Lucky Foods for the New Year

In the past years I've always had a more Southern United States diet for New Year's Eve and day.  The menu has always been black-eyed peas, pork, cornbread and some collard greens.   It's interesting to see the different foods used in the celebrations around the world and would be interesting to incorporate some of them into our traditions.
In many different cultures around the world there are different foods that are eaten around the New Year to bring luck, prosperity and wealth into the next year here are a few.

Lucky Foods around the World for the New Year

• In Spain revelers eat 12 grapes at midnight.  The grapes are said to predict the coming year.  Each grape symbolizes a different month of the year.  Sweet grapes represent a good month, but a sour grape is a less than lucky month.  Your 5th grape turned out sour?  May will be a unlucky month for you.
• In the Southern United States black eyed peas are eaten to show your humility which is said to bring good fortune in the new year.  Greens are also eaten because they look like paper currency themselves. They represent prosperity into the year.  It is believed that the more greens one eats the larger your fortune will be.  Greens are not just served on New Years in the South, but different types are part of the New Year's cuisine around the world.  In the South collard greens are usually served, in Germany they consume sauerkraut (cabbage), and the Danish eat stewed Kale sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar.
• In Italy they serve lentils, the abundance of these tiny legumes are said to symbolize bringing in wealth in the following year.  It is because the lentil represents coins
• All over the world foods that are in a circular shape are served in abundance.  It not only represents coins to bring prosperity to those who eat the circular foods but also the meaning of everything coming full circle.  With one year ending and another beginning the cycle of the seasons starts again.  
• The Greek bake silver coin into a round loaf of bread called a vasilopita. At midnight you cut the brad into enough slices for every member of the household, including a slice for the house itself.  Whoever is to find the coin will receive extra good luck for the next year.
• In Japan they eat Soba (buckwheat noodles) at the chime of midnight.  The noodles are then called toshi-koshi (meaning "from one year to another") Soba In the Far East noodles symbolize longevity, so the longer the noodle the better the omen.
• Pork is served in many dishes on New Year's eve, because the fatty meat is said to bring a year rich with wealth and prosperity.  The pig is also said to represent progress. A side of cornbread is said to represent the gold you wish to gain in the new year.
• In Japan herring roe is consumed for fertility, dried sardines for a good harvest and shrimp for a long life.

What not to eat for the New Year

Lobster should be avoid since they walk backwards and may signify a setback.  Chicken should be avoided as well because they scratch the ground backwards.  They are believed to cause regrets and dwelling on the past.  Another belief is to avoid any wings fowl completely because good fortune could fly away.  In the Philippines and Germany it is important to have food on the table at midnight. Which is said to guarantee a full pantry in the new year.

Medicate that Mama!

I no longer wonder why my hair is streaked with so many strands of silvery grey.  After any kind of experience with my kids I am always left with that feeling of panic brewing in the pit of my belly.  As I sit and cuddle up in a comfy chair to feed Maxx I can't help but worry about Nadia now.  Are her sisters being too rough with her?  I guess Nadia has already become used to my paranoia because she has begun calling out, " I'm alright Mama!".  Even with her reassurance I feel the dread and sick feeling bubbling back up soon after she falls silent again.

This isn't the first traumatic experience I've had with my kids.  Let's revisit some of my lowest moment of motherhood.  There was the time I was sitting on the bathroom floor getting ready for church on Easter Sunday.  Dan had already gone to church to help set up for the special services.  I was home alone with Lauryn and 7 months pregnant with Morgan at the time.  Lauryn was sitting next to me in full Easter dress as I was finishing putting my makeup on.  She had found my stash of tearjerker candy and stuffed one into her mouth and was choking on it before I could get it away from her.  I could even panic I went into auto pilot and plopped her into what little lap I had left and gave her a mini Heimlich maneuver.  The candy went shooting out of her mouth and skittered across the area rug.  I didn't even get a relieved sigh out, when she lunges for the still bouncing candy, and I am left wrestling her little grasping hands for the candy she had just choked on.   I finally pry it from her sticky fingers and flush it down the toilet as she watches me indignantly.

There was also the scare during my pregnancy with Maxx. To start there was the early belief that his pregnancy was actually twins since I was measuring so much larger than for a single pregnancy.  (I wanted to scream it's not twins I'm just fat!!)  An early ultrasound proved that false.  At a later appointment I agreed to the quad screen blood test to test for genetic problems. That choice added another 2 weeks to the most stressful times of my life list.  (it's a mental list.. my list making obsession isn't that bad.. yet)  My doctor called me to tell me that the results were positive for Trisomy 21 or in more common words Down Syndrome.  It wasn't even the selfish thoughts that raced through my mind of how my life would be changed by this.  The worries that haunted me were the common health problems that occur with down syndrome.  The scariest for me was heart abnormalities.  With a long family history of heart disease this broke my heart anytime I let myself dwell on it.  We had to attend a counseling session with a genetic counselor before they would even begin my scan.  I was on the edge of tears all morning after spending the previous two weeks praying and crying for the little being being carried inside my body.  I knew that no matter what the little one would be loved.  We just wanted to be prepared for what would come.  Sitting through the scan I couldn't even sit in awe of seeing him move and could barely muster a giggle when the baby stubbornly refused to stay in position for measuring, making the whole process take twice as long.  After a second check by the doctor we finally received the news that we not only had a healthy baby but it was a little boy.  I was told that it was just a false positive on the quad test.  My due date was off by a few short weeks which caused the timing of the blood test to be off. (there is only a short window when you can have the test and the results be even remotely accurate.)

That wasn't the worst of my trials.  There was the week before Morgan's 3rd birthday when she almost died.  I still have nightmares about this period in my life.  I feel my hands begin to shake and palms sweating just thinking about it.  I'll just leave it at, my children are not allowed to have any kind of jump rope or long ribbon or even any long strings.  There will also never be a set of bunk beds in our house ever again.  I'm left with the trauma that whenever a movie or TV show depicts a person hanging lifelessly I feel the bile rise into my throat and tears spring to my eyes.  Even though it happened over 7 years ago I still flash back to that moment of discovering my little girl not breathing with the strap tied around her neck.  Then the doctors repeatedly telling me over the next 5 days that I am lucky I found her when I did or she would not have survived or could have been left seriously harmed.

When people call me a paranoid parent or a helicopter mama for hovering nervously over my children, I just look at them with eyes glazed over with the horrors of my parenting experiences flashing behind them.  They will never understand what I have been through until they have walked a while in my shoes.  Call me a worrywart or whatever you will, but my kids will survive and thrive into adulthood.  Despite their best efforts to do themselves and each other serious injury.

Long into the future when I am a crazy old lady sitting on my porch rocking away in a chair that isn't a rocker and holding conversations with people who aren't there.  Just look at me kindly and remember the horrors that this mother has experienced on her road to raise her children to adulthood.

A Dose of Radiation

There is nothing like a late night trip to the Urgent Care to give any normal person insomnia.  Add that kind of late night excitement to the life of a nut case like me and I may never get to sleep again.

My long night began as it usually does.  The three girls had been sent off to bed and I had just finished my workout.  I was finally settling on the couch to watch a movie cuddled up with Maxx.  Suddenly this horrifying scream pierces through the air.  I burst into their bedroom to find Nadia already clutching a towel to her face.  (worst case scenarios stampede through my head)  After quickly gathering my nerves I look under the towel in horror to find my sweet faced little girl growing the biggest bump I have ever seen right between her eyes and an ugly 1/2 inch gash right in the middle of it.  I gathered her up in my arms and quickly got an icepack for her to hold on her face as I put out the phone calls for help.

Grandpa was asleep when I called but he came over in such a hurry he didn't even put on socks.  He thankfully brought Grandma as well to help watch the other kids. Daddy was all ready to go go with me until I reminded him about his early schedule and the fact he should have been asleep hours ago.

