Tips for Rainy Days

Rain Rain Rain. We sometimes long for it when our hand starts cramping from trying to keep those pretty spring flowers alive, but for the most part, it's a burden when you have kids. SO what's a mom to do? Have FUN on reserve!
Here's some tips for rainy days, and feel free to add your own in the comments!

1. Play-doh! It may be messy, but in my home, play-doh ONLY gets to come out on rainy days! That way it's always a cool treat and the kids don't get bored easily!

2. Marching Band. Providing it's not nap-time for one of the kiddos, grab all your musical instruments and tell them to have a parade! You sit in the chair and be the MC or videographer! ;)

3. Build a Fort. It's amazing what impresses kids, but with a few blankets and some heavy pillows, a fort is only moments away! Get the flashlights out too! Chances are it's overcast anyway so it'll be nice and dark in their "cave"!

4. Movie (day) Night! Pop some popcorn, throw in a movie and cuddle up with them! Hey, even you deserve to relax when it's dreary out!

5. Computer education. Ok, unless you're super ambitious and trying to finish your masters while all the kids are still under 5 ( I know you're out there and I hate you), let the older ones get on the computer! There are so many great websites for preschoolers, PBSkids.org, discoverykids.com, nickjr.com...Plus it's a great way to fold laundry while they're occupied!

6. Pictures! Don't forget, rainy days are a great time to get those awesome water pictures! Throw on the rain coats and break out the galoshes and umbrellas! Splash away!!


Hope this helps. Don't forget your local library and children's science centers!
Have fun! The sun will come out...soon!

Baby Food Recipes

Apparently I thought baby food was some intricate recipe that no one could duplicate and "real" stuff wasn't good for your new-to-food baby. Can you say, "sigh, first time mom..." ??
I ran out of jarred food the other day and after my mini heart attack, I took and deep breath and thought, "ok, this can't be that hard." I had a friend tell once that she got spinach in her kids diet by pureeing it with bananas, since it masks the taste. Something about sweet smelling green stuff never sounded appetizing though. But I was at a loss for options to feed my 7month old. I had to try it. Well, not me, he had to try it, I certainly wasn't eating it! ;) So it was a totally hit and he gobbled it up!!! (I have a Magic Bullet which is great for smaller portions such as these. I rinse after each use so I can make everything fresh.) No more costly jarred baby food and I have the added pleasure of knowing exactly what my son is eating. No chemicals. No preservatives. It's so great.

Here's the 2 recipes I made yesterday.

Bananas with Spinach- (Makes 2 servings)
1 ripened banana
handful spinach
Blend to puree
I added some oatmeal to thicken it a little

Applesauce- Made 1 serving
Cut a few pieces off an apple (keep skin)
add some water and steam in microwave for 20 seconds
Add some cinnamon and puree.

Here's some other sites that have great ideas!
Parents Magazine
Homemade-Baby-Food-Recipes.com
Wholesome Baby Food

{Manic Mondays}

There is a FABULOUS article about leaving the guilt behind in this month's issue of Parenting magazine.

We all have those days where even shutting the door while you pee makes your mom-guilt meter swell above the limit, but what I'm wondering is who made these "new rules"?!? And why do they seem to apply only to our generation of parents? It's crazy. I feel like I've turned out fine, and I was raised in the get-outside-and-stay-outside-until-the-street-lights-come-on era. My mom never felt guilty (or never admitted it) about what she might be doing wrong to affect my future. I think she always had the mentality that she had it a lot worse and she also had too much other shit to worry about rather than me. I'm not saying I wasn't cared for or taken care of. I got what I needed when I needed it, but above and beyond? No. And it doesn't matter. Because it taught me that you can't always get more than what you need. Sometimes, there's just no money left, or time left from two working parents. Sometimes you need to wake up and face the fact that you're the kid, and the world doesn't revolve around you and the big picture is that you turn out to be a moralistic, caring, contributing member of society, not the next winner of American Idol.  In my childhood, you were not treated as this special star that could do anything and change the world if you wanted. And in some ways, sure, it taught us to be submissive to authority, not to question anything, and take everything at face value. But what else did it teach us? It taught us that everyone has something they can contribute, whether it be the next CEO or the garbage man. NOT EVERYONE can be the best. Not everyone can be in charge. The world doesn't work that way.
So, I say, moms, quit feeling so guilty about missing the deadline for french lessons for your 2 yr old. Don't feel bad that your child can't play 5 different musical instruments. You're doing a fine job. Your child will survive. And if you're lucky, they'll grow up with a realistic approach on life knowing that sometimes you fail. And mommy won't always be there to hold your hand in that job interview.
Read the article, I think you'll agree (or change your parenting style).

