The Halloween Dilemma and The "Mom's Always Right" Happy Ending

It was a torturous trip to the Halloween store for us. He couldn't decide what he wanted to be, and seemingly everything he wanted was too scary to have around the little ones, too expensive, or involved a superfluous gun or sword of some kind. And instead of shopping for a simple costume, it became shopping for something to wear with the SUPERAWESOMEAMAZING overpriced toy he really wanted. Not what we came here for, pal.

"Ooh, what about a Gangster? How cool is this costume?" I suggested.

"Ohh, do I get that gun, too?" His eyes sparkled with delight.

Friggin' frackin' accessories! And the price tag!? Ouch. "A TWENTY DOLLAR GUN? No, dude. No. Besides, it's white. That's a 'girl's' gun. They must be out of the boy's gun."

(Ahem. Don't hate. The white lie was necessary - I did what needed to be done.)

(Get it? "White" lie? Heh. Snort.)

After much arguing, pulling, prodding, nail-biting, and promises of a sweet top-hat accomplice, he was able to be swayed into being what I suggested originally - a gangster. Especially when I told him I was a wonderful make-up artist and could give him fake stubble and everything, to look like a man. He bought it - hook, line, and sinker.

{Insert my pumping fist at the awesome that I am here}

With dinner sizzling away in the kitchen, he unwrapped his would-be costume, only to find it was way wrinkly, with an itchy starched fabric. I broke out the garment steamer and steamed it for a good twenty minutes, making sure it looked extra sharp. He seemed fascinated with one accessory included - the dickie. He kept saying that word. A lot. He complained it itched him, or was too tight. I could see he wanted to like the costume, but wasn't 100% there yet.

And then I go and screw up do his make up.

We were running behind, trick-or-treating time had already begun, we were losing time (which didn't really matter in the great scheme of things, we don't keep the candy we get from walking house-to-house anyway) and so, my stubble-making prowess was rushed and inaccurate with a brand new, cheap-o, dollar-store variety mascara which I inadvertently purchased the WATERPROOF version of  (crap!), so it was like mud to apply and smear in, which was not at all what I had in mind. I imagined stippling mascara all over his upper lip, chin, cheeks. Instead, it smudged and gooped. (I suck.)

He wasn't too keen on the new "facial hair" and was horribly embarrassed. Nail in the coffin for mom's wonderful costume idea - I began really regretting helping him selecting it. But he held his (fake hairy) chin high and went out to see his friends, walk with us, and celebrate Halloween anyway.

Little did he know - every house, almost every passerby commented, remarked, oohed, praised him for his different costume. 

He was surprised - shocked, even. He thanked me for helping him pick it out with each compliment. His little brother followed closely, mumbling how much he wanted to be a gangster, too. By the end, as we neared home, he held my hand (swoon), and he thanked me for the best Halloween ever.

My heart melted, my tears welled behind my eyes, my breath lobbed like a tennis ball between hyperventilation and asphyxiation with his words.

I realized the little things we do for our kids, even the smallest of decisions made, are big to them in ways we may never realize. They all matter more than we will ever know. This instance proved that and thensome.

Another thing learned? Mom is always right.

(Can I get an 'Amen'?)

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All Natural and Organic Halloween Candy Alternatives

Halloween is upon us this weekend, and we've been preparing for it accordingly by purchasing our candy for the Halloween Trading Post we do every year. Here's more information:

Our children go out trick-or-treating, collecting various chemically-burdened, artificially-colored and preservative-laden confectioneries from our neighbors. Instead of allowing them to eat said candies, they give us everything they've collected from our neighbors, and in return, get safe, all-natural, organic candy from us as a result. It's a win/win situation- they get to partake in candy, still, and we ensure what they're eating isn't laden with artificial-this and chemicals we can't pronounce.

Fantastic idea, no?

Think about it like this - no having to check through which is safe, and which isn't. Heck, if we are done early enough, we "recycle" candy we receive on Halloween right back out to trick-or-treaters! (Except chocolate confiscated by my husband for looking incredibly lonely. Or tasty. Or something.)

I explain in detail why we do this (a very thought-provoking, borderline-scary read on candies of today versus candies from decades ago), citing wonderful resources like Feingold.org, and including our favorite candy choices in my post last year, All Natural Halloween Candy Alternatives. Check it out!

Here's our wonderful candy picks this year, to include organic oreo cookies and all-natural fruit roll-ups!

