Preschool Pumpkin Party

LaLa's "special" pumpkin from the "pumpkin patch" at school. It took her a LONG time to choose just the right one!

Getting ready for the "parade". The older kids in the school dress up to represent a country. They parade around the entire school campus as the "parade of nations". However, the little ones dress up as community helpers, and I believe each class has a "theme". Our teacher was a fireman and was followed by her little Dalmatians.



See, they really aren't that difficult to make! We had an abundance of food at the party. I made these fruit jack-o-lanterns, mummy hotdogs, and bug juice, but all the parents brought stuff-chicken nuggets, chips, cake (yummy!), etc.. Do you know what was the biggest hit with the three year olds? Gummy "Wormies"...I'm serious!

I really meant to take more pictures, especially of the kids playing their games and interacting, but the time just flew by so quickly that it was over before I could catch up! LaLa enjoyed her pumpkin party. What a big day and an exciting time for her first party in her preschool career! I think I enjoyed it as much as she did! I embroidered cute little jack-o-lantern bags...again, I forgot to take pictures! That's the story of my crazy week! There were a lot of cute treats that the parents sent in that I plan on putting in my "memory bank" for the future: stamps, flashlights, tatoos, and of course, candy! For days, I was thinking of ideas to do and make for her special day...even in my sleep. I don't know what to do when both of my girls are in school! Hopefully, this obsession on my part is just a "newbie" thing to preschool mommies!

Are all the other mommies as tired as I am? I remember being a child and just having endless energy, especially during the holidays. Now, finally, some thirty years later, I understand why my parents were SO tired! I just thought they were party poopers! Now, I know. And, now, I'm often the party pooper...I love all the fun stuff and enjoy all the celebrations, but I can only keep up for so long! I watch my little ones, and I am just amazed at their boundless energy that they have conjured up!

Mama Drama Rule # 65: Have you ever heard of "eat your wheaties" ? Well, they need something like super duper wheaties for mamas just to keep up with our little ones. Maybe they could just add an extra dose of energy and 'superness' during the holiday fun so we can keep up!

So, in short, EAT YOUR WHEATIES...TAKE YOUR VITAMINS...and enjoy them because it's a blur of a memory before you know it!

Yummy Treats & Easy Recipe to do with Kids!

Little Bit and LaLa at BOO at the ZOO enjoying our picnic & our yummy dessert! Little Bit gave her big sister a gooey chocolate, marshmallow kiss!

Yummy, easy, kid-friendly treats!

I had to share the easiest snack/dessert that I think I have ever made! I saw this in a magazine, and I thought...oooh, that looks yummy. Now, if I would've known how easy it is to make, I would have made this long ago and really impressed myself! I actually wish that my husband hadn't seen me create these yummy masterpieces because it totally lost some awesome points when he witnessed just how simple it was!

The ingredients you need are as follows: large marshmallows, large pretzel rods, chocolate semi-sweet bark, sprinkles. Now, I know there are several alternatives to this recipe. This is just the EASY one that I discovered and loved out of a magazine (I can't remember where!)

You melt a few pieces of chocolate bark. I added a little bit of crisco upon my brother's suggestion, but the recipe didn't call for it. I simply took three pieces and melted it for 30 seconds on high (the same directions as on the box). I stirred it and microwaved another 10 seconds, stirred again, and continued this cycle until it was thoroughly melted and smooth. Then, I (with LaLa's help) put the marshmallows on the pretzel rods. (I've heard you can zap the marshmallows for a few seconds and the go on the sticks easier, but I honestly did not have any problems.) LaLa did push the marshmallow a little too hard onto the rod, and we had a couple break. I suggest being careful or having extra rods if you have little hands helping. Little Bit took care of the broken pretzel rods anyway! Then, you swirl the marshmallow into the chocolate until it's evenly coated. Next, you roll it in sprinkles or pour them over the chocolate covered marshmallow. TADA, you're finished! You can put them pretzel side in a cup or on a piece of wax paper to harden. I also put them in the fridge for about ten minutes so they would be ready for our dessert!

We enjoyed them that night for dinner. Then, we saved some for our picnic at the zoo the next day. For the most part, my girls, finally, had the opportunity to wear their cute outfits...without jackets...at the zoo! I was determined! My favorite part of this recipe was how proud LaLa was that she accomplished yummy treats! She told her daddy a dozen times that she and mommy made the dessert. We make a lot of things in the kitchen together, but this was one item that she could make almost all by herself. I just had to get the chocolate ready and set it all out. Usually, when I am in the kitchen, I constantly find myself clearing everyone out. It's usually because I'm in that critical crunch time in the afternoon/evening trying to get it all done and make dinner on top of it! I'm learning though that if I have to be in the kitchen anyway that I really need to take the opportunity to share it and make it a valuable time for my children. I try to find at least one task that they can do...even Little Bit. It makes them feel a part of the family and appreciated once the finished product is complete!

I love easy, fun, child friendly, yummy, and impressive recipes!:)

Mama Drama Rule #64: Get your children involved in the kitchen! They feel so proud to see the final product. In addition, the experience builds memories and life skills they can use as adults! Most importantly, we all have to spend time in the kitchen as mamas...why not use some of that time in the kitchen to spend with our children too. If it's comfortable and enjoyable now, it may open doors of conversation and bonds of friendship as they grow older! Although my mom started me very young helping bake cakes and special recipes, cooking with mom is still one of my favorite things to do...especially during holidays.

Encouraging Kid's to Have a Giving Heart

Encouraging our kid's to be giving and have a kind heart is my husbands and my new goals. I'm sure you are thinking...Oh, Tammy, that's easy. My kid is so kind and thoughtful. Let me just tell you...I said the exact same thing. Now, try testing your theory. We tried to think of some ways to really reinforce having a giving heart to our girls. One way, we decided upon was to participate in Operation Christmas Child. I thought this was right on their level, especially LaLas! We would give her 8-10 dollars and go shopping for items that this little child may need, write a note, draw a picture, wrap it, take it to donate, and a great lesson learned! Aw, I should know better!

Then, I realized that my husband and I often give. We volunteer in various things. We always adopt a family at Christmas or donate food to the local food pantry, BUT what we don't do is involve our kids. They have been spectators. I guess I can get partial credit for at least setting an example; however, I can see where it failed them to have the opportunity to participate and learn by doing. I just thought they were too little, but if I would've started with these concepts with LaLa at Little Bit's age, I think she would grasp it all a little better.

