following the glow of the jack-o-lanterns

So after all my hard work and searching - it POURED rain on Saturday and we were not able to go to the pumpkin patch because really who has time to go pumpkin pickin?  So we stopped by the local farm and quickly picked up a few pumpkins before it started to pour rain again.  Then we went and got costumes and went home to carve our pumpkins.

A few weeks ago I talked about carving pumpkins and how my kids come up with not so halloween designs.  We've done original abstract designs, batman and superman symbols and my all time least favorite - spiderman's face - twice  (don't even attempt it at home, not worth the trouble).  I was almost dreading what they would come up with this year. 

I shouldn't have dreaded anything.  Tyler chose a sword, and then changed it to the two small knife swords (no I don't know what they are really called) - to go with his ninja costume.  Nathaniel is also a ninja, but for the first time ever picked an actual Halloween theme and wanted a witch flying with a moon.  Bradley didn't care and doesn't really get a say yet, so dear hubby asked for a traditional scary face to go with the long stalk on top of the pumpkin.

What did you carve?

They're creepy and they're kooky,

Mysterious and spooky,

They're all together ooky...

~ The Addams Family Theme

The 80's are back to haunt us!

Have you noticed that when you go into the store today the clothes look a little...well... like they are straight out of the 80's?  Jean skirts with leggings underneath, leg warmers, polka dots.  I am just waiting until they bring back hammer pants, I can so see the twins in some. 

It took us until the middle of the 90's to figure out that the 80's were a bad idea, and yet here we are again not quite 20 years later going back to the same ole thing.

Could it get any worse? 

Well yes, they could bring back 80's hair. 

• Hair that requires a whole can of hair spray each and every morning. 
• Antenna bangs, mullets, straight on top and curly on the sides.
• Crimped hair.
• Great big, gigantic hairbows.
• And my personal favorite, wearing it pulled back on one side with one of those fancy bows and done on the other, all while your bangs are sprayed high enough to reach the moon.

Manic Mother decided to do a little photo contest and see who had the worst hair contest.  I think it is really a warning to the younger generation not to bring back 80's hair.

I was going to do it - I really thought about it.  I chickened out.

But go see what she's got linked up

Baby Einstein doesn't make my child smart???

I've been away for a few days - had to take a break from blogosphere.  I have some other posts I've been working on and lots of blogs to read, but I'm still on break.

Except I read this article today and about fell out of my chair.   Apparently Disney is offering a refund on Baby Einstein DVD's after they recieve a letter threatening lawsuit from some public health lawyers.  (want the details- read the article)

The point is - the lawyers believe there was false advertisement and that parents believe these DVD's were making their children smart, when in fact we were just plopping them down in front of another TV show.  Before you all start shouting, I understand they were learning stuff, specifically the stuff you wanted them to learn.  Of course other shows teach them too, my 2 yr old has learned to ask "Where'd he go?"  everytime Nemo disappears.

We all know hours of television/movies/video games is bad.  We all know it makes for shorter attention spans, couch potatoes, etc.   So we  limit the amount of television they watch and force encourage them to go outside.

At least I thought we all knew this, and did this.  But apparently not.

Stop! Don't! Don't Stop!

We'll little man has hit the 2 year old stage full force.  I keep telling hubby that 1 at age 2  is better than 2 at age 2, but I'm beginning to wonder myself.

All children hit age 2 and want to be independent and do everything themselves, but they are fighting all the boundaries that we put in place to keep them safe - hence the temper tantrums.  Twins are no different, except...

Well,  twins learn early on they have to share (or fight it out), they learn they are not individually the center of attention from birth and so acknowledge that the world around them only sometimes revolves around them.  I was lucky enough to stay at home with the twins for 3 1/2 years (before I craved adult conversation so bad I went back to work).  They were my world, but they knew they weren't the world.

Five years after they were born, Bradley entered our world.  He was (is) the center of the universe.  Just ask him.

The twins have doted on him, due to the economy he stays at home with Daddy all day, and is the center of Daddy's world.  I come in juggling and try to spend individual time with all of them, but little man expects time of his own.  All of these things together have made him very outspoken about "his world."  If he is busy and anyone tries to talk around him, he gets angry at the distraction from his world and says yells "STOP!"  (on a good day he says hush).  Try to talk around him, and he yells louder. 

This happens in the car, while he's watching his movie, and even at the dinner table when we are trying to learn about the twins day at school.

We are working to teach him that the world doesn't actually revolve around him, but have you tried to explain that to a 2 yr old?  So here is my theory - just teach him a new word.  I am working on "don't"  then he can yell DON'T! STOP!  DON'T STOP! and we'll all be able to carry on with our conversation.

