Thursday, February 26, 2009

The very foundation on which greatness stands

"I believe the choice to become a mother is the choice to become one of the greatest spiritual teachers there is. To create an environment that's stimulating and nurturing, to pass on a sense of responsibility to another human being, to raise a child who understands that he or she is created from good and is capable of anything-I know for sure that few callings are more honorable. To play down mothering as small is to crack the very foundation on which greatness stands."
~ Jane Clayson Johnson
Former Host of CBS's The Early Show turned stay at home mom.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Samples, Samples, Samples

Alright boys and girls,

I know we all love samples. Why? Because they are free, and nothing beats free. I have to say I have recently fallen in love with samples and special offers because they enable me to get things that I'd otherwise not spent my money on. I am like all the rest of you. Plus, I am curious I like to try things, and like it even better when I don't have to pay to try them.

So I though I'd share some of the recent free trails/samples I've found.

http://www.valuemags.com/freeoffer/parents-BBS.asp << here is a no strings attached two year subscription to PARENTS magazine.... got to love it.

http://www.valuemags.com/freeoffer/FamilyCircle-BBS.asp << a couple free issues of Family Circle... also great. I feel in love with this mag of the summer when I got a friends issues while she was out of the country.

https://tidetotalcare.safeprocessing.com/?sw=1&utm_source=identitysite << free sample of the new Tide total care laundry soap... love free everyday products

http://instoresnow.walmart.com/enhancedrendercontent_ektid65532.aspx << free sample of Benefiber... any lady who's ever had a baby knows fiber is our friend... and I personally love this stuff because you really can't taste it.

http://instoresnow.walmart.com/enhancedrendercontent_ektid65952.aspx << free maybellen New York foundation.... free make up equals goodness.

http://instoresnow.walmart.com/enhancedrendercontent_ektid66370.aspx << Free Viva Papertowls.... hey they're free!

http://instoresnow.walmart.com/enhancedrendercontent_ektid63312.aspx << free sample of the new Always Infinity panty liner... Okay, ladies you've seen the tv commercials, and you know you've all wondered what makes this one SO special... well know you can find out without having to stand in the girly aisle at the store contemplating if you want to spend the money on the new fancy stuff....

http://www.kashi.com/picturehunt << get one of their new entrees free.... and you know all their food is good to start with, so it's a win win deal.

http://brb.thomasnelson.com/join << free books and DVDs.... this one takes a little work, but you still get free stuff. BOOOOOOOOKs!

http://coupon.hangintherejack.com/two-tacos.php << sign up for free coupons for free food.... so far I've enjoyed free Medium curly fries and two free tacos. More stuff to come.

http://rewardsgold.com << LOTS of free stuff.

Enjoy.... maybe this will become a regular posting... when I find more free goodies I will post them. And you guys can always share yours as well.

Monday, February 23, 2009

Getting back in the game

Well, it still feels like my brain is going to explode every time I move, but today we've managed to get slightly back in the game.

My kitchen and dining room are once more clean, although I still need to mop the floors. I've also spent the entire day doing the mound of laundry that has piled while we've been sick. Sadly, I still have the baby's clothes to tackle but that load seems to multiply just by looking at it. I finally broke down and bought disposable diapers because he's been going through one every hour or so with his stomach bug.

I'll be taking him into the doctors tomorrow, as it's been over a week, solid, since he's had his massive diarrhea. Poor Boy, he doesn't know what's hit him and I am starting to get worried about him staying hydrated.

Lately, I think it might be an act of miraculous intervention if Frog Prince makes it to his next birthday without my killing him. Maybe I am just naive, but I don't know any other five and six year old kids who still colour on the walls/toys/furniture like he does. I know kids go through that phase....but with him it seems like it's a daily event. Saturday night, I had a Stake Camp meeting (I am one of our stakes Camp Directors); I come home and get a phone call from the other nursery leader(my second of three callings) in my ward about how my assistant will not be able to make it to class the next day.

