Rose Colored Glasses

I have a problem.

I like to camp.

I love the smell of a camp fire.

I  enjoy the cool nights, the morning dew,

and warm afternoon sun.

I just don't like it when I'm the mom.

It's hard.

Super hard.

It was easy when it was just Larry and I.

We only needed a few things,

and filled up a tent like this.

But that changed.

Our family grew,

and so did our tent size.

I kept trying to convince myself camping is great.

So we bought a tent to fit our growing needs.

But even that tent couldn't support 

all the needs of 5 young kids.

Like portable toilets, coolers full of sippy cups,

port-a-cribs and at least 1 flashlight for every child.

Now that our tent size resembles a small

New York apartment,

camping is difficult.

 

I can't help it.

I like camping too much not to go.

Although the demands of a parent leaves

much to be desired.

It's hard to keep up my standards of cleanliness,

organization and calmness

amid dirt, bugs, nature, allergies,

and mother nature.

I guess you could say,

I'm TORN.

I can't deny giving my kids a chance at

enjoying it too.

So as I dig out the sleeping bags

and pack for 6 of the 7 people in our family

I'm determined to take a deep breath

and enjoy camping again.

Wish me luck!

Are You My Mother?

"You are not my mother!

You are a SNORT!!"

What goes around, comes around.

Right mom?

(you can stop laughing now)

Brothers

 Having a little brother is a dream

come true for Ben.

He often feels left out and ignored

by his older sisters.

I know he's jealous of the close relationship

Sydney & Emma share.

 Ben is very affectionate to his little brother.

He always wants him on his lap,

gladly shares his coveted blanket with him

and wants to make Dan happy

by putting the fallen pacifier in his mouth.

 It's these quiet moments of a mutual affection

for each other that I love to watch.

 Ben is so excited to be holding his brother

and Dan can't take his eyes off of him.

I'll have to remember to show them this picture

when they start wrestling & beating each other up.

Economical Update

Upon some recent hours of reflection I've come to conclusion that any one who graduated with a degree in these past 3 years got screwed.  And it looks as though it's not going to stop twisting that flat-head Stanley tool into future graduates backs either.

I remember the deep conversations Larry and I had while we were planning our future.  We were knee deep in Law School applications, talking about where to apply.  Weighting all our options.  Coming to conclusion  the place we would attend school would also need to have a high percentage of placement for jobs.

Little did we know how the stock market would mold all future decisions for businesses and individuals.  Older employees wouldn't retire because of the hit on their future $$, leading to less entry level jobs or any hiring at all.  But we dealt with it.  We found a job Larry enjoyed even with it's "eye-popping" itty-bitty salary.  We've become creative with what we do have, Larry has found ways to keep the student loans at bay and I've learned to keep costs low at home.

Until now.  Today I found myself back at the beginning.  Back in the same nasty, dirty government offices filling out applications that I filled out 100's of times during Law School.

Gas, groceries, insurance, co-pays, water, electricity...even the cost of a flu shot has jumped $10 over the past years.  Although some would point out the cost of cars and homes have dropped, but really it's the day to day financials that can bite you in the rear.  It's not a depressing thing for me, I'm just shocked.  This is NOT what I had pictured myself doing 9 years ago when we diligently filled out our school applications.

I pictured running the kids to dance & sports, big birthday parties, driving a car built in this millennium,  going on family vacations, flying to visit cousins & grandparents...you get the picture.  Instead it's second hand stores, teaching piano lessons, backyard parties, coupons are a MUST....

So here we are, still making the same amount of $$ with the threat of a pay decrease or even layoffs continually hanging over ALL our heads.  But the cost living is up.  How do we keep up?

We don't.
Welcome to 2010.

How is life different for your family?

(the bright side:  must mention our family is blessed with a lg home and loads of healthy kids to fill it up)

Two Month Check UP

It's that time of year again...

"Time for what mom?"

Dare I tell him?

Soon he'll learn like the rest of

his siblings.

That when mommy takes you to

the DR it usually means...

SHOTS!

Thankfully he cried initially,

but gave up rather quickly and went to

sleep for the car ride home.

Here's the results:

Dan is now 13 lbs 14 oz (80th %)

and 24 in long.  (75th %)

Yesterday we realized that Dan was wearing

the exact same outfit that Ben was

in a picture framed in Ben's room.

So I scanned it into the computer.

The comparison of the 2 boys is rather 

interesting...

Benjamin

Daniel

Straight Jacket

It happened!

AGAIN!!

I walked into Keira's room,

to find this.

