25% off at Gina's today.

pillowcase bag

I found this tutorial for a pillowcase bag on Martha.

I have a pillowcase I love...to look at.

And I needed a big bag to stuff blankies and pajamas in.

Perfect.

Rename sk*rt, win some stuff

sk*rt is changing their name, so they're having a contest...check out the choices here, and leave a comment with your preference, and you could win stuff....

Calisto home office phone system...almost named after me.

Magic Bullet - perfectly crushes up your oreos for a truffle treat. I appreciate this.

This is what I thought most of you may be interested in. The blogher Conference in San Francisco, free. You still have to get there, but you're resourceful. Handcarts.

You can suggest your own name if you want. Like...CheckIt...or What the-Who-Huh?...or Blurt...Oh gosh. I'm so good at this. Someone needs to hire me to make a lot of no sense. Love it.

And i love the site formally known as sk*rt.

wedding love...

I think I might ask Conan if we can "renew our vows" for our 11th anniversary this year...because it is so important to remember that beautiful day...and what better way to commemorate such a happy time than to recreate it (prettier)...and pretend buy a ring for the occasion...because we love eachother so much...and because I can't stop drooling over the colors and gorgeous-ness of these photos from Martha the magazine...

I like the little one in the yellow box; But I'm sure I'll love whatever you pick for me, honey.

her name is gratitude...

Isn't she beautiful? We've been spending a lot of time together.

There was a message from Gina on my phone Saturday. "Cally, somebody has left something here for you. If you could come pick it up, that would be great. We close at 4:00. Thanks."

Um...Gina... as in Bernina Gina? Hmmm. How nice, someone random bought me some fabric...and left it at the store...to surprise me...because...it's...a....huh?

Then I remember all my sisters thoughtful interest in my desperate need to break up with my hunk-a-junk cheap machine. Her empathy and compassion for my needle breaking, thread tension hating, stitch skipping woes and miseries. And how the passion was slowly slipping away...

And her questions that morning about specifically which sewing machine I was saving for, because she's done some research and has found a couple good suggestions.

Oh, she's so helpful, and nice. "I'm going with the Bernina's from Gina. I can keep upgrading until I reach the mother of all machines." Dreaming.

So, I hear the message. Panic. I can't call Corrie, no long distance. So I grab my neglected cell phone...I think there's long distance on there. Not charged. I plug it in and wait.........come on.....this is serious.....

Corrie was no help. Let's play dumb.

So I book it to Gina's.

They bring this mongo red carrying case from the back room. Still in the back of my mind thinking it's a yard of fabric, I did the Miss America thing. Put my hands over my mouth and started to cry. Oh my gosh. My own Bernina. I'm not worthy. Then she pulls off the cover, and it's THE BERNINA! THE ONE! I got weak in the knees, with all the reasons why I didn't deserve this.

Gratitude can be overwhelming.

When I got her home and settled in (Dani asked, "Is this your new best friend mom?"), I called Corrie. She gave the phone to my dad, who is visiting. I cried. And he was quiet. I didn't even have the words, or understanding. He did. He said he loved me, and he was proud of me. They want me to enjoy my hobby.

I love you. More.


So not only does she sew like a dream, and she can thread herself, and she knows the alphabet.... I'm sewin' up a big heap of gratitude every time I turn her on.

Greatest ever. Thankful isn't even sufficient.

hold still mom...

"No. No thank you, Joey. Joey, no thank you. Joey No.

I said no. Joey, stop it now. Gimme that thing."

I hate them all

This is a gross story. Grosser than the toilets, but a different kind. It's not potty gross...it's creepy give me the shakes gross...you know the kind whenever you think of it you go immediately to that happy place to escape the grossness that consumes your entire body, hum your favorite hymn kinda place...okay, I'll tell the story.

