Summer Shopping

Winter has . . . wait, let's not jinx it!
Here in New England, we had a rough winter. (Well, just a lot of snow all at once)

Now that we don't need boots, hat, coat, gloves & sweatshirts. . . we have moved on to the shorts, tshirts, sneakers and bathing suits (Almost!)

However, having a 9 year old boy . . . (a very stylish one) . . . makes the change of seasonal clothing difficult. Everything we bought last year, doesn't fit this year! Ugh!

So we took a special day and went shopping.
I consider myself to be frugal, while Daddy is very careless (when it comes to shopping)

Junior and I went to a few stores during April vacation.
We picked up some shorts & tanks. We even grabbed some flip flops.

A week or two later, I hopped on The Children's Place website. (Not advertising for them)
And I was able to find a bathing suit, flip flops, sunglasses, and a hat for $18 shipped!!

Now, I did need to go and return a bathing suit that we paid $14 for (at another store) because I thought we did so well shopping online. The package arrived and Junior started modeling.

Thank You to The Children's Place for not emptying our bank account AND putting a smile on our child's face!!

Where do you buy quality but financially friendly clothing for your growing boys? (and girls!)

Summer Pouting OR Summer Reading

I wonder if these 4th grade teachers understand what they are doing to us parents. . .

While Junior is going to a new district this 2015/2016 school year, we are challenged with our first Summer Reading assignment, and he MUST read one of the three choices on the list. Unfortunately, he does NOT enjoy writing about what he has read! Even worse than writing, he does NOT enjoy being told what books to read. Lucky for all of us, Junior does enjoy reading!

The book they must read is Frindle (for his reading level) and they need to write about their thoughts while reading each day. Of course, he just wants to read and get it over with, forget about the writing part.

I've allowed Junior to take 30 different books home from the library and read.
I've also allowed him to share reading with Daddy & myself. (taking turns reading a page)
I've bribed encouraged reading for 30 minutes = ice cream!

My biggest fear is that this book is not going to be completed (along with the notes packet) before school starts in August.




The point of this post. . . .
I'm hoping that some parents will respond and let me know what they have done to encourage their children to read books they are not interested in. Even as a previous teacher, it's difficult for me to come up with creative ideas to encourage reading Frindle. What do you have for ideas?

"Step-Parent" Struggles to Overcome

Dating a man with a son from a previous relationship has been difficult since day 1.
Speaking from my own experience, of course!


I use the term "Step-Parent" for multiple reasons.

1. Daddy and I are only boyfriend & girlfriend (for five years now)
2. I'm speaking about step parents in general (not just moms)
3. Any dating situation that involves children from previous relationships IS complicated.

Discipline
We have been working (diligently) on this area for almost two years, after moving in together as a family. There was a major struggle with discipline because the child was not mine, and he was a very well behaved boy. As he has gotten older, we do struggle with minor back talk, a limited amount of disrespect, a lack of manners, and taking responsibility for his own actions. As a step parent, it is very difficult to discipline a child that is not your own. Especially when biological parents don't get along. Daddy and I agree on punishments, but I struggle to follow through with them when it is just me and Junior here alone. I've learned over the last 6 months that I need to be confident & consistent in order for him to respect me. This is one area we have vastly improved!


Responsibility
As a nine year old boy, Junior does not like to take responsibility for his actions. We often hear "Well its not my fault." Along with not taking responsibility for his actions, he has a difficult time remembering things that HE needs to do. There is a chore chart that he needs to complete daily, as well as regular rules to follow (respect is most important) As a parent in general, I think it is very frustrating when a child refuses to take responsibility for their actions & when they are forgetful (mostly distracted). However, there need to be repercussions for inappropriate actions & forgetting things that are important. We have come up with a chore chart & a list of consequences. Junior HATES to write, especially when it is about his behavior, so that is our punishment when he forgets his agenda/homework, breaks something, forgets to do something he was asked, etc. In my situation, it has been a struggle for where to draw the line of what is acceptable and what is not. I feel that if it were my own child, I would be MUCH more firm.


