The Twist and Turns of Life

Some how life doesn't go according to the plans I make for it. Usually for the best, but some what frustrating none the less. It would be nice for things to just "go my way" at least some of the time. The end of the road, did not come as expected or anticipated. 10 credits shy of passing one class Mister will have to stay on one more semester to finish up. Which means, we are close to the end of the road but some what stuck on the shoulder with a flat tire.

As for what to do next, we decided that the kids and I should head for home to my parents house for a few months to save that ever dwindling cash cow from starving while Mister works and studies for his class and his licensing test, the NCLEX.

It isn't quite what I had planned but it seems to be turning out alright. We, the kids and I, miss Mister something aweful. My heart aches every day to see him, but I know it is for the best. Everyone says the time will fly. I sure hope so. It is tough to be seperated from your best friend for so long. I should know too. I moved a lot as a kid. But the kids are having fun playing at Grandpa and Grandma's house doing all those childhood things that I did at my Grandparents house. So far we have managed to run in the sprinklers, make sidewalk chalk master pieces, explore a park near by, run wild around the house only having to check in with mom every so often, staying up late watching movies, and pestering the grandparents with the foibles of youth.

I am doing my best though to enjoy our bit of "vacation" away from the typical day of our normal life. There is adjustments in the sleeping arrangments as we are currently hanging out in my parents fifth wheel trailer. Nice accomidations though, just squishy with four small, rambunctious kids. Sleeping with toddler has also been tricky but we are slowly getting that sorted out too.

I do love the cooler evenings and the time chilling with my parents. The quaint little town they live in is a bit of fresh air from the busting, noisy, hot and crowded place we used to live. I don't live by the clock and that is awesome. Plus I have decided, this is a time to get a little bit of self discovery done to work out those kinks I don't find so flattering in myself. (This means, walking the track everyday for as long as I can.)

I am also trying to get used to sharing an internet connection...so updates will come as often as possible but not as often as I would like. Till then...

Riddle Me This

For the past couple of days the kids have been preoccupied with making up riddles for each other to figure out. Most of them are pretty much like the knock knock jokes kids make up. Silly to them, but kind of makes the grown up scratch their head. But today, I'm so proud, my 6 year old boy came up with this riddle all on his own.

What is milky, shaky, and hairy?

I'll tell you all tomorrow...think it over a bit.

UPDATE: the answer is.....a coconut. :D

Because I would Feel Bad

Have you ever debated something with yourself. Yep, not pretty. But I have finally won the argument to promote my other blog here for one short moment. The reasoning...well, I would feel bad if some of my closest friends and family didn't know that I was handing out freebies and then didn't include them. Just think ahead to the next reunion or get-together...yeah!!! awkward. ;-)

So without further excuses or meandering please come over to my art blog and give me some love! I am having a giveaway for $50 to my Etsy shop, Always Adorable Boutique. This goes for anything in my shop or even a custom order for something I don't have that you would like for me to make you. No purchase is necessary. But some good old fashioned 'word of mouth' would be greatly appreciated!

And I promise this will be the last thing I ask for this year...hopefully. :D

Well after this next request and then I am done.

I am also trying to create traffic over there with an unusal but fun weekly challenge. I called it Mix-It-Up Mondays Recipe Reviews. Basically it is about breaking out of the culinary comfort zone or not even so much, just to try a new recipe and give your thumbs up or down with some tidbits for others who would feel so inclinded to try it out.

There will be a Mr. Linky to connect your blog and bring people to your site as well if you so choose.

For the giveaway you can click HERE.

For the Recipe Review you can click HERE.

Sweet Things I Want to Remember

Jelly Beans gave me these sweet things today.

Grape juice burps,
Graham cracker breath,
After nap snuggles,
Memorizing Curious George is Curious,
Learning to say butter, maybe, 'cuse me, and how about.
Sweet smiles and silly games all wrapped up in her cute little self.

She also loves to say no, and have her way. The spirit and determination in this one is fierce hidden beneath her sweet, angelic exterior. That is what I love about her though. So strong for so little.

Monkey dressed herself without being asked today. Finally at 4 1/2 years later, she wants to dress herself. Can you hear the chorus of heavenly angels? This will also be the end of cute matching outfits for those of an eclectic bunch of attire. She loves to mix it up, "keep it exciting" in her words. She is proud of herself. (By the way, this photo was no coaxing...all Monkey!)

