Not So Ordinary Girls

Indianapolis Children's Museum and the 3 month post op

2011-11-14T06:20:00.001-05:00

It's hard to believe it has been three months since our big surgery fest, but time flies when you are having fun. We were just in Indianapolis for Hannah's 3 month post-op appointment. The great news is Hannah's x-rays were spotless and the doctor is very pleased with her progress. She has been released for normal kid activity, but she will still need to avoid any activity that may cause chest trauma. We struggle a bit finding a decent balance for a child with a bar in her chest. I do not want to hold her back. I think she should be cautious, but she needs to move on with her life. Al is afraid to let her to do the most normal kid activities, such as ice skating and riding a bike. It was comforting to hear the bar has mostly settled by now and the best out come will be from Hannah moving and doing everything she had been doing prior to surgery.

As with all the trips to see the doctor in Indianapolis, we did try to make a day out of it. The Children's Museum of Indianapolis is a can't miss destination if you are ever in the area. They have a number of long term exhibits that are a child's paradise. The Dow Science center is always a very hand's on place the girls' could spend an entire afternoon in. The short term exhibits are a fun change to the museum my girls know by heart. They have a new Frogs exhibit that was our first stop of the day. I don't want to spoil the fun, but from Poison Dart frogs to a tomato toad to a bull frog, Frogs will keep you hopping. It was just a fun exhibit for everyone. Other stops on our agenda? Barbie, of course. There is nothing like a mid-day fashion show to get everyone smiling. The Dow Science center for boat bulding and water fun. Most trips to Indianapolis include the Children's Museum. I can't say enough about it. If you are in Indy it is a must see.

The girls in Frogs

Abby modeling with a new buddy

Emily and Abby having a fashion show

Hannah in the Dow Science Center

Lauren modeling the latest Frog attire

Maddy, Abby, and Emily walking the run way.

Note: We were not compensated in any way for endorsing the Children's Museum of Indianapolis. It is a family favorite that we visit often.

We have a big appointment

2011-11-03T11:34:00.000-04:00

I haven't been around much. I'm in one of those don't feel like talking moods. Tomorrow Lauren has an appointment with the specialist we have been waiting a year to see. To say I am nervous would be an understatement. I am terrified. I am terrified of getting answers we don't want to hear. I am terrified of not getting answers. I'm terrified of being told we've spent the last year worried sick for no reason. I am terrified of everything.

If you believe in prayers, can you include Lauren in them today and tomorrow? Can you send her positive thoughts and vibes, our sweet girl needs as many people praying for her as she can get.

My one saving grace, Lauren is and will always be perfect to us regardless of what any doctor tells us.

Lauren's AFO's

2011-10-20T21:52:00.004-04:00

Lauren's the proud new owner of a fancy pair of pink and white AFO's. Yes that is a pink Colt's logo on her braces. What fun would flowers be, it is football season after all?
So far, she has had an emergency shoe shopping trip to find something that would fit over the braces. She has only tried to take them off a handful of times. And she is clearly walking better. She seems much more confident and to have much better posture as she walks. But, that's only day 1.

I can't wait to see what day 2 will bring.

Tiny Prints Christmas Cards

2011-10-19T23:01:00.002-04:00

I think I have settled on a Christmas card. I am not sure why it is such a difficult process for me, but every year I search endlessly for the perfect Christmas card. Part of the difficulty is I like (or more like Love) photos cards. I love to have a variety of options that would allow me put both individual photos of the girls and group photos. There are very few options available for large families.

Some time last year I discovered Tiny Prints and I have not looked back. The Tiny Prints website is so easy to navigate. The easy drop down menus make it easy for me to find everything I am looking for. When you can search, you can easily narrow your search options by colors, number of photos, cost, etc. It makes finding exactly what you are looking for quick and easy. As a working mom, quick and easy is exactly what I need.

The best thing about Tiny Prints, though, is the quality. Tiny Prints is a high quality card that is beautifully printed. I was astounded the first time I got cards from Tiny Prints. They are small cards that pack a very powerful punch.

This year the Tiny Prints selection of Christmas cards is amazing. You can check them out here. They have classic cards, holiday cards, religious cards, photo cards. They have something for everyone.

As far our Christmas cards this year. It may or may not appear on this post. What fun would it be if I told you now? I can tell you, our Christmas cards are coming from Tiny Prints. It's our family favorite.

Mam Baby Rock-A-Bye Baby Party

2011-10-19T22:25:00.000-04:00

I recently has the opportunity to host a Mam Rock-A-Bye Baby Party thanks to Child's Play Party. I was so thrilled to have an opportunity to share the Mam line of products with my friends and family. Unfortunately I lost most of my party pictures thanks to my lovely computer but I wanted to share with you the wonderful products we had the opportunity to try.

Our first game was Test Your Baby IQ. When our mom's and expecting mom's came in I had each one put 2 baby related questions on an index card. We took turns trying to answer the questions. I included a number of fun questions I remembered from when I had my first and second babies. Each mom got a Mam Baby Single Anti-Colic bottle for participating in the IQ game. The Mam Anti-Colic bottle was a huge hit. Everyone was really impressed with the soft, unique nipple. Our favorite feature was the vented, twist off bottom. It's easier for Mom and better for baby.

We the played the My Baby Rocks Game. Watching my closest girl friends singing answers to some very silly questions was absolutely hilarious. For participating in this game, each mom got a Mam Baby Cooler Teether. It's unique shape is ideal for a teething baby. There is no more need for those silly rings that sit in the freezer and baby refuses to touch. This has a handle that makes baby doing it himself much easier. Plus, the unique shape is much easier for baby to actually get teething relief from. Another huge hit.

Our final game was the Baby Loves to Dance Party. It was our own personal dance party. It was so much fun to turn on our favorite Laurie Berkner CD's and dance with our little ones. Each baby and mom had such a unique style and was thrilled by the opportunity to show off their own moves. For participating in the dance party each Mom and baby received a Mam Baby Night Pacifier. We all loved the unique shape. The best feature had to be the glow in the dark top. What a wonderful change to have some hope of finding the lost pacifier in the middle of the night.

It was such a fun day to share the wonderful Mam Baby products with my friends and family. While we were snacking, we also took a look at the Mam Baby Oral Care Rabbit. What a neat idea. We all knew we should be wiping baby's mouth but, honestly, there was never anything that was really appropriate for that task. Until now. We also tried the Mam Baby Learn to Brush Set. It really was great to have one system that would take our babies oral care from infant to toddler. The Learn to Brush set was had a small head and unique curved handle that made it really easy for the babies to hold it own their own.

We were all so grateful for the wonderful opportunity to come together with our children and have an amazing afternoon while learning about and trying such a baby friendly and family friendly line of products. The Mam Baby line was constructed well with both mom and baby in mind. Thank you to Mam Baby and Child's Play Party for the wonderful party pack that made this opportunity possible.

September in a nutshell

2011-10-18T23:00:00.001-04:00

Maddy became a school girl (doesn't she look nervous?)

Our sweet little Emily turned 11

We got a new cat, Lucy.

Lauren started taking a lot of steps.

We went to the Blueberry Festival

We watched a Hot Air Balloon Glow, minus the balloons

We picked lots of apples

Visited with very large hay people

And smiled a lot. Oh, September. Where did you go?

Married Mom, Solo Parent

2011-10-18T22:40:00.003-04:00

About the book: For married women who feel like single parents.

Bookstore shelves are full of parenting resources for moms who are newly divorced or widowed. But where do moms turn if they feel like a single parent–but they’re not? Whether he is away on business, deployed in the military, or obsessing over a computer game, dad may not be available for a variety of reasons. Moms who parent in this situation still need help and don’t necessarily relate to the advice given in divorce recovery or single parenting resources.

Married Mom, Solo Parent is a common-sense, down-to-earth look at the struggles wives and mothers face when their husband is not actively involved in family life. Writing from her own experience as a married single mom, Carla Anne Coroy will help wives and mothers sort through their questions, such as: Can I do this alone? How do I raise kids to honor their father? How do I give my children a healthy perspective of marriage if they never see one in action? With practical suggestions, anecdotes, and biblical teaching, this book will encourage moms to see their position as a high calling, to find healing for their worries and frustrations, and to tap into God’s strength for help in facing the daily challenge of being a married mom, solo parent.

About Carla: Carla Anne Coroy runs the Married Single Mom blog at www.carlaanne.com. She speaks regularly and serves as a staff writer for an online Christian women’s magazine Mentoring Moments for Christian women. Carla Anne lives in Canada with her husband and four homeschooled children.

My Take: I have now read this book twice. The first time I read the book, I hated it. I hated it a lot. I do not have a husband who is off playing video games or off to war. I have a busy husband whose work and school life makes being as active and involved as I had hoped he would be in the day to day running of our family nearly impossible. When I first read the book, I was angry with Carla because she didn't get "it". She wants me to focus on me and she is not fixing him.

Then I read the book again, and I got it. I need to focus on me and do what I need to do for my own sanity and for the sake of my family. I need to let him in as an active and involved father when he is there. I can't fix him. I can't control him and I shouldn't try. I am not certain I necessarily agree with everything but the over all theory behind the book is a great reminder to any mom.

Disclosure: I was provided a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not obligated to provide favorable feedback.

Don’t miss Carla Coroy’s MomChat Facebook Party on 10/25!

About Carla:
Carla Anne Coroy runs the Married Single Mom blog at www.carlaanne.com. She speaks regularly and serves as a staff writer for an online Christian women’s magazine Mentoring Moments for Christian Women. Carla Anne lives in Canada with her husband and four homeschooled children.

2 Little Words

2011-10-13T22:18:00.000-04:00

Today I picked up the form from Lauren's last post-op check up.
Today I read the words I didn't want to read.
Today I read the words I already knew would be there
but couldn't bring myself to face.

Lauren's journey has been a long one
and now includes a diagnosis of
spinda bifida.

While I've known for sometime,
seeing those words in black and white
startled me
in a way I never expected

I am blessed beyond words
by a now walking baby
that has a smile
and laugh that will make you melt
I am blessed to know
Lauren's condition is mild
but coming to terms with knowing
there is a condition and
not just a delay
or a lazy baby not eager to get up and go
it harder than I imagined.

I know Lauren's a tough cookie
with a heart of gold
who is going to be just fine
I know in her short little life
she has shown more courage
and more strength
than I have in my more than 30 years
I know that
so why am I now letting
2 little words
that I already knew
challenge
what I already know?

Holy Blogger Batman...

2011-10-11T00:14:00.001-04:00

We found the camera charger.

So many things to share.

And so many cute kids.

It's a good day in my neighborhood.

THE LION KING: Diamond Edition

2011-10-06T11:24:00.001-04:00

In case you have not heard, Disney released THE LION KING: Diamond Edition on Blu-ray 3D & Blu-ray Hi-Def Combo Pack on Tuesday. The Lion King is one of our favorite movies. It's a Disney classic: a timeless, exciting, beautiful family film. The girls are anxiously awaiting our The Lion King movie night, and secretly so am I. If you want to have your own Family Movie Night, you will find some great links below to The Lion King activities and food. The girls are really excited about making the smoothie. It looks yummy!

Tips for helping to keep your family cold and flu free

2011-10-05T15:21:00.001-04:00

It is cold and flu season. Unfortunately, our family has already been hit by a nasty upperrespiratory virus. It has hit several ofour children and now I am sick too. I shudderwhen I think this is only the beginning of the colds and flu's. In aneffort to make this an easier cold and flu season, I have a few tips tohopefully make it easier to avoid illnesses for my family and for yours. Here are a few tips to get you started. Did I miss something? Please let me know. I am always looking for ideas to help keepour herd of girls healthy.

First, get plenty of rest and eat a healthy diet, rich invitamin C. You and the children need tokeep your body ready to fight off any infection that may come your way. We always keep orange juice and grapefruitjuice on hand. We include a number ofseasonal fresh fruits and veggies in the house as well. Get a good nights sleep. Your body needs energy to fight of colds and flu's.

Secondly, keep your home healthy with plenty of Lysol sprayand surface wipes. Disinfect, disinfect,disinfect. Sometimes I will even giveone my children Lysol wipes and have them follow their sibling and wipe thingsoff behind them. You need to get down ontheir level and disinfect everything on their level. It is important to disinfect their toys aswell. You can use Lysol spray on allsolid surface toys.

Third, proper prevention is key. Wash your hands and you hand sanitizer. Teach your children to sneeze and cough intotheir elbow. Teach children how to usetissues and the importance of hand washing. My girls say we are like a broken record…wash your hands, wash yourhands, wash your hands.

Finally, avoid contact with sick friends and family. I know it is not possible or practical toavoid contact with every sick person, but do try to limit contact as much aspossible. And possible even moreimportant, if your own children are sick keep them home from school or daycare. With little ones especially,illnesses are transmitted back and forth repeatedly. If they are constantly exposing their friendsto viruses, it will simply spread back and forth through most of the cold andflu season. Stay home and rest.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Cold and flu season is a difficult time forfamilies with young children. Take timenow to build good habits into your family and children. A few steps now will hopeful save you a lotof sick time later.

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Lysol blogging program, for a gift card worth $40. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

10 Holiday Planning Tips: Get ready for the holidays

2011-10-05T14:00:00.004-04:00

Christmas is justaround the corner. Last week, I posted about getting the toys cleaned out tomake room for the new holiday toys. This week, it's time to get ourselvesorganized for the holiday season.

Here are my 10 tips for gettingready for the holidays.

1. Christmas List- Make your list andcheck it twice. Start scanning ads for deals and steals to stash away forChristmas. It will make Christmas shopping easier on you and your pocket book.

2. Rewards Cards and Programs-Check outyour bank or other financial institutions rewards programs. Our debit card hasrewards program that has allowed us to bank points that we turn into gift cardsfor the holiday season. Also check out other programs you belong to. I haverecently learned that our gas rewards points can be turned into gift cards too.Find out know what programs you are involved in and if they could be used toease the holiday budget.

3. Holiday Budget-Make a budget. Figureout how much you can afford to spend in each of the key categories: food,presents, decorations, Christmas Cards, and travel.

4. Christmas Cards-Order Christmascards early. If you start now, you can knock out a few each night and have donein no time flat. Many companies have already debut their holiday collections. Ilove Storkie because of their stylish and unique cards that set our cardapart from the others. I like to make astatement with my Christmas card and Storkie lets me do just that. My favorite Storkie card is below. I love the modern feel to the card.

5. Decorations-Plan your decorationsnow. If you know what you want to do,inside and out, you can take advantage of any remaining decent weather. Yes, I do advocate putting lights out in lateOctober or early November. It’s easier,safer, and really who is going to notice?

6. Menu- While it may be too set yourmenu, it’s a great time to find new recipes and ideas to try during the holidayseason. There are a few great newholiday websites that make Christmas menu planning fun and easy. I’ll tell you more about those at a latertime. For now, get creative and don’t beafraid to try. You have time to have afew trial runs of the new recipe you have found before the holidays will bethere.

7. Family- The holidays are forfamily. Get them involved at make this amemorable holiday season. In our family,my husband and our oldest girls serve as holiday elves. We actually have head elf and elves intraining who help with holiday decorating, present wrapping, and holidaytraditions. It’s great to enlist thehelp of the in-laws or any other family who you will be celebrating with. Ask for menu items, have cookie baking days,holiday movie nights or game night. Askfamily for suggestions or ideas for new family traditions. One of our favorite holiday traditions camefrom my father-in-law. Christmas EveMonopoly. Enough said. If you know my husband, you understand.

8. Plan and schedule holidayoutings-Around the holiday’s everything books quickly. Make you plan for the Santa breakfast, tea;and Nutcracker now while there is space available. Don’t forget things ice skating, sledding,cookie baking, ginger bread houses….let your imagination go wild and figure outwhat is and is not possible with the time you have available.

9. Schedule me time-Moms take on a lotstress during the holiday season. Schedule down time just for you. Maybe a holiday manicure or massage? Maybe a date night or girl’s night. Plan time for you and remember it mom isn’t happy, no one is happy.

10. Relax, relax, and relax-If you made it this far down theplan. You are well on your way to arelaxing prepared holiday season. Sitback, relax, and enjoy the holidays with your family.

I wrote this blog post while participating in the Storkie holiday blogging program. I received compensation for my participation. All opinions are 100% mine.

Out of Sorts, Sort of

2011-10-04T21:54:00.002-04:00

I am out of sorts, sort of. I just can't put my finger on it.

Things are just slightly off kilter and I don't know how to explain it.

My head races of all the things I need to do, but my body is just to tired to do it.

I feel like crying, but can't.

I am overwhelmed, but not.

I am frustrated, but determined.

I can't explain what has me off, but I wish I knew how to fix it.

I know, it's not me versus the world

but it feels like it.

A friend once told me

Just keep swimming, Just keep swimming.

Yes,

Sounds like the perfect suggestion

Just Keep Swimming

I'll get there

eventually,

right?