We got home from Dani's horse-back riding lesson with Emily on Friday, close to dinner time. We walked into the kitchen, and lo and behold...my dear scientist friends hadn't quite learned their lesson and were feasting on the tiny remnant of Cheez-It I had not seen the 50 millionth time I swept before we left the house. Those dirty ants were EV-ER-Y-WHERE. I screamed the only kill those blasted ants scream I know, and the kids knew immediately a rescue was in order. They formed a little huddle around the disgusting pile of tiny destroyers of everything good and lovely, while Joey danced around the stragglers yelling "Ants, ant, oh, ant."

"Mom, just let them eat! Don't hurt them!"

I left the disgusting display, and went straight for my can of ant death.

While I had my head under the sink, I heard a scream. From all of them. This was not a save the ant kind of scream. This was bad. Nobody said anything, they just kept yelling. Dani mumbles, "Kacie just..." and silence.

oh.........no.........the slow motion run to the nastiness I could only imagine in my head....

There she was. And there wasn't the Cheez-It. I scooped her up and bolted to the sink. Upon prying open her cute little mouth...this is the image I am choosing to erase from memory...there were the ants...crawling out of her mouth like night of the living dead. All over. Everywhere. Covering the inside of her pink chubby cheeks. The roof of her mouth. Under her tongue. Pure invasion. She was screaming, I could only assume because they were biting her...they do that in distress you know. My hatred for these creatures was building exponentially.

I swept my hand cupped with water around her mouth at least a gagillion times, removing more dead carcasses with each sweep.

I am gagging, and shaking, and grossing out TOTALLY. I feel so bad for my baby, I cry. Then Andy starts crying, "I don't want Kacie to die! I don't want Kacie to die!" Joey's still jumping around, now with a growl, "Ants. Oh, oh, ants!"

Total disgusting chaos.

I got Kacie all cleaned up. Gave her a sympathy I won't ever let those beasts hurt you again hug, and set her down, far away. I didn't want her to see the murder about to take place.

I sprayed like a mad woman. No survivors.

Then I realized my kitchen floor was covered with poison. So I swept up the death, and mopped like an angry mad woman, with a vengance.

Luckily, hero comes home, sees my plight, cringes at the details and goes into the garage. He comes back with a gigantic jug of bug spray, the kind with its own hose and nozzle. Had I known. He sprayed the perimeter of the house. Thus saving our lives.

I will forever hate ants.

Kacie is sick today.

It's been raining.

I found three earthworms in my kitchen this morning.

we cleaned the toilets today

the boys need a lesson on aim. it's gross.

wee wonderfuls

My aunt Terry Jean is so cool.

She sent me the link, that sent me to this:

bear & bunny

Which sent me to this:

pincushions

Which led me to this:

tree quilt

Which led me to believe I need to learn to quilt the right way. I LOVE this quilt. Jen, what do ya think? Can you post a tutorial on how to make a basic quilt, without the fancy terms and machines? My most gracious pleading.

Check out Hillary Lang's blog...wee wonderfuls, she made all these beautiful treats. Take a look at her most wonderful make-along-story.

kick it in the rear, and move on

I finally convinced myself to get out of bed. Frosted Flakes for all, made my to-do list, crossed stuff off my to-do list, got the kids to school, swept the floor, washed Kacie's leaky diaper sheets, taught Andy Dog how to bark the abc's with a bone in his mouth, finally settled on Tom & Jerry, made Rachel's little quilt, wished I would've spent more time making Rachel's quilt, swept the floor, changed some diapers, played hunt for the red Connect Four pieces, you can skip all this if it gets too monotonous, convinced Joey that pants are an integral part of the daily ensemble, thought about washing the swept floor, stared at the laundry, took out the cream cheese to soften for more oreo truffles, vaccumed, closed my eyes and imagined I was sleeping, put Kacie down for a nap, oh - put Kacie's sheets on her crib, put my reciepts into the budget (mvelopes.com), took the scenic route and stopped by Designmom (short posts, great for a quick trip), and this is where I get to my point...