Ghirardelli chocolates, Great Value Peanut Butter Cups and Pearson's Mint Patties can be found at Walmart. Newman-O's and Simply Fruit Roll-Ups we found at our post Commissary.

These Jack-O-Lantern Chocolates are found at NaturalCandyStore.com

Tell me, what do YOU do for Halloween and treat-filled holidays?

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Early Morning Writing Convert

I will admit, usually when I write, I set my posts often times for early morning, for when you (my reader-friends) get up. I see other writers getting up at Oh-Dark-Thirty to do their writings, in the quiet of the morning, slurping their coffee and morning drink of choice with just the clickety-clack of their nails on the keyboard in silence. Just like I just did this morning.

SILENCE.{Brilliant}

Oh friends. I did this today. Mainly because I had to get up to ensure my van would start, but oh! Sitting here in silence (SILEEEENCE!) with my coffee in the dark and no.noise.whatsoever. And peace. And Quiet. Ahhhhh! (Why didn't I ever try this sooner?)

Friends, when my head hits the pillow at night, it isn't much longer before I'm out. Down for the count. Lights out. DONE. My poor, sympathetic husband will pause whatever we're watching, too, just so we get to watch the rest together another time. (That must get totally annoying, I bet. Watching half a show all the time. And yet, he stays with me. I love that man.)

Now that he's away at his conference until tomorrow night, there is no after-putting-the-kids-to-bed writing time for me. It's been putting-the-kids-and-myself-to-sleep time. Last night was 9pm. Night before was 9:30pm. (And I need the extra sleep, but damn!)

The only thing I'm concerned about now, should I keep getting up early to get my writing groove on, is how do I not fall asleep even earlier? How do I still maintain quiet/TV/cuddle time with hubs at night? Definitely got to figure this one out. Any ideas?


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I'm a Three-Day Single Mom

My husband left this morning for a conference, and I'm flying parentally solo at home until late Friday night. My inclination is to eat microwave meals and veg on the couch snuggling my kids all week, perhaps overindulging in junk food, watching movies and playing video games with 'em and having a blast, but noooo, there's that whole school, sports practices/games and being a responsible adult thing.

Sigh.

Tonight's dinner will be a quick one with two practices scheduled - spaghetti and garlic bread. Quick and easy. I can dig it. Tomorrow, however, I'll be roasting a chicken. I think. Depends upon whether or not I'm up for heating up the house in the afternoon to cook it. (It's still 80-something degrees here.) Rest of the week is a plethora of crock-pot, no-brain-involved meals for the busy, practice/games/schedule we've got going on.

To say I'm scared of the next three days is an understatement.

Some how, some way, though, despite my best efforts for my kids not to eat me whole, knowing I'm wayyy out-numbered, I want to spend as much quality time with them as I can. Once upon a time, when my husband had a job a few years back that would take him away at least once a month for a week, we used to have this 'flying solo' thing down pat. The kids were my biggest helpers, and the house was always in order, everything was always taken care of. I kind-of miss those days sometimes, the ones where we pitched in together and making the dadless time as painless as possible.

The last time he left? No bueno. Anti-good. Worst experience ever, especially since it fell on Mother's Day (and he was gone almost all month, too). I am praying it doesn't get anywhere near as bad as it did then.

I'm going to need emotional reinforcement this week, friends.

I know I should count my lucky stars, he isn't deploying, he isn't away at a school for a month, or a tasking for longer, or in harm's way. It's three freakin' days, I know some of you must think I'm a wuss or something (and you'd be right - I totally am).

It's Murphy's Law that when he leaves, things go (WAY) wrong. And I'm just not in the strongest emotional state to have to cope with the amount of wrong that could (and might) happen. So, any positive reinforcement and back-up is highly welcomed. And appreciated.

More than you could ever know.

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Oh, Mornings...

It's pitch dark when I wake up in the mornings, now. I feel like a bear hibernating in the winter - pulling the blanket over me as I roll over, contemplating whether five more minutes will kill the timeline. I succumb and sit up, despite my eyes being dry and fighting to see through the darkened house.

Winter's elongated nights don't help mornings flow anymore fluently by keeping it dark upon wakening. It's hard to convince your slumber-filled body to rise and function when it's still "night time" outside, let alone trying to convince children to do so as well.

