Dinner and a Comedy Show

I swear that it's never dull in our house. I mean, with six kids, how could it ever be? For dinner last night, though, it was truly a comedy act.

We marinated chicken in a miso-soy sauce and made grilled paninis with roasted red peppers, spinach and a ginger mayo with homemade onion rings. The kids were happily eating this feast (thank you Robin Miller) when my daughter asked what was in it. Usually a kiss of death, because the second they hear you include in the ingredients something they don't normally like, it's the end of their enjoyment of your meal. True story.

We explained to our beloved daughter that it was a type of soy sauce, and that, coupled with the ginger mayo, made it a Japanese meal. My 5-year-old suddenly pipes up "Konnichiwa!"

We all stop short, look over at him, giggling at this point. "Very good, baby, where'd you learn that?" expecting him to say school, or something.

"Scooby Doo," he replies.

Nice.

My 2-year-old tries to say it, "Bunnichi-wan!"

Everybody giggles, including her. Hysterically. Ah well, she tried.

My teenager, who has the strangest sense of timing, chimes in "You know, I recognized someone at the pool party last night - it was a substitute teacher I once had!"

My 9-year-old daughter asks, as though she knows who it was, "Was she the lifeguard?"

Teenager: "No, but I know one of the lifeguards. The Asian one."

5-year-old interjects, "Konnichiwa!"

2-year-old chimes in her version as well, "Ton-easy-what!"

Everyone bursts out laughing. My daughter replies to the two one-word-wonder children, "No, that's Japanese."

My husband nearly chokes. "Uh., honey? Japan is in Asia, which makes it Asian, so he's kinda right."

5-year-old says boastingly responds to her, "Konnichiwa!" (didn't see that comin', did ya?)

At this point, everyone is still laughing from before. My 2-year-old attempts to say it again "Con-cheesey-watt"

Everyone laughs harder. Even the baby, who of course, has no friggin' clue what is happening, other than his family fighting back tears.

Teenager, again with strange sense of timing and topic issues, "There's a kid in my class who's going to dye his hair, even his eyebrows."

9-year-old son stopped laughing to ask, "Why?"

Teenager responds in all seriousness, "So he can stop being called 'carrot top', 'cheddar-head', 'cheese-puff'..."

9-year-old daughter, with this deer-in-the-headlights look upon her face, asks "Why would they call him that?"

Husband, who knew she wouldn't understand, trying again not to choke, responds, "Uh, why do you think, baby?"

She sits and thinks for a minute or two. Meanwhile, my 9-year-old son answers, "Because he's got red hair?"

My husband and I both nod as we stuff our faces full of the sumptuous sandwich, as our 9-year-old daughter, still clueless, who didn't hear the answer already, attempts to guess. "Is it because it's his favorite color?"

Husband almost chokes. Again. "DORK! No, it's because his hair is red!"

9-year-old daughter: "Ohhhhhhhhhhh!"

Everyone laughs even harder at the Queen of Dork, who begins to laugh at herself, too.

5-year-old son, not missing a beat to get his new, favorite word in: "Konnichiwa!"

2-year-old daughter, finally getting it right, belts out "Konnichiwa!"

Everyone laughs hysterically.

After many minutes of laughing to the point of crying, I finally compose myself and look at my husband. "Why do I never record our dinners?"

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Drunk By Chocolate

Is it me, or does baby dude look totally intoxicated from chocolate cupcakes?


Am I right or am I right?


Oh boy, maybe he had too much, that's not drunk, that looks like he's gonna blow...


"Haha, mom, no way!"


"Ha, mom. Ha! 'Too much,' HA! That's funny, that's a funny one, ma. Fun..."


Um, maybe you have a point. Could be overdosing from Chocolate Cupcake Overload™


Yup.

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First Kiss

Probably not what he had in mind. In fact, not what I had in mind, either. But still cute, nonetheless!


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I Am. Continued..

I am a mother.

I am a mother to a brilliant, sensitive child.


I am constantly worried that his ability to act and react without thinking can get him in trouble, especially with the wrong adults in charge.

I am afraid it has.


I am a mother who's son has been wronged, mistreated, and emotionally abused; a mother who's son has been targeted, pigeon-holed and written off as a nobody, a trouble-maker, a deviant.

I am a mother who was lied to when confronted, unsupported, cut-off, dismissed, smirked-at, and ultimately sloughed off like a piece of dry skin.


I am afraid; afraid there may not be any other option, or school that might work. I am not sure I am strong enough to homeschool, or smart enough or good enough for my brilliant son.

