Patriotic Tooth Fairy

We are going to see if this worked...I've had a little play time today.
; )

I uploaded a recipe card for you to use-I saved it as a .jpg file so you can print it as-is with the font.  You'll need to print on a 4x6 index card, or use cardstock and cut it down!  I use tons of 3x5 and 4x6 cards since it's cheap precut cardstock, but you may need yours to be acid-free, and I'm fairly certain it's not! : )  Just use it when the thing can be thrown away eventually.  Anyway, you print, then add a teensy bow, stamp, or sticker to the upper left-hand corner to personalize it.  My friend and I used to add a square of fabric or paper (about 1" square), then cover with a teensy bow.  Come to think of it...I may have some left, I'll go check! : )  Ok, I have some that were unlined:

This one had a square of french writing paper with a black sheer knot.  The scripture is "..and blessed and broke the loaves.. Matthew 14:19

Here is your second thingie: a snack list with carb counts.  It includes both carby and non-carby foods (for those high days!)  I used this more in preschool and the early days, now I have most foods memorized (gold fish: .36g each, cheez-it: .69g each, grape: 1g each, etc.), and for the hard stuff, I use the Complete Book of Food Counts (love it-especially for unlabeled Halloween candy!)


The last thing is a copy of the school note Mary Claire takes with her to school every day.  I make a bunch of copies at a time, then cut in quarters, and clothespin them in the kitchen for her school days.  I write down all her carbs for the day's lunch, total them, and add the bolus amount.  When she checks her blood, she can add or subtract if needed.  There's a place to fill in her blood sugar, and any correction (positive or negative).  This one has her name, but I'd be glad to make a generic if you think it would work for you. : )
(I accidentally shrunk these by 67% one day, and had the copier set to four copies, so I felt like I had to use them, but she *loved* them!  They looked like Barbie poster board..t-i-n-y!

Today was a visit-y day.  I checked Mary Claire out of school to take her to the orthodontist's office (she may get her braces off in July!), and they told me she'd be really sore later, so she should eat a big lunch.  She voted for Chili's!  It was almost her lunch/recess time, so I took her.  We also shared a birthday cookies & cream candy bar they gave her for her birthday! : )
Since we were by Wal-Mart, we ran in and bought some boxes of diapers to take to a friend who is headed to Joplin on Friday.  We want to help!  We stopped over there, and ended up staying over an hour (and when Mary Claire asked to go get Bella (her unicorn) from the car, I couldn't find my keys, and realized my car was still running!)  We had the best time!  Her daughter was home sick (but not very), and the girls just played so well together : )  We vowed to get the kids together to play after school is out!

Mary Claire was most insistent that I take her home instead of back to school (ha!), since she'd lost a tooth last night, and forgot to check under her pillow!  That sealed the deal-I HAD to take her to school, since the tooth fairy had forgotten.  Since she'd noticed all the red/white/blue at Wal-Mart today on the party supplies, cupcakes, and decor, I decided to go patriotic.  I had a new hand sanitizer I'd gotten at Bath & Body Works last week (she collects these things!  I think she has about 11 now?), it was Apple Pie and all red/white/blue.
I had three one dollar bills, so I used one to make a flag (heehee), one for a flagpole, and one for a faux-firework.  It was really bad (folded into fourths length-wise, then flared out at the ends) and it all taped to the sanitzer:

She saw it when she got home, and totally "got" that it was fireworks!  Love that girl. : )  I'm pretty sure she was giving me an out when she "forgot" to look under her pillow, but I like that we know, but don't talk about knowing.  It's more fun that way.

The kids swam then we made dinner for the priests, took it up to the church, and while I was gone, I burned the bottom of our spaghetti sauce.  : (  It really tasted fine, since I didn't scrape into the black, but ick.  I just can't get it all right.  Then Clay's game was rained out tonight, so we played Galaga and Pole Position (and my finger/hand/arm hurts!) ('cause I'm pretty good! haha!) and I remember why I don't play.  They are addictive!

Contest!  Ok, last thing.  We had tons of extra girl scout cookies left (do you want any??), so I bought a few more boxes.  I think we'll have a contest.  Leave a comment with your name, and I'll draw a winner on Friday night, after 10pm.  I'll use random.org to draw.  Winner picks the flavor they want, and I'll mail them.  I have Dulce de Leche, Do-Si-Do, Tagalong, Thin Mint, and I think one box of Samoas left.  They really don't feel comfortable at my house.  Braces scare them, and they like to be enjoyed one at a time, and just don't get the recognition they deserve here.  They want respect!  (at your house!)  And you could give them to neighbors or friends with too little on their waists.  It's our job to keep people healthy.  ; )

Cookie Pusher

Girl Scout Cookies and me..we have a love/hate relationship.  I hate to love them, but I do.  We've been spreading Cookie Love for at least a month now..I feel like a dealer! : )  We deliver, take checks or cash, trade off at houses, parking lots, schools..such an exciting life! ; )  Today we worked a cookie booth in Fayetteville with lots of sweet girls learning the tricks of the trade.  heehee  No, seriously-they really learned confidence (to speak up and ask people if they wanted to buy-it was SO hard at first!), they learned to count change, talk with the customers who asked for advice and their favorite flavors, and to be patient with those invariable No's. : (  It's hard to take rejection, but we're truly teaching them to be honest and fair, friendly and helpful, courageous, respectful, and responsible-every bit of the Girl Scout Law!

Here are some pictures of the confident girls:

With the Very Huge Shampoo bottle campaigning out front on the main road for a salon!

