Who Cares if the Tub is Dirty???

I just read this on my cousin's Facebook page and it speaks volumes to me.  As a SAHM, I struggle daily with all the hats I must wear.  Many of my SAHM-friends joke around about needing a secretary or an assistant.  But it's so true.  Staying at home and raising kids is a full time job.  One that often goes unrewarded and underpaid, unless you count being paid in kisses.  But even as the kids get older, their appreciativeness and kisses tend to get fewer and far between.  So, as this poem says, I think it's important to make the most of the times when you can get them.

Some houses try to hide that fact

That children shelter there.

Ours boasts of it quite openly--

The signs are everywhere.

For smears are on the windows,

Little smudges on the doors.

I should apologize, I guess,

For toys strewn on the floor.

But I sat down with the children

And we played and laughed and read.

And if the bathtub doesn't shine

Their eyes will shine instead.

For when, at times, I'm forced to choose

The one job or the other,

I want to have a lovely house,

But first I'll be a mother.

--Author Unknown

He's Gonna Melt Some Hearts!!

OK, so I complain about all these artsy things Tanner has to do for school -- but I have to be honest.  I love doing these artsy projects.  Unfortunately for my kids, I am a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to said projects.  So we start off with all these, "Look, Buddy, you can help Mommy do this" comments, but, in the end, I printed some pictures from the Playhouse Disney website so Tanner could color while I finished gluing my creation.


Tanner did choose the design, after scouring the Internet for ideas.  Then he helped me find some toilet paper rolls and cut some letters on the Cricut.  I let him do a little bit of the glue mess, but since the glue sticks wouldn't work, I had to take him off glue-duty.  (Tanner + Tacky Glue = DISASTER)


I've been posting pictures via Facebook throughout the day of my progress.  I have to say, now looking at the finished product, this one won't be going in the trash any time soon!!


Step 1 -- Cricut letters -- Tanner likes to help with cutting the letters.  It gives me a chance to work on his letters and some phonics with him.  Gluing the teeny-tiny letters down was a different story.


Step 2 -- Cutting the circle and making the tires.  Did this part on my own.


Step 3 -- Painting the toilet paper rolls.  I did this while Tanner was at school.  I know, he would've loved to do some painting, but oh well.


Step 4 -- Tape up the Capri Sun box and make the flap.  Then I had to cover the box with red paper.  This step would have been so much easier if I had some red wrapping paper; instead, I had to use several pieces of red construction paper.  Lots of glue and tape helped hold the paper in place.  It's a big 'ole mess up close.


Step 5 -- This was fun!!  I had to get some pictures of Tanner in his fireman outfit so he could be sitting in the windows of the truck!  So we played dress up and printed some cute little pictures.  Then I made "windows" with his picture from every angle of the truck.  I'm really happy with the way that part turned out!


Step 6 -- Glue the tires on.  Fairly easy.  Tanner got to squeeze the glue for that part. :)


Step 7 -- Glue on the ladder (made of Popsicle sticks and tooth picks), the "doors", and the license plate with Tanner's name.




And here is the finished product.  I am so excited for him to take it to school on Friday!!

Now to just finish the actual Valentine's that go inside all his friends boxes ...

Favorite Photo Friday

And you thought I forgot??

No way -- I simply got distracted by all my nothingness today.

Yes, I was simply too busy contemplating going back to bed (in one of the kids' beds since I made mine when I first got up this morning) and thinking about dusting and running the vacuum.

Anyway, here is my favorite photo for this week.  It, in fact, is not one of my photos, but one that came across my wall on Facebook.

Because I do have time for that ...  and I can look from the convenience of the recliner.

The New Starbucks "Trenta"

That's right, people.  Starbucks has exceeded all expectations.  I thought they blew me away with the BOGO Christmas Blend and the Skinny Lattes.

But this one blows all of that out of the water.

The new trenta size holds 31 ounces.

Allow me to calculate that into terms you will understand.

The new trenta holds an entire bottle of wine.

Yes, I have died and gone to Heaven.  Please do not resuscitate.

Happy Friday!

I'm THAT mom.

We all do/did it.

Before there were kids, we swore we'd never do what THAT mom was doing.

I used to watch my nieces run around my mom's house, eating their dinner in motion.

"Mom, I won't ever do that."

I used to watch as my girlfriends allowed their children to eat cake at birthday parties when they didn't finish their meals.

I'll never do that, I would say to myself.  (Of course I wouldn't say it to my friend.  That would be wrong.)

I would sit in parent/teacher conferences, disgusted with the despicable way some of the parents would talk to their children.

I'll certainly never talk to my children that way.

I remember sitting in the front seat of the minivan with a girlfriend while her 3-year-old daughter continuously yelped from the back seat, "Mom, mom, mom, mom, mom ..." until I would finally say, "Would you please answer her????"

I'll never let my kids be so disrespectful when I'm a mom.

I used to sit in the restaurants with Tim, disturbed by the fact that there were kids playing video games and watching portable TV's at the tables around us.

"Let's make sure we always engage our kids during dinner, OK?"  I certainly would never allow electronics at the dinner table.

I recall sitting in the sick waiting area at the pediatrician's office, disgusted as I watched the preschool-age kids wipe snot on ... well, anything except a tissue.

I certainly will not EVER allow my kids to do that.  Gross!

Lastly, I remember waiting for a table at Cracker Barrel (this was several years ago) and gawking at a little boy wearing the worst outfit I've ever seen.  Sweatshirt, camo pants, cowboy boots ...

"I would never let me kids leave the house like that.  Don't those people have any self-respect or pride??"

So it humbles me now to admit the following:


My daughter ate dinner in the middle of the kitchen table for 2 years, and I still feed my 4 year-old son.

I have justified eating cake and brownies for breakfast (or before a meal is consumed) by saying that the ingredients include eggs and dairy.

I am perfectly capable of tuning out (not ignoring) my children while carrying on a conversation with another adult.  It's a gift.

My children always have their iPods or video games when we go to dinner.  And we try to find restaurants with TV's as often as possible.

Tanner has a knack for wiping his nose with anything except a tissue, and Kendall is a master booger flicker.

My 6-year-old daughter has more makeup than I do, and she knows how to put it on.  Even the mascara.

And last, but certainly not least, I just drove to the vet's office to pick up the kitty's Prozac with my son wearing his slippers in the back seat.

And I was completely unaware that he didn't have on his shoes.

So, yes, I'm THAT mom.  The one I swore I would never be.  

But I am 100% OK with being THAT mom.

Because she gets to have MY kids. :)