Nerdy Birdy

Don't fret my pet, the new look is temporary, well maybe.  I don't know, I do kind of like it.  We shall see. I get bored and have to switch it up every once in awhile.  I must confess our family is kind of nerdy when it comes to all things comic book. The husband used to be a huge gamer in his 'younger' days.  Not so much gaming going on anymore. 

Used to dabble in video games (used to own like every system, but now we're just down to an Xbox 360 that we've had for years, and mainly gets used for Netflix and when the kids use it to play their Kinect games.  We have a Wii that was given to us as well, but I can't even REMEMBER the last time we used that! I think it just holds down that particular shelf on the entertainment stand.  We do have a few games for it though.  Husband was a big fan of (and still has his entire collection) of Heroclix (if you dunno what that is, Google it, it's comic books meets chess/checkers type of game play).  He also has a large collection of Magic (the gathering) playing cards.  Personally, I think that game is absolutely stupid.  As well as one of MY personal favorite card playing games, Munchkin.  Love that game. If you have no clue what I'm talking about, just Google it). 

Over the years those hobbies have come and gone for my husband, however he does still enjoy them he just doesn't do much with it.  There things that can take up precious time and money and you don't really want to put that much money or time into it, especially when you want that time and money to go towards your kids. 

Now we play games like Candy Land, Yahtzee, Connect 4, Operation, Life, Monopoly (Jr. and the one for adults), Risk, Strageo, matching games, Guess Who, Sorry, Trouble, Cooties, Chutes and Ladders, Battle Ship, and you know...all those kinds of fun games.  The kids are getting several games for Christmas and I can't wait! Though they DO have a few gently used Kinect for Xbox 360 games they are getting for Christmas as well (thank you Game Stop sales rack!!) When you can buy a video game your kids will LOVE for under $5, *whew* that is awesome.  They are easy right now, they are under 10 and we severely limit their "knowledge" of video games and game systems (ironic considering my husband AND his mom are/were so into video games!!!)  Now my mother in law STILL owns and plays every game system, and we rarely see her because she's always playing some kind of video game, either on one of her systems or on her Ipad.  Works for me.  Limits my exposure to the woman (ohhh that's a whole different BLOG entirely...haha).  Did I mention she moved in with my husband and I over a year ago because of her health?  Heaven help me.  Don't ever do that.  Ever.  Move her to Pluto, or another galaxy....

Her only way of "bonding" with her son was through video games, which was probably the ONLY reason my husband ever really got into the video games in the first place, he was trying to have some kind of a connection with his mom (their relationship is a disaster zone, and by default makes stress levels in my home astronomical, HOWEVER he's a DAMN GOOD SON and he tries his best to always be there FOR that woman). 

So yeh, our family can be a bit geeky or nerdy from time to time.  Not going to deny our love for D&D type games.  Though it's been a year since we've had a "game night" at our house.  Usually Friday evenings after the kids were in bed, we'd have a few "fellow gamers" over and we'd play some D&D type games.  It isn't all Dungeons and Dragons there are multiple types and styles of these games.  Some people, take it pretty dang seriously.  As in, dressing up as the characters and what not.  We aren't even CLOSE to being THAT nerdy.  We're just a small group of friends sitting around the kitchen table after the kids are asleep for that night, and we're snacking on some pop corn or home made stuffed jalopeno poppers or whatever and drinking some tea or *gasp* soda.  We even get REALLY wild some nights and bust out the hot tea or hot cocoa.  Oh yeh.  We live, living la vida loca 'round here! Sitting around at the table rolling our dice, going along with the story line, writing on our paper (the most "in" to character I ever get is sketching my 'character' when it isn't my turn at that particular moment.

I've always loved fandoms.  Since like, well my whole life. Used to be a closet fan girl, no one knew about my love of fandoms.  Everyone is in a "fandom" what the heck do you think sports fans are?  That's a type of fandom, only ya'll call it being a "SPORTS FAN!!" (to be fair we're sports fans too, we LOOOVE us some football, GO GREEN BAY, and of course GO ROYALS and GO CARDINALS for baseball season!)  Everyone has SOMETHING they really enjoy and get super into.

Some people buy Cardinals memorabilia, others buy Heroclix or fancy dice.  It all depends on what you are "IN" to.

I've never been one to play video games or computer games, I can't stand them.  When I was nursing my daughter I would play a bit of Farmville on Facebook, but it was boring.  So I didn't do much.  When my youngest son was in the hospital during his fight with cancer as a baby I didn't have much else to do, so I would play Farmville and Fishville which happened to be two games that he LOVED to watch me play and he would get all excited for the animal sounds and seeing the fish swim around the screen, so it helped keep us both occupied during our long hospital stays.  There is only so much one can do to keep a BABY happy when they are in the hospital for chemo!!

Once we were done with chemo, I was done with the games.  I prefer board games, or card games (like REAL card games not Magic or any of that crap).  I like a good ol game of Rummy, or Spades or four corners, or even some clock solitaire or regular solitaire.  Give me a BOARD game to play and I'll have a blast (I can't wait till the kids open Twister on Christmas day!! I know what we'll be playing that day for sure!)

There has only been ONE video game I ever loved to play (well I did love my old Nintendo 64 I used to have, I was REALLY REALLY good at Mario Brothers and Duck Hunt when I was a kid! I was so excited when we found that game system at a yard sale, it was the only game system I had ever owned until my husband and I got together!)  Other than Mario Brothers...the original for Nintendo 64....I love a game called 'Gauntlet' for the Xbox 360.  THAT game I could seriously play quite often. 

We have a rule in our home, and it's been the rule for many many years.  No playing video games while the kids are awake.  (Well cept the mother in law and I don't care what she does in her room, as long as she leaves me alone).  Video games are something that waits till after the kids are in bed for the night, unless we're playing a family video game (like something with the Kinect that encourages multi player and lots of movement and exercise, then the whole family plays).  Kinect is awesome especially during the winter when it's too cold and snowy to play outside, and great during the summer when it is too hot to play outside, or for rainy days.   It keeps the kids physically active and helps them use up energy when they can't get OUTSIDE (which is where we all LOVE LOVE LOVE to be most of the time!)

We're huge Doctor Who fans round here too. Can't forget The Walking Dead, or Teen Wolf.  So it's not uncommon to see us huddled on the couch together hanging out watching our favorite shows together! Which, sadly we MISSED The Walking Dead this past Sunday!! THE HORROR!!!! I cannot believe we missed it.  However, we hanging out at a neighbors bonfire so eh, hanging out with good neighbors, or sitting home watching TV?  Sometimes it's just nice to chat with friends around a crackling bonfire.

We hosted our own bon fire in our little back yard fire pit a week or so ago.  It was lovely.  I was sad when we finally ran out of wood.  We aren't big drinkers, ok well we don't buy alcohol but maybe once a year and it's usually just one bottle of wine that we use drink a glass of here and there and it lasts us basically all year long. However, we bought a couple things of beer (I had been wanting to try that Angry Orchard stuff, and it was actually quite good)!  We don't do the whole "drunken' idiot" thing so we only bought enough so everyone there could have two beers and that was it. If you wanted more, too bad, go home and drink.  Thankfully all of our friends are like us when it comes to drinking, they aren't big fans of it either.  So once the kids were all tucked in and sleeping for the night us adults hung out and chatted in the back yard.  You can tell we're all getting old...as we were done with our "exciting night" by 11:30.  I was actually in bed and asleep before midnight.  Yep, I'm totally feeling 30.  Oh wait, I've always been like that, ha! I'm not much of a night owl.  I'm more of a seize the day light kind of gal.  We just sat around the bonfire in our back yard chatting, and telling a few "ghost stories" and sharing life experiences. 

I never was one to go out and party, I was more of the sitting at home reading a book, or dancing around singing loudly to my music kind of gal. I mean I had no issue going out and meeting new friends, and having fun but I didn't want to be in a party vibe where there was alcohol and people being stupid and making dumb decisions.  That scene, was not for me.

I'm still that way today, I never went clubbing in my college days (in fact I live right down the road from a club, and I have never been in it and I've lived in this town for over 10 years)! I've been in a couple of local bars, but I went for the karaoke, not the alcohol. I love to be the sober person in the room laughing my ass off at the drunk people, and remind them of all the stupid crap they did the night before, and tormenting them and their hangovers.  I'm cruel like that you know.  Plus I would rather be a designated driver than allow someone to drive home drunk!

Call me white and nerdy.  That's just the way it is.