They arranged their cookies in rainbow order-girls after my own heart! : )

I alternated helping with each group (on either side of the doors)-they'd get kind of down if the other side was selling more than them.  It's all about the call! ; )

We met Ches for lunch at Chick-Fil-A with all the kids, since they'd been gathering bags of donated food house-to-house for boy scouts, sorting it at the local elementary school, and then breaking for lunch before shelving it at our church's food pantry-two truckloads full!  It was an awesome harvest-thanks to our Springdale neighbors!! : )  And we're so blessed they chose our food pantry-they rotate, but we can use the food!

Now Ches and Clay are at baseball tryouts (it was supposed to be over by four, but it's looking more like six..).  It's been a really warm, 69 degree day!  Perfect for cleaning up the van and playing outside.  Ethan even put on his swimsuit and wanted to go swimming! (Not!)  He settled for a bath in his swimsuit. : )

I'm contemplating cookies for dinner, and I'm guessing I wouldn't be met with complaints.  Darn those addictive cookies.  If the profits weren't so healthy...


Ps-don't forget to leave a comment to win the personalized tabbed journal!  You can choose up to 16 tabs of your choice-your kids' names, and anything from meal ideas to prayer and blessing lists, grocery lists, to-do lists, months of the year, or you could even make yourself a Christmas notebook: gift list and ideas, meal plan, Christmas card list, and your favorite things to do!  Deadline is March 15th, 8pm! : )  You can read more here!

Sweet Friends

**Warning: This is going to be long.**  Get a drink, have a seat!  I couldn't pick any to leave out! : )

I'll start at the beginning.  Sandra was the monogrammed tumbler winner (!), and she requested her monogram, so here is her super cute pink and chocolate toile cup:

Very Hard to get all the letters on a round cup! Congratulations, Sandra!!

The first event this weekend was Ethan's Fourth Birthday Party at Boingo Bounce.

We had a Toy Story theme, so I wanted lots of toys out for the kids to play with.  (I remember when Clay was at a friend's birthday when he was three, and he was having a COW to play with the other kid's toys!) There were blocks, tinker toys, army men, potato heads, crayons, and paper, etc.  Here are a couple pictures of before the party: 

Yes, the water bottles were decoration-Ha!

Instead of just blank paper to draw on, they said, "Can you draw your favorite toy?"

Ana and Nora-both absolutely adorable!

My precious birthday boy (wish I'd gotten a better picture of his shirt!  It's three eyeballs and a necktie-so cute!)

Could Sophia BE any cuter??

I like this one of all the kids going up the "stairs" together!

In Motion.  Looks happy!

I always forget to take pictures of the background-this is Boingo Bounce.  They were wonderful! Supplied plates, napkins, spoons, cake cutters, aim-a-flame, balloon weights, fabric table cloths!  And so sweet!

This is the other side-all SLIDES!!!  WooHoo!

My precious Isabella.  My child in another life.

I know it's an awful picture, but I had so much fun on those big steep slides!  I couldn't stop laughing, good for the soul!  : )

Aren't they precious?  Doc even had a broken arm like Mary Claire!

I know it's a little blurry, but these girls were adorable.  They sat at the top for a while getting "linked", made a plan, then came down together-I loved it, off-center and all.  Love you Ana and Mary Ella!

Trevor, do it again! : )  He had an absolute ball with his daddy!  He couldn't get enough! : )

Are you in love with her hair yet?  Precious.

Don't. Laugh.  (don't turn us into Cake Wrecks!)

Ethan loved it, and that's what counts! : )

(Had to teach him about the Making Wishes part of birthday cake.

Sweet friends! and butchering the cake.

(he even had to have green ice cream-mint chocolate chip!  Mmm..we taught him well.)

Danielle took some pictures for me-she did an awesome job-thanks girl!!!

Aren't moms good sports? : )  What would we do without them?

Of course-Danielle took it! : )  So sweet!

Opening of The Presents!!  He asked for a globe, and Angie ReMeMBeReD!!!

His cuddly, soft, warm blankie with green bumpy dots!

Love this picture of them being so good.  Just checking things out.

Super Cool Toy: Tackle Box (and it's already full of toys!) (it has little organizer sections, perfect for cars, blocks, Thomas trains, and all his little people!!)

I really have to say, he had a wonderful party.  It was awesome-from amazing friends (Angie got to come down for Joplin!!) to sweet, sweet kids taking turns, to super-thoughtful gifts, I was so happy for him.  I pray he continues to have precious friends to bless all his days.

And we had one more event (which made me happy/sad-Angie left since we were going to be so long, and I really wished I'd had more time with her and Andalynn.  We just don't get enough time with them).  Our Girl Scout Cookie Kick-Off was Saturday afternoon!

 

The girls are all lined up, ready to present their cookies.  Mary Claire was introducing the Tagalong: a chocolate-covered peanut butter cookie-Yum!

And for the afternoon, I played the role of Photographer!  (yes, really!)  I took individuals of each girl, and troop group pictures.

Yeah, lots of girls took two tries.  Here she is with her legs together, un-jumpy, and still so cute!

Bless you, Troop 5807!

After the picture, all chatty!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We also had church today, an exciting baby shower for Tiffany from church (won't tell you all the details, suffice it to say we've had one exciting, adventurous day!), and then a Girl Scout meeting and some grocery shopping.  I was so tired, I picked up a fresh (cooked!) chicken at the store, and added some fresh green beans (sauteed with garlic and olive oil), and bread.  Very Fast.
There was time for baths, and a game of Apples to Apples.  I think we've established traditions-they happen without you even planning them.  In the summer, they swim every night, and in the winter, we play a game every night.  There you have it, a Jones Tradition.  I'd like to think our friends are traditions too.

