Mike's family has a tradition of saying their "happy time" each day. It's something we continue to do and have enjoyed greatly. Our kids will always remind us if we fail to ask them about their "Happy Time". Jack will often not have one because he's mad he has to go to bed. Sam's are random and sometimes you just can't understand him cause he's so sleepy when he tells them to you. David's have been the same for about two years now. He ALWAYS starts it the same and then adds daily changes to it. This is how it goes.
After he says his prayers I say "David, what was your Happy Time today?"
David- "Be good, be nice, no hit, no spit, no fight"
Me- No no no , I want to know what your "Happy Time" was.
David- "Being good, being nice, no hit, no spit, no fight"
Me-okay what else"
David- (He spends a few minutes thinking as hard as he can) ummm, my happppy tiiiiime waaaaas, ummm school
Me- yeah anything else
David- ummm, yeah, and then he inserts anything particular that he enjoyed.
He's so used to saying his little be good, be nice, no hit, no spit, no fight that he now asks me if he can say it before he tells me his happy time since I've been trying to tell him that it's not actually his happy time especially on the days when he's not good or hits or fights. He's over spitting. By the way today he's eventual happy time was singing at his school Assembly in front of everyone. I was so proud as my kids never sing for people, at church or anywhere. Okay I take that back, last night Sam did sing a little Roxlan for our neighbors. The song is getting old even if he's still so cute singing it.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Confessions of a cheap Mom
I'm cheap. Yup yup. So I'm wondering how cheap the rest of you are. Please share your cheap tricks with me so I can perfect my cheapness. Here's a few I confess too.
My kids don't usually eat the crust off sandwiches so I just cut it before I make the sandwich and put them in a bag in the freezer. Later when I've got a good stash and some time I make croutons, stuffing for a roasted chicken, bread crumbs, and sometimes bread pudding. I save the ends of my bread too.
My kids don't always eat an apple when they promise they will. I really hate wasting so I usually bag it and put it in the fridge. They get hungry and I cut of the brown parts and give to the again. Yes, I know that perhaps there is bacteria growing on it but no one's gotten sick yet. Tip- Granny Smith apples don't brown as much.
I sometimes use a dryer sheet twice or save a few and put the once used 2-3 in the same load. I don't know if it does much but I do it.
When I make any veggie like broccoli, carrots, kale, green onion, etc. I save the bits that we cut off like broccoli stalks or ends of carrots and freeze them. Then when I have a bunch I put them into a pot and boil to make veggie stock. It's usually really good but I caution you against too much broccoli in it. The flavor is a bit stronger. Sometimes I use the stock right away and then sometimes I freeze it for later.
That's all for today. I can't wait to hear some more great tips.
My kids don't usually eat the crust off sandwiches so I just cut it before I make the sandwich and put them in a bag in the freezer. Later when I've got a good stash and some time I make croutons, stuffing for a roasted chicken, bread crumbs, and sometimes bread pudding. I save the ends of my bread too.
My kids don't always eat an apple when they promise they will. I really hate wasting so I usually bag it and put it in the fridge. They get hungry and I cut of the brown parts and give to the again. Yes, I know that perhaps there is bacteria growing on it but no one's gotten sick yet. Tip- Granny Smith apples don't brown as much.
I sometimes use a dryer sheet twice or save a few and put the once used 2-3 in the same load. I don't know if it does much but I do it.
When I make any veggie like broccoli, carrots, kale, green onion, etc. I save the bits that we cut off like broccoli stalks or ends of carrots and freeze them. Then when I have a bunch I put them into a pot and boil to make veggie stock. It's usually really good but I caution you against too much broccoli in it. The flavor is a bit stronger. Sometimes I use the stock right away and then sometimes I freeze it for later.
That's all for today. I can't wait to hear some more great tips.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
A day in the life of Me
Hello there friends, family, and lurkers. I thought I'd share my day with you.
7:30am NPR wakes me- rats, I thought I'd make myself get up with my husband, must have slept through.
7:31am called to make Jack a doctor's appointment for his popping ears. Appt. set for 3:40pm
7:36am turn on lights and wake boys up with my nice voice.
7:40 am Set cereal on the table with milk and realize I didn't run the dishwasher last night. I get out little tiny dessert bowls for the kids and me and then give Mike the only clean regular bowl. I figure perhaps my kids won't waste too much cereal today an maybe it'd be a good trend to start. I eat about 5 mini bowls of honey nut cheerios and re-load everyone else with milk as the bowl is so tiny it seems too easy to spill. Sam uses another 10 napkins and eats the first 2 bowls of cereal but not the third.