Mom Circus

Meat Loaf and Mama Lisa

Halloween is right around the corner, and I am feeling both excited and super not prepared at the same time! I haven't got all of our Halloween costumes finished....I'm a total slouch on that one! Well, I mean the kids costumes are done, but mine and my husband's are not even CLOSE to being done.  I still have to finish our dogs costume too.

However I am feeling majorly excited about the kids dressing up for Halloween and going Trick or Treating with them like we do every year.  I love seeing their excitement and it's all just so fun!

I even turned myself into a vampire, just for fun you know.

So tonight I decided to be a little festive and create a menu to get us all in the Halloween spirit.  Tonight I made Ogre Feet Loaf, Witches Fingers, Ghost Poop, and Ectoplasm Oooze.  My kids devoured our "gross supper" with a vengeance! They had so much fun pretending to be vampires while they ate their supper, ok ok so maybe we ALL made goofy noisy, silly faces, and perhaps growled, hissed, howled and used our best/worst vampire voices and evil laughs while devouring our Ogre Feet Loaf.  There wasn't really anything special to making our Ogre Feet Loaf, I just made a regular meat loaf like I would any other time (I *DID* use a bit more hamburger than I normally would though to get the desired size of Ogre Feet Loaf, there is still quite a bit left over but that's ok we actually LOVE meat loaf in this house!! It will be eaten that is for sure!) 

I just made my meat loaf like usual and then used an aluminum baking pan I had on hand and split my meat mix into two parts.  I plopped it into the pan and started shaping it into the shape of, well as best as I could...into the shape of a foot.  When I got it how I wanted it (including a bit of ankle), I then took the other half of the meat and did the same thing with it.  I did a few final adjustments and then took an onion and cut off two slices (I had to take off an outer ring or two of both slices) and then I squirted a bit of ketchup on the "ankle" part, and plopped the slice of onion on there, like a bone....if you were to cut off someone's foot...at the ankle.  I then formed 4 toes at the bottom of each foot (couldn't quite get 5 in, and I figured it's an Ogre's foot and our Ogre happens to have 4 toes so take that).  I took those extra rings that I had popped off of the previously mentioned slice used as ankle bone and I sliced them to fit onto each "toe" as a toe nail.  It looked gross, and awesome at the same time.  Then I popped those bad boys into the oven to bake like I would a normal meat loaf.  Though they ended up baking a bit longer as it was a bit thicker than what my usual meat loaf is.  When it was all done I pulled it out and painted on some ketchup with my basting brush, and then popped it back in the oven for a few more minutes.

The kids LOVED the finished product and thought it was so much fun.  To go with it, we had Mashed potatoes (ghost poop), with ectoplasm Ooze (brown gravy), and there was witches fingers, which was actually whole green beans that were all long crooked and skinny like a witches fingers might be. Mmm Mmm good supper.

The before photo, before it got popped into the oven.

Mmm yummy Ogre Foot Loaf

The after photo, after it was done baking in the oven (yeh the ketchup was a little messy...)

Witch's fingers .... green beans

Ghost poop...mashed potatoes

Ectoplasm Ooze...brown gravy

The other day while I on Facebook someone had posted a photo of a foot loaf, and I thought that was the coolest freaking thing ever.  I can't remember what page it was on but I'm sure you could hunt it down on Pinterest.  There were also skull shaped meat loafs, and bacon wrapped meat loaf mummies, it was all pretty awesome, but the foot one really caught my attention and I knew it would catch the attention of my kids too. 

Plus it kind of went foot to foot...erm...leg...with the episode of the Walking Dead that I watched on Sunday.  Mmm meat. 

While making this meal for my children tonight I was fondly recalling the times my Grandma would cook meatloaf with my Mother and I.  When I was little she once swiped my favorite bunny (to be fair I had been being a pest with said stuffed bunny in the kitchen and not doing what I was told and just being a royal pain in the butt like 6 year olds are prone to doing!)  So she swiped my stuffed bunny until I decided to listen.  Instead I stormed off to my room and she said she'd cook my rabbit.  Later when I heard that supper was done I came running out of my room...and lo and behold...there in the meat loaf pan was a rabbit.  Being a NIAVE 6 year old I thought she had cooked my stuffed bunny (I was six and to ME the rabbit was ALIVE ok?  Don't judge me and my wild imagination, Mmk?) Anyway, I was hysterical.  My Mother and Grandmother got a giggle out of it, I did not.  Not at all.  Not at first anyway.

Once they showed me how silly I was being and pointed to where my stuffed bunny was actually sitting in the kitchen...and I realized my Grandma had NOT cooked my bunny....I was fine.  I laughed.  I felt silly.  She had simply created art out of the meat she had been preparing in the kitchen while I was busy being a little pest.  Served me right for bugging the day lights out of them while they were trying to cook. 

Best "rabbit" meat loaf I ever ate.  No it had no real rabbit in it, strictly beef, just shaped like a cute little bunny rabbit.  She later also made a turtle shaped meat loaf, and a few other animal shaped meat loaves when I was growing up and it was a hugely fun thing for me that I truly enjoyed her doing! So as I was making these feet loaves for MY kids I thought about my Grandma and I am pretty sure she would have liked them and gotten a kick out of the kids reaction and how much fun they had with it. 

I know. I know.  My family is COMPLETELY morbid.  Eh, go suck on a lemon you sour pusses.  At least we have FUN, and have memories (and therapy bills??) to remember later on down the road.

I really enjoy doing little things for the kids.  I mean I'm not ALWAYS on the ball doing fun, cutsey, things for the kids.  Being that "ON" all the time is EXHAUSTING! I used to do that, back when my daughter was a baby, but wow....I just couldn't keep up with it all. So I learned how to manage my fun creative with just being relaxed and calm.  You can still do the fun and exciting, and still not feel pressured and like you HAVE to do this and this and this and this and that or your kids will have a MISERABLE excuse for a child hood.

I remember when I was still really young my Mother, Grandmother and I (Incase you have noticed my Grandmother was a HUUUUGE part of my life growing up she and my Mother raised me and were always there for me and are huge parts of my life and memories growing up).  They would go out every December and we would cut down a live Christmas tree out of our property and drag it back home.  It was EXHAUSTING.  Honestly...I hated it.  Thankfully my Mother quit doing it when I was like 8 or so. I'm not a fan of the real Christmas tree, I know, how awful IS  that?  Who hates a real Christmas tree?  Don't get me wrong, I LOVE trees, but I just don't see the reasoning behind hacking down a perfectly good tree to decorate it and keep it up for a month or more, and then just fling it to the curb.  Nothing screams "I LOVE THE PLANET" like kidnapping a tree, and then littering all over it, and then throwing it away.

ANYWAY, what I was saying before I went off on a rabbit trail...

That was a special thing my Mother and Grandmother did with me, as well as always hiding my Easter basket, and writing messages in the snow from big foot or whatever.  They were fond memories that I look back on and think about and they make me smile.  I try to do that with my kids. 

This year it will be three years since I introduced our "Elf on the Shelf" to the kids, and they absolutely LOVE IT.  So this year...to be a little silly and to have some random fun, I picked up a silly orange skeleton from the Family Dollar store here in town.  His name is Marvin, courtesy of my husband.  He's kind of silly and a bit naughty, he loves to be dramatic.  So far the kids just think I'm silly, but guess what?  I.  Don't.  Care.  I'm having fun.  Guess who the ones are jumping up every morning looking for Marvin?  Who are the ones running home after school to see what Marvin has been up to while they were at school?  Yeh, uh huh, my kids.  So if they thought it was silly...they wouldn't be quite so excited over it now would they. 

Marvin, being a skeleton on the shelf.

Dying a dramatic death

Swinging from the chandelier

Marvin swinging from the chandelier

In fact, I think Marvin is going to take my daughters Barbie convertible out on a little joy ride tonight, with one of her favorite Barbie's, and he might even borrow my sons stick on mustache that he got at school today.  Ooooh yehhh.....

This week is Red Ribbon Week for drug awareness at school.  The kids all got fuzzy fake mustache's at school.  Son Circus #2 didn't want to take his off .  I sent him to school as a fresh faced kindergartner, and he came home a man with a stache' ha!

The other day while watching "Sherman and Mr. Peabody" or whichever way the title goes, ha! There was a scene where the Mona Lisa was being painted.  Son Circus #1 became so excited he almost flew off the couch.  "MOM MOM MOM MOM MOM!!!! I KNOW WHO THAT IS!! I KNOW THAT GIRL!! I KNOW WHO SHE IS! MY ART TEACHER TOLD ME! HER PICTURE IS HANGING UP IN OUR ART CLASS!!"  

