Baby Mama Drama

If you are a regular blog reader of mine or know me IRL, you know that I'm pretty easy going. I hate drama and do what I can to either get rid of it or just walk away from it. I'm sad to say that I have even lost friends because of it.  But you know what, I'm better for it.  I do not need it.

Lately, my life has been filled with drama.  It is actually a bit ridiculous.  Adults are behaving like children and because I am already an overly emotional person (with already a million things going on in my life), it effects me differently and literally makes me ill... because it involves my children.  I'm not going into much detail right now because I haven't completely resolved all issues yet.  The kiddos are fine and dandy!  We do our best to protect them and their feelings.  I take care of this BS after they are already in bed.

Once we've finally rid ourselves of all of the drama and the poison, you'll get the nitty gritty :o)  But for now, I just need time.  It's obviously been hard to sit down and write a blog post because I can't put down what is on my mind.  So, you get posts about cookies and babies (that STILL need your help!) and the like.  Just hang in there and be patient with me because contrary to popular belief, my kids and my family come first.  They are more important to me than anything or anyone else.

So, let me get those ducks in a row, then grab a glass of wine and watch out... I've got lots to dish ;o)  xoxo

For the Babies!

Good morning, blog friends!  I have a huge favor to ask of you all.  My wonderful friend has set out to help lots of teeny tiny babies and she needs our help!  Amanda is walking in the March of Dimes March for Babies in Nashville, TN on April 22nd because every day, thousands of babies are born too soon, too small and often very sick.  She has stepped up and has asked for our help because she wants to do something about this!

Please support her walk!  Making a secure donation is easy (I made mine on Friday!)  Just click the "donate now" button in the banner at the top of this post (or on the in-text link above).  She has set a goal of collecting $100 in donations.  Please help me help Amanda help the babies!  My one donation already covered 25% of her goal.  Let's try and give her double (or triple) what she is asking!  Your gift will support March of Dimes research and programs that help moms have full-term pregnancies and babies begin healthy lives.  It will also be used to bring comfort and information to families with a baby in the NICU.  You will receive a receipt via email after you have made your donation.  Come on!  Let's join Amanda in helping give the babies a healthy start!!

I thank you, Amanda thanks you, and the babies thank you :o)

You're Welcome

Girl Scout Cookie time is almost over.  Many people are sad, but I am not.  Why, you ask?  It's because of a simple discovery.  A discovery that I made, and that has changed my life.  This is super top secret.  If people find out, we may forever be doomed.  Until then, feel free to enjoy two of the best GS cookies ALL YEAR LONG for half the price!  Wait for it...

Caramel deLites (aka Samoas) are the exact same as Keebler Coconut Dreams!

 

Thin Mints are the exact same as Keebler Grasshopper cookies!

You're welcome.

Fuzz Balls & Responsibilities

Before you have kids, you really should be tested and questioned.  There should be a test where you are left to survive on little or no sleep, thrown in a room with about 27 puppies, and expected to make them all sit in a straight line for 4 seconds, all while not raising your voice or losing your temper.  If you pass, you are deemed fit to care for a human life.  If you fail, well, you get to take one of the 27 puppies home to practice. I surely would have failed.  There are some days when I think to myself, "What on earth am I doing??"  Then, there are other days that I step outside of myself and look at my life.  I'm proud of my kiddos and the way they behave.  I credit all of those days to a bag of fuzz balls and a ball mason jar.  Not joking.

My girls have responsibility charts.  I feel that they need to learn that they can not always get everything they want, whenever they want.  I feel that it is my responsibility to teach them that they need to work hard for rewards in life... such as ice cream and chocolate.

Every Sunday, the girls and I sit down and decide which responsibilities they want to work hard on that week.  If during the previous week they weren't 100% successful in a certain area, they need to keep that responsibility on their chart.  Some examples of responsibilities that they have to choose from are, Keep Your Hands to Yourself, Show Respect, Get Dressed, No Whining, Take Care of the Pet, Get Ready for Bed, Say Please and Thank You, etc.  There are also two blank spaces that I can write whatever I feel they need to work on, such as, No Tattling and Go Potty.

