Must. Run. For. Penguins.

A few weeks ago I agreed to run for penguins.  A few moms went out for drinks to discuss an upcoming run at the Bronx Zoo.

I just went to get out and let my hair down a little.

I came home with a 5K penguin run penciled in on my calendar.

These moms started a running group.  Anyone is welcome.  I know this because they let me invite myself.

We're a welcoming crew if you can stand the embarrassment.

We ran our first run today at the zoo and we rocked it.  Everyone finished.  And most of the ladies have never run or walked a 5K.

We celebrated with an elongated lunch at my place of employment.  Many calories were ingested.

But we ran for penguins.  And we survived.  It was fabulous.

And now, our day in pictures:

6am:  It is chilly and really we're all still kind of sleeping.  Sparkle skirt moms gather for a picture before we are salty from running a 5K

 

7:38am:  The "Momburban" (Moms in Suburban) arrives at the zoo.

 

7:50am:  I strike an "I'm totally awake now and ready to race in my sparkle skirt" pose.

8:00am:  We meander towards Start Line. There are many people.  Mobs of people.

8:10am:  In the mobs of penguin loving people I cross paths with penguins.  

 

8:30am-9:00am:  We run the race.  It was a person dodging, exhilarating experience.  I highly recommend 5K races because they are manageable.  And a wonderful accomplishment if you are just starting races.

9:45am:  Some of the finishers pose as we wait for our fellow comrades.

10:35am:  After free refreshments, a Zumba test run (which was fabulous), some sea lion observation and many laughs the crew exits for our ride home.  Before we leave we take a photo because we're awesome.  

 

Once upon a time I wanted to be a rockette.  I have such grace I'm shocked they didn't hunt me down and insist I join.

As everyone can clearly see from the above picture it is Radio City's loss.

I want to thank my "team" for a kick ass day of penguin saving festivities.  Onward and upward as we continue to bombard and conquer the running scene.

Happy Trails!

5 ? Friday

As this busy week comes to a close, my Mommy Brain is so thankful for 5 ? Friday.

Takes all the work out of blogging.

There is no thought in my brain as to what I will blog about.  I must admit I love when there are no thoughts in my brain. 

My brain loves the vacation from its daily overstimulated, over-organizing state.

And now, with no thoughts I embark on 5 ? Friday, brought to you by the lovely Mama M over at My Little Life.

1. If you could buy any car, money not an option, what would it be?

Oh nellie.  I need to wake up my brain and think on this one.  This question did not state that size was not an option, so I would still need some sort of mini school bus to transport my circus.

I would settle for a suped up SUV.  I have an expedition, but I would like something with a few more bells and heated seat whistles.

Okay, give me an Infinity.  Top of the line.  Bucket seats in the second row and fully loaded.

I now need a few moments to return to reality. 

2. What was your worst first date ever?

I must have blocked out quite a few because I know I've been on dates, and I don't remember many.  

I married young, so I have not been tortured with many "meet new men" dates.  I knew most of the lucky princes (right) from high school.  Or being "local".  

I can say my most awkward (ooohhh! spelling test word today in grade 2!) first date was when a very super hot senior asked me out.  I was a freshman.

He was "on fire" hot.  And a football player.  And I LooooooVed him.  But he was shy.  I was young.  There was very little conversation and if there was conversation I was kicking myself for being such a dork.

We didn't have any more dates.  

3. How old were you when you fell in love for the first time?

I was a freshman.  That was a busy year for me.  I had my first real boyfriend and it was an on/off relationship with years of teenage angst and torment.  

4. When was the last time you reconciled your checkbook?

Never.   I watch my account online, keep a cushion, and let the chips fall where they may.  

I'm such a daredevil.  A wild woman.  

I actually just fare much better if I don't screw with my bank account and try to balance it.

5. If you were going to fashion a "Wanted" Ad for a best friend, how would you word it?

No Best Friend Ads needed.  I have a small handful of the best friends a frazzled brained Mommy could ask for.  They are patient, they forgive the fact that I never check messages and return calls, and they support me whenever I need it.

Love Mommy Friends.  Did you hear me Mommy Friends?  I Love you!


But to answer the question my ad would read like this:

Frazzled Mommy-Brained woman with several munchkins looking for best friend.  Funny and loyal but I do not return calls.  I may email if mommy ADD doesn't have me checking yahoo news instead when I sit down to email.  Non confrontational, will not fight.  Will sweep all issues under rug and run.  Makes for a very pleasant relationship.  Generous if I remember to be.  Thoughtful when the mood strikes.  Happy 99% of the time because life is too short and I'm just wired to be happy.