"Mom, Mom, that's MAMA LISA!" 

Do you know how hard it was to NOT bust out laughing in that kids face?  Oh my.  I did grin and giggle a little.  I told him I was glad he had such a great teacher who taught them all about art and that he liked the Mona Lisa painting and recognized her in the movie.  He felt VERY proud of himself that he KNEW who that woman was in the movie. 

Mama Lisa. 

I will never look at the Mona Lisa portrait the same again.

Mom Circus.

Thirty Years Later

Yesterday I celebrated 30 years of breathing on this earth.  Thank God for another year of LIFE! Whew! What a relief to know I've at least made it 30 years, and here's to hoping I make it ANOTHER 30 years of breathing on this earth. 


It wasn't a spectacularly amazing day.  Nothing too fantastical happened, other than the fact I have amazing children.  Which that is pretty fantastical.

Those little sweeties sang me happy birthday around my birthday cake that night, and that morning they drew me birthday cards and smothered me in the best hugs and kisses ever, and they all cooperated really well getting ready for school (I think that was probably the best gift of all). 

For supper I made home made ravioli, garlic bread, and spinach (believe it or not, my kids will devour spinach like it's ice cream, ESPECIALLY my daughter!!)  So yay me!

I spent the rest of my birthday cleaning house, doing laundry, and the kicker....I SCRUBBED OUT MY FRIDGE! Don't ask when the last time was I cleaned it.  I have no idea.  All I know...is it was looking pretty scary in there.  So it was emptied out, and bleached out and WOW looks like a whole new fridge.  I hate cleaning the fridge, it's boring, and takes up so much time, and it NEVER EVER stays clean and I seem to be the ONLY person that ever sees any of the mess.  Oh well, at least it is clean and pretty now! Threw out a whole bunch of junk that was in the fridge, now I'm like...wow...it's time to go grocery shopping it's looking bare in there! The kids cannot live on ketchup, mustard, chocolate syrup (though they might try), a few eggs, half a jug of milk, a stick of butter, and half a cube of cream cheese, as well as a few other condiments, and some cheese sticks and a few pieces of bologna, oh and a bag of grapes.  As well as a storage container of left over ham and beans.  Not a lot going on in there fridge! Good thing I am planning on grocery shopping Saturday, ha!

Everyone keeps asking me "What's it like to be thirty now?" 

Uhhm.  I dunno.  I just turned 30.  Right now it is the same as being 29 or 28 or even 27.  I still have the same ol' aches and pains.  I'm still tired.  I still have to clean house, and get kids ready for school.  I still have some gray hairs (ok multiple...lots of gray hairs).  I'm still drinking coffee (though not as much). 

ONE thing that is different?  I'm missing an organ now.  My appendix ditched me last month for my husband's birthday (Happy Birthday hubby, here I love you SOOO MUCH here's my appendix, it's all yours....).  Darn thing made it 30 years (ok one month SHY of 30 years, and then the jerk ditched me like I was nothing.  How insulting.  Especially after the 5 or so emergency trips to the ER my Mother did when I was a child and  teenager because we swore up and down my appendix was about ready to BURST because I was in sooooo much pain.  I guess my appendix was just doing practice runs at those times, who knows.  So yeh, after 30 years I am minus a useless organ. 

I think I may also have my first kidney stone too.  That.  Sucks.  I'm soooo over that let me tell ya! NOT a fun time. 

Other wise 30 is same ol' same ol', however I DO have a whole year to change my mind on that though! Dear thirties, please be gentle on me.  Please?  I can't fall apart just yet. 

Speaking of falling apart, I feel like I might fall apart after today! My sons had their first ever field  trip.  We went to the same pumpkin patch that we went to last year with my daughter.  Only this year....it was sooooo freaking muddy it was ridiculous! At least the weather was nice though, other than the mud it was a perfect day to go to a pumpkin patch and petting zoo.  My sons came home EXHAUSTED and muddy.  So did the husband and I.  I wish we would have been able to squeeze in a nap before the kids got home, but alas that did not happen. 

We only *almost* misplaced one kid, he just wanted to stay in the hay maze a LITTLE longer.  Silly kid. 

My husband also managed to step in an even patch of ground and twist his knee (don't worry he's ok, but he had to sit down for a few minutes).  With all the rain, the ground was a bit uneven, and he went to corral our sons and get them back in line, and failed to watch his footing...and in an even spot he stepped and twisted his knee. 



The boys brought home two little pumpkins, and a beautiful sunflower that is sitting in a vase right now. 


It was a really lovely time with the boys! We had fun.  We ended up putting the boys together in one class for the field trip.  I forgot to grab my back up camera to hand to the husband so he could walk with one son and his class, and I could walk with the other son and his class.  So there would have been zero photos of my other son on his field trip, because of COURSE the two classes went two separate directions and we didn't see each other until lunch.  So I'm glad we kept the boys together.  Generally I'm against forcing my twins to be together (because they are trouble when together, always fighting, and poking each other and irritating each other, and causing havoc).  Ha! The teacher and her helpers today saw exactly why I don't want my sons in the same class in school (you'd be surprised how many people ask me if my sons are in the same class at school, and they seem shocked when I tell them no! Like twins aren't capable of doing something without the other one, like they HAVE to have the other twin around or they aren't a "whole" person.)  Guess what?  My sons...they MAY share a birthday, they MAY have shared my womb, but they do NOT depend on each other. They are fully independent of each other. They don't require something just because the other one has it. They are just fine doing their own things, but they CAN be together and do things too.  They can play together or apart, they are each good at their own thing, and we encourage them to always do their best whether together or apart.  Twins doesn't mean ONE person living in two separate bodies. 

They've always been my little "sunshines" now they are my little sun flowers!

My husband.  The scare crow.  I promise I will make NO "Wizard of OZ" reference....

My husband ran over to this cut out and Son Circus #1 had to come over too!

My sons sitting together willingly WANTING me to take their picture!

My baby scare crows! Ook they aren't babies anymore, they are growing up way too much!

LOVE this picture of my husband and our boys.  They love their big ol' luggable huggable Dad and he adores them!

HORRIBLE photo of me, but this photo is my favorite anyway.  I love it! I don't  get many photos of me with my husband and kids.

My daughter felt a little left out today because my husband and I went on the field trip with her brothers.  So tonight at bedtime I gave her some extra snuggles, which upset Son Circus #1.  Even though he snuggled with me a BUNCH when he got home from his field trip because he was so tired.  We all snuggled up on the couch and watched some movies on Netflix.  Was a lovely evening!

However, my body is now "feeling 30"  (hahaha) and it's begging to go to bed, so go to bed I must! Goood night!

Mom Circus

Mine Aren't the Only Ones

I know I am not the ONLY mom out there with crazy little kids.  By crazy I mean absolutely awesome, or completely mind blowing, or well they really DO make you wonder if they are crazy and if they are they totally got it from their Mom, I mean their Dad, aw heck at this point I think mine are equally blessed with the crazy weirdo gene from both sides of the family.  It's deeply ingrained in us.  The crazy is strong with this bunch. 

Tonight, while we were preparing to watch "The Walking Dead" season premier, my daughter came up to me and started the following conversation.

Daughter Circus, in a mild panic tonight.

Daughter Circus:  "Mom. We can NEVER EVER go to Chucky Cheese, PLEASE don't EVER take us there!!!"

Me, very worried as to WHY my daughter was freaking out about it, "Honey, why what's wrong with Chucky cheese?"

Daughter Circus: "Chucky cheese is so bad mom, he's a killer! He kills people! With KNIVES and it's soooooo SCARY!"

Me: *completely baffled* "Wha? Huh? Where... on earth did you hear this???"

Daughter Circus: "My friends told me ALL ABOUT IT MOM, we cannot EVER go to Chucky Cheese!! He is a BAD BAD MOUSE!!"

Me: *thinking, and thinking hard....* "Chucky....cheese? The Mouse? Kills people?? Wha???"

Daughter Circus: "YES MOM!! We CANNOT GO THERE!!"

Me: *suddenly having an 'ah ha' moment* "..... do you mean CHUCKY, as in an evil DOLL that came to life and killed people? His name is Chucky, and he's NOT a mouse, and it is JUST a movie"

Daughter Circus: "Yeh, that's who I'm talking about mom! Chucky Cheese!"

