Aloha Friday

HEY YOU!

YES YOU!

I have an announcement.

Stop what youre doing and sit down.

Ready?

MY FAMILY IS GOING TO DISNEYWORLD!

No, I am not excited.

I mean, I am a 34 year old mature mother of three and do not get giddy over the thought of seeing Mickey

and Donald

and Cinderella's castle.


I am not excited that I will not have to cook a meal and clean up a kitchen for one whole week.

And the thought of seeing my children with "perma-grins" all week long does not make me so excited I lose sleep.

But anyways, this post isnt about me.

Ok it is. Kinda.

I want to know......

Have you been to Disneyworld?

What was your favourite park/attraction/restaurant?

What should we make sure that we see?

And dont see?

I need tips.

Thanks muchly.

Princess and her Teddy

Hosted by Cecily and Carissa

Once upon a time there was a Princess.
A beautiful, perfect Princess if I do say so myself.
She loved Hot Wheels cars and trucks.
Bouncy balls.
And her Teddy.

Teddy went everywhere with Princess.
In the van.
To the grocery store.
And to bed.

Teddy gets kissed alot.
Teddy gets dirty.
Teddy gets covered in food.
Teddy's nose has been nibbled on by Princess.....and Studley.


We only have one Teddy.
I cant find another one anywhere.
So if you see one that looks similar, I will pay you to buy it and ship it to me.
Princess and I will love you forever. And may just send you something in return........

Looking for the perfect costume is not an easy job.

So MamaKat has some Halloween prompts this week and if you follow all of the rules, you could win a Flip Camera. Since I just purchased a video camera and haven't followed ALL of the rules, I am probably out of the running. But that's ok. I still love her dearly.

Here is my poem to my spooky, scary kid that caused me great stress recently.....well, who am I kidding? He causes me great stress every single day.

But anyways.


We searched and searched and searched some more
For the perfect costume full of gore
You want to be the scariest boy
Wearing the scariest costume and holding the scariest toy

You said no to a vampire
And no to a ghost
No to a werewolf
You said no to most

"I want to be scary and say "boo" to my friends"
But Mommy thought the search would never end
She whined and complained and pouted and frowned
With chocolate and candy her sorrows she drowned

Until finally they looked one more time
And spotted the costume right next to goo and slime
You shrieked and yelled "That is the one"
"I want it. I want it. I want it please Mom."

So I scooped it up fast and smiled from cheek to cheek
At last we had our "treasure" so to speak
My son will be the scariest, spookiest kid in town
And I will be the happiest Mommy around!


Go here to see more Halloween posts.

Halloweens Past

I have been around for 34 Halloweens.
That is alot.
It isn't my favourite yearly event.
Especially now that I have to purchase create costumes for my kids.
And buy loads of Halloween candy so they can take it to their school parties and other social events.

But I do enjoy eating it.

Too much.

I also have to put on makeup so they look spooky and scary.
And walk around town with them when it is cold and damp and dark.

But I do enjoy seeing them smile.
And giggle as they run from house to house saying "Trick-or-Treat".

I am sure I was like that too.
And I am sure my parents loved making my costume.
Painting my face.
Taking me out from house to house.
And seeing me smile.

My dad even dressed up with me.
As some scary guy with a uni brow.
He is a good fellow, my Dad. I am a good woman but do not plan on dressing up on Halloween any time soon.Unless I get paid alot.I take cash.Or chocolate.

This baby-making Momma is done.

Two and a half years ago I had baby fever. I wanted another baby. I didn't feel finished. I wanted to enjoy a pregnancy. I wanted to relax and look forward to another little one to love and care for.


Two years ago I was pregnant. I had acne. I was fat. I worried about everything. I was constipated. I wasn't sleeping. I was hormonal.

But I was excited to have another little one to love and care for.

The pregnancy part sucked.

I know, I know. I should say that I loved every second of it and it was a magical time of my life. I should say that carrying a baby inside me was the most wonderful time of my life and I enjoyed every feeling.

It was magical.
I was blessed.

But I was never happier than having my new baby girl outside of my body.

