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Simple Ways to Keep Household Chores Organized
I am not a clean freak. A clean bathroom is such a good feeling. Dumping the dirty water in the utility sink after washing the kitchen floors makes me smile. Crawling into bed at night with newly washed sheets is heavenly. But getting it all done. Such. A. Pain! Enter the power of Google Calendar (my preferred family-calendar). I use their simple Task interface to list the necessities. Then my must-dos are integrated with the family calendar as well as my weekly meal plan and it is all simple and easy to stay organized. Some things are done every 10 days, some things once a month and then some things even…
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My Inspiration, the Veteran in my life
Veterans Day, a day to honor and thank veterans, has come and gone. However, the opportunity to acknowledge and appreciate a veteran should never be passed. As an Army National Guard wife I swell with pride whenever my husband wears his uniform to serve our country. When I remember deployment and months that I have been without him I shed a tear but then think to myself we did it! When I think about how his very basic need to serve has driven him to do just that, and to do that with honor, I remember the many qualities that attracted me to him so many years ago. But my pride in my husband stems much further back…
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Being an Only Child … for moments in time
I’m not an only child. I am the oldest of three. Neither are my boys. There are four boys from 19 years old to 2 years old. They are my heart walking around outside of my body. And I’m laughing (with her of course) at a very dear friend who just found out they are pregnant with Baby 2 and are worried that older brother is going to be jealous. Ah life is about to change (all for the better) for them! You know that opportunity though when you get time with just Mom or Dad? It is priceless. So walk with me down memory lane. I was a junior in…
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Full of Thanks
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday by far. Christmas and Easter shape my life but have become way too commercialized and, in general, we’ve lost the meaning. There’s not much pressure with Thanksgiving though. Wednesday I’ll turn the music up, bake some cookies, pies and bread. I’ll enjoy having the kids’ help once in awhile (especially with the cookie part) and then Thanksgiving, this year, we’ll head to hub’s family gathering; sixty to seventy of his closest relatives. No fuss, just family. I also love taking the time to enjoy what we are thankful for. This year, at dinner, we have gone around the table each day and said something we are thankful for. …
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New Friends, Motherhood and Growth
We are well into the autumn schedule. Boys are at school, my toddler and I are settling into a great routine, which includes some Disney Channel, Lego-time and lots of books. Plus lots of crock-pot time, a newly-painted bedroom and garden canning and storage for the winter months. It has been a great fall so far! But I’m taking on new adventures too. This year that includes MOMSNext. I’m a huge advocate for MOPS. That organization turned my life around from being a lonely mom with not many friends in a new area with a toddler and baby, to an involved mom part of a group; wanted, loved, befriended, needed. …
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Fight Like a Girl
I am surrounded by boys. Not only am I the mother of all boys (four to be exact), I am also the sister of two brothers (no sisters for me). Boyhood smells, sounds, sights and visions have encompassed my life since my first baby brother was born about 36 years ago. To say that I have had an impact on all of these boys’ lives is an understatement; the princess, the queen, the “only” girl. But I also come from a long line of strong-girls. My mom, my grandmothers, aunts, cousins, friends. All had an impact on my life and helped me know what it was to be a girl. My…
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A Heavy Dose of Perspective
I am working hard at the kitchen counter labeling glue sticks, crayons, markers, rulers, binders, everything but the kitchen sink. In just a few days from now my newly titled second and fourth graders will be off to their first day of school. Our days will grow suddenly quieter. My two-year old will wonder where “EWWWIIII and IN” are. Nap time will be all about me, or at least finding the kitchen counter so the boys can come home to a study environment for homework. I think all this through with a heavy dose of excitement for the future as well as deep-thoughts from the soul of a mom who just said goodbye to…
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You Scream, I Scream …
I have a fun loving, head strong, wonderful two year old! As any mother may gush I think he is the best two year older this side of the Mississippi. However, he is a screamer. One of today’s many episodes happened in the library. Of all places. He’s also had ear piercing, atom splitting, dog-hiding under the pillow scream fits at the grocery store, in the kitchen, in the front yard, at the pool, on walks, in public restrooms. You name it, he’s screamed.The problem, usually? He can’t communicate. Sometimes as a mom it makes me feel better to just know why he is screaming. He may throw a fit because he wants…
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Support in time of Need
Monday, my baby boy, 23 months old, had a lump on his hiney the size of a golf ball. The pediatrician felt it was too deep for her to lance in the office so we were scheduled for the surgeon the next day. A quick in and out procedure that I knew would bring him much relief. In the mean time he was crabby. Beyond crabby. In and out of sleep. Clingy. Pained. It broke my heart. Continue Reading to learn more about my Support in time of Need My dad, hundreds of miles away, knew I needed help that evening so he called a local pizza place and had pizza delivered,…
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Summer Camp
I had NO IDEA it would be this hard to let go. This past Sunday Hubs and I dropped *E*, 9 years old, off at his first week-long, without his Mom, Summer Camp. EGADS! (That’s me biting at my nails, my belly doing flip-flops everytime I think about what he might be doing at that very moment.) *E* was a little nervous on the way there, a three hour drive from home. But he popped in his favorite DVD and multi-tasked with a game on the iPad for the 200 miles we were on the road. It was a great attention diverter. When we got there the camp was ALIVE with youth. Youth workers…