Commercial Baby = Cleaning Accomplished. Good or Bad?

Every day I think it can't get any busier.  I just like to prove myself wrong so I don't get a big head.  Today the kids were home from school, so we had fun. We got around kinda late, had a big breakfast (eggs, toast, juice, AND cereal-big for us!), then headed out to run some errands.

We went by the church to get new envelopes for the kids-we've been out for a while now.. Then we stopped in and had lunch at Tim's Pizza with Ches, then on to haircuts!  Ethan had promised to be a big boy (and not cry, scream, and generally get hair bits stuck in his tears and snot), but backed down when we got there. : (  I did the Mommy Thing (that makes the other kids jealous) and bribed him with a toy from Target (you know, his FaVoRiTe!), and it worked!!  He was really good, only freaked a couple times, but good.  Then we went to Collier's to pick up more supplies for Mary Claire, then to get some shoes for Clay and Mary Claire (and Ethan picked out those ugly shoes with car pictures on them, and I just Couldn't), then to Target to get the aforementioned Toy.  I had said I'd get the Chuck the Truck, that he wanted from tv, but that fancy toy was $34.99!  I didn't know what I'd said!  It was almost as much as the boys' haircuts.  He held it, but moved onto other things (thank you, God!).  He ended up with a portable-ish fire station, and is very happy with it-even hours later!  Then we moved onto Wal-Mart for groceries and then home for me to crash.

I could take no more.  That was a busy day for my tired bones.  I was even craving a coke from a bottle (ick-no ice or straw!), so I was getting desperate.
I called Ches and he was on his way home, so he said he'd put the groceries away (again, thank you, God!).  The kids played around outside, packed up their stuff, for they were going to GIGI's!  THey were excited, and so excited, they took off with Clay still in his new shoes!  They had to come back, since we knew he'd play outside (and ruin the new shoes, for he's a BoY!).  Then we forgot to take a bunch of Splenda to Mom's for their tea party, so we were running 0-2.

I napped for a little while Ches ran the kids to Mom's house, then we got back in the van to pick up our girl scout cookies.  They're Here!  and they are SO GooD.  I had to open some Samoas (remember, the caramel delites?).  Oh, and you can't eat just one.  Happiness in My Mouth.  Did you remember to order yours!?  Delivery starts tomorrow!  If you need a few more, we have some extras, so order fast.  They only come once a year.  Sound like a girl scout? heehee

My little sweetie is sound asleep in bed-he had a long day too: lots of running, haircut, cookie, puzzles and books.  What a great day!  So, thanks Springdale Schools for this day-cation! : )

Random Information: Ethan's new phrase is: Don't Get Mad, Get Glad!  I have a short video from Ches' phone I'll try to post.  It's so funny!! Especially if you say the word Mad, it comes right out of his mouth.  Gee..think my baby watches too much tv when I'm getting all that cleaning done?

Lent: Give up your sister?

An amazing day!  I didn't get a nap, but made it.  That alone calls for a celebration!  I've been so absolutely exhausted, but today, I made it.  Weirder, I made it because I was cleaning during my lowest point.  I really get into cleaning.  I cleaned my pantry and the pantry in the laundry room-I knew it'd work since I'd get pretty immediate satisfaction, thereby giving me more energy!  Yes, weird, but it words for me!
I vacuumed the entire downstairs and the stairs, washed all my bedding (even the crocodile quilt!), did all the laundry, put it away (biggest shocker), cleaned my bathroom, vacuumed out the refrigerator (you know, the crumby and fruity bits, if yours is perfect, just play along), and got my nails done, made dinner, and read lots of books to Ethan!  Hi-Ya!  (that's a Success Karate Chop!) and then I did flash cards with Clay, and helped Mary Claire write her story summary for the week (too bad it was due today, I'm pretty sure, since they don't have school today, which I didn't remember till bedtime last night).

Well, Lent is officially here.  We went for our ashes Wednesday morning, then took the kids to their schools.  Ethan wanted very much to rub mine off to make me "clean"!  It was hard for him to understand.  Clay didn't mind (but he has bangs on his forehead!), but Mary Claire wanted to rub on hers too.  I get it-it's hard being in a public school with ashes.  No one understands, and they think you have dirt on you (or toner if you are an adult!).  It's funny-as I was out running errands, I could tell who was Catholic (or who'd been to Ash Wednesday services!).  Only in the South are they few and far between!


Anyway, we've been talking with the kids about what they'd like to give up for Lent.  We abstain from something we like, or do extra volunteering, etc. as a "penance".  Clay has finally decided to give up tv in his room.  He wanted to give up only channel 41 (his favorite, Animal Planet), or only DVD's (that he never watches), or his bed, or his room, or his sister (yes, after she wanted to give him up for forty days, haha), but finally he made a decent decision.  Mary Claire gave up gum.  Same thing she gave up last year, but she REALLY loves gum, and chews at least 3-4 pieces a day.  So for her, it's a sacrifice.  She offered to give up brushing her teeth, but we settled on gum, again.  Ches said he was going to bike to work every day (HaHa.).  I told him how lame that was, and he argued how cold it was today.  The priest gave some ideas on Wednesday, and this was one of them.  What Fr. Melnick doesn't realize is that Ches LOVES to ride his bike to work!  So, I said it was Lame-O.  He decided to do extra stuff-coaching baseball, helping at the scout dinner, etc.

I have now decided, after much thought, to give up Facebook-ing.  We get a reprieve on Sundays, so I'll check in, but I think it'll be a good break.


