What a week! Ramblings...

I seem to be meeting myself coming and going. I signed up to be room mom for Doodlebug's Second grade class. Ignorance is bliss for only so long! I procrastinated too much and it caught up to me. I had to get a letter and party planned last night for next Thursday's Christmas party so I could send the letter home with the students today. Fortunately, Mrs. G gave me the name of an experienced room mom so I would know what to do. I am just going to copy her. Snugglebug was a good sport while I made copies and things to go in the folder. We also checked the ABC bags for Ticklebug's Kindergarten class like we do every Friday.

Snugglebug is hanging out with a new sitter while I type this. I am off to clean the bathrooms and a multitude of other things before my brother gets here tonight. It's weird how I am actually looking forward to being able to clean uninterrupted. It's kinda sick and pathetic.

Well, on that note, off I go to make my bathrooms sparkle. Gotta love that Method cleaner, Basic H and Barkeeper's Friend.

Works-For-Me-Wednesday-- Kids in the kitchen

I have implemented a new rule at our house. "No Work, No Eat". I finally had had enough of me doing all the work to get food on the table. So in order for that to happen I had to make things accessible for the little buggers in the kitchen and pantry.

A friend of mine who is a single mom of now grown kids told me how she rearranged the kitchen to make it possible for her kids to be more independent. I followed her advice and I moved all the kid sized plates, cups, bowls down to a low cupboard and put my crockpot and other stuff on the cupboard above the counter. I left the regular breakable plates and glasses up high. The silverware is already in a low drawer so that wasn't a problem. In the pantry I moved the cereal, breakfast food, and snack foods down on the lowest shelves.

As a result of the above changes, my kids can now serve themselves and others drinks and food. They can get a bowl of cereal for breakfast with minimum help and they help get everything out for dinner. Doodlebug is 7 and usually pours the drinks. Ticklebug is five and usually get the napkins and silverware. Snugglebug is 2 and she gets the plates out. They can get their own snacks and help pack their own lunches.

No only can they help with meal related things, but also they can now unload the dishwasher because anything that is plastic is within their reach. No more excuses!

I don't feel like a slave anymore and they are learning how to count the correct number of items, gauge how much liquid the cup will hold, and how to work together as a team to get the job done.

I realize the above is possibly a no-brainer but you know how easy it is as a mom to miss the obvious. It's not like we don't have anything on our minds!

For other great WFMW ideas head on over to Shannon at Rocks in My Dryer.

Our Littlest Angel...

I'm still too busy laughing to write much... Got any good captions for me?

Praise Baby music and DVDs...

Check out these music DVDs especially if you are looking for a last minute gift for a little bugger in your life. You know how fascinated little ones are with looking at other babies. What a combination-- real life kiddos and praise music. For example, Joy to the World DVD.

Check it out!

Neighbor Bugs...

This is normal.

This is not normal.

Flickbug, Ticklebug, Soccerbug, Doodlebug

Boomama's Souptacular Carnival...

Following Boomama's rules of "it must be hearty" I am going with a chili recipe I got years ago. I like it because the sausage jazzes it up and I can cook it on the stove quickly or in the Crockpot all day.

We like to eat it with corn chips and lots of shredded cheese. I personally like sour cream as well but I am alone in that preference in our household.

Heartwarming Chili

1 pound ground beef
1 pound ground pork

1 medium onion, chopped

1/2 cup chopped green pepper

1-1/2--2.0 cups of water

1 can (15oz) tomato sauce

1 can (15oz) pinto beans, rinsed and drained

1 can (14.5oz) diced tomatoes, UNdrained

1 envelope chili seasoning mix

1/4 teaspoon garlic salt

In a large saucepan or Dutch oven, cook beef, pork, onion and green pepper over medium heat until meat is no longer pink and vegetables are tender; drain.

Add all other ingredients except for toppings. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, until heated through. Garnish as desired.

8-10 servings if you don't use big servings. Adjust water as needed to reach desired thickness.

***** Head on over to Boomama's for other great hearty soups. No wimps allowed!*****

Works-For-Me Wednesday: The What-Do-I-Fix? Edition

It was 5 o'clock, and the little buggers said they were hungry --over and over and over and over and over. The cupboards were bare. BUT this day, the day you had planned to take Kroger by storm, you ended up running Junior's lunch to him at school instead of getting groceries. You also took Sue to see the doctor because she coughed all night. You then stopped by the pharmacy, just making it home in time to lay your cranky two-year-old down for the afternoon nap. There was no time to shop.

The best solution to this problem that I have encountered was from a wonderful friend and neighbor, BestBug. Our usual 5 p.m. conversation goes something like this:

BB: "Do you have dinner planned yet?"
MB: "Uh, no. Do you?"
BB: " No, haven't even thought about it."
MB: "Wanna order pizza together? I have a buy-one-get-one-free coupon."

Little did I know that this time the conversation would go something like this:

BB: "Do you have dinner planned yet?"
MB: "Uh, no."
BB: "Here's a gallon of homemade vegetable soup. "

Only a stupid person would say "no thanks, I'll order pizza again". I am not stupid! I took that soup and RAN.

Unfortunately, if you don't have a BestBug in your life, you may have to settle for a 'popcorn night'. We pop loads of popcorn and cut up fruit, veggies, cheese, or whatever we have on hand and watch a movie.

Have you ever been a BestBug to someone and shared your dinner with them? Try it sometime. Knock their socks off with an unexpected dinner offer. You'll make their night!

Head on over to Shannon at Rocks in My Dryer for other awesome last minute ideas!

Quote of the Day...

This is what you would have heard had you been a crumb on the floor of our minivan after I had picked Snugglebug up from Preschool.