If you want to learn to argue with a brick wall, practice on a 2 year first. ~ me

the grey matters

If you haven't noticed by now, then you aren't paying attention to the sidebar.  I've posted a new button for The Grey Matters.  A great friend and her brother started this group after their father was diagnosed with brain cancer.  They are doing fundraisers to support various groups and research.

"We are here with the mission to give a CAUSE to Think, and to think BIG, to help bring awareness to those that are unaware of the effects of brain cancer and to provide support for those who are directly and indirectly affected by brain cancer."

Their first fundraiser is Nov 13-17, 2009.  It is a weekend trail hike that will travel 29 miles through the Appalachian Trail.  This fundraiser will benefit The Friends of Caroline Hospice group.  If you are interested the fundraiser go here - or just want to donate a couple of dollars - go here.

I am also looking for ways to help spread awareness on a disease that hasn't just affected them, but my family as well.  If you have any ideas of a contest to spread the word, I am all ears.

who has time for pumpkin pickin

So after reading Three Times the Giggles 2-3 weeks ago, I got really jealous of their pumpkin farm where they picked their own. 

So I went online, in search of my own farm, and found this great site that is a directory for the whole US plus the UK, New Zealand, South Africa, Australia and Canada. Just pick your location.

Pumpkin Patches and More

I found this GREAT one in our area.  It has a 10'cow, a pumpkin slingshot, ice cream parlor, petting zoo and a tractor bus that takes you to pick your own pumpkin - which is the point! I was so excited to find a pumpkin patch - especially after buying them off the side of the road for a couple of years (which isn't a bad thing and totally supports the local farmer).  I thought it would be great to take all my boys to, and even little man would have a good time.

But then of course we got busy, you know how it is. Sports and the hubby working weekends and at some point I have to do laundry and clean the house.  So we didn't make it last weekend or the weekend before.  But we ARE GOING THIS WEEKEND!!!  Just me and the boys (hubby still working) It may be late - but better late than never!  And I'll post pics of the 10' cow that you are all dying to see.  Wanna guess which kid tries to climb it?

So is there anything that you really want to do, but are having to wait until the last minute?

If it weren't for the last minute, I wouldn't get anything done. ~Author Unknown

and now we all bow down and take note

to the illustrious, amazing, tantalizing lady MRS. FISH - who thinks we are Irish twins - oh I am so honored to even be considered family with the Fishes!  Mrs. Fish's blog is to die for, to laugh at, and to read each and every morning with your cup of coffee.  As I was reading a few days (week) ago - I found that she was given this snazzy award

And then she said she was passing it along to me.  I'm just tickled blue (because pink is not allowed in our house).  I can't believe that someone, anyone, espeically the industrious Mrs. Fish thinks I am one of the Best.  But anyway - I accept - of course. taking a bow

And now I get to pass it along - she said 15, but I'm exausted and the last time I chose 15, it took hours to post.  So can I please go with 5?  Please?  Pretty please with a Cherry on Top?  Ok, I'm doing it and I don't care what you say.

Speaking from the Crib: I bow down to this lady - she has got her stuff together - or falling apart - or she's screaming to get out of her crib which says it all.  If you are not one of her followers - go do it NOW!

Three Times the Giggles: this mom of triplet boys has all of my admiration.  She constantly keeps me in stitches unless she is making me beg her to do my grocery shopping.

I'm Living Proof: and you would be too if you had not one but 2 sets of twins.  This lady has it down and she is living what we once feared.  Want to know how to roll with the punches, or the goats - go see Helene

Angela's Soliloquy: my soul sister living thousands of miles away.  I give her this award and a few fall leaves since she doesn't have any where she is.  She does however have interesting facts and a whole lot of laughs.

Mama's In Time Out:  and this lady needs a time out!  She has great role models that keep her young while she writes about what lifes really about.

So GO check out these great ladies!  Do it NOW - don't wait (ok wait until you congradulate me)!  And dear ladies - take this award and pass it on to 15 or 5, but if you cheat like me you have to leave post links to make up for the cheating.

scared of little ol' me???

Scary Mommy is holding an awesome contest this week.  She wants to know what makes us scary, and the scariest Mom will win a prize!  She defines scary a little differently than most would think:

"I believe a Scary Mommy is a mother who doesn’t leave the house wearing lipstick at all times. A Scary Mommy loves her kids to death, but will admit to feeling totally overwhelmed and exhausted by the gig. A Scary Mommy doesn’t really care what other people think, and a Scary Mommy thinks that all mothers win when we admit our weaknesses. How would you describe it? It’s up to you!"