Please be my friend.  End my lonely misery.  We'll talk every few weeks and go out once a year.  If you're lookin' for low maintenance look no further!   

Random Picture from my hard drive time!  And then I need to pack 3 quick snacks find socks for my 7 year old and grab a bus to school!

Ahhh, my little BFF's when they just toddlers.  Wrecking havoc and causing me angina.  Amazing how time changes nothing. 

Happy Friday!

Enjoy the Ride

Yesterday we had a "big kid" accomplishment.

Three hundred and forty six days after the Gymnastics Queen attempted to ride a two wheeler she finally has it down.

That's it.  It took approximately only a year.

I need to stipulate that she could have accomplished this "big kid" skill last year.  In about ten minutes.

But this girl is stubborn.  And strong willed.  And when she decides she is afraid it is the end of story.

The story is over.  

I have learned long ago to back off and let her be.

Because when she's ready she'll climb the mountain.

And yesterday she hopped on that bike and rode it down the driveway.  No practice necessary.

Sometimes life is just easier when you leave well enough alone.  It makes for happy munchkins and in turn that makes for happy parents.

I love happy parents.  The world is a better place when parents are happy.

And so lesson #1,000,001 my munchkins have taught me:

Life is just easier when you just sit back and enjoy the ride.

No pun intended!

Happy Tuesday!

A Mommyhood Easter

Yesterday was a whirlwind of Easter activities.  To accurately portray Easter over here at Mommyhood, I shall do an hour by hour breakdown of our day. 

Try to stay with me here...

7:45am:  Munchkins in pajamas are lead into the backyard which has been peppered with Easter Eggs.  That Bunny is good.  Real Good.

8:15am:  Eggs have been emptied and prizes have been piled according to each munchkin...

8:25am:  Munchkins scamper off in search of their almighty Easter Basket....the Gymnastics Queen is victorious within minutes....

9:00am:  Once all baskets have been found and munchkins are happily playing, I head out for a 4 mile Easter morning run.  Preventative Easter Day measures.

11:00am:  We arrive at my mom and dad's.  Every year they prepare two large egg hunts.  One is for munchkins.  One is for adult munchkins. 

Little munchkins hunt first.

Once little munchkins have baskets overflowing with eggs, big munchkins are let loose.  10 eggs a piece.  Do your best to not be the last man looking for that last egg. 

Did I mention my parents live on 13 acres?  On a mountain? 

11:45am:  Once all 100 eggs are accounted for, we celebrate with our annual "J. Crew" photo. 

"J. Crew" is a very special kind of photo.  Don't look at the camera.  Look elsewhere.  Look unassuming.  Look like you are modeling for a J. Crew magazine.

12:00pm:  Adult munchkins open their 10 eggs and discover a sticker inside each egg.  Inside matching coordinating envelopes there are prizes.  Many of these prizes are scratch off lotto tickets. 

We sit then sit together and scratch.  Lotto tickets that is.

12:45pm:  Brunch is served.

1:30pm:  Munchkins receive baskets from their grandparents. 

Grandparents have a way of making everything special.  Grandparents rock.

2:00pm:  I fall asleep on the couch and digest my brunch. 

The day continues with more food, more family and more fun.  I am still recovering from my trans fatty sugar coma and attempting to make sense of the mess that is my house.

Hope you had a Happy Easter! 

Happy Easter!

Mark 16:6  “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him."

Today is a cherished holiday.  One that celebrates miracles, new life, family and all the magic Spring brings after a long winter.

The bitter cold mornings and the chapped hands are almost behind me.

I can almost feel the warm summer sun on my face and the sand beneath my toes. 

But before I lose myself in Easter excitement and drown myself in my annual sugar coma, I keep in my heart the true meaning of Easter. 

Because along with eggs and baskets comes a miracle worth celebrating.  And celebrate that miracle we did.

Church this evening was the highlight of my Easter weekend. 

Every year I leave Easter service and I feel refreshed.  Whole.  Renewed.

I leave and I am filled with joy.

And I wish everyone the same this Easter.  I wish you renewal.  I wish you joy. 

And I wish you a kick ass visit from the Easter Bunny.

Have a great one!

5 ? Friday!

