What is the breakfast of champions?

It is cold...and a good day for Coco Wheats! Does that send you on a trip down memory lane?
I bought a box of Coco Wheats and Cream of Wheat...hoping to add some more variety to our breakfast choices. The three amigoes have collectively refused the oatmeal option lately. How many pancakes and waffles and french toast will they consume before they turn their nose up at those choices? And how many bottles of syrup will each of them consume in a year? That can't be good!? Eggs...that is like a swear word to them! sigh But given the choice of cereal...now that is an award winner! I know you are thinking of all the sugar varieties...but no! We are a Cheerios, Rice Krispies, corn Chex, or rice Chex loving family! They like to mix the choices and if there are some frosted flakes to add to the mix...all the better! Daddy "fixed" Teddy cereal one time the way Daddy eats his cereal...now the boy won't eat anything that is not 2 to 3 varieties mixed! (Reminds me of stays with Gram...she mixed the remains of different cereals into her Tupperware container...her "conglomeration" never appealed to me and still doesn't to this day!) I have to accept that my breakfast choices won't always appeal to my children either! So hence, the search is on for more offerings to make "the most important meal of the day" more appealing and helpful to their little bodies and brains. The battle comes whenever something new and different is presented...they "automatically don't like it" before they try it! Is this the way to start out a day? I think not!
So goes this mother's ever-growing list of questions, thoughts, plans, frustrations...

Snow...again!?

All this snow has melted in the last two days...now the wind has changed and is bringing with it... winter...again. What else should I expect? It is January!
We are still waiting for the fever to subside and sleep to return to the ailing child. The make-up work continues to stack up! A snow day would help ease that load!
We are thankful for our nice warm house and fuzzy blankets! Our poor Daddy will still be required to go out and about in the wintery mix...we know he will make it home to us...because he has a plow and 4-wheel drive!

Progress takes time! (2 days! Wow!)

Hint...wet
Hint...three parts to this area

Hint...tear up to build
Hint...will be in the basement
Hardly any mess! Thanks guys! This project fueled by Pepsi!

Sickness takes down one...is this round 3?

How comfortable can she get? Ash is down with a high fever and cold that settled in her eyes on Saturday. She and I stayed in yesterday, and now again today...tomorrow isn't looking good either! The eye is better but the fever still lingers...now the coughing has begun.
I am sad, this means I miss my class this morning! (One of the reasons I hate to commit to or join anything at this point and time in my life! I have to be a mother...first!)

Friday night's favorite game...for now

Maybe he chose the wrong profession! Mr. Steady Hands wins again!
Keep the hand back, Ash! No cheating!
The apple doesn't fall far from the tree! Left-handed, four-year old, Teddy keeps a steady hand!
It is a perfect life for a dog..."king of the couch"!

Can you guess what is going to happen here?

My laundry area in the basement is getting an over-haul! What that means to me? Get rid of the junk and make way for a mess! Fun!

Just how cold is it?

-25 degrees wind chill...! Actual temp 1 degree. Coffee is flowing through my veins, I have three layers on, I cranked the heat up a little, I washed my dishes in very warm water, I am wearing my slippers, and I still can't get warm! The only other option is to crawl in bed and turn the electric blanket on, but that won't do...I have to go pick up the girls from school...again.
So far, today, the van has spent 20 minutes in warm up time!
The CD player read "error" this morning and wouldn't play...I took the cd out and warmed it in my hands...it finally played!
You know it is cold when things that usually go... won't!

Celebrating the girl's "unbirthdays"

Since the girls have summer birthdays, each teacher allows them to celebrate at their half birthday or whenever they choose...so we chose January...take a bitterly cold day and make it a little bit more fun!!! Alisa's choice for her unbirthday treat for school...monkey faces. What could be better? Rice krispie treats, chocolate, vanilla wafers, and M&Ms!
Ashlynn chose the dirt cups, but wasn't super crazy about putting worms in it...so I layed them on top! Both these ideas came from our Cooking With Kids Cookbook...fun things to do!!!

Snow Day Fun

Makeup fun...Ashlynn fixed herself up as a "beautiful lady".
Alisa made herself to be the "scary lady". She still has traces of black and red smudges today, even after a soak in the tub and a good scrubbing!
Teddy wanted "war paint" on so he could look like a "mean Chief Hallowasa"...ensemble complete with headdress made by him!
We kept a busy schedule and entertained a variety of "celebrities" during our snow day! I had fun helping as needed and "doing my own thing"! Everyone got an "Satisfactory" in "plays well with others" today!!!