As Mom's we each have our own definition of scary.  Our kids probably have hundreds examples of how we are scary.  My hubby may say my hair in the morning is pretty scary.  But as I thought about how I was scary, I didn't think I could answer this question.  I didn't think the general idea applied to me - even though I never wear lipstick, love my kids more than life, are willing to go to jail for them, can be gross with the best of them, and admit exhaustion on more than one occasion.  But that's a Mom, that's what we do.  We do whatever it takes to get the job done.

Then I had a realization.  It's not what we think of ourselves, but how other's perceive us.

I am not afraid to scream politely tell children, even those who are not my own, to stop jumping off the top of the picnic table, stop taking the legs out from underneath the little kids on the slip and slide and to stop throwing rocks at cars.  This prompted a Dad nearby to ask "Have you ever been a drill instructor?"  He probably thought I was scary -

And then there was the occasion at my son's birthday/pool party when I had all the dripping wet children line up on the kitchen floor to sing happy birthday instead of on the carpet.  Perfectly sane line of reasoning I thought, until my own son decided he was above everyone else and could stand on the carpet.  I did not get overwhelmed and freak out, instead I politely told him to get off the carpet... as my father in law snapped a picture.
 

 

My husband, brother, and father-in-law all believe this is the proof that I am the Scariest Mommy.  Do you???

Dear Soccer Moms

I detest you.  I detested the "soccer mom" persona even before I had kids.  Soccer Moms drive mini vans with soccer ball stickers on the back.  Soccer Moms always have gatorade and healthy snacks at every game.  Soccer Moms dress like they are going to the mall when really they are just carting their kids to every practice under the sun.  Soccer Moms are organized and carry a whole first aid kit in their purse.

I drive a suburban (I hear you gasping at my gas guzzler), it holds more crap than your minivan and if I get rear-ended, my kids aren't going to be crushed.  I prefer juice boxes and chips for an after game snack.  Really, they just played their hearts out and deserve a treat.  I dress like I am going outside, you know, in sweats.  I limit my kids to one sport or other activity per season, because I prefer them to be kids and have time to play outside.  You know, where there is real dirt.  I don't carry a first aid kit, but I do know how to get to the ER if they are really hurt.  Otherwise they are kids and are going to have scraped knees and bruised elbows.

Thats you, this is me.  And for two years our boys played baseball, but then, this fall T1 decided he wanted to play soccer (my gasp) and T2 agreed.  So there I am at every game, in my sweats sitting next to you in your capri pants and blouse.  I'm the one you look at and wonder what's wrong with her, when I scream great job even though someone just made a mistake on the field.  I'm also the one who's kids run the fastest and aren't scared to go for the ball because they may get dirty.

Sincerely,

Mom in the Suburban

Who Prefers Rugby to Soccer Everytime!

where did you come from

and why in the world are you reading about me?  Apparently you can search for anything and find anything on the web.  The reason I love those new search engine commericals is because I get it, I got what the commericial was for the very first time I saw one.  Of course, I don't believe anyone has found the solution to search overload yet.  I mean really these people searched for a whole list of stuff, and all they got was me.

• 3 boys 1 cup -buy more cups, I mean really, they don't need one more thing to fight over
• three boys 1 cup -like I said before, buy 2 darn cups from goodwill if you have to
• rat tail -we have lizard tails here, but no rats - yet
• i have 3 boys and pregnant -bless you woman
• true stories of alligator in toilet -yes we did have an alligator in our toilet
• going to have 3 boys soon -well for starters you need earplugs
• can I have a tantrum on the floor -I want to every day, so you go right ahead
• how to cope with twins after 3 kids -I have someone I want you to meet, Twinsanity

Some people like my advice so much that they frame it up on the wall instead of using it. ~Gordon R. Dickson

today is picture day

not as in I have a lot of pictures to show you - you all know I'm stingy with the pics.  Today, I sent the twins to have their pictures taken at school. 

They were dressed all nice and neat

 when I left them standing at the street,

I wonder if what I paid for

will be worthy of the feat.

Because really I figure I'll get pictures that look like this

if you see my son

If you glimpse my youngest child this week - don't kill the barber.

While every other two year old may sit quiet and still for their hair cut, our son decided to lean into Mommy's shirt with his mouth open and taste the fine blonde strands that were decorating it. This is the same shirt that Mommy cut the twins hair in so the decorations were a plenty.

Apparently the decorations don't taste good.

Apparently that meant the hair cut was over. Even if the barber wasn't finished. Or maybe the barber was trying to bring back the rat tail.