Step Children VS Biological Children
Which brings me into this topic. There are thousands of situations where I don't know how to respond, because this child is NOT my own. Even though he is with me all day & night, I really struggle to treat him as my own (except for the loving & spoiling). Junior is the only child in the house (for the time being) so I don't have any children of my own yet. But I fear that it will be extremely complicated to explain why Junior is treated "better" or has less rules than my own children. I will not hold back when it comes to my own children (because I wont have any fear about stepping on another's toes.) How do you handle children from different parents? Blended families are much more popular now than they were before, so its not uncommon to have children from multiple parents living under one roof.


Medical/School
My boyfriend works a lot! When school papers come home, I fill everything out for Junior, wait for dad to come home and sign them and then they end up in the junk mail pile, or tossed to the side and missing for a day or two. (I confess, some have accidently been thrown away when cleaning the kitchen table for dinner) The other intense paperwork and responsibility is medical stuff (insurance, doctor, allergist, dentist, etc.) When you are only "Dad's Girlfriend" you might as well just be non-existent when it comes to the school/medical/legal things. Unless you are the child's legal guardian, you won't get anywhere! But, wait . . . You are with the child 7 days a week, 24 hours a day (except for school) and drive him to/from school, sit in his doctor/dentist appointments with him, pick up his prescriptions, fill out all his paperwork, and care for him full time. So what's the big deal? The big deal is that my signature means NOTHING! My presence means NOTHING! And I feel like a nobody. So frustrating. But mom isn't involved in any of the above, and dad works more than 12 hours a day. As his caretaker/dads girlfriend, I am unable to make any real decisions. How do you change this? Oh yeah, you don't! Not even by being married. What do you do? Anyone?



Right now, these are only a few of the obstacles I am trying to overcome.
However, they are  not easy. Not even the slightest bit.
I'm not a very confident person (but the first to admit it!)
Confidence, Assertiveness . . . Neither one are in my personality traits list.

And quite frankly, I am a little fed up with the "NOBODY" status lately. Kicking off summer 2015, and just not excited about it.

I apologize for the venting, but does anyone else experience this stuff in a blended family?


To wrap this post up on a positive note, Junior does ask dad (too often) when he is going to marry me because it will be EASIER to just call me his step mom. Ha! Gotta love the honesty!!

Online Safety for Children

Junior turned 9 this weekend.
And he is a young nine.
By that I mean, he is too young for what he WANTS to watch, play & do.
Whatever us adults claim is appropriate for him, he believes is too childish.


After reviewing a "vlog" on youtube that he has been watching, I was in shock!
I swore I heard the word vagina and then read the word porn.

Well, my eyes and ears were NOT playing tricks on me.
I also learned how to style a "metro" hair-do (after watching only two videos)

Daddy and I reviewed the listing of videos by a specific "youtuber" as our 9 year old calls him.
And we were in shock together. Actually, Daddy was disgusted!

We now have put a ban on youtube, unless one of us is present while viewing videos.
(along with the parental controls already set on the ipad)


What do you do as parents to protect your children while browsing online?
Do you make sure to sit with them when they are watching videos? 
Is there certain criteria that you use when evaluating what the kids watch?

Please share!

Are We There Yet?

"Are we there yet?" is often a phrase we hear over and over again in the car.
Most of the time, we have surprise days where only the adults know the destination.

Surprise trips are best for the adults (selfishly)
But no matter where we are headed in the car, we need something to entertain the Junior!

I will admit that I love reading! And I will admit that I have tried to listen to audio books in the past.
However, I enjoy reading much more.

Last week while at the library, Junior and I walked by the audio books section.
We found some "Magic Tree House" books and "The Cricket in Times Square"
I figured we would give the audio books a whirl. . . .

Unexpectedly, they were a huge hit!
(Even Daddy and myself enjoyed the Cricket one!)