My husband and I did our research and collected pamphlets and such and sat down with the girls. I believe Little Bit was chewing on her sleeve so I'm not so sure how much it really impacted her! LaLa was all ears though. I thought we explained it all so well. We even showed the pictures! The children look so pitiful and then so happy when they get their boxes! Nope. She said, "That's okay, mama, I'll just buy my family gifts. I want to get my sister something and my friends...and the list went on." We tried to redirect the conversation, but she just didn't grasp it. It's our work in progress. Hopefully, the more we talk about it, the more she will understand and be on board!

She just cannot fathom that people do not have stuff like she does. Is this normal? Have we spoiled our little ones? She shares well. She loves openly. Does she give....well, not if it's hers! That brings me to the next issue! We tried recently to emphasize that we have a lot of toys...especially stuffed animals! We explained that some kids don't have toys, and our neighborhood was doing a collection for a charity. Why don't we choose 2-3 toys each that we don't play with to give to a little boy or girl that doesn't have toys? You would have thought that we were trying to take her dog away from the child! She said among sobs, "no, their mommy can buy them a toy." After further discussion with her daddy on the topic, she was trying to debate why people were mean to these kids and they weren't given toys. We, honestly, gave up and secretly did it when they were sleeping!

What do you do? I don't remember this in any of my education or psychology classes! I'm at a loss, and again, I'm just accepting that it's something we have to work at. I know she has a kind, giving heart, but I am learning that it's on her terms, which is something we have to improve! I'm learning that we should have made giving a participating activity rather than a spectator sport for the kids. I'm learning that we probably should have started these concepts earlier! We did make some progress today. Our local food pantry was broken into, and absolutely everything was taken. She seemed to somewhat understand and picked a few things to donate from our stockpile. I was feeling giddy over this improvement...just as my husband pointed out that she didn't have a problem donating our stuff to people in need...just not her stuff. Good point, but progress is progress with a three year old!

Mama Drama Rule #63: Be careful not to make giving in your family a spectator sport. It's great to teach from example, but your kids can learn so much, especially when the reward is something intrinsic, when they are active participants!

If you are looking for ways to get your children involved in getting, let me share with you these great ideas!

(If you're local) Food Pantry in Henry County (There are food pantries in almost every county. I'm sure with our current economy and during this time of year, they could benefit from your giving. Use your "extras" or your overages if you use coupons! It's a great way to donate and give if you currently have a tight budget yourself!) http://helpinginhisname.org/index.php

Operation Christmas Child http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/

Toys for Tots http://www.toysfortots.org/donate/toys.asp

I'm learning that even the little things help such as making a card for someone sick or letting them help when you make a family dinner after an illness or a new baby. I'm also learning that small children are very literal and concrete with their thinking!

Getting ready for Fall Fun in Preschool!

LaLa's big preschool pumpkin party is coming up next week. Her little class has a lot of fun things planned. I thought I'd share because I know a lot of mamas, like me, may be planning for parties next week!

Here are some of our food ideas!

• Chicken nuggets
  hot dog mummies
  found at www.Familyfun.com
  fruit salad in orange jack o' lanterns



www.familyfun.com

• chips
• cheese cubes or maybe fun halloween shapes
• grapes
• chips and dip
• Swamp Juice- I think I am just going to get some juice that is green or something...and add some plastic bugs and some gummy worms, but this looks fun!

Here are some of our activity ideas! I'm adding some that I plan to do with my kids and their friends too. LaLa's preschool is a Christian school...so some of the games have to be altered to be non-"halloweenish" and to go along with a Jack o' lantern theme.

• pumpkin hot potato
• paint pumpkins
• pumpkin patch to pick their pumpkins
• parade to show off their class costumes (her teacher is a fireman and the kids are Dalmatians!)
• put together foam pumpkins-This might be fun to do blindfolded...to find the pieces you need for your pumpkin...and we want to include the Christian poem for Jack o'lanterns (I'll post it on another day)
• I'm embroidering cute bags from Oriental Trading Company & parents are sending in goodies.
• Pin the nose on the Jack o'lantern-I'm not sure about this quite yet. Where can I find a huge pumpkin picture?!
  

Other cute activities that I think would be fun!

• the black cat hunt (www.familyfun.com) - we just did a pumpkin hunt in Awana with our class from church. Our lesson was about how the Bible gives us directions & guides us. As a treat & to emphasize what directions and guide mean, we had a hunt that took us from location to location with directions and instructions to find a big basket of pumpkins for all the kids. The instructions had a lot of "hop" "skip" "smile" etc. from place to place that worked very well for 3 year olds...and even my little 1 year old following behind them!





• Race to Sweep the pumpkins (www.familyfun.com) -I think I am going to do this for the kids at our thanksgiving meal. It looks like fun!
• Mash the Pumpkins-my girls would LOVE this. I found it on Melissa Hester's blog (look at my blog links on the right) It's basically hammering golf tees into pumpkins with kid hammers. What's the point? You get to hammer...need I say more? The trick is finding the hammers...the wooden ones with the tool box (Melissa & Doug) were at School Box for about 10 dollars, but maybe you could have enough at home and with other parents that you wouldn't have to buy them.
• A friend of mine has a little girl whose preschool class is doing an "orange party"...I know a lot of places do this too to avoid the halloween aspect. Well, upon searching for ideas for her, I found and thought of several, making t-shirts (orange of course & 2 for 5 at Michaels or trick or treat orange bags & only 1 dollar at Michaels as well!), eating orange foods, scavenger or treasure hunt for orange things, putting their hands into mystery bags of orange things...and guessing what it could be. Examples include carrots, oranges cut, etc.

By the Way, all or most of these ideas were found at wonderful sites like www.familyfun.com (this is my all time favorite site and magazine!) and www.parents.com. Be prepared to spend lots of time and have your brain go in overload at the possibilities! I'd love to hear some of your ideas...and yes, I will probably steal!:)

Mama Drama Rule #62: Don't reinvent the wheel! This is my philosophy for the week!:)

Encourage a Preschooler's Creativity?

Now, just how far is a mama to encourage a child's creativity? One can read a multitude of research that discusses the negative effects of suppressing a child's creativity and imagination, but when you are faced with the dilemma of letting your three year old leave the house like this...would insisting she change and not look like an escaped crazy person be the definition of suppressing her creativity and independence?

