I'm dreaming of an Etsy Christmas...

If you've already discovered the magical world of Etsy, then you know you can quickly blow hours away by skimming thru all the wonderful items for sale. Where else can you buy chocolate dipped treats, personalized name crayons, cutsie cards & gorgeous necklaces, all on the same website? The best thing about it, is you are supporting small businesses. As the recipient of several Etsy wins, it still amazes me that there are so many talented people out there. I consider myself pretty crafty, but I don't hold a candle to many on this site. If you have no idea what I am talking about, head here- Etsy :: Your place to buy and sell all things handmade- after you finish reading my post. lol

In honor of Etsy & Christmas, Busy Mom of Busy Mom Blog and More, is hosting an Etsy shopping Bonanza! Two winners will share $750 worth of goodies from several Etsy shops, including paper crafts, jewelry & edible yumminess. Just visit Busy Mom Blog and More for all the fun details, but do it soon, as the contest will be ending on Saturday the 6th of December.

Here is the complete list of participating shops:

This and That, Red Pajamas, Baby Luv Gifts, Baby Bears, My Custom Baby Boutique, Baby Goin Places, Layla Legs , Second Story Window, Inspiring Color Tie Dye, Baby Peas, Abby Chase Designs, Tadpoles and Tutus, Make it and Love It, PiggyTails Boutique, Four Dog Day, Jupita , Zeba, Jodi Horgan, One of a Kind Custom Jewelry, Across The Pond, Kerstin Hanson, Krug's Eco-Logic, Indulgent Creations, koko candles, Dazzle Dott, Mary Zoom, Maggie Sue Designs, Gaia Conceptions, BoojiBoo, Stones of Healing, A Sugar Affair , Cakebox Cookies, A Thyme 2 B Comforted , Double Dipped Sweets, KE Cookies, AngelPie Cookies and Cakes, Meg's Creations, Cookie Art by Sarah, Paper Treasures 4 U, Inkspot Workshop, Take Note, Articulations

I think I am in love.....

Yes, as a married mom, I will admit it. I'm in love with Robert Pattinson. Or better known as Edward Cullen. lol Twilight opened tonight & of course we (myself, Sam, Baylee & Nick) had to be there! From the first minute he walked into the cafeteria, that tusseled hair & those gorgeous eyes made my insides melt! If it wasn't 3am & Baylee having my book, I would be sitting here reading it again. The movie was great, although there were things I wished they would have kept in, and other things they wouldn't have just mentioned & glossed over. All in all, I was happy though. Now to wait for the next one.......

These durn Holiday Commercials...

Does anyone else get teary-eyed watching the holiday themed commercials? I just saw a Pillsbury one, with a little girl closing her eyes, clicking her heels together & dreaming about pillsbury crescent rolls. At the end you see the whole family sitting down together around the table, and the flash the words "home is calling" on the screen. sniff sniff. Yeah, I'm a sucker this time of year. I spent a good hour & a half yesterday watching Christmas light videos on YouTube. I don't know what it is- heck it isn't even the weather this year. It's almost Thanksgiving, and it was in the high 70's today. I finally put the kids' shorts & tanks away last week. Crazy, eh?

Gasp! I'm in a new age bracket....

Well it's official. I am no longer in the 25-34 age group. You know what I'm talking about. All the different online forms, when you have to check your age. Turning 35 on Friday, officially bumped me to the next category. How did I get here? It seems like only yesterday, I was attending the NKOTB's original concerts, clubbing Thurs-Sat nights with Tiffaney, and actually being able to talk with my oldest. lol I've decided to made a list of 35 things I want to do before my next birthday.
1) Become more involved in the kids' schools. All aspects. I want my kids to look back & know that I was an active participant in their school careers.

2) Visit Disney World. I dream about going here, eating Tonga Toast, having the magic hit me full force, and drinking a lapu out of a pineapple. lol

3) Visit with my online friends. I had such a fun time with Chelle, Michelle & Mel 2 years ago. I would love to plan a meet. Or maybe a closer one, with Tig & Courtney.

4) Lose a couple of dress sizes. Being an 18-20 right now sucks. :( I want to get down to at least a 14.

5) No matter how crazy my children drive me, make sure to tell them I love you everyday!

6) Read to my kids a few nights a week. Even the ones that can read themselves.

7) Start dating my husband again. Bring back the excitement of getting to know each other again, rather than let the everyday pressures affect our relationship.

8) Get myself financially in a better place.

9) Blog regularly.

10) Start an Etsy shop with all the crafty things I have in my head.

11) Take my mom to a Play. I had soo much fun going to see Phantom this last year, with her & Chad.

12) Win a trip to New York.

13) Win a trip to Vegas.

14) Take the kids to the park at least once a week.

15) Keep in touch with all my friends better. Don't wait until they call you.

16) Take a class, even an online class.

17) Buy a sewing machine & learn how to sew.

18) Become friends with my oldest again. I miss knowing what is going on with him.

