Saturdays!

I love Saturday! Have since I was a kid, usually Saturdays in our my parents house meant listening to:
The Stones at top volume...this is one of my Dad's favorite songs and yes he will dance around the living room just like that! Saturdays also meant pancakes or french toast and pjs till noon...until I started swimming with the USS team on Saturday mornings in which case I came home to all of this enjoyment instead of waking up to it.

These days it means ESPN sports is on the TV, scrambled eggs and bacon are sizzling away in the kitchen and the coffee is brewing! Kids have been up since 8:30 and laundry is running.

We also practice our grins with a little tummy time..

And since we're getting so big and all, it's time to figure out sitting while playing with the favorite giraffe.

We sometimes run errands on Saturday, but really I hate it so try my best to get all that stuff done during the week and be a homebody...well backyard body works too and since we live in the South these days were winter is a mere 2 months long we can enjoy the outdoors for quite a bit longer than possible in Denver. Mid-October and still in the 80s...mind-boggling to someone who's been in the cold for 9 years.

 My husband LOVES to take care of the cars, inside and out he will spend time cleaning them and taking care of them. He changes his own oil and makes sure any work needing done is done by the best.

I'd say this little helper is one of the very best around...

And when we're done helping Daddy wash cars there is plenty of room to run and explore, pick flowers and play with the dog...even give Mummy a bit of a heart attack by getting very close to the edge of the dock and peering into the water for fish! (I could not take a picture of that for fear she'd take a splash right as I clicked...then there'd be the internal do I put down the camera and jump in or just jump in...just kidding of course I'd put down the camera first :P)

And when it starts to get late in the day or too cool for all that outside fun, we'll kick up our feet, put on our red and cheer for the Nebraksa Huskers! Go Big Red! (unless your name is Kaitlyn in which case Go Red Big!)

College football is a big deal in this house, actually football in general and while I'm no expert on the game and have a million questions to drive my husband crazy with, I love to watch and cheer, mentally deciding who I want to win and then getting excited when I'm right!

My hubby is a Huskers fan, has been most of his life and our family has joined in the cheering and the red mentality...I have two orders in at the moment to deck the kids out in Huskers gear...though maybe I can cancel one since Daddy's old hat seems to be more fun...(just kidding Shelby!)

Saturdays are full of happiness and relaxation...today I'm enjoying the smells of my new recipe in the crock pot (if it tastes as good as it smells I'll share :P), the sounds of the game on TV and my kids giggling on the floor, the cool breeze coming through the back door, the taste of my coffee and leftover dessert from last night and the comfort of my pjs!

Ahhh Saturday you are the best!

Just be who you are...

Sigh, I write this in frustration tonight...over the last few weeks on facebook I have seen numerous articles and websites posted or discussed about "Mummy stuff". How we parent, how we're looked at as mum's and what defines us as a parent, how others view us as a parent, etc, etc, etc.
I've seen the "cloth diaper, selectively vaxing, baby wearing, co-sleeping" slogans, the "formula fed" onesies from Old Navy...which I have found a few articles on but have not actualy been able to find on their site.
http://www.examiner.com/parenting-politics-in-national/old-navy-fuels-breastfeeding-debate-with-controversial-onesie

Breastfeeding is great, wait how long are you doing it for? you wear your baby? you don't own a bumbo/jumper/swing? you feed your child solids before 6 months of age? you cloth diaper? you let them CIO? you swaddle them? you, you, you...

I could write a book on the types of questions and the number of times its asked, followed with the responses we get...I'm sure we all could as parents, as mothers.

There is a youtube video out there called mompetitors or something it's 5 mins of crap talking between two mothers, it annoys me too much. I couldn't even finish watching it. I mean really? http://www.parenting.com/new/blogs/parenting-post/erin-zammett-ruddy/ever-come-across-mompetitor-are-you-one
Are we that out to get each other? Both are wrong the holier than though attitude is a two way street. I fall into both categories discussed with both kids both at different times....though it kinda icks me out to say categories cause really my kid might be eating an organic homemade chicken nugget while wearing a shirt from walmart, nursing her vaccine spot and talking to me about why she was naughty and hugging me. I mean if we look at it that way my kids are screwed...anyone know a good therapist might as well sign them up now.

In all seriousness; Why do we as parents call each other out? Who decided their parenting way was better than the next person and then decided it was okay to put others down? It makes me sad and mad all at the same time that instead of encouraging and supporting others as we take on this challenge of parenting we find ways to put others down to simply make ourselves feel better about the decisions we've made. There is no guide book. Babies don't pop out via vagina or c-section or however the heck the doctor gets them out while keeping both mother and baby alive with a how to guide. There isn't someone who knows it all. There never will be. No parent has been there done that, until we can clone ourselves, our lives and our kids not one other person in this life is like another.
Parenting is HARD! If you think it's easy you clearly have never had a 3 year old...because mine is giving my 27 year old head grey hair and smile lines all at the same time.
So how can we ask people to fit into a cookie cutter mode? I sure can't.