The twins look great though - all spiffed up for picture day.

How can I control my life when I can't control my hair? ~Author Unknown

Lunch for Free

Did you know children may now buy their lunch for free? Yes siree - if your child has an id card, they can walk right up to the line and buy lunch and deduct it from your card. No money - no problem - the children cannot starve and must therefore get free lunch and hey the school will bill ya.


How do we know - well it goes like this. We got two bills last year from the school, one for each kid, for totals under $5.00 each. See on the odd occasion we let them buy lunch, we send the money for lunch. But the a la carte items are extra and instead of TELLING THE CHILDREN THEY CAN'T HAVE WHAT THEY DON'T HAVE MONEY FOR they let them buy whatever the heck they want. Did I mention the twins were in the first grade last year and obviously didn't know there were A LA CARTE options.


Apparently somewhere along the way Tyler figured this out and with his $2.00 in cash, he used $1.00 to buy ONE FRICKIN PENCIL from the school store that he thought was cool and use the other dollar for his lunch, and yeah they let him. No problemo.


This year they haven't been able to buy lunch yet. It is now $2.15, which I'm sure really amounts to $4 or $5. And I can make lunch for less than that each day - plus I KNOW what is in their lunch. I don't know if they will ever buy lunch again - I thought...

See, Nathaniel - dear Nathaniel -left his lunch box on the bus on Thursday MORNING and therefore got a complete ( I guess) lunch for FREE! Yes we are teaching our children the power of credit cards without having to ever pay them. FABULOUS morals we have going on here.


Disclaimer: not that I am against the don't let the child starve policy

hemorrhoids and other crap that happens after/during pregnancy

If you are preggo or trying to get preggo - DO NOT read this blog. Really.

Today I want to complain about all the crap they do not tell us when we are trying to get pregnant or are pregnant, because yes 2 1/2 years later I am STILL feeling the effects.

No one said

• that my bladder would become a stomping ground and therefore any time a baby jumped I'd pee myself. Fabulous when this happens for the first time while your in public and haven't learned to pack a change of clothes yet. Fabulous that childbirth doesn't automatically fix the problem.
• that with multiple babies in my belly I would have so little room to breathe or eat. I understood it would be cramped, but never have I had to sit so straight and breathe so shallow while trying to feed my face.
• that my ankles would swell so large I'd have to buy larger shoes and eventually larger sandals would be the only thing that would fit. They also didn't say how this swelling would follow on up my legs into my calves.
• that after giving birth you look like you have a beer gut.
• that you will no longer know how not to sleep on your side with a pillow holding your stomach.
• that if you push out a 9lb 4oz baby you are going to have hemorrhoids, and that even if they don't show up immediately they will - and they will hurt so bad you cry, and you won't be able to sit and you will dread going to the doctor.

Am I forgetting anything?

Think of stretch marks as pregnancy service stripes. ~Joyce Armor

have 2 year old, have tantrums

Can we skip to 4 now? Please? Pretty Please with a Cherry on Top?
I hate this stage, I hate it, I hate it, I hate it.

Two year olds are for people with more patience than I. Two year olds turn into three year olds and it gets worse.

Bradley has got the 2 year old bit down.

• flailing on the floor CHECK
• screaming at top of lungs CHECK
• throwing things CHECK
• ignoring parents CHECK
• telling everyone "no" CHECK
• telling everyone what to do (in very short words) CHECK
• answering to his name with "what?" CHECK
• chasing Daddy through the house because we are mad at him and want him to see the stomping of the feet while saying "no" DOUBLE CHECK

It kills you to see them grow up. But I guess it would kill you quicker if they didn't. ~Barbara Kingsolver, Animal Dreams

Most Admired Mom

T1 got to be the student of the week this week. The student of the week has to bring in pictures and answer some questions about themselves. I helped him by gathering some great pics and spelling all of his answers out on a seperate sheet for him so he could copy them down. (He didn't want to mess up on the sheet that would go on the wall *gasp*).


T2was quite jealous, especially since his class doesn't do student of the week. So T2 decided to rewrite the answers I wrote for T1. These are my boys.

Favorite Color: red BLUE
Favorite Book: The Magic Treehouse HARRY POTTER
Favorite Movie: Harry Potter HARRY POTTER
Favorite Sport: baseball RUGBY
What do you want to be when you grow up: a baseball player A RUGBY PLAYER
What makes you special: I'm a twin I CAN DO 1 PULL UP
What state were you born in: North Carolina
Favorite Food: Poor Man Suprise
Person you most admire: my mom
Favorite Subject: reading MATH



For the record, I don't think T1 actually understood what admire meant, and T2 chose not to answer that question. But either way I'll take it!!!

