Category Archives: Fun

Making Pinatas: Part 3

Here is a short video I took while the family was working on pinatas. Peter really enjoyed the newspaper strips while Phillip liked just standing there cutting up newspaper. Anna was very hands on. At different times she tore newspaper, wet strips with flour paste, and placed the wet pieces on the balloons.

Even though, the other kids were involved in several parts of the pinata making, Anna is probably the only one old enough to have a full knowledge of the process. The others will probably refer to it as that time when they had permission to make a big mess in the floor and then play in it! πŸ˜€

Making Pinatas – Part 2

Today I will show you pictures of the newspaper strips, wetting the strips with a paste of flour & water, and putting the strips on the balloon. The kids seemed to have a blast with every step of the pinata-making, but it was most obvious with the newspaper strips!

If you missed Making Pinatas Part 1, feel free to take a moment to catch up.

Miscellaneous Monday 2008-10-27

I had a lot of short but interesting bits of news that I wanted to share. Because not everyone who reads my blog also follows me on twitter, I decided to put them all in one “miscellaneous” blog post. Maybe I can make this a Monday tradition. πŸ™‚

Shopping

When I lived in Nashville, I shopped at Aldi’s, but when I moved to Rhode Island, I could not find one. Fortunately there was a similar store called Price Rite. Wal-Mart is usually my second choice for groceries. I have always wanted to do a price comparison between the two, but now I don’t have to. Someone else has done it for me. This comparison is between Aldi’s and Wal-Mart, but I am fairly certain that you would find almost identical results between Price Rite and Wal-Mart.

Quotable Quotes

Bethany: (after getting on a bus) “We sit in Fire Twuck.”

Peter: “You dripped a little terihocky sauce.”

Tabetha: “She’s got her curls toed.”

Candice: “Canna.” (Her name)

The Good News

Today Phillip understood the good news of Christ. Luke talked and prayed with him, and he asked Jesus into his heart! I am so glad!! Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!! I get to see my little boy in Heaven!

Twitter Tweets

Twitter is a relatively new thing for me. I have been doing it for quite awhile, but I am just now really learning how to use it and enjoy it. Luke has shown me how to mark my favorites, and since he did not post from twitter on Sunday Snippets like he usually does, this seemed like a good opportunity to share my favorite tweets over the last few weeks. If you enjoy them, please let me know, so I will know whether to post more later. πŸ™‚