This morning, on the ride to school, we popped in the "Magic Tree House" one.
I don't care for this one as much, but it is still cute!

Morning radio is definitely not appropriate for little ears.
These audio books (cds) have really helped over the last week.
I hope to find others that interest Junior.

Any audio books that you have listened to?
Any that are entertaining for kids? (young and/or old)

Arm & Hammer (Smiley 360 Mission)

Loving the Arm & Hammer product I've received for FREE!

I've already shared with close family, friends and strangers face to face.

But now, I am reaching out to the online world (Can you hear me?)

I've received the following, for Free . . .

And this product is AWESOME!! :) Check this out!

Click here for more info:  http://h5.sml360.com/-/mwnd

Online Classes

Thinking back to the days of  Community College.

I was rushing through courses to just move on to the next college!

Today, as I sit here taking an online course . . just for fun . . I am taking my time and still manage to pass the module one test!!

I purchased a course for myself.
Made the time to complete the module and the test.
BOTH in one day!


I may not complete a novel after this course, but I will have fun taking it!



I've promised to do MORE for me . . . here's to a new year!

Swearing & Scratch Tickets (EXPLICIT CONTENT!!)

Swearing (even something as simple as damn or hell ) are terms that Junior will completely meltdown over. I mean, storm out of the room/up to his bedroom and have a full blown sob fest!

I grew up in a home where swearing was acceptable, after the age of 8,9,10, well actually it probably was at about 10 that my parents stopped punishing my younger brother and I for "swearing"

When I am ranting to Daddy and even slip out the occasion "the damn guy cut me off. . " Junior  has run away and started to cry. It has annoyed me to the point, that I snapped. I literally said to my boyfriend: "Guess what, I am a fucking adult. And if I slip and swear, its okay!" and he agreed. Then I continued on "I'm not going to feel guilty when I slip and say that something sucks, you look sexy, or the fucking jackass cut me off while driving downtown on the way to school." However, if I ever was to snap and swear AT Junior, then I should feel guilty. I should feel like a bad parent. That is when Daddy said: "Lets talk to Junior and find out why he continues to cry over swearing."

So that is where the conversation began, Junior & Daddy and I all sat down for a conversation about adults, swearing and why its NOT okay to completely break down when someone slips, says a swear and then apologizes.

Junior flat out looked down at the table, and said: "I just don't like when you guys fight or swear because it reminds me of Momma when she is mean." and from there he walked away from the table, played with his toys and it wasn't mentioned again . . .

Until December 23rd . . Daddy and I grabbed lottery tickets for a few last minute add-ons to gifts. and treated ourselves to a couple as well. As we began to scratch the tickets, Junior flew out of the room crying and slammed his bedroom door shut.

Round two, as an adult I tried talking to Junior & Daddy about what happened and his response was exactly the same as the one about cursing. "I just don't want you and Daddy to be like Momma and spend all your money and time scratching those tickets that she always buys. I don't like those, and I don't like when she buys those."  . . . of course that answer came after a good 20 minutes (or more) of him crying and hiding in his bedroom.


Parents, Guardians, etc.  . . . I ask you this, "How do you handle meltdowns over things that are acceptable, not completely inappropriate, and hope that the child doesn't become scarred for life over a curse word or a lottery ticket?"



*Side Note* December 19th was my birthday. My parents purchased me a tank top that reads:
"I am not always a Bitch. Just kidding, Go Fuck Yourself"  . . . . And Junior ready the "b-word" while I opened the gift and flew out of control into a meltdown . . . So there are somethings that Daddy and I simply cant control. Including drunk relatives at family parties and Christmas. . . . What is the solution???

"I'm So Cranky"

"I'm so cranky, You already know!"


After listening to this song, and a few others . . . motherhood is a joke!

Even though I am not his mother, Junior has me wrapped around his finger.



This song made me laugh.
It made me giggle, for real.
The first giggle out of me in over a week.