Me: " Chucky CHEESE, is a mouse that you see on TV for that pizza and game place, that is similar to Bonkers. Chucky Cheese doesn't KILL YOU, he kills your parents with greasy food and high prices and the price of tokens for games...but he doesn't like LITERALLY kill anyone, he's a cartoon, on TV, or a guy in a suite at the restaurant, which I don't even know if they DO that anymore, but no, Chucky CHEESE the MOUSE doesn't kill anyone. And CHUCKY the DOLL is a scary movie that isn't real, it's just special affects and make up, like on Face Off"

Daughter Circus: "Ok good, so we can still go eat pizza? That Chucky Cheese won't kill us, right? Because if he tried, I'd have to get him first!!"

Me: "Dude, you are so weird. I love you."

Kamilah: "I love you too Mom"

Aw yes, the special bond between demented mother and demented daughter.

Although, in hindsight, if my husband ever saw the Chucky Cheese costume at the Chucky Cheese place, my husband would probably SCREAM like he was being murdered, and would probably die from fright, because for some reason...he is TERRIFIED of the Chucky Cheese mouse costume....I think it goes back to deep rooted childhood psychological trauma, haha. 

I know I'm not the only one that deals with stuff like this.  Slight misunderstandings that turn into hilarious encounters and explanations from parents. Needless to say, I will never be able to watch another Chucky Cheese commercial without picturing him wearing little overalls, red frizzy hair and a knife.... (Images found online, they are not mine)

 

For the record, when I was about my daughters age, I was at a friends house who had an older siblings, and she watched Chucky, and of course I stayed up and watched it too, and it SCARED THE HOLY PANTS OFF OF ME.  Didn't help, that at that time there was a particular popular DOLL that was around, of which I happened to HAVE ONE of the dumb things, and after I watched Chucky, that dumb doll scared the CRAP out of me! I remember cleaning my room one day and putting that doll in a get rid of bag and had it tied up tight so it couldn't 'get loose and come after me for revenge' and I sat it outside so my mother could toss it all in the burn pile.  I came home from school....went in my bedroom...and nearly fell over dead right on the spot! I ran out of the house screaming bloody murder.  Why you ask?  Because that damn doll was sitting on my bed, and I swear it was watching me with a little smirk.  Freaked.  Me.  Out.  Little did I know that my Mother had went through my "get rid of bag" and she wasn't about to let me get rid of my 'favorite doll', so she put it back on my bed while I was at school.  That woman almost killed her poor daughter by doing that!!  I told my Mother I wanted that doll burned and I NEVER wanted to see it again.  I tell you what though, I stood there and made SURE that doll was nothing but ASHES too! I am not one to have a 'doll' collection.  In fact the American Girl Doll, knock off variety....that my daughter is getting for Christmas rather freaks me out.  Not a huge fan of Dolls....

 

*shudder*  Dang doll still freaks me out a little. (again photo is not mine, was found online). 

Can't say I blame my husband for being creeped out by the costume version of Chucky Cheese, I mean seriously, look at that rat, he looks like he's up to no good!

We've been getting our Christmas stuff in line, fun times.  Have been utilizing some Lay A Way programs, and wow, why didn't we try that sooner?  That would have made gift shopping a lot less stressful!

 

The kids are allowed to ask for one 'big' present, and a couple of smaller presents from Santa, we don't go broke for the Holidays.  Then they get some smaller presents that are from Mom and Dad. 

 

This year their Christmas list consists of: 

 

1. A Hot Wheels race car track (and that child will get extra Hot Wheels, and will get a small Lego kit as well, and a board game, and there is an Xbox Kinect game for this kiddo as well).  I'm sure that all three kids will end up with all kinds of little extras, but I know what the "plan" is on the major things they want and are asking Santa for.  I told them that next month they could write a letter to Santa.
2. Police escape Lego's (originally it was that HUGE Star Wars ship of Lego's that they've been advertising on TV but umm, yeh have you seen the price of that thing?  I don't think so.  So we carefully convinced Son Circus #1 to ask for his SECOND favorite choice, the Police escape Lego kit (still has nearly 400 pieces to it, so COME ON kid I think you got a good deal!)  This kiddo also gets a few Hot Wheels, and a smaller Lego kit, and a board game as well as an Xbox Kinect game as well.
3. My daughter has been wanting an American Girl Doll for years, and granted they are completely awesome dolls, but MY GOSH, the prices are OUT RAGEOUS! Especially for a doll, she will out grow in a couple of years and probably give away (or end up drawing on as she takes after her mom and likes to "draw" make up on her dolls).  So she's getting a knock off version we found at a store here in town which is still completely adorable, looks like her, and is pretty awesome, and she'll get an out fit to go with it. She will also get some kiddo make up (only to be used at home), It will probably be one of those kits that comes with nail polish and lip gloss.  A Lego Kit, and an Xbox Kinect game and a board game.

They are currently mega super excited about Halloween, so Christmas has yet to really sink in with them.  I'm already super excited for Christmas mainly because of our annual time of visiting Santa! I absolutely LOVE to take the kids to see Santa.  Too bad I have to first get through Halloween and Thanksgiving! At least I love those Holidays too.

 



Christmas 2013



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Christmas 2012



 

Christmas 2011

 



Christmas 2010

Mom Circus



Mommy Should Nots

If I read one more blog post or article telling me how to parent my children I think I am going to SCREAM! I mean, granted it's my fault for actually reading the stupid articles in the first place.  You'd by NOW after seven years of being a MOM that I would have learned NOT to read these blasted articles.  Yet, there I go again, reading another one. 

I think I read them just so I can sit there and shake my head going "what in the WORLD did I just read?!" 

So as a parent, lemme boil down the big "no no's" when it comes to parenting, let me tell you how you are doing it ALL WRONG, oh and yeh there is research to back it all up, you know...just Google it.  

Don't SPANK your children.  Like ever.  Do NOT do it.  Your children will turn out to be little serial killers hell bent on revenge because you damaged their psyche by swatting their covered rears.  So don't do it.  It's bad.  Very bad.  You'll be like an instant mom bad guy if you even slightly agree with spanking a child.  The hate will come out and you will be attacked by so many other moms (and dads) telling you how evil you are.  Doesn't matter if you just use an open palm to swat them on a covered toosh ONE swat.  You are only to hug your children, hug it out.  Tell them they are awesome for trying to run out in front of that car, and use reasoning with your two year old "Honey, what you did was unsafe.  I still think you are awesome and amazing but running in front of that car is not safe, let me explain to you safety precautions in this 12 step guide so you can get it right next time"  (At this point your toddler has probably completely tuned you out and is probably trying to run back into traffic just to escape you talking them to death). 

Speaking of toddlers.

Don't use safety harnesses, or leashes.  Even if you have 3 kids under 2 years of age.  Obviously you are supposed to put them in a stroller when going to the grocery store and then push a cart and a stroller.  Or some how sprout extra arms and make each and every child hold your hand (but don't hold their hand TOO tightly because that might be child abuse).  You had better teach your child to listen and stay right with you because by golly everyone ELSE'S children do it and they NEVER have any problems so obviously, YOU are doing it wrong.  So be aware. 

While you are at it, don't YELL at your children.  Nope.  Don't show any emotion other than JOY.  that's apparently the only emotion that exists, the only emotion we are allowed to show our children.  Do not yell.  It's pointless and a waste of energy (gee what Mother hasn't thought that on a daily basis)? Your child should only know joy because the other emotions are bad.  So joyful people don't' yell (unless it's a touch down, or a home run then it's ok to yell your lungs out, or if the ref makes a bad call), so don't yell at your kids.  You can be joyful and stern at the same time and your kids will listen (apparently mine are broken)?  Your children will be forever harmed by yelling and when they are all grown up and hear an adult yell they will automatically dive into the fetal position and suck their thumb.  Don't yell.  Just don't do it.  Again, talk to them.  Calmly speak, and pray they hear you over their shrieking, screaming, crying, giggly banter.  I'm sure that will for you, I mean talking calmly and hoping they hear me over their ruckus has yet to work for me, but hey I'm obviously doing SOMETHING wrong.