Toy organizing tips for the holidays

2011-09-28T10:52:00.000-04:00

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Silent night. Twas the night before Christmas. Can you hear them all, softly playing in the background? Every day, they are getting louder and louder. Ready or not, they are coming. Christmas is coming. Soon there will gifts from Santa, Grandma & Grandpa, Aunt Sue, and Uncle Chuck. There will be gifts from friends, gifts from relatives, and gifts from neighbors. Did I over whelm you yet? I shutter when I think about the influx of new gifts and toys for my children. I should mention 3 of our daughter’s birthdays are in December so we have the added bonus of birthday gifts to put away along with all of the Christmas gifts.

Now is the perfect time to get a jump on the post Christmas organization plan. Now is when you want to take a little time each week to organize and declutter the children’s toy areas. In our family, we started an October tradition several years ago. All the toys are sorted, organized, purged, and donated. This is the perfect time to conquer the toy room. You’ll head in to gift season organized and ready to put away all the children’s new Christmas treasures. To get you started on your way to organized bliss, I have my family’s 10 steps to conquering clutter in the toy room.

Ditch the stuffed animals-While cute and adorable stuffed animals take up a ton of space and really aren’t used on a regular basis. Keep the meaningful gifts and their favorites, but donate the rest. Store what you have under the bed or crib to save space. If you child likes to see them every day, use stuffed animal nets or other hanging storage.
Have an art line-Kids like to see their art displayed for the entire family. Hang an art line for a quick and easy display. You can use fishing line with cloths pins for an easy access display. Rotate pictures to the back for an easy change.
Digital art show-When you are purging art and crafts photograph all of the children’s work. Let them keep their best pieces and along with your favorites, store those in the memory box. Purge the rest. Invest in a cheap digital picture frame, load their art photos and you have an easy digital art show for all of their family and friends.
Purge-If you child has not played with a toy in 2-3 months, take the toy out of the toy area. Store it separately for 6-8 weeks; if your child does not ask for it in that time frame purge the unused toy.
Play Zones-Create play areas in the space. We have a building space, book nook, arts & craft desk, and kitchen area. It allows for a child to easily identify and locate their toys during playtime and for easy clean up.
Containerize-Invest in good containers. You’ll need something sturdy and easy for your children to manage. We prefer, for most things, open storage containers that allow the children easy access during playtime and easy access during clean up.
Invest in shelving-You will need decent shelving for toy storage. Invest in good shelving units that are 2-3 shelves high. Keep toys and their containers at the child’s level so they can assist in putting things away.
Label with photos-Label your containers with photos. It makes clean up for little children a breeze.
Donate excess-Once you have organized and purged, sort through your toys for excess. The goal is to have room for the new toys that acquired during the Christmas season, so keep that in mind as you are judging the toy supply. If you are worried about taking the favorite toys, keep a container of back up toys in a different location. Rotate through toys several times through out the year. Donate your excess to a local children’s organization or hospital and if allowed involve your children in that process. While it should not be traumatizing, it is important from an early age for children to learn appreciation for what they have.
Keep the kids Involved-At every step, the children should be involved in this process. This is their space and their toys so it is important they take ownership of the new, organized space. Make it a fun process for one and all.

Christmas and the Christmas hangover should not be a stressful time for you or your family. Start now and get ahead of the game. Your family and your sanity will thank you later!

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Hot Wheels® blogging program, for a gift card worth $40. For more information on how you can participate, click here

Play time for busy families

2011-09-21T21:42:00.001-04:00

We are a busy family. A really, trulybusy family. With 5 girls, 2 jobs, 5 school schedules, 3 sportsschedules, 8 music schedules.....well you get the picture. It isvery seldom that we have time to just sit back and play. It'simportant to fit it into the schedule, but I struggle to find a placefor play. For instance, this evening after work we had a crosscountry meet, swim lessons, and a meeting at school. When we finallyarrived home at 7:30 we still had some homework to finish and dinnerand the whole bedtime routine. After an entire week of this, ourweekends are comprised of house work, grocery shopping....all theother errands we should have done all week but didn't have time for. There is just no down time. It's a really tough schedule. And often our family time and ourhealth suffers because of it. We have decide to make some changes,for the benefit of not only us but for our family. We are focusingon including fun activities as a family that will get everyoneworking together. This weekend we picked apples on Saturday andSunday we had a fun game of soccer outside. It is still a struggle though, but it's a project that we are actively working on. I know it will get easier.

Do you want to play with your kids or do you need to? I have a few tips foryou to get started playing with your children.

Have patience- It may be awkward for a while, especially if you have older children, for your kids to be comfortable with you. Have patience with them, be consistent, and keep trying.
Have fun- It's play time. Relax, leave your cell phone inside, and focus on your kids.
Make it a habit- It will take a little time but make play a habit with your family. It's good for the kids, it's good for you. It's just good!
Be creative- Find new ways to play with your kids. Learn a new game or a new skill with your kids. Let your mind go and try something new (ask my husband about his ice skating experience). Play with out limits.
Limit screen time- Limit TV time, game time, phone time. Limit distractions for you and for your children. Focus on the task at hand.
Get your neighbors, family, and friends involved- The more the merrier. Playing outside is fun with more. A family soccer game, a neighborhood water balloon fight, the possibilities are endless.

A couple weeks ago I ran across aClorox website, Play2Day, http://clorox2play2day.com . The idea is you take a pledge to get outand play with your kids for a little bit each day. After you takethe pledge you can register activities, complete the activities andyou are entered to win prizes PLUS you can earn coupons for Cloroxproducts when you complete a certain number of activities. ThePlay2Day website has a ton of great ideas for activities to play withyour family, instructions, clean up. It takes the guess work out ofplaying fun games with your children. The girls love logging in andadding their activities, it truly becomes a family affair. Play2Dayis a great resource that will help instill a great new habit for yourfamily. I cannot recommend it enough.

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Clorox2® blogging program, for a gift card worth $40. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Caught Red Handed

2011-09-19T22:28:00.000-04:00

Spooky Buddies on Blu-ray & DVD September 20th

2011-09-15T09:20:00.000-04:00

Spooky Buddies is coming out on DVD and Blu-ray September 20th! We are quite excited to see adorable dogs in costumes for our favorite holiday. How can you not be? The girls are really excited about Sniffer and of course the Buddies. What a great idea for a Halloween family movie night!

If you'd like to pick up some great ideas for a Spooky Buddies movie night, including recipes and an activity sheet, you can download them here.

Have fun and happy haunting!

Ms. Maddy Goes to Preschool

2011-09-14T23:11:00.000-04:00

Ms. Maddy went to preschool
a little nervous
a lot excited
but away she went

I thought by the time you got to number 4
the first day of school would be routine
but like Maddy
a little nervous
a lot excited
away I went too.

And we both made it.
Her, happy at a class full of new friends.
And me, a little sad my baby has grown up so fast
and quite proud my baby has grown up to be
a darling little school girl.

Awe

2011-09-13T22:09:00.000-04:00

Some days, when we reach the end of the day
And all the girls are sleeping
I stop and reflect
on life
on parenting
on children

Some days,
I am grateful we survived another day
Some days,
I admire my children's hard work
Some days,
I laugh
Today,
I am in awe.

Sweet Little Lauren has had a rough start to life.
She has been to more doctors than I can count
She has had 5 surgeries
She has had CT scans and MRI's
She struggled, in pain
and she laughed through it
She has smiled through it.
She has snuggled through it.
Of all our girls, the one who has struggled the most
Has smiled the most.

I am in awe of a sweet little almost 2 year old girl
who has met ever challenge with a smile
and a fierce determination
and a spirit that can't be broken.
She makes us laugh and makes us proud
Her determination is infectious.
Her smile is heart warming.

Lauren's a fighter
Lauren's a winner
Lauren's going to have an amazing life
I am in awe of a little girl that has touched our hearts
in a way, we did not think possible.

Saying Good Bye.

2011-08-28T22:00:00.000-04:00

Thank you for your love

Thank you for your friendship

Thank you for teaching me to grow up

and for being by my side for all of the important moments

Thank you for your cookies

and your pies

and for being a part of our lives

in the sweetest of ways

Thank you for teaching me to mother

and how to teach my girls to have your compassion

Thank you being a mom

and a grandmother and a great-grandmother

Thank you for being a wife, an aunt, a sister,

and a special friend

Thank you for making every holiday special

and every Sunday a family day

Thank you for being you

And for sharing that with me,

my family, and the world

Saying good bye isn't something I was ready for

but you've taught me well

so tomorrow as we say our final goodbye

I'll do so with a heavy heart

but, I will do so knowing

our final good-bye isn't anything more

than see you soon

I love you Grandma.

I'll miss you.

Thank you for making me

the woman I am

and the mother I wanted to be.

1st Day of School

2011-08-26T21:42:00.000-04:00

It's 9 o'clock on a Friday night and all of my girls are in bed. In fact they actually begged to go to bed.
That can only mean one thing. It's the first day of school. I hear that oh so familiar it's the most wonderful time of the year playing in my head....

Note: My sweet darling little Abby, who jumps in every picture, decided she would not be photographed today. Today, of all days. In nearly every photo I took, there were funny faces, older sisters pulling her back into the shot, closed eyes. You know the family photos you cherish for years to come.

Summer is over...

2011-08-25T23:49:00.000-04:00

Summer is over. Our school bags are packed and neatly lined up at the door. The girls are safely tucked into bed. Alarms are set. Summer is really, truly over. Normally, I'd be sad. Normally, I'd be dreaming of going back to our care free, schedule free summer. Normally, I'd cherish every last summer moment with my girls. Normally our summers are nice and fun and care free. This summer, though, was anything but normal.

Have you noticed I've been away? This summer has been rough. This summer has been unbelievable. This summer is beyond words. I wouldn't even know where to begin.

We've had some unbelievable fun. Emily won a full scholarship to the US Space Camp so we had a little road trip. We made stops in Louisville and Nashville and had a good old fashioned family road trip. Hannah had an opportunity to attend Science Olympiad camp in Bloomington and we had a wonderful visit with our family in Noblesville on that road trip. The girls had successful exhibits at the 4H Fair and were thrilled I convinced them to do cake decorating. Hannah got a Reserve Grand Champion for her scrapbook. The girls went to Girl Scout Camp and returned with out a parasite infection. This summer we were up late and slept in. We had movie night and cook outs and game nights. This was a summer of family fun.

For all our moments of family fun, we had moments of difficulty. Both Hannah and Lauren had surgery in Indianapolis. We had doctor appointments and urgent care trips with fevers of nearly 105. Lauren had an MRI and a CT Scan. We missed Emily's Space Camp graduation because we were stranded with a dead alternator at 2 AM on the other side of Indiana. We had family issues and family drama. We had job concerns and school concerns and house concerns. We lost my Grandma and Al's aunt. We've had a tough summer that has,quite honestly, left us reeling. There have been days we didn't know what side was up. There were times we just prayed to get though one more moment, one more hour and one more day. This was a summer of difficulty and worry.

For every worry, we had a blessing. We had not 1 but 2 successful surgeries. We had Lauren take her first steps just 8 days after surgery. We found new opportunities at work that will mean we have a bit more breathing room. We found school administrators willing to work around new federal regulations that would have meant Al would not be able to finish school, just 8 classes shy of graduation. We've found a new faith in God, a new faith in family and friends, and a new faith in each other. This was a summer of blessings.

This summer is beyond words. Is it possible to have the best and the worst summer, at the same time? Can you be praying the summer ends and dreading it's end, at the same time? Can I be happy to have the girls going back to school, and miss them dearly, at the same time? This was a summer we will never forget. This was a summer of mixed emotions and mixed blessings. We spent our days worrying about our children and our family, focusing on them, and being thankful for our blessings. In some of our darkest hours, we've found the brightest lights. I don't have words for this summer that could do justice to what this experience has been so I'll leave you with the thoughts of someone I greatly admire:

When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on. ~Franklin D. Roosevelt

We've held on for dear life and we've made it. Summer is over. On to bigger and better things.

Lauren's a girl on the move.....

2011-08-10T19:41:00.000-04:00

For those of us who don't know us, Lauren's had some issues. At almost 20 months old Lauren is not yet walking. She's been in physical therapy for several months. When she started physical therapy she's was not very mobile. In fact, she could not put weight on her legs. Very, very quickly Lauren has become a very mobile girl. She is now cruising around furniture like a champion. So my now very active little one is on the move, our very own laughing, giggling little squirly girly. Cute right? She laughs every single time I call her squirly girly. It's great fun to see how mobile she has become, but it has also come with a few challenges. Mainly, diaper changes. I forgot how much fun it was to diaper on the run. While recently spending time chatting with a friend, we discussing our diapering dilemmas. Her suggestion for diapering our little squirly girls, Duct Tape. Yes, honestly duct tape her little hiney into her diaper. While I am not so certain duct taping our daughter into her diaper. Do you have any suggestions or any ideas to help us with our diaper dilemma? Here are a few of our favorite tips.

Sing a Song- Make diaper time fun. Sing a song. Sing with your baby. Sing for your baby. Sometimes I will sing in the goofiest voice possible. While Lauren is trying to figure out my crazy voice I work quickly and get diaper time done.
Toys-Give baby a small toy or a small board book for them to hold while you are changing their diaper. If their hands are occupied they aren't in, well, other places they should not be.
Teach baby a diaper time routine-This was totally my husband's idea and not doable for younger babies but if you start early. He taught our oldest daughter how to lift her butt, putt her hands over, hold the diaper, hand him a wipe, etc. He's continued his diaper routine with all of our girls and it works fairly well (most of the time).
Strength in numbers-If you have older children, let them help you. If you diaper on a changing table, let your older sibling stand next to the changing table and talk to baby. Sometimes a different face will give you just enough time to get that diaper changed.
Distraction, distraction, distraction-I shouldn't admit this, but here goes nothing. I have been known to ask Ms. Lauren to find the kitty, puppy, or bird in the room. I will tell her she should be quiet so she can hear the above

Diaper does not have to be a difficult process. With a little preparation, a little patience, and quick hands diapering baby can be a quick and painless process.

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Huggies blogging program, for a gift card worth $35. For more information on how you can participate, click here

The Weekend Wrap Up

2011-07-27T23:23:00.000-04:00

This is a little late, but I figure a little late is better than never. I am trying to get back to normal. Our life, right now is far from normal, but it's the little things that help us deal with the stress in our life.
What stress, you ask? Surgeries. Very soon, our oldest Hannah will be having surgery to repair a defect in her sternum. We knew it would be coming up and had the option of putting off for another year. Given that she has to sit sports out this year, she choose to go ahead with the surgery this year so her final year at SCS she can be involved in athletics again. We knew we would be doing this in August. We were prepared for this. Then, we took our sweet baby Lauren in for her 18 month check up, due to all of her previous medical problems, tests that have gone undone it was decided she would have both a CT scan of her head and an MRI of her spine. We were concerned about the CT scan, but thankful that came back perfectly normal. Her MRI, for a small dimple, which we were assured was just fine and not a problem is actually a tethered spinal cord. We were sent to a pediatric neurosurgeon at a children's hospital a few hours from our home (the same one Hannah is having surgery at). We had this appointment last week and now have 2 daughters scheduled for surgery 3 days apart. That we were not prepared for. We figured since we have to do these both, why not clear 2 birds with one stone. 2 surgeries in one trip will be long and hard but hopefully this will be the last time any of our children see an operating room for a very long time.

Back to the weekend wrap up. The Children's Hospital we visited last Friday was near the summer camp we had to pick Hannah up from on Saturday and on the way to Emily's trip to Space Camp. We made one long weekend of it. Friday we spent with my cousin and his family in Indianapolis. Saturday we drove to Hannah's camp in Bloomington, picked her up and continued on to the Louisville Zoo. After Louisville it was on to Nashville where we spent Saturday night and Sunday morning. After a quick trip to the Parthenon it was on to Space Camp. Then. you ask? Well, what ever normal hard working family does. Drive 9 hours through the night to get home and make it to work Monday morning. If it sounds like a whirlwind, it was. It was a crazy trip. Maddy got sick and ended up in MedExpress. The temperatures were in the 90's and 100's. There was a massive storm near Louisville on our way home. It was just a crazy, ridiculously fun few days....that thankfully we won't have to do again any time soon. If my calculations are correct, we now stand at some where in the 1,500 mile neighborhood in the last 10 days since we started dropping off and picking kids up from camp. We have one more big trip to go that will put us in the 2,500 range.

Here's a few pictures that I think sum up our weekend nicely.

Personal Style Tween Edition

2011-07-27T20:46:00.001-04:00

It's that time of year again. Back To School. I have to admit I am struggling with the whole back to school shopping this year. We now have not one but two Tween girls. It really is quite the challenge to keep the girls cute and age appropriate while having them feel like they fit in with their peers.
First there is Emily. Emily is absolutely adorable. I mean, really, truly adorable. She could not care less about what she wears. Honestly, I'm ashamed to admit she would probably wear the same thing again and again if we allowed it. She's been relatively easy. She sticks to khakis and polo shirts, almost religiously. The few times she did wear something different to school, her friends and teachers were so shocked she did not want to do it again. She should be relatively easy to shop for, right? Not my little Emily, as soon as you have her figured out she changes everything! Suddenly she wants to be a girl. Suddenly she cares about clean cloths and matching socks and bows. Seriously, she wants hair bows? It will certainly be a challenge to find a store with appropriate attire that will encourage her new found sense of creativity and style.