I cannot pause the day for a "quick trip". One friendly visit leads to another, and before you know it, you're confronted by this evil distraction named i wanna. i wanna go to DisneyWorld. i wanna be invited to a Mom Blogger Mixer. i wanna be a Guest Mom. i wanna quilt like that, i wanna take awesome pictures, i wanna win a sewing machine, i wanna design fabric, i wanna be a fun mom, i wanna have zero laundry piles....yadda yadda....

Kacie's quiet. Andy's busy with a game. Joey's...uh...where's Joey...stuffing Dani's modeling clay down her Littlest Pet Shop gerbil tube. This will have to wait, I may have an opportunity to shower. Creative thinking, Joey. Now come sit in the bathroom while I shower. The lack of lather in my shampoo makes me wonder if there is a blog critique-er (uh, critic maybe). Practice my American Idol exit interview while drying my hair (poor Carly), write the brilliant post that will get into the Wall Street Journal, and think...

Why do i wanna? I've already got. It may be different than what they've got, but it's mine; I don't have to invite comparison to my party. Just acknowledge the jealousy, kick it in the rear, and move on, eh?

I don't enjoy my self-centered, insecure, needy side; but this is it. Monotony is boring. i wanna break. No, that's not it. I can take a break, that's a martyr excuse. It's not about DisneyWorld; i wanna be rewarded. i wanna be validated. It sounds so Oprah. But this is it.

So I made some cushion tents, crossed more off the to-do list, and came here. Because the pride and jealousy always become so painfully and regretably obvious once I verbalize it. And hobbies are where I take my break.

These moments come and go, luckily. They have to be only moments. Little reminders of gratitude. Once you move on, it doesn't matter so much, and you remember.

i wanna enjoy the doing, not the getting it done.

i wanna play CandyLand. And eat some truffles.

cranium giggle goggles

Some of the best laughs...ever.

nicole hill

For those of you who love photography...meet Nicole Hill. In all your spare time, check out her favorite shoots on her blog, A Little Sussy, and imagine your cute little family in her lens. Or wish she was the one at your wedding.

Dream, dream.

I'd love to show you myself, but I am respecting copyright.

Here, I'll do the hard work for you, just click this, and admire.

It'd be totally worth it to fly all the kids to Utah and pay whatever it takes to have her immortalize the cuteness of my young kids...so they can be forever. Worth it, right? Hmm.

Wish, and dream.

smart toys

There's a school box in town. I took the little ones on Monday and encountered a new obstacle for my attempt at financial restraint. Educational toys. Goodness gracious.

We for real bought these:

BANANAGRAMS

SMART SQUARES by Scholastic

TANTRIX

POINTERS; which have proven to be the best real purchase of the day. Andy hasn't put it down, literally. He uses it to point emphatically at Joey when they fight, he uses it to point at what snack he wants from the cupboard, He uses it to pop bubbles, push things over, tap me on the shoulder...

We pretend bought these:

COOCOO THE ROCKING CLOWN game

SCOOTER

And ZOOMORPHS. These are interchangable. The boys wouldn't stop playing with them in the store, but they were out. Geesh. So it's off to Amazon for this one.

Check out these websites for more...

Educational Toys Planet
WonderBrains
Fat Brain Toys
Growing Tree Toys

little ninjas, and...a duck.

we have a winner!

Hooray! Alice wins! Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. A 1954 Hollywood Musical, Dani loves. I'm so proud of you, Alice. Perseverance.

I am totally impressed with all the guesses.

Here's what you win Alice... 4 brides and 4 brothers.

Complete with a cool carrying case...I haven't taken a picture of. I've got tons of ideas in store for more of these guys. I'll add them to the store, someday.

first, admit you have a problem

i have a problem.

Lori watched the kids for me yesterday, while I ran some errands. And broke a crucial rule. Stay away from places where you might be confronted by your vice.

