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.

30 Days of Thankful (Day 25)

My 30 Days of Thankful

Day 25

I am thankful for those days when I wake up 2 hours before everyone else.  I used to look at those days as my "I must be crazy" day.  Who in their right mind gets up earlier than they absolutely have to?  I now know.. Mom's that want to enjoy some silence do.

Some days I use that time for yoga or meditation.  Most days I use it to read emails and check with my business.

I love that time of day when I can get myself fully dressed without interruption.  No one asking where their pants are or can i find them a certain pair of socks.

Sitting in front of our mismatched sock basket I feel like I am staring into the River Lethe.  Why am I here?  Was it socks for myself.. the baby...Is that my t-shirt.. I like this shirt.  Why was I at the sock basket again?  It could be an issue with my selective attention span.  I'll sit an read a book for hours if left alone.  (I read The Hunger Games Trilogy over Mother's Day) Leaving me to stare into that sock basket.. and I can barely focus long enough to find 2 pairs.

Mother's Day the Aftermath

Yesterday I had the most relaxing and enjoyable Mother's Day in all the 12+ years of being a mommy.  I did not receive gold and jewels, because they would mean so little to me.  Instead I got a much needed day off from being mommy.

Instead of waking with Monster Maxx at 6am he actually slept until 8 am.  I would have slept in later like was my original plan, but being pregnant my bladder capacity is sad joke.   I woke before anyone else and snuck some quiet time catching up on emails and reading some of my favorite blogs.

For breakfast I didn't get the fantasy breakfast in bed.  Mostly my own fault since I am the early riser in the house.  Instead of lounging in bed trying to ignore the crumbs settling around me as I ate my breakfast that was thoroughly enjoyed because it was not something I had to cook myself for a change. My missed breakfast in bed reminded me of all the years I brought my parents breakfast in bed on these special days.

I spent the remainder of the day guiltily ignoring any and all standard mommy duties.  Watched movies from the comfort of my bed (yup a whole movie ALL the way through!), being brought ice cream and grilled cheese sandwiches and reading an entire book (my first in months).  My mother's day gift from my family was the gift of laziness.  I didn't change a single diaper, wash a  dish, or referee a single argument.   It was glorious!

Even with yesterday being the best mother's day to date.. The aftermath of that day spent lounging is beyond imaginable.  There was clothing scattered from bedrooms, down the stairs and into the couch cushions.  Toys were everywhere but in the actual toy bins and boxes. The remote for our DVR is no where to be found.  I still have not gotten up the nerve to check under the couches for the mess that awaits me there.  I think that was a piece of broccoli stuck to the TV screen.

I think for next year I will ask for a day off and no undeclared disaster zone left for me to clean on the day after mother's day.  Who am I kidding though?  This time next year we will have baby #5 in the house tearing things up as well. Two kids will be in diapers, a five year old that changes outfits more than any diva in concert and two teenage girls with hormones on full blast.  I will be glad to get a bath undisturbed and alone.

I hope all your mother's day were amazing, no matter if you are mother's of birth, adoption, fostering, step- moms or single dads who have to be both roles.  

Mama Needs a Break

All weekend I was ready to lock myself in the bathroom and just marinate in a bubble bath with a long book until after bedtime has passed.  Have you ever had one of those weeks when everything hits you at once?  This is that time for me.  The week before last just set the stage for the crappy week that was this week with the seemingly never ending sickness with my two youngest.  Nothing like having to play nurse for two outbreak monkeys with a chest cold that don't have the social graces not to cough directly in your face.  I'm shocked I didn't come down with a worse cold than I did. It must be the minor immunity I acquired from having been through this unhygienic stage with my oldest two.

Just as Maxx's cold went away teething hit him full force and he's been taking it out on me ever since.  I've lost count how many times he's attempted to bite my shoulder through my clothing while in the middle of a meltdown.  (even with baby sign language they still happen)  He is drooling non stop so every shirt I wear is covered in slobber.  I've gotten to the point I've considered donning a bib or smock to protect myself.  He's been so clingy that I haven't used the restroom alone in over a month. (I'm beginning to forget what the bathroom looks like with the door closed.)

My older girls come home every week with another school project due.   Not just normal projects but ones that are under a short deadline thanks to their lack of planning and poor communication with their teachers.  I may offend someone with this but I hope you'll accept this apology now.  Male teachers at a elementary level suck at communication with parents.  When projects are assigned in a female teacher's classroom you get a packet of paper sent home describing in detail their requirements and even examples of work that is acceptable. With the male teachers you get a piece of paper that your child dictated from the teacher verbally explaining what they expect. (good luck, understanding it if you have a child like mine that doesn't learn well only verbally) Since they rotate classes (to prepare them for middle school) the students only have 1 hour to get their daily classwork done and take notes for any projects.  Another pet peeve of mine is that male teachers are less imaginative on project ideas as well.  My 5th grader did the same exact reading project that she did in fourth grade and that her fourth grader sister did not even a month before.

If only that was all that was swirling on my mind I could handle this like every other day.  Add to the fact that we will be moving soon and I feel like a complete nut job.  It's not that my husband isn't helpful, he just doesn't understand the full aspect of what needs to be accomplished.  He is under the false belief that we can just toss everything in a few boxes and be ready.  After living here for over 3 years and adding another person to the family we have so many things to sort out. We don't need to drag broken kid toys, clothing that doesn't fit or random papers along with us.  Then there is the matter of actually finding a place for us to live.  I've been the one to choose where we live with almost every single move we have ever done in the history of our marriage.  It wouldn't be so overwhelming if he didn't expect us to move closer to his work, but at the same time it is important to be close to the kid's schools, shopping, and doctor's office. (We live less than a mile from all this right now, minus being close to his work. Which is the main reasons I loved living where we live now. )

I wish I could fast-forward time to when we are moved in to our new place.   I hate this in between feeling.  I can't even place any orders online to have anything shipped since we are so close to moving and I would risk it not making it here in time due to horrible weather everywhere but here.

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.