the sock war

when you live in a place that's too warm for snowball fights and forts, you improvise. Tonight for the Family Home Evening activity, my boys (husband included, of course) built forts inside the house and had a "sock war".

After all was said and done, we found socks in the high chair, in between books on the shelf and hiding inside the branches in the Christmas tree. They used every pair of socks in the house.... While brushing their teeth, I overheard one of them say, "that was better than camping & watersliding at Cherry Hill!" which means, it was pretty darn fun.

the year without candy

When I was in high school, my dad paid me $100 to go an entire year without candy. I did it, but it was incredibly hard. Ben and Luke heard about the challenge and asked if they could take the challenge for $100. We said "ABSOLUTELY" not thinking they would actually be able to make it. Turns out, we were wrong. In fact, they were so good at not eating any candy, that halfway into the month of January, they asked us how much more we would pay them if they went without candy AND desserts. I told them we would pay them $150 each. They shook on it. As parents, we were completely dumbfounded.

For six months, these darling boys went without candy, cookies, ice cream, cake, & brownies. They didn't even blink when it was in front of them. It wasn't difficult for them, but it was SO hard to "celebrate" as a family when they couldn't fully celebrate with us. We were so proud of them, but kind of annoyed at the same time. When July hit (and we knew they were going to stick to the challenge until the end of the year) Aaron sat down with them and told them they HAD to eat desserts. It sounds completely crazy now that I am typing it out, but that's what happened. Aaron was willing to STILL pay them $150 at the end of the year.... as long as they went the entire 12 months without candy.... but desserts were re-introduced on Ben's birthday (July 4th).

Halloween Day was the ONLY exception. They ate candy on that day and that day only. They were sick by 8 PM. When December arrived, these darling (determined) boys asked if they could get their money early so they could buy Christmas presents for their family members. I thought it was so sweet and ran to the bank to get out their cash. They were paid on December 10th. They paid their tithing, and carefully budgeted out their money for gifts. They were indeed generous and so excited about what they got each other. (I will have to explain what they got each other & their reactions when they opened their gifts later.... so cute!)

Do I believe they were honest during this challenge? Of course. I trust them 100%. Luke came to us on a Sunday afternoon in March sometime last year. He was crying. His primary teacher had given them Starburts for answering right answers to questions during the lesson... and Luke accidentally ate three-- completely forgetting about the challenge. He felt SO bad, mainly because he'd let Ben down (they were going to do this together, after all.) Aaron and I were so pleased with his confession and his disappointment in himself that we gave him a second chance. He committed to the rest of the year and said he'd never forget again. We told Ben he could have a pass too and Ben laughed at us and said, "No way. I don't need it." They are so cute! It is a privilege being their mother.

Inspired by his older brothers, Zack continues to challenge himself to go without candy. He always says he can go a month. The longest he's ever gone is 10 days. And THAT is quite an accomplishment for our little 6 year old. I love that Ben and Luke's example rubs off on their siblings.

mumbo bumbo

Simon spent his first few months in a pink bumbo because it was given to us for free. (see pictures here)

Roma will be spending her first few months in a blue one.... because I found a blue one at a garage sale for $2 - and have since given away the pink bumbo to someone else. Who woulda thought I would have ever get a little girl???

I realize this will probably screw up my children FOREVER, but we are trying to break gender color stereotypes in this house.

She loves being in the bumbo. No bouncy seat seat for her -- she wants to be sitting up, looking around and in the middle of the chaos. She is my girl.

Boy Scouts fundraiser....

So, several months ago, my husband and I bought 50 cards for my boys to do a fundraiser for Cub Scouts.. and well, we only sold a few. We had great intentions, but these darn cards have been sitting in my office for a LOOONG time and they are a thorn in my side. I literally scringe every time I see the envelop because I know it's something we should do, but we just never get around to it. I blame it on the pregnancy & new baby, but really we've just been total slackers.

Anyway, here is the original post.

The cards are $5 each... and they offer discouts literally THOUSANDS of local and national businesses. Each card will give you a log-on # to activate your membership and then you can browse businesses that are closest to your home... these are NOT just customers in Vegas... I looked up my parent's zip code and found 1521 discounts close to their home... it doesn't have to be a local purchase! (If you want to browse the discounts before you buy, I will email you a username and password.)

I haven't had the time to look through everything this card offers, but some of my favorites are:

• 50% off total purchase at Papa John's. My fave pizza joint eva.
• Buy one get one (either food or drink) at Tropical Smoothie Cafe.
• Free sandwiches at Port of Subs, Quiznos, Subway, Sonic, Blimpie, & hundreds of other fast food joints...
• Free loaf of bread at Great Harvest (with purchase of two).