I, uh, went to Gina's. Bad.

But look what I got...

Mmmm. So good.

movie game, 3rd clue

Oy vay, busy day. Sorry it took so darn long.

This is a hard one for me. 3rd clue. I haven't been here before. I had a good quote for this last day, but realize you can just google it. I had a good scene to re-create, but somehow it isn't as funny to tape myself playing the kazoo, without my sister here to laugh at...with...me.

I am confident at least 75% of you have seen this, maybe even more than once, at some time in your life. Here it goes, follow me here, the movie in a nutshell:

i pick you...okay...

i didn't mention that?...

manners...lovesick...

avalanche...captive...

baby...weddings...

Okay. I'm done with the trash talk. Somebody knows this.

movie game...2nd clue

Oh, you guys are good. But wrong. I consider getting to the second clue a win. I thank you.

Here it is:

a bunch of breeches

I will post the 3rd clue, or the winner, on Monday.

I love the prize for this one. Oh so much fun.

movie game, i'm gonna win

Okay Alice. You won't sleep tonight. This is such a good one. Ooooh, you're shakin'. I'm singing the Champion song.

Guess as many times as you want. I'll post another clue tomorrow. First one right wins.

Here's the clue:

i've been duped.

this is not a direct quote from the movie.

Seriously, if someone gets this, I retire.

Good luck. Not.

watcha' got

This is a tag from Andrea (sorry it took so long). I'm normally too lazy to answer a tag, but I posted this on my old vox blog to answer a bag challenge from Merillee, so I just copied. Funny thing is, this was done back in September, and I still have the exact same contents in my purse. Minus the formula. And I ate the snacks. And my yellow wallet broke. And I got a real phone.

1. The bag itself. Target special.
2. Pretzel sticks, nilla wafers, goldfish, graham bees. Variety is a crucial survival technique.
3. Xango check stub. I get $13 a month, not to mention I'm gonna live forever. If you have any questions about Xango, my mom would be glad to answer ALL of them.
4. Taggie.
5. My cell phone.
6. Ultrasound pictures of i'm not sure which kid.
7. Tylenol stash.
8. Hello yellow.
9. My favorite thing in there...a rattle Mandy gave Kacie. Love it.
10. Two toothbrushes, sealed.
11. Duh.
12. I'd like to pretend I keep track of my grocery totals at Kroger, but really, Joey eats it when I'm out of nilla wafers.
13. 8 oz. supply of Walmart brand baby formula. I know nothing of breast milk.
14. This is special. This is the pencil I used on my IKEA maiden voyage. I keep it close.
15. To name a few friends...Sting, Feist, Diamond Rio, The Weepies, Veggie Tales, Nickel Creek, Bon Jovi, The Fray, Hem, Wicked, Phish, Wilco; and my adapter.
16. STicky notes. To leave on peoples windsheilds.
17. Clorox wipes. Neccesary. Kids come with bacteria.
18. My sister Cassy bought me this lipgloss for Christmas. It's Prada. The tin says so.
19. It's a waffle. So what.
20. A picture of me and Jake (5 years ago) with my Grandpa in Canada.
21. Hottie mints. Because I'd like to be.
22. Dramamine. It causes marked drowsiness. Good times.
23. My shuttle. To take me far away.
24. Um, yeah.

don't talk back to darth vader

And we laughed...

Corrie and I found this Star Wars summary after watching the cutest rendition of Hey Jude, on Alice's blog...Thanks Ali....sooo funny.

Matlida Jane lovely

You may have seen this on designmom, but i have to repeat. I LOVE this skirt. With the striped leggings, and those pink converse. Oh, if my mind could come up with this. Matilda Jane.

Kacie loves this style. She doesn't know it yet.

oreo truffles

My sister's in town. And what do you do when you're sister's in town? Make yummy treats, duh.

