Saturday, December 6, 2008
Reindeer Nutrition Part II
I just had a LONG lunch with my childhood bff--long enough that we actually talked about reindeer food. She gave me a great idea for a reindeer snack: a bowl of "magic" oatmeal. You sprinkle some glitter in it to help them fly, but the oatmeal is a good nutritious snack that won't make them sick. Great idea!!!
Friday, December 5, 2008
Reindeer Nutrition
I'll be honest. I'm having a Santa dilemma this year. We watched Polar Express with the girls while we were in Branson as part of a fun Christmas family night. It was really the first time that Big Sissy had thought much about Santa, the idea of him checking a "naughty" and "nice" list, etc. It's not really a religious dilemma. I grew up in a household where we did the whole Santa thing, and I emerged from childhood knowing the difference between reality and fantasy. I enjoy the fantastic aspect of Christmas, although I want to stress the nativity above all. The dilemma is that I am committed to never lying to my children. I won't tell them everything, of course, because they just don't need to know everything. But I won't lie to them. So as Big Sissy wants to hear more about the story of Santa, I keep starting it with, "The story goes that Santa lives at the North Pole..." This is a smart girl, though. At one point she asked, "How can Santa be both real and pretend?" This could get tricky.
I told her we could leave some treats out on Christmas Eve for Santa and his reindeer, and she got very concerned, "Mommy," she said, "we have to be careful about what treats we leave out for the reindeer. Animals can't eat too many sweets or it really makes them sick." The lines are very fuzzy between pretend and real for us. So now I guess we're going to have to compromise and leave carrots for the reindeer and something a little more fun for Santa. (Unless she decides he should probably have a salad. She has seen his picture, after all.)
I told her we could leave some treats out on Christmas Eve for Santa and his reindeer, and she got very concerned, "Mommy," she said, "we have to be careful about what treats we leave out for the reindeer. Animals can't eat too many sweets or it really makes them sick." The lines are very fuzzy between pretend and real for us. So now I guess we're going to have to compromise and leave carrots for the reindeer and something a little more fun for Santa. (Unless she decides he should probably have a salad. She has seen his picture, after all.)
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Crawler on the Loose
What a difference a few days makes! The first video is of Little buddy on Thanksgiving. I knew he could crawl, because he had gone a couple of feet before. I was trying to bribe him with grapes, which is the thing he had crawled for before. He just wasn't ready, and he got so sad. Sorry about the sideways video. Ever since the computer crash, I can't seem to edit my videos or pictures like I used to.
Suddenly on Monday, we had a crawler on the loose. After that, he didn't want to sleep or eat. All he wanted to do was crawl and climb. The second video is from last night. Again, he's trying to get Big Sissy's grapes. Time to get out the gate and step up the vacuuming frequency!!! He'll be 10 months old tomorrow. Better late than never!
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Managing in a Recession
I read on MSN yesterday that we are officially in a recession, which actually began in December 2007. I think I knew that, but it's just a little creepy to hear it made official. The recession in our house actually began in August 2004. That's when I had to stop working to go on bedrest during my first pregnancy. I haven't been back since (except for a few odd jobs here and there, proofreading and working at Mother's Day Out). I didn't realize how spoiled I was, but we have learned a few tips for cutting back. I would love to hear your ideas too!
1. My husband purchased a nice set of clippers and gives himself (and Little Buddy) free haircuts. This is offset, of course, by the crazy number of dollars I spend to get my hair cut, colored, and my eyebrows done. But I've cut this from 4 or 5 times a year to only 2. You might notice my hair has gotten progressively longer and darker (as have my eyebrows).
2. We buy as much as we can in bulk from Sam's Club. I sometimes brown a whole bunch of ground beef and freeze the extra for another meal later. I shop at Aldi's when I can. (This is a bare-bones, warehouse-type of grocery store. No frills. Not many brand names. Bring your own bags.)