Carly Matthews
HelloKit i haven’t tweeted yet today. my mind must be empty.
Stretch Mark Mama
stretchmarkmama Told my hubs about the muffins, the company, and how 3 kids are screaming at once. He said, “We put the SPIT in hospitality.”
Carly Matthews
HelloKit don’t you just love people who encounter a locked bathroom door and try to knock it down? it couldn’t possibly be occupied…
Robert Hruzek
roberthruzek Notice how easy it is to blame everything on the hurricane now. Feeling slow: Ike. Heavy traffic: Ike. Crazy weather: Ike. Acne: It’s Ike.
Stretch Mark Mama
stretchmarkmama Kids are wearing 3 costumes each and showing them off to the city workers across the street. Home Skool Pride rite thar.
Tabetha Gedeon
giddytab @Cullens_Girl I think you should probably go with your husband. πŸ˜€
Un-favorite Delete
Cullens_Girl
Cullens_Girl Icon_red_lock is trying to pick a date for a birthday party.
Tabetha Gedeon
giddytab If you say goodbye to nobody, nobody will hear you, and that is pretty scary!
Un-favorite Delete
Stretch Mark Mama
stretchmarkmama I decided I’m going to throw half a bag of cereal on the floor. You know, just to get THAT out of the way for the day. MORNING EVERYONE.
Stretch Mark Mama
stretchmarkmama Boys are trying on their sister’s barrettes. Guess it’s time to start school. First lesson? Chainsaws and carburetors.
Carly Matthews
HelloKit boss makes it hard to stay mad at him when he brings me double chocolate donuts…
Stretch Mark Mama
stretchmarkmama Kids are “no longer allowed” to burp at the table. Must burp in the bathroom instead. IT ONLY MADE THEIR BURPS THAT MUCH LOUDER. Smart Mama.
Stretch Mark Mama
stretchmarkmama Gone 7 yrs w/o an alarm clock. Upgraded to the Natural models–the shouting, screaming, stomping kind. Yep, GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY.
Stretch Mark Mama
stretchmarkmama The verdict: 4YO’s tooth is either dying, or it isn’t. (REALLY HELPFUL DIAGNOSIS.) Time will tell. Hoping for a resurrection.
Stretch Mark Mama
stretchmarkmama Teaching my boys how to burp silently. No one puts these kinds of things in the Job Description.
Stretch Mark Mama
stretchmarkmama Biked all the way to the park; hung out a bit. Then I realized–MY SON WAS NOT WEARING ANY PANTS.
Stretch Mark Mama
stretchmarkmama 64 burps from the 6YO today. In case you were wondering.
Stretch Mark Mama
stretchmarkmama Boys have started tallying their burps. That’s math, right?
Stretch Mark Mama
stretchmarkmama 6YO to me: “You have the biggest buns of anyone, right Mom?”
Stretch Mark Mama
stretchmarkmama And did you know that the Latin word “gymnos” (as in “gymnastics”) means “naked?” Snicker, snicker. Thank you, Olympic book.
Tabetha Gedeon
giddytab The dishes are calling my name, and I’m ready to pretend I’m someone else!!
Un-favorite Delete
Stretch Mark Mama
stretchmarkmama Saw my first female flower on our pumpkin plants. Son went flying out the house hollering, “LET’S MAKE A BAAAAAA-BEEEEEE!!!”
Tabetha Gedeon
giddytab @stretchmarkmama Hmmmm. My kids must be geniuses. They seemed to get that lesson without any teaching. πŸ˜€
Un-favorite Delete
Stretch Mark Mama
stretchmarkmama “Kids, today’s first lesson is called ‘Instigating A Fight’ and ‘How That Drives Your Mother Crazy’.”
Stretch Mark Mama
stretchmarkmama Taking the kids to the park on a 63 degree day. It’s either that or duct taping them in separate corners of the house.

I’m Sorry I’m Sorry

Somehow it seems to be a part of my personality to say “sorry,” even when it is not necessary. I think it started out when I realized that I could say it when someone was in a bad circumstance. Of course, I meant that I was sorry the person was experiencing a hard time. Eventually I just began apologizing when it was totally not necessary.

When I moved to Rhode Island, a friend here began right off the bat saying, “You don’t have to apologize.” I actually apologized so much over time that I was able to predict when she was going to say this phrase. Sometimes I playfully came back with, “Oh did I apologize again? I’m sorry.” I was also sometimes tempted to say, “You don’t have to say ‘you don’t have to apologize.'” πŸ™‚

But in reality she really helped me. It has been quite helpful to have her constantly reminding me that apologizing was not necessary. Not only that, but I am suspicious that apologizing constantly gives people the impression (let’s people see?) that I lack confidence.

For awhile, I got around the the reminder not to apologize by saying “starry” instead of “sorry.” She knew what I meant, and also realized that I knew I wasn’t supposed to be apologizing. I believe it is actually saying “I’m starry” (along with my friend’s constant reminders) that helped me to get over my apologetic apologizing because to remember to say “starry” was due to my remembering not to say the real thing. (Wow! Maybe you should read that sentence a second time!) Over time I unconsciously stopped say “I’m starry,” too!

Tonight while chatting with my friend online, I did slip up and apologize, and in so doing, realized how long it had been since I had apologized unnecessarily. Of course, that is not to say that I have not done anything to apologize for. Notice I did say “unnecessarily.” πŸ™‚

The odd thing is that instead of slipping up which causes you to have to apologize, my slip up was apologizing itself! And I couldn’t even apologize for my mistake! Because to apologize would make me apologize for apologizing, which would make me apologize again……..and on and on and on.

