Today is Tuesday (at least I think it is! LOL) so I want to throw out an idea for Tuesday Tip Jar at BlogMommas.
And, here it is...
Initially, I followed the mommy trend of liquid soap for the Vikings in the bathroom. Unfortunately, even after repeated instruction, they still couldn't manage ONLY ONE squirt & regularly filled the sink with bubbles and/or squirted a half bottle in the sink to experiment. And, while I'm all about the learning, it just simply cost too much! LOL
So, I went back to bar soap...but it was too big for their small hands to manage. Back to the drawing board.
In a pinch, the day before grocery shopping day when even Mom and Dad were out of bar soap, I happened on an idea...hotel soap!
Those little bars of soap you find when staying at a hotel are the *perfect* size for little hands! But, I only had 2-3 from our recent travels. So, I headed to my local freecycle.org site and now I am expecting around 10 bars of perfectly sized soap for FREE!!
Head over to BlogMommas today for more tips!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
Thank you Chris Tomlin...
...for the best part of my day yesterday.
When I was a sleep-away camper and then a camp counselor, there was a campfire tradition of being asked "what was your rose and your thorn today?" before lights-out. In other words, what was the best and worst part of your day?
My rose yesterday was one of those weird, tear-jerker "momma moments."
The kids and I are driving to church (DaHubby went in earlier in a separate car due to a special music practice). And, as usual, we had the praise and worship music jammin'! LOL I just received the Chris Tomlin Live in Austin CD via swapacd.com (for free). The first song on the CD is "Indescribable".
After the song was done, Flicka hollered from the back seat, "Again, Momma. Let's listen to that one again!" So, I obliged her. And, during that second time through, it struck me.
My eyes filled up and my voice choked as I wondered: Is there anything much sweeter than listening to your 5-year-old sing...
Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name
You are amazing God
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God
You are amazing God
Off hand, I can't think of one thing better. *big smile*
When I was a sleep-away camper and then a camp counselor, there was a campfire tradition of being asked "what was your rose and your thorn today?" before lights-out. In other words, what was the best and worst part of your day?
My rose yesterday was one of those weird, tear-jerker "momma moments."
The kids and I are driving to church (DaHubby went in earlier in a separate car due to a special music practice). And, as usual, we had the praise and worship music jammin'! LOL I just received the Chris Tomlin Live in Austin CD via swapacd.com (for free). The first song on the CD is "Indescribable".
After the song was done, Flicka hollered from the back seat, "Again, Momma. Let's listen to that one again!" So, I obliged her. And, during that second time through, it struck me.
My eyes filled up and my voice choked as I wondered: Is there anything much sweeter than listening to your 5-year-old sing...
Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name
You are amazing God
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God
You are amazing God
Off hand, I can't think of one thing better. *big smile*
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Thursday Thanks Tank
Well, the biggest thing to happen around here lately (which shows how much we all need to get out more LOL) is receiving a new membership to our local YMCA via a scholarship. Can I shout THANK YOU to the folks who fund these? LOL Because it's making a big impact here!
So, I'm thankful this week for:
DaHubby being able to get up early and workout before work.
The multiple family swims we've all attended in the last week. It's been a blast to see the kids make some serious progress towards independent swimming plus wonderful to see DaHubby get some good splash time in despite his crazy work/school/study schedule.
(OK, can I be *really* worldly with this one? LOL) The treat of watching CABLE while I ride the bikes or walk on the treadmills! Not having cable at home makes it a treat and the 30-45 minutes of working out FLY by! LOL
The yoga and pilates classes that are making my nearly-broken back feel MUCH better!
All the kids' activities - including the play night in the kids' gym we attended last night.
The fact that the kids have slept better this last week than I can remember in a long while! LOL
That all the fitness class are free to members!
But, most of all, I'm thankful for a well-staffed nursery where the Vikings safely and happily play while Momma gets in some ME time!
So, what are YOU thankful for this week? Stop by Pam's place today to see what's up for her Thursday Thanks Tank!
So, I'm thankful this week for:
DaHubby being able to get up early and workout before work.
The multiple family swims we've all attended in the last week. It's been a blast to see the kids make some serious progress towards independent swimming plus wonderful to see DaHubby get some good splash time in despite his crazy work/school/study schedule.