3. We don't go out to eat as much as we used to. I would like to say we never do, but we still do. We just try to make it a treat, and we try to go places that have a "kids eat free" night.
4. I buy a local entertainment coupon book. Their grocery store coupons alone make it worth the price of the book, but then they have tons of bogo (buy one get one) coupons and some "don't buy anything but still get one free" coupons--like McDonalds coffee. (Their coffee has gotten better over the years.)
5. I save the bulk of my grocery shopping for "no coupon Thursday" at Shop 'n Save. You get $10 off automatically when you spend $50.
6. We don't get babysitters very often, but when we do, we try to make it work where they can stay with family. Or we trade off babysitting with friends.
7. We pack lunches for picnics instead of picking up lunch on the way. Sometimes we pack lunches even for a day at the mall instead of eating at the food court.
8. We LOVE hand-me-downs. The kids aren't old enough to care yet, and it is so much better than having to buy all new wardrobes every season for growing children.
9. We have a coat and costume exchange in my MOPS program. Bring a coat/costume you're done with, take home one someone else is done with. I already have a nice coat for Big Sissy to wear next year.
10. Garage sale/ebay/Craig's List.
11. We got rid of all the extras on our home phone line. We only have one at all because of internet, but we don't even have long distance. We use our cell phones for long distance calls.
12. For fun get-togethers with friends, we meet at someone's house and bring snacks instead of meeting at a restaurant. This works better with kids anyway.
12. We drive used cars.
13. My husband changes our oil or uses a coupon that makes it cheaper than changing our oil.
14. We find all the free fun stuff around town. For example, the library has great kids' programs--story times, crafts, movie nights, etc. The Magic House is free one Friday night a month. The zoo is free. The science center is free. Grandma's house is free.
15. Redbox instead of Blockbuster, and we rarely pay full price at an actual theater.
16. Good coffee and creamer at home (with to-go cups from Sam's) instead of Starbuck's.
17. I buy our kids' clothes for the next year when they are being clearanced.
18. I try to keep lights off in the rooms we're not using. (This sounds dumb, but I really can't stand it to be dark anywhere close to where I am.)
19. We are currently trying to refinance our house and maybe pay off a vehicle. I'm really excited about that possibility!
20. I love to trade services with people. For example, I used to tutor a family's children in exchange for the dad laying carpet in our house. Everyone gets something they need, and no money is exchanged.
21. We try to arrange our errands in clusters so we're not driving all over town every day. It saves on time and gas.
22. We recycle paper. Today's mapquest directions becomes tomorrow's to-do list paper.
23. We recycle random things for crafts (toilet paper rolls, paper towel rolls, baby food jars, etc.)
24. Preschool choir at the church down the street instead of Kindermuzik.
25. Learning at home instead of preschool this year.
I would love to hear your ideas for managing in a recession. I think most of us can still have fun. We just have to be a little more creative! I also think it's important to help each other out. If you have extra, share with someone in need. If you're in need, I hope you have a place you can go to for help (church, family, mission, etc.). This is the time to help out your brother!
1. My husband purchased a nice set of clippers and gives himself (and Little Buddy) free haircuts. This is offset, of course, by the crazy number of dollars I spend to get my hair cut, colored, and my eyebrows done. But I've cut this from 4 or 5 times a year to only 2. You might notice my hair has gotten progressively longer and darker (as have my eyebrows).
2. We buy as much as we can in bulk from Sam's Club. I sometimes brown a whole bunch of ground beef and freeze the extra for another meal later. I shop at Aldi's when I can. (This is a bare-bones, warehouse-type of grocery store. No frills. Not many brand names. Bring your own bags.)
3. We don't go out to eat as much as we used to. I would like to say we never do, but we still do. We just try to make it a treat, and we try to go places that have a "kids eat free" night.
4. I buy a local entertainment coupon book. Their grocery store coupons alone make it worth the price of the book, but then they have tons of bogo (buy one get one) coupons and some "don't buy anything but still get one free" coupons--like McDonalds coffee. (Their coffee has gotten better over the years.)