{Manic Mondays}

Do I love my kids?
yes.
Would I jump in front of a bus for them?
totally. 
would I donate my entire body and organs (even though it's old and gelatinous) to them?
no question.

Then, why, may I ask, do I want to smack the crap out of them every time I'm eating something and they ask for a bite!?
All I want is one whole meal. To myself. That's it. Is it too much to ask to pop up that bagel from the toaster and eat it in all of it's buttery glory down to the very last nibble!? I think not! Get your grubby little hands away from my food! This is mine. It has way more carbs than you are supposed to eat in a lifetime! Eat your effin healthy well balanced meal that I slaved over (before I made my own breakfast, mind you)!!
And another thing! Can I just drink my coffee in peace?! It's taken me 4 days to get through this 10 page Bed Bath and Beyond weekly circular because you keep interrupting me!!! 10 minutes! I know you can do it! All I want is 10 effing minutes.

Crap, I just spent it writing this. Well, guess it looks like another "soggy waffle scraps with some backwashed yogurt" morning for me. MMmmm. iHOP should really copy my menu.

Survey Says

I not only should have taken this myself, but I know a few others who definitely should have...

Weekend Weather

Well, we finally had some nice weather. Beautiful, sunny weather. We had to get out for the day. So, you know what we did, we went and walked around a store. Why? I don't really know. It seemed like an ok thing to do with 3 children just before nap time. I mean doesn't that scream fun to you?

Kids and stores don't really mix for me. I'm torn. I really would love to be the mother that can take all three kids grocery shopping only to have them follow me like little ducklings and quietly observe others through each aisle. And I'm not fantasizing, either. These people exist. I see them all the time and can't help but think they might just spend the 30 minutes leading up to the trip beating their children into submission and threatening to kill puppies if they are out of line, because that is what it would take for my kids to behave. Oh, who am I kidding, they would still act up. But on the other hand, I also appreciate the fact that my children are annoying. To everyone. (Besides when they are with a sitter, then they "were perfect angels", but this is of course before they get paid so maybe...)

I almost think I'm doing a disservice to them by setting this unattainable goal of being good in the store only to yell at them and threaten every step of the way. It's like setting them up for failure. SO where is the line? Is it a certain age? A certain store? A certain time of day? Do the planets have to be aligned?

Maybe your feedback will help. Maybe I'm missing the big picture. Or maybe I'm crazy for thinking my rugrats will ever be appropriate enough for public places.

Crafts and Kids

If you're looking for someway to do crafts without feeling guilty about plopping your kids in front of the tv in order to complete them, try this!!!

I had DS#1 (4yrs) draw a picture of his favorite robot. He made a very good drawing! I was actually proud! (Ok, I'm always proud!)

Then I cut all the fabric out from flannel pieces (scraps). I picked some colors since I didn't have ALL PURPLE. (He's still learning that you can use different crayons to make one picture.)

I used fusible webbing for the different colored applique pieces and then stitched around them.

I pinned the thing together, sewed, and top stitched and attached some eyes (he picked out the buttons he wanted) and a mouth and we have a one of a kind personalized robot stuffed animal! I'd take a picture of it now, but he's playing with it in his room quietly, and I am NOT disturbing that!

ENJOY!

-Cleo

Spring into Cleaning

It's the first nice day we've had in a while and the kids have been dying to get outside and play so I took this opportunity to clean the house! Everything looks like I don't have children!! Vacuumed! Scrubbed! Walls wiped down! (btw, the amount of nastiness I cleaned off the walls! OMG! to quote comedian Louie C.K.- "these are not good people we are dealing with here.")

But it almost looks like I could have company!!! QUICK! Hurry! Come over before they come inside for lunch!!!!

P.S. Should I feel bad about considering a camp out tonight...just for the kids?! The little one can't open doors yet, and if I cuff the older ones hands, they wouldn't be able to mess up this beauty!!!

well, until next time (and I'm sure my house won't ever be this clean)

-Cleo