"STINKY"

My new catch phrase is "stinky". Does not make any sense, as Gma Fran pointed out. I was talking to Tootie as she stumbled around in shoes, "Let's take those shoes off. Those shoes are stinky". Gma Fran's bewildered reply was, "How did they get stinky?". We all laughed. "No Gma that is just how Clarissa talks to her kids". A few examples:

If the kids want chocolate milk and I don't want to get it, my reply may be. "We don't like chocolate milk. It is stinky"

If a child wants to sit on my lap or snuggle. "I don't want to snuggle with you. you are stinky"

If Brenna wants to go to the park. "No the park is stinky"

It is just Clarissa silliness. No logic at all. ;)

WARTS

I think warts are the most disgusting thing in the whole world. I am not exaggerating. I am revolted by them. When Brenna was small she got one on her foot that she named her "pop". Eventually I found one on each of the brothers feet also. Landon had on just in the right place where it was causing him pain to walk. We took a trip to the pediatrician and got them all removed. Not too devastating and easy to deal with.
Well then I got one. Right on my knee. I wouldn't show anyone. I picked and tried to remove it but it hurt too bad. I covered it in duct tape, a tip I heard online...with no avail. It continued to haunt me. Finally it fell off after I zapped it with a whole package of freeze away. Life was beautiful again...until a few weeks ago. About a year later now I have 2 of them!!! Why not just go the the doctor and have them froze off. When can I find a minute. Instead I got to church with a bandaid on it.Totally gross.

NO MOVIES

A few months ago Shane decided the kids could only watch 30 minutes of movies a day. A tad extreme I thought but I knew he was right. Since Tootie was born the kids have watched a lot of movies. It actually worked out nicer than I thought. Eventually they learned how to play together harmoniously and do other things. It took a few months of frustration though.

CAMPING-MAMA STYLE

Shane is in scouts and has monthly camp outs...WHAT!!! This calling is lousy. So I decided that when he was gone overnight on a camp out I would camp with the kids. I pitched a tent in the living room, we roasted marshmallows over the gas range, and drank hot cocoa. It did not go perfect. The brothers wouldn't behave so they ended up sleeping in their beds and Brenna was too scared to sleep in there without them. But we are learning.
The tent took a few days to come down. The next night Brenna and Landon slept in it all night. Jackson slept in his bed...still learning. The third night they all slept in there. Maybe next time we will be able to all do it together.

AGAIN AND AGAIN

Life seems the same day after day. The kids can get restless during the winter months locked inside the house hour after hour. I came up with a plan to help us survive. A few months ago I was helping Brenna learn the days of the week. I would help her by Sunday is church day, Wednesday is ballet day...etc. I decided that if I had an activity planned everyday...for just an hour, we might survive. So I made a cute calender. Everyday they wake up and look at what day it is.

Sunday=Jesus day
Monday=Cooking day
Tuesday=Game day
Wednesday=Ballet day
Thursday=Library/book day
Friday=Craft day
Saturday=Play outside the house day

At the beginning of the month I plan an activity to correspond with the day. Then I have time to obtain any supplies. They love it.

HANG ON TIGHT

Life's a rodeo!!! I have received multiple reminders that my blog lacks updating. The last post was about 8 months ago...WHAT!!! Where do I begin? Here's a list of my rememberings...

Ran Helevetia and was left in the dust by my friend...was obviously not trained as well as I thought. ;(
Got totally mad at running and too a break
Cynthia was born
I began the long depressing road to loving my body again
Everyone quickly began calling her Tootie
Tootie is joy and happiness and exactly as a baby should be.
Four kids is impossible and simply cannot keep up
Tootie smiles, crawls, walks, says "dad" and "mom"