Addictive

We are on our third big container of THIS:
It all started innocently enough with a free sample at Costco. Little E, who is by far my pickiest eater, was immediately impressed and begged me to buy some. How could I resist a food he might actually eat and enjoy? So we came home with a super huge bag of chips and hummus. The boy has been addicted ever since. He will inform me to no end when our stash is getting low, and begs and begs for chips and hummus at almost every meal and especially to share as an after school snack. The other kids were a bit slow to turn, preferring salsa with their chips, but sure enough each has slowly tasted, re-tasted and turned to hummus as their tonic of choice. I knew it was getting bad when Little E suggested the other day that we should try making our own and then maybe even sell it. I have an addict on my hands.
Speaking of addictions, the boy is still into wearing this park ranger shirt on an almost daily basis. Loves it to no end. The shorts are finally out of the question (too short and I keep my house too cold), but he refuses to believe that the top is too small (it's a 2T)! The deal is that I get to touch my cold hands to whatever skin is being revealed... he hates that. Anyone seen any bigger park ranger shirts?

Strength Training

2010 is the year I will turn 30. Somehow this knowledge has made me much more committed to physical fitness. And really, as someone who really has not been a big fan of exercise, I'm extremely proud of myself for my efforts and success thus far. Since New Years, I refuse to shower before I exercise. So if you see me in my gnarly old sweats and a pony tail at 1pm, you know the work out has yet to be had. And it WILL be had. But I hate that. Not the old sweats and pony tail, but the no shower thing. So it's been a bit of a motivator. Also I feel stronger. THAT is a HUGE motivator. Exercising makes me think twice about that second hand full of m&ms (always gotta take the first or it's not calling living), and so I've also noticed a change in my weight and size... another motivator. Little E will often ask me why I have to exercise, so I've pointed out the fact that I'm going to be healthier and stronger and who doesn't want a healthy and strong Mom?! Happy may be a factor too.

At any rate, my two little guys have taken to exercising with me. Sometimes for a few minutes, other times for a good 20 minutes or so. They make me laugh - which can be hard when you're trying to work on your abs! They've taken to leaving out cans of food that they use for weights, their jumping jacks are so freakin' hilarious, and the commentary is to die for. The other day, The Toddler pointed at Jillian (from the 30 Day Shred) and said, "I be him... he bad guy!" Little E had no choice but to choose who he was from the "sidekicks." Another time, the DVD was encouraging me to keep on going even though it was hard, and Little E shouted back, "This is NOT hard!" Oh to be five again.

It's been fun working out with my little guys, and I think that the humor they bring to it is strengthening our little buddy-hood as well. Love it.

PS- George Lucas is nuts during exercise time. I sometimes have to lock him in my room to keep him from jumping on my pony tail or attacking my legs! He is the craziest cat... is THIS move even remotely normal?

Cub Car Race Thingy

That's what I call it. At first by accident, cause I really couldn't remember the name, but then just to annoy my husband - sorry sweetie! It is officially called "The Pinewood Derby"... but I have some official issues with scouting, so I tend to get a bit, um, sacrilegious about the whole thing.

Mr. T chose the design of the car, but I'm not sure if he touched it again for quite some time. It's a Dad thing, really. I'm not sure why they even invited the boys to the race. Okay, I'll be nice now.


Mr. Man had a great time working on his Mr. T's hummer and Mr. T enjoyed painting it and adding his own touch: like a gun on top, and sand all over it - including in the wheels and axles (which made it probably the slowest car at the race). He did win a prize for best looking vehicle. And I think they all had fun. So yeah for the cub car race thingy! It is definitely an event worth recording.

Loss

When I was in high school, a close family friend and neighbor who was just a few years older than I passed away. Her death occurred due to an accident, and I truly felt that someone dying that young had to have been an accident. It was not my first brush with death, and I felt suddenly of the reality that it would not be my last. At her funeral we sang the hymn, "Each Life that Touches Ours for Good." And to be honest, I can never think of that song without thinking of her, and without thinking about those who are close to me who have passed on. It is bitter sweet.