We (she, I sewed...and took pictures) made the oreo truffles from bakerella. Easy. And oh...so...yummy. Just mix crushed up oreos with a block of soft cream cheese, then dip in chocolate. No kiding. So good.

speaking of old tee shirts...

I love this good thing from Martha.

Yes, it's a tee-shirt bag.

I may just make one to carry around the house. OH...wait...to carry my mail from the box back to the house. Oh that gets so stressful, I most definitely need a cool recycled tee-shirt bag for that. Good idea, martha.

20 dollars

When I was ten, my dad bribed me with $20 to learn to play the song Going Home on the piano. To play at his funeral. hmmm. I was ten, and it was $20; I didn't think about the dismal...ness of it at the time.

In fact, I don't often focus on the premise of my relationship with that song at all, because you just don't. Think about that. Until the challenge you gave yourself to record more memories of your childhood collides with the writing contest you like to use as an outlet of thought, that happens to be themed "Going Home" this month. I keep trying to forget about it...because I don't want to write about it. It's depressing. Not considered a "good read". But I had some moments of solitude, and that's when I started thinking more about my dad's song.

He's very sentimental.

I practiced that song with all the trip-to-the-mall anticipation I could muster; I remember clearly; I wanted a Swatch watch. The tune is carved permanently into the creative half of my brain. It finds its way out, and I hum it to myself. It makes me think about dad and well...home.

We moved around a bit, so there really isn't a place I justifiably call Home. Briarwood Place comes close. Colorado was good to me. I'm Canadian, so I guess I can count a country. Waterton, Chief Mountain, Dinosaur Ridge. Those are comfortable, and evoke familiarity. That's homeish, right? I equate the coveted title Home with the place I return to, where my most favorite memories wait for me, where comfort greets me, and where the people I love expect me.

His song makes sense then.

Going home, going home

I'm just going home

Quiet light, some still day

I'm just going home.

It's not far, just close by

Through an open door

Work all done, care laid by

Going to fear no more

Mother's there expecting me

Father's waiting, too

Lots of folk gathered there

All the friends I knew...

I gave my dad his $20 back when I was in college. I told him I appreciated his economic motivation techniques, but I'd rather not put that task in my bag of to-think-abouts. Of course, he stuck it back in my pocket and told me he loved me. I could give him his money back when he's home, he said.

Dad's retired now, lives in the naked countryside, and wakes up in the morning to manage his health and his thoughts. I wonder if he's thought about his song.

I hope not.

I'd like to hold onto my 20 dollars.

i love muddy buddies

I crave them. I need them. I am in love with them. I made a big bowl yesterday, and they're gone. Here's the recipe, if you don't have it already:

9 cups Chex® cereal (any variety)
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Melt together the chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter in the microwave. Add the vanilla. Pour over Chex cereal in a BIG bowl. Let your kids, if you're willing, stir and stir and stir, till the cereal is completely coated. Transfer the cereal into a gallon size plastic bag, and pour in the powdered sugar. Get your exercise and shake, and shake, and shake, get some hip action in there and shake. Add more powdered sugar if you want. Now eat. A lot.

revolution

I slept well last night, knowing there would be no little ants in my kitchen this morning. So you can imagine my...well...HORROR to flip on the lights with bagels on my mind and see tiny black specks feasting upon the crummy broom escapees of last nights dinner.

I hate them. I hate them all.

I growled a nasty growl, and went for my can of pretend Anthropod KIller...which I am angry with.

Dani was observing my rampage while making apple juice for her brothers. Once I sat back, with heavy breathing and an early morning masacre well done ...Dani says...

"Mom, those are probably scientist ants who came here to study cruelty of humans, but instead found a nice house who left snacks. Then you come along and destroy all their hopes, their dreams, and their research."

"I don't care what kind of ants they are. They're dead"

Jake pipes in..."Yeah. Now when Andy wants to watch Bug's Life, he can't, because you killed them all."

