I scream, U scream, We all scream for ICE CREAM!!!!!!

Alright, so I know this might be a weird way to end, but I thought that it would be fun and a little different. So here goes....I love ice cream! Honestly, who doesn't love ice cream?? There are a million different flavors to choose from, and a million different ways to eat it. There are the originals like vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry, but there are also some out of this world combinations like spaghetti and cheese ice cream. It's true, check it out ! This would not be something for me, but maybe you would find it appetizing. This just goes to show the infinite choices that are out there, which leads me to believe that everyone would love it.

I am probably a bit boring, but my absolute favorite is homemade vanilla ice cream! Not just the homemade vanilla from the store, but actual homemade. I love the taste, I love the texture, and it is the perfect addition to any summer day (the best is on the 4th of July). A very close 2nd is snow ice cream. It is very sweet, more the better, and it also has a good texture. If you can't tell I have a weird thing with texture. Anyway, those are my favorites.

I thought it would be fun to see what the most popular ice cream was in America. My guess was that vanilla would take the lead by far, but surprisingly a poll was taken in 2009 and chocolate was on top at 27%. Vanilla wasn't far though at 22% along with cookies and cream. There was 20% for butter pecan/swiss almond and finally mint chocolate chip came in at 17%. I was completely shocked that spaghetti and cheese didn't make the list...lol!

With summer just around the corner, I am sure we will all be having our fair share of ice cream. And if you are planing on having homemade vanilla, don't forget to call me!! I hope everyone has a fantastic break, and best of luck next semester! :)

Pets and their accesories

I was trying to find something different that was going on in my area of the world to blog about, and came up with this next blog due to a picture my grandma showed me of her dog. The dog was wearing a pink dress with matching bows, and of course a sparkly collar. I agree that it was adorable, but are some people starting to go too far with this doggie extravaganza.

I have to admit that I have been one of those people who have bought a doggie outfit and some accessories for my mom's little dog. What is bad is that it's a boy, but they were so cute! That is beside the point though. I think that some of this pampering is just fine, but I also came across some things that I thought were a bit over the top. For instance, this site sells everything needed for puppies and dogs, from clothes, dog dishes, and beds; it's a little overwhelming how many things there are for dogs. What is even more overwhelming are the price tags that are attached. I mean do pets really need several outfits that cost $50, and that is not including the accessories or the leash that you can buy for $80.

Another thing that has me a little confused is why some people actually spend money on a pet spa day. Our pets can now receive massages, get bathed with special shampoos, "socialize" with other pets while waiting on their personal stylist, and many others. In Summerville, Massachusets, Pet Spa is the name of one of these upscale Spas for dogs. They even have a pet boutique where they can shop for whatever their pet desires. Personally, I think that this is way too far. I believe in keeping your pet clean and taking them to the vet if needed. I also think that if you are away, a pet sitter is justifiable, but not a day at the spa.

I know that there are probably some of you out there that believe that this pet pampering is just fine, and I say if that is for you then go for it. For me, I think it's a little crazy. Either way it's everybody's personal preference and their is not going to be any way that their minds will be changed, and that goes for both sides. If you are quite fond of your pet, then here is a contest at cnn that you could enter them in.

Oh, and don't forget...Have your pet spayed and neutered! :)

Woohooo!!!!

It is finally here...the end of the semester! I am so excited to finally be finished with everything. This semester has been more of a struggle for me to get motivated than past semesters, so I decided to take the summer off. Hopefully I will be ready to roll when fall gets here, which is going to be a whole new experience in itself.

Ever since I first started taking my classes at MSSU, I have taken them online. Since I had a family to look after, I needed that convenience. Now I am getting into my education classes and I will be returning to campus. This leaves me with very mixed feelings; scared, nervous, exciting... I have not been in an actual classroom setting for 7 years! What should I expect walking back in, a 25 year old sitting in a class with a bunch of teeny boppers... lol. Yes, I can only imagine all of them looking at the "non trad" and laughing inside. What is she doing in here, shouldn't she be done by now?? Anyway, I am ready for the challenge. Bring it on!

What comes before the fall school year though? SUMMER!! I can't wait. My first exciting experience this summer will be taking place in Kaui, Hawaii, and it is going to take place in only 16 days. I have never been more ready. I am not going to lie...I already have some stuff packed and ready to go :) Yeah I know, a little early right. Better to be safe then sorry. My kids are excited as well. My oldest daughter has her count down going and she is anxiously awaiting.

The next exciting summer experience will be.....my backyard! I can't wait to just sit and relax while the kids are running around in the water. It sounds completely satisfying to me.

Of course with summer comes the 4th of July, which I love. There is always so much fun stuff to do all day long. There is also the trips to the ballpark, my kids are playing t-ball, and it's quite hysterical. Who knew that the entire team could go and get the ball when it is hit? Obviously our team knows this rule. Another great summer joy is the swimming pool. I am in hopes that my youngest will actually get in the water this year. It will make everything a little more enjoyable.

Well, I am sure that everyone else feels the same as I do. Just think, this time next week we will all be finished...at least for this semester :) I hope that you will have a great summer as well!!

Dead Man on Motorcycle

I don't know if any of you will agree with me at the end of this post, but I found this appalling. I found this at CNN. A 22 year old man had recently passed away, and for his funeral he was posed on his motorcycle...yes I said a dead man was placed on a motorcycle just like he was a statue. Some people might say that this is what he and his family wanted, but I find it too much. I think that there are some lines that should not be crossed, and this is one of them. This is not the first time that this same funeral home has done something to this effect. On another occasion they posed a man standing against a wall. This was completely up to the deceased and his family, but I think that maybe there needs to be some guidelines put into play. I just think that it is degrading.

Another thing that was talked about in this video was the different types of caskets that can be made according to what you want. I think that this might be a better choice if you are wanting something to help personalize your funeral, but there were some that were still questionable for me. I mean who wants to be buried in a coke bottle or a shoe...a little crazy if you ask me.

After watching this video, I was curious to see if there were other strange ways that people would choose to bury themselves. It turns up there are many. This site shows 8 unconventional ways to bury a deceased. From a few examples of turning the carbon from humans into a diamond ring or turning the carbon into a set of pencils, to turning their ashes into fireworks and shooting them off into the sky. I guess some people want to be creative, but this is just not for me.