After getting lost due to not remembering that the Rancho urgent care was on Rancho of all streets.  (still trying to shake the haze left from the adrenaline rush.)  Once inside it only took 10 minutes before we were pulled back into triage. Maybe it was the 4 yr old trying her best to look her most pitiful or the mommy pacing frantically, but we got back very quickly.

They took her vitals and we were sent straight to the suture room where we waited for the doctor.  Nadia was so well behaved during the whole process. The only time she really squirmed was when the doctor was poking at her wound.  When she was all cleaned up and the extra hole in head was glued shut she had to get a cat scan do to the immense amount of swelling. (liquid stitches thank you whoever invented you!)

The woman Nikki who did our cat scan was very excellent.  She explained to Nadia that we were going to take a picture of inside her head and she needed to stay very still.  Thankfully it was one of the new light speed cat scan machines by GE.  It moves around the patient a lot more than just the table moving you into it.  Nadia called it the donut camera and at one point smiled and said cheese when I told her to stay still so it could get a picture.  The cat scan went well it only took 5 minutes because she did so well "playing statue".  I stood by her side the entire time.  Now I'm good on my booster dose of radiation. It had almost wore off from the last time I needed x-rays.

Then back to the exam room for us.  The nurses were in love with Nadia. I heard them all talking about the cute little girl with the slippers and big bump with the little cut. As soon as Nadia saw them she waved and told them all Merry Christmas which they all started giggling and waving to her.  (She had charmed 6 stickers out of random nurses before we left.)

Next began the long wait with only my 4 yr old for company.  Let me tell you, kid's say the darnedest things.  Nadia was trying anything to talk her way off the table.  "I really want to hug you mommy."  ::get up and hug her::  " No I want to hug you over there by the door." At one point she almost fell off, so I had to tell her to sit still or she could fall and get even more hurt.  She nodded very seriously and told me she didn't want to fall and get hurt because she didn't want to grow a mustache like Grandpa and Daddy.  "Wait what?! A moustache? "   Nadia replies,"Yeah, Grandpa must fall down a lot because he has a BIG moustache." She repeatedly kept asking to go home so I had to tell her we were waiting for her cat scan. Immediately she starts looking around the room frantically.  I ask her if she dropped her toy.  "Nope, looking for that cat that needs a scan."

Our results finally came back and she has no fractures or any other problems.  I just have one resilient bruised little pumpkin.  Now my night has just begun.  I have to wake her every 4 hours to check for behaviour changes, like grogginess or listlessness.  This should be fun ::sarcasm::  Who isn't groggy and listless at 4 am?  I know I will be.

This whole ordeal left me very thankful for so much.
I am Thankful for:
My husband for working so hard at job he doesn't enjoy to provide us with excellent health care.
Nadia for being such a big girl throughout the whole process and keeping her good humor.
My parents for being able and willing for me to lean on in an emergency.
My daughter not being hurt more severely than she was.

I could go on for hours about the many things I am grateful for, but my adrenaline is wearing off and I am crashing fast.  I'm gonna go cuddle on the couch with my little sweetheart and whisper another prayer thanking a higher power for my many blessings.

Here is the pictures of the damage done but it is once most the swelling had gone down and we were back from the doctors.

It doesn't do the swollen lump between her eyes justice though.
Her pictures on Christmas morning are going to be colorful thats for sure.

BabyLegs Review

I just recently purchased my first set of BabyLegs leggings.  They had a great sale and I was able to convince my hubby to buy some. Once he saw that you could use it on the kid's arms when they got bigger he was sold.  The fact that they had a great sale really helped to seal the deal.  Now Maxx's knee's get a break from crawling on the hard wooden floors.  Plus when I wear him in a carrier  I wont have to wrestle with his pants to cover his ankles. Those are just a few of the added bonuses of having BabyLegs.

Within an hour of wearing Maxx wearing them all three of his big sisters were jealous of them and wanted a pair for themselves. I didn't think the older two would like them so I just ordered some for the youngest pair.  Looks like I'm gonna have to place another order after the holiday craziness is over.

As I type this Maxx is laying cuddled up next to me toasty as can be without a blanket, pants or socks.  The BabyLegs are keeping his legs warmer than any pair of pants I've ever put on him.  They haven't crept up or slipped down at all even after being picked up repeatedly, playing with his sisters, crawling up and down the hallways, and climbing up onto whatever he can reach.  I'm shocked he hasn't tried to pull them off like he does with pants.
I would recommend them for anyone not just for babies.  They have such a huge multitude of uses for all ages. The same pair Maxx is wearing I could fit on the arms and legs of ALL his sisters.  Sure, the oldest two aren't pulling them thigh high but they are still nice leg warmers and cute too.
I did not get a pair free or at discount for writing this. This is just me sharing my love of a great product.

GOAL!... kinda

Today is my birthday (Happy Birthday to me!!) and the date I gave myself to fit into the jeans I had ordered off EBay in with a big bunch of jeans for my older girls. I tried them on in dismay months ago unable to button them.  No pictures were taken, I was too horrified at the extra "fluff" hanging out making it so I couldn't button my jeans, forget about zipping them fully.

That day I vowed to whip my ass into shape.  Yes, I know round is A Shape but I want to be in a healthy, sexier shape.  After 2 trips through the 30 day shred (not fully completed one of those times)  I have noticed changes.  I definitely feel a change in my ability to keep up with my energetic children.  I will continue to have that evil woman Jillian Michaels kick my ass and keep me motivated to keep kicking back.  I haven't been the only one enjoying the changes in my body.  My husband has noticed the changes in places I couldn't see without a mirror or a silly dance.

With a family history heavy in heart disease and diabetes I didn't want my life to be affected so negatively by my weight.  I started out this weight loss journey at a size 16 (and getting disturbingly tight)  When I woke up this morning I was apprehensive that I would even fit in the jeans.  My thoughts were filled with a replay of my fall off the healthy wagon recently and straight into a big pile of cookies and sweets.  I had stayed and wallowed a while in those sweets and my lack of weight loss results recently shows it.

This morning I just stood there glaring at those jeans for a good five minutes before attempting to plunge in.  I was pleasantly surprised it only required a small wiggle to get them up over my overly ample hips, no full blown hopping or dancing around needed.  ::mini victory dance::   As I buttoned them and slid the zipper up into place I almost began to cry.  They actually fit. I did it, kinda.  Sure I do have a mini muffin top. In all fairness it's more like a corn bread muffin top and no longer a Starbucks mega muffin top.

Pardon the bragging post but I am very proud of myself for achieving my goal (kinda) and during the holiday season no less. (the season of weakness for me)   I wont be stopping here though.  I'll stop wanting to lose weight once my Wii fit stops calling me fat or groaning when I step on it.  That would be around 30 more lbs to lose.  OK so it doesn't straight out call me fat but I don't like the weigh in and watching my Mii plump up to match my plumper proportions.

What is one of your favorite exercise routines to use?  Healthy snack ideas?  My favorite craving buster is any bar of really good dark chocolate.  Dark Chocolate has been proven to be an appetite suppressant.  Even stranger you don't even have to eat it. Smelling the dark chocolate is not enough for me though.  I prefer ingesting my chocolate to just smelling it.  My willpower isn't strong enough to bring chocolate so close to my mouth and not sample even just a small morsel.

Wistful for the White Stuff (Snow!?)

Recently I caught myself watching yet another Lifetime movie even though I swore to kick that addiction. (I usually end up a blubbering mess by the second commercial break)  In this current hormone fix the scene they depicted was of a beautiful snowfall.  I was lost in the moment and found myself yearning for that exhilarating yet almost dizzying feeling of standing in the snow as it falls around you.  Reaching out to catch a big fluffy snowflake in my hand and coming up short remembering it is just a tv show.  (I think I need to get out of the house more often.)

