{Ahh..the little things}

forgotten

Last night I forgot to play tooth fairy to Kaden.  Completely forgot.

This morning, as I rubbed his head to wake him up, he woke up and shoved his hand under his pillow at the same time.

Kaden: HEY!  I didn't get any money!!    me: *gulp*

Because he has already told me he no longer believes, I did not try to play him along.  I just hugged him and apologized, feeling awful.  I went to get some $$ and I slid it under the pillow as he was still sitting there waking up.  He said he knew what I was doing, but smiled a huge grin when he lifted the pillow to find his money & his tooth missing.

Ellie walked in just then, thankfully she had missed it all. 

I still can't help feeling bad.  I know he had outgrown it all 2 teeth ago, but I did it anyway, just in case there was any doubt, and because we still have three more little ones to grow through this stage themselves.

It was my 10th tooth (but 9th time since Ellie's first two were together), so I keep telling myself that my record is pretty good, LOL!  Seriously though, it feels like crap to let your kids down, and I know this is only the beginning of that *sigh*

winter-y wednesdays

It seems that this winter has decided that it likes Wednesdays. 

My MOPS group meets on Wednesdays, and because of all of this SNOW, we've only had MOPS two times since November, instead of the six meetings that were planned.

A friend of mine from MOPS decided that she was going to plan play dates on two different Wednesdays that we did not have a scheduled meeting.  They were snowed out both times.

What is with that?

I am just plain tired of winter-y Wednesdays. 

This is the time of year when we all NEED to get out of the house and enjoy a little grown up time.  Good food, a great bunch of ladies, and no kids for two whole hours :) 

Could someone please let winter know that we are finished with it, and IF it has to stick around, at least make it skip over my Wednesdays!

random thoughts #5

I had mentioned that I won a contest on her blog, and look at the adorable stuff she sent :)  It is a kit to make a mini album and it goes into a coffe cup (folded flat & stitched closed)...too cute!  Reading back through her blog some, I see she offered an on-line class with the kit, I bet that would have been FUN, it is definetly something I will watch for next time. * I can not get my pictures uploaded at the moment, as soon as I started, the camera battery died...but check in later for pics of the cute little kit I won :)

The Pepsi chicken was WOnDeRfuL, if I do say so myself :)  Very moist and tender.  Was it really the Pepsi?  Who Knows.  I had also added a little garlic pepper & some (very little) dill and baked it nice and slow, so it may have just been a combo of everything, who knows?  But it was very good!  The strange thing?  Ellie will eat (and likes) just about anything, and she did not like it. And by not like it, I mean she RAN to the trash to spit it out...weird!

February has been a month filled with fun things & I have a ton of pictures of the kids.  I might have to do a slideshow or something, there are some really cute ones & it would be too much to post about each outing/weekend trip/school function/etc.

They are calling for another snow storm today.  Okay, I just checked & we have been down graded to a snow advisory. 1-2 inches today, and another inch possibly overnight.  Notice this time, I am NOT hoping for a snow day, LOL :)

I picked up another book the other day at the grocery.  I have become obsessed with Jodi Picoult.  I bought Plain Truth, and stayed up late last night reading.  Like I've said before, she is an AMAZING author.  This is the first time that I have read books based on liking the author. (Other than Dave Pelzer, I have read each of his books about his tough-which is a huge understatement- home life ).

I am signing up for a class at the YMCA called All Strength.  I have taken it in the past after having each of the middle two babies, starting soon after my 6 week mark.  I am VERY excited to get myself into a class again, but have worried about the kids in the nursery, etc.  So, I signed up for the 6 AM (!!!!!!!) class to avoid it all, and make a commitment to myself.  I will be back home before everyone is awake, and hopefully will enjoy the extra time in the mornings.  I'll keep you posted, the class begins next week.

just add a little Pepsi...

Tonight, I have chicken breasts baking in the oven, and Ellie is over seeing my cooking. 