8:00am called the Anchorage School District Transportation and Safety number to ask them to please tell their driver that we are changing the bus stop to across the street about 10 feet in hopes of increasing safety. Our house was the old bus stop and quite a nice sledding hill. So nice the kids can't resist even when the bus comes. Too many injuries and detentions have come from this temptation. My husband and I have made too many phone calls this week finding out who is in charge of it blah blah blah. But it is done now. Yeah!
8:10am I hop in the shower faster then a lightening bolt while my kids are still brushing their teeth. They think it's hilarious as I throw my clothes over the shower curtain and threaten their lives if the don't hurry up and get out.
8:24am I rush with wet head to get three boys in full snow gear and out the door with back packs ready to go.
8:35am- Stand at old bus stop to tell the kids that I called the bus driver's boss and the bus stop really is moved over. They finally believe me and move over the 10 feet. I see the principal checking in on us and he let's me know he is happy for this new change.
8:40am- kids leave on the bus and I talk to my neighbor for about 15 min. while Sam begs me to come inside with him and stop talking.
8:55am- I throw some laundry in and Sam really really wants me to play with him. Bionicles. I'm not thrilled so I suggest a snuggle fight. Snuggle fights were created by Sam and involve deciding which side of the room is yours and trying snuggle/wrestle the other person to the opposite side. I let him win a few times and he lets me win a few times.
9:20am I decide to brush my hair and put on my face. Sam is bored and says he wants pizza. He decides to help himself. I also check my emails quickly and then try to sew a pillow but realize I hate it and quit.
10am my friend calls and asks if I want to go out to eat but I have bigger plans.
10:30ish I walk with Sam to the hospital for our WIC voucher pick up. It's been in the 30's lately and it's just so nice, I wanted to walk. Someone offers us a ride and looks at me as if I'm crazy when I decline. We sing songs out of tune and make up our own words along the way. We pick up the WIC and wave to our favorite security guard but he's not at his desk when we leave and Sam is sad because he doesn't get a sucker. I notice the blood mobile and think "hey I should do that" So I do.
12ishpm I finish up my giving of the blood and realize that maybe I should have thought this through better. Maybe I shouldn't have given blood without lunch and walking home. What if I pass out on the side of the road and Sam doesn't know what to do. Oh well. I call my friend who is going with me for a haircut and let her know in case we don't make it back so she can drive around looking for us.
12:30pm we make it back in the nick of time. I grab an old piece of pizza and some snacks for Sam.
1pm After a lovely drive with one of my favorite people we arrive at our hair cut lady's house. It's so pretty and clean. I want to live there but think I'd probably get in trouble with my piles. Oh those wretched piles of things to do later but later never seems to come. She cuts my hair and I like. I make a mental note- I should have taken a before and after for my blog. Oh well. Maybe I'll take an after for you anyway, but it'll be later too.
Just after 3pm- We pile into the car to leave. It was so fun to talk and get new hair do's. Oh crap, I have a child with ear issues and no way am I getting back in time. Oops. I call the hospital to let them know and hope they can fit me in the next day they do. So we realize we have an extra half hour before we need to be back and decide that the absolute best use of that time would be going to target. I buy discounted fishnet pantyhose because they are only $1.77 and why not.
4pm We leave and I get home just as my kids are getting off the bus. How perfect. I switch some laundry and feed everyone left overs for dinner. They all complain but make some concoction and eat about three bites and ask for chocolate. Hmmm.
After 5 ish we get homework done because we are going to go to free bowling tonight. We are also watching two little boys for friends while they got to a ALS graduation (it's military school).
My boys get done with homework later then anticipated so everyone else plays until about 7 ish and we go bowling. 17 month old babies don't bowl. I chase babies and Mike helps everyone bowl. It's pretty fun and I think everyone is enjoying it. I look up and see my entire family entranced by music videos on the screen. I look around and notice that no one else is quite as entranced. I realize the rest of the world probably has seen these videos a million times but it's a first for us. On the way home I hear Sam sing Roxlan about 50 times and David sings I'm sending out an SOS about 20 times both while they listen to a more recent CD of Sting.
9ish we get home and say brush your teeth but no one listens. Not long after our friends come to pick up their cute boys. It was fun. Did I mention she brought some cookie dough for us but I didn't make it cause we were leaving. I did eat a few bitefuls of just the dough. It was really yummy.
10pm my boys are finally getting into bed. Sam prays for Santa to come tomorrow and for no one to die or be mean. Jack prays for no one to be mean and for people to be nice, I don't remember David's prayer because while he was saying his Jack and Sam were doing something that distracted me. I know mother of the year award, right here!