And if this post is too long or not exactly what you were looking to read tonight, please forgive me. Does that count as apologizing?

Note: After typing this post, I realized I had unknowingly posted on Robert Hruzek’s “What I Learned From” topic of the month. I had been planning to post and time just slipped up on me. But I accidentally made the deadline. Sorry, Robert, that I almost forgot! πŸ˜€ (This is too much fun!).

Craziest Hour of the Day

Here is my crazy hour for the day. I’m glad there was only one!!

Candice was quite fussy this morning, so I ended up putting her in her bed to cry safely while I mixed some infant oatmeal for her. As I was beginning on the oatmeal mix, an orange soda that had been calmly sitting on top of the refrigerator decided to take a leap onto the floor beneath it.

Now, you have to understand the reputation of our floor. It is hard glossy tile that seems to win against everything that dares to fall on it (including me, but that is another story).

So, the orange soda decided to take a leap to see what happened. What happened was the can ended up squashed on one side and started crying orange soda everywhere (and I do mean everywhere). So, I grabbed it and comforted it in the sink until it stopped crying. Unfortunately, the baby had not stopped.

I left the orange on the floor and finished mixing the cereal for Candice. It was then that I realized thatΒ  the orange soda tears were all over the floor around the highchair, so I had to clean them up before giving Candice her cereal.

Finally the mess was cleaned up, and I was ready to feed Candice….right after I put the mop away. But before I got that far, Peter said, “Ew…..Mom, what is that stuff all over Bethany?!” Sure enough, she had dumped Candice’s bowl of cereal all over herself. So, then I proceeded to clean up mess #2. Then I proceeded to make bowl of cereal #2. Then FINALLY I fed Candice! Then the kids and I sat back and enjoyed some orange soda! My new motto:Β  “When life throws a soda at you, turn it up and take a drink.”

Toddler Miracle Diet

A friend from church sent me this “diet” for toddlers. I’m not sure I would describe most 2 year olds as trim; mine’s a bit on the chubby side, but, of course, that is cute (and expected) on a 2 year old.

I am also not quite sure about that sucker that was eaten on for 3-4 days…although I am sure the equivalent of this has happened at my house…it’s just odd for someone to voluntarily admit it. Maybe that’s an honesty quirk I need to work on? Or maybe that is why the author is unknown. πŸ˜€

But I’m getting off the point, aren’t I? So, hurry up and read on before I decide to lose my train of thought again…or worse yet, decide to have buttered toast for bedtime snack. πŸ™‚

Over the years you may have noticed that most 2 year olds are trim. It came to me one day over a cup of grapefruit juice and a carrot that perhaps their diet is the reason.

After consultation with pediatricians, x-ray technicians and distraught mothers, I was able to formulate this new diet. It is inexpensive and offers great variety and sufficient quantity. ENJOY!!

Day 1:

Breakfast – One scrambled egg, one piece of toast with grape jelly. Eat 2 bites of egg using your fingers, dump the rest on the floor. Take 1 bite of toast, then smear the jelly over your face and clothes.

Lunch – Four crayons (any color), a handful of potato chips, and a glass of milk – 3 sips, then spill the rest.

Dinner – A dry stick, 2 pennies, 4 sips of flat diet pop.

Bedtime snack – Toast piece of bread, butter it and toss it face down on the floor.

Day 2:

Breakfast – pick up stale toast from the floor and eat it. Drink 1/2 bottle of vanilla extract or one vial of vegetable dye.

Lunch – Half tube of “Pulsating Pink” lipstick and one ice cube, if desired.

Afternoon snack – Lick an all day sucker until sticky, take it outside and drop in dirt. Retrieve and continue slurping until clean again, then bring inside and drop on living room carpet.

Dinner – A rock or an uncooked bean, which should be thrust up your left nostril. Pour iced tea over mashed potatoes, eat with spoon.