Girl Scout cookies will be here tomorrow evening.  I'll pick up my cookies, then quickly get them out!  Maybe they'll all be out by Monday or Tuesday?  I put tags on them last year with their names, so I'll try to do it again this year...that means I need to make the tags and get them printed tomorrow morning!


Ches wants to take the kids to the Stations of the Cross tomorrow night, and it's right in the middle of the pick-up-the-cookie-time, so I'll have to work out the logistics.  My life is a logistics specialty.


I found out today that an amazing friend is pregnant too!  I am so thrilled.  Really.  It is hard to have all these feeling swirling around, and be doubtful, but excited, and scared for the worst, but really hopeful, and am I too old? and what are the chances? and what will the next few months hold, and now I don't have to do it alone!  All my friends now seem to have bigger kids-not babies.  I do have Sandra, who has precious Rose, that I haven't gotten to hold in two weeks-I need more practice!  It seems like even if you've had three kids, every time is like a first time!  I'm excited and nervous, and I know it'll all come back to me, but still.  I'm just so glad that I have a partner to obsess with!  I'm sure Ches gets tired of all my questions and neurosis, so now I can split the crazy with two people!  Heehee
 

Mmmm...Cookies!

Girl Scout cookies are for sale! : ) We are officially open for business. They won't be in till Feb. 14th or 15th, but we are excited. It's our big fundraiser for the year, and the girls enjoy it. My sis-in-law is selling them at her office, and she sold so many last year (maybe more than Mary Claire??)! Mary claire set her goal at 200, so I just hope we can reach it! Every year it gets harder-especially in this economy. I think everyone knows it's for a good cause-it's not just for the cookies to eat. This year the NWA Children's Shelter was chosen for the Gifts of Sharing cookies (when people will buy some, but don't want them at their house to eat!). It's hard when the sale is right after the holidays, and everyone wants to lose weight. (Like me.) Let me know if you would like to order some! : )

Lessons Learned

I forget that when I shop, it requires more work and more HaNgErS! I bought some stuff for next winter, mostly for Ethan, but now I have to store it! Mostly I got spring and summer clothes. I will have to work on putting them away now!

I am still working on the Wii Fit-and it's still telling me I've gained weight-like I don't know! It wants to know if I want fitness tips. No, thanks. Really, I know the problem. I'm working on eating less. : )

I got Mary Claire a great new book (yes, it was last week, BeFoRe the *incident*). Ches read a little, and it may be risky! He thinks he read that a girl had a crush on a guy and wanted him to kiss her. So now, I have to read it to preview it. My kids are on such high reading levels, the content is above their age levels. I can't keep up-especially with both of them! I let them read books I've read, but they new ones I can't read all of before I give them. When I was in college, I had to read ALL the Newbery and Caldecott award winners. Yes, it was a four page list. The Caldecotts (best picture book each year) were easy, it was those dog-gone Newberys (best children's text-usually, but not always, a chapter book) that were so tough!! Anyway, I have the books I read as a child, the ones I read in college and while teaching, and the ones I've read in the past few years. But as they come out, I can't always "pre-read" them. Have you read Love, Stargirl? Let me know how it is.

**Ok, did some searching, and it's not that bad. A fist fight, a kiss, a moon (which I don't look forward to describing), and some adult pipe-smoking. Could be bazillions worse. I'll have to do the searching before I buy or before I give! Lesson learned.

ps-Cookies For Sale!! Officially has started. Wanna help sell? Come get a form! Want some cookies? Let me know how many of each kind! : )

Challenge! What should I give up for Lent?

It's only afternoon, so I'll spare you the minute-by-minute details. Suffice it to say I've been busy since 6:20. Am.

We are currently working on Mary Claire's research on Milton Hershey. He was such a wonderful person-I never knew that, and I've been to Hershey and the factory. He left his entire fortune-$60 million- in a trust to the school for orphans (he'd founded) to help them learn a trade so they could support themselves. His legacy lives on, and is still giving. He did so much. Won't go on here.

Ok, Mary Claire is on this kick that she doesn't want to have kids because they cut you, and it hurts. On account, I guess, of me griping about baby pain when Ethan was born, and when I put medicine on my big ugly c-section gash everyday. Yeah, I think that was it. So when we talked about it yesterday, I told her there was another place (hole) where babies come out. I explained more, and she wanted to know how a baby could get out, when you use the hole (only when you are married), etc. She says she just wants grandkids. Yes, we discussed this impossibility if she has no kids. She says she'll consider.
So today we're talking, she still wants no kids. I keep explaining how great they are, and she says she will just adopt. She wants me to take her by the Adopt Shop to just see. She said we don't have to go in. Can you imagine what adopting sounds like to a child? And who could've come up with Adop-Shop? Just my cutie.

We are now enjoying the delicious, carmel-y, crunchy gs cookies called Somoas (formerly Carmel Delights). We decided its newest name is Heavenly. They are so very good. Ok, few minutes later... the kids are hyper-absolutely crazy! It's all the sugar. I never let them have sweets, so their bodies are wack-o. I just got a hard thump-thump/pat on the chest-when I said to Mary Claire, "WHAT are you doing?" She had slapped a sticker on me that says Good.
She's trying to show her happiness. She just can't control herself. Now they've run off to play Easter egg hunt (as I began spring decorating today!) very loudly.

I got new Easter grass (now it looks like crimped paper-adorable!) and eggs to use around the house in big bowls/baskets, and my big glass apothecary jar that I've been trying to fill. I tied a cute tag on the lid that says Happy Easter and I used swirly stamps (Doodle This set) and a VersaMark pad to add glitter in swirls. It's so cute!