I mean crap I formula fed one kid and am breastfeeding the next one...do I love one more than the other?  I homemade all of one's baby food, the next one might get store bought...do I love more than the other? my daughter wasn't cloth diapered until 7 months, my son we started at 3 weeks. I was a working mum with my daughter and I'm staying home with my son (well and my daughter but she had to wait until 3 to get me home with her). Again we're clearly going to need therapy here people!

Which brings me to another point that totally grosses me out, the working mother/stay at home mother debate...sigh this lady I would like to personally punch in the face (no that's not a threat it's just a figure of speech) http://www.ncregister.com/blog/hey-stay-at-home-moms-get-a-job
Really? I have no words for this...well scratch that I have a lot of words mostly fueled but disgust that people not only think this but say it. I did the working mother gig, it was not for me! Everyone said it would get easier...it didn't ever. I suffered anxiety for 2 years and 8 months. I HATED every.single moment of working as a mother, I lied to myself and to my friends and even more to my company that I enjoyed working and being away from my kid...lied. It wasn't for me. This stay at home mother thing is, I'm happy, content, stress free, anxiety free, I truly wake up bursting with happiness (eww wheres the barf bag when you need one eh?) each morning. BUT not everyone is like me, see above if your confused, some mothers love to work, need to work, feel happy working. So am I an anti-feminist because I chose the so-called 'old fashioned' role of staying home and taking care of my kids? Was I feminist in the first place who had a lighting strike change of mind?

It's just dumb really.

Admittedly I've fallen victim to this practice, debated the ins and outs of why one way is probably better than the other. But at the end of the day I've come to realize that it's NOT what defines me. My children are my life, don't get me wrong but the way I parent them is not what defines me as a person. I make choices daily on what to do or say to my kids. What they will and won't be allowed to have, eat, see, do, etc, etc, etc. I hold onto the hope that *I* am making the best decisions for *my* kids. I'm putting a little faith in dr.s and research and a lot of my own gut feelings.

I want what's best for them, just like every other parent out there...and yeah I say every other cause jeez have you watched the news? lets me honest there are some crazy people given the title of parent out there...

Just be who you are, make your own rules, love your kids...and give a big fat middle finger to those that question what your doing, I sure do!

Giveaway, giveaway, giveaway!!

On any given day you can find giveaways from various blogs, websites, facebook pages, companies, etc, etc, etc.
I enter some now and then, never really crossing my fingers too tight or concerned about it other than hoping for a stroke of luck!
HOWEVER, two amazing women that I know have teamed up for a giveaway and this one HAS meaning! If you are unaware or live under a rock October is breast cancer awareness month!

In this year alone more than 200,000 people will be diagnosed with breast cancer...notice I said people (men account for over 8% a year of breast cancer diagnosis) ...from that 200,000 roughly 40,000 people will die.

Get your mamagram if you're in the age group or family risk and every woman person should do monthly checks on themselves! Know your body and take care of yourself...

And go enter this giveaway! $25 donantion to a cancer society of your choice in addition to an amazingly, beautiful hat to sport this Fall...

Hallee the Homemaker Giveaway!

Menu Monday

Menu for the week 10/11-10/17

Monday:
Lunch-Turkey and Cheese wraps with mayo and a side of carrots
Dinner- Butternut Squash Casserole

Tuesday:
Lunch-MOPS meeting brunch today (I'm taking 2 loaves of Banana Bread and fruit salad)
Dinner- Eggplant Parmasean, steamed green beans

Wednesday:
Lunch- Tuna Melts on English Muffins with a side of apples
Dinner-Chinese Chicken Salad

Thursday:
Lunch- Egg Salad Sandwiches with a side of canteloupe
Dinner-Pesto mini pizzas

Friday:
Lunch- Yoghurt parfait with homemade granola
Dinner- Silent Auction event, dinner there (I'm taking my Triple Berry Crisp)

Saturday:
Lunch- Grilled Turkey and cheese sandwiches, side of peach
Dinner- Crock pot lasagna, garlic bread and fresh salad

Sunday:
Lunch- Birthday lunch with family for hubby and his Aunt
Dinner- Sandwiches if hungry

Coupons!