And now, 18 months later, when I see pregnant women, I want to hug them, I want to tell them that as uncomfortable as they are at this time of their life, it is all worth it in the end. I want to buy them chocolate and tell them I know it is tough right now but soon they will have the best gift they could ever imagine. I want to tell them that eventually they will sleep....and poop.


I want to tell them that they are blessed.


But I wouldn't tell them that I never, ever want to be pregnant again.

Not Moi Lundi.

Today is lundi.
That is Monday in French.
You know what that means?

It means it is time for me to tell you all of the things that absolutely did not happen to me lately.

Like when I fell on my "toosh" on our bathroom floor because the boys decided it would be fun to splash water on each other and not clean it up.

Or, when I called Studley "Studley" in front of my children who then asked me why I called him that and continued to call him that for the rest of the day.

Nope, those things did not happen to me. Nope, no way.

Orrr....when I made the mistake of leaving a laundry basket of clean clothes in the same room as Princess, only to find her walking around with my underwear around her arms as bracelets a few minutes later.

And my bra around her neck as a necklace.

Nope. Didn't happen.

Mr. Momma did not walk into the tack room of the barn to find a rat the size of a small dog staring him in the eye. IT DID NOT HAPPEN. IT DID NOT HAPPEN. I am hoping if I say this a million times, it will mean it really didn't happen.

And while at Ikea I most certainly did not let my hyper, wild, somewhat misbehaved 5 year old push Princess in the cart which resulted in them tipping over right down on the floor.
I am a better mother than that. Really.



And...oh yeah....... I did not book a trip for our family to spend a week here in just a few short weeks.




Because it is expensive.


And my children are bankrupting us with all of their other activities.


And it wouldn't be much fun anyways.




Ok, the trip is booked and yes, my children are spoiled.



But who cares!



It is a much needed vacation for the whole family.





And I am already counting down the sleeps.

Happy Lundi y'all!!!!!!

Beavers

My boys are Beavers. Kinda like Cub Scouts I guess.

I laugh whenever I say Beavers.

I laugh whenever other people say Beavers.

Are your kids in Beavers?
Do they like it?
Do you laugh when you say the word Beavers?
What words make you laugh?

Just wondering.

Fall Decor and a Confession

I will confess.
I am not a big fall decorator.
Christmas, yes. Fall, not so much.
But I will show what I do anyways.
Don't laugh.
Don't judge.
I am still a good person.

Anything my children make is displayed in some way. Just like these fall candles. And yes, we have lit them many times at the dinner table and nothing has blown up so I would say their craft was a huge success.

Orange balls and gourds. My children picked out the gourds so they are funny shaped and "warty" looking but that's ok. I am not picky.
Fall leaves and gourds. I buy the cheap fall leaves on sticks and just "stick" them throughout the house. Don't laugh.
Pumpkins scattered throughout my family room. I couldn't resist them and the price was reasonable.
Fireplace mantle. Two bunches of orange flowers with orange ribbon. Scattered gourds and leaves on sticks.
Closeup on the mantle.
More balls. I like balls. Hmph.

Wreath on the door. I was too cheap to buy one so I made my own. Just call me Martha.
Our many pumpkins outside at the door. Behind them is a huge planter with burgundy mums but they are starting to look...well....not so good.
There you have it my friends. That is the extent of my fall decorating. Stay tuned for Christmas.......

Go here to see much better fall decorating ideas than mine.

Children....hay bale....pumpkin farm.....disastrous picture

Once upon a time, a nice, loving family went to the pumpkin farm.
Momma tried to take a nice fall picture of all three children together.
Momma and Mr. Momma spent minutes persuading them to jump up on the hay bale. Then they placed each child in the perfect position for the perfect picture.This was the result.

We will try again next year.


Hosted by Cecily and Kelli

Playground Dos and Donts

I like to do what I can to help parents out in the game of, well...parenting. I have learned that carrying and birthing the children is the easy part and it is all the stuff that comes after that is extremely difficult.

I have also learned from experience that taking children for an afternoon at the local park isn't all flowers and smiles.

That is why I haven't done it in a long time. But that's a story for another day.

Today I will give you Mommas list of Playground Dos and Don'ts. You can thank me later with some chocolate...or....a new pair of shoes. It doesn't take much to make me happy.