Ok, I've been thinking, and I feel bad about Thinking Day yesterday. Maybe they'd all had a tough week, and didn't get to do all they wanted. Meg, our girl scout helper was wonderful. She was very energetic, helpful, and sweet. We really appreciated her!

Alrighty, I think I may have to get in on the egg hunt! I'll be the Hider! : )
Maybe we could have a real hunt at our house this year. That'd be fun! Just think, if you had a child born in March or April, you could play with eggs on their birthdays every year! It's such a happy, joyous season.

Well, actually we are headed into Lent, the barren 40 days before Easter. This Tuesday is Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras), the pigout day before Ash Wednesday-when most people give something up for the 40 days prior to Easter (not counting Sundays on which you can have your forbidden thing). You can also choose to do an extra thing/service for the 40 days if you choose (or can't give up something great). We've given up Coke, candy, done extra service/prayers, and I'm thinking about this year. Last year, I gave up yelling. Yes, really! We used to (and occasionally still do) yell up the stairs to the kids, talk very loudly over the banister upstairs, yell and ask someone to bring us a diaper or the phone, etc. It was hard the first two or three days, but by the end, I was pretty much done yelling. I would say this is why we even do this-you find out you can do without things (well, not chocolate or Coke) or that doing extra service is really rewarding. What should I give up this year? What could I do extra?

I will give $1 extra to my church, St. Raphael's, for every response given. Deadline is Monday, 10pm. Remember to click on the word Comments, choose Comment as: Name/URL, write in a Name, click Continue, type your response/comment. Then click on Post Comment. I just went thru it on yesterday's post to get the directions just right for you!

Don't be lurkers (read/no comments). Let me know the worst thing about me that I could work on to improve. (Yeah, besides slowing down)

Noise? That's the sound of me talking!

Well, this is the second one, but it magically (like Lucky the Leprechaun) appeared at the top of the post. Go figure. I'm still learning. These are my precious leprechauns before school this am. Since Ethan woke me at 6:30 yelling mama, I got everyone up early. We had play/tv/picture time before school! Clay wanted to do it every day! Umm, no.
I was snapping pictures of Clay and Mary Claire, and Ethan bounded (yes, like a lion cat) up on the loveseat, and jumped in between them. Because it's his place, no? He's learned how this works! He's the cutie, and all adore. Right?


Ok, trying something new. This is Ethan hiding in my laundry basket! One minute he was helping me load the laundry in the washer, I turned around, and he was gone! I looked behind the door, as I could hear him, and he'd squatted down, and was hiding from me! Funnier, I said, "Stay there!" and ran to get my camera. I mean, how funny! This will RoCK when he's 18!
Yes, apparently he scaled the cart and climbed in. Alone. He's quite the monkey.


Ok, fun. Will keep going.

Alrighty, that didn't work as planned, but fun. I'll just post Clay's boy scout pix at right as it takes too long to load my pix in the post.

I shall not bore you with details of the day, as I've spent all my computer time catching up on other blogs that make me laugh out loud. So, here are the bullets:

Most angry:
When I was rushing around to leave, and Ethan was playing in my bathroom (never is this a good thing). I could hear "wush, wush" noises, thinking he was squeaking something. Well, he was-it was my bathroom cleaner. He squirted it all over all the bottles under the sink, the cabinets, and the floor. I'm only fortunate that he didn't drink in/squirt it in his eyes (thereby making me later and causing blindness). I had to scrub off all the bottles (loads of fun), and all surfaces. And I was just thinking how dirty those bottles of stuff looked.
I gave him time out in the Naughty Chair for that one (I had to tell him to stay there while I ran around looking for a chair). I have to start disciplining him! He sat (and got up, and cried, and got up, then after two minutes, I made him say, "Sorry, Mama", and he did, and we were all better).

Sweetest:
Playing with Ethan outside (while he was in jammies and shoes, ultra cute!), Helping Clay make a dancing skeleton for boy scouts while we used Real Nails and a Real Hammer! and Reading oodles of fairy tales to Mary Claire till much too late (Thumbelina, The Elves and the Shoemaker, The Twelve Dancing Princesses, etc.) then realizing:

Oh Yeah:
I have to go to bed early enough, to get up early enough, to shower and be at GS Thinking Day by 10, when Saturday is the only day I get to sleep in (till 8). Maybe I'll work it out. Magically. Like after I finish blogging. : )

Rocks:
Ches made Philly cheesesteaks, and I made fries (mmm...homemade fried potatoes) that the kids always make over. Yeah, probably artery-clogging, but it really boosts your ego, and you sleep well, bonus!

*Did more cookie-searching for people.
*Found a couple more spring pillows, still looking for others in the maze called the Attic.
*Awesome lunch with Jenifer, didn't last long enough... : )
*Got to help Clay with many tasks to earn his wolf badge for boy scouts since he's starting late.
*Pulled into the garage (on the phone), and the van is now touching the trashcan (so I didn't hear the *maybe* noise). So, I kinda hit it, maybe? And Ches is the one who informed me. Did he hear a sound?
*Gave Ethan another naughty chair timeout: for throwing a tantrum-using his body as a kitchen rug-over a hot dog/ice pop: he says them the same. (I made a hot dog, when he wanted an ice pop). I got another nice sorry and hug afterward. This might just work!
*Got to play trains with Ethan. He's learned a new word: noise. Not sure what it means to him. He points to his ear. Is his ear drum about to rupture, are his ears popping? Do I sound like a wounded lion to him? Is all my talking background noise?

Crack, Chowder, Clothes, Clean!