Mornings are quiet. Everyone's tired, mumbling, shuffling their drowsy feet from room to room, dressing with eyes closed, resisting waking up fully, silently protesting being awake with sloppy, sleep-filled movements.

Amidst steamy coffee, breakfast sizzling, hugs that collapse into you, and one-eye-open kisses, mornings continue, and eventually get much better before the school drop-offs begin.

What are your mornings like? 

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Mickey Mouse and Pirate Daddy

We walked to the Pumpkin Patch celebration on post last night, all dressed up (yes, even me). I love Halloween and playing dress up with the kids. Baby Dude this year is dressing up as his absolute favoritest thing on Earth (other than me and breastfeeding) - Mickey Mouse.

More costume fun to come this week. Yay! What is your family wearing this year? Did you make them, or buy them?

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Back Up Family Pictures with Seagate #GoFlexMemories

Some of you who knew me and my blog back in '08 may remember the Great Computer Meltdown™ when not one but two computers met with serious disaster within two weeks of each other, and the resulting thermonuclear eruption (by me) when it happened.

Friends, it wasn't pretty. I was an absolute freakin' mess.

I wasn't, however, without my children's pictures and such, because I thankfully had an old, second hard drive converted into an external that kept them safe and sound. However, it was (and still is) a dinosaur (and just as big as one, too - comparable to the new netbooks they sell nowadays). It simply isn't convenient for me to bring anywhere because of how large it is, not to mention the fact that it is full. Filled. Done. Kaput. No mas.

Ah, the irony of it being of such an enormous physical size, yet it's storage size leaves something to be desired. Especially when you consider the ginormous honkin' pictures I now take with my Nikon D60 (mainly because, um, a certain somebody that shall remain nameless can't figure out how to make the pictures non-gargantuan. Ahem.) I knew I'd outgrown this drive, and that I needed a little something (quite literally) that could not only hold all of our family's memories and thensome, but would allow plenty of room to grow.

As if summoned by angels playing harp music, I was thankfully given the opportunity to check out the Seagate Shop at Walmart.com and provided funds to purchase the shiny new Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex 500GB hard drive in VaVaVaVoom Red to test drive around the ol' block. Yeah baby! I was about to implode my huge 250GB laptop with all the ginormous pictures I've been taking in the past year, my laptop is enormously grateful.

Isn't she pretty?? Yes, it's a she, and I have named her "Red" (for obvious reasons).

I am happy to say that the FreeAgent GoFlex has been a savior and thensome, and my computer is running much more efficiently now that it has breathing room again. My files and pictures are safe, and I am also grateful to know that I can bring it to grandmas house without feeling like I'm weighing down the car with an extra bag of bricks, or something.

So, tell me in the comments, honestly, do YOU back up? If you don't, aren't you afraid of losing everything, or do you do something else to back-up besides an external? If you do, what do YOU use?

To learn more about the Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex, check it out for yourself at GoFlexMemories.com.


(The holidays are coming, you know.)

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Case of the What Ifs and The Story of The Box

I have an empty box in my hallway. Each day I pass it, knowing it sits there for one purpose - to collect old things to give away. However, that box has sat empty for some time, and serves as a reminder of what it is I need to do, but I just never seemingly have time to do it. And so, the box has now become part of what we're trying to avoid - clutter.

Then there's my case of "What Ifs" - "What if we'll need this some day?" or "What if we have another?" or "What if the kids want these the second we give 'em away?" and on, and on, and on, ad nauseum.

Why do I do that? Why do we do that? Why do possessions weigh so heavily upon me with grief and sorrow if I even think of getting rid of them? The memory won't die simply because they are given away. My children won't be clothes-less if I part with some of their things. I'm a regular donater, used to be a regular yard saler - what's changed? Our house certainly isn't big enough, and yet there are boxes upon boxes of things that need combing through, or a sale to part with. It never ends.

And maybe that's the problem.

With so many children, so little room, it's a never-ending battle of "stuff" and I'm just tired of having to go through it all.the.freaking.time.

Maybe it's my attempt at a perfection I cannot attain. Maybe it's my need for some semblance of tidiness that is simply unattainable in this teeny house - at least unattainable in the way I would like it done, anyway.

I'm not sure exactly what it is, actually. But I do know we need to plan, because the move is happening whether I want it to or not (and OH! I want it to! We need out of here!) But the foreshadowing of all the work to come? Sigh.