Easter is upon us and the Bunny is a tad behind schedule.  And with the munchkins all home from school this week what hasn't been accomplished shall stay unaccomplished.

Saturday evening should be interesting at our house.  I hope Hubby has the fridge well stocked with brewskies.  Something tells me he'll be needing them when I clearly state, several times, how the Easter Bunny stuffs eggs and hides baskets.

Because this Mama knows how the Bunny maneuvers.  At least I know how he maneuvers in my mind.  And when it comes to holidays, I like 'em big and fun.

Oh, and I like them "my way".

And so I finish with a note to Hubby:

Dear Hubby, Stock the fridge with beer.  Love, Me

And now on to 5 ? Friday!

1. What is your favorite Easter tradition?

 

Most definitely the enormous family brunch at my mom and dad's house.  We all congregate at their oversized dining room table and ingest all sorts of trans fatty breakfast foods.  

 

And sugary candies.  

 

And alcoholic beverages.  

It is a morning full of family, food, egg hunts and Easter baskets for the munchkins.

 

When I was growing up my favorite tradition would have been the live chicks and ducks the Easter Bunny left every Easter.  Yes, LIVE chicks and ducks.  

I am one of six kids and my mom knows how to make holidays big and memorable.  And awesome.  

I must say the chicks and ducks were fabulous until I was old enough to understand their fate when we brought them to the "farm".  

Goodbye sweet chicks.  You were cute for a very short while.  Sniff sniff. 

2. Are you a "shower" or a "long, hot bath" kind of person?

 

Holy Moly give me a shower.  A long, hot shower.  I will shower until I can find nothing else to shave or clean.  

There is nothing pleasant, in my opinion, about laying in my own filth.  Zip. Zero. Nada.

 

3. Can you parallel park and if so when is the last time you did it?

I can parallel park in most vehicles.  My vehicle is NOT one of them.  I drive a beastly Expedition that makes a standard parking space frightening.  

I usually just take the farthest space from any other car.  Preferably this space is also a "pull through".

4. What is your favorite Easter candy?

Marshmallow Peeps, dipped in milk chocolate.  

If you have never experienced this decadent delight, please stop reading and buy peeps and milk chocolate. 

Melt the chocolate and dip the peeps.  Then you must eat them

I must also add that my mother and myself have been enjoying this candy LONG before it hit the shelves.  Whoever started packaging dipped peeps owes me some residuals.

 

5. Easter: do you go all out with the Easter Bunny or focus on the religious part of the holiday?

 

We do both.  Just like with Christmas.  We do it all and we do it big.  

My munchkins can tell you every detail of the Easter Story, down to how many coins Judas accepted to betray Jesus and how many times he was whipped before he went on the cross.

 

And then they awake to a yard peppered with eggs and baskets overflowing with toys and candies.

 

My munchkins only receive on holidays and their birthdays, which in our house makes these occasions very special.  

There is no toy for behaving while we shop.  You are expected to behave while we shop.  But on Easter, they know there is one heck of a basket and one killer egg hunt comin' their way.

And we love every minute of every holiday.

Have a fabulous Easter Weekend!

Random Picture from my hard drive time!

 

LLG just a few short years ago....crazy as ever hunting for eggs!

Happy Weekend!

Moments

Life with many munchkins gets chaotic.  The house gets messy and the food disappears at a rapid pace.

There are after school clubs, homework, playdates and activities.

Stuffy noses and whines.  Whines.  Whines.

There are tattles.  And little people arguments about who goes first and touched what and ruined it.

But there are also moments.

Many many moments.

 Moments that last one minute.

But they put everything back into perspective.

They make your whole day.

And they wash away all the crazy, making everything right again.

Wishing you many "moments" this Tuesday!

Easter Craft: Bunny Masks!

 A few years ago I was very cool and I held Easter Egg Hunts at my house.  I had a tight group of Mommy friends and our munchkins played together frequently.

Life is now much busier and my munchkins have grown in number and size.  I have also since moved and left my mommy group behind. 

I must note that I have wonderful Mommy friends now as well.  We run in 5K races and wear sparkle skirts.  We also sing karaoke. 

But an egg hunt in my yard these days is reserved for Easter morning.  The number of friends I would need to include would surpass the amount of energy I have to dedicate to an egg hunt. 

When I was cool, fun mom and I held my annual egg hunts I made masks for the kids to wear.  They sported them while they hunted for eggs. 