I am scared to mess up, scared to fail, shocked at all that we've gone through, longing to leave, counting the days, wishing and praying the answer is simpler than the fight ahead of me.


I am crying.
I am pissed!
And I am not going to stand for it anymore...

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I Am

I am getting my before-school, pancake-, muffin-, pumpkin bread-making mojo back.

I am powered alone by this recruiting coffee mug and it's steamy organic contents in the mornings.


I am used to seeing papers, brought home to me, looking somewhat like this


and like this


I am not used to seeing papers like this

"I am ant."

I am in love with seeing these sweet scrawlings in crayon adding to my school paper collection.

"I am dog."

I am a mom; a mom with four kids in school, now. And I think, after the trouble is over, I am sure we are going to be okay.

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I Want to Throw Up

School is already causing so many headaches for me, I don't even know what to do anymore. (Side note: thank you so much to the Army and his old commanders for sending us to this hell-hole of a post with archaic rules for a school. After spending their entire school existence attending high-level DOD schools, they'll spend 3 years at non-DOD run schools, where not even basic Social Studies is taught, just Louisiana's history, only to return back to DOD schools after this tour here is over and my children end up being 3 years behind. Thanks for that.)

(Side side note: I plan on helping them 'keep up' at home, but it's aggravating to know that I even have to.)

Yesterday, I get an email from my older son's teacher, who is trying to tell me my older son is a disruption in ways I've never heard of, from any other teacher ever before. This email and phone-conversation thereafter seemingly proves my earlier intuition correct about her ability to teach my son. He is a brilliant child, smart as a whip, but sometimes needs redirection and guidance because he often completes work too quickly and gets "bored". He is also uber-impulsive, often acting without thinking, and as a result, gets in trouble by teachers who don't take the time to see he's a good child, just needs guidance. Yesterday, while speaking with her, she wavered between unwilling and semi-willing to be the type of teacher he needs; Compassionate. Caring. Considerate. One who won't just look at him, stone-faced, and say "Good job!" One who will go the extra mile, pat him on the back and encouragingly say "I'm proud of you, good job!" (Am I asking too much? Apparently so.)

I discussed the situation with her. She confided she has many "resource" children, implying "too many" and that my son was making it more difficult for her. No patience with me, she's the type who seemingly wants a quick fix, wanted me to wave some magic wand and make him become a yes man, or something.

After this disappointing talk, I met with the principal, who was already aware of my nervousness about how she related to children in her class, and after promising me to help if I gave it "a couple of weeks" (okay, so it's been a little over a week), I was met with his steely response that he didn't feel he could switch my son, because all his teachers are "that way" - strict, don't put up with anything, cut and dry, black and white. Well, then sir? We've got a problem. Because that's not going to work. My son is not a black and white child, he is very much a 'gray' child. He needs someone who understands and can embrace the 'gray'.

Outside the principal's office I met with his former-third grade teacher who nearly fell off the chair when I told her what was happening with him. She is very much a well-seasoned, 'gray' teacher, one who sees each child for who and what they are, and can adapt accordingly. One who had that classroom eating out of the palm of her hand, with her sweet-southern hospitality and way of commanding the room in the gentlest of southern-accented tones, calling each of them her 'babies,' telling them she loved them. He excelled in her class. She was disappointed to hear of the school's seeming unwillingness to give him someone a better fit for him, agreeing he will "not thrive" in that environment.

Which leaves me with choices I was afraid I was going to have to make - another school, or homeschool. More on that in a bit..

Just this morning, I dropped my proud Kindergartner off to his lovely class. Every morning I get to have a (usually) lovely chat with his spectacular teacher (who is a God send to this nervous mother, by the way), only to find out that I've been counting down the days to September 15th for nothing. September 15th is the day parents can start volunteering in his school. (Volunteering, however, without young ones with you. You either find a babysitter or you don't get to volunteer. Nice huh?) September 15th was going to be the day that I get to see my son in all his Kindergarten-y action at school with his friends and fall even more in love with him for being such a big boy, just as I've done it with each of my kids, volunteering in each of their classes, helping out at their schools. Only his teacher laid out a bomb for me this morning, one she, herself, doesn't agree with - the administration took each teacher's volunteer forms and announced at last night's faculty meeting that we parents will only volunteer in other classrooms. I won't get to observe him in class, according to her. He will be my first child EVER who's class I won't get to volunteer for.