(OK, can I be *really* worldly with this one? LOL) The treat of watching CABLE while I ride the bikes or walk on the treadmills! Not having cable at home makes it a treat and the 30-45 minutes of working out FLY by! LOL
The yoga and pilates classes that are making my nearly-broken back feel MUCH better!
All the kids' activities - including the play night in the kids' gym we attended last night.
The fact that the kids have slept better this last week than I can remember in a long while! LOL
That all the fitness class are free to members!
But, most of all, I'm thankful for a well-staffed nursery where the Vikings safely and happily play while Momma gets in some ME time!
So, what are YOU thankful for this week? Stop by Pam's place today to see what's up for her Thursday Thanks Tank!
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
Tuesday's Tip Jar
Jumping on board with BlogMomma's Tuesday's Tip Jar with one I don't use often but when I use it, I'm *always* glad I've bookmarked it.
Especially with all the news over the winter about children's cold medicine and accidental overdosing, this site has been a lifesaver for a weary, middle of the night mom searching for doses for very unhappy Vikings.
I've used Dr. Sears' medicine cabinet for Benedryl, Tylenol, Motrin, and cold medicines. I've printed out the charts for Tylenol and Benedryl and keep them inside the medicine cabinet.
Whenever I get the chance or when the kids visit the pediatrician, I make a note of their weight on the charts. So, at 3am when someone is sobbing from ear pain, I just check their weight and read the chart and safely dose the kid in question.
Stop by BlogMomma's today to see what other good tips everyone has up their sleeves!
Especially with all the news over the winter about children's cold medicine and accidental overdosing, this site has been a lifesaver for a weary, middle of the night mom searching for doses for very unhappy Vikings.
I've used Dr. Sears' medicine cabinet for Benedryl, Tylenol, Motrin, and cold medicines. I've printed out the charts for Tylenol and Benedryl and keep them inside the medicine cabinet.
Whenever I get the chance or when the kids visit the pediatrician, I make a note of their weight on the charts. So, at 3am when someone is sobbing from ear pain, I just check their weight and read the chart and safely dose the kid in question.
Stop by BlogMomma's today to see what other good tips everyone has up their sleeves!
Mommy Memo
It was my turn to write the "Mommy Memo" for our local MOMS Club newsletter this month. I just finished it and thought it would make a good post here as well! LOL And, if you are reading this via the RSS feed to Facebook and are in my MOMS group - wait for the newsletter! *wink*
“Different mommies, different rules.”
But, Mom, THEY get to wear shorts…but, Mom, they don’t have to wear a jacket…but, MOM, they don’t have to leave yet.
And, I say “different mommies, different rules.”
Flicka’s already wondering why her mom does things differently than other moms sometimes and, 80% of the time, those four words get me out of a longer explanation.
But, what about the other 20%?
If you think about the amazing number of choices, the variety of backgrounds, and the astounding number of different experiences we have all had, it’s a miracle any of us really have anything in common at all. There are an infinite number of combinations but we still bond together over the trials and joys of pregnancy, labor, nursing/feeding, diapering, pacifiers, sippies, and potty training.
And, yet, we as well as our children all turn out “normal.”
One of the most profound things I’ve learned being a mom is that there is no one right way to raise kids. Despite what we hear from family, the media, and each other, there is no one right way to fit every child of every temperament at every age.
While this may not come as a shock to some of you, it was for me in a way. Being a mom isn’t about doing it “right,” it’s about diving in with both hands, up to your elbows dirty, thinking your brain will explode noise levels, and coming up with happy, well-balanced kids!
It’s hard work – a point I think few of us would argue. And, we are all striving to do the best by ourselves, our spouses, and our kids each and every day. Accidents happen; mistakes happen too. And, at least half of them are probably done in public.
But, we’re all heading the same general direction toward the same common goal. So, when you see the mom at Dairy Queen doing things differently than you, cut her some slack. And, when the mom at the park does something unexpected, just let it slide. We all have a different “bag of tricks” and a varying level of skills that we use. That along with all the infinite possibilities mentioned above makes each decision we make particularly unique. But, what’s so cool about it is this – no one knows our kids like we do and those decisions are made especially for them.
Unique moms. Unique skills. Unique decisions. Unique kids.