It was an easy craft.  My munchkins made their own while I prepared masks for their friends.

The masks were simple and they transformed the eager egg hunting munchkins into tiny bunnies. 

This week before Easter my munchkins are off from school, and we may just dig out the paper plates and revisit our Bunny Mask Craft.  Or maybe we'll set them up on Easter with their cousins and let them create one to wear for the family egg hunt.

We'll see where the wind takes us.

Have a rested Sunday! 

Mommyhood Footnote:  I still have flashes of cool fun mom.  She's in here somewhere. 

Flying Solo

The past 24 hours have been strange.  Very strange.

Through a very long winded chain of events I am flying solo. 

Yes.  You read that correctly.  S-O-L-O. 

Hubby is having a man weekend, and the munchkins are having a grandparent weekend.

I can't remember the last time I was without a munchkin on my hip for over 24 hours.  Or a munchkin in my bed.  Or in the carseat. 

My golly today I felt naked and exposed.

I worked last night, and stayed out late enough to fall into bed exhausted.  This went as planned because my other option was laying awake in fear an ax murderer was in the house.  I greatly appreciate the two Coronas I downed at work.  Wonderful sleep aids.

This morning I woke up at 8am.  I forced myself to stay in bed until 10am.  I spent most of these two hours deciding what to do with my alone time.  It took me a hot second to dig out some waitressing cash and go shopping.

But only after I ran two loads of laundry, vacuumed, sorted Easter goodies and washed my kitchen floor on my hands and knees. 

Flying solo or not, some things never change.

And now I eagerly await the return of my four munchkins because I miss their mushy faces.

Have a fabulous weekend!

5 ? Friday!

Happy Friday!

Today I'm just jumping right into 5 ? Friday.  Munchkins are ready for the bus, and I have to get myself into presentable attire to help in LLG's classroom.

Mornings when I actually have to BE somewhere by a certain time in the morning really get my blood pumping.  Nothing like a mini adrenaline rush to start my weekend.

And so without further ado, 5 ? Friday!

5 ? Friday

1. What is your favorite sign of spring?

The smell.  I love stepping outside on a mild Spring morning and smelling...."Spring".  My munchkins always yell, " Mom! It smells like Disney World!"  

Everything magical and happy is like Disney World.  But there is a similarity to the smell of Spring and the smell when we're waiting for the bus in the mornings to the parks in Disney. 

Strange but true.  And even the munchkins recognize it.  

2. What was your best birthday ever?

Duh, when I turned 17!

I got my license.  I was free as a bird.  And my father suprised me with a stick shift white jeep wrangler.  I then became even more free as a bird.

I loved that car.  It was my baby.  Her name was "Magic".  My father, a "Parrothead" (Jimmy Buffett fan) sang "Little Miss Magic" to me when I was a baby.  

I was his first daughter.  It is our song.  And man did I love that jeep.  Good times.

3. What is your favorite dessert?

This is like asking me which one of my munchkins is my favorite.  

No can do.  

But as long as sugar is the first ingredient, and there is no fruit involved, I'll be lovin' it. 

But if I had to decide what I wanted for dessert tonight?  Ice cream.  Sprinkles.  Marshmallow topping.  Whipped cream.  OR a vanilla cake with fudge filling and vanilla buttercream frosting.  preferably from Price Chopper.  

Or my most favorite bakery that decided to go out of business right before my birthday last year.

Bastards.

4. What is the best excuse you've ever used to get out of a ticket?

I don't really go with excuses, I am the "hang my head in shame and play innocent mommy kind of gal".

It goes like this, "I'm so sorry.  I'm lost.  I'm trying to find my grandmother's nursing home and I'm not familiar with the area..."

While saying this I bat my eyes and try to look like I'm in distress.  It usually works.  I give it an 80/20.

5. Do you wake up before your alarm, with your alarm, or after hitting snooze several times?

I wake up when my munchkins bother me enough for breakfast that I must rise from sleep.  

Or on a weekday when my son comes up and says, "Mom! It's 8am!"  I then fly out of bed and begin my lunch making, breakfast preparing frenzy with bedhead and no glasses on.

I try to make Hubby be the one to handle mornings on the weekend.  

I also give that an 80/20.  I'm such a lucky girl.

Random Picture from my hard drive time!

I love this picture.  I've had it on the blog before but it will always be a return guest.  This picture encapsulates LLG and my Gymnastics Queen perfectly.  This IS them.   