While you are NOT yelling at your children, also make sure you don't embarrass or humiliate them.  Remember, only joyful loving comments rule our ever loving parenting worlds.  Our children must NEVER EVER EVER feel disappointment, sadness, embarrassment, humiliation, or any form of apparently negative feelings.  You are harming them.  You must repress those feelings, and make your child's world bubble one of pure and utter happiness, joy, and positivity. They are always right, they are never wrong, they never do wrong (see that's why you don't need to yell at them, our children NEVER do anything wrong).  They must feel like the angels they so obviously are, they must never EVER fell guilt or feel badly about what they did.   Do not shame your children.  They should never have to apologize.  The world is an oyster and your child is ALWAYS the biggest, brightest most awesome and amazing PEARL that ever existed. 

We must repress their emotions and give in to every little whim they have to keep them happy because heaven forbid our children have a tantrum in public.  Oh gosh.  You are the worst parent ever if your child has a public tantrum.  Obviously you did something wrong.  You didn't give them what they wanted to keep them happy.  You aren't reading their mind to KNOW what is wrong.  How dare you go shopping for groceries at THIS time of day (which may be the ONLY chance you get to buy any kind of groceries and if you don't buy groceries NOW your child will have nothing but a slice of stale bread for supper at home, but hey, remember...your a bad parent anyway because everything you do is wrong, right)?

Don't breast feed your child in public.  Heaven for bid.  You will offend the chick standing their in line at Wal Mart with shorty shorts so tight you can clearly tell she isn't wearing ANY kind of under wear and you can see every "dimple" on her ass cheeks, even with the words "HOTTIE" written across her bum.  Wearing the strapless shirt that is so tight, and so SHORT  that it makes her muffin top look like a full on muffin bakery.  Her tata's are popping out all over the place and just because she lifts her shirt up to cover the 'ladies' it ain't really helping.  HEAVEN FORBID you discreetly nurse your child though.  You would NOT want to offend that woman at all.  Nope.  Especially while her child lays there in the car seat sat on top of the shopping cart with a bottle in it's mouth, propped up with a blanket while the mom makes no eye contact with her child as she texts on her cell phone.  (Hey don't say I'm judging, admit it you've seen this EXACT scenario at some point in time too, you know it exists, I'm just speaking the truth on that one). 

Speaking of judging.  Don't judge other moms either.  That's wrong too, unless you are the PERFECT PARENT, the SUPREME ONE.  The "non spanking, non yelling, breast feeding, baby wearing, car seat Nazi, baby food making, organic only, gluten free diet, no food coloring, silky (if you don't know what silky, or crunchy parenting is, or scrunchy....Google it...), attachment parenting, college degree (Ph.D.) in best mom ever, no fast food, living in a mansion, with money falling out the ying yang, stay at home mom (or ultimate working mom who still does everything like a BOSS), anti vaccination, anti circumcision, pro feminism (which isn't really a BAD thing but there are some who take that to an EXTREME), ultimate soccer mom, Pinterest Queen, home schooling, Bible thumping, and do it all MOM"  You can also be several other variations of that stuff as well, but from what I've seen, most of the "PERFECT" moms, the ONLY moms who have a right to judge others, generally fall into this category somewhere. 

If you aren't "that mom" you can't judge.  Anyone.  Not even an episode of "Dancing with the Stars". 

Well, I'm sure you can tell that's a pile of dirty laundry, but there is a cat camouflaged in that pile of laundry.  The reason that pile of laundry is still not fully washed?  I would just *hate* to take away Hagrid the cats favorite napping spot.

Oh also, don't even think about drinking as a mom.  Unless you are drinking top quality wine at the end of the day.  Don't be a fun mom, don't have tattoos as a mom, don't have a C Section because if you do....YOU are NOT a mom at all, you are a slacker who took the 'easy' way out when it came to having kids.  Obviously you didn't go in like a BOSS and push that kid out, so you did it WRONG.  Don't be a fat mom either.  You are automatically at wrong, and setting a bad and unhealthy example for your child.  You are heavy, so by default your child will be too, and by default you obviously don't love your enough, and by default don't care what they eat and don't spend enough time with your child so they MUST be depressed children, because YOU are obviously depressed. 

Speaking of depression.  How dare you be a mom battling depression.  Shouldn't your little rays of sunshine be the ULTIMATE anti depression drug?  Your job as a MOM is all consuming and the ONLY thing that matters and should always make you happy and fulfilled, no need to be depressed, so again, you are lazy and doing something wrong, because that's all depression is after all, is laziness. Your excuse to get out of doing house work.  Duh. 

Also don't ever leave your children alone, not even for a second.  Do not pee alone, do not sleep, you must always always always have your children glued to your thighs at all times.  If anything happens and your eye balls were not GLUED to your child, you are to blame.  While you are constantly glued to your child (of all ages, it doesn't matter what age your kid is you must be glued to them), you better keep your house spotless too. Top to bottom clean too. 

8 years of marriage, and 13 years of being together. 

Speaking of fulfillment, are you keeping your husband sexually fulfilled?  If not, you are slacking AGAIN.  No matter what you have going on, when your husband says  "sex me up" you better hope right on that and get to it.  After all, that's what the parenting advice says.  That will keep your marriage alive and well, because your husband is satisfied.  If he's happy, your happy, right? 

Don't forget that now they are telling us how our orgasms should feel (yeh yeh I read an article on that too, don't ask me why, I just did ok? So not to be all TMI go hunt down the article yourself).  Tell you that there is NO such thing as a vaginal orgasm.  Bam. 

The NON mom blogs but still a female blog that tells you why she wanted to cheat on her husband after only 2 young years of marriage, and how guilty she felt, and blah blah blah.  So it's apparently ok to WANT to cheat, just don't do it, and be sure to tell your spouse.  Or repress your feelings once again, whatever works.

The crafty, organized, got it together, full of great ideas and recipes places.  Yeh.  You know what I'm talking about. Pinterest, or other mom blogs.  The ones that make us want to pull out our hair because "duh, why didn't WE think of that?" and "Why can't I get my shit together?"  "I HAVE to do this stuff because it makes me feel like I'm accomplished and a good mom, and if I don't make these adorable pretzel and chocolate creations my children will hate me and I will be a failure as a mom". 

Crafty stuff I saw, and re-created from Pinterest.  Guilty.  As.  Charged. 

Don't forget having a blog to begin with.  How many mom blogs ARE there out there?  HOW MANY?! I've been blogging since way before I ever became a mom, I started blogging when people were just starting to hear of the word blog and it was just barely starting to be main stream.  Before that, I called it "writing in a journal in my bedroom". 

No pressure or anything moms.  No pressure AT.  ALL.  You surely can do all of this right?  Just remember, don't yell at your kids, don't spank, OH and time outs are bad now too.  It isn't good to "alienate" your child at all, it pushes them away and makes them feel unloved.  You are literally ONLY supposed to talk calmly and sweetly to your child at all times.  Reminding them of how the world owes them everything, and they are ALWAYS A WINNER NEVER EVER A LOSER, they don't need to try that hard because they are always a winner and always deserve an award.  If you don't win, demand a do over, throw a fit, hit the news channels with your woes of injustice.  Scream intolerance because your very precious child didn't win an award at school or whatever. 

You better give your child the WORLD, the stars, the universe, the galaxy because that is what parents do.  Obviously it is the ONLY way they will be happy. 

Sounds all easy enough right  guys?  Uh, sorry ladies, uh sorry....parents? With all this feminism and political correctness going around out there, let's just call you all 'Purple Penguins' like Nebraska has started doing.  You know, gender equality and all, sorry gender neutral-ness.

Don't forget Ebola, and that Enterovirus.  They will kill us all.  You are doing it all wrong keeping your kids safe from disease.  Make sure you use soap and water, hand sanitizer doesn't really help just FYI. 

No wonder parents complain of being exhausted by the end of the day.  We're just trying to keep up.  No wonder we need gazillion gallons of coffee first thing of a morning and agree we just need a coffee IV placed.  No wonder there are so many "mom wars" going on.  It's ridiculous.  We're all right, just to be doing everything so wrong.

I am not a perfect person.  I am not a perfect mom.  I don't want to be, it's too exhausting.  I am the only mom my children have and I'm doing the very best that I personally can in each and every moment of my day with them.  If that means I've yelled at them a few times during the day to get them to HEAR ME and actually LISTEN for one blasted second and just chill so I don't completely and utterly lose my shit, then I guess that makes me a horrible mom.  If I've swatted my child on the rear for doing something so inexplicably dangerous and stupid, well then I guess that makes me a bad mom too.  I've breast fed, I've formula fed, I've done about everything a mom can do. Cloth diapered, disposable diapers (guess what they all catch the poo).  I've wiped their butts, wiped their noses, kissed their boo boo's, rocked them to sleep, sang to them, cuddled them, sang ABC's with them taught them to ride bikes and tie shoes.  Cried and prayed over them while they were sick.  Have done my best to make yummy and nutritious meals they will eat that will help them grow, I let them spread their wings a little and get some independence. However, I'm always here for them when they fall or need me for reassurance.  I love my husband with all my heart but yes there are days I'd love to knock him silly and that goes both ways I am sure! However, at the end of the day, we're both very much in love with each other and he is a great Daddy to his kids and I still love watching him play with the kids and be a father, it makes my ovaries ache just a little watching him be a good Daddy. 