We battle regularly...well, over everything between the real world and the world of LaLa. Now, my husband and I are going to a kingdom family class on parenting...which is wonderful and informative, and from what I understand...you should not battle over anything, but your word as a parent should just be the way it is. Now, this is wonderful theoretically, but it's the reality of that fact that made my husband and I simultaneously glance at each other when we heard this in class. Surely, other parents of creative, independent (or stubborn...according to how you look at it!), and testing preschoolers know what I am talking about!

Our biggest battles are self-control, going and staying in HER bed & sleeping in general, being quick to obey (I find myself saying it over and over.), and exerting her independence--such as picking a snack, dressing herself, or getting in the carseat. I love her new found independence, but they often take SO long. Honestly, I need more patience, and we are often running late to wherever we need to be...which seems to make her move even slower when she knows this fact!

So, with this battle in particular of letting her pick out what she was going to wear today...and yes, I did the whole thing of pick between these two outfits and allowed her to have input. Then, as I was packing the bags and dressing Little Bit...and THINKING LaLa was getting dressed herself...this is the way she comes downstairs ready to be on our way. At this point, I think I just laugh, try not to make eye contact with strangers while we are out, and thank God that her preschool does have uniforms--at least the people she goes to school with won't see this side of her!

Mama Drama Rule #61: Realize that the classes and the books have great suggestions. Some of those ideas and concepts will work most of the time for most children, but be prepared to say that those books, that class, and that research....JUST HAS NOT EVER MET MY CHILD! Then, throw out the books for the moment, and do your best!

This Mama Might Be Crazy...

LaLa riding a horse at Rock Ranch in Rock, Ga. This was a great place full of Fall Festivities that was really reasonable! It was a great day with pony rides, a petting zoo, slides, jumpy houses, booths with crafts, yummy food, a corn maze, and so much more!

The nicest lady let Little Bit even join in the fun on the bouncy house. I had to climb in too and sit in the corner...just in case, but Little Bit bounced and tried her hardest to jump along with the bigger kids. It was a little trickier to convince her to get out...while I was trying to get my big old hiney out of the little net opening too!

The Rock Ranch is a place that was created by Truett Cathy, the owner of Chick-fil-a. We visit this particular place quite often because it is really the only fast food that we will eat. I always tell people the oddest things happen to me...I'm really not kidding. I guess I just bring out the crazy in people!

Recently, I went to Chick-fil-a one morning to get breakfast for me, a friend, and her family. She had just gotten home from a surgery so I was trying to bring something that would sound good for her to eat. Well, I place my order at the drive thru and continue to wait behind the other cars in the drive thru. A man exits the restaurant and walks directly in front of my car (I have a 2006 H3) lays both of his hands on my hood, looks up, and says in a deep, bellowing voice...like something off of Saturday Night Live..."Oh, Faithful God, thank you for blessing me with such a vehicle to drive. You have blessed me beyond immeasurable amounts (or something like that...I couldn't catch the very end.)" Then, he raises his hands to the sky, and says, "Thank you, oh, almighty God." He nods his head to me and walks off.

Now, I believe in God without question, but this was a new one for me...what in the world? I didn't know what to do. I was actually just sitting in my car waiting to drive to the window for my food, talking on my cell phone to my husband. As I was listening to the man, my husband was going, "Tammy, Tammy, are you there." I'm thankful for my car...but it's not like something that would catch your eye different from any other car...so, what in the world?!

I just bring the crazy out of people! Interesting, huh?

Mama Drama Rule #60: When you can still identify crazy as crazy, I think that means you're still on the right side of sanity! It's when you can't tell if it's crazy that you should wonder...just which side of sanity you are on!

Rain, Rain, Go Away...Don't you know...

LaLa sang this song, "Rain, rain, go away...don't you know we're here today." Then, she would look up at me, and say "Mama, it's not listening!" I'm sure the grown ups all around her was thinking the same thing. Hey, rain...do you know how tough it is to get kids to stone mountain. Do you know how much tougher it is to slosh through rain and cold? Do you know how much our tickets cost? Ultimately, you can't control the weather...and very little else in life...so try to make the best of it! That was our lesson of the day! Once I got over the drama of parking and the surprise of rain...I got into the spirit of the day...and the kids joined in shortly after!

Note to self...one year olds do not do much with pumpkins besides try to eat them or throw them like a ball. I have tried tirelessly to teach Little Bit to say PUMPKIN. She looks at me, cocks her head to the side, points, and say BALL! Little Bit painted pumpkins in the arts & craft section while Little Bit chewed on hers whenever I wasn't looking.

I don't know how photographers do it. My kids will not be still for a picture whatsoever. Let me point out though that Little Bit was happy to be free from the stroller and was going to make a break from it. LaLa had a bag of candy from the scavenger hunt and from the candy shoppe. I have one foot on the stroller because our umbrellas, pumpkins, and bags are weighing down the back of it...if I move my foot once Little Bit is out, the stroller flips (can't someone invent something for this.) I stayed up several nights working on their cute outfits...let me point out that only the waitress at the restaurant ever even got to see them because of the cold! My shutter speed is not fast enough for the speed of a toddler and a preschooler! Random people stopped to stare at me attempting to take this picture...feel free to volunteer to help when you see a poor mama trying so hard without help attempt to capture a picture!

As we were coming out of the candy shoppe, my LaLa opened the door so I could push Little Bit out of the store in the stroller. She was very helpful, fortunately. A lady was coming in at the same time as LaLa pushed the door open. LaLa looked up and told her she was the door holder today for mommy. The lady looked at me and said, "He is a very good helper." My LaLa looked at her with her forehead wrinkled and continued to proclaim, "I'm not a he. That's a boy! I'm a she. That's a girl. I have a woo hoo (use your imagination), mommy. Tell her to say she." Okay, now what do you say to that?! I just smiled and kept walking...hoping LaLa would follow, and I tried to explain that maybe because she was wearing a black hat like some boys. LaLa had a response for everything. No, mommy...girls can wear black. Well, yep, that's right. Now, I don't think either of my girls looked like boys...they both had ruffles on their pants, wore orange and black for the most part, had monogrammed jackets or hats, polka dot shoes with bows ont hem, ruffly, girl, jackets...BUT that lady at the candy shoppe called LaLa a HE and another lady called Little Bit handsome?! I just finally (out of desperation) explained to LaLa that maybe she couldn't see well. BUT now the entire stone mountain village knows that LaLa has a woohoo and will not mistake her for a he! At least she's not intimidated to stand up for herself when she knows she's right!