Then, dear Hannah. Sweet, Sweet Hannah. Hannah will be 13 this year. She's always been more "girl" then Emily but now we have reached a point where her style effects how others look at her. I don't mean that she dress in appropriately, at all. She dresses rather normal for 12 year old girls. Shorts, t-shirts, and flip flops have been a normal part of our summer. The trouble, we have noticed ( in particular my husband) that not only does she now get the occasional stare from the teen boy walking by, she know gets stares from the occasional grown man walking by. It's really a scary prospect to be walking through the mall with random grown men looking at your young child. Recently, she was walking with my husband holding our youngest daughter and I, walking a few paces behind her, heard several people whisper about the "couple". She was wearing a pair of shorts and a t-shirt, nothing in appropriate at all. She just looks old for her age. The problem I have is not with her sense of style, it is how to keep her personal sense of style acceptable, age appropriate, and fun. I want her to feel comfortable wearing what she wants to wear, but it is not acceptable for her to viewed by others this way. How can I give her the freedom with her style while keeping her safe and appropriate?

I really don't have the answers. I really wish I did. Giving kids the freedom to experiment with their own style is important but it is necessary to do so in a safe and affordable manner. I do know that as my girls have grown, the name brand has been much more important to them. I have also realized that now, hand me downs are no longer OK. Emily doesn't want to wear Hannah's old stuff, she wants something different. Something of her own. We've found a number of work arounds. We supplement the hand me downs with a few new pieces each season. We supplement with a couple name brand pieces when we find acceptable deals. We try to find the middle ground. We try to give them a voice in their choices but to have that voice in a manner that doesn't sacrifice safety, budget or personal standards. I dread the back to school routine....and for as much as I worry about it, I think it will all work out in the end. Sure I may have sock a few men but there is a way to give your kids their personal style while keeping mom and dad happy. It will take a little work and a sense of humor but it can be done.

Do you have any suggestions to make the process easier? I'm all ears! I need all the help I can get!

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and jcpenney blogging program, for a gift card worth $50. For more information on how you can participate, click here

10 tips and tricks to get your kids to eat more vegetables

2011-07-27T20:07:00.000-04:00

We are asked quite often how we get our kids to eat their vegetables. Truth be told, we don't have to "get" our kids to eat their vegetables. There are no secrets to our success....kids eating their vegetables should be second nature. Kids eating their vegetables should be no different from kids eating a cookie or a cracker or a sandwich. Vegetables are a necessary, nutritious staple every child should eat plenty of. If getting kids to eat their vegetables proves to be difficult, here are a few tips and tricks to get you both started on the veggie road.

Get started early- Vegetables should be a key part of their diet from early on. Just as you would shop up banana, chop up a carrot or a green pepper as soon as kids start feeding themselves.
Take you kids shopping with you-Make finding new vegetables to try fun. In our family, we try to add something new into the routine every month or so. It is now a game. Who can find the most obscure, interesting new vegetable to try? And don't worry, by the time they go through a few rounds of find the vegetable they usually forget if they have or have not tried something so repeats are OK!
Try things raw-Before you cook the vegetable, let your kids try it raw. Sometimes, when a vegetable is uncooked the difference in texture will make a huge difference. My daughter loves uncooked broccoli but if I were to give it to her cooked, she'd through a fit. Personally, I don't care it is cooked or uncooked as long as it is being eaten.
Add a sauce-If kids are new to a particular vegetable, it's OK to serve it with a sauce. As they become more accepting of vegetables, try to work the sauce down and/or out of the menu.
Grow a garden-Let kids get hands on in the growing process. It will be fun for you, fun for them, and they will take so much pride in their vegetables.
Menu Planning-Get your children involved in the menu planning process. Ask your kids what they want for dinner. As them how they would like it cooked.
Include vegetables in unexpected ways-Add veggies to mac and cheese, add sprouts to a sandwich, peppers to scrambled eggs....find new ways to include vegetables in every day meals. It will liven up the meal and add an interesting new twist.
Add Cheese-Every thing is better with cheese, right? We agree. While we do not allow cheese with all of our veggies (now) we do add cheese for a special treat.
Don't force the veggies-Kids should never be forced to eat all their veggies. It creates bad feelings, bad memories, and bad associations with their food. Encourage kids to try everything on their plate and praise them when they do. It will get easier, the more consistent you are.
Don't hide the veggies-Kids need to know what they are eating. They need to understand vegetables are OK, they taste good, and they are a necessary part of their diet. Kids need to know they are eating their vegetables. If you simply hide vegetable in their food, they won't form the necessary acceptance of the food. I would encourage you to add vegetables in new creative ways (I believe their are a few cookbooks available) but don't hide the from the kids.

Veggies are good and yummy and delicious. It's important for kids to learn that from an early age. They need to learn to accept vegetables in to their diet. Have patience, be consistent, and have fun with it. From an early age kids need to for a positive relationship with food, so start early and have fun.

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Peas and Thank You blogging program for a gift card worth $30. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Tonight we say good bye...

2011-07-14T14:33:00.001-04:00

Tonight we say good by to a dear friend.
A friend who brought reading back to millions of children.
A friend who taught them about courage and bravery.
A friend who taught them about family and love.
It's a bitter sweet day as we've come to the conclusion of an epic adventure.
But have no doubt, Harry Potter was and will remain a fixture in our house.
Tonight as we get ready to say our dear friend Harry Potter, here's a look back from Warner Brothers at the last 10 years.

Virginia Beach bound....in my dream!

2011-07-11T21:01:00.000-04:00

I need a vacation...we need a vacation. We want to go some where we can be outside, sitting on the beach. We want to go some where where we can go on an adventure. Some where we can try something new. Some where with good food. Some where with good people. Where do we want to go? Virginia Beach. There are a number of reason we want to visit Virgina Beach. It's a great family vacation spot. It's not in the cards for us this year, but it is at the top of our list for next year. Here are 10 reasons for your family to visit Virgina Beach this year.

The Beach-This is an easy one, it is Virginia Beach after all. It's beautiful. It's fun. And there is nothing kids like more than playing on the beach.
The State Parks- We are big believers in the state park systems. Virginia Beach is surrounded by stunning state parks with nature trails and educational programs. You can camp and hike and ride bikes. The state parks are a useful resource for any family planning a vacation.
History-Virginia Beach is a historians dream. The area is surrounded by historic places ready to be explored. On the top of our list is First Landing State park and Ferry Farm Plantation.
Fishing-Virginia Beach is a fisherman's paradise. Virginia Beach's location at the intersection of the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay makes the fishing a dream. It provides a variety of both fresh water and coastal fishing.
Golf- While I'm not a golfer, the husband is. Virginia Beach offers a number of public and private facilities that are surely pleasing to even the most discriminating golfer. Who can complain about the view as they play through 18 holes?
Adventure- Virginia Beach is the perfect location to have a family adventure. On our list, Busch Gardens in Williamsburg. Just a short distance away from Virginia Beach is one of the most fun amusement parks imaginable, plus the park has been named the Most Beautiful Amusement Park for 20+ years. Also, there are opportunities for para sailing, kayaking, and boat rides. You will find activities for everyone in your family, big and small.
Shopping- Virginia Beach offers a huge variety of shopping locations sure to please every woman. They have one of the largest shopping malls on the east coast, but they also have smaller boutique style locations too. There something for everyone and plenty to keep even Dad happy in an afternoon shopping excursion.
Food-The coastal cuisine will surely make anyone happy. You will be able to find fresh seafood paired with a perfect blend of spices to make even the most hard to please person satisfied.
Entertainment-You can always find something to do in Virgina Beach. With or with out the children, there are concerts and festivals and fun. We love the Family Great Adventure Series that happens throughout the summer. Your family can enjoy activities and a movie on the beach.
The people-The people are amazing. I've been blessed in my work to be able to interact with a number of people from Virginia Beach. The people are friendly and kind and really make you feel at home. There is nothing better than traveling some where and feeling like everyone there wants you to have the time of your life. In Virginia Beach, they want your trip to be relaxing and enjoyable. They want you to come back. The hospitality will leaving you dreaming of coming back.

Doesn't Virginia Beach sound like a dream. It's does to me, that is why it will be at the top of our list until we can make it there. Did I win you over? I hope I did because it's an amazing place I am sure your family will love. Just do me a favor, when you go....have a crab leg for me.

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Virginia Beach Tourism blogging program, for a gift card worth $40. For more information on how you can participate, click here

A week at the fair....

2011-07-09T23:10:00.000-04:00

We are a 4H family. And of course the highlight of the 4H year is the fair. The last week we have had much more fun at the 4H Fair then we thought imaginable.

And in true, Not So Ordinary Girls fashion, the highlight ended up being what we least expected...

Can't make out the photos?!? That would be the demolition derby. We had 5 completely attentive girls screaming and cheering each car on as they slammed into one another. What can I say, they truly are not so ordinary girls!

And in case you are wondering. Abby got a participation ribbon for Mini 4H. Maddy got a participation ribbon for Clover Buds I (mini-mini 4H). Emily got B group ribbons for photography, scrapbook, and cake decorating. She should have had A group ribbons for photography and cake decorating, but that's a whole other story. Hannah got a B group ribbon for photography and an A group ribbon for cake decorating. She also got an A group ribbon and a reserve champion for her scrapbook. All and all a great year, we've learned some tips for next year that will help tremendously....you know, that will make sure your daughter doesn't get knocked down to a B group JUST because the size of her poster was wrong.....not that we know anything about that through experience:(

Developmental Delays

2011-07-08T23:46:00.001-04:00

I have not been as good about updating this blog as I should be. I have many reasons for not wanting to talk to people. When people ask about the girls, sometimes, I don't know what to say. We've been dealing with a lot. Our oldest daughter will soon be having surgery, in a children's hospital a few hours from our home. Our youngest daughter is dealing with some developmental delays. There I've said it. It's out there now and the world knows. Our daughter, our 18 month old baby has developmental delays. She's not walking and only knows a few little words. A few months ago, she was not putting weight on her legs, but she's now cruising well. She's made great progress but a lot of times, I don't know what to say about it. The girls are dealing with lots of doctors and lots of appointments. And sometimes...many times I just want to stay at home with our children and pretend everything is perfect. So, we've spent a lot of time lately just being a family and ignoring everything else. I am working to do better. I am working to expand my horizons again. If you know me in real life, please don't be angry I've been so antisocial. It's my way of dealing. Thanks for your kindness and understanding. I promise, I'll do better!!

Ten time-saving tips to make your life as a busy mom easier!

2011-06-22T16:31:00.000-04:00

I have been incredibly busy lately. I have been even busier than normal life with a full time job, 5 kids, and a plethora of activities. We’ve actually just embarked on a huge family, household, life reorganization plan. I have even started a household notebook (didn't even know such a thing existed?). There are a few tips and tricks I wanted to share with you that just might make your life as a busy mom easier.

Get your rest-We are busy. We are on the go. We need to be at our best. We need to be running on a full tank. Get sleep. It helps.
Eat breakfast-Everyone knows it is the most important meal of the day so don’t skip breakfast.
Write it down- Moms are pulled in a million different directions. If you have a thought, idea, plan, appointment, anything. Write it down. Keep a little notebook with you at all times and write it down. With it written down, you can rest assured knowing it’s there.
Delegate, Delegate, Delegate-You cannot do it all. You can’t, so don’t try. Enlist the help of others often.
Say No-No one really expects you to volunteer for everything at school, be the team mom, room parent, and keep a perfect house so add No to your vocabulary. It’s a tough lesson to learn, but one of the most important ones.
Chores are good-Kids need chores. They need to learn how to care for a house, they need to learn responsibility, and team work. Chores are good, so start them early and by the time the kids are older it is already a built in habit.
Let your husbands’ help-Let’s face it, husband get a bad wrap. They are made out to be pampered, lazy, etc, etc, etc. Husbands are fully capable of helping with the kids and with the house. Not only are the capable, they need to. You didn’t make the kids yourself, so you shouldn’t have to raise them yourself. They may not do it exactly like you would, but them do it anyway. They need to be a part of the process and you need to have an extra set of hands so his will do.
Keep a menu-This is actually one we’ve been working on for a while. Keep a monthly menu. It doesn’t have to be exact, but plan ahead early on so you will have the supplies on hand and you’ll be prepared the day of. It will make mealtime easier and you’ll spend less time and money going out to eat and buying prepared foods.
Have 1 errand day-It’s far to easy to fall into the running out trap, but it takes time, money and energy every time you pull out of the drive way. Plan your errands for one day. In our house, Saturday is errand day. From grocery shopping, to the library, to haircuts, if it doesn’t get done on Saturday it waits a week. This, for us, it just a matter of survival. It takes to much time out of our evenings if we are constantly running errands. Have 1 errand day and stick to it. You’ll find it frees up lots of time and energy plus if you will spend less.
Treat yourself-You work hard. Treat yourself once and awhile. You deserve it. It doesn’t matter if it’s pizza night, Starbucks, a manicure, or skipping the dishes. You deserve a treat.

Life with a full time job and 5 kids is hectic and chaotic and manageable (most of the timeJ). Take some time this summer and get organized, plan ahead, and implement a few steps to make your life easier. Make it a priority so you can take a deep breath and relax once and awhile. You know the saying, if Mom’s not happy, no one is happy? Make it a priority. Your husbands’ and kids’ will thank you for it!

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Starbucks blogging program, for a gift card worth $30. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Gratitude

2011-06-21T22:24:00.000-04:00

Gratitude is a funny thing.

It can creep up on you and grab you

when you least expect it.

Case in point.

I've spent most of the last year feeling sorry for myself.

I was sick for months on end.

Lauren was dealing with some medical and health issues.

My husband's company was sold, leaving him vulnerable.

Our only van was in the shop, repeatedly.

The roof is leaking.

The air conditioner isn't working.

Hannah is dealing with health issues, requiring surgery.

It's been a tough year.

A year that, really, gave me every reason to beg for mercy.

And throw my own pity party.

But then, now, gratitude has grabbed me and taken hold.

In the midst of the darkness, I've found

friends that care,

the father I never had,

the protective husband, who stands up for his family,

beautiful, smart, darling children who make us proud.

In the darkness I've found

more happiness that I could have ever imagined.

In the darkness

the bills are paid,

we are all, generally, healthy,

we have jobs we enjoy,

we have family we cherish,

we have friends we adore.

In the darkness

we have happiness.

A happiness I once dreamed of.

A happiness I once aspired for.

Gratitude is a funny thing.

If you let it

it will grab you

and take hold

when you need it most.

4-H

2011-06-13T23:05:00.000-04:00

We are in 4H mode. 1 month to finish 3 projects.

This year the girls added cake decorating to their projects.

At their first class they made coordinating Mom and Dad cakes.

I'm quite impressed with their work.

And quite nervous about pulling together a fair ready cake in a few weeks.

Wish us luck.

10 Tips for keeping your family safe on the road.

2011-06-01T20:24:00.000-04:00

We're there. We have reached the promised land. We have reached Summer. Are you as excited as I am? I don't think you can be. No, really, truly, honestly, I don't think you can be. We are stressed to the max. And quite honestly, we are ready to hit the road, pack it up and go on vacation. Now, as you may already know our vacation plans have changed thanks to Big Oil. But we do have a few small, local trips on our agenda. Like any family we are concerned about staying safe on the road. We are not only concerned about our own safety we are worried about your too. Here are 10 suggestions to help you stay safe.

Be Rested-Get a good night's sleep. Get several good night's sleep. You need to be awake and alert on the road. You'll be safe and the other driver's on the road will thank you.
Check the kid's car seats-The little one's need to be safe and secure. They don't have an option, they can't do it themselves, you need to do it for them. You can usually make a quick trip to the local police station or fire station for an inspection. It takes so little time, how can you afford not to?
Buckle Up-Your kids are safe, you need to be too. Your life is just as important as theirs'. Let's be honest, if you are not around to raise them who will? Scary thought? That's what I thought too. Buckle Up, they need you.
Check the car-Kids are safe? Check. You're safe? Check. Car safe? Take the time to check your oil, break, and power steering fluids. Check your tire pressure and wind shield washer fluid. Have a rattle or a roll? You better check that out to. It's always better to be safe rather than sorry. A few minutes of time on the front end of your trip could safe you lots of time and aggravation during your trip if something goes wrong.
Check you Windshields- Do you have any cracks or damage to your wind shields? Think you can ignore a chip in your windshield? Think again! The windshield provides up to 30% of your vehicles structural integrity, and a chip smaller than 6 inches (or the size of a dollar bill) can easily be repaired by filling it with a special resin. Safelite AutoGlass brings you peace of mind by emailing you a Technician Profile before your appointment, showing you a photograph and credentials of the technician coming to your home or place of business. As a woman and a mother, I love having the piece of mind that Safelite AutoGlass gives you.
Keep the kids busy-We all know kids can be a distraction in the car. From snacks to sippy cups to toys, they have a lot going on and unfortunately that can be a distraction. If your family is anything like mine, Dad is driving and I'm the distraction eliminator. Really, I have a hat that says that. Ok, maybe not but it is my job to keep them happy and occupied so Dad can keep his eyes on the road. Work together to keep the kids busy and the driver focused on the road.
Take Breaks-If you are driving for any length of time, it's important to take breaks. The kids need potty breaks and breaks to stretch their legs. You (or Dad) need breaks to keep you moving and attentive. A little fresh air and maybe a drink will help you keep focused on the road.
Don't Rush-Take your time and take it easy. The road can be stressful so avoid making it more stressful by trying to get their quicker. Don't speed. You will not get their any quicker if you are in an accident or if you get pulled over.
No Phone Allowed-Make your vehicle a phone free zone. You shouldn't be talking or texting while your driving so just pack it away all together. The key is to keep distractions to a minimum. Obviously you can't leave the kids home or avoid distractions all together. The phone is just an extra distraction you don't need. Put it away and focus on your family.
Defense is the best offense-You cannot control other drivers on the road. You can only control your driving and your car. But you do need to be aware of what is going on around you and try to anticipate what trouble may lie ahead. If you see Grandma weaving in and out of the lanes? It might be time to drive around her and avoid her. Are you near an off ramp? You should keep any eye out for someone cutting across three lanes of traffic to make the exit (not that I have witnessed that one on our last road trip or anything?!?) You need to be aware, keep your eyes open and be prepared.