Before you snowbound fellows jump on me, know that I have experienced living with snow on a day to day basis. I am not one of those loonies that says how much they love snow but has never had to shovel a path for your too short wiener dog to go to the bathroom, or clear the porch roof of snow or experience a personal avalanche or the much worse collapsed roof, or remember to salt the walkway and steps so you don't end up spliting the crack on your hind quarters further.  I didn't always live in the dry desert that is Las Vegas.  (Where you have a better chance of winning big on slots than getting snow in the Las Vegas valley around Christmas)  I lived in Northern Utah for the first 10 years of my life and another 3 years of my adult life in Northwest Tennessee.

 

I love the versatility of snow.  With snow all you need is some imagination and you have a day of fun.  Snow is like ready made natures dough.  Form it into whatever you want.  Build a fort and have an intense snowball fight.  Create a snowman or a whole family of them.  Build an igloo and have a winter picnic inside the outdoors.  It's not just the standard fun snow activities I enjoy.  I loved shoveling snow as well. I don't know what it is but there is something about that chore that leaves me feeling self satisfied.  (I enjoy mowing the grass and raking leaves too)

I will always fondly remember the year we spent the entire day building an igloo only to come back inside and find out our pipes were frozen.  The igloo was still worth it. I had such a blast building it with my husband and sitting inside it with my two oldest girl (they were only 2 and 3yrs old at the time)  We had used old wipes containers and packed them tightly with snow to make snow bricks.  Then we got a little obsessive compulsive and used a spray bottle filled with water and a few drops of blue and green food die to make them look like ice blocks.   I wish we would have had a camera with film at the time.  (I don't know how I ever lived without all my current gadgets.. ::shudder:: just barbaric)

What are some of your favorite snow activities?  My favorite thing about snow is the crunch sound of fresh snow beneath your boots.   I love huge snow drifts with the ability to hide a car or just those little piles of snow that pile up around the window sills.

Get the Duct Tape!!

I have been a bad blogger recently.  Not by choice though.  As I was editing my newest blog post my screen suddenly shuttered to black and the PC restarts.  Only this time it doesn't want to start into windows.  ::panic::  I quickly go and google my problem id number and attempt to repair it with my windows CD. 

This is when it got REALLY ugly.  After doing a quick format I go to partition the drive off again and suddenly it doesn't recognize me as having a hard drive at all.  The only work around I have found involve hooking a floppy drive to my PC.  (who has those dinosaurs hanging around unless they are deserving a spot on hoarding buried alive?)  There was another workaround involving nlite but I couldn't get my stupid drives on it either. This poor dinosaur laptop I am currently stuck with for use can't unzip the stupid file for my drivers so I can load them onto a disc and force my PC to recognize it's own hard drive.  Problem still not solved, but I couldn't go another day without blogging.  Blogging has become like an addiction.  Just ask my dear sweet understanding husband.

I'm sorry for those people that have no freaking clue what I just said.  I really wish I was still one of those blissfully unaware of the little magical things that go on inside my computer to make it do all the fun things I ask.  ::clicks heels with eyes tightly shut:: 

Some Sanity in the Madness

It's that time again this year. Time to start your OVENS!! Sorry, had to get that out of my system. Every year I go baking mad and it all starts with the baking marathon that is Thanksgiving.  My very large family still gathers together every year even though we have all grown and had our own families.  In this gorging spectacle my job has always been the pies.  I love to bake, if you don't... tough cookies and nasty store bought brick cookies to you too.  I'll add a few more tips for Thanksgiving to satisfying even the most baking challenged.

Various Thanksgiving Tips

Even with all the dangers of stuffing turkeys people still enjoy doing it.  Nothing like bonding over a family struck down with food poisoning.  To be safer this holiday after draining the excess blood from the turkey heavily sprinkle kosher salt on the inside cavity of the turkey.  Let sit for 5-10 minutes and rinse in cold water.  The salt will draw the excess blood out of the cavity.

A good time saver is to cut all the vegetable for the hor'dourves tray the day before and just store the cut vegetables in an ice bath in the fridge.  You can also cut the veggies in to decorative flowers if the mood strikes you.  The easiest to make by far is a mum.  Cut a criss-cross pattern (4 lines intersecting from 2 different sides in an X) into the top half of a radish and store in an ice bath for it to "bloom" open.

When making your apple pies this year for thanksgiving be sure you simmer the apples in a pan before baking in the pie shell.  If you don't precook the apples you could end up with a large gap between the top crust and the apples. 

A extra tip when making the pie dough crust use ICE cold water.  It keeps the fat from blending easily with the flour.  The less you blend the dough the flakier the crust. I prefer placing all my ingredients in the freezer after measuring out the dry ingredients (salt and flour) into a freezer bag.  In a separate bowl cool the fats (butter or shortening).  I cool all ingredients separately for 30 minutes before blending together as usual.

While baking your pies and the crust starts to darker long before the pie will be done. Make a ring around the outside edges of your pie with tinfoil.

To get that extra golden look to your crusts lightly brush the crusts with a egg wash.  Sprinkle with sugar to give it extra crunch.

Egg wash for browning baked goods. 1 egg whipped with 1TB water.  Brush on baked goods lightly to get a golden sheen.  Then bake as usual.  This will even work well on rolls.

Chicken Salad Sandwiches

I always make a HUGE batch of this and keep it in the fridge to make sandwiches from quickly and easily.  With a toddler and a baby at home big batches of my favorite simple recipes is how I survive with my sanity intact most days.

Chicken Salad Sandwiches

Ingredients:

5 lbs Chicken Breasts (boneless skinless)
1 bunch of celery cleaned and small diced
4 TB Mayonnaise
4 tsp Garlic Powder
Salt and Pepper to taste
3/4 cup water

Directions:

1. In a large pan simmer the Chicken breasts with the water and half the garlic powder.
2. When chicken is fully cooked remove from heat and medium dice. (about 1/2 inch pieces)
3. In a large bowl mix the chicken, celery, mayonnaise, and remaining garlic powder.  Add Salt and Pepper to your personal taste.  (start with a tsp of each)

If the chicken salad mixture is too wet crumble up a few crackers and mix well. The crackers will absorb the extra moisture. This is also very delicious stuffed inside a hollowed out tomato. (That tip is thanks to a certain toddler tornado that was in a no bread phase but would sneak off with whole tomatoes and hide while she ate them.)

Loving by the Dozen

Twelve years ago my husband and I were standing at the altar ready to embark on our life together. Through the years we have experienced a lot of ups and downs. In many ways the trials of life could have driven us apart but we strived to make it bring us even closer. It hasn't been all sweetness and rose petals though. I will be one of the first to admit that for a marriage to work it requires you to work at it. I'm not saying every moment needs to feel like work, but there are times when you have to put work into your marriage to keep things running smoothly. Just like a rare orchid a marriage needs loving attention, tender care and hard work to keep it flowering beautifully and not wither away.

Tips for a healthy happy marriage

• Say I love you everyday. It shouldn't stay unsaid. Those words are better spoken than assumed it known.
• Always part with a hug and kiss because you never know when it will be the last time.
• Use every chance you get to casually touch each other. (any touch of the hands in passing, a brush of the nape, or a hand on the knee) Any little touch to reconnect or stay connected.
• Fight fair. No name calling, and always apologize for words said in anger. ( I have trouble with this one. I have a REALLY short fuse.)
• Take the time to let your spouse know how much you appreciate what they do. If it is working long hours to support the family or take out the trash even when you had to ask. A little appreciation goes a very long way.
• Get to know each other again. Ask questions as if you were on your first date. If you had one week with no responsibilities, no family, no friends, no work what would you do with it? You might learn something you never knew.
• Speak up when you need something from the other person. Just because you have been together so long and it seems like you think the same doesn't mean they know your every thought and need.
• Make them feel like an important part of your life everyday not just on the special occasions.

These are just a few things that I try to do to keep my marriage strong. There are many more things you can do. If you have any good tips to keep any relationship going strong I would love to hear them.