I. Am. So. Heartbroken. I can barely think straight.

I am so angry, so hurt right now. Both elementary schools are failing me at present. (Yes, there are 2 elementary schools - one for Pre-K to 1st grade, and one for 2nd to 4th grade.) I just don't know what the hell to do anymore. I am trying really hard to make it work, here. It's been just over a year since we've moved, and we've been through so much while already here. I really am trying to make this place seem more like a home for our family, but it's like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole, no matter what I do, it just isn't going to fit. And neither are we. We have to be here for a little less than 2 more years, can this place give me a damned break just once-in-a-while? Please!?

There are other schools in the area, other schools who may be different, with better teachers for my fourth-grader, ones who will listen. But they are far, and still under the umbrella of this parish's so-called "guidance". But what about my Kindergartner, who's teacher is absolutely PERFECT for him, a teacher I don't want to leave, it's just the school's administration screwing everything up? How do I let him continue to attend, knowing they are completely ruining what is usually normal for our family?

Any advice you can offer would be greatly appreciated. Please be kind with your words, I'm kind of a wreck right now.

*EDITED 10:29AM CST* My older son's principal called - they will move him to a new teacher starting Monday. He said that is the best he can do, and should this not work, he will not get to move to a new teacher. While I am thankful for his willingness to help me, I'm still afraid.

*UPDATED 8/27 4pm* My son will be withdrawing from his elementary school. I will not have the Principal call me and my son "liars" saying everything he says is "hearsay" when he's clearly being emotionally abused by his so-called "teacher". She wrote him up for "not staying on task", "interrupting" and much more, saying he mouths off to her, IS SHE KIDDING? That is NOT my child, I stood there with my mouth dropped, and the Principal BELIEVES her and will NOT listen to my concerns! I won't have it, he'll be withdrawed from the school first thing in the morning.

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Standing. Alone.

I'm so not ready.

He is standing alone, now, in the middle of a room he'll just plant his feet into the floor, settle the wobble, tent his butt up into the air -- and get up on his own. Today he almost took a step to his sister, too. He's almost 11-months-old.

Eleven. Months. Old.

He's getting more chub all-over. He quickens his crawl when he's got something in his sights. He's mastered all-things food (even though he has two teeth), and he points towards everything and instantly lunges for you if you're what he wants.

He's almost one.

ONE!!!

Between my Kindergartner and now this, my heart is so full and yet in a-bazillion teeny, tiny pieces.

For more Wednesday fun, visit Wordless Wednesday, 5MFM, MomSpective, MomDot, Ordinary and Awesome, Seven Clown Circus and We Are THAT Family.

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To Do Tuesday Week 29

If this is your first time reading and you're wondering what To-Do Tuesday is all about, click to check out the first post to find out more.

Do you know what derails your capability of completing your to do lists? Being sniffly. I seemingly have some sniffles going on, and a certain pointed part of my face doesn't want to stop drooling, especially when I bend over for something (and with little ones, that's allthetime.) I would like to think it's merely allergies, but really, let's get serious, now - the kids just started school. Eleventy-billion kids are at their school (they are, I counted. Every last one. *ahem*). I'm pretty sure one of them brought me home a present, and it wasn't a crayon-colored drawing. They brought me home a cold, dammit. "How was your day?"

"HERE MOMMY HAVE A MALICIOUS COLD. You're welcome!"

(Okay, so it didn't go like that.)

So yeah, here I sit, looking at last week's list, feeling like I had total and complete mission failure, but that's okay, I won't be sick much longer, right? I'll take a butt-load of Vitamin C, Zinc, Echinachea and all sorts of good stuff to help me feel right as rain again, right? Right? *ACHOO*

Rid myself of the plague cold√
Grocery shopping/coupons/list√√√
Make a new magnetic wipe-off calendar and blog about it!√
Water grass & plants and perhaps revamp outside?√√
Post/Vlog about EAS Active tips
Re-do schedule now that soccer has started√
Purge house √ (somewhat) and donate clothes
Bake√
Shampoo carpet in dining room
Redo play room√

Staying on my diet all week long!*√√√√√√√
Work out at least 30-60 minutes everyday!*√√√√√

*Haven't weighed myself this week. Maybe today? Added running to my fitness repertoire. Woohoo!

Today's motivation - support. Are you giving support in all areas you can be? I spoke with a friend and fellow soccer-mom last night who told me her son does better with teachers who express themselves well rather than with those who are curt, one-word responders, and short with their kids. She gave me the example of saying "Good job" or "GOOD JOB!" with a shoulder pat. It occurred to me.. are we showing that same enthusiastic support in everyone that needs it, or are we half-listening, too busy, "uh huh"-ing or "yes, dear"-ing them without actually being present to give them the support they need? Let's go the extra mile this week to ensure those that need us get all the support they can handle, and then some. Are ya with me?
--

Would you like to join us this week for To-Do Tuesday? Start with just a few things. Don't over-do it your first couple of times. You'll grow to become a list-a-holic later, start small now, though, k?
Just so you know, you can join us at anytime, it doesn't have to be on Tuesdays - the list will go up every Tuesday for you to link to, but you can make your list and link to us at any point in the week!