MB: Tell me about your day.

SB: Normal, that's normal.

MB: You had a normal day?

SB: yes, normal

I usually get good, fine or silence from the back seat. Today I got a little variety.

She is not even THREE yet. Where does she get this stuff? Guess it comes from having older siblings.

Calvin and Hobbes

I introduced Doodlebug and Ticklebug to Calvin and Hobbes this weekend. DB can read it and TB is having fun looking at the pictures when there is no one to read it to him.

Ticklebug likes the ones in which Calvin pretends he is a spaceman. Doodlebug likes the "gross" ones as she puts it. Basically, the ones involving toilets, bugs, worms, vomiting and general "potty" themes. It is cool to see their sense of humor and ability to "get" a joke develop.

Notable Quotes

Tonight...


MB: TB, go pack your lunch.


TB: What?


MB: TB, go pack your lunch.


TB: Huh?

As I am 4-5 feet away...

MB: We need to go buy you some new ears. Yours are broken. Target is having a buy one, get one free sale.

As he looks right at me as I am finishing talking ...

TB: What? (as in "what did you say")

For a split second there I thought he was messing with me. He wasn't. That made it even funnier.

I wonder what he was thinking about or listening to. : )

30 minutes later when I read to him what I had written for this post, he goes "my ears aren't broken, you're just kidding me." He just giggled and giggled.

Doesn't get any better than that.

Aaaahhhh, life with little buggers. I believe our little buggers were stamped with "For Entertainment Purposes Only" on their foreheads when they were born.

Operation Christmas Child...

We have continued the tradition in our family of filling up shoe boxes for children around the world who are not having a Christmas. This ministry is Operation Christmas Child through Samaritan's Purse-- Franklin Graham's ministry. My grandmother did it years ago, my mom did it, and now we are doing it with our kids.

Throughout the year I buy things on clearance for the boxes then whatever is left we go to the dollar stores and find what we need. This year it really seemed to click with Ticklebug and Doodlebug on what to get and why. I really enjoyed shopping for the items with them. We bought clear shoeboxes so they have a "treasure box" to go along with their treasures. The kids were old enough to help me pack the boxes which made it even easier and fun!

Maybe next year, I'll be organized enough to get a picture of us and a note into each box. I've read that sometimes the kiddos will write back.

Too Awesome for Words...

My MIL just emailed me about a free software program that they are using at her school called Tux Paint. It is so cool! It has life-like images and easy to use options of stamps, painting, letters, shapes and more. My kiddos love to mess with the "Paint" program on our computer but this is much more user friendly.

Check it out at TUX PAINT!

The World's Greatest White Elephant Gift...

Ok, maybe I am exaggerating a wee little bit but this was the best one I have ever given. It beats out the old shower head and How To Cut Hair DVD. I called my husband from the store and attempted to describe it to him. This is what he had to go on...

"It is a remote as long as my arm from my elbow to my palm and it is wider than my hand. The buttons on it are larger than my thumbprint."

Supposedly it works.

Isn't that the funniest thing?

What a great tabletop conversation piece that you could have until you are 95!

Just think, one remote for the rest of your life.

Ramblin'...

Snugglebug is 2.5 and her chatting is starting to make a lot more sense but can still be hilarious. The conversations you can have with her...


MB: SB, What is your favorite place to eat?
SB: Mimie's house, no, MmmDonald's


Mimie's or McDonald's .... Hmmm. She'll have to settle for the Golden Arches, Mimie is too far away. Believe me, it is settling. You should taste my mom's cooking! She makes good homemade noodles. I tried to make them once 9 years ago. The fact that it has been 9 years since I tried it again, says it all. I'll just have them at her house. Not only can she make noodles but she used to make bologna sandwiches a delicacy! You haven't lived until you have had bologna on WonderBread with chips for a picnic in the car after grocery shopping.

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You've heard of kids that can be hungry between bites? Well... let me tell you a little story. SB was in the middle of her breakfast this morning very adamantly stating that she was hungry. She must not have seen the delightful breakfast in front of her. I think it was code for "I would rather have the Halloween candy in the pantry and not this boring toast".

I fully admit that she got those genes from me. I've been known to eat ice cream for breakfast every great once in a while, of course. It has protein and carbohydrates. If I need a little more protein, I add nuts. Of course, I have to wait until the buggers are in school before I break that out.

Unusually thoughtful thoughts...Mulling over a sermon

Warning... No cute pictures ahead... keep reading only if you want to know what was on my mind today...

Our pastor spoke on giving today using II Corinthians 8 and 9 as the main text. He doesn't talk about money much but today he shared how he and his family chose to give and why. I read both of those chapters this afternoon for my quiet time. Although he talked about giving money there are other ways to give too. You can give of your time, your talents, your possessions, and more. Remember how Peter saw a crippled man and when the man asked for a handout Peter said "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." (Acts 3:5-7) "Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong". See, Peter gave what he had. He didn't ignore the need because he didn't have exactly what the man asked for. He looked to see what he could give and gave that.

What God wants is for me to be like him and give of what time, money, things, talents, or gifts that I possess. (Luke 6:38) I realized that what God wants me to give is probably different from what He wants someone else to give. Not only does he want my gifts to be according to what I have, but also to be given without reluctance. (II Corinthians 8:11-12, 9:7). Guilt should not be my motivator.

Many times I'll say: "I'll sign up to help there" or "I can do _____" or "I'll give _______." I can't stop there. I need to put my money (or service) where my mouth is like it says in II Corinthians 8:11.

"Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means." .

There is a lot of good stuff in those two chapters. There were verses I have heard all my life and others that jumped off the page at me for the first time. Time for me and God to have a little talk about what I have to give.