Chicken is VERY common around here, so I try to spice it up with new things every now & then.  Tonight I noticed it was drying out a little & decided that I needed to add something to it. 

I looked around the fridge, and I grabbed for a Pepsi (why not??).  I poured it over the baking chicken and Ellie ran all over the house telling everyone that Mommy. put. PEPSI ON THE CHICKEN !!!

Maybe tonight no one will complain about dinner. 

Now, If only I could find a way to make the broccoli & cheese extra special too :)

some new layouts

And a couple more cards for Lois

the rash

I've been meaning to post/ask about the rash for months.

As soon as I think "I need to ask my blogging friends about that rash" it seems to disappear.  The first time I remember it was right before we left for our vacation last August.  I thought she had some strange virus at first.

Then it came back again, and I am assuming it is eczema.  Possibly from a food allergy?  We've tried hydrocortisonce cream, does not help.

Then today, a friend suggested yeast.  She did have a yeast diaper rash once when she was very small, and I have tried that cream too, with no success. 

I have tried to watch her diet, and at first, I thought it was from tomato products.  Then I noticed she was bad after eating pasta with white sauce too, so this past week, I began to think it was from all of the pasta/breads we eat around here.  Which again, made my mind think...could it be a yeast allergy afterall?

No, I have not taken her to the Dr, mostly because it goes away as soon as I think about it.  One day, I called & the only the appt they had did not work because of school pick up, and our Peds office requires that you are seen THAT day for a sick call.  The next day?  It did not look bad *sigh*

It is mostly in her diaper area usually, but spread to her thighs, trunk, and arms when it flares up (which has been maybe 2-3 times since August).  The only time it was reaaally bad was then (in Aug), and now today.  This morning it is all over her face, even on the backs of her hands.  It feels very dry & scaly to the touch, and when it goes away, it leaves flaky skin, just like eczema.

So, here it is.  Tell me, oh blogger friends, what is your diagnosis?  Judi (my Ped friend) Kim(an allergy Momma), any eczema Mommas...are you out there??

p.s. she DID NOT WANT. her. picture. taken. this. morning, you would think it was torture to be still & look at me.  Hopefully if you click on them, you can see it much better

something different

Fishygirl tagged me with this one, and she wanted to know what we were all reading.  Funny thing about me is, I never read at my desk, nor do I even usually put books there.  But, on my real desk (where the home computer is) there is my Bible, and a pregnancy month by month book still hanging around on a shelf.  But, here on my scrapping table where my laptop has lived this week, and where I am now...the  choice below was the only book on it. 

My normal read?  No.  It is not even an actual "read" but captures a little of *me* in it.  Funny thing is, I found it the other day & was considering giving it away on my blog (a little contest of sorts) because I had not used it in a. very. long. time. and felt bad that it was just collecting dust. 

Have you ever noticed that I use run on sentences & tend to talk alot when not asked?  :)

Anyway, here is what you do:

1. Grab the nearest book with at least 123 pages.

2. Go to page 123.

3. Type in the following three sentences.

4. Tag some number of people.

Here you go....

pg 123 of Homespun Gifts from the Heart

Chocolate Raspberry Spread

Measure berries into a large saucepan.  Stir pectin into fruit.  Add Chocolate and butter.

*and if you feel like playing along, go right ahead, consider yourself tagged :)

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What I am really reading?  Nothing at the moment, but just found this book on my shelf the other night that I bought & never read, so I guess it would be next on my list, unless I pick up something else before I start it.  I would like to read any Jodi Picoult book too, as after reading Nineteen Minutes & My Sister's Keeper, I found that I really enjoy her books.  I also read that she uses her characters in other books, and I think that sounds very interesting, because in Nineteen Minutes you really grow to know (and love) the characters.  That book had me thinking about the "people" in it constantly.  In fact, they still come to mind after the book has been finished.  Strange to me. I know they are not real, yet her writing is so powerful that I felt as if her every word were true.