Dani..."No, Jake. They made the movie before mom murdered 'em."


She suggested we make a home for them in our garage...with food...and a tunnel. So they can be with their families.

Blah Blah Blah.

She was putting a face on my victims. No sir, little girl.

Dani passed the glasses of apple juice she had poured around the breakfast table, raised her glass and cried, "To the Ants!"

And they drank. United in a cause. For dirty anthropods.


I hope some of those creepy filthy home-wreckers survived to go tell their friends that Momma's comin'. Ooooh yeah.

They're shakin' in their little picnic wreckin' boots.

sweet victory

Best $2.68 I ever spent. Them varmits are done dead.

I feel no remorse.

i'm a winner, really.

You're looking at...well...imagine you're looking at an honest to goodness winner of something. Yes. I won. Something. sweet.

I am happy to announce, I was very carefully selected among a number of highly esteemed entries to win sewmamasew's Free Fabric Friday blog giveaway. They do this on Friday's...uh. This is a very prestigous award, and I am honored to be included.

It's a random drawing. I got lucky. I won a Flutterby Charm pack by Moda fabrics!

Go ahead, click here. That's my name. Truly, I wouldn't joke about something this serious. Me. A true winner. That's right.

shop confusion, project ideas

So I've spent all morning working on my Walton Feed order (food storage); lots of food equals lots of money. Ugh.

Figured that out, so I started trying to sort out the ambiguities of this whole shop thing. I'm sorry if you're confused. So am I. It started out just as a little idea to organize requests of friends, and friends of friends; and of course I can't do anything a little bit. I didn't expect anyone to pay much attention...but duh. I've got to be organized.

I've added sizes to most items. And I'm working on fabric choices. Right now it's just what I know I've got available to me, and I'll post those by the end of the day, hopefully. Time will allow me to buy a replenishable supply that will make it a lot easier to pick specifically what you want. Ooh, I'm excited about that. I also need a new sewing machine, and a serger. Yikes. lots of wants equals lots of money. At least I'll have food storage, eh?

I don't admit to knowing entirely what I'm doing. I promise it will be good quality stuff...I just need your help to figure out the good quality technical part. I've reached maximum brain capacity trying to figure out pricing, sizing, delivery of goods, fair representation, and so on. Please let me know if you see something wonky. I'm on a learning curve here.

***

Now for the fun part of my brain. I've got a load of projects building up in here, and they're going to explode. I took 2 trips to Hobby Lobby.

I bought these...

I'll show you what they turn into. Oh cute village people or something.

And Dani and I bought embroidery hoops...

He's still just an idea; not complete. He has so many possibilities, and a girlfriend, for the empty spots between the windows in Kacie's room.

And while I was washing the puke sheets from Friday, I came upon the shirt my sister Cassy made for Andy a couple years ago, which is too small for Andy, which cannot be passed down, which I need to immortalize, so we came up with this goody...

He preferred to be called "Little Andy Boy" in his youth. The years have matured him, and now he likes to refer to himself as "Andy Man" on occasion. I have a few more tee-shirts to hunt down to add to the new pillow obsession. It's amazing what kids can do with a bag of stuffing.


I've got 50 hundred other ideas trying to find their way. I've got to let go. Move on to more realistic duties.


Okay, this post is way too long. I'm off to do the budget, kill the ants, feed the kids, change the kids, take pictures of fabric, use my secret magic stash to conjure up some diapers, ant killer, and the post office would be nice. Pick up the other kids, figure out what to make for dinner, vaccum, empty garbages, all stages of laundry (desperation), finish a quiet book, learn how to make a sidebar picture a link, look for a place to order good tee-shirts to embroider, make a quick stop at designmom, and put a stop to the super long post. Eventually I'd like to go to bed. My favorite.

we're sick

seriously. puking. guts. out.

i'm parking it on the couch with a slushy, puke buckets for all, and bugs bunny.

argh, movie game

okay. fine.

congratulations, mia, it was batman begins. i love that movie.

argh because when I told Conan what my clue was I got a big wave of the arm and a "Get Rid of That One!", in a very loving way mind you. He knew right away. And apparently so did mia's brother-in-law, so...no boys allowed. that's my only hope.

