I got a neat idea the other day, and realized how simple and inexpensive it actually will turn out to be.  I probably should wait until I’ve actually completed it to blog about it, but I wanted to show off pics so I’m posting prematurely.

Anyways, I picked up a couple of packages of teeny magnets (about 1/4″ diameter round) at Michael’s Craft Store the other day.  They came in packages of 6 for about $2.00.  Then I picked up some heavy gauge jewelry wire for about another dollar.  The magnets are much more powerful than they seem, and they stick to the wire like, well, a magnet. 

So I did a shoot last night with my four kids, and wanted to get a series of five shots of each of them with different expressions and looks.  Now I’m going to print the pics up as 5″x5″ squares, laminate them, and attach them to the wires with the magnets.  I’ll string the wire taut vertically, one right above the other, with about a 7″ gap.  It should make for a very interesting “work of art” and conversation piece, especially with the fun pics!  So I wanted to share the pics, and as soon as the project is done I’ll be sure to post the final result.  I’m very excited to get started.

I’ve posted my favorites, the ones that show the personality the most, in “large” format.  I put the other in a gallery, if you’re interested in looking!

 

 

 

 

Haven’t had much going on here – kids have been on spring break for the week, and all but Monday was rainy and cold.  It’s even predicted we may have a teeny bit of snow flurries in the next few days.  Love Ohio – sunny and 70 one day, snowy and 40 the next!

So about the only exciting thing was Autumn and her fish acquisition.  Justus’ Satan Fish finally died (this fish lived without food, in sludge water, you name it – and never died – and managed to kill about 10 fish in the meantime) so we went hunting for a new resident for his small aquarium.  Autumn talked us into one for her too – and she’s OBSESSED.

I now see us as the family that makes a secret run to the pet store to replace a floating fish without her knowledge.  I never thought that would be us, but it will be.

She’s had several animals die in her life – the Cat Eating Bird incident (I don’t believe I ever told that story – that’s for another time), several of Justus’ fish, etc.  But they were never HERS.  She must’ve checked on that fish (upstairs in Justus’ room) seven times last night. 

And named him Fish.

She’s so creative.

I tried to talk her into “Cat”.  I thought I was funny.  She did not.

I heard her say “Good Night Fish” last night.

Maybe we should’ve picked a pet that doesn’t have a lifespan shorter than a moon phase.  This could get messy.

The Perfect Baby Handbook

It’s here: The unparalleled humor book that understands every parent’s natural desire to raise a conveniently superior child.

No, not The Baby Whisperer. The green book right there. 

… Web bonus:  The often amusing Perfect Baby Blog!

So I was cleaning out the shed and remembered we had put the old bookcase from the playroom into the shed to hold stuff.  The boys meticulously labeled the shelves so they could stay organized.  They were probably 3 and 7 when they did the labeling.

I’m still laughing:

Spiritual renewal.

I have so many mentors to thank for helping me lately – great people I have met that are so willing to help guide me on the path back to God.  I found a neat daily devotional site that I am going to begin following today, too.  I have already increased my daily prayers and thanks, and feel “lightened” up, in just the short time since I realized I needed to invite Him back into my life. 

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Not only am I renewing spiritually, we (as a household) are taking physical exercise a step up too.  With the unpredictible weather here in the Midwest, we haven’t been able to get outside as much as we do in the Spring and Summer, so we’re trying to get the heart beating indoors.  I’ve been very proud of myself, doing 30 mimutes a day of step, jogging, or yoga.  My foot has been giving me just a bit of trouble, but I’m ignoring it.  I’m tired of it getting in the way.  I’ve integrated weights now so that it increases my workout.  Brett has been working with freeweights for quite a while now, so he doesn’t participate with Daddy, me, Justus, and Autumn yet, but he doesn’t need to.   He also runs.

What’s our great motivator?  The Wii Fit!   This thing is really great.  We got it shortly after the holidays and we’re all noticing the positive effects. 

I had my stepdad make a riser for the balance board which really increases the workout – takes it to a whole ‘nuther level, as they say.  So the family has been spending even more time together as we “play” while we exercise!  We already had the sports pack -  which the family delights in beating old Mama at tennis and bowling – and we got the outdoor games too, more active physical fun on a big mat.  One of Autumn’s gifts for her birthday coming up is the Dora Saves the Snow Princess game, which she will LOVE.  We’ve noticed Autumn’s hand-eye coordination really improving too, as she is a pro at boxing and tennis!

So, changes they are a’comin’.  I feel fantastic.  Now if I could just get eight hours of sleep!

Okay, so insomnia forces me to scroll through television channels in the middle of the night, looking for something that will entertain me but yet maybe soothe me to sleep.  Not an easy task, but eh.  So last night I’m browsing the channels, and accidentally (trust me, it was QUITE accidental) stopped on Rosie’s Family Cruise, or whatever it’s called… that special by Rosie O’Donnell, whom is on my most-disliked person in the world list next to Tom Cruise, Satan, and The One… but I digress.