Let's face it. We are all busy and we are all going 100 miles and hour. When you are preparing for a road trip with your family, preparation is the key. Be prepared, be rested, be safe and enjoy your summer! Leave the road rage behind and relax. You'll get there eventually and your family will thank you for all the memories!

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Safelite blogging program, for a gift card worth $30. For more information on how you can participate, click here

Carrabbas wants to know: What's your pasta personality?

2011-05-18T14:31:00.000-04:00

I'm Spaghetti. I never thought I'd say those words, but it's true. I'm spaghetti.

Carrabba's has a very cute, very fun little quiz on their facebook page that lets you find your pasta personality, me? I'm spaghetti.

You’re genuine and well loved, like Carrabba’s Spaghetti and Meatballs. Your warm and comforting personality makes you everybody’s best friend. So go for our equally popular hand-prepared meatballs over perfectly cooked imported spaghetti.

I have never really thought about myself as warm and comforting but it's true. I enjoy making everyone feel right at home, where ever we are. You can head over to their Facebook page to find out if your spaghetti. I wonder what the other possibilities are.

We are not really spaghetti folks, I'm not. Truth be told, I don't really like spaghetti. We're more of a chicken Parmesan family. Either that or fettuccine Alfredo. We are more of a meaty, creamy, cheese type of family. In fact, we have a secret family dinner. The secret, well it's even a secret to me. Remember the Secret Book of Al. Hubby's secret binder of recipes and ideas. The one that I nearly ruined throwing out magazines and recipes? The one I'm forbidden to touch. Yeah, that one! He's got one in the secret book that involves linguine, chicken and spicy Italian sausage. Now, please remember I'm the baker. I'm not the cooker, so I'll give you a general idea. I know I won't do him justice, but here it goes.

Brown your chicken and sausage, drain grease away, and set aside.
Brown mushrooms add butter
Add back in chicken and sausage
Turn heat down and a 1/2C Romano cheese, 1/2 C Parmesan, and 1/2 cup Asiago cheese
Heat slowly until cheese is melted. If necessary add a small amount of milk to help cream the sauce.
Serve over linguine.

Sound good? It really is. It's a family favorite. We love the richness of the sauce, the spice of the sausage....we love everything about it. Every time hubby makes it, it's just a nice family dinner. The kids are happy, I'm happy, he's happy. That's the best thing about cooking Italian, it's just family. Even Italian restaurants, like Carrabba's, have a great family friendly atmosphere. You can just sit back and enjoy a great home cooked meal with the people that mean the most to you.

I haven't been to Carrabba's lately, but they have some great specials just in time for summer. I think the Parmesan crusted chicken and a peach sangria would make my day.

Carrabba’s Signature Pasta Meals and New Limited Time Offers
Signature Pasta Meals, featuring seven distinctive dishes served with choice of soup or fresh salad starting at $10. There’s no better place than Carrabba’s to enjoy a complete Italian meal – any day of the week.

CARRABBA’S PASTA: Carrabba’s makes every pasta dish by hand with the freshest ingredients. Pasta is cooked perfectly every time and signature sauces are made from scratch daily. Creative flavors and combinations of ingredients are part of Carrabba’s authentic family recipes as well as new creations.

LIMITED TIME OFFERS: Now through July 2011.
Featured Signature Pasta Meal:
Pasto Rambo – Named for the chef who created it, it’s made with shrimp tossed with imported Italian linguine, spinach, mushrooms, and tomatoes sautéed in our basil lemon butter sauce. Lobster is available instead of shrimp for an additional cost.

Other Limited Time Offers:
Parmesan-crusted Chicken – Topped with fresh arugula and grape tomatoes tossed in a hand-prepared lemon vinaigrette, served with choice of side. Substitution of wood-grilled chicken also available. Pairs well with Estancia Pinot Grigio.

Prosciutto-Wrapped Pork Tenderloin – Three pork tenderloin medallions wrapped with prosciutto, wood-grilled and topped with an apple and fig infused port wine sauce, served with the vegetable of the day. Pairs well with Coppola Pinot Noir.

Limoncello Bread Pudding – Back by popular demand! Brioche bread pudding made with fresh Madagascar vanilla beans and a rich custard, served hot out of the oven. Topped with Blue Bell vanilla ice cream and drizzled with Carrabba’s homemade Caravella Limoncello liqueur sauce.

Now Introducing:
Peach Sangria – Carrabba’s new light and fruity Peach Sangria blends Copper Ridge White Zinfandel, Absolut Apeach vodka and Patrón Citrónge with a splash of citrus. Topped with a fresh lemon wedge and strawberry, it’s a taste of the Amalfi Coast in spring.

Locations: Visit www.carrabbas.com for the closest Carrabba’s location. There are more than 230 locations nationwide.

About Carrabba’s:
Johnny Carrabba and Damian Mandola founded the first Carrabba’s Italian Grill in 1986 in Houston, Texas. Today, there are 232 Carrabba’s Italian Grill locations around the country, run by passionate local proprietors focused on delighting guests with fresh, made-to-order Italian cuisine and the ultimate dining experience. Carrabba’s serves dinner seven nights a week in a casual environment that pairs innovative dishes and a complementary wine list with abundant hospitality. For on-the-go guests, Carrabba’s also offers convenient Carside Carry-Out. To learn more about Carrabba’s, please visit www.carrabbas.com.

Carrabba’s Pasta Personality Quiz on Facebook - Take the quiz to see how your personality compares to some of Carrabba’s signature pasta dishes! http://www.facebook.com/Carrabbas?sk=app_142632109083371

Follow Carrabba’s on Twitter: @Carrabba’s

Carrabba’s on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Carrabbas

Disclosure: I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Carrabba’s blogging program, for a gift card worth $50. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

I am not a gardener.....but I try.

2011-05-17T23:33:00.000-04:00

My thumbs are black. My plants are dead. My flowers were eaten by bunnies.

I am not a gardener.

But I am a glutton for punishment.

So I try anyway.

This year, Mother's day brought a new challenge.

Hanging Baskets.

One for each of the girls.

Planted with care.

Destined for failure.

Or not.

Time will tell.

Disney's Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure

2011-05-17T11:21:00.000-04:00

In case you missed it, Sharpay's back. Not familiar with Sharpay? Sharpay was a leading character is Disney's wildly successful High School Musical trilogy.

We recently had movie night with Sharpay. And I can tell you, the girls loved it. It's a feed good story that

left them believing they could do anything they put their minds to.

About the movie:

“From the original producers of High School Musical and the director of The Tooth Fairy, Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure is a witty comedy about pursuing your life-long dreams and believing in yourself. The films catchy tunes, Sharpay’s lavishly glittery “pink” outfits, and the adorable featured male co-stars – Austin Butler (“Life Unexpected,” “Ruby and the Rockits” and “Zoey 101”) and Bradley Steven Perry (“Good Luck Charlie”) – will be sure to keep viewers fully entertained and laughing throughout.”

Our Thoughts:

This is a great movie for girls. The girls really enjoyed watching the

transformation of Sharpay. She grows up, and for girls who have watched

that character from the first HSM movie, it was rewarding to see her mature and pursue her dreams.

Of course, it doesn't hurt to have cute boys, adorable dogs, and fun music.

This is just a feel good movie. There are ups and downs, but in the end

you learn that hard work pays off and is rewarded with success.

I'll admit, I worry about raising girls. I worry a lot about what they watch

and the kind of role models they look up to.

This is a cute movie I don't have to worry about them watching.

I love that and so do they!

Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure was released

on DVD & Blu-ray April 19th and

can be found at a store near you.

Emily's a tapper....

2011-05-16T22:20:00.001-04:00

Sweet little Emily has always been a bit of a quirky kid. She's just different and funny and that's OK with us.
She's a great kid. The trouble we've had is finding activities for her. She's incredibly smart and a quick thinker so she gets bored with things easily and gets frustrated when she has trouble doing something. She also doesn't want to just go with the flow and do what everyone else is doing. We've tried things in the past with little success. She's stuck with Girl Scouts and 4H. She loves her clarinet but plays her violin begrudgingly.

A few months ago an opportunity came up to put Emily in a tap dance class. I agreed pretty easily. Tap was different and quirky and fun. The class was little so she'd get a great deal of attention. It seemed like it would be a great fit.

And tonight, after her last class, I can happily report. Emily's a tapper. We hit it out of the park. She's a natural. She's loves it. She's good at it. And she's having a blast.....

Have a Twizzlers Summer.

2011-05-16T15:11:00.000-04:00

Who doesn't love Twizzlers? It's a all around great treat for young and old. This summer as you are planning your road trips, vacations, and stacations, don't for get to pack the twizzlers!

According to family travel expert Emily Kaufman, “The Travel Mom,” families are starting to think past the backyard “staycation” and are rediscovering the freedom of the open road. Kaufman shares the following tips for a fun and safe family road trip:

* Create a boredom bag. Convert a hanging travel cosmetic case into a case full of fun and hang it from the seat back in front of the kids’ seats. Consider creating fun works of art with Twizzlers
Pull ‘n’ Peel Candy before snacking on them!
* Take your trip “online.” From GPS systems to phone applications, trips are no longer a navigation nightmare.
* Think through the snacks you pack. Avoid packing snacks that are easy to spill like juice boxes or snacks that melt. Try plastic bottles with sports tops and bring along Twizzlers Candy or Twizzlers Nibs Candy – they are easy to share and don’t melt, making them the perfect car ride treat.

The summer my family had hoped to travel to St. Louis. We love road trips. It is so much fun just to pack in all in and hit the road. It's so relaxing. Yes, I did just say road trips with 5 kids are relaxing. Our lives are so busy and so hectic that it's a nice change of pace just to sit back and drive. Not worry about the calendar, phones, mail, bills....it's fun to just drive. We don't though do it often, as a family of 5 finances are a supreme concern, our last big road trip was in 2008.

Right now, it looks like score one for big oil, no road trip for the Clark family this year. I'm hopeful the gas prices will turn around, but we are already planning our stacation activities around the house. I'm sure we'll be visiting Lake Michigan, the parks, and the zoo. We'll make the most of our summer road trip through town, because really, a vacation is what you make of it and regardless of where we go, make great memories and have the time of your life.

I am entering a contest for a Twizzlers Landmark Summer promotion prize pack as a member of the Mom Bloggers Club.

Rain, Rain Go Away I'd like to be able to blog today....

2011-05-12T09:58:00.000-04:00

We've been super busy and I have some great photos to share, but like last night there is the whole thunder and lightning thing to contend with. Normally, I'd say the show much go on, but a few years ago I fried a brand new flat panel HD computer monitor in a storm. This was long enough ago, that they were still pretty new and pretty expensive. Lesson learned. Now, I don't chance it.

Hopefully the weather will clear up soon, but for now off the computer must go again.

Do you ever wonder where time went to?

2011-05-06T17:05:00.000-04:00

It seems like just yesterday we were a family of 5.

Finishing up a school year.

Waiting for the new baby to arrive.

Now.

4 years and 2 kids later.

I'd like to know.

Where did the time go to?

When did my girls grow up?

And can't they stay small

just a few more days.

BBQ Beef ala Al

2011-04-13T22:42:00.000-04:00

Tonight, Hubby made dinner for the family. This in and of itself is not extraordinary. Daddy is the cook, Mommy is the baker. That’s just the way it works in our family. There are some things I do cook and I cook well, but cooking isn’t fun for me. Now, back to hubby. Hubby is a funny soul, who is much more complex than meets the eye. When you pass him on the street you would think he’s a bit of an oaf (I mean that in the most adorable way possible :) but he’s really has a deep sense of who he is, what he loves, and what he wants to do. One of his secret loves is food. Ok, Ok, for those who know him, not so secret but you don’t really get a feel for the complexity he sees food with.

Last month, on St. Patrick’s Day, Hubby came home with a surprise for me. He went to the store and picked up a corn beef brisket. Hubby told me he had plans for it and put it away. Two days later, hubby was at work and I needed dinner for the kids so I made corned beef and cabbage. I used his precious corn beef. It just sounded so yummy and we really needed something different. At the time I did not think much of it. It was meat, in the freezer, screaming to be used.

And then, hubby came home from work. He was crushed, he was disjointed, and clearly trying not to be mad but was clearly mad I made his corned beef. He pulled out the secret binder. I didn’t tell you about the secret binder? Oh yes, Hubby has a secret binder. He surfs through all of the magazines he finds and collects recipes, he jots down notes, and plans secret dinners (see, I told you he was unexpectedly complex). We are not allowed in the secret binder, it’s his special little creative place. Back to St. Patty’s day, he pulled out the secret binder and handed me a sheet of paper. He had taken a BBQ recipe he had run into and a suggestion he heard on one of the food networks and devised his on BBQ Beef recipe.

Tonight, he finally got back to the BBQ corn beef. He apparently put his little baby on the grill for hours today while I was at work. He’s like a mad scientist and won’t fully tell you what or how he made it, he’s just got this creation that he’s thrilled to show off. His little creation was devoured by our girls tonight, I don’t mean they ate, I mean they were like starving vultures coming to the kill. They devoured his dinner, ok, maybe I joined them. Maybe, just maybe, there are no photos of his creation because well; I was too busy licking my fingers and lips to take photos.

The secret apparently was in the sauce. Though I’m not privy to the entire recipe I can tell you a couple of the secret ingredients.

2 Cans of Classic Coke (shocking, right? Apparently not so much and Coke is great in all kinds of recipes).
Brown Sugar
Butter

The moral of my story? Don’t use your husband beef brisket without permission. You never know what secret plan he has for it. Try cooking with soda, I was a bit shocked but apparently my husband saw a program with several chefs talking about what a good base soda made for sauces. If you’d like to try some for yourself, try www.cookingwithcoke.com . It’s got a ton of great recipes that use coke products. There’s one for coconut lemonade shrimp I am dying to try. The final moral to my story? Have fun with cooking. It’s funny what the kids remember. It’s not the big exciting event; it’s the little moments and the amazing, unexpected dinner on a busy school night. It’s the Sunday brunches and breakfasts in bed. Everyone has to eat, so have fun and make memories. Your kids will thank you for it.

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Coca-Cola® blogging program. If I am one of the first 100 blogs received by SocialsMoms, I will receive a $25 gift card. For more information on the program, click here.

A Broken Arm

2011-04-06T18:17:00.000-04:00

Two weeks down

Three weeks to go

She's adjusted well to wearing the cast

Not so well to keeping it in a sling

We'll be very happy to have her little arm back

in one piece

Small Changes for a Healthier Life

2011-04-06T15:38:00.000-04:00

I don’t speak about this often, but we’re dealing with a lot of health issues collectively at the moment. With our sweet baby Lauren, there is so much going on and so much on the horizon; I simply can’t do it justice in one blog post. With our little Lauren, she broke her arm at her elbow a couple of weeks ago. With our Hannah, she has a condition called pectus excavatum, which now requires much closer monitoring and evaluation. My husband and myself, well we have our own weight issues. We are, at the moment, a rather unhealthy bunch and we need to fix it. After some discussions, we have decided to make some changes. A couple major changes are on the horizon, but mostly a lot of little changes that will hopefully make a big difference.

One of the small changes we have made, well in particular I have made, is no more breakfast at McDonald’s. I am not a morning person and either is my husband. So consequently our mornings are usually a rushed attempt at getting our schoolgirls dressed, feed, together and out the door. I don’t have time for breakfast, as it currently stands (or rather stood). This small change, this small commitment to my own health is making a huge difference on our pocket book and on my waistline. I know have to make the commitment to be up and dressed at a sufficient time to get myself and the girls fed which in the long run has made mornings much more manageable. I didn’t think such a small change would have such a large impact on our family.