MAMA DRAMA RULE #59: When you get stuck with your kids in a mama "bind" (ya know when your kids say something "inappropriate but honest"...the best you can do is smile your biggest smile....and ESCAPE...FAST!

Friday Night Fall Fun For Little Ones...

Friday nights have become our movie nights. We all get ready for bed and cozy in our jammies...We'll make a homemade pizza. Everyone will add their favorite toppings, and we will have some sort of special treat for dessert.

LaLa had a special project of sorting foam shapes. This kept her busy for the longest time! I made a mental note that this would be perfect on a smaller scale for a peaceful restaurant experience!

For this movie night, we had to add some Fall Flair! Our yummy treat was pumpkin rice crispy treats. I am rice crispy treat impaired. It is the easiest dessert to make, yet I struggle every time. My poor friend, Pepper, is ever so patient with my multiple calls as I struggle through the cooking tasks! LaLa and her daddy ate more than she rolled the balls for the pumpkins! Little Bit even ate her fill of treats!

It was LaLa's movie pick, Cinderella III. We enjoyed the movie. It does have a couple scary parts for a little one, but it was very cute. It was a fun movie night and even more special with our Fall treats!


Mama Drama Rule #58: Family time is one of our greatest treasures, but it's often lost with our busy lives and schedules!

Stone Mountain Adventures...and GPS disadvantages!

Well, today, we went to Stone Mountain. It is another one of our fall traditions that we started doing the year I was pregnant with LaLa. My college roommate, Pepper, and I have taken our kids every year since before they could walk! It's one of those things that I hope to do when they are all teenagers, but they know they can't resist too much because they JUST know it's something we do every year.

This year was a little different. My husband was out of town...convenient and sneaky, huh? Not so sure that one was a coincidence! Well, once he wasn't going everyone else's husbands slowly backed out. So, there we were with our plans made months ago all of us with no husbands and excited little ones! It gets better! We start hearing throughout the week that Saturday is going to be one of the coldest days so far this year. That's okay, we can handle the cold! It'll just add to the Fall atmosphere, Right??? Yesterday, I went on the hunt to find hats and gloves. Of course, I then had to embroider their monograms on their hats! It's an addiction!

I'm not one to go out on such ventures with both of my girls all by myself. Things just happen to me it seems where as it is never a simple task! I had cute outfits for my girls. I packed enough for a week trip...just in case! I had all of our winter gear. I had directions. I'm ready!

I check out the news this morning. It says no chance of rain except in far north georgia and a cold, cloudy day...so we're good, right? WRONG! I start driving up there, and guess what? It starts raining. Yep, raining. Now, cold I can handle. Rain...I'm getting worried. I didn't plan for this! I made it to the park...with only a couple phone calls to make sure that I was going in the right direction. I pull into the park and have no idea where to go to park. So, I decide to follow where all the other cars were going because surely, I think, they are going to park.

Yep, they were going to park, but I end up in some area where there are people...young and old...in kilts...like scottish things. Parking is crazy. There are army people directing traffic. I realize that I am not going to the mountain part. So, I try to turn in an empty parking lot...well, this was blocked off because a helicopter was landing. Literally, it was hovering as I'm aimlessly trying to get out of this parking lot! A person in army clothes runs to me and helps me (probably thinking I'm half crazy) get out of the parking lot. Then, I tell the next army person directing cars that I am trying to get the mountain part, and I think I'm lost. They end up moving a metal fence and cones so I can get out of there. I still couldn't find the parking lot for the mountain stuff! It took me 20 more minutes, and I had to ask two other people. I even ended up going down a lane meant only for the "duck mobiles" that stone mountain uses...that's what authorized vehicles meant I guess! I thought I was authorized because I had paid for parking!

See, this is why I don't venture out to unknown places alone with my poor girls! At one point in response to me yelling "oh no, we're not suppose to be here!", LaLa said, "Mommy, just take a deep breath and look for a mountain." That's pretty good advice from a three year old! Who knew it was going to take me longer to find the parking lot than it did to drive to the actual park!? GPS helped me get there...just not to the parking lot! They probably think most people just need help to the destination...well, obviously, they don't know about my daily mama drama!

I'll share more about our cold, rainy stone mountain fun later! It ended up being a great day...with adventures in and of itself! LaLa even tried to explain to someone that she was not a boy because she had a woohoo (use your imagination). My friends decided the rain and cold was too much, but we were brave souls that stuck it out! We have passes so I don't blame them for saving their expensive tickets for a better day! I guess we weren't just brave...there was NO way I could talk my three year old into leaving after she had been so excited! Never a dull moment in our world! Definitely lots of fun memories...and we all survived the day...even having both girls by myself. By the way, God bless all the mamas that do this stuff alone because they have to! I'm exhausted!:)

Mama Drama Rule #57: Wisdom from LaLa...In times of stress, just take a deep breath!

So Much Fall...So Little Time!

Yummy homemade chicken noodle soup, grilled cheeses, & fruit salad in a Jack-o-lantern on a rainy, Fall day!

Two Thumbs up from LALA!

I love Fall. I think it's my favorite time of the year...with Spring shortly behind it. You know when you can feel everything changing. It's wonderful how it has such perfect timing. As soon as you're getting burnt out on all the hot weather...here comes wonderful Fall weather with all the fun stuff and holidays fast approaching.

Between all the fun stuff LaLa is doing at pre-school, decorating the house, and enjoying fairs, pumpkin patches, and other fall activities, it feels like we are running everywhere...all the time, I keep thinking....ooooh, we need to do that craft or that fun activity with the kids! I planned our calendar months ago planning some wonderful Fall activity every Saturday this month. There is just so much to do during this wonderful season! My husband constantly reminds me, "Tammy, There is only so much Fall...you can't do it all!" It never hurts to try though!