Remember, with "To-Do Tuesday", we're attacking our to-do lists each week, blogging about our lists and what we've got going on, and sharing it with each other to help keep each other accountable. Everyone should come back here to link up in the Mister Linky as the central "To-Do Tuesday Hub" so we can visit who's participating and offer encouragement to each other throughout the week. Don't forget to add the "To-Do Tuesday" button to your post, linking back to this post!

Let's continue to cross items off our list as we go and help support each other in completing our lists! Don't forget my useful HTML tutorial on how to effectively "cross-out" or √ "check off" your items on your to-do list!

Joining us? We're using a new linky alternative called MckLinky! Please add your link below (to your To Do Tuesday post, and not the main page of your blog)

Participants for Week 29

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Out of the Mouth of Babes Part 12

My five-year-old puts something in his mouth. Immediately makes a face, spits it out, and asks me what it is. "What? I don't know? Why did you even put it in your mouth to begin with?"

"Uh, because I wanted to see what it tasted wike (like)."

BUT YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS!?!

-----------------------------

Toddler comes down the stairs with a lip gloss. "Wook mommy, my wips!"

"I see. Where did you get that?"

"Here!" she points to it.

"No, baby, where?"

"My wips!" she points.

{smacks head}

-----------------------------

Even though we have a large eight-seater dining room table, one night when my daughter had friends over, we put our five- and two-year-olds in the kitchen to eat at a small-sized fold-up Sponge Bob table and chair set. My toddler sat across from my kindergartner, nibbling pizza and giggling. My five-year-old looks up and says "It's wike (like) we're on a date."

SAY WHAT!? Wha.. where the heck did he get that from at AGE FIVE!?

-----------------------------

I bend over to pick up the umpteenth toy today and I hear my five-year-old say, "I see London, I see shorts. I see mommy's underpants!"

-----------------------------

While burping the baby, my five year old proclaims, "Mommy, he needs his gas!"

WHY!????

-----------------------------

As we were about to leave, I slipped my shoes on, foot-fetched my toddler's shoes. I didn't see my five-year-old's shoes, so I assumed he had them on, and closed the closet door. He was right behind the door, looked to the closet,looked to me and cleared his throat, in a loud, attention-getting way, "AHEM!"

In trying to compose myself, he says, "Stop waffing (laughing)! What about my shoes?"

------------------------------------------------------
Like these? Catch up on my other "Out of the Mouth of..." posts:
Out of the Mouth of Husbands
Out of the Mouth of Babes Part 11
Out of the Mouth of Babes Part 10
Out of the Mouth of Babes, Part 9
Out of the Mouth of Babes, Part 8
Out of the Mouth of Babes, Part 7, and other Kidlet Cuteness
Out of the Mouth of Babes, Part 6
Out of the Mouth of Babes, Part 5
Out of the Mouth of Babes, Part 4
Out of the Mouth of Babes, Part 3
Out of the Mouth of Babes, Part 2
Haha, Out of the Mouth of Babes

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Extreme Makeover: Teenage Bedroom Edition, Birthday-Style

The mission - ambushing our teenager's room for a remodel we lovingly titled Operation Extreme Bedroom Makeover for her birthday. You see, as she's gotten older, her tastes have outgrown her pre-teen decorated room. She used to be all about bright, neon colors (I swear, she made me blind sometimes!) Now, however, she wanted something more sophisticated, something more grown-up and teenager-y. So, to ambush her room we sent her out with her friends for a few hours. While she was gone, we ransacked reorganized her room, threw junk in boxes cleaned up a bit and put together her new decor and bedding.

I am completely in love with what we decided to do. I love how it is classy, modern, and unique. I even loved the fact that I was able to sneak a surprised picture of her by hiding in the corner of her room! There I sat, anxiously sitting on her chair in the corner, just to snap a picture when she walked in. As I'm sure you can imagine, she was all kinds-of shocked. She had no idea her friends were in on the surprise, too. {evil grin}

What do you think?