The crack in Mary Claire's room ceiling is healed! Thank you!! : ) We hit the ground running this am. I had to make a choice at 7:50 (kids safely at school) if I would shower or clean up before Paul and Steven came to texture the seam. I put on clothes, combed my hair, and cleaned up at Road Runner pace. Her room was a MESS from all the playing last night and company, so I cleaned it up first. Then to downstairs, stairs, kitchen, etc. Put in my sheets to wash, took towels out of the dryer..made my bed, made Sissy's bed, and generally hurried. I sent the guys home with the remainder of a case of the sugar free chocolate cookies that I had leftover for the troop to sell. (I think the people who bought some from Mary Claire will be disappointed about the box size! They only are one roll of cookies: like half the box, but the same price. Not really fair.) Anyway, the guys didn't get many cookies in the eight boxes, but I was very grateful that they came, and did such an awesome job! : )

Then, Ethan wanted soup at 9:30, so I thought he was lunching, and off to bed since he got to bed late last night. But, no. He played in his bed for a while, then I got him out. I started the soup for dinner tonight (yummy Paula Deen Corn Chowder with potatoes and chicken) and he played around me, and had some chicken, then more real lunch. I cleaned the refrigerator out (to make room for the pot till dinner), spilled a bottle of water (so cleaned the floor in the process), did another load of laundry, cleaned the bathroom (Clorox tabs are still working! I only had to do counters, around toilet/seat, floor, mirrors). Then fed sweet child while watching Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood (ethnic African dance and instruments today). I'd rather watch Martha, but he's not as entertained by her. Wonder why?

Now, he's off to sleep, and I must catch up quickly. I already cleaned out Mary Claire's closet of old stuff (clothes she can't wear anymore or I can't bear to see again), and I'm debating on selling them on eBay. I have always given them away, but they are all such cute matchy outfits with socks and bows, sweaters, etc. I'll think about it. It's easier to give them away, but I've learned that I don't get my tubs back, and when I see the cute outfits all mismatched or stained, it makes me sad. So, now if they go away from me, I won't worry about the little lives of the clothes. Weird, I know. Hopefully they might go to another state, and I won't see them again. I always save a few of my favorites in each size, for Mary Claire when she's bigger. Maybe just for memories (if just for me). I'm still deciding. It'd be a lot of work, putting them on eBay. I don't know if I have time. Oh, and Ethan's are so nice. When Clay was little, he didn't have as many clothes or as nice. Times change. Now, I just want to save everything of his-they're just tiny and adorable. : )
Ok, to shower and get ready for Bunco. Before the kids get home! I can do this!

Cookies are Here!

Today was long. I went in this morning to help unload the truck full of girl scout cookies. We worked fast and hard. I was sweating, and had to take my coat off, it was sweaty on the neck, and by then my shirt was wet. Gross. I stayed till we got all the boxes counted, divided by troop, and started loading them up. I checked out our troops' (responsible for paying for them) and brought them home.

Mom was here so the carpet cleaners could come to clean the hearth room carpet and a couple of other spots in the kids' rooms. They were fast, and very good! All the stained places are gone. The real test is to see if they come back up in the next month or so. I am hoping they won't. It just looks so nice right now! In fact, we hesitated to put the furniture back since they'd left such neat straight vacuum lines. But, we did, and all is restored.

Then Paul came back to repair the sheetrock seam crack in Mary Claire's room for the painters. He was so fast! When he left, Mom and Dad did too, and I put Ethan to bed. It was almost 2 when he went to sleep. I went in my room and debated on reading, working, cleaning, or taking a nap. I decided to spend 30 minutes resting/reading then cleaning from 2:30 on since Kelly and Kiersten were coming over to sort cookies and give them out. Well, that went bust when I fell asleep reading! I woke up about 3:15, ran to see if the kids had come home yet (they were walking across the yard), and realized I had to hurry to straighten up (I'd have lots of people coming to get their cookies!).

We sorted, Ches left for night class, and slowly the parents came. Only about 1 family an hour. Our last parent didn't come until after 8, so it was a long night! We did fine, fed the kids pizza, cookies for snack, had night-night stories, so we made it. Ethan did get to bed late: 8:20, but of course went right to sleep! The kids too. They were exhausted from running around and playing with all the different kids as they came and went! It was quite a night! : )

Now they are settled in, and I'm settling down. I'm sure there's more to do (get laundry out of dryer, load washer clothes into dryer, clean kitchen, make lunches, check Monday folders..) but I can't go any longer! I'm so tired. And I just know I'll be sore tomorrow! I worked, and twisted, and pushed, and loaded. I'll have muscles hurting tomorrow that I don't even realize I have! And then. There's tomorrow.

With Ethan sick (snotty), there'll be no MDO. So, about that ticket to pay... I'll be home with him, which makes more time to clean the kids' closets out of wintery and too-small clothes, but not so much time to run my errands. I think I have a list of about 7 things to do out. But they can wait. Maybe I could run do the drive-thru things with him. Then Mary Claire has gymnastics, and I have Bunko. I'm feeling really bad about the amount of pizza we've eaten lately (although Ethan has eaten well), so I need to make dinner tomorrow. I don't know how with me being at gymnastics, but maybe I'll make soup in the morning. They're eating tons of fresh fruit and veggies, but I just feel bad. It seems like if I put no real work into, I'm failing them (as I consider cooking part of my job description). I will work on it.

Oh, yeah! If you ordered cookies, they are ready for pickup or delivery! : ) Yum, yum! Thin Mints, Samoas, Do-si-dos, Trefoil, Dulce de Leche, Sugar Free Chocolate Chip, Lemon Chalet Cremes, and Tagalongs! If you want more, or didn't get to order, we have some left over, and can order more! Woohoo!