So after watching and reading about this new information, I would like to know what everybody else thought about these different ways of celebrating someones life they lived here on earth. Do you agree or disagree? I think that it would be interesting to see all of the different responses.

Trash to Treasure

Yes I am posting this a little late but here it is. I am having a rummage sale tomorrow, May 1st, during the Seneca City Wide. Since the town has only one main street that goes through, I am sure you will be able to find me...lol. Anyway, I have a ton of little girl clothes from size 3 months up to size 6, and little boy clothes from size 3 months up to size 2. There are plenty of toys, a toddler bed, some high chairs (they need a little TLC, but still usable), and much more. In the spirit of this post I thought I would share some good things about turning someone else's junk into your treasure.

I like to find old things and make them new. I would love it even more if I had more time, but that is besides the point. My favorite is old furniture. You can do so much with a cool piece of furniture, some paint, and a few tools and accessories. I am getting ready to turn an old desk into a masterpiece for my daughter. Instead of spending $150 for a new one, I will only spend about $40, and it will be custom just for her. Now I am not an artist, so if you are thinking that you can't do something like this...you are wrong. It just takes a little practice, and most of the time I like my mess-ups more than what I had planned anyway.

If you are stuck on ideas, here are a few suggestions. This site has 6 ways to take things and use them as something else. My favorite is turning an old door into a table. You can even turn an old door into a picture holder, it's so cute. This site shows you how to use old license plate covers for magazine holders. They would be great for a boys room. Plus it is from HGTV, so what is not to love. This site is actually advertising their craft store, but you can get some good ideas at just looking. That is how I get a lot of my ideas by just looking at different pictures and putting them all together.

Now that your creative juices are flowing, get out there and make a masterpiece. Oh and don't forget to come tomorrow!! :)

My Opinion on Divorce ( I know this might be a touchy subject, but just remember that this is just my opinion)

One of my friends just recently went through a nasty divorce. It has been very hard on her and the kids. We all tell her that she will be okay in time, but we also know that these words won't heal the present. I thought that I would give a little bit of my own opinion on divorce, and also share some other things that I came across.

In my opinion, I think that divorce is way too easy now. I think that instead of people meaning what they say when their vows are spoken, instead they just speak them because that is what you do at your wedding. There are too many people with the mind set of, if this doesn't work out then we can just get a divorce. The percentage of marriages that end up in divorce in the United States is 54.8%. I think that this is very sad, especially compared to the many other countries listed. If you want to compare them check it out here. Maybe I am just old school, but I think that once you say I do, it should be for good.

I do believe there are some cases in which divorce could be an option. I don't believe that it should be made when a little stress starts coming into your marriage. Lets face it, everyone is going to have a little stress every once in a while. It is just our nature. This site states some really good ways in dealing with common stresses in a marriage: medical, financial, or psychological are a few. The best advice that I think can be given is how communication is key to a successful marriage. Don't just keep blaming each other. Talk about it and try to come up with the best solution. Like I said before, we are all selfish by nature, so learning to control this emotion will help in all areas of our life.

The worst thing that comes with divorce is how it hurts and destroys children. This has been true to every divorced family that I know personally. If a child is being mentally or physically abused, then I feel that divorce might be the only option. Other reasons for divorce, most of the time leave children feeling scared and confused. A lot of the times children feel like they are the reason for their parents splitting, when it is not at all. They can't understand why their family can't be together anymore.

I think that by reading this post, everyone knows where I stand on the topic of divorce. However, if divorce is going to be an option for you or someone that you know, and kids are involved, I hope that this site can help. There are some good tips that would help the children understand a little better.

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength.

Will this tunnel ever end??

Today I reminded myself of the extremely long tunnel that I am going through, and yes I am still at the beginning where the light is not in site. I am referring to how many more years that still need completed in order for me to receive my degree. Everyone keeps saying I will get there, and I know that I will, but my goodness it is taking forever! I wish that I had an easy button, anyone else feel the same way...lol. It has been going too slow though, so I thought that next semester I would take on a couple more classes. Even though I promised myself a break, I think a couple of summer classes would help as well. There are a couple that don' t sound too awful. The only thing that is keeping me going is the reward I will receive in the end...a wonderful job that I have always wanted and a chance to help out my family with a little more income.

My degree is in elementary education with an early childhood emphasis. I would love to be able to teach kindergarten. I think that it is a very rewarding job and I also feel that it is what I am geared for. I have never desired another career. I love every aspect of this job, except the pay. Does anyone else agree that teachers are not payed enough? I know that this subject is always talked about, but I do believe that it is a little low. If I remain in this area where I live now, my starting pay will be around $29,000 to $31,000 a year. Like most jobs, pay increases as the years go on. If I stay in this area the average pay would be $39,000 to $41,000 a year. This is not a bad salary, especially looking at all of the good incentives for becoming a teacher. The wonderful children in which you get to touch their lives, my summers off, great job for someone with their own children, and many more. I am not looking for a huge increase, but I do believe that as the economy starts to rise, teachers should get a little extra. I guess one thing I could do is move to Connecticut or Illinois...lol!

I guess to sum it all up, my career is at the end of a tunnel at which the light is not yet shining, and once I get there my pockets will still be empty :) Even though I agree with raising teacher salaries, money isn't everything. The way I am looking at it, if I had that little extra money, it would be gone as well. Money doesn't buy happiness, and even if a teacher's salary started at $15,000, I would probably still be pursuing my dream.

Teen/Child Bullies

I have heard a lot lately about teen bullying (Phoebe Prince), and I am a little two sided with how I feel. This article from CNN is about a 14 year old girl who is now hospitalized for emotional distress. This young girls mother said that her daughter was constantly being teased and ridiculed in front of friends and other students. She said that her grades went from honor roll to D's and F's. Her daughter told her that her life was nothing and would never be worth anything. This is when she decided to hospitalize her daughter.