19) Pamper myself once a month. Get a massage, a pedicure, or have my eyebrows waxed.

20) Take the kids to DisneyLand, Legoland, or Sea World, or all 3.

21) Learn how to Photoshop, so I can make my own cool siggies. lol

22) Print up all the pics that seem to collect on my computer

23) Have a Halloween Party. I have wanted to do this for several years now.

24) Attend the Exotic Erotic Ball. Another thing that I have always wanted to go to.

25) Send out Cards to people. Birthday, Get Well, etc.

26) Plan better meals for our family. Healthy eating has to become a way of life for us.

27) Support my dh. We definately have our problems that we need to work on. But I know he craves the love I can give him & praise that will help lift him up to be the man I know he can & he wants to be.

28) Wear makeup. I want to look my best everyday.

29) Hit up the midnite showing of Harry Potter in July. :D

30) Plan & totally surprise at least 3 people this year, with something they would never expect

31) Work on my patience.

32) Find better ways to communicate with my children.We do waaay too much yelling in the house,and it isn't healthy for any of us.

33) Visit my Grandparents, my Uncles & my MIL's gravesites & leave flowers.

34) Do more random acts of kindness, to do my part in making the world a better place.

35) Plan something exciting for my 36th bday. :D

Guess it's time to pop open some wine & toast to the upcoming year! Happy Bday to me!

Fun things a'coming.....

So many things are happening this month. This Saturday, we are having our 50% off of everything in the thrift store I work at. Ivolunteered to work 12 hours that day. 4 hours overtime= xtra Christmas cash! It will be a looong day, but should be lots of fun. What I am most excited about though, is that we can come in early that morning & shop before the store opens. All the body parts that are capable of crossing, have been crossed that the one item I really really want, will still be there on Saturday. We have a pretty nice Dell Inspirion laptop (w/wireless) for $400, which means only $200 smackaroos on Sat! This would be perfect for my WoW playing 14 year old! It will be nice not to have to share my computer. lol

On the 14th, I will be turning 35. I would love to hit up the casino that night, thinking I might hit the big one. lol But knowing how my bdays have been in the past, we will prob stay at home & do nothing. Ugh.

And everyone should know what movie comes out on the 21st. I cannot WAIT to see Twilight! The kids are out of school on that Friday, so I might get tickets for Sam & I to catch the midnite showing of it on Thursday. Not sure who else will be joining us- my niece def if she is in town, and possible Sam's friend Damier. If you haven't read the books yet, omg- go out buy the first two right now! (You will need both of them, because when you stay up til 4am that first night, finishing Twilight, you will be glad to New Moon in hand to start. Yep, talking from experience here.lol)

Our first ever cookie decorating party is scheduled (well scheduled in my head anyways) for Monday the 24th. Each of the younger kids will get to invite some friends over to ice & decorate already made up sugar cookies. I'm trying to decide on what else I want to do with them. I'm on the lookout for a cute easy Christmas or Thanksgiving craft. We will prob have kids aged from 2-7, and around 13 or 14 kids. I think I will pick up pizza & def want apple cider going in the crock pot. I can't wait! It should be lots of fun!

Thanksgiving of course, I will cook a big Turkey dinner for our family. Thinking of doing it buffet style this year & putting an open invite out to friends & family. I love having lots of people around, and want to foster this in my kids lives.

Black Friday- My favorite shopping day of the year! lol I actually don't "need" anything this year. But I def want to get some cheap movies for us & for gifts. And I can always count on Walmart & Target for some cheap toys. I really hope that Leapster games are on sale this year. I know some people would sooner cut off their left pinkie finger, than go out that day. But I love it! It's a tradition to go out with my brother Greg, and sometimes my sil. We head out super early, hit tons of stores & always get lunch. We meet the nicest people inline too. It doesn't snow here, but man it gets chilly out!

The Chaos of Prop 8

If you have called California your home for the last month, than I'm sure you've heard up to your eyeballs about Proposition 8. Well, unless you've been living under a rock. I don't remember past Props getting as much media attention as this one has. It seems like every time I turned the tv on, listened to the radio, or went anywhere, I would get bombarded on how I should vote. We all have our opinions on what we feel is right. Which is great- another reason to live in the great country that we do- democracy rules, and everyone's voice counts. I personally will say I am sad that this passed. I feel that EVERYONE deserves the same rights. My dh & I were allowed to get married, put each other on insurance forms, and are automatically the "next of kin" if something were to happen to one of us. Alot of people voted Yes on 8, because they don't want it taught in school. How do they think it is going to come up in school? I highly doubt that a course on gay marriage will be a requirement for high school graduation. What if your child comes home & tells you their friend at school, has 2 moms or 2 dads? What would you say to your child? Would you tell them that it is wrong? Isn't that teaching intolerance? Or Discrimination? I would really like to hear people's views on it. The world is changing, & we need to keep up with her! What should we ban next? Interracial marriage? Personally, if you want to "save & protect" marriage, ban celebrities from marrying! Getting married & divorcing 2 months later just because you can, in my opinion, is hurting our children's image of marriage far more than gay marriage.

