Halloween "recipe"

Do you love s'mores? Really- who doesn't?
But in our house we just don't have the time to make a fire and sit in the cold while roasting marshmallows. (Read- we are lazy and it is raining.)

Therefore... S'mores Shortcuts!
The principle is the same, 2 graham crackers, chocolate, marshmallow.

• Lay one-half of graham cracker on paper plate.
• Top with one-fourth of Hershey bar. (Or tiny "individual" chocolate bar that you stole from the kids Halloween candy) (also excellent with dark chocolate!)
• Top that with one marshmallow.
• Microwave about 15-20 seconds; just until the marshmallow starts to puff up, but watch them because if you leave it alone, it will explode!
• Take out of microwave and immediately cover with remaining half of cracker. Push gently to "smoosh".
• Enjoy!

Halloween Parade

Today was the Halloween Parade at Grant's daycare center. I haven't missed one since Brianna started there at the age of 2. I was a little sad that Brianna was no longer there today, I always loved seeing them together. Next year, it will be Grant and Chase!

Here is Superman getting ready to fly! Notice how my excellent photo skills caught him with both feet off the ground! (or it could have been dumb luck!)

















Here Superman is scratching his head wondering where he left his belt and cape. (Well, apparently he left them in the classroom because at 4, the rules say you must refuse to wear at least part of your costume!)




























Here is Superman running away from his kryptonite, the dreaded mommy hug!


















Superman needs a hair cut!

3rd time really is the charm.

When you have your first baby, you are stressed. ALL the time! Stressed about food and diapers and clothes and blankets and bottles and Binky's and sleep and... well... everything really. There is no time to enjoy the baby because you don't know that nothing is wrong, that there is no reason to worry. You don't love the first baby less, you just worry yourself into a state of panic about the little things, and then the big things feel like mountains.

With the second child, you are overwhelmed. It is a real challenge to learn how to accommodate a new human being while still providing all the love and attention that the first child needs. You don't worry quite as much, but probably only because you don't have time to. The adjustment to child number 2 is one of the hardest things you will ever do, and still you love them endlessly.

Child 3 is bliss. You have worked out all of the worry and stress on the first child. You already know how to multi-task thanks to child #2. You've been "there" before and been through everything along this road. Or maybe you hit a rough patch but you know how to get the help you need and still deal. With child 3 you can finally enjoy every minute. Not just the perfect minutes, but all the minutes. You might even enjoy the crying minutes and the smelly minutes and the messy minutes, because you know that you will make it through and this little person will be a blessing in your life for a long time. And that makes you love the ride more than you ever imagined you could.

Or at least that's how it is for me.

Happy Birthday Grant!

The blogger in me missed it, but on Sunday, Grant turned 4!

We had a lovely party the night before, just family and some close friends. On his actual birthday, we pretty much ignored it. I actually just let him believe that his party day was his actual birthday. When your only 4, it's easier that way.

This coming weekend, we have a Chuck E Cheese party for his classmates from school. I think I might be insane to voluntarily put myself in the mouse house BUT- it was cheaper than the bouncy place that every 3rd kid has their party at! AND- I don't have to clean up afterwards!

Pictures to come... maybe... if I get around to it.

Everything's Amazing and Nobody's Happy.

If you'll pardon my low-tech-ness today... I don't have time to figure out how to post this better...

This was posted on my facebook today by an old friend and it really spoke to me. If you haven't seen it, check it out and tell me what you think. Let me just say, it made me think and I AM happy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8r1CZTLk-Gk

I think when I go back to work, I will share this with my students and see what they think. I'm sure the responses of the 11 and 12 year olds will be priceless!

I dare you not to laugh!

This morning in the grocery store...

Brianna says, "Mommy, I know how to spell tight! T- I- T!"


HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Her dad and I just about died!

I must be REALLY crazy

I'm thinking of going back to school... again.

I have a Bachelors in Education. I have a Masters in Administration.
Someday, I might get my doctorate.... but not now.

Now I am thinking of going for a second masters in Technology. Or maybe not a masters... maybe just enough classes to get a teaching certification in tech.

Adam thinks I'm crazy in a nutty/incomprehensible way. I only plan on teaching for another 2-3 years before trying to be an administrator. However- If I have to keep teaching exactly what I teach now- I will go crazy in the loony bin/straight jacket/padded room way.

What better in this day and age to become an expert in than in technology?!?
I'm looking at online classes.... Hmmmm....
What working mom of 3 wouldn't love to go back to writing papers and completing projects?
What kind of crazy do YOU think I am?

Who needs this?

Does a 4 year old need his friends at a birthday party?

We are obviously having all our family and close friends over to celebrate Grant's birthday. We always do, for both kids. That will be a dinner at the house "thing".

He wants a friend party too. I don't remember if Brianna had a friend party at 4... 5- yes, 4- I don't think so. However, Grant has attended birthday parties for about 6 of his friends, and more invites came this week for the upcoming month or so.

• I feel like he will notice, and feel shafted, if he attends birthday parties of friends but doesn't host one.
• Will the friends, or more accurately, parents of friends notice and think I don't like them?
• Is the expense worth it? The last thing the kid needs are cheap toys...
• Where to go? What to do? Is it too late?

Mommy is a bit of a wreck over this. It should be easy but, it's not. I need to decide FAST. If I'm going to do this, I have to get it booked and get the invites out by next Monday. UGH.

Randomness v.1

- My husband got his wallet back, minus the cash, but we had already cancelled the cards. Now we wait for the new cards to arrive. All the hassle, less reason!

- Chase has been sleeping nights in his bouncy seat next to my bed. I need to get him sleeping in a crib but I'm too lazy to walk to him when all he really needs is the paci shoved back in his mouth... Maybe soon.

- Grant is adorable! He is always saying funny things that I just can't believe are coming out of his almost 4 year old mouth. They are less funny by the 50th time he says them.

- Grant really should have a "kid" party for his birthday but I just can't seem to get my s**t pulled together. Maybe more on that another day.

- Brianna is a fashion girl and it's driving me nuts. Only certain items of clothing are good enough, and some of those only get worn once before being deemed not good. I can't even buy clothes with out her, or she won't wear them. She's 6!!! not 16!!!! UGH.

- I am determined to be busy this week! Today I tackled both Target and the grocery store. Tomorrow- I'm thinking projects around the house. Later in the week, topics include shower grout, toilets, and taking outgrown clothes out of closets.

What fun my life is!