Until then, until the time arises that I can set aside a day or more to dedicate to junk and excess and extra and erroneous, this box will continue to sit. And pester. And be in the way. And annoy. And remind me that it has a purpose, as do I, and I need to be like Nike and "Just Do It."

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My Arm Needed Artwork, Apparently

Don't ask me what the heck he was thinking, the kid colors everything. I guess I was next. I needed something pretty. My arm was too bare. (Take your pick on his what his reasoning was.)

And? I didn't wash it off. Some of the soccer parents may have been looking at me a tad funny tonight, half-drawn on arms. I didn't scrub. I didn't even try. He wanted it there, and so it stayed.

Eventually, the pen-marks, the crayon, the marker drawn walls will be gone. The house will be empty. Their childhoods over, and my days of mothering littles complete. I try not to think of those times, and focus on the now. And during that now, he wanted to draw. On me. His living artwork display.

So be it.

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Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies (and Other Delicious Pumpkin Recipes)

Pumpkins are out in full force and I am a happy baking momma. Yesterday, I invited people on Twitter to visit my Blog Frog Community to post their favorite pumpkin recipes. Here's what I received in a mere couple of hours:

• Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars
• Old Fashioned Soft Pumpkin Cookies
• Quick Pumpkin Recipes for Halloween
• Pumpkin Loaf Bread 
• Pumpkin Soup
• Pumpkin Cheesecake 
• Pumpkin Spice Cake 
• Pumpkin Roll Cake
• Pumpkin Donuts
• Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cakes
• Pumpkin Bread

Are those not magnificent sounding? Be sure to bookmark them all, including mine (see below)! I wanted to be further inspired to prepare other pumpkin recipes at a later time (and maybe sooner than I thought) with a now-open can of pumpkin I used for my recipe below.

I can't begin to tell you how delicious these cookies turned out! Imagine, if you will, what pumpkin pie might taste like paired with oatmeal in a light, fluffy, cake-like cookie - that is what these are like. Wonderful, and healthy, too! Originally adapted from Roni's Vegan Pumpkin Oatmeal recipe, I added 1/4 cup more pumpkin, a tad more spices (because I'm a speecy-spicy lover), replacing sugar for Truvia (making it EVEN healthier) and I used whole flax instead of ground (making it taste nutty).The result? Unbelievable, and less than 100 calories for three (see Roni's post for the nutritional breakdown, taking into considering it'll be slightly less with no sugar).

Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies using Truvia

• 2 cups of organic flour
• 1 1/2 cups oats
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 3/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp ground cloves
• 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1/2 cup Truvia
• 3/4 cups applesauce
• 2 tbsp molasses
• 2 tbsp honey
• 1 cup canned pumpkin
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 tbsp whole flaxseeds (or you can use milled or ground)

*Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
*Combine the dry ingredients (flour oats, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg) and stir until mixed thoroughly.
*In a separate bowl, combine the Truvia, applesauce, molasses, honey, pumpkin, vanilla and flaxseeds, mixing well.
*Add the dry ingredients to the wet, folding in until well combined.
*Drop by the tablespoon onto baking stones or cookie sheets sprayed with non-stick spray. The cookies will not spread out when baked like a conventional cookie, so you'll need to flatten them out slightly with your spoon to make it resemble a cookie shape before you put it in the oven.
*Bake for 16 minutes. Remove immediately and place onto a plate to let cool. They will feel airy and similar to a slightly gummy cake - that's okay.

There is no egg, no oil, it's all healthy. Also note that they are VERY filling, so be sure to not shove a bunch in your mouth at once, or be prepared to feel like Santa Claus for a while. Don't ask how I know this. Ahem.

Do you have a pumpkin recipe to share? Please link up your favorites in the links here or in the comments below - let's get one big massive list of awesome pumpkin recipes together in one place - what do you think?


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Our Laundry Routine

I've spoken about Mount Washmore before, and the sheer enormity of it with having a huge family, but I haven't really spoken about our detergent choices. You see, being a green-preferable family, we have certain detergent needs. While we want them to be all-natural, they have to be able to clean our clothes, too. My middle daughter also has eczema, so we have to make sure what we use is gentle for her. Also, as of late, I've been in need for some uber-deodorizing detergents because of soccer, football and momma's running clothes tend to need a hazmat suit special care when washing. Ahem.