I love the natural, modern feeling of the bedding set. The pillows were a mish-mash from Target and Bed Bath and Beyond (where we also found the sheet set). The curtains, lamp, flowers, frames, pictures and mirror were all purchased from Walmart locally. (The posters, she of course, already had, along with the disco ball, in all it's mirror-y awesome-y goodness).

Here she is, our ambushed and surprised newly fourteen-year-old birthday girl. Geez, where does the time go?

(Design side-note: Yes, I realize the picture frames are picture-less. Part of her birthday present is me taking pictures with her friends sleeping over tonight and getting them printed for her frames. Cool, huh?)

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A Day

Ever have a day in which you felt as though you were running up a mountain with oil-slicks for shoes, huffing and puffing and never moving anywhere but sliding down? Where you're worn from head to toe, your ear lobes and navel aren't alienated from the agonizing ache you feel from seemingly moving every.single.second without ceasing?

That was me, yesterday.

My body is tired, given out beneath me, unwilling to rest. My mind? Even worse.

Yesterday was a day, alright.

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The Baby Tribe

I'm going to call my three youngest children my 'baby tribe' from now on, I think.

For instance, we decided to go in the pool. So I'm wrangling "baby suits" (according to my toddler) onto my children's bodies so we can go kerplunk for a while. Suddenly, I hear a "meh" from a-far. The baby had wandered up the stairs, behind my back (no worries, he calls to us with a 'meh' every time he's reached the top, kind-of like a "hey, idiots! I manhandled the gate and escaped again!" in baby-speak [loosely translated]).

Once at the top, he is scared to come down, having an overall fear of heights in general. He won't even lean towards you sitting on the couch, or the stairs, he is so afraid. He just 'knows' he can fall. I can't explain it. He must be a baby genius or something.

Anyway, in attempting to rescue my youngest, my baby tribe follows me. All three of us, giggling, calling to our 'meh' baby, cooing and dancing and smiling as we round the corner. He won't lunge for us. He won't dare go near the edge. It's so funny how he'll climb up but not down.

Me and my baby tribe dangled our tootsies in the pool. We visited the commissary. We played in the rain. It was a nice day together - last day for a while just the three of us. The biggest of the baby tribe has started school full-time, no more staggered start, no more testing the waters.

Our baby tribe is getting smaller. I can't imagine a day when there's no baby tribe at all. {gulp}

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Sucky McSuckerson

Losing weight has been an awesome, life-changing experience. But it has it's downside, too.

You know what I miss? Not sucking.

You know what else I lost along with some excess weight? My ability to friggin' bowl. That's right - lose weight and your bowling game totally sucks. Yup kids - icing on the cake right - you suddenly suck bigtime at bowling. My kids even beat me! Gah! That's pitiful! What the heck, man?! I'm in good, physical shape now, I should be able to throw that thing down the lane with brute force, now! The pins should fear my shiny, red, pearlesque bowling ball coming at them with such lightning-fast speed! Rawr!

But, noooo! I am the Master and Commander of all that is sucktastic when bowling, now. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw I threw not one, but two gutter-balls in the fifth frame of my first game. Ho-ly crap! Oh sorry, family-of-mine, I must leave you to retreat back to my Fortress of Sucktitude™. Mommy lost a few dress sizes and the ability to bowl, and has now become the laughing stock of "The Alley". {hangs head}

Guess you really can't have it all. Losing weight means toddlers stomp you in bowling. The price you pay, I guess.

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Party Pooper

I had concocted this awesome brainchild of an idea to "party" to celebrate my son's first day in Kindergarten. This entailed party hats, blowers, and a bowling/pizza family night later. It was genius, if I do say so myself. I could hardly wait to get into the car to pick him up.

As soon as we rounded the corner in the parking lot, and the lady with the speaker called out "93", we saw our son's little body emerge from the cafeteria with a teacher's hand, walking over to a lady-in-wait and "station 2" at school. The lady with the speaker motioned as she smiled the number "2" with her fingers as we moved up.

He watched us come closer. I waved furiously, smiling, but he didn't smile or wave back. I figure he didn't see me or didn't want to embarrass himself more than I probably already was. But it was so amazing to see his little baby-yet-big-boy face.

As we pulled up to "station 2" I threw open the door with a Power Rangers party hat and party blower with metallic ribbons flowing out as I tooted to him. "Yay, congratulations baby!! You did it!"I cheered as he gawked at me as though I had three heads.

"What? Uh, mommy, who's birfday is it?"

I giggled. "No one's, silly! This is your 'Congratulations for going to Kindergarten' party!"