Here's your prize. Email me with your address and i'll send it off.

maybe next week.

until then, watch the clip i am so excited about for The Dark Knight, due out this fall. I love Christian Bale...I mean...Conan you are so darn handsome and I could love no other as much as I adore you...I appreciate Christian Bale very much. Ever since Newsies. mmm. Love. Okay, I'll add a clip of that one, too, for those of you who haven't seen it. Because you should. Buy it for your kids, and watch it with them over and over.

movie game

Here we go. I've got a good one. I need a win, just so I can impress my husband that although he may be able to guess my movies, uh, seldomly, I can surely stump the handful of people from across the country who like to humor me! He'll think I'm so good. I promise my clues make good sense once someone's guessed it.

So here's the clue:

fearful childhood experiences lead to a life unexpected

Oh yeah...bring it on. Yo momma goes to movies. Word. uh...

maybe the trash talking will make you nervous.

If you haven't played before, you can make as many guesses as you want. The first person to get it right wins. If nobody does, I'll give another clue tomorrow. If nobody does again, I'll give one more on Saturday, three clues in total. Then I win. Don't be afraid.

I'll post a peek at the prize tomorrow.

so this is love...

I suppose she wakes up to birds pulling open her drapes, and making her bed, and has evil people telling her to make absolutely gorgeous treats I want to eat, and take beautiful pictures I want to devour; so she does her best, to survive.

Poor, poor bakerella.

relax, it's just a cookie.

Have you ever been cleaning up lunch and pop a piece of cookie left on the counter into your mouth, thinking it was yours...the last half of the last cookie you kept eye contact with all through the peanut butter and cheese cracker episode to make sure it wasn't pilfered by those...sweet...little hands, because you wanted one so badly that you put yourself through the screaming over who licks the mixer battle to make a batch that morning, then realized your hubby would appreciate taking some as refreshments for his training tonight, so you save most for him and divvy out the rest, ever so carefully, making sure there was one special, delicious chocolate chip morsel left for you, and upon seeing half of it was somehow STOLEN right from under you, you decide to let it go because you're trying to be a nice mom, and you had another half left, anyway, that you would save for a moment when you could treasure its goodness...alone...cleaning up...only to realize it had already been in the slobbery mouth of...another?

Huh. Me neither.

6 Little Behavior Problems You Shouldn't Ignore

I needed some...help...and found this article recently on Parents.com. Interesting.

According to the author, Pamela Kramer, here are 6 behaviors you should pay more attention to:

1. Interrupting
2. Playing Too Rough
3. Pretending Not to Hear You
4. Helping Himself to a Treat
5. Having a Little Attitude
6. Exaggerating the Truth

She gives reasons why you shouldn't ignore them, and ideas for how to stop the behavior. Seems a little obvious, but good advice.

My problem is consistency. I do really good for a couple days, once I'm on a crusade for something. Then I forget, or I'm too tired, etc. My kids know it, and they exploit it.

They're good kids, but yeah, I have to ask more than once. Duh.

the OK book

uh...it's awesome. I picked this one up off amazon, after browsing a bit. I just got it in the mail today, and I love it. Love. It.

If you go now, it's on sale for $5.99. I paid $12.99, not sure how I missed that.

It's an awesome lesson for kids, and adults, by Amy Krouse, with very simple, but lovely, illustrations by Tom Lichtenheld. It is fantastic for the perfectionist child, and adult, of which I am familiar.

The world is just full of things to do.

And it's fun to give them all a go.

But what if you're not good at everything you try?

What if you're just OK?

What then?

We're spending a little extra time with the book tonight.