5. I save the bulk of my grocery shopping for "no coupon Thursday" at Shop 'n Save. You get $10 off automatically when you spend $50.
6. We don't get babysitters very often, but when we do, we try to make it work where they can stay with family. Or we trade off babysitting with friends.
7. We pack lunches for picnics instead of picking up lunch on the way. Sometimes we pack lunches even for a day at the mall instead of eating at the food court.
8. We LOVE hand-me-downs. The kids aren't old enough to care yet, and it is so much better than having to buy all new wardrobes every season for growing children.
9. We have a coat and costume exchange in my MOPS program. Bring a coat/costume you're done with, take home one someone else is done with. I already have a nice coat for Big Sissy to wear next year.
10. Garage sale/ebay/Craig's List.
11. We got rid of all the extras on our home phone line. We only have one at all because of internet, but we don't even have long distance. We use our cell phones for long distance calls.
12. For fun get-togethers with friends, we meet at someone's house and bring snacks instead of meeting at a restaurant. This works better with kids anyway.
12. We drive used cars.
13. My husband changes our oil or uses a coupon that makes it cheaper than changing our oil.
14. We find all the free fun stuff around town. For example, the library has great kids' programs--story times, crafts, movie nights, etc. The Magic House is free one Friday night a month. The zoo is free. The science center is free. Grandma's house is free.
15. Redbox instead of Blockbuster, and we rarely pay full price at an actual theater.
16. Good coffee and creamer at home (with to-go cups from Sam's) instead of Starbuck's.
17. I buy our kids' clothes for the next year when they are being clearanced.
18. I try to keep lights off in the rooms we're not using. (This sounds dumb, but I really can't stand it to be dark anywhere close to where I am.)
19. We are currently trying to refinance our house and maybe pay off a vehicle. I'm really excited about that possibility!
20. I love to trade services with people. For example, I used to tutor a family's children in exchange for the dad laying carpet in our house. Everyone gets something they need, and no money is exchanged.
21. We try to arrange our errands in clusters so we're not driving all over town every day. It saves on time and gas.
22. We recycle paper. Today's mapquest directions becomes tomorrow's to-do list paper.
23. We recycle random things for crafts (toilet paper rolls, paper towel rolls, baby food jars, etc.)
24. Preschool choir at the church down the street instead of Kindermuzik.
25. Learning at home instead of preschool this year.
I would love to hear your ideas for managing in a recession. I think most of us can still have fun. We just have to be a little more creative! I also think it's important to help each other out. If you have extra, share with someone in need. If you're in need, I hope you have a place you can go to for help (church, family, mission, etc.). This is the time to help out your brother!
Sunday, November 30, 2008
The Anatomy of a Good Story
I aspire to be a good writer and story teller someday. I think maybe I'm a better story teller because I have to use facial expressions and hand gestures to get my point across--very difficult on the printed page. I'm not good at making up stories, though. I admire novelists like Karen Kingsbury who can think of an entire series, including characters and plots, on a plane trip home from somewhere. I'm really better at embellishing things that actually happened. My husband calls this exaggerating. I call it making a dull story a bit more interesting.
Tonight Big Sissy was desperately trying to tell her daddy a story while he was brushing Little Sissy's teeth. I was in the other room trying to get the baby to sleep, but I could hear that she was talking and no one was listening. I always have mommy guilt and this fear that my kids are going to end up in counseling because their parents had too many kids too close together and no one gets heard. So...I asked if I could hear her story. I really did want to hear it. Here's the story.
CJ: One time I was laying on the air vent cuddling with one of my sleeping friends...
Me: Which one?
CJ: I don't remember. It was one that I slept with every night, but not Dog Dog with the blue sweater or Dog Dog with the pink sweater.
Me: Was it Scarfy? You used to always sleep with Scarfy and the 2 Dog Dogs.
CJ: No, Mom. I wasn't a baby. I was 3.
Me: OK. So what happened while you were cuddling with your sleeping friend?