Oh, the Hammering! and Vote Today!

I am sooo glad we are not having our roof replaced! Everyone else in our neighborhood is, but not us! We did call our insurance agent and have it looked at, but it was okay. We had the most horrible hail storm on Halloween morning (Pix posted to right!). I think what happened is one person called their agent (we have one agent who lives here), then when we saw roof upon roof -now close to 25- roofs (just try typing rooves-it just looks funny!) being replaced, we called our insurance company too! Ours is newer that the houses right around us since our street was developed a lot later (phase IV), so we got a "no". (Ours was turned down because we still have a lot of "sand" or grain on our shingles, meaning it still has a lot of wear to go.) I guess it's good, cause then you have to pay the deductible-$500- for something you never really get to see.
Anyway, the noise for the past few months is getting old!! The hammering is atrocious! I guess Ethan is getting used to it too, since now he sleeps thru it.

Okay, what's better-cookie dough or really warm cookies right out of the oven that just fall apart on you? I watched a Curious George episode (yes, with Ethan!) about a pie made by Mr. Psketti, and it put me in a dessert mood (what wouldn't this week!?), so Ches suggested chocolate chip cookies. He's so smart! So, I made the easy break-n-bakes (Nestle Toll House-yummmm), barely waiting until they were off the cookie sheet to put them in my mouth!
So anyway, I'm having a contest (really I was in the contest, and it's a tie). Tell me your favorite-cookie dough or freshly baked cookies. For every vote, I'll donate one dollar to JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation). The voting closes tomorrow (January 15th) at 10pm. I'll make the donation on Friday and post a link or picture.

On with the excitement! I have done something extra special! dum, da, da, dum... Laundry! Don't you wish it came with applause and cheering? And my dryer started the beeping and blinking again yesterday-in front of me! It's getting pretty bold! Ches says to call a repairman. I just can't do it till it stops working. I don't know why-is it admitting defeat?

What should I do next? I have a good couple hours till Ethan wakes up (maybe more if he sleeps till the kids get home). I could finish the scrapbook layout, sew-and make Mary Claire new pump pouches, wash my sheets-woohoo! (No.), or print the labels and journal spots for the Daisy Girl Scouts to work on their scrapbooks this Sunday (Maybe.), Wii Fit, or try to spread myself really thin and do all of the above (Yep, that's what I usually do!).

Hope you are havin' a great Hump Day! Maybe I'll think of a contest in which YoU take home a prize! What prize would you like??

Girl Scout Cookies, Heart Attack, and a Recipe-though not necessarily related

I've spent all my computer time (and cleaning time, and cooking time, and laundry time..) on my background research (heehee) to work on making new backgrounds. Finding them isn't just enough, but aquadots will do for a few days till I can spend a little more time on it. I made a cute faded dot with Pooh quote, but I kept getting the quote too big, then Firefox shut down on me. Yes, really. I only had 11 tabs open. It was just too much. So, I updated to version 3, and here I am!

Things I Never Thought I'd Say:
No! Don't get your blanket in your poop! (And worse: Then it'll take an hour to wash and dry it and you won't have it for nap!)

I survived yesterday's small crisis, and slept hard last night. I thought we weren't going to keep our puppy-Serious. I was upset, we were all upset, long story... So I was taking her over to Gigi's to let her spend the night, but then I stayed, calmed down, baked Pumpkin Spice Muffins (see yummy recipe below!) and decided to take her home. It was traumatic. I just wasn't sure the kids were ready-they've been rough with her, and I was thinking only of her. And, thinking of her, I didn't want her to have to get used to another home when this is what she knows. So, I decided to keep her with me even more.

Lexi is doing better-she's already made 3 pees, and 1 poop-on papers! Yay! I should just figure out how to make tally marks. : ) She's getting better, and I'm getting more attached. I was trying to leave me out of the equation yesterday, but maybe I can't!

We went to the Girl Scout Cookie Kickoff! So, today is the first official day we can sell cookies! (and I left the forms at Gigi's) We'll get right to work! If you want any, let me know. We also have service organizations to give the cookies to if you don't eat cookies (Our troop is sending them to Support the Troops-NWA and Shiloh Health and Rehab). You still buy them, but we give them away. They have a new baker-I think I mentioned it.. Anyway, they have the really old names: Caramel Delite is now Somoa, the Peanut Butter Sandwiches are now Do-Si-Do's, the old shortbreads are now Trefoils, the yummy peanut butter patty (with Chocolate) is now Tag-a-long. But good ol' Thin Mints get to keep the same name!

Do you ever wonder about your friend's health, but you can't say anything? It's a catch-22 (or 44!). If you notice them looking poorly, and ask them if anything's wrong-there are four things that could happen: One, there is something wrong, and they are so relieved you know them well enough to notice. Two, they don't know you well enough, and are offended you'd ask. Three, there is nothing wrong, and they are mad that you think they look "bad"! Fourth, and most rare, they don't think they're sick, but admit they should get more sleep, or have a physical. So, do you ask them about it, or wait-and-see, hoping they don't die? Seriously.

I was helping Clay's class with writing yesterday morning, and I was working with a sweet little girl. She was writing about her cat, Mouse. It was very funny-she showed me how Mouse runs on the wood floor when she chases her! And she wrote all about what she liked about Mouse and about her favorite paw. Isn't is precious how little kids can focus their thoughts on one tiny thing for a long time? I have trouble focusing without my mind jumping to the 18 things I could or should be doing at any one time. I think that's why I like to go-to focus my mind off myself for a little while. It's like Simpler Times.