Day 3:

Breakfast – 2 pancakes with plenty of syrup – eat with fingers, rub fingers in hair to clean. Glass of milk – drink half. Stuff excess pancakes in glass. After breakfast, pick up yesterday’s sucker from carpet, lick off fuzz until sticky again, then leave on cushion of your best chair.

Lunch – Peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Spit several well-chewed bites onto the floor. Pour glass of milk onto table, then slurp up.

Dinner – Dish of ice cream, handful of potato chips, 1 sip of cold coffee.

Final Day:

Breakfast – 1/4 tube of toothpaste (any flavor), bit of soap, one olive. Pour glass of milk over bowl of cornflakes, add 3 cups of sugar. Wait until cereal is soggy, drink milk and feed cereal to dog with your spoon.

Lunch – Eat crumbs off the kitchen floor and dining room carpet. Find that red sucker and finish eating it.

Dinner – A plate of spaghetti and chocolate milk. Leave meatball on plate. Handful of cheese snacks – eat 2 and place the rest in bowling ball holes or any other convenient hiding place.

-Author Unknown

Over-Eggsaggerated Eggsact Eggsplanation

I have noticed recently that our family was suddenly eating more eggs during breakfast than we used to. I was not sure what the eggsact eggsplanation for this was, but I thought maybe our kids had a bigger appetite than they used to. Yesterday while scrambling eggs, I found out the (almost) eggsact reason.

Here are the eggsact details. While cracking eggs to scramble, I emptied the egg carton and had to go into a new one. I was quite surprised by the difference in size between the eggs from the different cartons. Both were size large eggs, but one was quite a bit larger than the other. See the pictures below to see eggsactly how much bigger.

Go ahead….scroll down and look. I’ll wait. I’m not eggsactly busy right now and need time to think about the eggsact details anyway.

Did you go look? Eggsellent!

The problem is that I know the larger egg came from Wal-Mart, but I am not sure eggsactly where the smaller egg came from. It was a Stop & Shop carton, but I had refilled it with eggs that did not come out of the carton, so I am not eggsactly sure where not to buy eggs. Fortunately, I do know eggsactly where to get an eggsellent deal on eggs, both in price and in size. And that is the part I wanted to eggsplain anyway.

Now, if you happen to be wondering how eggsactly I emptied a carton of eggs and then had an egg from the old carton to compare with one from the new carton, I will have to eggsplain to you how I crack eggs. I usually hit one egg against the other, which means that I had to hit an egg from the old carton against an egg from the new carton. Just for clarification, I should eggsplain to you that when I get to the last egg, I either hit it against another egg and put the other egg back in the carton, or hit it on the table.

Make sense? If you still are not eggsactly sure, read someone else’s eggsplaination. This is actually eggsplaining how to play a game with hard boiled eggs (which actually sounded kind of fun) that is a similar concept because only one egg breaks. I am not sure eggsactly why this is so. I probably could guess, but that would not be an eggsact reason, because I would be in danger of over or under eggsaggerating.

So, now that you have an eggsplanation of why I should continue to buy eggs at Wal-Mart rather than going to whatever other store I should never buy eggs from again, you can decide for yourself whether my eggsplanation was over-eggsaggerated or eggsellent. I vote for the second option, because it gives more eggsact details and gives a better overview of…….oh……okay. I guess I have eggsplained enough. πŸ™‚

eggs.jpg eggs-2.jpg

Blog Party!

There is a blog party going on for moms at 5 Minutes for Mom. This is a great way to get more traffic to your blog and make friends with other bloggers. And, hey, if you win a cool prize in that process, that’s even better! To find out how to get in on this party, click here.

For those visitors who may be wondering a bit about me, I am a Christian homeschooling mom of 5 children, ranging in age from 2 months to 8 years. I like to read, play around on the computer, play board games, talk, write/type, spend time with my family, and many other things that I can’t think of right now. πŸ™‚ If you would like to know a little more about me, take a look at this post from last February.

Have fun browsing and enjoy the party!