Another small change, meal planning is now a must. We are an incredibly busy family with 5 kids, 4 school schedules, and 2 work schedules just getting through our day is a time consuming process. I really think we would use another 3 hours in our day. Consequently, because of our commitments we have all to often fallen victim to convenience foods. Adding meal planning to my Sunday schedule session has been such a small change but it means our kids now know what to expect for dinner, my husband is now prepared for what ever my meal choice is for the day (since he’s home most days, he’s responsible for taking out the meat from the freezer, etc). And as a family, rather than running around pulling together a decent meal at the last minute or settling for convenience foods, we now have a healthy meal that can be prepared in the time we have available. Meal times are now manageable. We love soup and sandwiches on busy nights. Crock-pot cooking is a must. I truly didn’t think meal planning would be so important, but now we must not go back.

Another small change that will hopefully have a huge impact on our waistlines (specifically mine and my husbands) is no soda. Well, I can’t say we never have soda; soda is not an every day beverage any more. It’s now a treat and not a necessity. We’ve filled that spot in our drink list with a lot of lightly sweetened tea, milk, and lots and lots of water. This is such a small change, but the impact on the number of calories we consume is huge and the impact on our figures is even bigger. The impact on our pocket book is wonderful; the cost of a daily soda habit is ridiculous. I knew this was something we really needed to do, we don’t let our children have soda because of the sugar so it was only a matter of time before we followed suit.

Small changes, when it some to living a healthy lifestyle, can often make the biggest changes. Suddenly, a lot of little changes have a cumulative effect and your body is starts working for you again. A little bit of weight loss helps get that metabolism revving again. A little bit of weight loss helps get your knees and hips feeling good enough to want to go for a walk or a run. Life is difficult, life is hard, and life can be over whelming if you look at making major changes. Focus on making one or two small changes to get you started, once you start seeing what a difference those little changes make, you’ll be much more motivated to make the big ones.

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Cottonelle blogging program, for a gift card worth $25. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Spring Break Fun

2011-03-30T20:36:00.000-04:00

It's Spring Break week, er two weeks (ah, the joys of private school). 5 kids, 2 weeks.....we're stuck at home, heaven help us, we need some fun. Keeping 5 kids in such a wide variety of age groups can prove difficult, but when planning family events if you keep everyone's needs in mind you can't have successful family fun. Here are a few tips to get you started.

First, plan activities that appeal to everyone's age group. In our family, games are a huge hit. Now, we typically play a game geared toward the little ones and then once we have them played out and settled down for the night before playing a different game for the big ones. Movie night is similar, we start out with a cartoon and move up to a different movie after the little ones have fallen asleep. Another option for family fun is activities that appeal to everyone at once. We have 5 girls so Spa Night is a favorite in our house as is baking night. We love to cook dinner together and crafts. Use your imagination and don't be afraid to fail. Try and try again. If you pick an activity that isn't successful, laugh it off and try again.

The next step, snacks. Every family fun night/event needs snacks. We love, because of the time involved, to get prepackaged snacks such as fried mushroom, mozzarella sticks, and pizza pockets. Get your kids involved in choosing snacks, but try to avoid anything really messy or to greasy. You want to relax and you want your family to relax, if you are worried about messes it will ruin the flow of the evening. Another great option for family fun nights is making your own snacks. The kids will have a wonderful time helping to prepare snacks if they know they are helping to prepare the food for family fun night.

Finally, the last step, the most important step….relax and enjoy your family. As a mom, you set the stage for the evening. Your husband and kids take their cues from you, so it is incredibly important that you are relaxed and having fun. Take a few deep breaths, sneak into the bathroom for a few minutes of alone time; maybe have a glass of wine. Family fun isn’t supposed to be work, it’s supposed to be about relaxing with your family and reconnecting with them. If the evening doesn’t go as plan, laugh it off and try again. If the kids get out of control, take a few deeps breaths and remind yourself they will only be young once. If family fun nights are more stressful that not, keep trying. You will get there.

When your kids are grown and have flown the nest, it will be the little things they remember. I read a quote somewhere about when kids grow up it isn't the size of the house that matters, it's the time and and the little moments with their family that they will remember. It's the little things, remember that and remember they'll only be young once. Relax and have fun, your children will thank you.

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Farm Rich blogging program, for a gift card worth $25. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Hello Again

2011-03-25T22:17:00.000-04:00

Ok, maybe third time is a charm. Maybe, just maybe things are working themselves out. This week may not have been the best step in the right direction but what's the saying two steps forward, 1 step back. This week has been a huge step back, but I realized this week I need to blog. Why? Well that's an easy one. It's much cheaper than therapy. So, I'm back. But, are you? So much on my mind and so much going on with my family. So much excitement for spring and new beginnings. The blog is official on the spring cleaning list. It's dusted off and I'm working on a few changes. Tomorrow, well an update on us.

I'm back....kind of, sort of....maybe

2011-02-19T22:43:00.001-05:00

I'm back. Well kind of, sort of. I'll explain more in a few minutes. I am for the most part healthy....finally. December was hard. Really hard. I had pneumonia and didn't miss a day of work. Not by choice, by necessity. Oh and did you know when you have things like pneumonia it can take several months to get rid of the cough? Yeah, ask me how I know?!? The girls had the same cold and bronchitis that has continued to ping pong through the house, back and forth for the last 2 months. At least, none have progressed to pneumonia like I did. The latest victim, though, sweet baby Lauren.

Speaking of Lauren, my sweet girl had a nasal lacrimal gland probing in December, she had the same thing done in January while also putting a stent in, and just this week she had tubes put in her ears. She's putting on weight, all be in slowly. She's to little, her head is to big. She's had a rough few months but she is the epitome of strength. We're working with a nutritionist to help her put some weight on. I just made the decision to move her from occupational therapy to physical therapy. We are on the waiting list for 2 different developmental pediatricians. She's seen 2 ophthalmologists and an ENT. It's been difficult, but we're pushing ahead.

So, in an effort to push ahead, I'm back. I've realized that I need to talk, even if it's just to myself. I need to tell people how much my day sucks and how much I love my kids. I need to blog. So, I'm here and I'm going to do my best to be around and reconnect. I've missed you. I hope you haven't forgot about me.

This is where I say goodbye....at least for now.

2010-12-09T11:33:00.001-05:00

It's now been 4+ weeks with an upper respiratory virus with no signs of the end nearing. Just for a little prospective, I'm on a prescription for congestion, I'm on another script for sinus pain/pressure, and I'm on a 3rd script for my cough. And, truth be told about 80% of the time I have very little relief. And, as an added benefit I very, very rarely take medication so taking 3 at once really does a number on me. Something has to give.

I don't know about your house, but our house doesn't function well when mom not performing at optimal level. So, I'm sure you can imagine what 4+ weeks of this has done to the organization and management of our house. All I want for Christmas is a house keeper and a dish washer.....enough said. Something has to give.

And now, sweet little Lauren, nearly a year old, is being referred to a developmental specialist for macrocephaly, failure to thrive, and delay development. In English, she's thin, has a huge head, and is developing at her own pace. I don't think there is anything inherently wrong with Lauren. The fact of the matter is, she's tall and thin like our girls. She shares Emily's huge head and she has no incentive to get up and crawl when she bats an eyelash and her sister bring her what ever her little heart desires. But, anyway, I digress. I know, from 12 years of parenting. that babies don't read the books. Each and every baby is different. Each and every baby develops at their own pace. Each and every baby is unique and special in her own way. The doctor, well I think he's young and inexperienced and hasn't yet figured out that babies don't read the medical journals. But, as educated and responsible parents, we are jumping through the hoops he's putting before us just to be sure there is no underlying problem. Unfortunately, though, those hoops take time. Time that we don't really have free in our schedule. So, something has to give.

For now, the blog is what I am choosing to give up. I need to focus on my health, my baby's health, and my family. I need every spare moment of rest to finally beat this horrendous virus. I need every spare moment to snuggle with my sweet baby girl and put my house back in order. I hope you'll understand. I know you've all be there. Life has it's up and downs. This is just a down moment. I hope this valley is a quick one and we'll be back soon. If you want to keep up with me and the family, please find find me on Facebook. I think I will simply say see you soon. Happy Holidays from our family to yours. We hope your new year is filled with health and happiness.

I've been sick

2010-12-02T10:32:00.000-05:00

I've been sick. Not just sick, like in fever, flu, get it out of your system and get on with life sick....I've been sick as in cough your head off for hours on end with no medicine that will help you and a medical diagnosis of a virus that just has to run it's course sick.

The bad thing about life with 5 kids is the ping pong of virus through the house for weeks on end. We've been stuck in one of those ruts for nearly 4 weeks now. I'm here but I'm doing very little of anything productive until I feel better. We broke down today and spent nearly $30 on Mucinex, so please cross your fingers. I hope to be back online in the next day or two. I've got a ton of super fun things to share with you and December is filled with Birthdays and Christmas in our house so there will be tons of super cute photos of my girls. For now, though, back to bed. Back to sleep, hopefully I'll sleep a little bit longer than I have been.

Carmex Healing Lotion and Carmex Healing Cream

2010-11-22T12:43:00.000-05:00

I was recently given the opportunity to do a review for Carmex. I was thrilled with the opportunity since I grew up with Carmex. It was what my Grandma always carried with her, what my mother always used on our dry winter lips, and is what my children now ask for. Carmex is a tried and true remedy that has been comforting families since 1937. I am delighted to share with you the newest addition to the Carmex family.

The first new addition to the Carmex family is Carmex Healing Lotion. Carmex Healing Lotion is daily use lotion that can be used to soothe and protect dry skin.

Use anywhere skin feels dry
Daily use will help protect skin and keep dryness away
Rich healing ingredients, including Aloe and Vitamin E, nourish and moisturize skin
Absorbs fast for a non-greasy feel; has a light, pleasant scent

The next new addition to the family is the Carmex Healing Cream. Carmex Healing Cream is a concentrated cream that can be used to heal even the most rough, dry skin.

Use on your driest skin— especially hands, feet, elbows and knees
9 healing ingredients penetrate and help repair your very dry, rough or cracked skin
Concentrated—use a small amount
Absorbs fast for a non-greasy feel; has a light, pleasant scent

My Take: I love this lotion and cream for a number of reasons. First, as a loyal Carmex user I am thrilled to see Carmex make the move into skin care. Our family suffers from terribly dry skin during the winter, so I've longed for an effective product that is suitable for my entire family. In face, my husband was putting the lotion on his hand before I had even unpacked the box. The Carmex Healing lotion and cream is precisely what I've been looking for.

Secondly, it is a very luxurious lotion. The lotion and cream have a rich, creamy feel with out being oily or to heavy. It has the feel of a much more expensive lotion. I found the scent to be a rather pleasant one, but not over powering. If it were heavily scented my husband would object to it, but he puts this lotion on multiple times per day.

Finally, and most importantly, this lotion works. My husband and I both have incredibly dry skin, especially during the winter. This lotion has worked like a charm for both of us. It stands up to repeated hand washing, dish washing, and diaper duties. Our hands still feel smooth, moisturized and protected under the harshest conditions. Our daughters have been diagnosed with eczema, though we have chosen not to put them on prescription steroid creams for obvious reasons. We tried the Healing Cream on Emily's skin and were very pleased with the results. Her skin's appearance has improved immensely. But the change to the dry, itchy texture has been even more noticeable. Her skin is much more smooth and much softer than it normally is. Her skin doesn't feel as dry and cracked as usually is. She's not itching and scratching. Her skin flair up's are manageable.

This is a wonderful addition to the Carmex family and to ours. I am certain this will be a mainstay in our home during the rough winter months when our skin needs more delicate care and during those tough summer months when our skin needs more protection. This is a lotion for Moms and Dads and it's safe for kids too. We were thrilled with Carmex Healing Lotion and Carmex Healing Cream and we hope you are too.

To Buy: Visit Walgreens, Walgreens.com or Drugstore.com.

For More Information: Visit the Carmex website and find them on Facebook.

To Win: Visit Carmex on Facebook for a chance to win a trio of Carmex Lip Balm.

Disclaimer: I received the above giveaway item from the Carmex Blog Squad. I was not compensated monetarily for the review. All opinions expressed in the review are my own!

The Search for Santa Paws:

2010-11-22T11:42:00.000-05:00

The Search for Santa Paws comes out Tuesday. It's the perfect movie for this holiday weekend. Get your kids ready with some fun holiday coloring sheets and activity pages. (The girls love the Naughty or Nice Quiz, though I've been told I am a naughty pup:) Also come back tomorrow to find out what we think of the Search for Santa Paws.

The weekend wrap up: A day off....

2010-11-22T11:23:00.000-05:00

This weekend was a rare treat.

This weekend Husband took a day off.

And so this weekend

Our entry got painted.

The pictures are hung.

The tile is grouted.

The closet shelves purchased last weekend are now installed.

The Christmas tree is up.

The stockings are hung.

The wreaths are hung.

This was a busy weekend but this was a productive weekend.

Why can't they all be this way?

Comfort and Joy.

2010-11-18T21:33:00.000-05:00

We've been going through a bit of a rough time lately. It's been hard. It's been tough. It's been emotional. When life is tough and things are bad, there is one thing I count on to bring me comfort and joy. My family and friends. When times are tough, don't you want the people closest to you around?

During our recent difficult stretch, I had a dear friend who took the girls for an afternoon and took them to the movies and for a play date. She made them dinner and for just a day, took their stress away. That, to me, means more than I can even say. I try in earnest to protect my children from the difficult times we are going through, but sadly I can't insulate them from everything. She new they needed a break. I needed a break. It was a priceless gift I can never truly repair her.

It is very important to me to be a good friend to those who need one. I try to be an ear and a hug. I try to be the one handing them the Kleenex and the one wiping away their tears. I try to be a soft place for them to land when they can no longer stand on their own. And when they are ready, I try to be the person standing behind them and propping them up until they can do it themselves. Take a minute and think about someone you know who needs kindness. Take another minute and think about how much a smile would mean to them. Think how much a kind word would mean to them. And think how much you can provide them comfort or joy in just a fraction of a second. Think about the impact you can make in just a splint second. Now, just go do it.

Life is difficult. Life is tough. I can stress how much it means to people to just be a friend. Be open and available. Have an ear ready when your friend is ready to talk. Be a soft place for your friend to land when life is unfriendly. Plan a girl's night or a boy's night to give your friend a night off. Take the kids, make dinner, or stop by for a visit.

Bring comfort to those who need it and bring joy to everyone you know. Life is stressful. Your friends and your family need you when times are tough. Be there, it will mean the world to them and it will mean the world to you. It will bring you closer than you can imagine.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Do you know someone who needs some softness?

Visit Klenex's Softness Worth Sharing to send them a pack of Kleenex.

They be glad you did. And you'll feel good knowing you did.

I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Kleenex blogging program, making me eligible to get a $40 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

The Weekend Wrap Up: Score!!

2010-11-15T21:52:00.000-05:00

I am not, by nature, a thrift store shopper. It's not that I have anything against shopping in a thrift store. It's just not my thing. I don't, as a full time working mom of 5, have time to sift through racks and racks of cloths to find the proverbial needle in the hay stack. I will stop in when I do have a free moment and a need for something, but my time is better spent. Anyway, back to my score. With the fall concert around the corner, I was totally on my game and spent Friday finding black pants, white shirts, black shoes, and tights (or rather holey tights). True to form we were able to pass cloths down so Emily and Abigail are good and Hannah was in need of shoes and pants and a new shirt. So I made a mental note to go through the Sunday sale papers.

Fast forward to Saturday morning. We were out and about picking up my 90% off screw drivers from the Lowe's black Friday Facebook preview and the $10 off $10 coupons I also picked up at the event. We drove by the local Goodwill and noticed a 50% off Sale Today sign on the building. I decided to run in. 2 feet into the door I regretted my decision, but pressed on anyway. We ran through the shoe department and 1/2 way down the second aisle found a very cute pair of black loafers. I don't off hand remember the brand but there is virtually no wear on them. Next, we made a run through the juniors and truthfully I was defeated. Mentally I was trying to figure out how to cram Hannah in a skirt that is about 2 sizes to small for just one more concert. I decided (Gasp!) to look through the adult section. 2 minutes in and we found not 1 but 2 acceptable pairs of pants. Encouraged, we pushed on and a few steps later found these...

I know the picture is bad, but those are a pair of black, size 2 Ann Taylor slacks. Score!! The slacks fit decently, her hips are small so they are a bit roomy in the hips, but seriously? The pants were normally $5.00 and we paid a grand total of $2.68. Score!! We hit the jackpot....but would this be the day we hit the jackpot twice? Yes, Yes, Yes! We spent all of 90 seconds in the blouse section when we stumbled on this long sleeve Liz Claiborne blouse (also normally $5.00, on sale for $2.50)...

Can you believe that? Our grand total at Goodwill was $7.76 for our little finds of the day. I will admit my patience was a little tested with the swarms of people, the camera crew interviewing a wardrobe consultant who was hosting thrift store shopping work shops, and the cashier grilling me over using my husbands debit card....but, seriously for finds like this I can put up with a little aggravation.

Our total for Saturday:

90% off screwdriver set, $2.25.
The new shelving for the girls closet and 2 packages of batteries (less $10.00 off coupons) $2.30.
Goodwill concert outfit, $7.46.

Feeling like an accomplished shopper, Priceless.

