos on Netflix, so that is the back up plan at nap time now. I am eager for the Boy to get a little bit bigger, so he can enjoy the jogging stroller. I want to take him to the park while Bit is in school some mornings.

I also failed at running the 5K I signed up for, for a multitude of reasons. But sorry, I’m not running my first ever 5K in “feels like” 18 degree weather. I need it to be a fun experience, not a memory I will loathe. A runner friend has tipped me off to a good one in April that I can start with.

Not bad! I’m glad I checked in on myself. It gives me more focus and reminds me of what I set out to accomplish this year.

Continue reading »]]> Business meetings

Building pillow castles

Trying new recipes (thanks mom, for the new magazine)

Practicing for quintuplets?

And practicing new tricks.

We stayed in jammies all day, until bath time. Then the kids got new jammie’s. That’s my kind of Sunday. We hope you had a great day, also.

Continue reading »]]> Today’s (Optional) Writing Prompt: Write about something that you unexpectedly had a hard time saying goodbye to.

We moved 6 months ago. We needed the space and I love, love, love everything about the new house and location.

But I miss my old house. I miss the stained concrete floors. I miss the rug in the living room, that has now been repurposed to the dining room. I miss the dumb window in Bits room, and having an extra way to listen for her.

I miss the memories that we made there. It was our first house. It was where Bit did all of her first, until 22 months. It was where she learned to walk. It was where she had her first bites of food. It was where she ran her walking toy into the wall over and over and over. It was where she sprinted from the bathroom, yelling “naked baby” and crashing into daddy on the couch.

Now Boy will have all of his firsts somewhere else. We will start over in the memory making department. Bit now has a longer “naked baby” run, but she still does it. She loves to shut brothers door at nap and bed time. He will be rolling across that hard wood floor before we know it.

I miss aspects of the old place, but I look forward to creating all of those moments again in the new one.

This was my 5 minute Stream of Consciousness Sunday post. It’s five minutes of your time and a brain dump. Want to try it? Here are the rules…

• Set a timer and write for 5 minutes.
• Write an intro to the post if you want but don’t edit the post. No proofreading or spellchecking. This is writing in the raw.
• Publish it somewhere. Anywhere. The back door to your blog if you want. But make it accessible.
• Add the Stream of Consciousness Sunday badge to your post.
• Link up your post below.
• Visit your fellow bloggers and show some love.

Continue reading »]]> SOC Sunday: A tale of 2 addicts

By now, the world knows all about Whitney Houston. I can’t say that I was shocked. I can’t say that I’m sad. I can’t say that I feel much about it. I feel for her family, as it’s never easy to watch someone destroy themselves, but other than that, celebrity drug use just doesn’t shake me.

What does shake me is when it hits home. I have lost a friendship very dear to me over addiction. I supported and encouraged this person for more than 10 years before I had to walk away from the situation. I think what hurts the most is this addict didn’t even notice. That is what drugs do. They make everything else disappear. It’s all about the next hit, pill or drink, whatever the addiction is. It’s a selfish disease that affects everyone near to the situation.

On the other hand, I have had a childhood friend recently celebrate 1 year clean and sober. Her life is back on track, her kids are safe again, and the future looks bright.

Both of these friends have had ample support on their roads. I have seen first hand that it is up to the person to want to change.

I can say that I feel for Whitney’s supporters. Those active in trying to get her sober, and those that couldn’t take it anymore. Loving and addict isn’t easy. Walking away from one isn’t either.

I am hoping that my friends outcome is different, for her family’s sake. I still have hope for her, regardless of the distance I put between us.

This was my 5 minute Stream of Consciousness Sunday post. It’s five minutes of your time and a brain dump. Want to try it? Here are the rules…

• Set a timer and write for 5 minutes.
• Write an intro to the post if you want but don’t edit the post. No proofreading or spellchecking. This is writing in the raw.
• Publish it somewhere. Anywhere. The back door to your blog if you want. But make it accessible.
• Add the Stream of Consciousness Sunday badge to your post.
• Link up your post below.
• Visit your fellow bloggers and show some love.

Be sure to stop by Fadra’s page for more thoughts on addiction.