One last note~ A big thank you to my husband for twelve weird but wonderful years together. I look forward to what the next dozen will bring.

Related Articles

• Pick a Dozen Marriage Refreshers! (socyberty.com)
• Cornerstones for a Healthy Marriage (socyberty.com)

Already a Biter

My son Maxx got his first tooth at one week shy of being 8 months old. I am positive my daughters all had multiple teeth by 8 months. I'm not complaining. I was actually dreading the day his teeth would come, they always want to test their chompers out on human flesh like little zombies. It's usually my poor defenseless Mommy flesh that is on their menu. My husband believes that Maxx was holding back on growing them in because when teeth appeared was when I stopped breastfeeding with the Nadia.

It wasn't the teeth appearing that scared me off breastfeeding. I had stopped breastfeeding Nadia after getting repeatedly being bitten while nursing her. It was so bad on many occasions that I was left bleeding and dreading the next time I would need to bare my tender bits to her. At the time I didn't know any better that she wasn't nursing but instead messing around when she would hurt me with her chompers. I didn't know I had never breast-fed a child that had teeth. With each baby I have breastfed I have been able to nurse longer and longer with each one.

Appearance of the tooth

I was sitting around after dinner watching tv while the little man cruised around the front room in his regular super army crawl. He pulled himself up on our coffee table as he always does to see what he could throw to the ground or check for any papers he could attempt to eat. Instead he started chewing on the edge of the table, so I pull him away and began playing with him. He grabbed my hand and started gnawing on it as usual. I felt something scratching me, so I inspected his mouth thinking he had some contraband. I was in shock to see a tooth since not even minutes before he had no teeth at all.

I started yelling OMG a tooth! My oldest kids come running and ask if I had lost a tooth. (being stuck in the losing tooth mode) Which is understandable considering in the past two months my two oldest daughters have lost around 10 teeth combined. (leaving our 4 yr old jealous of the all tooth fairy earnings) Once they found out it was baby Maxx's first tooth, they instantly started cheering. This little man is gonna wonder why he feels the need to have lots of cheering and applause.

I was going to wait until daddy got home from work to tell him but I can't keep a secret/surprise. Daddy was on speaker phone when I told him about the new tooth. After crowing with pride about his little man becoming such a big boy, he then asks me if this means breastfeeding will soon be coming to an end. Before I could get a response out Maxx was vigorously shaking his head no. When hubby didn't get a response because I was giggling too hard, he repeated his question and Maxx shook his head no all over again when daddy mentioned breastfeeding ending. We have our answer and will continue to breastfeed hopefully to 1-year-old. Little man shows no signs of wanting to give it up. Hubby says it is the boobies addiction that most men have it's just starting early.

Abuse of tooth power

That little tooth was not even 24 hours old and Maxx had try it out on my poor defenseless nipple. This time I knew what to do though. I still said ow because it still freaking hurt. I immediately told him no bite and set him down away from me and ended the breastfeeding session. He startled at me screeching ow but then laughed. As soon as I told him no bite and set him away from the boob you would think it was him that had just been bitten. Maxx was howling down the moon, all while giving me the most pitiful looks. For the sake of my poor nipples I stuck to my guns and again told him no bite and handed him a toy to play with instead. Less than a minute later, he had given up the howling and had turned his pitiful looks to glares of indignation.

Have you had to handle a biter? How did you overcome it?

Tip: When breastfeeding and your child bites you, tell your child "No Bite" and end the nursing session.  Set them down away from you. (near toys to play with since they were not eating but playing when they bit)  Try again in 10 minutes. 

Related Articles

• The Tooth Fairy Drops By (lauramaly.wordpress.com)
• Breastfeeding tips - All Information (umm.edu)

Christmas Already?

The season of craziness begins earlier every year. It was only a few days before Halloween and my local stores were already stocking their shelves for Christmas. On the day of Halloween I ran out to grab some more candy to find the store taking all Halloween items off the shelves before it was even noon. Couldn't they at least wait a few more hours and then trick or treating would be in full swing? Maybe they get some sick joy watching people frantically trying to make last purchases as they whisk all the remaining Halloween stuff into mystery carts full of random items. With them ripping down the displays so early it just added to the already hectic feeling inside the store. Every year they clear those shelves earlier and earlier.

I'm not knocking starting early with you Christmas shopping, but I don't want to see fake Christmas tree's before we even get out of October. I started my christmas shopping months ago. Nothing crazy just one or two presents that I would come across in my usual shopping. I'd have no issue if they had started with stuff like wrapping paper and gifting stuff, but I still don't see any of those useful items. Instead they have christmas tree's and stockings.

Maybe I am more sensitive about this because I have a December birthday and we don't decorate for Christmas til the beginning of December or even the start of the 12 days of Christmas countdown.

Before we know it they will be going directly from school supplies to Christmas displays. Have we even given Santa a chance to check his list once let alone twice before we are having the season shoved down our throats?

When do you decorate for Christmas? How about Christmas shopping, have you not began yet or are you already finished? Are you like me and vow every year to start early and you make a point to get a few presents early but you finish most your shopping in the last month?

Related Articles

• Is It Time To Start Christmas Shopping? (blazingminds.co.uk)
• When Should Christmas Advertising Start? (socyberty.com)

Toasted Pumpkin seeds

Toasted Pumpkin Seeds are a Favorite Fall treat in our house

This is the method I use every year to toast our pumpkin seeds that come from the carnage of carving our Jack o lanterns. If you have ever carved 5 pumpkins at one time you would completely understand the carnage comment. We seriously had a mound of pumpkin innards over a foot tall. These seeds rarely make it into November. (even with hiding them.) I make different flavors but they all start out the same.

Toasted Pumpkin Seeds

Ingredients

• Clean pumpkin seeds (no pumpkin innards just seeds)
• Vegetable Oil or Olive Oil (any cooking oil works)
• Choice of seasoning (my family prefers cinnamon and sugar)

Directions

1. Pre-heat oven to 400°
2. Toss seeds in oil to even coat. (It prevents them from drying out too much and will help the flavor coating stick better.)
3. Cook for 10 minutes and remove from oven. Checking to make sure they are not browning. You only want them to start turning golden brown.
4. In a bowl place your seasoning. Toss your seeds in the bowl to evenly coat in seasoning.
5. Place seeds back into the oven for 5-8 more minutes. Watching closely so they do not over brown.

Seasoning

Cinnamon and sugar ~ 1 cup sugar and 1TB cinnamon

Spicy~ Toss seeds in your favorite hot sauce

Salty ~ Crack sea salt on the seeds before baking the second time. Sea salt tastes better to me than table salt on seeds, but you can use table salt.

I still have another batch of seeds to make. Any suggestions on a flavor to try?

Everyone have a safe and Happy Halloween.

Basket-case

I've been a bad blogger lately, I have been so busy with life that I didn't have the mental capacity at the end of the day to come up with coherent thoughts.  I've been waking up in time to walk my oldest girls to school for their early morning instrument ensemble and then having trouble falling asleep at night.  With being a stay at home mom I still feel like there is never enough hours in a day.  (even with insomnia)  I keep trying to remind myself that Halloween is just the warm-up act for the insanity that is the Holiday season.  I can't lose my grip on my sanity just yet.  There are still a few more months to go before we are safely through the season.

My husband has taken a few days off from work and you would think that having him home would make things easier. I have found it isn't true at all.  It may just be me but I can't seem to get that much of my housework done with him home.  We end up sitting around watching tv or joking around.  Not a bad alternative but my house needs serious cleaning daily with four kids, 2 adults, a parrot and two hamsters living in it.

To help make cleaning easier I use the basket method.  When cleaning my front room I take a small laundry basket and put everything in it that does not belong in that room. Tidying everything up as I clean.  When I get everything picked up in the room I put away all the items from the basket and then continue with another room.  I love using small laundry baskets to clean but laundry is one of my least favorite household chores to do.