I love the look on her face when she remembers a phonics sound and how she easily uses her numbers now. With scribbling aspirations it will soon be on to writing. She did her own name yesterday all by herself. Now I am so proud.

She loves her sisters, even if one is the baby and wants to take every thing she has, or the older bossy one who frequently talks her out of what she has. But loves to be rough and tumble with her brother and get all dirty. Feisty this one is, but she still shares and loves to be kind. Things I hope always stay with her.

Darling Boy, what a conundrum for me. I love this boy more than life itself, yet I still have no idea what to with him. His boyish nature usually gets the better of him and he loves to tease his sisters and be roudy with them.

But then on the other hand, he can be such a gentleboy, holding doors and lifting things for his sisters and I because he wants to. He loves to sit and read his baby sister a good book every night and sing to her before she goes to sleep. He brings me fresh picked flower from the park and treasures he finds along the way.

He is doing such a good job challanging himself in school. Math and History are some of his favorites and how could I forget science! As he practices his writing it is becoming more refined. He makes perfect letters, in hopes that he too can learn cursive like Girly. Such a competitor this one.

Girly is growing up to fast for me. I don't see the little girl with pigtails much any more. She is growing so tall, slender, and pretty, inside and out. Everyone is worth being friends with, and she takes the time to include anyone who would like too. I love that she is generous and thoughtful. She works incredibly hard at the things she loves. Sewing and drawing take up alot of her spare time now. And one can never forget that she loves horses beyond reason! She can't wait to be big enough to help me "for real" in the kitchen using a knife, oven and stove. And I always find this girl with a book in front of her nose when she isn't doing the other bazillions of interests she has.

I realized that she and I will some day be friends like my sister and I are now. It made me appreciate her more for the girl she is in the present. What she learns now and discovers about herself are forming that future adult I will be friends with. Part of me can't wait to see how she takes the world by storm, but at the same time, boy do I want to hold on to this with both hands like my life depends on it.

Wait...it does. It is true, I will never feel like I got enough time savoring each child at each stage, because I wish for each stage to stay just a bit longer.

A Slide Show Update.

Just a few quick pictures to show off of the past few weeks.
Girly trying to play horses with the stable, Jellybeans playing IN the stable.

You know you want one too...look at that lollipop goodness and Monkey's model glare! Thanks Valentine's Fairy ;-)

Then today we made a 5 Senses lapbook to round out our science for the week. Man I love craft day!

CPSIA...It's Coming...

As parents and concerned citizens I’m sure most of us at one time or another have been confronted with the question of lead poisoning. But have you asked yourself what your government is doing to protect your children from lead contained in toys? The answer? They're banning toys, taking books from schools and libraries, hurting low income families, killing entrepreneurial spirit and risking putting the economy in an even greater depression than we've seen in decades. I'd like to introduce you to their solution: the CPSIA.

Do you know about the CPSIA? No? Then I ask you to take a few minutes to find out about it.

The CPSIA stands for Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, a new set of laws that will come into effect on 10 February, 2009 and will impact many, many people in a negative way. Make no mistake, this is very real. View it for yourself. If Forbes, the American Library Association and numerous other media are paying attention, perhaps you should too.

How will these new laws affect you? Well, here are a few examples:

To the Parents of Young Students:
Due to the new law, expect to see the cost of school supplies sky rocket. While those paper clips weren't originally intended for your student to use, they will need to be tested now that your 11-year-old needs them for his school project. This law applies to any and all school supplies (textbooks, pencils, crayons, paper, etc.) being used by children under 12.

To the Avid Reader:
Due to the new law, all children's books will be pulled from library and school shelves, as there is no exemption for them. That’s okay though, there's always television. Our children don’t need to learn the love of reading after all.
Article from the American Library Association http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=1322

To the Lover of All Things Handmade:
Due to the new law, you will now be given a cotton ball and an instruction manual so you can make it yourself since that blanket you originally had your eye on for $50 will now cost you around $1,000 after it's passed testing. It won't even be the one-of-a-kind blanket you were hoping for. Items are destroyed in the testing process making one-of-a-kind items virtually impossible. So that gorgeous hand-knit hat you bought your child this past winter won’t be available next winter.

To the Environmentalist:
Due to the new law, all items in non-compliance will now be dumped into our already overflowing landfills. Imagine not just products from the small business owners, but the Big Box Stores as well. You can't sell it so you must toss it. Or be potentially sued for selling it. You can't even give them away. If you are caught, it is still a violation.