Happy Friday!

Team Sparkle

A few weeks ago I joined up to run for penguins at the Bronx Zoo.  A bunch of us mamas have decided to run races.

Together.

It's time we all kept our eyes on the prize.

The prize being bathing suit season.

And so a few Thursdays ago ladies night was slammin' and we all were planning our 5K for penguins.  We wanted to get shirts and sparkle skirts.

And oxygen tanks.

Scratch the oxygen tanks (well some members of the "team" may say otherwise).  I can handle a 5K.  If we upgrade to anything above five miles I'll change my tune.  But for now I'm ready to rock.  I mean run.

I run because I love it.  It makes me feel good and releases mommy stress.  And it keeps me fit.

I am no marathon runner, but I enter races plenty with my family and we have a good time. 

And the Bronx Zoo race will be no different.  A bunch of crazy Mamas runnin' for penguins.  All of us in team shirts and some of us in sparkle skirts.

There are some big advantages to donning the sparkle skirt.

The first being that you better run the whole thing if you're sporting a hot purple sequined sparkle getup.  Sparkle skirts aren't cool if you suck.

The second being you better lay off the snacks because sparkle skirts draw much attention to the thighs.  And butt.

Oh Nellie.

Time to ditch the ice cream.

But it's all for the penguins.  And for the thousands of fellow runners who have to watch my arse run in a sparkle skirt.

Mommyhood Footnote:  Running in races with fellow Mamas requires awesome Hubbies who will watch the munchkins.  Thank you to my awesome Hubby. Muah!

Easter Cupcakes

I love Easter.

A few years ago I constructed what is now my standard Easter cupcake.  It included almost everything my sweet tooth desires.
Frosting, chocolate M&M eggs and peeps.

If I could somehow get mint chocolate chip ice cream into the centers of the cupcakes I would call them perfection.

But no can do.  So they will have to be almost perfect.

I call these cupcakes Chicks Layin' Eggs.  And as with most everything Mommyhood, they're easy but intended to impress.

And if you bring them to Easter everyone will eat them.  People have no shame grabbing a cupcake.  No one wants to be the person who cuts a slice of cake, but anyone will grab a cupcake.

One of the many joys of preparing desserts as single servings.

Easter Cupcakes

Prepare cupcakes according to box instructions.  Or, to change it up try my twist on boxed cupcakes:
Attention: This is NOT a cupcake

Vanilla Frosting
Green Sugar Crystals
Assorted Peeps
Chocolate eggs (M&M's are my favorite.  Robin's Eggs work as well)

Wilton Icing Colors (optional).

I use this to tint icing because it doesn't change the consistency.  

I made these cupcakes with and without tinting icing so as not to discriminate against kitchens without icing tint.

I know, I'm so kind.

In small bowl, tint icing green (or not, depending on icing tint availability)

Generously frost cupcakes.  Please frost generously or we can't be friends.  I'm not even kidding.

Pour green sugar into separate bowl and roll edges of cupcake in sugar.

Place two to three chocolate eggs on cupcake.  Add some frosting to bottom of peep and place on top of eggs.

And now for my Easter Cupcakes photo shoot.  Just wanted to share how fabulous they look before they are devoured.  

 Mommyhood Footnote:  It is a miracle there were enough chocolate eggs left to prepare these cupcakes.  For every one that made it under the tush of a peep another two made it into my mouth.   

Icing Tint Link:

What I've Learned so Far

I've learned much in my just about ten years as a mommy.  Very much.

And I am still learning.  Every day.

I've learned that laundry is never-ending.  The dishwasher is much the same.

I've learned that Dads are capable of diaper changes.  And middle of the night shifts.  And housework.  They'll have their own way of doing things, but it usually works. 

How it works I'll never know.  But it does.

There is an age, around two, when munchkins start to act like miniature people.  It's fascinating.

I need to let my munchkins do what they are capable of doing.  I am doing them no favors if I make their beds and clean their rooms.  I am only handing a poor unsuspecting future roommate someone who expects things to be done for them. 

I've learned that Eggo's are much more convienent than homemade waffles.  On a weekday anyhow.

Fresh air does wonders for my munchkins.  

Fresh air does wonders for me.

I just have to accept the fact that my floor will never be clean.  Even if I just washed it, it will never be clean. 