My daughter happy and care free, sitting in the rain waiting for the Homecoming Parade to start this past Friday.  We volunteer our time to help out when we can at the local animal shelter.  We enjoyed helping with the shelter float.  Yep, that's my dog Molly there too.  Yes she's wearing a muzzle other wise she will bark and be super hyper the entire parade.

Teaching your children compassion and love is a full time job.  Even if you aren't a perfect parent, you can still teach your children to care about others, to help something or someone else that can't help it's self, which is why our whole family pitches in to help dogs in need.

I hope and pray that my little boys will grow up to be great men.  Treat the wives amazing, pitch in with house work and cooking, be amazing fathers, and work hard, and have a strong faith in God and love their Country.

Their innocence and energy, their love and beauty, the way they approach the world, is a beautiful sight.  I love watching my children grow.

And well, my daughter being cute, snuggling with the cat on the couch.

I don't have to agree with everything out there.  I don't have to like it, and I don't have to implement it into my life.  I just will do what works best for my family, and if I feel something isn't working, I'll get out there and FIND something that DOES work for my family. Whether we realize it or not, we read things like I talked about EVERY single day.  Granted, what I posted was full of satire and sarcasm, but we really do read articles or at least....article titles...like  that stuff all the time. 

I'm just tired of living in the "Mommy Should Nots". 

Mom Circus

Weekends of Yore

At some point in time I know my weekends were for relaxing, chillaxing, spending time doing things I ENJOYED doing with people I loved to hang out with.  They were great times.  Then, suddenly that all changed.  It wasn't a BAD change necessarily.  Though some days it makes me kind of miss the days of yore, for about ten seconds before something else needs my direct attention (like a boo boo that needs a band aid and it HAS to be the lime green one that you swear we're out of but that adorable tear streaked face INSISTS is IN THAT BOX and you just aren't looking hard enough). 

Oh yes.  Where did my once cool weekends go?  They were replaced with tons of snuggling, and hugs and kisses from three of the best blessing in the world.  MY CHILDREN. 

I'll admit, my weekends were never "that" amazing.  I was never "THAT" party crazed person who went out drinking, clubbing, socializing....whatever kids did back when I was younger.  That wasn't me.  Never has been, never will be.  That's not "MY scene". 

I am more of the snuggle up with a comfy blanket, a good book, and a hot cup of cocoa kind of person.  Or perhaps put on a good movie and hand out with a couple of my closet friends. 

When I was in college, I'd go to the movies with my best friend, I *MIGHT* go to a bar once in awhile for the karaoke, I was not and still am not a drinker.  Maybe a sip here or there, but mostly it just isn't my thing.  On the weekends we might go out to dinner at our favorite restaurant, or check out some fun event in town.  Some weekends I was cramming for a history test or for finals, heck I was even working many of those weekends!

They were fun, but honestly they lacked anything real.  I mean, yes I enjoy the time I spent with my good friends during those weekends, but I honestly love my weekends now a lot better. 

Today, however was not a fun action packed family weekend.  Ugh.  It was rather action packed, but only MY actions were cleaning the house from top to bottom.  It has been nearly a MONTH since my appendix surgery, and I'm feeling dang near back to 100%, so I decided today was the PERFECT day to whip my house back in shape.  Organizing cupboards, doing dishes, laundry, scrubbing both bathrooms, vacuuming, sweeping and mopping, hanging up more Halloween decorations with the kiddos, and YES we even played outside for awhile because it was actually NICE out (and finally NOT raining). 

The kids however...were VERY action packed.  *sigh*  They do not realize that weekends are for sleeping in, no instead they dive in head first and seize the day by the sunrise.   "Mom, mom, mom, mom, are you awake?" 

Yep.  I am now buddy, what can I do for you? 

I'm hungry. 

Bleh.  Fine.  I'm coming. 

Because, once they are up, there is NO getting them to snuggle up and go back to sleep.  That only happens if they get up at 4am.  If it is after 6am, forget it. Get up.  Feed them NOW or they will chew your arm off. 

They have, no mercy. 

From then on, it is a chaotic mess of
"eat your breakfast"
"don't poke your brother in the face with your spoon"
"No you can't feed the cat cereal off your spoon"
"Keep all four legs of the chair on the floor, NOW! Or you can stand up to eat your breakfast!"
"Stop kicking each other under the table!" 
"You wanted that oatmeal you're going to eat it!"
"It doesn't MATTER who sits in that chair, we don't have assigned seating here!!"
"Don't argue over who has what bowl, they are ALL GREEN BOWLS!" 
"No, all the 'Princess' spoons are dirty, it's ok you can eat with a 'ninja' spoon, it won't kill you or make your cereal taste any different, I PROMISE!"

All before 7:30am. 

Did I mention, without coffee?  I'm either brave, dumb, or senile, perhaps all three.

Also factor in the darn cats trying to trip me because I dared to feed the CHILDREN first, and them second.  OH how dare I!  Of course the dogs are yowling and whining and singing me the song of their oppressed furry "peoples" as they are still in their kennels at that time BEGGING to be let out to potty.  *le sigh*

Don't forget the phone ringing.  I swear that phone starts ringing the second my feet hit the floor.  I hate my phone some days.  Half the phone calls aren't even FOR me they are for my *lovely* (please read the sarcasm in that) Mother in Law who has lived with us for the past year and a half.  (Do NOT ever do that people, PLEASE, unless your mother in law is like freaking AMAAAAZING...mine isn't sooo yeh...we'll leave that there...)  Any who, she has telemarketers calling for her at ALL HOURS OF THE EVER LOVIN' DAY!! I just want to unplug my phone, or change my number.

As chaotic as my little circus can get some times, I wouldn't trade it in for the days of yore where I slept until noon (ok until 10am at the latest, I've never been able to sleep past 10am to begin with).  Where I could SHOWER the moment I woke up (now if I shower it has to be after the kids are in bed or wake up waaaaaaay before they do, in other words..as soon as they go to sleep for the night because even at 7 and 5 years old I still never know WHEN they will randomly wake up, they are still crappy sleepers). 

Instead, I get to have some EARLY morning snuggles.  We get to make up fun and silly games to play while I try and bribe them into staying snuggled up with Mommy in bed to try and squeeze a few more minutes out of my morning because I don't want to 'wake up' yet.  We play a game called "worms" where we all pretend we are a family of worms, and the blanket is our "dirt".  One of the kids will pretend to be a bird, or a fisherman, and will come to "get" us worms who are relaxing.  When we hear the bird or fisherman coming us worms have to DIVE under the covers and hide from the bird or fisherman.  It's a silly game, but the kids absolutely LOVE it. 

I've even gotten soooo desperate to stay in bed for a few minutes longer that I tell them to go get their LEGO's and they can build me a car while I 'rest my eyes'. Not such a good idea in hindsight.  I'm still picking Lego's out of my bed, sleeping on a Lego, and then waking up with a Lego shaped bruise on your thigh, is not so fun.

Telling the kids to turn on the TV and watch cartoons while mommy 'rests', is NEVER gunna happen.  WHY?  They cannot be  trusted.  They raid the snack tub and devour the fruit snacks, cereal bars, and whatever else might be tossed into that darn snack tub.  Sure kids, just help yourself....not.  You'd think they'd at least be nice and learn how to make me some coffee when I forget to set the timer on my coffee pot the night before. 

So when they get restless and get up, Mommy drags herself out of bed too, and our fun begins!

Breakfast, cartoons, crafts, snacks, coloring, books, snuggles, house hold chores, playing outside, playing inside, lunch, playing outside some more, errands, snack, more crafts, supper, more snuggles, clean up, baths, more snuggles, books, and tuck ins. 

Of course, it is SOOO much more than that though!