Well, we have definitely slowed things down this week. The girls haven't been sick...but haven't been well either....you know where you're thinking at any minute you are going to end up at the doctor's office or they are going to start with the fever stuff. They have both had tummy troubles, LaLa a rash over the last two weeks (which the dr. deemed an allergy of all things!). Little Bit has broken two teeth through and has two just about to come through as well, and they are just not their crazy, rambunctious selves. It's funny because on most days...I would give my two front teeth for little girls that were this calm, cuddly, and satisfied just laying around reading or watching a movie. BUT since I know this is the norm for my girls, I'm ready for them to be back to themselves and feeling 100 percent again....even if that means it turns them back into the crazy little monkeys! People think you're crazy when you say your kids aren't sick...but you think they may be getting sick or their little bodies are just trying to fight something....but mamas just know!

We have had some rainy, wet, and cool days lately. So, my mom made chicken noodle soup for all of our families, and we have really enjoyed it! I tried a cute idea from Family Fun where you carve out a jack-o-lantern face on an orange and put fruit salad inside. It was cute and yummy, but I think I need bigger oranges! That is my mission next week because I think these would be extra cute for LaLa's preschool party!

I hope everyone is enjoying their fall too! I love hearing everyone's ideas! It always inspires me with more to add to my list!

Mama Drama Rule #56: Traditions are what make a family's memories. It's something we can give our kids...that they can one day give their own kids!

Pillowcase Dresses for Two Cuties!

I haven't posted any monogram madness from my world lately, but I have been hard at work with monogram orders. I'm almost caught up so now I can do some more fun holiday stuff!:) A friend of mine had these wonderful ideas of what she wanted for some dresses...so we began to think and plan!:) I warned her that I am not the best at sewing, but I can get the job done...just don't look too close to the stitches! She drew her pictures and ideas, sent fabric and ribbon, and I finished her dresses. Her ideas were too cute. I don't have the talent to create ideas like that from scratch so it was fun working from her creations!

She has two twin cuties so these dresses will be "TWO" cute on them! I know I'm a dork!:)

Be creative...keep your ideas open and start buying gifts now for Christmas! They have cute, soft fleece throws at Wal-mart now for only 4 dollars! How cute and personal would it be with a name or a monogram? Most embroidery is just five dollars...

I'll try to post more later this week!

Tammy

A Friend's Strength

Hi, everyone! I'm lacking blogging ability today! I have a dear, wonderful friend that just found out recently that she has thyroid cancer. Many of you know that I have faced this awful battle of cancer with my dad over the last couple years and had a scare myself last year. I know the feeling of complete inadequacy and lack of control that this disease gives you. It's hard not knowing what to do and what is going to happen next. We're so used to quick answers and results, and this disease takes all those options away. It's like a wait and see game that tortures your very being because it is so scary and intimidating to just say the word cancer. It seems that cancer has touched everybody in some way.

My friend is 29 years old with two little girls the same age as my little ones. Our families are very close. She is the type of friend that always has an encouraging word and strength to share. She is like support beams for me in my life. I know a visit with her or a quick phone call will lift me up no matter what. I'm blessed to have her, her husband, and her sweet little angels in our lives. She is having surgery tomorrow (actually by my dad's wonderful doctor that did his past surgeries) at 7 am. She will have her thyroid, the mass, and some lymph nodes removed. Her future recovery will involve treatment, medication, and diet changes. Please keep her and her family in your prayers as they go through this scary and transitional time. She is an independent, tough girl and just leaning on others for help and support will be as difficult for her as this upcoming surgery.

I'm writing about this tonight because of so many reasons. First, it's all I'm thinking about right now. Second, my heart is focused in constant prayer. Third, it shows how quick life can change. Fourth and most important, it shows me that we have no control, and we can't rely on ourselves to go through this life. We have to take hold of God's promises to accept Him, live for Him, and ultimately trust and rely on Him.

Just think, here was my friend focused on what her girls are going to be for halloween, starting preschool with her three year old, planning her upcoming birthday, and enjoying the end of the summer when she finds out that she has a large mass in her throat. Then, she finds out it's a solid malignant mass. Wow, how our focuses change when life changes course! Now, she's planning for surgery, childcare, and upcoming recovery and treatment. She is the ultimate example of trusting and using complete faith in God for the strength to face each and every day. I know that God's arms will carry her through each and every battle in this war she is about to begin...

Mama Drama Rule #55: Let Go and Let God have control!

Where Has the Time Gone?

My mama drama for today is the overwhelming job of changing closets out for seasons and for sizes! Who would think that this simple, yet HUGE, chore would be a complete and total emotional one? Well, it certainly is for me!

Yes, it is October, and I am just now clearing out the closets. My excuse is the crazy weather down here in the South. We have still had some absolutely beautiful, summer like days...even in October! It's hard to know what to expect from the weather. Thus, I continued to give myself the excuse of putting off this dreaded task.

Then, I begun going through Little Bit's closet and taking out everything that doesn't fit and all of her summer clothes. I am still in the phase of boxing everything up....either for my friend, Pepper, to peruse through later for her little one or for a potential future baby of our own. Then, I think...oh, wow, three girls...oh, the high maintenance of it all-the weddings, the school, the colleges, the prom dresses, the drama!

As I am clearing out Little Bit's closets and drawers, my kids are running around like wild animals. What I put in the tubs...they take out. What I fold...they unfold. Well, you get the idea. Yet, I still am feeling near tears as I fold up each and every piece of baby clothing from Little Bit. We are entering into 18 month sizes...not even a baby anymore. All these little shorts and tops, the little jammies...I fold each one and can remember her (and even LaLa in some of the ones that were handed down!) wearing them.

It's not that you don't want them to grow up. They bring so much joy and excitement with each day and milestone that passes, but it is so sad to feel like time is going faster than you can keep up with. The feeling that you have blinked and missed so much. The feeling that it's gone by so fast that you didn't get to cherish it like you should have. That your babies are growing up faster than you can grasp onto.

Yes, I am being completely sappy over just folding some outgrown clothes. Then, I look over to my loud little monkeys...LaLa and Little Bit are pushing baby doll strollers as hard as they can into each other, they have manipulated one of the under the bed tubs that I emptied as a catapult for the dolls...and eventually LaLa tries out on Little Bit, LaLa tries to sit in her baby doll stroller so Little Bit can push her, and Little Bit has an open (washable, non-toxic) marker in her mouth-which I hide markers in our house like a squirrel with a nut..so I'm not sure how this one was discovered! As I'm soothing Little Bit after she's been flipped with the tub and a couple dolls, wiping marker off her mouth, and helping LaLa get her hiney unstuck from her baby doll stroller, my reminiscent moments only lasted for a few seconds. However, my heart was still tugged as I worked on this task even as my mind was telling my heart that I am completely crazy...I'm blessed I've survived this long with my two little ones!

