We Love Our Books!

Cora (7 yrs) is devouring biographies. I hope her school library is ready! She loves learning "facts" about famous people. She memorizes their birth and death dates (if applicable). Her two pics for the week: Dr. Suess and Elvis Presley! I couldn't be more pleased...again, though I'm pleased, this is self-initiated. A little secret is that I have always loved biographies.

And, we've learned about "figures of speech". We had to clarify that Elvis did not actually "set the world on fire" with his music.  Unfortanately, I also must go back and revisit some facts. She is quizzing me. 

Oberlee (6 yrs) can't get enough of her kids human body books. Her newest fave is "The Human Body Encyclopedia". It's beyond me, but I love it. Her favorite things to learn about are they eyes, bones, and blood! 

August (2yrs) is loving the "Biscuit Books". They have the imbedded flaps with surprises and follows the life and times of the sweet puppy, Biscuit. He's into puppies and can't get enough of them! 

Miss Eliza (7 mo) loves to play with books and try to eat them. But, I enjoy reading to her and she seems to listen attentively. With her brother, we like to read "Haiku BAby". It gives a haiku for each season and the illustrations are wonderful. We are trying to start her early on the journey of reading and hope she will follow in the footsteps of her siblings who all LOVE reading time. Especially when mom and dad read with them. 

"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself, any direction you choose."

Dr. Seuss

Leave the Mess! A List...

To all that say "leave the mess, enjoy the kids", I have a list:

1. You must not have to get up at 6 am to get kids ready and had to sift through unfolded laundry to find outfits, accompanied by a seven-year-old fashion melt down.

2. You must like to have toys strewn about the house, then step on a Lego sending your whole body into excruciating pain.

3. You must not like to have a place to sit when company comes over.

4. You must enjoy when your bare feet stick to the floors because your toddler goes on a "spilling frenzy".

5. You must like dirty bathrooms that you never get to clean because you are too busy picking up the mess in front of your eyes.

6. You must enjoy dishes piled in the kitchen because you were playing with your kids after dinner instead of cleaning the kitchen. 

7. You must love dirty glass doors with muddy handprints. It's cute and nostalgic, but what about when you finally get around to wiping them? It's a lot harder. 

8. You must love a messy car that has no bottom to it.

9. You must have a better way of coping with environmental chaos and I would like some pointers on that. 

10. You must have a full-time housekeeper.

Maybe I'm OCD, but is there not a balance? Maybe I'm just the product of a mother who kept an impeccable house. How do you have a clean house and happy kids, and time for yourself...not "time for yourself to clean"? Because the truth is - I DO NOT like to clean but I love a clean house. Lazy, huh? I'm working on it. But I would much rather take the kids somewhere fun, read books with them, and make art projects with them, than clean.

Daily maintenance and giving out responsibilities to kids seems to really work. But you have to start them early and be patient with the mess while you are training them. That's the only solution that seems to work. I must confess...I like a clean house! No judgements to any who have an unclean house, I do not have one either. But I long for the day that everything is in its proper place and clean. Sadly, it will probably be when my children have moved out, into their own houses, that will most likely be just as messy, and I'll smile at them, hug them, and say, "you'll get there"...just like my sweet mama does with me. 

Top Ten Places We've Found Molly

1. Working the front desk of the historic Natchez Eola Hotel in Mississippi.

2. Being held by the man who ran over her. (She was fine).

3. In the back of a police car wearing a Christmas t-shirt.

4. On a "found dog" poster.

5. Memorial Park in Bentoville, Arkansas.

6. #4 Lakeside Dr.

7. Front desk of the animal shelter.

8. Driving by in the back of a Jeep Cherokee.

9. Downtown Bentonville square.

10. Her house.

Our poodle since 2001.

Top Ten Games That Require Your Brain But Won't Make It Hurt!

Click on titles for game description.

1. Settlers of Catan (and all expansions)
I can't get enough of this game and love to teach it to any willing participants. I can't wait to teach it to my kids!

2. Pit
It gets your blood pumping and exercises your vocal cords. The vintage orange one is best.

3. Risk
A true all-nighter game that is imbedded with so many lessons on life and world domination.

4. Probe
One word - ADDICTIVE

5. Forbidden Island
The game where everyone is a team and you are competing against the fate of the game. Teamwork is the word.

6. Logo
Just plain fun, funny, and fabulous

7. Rook
My husband and I need some Rook partners if anyone is game. And, we play with the Red One!

8. Nertz
So many good memories about playing this game with dear friends. A multi-player kind of game. It's a blood pumper too.

9. Scattergories
This one is my personal favorite. If you get bored of their categories, just make up your own.

10. Memory
No description necessary - everyone knows this one. It's a childhood favorite that I am teaching my own children. We prefer the vintage 1980's edition for the pictures.

My Son Likes Eggs as a Pizza

Farm Frittata

Some fresh farm eggs
Little milk
Sea Salt
Oregano
Ground pepper
Asiago cheese
(all scrambled)

Chopped bell pepper, onion, tomato
All made in frittata style. Cut it like a pizza and Voila! Happy boy!

Ingredients were traded locally at Red Hat Farms in Bentonville, Arkansas.