This week has been lousy. . . to say the least.
Oh wait, its only Monday. Lets scratch THIS week, and say last week.

Family party Sunday, and I spent the day melting down and threatening to pack my bags.
Why? Ha, who knows! My only reasonable explanation:
I started my period = Goodbye Sanity!



This video sums up the everyday struggle of being a "MOM" and staying home with children.
watching and listening to the other videos, also makes me realize I'm not alone.

And today, I am thankful for all of the other cranky mothers out there.

"I've been an Angel all year . . "

While driving home from picking a tree, last Friday night (yes, I know I am behind) Junior sings Santa Baby with me, while Daddy is in the backseat, holding the tree and laughing.

Is it bad, wrong, terrible, unacceptable, odd that I told my boyfriends 8 year old child (Junior) that I want a diamond ring, baby and new car for Christmas? . . . I don't think so!

I don't think it is odd/wrong/terrible/unacceptable for multiple reasons.
1. It is the truth
2. None of those things are inappropriate
3. Junior, Daddy and myself all laughed when Junior told Daddy what I am wishing for.


A few nights go by, and Junior says: "I really want a baby brother in her stocking too!"



Fast forward a few more days.
Daddy and I are sitting in the kitchen with my mother (who is DONE with her Christmas shopping) and he says to me, "I really need your Christmas wish list, can you remind me again about the things you wanted/need."

I gave him NO ideas during that conversation and I really don't like to have a wish list for him and Junior  when they go shopping for me. I want a gift that comes from the heart, and something that they pick to give me. (plus, its more of a challenge that way!)

Today, Daddy and I spent the morning together and he says: "I know you want that Secret Garden book, or whatever it is but I really need to know the name of it."

So I pull up the amazon site, and give him two ideas. Two things that I would like, but don't need.
1. Magic Garden coloring book
2. Family of 3 necklace

Doesn't mean that Santa needs to bring me those. But I do like both and that is all I really have for ideas.


But the most important text that I sent to Daddy today said:
Please, do not buy me another stuffed animal, slippers, bath robe or shoes.

What does your wish list look like? Do you and your significant other buy gifts for each other? We typically do, but this year we want to save for a bathtub & mattress (to finish our master bathroom, and sleep well)

Our Elf Might Have the Magic to Disappear!

This week I have seen multiple "status" updates on Facebook about the creepy Elf of the Shelf.

After posting about the return of our Elf, I have convinced myself that THIS is the last year for our Elf. For many reasons!


The Elf has been re-named "Tin-Tin" (a nickname Junior had as toddler)
He showed up Thanksgiving night. Arriving in an adorable mailbox (from the dollar store)
and he even was wearing the winter outfit (scarf and skates) that Junior left out for him.

The first night (Thursday) was great! Tin-Tin showed up in the mailbox, on Junior's desk, right next to his Christmas tree.

Then came Friday, I woke up to Junior in my face, bright and early, screaming "MY ELF IS HERE AND HE IS IN MY ROOM!". . . Daddy was lucky enough to be at work! That night,  we needed to find a way to move Tin-Tin to another location....That is when I became Anti-Elf! (the early morning wake up call didn't help!)

Daddy and I were talking bickering about who was going to SNEAK into Junior's  bedroom and re-locate Tin-Tin. At that point, Daddy looked at me and said "I am done with the sneaking around and playing games with this THING!"  Together, we moved the Elf, but he made me stand at Junior's bed, making sure he didn't wake up, while Daddy snuck over and moved the Elf downstairs to hang out in the enormous bag of wrapping paper!

It gets better . . . Not only did we need to find a new spot for him, but we also needed to respond to a letter (thanks to the 2nd grade teacher last year! the same one who brought in the Annalee Elf) After multiple failed attempts and faking creating our letter, Daddy  decided he would write (cursive) really small and on a ripped up piece of paper. So, that was the letter! (2 hours after our mini-debate!) I brought the letter downstairs, rolled it up and stuffed it into Tin-Tin's hands.