I'm Sick and I'm sick of being a working mom

2010-11-11T21:57:00.000-05:00

Today's a rough day. I'm sick or at least I am on my way to getting sick. Sitting at work with your boss from the other side of the country and a sinus headache makes for a really long day. Add in a rather emotional conversation with said boss and you'll have a miserable day. Today, I feel like I will never get the whole working mom under control. The whole emotional conversation with boss wasn't something that I was truly comfortable with but I said what need to be said. I don't, though, think I will ever get use to being the primary support for a family of 7. It's a tough job and I often feel like I don't fit it any where because of it. How do I find my place as a hand's on mom with a full time job, 5 kids, a clean house, and my sanity in tact? Do I give up on being the working mom that still makes it to most of the kids' activities and manages to volunteer at the school? I don't know how to find my way. I don't know how to find my balance?

I was told as a child, I could do every thing. I could have a career and a family. I could maintain a home and a family and a job. 6 years in, I am certain I was lied to. But where do I go from here?

Wordless, eh, Wordful Wednesday: Dear Watch Cat

2010-11-10T09:36:00.000-05:00

Dear Watch Cat:

Please stay out of the bathroom.

I don't need your protection while in the shower.

You are starting to give me the creeps.

Love,

Mom

The Weekend Wrap Up: Ms. Wizard Day

2010-11-08T23:32:00.000-05:00

Note: Not quite sure why this is bold, but it won't change:( and I'm to tired to retype it:( :(

This weekend Hannah and Emily both attended Ms. Wizard Day at the University of Notre Dame. This was such a neat program. It is a "club" activity at the University that brings 4th, 5th, and 6th grade girls in for a day of science, math and engineering. Activities started promptly at 10am and ran until 4. They had several demonstrations from the college professors before lunch. After lunch they split the girls into groups and conducted experiments with the girls. Their favorite experiment was the green lava lamp they made out of a water bottle.

From the Ms. Wizard Day website-

Their Goals:

To provide elementary and young middle-school-age girls the chance to:

increase their interest and involvement in the sciences
experience a supportive interaction between university students and pre-adolescents
experience a post-secondary educational setting
explore a few of the many options that open up to them with continuing education
take academic risks in a positive environment and gain confidence in their abilities

We hope to:

present the wide variety of applications of the sciences
present career possibilities in the sciences and related fields
inspire participants to pursue academic interests and continue in math and science classes
encourage the girls to view themselves as potential scientists, engineers, and mathematicians
promote respect for diversity and support minority women as well in educational pursuits

We are really concerned about keeping our 5 girls active in both science and math. This is such a great activity for girls in this age group. Not only did they love the science and math, but their saw the practicality of what they were doing on a daily basis. Not only did the girls learn about science and math, they learned that being a smart girl was really cool. The college girls that lead this program really worked hard to engage and connect to the girls on a personal level. I am incredibly impressed with the program. Our girls hope to attend again in the spring.

If you are local and have a girl in 4th, 5th, or 6th grade, you have to check out Ms. Wizard Day. Your daughter will thank you.

If you are not local, it would amaze you what programs are available at colleges, universities, labs, and the like. It may take a little leg work to find programs near you, but please do! It is so important for your girls and will be so beneficial to them.

The Search for Santa Paws

2010-11-08T23:06:00.002-05:00

I am really excited I can share this with you. We love movies. Movie night is just a great way to spend time as a family. November 23rd Disney will release their newest movie, The Search for Santa Paws. It is sure to be a great holiday film that will delight your entire family. My girls and I can't wait for this to come out. The girls think all of the dogs are just the most adorable things ever. I love that my big girls love it as much as my little girls!! Anyway, we can't wait.

Here's a sneak peak of the movie:

Cute, right? Well you can go to Disney and pre-order it now and get 200 bonus Disney movie rewards and a plush pup. Plus if you order it by the 18th, you'll get it the day it is released. You can't lose with that offer!! What a great Christmas gift or a great gift to get your child in the holiday mood. I think this would perfect for the Thanksgiving weekend after your Thanksgiving dinner or after a day full of black Friday shopping. You better hurry, though, to make sure you have it in time!!

The Christmas Card Search Continues

2010-11-08T22:45:00.001-05:00

I've mentioned before how we adore Christmas cards. Our search for the perfect holiday Christmas card continues. My latest find , or rather rediscovery, is Shutterfly. I have to tell you, I completely forgot about Shutterfly. But, as it turns out they are a life saver. When our computer crashed and wiped out a hard drive with all of our photos, I was devastated. I mean totally and absolutely devastated. You know, blubbering, hysterical crying, devastated. When the realization set in that all the photos were gone, it wasn't pretty. In fact, it was just plain ugly.

A few days later I was looking at Christmas card sites on-line and remembered Shutterfly. So I went to their site and logged in. Guess What. Low and behold many of my photos are there. My most recent photos are on the two camera cards I have and I have a few years of photos are saved in Shutterfly. I had forgotten I had uploaded photos there. All I can say is Shutterfly is a life saver. I am certain I have still lost photos, but having all of Maddy and Lauren's hospital pictures in a safe place makes losing photos much more manageable. I didn't know it at the time, but Shutterfly will not delete your photos (though they do reserve the right to change that policy). Shutterfly is my hero. No, really, they are my hero.

Back to the subject at hand. Christmas cards. I am a little partial to Shutterfly right now due to the whole saving my photos thing. I was pleasantly surprised by their Christmas card selection. You can choose the number of photos the card has. That made it really easy to find cards that would "fit" our family.

My favorite...

Isn't that really cute. I just love how simple and sophisticated the card is. I also love how easy it is to personalize. I was not certain about the black and white photos but after pondering this card design I really think the black and white is the perfect contrast against the red back round.

I also love this one....

I love the bright colors and I love that you can personalize the card with 5 photos. It is a bit more playful than I would like, but hey with 5 kids I guess playful is alright? I'm not to keen on the green bar across the bottom, but I suppose it works.

I love all of the options that Shutterfly gives you. If you want a holiday card you can find so many options for holiday cards. If you want a Christmas card you find those too. If you want a religious holiday card, they have them. Hanukkah? Yes, they have Hanukkah cards as well. They really have options available for any one's needs.

In addition to all of the great card options, Shutterfly has all of the things you need to complete your holiday.

From personalized gift tags :

To invitations:

To thank you cards:

Shutterfly really has everything you need to make your holiday's memorable and I am so grateful I remembered them. I think I may have the perfect card in mind.....but my my isn't totally made up yet. I love the photo cards. They are beautiful, but will I be able to get a great photo of my 5 girls. Hmmm, not so sure about that one. What to do What to do? Only time will tell, I suppose.

Do you want 50 free holiday cards from Shutterfly? Click here to go to Shutterfly for information on how you can get 50 free cards this holiday season, and make sure to select Clever 1000 as the referral source.

This post is part of a series sponsored by Shutterfly. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

The Weekend Wrap Up.

2010-11-02T13:59:00.001-04:00

Do you ever go into the weekend with grandiose plans of getting everything done and everything caught up and finally starting the week renewed and revved up? Does life some how manage to get in the way? That's the story of our weekends right now. I suppose part of the problem is Al works every single weekend. Yes, every single weekend for almost 18 months now. Don't get me wrong I am glad he is at least working part time, but every single weekend? It gets old. The girls are troopers, but even they are growing tired of their Dad working every weekend. It especially bothers them on holiday weekends like this last Halloween.

We almost didn't go trick or treating. But in the end, my mommy guilt won out over my common sense and we spent 2 hours wandering the streets begging for candy. We had not a single melt down and only one potty emergency (thank goodness we were near a fire station filled with very helpful firemen!) And best of all, I got a little bit of my mama mojo back. You know that confidence that you really can drag 5 kids through the street and make it back with all 5 in tack. I lost my mojo sometime last year, shortly after getting pregnant with Lauren. It's great to have it back, at least some of it. And even though I didn't tackle the to do list, at least we had a great time....one I am certain they will remember for quite some time.

Welcome Back to the Mommy blog.

2010-10-31T22:43:00.000-04:00

Welcome back to the mommy blog. Unfortunately this blog turned into a review blog. While I do love reviews, I love blogging about my kids and my family more. So, welcome back to the mommy blog. And, while we are at it, let me introduce you to the newest member of the Not So Ordinary Family....Not So Ordinary Home. Not So Ordinary Home is where you will find all of the reviews and giveaways from now on. I am going to post the reviews here too until the first of the year, then there will be a clean break. I really do love doing reviews, so do the girls. After much thought and consideration, I decided to have the best of both worlds. A review blog and a mommy blog.

While we are cleaning house, we are really going to clean house. One thing Al and I have learned is we can't afford to fall behind. If we fall behind, the likelihood we will catch up is slim and really, closer to none. So, the Tween girl gift guide is going to be skipped over, because I am so far behind at this point, I am never going to catch up.. The products we were planning on featuring then will be added to the Ultimate Girl Gift Guide in December.

This month, we are going to get ready for the holidays. I have a lot of great ideas to have family fun during the holiday season. I am looking forward to sharing some great Holiday Family Fun with you.

But for now, here we are, welcome back to the mommy blog. I've missed you.

Changes are come.......

2010-10-28T16:28:00.000-04:00

Changes are coming. Just in time for my 6 month blogaversary. I'll be relaunching on Saturday with a big change.

Hope to see you then!

I have guilt

2010-10-22T10:15:00.001-04:00

There, I said it. I have guilt. Every single day. I feel guilty for leaving my babies and working. I feel guilty for having 5 kids and feeling spread so thin I miss little things like a 6 year old lying about doing her homework. I feel guilty for not having an impeccable house all the time. I have guilt. And, it eats away at me. Logically, I know I can't be every where and do everything but I feel guilty because I can't. Is that normal? I don't know if it is, but it's that guilt that drove me to edge last week.

Last week we had Lauren's check up. And, mind you this is a new doctor. And guess what the doctor said, Lauren...sweet little, perfectly happy, perfectly healthy Lauren has failure to thrive. Those words just cut through my heart. As it turns out even though Lauren is gaining weight and even though Lauren's growth curve is identical to our perfectly happy, perfectly healthy 2 year old she doesn't meet their criteria for acceptable growth. So, consequently, we were referred to an early intervention program to have her evaluated and we now have to bring her back every two weeks. Now, don't get me wrong, I don't mind having her evaluated. And I don't mind having to drag her back and forth to the doctor. If there truly is something wrong with her then I will jump through every hoop they have. But, the guilt that I have working, and having a big family, and a busy life threw me when the doctor said failure to thrive. Maybe I missed something? Maybe we aren't doing enough? Maybe? Maybe? Maybe?

But over the last week, I've gained some perspective. I've realized something. Something I've always known. Lauren is a perfectly happy, perfectly health, all be it small, sweet little girl. She eats, she drinks, she laughs, she plays, she kisses. She's prefect, little and all. There is not a darn thing wrong and now, truth be told, I'm a bit angry that this doctor's didn't listen when we told him her growth is identical to our older daughter. I'm angry that he's going by a chart rather than by the beautiful little girl in front of him. The whole thing with a growth chart is it is numbers. So, someone is going to be at the top and someone is going to be at the bottom and how dare he make insinuations because our little girl is at the bottom. Medicine isn't about numbers. Its about people and Lauren is a perfectly happy, healthy little girl. And if he can't see that, maybe we need to see a different doctor.

I have spoken to the early intervention program. The woman there asked if we had concerns about Lauren. When I told her no, she eats, she plays, she's adorable, she's just little like our others. She said great, it sounds like she is just fine. There is nothing wrong with being little. And said if we ever did have concerns to give them a call.

So, now, I still have guilt. I always will because I'm a mom and that's what mom's do. We do our best, but we are human too. We can't be every where all the time and do everything all the time. But this, this I don't have guilt for any longer. Lauren is a perfect just the way she is.

Costume Super Center

2010-10-21T19:56:00.000-04:00

This post should be alternatively titled: I've procrastinated away Halloween. We love Halloween! It's just a fun, relaxing "holiday" that lets our girls do exactly what they love to do....dress up. The girls currently have their rooms decorated in lights and cobwebs. I think there may even be a bat or two thrown in there. It's just a fun time of year for the entire family. The best thing about Halloween, what we look forward to most is our themed Halloween costumes. We've done fairies (ok, maybe we've done fairies a few times), we've done cats and witches, we've even done cows. This year when we had the opportunity to review a costume from the Costume Super Center we were thrilled. We spent a great deal of time looking at the amazing selection of girls costumes, baby costumes, and even tween girl costumes. Their selection is really unbelievable. After much debate we finally choose our theme for this year Alice in Wonderland. The Costume Super Center has a great Adorable Alice costume that was just perfect for Abigail. They have a Mad Hatter Costume that was ideal for Emily, after all she is the Mad Hatter of the family. There is also a Red Queen costume that was screaming (and I mean literally screaming) Hannah's name. We decided in addition to Alice, the Red Queen and the Mad Hatter we should have Madelyn as the Cheshire Cat and little Lauren as a pig (I believe the Red Queen screams for her pig in the movie?). Well anyway, we had the whole, absolutely perfect Halloween all planned out and ready to go. But, my own fault totally, I didn't order the costumes for Hannah and Emily and they have now gone out of stock again. It's my own fault really, I should have anticipated how popular they would be. But, I am happy to say, we do have Alice. And our Abby could not be more happy.

I have to tell you, though, I am incredibly impressed with the Costume Super Center.

Well, first let me start with Adorable Alice. The costume is really affordable. The total cost is comparable to the cost of a Disney Store costume. The Adorable Alice costume, though, includes the head band. A really cute head band. The costume is really well made. Truthfully, I was not expecting much more than a costume Abigail could wear just this year. This is a great costume that we will be able to put away for Maddy and Lauren to either wear for Halloween or wear for dress up. The skirt has 3 layers so there is sufficient coverage (and fluff. Abby loves the fluff). The top of the costume is a body suit type material that give Abby a little stretch room if we have to put a shirt on underneath. The black bow on the front and the bow on the back are super cute. The is just an adorable, well made costume that will be perfect for our Adorable Alice.

I was also really impressed with the Costume Super Store. First, their selection is incredible. They have a ton of costumes. No, really a ton. I think if a child could dream it up, they have a costume for it. Plus, with their easy to search website, you can quickly and easily find the costume you are looking for. It is great how they have their website organized make searching for a costume fun. I let the girls sit down and search through the costumes to come up with ideas. It was really easy for them to go to teen, girl, or baby costumes. It is really a user friendly website. The best part of working with the Costume Super Center is the people. They are incredibly friendly, helpful people that really want you to get the costume you want. I've twice spent a great deal of time on the phone trying to track down the Red Queen and Mad Hatter costumes. Both times their customer service department went the extra mile to try to help me find what I wanted. With the Alice Costume it was shipped very quickly and came very well packaged. Working with the Costume Super Center was a wonderful experience and I can't say enough about them. I will certainly be returning.

If you haven't gotten your costume yet, hurry and stop by the Costume Super Center. They will help you find the costume you want and have lots of options to get you the costume you need before Halloween.

I received the Adorable Alice costume free of charge to facilitate this review. No other compensation was given. All thoughts and opinions expressed above are mine and mine alone.

I have so much to say...

2010-10-19T11:51:00.001-04:00

But so much I'm not ready to say. There's a lot going on in our life right now. There's good and bad....and sadly there's even ugly. I don't deal with stress well. It's well, just so stressful:) I'm not sure how everything is going to play out and I'm worried about a lot. It seems like every single time we get back into a rhythm and every thing is going well, something out of no where comes in a takes the wind right out of our sails. It's not fun. It's tiring. I've avoided writing because I just hate being Debbie Downer all the time, but when push comes to shove it's writing this blog that has become therapy. It's my outlet when I have no one else to listen. So, I'm going to push ahead and keep on keeping on. I'll try to not to stress you out to much, just promise you'll be the ear I need to vent to.

The Waiting-You can win a Kindle!

2010-10-18T10:31:00.000-04:00

Suzanne Woods Fisher is thrilled to announce the release of The Waiting, book two in The Lancaster Secrets Collection. In The Waiting Jorie finds herself caught be two loves and two lives in this compelling page turner about complex people living the simple life.

A must read!

Visit the blog tour and find out what the reviewers are saying!

Learn more about Suzanne and her books at www.suzannewoodsfisher.com!

The Waiting is the next stand alone story in The Lancaster Secrets Collection and follows in the footsteps of the best-selling, The Choice. The Waiting is in stores now and to celebrate Suzanne is hosting The Waiting KINDLE Giveaway.

One Grand Prize winner will receive a Kindle preloaded with Suzanne Woods Fisher titles and a Amazon.com gift certificate! The Prize Pack (valued at over $185.00) includes:

* A brand new KINDLE, Free 3G, 6", Latest Generation

* The Choice by Suzanne Woods Fisher

* The Waiting by Suzanne Woods Fisher

* A $15 dollar Amazon.com Gift Certificate

To enter, simply click on the icons below to fill out the entry form, then tell 5 or more friends about the contest. Oh, and enter soon! Winner will be announced on October 28th at Suzanne's Lancaster Secrets Book Club Party.