Mama Drama Rule #55: Cherish each and every moment that you have with your children...grasp to every moment and keep your memories like small treasures. For me, I know the future holds as many wonderful memories as the past has when they were sweet babies...maybe this little task just helped me to remember to treasure the present ones a little more!

Warning: Objects May Appear Closer Than They Really Are...now explain that to a 3 year old...

We recently went to see Toy Story 1 & 2 in 3D. It was quite an experience! First, let me explain that my husband is quite odd. He enjoys anything and everything Disney...well, honestly, more than any child out there. I had to redirect his attention several times throughout this 3D movie experience back to amusing two youngsters, helping with glasses, running to the potty, and answering questions. He would be totally zoned into the screen, oblivious to anything going on around him, and just sitting there with a quirky smirk and eyes focused with his 3D glasses. So, I knew this going into the movie that he would be...less than helpful because of his crazy endearment for Disney.

It was a lot of fun experiencing this with the girls, but it was very long! It's both movies! We only made it through one...and maybe a half of the second. LaLa sat there asking dozens of questions and mesmerized at the 3D effect.

"No, LaLa, they will not come out to get you." "Yes, LaLa, it is pretend." "It's the glasses that make them look like that." "If it looks fuzzy, put your glasses back on." "LaLa, you have to sit, listen, and watch so you don't miss the movie." No, LaLa, I can't rewind the movie."

Little Bit and I spent half the time in the theatre and half of the time walking in the lobby. LaLa is quite a fan of Jesse...the cowgirl in the movie. Hence, when she woke up, she insisted that she wear her cowgirl attire. We got quite a few looks from other movie goers, but my little one was convinced that on this day she was Jesse, Woody's cowgirl friend! We even had to refer to her as "Jesse" when she had her cowgirl hat on. Whenever she would take it off, she would say, "It's okay. You can call me LaLa now." Well, thanks, Miss LaLa, for keeping us straight!:)

Don't you wish you could do that? Oh, today, I think I'm going to be Sandra Bullock or maybe Jennifer Lopez or Julia Roberts. Oh, no, don't call me Tammy...I'm Julia today. Now, where is my maid and my nanny? Can someone send my assistant out to get me a white mocha decaf with no whip from Starbucks? It's fun to think about it, isn't it? Oh, to be in the world of a three year old?!

As I was sitting there considering how I would be spending my afternoon as Julia, I was looking up at the screen thinking...what is so awesome about this 3D stuff? It just looks fuzzy and darker. I looked over at my husband...yep, he thinks it's awesome. I look at Little Bit. She's trying to decide if this over-stimulation of a massive screen and surround sound is something she is going to like or cry about. I look up at the theatre...kids are reaching at the objects that are supposedly popping out and adults are laughing. Are my glasses broken? I hand them over to my husband to clean them...still no luck. Okay, I 'm thinking this is going to drive me crazy for two movies.

Then, I notice, as I'm cleaning the glasses AGAIN, that my glasses look a little different from LaLa's and my husbands. Come to find out...my husband had packed an extra pair of just "regular" old sunglasses that Little Bit could wear in lieu of the real 3D glasses to keep her amused. Yep, this is what I had been wearing for thirty minutes...wondering what in the world was so wonderful about this 3D experience! So, once I changed into the real 3D glasses, I really did enjoy the movie...until about five minutes later when Little Bit opted for her plan B of crying at the over-stimulation! Oh, the joys of mama drama!

...By the way, they want you to turn in your glasses after the movie! Small children do not understand this concept! Poor LaLa thought that she could wear these outside and still get the 3D experience. Well, in her mind, she did think it worked, and those darn regular sunglasses came in handy when we had to return the real glasses!

Mama Drama Rule #54: Live it up when it's peaceful...don't waste it on cleaning and doing your to do list! Enjoy it and immerse yourself in it...it may only be a fleeting moment!

Just admit it...you hear voices in your head too!

Do you have five thousand million zillion (not sure that' even a number!) things running through your head that you would like to do, should do, or need to do? I think it's in a woman's nature to have these things running constantly through our minds. It's even worse for a mama. We walk through our house and trigger after trigger goes off. For me, I walk in a room, and I think I have to clean that, I need to put up the laundry on the chair, I need to change the sheets, I need to update those pictures, did I remember to schedule pictures, what will wear for the pictures....that's just walking to my closet through my bedroom.

Then, I finally get to bedroom, and I begin thinking...what am I going to wear today, is it cold, is it hot, I want to take the kids to the pumpkin patch, they would look cute in little orange monogrammed dresses, I should make those, what would they wear under it, what does LaLa need for her fall party, I need to keep working with her on writing her letters, what letter are they on this week, this pair of pants don't fit, (I'm still in my closet trying to find something to wear), I need to go through my clothes and purge, should I give away my variety of sizes (I have everything from 2 to 12 as I go back and forth between pregnant Tammy and regular Tammy), should I just keep them, should we have more kids, I'm too tired to have more kids, I need to go shopping and get some fall clothes, oh, yeah, the girls still need some dresses for cooler weather...oh, I hear someone up...what should they wear? Yeah, by this point, all this has gone through my head and I'm still not dressed.

That is what's wrong with all of us. That is why we can multi-task better than men. If a man had these same thoughts running through their heads, they would curl up in a fetal position and cry. In fact, in some ways...they do this already. It's the times that they call us or insinuate that we are nagging...we're just giving them a small impression of what we hear constantly. They can't handle it so we must go through this world on our own with our thoughts running in circles!

How do we manage this chaos in our heads? Well, for me, I don't think I have an off switch. I just eventually collapse and sleep so hard that I can't hear the thoughts! A better alternative is to make a list and prioritize. What is it you HAVE to do? What is it you WANT to do? What is it you SHOULD be doing? Then, make goals and deadlines for each ones...go ahead and make them cushy deadlines. Publish and Post them so everyone knows what you are working toward! It makes you accountable if you publish and post them in your house! Plus, when you divide all these thoughts into these three columns, it makes you realize what really has to be done. If we let the thoughts continuously circle in our heads, we rarely get anything done and still find ourselves completely exhausted and frustrated at the end of the day!