As I buckled him, barreling him with question-after-question without breathing a single breath in between, the "station" lady talked with my husband about how we were apparently doing something wrong, it being our first time at this school and everything, but I didn't hear her or pay attention, I was so ridiculously happy to be buckling my boy into his seat. His sister kept calling to him, in between toots with her blower. The baby was feasting on his delicious party hat as I peeled myself away from my kindergartner long enough to fumble into the front passenger seat so hubby could drive off.

"So? Tell me, how was your day? How was your teacher? Did you meet anybody? Did you color me a picture? Did you..."

{Deep breath}

{Like it was my first breath in hours}

He was very non-descriptive in his responses. It was a let down. "It was good." or "I drew a beaver," or even worse, is when he couldn't remember.

"What story did you read today?"

"Uh, I don't wee-member."

What!? How do you not remember!? I was feeling cheated, and anxious, and OhMyGoodness he had to recall his entire day for me, start to finish, because Imissedhimsomuch ahhhhhhh

My husband interjected a bit, getting me to dial my spazzed-out mom-ness down a bit. Little did we know what stealth-like business was happening in the backseat until we heard it. The snore.

I turned my head and almost cried.

Such a long day for such a little dude. He didn't even make it home.

(Psst- don't forget to enter my Smooshies Giveaway while you're here!)

For more Wednesday fun, visit Wordless Wednesday, 5MFM, MomSpective, MomDot, Ordinary and Awesome, Seven Clown Circus and We Are THAT Family.

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Smooshies Review

I know what you're thinking. "Lisa, what's that in the title, there? A what!? What the heck is a Smooshie?!"

Smooshies are a new toy that allow your child's imagination to guide them into creating their own furry lovable monster. Or alien. Or likeness of their older, teenage sister when she gets out of bed in the morning. {giggle} Each body part sold has easy Velcro tabs that allow your child to place random body parts anywhere they want to on the body, so the possibilities are endless (and the likeness to your teenage-daughter in the morning is uncanny)!

Oh. My. Gosh. They are cute! And by cute I mean, furry little monsters you design however you want, slapping eyeballs and arms, legs, eyelashes and tails wherever you want. Maybe not exactly cute in an appealing way, like a Shia Laboeuf kind-of cute way, but they certainly aren't scary monsters. In fact, my kids had a ball taking the pieces off, putting them back on, putting the parts in weird spots - legs for eyes, eyes for a butt (I know, my kids are weird). But yes, you can do that, because they velcro!

I will say, at times, the velcro was a little difficult to take on and off. We even ripped a velcro off of an eyeball, which we had to hot-glue back on. (My children may have had an extra bowl of Wheaties that morning, or something).

Overall, though they loved the Smooshie with extra parts we were given samples of to try at home (thank you One2One Network!) and I look forward to swinging by Joann's in the near future to purchase a couple more body parts. And an extra body, because fighting over toys isn't awesome. At all.

Want it?

Smooshies were just awarded 2009 Creative Child Preferred Choice Award and Dr. Toy Best Vacation Children's Product for 2009! They can be purchased at Joann's or online at Joann.com. The bodies sell for $6 and each body part/package of parts sells for $2.

Win it! - CLOSED

Want a Smooshie kit for yourself? (And by 'yourself' I mean, for your child. That is, if you let them play with it, and don't hoard the fun.)

To enter:

• Check out Joann's website, and leave a comment to tell me which Smooshie body would you choose? (for 1 entry)

For extra entries:

• Subscribe and/or follow my blog, and/or follow me on Twitter. I'm CrazyAdventures (1 entry for each, and if you already do for any of them already, it counts!**)
• Share this post via blog, email, Facebook, Stumble, Kirtsy, Digg this post! (1 entry each 'share'. Be sure to comment each time!)
  
• Tweet this post on Twitter! Be sure to link me to your tweet! (1 entry per tweet - unlimited entries available!)

**It 'pays' to stay connected to me and my blog, as it earns you automatic entries into all of my contests! (Plus, you'll want to hang out with me and little dude, he's kind of cuddly, don't ya think?) {giggle}

Open to US entrants only. Winner will be chosen using Random.org. Contest ends Sunday, August 23rd, at 10pm CST.

**EDIT** The winner is.. #13, who was:

Lisa Schaffer 3 days ago

The Amorphous one. :O) I left that off.

I follow your blog.

Lisa @
All That and a Box of Rocks

Congratulations, Lisa!!! (Nice name, by the way, heh)

To Do Tuesday Week 28

If this is your first time reading and you're wondering what To-Do Tuesday is all about, click to check out the first post to find out more.