My munchkins could be busy as bees playing and the minute I sit down to talk on the phone they need me.  This never fails.

Sometimes a ponytail will just have to do.  A baseball cap works as well.

Mondays are bittersweet.  The week begins again, but the house is quiet. 

I crave quiet.

Happy Monday...wishing you a wonderful week....

Weekend Recipe: Cookie Dough Balls

**Originally posted April 9, 2011**

It is the weekend.  Amen and Hallelujah.

Weekends for us mean flushing the school week routine.  Bedtimes are later, days are unscheduled and diets are lax.

And sugary.

Because it's the weekend I made cookie dough balls.  They serve so many phenomenal purposes.

You can chop them up for ice cream toppings.  You can eat them as you prepare them.  You can dip them in milk chocolate and make a "bon bon" type dessert.

They are beautiful, beautiful creatures.

Mommyhood's Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls

1 cup butter, soft
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 tbsp water
2 cups flour
1 cup mini chocolate chips

1-2 bags milk chocolate chips for melting, if desired.

Cream butter and sugar.  Stir in in remaining ingredients.

Dough will be semi-crumbly, this is ideal.

 

Roll dough into 1 inch balls and place on cookie sheet.

 

Place in freezer approximately 1 hour until firm.  From here you can either leave as is, or dip in milk chocolate.

To melt chocolate, microwave 90% of 11.5 oz bag of chocolate chips on high for one minute.  Stir, and repeat in 30 second intervals until chocolate stirs smooth.  Toss in remaining 10% of chips and stir until melted.  This will bring down the temperature of your chocolate just enough for perfect dipping.

Mommhood Footnote:  I highly recommend chopping a few dough balls for a delish ice cream topping.  I have a container hidden in my fridge where no munchkin could ever find it.  

 

Happy weekend! 

5 ? Friday!

Another week gone in the blink of an eye.

I have been less regular posting because my laptop charger broke.  And heavens forbid I buy a new one. 

That would be too easy. 

And heavens forbid I sit at the desktop downstairs.  That would be sooooo five years ago.

So I continue on to 5 ? Friday, courtesy of My Little Life.  I snagged my son's HP Mini and I shall make it mine until I rectify my laptop issue.

5 ? Friday

1. If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?


I would change my eating habits.  I do my best to eat well since I exercise regularly.  But my healthy eating efforts usually fall waaaaaayyyyy short of what would be considered healthy.

I seriously don't even think sugar raises my insulin levels.  I'm completely immune. 

Same is true for caffeine.  I could pound a case of Diet Coke and sleep like a baby.

To offset the sugar and Diet Coke I eat yogurt for lunch.  And Kashi cereal for dinner before work. 

Two very weak attempts at damage control.
2. Write about a time when you got lost.

Oh nellie.  When am I NOT lost?

 On the road.  Trying to understand jokes.  Attempting to follow long winded stories. 

I swear munchkins have given me ADD. 

I have an extremely poor sense of direction.  I remember trying to drive myself to my HOUSE in Connecticut from my parents house in New Jersey.  I somehow ended up in Manhattan.

I tell you no lies.

I was staring a homeless window washer square in the face wondering what the heck planet I was on.  And then I freaked out and pulled a U-turn and hit the highway.
3. Camping or 5 star hotel?

This is the easiest question I have ever been asked.  Five Star Hotel. 

Please, I BEG you to NEVER take me camping.  NEVER.  EVER.  NO WAY!

Along with poor eating habits and an awful sense of direction I have a severe aversion to bugs and creepy crawly anythings. 

I also don't do damp and cold.  I need a hot shower just thinking of it.
4. Have you donated blood?

Yes.  I'm a blood bank's dream.  I pack a whole lot of 0 negative in these veins.

I donated when I was a senior in high school. 

I would donate more but I don't weigh enough.  Please do not come find me and attack me for this.  All bodies are beautiful.  I am just a wee little unvolumptious thing.  And I live on sugar and table scraps.
5. Do you have a budget or do you 'fly by' most months?

We have tried to budget but usually we just live our lives.   Any big purchases are weighed heavily and I put them off for as long as possible.

Such as the new flooring we still haven't figured out in the girls' room.  I may just wait until the carpet drives me so nutty I replace it myself.
Have a fabulous Friday! Random Picture from my hard drive time!
 
My beautiful Moopa when we were on vacation.  All dressed and clean, lookin' like 1st born. 

Happy weekend!