The mother said that she went to school authorities but the situation was not taken care of. All they told her was that her daughter needed to go to a guidance counselor. This is where I get a little perturbed. If the mother is telling the truth, I believe the school did not take enough action. If they really believed that the daughter needed counseling, why didn't they set it up for her to have some sessions. By doing this, some of the problems might have been stopped. I believe that there probably were some things being done, but obviously not enough. I have a hard time believing that it is all of their fault though. Did the mother actually push hard for better control? There are a lot of loose ends that may not be answered, but now this young girl will probably always have some part of her thinking that she will never be good enough, all because of some young girls acting mean.

On the other side of this, I believe that some parents take this bullying excuse too far. Most kids are going to tease or bully, or be teased and bullied a few times in their life. I think that some people use this excuse as a make me feel better attitude, or to just get attention. Most schools and authorities have good control over little bullying, and if you have a problem then you can go to them with it. Most of the time it gets properly taken care of.

I think that this is an issue that needs to be taken care of, especially if a child starts showing signs of being constantly bullied. I know that I don't want my children to go through life being bullied all of the time. Now that it is a national issue, I think that more action will be taken place. I also believe that kids will be kids. A little bullying is going to happen in all of our lives. Lets just not let it get out of control.

My Wonderful Brother

Well, this week has been a little rough. Today marks one year after my brother passed away in a car accident. He was such a great guy and would help a stranger on the street if they needed it. He loved his family. Knowing that he is in a better place and that we will get to see him again helps us all get through the rough times. I thought that I might just talk about some of the things that I remember about my brother (Steven). I think that writing about him and remembering all of the fun times is a good way to ease the pain.

One thing I remember for some reason is how my brother and sister used to sneak into my room and watch WCW. You see, my mom told us we weren't supposed to watch it but we thought it was completely awesome, especially Steven. Usually the next day he was trying those moves on us while jumping on the trampoline. My sister and I didn't like it so much then. Another thing that we all loved doing was going to the creek. We would spend many summer weekends there. Steven would always find some way to entertain all of us. Steven also loved basketball. His favorite team was KU, yes I forgive him for this...lol, but he played all of the time. Due to his love for basketball and just trying crazy things, I always remember him having a broken bone or something hurting. (2 broken collar bone, 1 broken foot, one broken ankle, 1 broken arm, torn ACL, as many stitches as you can imagine, and who knows what else) I remember on one occasion he told my mom that his foot hurt pretty bad, but she just told him to walk it off. He walked it off for a week, still hurting, so they went to the doctor. Sure enough, it was broke. He was so accident prone. Steven also had a love for animals. His favorite animal ever was Reggie, a collie dog. Reggie was supposed to be for all of us when my parents bought him, but after about a month you could tell who his favorite was :) Besides Reggie, Steven had a couple more dogs, a few cats (just because he saved them when they were babies), a hamster, gerbils, many different lizards, and probably more that I just don' t remember.

I could go on and on, but there is just not enough time in the day. My brother was an amazing person and I was so blessed to have him in my life. I miss him so much, but I know that I will be seeing him again in a much better place than this. I can't wait to see his amazing smile again! I love you Steven, my sweet baby brother!

Car Seats

Right now, when you look in the back seat of my car, all you see are car seats. My 6 year old is in a booster seat which, is not that bad to get in and out of the car. It also doesn't require a lot of space. The other three are still in the forward facing harness style car seats. I love the safety of these car seats, but I will be excited the day I can toss them out. My four-year-old asked me the other day when she could get a big girl car seat, and I said she had to wait another year. But, then it dawned on me that I really didn't know the exact requirements for when to switch over to a booster seat, so I went online to check.

I thought that this would be a fairly easy process, but it turned out to be a little confusing. There are different guidelines for each state, and even then some information is not always the same. This page shows Missouri's rules for children and safety seats. I found it to be the most helpful. It states that all children, 8 years old or younger are to be in a child restraint system. In general, for a child to be safe in a booster seat, they need to be 4 years old, or more than 40 pounds. My daughter is 4, but hasn't quite hit the 40 pound mark yet so it looks like age 5 will be good for her.

I found it interesting the major differences in age groups amongst the states. You can see it more in depth here. Some examples though are Alabama. The age a child has to be restrained in a seat is age 6. On the other hand, Nebraska's required age is 18. As a parent I think that it is our responsibility to keep our children safe. We need to find the best fit, and make them use it until it is absolutely certain that they can use just a lap and shoulder belt. I know that I don't ever want to be the cause of my child getting injured just because I didn't buckle them properly.

My Babies are Growing Up

I never believed anyone when they used to say don't wish your life away. I used to always want to be just a year older, or just be able to drive, or just get out of school, or anything to make time go by faster. Now I completely understand what they were talking about. I wish that I could just take time and freeze it right now, just like it is. My youngest daughter will be 3 on Saturday, and if that isn't bad enough, my youngest will be 2 on May 1. For me, when they hit age 2 it seems like they want nothing to do with being little anymore. They won't let me just hold them and love on them when I want. It has to be on their time. They want more independence, but I am NOT ready to give in yet.

What is it about children that makes every mother cry, even if they are just writing a silly blog for their English class. I mean it, I am an emotional wreck right now. The keyboard looks like a swimming pool. In all seriousness though, what is it about women that tend to make us express our emotions more. I learned in my psychology class that men and women tend to feel the exact same emotions and in the same way, but men just don't express them in the same way. I think that this article explained a little bit about the way that our society forms men to believe that they need to act tough. If boys are raised to think this way, then they probably won't let their emotions show, in fear of the names they might get called. I hate to say it, but I even think this way. If I were to see a man crying, I would probably think that he wasn't as tough or strong as other men, even when I know that it's not the case. That is just how our society, and most societies are raised.

Women are also better at expressing empathy. We are able to put ourselves in the other person's shoes. Not only do we do this, but we express how our emotions feel with an outward action. Notice that I said at the beginning, expressing empathy. Men can put themselves in the same person's shoes, they just won't express it like women do. I find this research to be very interesting, especially since it completely makes since.

I feel that one important part of why I can express more emotions now, is for the simple fact of becoming a mother. I think that motherhood brings along an entire array of emotions, from happiness and joy, worry,feeling proud, and so many more. For all of the mothers reading this, here is a sweet story for you to read. It only takes a minute, but just be prepared with a tissue in hand. :)

Tomorrow, my daughter and I are going shopping for all things needed for her party on Saturday. It will be all about ladybugs and flowers, and I can't wait! I have learned to cherish every moment that we have with our children, because it only takes a day and it seems like they have grown too much. I encourage everyone parent to take a little extra time this week to spend with your children. It doesn't have to be much, just as long as you are together. I promise it will be a moment you will never forget! Don't be afraid to let your emotions go sometimes, it is good for us all. And yes, this is for you as well dad's (I know you checked out the story, and it brought a little tear or two).