The North Pole

Did you know to go to the North Pole you need a fast rocket or a flying car? It's true, because my 5 year old told me. And he is really smart. He is so smart he did his whole homework packet, for the week, in one night. Child takes after me, you know. ;) I guess if it takes Santa some magic to "get out" of his magical home, it makes sense to use some magic to get there. Who wouldn't love to sit and have some yummy hot cocoa & scrumptious cookies with the big man himself? I love this time of year-seeing it through my children's eyes. To see them watch the beloved Christmas movies that I watched myself, growing up. Decorating cookies, the way we did w/my mom & grandma. To watch the awe in their faces, as we go Christmas Light looking. Yes, I love the hustle & bustle of the holidays! Now if I could only find someone with a flying car.......

Have Luggage, Will Travel

Finally, a nice win for October.

Contest Second Prizes (4): Set of Eddie Bauer Luggage (ARV $582)

I received email notification today, and the contest ended yesterday. Now I need to win my New York trip. I would so love to take my mom at the beginning of December, to New York for an actual Broadway Play. And it would be awesome to be in the snow & see all the holiday festivities. It could happen.......

Pumpkin Patch & the Cute Things that come out of my children's mouths

I am tired. And sore. Did I mention tired? 3 weeks before my 35th birthday, and I realize that I am getting old. How the hell did that happen? Seems like yesterday that I was stayng up all night, dancing in the clubs & hitting up Taco Bell for Breakfast Burritos.

Today, Felicia & I took the kids ( my 3 middle ones, her 2 & her niece) to a neat pumpkin patch about 25 minutes away- Bishop's Pumpkin Farm. The pic above is the merry bunch on the way there. Aren't they cute?
They have everything here= animals to feed & pet, several play areas, a train, lots of yummy goodies to eat, many picture ops, & of course the standard hayride & pumpkins. The kids had early day at school today, so we got to spend a couple of hours there. Even though they didn't get to do everything, they still had fun. It was hilarious watching the kids feed the goats- they were getting attacked! lol They enjoyed riding the train, and going down the slides at Coyote Mountain. And LOVED panning for marbles- they all came home with a baggie full of them. Felicia bought them all ice cream, and I picked up a caramel apple ( that was delicious & all gone now lol) & some pumpkin bread. They were a bit disappointed that we didn't have time to go in the corn maze, but all in all, it was a fun day! Exhausting, but fun.:)





The kids have been saying the funniest things lately. Andrew informed the other day, while he was bringing me a diaper/change of clothes for the baby/one of the other 4574573475374 things that I asked him to get for me that day, that he loved me forever & that is why he always brought me the stuff I asked for. Brandon gets stickers on him homework folder, when he turns in his homework. The other day, he was showing me his pteradactyl sticker. He informed me that it was a "carrot-dactyl", & he ate carrots. lol He also cracks me up when he sees the Brown UPS trucks. As a son of a Sweeper, he knows all about the fun packages the mailman, UPS, FEDEX & DHL sometimes brings us. If you ask him who the brown truck is, he calls it the PS truck. My kids make me smile every single day! I am so glad that I am a mom!

Can I please put the clock on pause?

Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed that time seems to be racing by, as we get older? I cannot believe that Halloween is only 2 & a half short weeks away. Don't get me wrong- I LOVE this time of year! The holidays-Halloween, Thanksgiving & Christmas of course; but I also love the colors of the leaves changing, the "smell" in the air, turning the heater on & drinking hot apple cider on the rainy days. And of course the countdown to Black Friday! lol I just wish I had a little more time to enjoy the time leading up to these things. I really want to decorate the house for Halloween, but it's looking more & more like it isn't going to happen. My garage is still packed to the gills with boxes from our move. My goal this week is to make a big dent in them. I have to- Joshua's costumes (yes, I did say costume in the plural. lol Gotta love the after Target clearance sales. ) are in a box somewhere out there.

I'm also having issues with how fast the baby is growing. He is so close to crawling, doing the rocking & lunging, rocking & going a step. He is getting pretty darn fast at it too! Last night he was heading towards Matt's fan, and daddy barely had time to grab his foot to stop him in time. lol

We all like Free Stuff, right?

As a newbie blogger, I'm a little overwhelmed by all the elements of blogging. Should I blog about the family & our lives? Do I write reviews of books I've read, movies I've seen, or products that I can't live without? Can I share cool websites that I have found? To get ideas (and to hopefully win some cool stuff) I've been Blog Hopping the last couple of days, reading, commenting & grinding my fingers down to nubby stubbs, entering literally hundreds of wonderful giveaways. The Bloggy Carnival is going on this week, with at last count, well over 1000 participants. Tons of cool stuff to be won, like blog makeovers ( which I would LOVE to win!), gift cards, clothing, and my personal favorite, lots of books. I've had a ton of fun entering, getting great ideas, and finding new products that I hadn't heard of before ( like MomSpit- don't you just love the name?). So much that I want to host a giveaway of my own.