"Elfing" night #2 was complete! And Junior  woke up extremely disappointed Saturday morning because Tin-Tin didn't answer all of his questions that were in the letter. (HUGE FAILURE!)

Saturday, Tin-Tin came back again. This time he was hiding out in the Christmas lights down stairs. No gifts, no letters, and a very irritated Daddy. I looked right at him and said, "This is the last year!" and we began a conversation about Junior and his beliefs.
Sunday night, Daddy and I were heading to get a midnight snack from the freezer, when I realized we still didn't hide the stupid Elf. So I grabbed him, threw him in the fridge and we went to bed. We both completely forgot that he was in there, until Junior went to pour himself some milk in his cereal. Opened the fridge door and let out a little "ah" . . . the Elf freaked him out a little bit!

Monday night, we were feeling the same way. Bored with this Elf thing, feeling like it could just disappear and we would be okay with it. I grabbed him out of the fridge, and threw him on our wreath on the door.

Enough is enough! . . . I am jealous of those parents without an Elf on the Shelf!



This morning, while waiting for the library to open, I read three more posts on Facebook about "elf" mischief and complaints! I'm proud of the mothers who choose not to get an elf. Just wish I had the strength to say no in the first place.

Another mother posted, her son's teacher has the elf in class. her son touched it to make it lose magic and disappear because it gives him nightmares.

Then, in response to one of the posts . . . a friend of a friend posted this blog: I Killed my Elf on the Shelf by Kasey Van Norman . . . After reading that post . . .


No more elf after this year! And, Tin-Tin will only be making appearances in our home (no gifts, no treats, no crazy elf-antics!) . . .

Sorry Junior,  but I have to say, that I agree with Daddy and a whole lot of other Mommies!!!

Elfy . . . Pronounced "EL-FEE"

Last year, Elfy twisted in the lights around the window

He also hung out in Junior's stocking!

(I think he also made his way into the doggy one at one point too!)

This year . . . who knows where he will end up hiding!
. . . . Yes, Elfy is just about to make his debut back in time for the real start of the Christmas season.

That's right folks, AFTER Thanksgiving!

We will not turn our Christmas lights on until November 28th!
We will not begin our hunt for a tree until the first week of December.
And Elfy will not make his appearance until . . . . Thanksgiving night!


However, we did get a head start on our Christmas shopping.
And Daddy brought our Target flyer with us. . . you know the fabulous TOY catalog.
We carefully went over the circled items together. Knowing Junior knows he wont get EVERYTHING that he circled.

Next week will be teacher conferences, and we know he has had an awesome beginning to the school year. So Daddy picked out this little token, Winter Outfit

This will be Elfy's new outfit I'm sure!

Junior also asked for this Aviator Set, which will be the outfit he arrives in Thanksgiving night

I wouldn't put it past Junior to combine the two outfits as well!

 

 

Cant wait to update with pictures of our creepy Elfy in his new attire!

 

 

Christmas Shopping. . . Yuck!

Being a Stay At Home "MOM" has its advantages. And definitely some disadvantages as well.

Shopping any day, during school & without children is definitely a HUGE bonus!
Especially when you have to buy those sneaky gifts that they MUST not know you bought.
*cough cough* stocking stuffers *cough cough*

This year Daddy decides that he will join me in shopping for Junior!
Definitely put a huge smile on my face.
1. Because he is helping
2. Because I think it is important for him to choose a gift for HIS son
3. Because he will understand the stress level of getting gifts that the child wants (not what HE wants, as an adult)


However, I have been selfish and wanted to make Christmas shopping into a date night.
You know, NO kids and checking out the sparkly stuff in the stores and walking through a mall with all of the stores decorated pretty . . . AFTER Thanksgiving.


Well, that didn't happen. We ended up going shopping with our 9 month old great nephew.
(He was very well behaved!)  And we ended up going on a Monday, during the day, in the POURING rain!. . . . Not as "romantic" as I had hoped. But we did make the best of it!