I didn't want to leave the dad's out, so here you go.

Eating Tips

I have been doing a lot of late night studying and homework, and I have found myself wanting to eat while I am doing it. This is not good if you are like me and eating chocolate candies and drinking sweet tea, so I thought that I would post some websites that I found when trying to come up with a solution.

This one has 10 good tips for the college student. I love the popcorn suggestion...Great snack!

I found this article to be very interesting. My mother always told me not to eat late because it was bad for your health, and it would make you gain weight faster. This article helps to explain why this is could be true. Don't forget to check out the tips at the bottom of the page. What do you guys think about drinking a warm cup of lemon water or an herbal tea with raw honey??

I liked this one because it mentioned Ramen Noodles, which were my friends #1 food their freshman year. Did you know that one package contains 910 milligrams of salt? That is crazy

Hope some of these help! :)

Precious Moments and the love of Christ

Precious Moments held their Easter egg hunt today, with a lot of games and prizes to go along with it. Despite the rain, the kids still had a blast. There was a coloring contest, face painting, crafts, pictures with the Easter bunny, and much more. It was a day full of fun, but it also reminded me the importance of letting my children know what the true meaning of Easter actually is. I feel like too many times we get caught up in the fun and make-believe, and forget that if it wasn't for our Christ's death and Resurrection, we would have no faith or the greatest gift of all, salvation.

I thought that this would be a good time to share my beliefs and tell everyone what Christianity means to me. I grew up in a family that was pretty involved in our church. We went every Sunday and Wednesday. I loved G.A.'s and Bible Drills, but my favorite was summer camp. This was even more so when I was a little older, around 12 or so. It was just a part of our life, but at the time I really didn't have a close relationship with Christ. I believe that for true salvation I must confess that I am a sinner. I believe that Jesus died for me, and I believe that God raised him from the dead so that he could be my savior. I also feel that I have to have a personal relationship with Christ. When I was 8, I said a prayer and asked Jesus to come into my heart and into my life. I can't explain the type of feeling that I had, other than amazing! I was 8 but I can still remember the way I felt the day I was saved. I could not wait to tell everyone that I knew. I feel that it was this moment that Christ saved me and wiped away all of my sins, but I also feel that I lacked a close and personal relationship with him. There were many times, and still are many times, when I would fall away from the way that God wants me to live. High school was a hard time for me. I felt that my beliefs made me look awkward or not part of what was cool. This led to some hard years of not following the Lord, and also led me to make some wrong decisions. I also think that from these decisions I have come closer to Christ again. Recently, I have rededicated my life to the Lord. I want to live for him and spread his word the way that he wants me to. I also want my children to see a mother practice what she preaches.

It's a little hard to explain all of my feelings in a blog, but I think a good explanation would be trust in Jesus, believe and confess that he is Lord, and share all that you can with anyone and everyone. All people will fall and make mistakes, but when you have Jesus in your life you will be comforted and in the end receive eternal life. I hope that everyone has a wonderful Easter Sunday! If anyone would like to attend a church service on Sunday, we would love to see you at Buffalo Creek Baptist Church.

Cheerleading!!!!!!!

So this has been the week of cheerleading tryouts at the high school in my town. I went through high school cheering, and then my younger sister did as well. I thought the stresses of tryout week were over for a while, until my cousin informed me that she wanted to tryout this year. She will be a freshman, so now back to 4 more years of tryouts every April. This is not exactly a bad thing though, since I love cheerleading!

Like I mentioned before, tryouts can be a very stressful week. There are clinics every day and then it's back home that evening and practice some more. But...yet again it has paid off. She made it!!!! She was very excited, and so are we. Let's take a run down of all that happens during this fun yet crazy week.

The first day of clinics are jam packed. You learn a cheer, a dance, a chant, the fight song, and of course all of the girls names that you meet. All of this is on top of your own cheer and practicing on your jumps and tumbling. It sounds a little overwhelming, and it is to begin with, but that is what all the practice is for. Your muscles are sore and your body is aching, but you find some way to keep going.

The week is over, but the fun has just begun for my cousin. More friendships will begin, and a lifetime of memories have already started to evolve. Congratulations Samantha!! We love you and are very proud! :)

Teachers are Great!!

I have always had a passion for working with children. I have taught preschool in the past and my major is in elementary education, so I tend to favor teachers and what they do anyway. This semester I am favoring them even more. All of my teachers this semester have been very understanding and generous to say the least. Not only is Ms. Chism dropping the last paper, she is also extending paper 3. I was dreading taking my Eng 271 class because of what I had heard, but it turns out that it has been one of my favorites, and she as well has made changes in our favor. I get to drop a test in another class, and my fourth one is just interesting. I think that it is safe to say that I have been incredibly lucky so far, and a big THANKS to all!

I stated before that I loved teaching. I think that it is very rewarding when a child realizes that they can accomplish something new. I am so looking forward to the day that I can start being a part of this experience. For me, kindergarten is the grade that is most desirable to teach. My husband says that it is because I am a child at heart and that I can relate to them easily. As much as I hate to agree with him, it is probably the truth. I just think that it is amazing how much these young children can learn. It is such a transformation from the beginning of the school year to the end, and they actually want and love to learn. They haven't yet entered the I don't want to go to school faze.

I have to admit that another reason I think it would be great to be a teacher is the summer time off. I mean, who doesn't envy a teacher when they drive by on their way to work and Ms. Smith is loading up the car for a day of play. Ok, maybe Dr. Johnson who makes an extra digit, but that does not count...lol. Another reason it would be good for me to have summer's off is the fact that I have my own classroom of kids at home. It will be great not worrying about trying to find a babysitter all summer for the kiddos.

Overall, I feel that teaching is a great occupation, and for me it's the best. A long overdue Thank You goes out to all of the teachers who are ready to inspire our future generations!
Thank You!!!!!