Join Suzanne for the Lancaster Secrets Book Club Party on October 28th! She’ll be announcing the winner of the The Waiting KINDLE Giveaway, hosting a book club discussion of The Waiting and The Choice, and giving away copies of both books and HEAPs of readerly prizes! Be sure to join us on Thursday, October 28th at 5:00 PM PST (6:00 MST, 7:00 CST & 8 EST) at Suzanne’s Author Page.

It's that time of year: Christmas Cards

2010-10-13T15:18:00.001-04:00

Guess what I did last weekend? I was scouting the web looking for, of all things, Christmas cards. It hardly seems possible that in a few short weeks the snow will be flying and we'll be snuggled 'round the Christmas tree with our family. Truth be told I am excited. I love Christmas. Our kids could really care less about the gifts, they love the experiences. They cherish our Christmas brunch. And the Christmas Eve Monopoly game is the high light of the year (no, really, they talk about it all year long:) (oh and in case you were wondering, Christmas Eve is the only day of the year I will play Monopoly with my oh so competitive husband who once sold all of his property, money, and buildings to my mother for $1 in a bid to beat me or rather make sure I didn't win. I vowed never to play monopoly with him again, but at the request of the children I do play....only 1 night a year!) They adore making Christmas cookies. They love to send Christmas cards and Christmas pictures so picking up a fun Christmas card is really a must. This year though, I am struggling, with the whole
Christmas Card idea. In the past the creating personalized holiday cards was pretty straight forward.

Start with a great photo-That's pretty straight forward. Pretty up the kids, dress them up, stick them together and tada you have a great picture.
Pick up the perfect card-You have to pick a card that is your family. If you are a laid back, fun loving family pick a card that reflects who you are. Many people save Christmas cards, so it is important to have something personalized and appropriate.
Pick your message-Christmas cards are an expression of who you are. Pick a holiday message that reflects what ever holiday you celebrate but that is consistent with who your family. If you haven't been to church all year, a religious message may seem a bit contrived to your friends and family.
Add a personalized wish for the new year-If you know Grandma is in poor health, wish her better health in the new year. If you have seen little of your long lost cousin, express your wish to reconnect in the new year. The new year is a new beginning, find the special, meaningful way to reconnect with your loved ones.
Get the kids involved-Let the kids sign their name, make pictures to include or decorate cards. It will be a fun, meaningful touch that will be cherished for years to come.

Pretty simple right. It's the perfect Christmas card. Fast forward to this year. Let's start with the photo. Have you recently tried to get 5 kids to look at you, not blink, and smile at the same time. Um, not even close. The card? Well, sadly most card maker's don't have anything nearly appropriate for a large family (hey, I guess it's true so I'm going to own the large family title once and for all). The holiday greeting and personalized message are still fairly straight forward. Getting the kids involved, well this seems to be much more difficult this year. Hannah is to "old" to decorate cards. Maddy would rather color on the walls than color on paper. Lauren is to old. Abby wants everything to be pink. And little Emily, well she'd be just fine decorating cards but she doesn't want to do it herself. Geesh! What to do, What to do?

I did find one sight that I love. Purple Trail. Purple Trail has an amazing selection of cards that will suit everyone's taste. They have very modern, stylish cards and rather traditional cards. They have photo cards and standard holiday cards, they even have invitations. Their selection is unreal. Plus, the best part. Everything can be personalized. You can change the colors, the text, move things around, add pictures....you are really only limited by your own imagination (they have a create your own card option too!). Their personalization options are very easy to use and a lot of fun. Did I mention they have cards for every other holiday too? I have my eye on a couple of really cute cards that I think would be ideal for our family. I haven't yet made up my mind, though. I'm still trying to decided if I should brave the one group photo or just do individual photos of each of the girls. Plus, I can't show you yet. You should be surprised like everyone else is. I can tell you one thing though, what ever card I end up choose is going to personalized and represent us, isn't that what's so fun about Christmas cards?

Disclosure: I am participating in a giveaway for PurpleTrail.com and this post makes me eligible for a PurpleTrail gift code. For more contest info visit http://www.purpletrail.com/blogcontests

I have the rest of my Tween Girls Top 10!!

2010-10-13T00:04:00.000-04:00

I have so more to write and I have now been dragged into helping hubby with his math 2 nights in a row. I promise it'll be here very, very soon. Thanks for the patience! I have a few great giveaways I am sure you'll love!!

Building fun, playful family time into your life

2010-10-12T16:24:00.000-04:00

It occurred to me the other day; my girls really have a not so ordinary life. Nearly every activity we do is planed to provide them with some sort of educational experience, family fun, playtime, and creativity time. Every thing we do has a purpose, even if it isn’t clear to anyone watching our family. From the family grocery trip that provides family time, counting experience, lessons on saving money, introductions to new fruits and vegetables around the world to the leisurely stroll through the park that is family time and exercise time to the movie night that is a relaxing, family time. As a busy family with 5 children, we are experts at making the most of every moment. I’d like to share a few tips that we have learned over the years. Below are 10 tips to incorporate fun and play into your child’s routine. I hope you find them useful.

Relax-The first, and most important step into creating a fun, playful family environment is to relax. I know it is more difficult to put that one in to practice, but it is the most important. Life will go on if that call doesn’t get returned or the dishes don’t get done…. you can make up for it later. Take a deep breath and relax. Your kids need you to set the tone.
Be present- your children need you to be there in mind, body, and spirit. That can be difficult when you are working and your stressed about this, that or the other. But, really, you must learn to leave it at the door and let your time at home be your time at home.
Make your family room a family room-If you have a living room, family room, or a TV room that is the normal space for your children to congregate at make it a child friendly room. They need a friendly, warm space that can be comfortable in. They need a space that mom or dad isn’t going to get too angry if they spill their Juice in or if crayon gets on the floor.
Get kids in the kitchen-Sometimes easier said than done, but let your kids get into the kitchen with you. It’s fun, they can learn, and best of all you are together.
Sing, Sing, Sing-There is nothing more fun for little children than singing. It’s a great opportunity to forge a bond with your children and it’s a great opportunity to make sure your older children are listening to age appropriate music. Have a dance party, put on music while you are doing chores, put in your favorite CD while driving, just find a way to incorporate music into your life.
Get Outside-Kids need exercise and time to run. It’s good for the body and it’s good for the soul. Find the time to get your kids outside to play. Take lunch outside. Take a craft outside. Take a walk in the park. Keeping your kids moving is an important way to stay healthy and relax. An added benefit, all the fresh air and exercise will work wonders when bedtime rolls around.
Find a craft to connect with-Not everyone is Martha Stewart when it comes to crafting but find something special that you and your child can connect with. It will be a fun and meaningful experience. If you have an older daughter, why not work on a scrapbook together? A younger child might love to help make a card for you to send to Grandma. Why not build a birdhouse with your child for your spring garden?
Find the lost moments-Parents loose many moments with their children. Find the lost moments and make them fun. In our house, rather than just tucking the kids in, the time we spend at each bed is kisses and hugs and jokes and smiles and maybe a few tickles or a few jokes. Every Saturday morning our children all pile into our bed and that next hour ends up (usually) being filled with pillow fights, tickles, and more laughs than you can imagine. Find those lost moments and make the most of them.
Don’t Stress over the schedule- I have to admit this is one we still struggle with. We have a schedule that for sanity’s sake we try to stick to. But (here’s our struggle) it is OK to deviate from the plan. There I said it. Life will go on if you miss the play date or dinner is an hour late. If your child is enjoying an activity then go with it. Life will go on if you get off schedule. In the end do you want your children to know to stick to the schedule or do you want your children to have a fun, relaxed, enjoyable childhood. Can you do both? Absolutely. Should you do both? Positively! Should you stress over it? Absolutely not.
Know your child-Know what works with your child. Know what is fun for your child. Find what is important and build that into your daily life. Is your child a reader? Try weekly trips to the library? Do you have a soccer player? Try an outdoor game of soccer on a lazy Saturday afternoon? Have an artist? Paint with her or better yet, paint a picture of her. You’ll get a ton of laughs! I read once you should know your child’s currency. Find what is important to them and make it a part of their life.

Children’s lives are much harder than they once were. Our kids stress over much more than you realize. It is more important than ever to find ways to build fun and meaningful fun, playful family activities into your busy lives. I know it is not easy (trust me I know) but it’s important. In the end, your children will thank you for it!

I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and The Hub blogging program, making me eligible to get a $50 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

The Weekend Wrap Up

2010-10-11T09:16:00.000-04:00

If you haven't figured it out, I am not big into weekend blogging. Sometimes, if really motivated I will but the weekend is when I play catch up and spend some quality time with my family. Here's a quick run down of our weekend....please note, this is light on pictures. Our computer is at critical mass again and I can't delete anything else and I can't load anything else on to it. Someday I'll get around to doing some more major computer maintenance or breaking down and getting a new one. Well, anyway, here's the weekend wrap up.

Friday- Emily had a cross country meet. What was suppose to be fun turned into tears because she tripped and fell in the woods and came in 32nd place (out of 33). She did get a great pep talk from the coach that made it almost all better. Hannah had a cello lesson. After the lesson and the meet we went home, got snugly and had game night. Always a fun night at our house!

Saturday- Hannah has youth symphony rehearsal every Saturday so everyone is always up and moving early. While she was gone we cleaned the garage and hung the bikes. Everyone went to pick Hannah up so we could run to Lowe's on our way home. We had an energy audit last spring. It was determined the heat loss in the family room is because our heating duct work is not insulated in the crawl space. They wanted to charge us nearly $2K to fix it. Umm, no. That's what I have a husband for. Thankfully, it looks like this will be a relatively painless cost to absorb. After lunch, Al went to work and the girls and I put on the radio and had a cleaning, dance party. What never heard of a cleaning, dance party? Either had I! Apparently, kids love to clean if they are allowed to dance while doing it. Hey, what ever, works for me as long as you do what you were asked!

Sunday-Hmmm, we finished cleaning the house. We took the kids bowling with a couple of friends. Watched the Colts win. I made a triple batch of pumpkin waffles for dinner and for breakfast this week. I got the idea from Amy at Mom Advice but I modified my recipe to suit our tastes. They were a HUGE hit and something I still stick in our brinner arsenal. Brinner? Breakfast for dinner, the girls favorite dinner night. I made chicken salad for the girls lunch this week. We usually stick to the pb&j and bologna but every once and awhile I like to change it up for them.

Add in a ton of laundry, lots of dishes, feeding the baby (who now loves pumpkin waffles), sore feet, a few bumps, a few bruises and that wraps up our weekend. It's almost amusing how fast the time passes. I blink and a weekend is gone. I blink again and another year has passed. I wish time would slow down. Just a bit. We have an amazing family and while I don't want to stop them from growing up, I would like to just slow them down a bit so I can savor in every last moment that I have them. I tell every new mom I know to enjoy every moment, but I have a hard time following my own advice. I think I need to move that to the top of my priority list and actually follow through with it....before it's to late!

Coming tonight: The next two installments of our Tween Girl Gift Guide with a couple of giveaways. Hope to see you then!

Gifts For Tweens- #9-Craft and Activity Sets

2010-10-08T12:19:00.001-04:00

#9-Craft and Activity Sets

Tween girls need to keep busy. Tween girls are naturally inquisitive and with hormones and (shutter) boys, it is simply best to keep their time occupied. Provide tween girls with plenty of opportunities to explore and be creative. It is also incredibly important to provide Tween girls the opportunity to do activities with one or both parents. One on one time is crucial to maintain the positive parent-child bond that will be so critical during the up coming teen years. On the outside they will participate begrudgingly but on the inside they are secretly enjoying the opportunity to spend time with you doing something they love. And remember it doesn't matter how the craft or activities turns out, it is having fun in a positive manner with your favorite Tween.

Our Favorite- Glee Make Your Own Candy Kits

From Glee: Connect kids to the global community by tracing the origins of raw materials we encounter in our daily lives. Our gum kit uses natural chicle. Our chocolate kit includes organic cocoa butter from Costa Rica, and the gummy kit contains carrageenan made from seaweed from the Philippines.

Create something exciting and delicious. At Verve, we believe people learn by doing. By creating delicious edible treats with our kits, kids also create connections to each other, between various fields of studies, and to other communities and cultures.

Captivate kids' interest. Kids have always loved to stir, mix, touch and taste our great activity kits. Now children can make yummy treats while learning about: the rainforest, ethnobotany, chemistry, mathematics and measurement, ecology and environmental issues, home economics, nutrition, the oceans and more!

What We Love: This is a fun and educational activity that gets kids in the kitchen. In our experience, getting kids into the kitchen provides ample opportunity for parents and children to connect. With the Glee Make Your own Gummies Kit our Tween girls where in the kitchen with us, laughing, joking, and having fun with our errors. It requires parental supervision but is something our Tween girls were actively involved in. They were making molds and setting the time and watching the pot boil. They were engaged and having fun.

What They Love: The Make Your Own Candy kits first and foremost are candy. Our Tween girls thought that making the candy that they have enjoyed since they were little was a yummy and fun activity. The girls thought that these kits allowed them to experiment in the kitchen, which was fun. They enjoyed trying to make molds, but found it difficult to find something that retained it's shape well enough to be recognizable. In the end, though, they decided to make gummy coins with out molding the starch. It worked out well enough for them. As one tween said, we are just going to eat them anyway. The most enjoyable part of this project for the tween girls was having more responsibility in the kitchen. They were excited that they were allowed to stir the pan and help mix. They were thrilled with the gummy kit and thought it was the perfect gift for them as well as their family. They hoped to be able to do a something like this again, soon!

For More Information: Visit the Glee Gum Website for more information.

To Purchase Make Your Own Candy Kits: Visit Glee Gum or a retailer near you.

I received a Glee Gum Make your Own Gummies Kit free of charge to facilitate this review. No other compensation was given. All thoughts and opinions expressed above are mine and mine alone.

Gifts for Tweens #10-Books

2010-10-06T10:38:00.000-04:00

Sorry for the delay in posting this. I was roped into helping my husband last night.

And now to begin the list of the Top 10 Gifts for Tween Girls.

#10-Books

Everyone knows how important reading is to the education and development of our children. As children age, reading is one of the activities that can easily be pushed aside as extracurricular activities and a social life become more involved. Now is the time to help them build life long positive habits. Now is the time to help them become life long readers. Tween girls will benefit from having ample access to positive, fun books and magazines. It is important to find books and magazines that appeal to their interests and foster their imagination. It is clear that reading is an essential part of a child's life so start them young and keep them reading through out their tween and teen years with fun, imaginative books.

Our Favorite- Spies Inc. by John Keilman

From the Publisher: Spies Inc. begins with The Adventures of Dash Danger, the favorite book of a fifth-grade boy. After bully Biff Vermin sends him on a mission to steal a secret cupcake frosting recipe from The Lunch Lady, the boy looks for help inside his Dash Danger book. But he needs your help, too, to pull this off. You get to create a cool spy name, map out a plan, design gadgets and develop a secret code. Sharp, clever writing courtesy of Chicago Tribune reporter John Keilman, and hilarious illustrations provided by Stephen Ravenscraft and Rick Tuma who promise you’ll never look at a cupcake the same way again.

What We Love: We absolutely loved this book, as parents and as readers. This is a well written, fun, interactive book that kids love. The illustrations are amusing and draw the child in to the text. Spies Inc is written in almost a comic book style. It is not page after page of text, which makes this an great book for kids who are not big readers and a fun, easy read for kids who are big readers. We were thrilled to find the book included a large section for the children to write their own spy story. Not only were they involved through out the book, but the extra section gave them ample opportunity to extend their creativity well after they finished the book. This is simply a great, involved story Tweens will love.

What They Love: First, and foremost this is a fun read the Tweens loved. They really enjoyed the story line. The back cover of the book can be personalized with the child's photo and name. Our Tweens felt that was a wonderful option and really make they feel like they were part of the book. The Tweens loved page after page of activity. Their favorite was, by far, the Spy Naming early in the book. That provided hours of fun as they named themselves again and again. The Tweens loved having the ability to create their own story in the extra section of the book. They felt that was an extra bonus....as one of our Tweens said, It's like getting two books in one! They were thrilled to discover the flip book that was included in the extra section and each of them tried to create their own flip book once they discovered the fun. Our Tweens thought this was a great book that was lots of fun and they wanted to know when if and when the next adventure would be coming out. They thought this would be the perfect gift for a birthday or holiday.

To Buy: Visit Storybuilders to order your very own, personalized copy of Spies, Inc for $21.95. The standard version is also available for $14.95.

Additional Information: You can find Storybuilders on Facebook and on their website.

While you are there:

Storybulders has a new personalized book about dogs: bark. run. nap. repeat by Jessica Reaves.

This is sure to also be a huge hit with Tween Girls.

From the Publisher: Our latest book is all about dogs, with lots of great stuff you should know whether you have a dog or are just begging for one. You even get to have a great time drawing, jotting down your own ideas about dogs and planning what your next few dogs (sorry parents) names will be.

I received Spies, Inc. free of charge so I could do this review. No other compensation was given. All thoughts and opinions expressed above are mine and mine alone.

Top 10 Gifts for Tween Girls

2010-10-05T09:41:00.000-04:00

We finished up Emily's birthday celebration last night with a lovely little birthday dinner.