I decided to peruse the aisles at Walmart (our only local "mega" store) to see what they had to offer us. I was in need because a certain somebody (cough, Baby Dude, cough) wiped his chocolatey fingers on my beautiful Egyptian Cotton sheets, but we won't name names. Ahem.

I use Calgon Water Softener and Borax for extra-brightening. Our water is horrible and that stuff really helps clean clothes naturally. For stains, I like using Oxi-Clean, in all it's non-bleaching glory. For the extra-smelly clothes (ahem) I use Arm and Hammer Deodorizing detergent. Sometimes, I like using Seventh Generation liquid, too. I also use Mrs Meyer dryer sheets in lavender scent - so delicious!

I don't often use it all together, nor at full-strength - a little goes a long way, I use each when needed - Calgon (when I find it) goes in every load, because of our hard water. Borax, too. Oxi-Clean only for whites/khakis or stained clothing. Arm and Hammer for ones that need deodorizing or are particularly smelly. Seventh Generation gets used as a back-up.

Unfortunately, at Walmart I didn't find everything I needed. I was looking particularly for Oxi-clean, Borax and Arm and Hammer in the big boxes, and to see what other natural alternatives they had (ie. Seventh Generation, Mrs. Meyers, etc). They had hardly any all-natural detergents for this big family, let alone the detergents we do like in big enough sizes for us. Disappointing :(

What detergents do you use? Do you look for all-natural varieties, or have a preference on what works best for you? 


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GOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLLL!

Each of my three youngest had goals this past weekend.

I love this picture. I love the speed in which I was able to catch him.

Baby Sisters goal for her game, isn't that goal so freakin' cute??

Baby Dude decided to partake in playing and scoring, too.

Can you tell how much our family loves soccer??

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Accountability (and My Need for Some)

I have a (little) confession (or two) to make.

With my family's busy-ness as of late, in order to fit in extra work tasks, practices and games, some of the things around the house have been, um, let go.

• I should have shampooed (again) at least a week ago (if not more). I'm almost contemplating hiring somebody. I think it's going to eat me.
• The fridge needs to be cleaned out (and scrubbed) (like a lot, a lot). (Update 10/19: Cleaned some old crap out of there. It wanted to eat me, it wasn't pretty.)
• My husband put up our outside Halloween decor, but the inside stuff is sitting in a box in our driveway. (What, indoor Halloween decor doesn't look good in a box?)
• Costumes? Oy. Baby Dude's needs to be ordered, and everyone else needs to make up their minds so I know what we're doing.
• The drawers and closets could use a combing-through for things that are too small. Don't ask me how I know, or about how I'm learning this the hard way.
• Our room is more like an additional storage room as of late rather than a bedroom, and needs to be fixed (and our bedspread to the cleaners).
• The actual storage closet downstairs is so full, you can't get in (again).

Oh, I could go on, but those? Those are the things that are glaring at me right now. Unfortunately, there isn't much time with four kids playing sports, games, practices, deadlines, hubby's physical therapy for tendinitis in his foot, and everything else going on. I'm taking it all in baby steps, but some are time-sensitive, and I need incentive.

I come to you, friends, for a little accountability. Do you think you can help me?

I need my friends to help encourage me to do this. How? I want you to pester me. Do you hear me? PESTER. ME. Until those items are crossed off above, can you keep checking back, and if they're not, send me an email, hit me up on Twitter or Facebook, nag me like my mom would if I were a teenager again and my clothes weren't put away properly (yes, I know where my kids get it from, thankyouverymuch).

And? If you, yourselves, have things you need to handle and could use a little similar accountability (ahem, pestering), please, share in the comments. I can dish it out as well as I can receive it (I hope).

What do you think? Can you help? Are you in need of pestering help, too?

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This is How Baby Dude Rolls

While his sister is off playing with friends, and his brother is playing a game, he steals her after-game snack, and my chair, and this is how he watches soccer.

I want to be him when I grow up.

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Car Wash #Fail

This is what happens when you leave your children unsupervised to wash the car themselves. Prepare for every-friggin-thing to be washed.

Cuz, y'know, the front door needed it, I guess.

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Letting Big Kids Help at Dinner = Life Lessons

My husband asked my oldest son to mix the biscuits and place them on our baking stone while he ran to the store for a missing ingredient. He's ten, and it sounded pretty easy, so I let him do it, but, as it turned out, it wasn't easy for him.