Um, I'm kind of a shell of myself right now, folks. I'm grateful that I don't have to send my son back off to school until Thursday again, all-the-while completely spazzing that he'll be there, full-time, then. {deep breaths}

In the meantime, my week is going to be an odd week. I will do my best to get it all piled together, though. I won't have a routine up probably for another couple of weeks. Just in time for me to leave to go to the TypeAMom Conference, though. Ha!

I have a few stragglers from last week, simply because back-to-school time is crazy! ;)

*ahem* Order a copy of his birth certificate, because it's seemingly missing and is needed for school.
Grocery shopping/coupons/list (to include items for school lunches)√√√
Prepare for daughter's birthday!√
Water our new grass and plants (that is, if tropical storms doesn't do it for me)√√
Posting about EAS Active tips
VLOG! I'm overdue!
Attempt at a schedule! Maybe? (Wishful thinking..)√
Donate clothes
Post a new recipe or two (got a couple good ones!)
Post about bargain back to school shopping deals and steals I found

Staying on my diet all week long!*√√√√√√√
Work out at least 30-60 minutes everyday!*√√√√√

*Last I weighed myself the other day, I'm down to 144 from 146, woohoo!

Today's motivation - positivity. How positive are you all the time? This week's focus - be as positive as you can. Try to find the good in everything no matter how bad it gets, and find every iota of good in everything and cherish it. You'd be surprised how infectious it is!
--

Would you like to join us this week for To-Do Tuesday? Start with just a few things. Don't over-do it your first couple of times. You'll grow to become a list-a-holic later, start small now, though, k?
Just so you know, you can join us at anytime, it doesn't have to be on Tuesdays - the list will go up every Tuesday for you to link to, but you can make your list and link to us at any point in the week!

Remember, with "To-Do Tuesday", we're attacking our to-do lists each week, blogging about our lists and what we've got going on, and sharing it with each other to help keep each other accountable. Everyone should come back here to link up in the Mister Linky as the central "To-Do Tuesday Hub" so we can visit who's participating and offer encouragement to each other throughout the week. Don't forget to add the "To-Do Tuesday" button to your post, linking back to this post!

Let's continue to cross items off our list as we go and help support each other in completing our lists! Don't forget my useful HTML tutorial on how to effectively "cross-out" or √ "check off" your items on your to-do list!

Joining us? We're using a new linky alternative called MckLinky! Please add your link below (to your To Do Tuesday post, and not the main page of your blog)

Participants for Week 28

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The Other Room

The "other room" is empty right now.

"Where's bruver (brother)?"

Usually my reply is Oh, he's in the other room, baby. Today, that's not my reply. Today, my reply isn't a reply at all, as much as it's a brave attempt to choke down emotions, so I don't scare my two babies. "He's at school."

"Stool!?"

"Yes, baby, school. He'll be back later."

"He'll be bat way-der (back later)?" She mimicks.

Over the past few weeks, we've been gearing him up for this. "Baby, where is it you'll be going this year?"

"School!" he'll say, triumphantly, or sometimes it's almost mechanical or automated, like it isn't happening to him.

"That's right! And you're going to hang out with your new teacher, and your new friends, and play games, read books, eat lunch, play outside, make crafts, and then mommy will come pick you up after school."

Usually, his responses ranged from excitement to aloof-ness. Today he responded "Am I going to be a-wone (alone)?"

It took everything I had to not break apart into a million little mommy pieces right there by the van as I unsnapped him from his car seat. "No, no, baby. You'll be with your nice teacher, and your new friends! I'll drop you off in a few minutes, and ..."

"You're weaving (leaving)? Is it forever?"

Oh. My. Heart.

"No, baby, no!! You know how I drop your brother and sisters off? How we go pick them up again later? That's what I'm going to do with you! You're coming home with me after school. Okay? What do you think about that?"

(Trying not to lose it.)

(Me, that is.)

"Otay. I guess.."

{sniffle}

The teacher was wonderful this morning, all smiles and such the welcome I needed this morning while in panic mode. She alerted me they would be getting breakfast, even though normally it's over by then. That helped ease me somewhat, as he hadn't finished his egg sandwich this morning, and I feared, because he "grazes" over food throughout the day, that he would not make it to lunch without getting upset over being "hungwy".

I walked away one child less, one hand empty without a small hand holding it, fumbling for words among my scattered thoughts.

Once I returned home, with one less child to unstrap from the car, one less juice cup to fill, one less meal to prepare for lunch, I kept remembering little things. Oh! What about snack, I forgot to ask.. or Oh! Maybe I should call in check in, I forgot to tell her that he forgets to close the bathroom door... and I had to keep stifling those thoughts.