I've been blessed with some neat wins of my own, so I think I will share a few of them with you.

-Advance copy of Julius Caesar by Phillip Freeman

- Country sings Disney Cd

-Coupon for a Freschetta Pizza Product

- Two mystery prizes

So, leave me a comment with a way to contact you, if chosen as one of the 5 winners. Tell me something about yourself or your family- make sure you do this, or you will be disqualified as a winner. ( Got to make you work a little bit for the prizes! lol) Since I am starting a new job tomorrow, the giveaway will be open until Sunday evening, 9pm Pacific Time. Good luck all & hope to see you stop back by,as I get my bloggy up and running.

Ice Cream, The World's Best Dessert

With 7 people in our household, Ice Cream products have a way of disappearing pretty fast. It seems like every time I go grocery shopping, there are at least 4 new flavors, or different novelty ice creams. I usually pick up one of the huge buckets of vanilla ice cream ( which is great for banana splits, or root beer floats), the latest popsicley-type character novelty (supposed to be for the kids, but I've caught the dh enjoying a hulk colored super pop once or twice!), and a smaller specialy ice cream just for me. My newest flavor I have been loving is Ben & Jerry's One Cheesecake Brownie. This little container of lovliness is full of smooth cheesecake ice cream w/ hunks of cheesecke brownie chunks. Can you say yum? I am also a sucker for the holiday themed ice creams- I actually will jump up & down, clapping in the frozen food section, when the Eggnog & Pumpkin ice creams are in stock. Probably another reason why my 14 year old dislikes shopping with me. :D

Momsinablog is hosting a contest for free ice cream from IcecreamSource.com. and all you need to do to enter is to blog about your fave flavor & why you should win. As I already stated above, their are 7 people in our family. And out of that 7, how many do you think are female? If you said 3, well you'd be wrong! I am the lone female in a sea of males. So for that very reason, I should win. lol

Some links to check out- Ben & Jerry’s Homemade Ice Cream, www.IceCreamSource.com. , http://momsinablog.com/browse-by-topic/contests-giveaways/today-is-national-ice-cream-day/

Book just for Boys

I recently received a copy of The Dangerous Book for Boys by Gonn & Hal Iggulden. If you have even one boy in the family, you should definately have this book on your bookcase! Filled with such things as how to make the airplane ever, to rules of soccer & rugby, even how to skip the perfect stone. I personally liked the chapter with advice on girls.

"It is important to listen. Human beings are often very self-centered and like to talk about themselves. In addition, it's an easy subject if someone is nervous. It is good advice to listen closely- unless she has also been given this advice, in which case an uneasy silence could develop, like towo owls sitting together"

How cute is that? I think any young boy, or even said young man's dad, would get a kick out of this book. Now saying that, let's flip it over. I'm sure plenty of girls would like this book too. Heck, I'm a girl & I liked looking thru it! lol Now we need someone to write The Dangerous Book for Girls. Any volunteers?

It's a Boy, It's a Girl, It's a Cyber Baby Shower!

Take one computer, add adorable unique baby gifts, sprinkle in lots of new friends- you now have the ingredients for a great Cyber Baby Shower! Mamanista is having just such a party & we are all invited. Woohoo! (Click here to join Baby CyberShower Games and Unique Baby Shower Gifts Mamanista! ). Being a mom is the most challenging & wonderful job I have ever had. Having gone down this road 5 times now, I wanted to share some of the tidbits of "knowledge" that I have picked up along the way.

-Sleep whenever you can. Even 5 minute catnaps will help. This will be a bit easier if the baby is the only baby you have. If you have other children, it will be harder to find time to nap. Trust me on this- you DO NOT want to accidently nod off while they are awake. My older kids ( 6,4 & 3) have built in sensors that instantly kick in if I nod off in my rocking chair. The consequences? Any & all gum in the house is consumed, lotions & powders will be applied the every available surface in the bathroom, and snacks will be pillaged from the kitchen. I swear my dh has superhero blood in his family, as my kids are FAST! lol

-When changing diapers, make sure you have clean diapers, wipes & extra change of clothes if needed, within arms reach. Do not, I repeat, DO NOT take off diapers slowly, do not stop to smell the roses, do not pass go, do not collect $200. More than likely, you will be pee'd on at least once! Boys are notorious for waiting til you have taken the old diaper off, smiling, and letting loose! Now that I've let you in on this little tidbit, feel free NOT to share it with your signifigant other- while it's not fun to be the Pee-ee, it's pretty darn hilarious to watch it happen to your dh. :D

-Take time everyday to just enjoy your baby. As my oldest son turns 14 next week, I can tell you that time goes by waaay too fast. Revel in the little things- take the morning smile that only mommy can bring out, the baby coos, that sweet baby smell, and the way he holds your finger when you rock him to sleep- lock these in your heart! My youngest will soon be 4 months old, and I already am starting to tear up over milestones Joshua is flying by. :(