Birthday Parties = Stress

The words birthday party and stress should always be used in the same sentence. Now don't get me wrong, I absolutely love birthday parties. I love to see the smiles on my kids' faces when it is their day, and I love how happy it makes them when they get to pick out everything they want to do for their party. They feel so grown up. I don't, however, like all of the stress that comes with planning the party. The link above is a great article on ways to help reduce stress. It first explains that it is best to prepare for the worst. The worst probably won't happen, but it is better to have prepared just in case. Then there are some great ideas on how to prepare effectively. One of my favorite ideas from this article was to limit the number of kids that come. One of the guidelines they used for this suggestion was to allow one child per each year of the child's age. I thought this was a great idea. This will be more cost effective and it will lessen the chaos.

Another stress that comes along with birthday parties is trying to find the perfect gift for your child. I have learned from experience that the most expensive or biggest present doesn't mean that it is going to be the best. Really take time to think about what your child loves to do. My daughter loves to write and draw. Anything with scissors, glue, colors, glitter, etc. is right up her alley. Her favorite present last year from her father and I was a giant coloring and activity book. We bought a few extra supplies so that she could come up with new creations, but the entire present only cost us $20. She still mentions how much she loves it. Another good gift is to have something personalized. My daughter received a pillowcase with her name embroidered on it and she loves it. Another idea we like to do is personalizing art supplies. They get excited when they see their name on the gift, which let's them realize that it is all about them on their special day. This is a good website for personalized gifts, but remember you can also do it yourself. We had a friend of ours make the name puzzle stool and it was much more cost effective. Just remember, the sky is the limit.

Another stress that comes with birthday parties is the clean up afterwards. Sometimes it seems like you are the only one left picking up the empty plates and sweeping the floors. One good suggestion is to have the kids help with the cleanup. Make it a game. Girls love to have princess parties, and who better to have as a character then Cinderella. Cinderella's mean stepsister's always made her clean everything. Tell the kids that she needs help. Bring out a large trash can so they can throw everything away. Have a few small brooms and mops out so that they can help with the floor. You will be surprised at how many kids actually like to clean when they think that it is a game. They also like rewards, so tell them that they get a prize fit for a princess when the mess is clean (this is a great time to hand out the party favor bags). For more Cinderella party ideas, visit this website. For boys, tell them that they are dinosaurs. They can pick up all the trash with those large claw hands you can find at the dollar store. This can be used as one of the party favors that they get to take home as well.

Hopefully this has helped ease some of the stress that comes along with throwing a birthday party. I know that I have found some great ideas! Good Luck!

Airplane tips cont....

Motion sickness was something that I was worried about. There a lot of things out there that can help with this. It is better for a child to be sucking during tAkeoff so giving a baby a bottle is good. A young child can chew gum or have a sucker. There are even suckers that have something in them to help with motion sickness.
After finding these websites, I am a little more prepared for this next adventure, but only our own experience will tell all. Hawaii here we come!

Airplane tips for children

I posted a thread last week and said that I was getting ready to go to Hawaii with four Kids and I needed some tips
for the airplane ride. Well I did some research and found some really good tips that I thought I would share with you. The first o e came from this website.http://babyproducts.about.com/od/travel/gr/CARES_harness.htm This website has a car seat harness made just for an airplane. It is very lightweight and easy to stuff into a carry on bag. I was so excited when I found this I went to buy it and then found out that it was $75.
For someone who travels frequently it would be great, but it is not for me. If only there was a less expensive version.

The next website that I found useful was this one.
http://www.travelwithyourkids.com/on-the-plane/motion-sicknesshttp://life.familyeducation.com/parenting/family-travel/45321.html This website had good ideas of how to keep your kids occupied. From what to bring and what to feed them there are many things to consider that I would have not thought of. I will be bringing the batteries needed for all games. I will also be bringing blankets since it is very cold. Another thing that was mentioned was the usual coloring books, activities, and crayons. The unique way to store these things were what amazed me. It's great!

The last website that was helpful was this one. http://www.travelwithyourkids.com/on-the-plane/motion-sickness

Well I am so excited about the gift that Ms Chism gave us, but I am not so exxcited about posting my entire blog on an iPhone. I am completely serious. I am sitting at buffalo wild wings with my husband and doing homework. The downside of this is how hard it is to type 500 words on the smallest keyboard ever. It is very distracting and taking up a lot more time. The upside is that I am getting it done and it is helping me to realize the importAnce of not waiting until the last minute. Which leads me to my next topic of getting blogs done before Friday from now on.

I have not been good at getting these blogs done until the last minute on Friday. It wasn't that big of an issue for me because my
mind set was if I don't get it done it won't matter. Well now it does since there is an incentive, and trust me I do not want to do the last research paper. I would rather have extra time to study for tests that are harder for me.

I will definitely post my blogs before I have to post them with the iPhone. Let's talk about the iPhone for a while. When my husband first Asked I'd I wanted one, I told him no. Now that he has one I wish that I would have said yes. It has been a good investment. We have been able to find restauraunts when we were out of town. We have been able to get directions when we were lost. It is also nice to keep the kids occupied while waiting. They love to play the games. I have to admit that I catch myself playing the games as well. Most importantly, I have been able to post a blog when I thought there was no hope.

Take my advice, Holly is not kidding when she says to get things done ahead of time and give yourself a break. I am taking her suggestions and I hope that you do the same. Thank you Holly Chism for the great gift, and let's get these blogs rolling.

Forecast = Bright + Sunny

Can I just say... I LoVe ThIs WeAtHeR!!! I am so excited about being able to walk outside and not having to wear a coat. No more starting the car 10 min before I have to leave. This feels great! Lets just hope that it is here to stay.

Warm weather just brings out the best in people, or that is what I think. In the last couple of days, since it has been nice outside, I have had more people call just to say hey. More people have had smiles on their faces. It has just been a very pleasant experience. I can also now wash my car and not worry about the nasty snowy mess getting back on it by the time I get back home. Don't forget about the kids getting to play outside, and the husband getting to go outside and start the yard work. Yes, I did say "get" to. I just love it.