It's a full day.  I just don't mean with 'busy body stuff' I mean, literally it is a "FULL" day.  My life is full, full of amazing awesome kids.  Full of love.  Even when it is stressful, it is still full of love.  I get frustrated, I want to throw my hands up and give up some days.  I want to cry, some days I do cry.  I want to say screw it, I'm never cleaning house AGAIN, they just mess it up as I do it and it doesn't look like I'm doing anything productive so what does it matter!

So while my day may be chaotic sometimes, we also have our fun weekends.  The weekends where we go out and do something fun together.  We love checking out local events in the area.  Like last weekend when we went to the Kite Flying event.  They got to experience flying a kite for the first time and the husband and I didn't kill each other while trying to put our DIY Kite Kits together (because I handed him all three kites and said "have fun, I'm out, I'll uh, go keep the kids from killing each other until your done, you'll do great, bye love ya!"  Haha.

I guess your weekends are what YOU make them.  If you want them to stay fun and exciting, they will (well most of the time, I think we're all prone to a bad weekend here or there). 

You learn to adjust and change a bit when kids come along. 

It took my three little munchkins a bit to go to bed tonight (the boys snuck in a nap RIGHT before supper, of course, the boys who NEVER nap took a nap today).  So they were up a bit past bedtime and were all wiggly and giggly and saying "no way" to sleep.  Which actually was pretty nice because they asked me to come in and sing for them, all of their favorite nursery rhymes and lullabies.  Which is something I absolutely LOVE doing, but they have been out growing lately.  I've always sang to my children, and the older they get and ask me not to, the sadder it feels to wean that out of our bed time routine.

Now my house is insanely quiet, and I'm like...wow.  This sucks.  It's too quiet.  I don't like it.  When all day I was thinking "Shhhh can we quiet down and be quiet for just a little bit??"  Now it's quiet, and I hate it.  There is just no pleasing me I guess!

I actually asked myself today "Why am I doing all of this blasted cleaning TODAY?  Shouldn't I have done all this during the week while the kids were AT SCHOOL, you know where I had the house to myself, and no kids to keep an eye on and pull apart from each other or feed or whatever?" 

The answer to...myself.  Was....Well DUH I should have done it, but obviously I did the bare essentials.  Then I tried to reason with myself "You DID just have surgery a few weeks ago..."  Yeh that excuse isn't gonna work for ever you know.  The REAL answer?  It was too quiet.  I was easily distracted.  With the kids gone my purpose kind of floated out the window and I just wanted some me time.  It can be too exhausting trying to be super mom all the time, and I am certainly no "super" mom.  I'm just a normal mom like anyone else. I drink my coffee one pot at a time too.

However this also means I can have a fun day with my kids tomorrow because I have all my house chores done.  Score, plus there is no school on Monday so hey, we have that day too.

Mom Circus

Bus Shenanigans, My Life is on a Roll

Today was certainly a very busy and hectic day.  I thought I was going to have the morning to kind of just chill out and pick up the house a bit, (oh who am I kidding, I would have just relaxed and caught up on a couple of shows and THEN worried about cleaning up later).  Don't lie, you've done that too. 

I wasn't expecting the eye doctor's office to call and tell me that they could get all three kids in at 10:30 this morning instead of 1:10 this afternoon.  OH, well ok  that works I guess! So I scrambled to call the school to inform them I'd be picking the kids up at 10:15 instead of 12:45 for their appointment.  They were worried my daughter would miss lunch (Right, like I'd let her go without lunch, I would have taken them out to lunch and THEN taken them back to school, I mean come on, that's what moms do, right).  Anyway, needless to say it was a quick appointment and they ALL made it back in time for lunch, so it was all good. 

So it seems like my sons will be sporting glasses like their big sister.  *sigh* THIS should be interesting!! Thankfully they only really need to wear them at school.  My daughter got a talking to by the eye doctor for trying to sneak out of wearing her glasses at school, and that she needs to WEAR them so her eyes can adjust to them so  they can correct the issue that needs to be corrected.  Her eyes aren't cooperating together and working as a team which makes reading difficult. 

So Son Circus #2 chose some super cute metal red frames, they will look so adorable on him! Son Circus #1 chose some plastic blue frames, that are oh so adorable on him.  I am going to have to get used to seeing all three of my kids with glasses! The boys have an astigmatism, which is something I dealt with when I was in elementary, but at least I didn't need my glasses until sixth grade so I held out a little bit longer. 

After the eye appointment and the kids were safely deposited off back at school, the husband circus and I were stumped on what to do.  So we ran some errands, and then we were HOPING to get our anniversary photos taken, but that didn't happen.  So he decided "hey, why not take your 3rd annual birthday photos!" 


For three years in a row now, I will confess, I've done birthday photos...of myself.  It may seem silly to some, but I've enjoyed it.  It isn't often I get to dress as snazzy as possible and be the center of focus for any reason.  It's a mood lifter, plus the kids will have photos of their mom to look back on when I'm an old gray haired lady or dead and gone. 


If I could get my husband to see that point of view, it'd be great.  As it is, he is very anti be in photos.  We do have a FEW good photos of him though, they are some of my faves and he isn't even aware in a lot of them that he is being photographed.  The candid shots are my favorite of him.  I think the kids will love those too as  they get older. 

Photos are so very important to me.  Photos are literally ALL I have left of my Father who killed himself when I was barely a year and a half old. I have no MEMORIES of him, so the photos are all I have left to cling to of him. I don't have many photos of my Mother, or of her Mother either as neither one of them liked having their photo taken.  So anytime I'm around my Mother or my kids are around her I make sure to get photos with her and of her with my kiddos, because I want my kids to have photos of their Grandmother and with her.  YES I even get photos of the kids with my husbands mom...even though I'd like to strangle her sometimes (oooh that's a whoooole nother story, but that's what happens when you mother in law moves in with you, word of advice. DO NOT do it). 

As a MOM we sometimes fail to have photos of us around, and as our kids get older and out on their own the may start to ask for photos from when you were younger, or question why there are no photos of mom, or of mom with the kids etc.  I know that for me, I sometimes  feel down and icky about how much weight I put on after the twins were born, and I'm not going to lie it's been hard to lose it, because it's been hard to get the motivation and self esteem up enough to DO anything about it.  Factor in a slow working thyroid that literally makes you feel exhausted and sluggish all of the time, and that makes even MORE tricky to lose weight, it's frustrating.  So it's easy to feel ugly and unimportant and want to hide from the camera. 


I've had to work hard to just be ME.  Live in the skin I'm in, embrace it, and love me, and then I can do something about it.  Slowly it's happening, and I'm happy about that.  Birthday photos have been a fun way for me to get a self esteem boost and have a lot of fun.  So I always suggest to moms to just get all dolled up one day and just take some photos.  That doesn't mean make duck lips in your bathroom mirror (if you do that, please be sure to clean your bathroom first...including the mirror, and the toilet, and empty out the bathroom trash, and make sure there is no one sitting on the toilet, and all of those other awful selfies we've seen people take with their cell phones and post all over Facebook and Twitter and Instagram and stuff). 

Speaking of selfie, isn't that just the most awful word?  I don't know why, but it just gets under my skin.  I hate the way it sounds, I almost kick myself for typing it, and I feel like biting my tongue off when I hear myself SAY that word.  I just don't like it.  Some of the things they call "selfies" now aren't really selfies.  Many are just PORTRAITS.  To ME a selfie is a photo where you turn the camera around, aim it at yourself and take the photo.  THAT is a selfie (or taking a pic of your reflection in a bathroom mirror or window reflection...). Portraits taken by a photographer, or a friend or whatever, are not to me, called "selfies".  Nor are ones with a whole group of people in it.  That's a group photo.  I don't know, I just hate that word selfie.  *yack*  (ew, can't believe how many times I TYPED  THAT WORD!)

Here is a self portrait (haha, see what I did there...) one I took of the husband and I is probably as close as we will ever get to taking an anniversary photo of the two of us together.  There just never seems to be anyone available to get photos of us when the husband has the day off.  I hate not having many photos of us together since the kids were born.  I need photos of us together.  Being silly, being in love, being with the kids,  being...whatever.  Just as long as we're together in them.  One of these days, one of us might not BE there anymore, and I'd like to have photos of us being together. 


I promise I'm not being all cryptic because I'm turning 30 next week.  I'm just always that cryptic, regardless of age. 