Imagination

It is amazes me how my children't minds work. Everyday it seems like one of them says something that is cute and so far out there at the same time. lol Brandon seems to be the one who makes me laugh the most. He has told me such random things as "I hope monsters don't come take the baby away" to his "hecka-megatron-rocket firecracker" fast. :) See doesn't that just make you smile? If he is happy & in a good mood, he will literally talk your ear off. Yesterday, he was outside helping with the garage sale. While waiting for customers, I traced his hand on notebook paper, then he traced mine. We drew stars, flowers, and other things that needed imagination to tell what exactly they were. It was just a nice quiet time for the two of us.
Andrew has a partial imaginary friend. He talks about his friend Joey ALL the time! I'm not sure if he is talking about his second cousin Joey.We went to Joey's brother Riley's first bday party at the end of March, But it's hard to believe that one afternoon influenced him. He constantly asks to go to his friend Joey's house, or that Joey's mom has a baby too, or that his friend Joey has this toy, or like that food. Again, this is something that makes me smile. :D

I dont' get it....

How is it my fault that you won't talk to me about what we owe for rent, our finances on your end, that you aren't going to work each day, and that apparantly I'm "not helping" you? I thought since I am taking care of 5 kids, doing a big majority of the household chores, doing all grocery shopping, making sure the bills are paid, being a chauffeur, taking care of the everyone on ALL holidays (including making sure the kids have presents, family, food, christmas light looking, trick or treating, easter baskets, etc), and all the other 9004759834534734 things that I do around here, I was helping. Yeah, maybe I don't have a 40 a week job that is garaunte payday, but last time I checked neither do you! I'm trying to be as creative as I can, to make a bit of money on the side. You know that is why I do my sweepstakes. Hell, you've even benifited from my wins- who got the Ipod Shuffle? The Norelco Body Goomer? Don't you get to download songs on the computer I won? And all the free food coupons, hell the Freschetta ones alone are almost $100 of free pizza!!!! Yeah, I do spend money when I go to the thrift store. Look around- are you having to spend hundreds of dollars on clothes for the kids each year? No, because I shop for everyone at the thrift store, or on super cheap clearance. I don't have the luxury of spending $50 on a damn sweatshirt, or $40 on new shoes. Sometimes I would love to buy brand spanking new things too. Just like the stupid fan you bought. $50 on one little fan, when you easily could have bought 3 of the stand fans for that price, so the kids would have one in their room, and one for our bedroom. I hate that you only think of yourself. If you don't ever wnat to put me first, thats fine. But damn't- PUT YOUR KIDS BEFORE YOURSELF!!!!! I'm not saying all the time, but half the time would be nice! Their needs should always come first!!!

4 or 14, Drama comes in all different ages

While our household always seems like it has some new drama waiting in the corner, this last week included filing a missing persons report &almost going to the ER for electrocution. Short but sweet version- last weekend two of Sam's friends were seen taking an alcoholic beverage from our house. When confronted on the phone & told to come home, Sam made the decesion, along with his friend, to play hide & go seek for the rest of the evening. Which prompted us (me & Shannon, his friends mom) to have to call the cops at midnite. The kids finally decided to come home the next day, after worrying us all night. Not sure what exactly happened to his friend, but Sam had his lifeline (his cell phone) taken away for the last week, and was only let off his groundation from going anywhere today, because he helped me alot in the garage & backyard.
Tonight, Brandon decided to put 2 of his keys ( my kids have a fascination with old keys. They are almost like money in our house! lol ) in the electrical socket in the bathroom. At almost 5 years old, not sure what made him decide to do this. All of our lights flipped off in the house, and I thought our new stove had tripped them. But when I went back in the hallway, I found him crying holding his hand. He told me what happened, and went in the bathroom to see the keys sticking out. After yelling out for Sam, freaking out slightly, to turn the all the breakers off, I used a towel to flick them out. I took Brandon to my moms to have her check him out- the only owie he has, is a little tiny burn mark on a finger, and some slight swelling in his hand. He was talking fine & could move all his fingers, etc. I think it scared him more than anything. He got a big talking to about outlets, and why he shouldn't be messing with them AT ALL!!!!

At least it isn't boring in my house........

Teaching children, when the parents can't be taught.