Ten Things I Haven't Missed About Cable TV

1. Any episode of House Hunters.

2. Feeling guilty for watching the Kardashians.

3. Commercials for Yaz lawsuits.

4. The Zombie Apocalypse.

5. People singing, dancing, or throwing knives that want me to text affirmation of their talent.

6. Being constantly reminded that my kids want Stompeez and a Glow Pillow.

7. TV shows about TV shows.

8. Being hungry while watching The Food Network.

9. Deciding what not to watch.

10. The bill.

A Constantly Revised List of Things My Parents Never Told Me About Being A Parent

1. You'll want to spoil them but not want them to be spoilt.

2. You'll always be in a constant state of nostalgia.

3. Patience is not a virtue like they say. It is an acquired skill.

4. You'll spend a lot of time losing and trying to match socks.

5. Unconditional love is real. Because your kids WILL grate on your nerves. Possibly a lot.

6. Things like eating and bathing in peace will be priceless luxuries.

7. Shopping for clothes moves to the kids section. Even if you have the money, you rarely have the time or the strength to shop for yourself.

8. The best stain removers and diaper rash creams will be more precious than gold.

9. Children are actually people...they have minds and wills of their own which may or may not go along with yours.

10. It's a job that you will never retire.

11. You can't get time back. So be diligent in spending it.

(I'm sure I will continue to add to and revise this list)

Traveling With A Family of Six: 10 Reasons to Always Have Plastic Bags

1. The Catfish King in Mt. Pleasant, Texas doesn't have real Catfish King hushpuppies.

2. Vomit.

3. Splash Parks are easier than baths.

4. Because hotels don't use trash bags anymore.

5. Swimming until check out time.

6. Diapers always happen.

7. Sacks for sacks of empty snacks.

8. You have to have somewhere to hide the toy you just took away.

9. Glass bottles need extra padding. Even in the ice chest.

10. You never know when someone might give you cucumbers.

Five Road Food Rules

Now that we are a family of six, I've gotten more stingy with how much I am willing to spend on road food. I call fast food "road food" by the way. I know fast food is so bad for us and even worse for the children. But, you're on the road, it's mealtime, hungry kids are whining, and you see McDonalds on the horizon. It's inevitable. We are going to eat road food from time to time.

What made me start making road food rules was when we got our $27 ticket at that said McDonalds. We all got some sort of individualized meal that was marketed so well on the menu. They make it all seem like it's a value and you are getting a deal if you buy the value meals. Well advertising is a beast and should not be trusted in the face of a hungry consumer. Especially one with screaming kids. I want to just throw money at them by that point. "Take everything I have, just give me food and give it to me quick!" But it was getting expensive. I was spending just as much at that McDonalds as I did at our family's favorite Mexican resturaunt. I needed a better plan of attack. If I'm spending $27, I don't want it to be for bad road food that's fast and full of all the stuff we don't want in our bodies. It is not worth it. So, after some trial runs I made up some road food rules. I thought I would share just in case any other families happen to find themselves at one of these fast food places on the road (you know you will)!

1. Ditch the happy meal/ kids meal system. Unless its truly cost efficient, don't bring another plastic toy into your life! And those pre-sliced apples that never go brown scare me. How are they preserved?

2. Split the value meals. Not everyone may want or need the large fries or the soda. Also, think about it from the standpoint of portion control. We truly don't need that big of an order of French fries do we? Not for one person.

3. Use the value or the dollar menu. It's bad food. Might as well be cheap. Don't buy a $7 salad from a road food place! Buy the dollar hamburger and move on. Eat healthy at home or at a place where the salads are good and worth $7.

4. Order water as much as possible and not the sodas. Especially for the kids. My kids don't even know sodas are available at these places. You can stop at a gas station and get a much cheaper soda if needed. (Unless its a Sonic soda which I can't resist at happy hour).

5. Stick to the classics. You'll find that the tried and true items on the menu that have been on there for a long time are usually the cheapest and the safest bet that they will be at least edible.

Here's an example of how my family of six ate at McDonald's for $9. (Really it was five because we are not including the infant who is still nursing).

I ordered my husband and I cheeseburgers from the dollar menu. I ordered my oldest daughter (age 7) a hamburger (plain with mustard) from the dollar menu. I ordered the 10 piece chicken nuggets value meal for my middle daughter (age 6) and son (22 months) to split. I ordered an extra dollar menu fries. My middle daughter doesn't like fries so I split the small fries between my son and oldest daughter. My husband and I split the larger fries and one of us got the soda that came with the meal. The rest got water to drink. Everyone was happy and satisfied. And it kept us all until we could take the time to make and eat some real food (at home later on). Now it took a few times to break the kids of their needs for happy meals, etc. But, the easiest way I did this was not going through the drive thru. My husband lets me out and I say, "I'm going in to get our food and I know what everyone likes". And be done with it. No room for whining. That's easiest when you have both parents on board at the time. It takes some getting used to either way for the kids but they get over it. It's not life or death. In the end, my road food rules have made these places less desirable for everyone which was my goal. Even if you are not on a budget like me, or even if you don't have as many kids as me, do you really want to spend that much for road food that's not going to make you feel very well afterwards anyway?

Stay tuned and I'll soon tell you how we order at real restaurants with our children to keep it cheap. I'm still perfecting that one.

Ashley