This morning my Aunt Pam passed away.

The words from that song have been going through my mind ever since I heard the news.

We heard yesterday that she was in the hospital and that only time would tell how long she had to live. The kids drew their best pictures and cards to send to decorate her room. I didn't get to put them in the mail. My heart is full, my cheeks are wet, my mind mingling with memories as well as resolutions and thoughts of the loss that her absence from earth will bring.

And I suddenly understand why we say we lose someone to death. Her dear husband and children are at a huge loss; the world has lost a most amazing teacher; I have lost an aunt who was always so full of life - so positive, giving, and truly steadfast.

With this loss comes the gaining of memories. The more full realization of her life as it has touched mine and so many others'. I can't wait to see her again someday.

*Aunt Pam is standing next to me in the photo up above: she has fabulous red hair and a great smile

Auntie Visit

{playing dress up}

My kids are so lucky to have the coolest Auntie ever! We were thrilled to have Mr. Man's little sister up for a visit last weekend - so fun! Crazy to me to think that she was the age of my daughter when we got married! (And by the way, Miss J now has bigger feet than her Auntie and is just a few inches shy of passing her up in height too!) We have loved watching her grow up into this totally wonderful woman, but still love that she is young and fun as an Auntie to our kids.
She's a pretty great sister-in-law too!

Saving

We like to save money and the world at our house, and we love when the two go hand and hand. Mr. Man is a huge recycling nazi and the rest of us have slowly obliged and learned to really reduce, reuse and recycle.

Here are a couple of ways we are "saving" at our house.
I no longer buy napkins. (A childhood staple.)
My Mom has made the kids these adorable bright and fun napkins for their school lunches and as she has made more for us, we use them for EVERY meal. I have some white ones that were a homemade wedding gift (with a tablecloth) that I pulled out and have been using as well. The kids love how fun these are, and they are small and simple to just throw in with my regular wash. So I really don't feel any cost. Miss J has enjoyed making these for cousin and friend gifts as well... choosing fabric that she feels fits the individual.


I do own paper towel, but it's only used for window/mirror cleaning and greasy bacon and such. Otherwise we use towels. My Mom, sister and I found a fun tutorial online and made cute towels with scraps of fabric.

Last but not least, my swiffer refill invention. Once we moved I bought my first swiffer to do my floors. Love it. But did NOT love the cost of the refills. So I pulled out some old cloth diapers (that I used as burp rags) and folded them up, cut them to size and had my Mom sew them shut and add velcro so they'll stick to my swiffer. They work great. I only have three, and I just keep washing them and re-using them.
You'll note that, in essence, my MOM has been the one SAVING me in each instance!!! Thanks Mom.

What are some ways YOU are saving?

the first time I can't think of a title

doing homework together

Can I just say how much I love my kiddos?! They crack me up on a daily basis, and are just such great kids. Last Sunday the two eldest watched "Legacy" and then spent the rest of the day BEING pioneers. They begged me to take pictures and have been asking if I posted them on my blog yet (have I mentioned I love these kids?!)... so I must oblige!

This little dude is SUCH a character. Oh my.

But I LOVE that he is helping cross one project off my list. Check these bad boys out:

Can you believe that my baby is big enough for this already? Wasn't he just THIS little?

I sent Mr. Man out with The Toddler a couple of weeks ago to get potty treat. They came back with a ginormous bag of mini milky ways. Ridiculous potty treat, if you ask me. Especially when the little guy is downing at least six of them a day. So we got a "smaller" treat and now the milky ways are just for number two. I love these types of projects, the kind I can actually complete! And while we leave the house with much trepidation these days, I can see a light at the end of my potty training life - and some diaper bucks in my hand that can go towards food storage!

A Major Weakness

In all my recent organizing, and with my homeschooler on a special trip and Mr. Man working in a land far far away, I've had some time to really focus on some unfinished projects. (Also, potty training, but that's a whole other post!) And so I've decided to venture into a project that screams all of my weaknesses. It scares me beyond belief. And it's something my Mom is GREAT at, and so I keep hoping the gene that passes that along to me will suddenly show up once I make more than half an effort. So far it hasn't shown up, and I'm more overwhelmed than EVER.