I love small laundry baskets.  Everyone in my house has one with their name on them.  When doing laundry I gather the baskets I place the laundry in each basket as I fold.  Then I have my children put their laundry away.  Even my four-year old tornado puts away her laundry.  Sometimes it inspires her to have a full-blown outfit change, but it's one less basket of laundry I have to contend with.

Clicker Training Hamsters

I am a sucker for animals that need a home. Our African Grey parrot Mezmo is a rescue bird. (He came to us just last December) Mezmo had some behavior problems but after serious clicker training he has changed drastically. It took some work with great guidance from a set of Bird Tricks DVD's I purchased. My only regret was not buying the DVD's sooner.

My youngest sister is moving out-of-state soon and I guess her friend thought it would be the perfect chance to pawn some angry hamsters off on someone. (someone she may never see ever again.) After accepting them my sister realized that there was no way she could take the hamsters on the long move.

In turn our family recently acquired 2 dwarf hamsters with cage and supplies, from my little sister. They are two girl Dwarf hamsters, one is white with pink eyes and the other looks just like the picture. Her friend's kids had stopped handling them as often as they should due to other newer pets in the house, which was why their mom got rid of them. The hamsters are not very well socialized and they will bite. They are very aggressive when treats are given. I think they had also been teased. We are going to try to do clicker training with them. Clicker training is a great trust building activity. It has worked very well with our parrot.

I learned what I know about clicker training from the DVD's we purchased from Bird Tricks. After some research on the web I found someone using clicker training for hamsters as well. Rodents being a food reward type animal clicker training the hamsters will be very similar to the bird. I will just use what I learned from the DVD's and adapt the training for small animals and not a bird.

My goal is to get the hamsters to the point that my kid's can hold them without the hamsters attempting to bite them. As a family, we plan to go visit the nearby pet store this weekend and pick out some new accessories for the hamsters' cage. Our oldest two daughters want to name the hamsters as a family this weekend as well.

Related Articles

• Is a Hamster a Good First Pet? (brighthub.com)

White Distilled Vinegar

Did you know word vinegar comes from the french word “vinaigre” meaning sour wine?  Which makes you wonder was vinegar discovered by some happy accident thousands of years ago when a cask of wine spoiled?  During winemaking the natural sugars ferment into alcohol.  Bacteria from exposure to the air changes the alcohol into an acetic acid.  The acetic acid is what gives the “sour wine” its taste.

I've never realized just how many uses around the house for white distilled vinegar .  I could go on forever about vinegar and it's multitude of uses.  Ask my poor husband, he's tolerated my constant vinegar praises.  Instead of a dissertation here are a few household uses that I tried and have worked for me.  I've tried more but these are my favorites.

Toilet Cleaner / Deodorizer

Put 1/4 cup of vinegar into your toilet bowl and let sit for about 20 minutes.  Clean with standard toilet brush.  Not only does it clean the toilet but it prevents the toilet ring from building up as soon.

Burned Water / Scorched Pan

Even I have burned a pan after boiling away water.  (shhh, don't tell my chef friends)  After the incident I was left with a horrible scorching on my pan.  I found that to remove the scorching just add 1/2 cup baking soda and some white vinegar. You will get a bubbling mass just like the old volcano science project as a child.  Let the mixture sit in the pan for a few hours.  Pour out and it will need very little if any scrubbing.

Laundry

Add 1/2 cup to the wash water before adding clothing.  Vinegar will break down fresh stains.  It will even prevent clothes from getting mildewed if forgotten in the wash too long.

Shower doors

To clean the soap and water buildup on shower doors you can use white vinegar as well. First using the scrub side of a sponge lightly scrub baby oil on the glass shower doors.  Wipe doors with the sponge soaked in vinegar.  Rinse off the doors with clean water.  This will even prevents future buildup.



The biggest complaint most people have with using vinegar is the odor.  The smell when cleaning with vinegar only lasts a few hours before it dissipates.  If you still want to try cleaning with vinegar but the smell is still holding you back here is a recipe for an All-Purpose cleaner using vinegar.  Be sure to add the essential oils and it covers the vinegar odor. (citrus does the best)

All Purpose Vinegar Cleaner

• 1 cup distilled water
• 1 cup distilled white vinegar
• 1/4 teaspoon dishwashing liquid
• 15 drops or so of essential oil (optional)

Mix all the ingredients in a good quality, clean spray bottle.

Do not use on Marble. Vinegar is acidic and will damage the marble.

Related Articles

• Ah, vinegar. I love you. (enviromom.com)

Caramel Popcorn Balls

Most the day on Friday I spent busily putting away my overly large collection of kitchen glassware and gadgets into this china hutch I recently received. It used to belong to my sister but she is moving out-of-state so I bought it from her. It needs some new hardware, but that will be an easy fix. I really needed the extra storage. My kitchen storage was bursting at the seams, all due to my addiction for all things cool looking and cooking related.

I'm excited by just how much counter top I freed up by storing my occasional use appliances in the bottom of the hutch. I can't wait to make a Lattice-top Apple pie in my kitchen now. Or maybe some Italian Pastry cookies. Oh, the ideas I have for my kitchen this upcoming holiday season. I even grabbed my rolling-pin and mimed rolling out some dough.

With all the ideas of baking possibilities swirling through my mind it really got me into the spirit of fall so, I made some Popcorn balls for a special treat. They were surprisingly easy to make. More importantly the kids loved them.

Caramel Popcorn Balls

Yields about 6 popcorn balls

Ingredients
2 quarts popped popcorn or 1/3 cup popcorn kernels

1 cup packed brown sugar

1/3 cup water

1/3 cup dark corn syrup

1/4 cup butter (no substitutes)

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. Pop the 1/3 cup of popcorn kernels using your preferred method. Put the popcorn in a large bowl and set aside.
2. In a heavy saucepan, combine the brown sugar, water, corn syrup, butter and salt. Bring mixture to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly.
3. Continue cooking, without stirring , until a candy thermometer reads 270 degrees F (soft-crack stage).
4. Remove from the heat; stir in vanilla. Pour over popcorn; stir until the popcorn is evenly coated. When cool enough to handle, quickly shape into balls.
5. Let cool at room temperature.

Variation

This recipe also makes a great popcorn munch. To make this recipe as a popcorn munch reduce the amount of popped popcorn you use and add 1 cup of your favorite nuts. To cool, spread on waxed paper at room temperature. You can also drizzle with melted chocolate.

Boiled Eggs

When boiling eggs and you notice a crack forming in the shell as it cooks, simply pull the egg out of the water with a slotted spoon and throughly coat the crack in salt. Let the salt sit for a minute then add the egg back to the boiling water.  The salt will seal up most cracks that form after cooking has begun.

Or to prevent the cracks in the first place add a few Tablespoons of white vinegar to the water.

When making deviled eggs do not over crowd the pan. Leave room to stir the eggs around while cooking.  If you gently stir the eggs while they cook the yolk with form in the center for an attractive uniform base for the deviled eggs.

When poaching eggs add a Tablespoon of white vinegar to the water and the eggs will stay formed better.  Cook as usual.

Related Articles

• Super-quick Egg Shelling (quazen.com)

Fall is here... finally

It's fall according to the calendar but someone hasn't gotten that memo to the weather.

I miss experiencing the changing of the seasons. There is no change of seasons living in Las Vegas, just hot and dry or colder and windy. It has me looking back fondly on the years we lived in Tennessee. I spent hours raking the leaves to the curb for collection by the city that's turned into mulching. Raking was a mindless and repetitive chore, but I loved every second of it. I loved watching as my scenery changed daily, breathing the crisp fresh air, and watching the squirrels hurriedly store their nuts. With all the enjoyment I got out of raking there still was no leaping with wild abandon into piles of leaves for me, the fear of some random creepy creature hidden beneath the crunchy layers restrained me. That very fear of creepy creatures was born from being chased by a snake while mowing the lawn one summer. It was a harmless snake but I still shudder just looking at pictures of snakes.