Another reason I am loving this warm weather, is the fact that it means just one step closer to the trip to Hawaii! I can't wait, it's going to be soooo much fun. My kids have not yet been to a beach and I am super excited that they are going to get to experience that. The plane ride, on the other hand, might be a different story. If anyone has ideas on things to bring on a plane for 4 kids under the age of 6, PLEASE post. We will see how it goes.

Warm weather also means summer, which means I get to take a break from school. I usually don't mind taking a couple of summer classes, but for some reason I am needing a break this time. During this break there will be a lot of laying back and relaxing. It might be by the pool, it might be in my backyard, but wherever it is I will be doing just that.

I suppose that everyone has probably heard enough of how much I love warmer weather. How much do you love it?

Kids and Television

Do kids watch too much tv? I know its an old issue, but I think that it's a good one. So exactly how much is too much? According to this website, children under 2 should not watch any television and children 2 and over need only 1 to 2 hours a day. I think that 2 hours a day is a good number to go by, although I have to admit that I let my children watch about 3-4 hours of television as of right now. It's cold outside, I am doing schoolwork, and all the toys and games in the house just seem to be too boring I guess. I have given in to this easy substitution, and after I get done writing this I am taking the kids out to play. I feel guilty for letting them watch this much television, and not playing with them. Honestly, they are only little once and the chance that they will want to play with me in a few years is slim to none.

Another reason I feel guilty for letting them watch this much tv, is the fact that it is not healthy. It has been shown that kids who watch too much tv are more at risk to become overweight. They don't want to get up and do the physical activities that will keep them healthy. This website shares some good ideas on things to do with your children other than watching television. Be creative, and your child will love whatever it is you are doing. It is new and exciting for them. One of the things that my children love to do on an inside day is play with shaving cream. They get to spread it all over the table and draw in it. It is a great way to teach shapes and letters, and also helps them to learn to write their name. They don't know that they are learning all of these things, they just think that it is fun. Clean up is easy too, because they like to do it. Give them a couple of paper towels and let them go. Your job just got easier.
Watching too much tv takes place of the other important things that they could be doing. Reading and using their imaginations is much more important.

Older children like to watch tv also, and it might be harder to try and get them to not watch a show that they just think that they have to see. Set some guidelines. If they want to watch a certain show, let them watch it, but let them know that they have a time limit. When they make it to the limit, the tv goes off. It is also not good to put a tv in a child's bedroom. It is not easy for a parent to regulate how much they are watching if it is in their room. There are some other good guidelines to follow here.

I know that I have been guilty of letting my children watch too much tv here lately, but we are getting out of that rut today. Let's keep our children healthy. Anyway, deep down everyone knows that they love to play princess and castles or dungeons and dragons, no matter how old they really are.

I have been on a health kick for a while now, and I am actually starting to like the results. Not only is the weight control great, but I also seem to have more energy throughout the day. While starting this new way of life, I have learned that fast food is a major hurdle for many people. I don't eat out a lot, but since I have started watching the fats and sugars, there is no way that I could eat as much fast food as I used to, knowing what I would be consuming. I don't believe that it is entirely one person's fault. It's not just the fast food chain for super sizing every meal and making proportions larger than needed. It's not just the person eating out every day for lunch just for convenience, and super sizing it just because you can. I do believe that it is these two things together though, that are making our country so unhealthy.

McDonald's is a very convenient place to stop when you are in a hurry, but this might change your mind when choosing your lunch menu. On the nutrition list for McDonald's, one Big Mac has 540 calories. That is just the sandwich, not the meal. Most people would add fries (medium = 380) and a soft drink (medium coke = 210). That is 1130 calories. For most females the suggested daily calorie intake is 1200, so good luck starving the rest of the day.

Most people argue that there is nothing else to eat when you work from 9 to 5 and only get a 30 min lunch. I would have to disagree. Don't forget the bring your own lunch option. This website had some great ideas. Also remember that when you pack your own lunch, you get to control what goes in and on everything. Try all grain breads for sandwiches or pitas. I love to eat big salads and try new veggies for toppings. There are so many options you can choose from, it's amazing.

It is also cost efficient if you bring your own lunch. On average a lunch cost between $5 and $10 when eating out. If you bring it from home you can choose things you already have. Use leftovers or make something new with them. Remember that reusable containers are always nice to use. You are saving money and making a healthier lifestyle.

There will be days that an eat out lunch or a fast food restaurant will be needed, but just remember to be smart. America is becoming very unhealthy and I believe that this is a major part in helping to slow this process down.

Angels on earth

I have always been the girl who wanted to have a lot of children. I can remember playing house with my sister, and I would always have to have at least 3 babies. I think that a lot of this comes with growing up in a large family with a lot of kids. My mom and dad had 3 children, we had 15 cousins, and we all got together for any occasion. I guess you could say it was always a full house. Well, I think that my wish was granted. I married into a loving family, who has plenty of children to love, but the best gift of all are my own children.

My oldest daughter, Taigan Alexis, is 6. She just started kindergarten this year, and I am convinced she is the smartest child ever (yes, I am a little partial...lol!). In all honesty though, she is very smart, loves anything that is school related, writes poems and songs, and loves to do anything that is creative, such as drawing, painting, or playing with clay. She says that she wants to be a teacher when she grows up, and I know that she will make a great one! She also loves to dance, cheer, and do gymnastics. If it is girly, count her in. Whatever she does it has to be the best.

Next in line is my 4 year old, Tailey Zane. She has an imagination like no other. She can turn cereal boxes and food cans into a beautiful castle that is fit for a queen. She loves to play make believe and her favorite movies are The Chronicles of Narnia, go figure. She also loves to dance and cheer, but definitely has some athleticism about her. She can take her daddy in a wrestling match any day, and likes to play catch outside. She also likes to play school, and loves learning anything new and challenging.

My final baby girl, Tailor Nicole, is 2, but acts like she is 6. With her older sister's doing everything that big girls do, of course she has to follow. I feel like she has grown up way to fast. She is definitely a sweetie, but don't let that fool you, she can take up for herself anytime. She loves to talk, especially if it's on the phone. If there is makeup around, it will be on her face in less than a minute, and would wear a tutu and a crown everyday if I let her.

