The Treat of the Trade

My husband, the hard working bread winner of the house, had to go to work 4 days earlier than normal this hitch. It seems that this household has developed a pattern. When dad is gone things go haywire. Kids try to act up. The check engine light goes off and on in the car. The dogs dig holes in the backyard.  The washer kicked the bucket (2nd time in a year) We have alot of leftovers after dinner every night. OK maybe that's not so bad. Ill take a night of heating up leftovers over a night cooking any time. It just seems that we always have alot going on when hes gone. Then I just have to remind myself that its just me for 2 weeks out of the month. I have gained a new appreciation for single moms who have to do this full time. I need to count my blessings that its just me up against 3 kids for 14 days out of the month. He's had to work over before and that didn't seem to be a big deal, I guess because he was already gone, so we weren't really phased by it. But going in ...

I am really confused on why we still celebrate Presidents Day considering that over half of the population despises our President. I think its a way for teachers to have a 3 day weekend. The weather today is not cooperating with a no school day. Its windy. Its cold. And I'm only letting the kids play outside for 15-20 mins incerments. Yesterday, Sunday, was a perfect weather day. 69 degrees. No wind and the kids played outside till dark. Now i have 2 that are fighting over whos craft is better and who used the scissors better and when they aren't doing that they are arguing over the Wii. My oldest is down the street begging me via text for one of her friends kittens. And it was followed by a sob story that her friend is moving and cant take all the kitties and this one really likes her and pleeeeeease can she bring a kitty home. Nope...sorry. We have plenty of animals to feed and plus our cat, who fights like a tiger and dogs are afraid of her, doesn't like sweet little kit...

  Jaxon had his first valentines party this year and I was super stoked to have found this idea on Pintrest. They are perfect for a bunch of 4 year olds. I dig it!   Jaxon at his party sitting with...as he says it.."my favorites". They had fruit and cheese and crackers and cookies and cake and candy and pizza and apple juice. I went to "help" hoping I could sneak in some treats. I got nothin!   Jill is into the popular stache craze. this is a preview to what her birthday will be next month....Shes in middle school so they don't have parties, but she wanted to hand out cards to her BFFs. I had fun making these. Saw the idea on Pintrest and put my own twist on it.   Jessie's party is tomorrow, but I just finished her treats to her class. 20 Valentines later they are filled with Kisses. I snuck in a few of the carmel ones, hey I have to get paid some how. Shes also taking cupcakes, and they will be store bought. I think I am Valentined out. M...

In my attempt to shed some weight and be happy with my self naked, or at least that is what Pintrest is wanting me to do, I tried Zumba for the first time this morning. My great husband got the Zumba for the Wii, O about 6 months ago, for me. And even though that made him a great husband, what makes him even greater is he hasn't held it against me for never opening it. So tomorrow when he comes home I will have new news to share with him. "Hey, I'm really sore, but I opened my Zumba!!" Jaxon joined in and we learned the Cumbia in slow motion and he was actually doing better than me in keeping up with 'Benito'. He's my Wii Zumba instructor. I'm glad they gave me a guy. Don't think I could have followed a skinny toned animated women instructor. I would have been like, "Do you want me to make you a hot dog?" or "Do you want some cookie dough and a Dr Pepper?" But Benito was cool and understood I'm a fatty. I had to enter my w...

  I have to say that I had no idea when Jill picked up the violin in the 5th grade that she would be so good at it now. She has been praised by her teachers all year. They think we pay for her to have private lessons or that shes been playing all of her life. Well, we do make her practice everyday and she literally didn't know how to play the first time she picked it up. I hope she continues to have an interest in this instrument and it takes her far in life.     She is good at everything she does, in all honesty. Shes your typical pre-teen. Shes had her share of heartbreaks and let downs all of her life. And since she has been living here its like she has learned not to let these things keep her down. She simply rolls with the punches and brushes her self off and takes on life again. Maybe in a different approach then some. But she knows that no one else is living her life but her. For her strong will and determination I am thankful I am a part of that.

  Since he could talk he has had a certain Independence about him. "I do it". I loved it when his little voice would say those words. Even though he sometimes had no clue what he was doing. Or he wanted to lend a helping hand with me, I have always admired that he was a hands on learner .     Now that he is 4 he really doesn't need much help getting dressed. I still stay present just in case he needs my help. "I do it all by myself" are the words he says now. It makes me a little sad that he doesn't need me for everything now.     "I'm hungry" are words I hear alot from him. So I tell him find something to eat and I will help you make it. I let him put the snack ideas together. He can open the fridge. He can open the pantry. So he can grab whatever his little heart desires.     Here he is with minimal help from me making a peanut butter sandwich. "Watch me mom" are the words I hear when he does something a...

  I used to give the girls two options for good report cards. A night at the movies of their choice or a night out to eat of their choice. Well those rewards didn't last very long. Jessie had the bright idea last year that they should get to dye their hair in the color of their choice. I have to say it was different. I liked the night out to eat. It was a win win for all of us! But it is their hard work and their reward at the end of the 6 weeks so.....the hair dying choice stayed. And will continue until they run out of hair color ideas.     Jessie went with purple. We did her hair the last weekend of Christmas Break. Her lowest grade was a 93. She has maintained the A Honor Roll for two 6 week periods in a row! So if she wants purple hair for her hard work....then she gets purple hair!!     Jill had a hard time with math the last 6 weeks. Although it was a C, the deal is that they have to bring home As and Bs to get their "r...