Busy Nutty Mom

Summer time used to mean relaxing and doing nothing.  Then I had kids.  Now it's just as bad as the rest of the year. With no school to do you would think the kids have ample time to clean up after themselves.  All the extra free time did was give them extra time to make even more creative messes.
I could provide the confetti for a parade with all the tiny scraps of paper they have created.
No one will admit how paint got on the couch pillow.  It's red paint so it looks like they were sacrificing things over summer break.  I'm ready to throw the pillow away after many attempts to clean it have failed, but then they would just move on to kill the remaining pillows.  Plus if you visit my house you will know I have kids or a tribe of feral savages. (depends on their moods)

Summer camp for the oldest two was only a week long but they are stereotypical girls so they packed for closer to two weeks.  We almost had the youngest fully potty trained while they were away. Then his sisters came back from camp and it's back to refusals and accidents. I'm almost ready to ship them off again so we can be done with diapers FINALLY.

My husband was out of work with a broken wrist. Only reason he was out of work was because his work does not allow him to do light duty for his job.  It's full work or nothing.  Luckily we were covered by AFLAC for the accident and he had plenty of sick leave and vacation time saved up. With our 5 kids and mini backyard zoo we never go on vacation anyway.  I spent the 5 weeks helping him with everything. A few times I got cranky at his helplessness. Any normal human would after watching him play video games for hours then say he couldn't make his own sandwich.  I ended up telling him he was starting to abuse the in sickness and in health portion of our vows. I didn't begrudge having to help him shower even though he always waited until I was ready to go to bed to choose to shower.  Even though there was times he drove me crazy with his extra chattiness while I tried to steal some quiet time to read, I miss him now that he is back at work.

I choose summer time to deep clean the house, because I'm nutty like that.  Old school books are packed up and shipped back. I have the kids clean out their closets and dressers to shed any clothing they don't fit into.  It seems insane while in the middle of it all, but once it's done it helps the school year start off easily.

Our chickens have kept me on my toes this summer. With heat waves threatening to kill them if they went broody, so I had to keep a small swimming pool ready for them to wade for cooling off.  The girls have all suddenly decided they are explorers and have taken to escaping their run and walking throughout the yard. They harvested a few of my tomatoes before I had a chance to get to them and before the summer heat scorched my whole garden.  

Recently one of our girls was discovered to have a hidden clutch of eggs.  We didn't even know she was laying yet.  My oldest found her hidden behind the duck house, sitting on 5 eggs! The little feathered stinker has been laying for almost a week with that big of a clutch hidden.  They were rotten as she wants nothing to do with our rooster.

Speaking of the Rooster.  The one we aren't technically supposed to have. (I hate legislation on my backyard due to jerks that pay to watch roosters fight)  Bubo recently learned how to crow.  Our guy seemed to think he was Chantecler from Rock-A-Doodle.  He was doing his best to crow up the sun every 5 minutes from 5am to 10am plus anytime the sun went behind a cloud.  He was quickly fitted with a homemade rooster collar to prevent his call from being so excessive. He can still eat and do all other rooster business, it just prevents him from crowing when fitted correctly.  The law around here state you can't have a crowing rooster, so technically he not a crowing rooster.  He's just a rooster.  This guy is much sweeter than our last one and so pretty with his white coloring. I'll try to get a picture of him. My husband is afraid to share his picture too much as he doesn't want any trouble for having him.

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. 

Darn Rodent..

Darn, rodent!  You just had to see your shadow... If I had any faith your actual predictions bringing more winter I would be very depressed right now.

Shhh concentrating

If you are all bundled up inside against the cold here is a fun puppet you can make.
Great quiet time craft and I really needed some quiet time today.  ::brain pop:: This is also a great craft for practicing cutting and gluing skills.  I love watching little kids concentrate.  Their mouths work as hard as their hands do while they cut, as if they are chewing along with the scissors.

You can easily find many patterns for a Groundhog paper bag puppet. (I'll try to get mine uploaded and linked)

Glue Body under the flap

Add poem and done!

Vintage Kitchen Giveaway!

Cymax and KidKraft have teamed up together again to bring you another great giveaway prize!
(this is giveaway 2 out of 3... the next one is supposed to be even bigger!!)

They are giving away a KidKraft Vintage Kitchen in Red 

This adorable play kitchen is valued at over $140 

I know that not only my daughter would love this but my toddler son would too. I used to be a chef, so they have always loved cooking with me.  It isn't always safe to cook with kid's though.
Many years ago we owned a play kitchen, but we sold it at our yard sale before moving cross country.  I was sad to see it go but it was nothing like this awesome kitchen.  If this had been our play kitchen I would have made room in the moving truck for it. ::goodbye less cool toys::  I really hope we win this and make our play time complete again.  Our pretend food will have a home in a play kitchen again.

Want your own chance to win this delightful play kitchen?
It's very simple. Just blog about their giveaway or share their contest on Google+.   Why does your little recipient deserve to win this? After sharing this contest, email socialmedia@cymax.com including the location of where you shared it.  Then you too will be entered to win.

Don't believe me how easy it is to enter?  Check it out yourself HERE
Check out their blog and stay informed about their great giveaways ~>  Cymax Blog
Check out what else they have to offer at Cymax.com

I was given an entry into this giveaway for blogging about the Cymax and KidKraft giveaway.

Eww, Not on my watch!?!

Just a warning.. if you have a weak stomach.. turn back now.  

Don't say I didn't warn you....