To the Second-Hand Shopper:
Due to the new law, you will now need to spend $20 for that brand new pair of jeans for your 2-year old, rather than shop at the Goodwill for second hand. Many resale shops are eliminating children's items all together to avoid future lawsuits.

To the Entrepreneur:
Due to this new law, you will be forced to adhere to strict testing of your unique products or discontinue to make and/or sell them. Small businesses will be likely to be unable to afford the cost of testing and be forced to close up shop. Due to the current economic state, you'll have to hope for the best when it comes to finding a new job in Corporate America.

To the Antique Toy Collector:
Due to the new law, you'd better start buying now because it's all going to private collection and will no longer be available to purchase. “Because the new rules apply retroactively, toys and clothes already on the shelf will have to be thrown out if they aren't certified as safe.” http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123189645948879745.html

To the American Economy:
Already struggling under an economy that hasn’t been this weak in decades, the American economy will be hit harder with the inevitable loss of jobs and revenues from suppliers, small businesses and consumers. The required testing is far too costly and restrictive for small businesses or individuals to undertake.

To the Worldwide Economy:
Due to this new law, many foreign manufacturers have already pulled out of the US market. You can imagine the impact of this on their businesses.

If you think this is exaggerating, here is a recent article from Forbes
http://www.forbes.com/2009/01/16/cpsia-safety-toys-oped-cx_wo_0116olson.html

And for those of you prepared to be stupefied and boggled, The New Law
http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/cpsia.html

Did you know? If this upsets or alarms you, please react.

Tomorrow is the Day

(Photo curtesy of www.phootprints.co.uk)

Yep, officially tomorrow starts the last of the grueling semesters of nursing school for Mister. I can't but help squeal with delight every time I mention that! And pardon me, I do mention it A LOT. It has been a long tough road, that we hope will benefit us as a family.

School is seriously one of the hardest things that has tested our relationship. Being sane with all the demands of school, parenting, work, lack of work, student loans piling up, etc. and then not taking it out on each other or the kids has been tricky. I am fully prepared to bawl like a baby at his graduation ceremony, just so all of you don't think I am crazy when it comes time. Heaven knows lots of sweat and tears have been part of the whole process, they should end it too. :) But in being positive and looking forward to a new beginning I wanted to list all the things that I have been grateful for in our crazy journey so far:

• welcoming our beautiful Jellybeans into our family
• Baptizing Girly
  
• having the best neighbors on the planet!
• excellent friends and family near and far that have cheered us on
  
• not living in an apartment for the last three and half years that has, albeit small, patio space that I can shoo the kids out onto
  
• having a kitchen big enough to open both the dishwasher and the fridge at the same time
• learning some really great frugal tricks that I might not ever have tried before like making my own babywipes, laundry soap, and finding out babysoap works just fine for a facial cleaner
  
• line drying clothes in the summer takes 15 minutes
• line drying clothes in the winter takes less than an hour
  
• that material things I thought I needed have some how become less important to me
• how much it means to have a good working washer,dryer, and dishwasher!
  
• that I am capable of handling far more than I gave myself credit for!

So here is to a successful last semester and to surviving it all!

We Survived Flu '08 and Other Musings

Finally after weeks of passing sickness to one another we are free from it! The holidays were interesting to say the least with all of us not feeling so well. But we managed to make just a few ornaments!

We made of course the traditional paper chain for each child so they could count down the days without fighting over who's turn it was every morning. I don't have a picture of ours because well they aren't chains anymore...more like Christmas confetti now.

But we did make what I think is one of the most delightful and easiest tree ornaments by using white pipe cleaners. We made 3D snowflakes. They also have the added benefit of being really fun to toss at the tree as well! Just remember to either do it before you put on the glass ornaments or leave those off altogether. I will have to dig pictures up when I can.

As for other ornaments, we were all to sick or had to many sickies for me to do any more involved crafts this year. We barely got the tree up the Monday before Christmas day. It was a minimalists kind of Christmas, which was actually kind of nice. We enjoyed the season the best we could and now I am glad that we are to the New Year!

I am thrilled that we have finally made it to 2009! Because it means Mister will graduate this May!!! It is coming faster than I thought it would but will be ready by May to take on our new adventure where ever that takes us. Only four full months left...