My list changes constantly because what was a priority last week may change. Do I have to clean out my closet? No, I can live with it...despite my husband's complaints. Should I clean it out? Yes, it would probably save me time and sanity in the long run. So, I'll set a goal and a deadline to get it done! Even if you don't plan on using your prioritized list, it's a great form of release. It's like taking charge of all those thoughts in your head that you just can't ever master! Keep working at it...and accept that it's part of being a woman...and becomes even worse as a mama...then, you have your own thoughts, as well as the thoughts of your kids' well being and needs running through your brain!

Mama Drama Rule #53: All those thoughts that run through our head constantly telling us everything we should be doing, need to be doing, and really want to do in our lives is often like clutter in our homes. It can take over and take control of us. It can squelch our spirits and our joy. So, take charge...or as a last resort...just admit you hear voices in your head and maybe somebody can help out! I haven't tried that one yet, but I haven't ruled it out...

Organizing Coupons...start small and simple!

Okay, so I'm returning back to the coupon organization...and I'll try to be short and sweet!

I told you how I was doing my file system for the inserts. This second part is for the ones that are cut out. The ones you print, the blinkies from the store, mail outs, etc.. A friend of mine sent me this link that was just wonderful and saved me a lot of time. It was very similar to what I was working toward. So, I took it and modified it to fit my needs.

Basically, it's a three ring binder with 4x6 or 3x5 clear photo sheets. (I found that the 4x6 were easier to find) I bought the staples brand for about 3 something a piece. They're color coded with the dividers & labels. Check out this link and you will see what I am talking about. I modified it a little because I still didn't want to search for sections within the dividers so I had to alphabetize them...organize them by dates (I even thought about highlighting the current month so I will use them first before they expire...Is this legal in coupon world?)...and I had to add a few extra labels that applied to our family.

The link is http://www.homeof5.com/2008/09/frugal-friday-coupon-binder-tutorial.html. I totally got caught up into all of the options to organize! It's so much fun to see how everyone organizes. Several blogs have explanations, tutorials...and even pictures (yeah)...to organize your coupons. Now, if they could just tell me how to organize my family and how to use these coupons effectively!

Let me take a moment to emphasize that it's not a good idea to get too caught up with how to organize your coupons! I won't name any names, but there is this "friend" of mine that literally typed up an itemized list of all of her coupons...pages and pages. Her daughter even ratted her out and mentioned that she spent about 24 hours just on this stuff. Overkill...is overkill! I really don't think it will help you in the long run. I reminded her OCD tendencies the same thing! Simple and convenient is sometimes the best way to organize...so evaluate your needs and start small. You can always build on your foundation and modify it as you figure out what you need and get wonderful ideas from others!

My girls and I went to Publix...again...today. I did get several things free...pillsbury biscuits, crescent rolls, Cinnamon rolls, a frozen pizza, about five jars of organic baby food, two frozen Green Giant Steamers, two Colgate toothpastes, a bag, etc. That's exciting! Now, I have to learn about the "money makers" as they call it in the coupon world. I'm learning from blogs and sites those are the items that have overage. That's the part I haven't mastered! Baby steps...

At Publix today, Little Bit started pointing and going crazy over an Elmo balloon. She even shakes her body from side to side singing the Elmo theme song...La..La..La... LaLa grabbed her hand and said, "no, no, Little Bit, Mama doesn't have a coupon for an Elmo balloon." :) The coupon frenzy is spreading to the littlest member of our family!

Mama Drama Rule #52: Start Small...start Simple...sometimes that's the most effective way in anything we do...OTHERWISE we get SMOTHERED and OVERWHELMED!

Tweezers, a nose, and a mama driven to drink...

I'm veering off my plan of posting about part two of my coupons...I'll go back...but I had to share about how my LaLa literally drove me to drink last night. Seriously, I, as well as friends, have always joked, "oh, my kids are driving me crazy...etc. etc., but all of us rarely, rarely drink." Well, let me tell you...after LaLa's experience last night, I sat in a dark bathroom, in the tub, with a large glass of wine to relax my heart beating in my throat!

Sundays are so busy for us. We have church, awana at night that we teach and have to plan for, I usually get my coupons and lists ready, lunch, dinner, naps, straighten the house, get ready for the week, baths, bed, etc. We rush the entire day. Yesterday was one of those days where I'm questioning my sanity and continuously looking behind me to see why my supermom cape is being a dud! We started off well. We were dressed and in the car on time for church...then, I noticed that Little Bit's dress was really more of a shirt...I haven't switch out their summer clothes for fall yet. So, I run in to get another dress...and back in the car. I dress her in the parking lot. We take our drinks (we had volunteered to bring) to our Sunday School class...which we can't stay at because we have nursery the first of every month, take our girls to their classes, do nursery, pack up everyone, and off to lunch. The day goes pretty much the same...

After awana, I insisted that we run in Publix to do our shopping....to put me a little ahead of the week...because I know the week is busy. Two little girls are tired and not happy...and one man that you would think was being tortured by shopping through Publix with his family! (BTW, I did well with my coupons...BUT I am still not doing as well as my friend the wizard! I spent $67 and saved $114 with coupons. I'm still buying stuff to stock our pantry and our necessities (organic milk, bread, eggs, deli meat, fresh fruit, etc) that is hurting my total! I'm working on it though!

We get home...my husband unloads the groceries and I put the girls to bed. Well, LaLa is in this stage where she gets out of bed five hundred times with five hundred excuses. One of the excuses was legit..she was sneezy and getting stuffy because she had helped daddy cut the grass that day. I told her to come on back downstairs and gave her a claritan and some water. She handed me the cup and went upstairs. Minutes later, I hear in an urgent monotone voice, "Moooooommmm, Maaaammmmaaa, Moooommmmmmyyyyy." Yes, all three possible names my girls call me, and it scared me to death! I run to the top of the stairs. She looks at me moving her head very slowly like it might just roll right off and says, "I stuck my sneezy medicine in my nose. It won't come out!" Although I always thought I would be wonderful with emergencies...I'm not...not even a little bit.

There in her nose was a little round purple pill....way up in her nose...I could only see the bottom of it...passed the point of even a finger could reach....and she was getting upset, which just made the pill move up higher. I yell...calmly...well, probably more frantically to my husband to come now and quick.