Last night out of the blue Morgan comes running down the stairs screaming that Nadia just threw up.  Instantly I cringe in horror thinking of the wall to wall carpeting covering every inch of the upstairs floors, even the bathrooms.. ::cry:: 
I ascend the stairs trying to hurry but the visions of past puking experiences slowing my steps.  My palms start sweating.  I start whispering fervent prayers.. "Please god not on the carpet."  I'd be happy with barfing in a full toy box at the moment.  I timidly ask Morgan where?  ::cringing in wait of her answer:: She points to Nadia's bedroom as her face starts to turn a sickly green.  I walk into the room and there she is sitting in the middle of her blankets and pillows with a pool of vomit at her feet.  Thankfully none got on the carpet.  Now I have a puke dripping child and vomit covered bed stuff to deal with. 

I rush her to the bathtub hoping that if her head starts spinning and she spews split pea soup it will be somewhat contained.  As I step back into the room my stomach instantly thrusts upward and I start dry heaving.. Thank you very much pregnancy induced nausea.. (I swear a mouse fart makes me gag now)  Luckily for my my older daughters see this and take pity on me and agree to get the blankets to the wash.  I am so grateful for my older girls when they choose not to be evil tween demons.

After getting her washed and settled back into a clean bed.  I give her a cup of ginger ale and some saltines. (thank you pregnancy nausea or I would not have these stocked in my cupboards)  The house settles for the night and I think my horror is over.  Oh how naive can I be?

I hear my son cry out once but fall back asleep.  (he does this often.)  My husband comes home and after spending some time together my exhaustion catches up to me and I slowly head up to bed.  (I hate you stairs at this point of the day)  As I take each step this horrible smell gets stronger and stronger.  Until I am at the doorway to Maxx's bedroom.  I look into his crib with revulsion.  There lays my son with vomit covering his entire head and body.  His sheets and blankets are covered.  I run out of the room gagging and cry out for my husband's help.  He thankfully brings the Scentsy Room spray and quickly douses the room to remove the revolting smell.  (I love you room spray, for not covering the scent but removing it!)

I give him the choice.. the bed or the kid.  He wisely chose the non-moving one.  It took me 4 scrub downs to get all the vomit chunks from his hair and I still had to climb into the shower with him to get him fully rinsed off and cleaned.

I walk back into his bedroom to find his bed stripped.  Damn you, slacker!! Job not done... After wrestling a now angry Maxx into some clean pj's I look at the bed and find vomit still covering the rails.  ::tempted to start cursing loudly::  Instead I call him back upstairs.  (just a tip.. now is not the time to huff or roll your eyes or even mention how tired you are)  I wipe down the bed and make Dan remake it.   (I didn't realize it needed to be said)    I lay Maxx down again praying this is the last puke episode of the night.  As soon as his "part" is done my husband abandons me again for the glow of the boob tube. 

No sooner do I step through my bedroom door but I hear Maxx call out "Ma!" and listen in horror as it ends in gagging.  Not again!!  I rush in and grab a blanket in a vain hope of saving this new set of sheets.  I lift him up and rush him through the house to the nearest bathroom.    I managed to get him to a toilet where he vomits again.   Except now he wants to splash in the toilet between heaves.  So not only am I wrestling him over the toilet but his hands away from the nasty water.  I call for help again but the draw of the boob tube has sucked my normally helpful spouse into a mindless oblivion.

I get Maxx cleaned up yet again and change the sheets myself.  (easier to do it myself so I don't attempt bodily harm against my spouse at this point)  I go to lay him down again and instantly he starts gagging.  So I haul him downstairs and sit with a towel wrapped around my upper body. I refuse to carelessly allow myself to be vomited on bare skin by another child.  I learned that lesson with my oldest.  ::shudder::

After an hour of cuddling a dry heaving angry bundle, he abandons me and finally curls up next to daddy.  Once Maxx falls asleep I angrily tell my husband I am going to bed.. you handle him now.. I am off the clock .. on strike whatever it takes.  He gets pissed and tells me "but I was ready for bed."  Angry curse words are now at the tip of my tongue. I think back on the past month of him sleeping undisturbed for 7-10 hours straight a night as I in comparison have not gotten 4 hours sleep without being woken by a child or snoring bed mate.  I give him a non-verbal sign of how much I care about his "tiredness" and drag myself to bed.

I may be a mom of 4 kids (going on 5) but I can't handle puke.  Just the thought of it makes my stomach turn.  Being pregnant doesn't make it any easier.  Can you handle vomiting episodes?  After dealing with my oldest and her creepy colored, when did we eat that chunks pukes.. I just can't do it anymore.

Yes, I do know that it is not good to keep a tally of who did what in marriage, but when you are already pregnant and sleep is a commodity. Lack of sleep can push you to be the stereo typical angry pregnant woman.  Even quicker if your partner dares to complain about their tiredness after they get almost double the sleep you do every night.

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!"

Boon Inc. Oval Animal Bag

I was always on the look out for a way to store my kids' stuffed animals.   Sure, the nets are great if I want to constantly fetch toys for my 4-year-old.  I was finally motivated enough to do something about all the fluffy cuteness overflowing the kid's toy storage.   So, recently I bought a Boon Oval Animal Bag.

It has been great!

The Boon Animal Bags are like bean bags without the fear of messy explosions.  Another bonus is that there is no need for my kids to empty out the entire toy container for one special fluffy friend. With multiple zippered mesh windows my kid's can easily find the toy they want and without removing them all.  Soft toy storage and a soft fluffy seat all in one.

Next year, I may buy the largest Boon Animal Bag because my children end up wrestling over who gets the choice spot on the Boon Animal Pod (as they have come to refer to it).   Which also means we are going to need a lot more stuffed animals too.