Last but not least, is my 1 year old son, Bowden Blaine. He is by far the king of the house. If he wants it he gets it. The girls will do anything for him, and he has definitely figured this out. He is all boy! I find it amazing how different it is to raise a boy, after I have had 3 girls. He loves cars, tractors, dirt, rocks, mud, pretty much anything that will make you dirty and destroy. He is also a lover and a big mommas boy. He could give a million kisses a day, and he does.

I feel like my children are angels on earth. There are times that get frustrating, but all of the other moments make up for those times. I am ready to take on this journey of raising my children the way that God has intended. Sure there will be times that we fall, but that will only make us all stronger and help us to learn from those mistakes. I absolutely love my children with all that have, and every moment I share with them makes me love them even more!

My husband and I are having ourselves a mini-vacation. We are in Columbia until Sunday watching my brother-in-law wrestle at the state championships, and we managed to leave the house with no kids. This is why we are declaring this a vacation. So far it has been great, but there is one thing that I would like to talk about. On the way to Columbia, I realized how mean drivers can be to one another if something doesn't go their way. I also realized how harmful it could be to others and yourself. Road rage is a very bad thing!

I know, you are probably thinking that I am just screaming at you for committing this act of wrong doing, but I am truthful when I say that when I point a finger at you, I have 3 pointing back to me. I am just as guilty or more than you are, but the fact is, we really need to hold off all bad feelings on the road. At this site, road rage is described as a display of aggression by a driver that sometimes leads to a physical assault. When I first saw this I thought that it was a little extreme, but I looked at some statistics and found out that over a period of 6 years there were 10,037 reported instances of road rage. Out of these instances, 12,610 were injured and 218 men, women, and children were known to be murdered. These numbers blew my mind!

Most of us think of road rage as being little things that people do to others when they are mad at something they did. Some examples include: profanity, hand gestures, speeding up or slowing down. These all seem like they are harmless, but what happens when they get out of hand. A car could run off the road and hurt or even kill someone. This makes it sound a lot more dangerous, don't you think. This site has some good suggestions on how to overcome the urge to have road rage. They include, concentrate on just driving, make sure you give yourself enough time to get to your destination, and drive the speed limit. It also gives good information on what to do if you are confronted with someone who has road rage. They suggest that you just let them by. Don't give in to their pressure and do not make eye contact. This will let the reckless driver by and away from you.

Everyone has a little road rage every once in a while, but controlling it will help lead to safer drivers. If you want to report any drivers who have displayed road rage you can visit this site for more information. Drive Safely!!

Surgery or not??

Congenital heart disease is a defect of the heart that occurs before birth. It is actually a pretty common occurrence. Statistics show that 8-10 out of every 1,000 children are born with some kind of defect, although most of those are usually not caught at birth. To diagnose a defect, a doctor must first hear a heart murmur. A murmur is the sound of your heart beating at an abnormal pace. If the doctor feels that you need further tests, you will be sent to a specialist. Some of the tests that are done include an echocardiogram, chest x-ray, MRI, cardiac catheterization, and an EKG. After these tests are done the specialist will be able to explain what kind of defect you have. Defects range from very mild to some being pretty extreme. The one that I am going to talk about is an ASD (Atrial Septal Defect). If you would like to find out about the others also, click here.

An ASD is a hole in the wall that separates or divides the heart. When a normal heart operates, blood going through the right atrium,which is the top portion of the heart, is low in oxygen. This blood then flows through to the right ventricle, which is on the bottom portion of the heart. Then it travels to the lungs and becomes rich in oxygen. It then goes to the left atrium and then the left ventricle, where it is pumped to the rest of the body. The heart contains a wall between the two atria which is called an atrium septrum. When a person is diagnosed with an ASD, they have a hole in that wall. This causes the oxygen rich blood to pour into the atrium with the poor oxygenated blood. This makes the blood flow that goes to the lungs increase.

Most children who are diagnosed with this will not have any symptoms, and in time the hole will close on its own. Some children who have larger holes that will not repair themselves may need to undergo a procedure to have it closed. If the hole is not closed it may cause problems later in life, such as abnormal heart beat and the ability the heart can pump the blood. There is also an increased risk for a stroke. Most of the time the hole can be closed by putting a catheter into the blood vessel that leads to the heart and placing an implant at the hole that closes it.

So, now that you have read all about what an ASD is, I can explain why I want to know everything that I can about this defect. My daughter was born with 3 holes in her heart. As most parents would be, I was horrified at the thought of this. We followed through with the checkups and the tests. She sees the specialist every 6 months. At her third checkup, she was a year old, and one of the holes had completely closed on its own. This was a GREAT day! She still had 2 but one had gotten smaller. She will be 3 in April and she still has the 2 holes. One is very small, but the other is still pretty large. I am glad that science has come a long way to create a simple procedure, but it is still a procedure, and there are always risks. I am still hanging on to hope, and I hope that a miracle can happen. If a surgery has to be performed, I will put all of my trust in God, and know that it has to be done for my daughter to live a healthy life as an adult.

Not enough time in a day.....

Do you ever feel like the days just keep getting faster and faster? I keep telling myself that there will be more time, or if I can just get this done first then I can work on completing the other. This is definitely how this week has felt for me, and today was by far the worst. I mean, it is already 11:45 on Friday and I am just now writing my first post of the week.