5 minutes later I start typing this but hear little feet and get mad cause they should be in bed. Suddenly I have one who needs to poop and another who wants to go pee again. Then they all go back to bed with their lives threaten if they come out again.
5minutes later again, I hear David crying, kinda a fake cry. I ask why. He doesn't answer, I get up and find out that he is sad because I yelled at him. Mother of the year award! oh yeah. I say I love you and good night. He quits crying and Mike comes up to kiss them goodnight and they are all out cold.
So there you have it in all it's glory, my day.
7:30am NPR wakes me- rats, I thought I'd make myself get up with my husband, must have slept through.
7:31am called to make Jack a doctor's appointment for his popping ears. Appt. set for 3:40pm
7:36am turn on lights and wake boys up with my nice voice.
7:40 am Set cereal on the table with milk and realize I didn't run the dishwasher last night. I get out little tiny dessert bowls for the kids and me and then give Mike the only clean regular bowl. I figure perhaps my kids won't waste too much cereal today an maybe it'd be a good trend to start. I eat about 5 mini bowls of honey nut cheerios and re-load everyone else with milk as the bowl is so tiny it seems too easy to spill. Sam uses another 10 napkins and eats the first 2 bowls of cereal but not the third.
8:00am called the Anchorage School District Transportation and Safety number to ask them to please tell their driver that we are changing the bus stop to across the street about 10 feet in hopes of increasing safety. Our house was the old bus stop and quite a nice sledding hill. So nice the kids can't resist even when the bus comes. Too many injuries and detentions have come from this temptation. My husband and I have made too many phone calls this week finding out who is in charge of it blah blah blah. But it is done now. Yeah!
8:10am I hop in the shower faster then a lightening bolt while my kids are still brushing their teeth. They think it's hilarious as I throw my clothes over the shower curtain and threaten their lives if the don't hurry up and get out.
8:24am I rush with wet head to get three boys in full snow gear and out the door with back packs ready to go.
8:35am- Stand at old bus stop to tell the kids that I called the bus driver's boss and the bus stop really is moved over. They finally believe me and move over the 10 feet. I see the principal checking in on us and he let's me know he is happy for this new change.
8:40am- kids leave on the bus and I talk to my neighbor for about 15 min. while Sam begs me to come inside with him and stop talking.
8:55am- I throw some laundry in and Sam really really wants me to play with him. Bionicles. I'm not thrilled so I suggest a snuggle fight. Snuggle fights were created by Sam and involve deciding which side of the room is yours and trying snuggle/wrestle the other person to the opposite side. I let him win a few times and he lets me win a few times.
9:20am I decide to brush my hair and put on my face. Sam is bored and says he wants pizza. He decides to help himself. I also check my emails quickly and then try to sew a pillow but realize I hate it and quit.
10am my friend calls and asks if I want to go out to eat but I have bigger plans.
10:30ish I walk with Sam to the hospital for our WIC voucher pick up. It's been in the 30's lately and it's just so nice, I wanted to walk. Someone offers us a ride and looks at me as if I'm crazy when I decline. We sing songs out of tune and make up our own words along the way. We pick up the WIC and wave to our favorite security guard but he's not at his desk when we leave and Sam is sad because he doesn't get a sucker. I notice the blood mobile and think "hey I should do that" So I do.
12ishpm I finish up my giving of the blood and realize that maybe I should have thought this through better. Maybe I shouldn't have given blood without lunch and walking home. What if I pass out on the side of the road and Sam doesn't know what to do. Oh well. I call my friend who is going with me for a haircut and let her know in case we don't make it back so she can drive around looking for us.
12:30pm we make it back in the nick of time. I grab an old piece of pizza and some snacks for Sam.
1pm After a lovely drive with one of my favorite people we arrive at our hair cut lady's house. It's so pretty and clean. I want to live there but think I'd probably get in trouble with my piles. Oh those wretched piles of things to do later but later never seems to come. She cuts my hair and I like. I make a mental note- I should have taken a before and after for my blog. Oh well. Maybe I'll take an after for you anyway, but it'll be later too.
Just after 3pm- We pile into the car to leave. It was so fun to talk and get new hair do's. Oh crap, I have a child with ear issues and no way am I getting back in time. Oops. I call the hospital to let them know and hope they can fit me in the next day they do. So we realize we have an extra half hour before we need to be back and decide that the absolute best use of that time would be going to target. I buy discounted fishnet pantyhose because they are only $1.77 and why not.
4pm We leave and I get home just as my kids are getting off the bus. How perfect. I switch some laundry and feed everyone left overs for dinner. They all complain but make some concoction and eat about three bites and ask for chocolate. Hmmm.