Okay to be honest coupons irritate me, I mean why do I have to go through all this extra work to save money? If you're going to sell it to me for that price in the end why not just offer it at that price in the beginning? Sometimes I feel like couponing, other days I really can't be bothered to save an extra 50cents on that shampoo or laundry detergent or box of crackers...it's time consuming, something that I seem to have less and less of these days and most of all it's just annoying!
Scrolling through lists and lists, going through the cupboards and thinking of items you will potentially need in the future, stockpiling then forgetting you saved that coupon or remembering only to find it has expired! So maybe it's more of user error than anything else here...

I sit in awe of my friends that can go to the store and save 50% or some even as lucky to get 80% of savings on their purchases...but then remember how much time they spent doing so...maybe if I got into it I could be better at it? People with their billfolds of coupons marked down and organized.

I do peruse some fabulous sites from time to time and print off a few coupons, some that I have used...I will say my favorite coupons are the ones from http://www.kroger.com/ you can load up your shopper card number, look through the coupons and add them to the card...so you CAN'T forget to use them because it's automatic! Genius!

But again if you're going to offer that price to me in the end...can't we just get it in the beginning!! sigh

My other complaint about coupons is they seem to be for processed and junk food. I have yet to see a coupon for veggies, fruit, organic meat or the like...I do however see lots for PopTarts or Chips or Ice Cream. That's just encouragment for someone to buy junk food and feeds into the complaint that in this country it's cheaper to be fat than thin. In reality it's not...I can buy whole grain pasta, tomatos, spinach and low fat cheese and make a meal for 4 for under $10 with leftovers.

At the moment I do love http://www.hip2save.com/ they have some great prices on things I actually use as well.

I've been told I should buy the Sunday paper, so tomorrow after Church I'm going to find the local 7-11 or equivalent and purchase said Sunday paper and see if it's worth it!

A local/regional coupon site that has pretty decent stuff is: http://pinkcouponcafe.com/

Another great site is http://www.coupons.com/

I have a goal in Novemeber to use as many coupons as I can and take the time to do it successfully...we'll see how much I can save in a month with groceries and determine if I 'really' want to take the time to coupon and make it my thing...or not!

Wordless Thursday...

Okay I'm a day behind...I've been caught up in my sewing world and giggling uncontrollably at my kids, my heart gets bigger daily with these two!

Blake is beyond happy to sit on the floor and play with his big sis...big sis isn't as sure these days! We go from "Mum I love Blake him should stay here" to not wanting anything to do with him...I only imagine these get worse as they get older! For now I'll enjoy each happy moment...drool and all!

Did you know that a box...

Is never just a box...

But a place of ridiculous happiness...

And the giggles today continued when I remembered my Dad's gift to Blake from Belgium...

They are beyond awesome, the sunglasses fit ontop of the binky...perfect for babies!



 I mean how can you not at least smile at that...

Eyes bigger than your Belly

This is a "famous" expression...I've looked all over and can't seem to find where it came from, but I remember being told this quite often when I was younger! Usually when I put too much food on my plate and then couldn't finish it!

I was reminded of this on Monday when I ventured out to the fabric store...About 2 years ago I bought a sewing machine with great ambition, around that time I also bought this awesome grey sweatshirt material with butterflies on it and ideas of a cute outfit for K...well that material is was still in one piece 2 years later...

 Now it looks like this...the beginning of what I hope will turn into a cute warm winter dress!
Hope is the key word there as I am not by any means talented or patient when it comes to sewing. In fact at this very moment said sewing machine and I are in a fight! I have an email into the expert, aka my lovely mother, for some advice before I chuck the thing into the lake.

But back to Monday and the adventure into the fabric store...

 This is all the fun I found, everything was in the clearance section! I have discovered that 'boy' patterns are hard to come by but found two great ones to attempt to make some pants out of for B to wear to Church. I found some equally awesome fabric for Kaitlyn to make either two pairs of pants out of or a skirt and pants or maybe even another dress? The lovely red and gold holly fabric caught my eye and gave me the brilliant intentions of a Christmas dress!

I love craft stores and fabric stores, they are full of good ideas, good intentions, great ambition and wonderful, colourful fabrics and every.single.thing you could ever dream of making or doing in the craft world. Causing my mind to race, plans to unfold and amazing masterpieces to come to mind. Of course I buy all these wonderful ideas and then once they get home they tend to sit in a pile for a year or two while the reality of my skills set in and the realization of my patience level come into play. But this time I am determined, really I am...

Or have my eyes been a bit bigger than my sewing skills when I hit up the fabric store...

I have ambition, now if I could borrow someone's patience for a few weeks we might actually get a few cute outfits from this loot.

If you hear screaming and swearing and a splash, it wasn't meant to be...