I think my hardest challenge to teach my children right from wrong, responsibilities, and to basically not lie, is when my not-so-better half doesn't seem to live by the same "values". I don't want to raise my kids with the "do as I say, not as I do" way. I am far far away from being the "perfect" parent. And I don't ask that my husband be perfect. I just want him to keep his word, and not lie to me. And treat me with some respect. Is that really so hard? We were supposed to have our backyard all cleaned up yesterday ( it's been a slight nightmare out there, as a catchall of stuff the mice destroyed, some full garbage bags from the garbage cans not being dragged out in time to be dumped, and the stuff for goodwill that was messed up with the last big storm we had- that the kids have dragged all over the place. And I won't get into the jungle growing on the side of the house.) Sam & I busted our asses, cleaning up. While Matt sat in here, in front of the fan. I came in to take a quick shower, so we could go take all the empty boxes to the cardboard recycle bin. I asked him if he would help Sam & Mikey put them in the car. He thru a hissy fit, because since he didn't make the mess, why should he have to clean it up. @@ I just don't understand why he can't do a few things once in a while to help me, when he expects me to jump thru hoops for him. He went out with his friend today,and told me he would be home by 1:30pm, so I could go pick up our fixed washer. He finally came home around 8pm. There are so many little things to add to this story, but it's just more of the same. Ugh. This is just making me mad all over again. He wants to bitch about the kids lying to us, or that Sam doesn't check in. Well , duh. In this regard, I think being a single parent could be easier. No other parent that you have to meld your disciplining ways with. What you say goes.

Mix it up good!

One of my favorite things to do with my kids, it to bake. With a whole shelf dedicated just to dessert type foods, we have plenty of recipes to choose from. The one thing that would make this job soo much easier, would be a really great stand mixer. At Ribbon Rock Star they want to help us with this problem- they are giving one lucky person a brand new Artisan Kitchenaid stand mixer (5qt)!!! I can't tell you how much I've drooled over these in the Sunday ads. I think the first thing I would make in this, if I were to win, is a Peanut Butter Cake, w/ peanut butter frosting of course. Taken off this great website, http://www.cakecentral.com, this cake is so moist & melt-in-your-mouth-good, you will definately be tempted to take more than one piece. lol

Peanut Butter Cake

Ingredients

1 boxed yellow cake mix (I use one with pudding). 1 c sour cream (makes it more moist and homemade tasting) about 3/4 c peanut butter (I used the natural- no added sugar or fats) ingred. called for on the cake box 1 recipe buttercream and peanut butter to add (to taste) about 1-3 T milk to thin icing if needed

Mix cake according to instructions and add sour cream and peanut butter. Bake as usual and frost with chocolate or peanut butter buttercream frosting.Add peanut butter to taste, to buttercream. It tends to thicken up so thin w/milk.

Those Oatmeal Chocolate Cookies are Low-Fat, right?

Now that Joshua is 3 months old, I've been contemplating about starting up an exercise program. I've gotten as far as perusing the Fitness section on our cable's On Demand ( did you know that they have everything from 5 minute Abs, to Carmen Electra's Striptease, to Leslie Sansone's Walking?), and thinking about taking the kids down to the park more often.
I think I've found some new motivation though. After reading about the great "Skinny Bitch" contest that Corrin is holding (http://corrinrenee.com/2008/06/06/contest-are-you-a-skinny-bitch/), it made me think about what I want for myself. Now that I am done having kids, I am ready to let the "skinny bitch" inside me out! I've never been a skinny gal. But I used to be at a pretty healthy weight. You would think with all the running around that I do, I would be little. lol My goals this summer is to run & play with the little ones at the park. We are really lucky to live 2 blocks from a big one. I also would love to start jogging again. I used to go running at nighttime, around the block. Maybe I can talk Sam into going with me. I want to start doing my walking dvds again, also. Leslie Sansone makes it really easy for us moms, who can't just pack up and go walking whenever they feel like it. But they definately will leave you feeling like you worked out all your areas! I highly recommend them! http://www.lesliesansone.com/
One of my biggest problems, is eating healthy. I loathe vegetables with a passion! Thankfully, I make up for it in fruit. :) Summer to me is fresh peaches, plums, nectarines, cantaloupe, and watermelon. Yum! A big goal for me this year, is to switch the whole family to a more healthy lifestyle. I've been making little switches, trying to buy lowfat versions of things that we eat, and cutting down portion sizes. While I want Matt & myself to be healthier & happy with the way we look, I also want to instill these same things in the kids. I want them growing up happy with their bodies.

Schools out for the Summer!

Today was Sam & Mikey's last day of school. And they both had a bbq going on today.....at the same time.......in two different places. That is the dilemna of having more than one kid, when they both have functions at the same time. How do you decide which one to go to? Sam's won out today, as they did a promotion certificate thingy. I can't believe my "baby" is going to be in high school in August....sniff sniff........... I'm really going to have to stay on him next year about his schoolwork though. He did pretty good on his report card, 1 A the rest B's, except for Math. He dropped from a C, down to a F. :( Which is amazing to me, seeing that I didn't have to go in for a Teacher Conference this last semester. I'm not sure if it was just missing assignments, or if he just didn't get it. I'm totally lost in Math- I was & still am more of an English person. I love reading & writing!