After 5 ish we get homework done because we are going to go to free bowling tonight. We are also watching two little boys for friends while they got to a ALS graduation (it's military school).
My boys get done with homework later then anticipated so everyone else plays until about 7 ish and we go bowling. 17 month old babies don't bowl. I chase babies and Mike helps everyone bowl. It's pretty fun and I think everyone is enjoying it. I look up and see my entire family entranced by music videos on the screen. I look around and notice that no one else is quite as entranced. I realize the rest of the world probably has seen these videos a million times but it's a first for us. On the way home I hear Sam sing Roxlan about 50 times and David sings I'm sending out an SOS about 20 times both while they listen to a more recent CD of Sting.
9ish we get home and say brush your teeth but no one listens. Not long after our friends come to pick up their cute boys. It was fun. Did I mention she brought some cookie dough for us but I didn't make it cause we were leaving. I did eat a few bitefuls of just the dough. It was really yummy.
10pm my boys are finally getting into bed. Sam prays for Santa to come tomorrow and for no one to die or be mean. Jack prays for no one to be mean and for people to be nice, I don't remember David's prayer because while he was saying his Jack and Sam were doing something that distracted me. I know mother of the year award, right here!
5 minutes later I start typing this but hear little feet and get mad cause they should be in bed. Suddenly I have one who needs to poop and another who wants to go pee again. Then they all go back to bed with their lives threaten if they come out again.
5minutes later again, I hear David crying, kinda a fake cry. I ask why. He doesn't answer, I get up and find out that he is sad because I yelled at him. Mother of the year award! oh yeah. I say I love you and good night. He quits crying and Mike comes up to kiss them goodnight and they are all out cold.
So there you have it in all it's glory, my day.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Mike's Deployment
Granted my husband was gone a very short time compared to most, it felt pretty long some days. We sent him some pictures and were pleased when he sent us this picture of his door where he proudly posted them. I love their pictures these days. Their first scribbles were cute but it's fun to see what they draw now. Jack is really into drawing Bionicles and clone troopers. Sam still scribbles mostly. David makes some cute ones of him and Dad fishing. David's fish is always bigger in the pictures. 
Our kids have loved GI JOE toys from a very early start thanks to Mike. He's still reliving his childhood. :) Anyways he sent this picture and told the boys it was Dusty from GI JOE. They got all excited about it. Jack didn't really but I think he's figuring out that Mike makes up quite a bit of stuff these days. AKA: a yellar dawg (translation- also known as a yellow dog) Mike's family will howl like a dog when one tells a story that isn't quite the truth. It happens quite regularly and is referred to as a "yellar dawg".
Our kids have loved GI JOE toys from a very early start thanks to Mike. He's still reliving his childhood. :) Anyways he sent this picture and told the boys it was Dusty from GI JOE. They got all excited about it. Jack didn't really but I think he's figuring out that Mike makes up quite a bit of stuff these days. AKA: a yellar dawg (translation- also known as a yellow dog) Mike's family will howl like a dog when one tells a story that isn't quite the truth. It happens quite regularly and is referred to as a "yellar dawg".
Roxlan!
So I've been a bit busy lately and have neglected my blog. Sorry, Sorry. Any way I seem to always think of these things either funny, or deep or just random thoughts that I'd like to write down and then I sit down here and forget them. It's truly a shame because you'd have had lots of reading from me had I had the time. Well here's one anyway.
Mike has a computer downstairs in the kids toy room. It has some music on it and the kids have now discovered how to use it. They are really feeling big if they turn on music. The Police is on there and well they have taken quite a liking to two songs especially. "I'm sending out an S.O. S" except they change all the words. The one I hear my kids trying to sing most is "Roxanne" So my Sam will be walking around the house singing "Rooooooooxlaaan you don't have to put on the red light" You really should hear him sing it because it's so funny. They did ask me "mom why does she put on a red light?" My response is "maybe she doesn't have a green or purple one" They don't really need to know what that means just yet do they? I feel a little bad that they are going around singing that but then I'm reminded that the kids at school sing and say much worse.
Mike has a computer downstairs in the kids toy room. It has some music on it and the kids have now discovered how to use it. They are really feeling big if they turn on music. The Police is on there and well they have taken quite a liking to two songs especially. "I'm sending out an S.O. S" except they change all the words. The one I hear my kids trying to sing most is "Roxanne" So my Sam will be walking around the house singing "Rooooooooxlaaan you don't have to put on the red light" You really should hear him sing it because it's so funny. They did ask me "mom why does she put on a red light?" My response is "maybe she doesn't have a green or purple one" They don't really need to know what that means just yet do they? I feel a little bad that they are going around singing that but then I'm reminded that the kids at school sing and say much worse.
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