The project: Emergency Preparedness & Food Storage.

I suck so bad at this. It's not even funny how big my file folders (on the computer and in my filing cabinet) are with lists, instructions and advice in this area. I am always gathering tools, just not sure how to start using them. But I want to. I know I need to. So I'm "trying".

We had an okay pantry/food storage before we moved. We used it frequently, rotated through it wonderfully, but I have no idea how many "months" supply we had or if we could have really "survived" on it. We used it all up so we wouldn't have to move with any food. But knowing what I do now about the lack of ALDIS and the expense of food out here, I would have stocked up instead. I did the same thing with things like toilet paper, toothpaste, and other non-food items - used them up instead of moving with them.

It seems that since moving I've just bought what we needed and then rebought as we ran out. Rarely stockpiling, though having a Costco has helped a bit with that. And while my mother will probably have a heart attack over this, I have to admit that I have no clue what is inside my 72 hour kits. I know I took the nasty old food out years ago, and I'm sure we don't have enough of anything for our whole family in them... but they hang nicely in the garage! (Sorry Mom.)

This type of project is just so beyond me. It's not something that I feel can ever truly be finished or accomplished and so it's hard for me to even begin. Trust me. I've been playing with "starting" my organized food and "stuff" storage for 10 years now. I can use any advice you have.

At any rate, my goal is to have a 3 month supply of pretty much everything. But I want it to be organized. So far I've made a list of every non-food item I can think of that we use: the brand/store, size and cost, how often we use how much, how much we have and how much we need for a year (though, again, I'm just going to try to start with 3 months and then slowly work my way up to 6 and so forth). I feel like I have a handle on that. (I hope.) Now for the food. Any suggestions?

Hope

The Pink Stroller and "Baseballs"

Last summer our youngest son went through a doll and stroller phase. We tried a grocery cart and lawn mower, any kind of more masculine push toy, but he opted for the stroller. I sent Mr. Man out to find one for him, and he returned with a hot pink stroller with hearts. His reasoning was that if he was going to push a stroller around, we would have to document it being a very "girly" venture.

For the past little bit the stroller has stayed in the toy closet, only coming out when little girls happen to be over. But recently The Toddler has taken a new interest in it. He loves to try to buckle the cat into it (which his older brothers successfully did for him), tries to buckle himself in it (always safety conscious) and especially loves to speed it around the house pretending he's a construction worker, or else ramming it into the walls and furniture or pushing it down the stairs. Not so girly now.

He has also started into the dress-up stage big time. Capes, construction goggles, swords and lightsabers are all coming out of retirement (not that the weapons ever get much rest over here). I love this stage. But it is also the start of him being aware and picky about his clothing choices. And I do try to give him choices. However, if he had his way, he would wear his "baseballs" as he so lovingly refers to his football pajamas, every day. In fact, since they are not warm enough to wear in sub zero temperatures at night here, he will often change out of his warm feetie pjs and into his "baseballs" in the morning. We have a deal where I get to put a pair of pants over top when we leave the house... but it is still typically a battle to get him to wear anything BUT. Oh well. He's pretty darn cute!

Mittens

I love me some mittens. To this day I refuse to grow up and wear gloves.

January is also a fun time to do all sorts of mitten crafts and activities. We will be spending a whole week having fun with Jan Brett's "The Mitten" for kindergarten as well. (Just google Jan Brett The Mitten and see all the fabulous links that will take you and your kids to amazing realms of learning and activities!)

I saw this cute idea over at Clover Lane and decided that my Christmas-decor-put-away house needed some smallish winter decor as well. My mittens aren't as cute as hers because I put my little kiddos to work making them, and they learned some good button sewing and stitching skills too. I think they turned out adorably. Today we got much more snow, and the view from my mitten window was darling (not so darling when I had to sport my mittens and SHOVEL it all). I was trying for all shades of blue for our little felt mittens, but The Toddler insisted on making a green one. And I've learned to pick my battles.