Passing all of the family pictures in the hallways, his wayward shoe, escaped from the closet, the pajamas he haphazardly left in the middle of the floor, like snakeskin. He'll be back in a few hours. It's only a few hours. He's been with me all of his life, it's only a few hours.

You know, once upon a time, through a tumultuous birth and my husband's deployment, came forth a spitfire of a little boy in all of his 8lb 9oz goodness and newborn smells.

Five years and 3 months later, he's got on a big boy belt, his hair is curled just so, his big boy lunch is packed, and he's strapped on his backpack eleven sizes too big (or so it seemed).

And he's at school. For the first time.

And even though he's already there, I'm still not ready.

I can't wait until later, to answer my daughter's inquisitions with "In the other room," when she asks. Or maybe I'll be in the "other room" with him, smothering him with mommy-missed-you-so-much, I'm-sorry-you-can't-breathe, just-one-more kisses. And he will be home.

And that sounds just about perfect to me.

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Modeling My SlimPerfect Little Black Dress and Hubby's Fired

Because I was unable to go to BlogHer, I was unable to rock this little black dress the first night of BlogHer, attending parties along with the other SlimPerfect models. I did, however, want to make it up to Casey, the owner of SlimPerfect, by modeling the dress for her, as she wanted real life models for her website. I enlisted my trusty photographer, a.k.a. hubby, but this will be the last time it seems.

My husband's fired from being my photographer again.

I was doing my best to keep a straight face, and he did his best to get me to make inappropriate gestures. And what's the worst part about it? This isn't the first time, and I fall for it each. friggin'. time. Last time it was "Hey, smooth out your pants a little?" And so I did. And then I hear, as I'm smoothing out my pants, "Ok hold on.." and as I pause and look up, SNAP!

This time it was, "Hey babe, I think your boobs are crooked!"

"Huh?" I reply, reaching down, adjusting the ladies.

*FLASH*

Uh huh, crooked, huh? Nice picture of me groping myself, babe. {smacks head}

This of course led to an uncontrollable bout of laughter and giggling, for being caught it such a dumb trap to begin with. So instead of my trying my best to keep a straight face, I was out of control. Laughing. Hysterically.

Damn hubby. Good things he's cute. He's still fired, though.

----

"Alright honey, smile for the camera."

"No wait, look sexy. Yeah, give me sexy."

"Oh, yeah, daddy likes."

"Babe, your boobs are crooked! Heh. KIDDING!"

Who's the dumb-ass who fell for that one? Yeah, that'd be...

"No seriously, be serious, here. Stop laughing."

"Stop laughing, babe. (By the way, you're totally letting me frame the boob picture, right?"

"I'm serious. Like, on our bedroom ceiling? Right?"

Through gritted, smiling teeth I reply...

Nice try, though, babe.

Psst, by the way, if you want to try one of these awesome dresses, they're on sale 50% right now at SlimPerfect.com using the code "BLOGHER" (and be on the lookout, I'll be holding a giveaway for a SlimPerfect dress here soon!)

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Exhausted

Yesterday was the first day of school. Up at 6:30am, making pancakes, fixing collars, packing lunches and school supplies and fixing new hair-dos (except for my sons', they'll get theirs this weekend with hubby).

It was a nerve-wracking yet productive day, filled with cleaning, and laundry, and playing, and reorganizing, and working out, and... {breathing}

Miraculously, I got the two youngest to sleep. My five-year-old and I had some much-needed (for mommy) bonding time. After all, he starts school Monday for his staggered start to Kindergarten, then Thursday will be his first official day that he makes me bawl attends, along with all of his other classmates.

We attempted to rock the blue team at Mario Kart on the Wii, and while we performed well, those cheaters won anyway. But the smell of his hair, his baby soft skin hugging me, the giggles among us that may or may not have woken up the two babies, who then watched me and their brother race to our little heart's content. It was just magic.

I almost fell asleep at 7pm yesterday, fighting to stay away while slumped over on the couch on a heating pad with a stomach ache from all the excitement and work done. (and perhaps overly indulging a little too much at dinner. Maybe.)

I fell asleep at an earlier-than-normal hour, but it was a full, rich day. I know eventually I will look forward to getting back into the school routine, and getting tons done during my days at home on half-empty, but right now, I long for the times on my chair with my five-year-old, spending quality time with him, be it a book, a Wii remote, our voices, or just cuddles. Oh, the cuddles!

Monday will be hard. Thursday will be even harder.

(Psst - did you my husband's debut post yesterday?)

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