After Sam's ceremony thing, I walked up to the park, just in time to walk back to school w/Mikey's class. lol But I did hang out in the classroom the last half hour. My 6 year old has such a sensitive personality- he was asking one of the moms to sign his autograph book. lol While I want him to hold on to that as he gets older, I also want him to "toughen" up a bit. I don't want anyone taking advantage of him. I'm really proud of him in his reading this year! He started out at a Kindy level A-2 level. He is ending the year at Level 24+, which is a second grade level. His teacher said he had the biggest jump of all the first graders. I'm glad that he likes reading as much as I do.

My summer is already starting out busy. Joshua FINALLY has a Kaiser medical number, so he has a dr's appt Monday morning. I'm ashamed to say that this will be his first appt. Thankfully he has been a healthy guy so far. I am really curious how much the little turkey weighs. He will be 11 weeks this coming Sunday. I can't believe how much he is growing. He has started smiling & cooing this last week. I just love him so much! I wish things were easier, I would totally have more kids. lol Don't tell my mom I said that.

Free pizza & How to keep it cold

Woohoo! After playing phone tag with the nice lady, I found out I was the winner of the Freschetta Slice of Life Sweepstakes thru Working Mother magazine. I will be receiving a 5.0 cubic feet freezer, and pizza for a year. 12 coupons for free pizza. I find it funny what they consider pizza for a year, and what our family considers pizza for a year. We definately are a "pizza once a week" kind of family. Heck for a long time, if you asked Brandon or Andrew what they wanted for dinner, you would get pizza for an answer 98.7% of the time. We normally stick with the "cheaper" pizzas- Totinos & Tony's. Sometimes splurging on the better more expensive kind. I think I am more excited about the free pizza coupons, than I am the freezer. lol Probably because we already have an extra refrigerator & a chest freezer in the garage. Will probably end up selling this one. At an ARV of $350.00, this is my biggest prize win this year. June is really shaping up to be a great month! I also won a coupon for a free Dibs Ice Cream, on an instant win last night.

They are sending me an affy, and I have to email them some pics of me & the boys. We might be in a Freschetta ad in Working Mother mag.

June, already?

Alot of stuff has happened the last couple of weeks. We ended up moving back to our house. I know a lot of people think this was a huge mistake, including most of my family. But after living at my brothers for a week, I truly wasn't happy with my original decision. Things haven't been perfect this last week & a half, but they have been better. Matt & I actually are talking about stuff, he is working on the drinking, and I am trying to spend more time with him. I'm looking at getting us into some type of counseling too, once the older kids are out of school. We've been together for almost 13 years now, and I really want to try to see if we can work things out. I talked to my younger brother yesterday, and he says as long as I am happy, then he supports m decision. I just feel sad that the rest of my family is so angry with me. I know I upset their lives in all this mess too, and for that I m sorry. But as a wise friend of mine told me, don't listen to what anyone else is telling me to do- listen to my own instincts. And for the way I have felt this last week, it feels "right" to be back home. I hope in time, my parents & sil can "forgive" me & let me be close again. :(


On a brighter note, the little ones had their last day at preschool last Friday. Brandon is now officially a Kingergardener. Their teachers had a picnic at the park, and did a presentation for the kids- had them walk over a bridge, to signify moving on to next year. I am so glad that they both got to experience school this year. I really think it gave Brandon a head start for next year, and Andrew solid roots for a second year in preschool. One of their little friends, Caela, is having a going to Kindy party in a couple of weeks. They are looking forward to it! Sam & Mikey get out of school this Friday. I feel bad, because the first graders are having a bbq at the park on Friday, and the 8th graders are having a bbq at the school at the same time. I really want to go help at both, but don't know if I can go to either- as I will have all 3 of the little ones. They are doing a diploma type thing for the 8th graders, so I might try and sneak over there for that, then maybe go to the park for a while.

Sam will be home this summer. He decided he wanted to stay here & hang out with his friends. I feel a bit mixed on that. I feel bad that his dad wont' see him, but he will be 14 this summer (gasp!) and is old enough to make his own decision on this. He might go out at Christmastime this year. Mikey will be going on his first plane ride very soon! My good friend Anna, is taking him to Vegas, to visit a friend on the 16th of this month. He is super excited about it! I am so thankful for my friend. She has taken Mikey to Disneyland, and is really close with the 3 middle boys. She took all 3 of them for several days, after our drama in the house.

I've gotten back into doing my sweepstakes, in between cleaning & unpacking stuff. I had a kind of slow last two months. Yesterday I received a Strawberry Shortcake Dvd boardgame as a surprise in the mail, and also an email that I won a cookbook from Tastebook.com. I've also won 3 Wubbanub(TM) Infant Pacifier. They are really cute! We won the dog, the frog, and the cat. I love winning something useful. I also received Aqua Camisole - Karen Neuburger Official Store &Aqua Bikini - Karen Neuburger Official Store. I love the color & the feel of the material. I have a box of Max factor makeup coming too- was one of 401 winners thru a Lucky magazine sweeps. These may not be huge wins, but the little stuff is fun to get.

