Going on a Book Adventure

http://bookadventure.com

Where has the site been all my life?  Ok, ok.. I actually lived before there was Internet, home computers and push button phones.  ::creepy music plays::

When I tell my kids this they look at me like I grew up in a cave.  It's a look that's a mixture of horror, pity and morbid curiosity.  What happened when I wanted to know the answer to something. I had to go to a library or our trusty volumes of Encyclopedia's.  Paper cuts and all.

I had plans to use Book Adventure for our summer reading enrichment. Then to my great surprise their virtual school, NVVA, decided to use this program too and offer incentives as well. Mom wins!!

I hope you have a Book Adventure this summer as well. Foster a love for reading. Let your kids see you read often and they will discover their own love for it.  (Monkey See, Monkey Do) Unplug and unwind with a good book.
http://bookadventure.com

I finally cracked the code when it came to my oldest and a love for reading.  I just had to find the right book.  What book, you ask, was it that finally sparked her flame?  War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells.  I have a Sci-Fi nut on my hands.   It started as a school lesson meant to be spread out over 2 weeks.  She finished the entire unit and book in 3-4 days.  I convinced her recently to give Tuck Everlasting a try.  The rate she is reading this book she will be done quickly as well.

Do you have a favorite book from your early teens?  It would be hard to pick just one for me, but the Dragonriders of Pern series would be at the top.

Homemade Waffle, Shortcake, Biscuit Mix Recipe

http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,164,151188-248197,00.html

This waffle recipe is a kid approved recipe. It was a huge hit with all 5 of my kids.  We added a dash of cinnamon to the waffle mix.  I'm sure once I stock up on this mix. (in my deep freezer) The kids will tire of waffles but then I can make biscuits!  Mom wins!!

Extra Life

Did you know that last year Extra Life raised over $2 Million for the Children's Miracle Network? This year they hope they can do more, but they need your help.





I am a Mom and a Gamer.  Although I could not physically stay up the 25 hours playing video games.  I can support this worthy fundraiser by donating and sharing this cause widely.

One of my good gamer friends is leading team Charlie Foxtrot this year.  Be a Hero and donate today or join a team. We need you to do your part however small and make a difference to those fighting big battles.

Donations are tax deductible and ALL proceeds go to help the kids.

http://www.extra-life.org for more info
  

The official game day isn't until November 2nd, 2013.  I know that is still a long time til game day, but it means more time to spread the news and get support.


You can Join Team Charlie Foxtrot or
Donate to help them achieve their goal.

Every little bit adds up.

Happy Mother's Day 2013

I'm going to be very honest. Motherhood is not all rainbows and butterflies.  No, I did not enjoy every moment.  There are those times that shine through and over power all the less than stellar times.   Like when your child says,"I love you" for the first time.   That wonderful rush you get pushes the memories of walking into their bedroom at 6AM to them completely covered in poo from head to toe as well as the bed and wall.

Motherhood has brought me some of the most wonderful moments of my life. It has also brought me some of the most disgusting experiences of my life as well.  I had managed to make it until motherhood without ever getting pee, poo or puke of another human on me.  Within weeks of the birth of my oldest I was already desensitized to the feel of it hitting my bare skin.  Only when pregnant again can I not handle a puking person.

I hope that as you read this I am sitting in my bed surrounded by blankets and pillows being served breakfast in bed.  Some delicious Belgian waffles( from my new waffle maker I got from my parents for Mother's Day) topped with strawberries and whipped topping.

Slow Cook Easy Shredded Pork

This recipe was deliciously easy. I cannot believe I didn't make this years ago.

This recipe is also the first time I was able to use my brand new beautiful Cusinart Multicooker.

My wonderful husband bought be this beautiful appliance after our last crock pot finally gave up after years of heavy use.  Instead of getting me just a new crock pot  I got this beauty. You can turn it to slow cook on high for 5 hours. Don't show up in time to get it off high?  The machine kicks in to warming mode instead.  Saving dinner from scorching!


1 (2 pound) pork roast
1 can Root Beer

Seriously that's it.  I don't add BBQ sauce to this list like other recipes do as this shredded pork is for more than just BBQ sandwiches.  (Pork Tamales... yes, please)

Place your pork roast into the crock pot and add the root beer.

Then let cook on low for 6 hours. Then drain away the juices.

Shred meat and either toss with BBQ and add between a bun or save for other delicious shredded pork meals.

Mom's of More

A mom of more is a mom that has more kid's than most people would be comfortable having.
When you already have 4 kids the comments you get when pregnant with the 5th are rarely congratulatory.  They range from "Wow, already?!"  to "Don't you know how to close your legs?"

I try not to take offense at these, but it can be difficult.  People act like that since we have both 3 girls and a boy we should be done "breeding".  I grew up in a large family and enjoyed the chaos and merriment of the holidays.  It was great to be able to have a ready made playmate or choice of playmates.

My replies have become more snarky to these people as we have had more kids as well.  I tried being nice.. nice ended 2 kids ago.

• "Yes, I know how babies are made and we enjoy doing it."  
• When confronted by a very rude older Mexican woman, I told her,"We are just doing our part to keep Caucasians from becoming a minority." (Not sure how I kept a straight face for that one.)
• Or my husband's favorite: "We keep trying to make an ugly one, just can't get it right... So, how did you do it?"  

I'm tired of being treated like I haven't been married for almost 15 years to the same man.  All my children have 1 father and I enjoy spending time with them all.  I'm not saying every waking moment if full of rainbows and sparkles.  They are little stubborn people.. They take after mom in temperament.
In fact our family made the choice to virtually home school our children after our local public school district fail time and again.  One school actually told me I would not be allowed to volunteer in my own child's class.. I'm here to help my child's teacher so they can provide a better education to my child and her classmates.  Maybe it's a little selfish but I'm vested in my own child's future.  Why should she not benefit from my volunteer time?

A survey recently released stated that moms of 3 stress more than moms of two. Maybe it's just the straw that broke this camel but baby #3 is when I had Postpartum Depression.  That could also be linked to the IUD birth control I tried shortly.  I stress a lot less now with 5 kids than I ever did with 2.  With 2 they tag teamed me, or one would stand as lookout for the other.  Our oldest was always lookout as her younger sister was the better climber. (we kept cookies on top of the fridge)  With 5 children I now have older helpers that jump at the chance to learn to make dinner or do some other "adult" chore.

With your oldest you try to schedule everything, and stress about every single fever or sniffle.  With your second you learn that fevers happen as well as something scary called febrile seizures. (also normal)  With your third you know more than you did with your oldest and it scares the crap out of you.  Everything that fits through a toilet paper tube is a deadly choking hazard just waiting to ensnare your helpless toddler. (thanks to that one episode when I had to do the Heimlich maneuver on my own kid while very pregnant and home alone.)  The more kids you have you learn to pick your battles. Battles lines go from evryone in matching outfits to clean and appropriate for public. You learn that everything is scary.  There is nothing you can do about most of it, but you can prepare for the possibilities.  It's my job to prepare and protect them til they day I am forced to release them into the world to take on their own battles.