This will be yet another year when my kids will have to omit portions of their full Halloween costumes due to the oppressive heat. I remember growing up in Utah and having to plan our costumes around whether we could fit our winter coat under it or not. You were no longer just a fairy princess but a fairy princess with a glandular disorder. I recall longing to wear the costume without the extra multiple layers for warmth. Looks like I got my wish, in my usual over active overachiever style. Which is really better though, being so hot that you can't wear the adorable full body zip up fuzzy costumes or so cold that you need mittens or risk your first fall cold? Just another instance of the grass being greener.

One thing I am very grateful for this year is that there will be a VERY long weekend around Halloween for both my kids and husband. We may have to tolerate the ridiculous heat 9 months out of the year but at least we get October 30th off from school and work all thanks to Nevada Day. This year the kids will get a long 5 day weekend to recover from their Halloween antics. It wont be a break for me because I will be the one sleeping with one eye open to guard the candy stash. If left unguarded they will slowly sneak off with it into their own secret stash that ends up being the cause of their sudden lack of appetite before dinner is even cooked or cause of their complaints about tummy aches. Let's hope our 4-year-old learned a lesson about sneaking too much candy after she experienced chocolate puke episodes. I doubt she did learn anything from it, which is why I get to become the candy warden.

Even with the craziness of Halloween, candy thieves, bake sales, fall festivals, catalog fundraisers. (does my 5th grader really need to sell Tupperware?) Autumn is still my favorite season. With the start of fall comes my favorite scent filling the stores, apples and cinnamon. These scents combined sends me into a baker's frenzy. Just one whiff and I want to bake cinnamon rolls, pies, turnovers, crumbles, baked apples and so much more. I could go on for hours about the baked goods that dance through my head with the slightest hint of these smells.

If you enjoy the cinnamon scent as much as I do you should try this simple way to fill your house with its wonderful aroma. With the cooler weather comes the use of home heating that in turn dries out the air, which can lead to many problems including dry skin, sinus problems, and much more. This simple air-freshener restores the humidity to the air while making your home smell wonderful.

Simmering Potpourri

Just add a tablespoon or more of ground cinnamon in a pan of simmering water and keep adding water as it boils away. Or use a small crock pot with the lid off.

Make sure not to let the mixture run dry.

Some variations include: 1 cup of apple cider or orange juice added to the water, and ground cloves instead of or in addition to the ground cinnamon and even adding a sliced apple.

30 Day Shred Redux

That's right you read that right, I'm starting over on the 30 day shred. The results I was getting were just too impressive not to fight through it again. I only made it just surpassed the halfway point before I was sabotaged. I didn't even make it to the change-up into difficulty level three which has really bothered me.

As of today I am back on day 3 of the 30 day shred. I started back on level one of the three difficulty levels and I am so glad I did. Let me just say, I am really feeling it today. Yesterday, I caught myself at some time or another walking as if I were decrepit old woman. After going for a walk with my kids to the store my aching muscles felt so much better. They just needed a better cooldown than what it shown in the video, nothing over the top just a nice 15 minute walk.

Julian Michaels is still the same reincarnate of a medieval torturer that I remembered. Even though I've done these workouts before, it really was day 1 all over again. It's not that I lost the muscle tone just the muscle memory of the workouts. Don't get me wrong, I love doing the 30 day Shred. I love that Julian Michaels is not your average cookie cutter, annoyingly perky trainer gazing blankly at you from screen like most other workout videos you've seen in the past. She is one tough cookie. She doesn't try to cheer lead you through the workout, but instead pushes you with her no excuses attitude. At one point in workout level one she says, "I have 400 lb people who can do jumping jacks, so can you!" Just when you start to feel the burn she gets this demented look on her face like she will come through your TV screen if you even think about resting.

On days when I want to get in a little more exercise (which is crazy sounding within the first few days of each level of the 30DS) I do a few repetitions of V-ups with my exercise ball. To me exercise becomes an obsession, once I really get over the first shock to my body and into a good workout schedule. The endorphin rush from a great workout is very addictive.

Here is a video of a good example of V-ups

My belly may have been cute 7 to 8 months ago when it was round with my baby boy. Now that it is round from too many sweets it's not so adorable. So it's outta here!

I will be wearing those goal jeans for my birthday. That means less than three more months to go!

Cheaper Dishwashing

Dishes

Save money on dishwasher detergent. When you add white vinegar you can use one of the cheaper brands instead.

To boost the cleaning power just add vinegar with the soap and run cycle as usual. This will work with dishes done in the sink as well.

Weight Loss Sabotage

I was doing great on my workouts. Julian Michaels was thoroughly kicking my sorry hide into shape. A shape I was beginning to really enjoy seeing. Then it happened...

Aunt Flo finally reared her ugly head after 6 months of no Postpartum visits. She arrived with all the evil excess baggage of migraines, bloating, cramping, sleeplessness, mood swings and feeling perpetually tired. I really did try to stick with working out, but after the first day I thought I was going to need some sort of hospitalization just to recover.

Then once I finally got Aunt flo and all her extra baggage out, I got sick. Not just a little sick either, no.. I am an overachiever and get a lingering chest cold that made me want to drag myself to the doctors for. Which was understandable since I ended up having my first asthma attack in years, but thankfully we still keep a rescue inhaler for that type of emergency. I hate the doctors though, they always want to poke me with needles and rarely do they only stab me once. All that poking and prodding would be for nothing, because I am breast-feeding and couldn't take most medications to help ease any of the symptoms without affecting my milk supply or flat-out being dangerous for my son. A visit to the doctors would be pointless and just be atrocious on top of me already feeling miserable. Instead I drank my orange juice, stayed hydrated, and tried to take it easy.

Back to the weight-loss saboteur sidekick, my dear sweet loving husband who isn't the most helpful when trying to lose weight. Sure he is a great workout buddy, but when it comes to healthy snacking it's a disaster. During this past month he has brought home ice cream sandwiches for me. (He's Lactose intolerant so none of them are for him.) Sure, they are the Skinny Cow ice cream sandwiches but that is a slippery sugary slope for me. Then next it was the Twix ice cream bar and more ice cream sandwiches. Which turned into a daily iced coffee instead of it being a weekly treat. Sweets are my weakness. Maybe he's being sneaky and vindictive after I silently giggled at him for never again attempting the 30 day shred after that first workout. Nah, he's not that spiteful and he is enjoying the results of my workouts too.

So, back to the 30 day shred I go. Maybe I'll switch it up a few days with the Zumba workout my mother's group has talked about. Back to the grind! Those goal jeans have been taunting me from the bottom of my dresser. No more self sabotage.

I love you honey, but no more ice cream sandwiches to say you love me, a hug and the real words are better for my waistline.

Love, Charleston by Beth Webb Hart

A book about real life happy endings.  It centers around a group of 2 sisters, their cousin and a pastor who's lives intersect in the picturesque town of Charleston.  This book went from a story about your divine destiny to the greatest story of how with the support of loved ones and faith you can overcome anything.

It starts with the story of Roy, a widower and small town pastor asked to offer his guidance at a large well to do church that he fears he can't connect with.  His strong belief in a greater plan leads him to accept the challenge of going where he was not comfortable, but led him to find love again.

The story of one sister, Anne, who as a bell-ringer for St. Michael's church in Charleston believed God spoke to her one day, telling her to "stay and wait" for her true love.  So, wait she does even when those around her try to make her doubt her unquestioning faith.

Then there is Anne's cousin Della, a wife and mother struggling with the stress that lack of money can put on your relationship and happiness.  The lingering doubts that she chose the right man.  The distance that can separate spouses when they don't clasp to their connection with each other when times are tough.

Though as this story shows the grass isn't always greener on the other side.  It also portrays Anne's sister life that from the outside looks like a picture perfect life.  After an emergency c-section with her 3rd pregnancy Lish falls into a deep depression.  Her battle with postpartum depression and the heart breaking way it takes over her life pulls at the reader.