So confused or is it just tired

Well, we moved in with my brother's family last week. Actually one week ago today. I don't know how I feel about all of this. I am really starting to feel like I made a big mistake. :( I know Matt needed something drastic done, to wake him the hell up. We've been talking this week, about all kinds of different things. He is sitting in a basically empty house. He has a couch, entertainment center,and a coffee table. His brother gave him a tv & a fan. Oh, and 1 plate, 1 fork, and 1 frying pan. I've used so much money for gas, this last week, it isn't even funny. I just can't seem to stay away from the house. I "snuck" over there, while the 3 middle kids were with Anna, just so I could go talk to Matt. He is starting to realize how much I "didn't do" around the house. He knows what he did was stupid, and has said that he will start going to drug & alcohol classes again. I just want to take the kids back home again. I love my family & all that they have done for us, but I'm not happy here. I have to fight for 5 minutes to get on my nephew's computer ( I have mine here, but have to wait until my sil has time to see if she can get the wireless up and running), that I can't sit and rock my colicky baby at night, that even though I did most of the parenting at the house, I still could hand Matt the baby if I was super tired & needed a break- I am dead tired right now. :( I don't know how to fix this mess- I don't want to lose my family, if I decide to go back to him. But I don't want to give him up. I just want my house back. And family, as disfunctional as we were. I wish I had someone who could tell me exactly what I should do.

It's over, or is it

Today, my husband decided to try and take his life. Following in his father's footsteps, although the way he chose was less messy. His choice was to eat a box of rat poison. This grown 32 year old man, decided I drive him too crazy, and feels that I would be "better off" without him. I am am still numb. Long story short, he is fine. On a 3 day hold, though. How did our lives get so far off track? Is it really so much of me to ask that he stop drinking? How do I support him, and ever feel like he won't try this again? I know the answer to this. I don't. :(

911 & The Cops

Well I finally did it. I finally called the police on my husband. No he didn't hurt me or the kids. Well not in the sense that most would think right off. He felt the need to get drunk again and come home like that. And I finally have had it! My mom came and took the kids to her house, so they didn't have to be around him. Not sure if the police were taking him to his brothers house to sleep it off, or if they would have to take him to jail, because of his warrant for missing court due to traffic tickets. I just don't know how to take control of my life again. It scares me, to try to raise my kids on my own. I am basically doing it now, but trying to pay the rent, all the bills, and all the extras, by myself has me scared to leave. :( You would think that his family would mean more to him, than the damn alcohol. But it doesn't. My mom keeps telling me that he will never change. I know he won't. He has been given chance after chance after chance. But someone who cares about his family, shouldn't even have needed anything after the first chance, right?

Randomnicity

It's Tuesday night, and we are watching Hell's Kitchen. My dh, who is holding the baby for me, looks over at me and asks, "what is his name again?". OMG. I actually thought he was joking for a second. Nope. He actually could not remember his month old sons name. grrrrrrrrr.

My poor poody is sick. I hate when my kids don't feel good, but hate it even more for my newborn. He is so stuffy- I've been sucking his nose out with the nose sucker, but there is a ton of crap farther down that isn't coming out. Today his eye started pushing out gunk. :( Brandon & Andrew both went thru this not that long ago, and were feeling better within a few days. I am hoping Josh feels better soon too. I know it is just a cold, but if he isn't feeling better by this weekend, then I'm going to take him to the ER. His medical doesn't kick in until next week, so off to the ER we will go.

I absolutely love breastfeeding! It is so much work- constantly sitting down with Josh, not being able to hop right up and see what the kids are sneaking out of the fridge, dealing with sore nips. But there is nothing in the world like rocking quietly with him in my arms, talking to him, and watching him drift to sleep. I crack up every time I see him do the "eyes rolling back in the head, because he is in a milk daze". lol

I've already had to start pulling out outfits that are too small. :( I know this is our last baby, but I'm finding it hard to get rid of the clothes. I had no problem bagging up my maternity clothes to sell. But a lot of the baby things, Andrew & Brandon wore. Heck, I think I even have a few things that Mikey wore too. Is it so awful to love the newborn stage so much?

Short and sweet...

Well, I guess it was time to start this blog up. I've been envious for quite a while now, of all the moms who find time to actually keep blogs. How great to go back and read what their precious darlings said a month ago, or did. Because if your kids are like mine, your mind is probably 65% mush, while the other 35% is filled with important things like the names of all the 984703475 pokemon monsters, and how to get dried in gum out of your 3 year olds hair. I fully intended 14 years ago, on being the type of mom who kept a record of all the important things. Writing down first smiles, first teeth, and first words in the baby book. Fast forward to the present, and 5 kids later, and you will find out I didn't keep up with that promise to myself. :( Life just seems to get in the way, if you kwim. But since I am quickly approaching my 35th bday, I am going to try another promise to myself. I am promising to keep up with this blog, and try to add the important things that happen in my life- the good, the fights, and all the cute things the kids say. If I don't, then I will send myself to my room. Heck, I might even do that if I do keep my promise-heavens know I could use the peace & quiet. lol