Hip-Hip-Hooray An Unexpected Snow Day!

School work being done before 9:00am! Maybe teaching her sister will help Ash learn it better!

It is a good thing we checked the temp for the day...before we got dressed...because we saw "School Closings" scroll across the TV screen! What?! (Remember, there are Minnesota and Michigan snow "toughnesses" here!) Anyway, we cheered and Daddy grumbled something about "it is just not right" as he geared up to go clean his vehicle off and leave for work. Now for a shocking truth...I did not go back to bed! I was already savoring my first cup of coffee and was fully awake (if you ask Ted, he would say otherwise!)..."so let's be productive"! Here I sit...blog hopping and drinking my coffee...children playing happily...enjoying the morning news show (which I don't normally get to watch!)...in my pjs! Ted's challenge to us today...see if we can be dressed in clothes by noon! Well, so far, no one is really interested in taking time to do that...oops, no, Ash is "dressed and playing school!" As to the rest of us...we shall see! Now, Teddy is begging for breakfast. So...it is time to do my motherly duty! Have a cozy-kind-of-day!

Second round of class...

but with a different teacher and different moves. I think I can do it...eventually...and keep in time and on the right/left of any body part that is supposed to move right/left at said time. I feel good after our 45 min. of class. The kids enjoyed the play areas today, as there is no school...ah, a break from the routine...naps are sure to follow on this Monday!

A REASON TO COME HOME!

This is for you sis

My goal in life is to be like my sis! So...today...I went to the Y with my mother-in-law and attended an aerobics class. It is a good thing I couldn't see Mom's face because I would have been laughing too hard to even move! So Mar, you can keep your fancier classes...I will stick with the low impact stuff so I won't hurt myself! Can you say coordination-less? I feel pretty good after the work-out...except for the bruised ego and head-ache from concentrating so hard! Then I went for a much needed hair cut...trim...that ended to be a drastic change in hairstyle...but I like it ok. Never talk to a beautician who is wielding a razor comb...enough said. She also offered that the eyebrow wax was on sale...guess I looked like I needed the extra help! So I said that would be great...what kind of idiot am I? (a coordination-less one!) That hurt...alot! But, my, isn't the arch nice? (I think she also used the razor comb to thin those out too!) Finally, I came home and showered and dressed to go pick up children...and made sure I had on my fine accessories! I would see Ted and needed to present the new hairstyle well.
So...sis...do I look as put together as you do?

"Mom, look, I have three lips!"

Does this remind you of anyone? Winter...chapped lips...licking lips...ouch!

Playing with shadows

"Sometimes you are just so busy trying to get things done that..."

usually that puts a person on the defensive, right!? It does me. Or it starts the list of reasons why it is that way. But it is the truth...and I was reminded of that yesterday... thankfully before...it was pointed out to me...so I was not defensive, but agreeable!
Teddy and I started out the day with a list of errands...he is usually pretty easy going about days that we have a list...especially since his tummy was full of pancakes and sausage today. We were on a mission to get things done before having to pick up our K5er. At the third stop...he was starting to lose interest in our goal and began entertaining himself...as boys often do! I was walking ahead of the cart...pulling and looking and reaching...and was having difficulty...I looked back to see said helper hanging from the shopping cart dragging his legs and feet (the grocery store floor, aisle 6, got a good cleaning!) "Son, please, I can't pull the cart when you do that...come on, let's finish." "But Mom, I am a trailer...the cart has to have a trailer..." "But I can't pull the cart when you do that...can't you help me?" "Mom, I am helping...I have to be the trailer, you are the driver." The cashier was laughing...and I just had to deal with it...
As I related the story to Ted...he pointed out that I need to take time to enjoy those moments...even when you are busy...because there will come a day when he won't be with you to "help you and keep you company".
Today...on the way home from dropping off the girls, Teddy asked, "Mom, do we have to go the the store today?" "No, bud, we are going home." "Good!"

Friday Night Was Family Night...Complete With Pizza and Games

Games galore...rules? what for?...laughter and shouting...Fun!
Daddy helping Teddy to lay down some of his matches...so he could "Go Fish!"
The noise level in our house had to exceed the "safe zone" in decibel measures...and it wasn't me! or Ted! Who thought a simple evening of pizza and games could bring so much excitement?
Goofy kids!
A serious moment as Teddy decides what color to go for...and who to ask! Every person he chose had a description...."My very best Daddy who takes me plowing...", "My very best Mommy who cooks good food...", "My favorite 6 year old sister who rides a big blue bike...", and so on...EVERY SINGLE TURN HE HAD! I was able to capture what he said about Alisa...it may take a few listens...they had had an altercation earlier in the day that involved biting...he apologizes in his choice...