Upon reading the first chapter I thought to myself,"Oh no, an overly religious book.", but the further I read into the book the harder it was to walk away from.  When the story turned to Lish's struggle with postpartum depression it was so vivid and heart wrenching that is left my hands sweating and shaking.   The strength of love, faith and unflinching support illustrated in this book left me hopeful about humanity.  I feel that no matter how many times I read this book I will come away with a different insight into faith and love, all depending on what I am facing in life.

I received a complimentary copy of this book to review from the book publisher through the website http://BookSneeze.com, but I am under no obligation to give a positive review.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

For other reviews on this book visit Book Sneeze

Baby Books and Milestones

As a crafty mom I would love to have the baby books filled out for my children as the milestones occur. Being a busy mom of 4 kids I know that isn't realistic. I have come up with a way for me to have the best of both worlds, a complete baby book and be on top of my day-to-day drudgery. (yes, dishes and laundry I mean you.)

I hang a large wall calendar, out of reach of little sticky fingers, but in a convenient spot for myself. As my children grow and reach their different milestones I can quickly jot them down on the calendar. Later I can transcribe them to my baby books when it is a more convenient time. (usually after bedtime)

I've saved little silly sayings from my kids and even taped a small envelope from the first haircut to a calendar.

Now that my older children are in school they are constantly bringing home art work or other papers they are proud of. (Make sure they put their name and date on the back of the artwork as soon as you see it. At the least the month or even school year) Ever year I make a folder with their name, grade and teachers name on it. We will fill this folder throughout the year. At the end of the school year we pick out the papers and art that meant the most to us. One piece of art makes its way to a special frame on the wall. (turning a part of the hallway into my own children's art gallery.) The remaining stay in the folder for the day I can transfer them to their own special book of works.

School Daze

Toward the end of the long summer I find myself longing for the start of school and the stricter schedule that comes with it. Even though it's hard getting back into the regular school schedule I find it comforting at the same time. Before summer has passed the midway point I find myself wistfully yearning for the homework battles, parent teacher conferences, early morning clubs, and even the last-minute school projects that come with the school year.

To help the school year run as smoothly as possible I have come up with a few laws of mom-land. Ok , so they are more strong guidelines, but it works for my household. Maybe they could help with yours as well.

Every night before bed we check our schedule for the next days specials class. (Specials classes are the Art, Music, Library and two days of P.E. that rotate throughout the week) We then choose an outfit according to the next day's schedule. This helps to get my older children off to school on time with as few conflicts as humanly possible. (they are two girls sharing one bathroom, some conflict is unavoidable.) I have made selecting clothing for the day even easier with a few minor changes in laundry habits. When doing laundry I have recruited my older daughters to pair up their own school outfits and hang them together on one hanger, so that they have a full outfit at their fingertips. This saves time at night when we are in the midst of a bedtime battle with my 4-year-old and gets them to bed at a decent time. Having them pair the outfits gives them some feeling of control over their own day-to-day wardrobe.

Once they get home from school I have them immediately wash their hands. School is the gathering place of outbreak monkeys children. Becoming the unsuspecting petri dish for whatever germ they are harboring on their hands from their day is not high on my wish list. This habit is what I credit for our children not getting sick for an entire school year and they both ended up receiving the Governor's Award in Excellence for Perfect Attendance. To receive the award you need to miss 3 or less days of school the entire year. That includes the fact that three tardy days are equal to one absence.

After a full body sanitizing in the clean room they have a quick snack. I wish I had a sanitizing room. Kid's carry the nastiest germs and share them freely. They usually get a popsicle or other frozen treat, because we live in a desert that has two seasons; hot and dry for 9 months or windy and cool for the other 3 months. I don't consider the 2-3 days of rainy weather a season or the once every five years freak snow storm one either.

We will then go over that days homework directions. Now that they are older they don't need this as often since they know my expectations. When they complete their work I go over it correcting it. Not giving the answers but circling wrong problems on math worksheets or giving a proofread on english work. They then take their homework back and correct the mistakes. Since doing this their grades have improved and their understanding of the work has increased. During homework time no TV is on in the entire house. It is time for the younger children to play quietly or read a book.

One thing that drives my kids crazy is that I do not accept messy written work. Neatness matters foremost. It wont matter if you spelled everything correctly if the teacher cannot read the paper to begin with. I started this at a young school age. Lauryn is the only one to still try to get away with scribbling her work in a way that looks like she attempted writing with her toes. It just takes one day of me making her rewrite her work as many as 3 or 4 times for her to improve her neatness.. Every once in a while she needs a reminder, but not as often anymore.  I wish my parents had cared enough about my school work to do any of this.

When I review their math worksheets I circle math problems they got wrong. If the continue to have trouble with their work I will not just supply them with the answer. Instead I go through the directions with them once again and work through a problem with them to show where they may have made a mistake. I let them do the work, showing me how they did the problem, so that I can explain where they made the mistake. After 2 years of doing this, more often than not they just need me to circle the problem they got wrong.

Once we finish with homework it is time to relax. They spend their time playing with their younger siblings. I'm surprised they have not arm wrestled for who gets to hold their baby brother first. Just the other day he spit up all over Morgan. It was so bad she had to go change her clothes. As she goes running down the hallway gagging she yells, "It's still my turn to hold him!"

Finger Painting Recipe

One of the most messy but still very fun crafts I've done with my children at any age is finger painting, or even footprints with the baby.

Finger paint

Ingredients

1/2 cup cornstarch
3 Tbsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
2 cups cold water
food coloring

Directions

1. Mix all ingredients together in a medium saucepan. (leaving out the food coloring until later)
2. Cook the mixture over low heat for 10 to 15 minutes. Keep stirring until the mixture is smooth and thick. Once the mixture has thickened remove the pan from the heat and let cool completely.
3. After it's cooled, divide the finger paint into storage containers depending on how many colors you would like.
4. Add a few drops of food coloring to each container. Mix the coloring in very well. Your paint is ready for play!
5. Cover tightly when storing.

Tip

I use old baby food jars to store the paint in. Your children can help mix the food coloring in by shaking the tightly closed jars.  It was very easy to clean up and only left the slightest tint on the baby's foot, but not the hands. (weird, I know) Nothing that a good bath time wont get rid of.

Book Sneeze

As a blogger I recently signed up for a free service called Book Sneeze. It's a great program that gives a complimentary copy of a book for bloggers to become an online reviewer of. In some cases you may even receive advance copies before they even hit store shelves. The bookworm in me was quivering with excitement when I discovered this service.

As part of the program you're not required to give a positive review about the book , just an honest one. They do have a few easy guidelines to adhere to while writing your reviews. When finished you just need to post your review on your blog, the Book Sneeze website and another suggested consumer website. Your reviews must state that you did receive your book as a complimentary copy. (this is due to FCC regulations)

I was very excited to receive my first book and am thoroughly enjoying this unexpected read. I am an avid reader so the Book Sneeze program thrilled me to take part in. Although I can speed read a larger book in less than 2 hours I am enjoying the chance to throughly engulf myself in this book.

Look for my book reviews in the future.

If you are a blogger and interested in trying Book Sneeze just click on their link in the sidebar and sign up. In a few short days you too can also be a book reviewer.

Babies Don't Keep

One of the women from my motherhood forum posted this and it really made me smile. This poem really is how I feel most days. Everything else can wait because my baby wont always be a willing cuddle bug.

Babies Don’t Keep
by Ruth Hulburt Hamilton

Mother, oh Mother,
come shake out your cloth,
empty the dustpan,
poison the moth,
hang out the washing
and butter the bread,
sew on a button and make up a bed.
Where is the mother whose house
is so shocking?
She's up in the nursery,
blissfully rocking.
Oh, I've grown shiftless as Little
Boy Blue (lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
(pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo).
The shopping's not done
and there's nothing for stew
and out in the yard there's a hullabaloo
but I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo.
Look! Aren't her eyes the most wonderful hue?
(lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).
The cleaning and scrubbing
will wait till tomorrow,
for Children grow up,
as I've learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs.
Dust go to sleep.
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep......