Memory lane found these sweet posts about mittens from winters passed:
The Mitten Curse
Four Year Old Insight

Activities

I do daily morning "activities" with my boys, and was looking for some fun new ideas. I came across this amazing blog and thought I would share THE ACTIVITY MOM with all of you Mom's and teachers... I think her son is close to my little guy's age, and I'm realizing how much I baby him even in the learning department! Oh well, hugs and kisses and cuddles won't last forever! And I do think it's pretty cute that his "default" color for ones he doesn't know is always his favourite color: ORANGE!

To Satiate Your Hunger

Pictures of curtains forthcoming - once they are all hung and the lighting is right.

For now, please enjoy these pictures of my sweet little girl skinning and cutting off the head of an elk.
She now carries around elk teeth and a bullet in her pocket to commemorate the event.

You can't tell, but she went to this with her finger nails painted and glitter on her cheeks.
What a girl!

New on her wish list: a gun and the chance to go hunting. Yikes.
(None of my boys would get close - including Mr. Man.)

Certain Curtains

When we moved to our townhouse for Mr. Man to pursue his PhD I read carefully through the lease to find a section that stated that we were to hang curtains or window treatments within three months of moving in. Most of the windows had blinds, and the large windowed doors in the dining area backed into a field, so I felt pretty comfortable and put off spending money on window treatments, waiting for a notice to land on my door demanding I do so. At first Mr. Man wasn't sure the program was really what he wanted, and as usual we weren't happy with our new town (it takes us a year, I've learned, to really settle in somewhere new). With the chance that we may be picking up to leave after just a school term or year, I didn't even consider hanging curtains.

Around Christmas time a new family moved into our neighborhood and ward and we became fast friends. The first thing she did was make and hang curtains, and I admit, it really had a homey effect. I loved her bright red curtains up front, and I started to notice curtains whenever I was out shopping or in others' homes. I took the plunge and got curtains for our back doors. Then I hung my Oma's dutch valance on the front. It may have been over a year later before I hung a nice window treatment in our master bedroom, and the kitchen window even sported a little window treatment... though the kids' rooms never were spoiled with such treatment. A good friend actually noticed and commented that since we had put up some curtains that must mean we knew we were staying, and I suppose it did represent a symbol of stability.

Our new home has huge beautiful windows. We have some great mountain views, and the sky here really is big and blue and bright, so once again curtains were not high on my spending/priority list. The home came with honeycomb blinds that really do help keep the cold out, so we're set for that and for nighttime privacy as well. About a month or so ago I found a great curtain rod that I loved on sale and so I picked it up. It has sat on my window sill, and I have literally had to dust it. This week I got some coupons for a favourite store and we printed off several and went back and back to get four panels of curtains for our living/family room (depending if you ask Mr. Man or I what it's called) for nice and cheap. Tonight the first two are up and that rod is no longer sitting on my sill. The effect is stunning - or so I think. And the symbolism is not lost on me: the curtains are hung; we are here to stay.

Holidays

I'm in denial that the lazy mornings and time spent together is almost at an end. Back to school on Monday is both bitter and sweet. With most of us getting sick the week before Christmas vacation, we've had a grand total of three weeks together. The start of this week it was pretty obvious that we were all getting a little sick of each other... but thankfully we found some fun diversions.

The holidays consisted of Grandparents visiting (oh happy days), family traditions, museums, last basketball games, lots of little parties, enjoying our new kitten (oh how the kids can play with him) as well as other new birthday and Christmas gifts, lots of sledding, cross-country skiing, hot tubbing (and LOTS of hot chocolate), an unexpected but so enjoyed visit from good friends, ice skating, sibling sleepovers every night, playdates and neighbors over, project completing, and new projects started, New Years partying and staying up till midnight (for all but The Toddler and I) and just unwinding and spending time together.

We are finally starting to settle in and feel like we belong here. Not completely, mind you, but there are much less tears nowadays than there were the last few months of missing things and people from our old home. Hopefully this new year will bring on that settled feeling more and more as we make this our home.

(lots of pictures in no particular order - mostly for Grandparents!!!)