Three great things that came out of this trip:
1. Daddy picked some really cool gifts for Junior
2. We spent time together with the baby, which I love watching him with the little man!
3. Daddy now understands why I go shopping during the week, during school and even in the rain!

(oh yeah, #4. Daddy also treated me to a lunch and helped with groceries since we were already out!)


I think know that I have an amazing boyfriend.
And Junior has an amazing daddy!

Gardening = Commitment

"To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow" ~ Audrey Hepburn

And with that said, gardening is my biggest hope in my life right now.
After the last year, the rough patches, and a difficulty believing in myself,
I have found that gardening is something that makes me proud!
(especially when all else fails)


When we moved into the new house, there was this lame "sunroom"
and I wasn't too sure about it. It was small, cold and seemed like a waste of space.
However, this "room" is one of my favorite places to be.

I've decorated the room with a Keurig machine, K-cups, mugs and a toaster on one long table.
And against the "windows" I have placed a table from my father's deceased mother (Grammy)
On that table, I have chosen sunflowers to be the quilted table runner.

I love the room. But what I love even more about that room, is what I do in there.
It has been taken over by seed packets, popsicle sticks for labeling, stray black markers and
of course, a HUGE variety of planters, pots and containers.

Now that yard sale season is over, I've begun a hobby in miniature/fairy gardening.
I want to grow my seeds in the sunroom, purchase plants from other greenhouses and begin this new hobby unlike most others. With this hobby, I am going to COMPLETE my projects!

We have completed one Gnome garden already! I cant wait to post pictures.

But so far, a lot of seeds are beginning to sprout and there is plenty of green coming from the ivy cuttings and the herbs I have brought inside.

Hoping for a success with these plants, that are always seeming to keep me busy :)

Water, Sunshine, Repeat!


(Maybe I was a plant in a previous life. I do love my showers & sunshine!!)

Clematis - an outdoor plant, but it was BEAUTIFUL this year!

Some of my beginner herbs! They are growing out of control

Parsley, front & center ;) With a few more pots in the back.

Everything about this room screams NATURAL, the wood on the wall, the dark green floor, and of course all of these plants. Like the succulent above :) Don't know the name for it, but it is constantly shooting off new pieces.

Halloween (a little late)

This year was a first for us.  .  .  .  . as we are still trying to make our own traditions and settle down into our new life as a family of three (full time).

We decided to give trick or treating a whirl and come up with a plan of some sort. So we started off by visiting aunts, uncles, 'grandparents', another aunt, and Junior suggested that he wanted to go "real trick or treating, like the kind where you go to someone's door and say 'trick or treat'"

So we did. We left my aunts house, hit a few houses in her neighborhood and he was thrilled! Daddy, not so much! But he let him do it anyway and watched us from in the car!

Our last stop was at a close family friends house. She gave Junior a couple of special Halloween sugar cookies, a Lego friends kit, some candy, and of course she shared her TV and frozen pizza with him as well.

Seriously, I love our extended family, and over generous friends. Nights like Halloween made me happy this year. Seeing that smile on our child's face, knowing that we did something with him that made him that happy. . . . Satisfaction!


(and as a side note, EVERYONE knew he was Clark Kent and loved his costume. . . felt good to take the credit for that too!)

Whoooooooooooo loves you?

Owl always love you!


Corny, yes! But everything Junior likes is owls, minions and gnomes. Okay, he is still sort of on an American Girl doll kick too!

But he really likes owls. And there are so many owls out now, its crazy! But everything with owls is more pink/purple than green/blue/yellow or orange.

I decided a few months ago that I was going to sew him a blanket. An owl blanket. This was NO easy task (and still isn't complete!)

I went on fabric.com and decided to order some adorable minky green fabric and some owl print cotton fabric. When they arrived, I couldn't wait to get started on a new snuggly blanket!