Well, the other big thing that happened, is Nurse Patty probably had a Heart Attack! She couldn't get up, was in excrutiating pain-like a knife stabbing her!-when it happened, so she couldn't check Mary Claire (she checked herself, and was fine). The biggest shocker was that she didn't call 911-nor did anyone else! She stayed there, scheduled a dr's appt, and was planning to stay until Nurse Tracy got there! Was she MAD!? I came in about 11am, and she was STiLL there! I asked if she'd had any aspirin yet, and how did she feel? She said that the pain wasn't too bad-She's A Nurse! I ran to the gas station and got her some BC powder, which she took, and I made her leave. What's with women? Why do they have to care for everyone else and put themselves last??!! If you don't make it, you can't serve everyone anymore! Ok, so has anyone heard how Patty is? I'm so worried about her!

Lesson Learned: I left the school, went to WM (always WM-everyday for something), and got aspirin for the school, aspirin for home, and baby aspirins for me to take every day. My family has heart disease and high blood pressure, I'm not taking any chances! So, I had one of the little gems today. At first it's candy-like, and I could see why kids could OD, but then the bitterness kicked in. Nope, one a day is enough.

Please pray for Patty and her heart. And my beloved: take a baby aspirin every day. If only to live to serve others for another day.

Here's your recipe, that's not guaranteed not to cause heart palpitations!
Pumpkin Muffin Recipe:
Can Pumpkin
Box Spice Cake Mix (think Betty Crocker)
Bag MINI Chocolate Chips

Mix together pumpkin and cake mix well. Stir in chocolate chips. Mixture will be thick like cookie dough! Put into mini muffin tins and bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes. Makes about 48. Yummy! : )

Broken Glass. Again.

yeah, So I thought the broken glass era was over. Not yet. I was emptying my huge pretzel jar of crumbs (since they were always out on the counter, I thought I'd make them look pretty) to put in new pretzels -I went to WM again- and slam! the jar hit the counter and busted the bottom. Since no one likes to eat glass crumbs, I threw it out. I don't do it on purpose, and I don't even know how it happens. I remember having a horrible headache (sinus congestion? afternoon shopping with my littlest shopping protege? or should I say talking protege?) and then it happened. I even spent lots of time at Pier One, a little flea market, and Hobby Lobby looking for another glass urn/vase (to replace the one I broke on Saturday), and a pair of new candleholders/fat candle sticks for the dining room. I have a plan. I'll show you later if it works. It's just a candle ring try out of paper (that's why I went to the flea market-to get an old book to rip the pages out of). Sacrilegeous, I know (well, MC told me so!)
Anyway, we found lots of Christmas leftover bargains-now 75% off at Pier One and 80% off at Hobby Lobby! (Absolutely no sales at flea market-books were near original value, and some were higher!) If you need gift bags, ornaments, garland, cards for next year, more crap to store somewhere-they have it! : )
Well, my sweet, darling boy decided to impress me since I'm making over Lexi every time she makes on the paper. He started telling me "peepee", so I took down his pants, he pulled out his potty chair, and he made a poop-just like that. (I've heard the third child potty trains themselves, but wow.) Then we partied, showed daddy (asleep, and surely annoyed-but cheered), flushed, and went back to watching tv. Same thing again! Only this time, bigger poop-he was just testing me the first time! So, we got out the pull-ups I've got ready for days when he's ready, and about 30 minutes later, he peed in it, pulled it off, and we got another one, same thing. Then he ran around naked, we had lunch, and he peed in his booster seat. Yep, three strikes, you're out. He was back in a diaper, pants, and off to nap.
Some days he seems ready, some he's not. I'm not pushing him-I don't need another anal retentive person around me! : )
Tomorrow, we have our first scrapbook event! at our church! It's taken a true act of God to help us get to use a room at the church (granted, in the old church), but still. We will party like it's 1999, and get as much talking and some work done in the meantime! I've got to get my stuff ready to take. I think I'm only going to take my Disney pix from May since I'm still not done with them. I only have about 150 more pictures developed and waiting on me... I'll slap some pages together, and get back to scrapping the kids' births. Yeah, I'm working on that. I have random holidays done thru the years. It is mostly when I found cool paper and stickers or an idea-and I used both immediately. I have some Halloweens and Easters, and some baby pictures, a first day of school (Clay's first day to Mother's Day Out), and maybe some fall pictures. I just haven't had time. That's why the scrapbooking get together! I'll try to catch up. I've got to do less detailed pages so I can complete them faster. If I get a layout done (in 3 hours!), I'll post them! : )
I've found that drinking the stress reducing peppermint tea is helping my breathing. Sleep seems to help too. Imagine that! I should not let it get to this point. I just have too much I want to do, and not enough hours in the day! I went on to Daisy Girl Scouts last night (we had cookie training! and ironed on the girls' earned petals!) but I could ***Ches has just announced his new top Wii bowling score-lefthanded-is 235, and I am to let all know-especially my mom whose top score is 212!*** tell maybe I shouldn't have gone. I was blowing my nose -gross- and looking for tissues, and sounding all nasal-ly. But I went and had fun. We got to try the new Dulce de Leche cookie for this year, it was good! It tasted like caramel and coconut. We found out that we have a new baker this year, and they won't be as healthy (but they'll taste better, which makes for more repeat buyers-my words!). So, starting Saturday, January 10th, we'll be knocking on YOUR door!!! Or, you can email me to avoid the awful rude people out on your porch peeking in the window to see if you are really in there! heeheehee : ) They've dropped the price to $3.50, and I think the troop gets about 45 cents for every box. Which we've already spent on the aforementioned patches we already ironed on. Yeah, we gotta get busy selling! So, what kind do you want, and how many??