Thus, my simplified answer to Flicka: different mommies, different rules.
“Different mommies, different rules.”
But, Mom, THEY get to wear shorts…but, Mom, they don’t have to wear a jacket…but, MOM, they don’t have to leave yet.
And, I say “different mommies, different rules.”
Flicka’s already wondering why her mom does things differently than other moms sometimes and, 80% of the time, those four words get me out of a longer explanation.
But, what about the other 20%?
If you think about the amazing number of choices, the variety of backgrounds, and the astounding number of different experiences we have all had, it’s a miracle any of us really have anything in common at all. There are an infinite number of combinations but we still bond together over the trials and joys of pregnancy, labor, nursing/feeding, diapering, pacifiers, sippies, and potty training.
And, yet, we as well as our children all turn out “normal.”
One of the most profound things I’ve learned being a mom is that there is no one right way to raise kids. Despite what we hear from family, the media, and each other, there is no one right way to fit every child of every temperament at every age.
While this may not come as a shock to some of you, it was for me in a way. Being a mom isn’t about doing it “right,” it’s about diving in with both hands, up to your elbows dirty, thinking your brain will explode noise levels, and coming up with happy, well-balanced kids!
It’s hard work – a point I think few of us would argue. And, we are all striving to do the best by ourselves, our spouses, and our kids each and every day. Accidents happen; mistakes happen too. And, at least half of them are probably done in public.
But, we’re all heading the same general direction toward the same common goal. So, when you see the mom at Dairy Queen doing things differently than you, cut her some slack. And, when the mom at the park does something unexpected, just let it slide. We all have a different “bag of tricks” and a varying level of skills that we use. That along with all the infinite possibilities mentioned above makes each decision we make particularly unique. But, what’s so cool about it is this – no one knows our kids like we do and those decisions are made especially for them.
Unique moms. Unique skills. Unique decisions. Unique kids.
Thus, my simplified answer to Flicka: different mommies, different rules.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Spring Reading Thing 2009
Happy first day of Spring!!
And, no March 20th would be complete without Katrina throwing down the gauntlet again - just as the weather here in Michigan is FINALLY improving, she's challenging us to hunker down and tackle a stack of books! LOL
Her Spring Reading Thing challenge starts today! And, she wants to know what we'll be figuratively chewing on the next 10 weeks. In the interest of balance, I tried to pick a mix of fiction and non-fiction this time....so here goes:
NONFICTION
Underground History of American Education by John Taylor Gatto
A Charlotte Mason Education by Christine Levinson
Jesus Take The Wheel: 7 Keys to a Transformed Life with God by Stuart Migdon
Grace Based Parenting by Tim Kimmel
The Girl's Like Spaghetti: Why, You Can't Manage without Apostrophes! by Lynn Truss
FICTION
Twenty Wishes by Debbie Macomber
The Heretic's Daughter: A Novel by Kathleen Kent
Magi by Daniel L. Gilbert
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
Ambitious? OH, yea! But, we'll see! Stop by Katrina's (I'll put in the direct link when she puts up her post) and see what everyone else is tackling. (I ended up changing my list at least twice when I see what the other participants have chosen! LOL) And, good luck!
And, no March 20th would be complete without Katrina throwing down the gauntlet again - just as the weather here in Michigan is FINALLY improving, she's challenging us to hunker down and tackle a stack of books! LOL
Her Spring Reading Thing challenge starts today! And, she wants to know what we'll be figuratively chewing on the next 10 weeks. In the interest of balance, I tried to pick a mix of fiction and non-fiction this time....so here goes:
NONFICTION
Underground History of American Education by John Taylor Gatto
Jesus Take The Wheel: 7 Keys to a Transformed Life with God by Stuart Migdon
Grace Based Parenting by Tim Kimmel
The Girl's Like Spaghetti: Why, You Can't Manage without Apostrophes! by Lynn Truss
FICTION
The Heretic's Daughter: A Novel by Kathleen Kent
Magi by Daniel L. Gilbert
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
Ambitious? OH, yea! But, we'll see! Stop by Katrina's (I'll put in the direct link when she puts up her post) and see what everyone else is tackling. (I ended up changing my list at least twice when I see what the other participants have chosen! LOL) And, good luck!
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