However, I suck at sewing. That is not just my own personal opinion, I actually barely passed my "Home Economics" class in high school because I just couldn't sew :)

Guess who (with a little help from Daddy) was able to use the sewing machine and make a blanket? . . . That's right, ME!

We managed to get three out of four sides sewn. I really hope Junior loves it!



Except Daddy told me, "Do you ever feel like you overdo things? Like, become obsessed with owls like he does, and go crazy buying him things?"

Of course I blurted out, "I just want to make the damn kid happy, okay!?!" 

In my own words, I will spoil him if I want to. (Even if Daddy thinks I am going to 'ruin' the owl phase)

"Trinkets"

While researching the subject of gnome and fairy gardens with Junior, I explained that we needed to find "trinkets" to add to the garden once we get the plants in the bucket.

My boyfriend BUSTS out laughing when I said the word trinkets. Then it gets better, he sees that I put a post on craigslist, looking for "trinkets" and laughs more.

I am searching for little dollhouse pieces, anything miniature, bottle caps, thimbles, small things that could be turned into ANYTHING little for the gnomes or a fairy.

I didn't know the word would cause so much laughter!
But deep down, I loved all of the smiles we shared last night :)


Its the simple things in life!

Fall, September is coming to an end!

"Crunching Crinkling, Autumn Leaves, Spiraling Swirling, in the Breeze"

Yesterday afternoon, it was 80 degrees here in Massachusetts. A beautiful fall day, but much hotter than our average fall weather. I wrote the above poem on our outdoor chalk board, as we decorated the front porch!

We did our Sunday trip to the flea market. Bought an adorable antique sled (for decorating the porch in the winter). Then we headed in a different direction to pick some Apples.

I've been enjoying my Pumpkin coffee, watching the leaves change color and taking in the smell of crisp fall air. But I really wanted to do some apple picking and fall decorations yesterday.

This was the first week that I had done our football picks, on my own! I also have managed to get back into reading.

I've been using the internet for some help with great books to read. I use pinterest, amazon and our library's online catalog. I find a book I liked, search for similar books on amazon and pinterest, then I log on the library site and search for the book title. Once I find the title, I request for the library to hold the book for me. . . I receive a text when the book is available, pick it up during my errands and return home to enjoy a good book (with my pumpkin coffee, of course!)


I'm really hoping to figure out how to post pictures. I've been using my phone for photos a lot lately! Considering doing a 365 project! But that is a HUGE commitment for me.

Our chalkboard, mums, wagon & corn stalks!

(edit: added AFTER Halloween)

The colors changing :) LOVE!

Plenty of time, Not enough energy!

Today, 7:30am, 8 month old nephew arrives to be taken care of. 7:45, we are off to drop Junior off at school. 8:05, the baby and I are at Wal Mart, picking up prescriptions for Junior. The baby fell asleep once back in the car and I drove around until 9:00, dropping by the bank to deposit a check (which will disappear by tomorrow) Baby was picked up around 12:45 and I was exhausted. Not because the baby is a lot of work, but because I ran around this morning and didn't sleep last night.

The lack of sleep is kicking my ass more than any crying baby ever could!


However, today I don't want to be a stay at home mom (it changes daily). Then, I read this . . . The following is NOT written by me, but really made me realize that I am not alone!! (YAY!) My response to all of this, is written in pink