He calmly says he is getting a tool (tweezers) and it's okay. He works on it for about 15 minutes with no luck. He calmly tells me to go call my parents to see if they can come and watch Little Bit for a while...then, I began to not be able to breathe....because I know this is code for WE ARE GOING TO THE ER. I CANNOT GET IT OUT! I go to call, and just as my mom picks up I hear, "I got it! It's okay." LaLa then breaks down all the sobs and anxiety she had held together while her daddy stuck these squeezy things that "saved her life" according to her!

Now, I have to confess. I told my child that she was so lucky we got it out. And, if she ever, ever did it again, we would probably have to go to the hospital. They would probably have to cut her nose off to get it out. It would probably bleed. There would probably be shots involved. Yep, I wanted to scare the "bujesus" (I have no idea the meaning of this word...it's just the word we use for such a statement.) out of her because not only do I not want her to do it again, but I don't think this mama can handle that drama.

So, that is why my day ended with me sitting in a dark room, in a bathtub, with a very large glass of wine. It gives me the "hibbyjibbies" to just think about it! (another one of those words that I don't know where it came from or what it means...but it's just the appropriate word for such a statement!)

Mama Drama Rule #51: Never stick anything up your nose....ever. Go ahead and scare your kids now so you don't have to experience it...go ahead and throw in any other holes they have in their head as well and make sure you've got yourself covered!

How to Organize Coupons...when you're facing the crazy mama world with kids!

Okay, a couple people have asked how I am organizing my coupons. Yes, I get giddy when I get to organize, but since coupons have stumped me through my last few weeks as I'm learning how to do it best, I have tweaked and changed my organizing. This was one of the first questions that I asked my coupon friend (aka. the wizard-this is the nickname I gave her b/c she makes it all look so easy!) and the coupon lady from the class. Both of their techniques were very different! I have even asked random people as I see them in the stores how they organize their coupons. A couple friends on the blog have even sent me links and ideas on how to organize too. I love all of this...because then you get to steal a little from everyone to make what works best for you! Like I said, mine is a evolving process as I learn more of what I need, where I need it, and when I need it, but I'll be glad to share my ideas so you can steal too!

I got a little carried away with searching and printing coupons yesterday...so I was literally sitting in the midst of coupons. My entire guest room/office/embroidery room/scrapbook room was covered with coupons and here I was sitting in the middle. I told my friend, the wizard, that it was like the island of Tammy in the sea of coupons...my kids really got into that concept too and it kept them off the coupons...and threw in some vocabulary words that most little ones wouldn't know! (i.e. sea, island, etc.) See, who knew coupons would be so valuable to my family...educational and thrifty!

Honestly, I love all of the already set up coupon books, but they are expensive...and the whole point of coupons is to save money...so I tried to use what I had here...so it's not the cutest thing, but it totally serves the purpose! I'll get a cuter one when I get a coupon for it!! Search ebay, etsy, couponizer (i think that's the name!), and even google "coupon organization or organizer" for ideas!

Okay, this is like coupon organization for dummies...because I'm such a coupon dummy still and I'm sharing my insight from a dummies standpoint (that made sense, right?) First of all, I started cutting all coupons out at the beginning...this is a no no. Learned that the hard way. You want to keep booklets and inserts together by dates...this is the way you will need to look for them later. So, this is my first need to organize. I took this idea from several others...but most of it is from my friend, the wizard! I went on a search...yeah, I even had the kid's "we're going on a bear hunt" singing in my head...to find various things--a box/crate to hang folders, hanging folders, and file folders, rubber bands, sharpee, and paper clips, and a pen. Like I said earlier, it's not cute because I used what I could find (I'd love to have some cute folders--resist and be thrifty!).

The numbered objects are what is labeled on my hanging folders. The * objects are what is labeled on my file folders. If that doesn't make sense, tell me and I'll try to explain more!
1. Red Plum
*dates of every Sunday. I insert the red plums from the paper in the appropriate folder. I also write the date on the outside of the insert because I tend to be bad about putting them back when I am on a quick search. If I have a lot of them, I rubberband them within the folder or paper clip ones that may be loose if I have already cut one of the sides.
2. Smart Source
*Same as red plum...
3. Publix
*Advantage buy
*Weekly Ad-I will put the ad and usually print out advice from the wizard, a friend's recommendation, a blog, southern savers, or hotcouponworld advice when I see it so I don't have to search for it when I go shopping. I put my list in here too b/c with kids I usually start it and get interrupted 500 times...so I can just pick up where I left off later.
*Other-Baby club coupons, magazines from publix, mail outs, etc.
4. Kroger
*Same as Publix...but with Kroger items...I haven't had much luck at Kroger so I don't spend too much time in this section! But I will check prices against Publix's.
5. CVS
*Weekly Ad-same as the concept for Publix...
*Extra Care Bucks-I am on the fence about moving this to my notebook...
*Other-includes coupons the email me, etc. If you go on their site and take a quick flu quiz you get 5 dollars off your next 25 dollar purchase!
6. Walgreens
*same as CVS
7. Baby
*This is where I put all my Carters, Children Place, Kohls, Pictures, Osh Gosh, etc coupons...again, I am thinking about moving them to my notebook that way I would have them if I just decide to go buy the stores...on the fence though!
8. Savvy Shopper
*This is a magazine/mail out that has local coupons. I mostly just put them in the folder, but I do have couple folders that I tend to pull out of this book b/c we visit them more frequently:
*Local-jumpy place, chuck E cheese,
*Zoo-We are members and will get mailed coupons. That way I can grab them when we go.
*Stone Mt.-Same as above.
*Atlanta-all museums, etc. that we may visit
9. Restaurants
10. Other

Okay, since this post is getting SO long, I will add the notebook portion this weekend! This is where I organize all those coupons from blinkies (you pull out of the fun machines at stores), tearpads, peelies (peel off of objects), printed coupons, and loose coupons. I hope this inspired you though! Even if you are not a huge couponer, organizing the ones that you randomly get will still save you money! The problem is they just pile up and we lose them or forget about them because they aren't in a certain spot!

On a side note, October 1st created new coupons for you to print at http://www.coupons.com/ and http://www.smartsource.com/. From what I was told, they only allow a certain amount to be printed so print them today before they aren't available anymore!

Mama Drama Rule #50: Saving money and saving time are great as long as it doesn't cause me to lose my sanity. As with anything, babysteps! That's hard for me to remember with clearing out my house's clutter and keeping my family on routines and organized and starting my venture into pure coupon crazy challenge and chaos...it all takes babysteps!