Hotel discounts, car repair, Target, bowling alleys, eye exams, carpet cleaning, museums, beauty supplies, you name it.

Again the card is ONLY $5 and unlike a coupon book, you can use the discounts over and over and over... Who wouldn't want one? If you don't live in the Vegas area, we will mail them to you... free of charge. Discounts are valid until 3/31/2012.

Any takers?

**Last night we used our card at Papa Johns for 50% off our order. And I think the cashier messed up so he gave us 50% of their special prices.... so we walked away with 2 large pizzas for $9. That is cheaper than Little Caesars and the pizza is oh-so much better. Anyway... let me know. We can easily do the $5 transaction over the internet. You will go to a website and enter your zip code to see the discounts in you area.

the best years? really?

Last night Aaron called me on his way home from work, like he always does. And like always, he asked me if I needed anything. Usually I say, "NO! Just get home as soon as possible." But yesterday I needed milk, in a big way. I told him to get four gallons. A friend was at our house when I told him to get four gallons and she kind of freaked out. But she has two girls, little ones. I told her that she would understand if she had a houseful of strapping boys.

While Aaron was in the checkout lane with four gallons of milk, he noticed that the man in front of him looked a lot like Albus Dumbledore. And apparently, he was invading my husband's personal space. Aaron wondered if Dumbledore was going to ask him for some spare change because 1) he smelled like he was homeless and 2) he kept looking at Aaron, then back in his cart, then at Aaron again. Finally Dumbledore spoke, but he didn't ask for any money. He said, "Let me guess.... 3 boys and 2 girls." Aaron was impressed and admitted, "I do have 5 kids, but it's 4 boys and 1 girl." Dumbledore smiled and said, "Just remember, these are the best years--- even when they are the worst, they are the best. Before you know it, your children will be grown. These are the BEST years."

I find this incident particularly interesting, not just because I was saying the other day about how these days AREN'T the best days.... but because yesterday was an especially hard day, maybe one of my worst. I could go into details about why it was so bad, but instead I will show you a picture.

Simon and Zack got into a big, bloody fight. and Simon came out on top. The short story is that we wrapped Christmas presents, which is never a good idea with a toddler in the house. After two hours of wrapping (only a handful of presents) Simon wanted to unwrap them all. Zack appointed himself as the wrapping paper police and wouldn't let Simon near the presents. Several minor arguments broke out, and I made Simon sit in time-out. After two minutes of "cooling off" Simon was ready to apologize to Zack. He walked up to him put his arms around his neck and BIT him in the jaw. When I finally pried Simon off, there was lots of blood, but thankfully no chunks of flesh missing from Zack's face.

Some days are harder than others, but EVERYDAY is exhausting. Our family has been through lots of changes these past few months... new school, new job, new baby. I know we will all adjust soon enough, but sometimes I go to bed feeling grateful that we all survived another day.

This morning I received an email from my mom who lives thousands of miles away in Chile. I was feeding the baby before I had to start my day and I read the email from my phone. I giggled out loud and want to share a portion of it:

"Hope you are getting enough rest, Janet. I just read a message on your Facebook page about finding the pacifier in your hair. I smiled, but didn't laugh because I remember how that feels. You wonder how you even make it through the night, don't you think? When Kevin was a few months old, I woke up one night and I couldn't remember if I was a little girl living on the farm, a teenager in high school, or if I was married. I looked around and finally figured out where I was and that there was a baby crying. But I pictured a lot of houses in my mind before I got the right one. I guess you might as well laugh, because, step by step, you will make it through!! Just hang on! It's all worth it in the end! Love you, Mom"

I laughed because every night when I wake up to Roma's crying, I think she is a baby boy. And EVERY night, I have the same conversation with myself about how I have a baby girl... and every night I wonder why I can't remember that she's a she and not a he. But never have I wondered if I was a little girl or high school, so I must be getting a little more sleep than my mom was! I could literally hear her voice saying those words to me. My mother has always been such a positive source of energy in my life. She survived raising ten children (Kevin was #9) and if she could do it, I can too! She has never told me that these years with little kids are the best years of your life. I think saying "it's worth it" is so much more encouraging than saying it's the BEST... because honestly, I just don't buy it, Dumbledore. I just don't buy it. I am an optimist, but I am not an idiot.

ps. this post is a couple of days old. I started writing it on Tuesday morning... then wrote another paragraph or two yesterday... and finally 48 hours later, I was able to finish it. If it's choppy and hard to understand, I blame it on the fact that I haven't gotten much sleep lately. And the fact that I have a 10 year old, an 8 year old, a 5 year old, a naughty 2 year old and a newborn.