You need to pause the music to hear clearly.

A lot of thought (and time) goes into choosing someone...

Finally!

Thanks for all the prayer and sympathy! I finally feel like a functioning human being again...maybe because I was able to sleep! The incessant coughing has died down and the headache has subsided. Last night during our devotion time, Ashlynn prayed that I would feel better and that I wouldn't cough so much that my voice would sound all "ucky" and that I would be able to sleep...from her lips to God's ears! How sweet to listen to her "talk to her Heavenly Father" in simple faith and honesty!

A Fun Time With Mommy

Isn't she adorable?! While they pile on the sled...we are piled on the couch! It is no fun to sled in mud!

A Fun Treat For Lunch...Chocolate Fondue

Alisa's recipe book had this yummy treat in it and she begged for us to make it...mmm! Heat whipping cream (or milk) and pour over chocolate chips. Stir till melted. Serve with anything that is good dipped in chocolate!
"Hey, Mom, this is how dirty, filthy pigs eat!" Uh, son, you are not a pig! "But I can eat like one!" Uh, no, because pigs don't live in houses! "But this one does!" You are...done...now...go wash your face!

January Reprieve Is Over...

the cold and snow are due to move back in this afternoon. What a nice break to have warm weather...50s...and 60 one day! All the snow is gone...going out and about made easier! I think our house is the only one in our neighborhood...or town for that matter, that still has the cozy look and feel of winter...our trees are still up and my snowmen are still scattered all around. This snowflake suncatcher hangs in my kitchen window...my souvenier from Mom and Dad's trip out to Idaho last year...it is so pretty day or night! So we will bundle up in our blankets once again and turn on the tea kettle for hot chocolate and wait to see how much snow will come !

New Year Resolution

Get rid of this nasty respiratory...cold...flu...virus...whatever it is and try to stay well for more than a week at a time! This is the second or third go-a-round with this junk!
So much for putting my whole self into organizing and ordering our life again and putting away all the Christmas decor. All I have managed to do so far is cope with the school routine and keep the kitchen clutter to a minimum...
Green tea, Vitamin C, Tylenol Cold...day and night time, fluids galore, Nyquil, enough cough drops to make a person gag...and not enough quality sleep...or appetite for healthy home-cooked meals...we'll see what tomorrow brings!

Daddy won the prize for the "best gift" idea!

The Snowman That Wasn't...Or Short Attention Spans

A Snowball Spat...(never made it to a fight!)

A Few of My Favorite Things...Mari's Pick!

Click on the picture to enlarge. We are all in the midst of enjoying the gifts that were given to us for Christmas. The kids are playing and crafting and leaving me alone (for the most part!) to enjoy my gifts. I had fun opening this package from my sis. While you look, you have to sing the song "My Favorite Things" from the Sound of Music...only Mari changed the words...(I still say she needs to create a blogspot!) I have a cute shirt and skirt. I smell good. I have beautiful lashes and lids. I have fun pieces to make cards with. I have gained three extra pounds from the bag of yummy truffles...I have only eaten three, but they are rich! One New Year's Resolution that I will not participate in...giving up chocolate! I will ration, but I will not give it up!

Just Another Ordinary Winter Day

Since I was out most of yesterday, it seemed like a good idea to stay in today. I went to the mall by myself and spent a gift card and bought new pjs...dare I mention I am still in them at this posting hour...with slippers and sweatshirt! BRRR...
Scents of my new candle from Mom and Dad waft through the air...
Along with shouts of glee as the two pukers...now well...play happily together. Ash is out and about with Grandma...
And I am having a productive day making cards...thank you cards, friendship cards, and etc. I am also keeping an eye on the laundry...it amazes me how it multiplies in just a matter of hours. The above pic of Teddy represents his third change of clothes today...Why? Because he can? (And no, we don't live in the southern part of the country! He is just nuts...at least he still has his socks on!)

And more snow...

We added more snow to our collection over the New Year's holiday...the only problem...it is too cold today to go out and enjoy it! And the fact that two out of the three have gotten sick in the last 24 hours...again! Ted and I had a little break last night as all kids stayed elsewhere...we slept uninterrupted, but Grandma and Auntie didn't! I guess we start 2008 with the same sick germs that we ended 2007...thankfully, school doesn't start till Monday...maybe by then we will be 100% healthy!