I woke up this morning with bright plans ahead to catch up on all of my homework. The oldest is off to school and her siblings are fed. Off to a great start right....not hardly. I think that I have been in homework denial all week, and today was not an exception. My husband decided to take the day off, so he wanted to sleep in. That sounded pretty good to me too. Thank goodness for big beds because after breakfast my husband, three kids, and I all decided to climb back in and pop in a movie. An hour passes and kids are ready to play, so we all crawl slowly out of bed (again). I log on to the computer and find myself checking my mail, updating a status, and looking at the next weather forecast. I have yet to open blackboard. I get a knock at the door and someone is here to pick up some furniture they bought from me. Yay! I finally get to clear this stuff out of my house. We talk for a while and then load it into the car. I look at the clock and decide that it is definitely time I need to get started on homework, but wait...now the kids are getting hungry again. So off to the kitchen to make lunch. While I am in the kitchen, I realize that the laundry is piled a little too high. I have to get the laundry done, because with 4 kids and a husband there is never time for a break in laundry. I load the washer and start folding when I hear another knock at the door. It was my best friend from high school. Another Yay!!!! I haven't talked to her in a while, so of course we sat for 2 hours and did nothing but catch up, and yes she gets to go on vacation in 2 days while I am stuck here. Anyway, she had to leave and I had more laundry, and then the phone rang. My daughter's designated after school driver, whom I thank every day for picking up my daughter for me so I don't have to get the little ones out, called to ask if I could pick her and her son up today. Well, of course I can because she does it for me every day. I needed to pick up a few things from the store for dinner anyway. So the kids are picked up and I am back at home when I realize that I forgot to go to the store. It's a good thing my husband took off work. I finally finish the laundry and get dinner started when my baby sister walks in. Yes, another Yay!!! She has not been over in a month, and that is forever for us. Then I remember why she is there. I told her I would go to the game with her tonight, and I can't tell her no, so back to town we go. Three hours later I find myself back at home with a chapter to read in biology with a quiz due, a short story I still haven't read, 3 tapes of psych to watch, and 2 blog posts that I haven't started. On top of it all, I find out that the tests I thought that were in 2 weeks are actually in less than 1.

I think that I have learned a HUGE lesson this week on procrastination. Never again will I let myself get this far behind, ever! It was very stressful and double the effort. Hopefully I can get caught up and enjoy the time I have left over to spend it with my babies. Like I said before, the days keep getting faster and faster, even if you are on top your game.

Freezing, Frigid, Cold......No More!

There are several people in my life that enjoy this blustery cold weather, but I am not one of them! I can't wait for the sun to be shining down on a 70 degree day. Don't get me wrong, I love to go skiing in Colorado where it is cold, but that is just it, I get to leave! There it is a vacation, here it is a pain in the you know what.

I bet you have guessed already that this is an I hate cold weather rant, so here goes. The first thing that I hate about cold weather is the depressing feeling that I get. It just brings down my mood. I also don't like the fact that I can't just go somewhere when I want. This is talking about the ice and snow. If I want to go to the store, I can't. I have to wait for someone to clear the way, and speaking of someone clearing the way, my husband has to do that. So, not only is it nasty cold outside, but my husband can't be at home with me because he is pushing the stuff off the roads. Wow, I just realized that I really don't like cold weather...lol!

Another thing that cold weather brings is a bigger me. Yes, I don't like that I can sit and eat all day and not even know that I am doing it. When it's time to get on the scale there are 5 pounds added and I can't figure out how. Then I think of all the many times I was just eating here and there to pass time, because I can't go outside to do anything due to Jack Frost. This also means that the kiddos can't go outside either, so their energy gets so bottled up that they explode. They also believe that every toy in the house has to be drug out. I think that little girls wake up every morning and decide that they are going to try and get out more barbies and more clothes and more food and more makeup and..............you get the picture. Cold weather just brings out more toys in the house, which leads to more work for me in the end.

I could probably go on and on about other things that I dread about cold weather, but I think that I might need a longer day for that. Snow is beautiful (in Colorado), but here at home I just want those days that are nice and sunny. I am so ready for that. So goodbye cold nasty winter and hello summer.......wherever you are!

Slowing Down School Lunch

Well, I started off this semester with reading some blogs that others have posted. I came across Samantha's blog about school lunches not providing the correct nutrients and calorie intake. It was a great article and it spiked my interest in another topic that I am concerned about when it comes to school lunches. Are our students allowed enough time to sit down and eat their lunches? My oldest daughter just started kindergarten and she enjoys taking her lunch every once in a while, but every time she brings her lunch box back home it would still have food in it. I would ask her why she only ate half of her sandwich, or why she didn't even touch her grapes (which by the way are her favorite). She would always respond by saying I didn't have enough time. When she tells me that she doesn't have time to eat her lunch, I wonder if she is getting the healthy nutrition that she needs? So back to the question at hand, do students have enough time to eat their lunch?

I found this article that asked this same question. Cardiologist Dr. Agatston believes that having a real sit-down meal at lunch will help improve a child's health and eating habits. In this article he explains that having a sit-down meal at school is a great learning opportunity for the children. Some people are still optimistic though. They argue that our kids are becoming more obese, so do they need more time to stuff food in their mouths? Dr. Agatston explains that many kids are malnourished, whether they be heavy, thin, or middle weight. He says that it is do to the bad eating habits that they obtain. I would have to agree with this, since just because a thin child is thin, it doesn't mean that he/she is being fed the proper foods. Another point that I found interesting about this article was the effect that children have on their parents. They gave the example of showing children the stop smoking campaigns at school, and then the children coming home and throwing away their parent's cigarettes. This is so true, because I used to do it to my grandma. I would throw them away or hide them because I was taught that they were bad at school. So won't this apply to the way children are taught to eat at school also? Maybe they can influence their family to have more family table time, that in return could help everyone's eating habits.

While I was researching this topic, I came across another article in The Washington Post that was a different take on more time for lunches. The author, Jay Mathews, brought up that children are starting to fall behind and need to catch up. He also brought up the issue of making school days longer to fulfill this, which is a whole other issue that we won't get into right now. Where would the budget be for this, and who wants to do this? Anyway, he came up with the idea to create longer lunch periods, not for the sit-down experience, but to add a reading period within it. This is a complete opposite view of what I talked about above. He even suggested taking away hot lunches and serve box lunches. I would have to completely disagree with this. Children need a variety of healthy foods in their life. There is still the argument that schools are not providing all healthy foods, but the food administration is working on coming up with higher quality, nutritious meals. I also don't want my child to eat a pb & j and potato chips every day. He went on further to say that the lunch room was not even needed. They could just stay at their desk and be served the box lunch. If they wanted to eat they could, if not they could read a book. Again, I would have to disagree. I think that the student needs that break. They need that social time to spend with their peers. In my opinion, I feel that this does help children realize the importance of sitting down at a table to eat, and that it is not okay to eat in front of the tv or in their room, which is another cause of unhealthy eating habits and lifestyle described in another article I found here.

Overall, I feel that schools need to allow children enough time to eat their lunch, so that they can live healthy and perform well in school. I also believe that it should be a real sit-down experience. There may be many different ways to achieve this, so I say find the best for your school and go with it.