However, I AM going to be 30 next week and I'm going to ROOOOCK IT.  I'm actually pretty dog gone excited.  The Husband Circus turned 30 last month, and wooooow, he did not handle that one so well.  He was sooo moody and didn't even want to HEAR about his birthday.  He told us to "forget I have a birthday coming because I'm not turning 30, ever".  Oy vey.  However, he's like that EVERY year, since he turned 20.  Apparently, he does not age gracefully.  (Don't tell anyone but he's starting to get a bit erm..thin, on top and he's REALLY not happy about that or the gray hairs he has).  To be fair, I have a LOOOT of gray hairs myself! Though I think he and the kids caused me to have every single one of them. 

This week has been Spirit Week, Friday is homecoming.  Monday was HAT DAY, and today was silly sock day.  My sons didn't care so much to participate in that one, and my daughter wore some silly socks but didn't really care about showing them off.  Tomorrow is red day, and now I get to scrounge through my daughters closet for some red shirts.  Red, is not her favorite color.  Pink.  Pink is her favorite color.  Good luck to me.  The sons however, will be easy they will have all kinds of red shirts!

Son Circus #1 loves stocking caps!

Son Circus #2 is either going for an Indiana Jones look or is trying to look like Carl from the Walk Dead.

Daughter circus, well she's just all bright colors and base ball caps!

Aw yes, the Cooky Trio

Well, it was crazy sock day today, but she didn't want to show off her crazy socks so we just took a picture of her with her cute braided hair.

Tomorrow is also walk to school day, so I guess we're participating in that. 

Tonight was McTeacher Night at the local McDonalds where the teachers come to work and people who dine in help raise money for the elementary schools here in town.  So we ended up eating at McDonalds for supper tonight, which isn't something I generally am inclined to do.  I have to be REALLY REALLY REALLY desperate to take my kids to McDonalds.  However, the money goes to help the schools, and I have a hard time saying NO to the school.  If it helps the kids, then well...ok...I'll do it for the kids. 

Today I received a phone call from the principal.  I always hate those phone calls.  I always wonder "Uh oh...which kid is it...what happened?  How bad are they hurt, or how bad did they hurt someone else, or what did they DO?" 

I had my doubts about putting my sons on the "big bus" for school.  Their IEP allows them to ride the smaller bus, but I wanted to give them a chance to ride the big bus.  They LOVE riding the big bus, cept one thing...the whole staying in their seats situation.  Son Circus #2 did a SUMMERSAULT in his seat today (mind you he shares a seat with a friend, so how exactly he managed that...I don't even think I want to know, and I am sorry for the poor kid sitting with my son).  Son Circus #1 spends most of HIS time sitting in the floor board and trying to crawl under the seats.  I mean REALLY!?  How safe does ANY of that sound?  The bus driver is FAR nicer than I am.  I would have done pulled that bus over and hauled them off the bus (that's what MY bus driver growing up actually DID a few times to a couple of kids!!) 

So my sons got a *gasp* referral.  I stand behind the school on this one though.  What they were doing was NOT safe at all.  If it happens again...they are kicked off the bus for three days.  EEEEP!! So two little boys are GROUNDED, which means no riding their bikes with friends after school, and no friends over, and no board games or video games, and a few extra chores.

I remind my sons EVERY single morning to "sit on your bottoms and keep your hands and bodies to yourself, the bus isn't a play ground".  They say "OK MOMMY!! We'll be good!!"  Apparently NOT! The bus driver even waved me over to the bus once to tell me they were having trouble staying in their seats.  So they were grounded, and we had a big talk about bus safety.  I continued to remind them EVERY SINGLE MORNING to behave on the bus. 

Apparently...it hasn't sunk in.  *hangs head*

What's a mom to do? 

I asked the Principal today if he thought it would be best to put them back on the IEP bus (they know that driver and she has driven them since preschool and they listen to her very well and plus that bus as an aid on it that helps keep them all in line).  The big bus does NOT have an aid on it (I would totally volunteer my services for that if I thought it would do any good, but the boys would probably utterly tune me out because they are around their "friends".  Some times, it is REALLY frustrating being a mom to sons.

The Principal said he'd talk to some lady at the school, and they would get back to me.  *gulp* that never sounds good, ya know?  I just don't want the boys to get kicked off the bus for good.  I wanted to give them a chance on the big bus, I was hoping they could handle it, but school hasn't been going that long and they are struggling with a simple request of stay in your seat. We have talked sooo much about bus safety, and what could happen if the bus were in an accident and they were on the floor or doing summersaults in their seats.  Hoping for answers tomorrow, from the school as no one called me back today. 

Some days I wonder if I'm doing this whole "parenting" thing right at all. 

However, while at the grocery store tonight picking up some stuff we forgot earlier (which meant we HAD to take the kids with us *groan*).  The boys were SOOOOO high strung it was RIDICULOUS.  They were antsy.  They have some SPD issues, like their sister, cept they are seekers.  They constantly have to touch and be a part of EVERYTHING.  I'd like to put cement shoes on their feet just to slow them down sometimes! However that would just make them stronger and then I REALLY wouldn't be able to keep up with them.  So today their hands were flying all over the place at the store.  OH I need to touch this, I need to feel that, oh what does this do, oh hey there's a box let's touch it, oh look a package of raw chicken, let me touch that, oh look a tomato let's poke it...etc....I took each of the boys by one hand (I might have well dipped their hands in battery acid because they were NOT happy I took each one of them by the hand, HOW DARE I).  Anyway, after a few threats of going to the bathroom to have a CHAT with Mommy, they calmed down a bit but their free hand was still fluttering over everything we passed, so I made them put their "free hand" in their pocket, and walk around like that.  They hate that.  It's affective for them though! Usually I give them a job to do when we're at the store (they are getting too big to sit in the carts now).  However, we were in a hurry today and didn't really have time to give them a job to do.  We also ditch the check out lane, I leave the husband at the check out lane and I always take the kids and make a bee line to the van.  I'd rather them have their melt downs and fits in the VAN than in the middle of the check out line, that...is NEVER pretty. 

While forcing the boys to hold my hand in the store today and being very vocal about getting on to them in the store and letting them know that I was not happy with their behavior and they know I do not accept that behavior, and I reminded them of how I expect them to act in the store (granted I know they are not always going to be perfect angels, so I don't give them ENORMOUS over the top expectations, but I DO have expectations for them that are acceptable for THEM).  I actually had other moms SMILE and NOD at me.  One woman even commented how she was happy to FINALLY see a mom parenting her children and not just letting them do whatever and get whatever they want in the store.  She said she understand it isn't easy (she raised 4 kids herself she said), but that they can be taught, all of them.  That no, not every child is the same and some kids have reasons for acting the way they do, but that I was doing good, and to keep it up. I smiled at that woman, I wanted to hug her (but I was holding the hands of two small little boys and making sure my daughter wasn't slinking away behind us).  It was nice to have a little validation (even if from a perfect stranger) that I was doing ok, and that it would be ok. 

I always try to be "THAT" mom for others.  Even when I'm struggling with my own kids, If I see someone ELSE struggling even more...I always try to say something kind to them, or their child.  In fact, if I see another child throwing a fit, it totally throws my children off when I talk to that parent or child (I'm a self proclaimed comedian, I'm probably not funny at all, but I think I am so therefore it counts in Animal Cracker Circus Land so hush).  So I usually break tense moments with jokes.  Believe it or not...it seems to help most of the time.  Even my own kids stop and look at me (though they might be trying to decide if their mom REALLY just said that, or if I've completely lost my mind, or wondering if I've gone so crazy that it isn't safe for them to even TRY to act out around me because they aren't quite sure what I might do next, because if I just said "THAT" and thought it was funny....well, there might not be any hope for them, haha).  Eh, either way it's affective, win win right, ha!

At least when we got home things calmed down. They did their home work, hung out with their Daddy for a bit, and took their showers, and went to bed.  Lovely way to close an evening.  Everyone was calm, happy, clean, and exhausted.  Now I can maybe get caught up on laundry so my daughter actually has some JEANS! Please explain to me how this daughter had 9 pairs of jeans at the beginning of the school year and is now down to 2 pairs?  I have no idea where they vanished to.  I only found 2 pair this evening going through the dirty pairs, so that brings the total of jeans for her up to 4.  My sons are good to go on jeans,  but that daughter of mine?  Ack!

So I'd like to be able to say I'm finding some age 30 revelation or something.  That it is starting to feel any different than being in my 20's but other than a few aches and pains, nope, not really any different at all (then again, I won't actually be 30 until next week).  So as of now, no great epiphany, and I don't really foresee one coming anytime soon either.  Maybe when I'm 40.

So on to that laundry and the sorting of red clothes for tomorrow!

Mom Circus