Minutes later - "Mom!? I don't think I'm doing this right," he called to me from the kitchen.

I was a room away, typing away something brilliant, I'm sure. Ahem. "What do you mean?"

"It's crumbly," he said in this, monotone, you-should-come-take-a-look-because-something-is-wonky, kind-of way.

I got up to investigate. (Wow, was "crumbly" ever an understatement.)

"I didn't do a good job, did I?" He pouted, shuffling his feet.

My heart exploded with pride and sadness all at once. I feel it's important they get "behind the wheel" so-to-speak, to learn how to do this stuff as early as possible, to foster a love of healthy eating from scratch, not to mention fending for themselves to help them become more independent and capable. Unfortunately, we were both mistaken - he was without knowing what the consistency was supposed to look like, and I was for thinking it was easy enough that he could handle this on his own.

"Oh, baby! (Because, he could be 40 and still be my baby) You did just fine, you didn't know there wasn't enough milk. It's alright, baby! Look, we'll add more milk. It'll be okay. See?"

"But I made a mess." He grumbled.

"But that's okay, see? I can sweep it into my hands, put it back in, and mix it up. That's alright, see?"

And I showed him how gummy it's supposed to look, which was met with "Oh!" and "I see!" and a bunch of other exclamations as he learned. Because that's what it's about, making mistakes, learning from those mistakes, and trying again.

And our mistake? Was to leave him to do it alone without knowing he didn't really know how to mix biscuits. We know better, just as he does, now. And soon? We'll try again.

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Project You Magazine - Did You See (Me)?

The folks over at RoleMommy.com have made absolute magic with a wonderful new magazine called Project You. I feel blessed that I got to be a part of it for their inaugural issue. From their website:

Project You is all about you - joys and challenges you face while also being nurse, confidante, chauffeur, teacher, and mentor to your kids. The bottom line: You’re still “you” with hopes, dreams, and passions. We know that because we’re right there beside you.

This magazine is chock-filled with awesome, I am so honored to take part. I'm on page 19 with my weight loss story, alongside two other lovely women with similar stories, Jenn Mitchell and Dian Farmer. Check it out! (You can read the magazine right here, but it may take a moment or two to load)

Open publication - Free publishing - More role mommy

Isn't the magazine beautiful? Wonderful? Splendid? Awesome? I think so. Congratulations Beth, you've done it again!

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Family Comparison Pictures - Then and Now

Every so often, I get pulled into the archives of our pictures, looking for something. It marvels me when I see comparisons and similarities in shots from the past to present. I encourage you to do similar things like this, poses almost exact as past-shots, just so you can measure the changes in your children over the years and smile, remember, and grieve for time speeding by at an alarming rate, beyond your control.

Busch Gardens '05 and Busch Gardens '10

Brothers' first teeth lost

First days of school

Time is not my friend. It is going way too fast. Someone, please, make it slow down. Please.

{gulp}

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Balance? Not really. Life? Oh yes!

There most certainly is never enough time. I'm running from sun-up to sun-down every day. But it's that hair-on-fire, Mach-10 existence that keeps me going, keeps my life full.

Somethings go unfinished everyday. My floors need mopped, the corners need vacuumed, the garden needs weeding, and the life/mother/writer balance is um, off-kilter.

And the messes stemming from kids and food-inspired hair-dos? Oh, do I know.

But my life? So full.

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Soccer Knocks 'Em Out

Soccer's a tiring sport, man.

After the game nap. Couldn't resist sharing this!

Watching his siblings play, man, you can't get anymore exhausted as a little guy.

Can you believe how red his hair looks?

Too bad I couldn't join them. Nap times with kidlets are the bestest.

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The Newest Illness Taking Over the Household

It's incurable, I think. So say the doctors, anyway. I'm besides myself. I'm doing my best to cope, but my ten-year-old has it uber-bad. I don't know when it started, but I know that it's consuming me with grief. No treatment for it, either.

They call it Inside-Out Disorder. I.O.D. for short.

There's no entry into Wikipedia for it yet, so I'll do my best to compose myself long enough to explain. When a person suffers from IOD, they are completely incapable of taking their clothes of properly.

See exhibit A:

It's been a nightmare, I tell you. Day in, day out, wondering if the next piece of laundry you'll pick up will the same, wishing for it to go away, and every day it rears it's ugly head.