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Here is the rest in case you are curious, or because it sounds YUMMY :)

Chocolate Raspberry Spread

5 cups raspberries

7 cups sugar

1 box pectin

5 squares unsweetened chocolate

1/2 teaspoon butter

Measure berries into a large saucepan.  Stir pectin into fruit.  Add Chocolate and butter.  Bring it to a boil, stirring constantly.  Quickly stir in all sugar.  Return to a full rolling boil for exactly one minute, stirring constantly.  Remove from heat and skim off any foam.

Quickly ladle the mixture into clean, hot jars (Keep the jars standing in hot water in the sink).

Cover the jars with lids & screw on the rings firmly but do not over tighten.  Process the sealed jars in a hot water bath for 10 minutes.  Remove them from the canner and let cool at room temp for 24 hours.

This makes 9 cups. Don't forget to top the jars with ribbon or a fabric topper & accent tag.

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The other day, a friend's little one (who is only FOUR) flipped her middle finger to my kiddos while playing here.  She was mad, and told Ellie she hated her, then up with the finger *GASP*

Today, Zander used his middle finger.  I was SOOOOOOO fuming, I can not even tell you.  I screamed & yelled (not my best parenting moment) and then explained to him that it means a VERY bad word, and that it is NOT acceptable, no matter what.  I am sick at the thought of him doing that in front of someone in public.  It is one thing when they hear a word from your mouth, and you are to blame, but when it is something I would not even do, it is another story all together.  And from a FOUR year old?  Grrrrr....

who wanted this snow anyway?

Yes, we are having a "snow" day...but it has turned out to be not so fun & exciting.  And it turned out to be an icy/rainy/sleet day, not pretty snow.

Was I excited about this day?  Seriously?  *sigh*

I did get to sleep in, which was WONDERFUL!  But soon after, the chaos began.

The kids need some spring around here, like now.  I love love the snow, but they need to get out and get rid of some of this energy. Today, we ended up going to an indoor McDonalds & the YMCA.  Even though school was cancelled, the roads were not too bad and we reeeeallly needed to get out.

  So much for my nice relaxing snow day at home, filled with arts & crafts & baking and good times had by all  :)

And to make matters even worse?  Our neighbor volunteered to babysit tonight & let us have some quiet time out of the house.  Yet now, after a rather mild "snow" day...

Wouldn't you know, it looks like a blizzard outside (see pic taken just a few minutes ago) grrrrr....

Maybe next time I'll be more careful what I wish for, huh?

in love #2

Ava had pigtails for the first time the other day :)

in love

This past week, I decided to order a few scrapbooking things.  I was not sure where to start, so I just did some surfing & looking at some sites.  I found this FABULOUS site & fell in love with EVERY SINGLE thing they had.  I had not realized (call me clueless) that these sites that offered monthly kits were selling a collection (which is why they call it a "collection".... ahem) of various brands of things.  WOW  :)  I feel silly that I did not know this, yet because I do not live where there is a scrapbooking store other than JoAnn's, I am not surprised. I have looked at some sites that offer these kits before, but never have had the money to agree to the $30+  a month either, so I never did.

Anyway, while drooling over the things at Scarlet Lime, I found that they actually had an add-on in stock left over from November.  I also had birthday $$ set back to spend on something special.  WooHoo! 

Today in the mail, I found a box of the best. things. ever.

I am sure that my pictures just do not do it all justice, but there is soooo much to love :)

I can not wait to try out all of my new things!  I think it would look great with some black & white pics, don't you?  I took a few silly ones of Ava and I yesterday, I might have to add some filters, change them to b&w and get busy...

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I never mentioned that the problem with my laptop was actually an internal fan that was no longer working.  Yesterday while shopping at Walmart, I picked up this chill mat and things have been running fine ever since. YAY!

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We are expecting 4-5 inches of snow tonight, and I am excited & hoping for a snow day tomorrow  :)  I stocked up at the grocery yesterday, and would be perfectly happy to be home and snowed in for a few days.  We'll see what tonight brings  *fingers crossed*