When we've decided which responsibilities make the chart for the week, the girls hang them on their walls.

Each night, right before they get into bed, the girls get to put their magnets on for the day.

Just to clarify, I know that my kids are only 2 and 4 years old.  I understand that they sometimes forget things.  Because of this, we have the three strike rule.  Let's say, for example, Jaden has No Whining on her chart.  She could be having a bad day and is whining a lot.  I will give her strike one and remind her that No Whining is on her chart.  Later on, if Jaden is still whiny, I will remind her about the chart and give her strike two.  If she continues to whine, she gets strike three and no magnet for that responsibility.

If in one day, the girls fill up their chart and get a magnet for all seven responsibilities, they get to put a fuzz ball in the jar.  If, like in the example above, they miss a magnet, they get no fuzz ball.

Before the first fuzz ball even lands in the jar, we decide what the reward will be once it is full.  For this jar, the girls decided that they were working toward a trip to YoYo for ice cream (frozen yogurt)!  Once the jar is so full that the fuzz ball pop out, they get their reward!

It takes a few weeks to a month before the jar is filled up.  As mini rewards in between, the girls start the week off with $1.  For every empty space on their chart at the end of the week, they lose a nickle.  This has been a great system and has worked well for us.  The girls know their responsibilities and know what the rewards and consequences are.  What I like most about the charts we have is that the responsibilities have a picture beside them.  The girls know what each of them means, even though they can't yet read.  It's great!  Another plus is the magnets.  Before, we were constantly having to print another chart and buy more stickers.  These are reusable from week to week.  Also, the goals are short-term so the girls are able to get more rewards, resulting in them working harder to earn said rewards!  We love it :o)

Giants are the best readers!

Jaden: Mom, guess what! I can read now!
Me: You can? Good job!
Jaden: Yeah, I just learned!
Me: Wow! 
Jaden: I can read just like you, Mom!
Me: Really?  Good job, J!
Jaden: I'm getting so tall, aren't I?! 

:o)  Mike and I died laughing! Whenever J learns something new or does something really well, we always make the comment, "You're getting so big!"  or, "You're growing up so fast!"  I guess in her 4-year-old head, that means she's getting taller!  Man, just when we think she might possibly be the smartest little girl in the world... ;o)  But, we love her to pieces!!

Project Life: Week 8

The girls crack up at each other when they use their Silly Faces bath toys on their OWN faces!

Jaden made a rocket with Mike during Father's Night at preschool.

Taylor was "making lunch" with Play-Doh this past weekend!

Jaden loves to flatten her Play-Doh before cutting shapes out.

If there's one thing Taylor is an expert on, it's babies!!  She LOVED her new cousin!

The girls took turns cuddling baby Maddie on Saturday.

So sweet :o)

Badges of Fun: Winter Fun

The girls recently earned their seventh badge in Disney FamilyFun's Badges of Fun challenge!  The theme of this badge was Winter Fun.

Jaden, which I'm sure you've figured this out by now, has a heart of gold.  She is always concerned about others.  When winter arrived, Jaden was worried that the birds would not be able to find enough food under all the snow.  So, for our Winter Fun badge, we decided to help out our feathered friends!

First, we made bird seed cakes to hang on our shed.  

We used a really long string of yarn to connect all of the cakes.

Then, we made a couple of feeders to stick in the bushes in the front of our house.  To do this, we spread peanut butter on a toilet paper roll core and then rolled it in bird seed!

After letting our treats sit out in the cold garage overnight, we headed out into the snow to deliver them!

Our shed has an overhang where we store wood, sticks, and fallen limbs.  This has become a nice nest for a bunch of birds :o)  We hung our bird seed cake string across the shed.

The girls had a lot of fun with these projects.  The birds killed these treats in only a day or two!  Jaden and Taylor successfully earned badge seven!

Great job, girls!!