We tried taking classes to better prepare ourselves and our children for this. They even offered techniques to use to help combat this sickness. It went something a little like this:

Teacher: Class! Tell me, when you wear your clothing, what side do people see, inside or outside?
Class: Outside!
Teacher: Good! Now, tell me, what part of your clothing gets dirty when you wear it, inside or outside?
Class: Outside!
Teacher: Excellent! So, in your opinion, if people see the outside of your clothing when you wear them, and the outside of your clothing gets dirty, which side should be washed more, the inside or the outside?
Class: Outside!
Teacher: Wonderful! And so, when you take off your clothing, which side should be facing out to get washed more - inside or outside?
Class: Outside!

This is about the time in the class where I broke into tears. This teacher sure knew her stuff. Surely this would work! I loved it! My kids were beginning to grasp the depths of their illness. My ten-year-old smiled and cheered "Outside!" like everyone else did, even the healthy ones. Parents bonded through tears, it was magical.

Until I entered the laundry room the next day. {Insert sound of record scratch here} This is what I found. Again.

I am so doomed to live with I.O.D. for the rest of my life. I can hear the troubled calls from their future spouses now.

(Exactly a year ago I wrote about almost the exact same thing. Weird.)

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Tackle Football aka Mom's Gonna Have a Heart Attack

This is my son's first time playing tackle football, as in, the kind-of football where kids are encouraged to take the opponent down. To the ground. Forcefully.

Gulp.

I'm doing my best at keeping it together. He's so good at it, too, but it is just so hard to see these kids come after him when he's got the ball. He got his first "man tackle" (so he called it) during this game in which someone finally took him down. And I was lucky enough to photograph it. {whimpers}

The huddle. He's number 18 "Chief" for the Fort Polk Colts. #18 is Peyton Manning's #

He's the wide receiver, and he is ready.

(Look at the CALVES on my kid! Holy smokes!)

Ready to go in that pre-play crouch position.

Baby Dude's attempt to see the game like a big kid.

Baby Dude's view. I love this shot so much!

He's got it! He's got it! Ahh!

And they got him. {Insert mom seeing stars here} But look at how far he went! Almost 30 yards!

Our team won by one point! And my son came out unscathed, thank goodness.

It is so hard, though, because he's so good at it, and I can see him wanting to stick with this sport. He loves watching it on TV with us, and now that he's playing it, he's unstoppable (well, almost). The coaches love him, the players love him, and he's such a hard-worker. I never want to hold him back in anything, I want him to be everything he dreams of being and more. But oh, how it is so hard when you fear for their safety in a rough sport like this.

{Insert quiet whimpering here}

What do I do? He is so amazing at playing soccer, with a real shot of a scholarship someday, perhaps. And now, he's seemingly great at football, too. Could he play both? Can my heart handle this sport? Ack. My heart...


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I Love Babywearing. Let's Keep It Safe and Educate

My love for babywearing always becomes renewed when I get something new to play with. Introducing our family's newest sling by Seven Slings called "Carmel Latte."

I. Love. It. So. Much.

You can't beat getting a well-sized sling. He sits so comfortably on my hip in this, snuggling him up against me.

 Taken with my camera phone, apparently in need of cleaning.

I broke this baby out at Type-A Mom and gladly wore him through the airport, lending it to friends when needed at the conference. 

I can't begin to tell you how babywearing has helped me in my parenting my small children. When children are worn properly, it increases the bond between child and parent and allows for that closeness long after the arms have grown tired. (Note: I did not say mother, as my husband wears our children, too.)

Even my kids have gotten into babywearing, too.

Babywearing has been around for centuries. Women in other countries have worn their children with fabric and cloth draped over their bodies forever, and with good reason, because it's a wonderful way to bond. I don't think I can elaborate on how much it pains me to see it torn apart by companies, or continually under the microscope by the CPSC because of uneducated folks doing it wrong and, as a result, innocent babies being hurt (or worse).

We babywearers should help to not only spread the good word about babywearing, but to help ensure others are properly educated on how to use their chosen babywearing item. We need to rally together in our love for babywearing, and help anyone who needs it. I personally would love to see babywearing parties around the US, to help show interested parents the different kinds and give them face-to-face contact with babywearers in which they could seek out immediate help and support locally.

What do YOU think? Do you babywear, too? What do you use, and what do you think we could do to help others? Link up in our Babywearing Call to Action at Steph's.

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