French Toast Faux Paus

Yesterday I made a colossal error.  A major parenting mishap that caused outcry everywhere.

There was uproar when the bus pulled in yesterday at approximately 3:00pm.

Clouds covered the blue sky and there was thunder in the distance.

Munchkins were in distress.

They ran off the bus screaming something but I couldn't quite make out the words.

And then I heard them.  And I turned and ran.

I forgot school lunch was french toast sticks.

How I am still here to tell this story is a mystery.

The End.

Natural Highs

I remember in eighth grade we had a class assignment to fill one sheet of paper with "Natural Highs". 

It was in Health Class and the purpose was to focus on everything that can make you "naturally high".  No need for substance abuse.

I still remember sitting at my desk, and I wondered how I would fill an entire piece of loose leaf paper with "natural highs".

But I did.  Easily. 

Seventeen years later and I still remember sitting in my room soul searching for everything simple that made me happy.  And once the words came, they kept coming.  And coming.  And well, you get the idea.
 
It's a wonderful exercise.  Life is so busy for me with my munchkins, the house, work and everything that needs tending to. 

Some days it's dinnertime before I even know what day it is.

But I'm happy.  Busy and happy. 

Life is full.  Plentiful.  Abundant.

But I don't sit very long and think of all the tiny pieces of my day that fill me with joy.  The pieces of my day that fill my tank to keep going until I fall into bed.

This rainy morning I'm thinking of some "Natural Highs".  Comment and join me. 

Natural Highs
The smell of spring.  Christmas morning.  Going out for ice cream.  Swimming.  The way the sun feels on my face.  Chocolate.  Family.  Munchkins.  Hugs.  Snuggles.  Hubby.  Hubby bringing me ice cream.  A clean house.  A good song on the radio.  And exhilerating run.  A long talk with a friend.  Laughing so hard my stomach hurts and no noise comes out.  Inside jokes.  The way my mother's kitchen smells.  My dad's jukebox.  Disney World.  The sound of the crickets in the summer.  A warm summer evening.  Watching my son play football.  Taking my daughter to gymnastics.  Date nights.  Watching my munchkins dance.  Peace and quiet.  Church.  Being with my siblings.  My blog.  Giant soft pretzels and an ice cold Diet Coke. The way my hair smells after the salon. Bedtime.

Anyone else?

Wishing you many "natural highs" to keep you going this Tuesday!

One Skill at a Time

Every year I make goals for my munchkins.  I started doing this after I had three munchkins and I realized skills like riding a two wheeler were falling by the wayside.

Everything was about playing outside, homework, activities and family time.  Life got busier and busier. 

And one day when I was packing my four year old a sip cup with his snack for school I realized I had to take things up a notch.

Every so often I needed to dedicate some time to helping my munchkins accomplish small skills like juice boxes.  Bike riding.  Shoe tieing.

The more munchkins you have the harder things like swim lessons become.  The thought of dragging my four munchkins to the high school pool two afternoons a week is about as pleasurable as walking on hot coals.

The suits.  The towels.  Crossing the parking lot.  Walking them down steps.  Trying to watch while Moopa runs all over the bleachers.

Doing it all over again to get them back in the car.  And this time they all are wet and need to change when they get home.

Please stick needles in my eyes.

I need a valium and I haven't even signed them up yet.

To make life skill teaching more manageable I set small goals for each munchkin. 

I started this when my Sports Fanatic was seven.  That summer he had to learn to ride a bike without training wheels. 

We worked on it every so often and he was riding by August.

The next summer he had to learn to swim.  And the Gymnastics Queen had to learn to tie her shoes. 

Check and check.

Now it's LLG's turn.  This year is his year to become a master "shoe tie-er".  We worked on the "x" a few times and the bunny ears.

And yesterday he wasn't allowed to wear his regular velcro sneaks because he stepped in dog poop.

I don't clean dog poop sneakers.  It makes me throw up in my mouth. 

I buy new sneakers or make Hubby clean it. 

Until I could buy new sneaks (dog poop ones were old anyway) LLG had to wear sneakers with laces.

And so we sat for a few minutes yesterday and practiced.  And this morning he was at it again before school. 

It looks like this year we'll get shoe tieing under our belts. 

One thing, one munchkin, at a time.  By the time they fly the nest we should have covered all shoes, swimming, bike riding and maybe even roller skates.

Hopefully.  And if not they are on their own. 

Happy Monday!