1. The title "Stay Home" is a passive-aggressive term. There is nothing flattering, glamorous or remotely attractive about the word "stay." "Too Much Woman to Be Confined to a Cubicle Farm" works better. I swear, it doesn't matter how many times I get my nails done, hair cut/colored, buy a new outfit or attempt a brazillian wax . . . STILL not flattering to stay home!
2. Apparently, you are expected to be "at home" for some parts of the day; particularly those parts when children under the age of 12 are in your care.
3. Repairmen are not sexy in any way. Glad to know, I am NOT the only one disappointed by these creepy/dirty old repairmen. Why can't we have a sexy delivery guy, or someone gorgeous delivering appliances? Just doesn't happen!
4. Nothing very exciting happens. But you need to talk, so the best entertainment is gossip and backstabbing. It is unavoidable and addictive. Being home, I don't even know the latest gossip or backstabbing. I just bitch. And who wants to talk to someone that complains ALL the time. (apparently the only friends I have left!)
5. People will say, "Well, its not like you're working or anything" just moments before they a) sign you up for lame volunteer duties at your child's school, b) dump their own brats on your doorstep, or c) redirect all their home deliveries to your front door (even the fertilizer order). Everyone thinks I will be available at ALL times. Especially when they are in need. Ex: old boss to watch her son, family friend who needs a ride to the doctor and mother, who wants me to let my brothers dog outside because I am home (always!)
6. Cleaning the house is not a problem, keeping it clean is. If the house is as clean at the end of the day as it was when you started, you win. If your child doesn't come in with muddy feet, they are sure to fill the sink with dirty dishes or the laundry room with dirty clothes (every child wears more than one outfit a day)
7. You cannot be late for anything, or with anything. You have nothing else to do. And that is me judging myself! I need to be early or exactly on time for everything! Even picking the boy up from school, must be there 20 minutes early to get a parking spot!
8. Your perceived intelligence drops by at least 50 IQ points. You may have run the computer science department at MIT before you decided to stay at home, but two weeks into the new job and your kids will be asking Dad for help on the family computer. If you ask the 8 year old, I don't know ANYTHING because I don't have a job. Pretty sure that the boyfriends family feels the same way. EXCEPT, reality check . . . I graduated with an Associates in Early Childhood Education AND a Bachelors Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. . . But I still know NOTHING. . .
9. You have no excuse for not exercising. Which also includes, no excuse for weight gain.
10. You have no excuse for not eating a healthy lunch. Because even when the fridge is empty, I can go to the grocery store and buy healthy food. (not really!)
11. You can be truly bored at the same time you are acknowledging that you could be exercising, cleaning the house or watching someone else's kids.
12. The minute you resign form your old position, they promote it to a higher level, increase the salary and bestow a fabulous new title on that bitch who took over from you. I'm not so sure about this one. I know one of my replacements is happy with her job, but she is actually getting paid . . when I wasn't!
13. Your husband either a) shirks all domestic duty, which makes you mad, or b) doesn't shirk any, making you feel guilty. Yay! Something new to fight about! My boyfriend has low expectations. He just wants his son safe & happy.
14. Your children expect you to be at their beck and call. Even in the middle of an emergency manicure, one is expected to drop everything and rush to the school over a perceived "sore stomach."
15. You now have time to launder the sheets. Even if family members are lined up to care for the child . . . some people forget they have a child to pick up! Then that said child, well he thinks you are the biggest piece of shit because YOU didn't show up to pick him up, obviously you were just sitting at home because you don't have a job or anything!
16. Even after 5 p.m., drinking with only children in the house is still considered to be "drinking alone." What, you had a hard day or something? Cant drink "alone" when you are home with the child, because who knows where you may have to bring that child!
17. Your children are no better behaved simply because you're the primary caregiver now. In fact, most often, they're worse. I have to disagree with this one! (so far!)
18. If you dress nicely, neighbours are suspicious. If you dress like a slob, you've let yourself go. If you dress too old, you're middle-aged before your time. If you dress too young, you're a slut.
19. Teachers expect you to be on top of the notes they send home. I couldn't agree with these last two more :( Unfortunately, this is the truth!
20. You're not supposed to be too tired for sex anymore. And if you are, all hell WILL break loose! 



This is what she said . . . (Where I found this information)

Arm Knitting

Last night I decided to try this "30 Minute Infinity Scarf"

Two hours and 30 minutes later.
Three times asking my boyfriend for help.
An 8 year old laughing at me, rewatch the Youtube video.



I made something that looks like a scarf. It is big, chunky and I like it.

Maybe the next one will look more like a scarf? Maybe there wont be a next one.

But, hey I finished a project (craft) and was proud of it!