Anyways, when preparing to go to the park, pack a small bag with diapers and wipes because as soon as you step foot on the playground, your little one will release his/her bowels. Guaranteed.

Make sure you pack snacks and drinks also because as soon as you get there they will be hungry. Feel free to pack yourself a bottle of rum and Coke. Just because you will need it.

It is always a good idea to bring sand toys. Tonka toys always made my boys happy....for about 5 minutes. And then they would walk over to the nice little boy playing with his own little tractors and Hot Wheels and swipe them out of his hands.

Bring along your "calm, perfect Mommy face" because you will need it when your children misbehave by stealing other children's toys and hitting them with them. Remember these words. "Taking other kids toys is not allowed. Oh, look at that bird over there". As your child looks, take the toy that he/she stole and give it back. Then keep finding ways to distract your children as you walk away from the nice little boy/girl with the black eye.

You're welcome. I do what I can to help.

Play with your children. They like it when Mommy chases them around acting like the Playground Monster. They like it even more when you catch them and tickle them.

Socialize with other parents. You never know. You may just meet a life long friend...for you and your children.

Never, ever go barefoot at the park. You and your children. Ewwwwww. Gross. Disgusting. Gag. Puke. I have never, ever let my children roam around in a huge kitty litter box barefoot. Ok, maybe I did a few times. But I never did it.

Always wear a bra because people will talk and kids will ask many questions. And the friends you hoped to meet on your outing to the playground will never come over to say hi. Unless they are slimy Dads.

Do not spend your time chatting or texting on your cell phone or reading an interesting novel. Firstly, because you will be interrupted a gazillion times by children wanting you to watch them go down the slide for the thousandth time. Secondly, because you may get caught up in it all and not realize your children have been kidnapped.


Do not discipline other parents children no matter how much you want to spank their bare ass. They are not your children. Parent your own kids.....drink your Mommy juice and go to another area of the park to get away from the "bad ones". Remember to always keep the "calm, perfect Mommy" face even when you want to yell, scream and throw a tantrum.


And last but certainly not least, have fun, because your children will thank you for it years down the road and you will miss the moments. Honest.

*All pictures courtesy of Yahoo Images*

Go see MamaKat for more. It will be the best thing you do all day.

Me

This is me.
When I was younger
Before getting married.
Before having children.
Before having any responsibilities.
Except figuring out what to wear and who to call.


Life was good.
Life was easy.
Before having responsibilities....
and growing up.

This is me.
When I was skinny.
Wore too much makeup.
And curled my bangs a little too much.




Life was good.

Simple.



But I wouldnt change anything now because I have three beautiful children....

a husband who loves me......

a dog named Studley......

...and responsibilities.

5 Minutes for Mom

Best Girlfriends

"Girls are gross"
"Eww....girls"
"Girls have cooties"

Most young boys do not enjoy girls and let their parents and friends know that boys rule.

Not my boys.

They are an exception.

In fact my boys enjoy girls. Yep, I said it. My boys like girls. Girls their age. Older girls. Women. Seniors.

If they are of the female gender, my very boyish boys like them.

My 5 year old had a girlfriend through his entire Kindergarten year. He let us know that he was going to marry her and she was going to have babies with him. But they would live with us and I would cook and clean for them because that is what Mommy's do.

During the summer my 5 year old and his girlfriend had play dates and met up at birthday parties on a regular basis. They greeted each other by smiling and hiding behind their parents, but then were inseparable for the time they were together. My smooth talker even informed his girlfriend's father that he was going to marry his daughter and they were going to have babies and live with the parents. Yes, really.

Her father laughed. Kinda.

My 7 year old has had multiple girlfriends (apparently). We have received calls from his teacher informing us that our son was chasing girls around the school yard trying to kiss them but they didn't like it and went home and told their parents.

There has not been any play dates with his girlfriends.

I find this quite interesting considering my boys are as "boyish" as they can get. Dirt. Bugs. Motor Vehicles. Rubber boots. "Holey" clothing. Bodily noises. Bad words.

But they like playing with girly girls at the ages of 5 and 7.

I also find this quite scary.

Frightening actually.

But I guess I should enjoy the innocence for as long as I can.

Because before I know it, they will actually know how babies are made.