As we are talking I discover a big blue marker swipe across my off white sofa.... not cool but accidents happen. Then I notice Hungry Hippos is out and have all been tattooed.... then I notice the box that our new TV came in (aka the boys fort) has been written all over and has FPs name on it as well.... One by one, as I am talking to my friend, I discover things that before leaving for my meeting were intact and uncoloured, now being covered in blue marker. The line finally was not only crossed, but royally ripped across when I pressed my hand against the leather ottoman we have as a coffee table and it came back with blue all over it. Apparently, he felt the need to colour in all the different panels of leather.... Needless to say, that was the end of my phone call.

Lest you think I am being a drama queen (and okay, I know I am most of the time), let me assure you this is not an isolated occurrence. Those who read my newsletters will remember the green sharpie of yesteryear on the old sofa, as well as the red markers on the wall, the black sharpie and the walls, bed, and clothes, and many other stories. All you have to do is take a slow walk through my house and you can see many places where I have been unable to remove his handy work (like pretty much all of my wooden doors). So yes..... writing tools and I are not the best of friends at the present moment..... thanks for asking.

Well, now I am off to figure out dinner. I mistakenly made what was on my supper calender for lunch today, and I don't want to eat it twice.... Hubby is going to be home in an hour though and he skipped lunch, so I want to make sure dinner is on the table when he gets home.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

You think you're funny...but.

Dear Cosmic Universe,

I know you think you're funny, but explain to me where the humour is in my being sick. More over, where is the humour in making pretty much all of my kids sick?

I will give it to you; I could see how you, in your giant cosmic cosmicness would get bored and want to toy with some people, so I'll grant you the little joke of us all getting sinus colds; I'll even give you the ear infection and sinus infection that you decided I needed. However, did you have to do it when I am pregnant and basically unable to get any drugs, short of holding my doctor up at gun point (kidding).

Maybe so.

I draw the line though at this recent blow.... oh yes, you've gone too far now and I will not forget it. To give the baby a stomach bug was bad enough-- moms love listening to their kids cry every time they poop-- but then to give it to me as well... Have I not thrown up enough in the last three months? Are you really so bored up there that making a pregnant lady puke (and other stuff) for 24 hours while dealing with three kids seems funny to you.

So thanks... thanks for the renewed relationship you've fostered between me and my toilet. Thank you for the mound of diapers I have gone though in 48 hours (I hope Mother Earth gets you for each one.) Thanks for my diet of 7-Up and crackers while my kids sat in front of me and ate the 30 boxes of Girl Scout we got today. But mostly, I want to thank you for completely wasted days and the trash heap that my house looks like.

Maybe if you're so bored, you can come down here and do a load of dishes or two. Just sayin'

(( and no, my kids didn't eat all 30 boxes that's just how many we bought from my niece))

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

I love kid logic

A pack of gum went missing from my night stand a day or so ago.
A stuffed froggie went missing last night after bed time.

A stuffed froggie was found today with chewed gum attached (and hardening) to his barely surviving lips.

The question that all mothers would ask was presented to the five year old.

The answer: "His breath was stinky yesterday so I gave him some gum... but his lips are getting kind of old so I have to chew it for him before I gave it to him. His breath doesn't stink anymore."

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

And then there were...








Coming August to a hospital near (or maybe not so near) you......

okay... I am getting way too much credit from people about how cute the idea was to use numbers.... I have to give credit to my darling friend Cherie for this idea.... I remember seeing it on her blog when she announced her fourth.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Frog Prince's new look

This is FP sporting his new pair of glasses.  When he went for his five year check up, the doctor suggested that we might want to take him to get his eyes checked.  He'd squinted slightly when he was getting his eyes tested, so he thought it might be a good idea before he started school to get them looked out. Turns out he can barely see out of his right eye... it should get better over time with his glasses, but for the last five years he's had really messed up eye sight.  


I, personally, think he looks pretty cute and really mature/cool with them on. I just need to learn how to photograph him, so that he doesn't have those terrible reflections in every picture. If any of my photo savvy friends (coughbricough) know how to manage this, just let me know.