The Ultimate Chocolate Sauce

I was playing around with a recipe in my kitchen and came up with delicious chocolate sauce. I will never be buying another chocolate sauce from the store ever again. This was too cheap and easy to make to not use it.  Depending on how long you cook the recipe will decide what type of sauce you make.  I just may give this recipe in squeeze bottles and or little jars as part of a Christmas gift.

Ultimate Chocolate Sauce

Ingredients

2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa

1 1/4 cups water

1 2/3 cups sugar

2 TBS corn syrup

1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions

1. In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine cocoa sugar and water.
2. Bring to a full boil and let boil (for 5 min to make your own version of Hershey's squeeze bottle chocolate)  (for 15 minutes  to make hot fudge ice cream topping) Stir constantly.
3. Remove from heat and stir in Vanilla.
4. Let sauce cool to thicken.
5. Store in the refrigerator.

Adding to the Joy of Baking

There are many things I can't live without bake without. The one thing most important to me for baking is my can of Baker's Joy cooking spray.  I can't say enough about how much I love that baking spray.  Even some of the stickiest and most troublesome recipes will always slide right out of the pan when using Baker's Joy.  Unlike when you oil then flour dust a pan separately, when using Baker's joy it uses only a fine mist of oil and flour.  Leaving much less chance for a simple mistake like too much or too little ruin your sweet treat.

My all time favorite packaged brownie mix is easily the Ghirardelli triple chocolate brownie. I buy mine in bulk at Sam's Club. 4 batches of this gooey brownie come in one box.  When we eat the last batch it is truly a bittersweet day.

My favorite use for brownies if they make it beyond the warm gooey treat fresh from the oven is turning them into hot fudge brownie sundaes.  Even with a lactose intolerant husband I can't live without my standard french vanilla ice cream to dress up with yummy treats like these brownies or even a favorite cookie.  It is the one ice cream you can always count on in my freezer.  Dress it up or mix something in, vanilla ice cream is a good base to start many delicious treats.  French vanilla is even more yummy with its vanilla bean speckles and custard-like base.

Here is a delicious hot fudge sauce recipe.

Hot Fudge Sauce

Ingredients

• 1 stick butter
• 4 ounces unsweetened chocolate
• 3 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 - 13 ounce can evaporated milk

Directions

1. In top of a double boiler over hot water, melt butter and chocolate.
2. Gradually add sugar and half the milk alternately.
3. Stir well after each addition
4. Add remaining milk, stirring constantly.
5. Cook until mixture is thick and sugar dissolves.

Notes

May store in a glass jar in the refrigerator.

Breastfeeding in public (warning - offensive content) (via B O H O M A M A M O J O)

I recently posted about this subject myself. But the visuals provided here make the point so much clearer. Even though in Las Vegas it is legal for a woman to breast feed uncovered in public even if nip ends up being flashed, I have been harassed before for breast feeding in public while covered. I was horrified because I live in a city where there are billboards of more naked than clothed people, more magazines boxes for girlie ads on more streets than newspaper boxes and panhandlers on the main strip handing out flyers with only edited stars to cover the nipple. I hope that one day my girls wont have the same censure for breast feeding that we face today.

Women who breastfeed are constantly indecently exposing themselves. It really is quite offensive and someone should make it stop. Look at this gal, did the modesty gene skip her? Wait...Well, this is a bad example. Let's try again. Hmm...Just a minute. I'm sure I can find better ones than these... Eh, still not offensive enough. I'll check one more time. That is better. LOOK AT THAT! I see about a half inch of boob. DISGUSTING. UGH. Look at that … Read More

via B O H O M A M A M O J O

Hell Week ~ Motherhood version

This past week has been what could only be described as hell week the Motherhood version.  I feel like I unknowingly pledged to join some secret society and forced to pass some horrendous tasks.

With summer vacation coming to an end and the countdown to school starting my kids have, to put it in simple terms, lost their freaking minds.  They shredded my sanity in the process.

Little Mister is in a full-blown teething fit lately.  The teething tablet were lost. ::cry::  I tore the house apart looking for them since they are a $6 bottle of teething miracle.  The bottle was more than half way full, so I refused to buy another.  I stubbornly believed I would find that bottle.  After a 3 hour screaming jag on his part and a crying fit on mine did I buy a new bottle.  It was only after the last of my sanity slipped away I gave in and bought that new bottle. Why didn't I do this sooner?  I got an even bigger bottle, with almost twice the tablets for only 50 cents more.

My toddler tornado seems to believe that turning 4 means you double up the terrible twos.  She has been on a tantrum frenzy lately.  If she isn't having a meltdown she is having a pout fest.  With her older sister's back she spends a good part of her time doing everything in her power to annoy them.  Taking special things from their shelves. (she climbs on precarious self built structures to get to their precious collections)

She recently got extremely angry (picture a cute but very angry troll jumping up and down) because her older sister was holding little mister and wouldn't pass him to her.  She tried tattling that they weren't sharing brother. (like he is a toy) When that didn't work she screamed at her sister to go away she wanted her brother alone again.  The start of school can't come soon enough for the toddler tornado, then she will go back to crying when they go to class. (gotta love the drama that comes with 3 girls)

The tweens, Are experiencing nothing short of being possessed by some psychosis lately.  It leaves them bickering with each other over the smallest things. "That's my pet shop!" (out of the hundreds they own they fight over one.. worst part is it's one of the doubles.)  When they were toddlers they would tell anyone who listened that they were best friends.  Now, they spend more time as mortal enemies.

The tweens also recently got back from a month with their Nana who doesn't have the same type of household expectations as I do. Don't get me wrong I'm no clean freak or obsessive organizer. (I haven't arranged my movies in alphabetically order since having kids.) I do have some expectations though. I now get to spend my time turning them back into productive members of our household.  I get to re-teach them that their dirty clothes will not crawl their way to the laundry hamper themselves.  We limit TV times for a reason.  They should not sneak around and watch after being told to do a more enriching activity. (like practicing multiplication facts.)  Making your littlest sister cry is not an acceptable way to pass the time.

I ended up having a huge meltdown yesterday. Of course my brother shows up just in time to see it. ::embarrassed:: I was hormonal, tired, stressed and in desperate need of a break.    Four kids on summer break and no break in sight for mom makes for a very cranky mommy.  It's not that I don't ask for a break from the kids.  I do!  But for me to actually get one I have to go on strike or wait until everyone else is asleep to get some me time.  For a while now I have taken my me time in the early morning and using it to workout.  Unfortunately recently the kids have woken earlier and earlier leaving me for no personal time in the mornings to workout without an audience or kids badgering me about breakfast in the middle of my workout. Or even worse getting under foot.. (I hurt my leg due to a kid blanket that the kids left on the floor right behind me during a workout.)

I love my kids! Just because I vent about their meltdowns (ok so them causing my meltdowns) don't think I don't love them. Every parent needs a break.  More so for the ones that are the stay at home parent. My job's shift isn't over in 8 hours, I get no vacation time, no sick time, and no pay. (unless you count payment in hugs, but it's easy to forget those when the hug giver is standing in front of you in the midst of the biggest tantrum you have ever seen)

School will be starting again. Very soon I will be back in the middle homework battles, school projects and parent teacher conferences.  Before I know it I'll be looking forward to the first school break when we wont need to wake early or use a daily calendar for what to wear that day.  (No dresses for P.E. or favorite outfits worn on Art days)

Just don't get me started on what all these schedule changes are going to do to our parrots behavior.  It's like a having a bad toddler that doesn't handle change in their schedule AT ALL. Fun times.