Cookies for a Month?!?!

Did you know October was National Cookie Month? I didn't until I went over to Multiples and More and read their question of the week. I know I'm late (the question was posted yesterday) buts that's life as a Mom - you'll get over it. Today I am answering their question (with a lot of side comments)

What is your Favorite Cookie Recipe?

I think this may be a trick question - my favorite cookie recipe or the one I make all the time - or the one that my hubby buys. Yes I said buys, because he likes the tubs of premade cookie dough from Sam's.

We make the toll house recipe a lot (you know the one on the bag). My bigger boys all LOVE chocolate chip cookies - although I use mini chips and only put half the bag in the mix - then it's good for 2 batches.

Little Man loves any type of cookie - and frequently calls anything sweet a cookie; graham crackers, donuts, danish.

I on the other hand love ALL KINDS of cookies except chocolate chip. I know, I know, they are America's favorite - but I'm not a fan. I make them for my family all the time, but I don't eat them. (I do lick the bowl). I like peanut butter cookies, or white chocolate macadamia nut, or oatmeal raisin, or peanut butter with a kiss in the center, or butter cookies, or mint cookies, or M & M cookies. I'm not even sure I could chose a favorite.

But I must try.

OK Butter Cookies it is. They are super easy, light, filling, sweet and sometimes the simple things in life are just the best!

1 cup butter

3/4 cup sugar

1 egg

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

2 1/2 cups flour

Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla, mix well. Mix in flour. Roll dough into a log and chill dough for at least 45 minutes (or overnight).

Preheat oven to 400. Cut slices 1/4" thick and place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 6-8 minutes.

awarded

So Mrs. Fish was given a few awards the other day and she being the stellar woman that she is chose to share them with all her followers.

Well I'm a little shy and new at this, so I didn't take the award. I really think there are some great blogs out there and that they deserve the award a lot more than I do. I just starting writing to capture all the moments I can before my children grow up and I forget them all. By chance I found some great groups to join and awesome blogs to read.

Then Mrs. Fish stopped by here yesterday and shocked the shark out of me and said I needed to come take my award. So being a good girl and doing as I'm told. I am humbly accepting the lovely blog award.

Now I have to pass it on to 15 blogs that I have found and think are awesome and deserving - so here goes in no particular order.

Twinsanity

I Need Coffee

Twinsomnia

Ramblings of a Crazy Momma

Three Boys and Me

MacTwins

Three Times the Giggles

The Tater Twins

The Mott Multiples

Ramblings of a Mama

Deep South Dish

Mommy 2 3 Miracles

Manic Mother

Diaries of a Coach's Wife

A Day in My Life

So Ladies come take your awards and then pass them along - everyone else, please go check out Mrs. Fish and the rest of these great blogs!

when there are no words

Ever have someone you were so close to that when they hurt you hurt? Someone other than your spouse or your children.

And when that person experiences loss you want to take their pain away - but know you can't.

Ever wonder what to say to someone when they've experienced death and you know that I'm sorry is no where near enough to explain the sympathy that you have?

Ever cried for the loss that someone is feeling instead of the death itself?
Because when we die we are immediately at peace. Our pain and suffering is finally gone and we are able to smile down on the ones we love. But when someone close to us dies, we don't immediately see the peace, instead we feel loss.

And then there are no words

When I get Where I'm Going

Brad Paisley - Featuring Dolly Parton

When I get where I'm going

on the far side of the sky.

The first thing that I'm gonna do

Is spread my wings and fly.

I'm gonna land beside a lion,

and run my fingers through his mane.

Or I might find out what it's like

To ride a drop of rain

(Chorus:)

Yeah when I get where I'm going,

there'll be only happy tears.

I will shed the sins and struggles,

I have carried all these years.

And I'll leave my heart wide open,

I will love and have no fear.

Yeah when I get where I'm going,

Don't cry for me down here.

I'm gonna walk with my grandaddy,

and he'll match me step for step,

and I'll tell him how I missed him,

every minute since he left.

Then I'll hug his neck.

(Chorus)

So much pain and so much darkness,

in this world we stumble through.

All these questions, I can't answer,

so much work to do.

But when I get where I'm going,

and I see my Maker's face.

I'll stand forever in the light,

of His amazing grace.

Yeah when I get where I'm going,

Yeah when I get where I'm going,

there'll be only happy tears

.Hallelujah!I will love and have no fear.

When I get where I'm going.

Yeah when I get where I'm going.