CJ: Nothing.
Me: Isn't there more to the story?
CJ: No. That's it. I was cuddling with my sleeping friend on the air vent one time, but I don't remember which one it was.
Me: OK. Good story.
Maybe I should have let her tell the counselor that story. Just kidding. Note to self: Never start with the punch line. Then people are always a little disappointed at the end. That's all. There's no more to this story. As a disclaimer, we do keep our house warm. She doesn't have to lay on the air vent to keep warm. She just likes to be REALLY warm in the mornings.
Tonight Big Sissy was desperately trying to tell her daddy a story while he was brushing Little Sissy's teeth. I was in the other room trying to get the baby to sleep, but I could hear that she was talking and no one was listening. I always have mommy guilt and this fear that my kids are going to end up in counseling because their parents had too many kids too close together and no one gets heard. So...I asked if I could hear her story. I really did want to hear it. Here's the story.
CJ: One time I was laying on the air vent cuddling with one of my sleeping friends...
Me: Which one?
CJ: I don't remember. It was one that I slept with every night, but not Dog Dog with the blue sweater or Dog Dog with the pink sweater.
Me: Was it Scarfy? You used to always sleep with Scarfy and the 2 Dog Dogs.
CJ: No, Mom. I wasn't a baby. I was 3.
Me: OK. So what happened while you were cuddling with your sleeping friend?
CJ: Nothing.
Me: Isn't there more to the story?
CJ: No. That's it. I was cuddling with my sleeping friend on the air vent one time, but I don't remember which one it was.
Me: OK. Good story.
Maybe I should have let her tell the counselor that story. Just kidding. Note to self: Never start with the punch line. Then people are always a little disappointed at the end. That's all. There's no more to this story. As a disclaimer, we do keep our house warm. She doesn't have to lay on the air vent to keep warm. She just likes to be REALLY warm in the mornings.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Happy Thanksgiving!
I woke up thankful this morning. It IS Thanksgiving, but I often wake up thankful. Our family is healthy (besides colds. Nothing life threatening), I have a sweet husband who takes good care of me and lets me stay home with our kids. We have a warm house (with a basement even. That's a bonus.) We have a wonderful extended family who loves us, and we get to see all of them this weekend (except my brother. We'll miss him!!!!) I have good friends who love me despite the fact that I can't put as much time into cultivating those relationships as I would like to right now. I have a good church home. We have food to eat.
I faithfully read another blog who encouraged us to also express thanks for things that we don't actually feel thankful for, knowing that God is working all things for our good. That's not so easy because it's not warm and fuzzy, but here are a few. I'm thankful for the years of infertility because it has birthed a desire to adopt in my heart and has made me sensitive to the pain of others. I'm thankful for financial stress because it makes me trust God more (wow, that was hard). I'm thankful for this time of living away from family because it makes me appreciate our time together and depend on my husband. I'm thankful for our new president-elect because the Church needed a reminder about our mission on earth. It is our mission and not government's.
It's a good day, and the Lord has made it. Let us rejoice and be glad!!!
I faithfully read another blog who encouraged us to also express thanks for things that we don't actually feel thankful for, knowing that God is working all things for our good. That's not so easy because it's not warm and fuzzy, but here are a few. I'm thankful for the years of infertility because it has birthed a desire to adopt in my heart and has made me sensitive to the pain of others. I'm thankful for financial stress because it makes me trust God more (wow, that was hard). I'm thankful for this time of living away from family because it makes me appreciate our time together and depend on my husband. I'm thankful for our new president-elect because the Church needed a reminder about our mission on earth. It is our mission and not government's.
It's a good day, and the Lord has made it. Let us rejoice and be glad!!!
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Pretend Play
Kids play what they know about--or think they know about. My kids play Mother's Day Out, church, library, grocery store, going to Grandma's house, and having babies. I'm sorry if this offends you, but I think it's hilarious. Beth, they name all of their babies Baby Ty.
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