I'm excited to tell you, though,

while her "real" life birthday celebrations are now done

her blog birthday celebration is just

beginning

Tune in tonight and the rest of this week

for the

Top 10 Gifts for Tween Girls

10 for 10.

That's our Emily.

We have giveaways

and the best selection of gifts for

any tween girl.

Hope to see you at the party.

It's going to be a good one!

Guess Where I'm going

2010-10-02T12:00:00.000-04:00

I'll give you a hint...

If you guessed camping with our Girl Scout troops you'd be correct.

Kind of scary, hunh?

Funny thing is, I'm not scared by camping with a bunch of little girls. I've done that plenty of times.

I'm scared about leaving my babies.

I've never been away from Maddy or Lauren overnight.

And, of course, Hubby has to work tonight.

So Grandma is coming to spend time with the girls.

Should be fun for them to get quality time with Grandma.

Wish me luck.

I have a feeling it is going to be a looong night.

SoftBums Mystery Diaper Event!!

2010-10-01T13:00:00.002-04:00

NEW SoftBums Mystery Diaper Event!!!

We are so excited to bring you a super fun Event beginning Oct 1st at 12 noon central time, that will have tons of prizes, and include soooo many awesome mommy bloggers(and a couple daddy bloggers too)!!!

SoftBums is introducing a brand new diaper. Exciting, right? We strongly believe in cloth diapering and are super excited to share with you the newest diaper from SoftBums. What is even more exciting is the great prizes you can win for participating in this blog hop event!

PRIZES:

Grand Prize: A Brand New iPad

First Prize: Complete Birth to

Potty Package of SoftBums

NEW Mystery Diapers!!

Second Prize: Win a gift certificate for $75 to www.softbums.com

Third Prize: Amazon Gift Card worth $50

PLUS: 1 SoftBums Mystery Diaper given out to winners #5-#20

PLUS: Baby Legs to winners #21-#23

You can choose to enter only one Participating Blog, or bounce around and enter on ALL the BLOGS!

Sound like fun?

Want to Win? I do too!

You have to comment on the reviewing blogs to win the iPad, but you can win everything else by playing along here.

To Enter: Leave a comment about why you love cloth diapering.

Plus Extra entries available for: Earn 1 extra entry for each additional entry...don't forget to leave a comment for the extra entries that includes a link, where applicable (twitter, facebook, etc)

Going to other SoftBums Mystery Event Blogs, listed at the bottom of this Post
Follow This SoftBums "Love Cloth Diapers" Blog
Follow and tweet this giveaway.
Follow SoftBums on twitter. Leave a comment.
"Liking" SoftBums on Facebook. Leave a comment
Tell why you are excited to try the new diaper!
share this Mystery Event as your status on Facebook
leaving a review on www.softbums.com
Subscribe to my blog via email through feedburner. Leave a comment.
Follow me through Google Friend Connect or via a reader. Leave a comment.
Grab my button and post it on your blog. Leave a comment.
Blog about this giveaway. Post a link in the comment.

This giveaway is open to US Residents! Past winners of any SoftBums giveaways please give others a chance, thanks! Winners will be drawn using random.org. Winner has 48 hours to get back to me after being contacted or a new winner will be drawn. Ends October 18th at 8 pm! 2010

A dream vacation

2010-10-01T11:55:00.000-04:00

Sponsored By

Cheerios® is giving you the chance to win a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, your ultimate family vacation. As part of a paid promotion for their “Do What You Love” Sweepstakes, Cheerios® is sponsoring my post today about what my ultimate family vacation would be. Read mine, Enter the Sweepstakes for a chance to actually win your own fantasy family trip or one of a bunch of other great prizes.

I've been under a lot of stress lately. My entire family is under a lot of stress. Under normal circumstances we live an outrageously busy, full, crazy, chaotic life but lately it's been so much more than that. From time to time, we find ourselves dreaming of escaping it all. We dream of the world and being together and having fun. While I know its a dream, I want to share with you what we've been dreaming of. Our ultimate family vacation.

We are travelers that don't travel. We love quality family time, exploring and learning new things. We love glimpses of the future and staring back into the past. Our dream, our hope, is to explore the world with our kids. Stick with me on this, because I know it's a crazy trip for a family of 7 but it is our dream. We'd love to take our family on an Amazing Race Style trip around the world. How crazy would that be? We'd pack it all in and take all of us around the world and hit every continent on our way. First we'd stop in London to see Stone Henge. Then Paris to see the Louvre and Rome to see the Vatican and Colosseum. From there we'd tackle Africa. We'd stop in Egypt to see the Pyramids. We'd love to see the markets in Marrakesh, next. We are a family of girls, after all. Have wallet, will shop:) Our last stop in Africa would be for a safari to see the animals we've only dreamed about. From Africa we'd go on to Asia. We would have to stop at the Great Wall and the Forbidden City. We'd like to visit Tokyo and see the cherry trees and maybe even a sumo match. After Asia, we'd move on to Australia. In Australia we'd want to see the Sydney Opera House and the Great Barrier Reef. If we had time, we'd love to to see an Aboriginal areas. After Australia, it's on to South America. We'd want to see Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca. We'd have to stop in Rio, of course. Finally, our trip would end with North America. We'd want to visit the Mayan ruins in Mexico, visit the wild life in Alaska, and sit on the beach in Hawaii. And then after all of this, we'd want to go home. And relax as a family and sit on our patio, reflect and watch the stars.

Isn't that the craziest, best vacation? We life in a corn field in Indiana. OK, not literally a corn field, but close enough. Growing up in Indiana, you get a very limited view of the world. Our dream for our children is to expand that view so they want to explore the amazing places so many children can't even dream about. Plus, we love spending time with our kids. We have an absolutely amazing group of girls that we have a ton of fun with. We want to travel with them, and watch their eyes light up with amazement at all the amazing thing out there for them to explore. That's our dream and while we know it's just a dream we are going to hold on to it. It's fun to dream sometimes but it's even more fun to make your dreams come true.

Don't forget to enter the “Do What You Love” Sweepstakes, for a chance to win your own ultimate family vacation. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

Jackson Jones: The Tale of a Boy, an Elf, and a Very Stinky Fish

2010-10-01T09:09:00.000-04:00

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

Today's Wild Card author is:

Jenn Kelly

illustrated by:

Ariane Elsammak

and the book:

Jackson Jones: The Tale of a Boy, an Elf, and a Very Stinky Fish

Zonderkidz (August 6, 2010)

***Special thanks to Pam Mettler of Zonderkidz for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jenn Kelly lives in Ottawa, Canada, but her heart lives in Paris. Or Hawaii. She hasn’t decided yet. She is an undercover garden guru, painter, and chef, which has absolute nothing to do with this book. She won a writing award in grade 4, failed English Lit in university, spent many years writing bad poetry, and then decided to write a book. This is it. She is married to her best friend, Danny, and is mom to a five-year-old boy and a dog who worries too much. She embraces the ridiculousness and disorganization of life.

Visit the author's website.

Ari has worked as a freelance illustrator for a variety of projects, mostly in children’s media. Her specialty is character design and she most enjoys illustrating humorous and wacky predicaments.

She studied editorial and children’s book illustration at the School of Visual Arts in New York City and the DuCret School of Art in New Jersey. She uses a variety of media to create my images both traditional and digital.

Visit the illustrator's website.

Product Details:

List Price: $12.99
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 272 pages
Publisher: Zonderkidz (August 6, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0310720796
ISBN-13: 978-0310720799

PLEASE CLICK THE BROWSE INSIDE BUTTON TO VIEW THE FIRST CHAPTER:

A Baby Shower....

2010-09-30T15:23:00.001-04:00

Can I tell you something? I got an invitation in the mail for a baby shower. I am thrilled beyond belief for this baby and baby shower, but the invitation made me think. With 5 kids, I’ve never had a baby shower. It makes me sad really. A baby shower is a special opportunity to share the excitement and fun of adding a new littler person to your life. As I was thinking of this baby shower, I wondered what my own shower would have been like. Or, rather, what I would have liked it to be like. Here are 10 things that stuck out as being important steps to creating the unique and fun baby shower, I am sure I would have loved.

1. A Theme- the cutesy, cutesy themes just aren’t for everyone. I’m sorry as adorable as Noah’s Arc and Ducks are I would love a more modern theme that suits me…. pink polka dots, for example.
2. Food- every good party has to have good food. It’s a must, but do I really need to say that? And a cake, you must have a good cake. But please, not one of the cheesy baby cakes, I’d like something more personal and more sophisticated.
3. Games- Games are not a necessity. I’d rather spend my baby shower connecting with people. You know, the people that are going to bring by dinner after the baby comes and the ones that are eager to help out how ever they can.
4. Decorations- I’ve been to a number of showers and can I just say, streamers don’t belong at a baby shower. Maybe at the birthday party of a 5 year old, but not a baby shower. Balloons are ok, flowers are a must, but remember for as much as this is about baby this is also a celebration of a new mother who isn’t 5 or 6.
5. Family and Friends-You don’ t have to invite your Aunt’s cousin’s brother’s sister. You don’t have to invite every friend you’ve ever known. Stick to the people that are the closest to mom. The new mom will get to share her celebration with those who mean the most, not trying to figure out who is who and how they are connected.
6. Men are ok-It’s not necessary to have a girl’s only shower. It can be nice, but more and more Dad’s are becoming the primary care givers to the new baby. The want to celebrate along with their wives plus they may even be able to pick up some sage wisdom.
7. Favors-Stick with the simple and classic. Stick with something useful. Don’t waste money buying dollar store crap that everyone throws out anyway.
8. Invitations- Get great invitations. This will be a great keepsake for Mom and for baby. My favorite is Tinyprints. They are cute and classic designs that will be treasured for years to come.
9. Don’t over think it-This doesn’t have to be a huge, major event. It’s a baby shower for a new mom who probably doesn’t want to spend 2 hours on her feet entertaining. KISS is a great rule to follow. Keep It Simple Silly!
10. Have fun-More than anything this is a celebration! Relax, enjoy, and have fun!

That’s my top 10 list. I think it would have been a perfect shower for me and is a great formula for anyone’s baby shower. Keep it simple, keep it relaxed, and have fun. Mom will thank you for it!!!

I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Tiny Prints blogging program, making me eligible to get a Tiny Prints giftcode worth $50, plus 25 FREE Tiny Prints greeting cards—a total gift value of $149.75! For more information on how you can participate, click here.

I need to take a deep breath

2010-09-28T21:00:00.001-04:00

I have to preface this by saying....this is a vent and only a vent. There is a situation going on in real life that is weighing hard on me, my husband, and my family. This is my response to that situation because quite honestly, I just needed to get this off my chest.

I need to take a deep breath. Let me explain. In an ordinary day, it is not physically possible for me to take care of my kids, clean house, make a home cooked meal, work 8.5 hours, write a blog, nurse a baby, feed a baby breakfast and dinner, fold the 2 or 3 loads of laundry there are, pay the bills, help everyone with homework, supervise instrument practice, make the soccer game, run kids to activities....I just cannot do it. I do get pretty darn close to getting everything done, but I spend my weekends feverishly trying to make up for everything that did not get done during the week. So consequently, I don't have time to worry about other people right now. I feel bad saying that but I can't worry about anyone right now. My focus is on surviving this day and managing this day.

If someone does not want to understand the work and the stress involved in managing every single day or our life, I can't apologize for offending them. I cannot and will not apologize for busting my butt to keep a roof over my families' head. I cannot and will not apologize for making my 5 girls the center of my world. I cannot and will not apologize for not bending over backwards to provide my girls the world. I won't apologize for gripping at my spouse for not helping enough. And more than anything, I cannot and will not apologize for being me. I am exactly what I claim to be a hard working, educated mom of 5 kids married to my high school sweet heart. We don't have the perfect life, but we have a pretty darn good one....a stressful one, but a good one.

If I am abrupt or short with you, please don't take offense. It's not directed at you, it's my own insecurities and my inability at that moment to deal with the stress on my plate. Really, if I didn't like you, you would know it. And if I don't like you, it's not because of your race, your gender, your age, your nationality, your....fill in the blank because it doesn't matter to me. If I don't like you it is for one reason, you hurt the people I care about most, my family. I'm a mama bear protecting my den. If you have been mean to my children, if you've been disrespectful of my home, if you have not been honest with the people who I care about most than I have a problem with you.

So, in short. If I've offended you, I am sorry. But, you really shouldn't assume anything I do has anything to do with you. My focus is and will be my family. That's what being a hard working, educated mom of 5 married to my high school sweet heart is all about. And now, I'm going to take a deep breath and go back to what is most important to me. My family.

Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue Review

2010-09-27T09:47:00.002-04:00

About Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue:

What would you do if you met a fairy? Witness the historic moment when Tinker Bell first meets a human being, and it’s not who you think.

Years before meeting Wendy and the Lost Boys, Tinker Bell met Lizzy, a little girl with a steadfast belief in the power of pixie dust and the magic land of fairies. During the fairies’ summer visit to the flowering meadows of England, two very different worlds unite for the first time and Tink develops a special bond with a curious child in need of a friend. As her fellow fairies launch a daring rescue, Tinker Bell takes a huge risk, putting her own safety and the future of all fairykind in jeopardy.

Experience Disney’s astonishing all-new movie about the true power of faith and friendship. Bursting with excitement and imagination, Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue is magical entertainment for the whole family. You might even learn to fly.

Our Thoughts: Our girls loved this movie. The younger girls thought the fairies were adorable. They loved the beautiful scenery. They loved everything about it. The older girls thought Lizzy was the most adorable girl and she had the best accent. They were excited to see Lizzy's development over the course of the movie and the change that development has on her relationship with her father. This is a great movie. It speaks volumes that an 11 year old and a 2 year old sat through the entire movie. The fairies are all beautifully illustrated, have charming personalities, and are easy for the kids to connect to. Lizzy is a wide eyed, imaginative little girl who faces a Dad who works to much, most kids (sadly) can relate to her story. It's a great story with a little excitement and a little drama and best of all a happy ending. It is all around a great movie for kids and for families. You cannot go wrong with Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue.

Buy It: You can buy “Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue” wherever DVD’s are sold or check it out on Amazon for $21.99 (Blu-Ray) or $16.99 (Regular DVD).

Coupon: If you are heading out to a store to buy this DVD, make sure you print out a $10 off Blu-Ray + DVD Combo Pack! (The Combo pack comes with a Blu-Ray and a regular DVD for the price of one!)

I received Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue free of charge so I could do this review. No other compensation was given. All thoughts and opinions expressed above are mine and mine alone.

Not So Ordinary Girls

Indianapolis Children's Museum and the 3 month post op

We have a big appointment

Lauren's AFO's

Tiny Prints Christmas Cards

Mam Baby Rock-A-Bye Baby Party

September in a nutshell

Married Mom, Solo Parent

2 Little Words

Holy Blogger Batman...

THE LION KING: Diamond Edition

Tips for helping to keep your family cold and flu free

10 Holiday Planning Tips: Get ready for the holidays

Out of Sorts, Sort of

Toy organizing tips for the holidays

Play time for busy families

Caught Red Handed

Spooky Buddies on Blu-ray & DVD September 20th

Ms. Maddy Goes to Preschool

Awe

Saying Good Bye.

1st Day of School

Summer is over...

Lauren's a girl on the move.....

The Weekend Wrap Up

Personal Style Tween Edition

10 tips and tricks to get your kids to eat more vegetables

Tonight we say good bye...

Virginia Beach bound....in my dream!

A week at the fair....

Developmental Delays

Ten time-saving tips to make your life as a busy mom easier!

Gratitude

4-H

10 Tips for keeping your family safe on the road.

Carrabbas wants to know: What's your pasta personality?

I am not a gardener.....but I try.

Disney's Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure

Emily's a tapper....

Have a Twizzlers Summer.

Rain, Rain Go Away I'd like to be able to blog today....

Do you ever wonder where time went to?

BBQ Beef ala Al

A Broken Arm

Small Changes for a Healthier Life

Spring Break Fun

Hello Again

I'm back....kind of, sort of....maybe

This is where I say goodbye....at least for now.

I've been sick

Carmex Healing Lotion and Carmex Healing Cream

The Search for Santa Paws:

The weekend wrap up: A day off....

Comfort and Joy.

The Weekend Wrap Up: Score!!

I'm Sick and I'm sick of being a working mom

Wordless, eh, Wordful Wednesday: Dear Watch Cat

The Weekend Wrap Up: Ms. Wizard Day

The Search for Santa Paws

The Christmas Card Search Continues

The Weekend Wrap Up.

Sponsored Post: Make Me Smile Challenge

Welcome Back to the Mommy blog.

Changes are come.......

I have guilt

Costume Super Center

I have so much to say...

The Waiting-You can win a Kindle!

It's that time of year: Christmas Cards

I have the rest of my Tween Girls Top 10!!

Building fun, playful family time into your life

The Weekend Wrap Up

Gifts For Tweens- #9-Craft and Activity Sets

Gifts for Tweens #10-Books

Top 10 Gifts for Tween Girls

Guess Where I'm going

SoftBums Mystery Diaper Event!!

NEW SoftBums Mystery Diaper Event!!!

A dream vacation

Jackson Jones: The Tale of a Boy, an Elf, and a Very Stinky Fish