Her usual scene...

the blankets all on the floor,

including ALL of her clothes.

Apparently she's a nudest.

I even took extra precautions by

getting in touch with my inner

"Macgyver"

 and put on an layer of duck tape.

Obviously, that didn't help.

She just shimmied the diaper off

her hips.

So I got smart.

Because if you can't be smarter

then your 23 month old,

then you shouldn't be a parent.

After her nap today I found her like this!

Clothed!

I love it when a plan comes together.

But did Keira like mommy's trick?

Nope.

And what do we have to thank for

putting an end to all of her antics?

A pj straight jacket.

FHE Dessert

Don't these look delicious?

PBJ Cookies!!

Last night Sydney whacked her foot

on Ben's bed,

thus injuring her foot to

the point it has a goose egg

and she is officially crawling around the house.

So today we decided  it was best

that Sydney stay home from school, 

because crawling around the classroom

just didn't sound very sanitary.

And coincidentally it was also her job

for the "treat" at tonights Family Home Evening.

We pulled out the cookie sheets and

got to work.

INTRODUCING:

The Helpers

Also known as Dolphin and Hot Dog.

Here's the recipe:

350 degree oven

1c melted butter

2c brown sugar

1/2c white sugar

1t vanilla

1  1/2t baking soda

1t baking powder &

1/2t salt.

Mix well.

Add,

1c crunchy peanut butter

2 beaten eggs.

Mix well.

Add,

3c flour, sifted.

Mix well, 1 cup at a time.

Then roll into balls and coat in white sugar.

Place on cookie sheet and 

use a clean finger to make a hole.

Get out a ziplock bag and 

your favorite flavor of jam.

Place jam in the corner of the bag,

snip a whole in that corner.

And fill up those holes with your jam.

And if you really love your Daddy,

you'll fill up a few of yours with chocolate chips, too!!

Don't forget to clean up.

Giddy-up

You won't find a better big sister then this one!

Sydney is always playing with her

younger siblings.

Which ALWAYS makes them happy.

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8 weeks

TIME FOR A PHOTO MONTAGE

This little man is a spectacular baby!

He nurses quick, sleeps where ever mom

lays him down, loves his car seat,

gives big smiles, enjoys pinched cheeks,

doesn't mind little sis's fingers all over his face,

is fascinated with ceiling fans, 

has almost out grown his size 2 shoes and

usually wakes only once in the night.

And as of this week his gas

and

burping is showing signs of slowing down!!

Maybe soon I'll wear only 1 shirt a day

instead 4!!

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Finger Licking Good

Normally, I wouldn't attempt this kind of recipe.

Because me and dough

don't mesh.

Usually it turns into mush.

But I felt renewed confidence after reading

a great step by step tutorial

(with pictures included)

on how to make these scrummshish

sweet rolls.

I decided to use 1/2 the recipe as

chocolate chip sweet rolls and

the other 1/2 were made into

cinnamon rolls.

I really enjoyed how wonderful

the cooking bread made my house

smell!

Move over glade, mamma's cooking!

And within seconds of the icing

oozing onto the rolls,

the pan looked like this!!!

1 left...

who wants it?

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Bwwaaaahhhhhh

WHY DO CHILDREN CRY WHEN

YOU CHANGE THEIR DIAPER?

I have absolutely no compassion for

them during this smelly duty.

Because really?

Is it that awful?

Considering I'm on the DIRTY

end of the process don't you

think I should be the one crying?

It's not like I'm making it worse.

I am graciously putting my hand

within millimeters of a launching pad,

using only a thin piece of cotton

between me and a highly sensitive

explosive land mine.

Which could implode and

drench anything within 10 feet,

leaving a stain that baffles the

experts at a clear removal process.

Big crocodile tears from the instigator?

Soooo not acceptable.

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1.02.28

The Real Thing.

On Emma's "actual" birthday

she offered to let me try

another new recipe

instead of having cake 2 days

in a row!

Introducing....

S'mores

I wonder what she wished for...

probably for a 2nd helping!!

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1.02.28

Big Splash

With this many floaties

I think Keira has NO CHANCE

of drowning.

 Silly girl!!

Lately Sydney has been inspired by

all the talent shows on TV.

And displays her love of dancing

anywhere she can.

Our friend Josh

(one of the tallest guys we know)

took turns chucking the kids

into the water.

I think this pictures is

wicked cool!

Shockingly, Keira let Josh throw

her in too!!

This from the girl who screamed

when I brought her within 10 ft

of the pool at the beginning

of the summer!!

She's come a long way!

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