So in the millisecond I paused on this channel, I hear her talking about her 9 year old son, and how he’s constantly asking to do things by himself, and she is just so frustrated with this, like he wants to go to the public bathroom by himself, and why don’t more places have mom/child bathrooms….

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Wait… are you like me and had to re-read that?

Yes.  9 years old.  And wants to go to the restroom by himself.

How DARE he!!!  I am shocked and stunned!!  The restroom?  ALONE?  At the young young age of NINE????

Please, someone tell me I mis-heard her at midnight.  Someone please tell me that this woman, this “mother”, really doesn’t take her 9 year old into women’s restrooms because he’s not old enough to do it by himself.  I will delete this thread if someone tells me she was talking about her 3 year old, or her 9 year old dog, or something other than her son…

Now, I apologize in advance if her little bundle of joy has a physical disability or a mental impairment that requires Mom’s help – but if it’s the same little boy they flashed on during the brief brief moment I had the show on, he looked perfectly capable to me.

Dear Lord, this borders on creepy, if not obscene.

Bullshit! yet again hit the nail on the head with their show on Stranger Danger.  With real statistics, real experts, and unbiased information, this show is one of the best on cable, really. 

And of course it doesn’t help that aside from their God and bible stance (they are atheists, I am Christian – but they still researched their information and got great experts to do their show), I agree with them wholeheartedly, on virtually every subject.  But I had to chuckle at their latest episode, I could’ve written it myself. 

I have always known what a wonderfully safe world we live in, and have always known my children ARE safe in this world.  I refuse to do them the disservice of looking over their shoulders everywhere they go, thinking they shouldn’t be allowed to fall down, or making them sterilize their hands every time they touch a shopping cart.  I can’t imagine living that way – I mean, truly, an airplane can crash into your roof RIGHT NOW… but you can’t spend your life outside looking up at the sky waiting on Delta to come a’knockin’! 

My children are the most important things in my life.  That should never come into question, for most every mother.  The fact that my teenager is allowed to bike 3 or 4 miles to the fast food place with his buddies, or my 10 year old can walk to the nearby park by himself, or my 3 year old is allowed in the fenced back yard while I’m in at the kitchen table has nothing to do with not caring about their safety.  No one is going to abduct them.  They’re not going to molested in the back yard.  And yes, they may fall down.  That’s why Band-Aid is in business, it happens.  Ain’t no thang.

Here’s a biggie – do you know the odds are greater that a DOCTOR (or a medical procedure) will kill your child than him being abducted?  Heck, the odds of pretty much ANYTHING hurting your child is greater than an abduction.

Yup.  Those that live in mortal fear of the stranger in their bushes out front better think twice about taking your kid to the pediatrician. 

People need to relax.  In this day of 24 hour news (hey, when I was growing up, there were three stations, with news only at 6 a.m., noon, and 11 p.m. – we actually got good news, too… imagine that!) we are prejudiced to think the world is much worse than it is.  The media paints such an ugly picture, because the pretty pictures don’t make the billions of dollars in ad revenue that they need to keep perpetuating the fear.  Stop it.  Now.  Don’t buy into it, and let your child ride her bike on the sidewalk without you being, well, a Helicopter Parent.

I’ll admit it – I’m not a big Olympics watcher.  And if I do watch, I prefer the winter ones.  But I wanted to make sure to watch the opening ceremonies last night, and I wasn’t disappointed.

My father-in-law was visiting from out of town and the family was gathered around the television to watch this event.  Fantastic, to say the least.   As we were watching, I made the comment that I truly admire those atheletes with that much drive, passion, desire, and skill to do their sport so often and so long that they’re qualified to be in the Olympics.  I mean, I just don’t get the true want to get up at 6:00 in the morning, hit the ice, and figure skate for 8 hours, every day, for years and years.  I don’t have anything I’m that devoted to.  I wish I did – I am awestruck by their skills but mostly by their hearts.

My FIL looked at me and stated what really is the obvious – yes, I DO have something I’m that passionate about – being a mother!  He went on to say mothers do it 24 hours a day, day in and day out, for years and years.  He said he personally doesn’t understand the maternal instinct that (most) women have, and he finds THAT admirable.

Mothering.  A Olympic-worthy sport?  Yeah.  And my medal is just these beautiful, smart little beings that I was responsible for nurturing to wonderful little people.

See, FILs are good for some things, sometimes!

• If an unstoppable object runs into an immoveable object, what happens?
• Everyone should love someone enough that every time you hug them, you hug so hard you could end up on the other side of them.
• Momfidence is raising your child freehand, rather than with a paint-by-numbers kit. To paraphrase Lucy van Pelt of Peanuts: The expert is Within. – Paula Spencer
  • Everyone should read the Paula Spencer book, “An Oreo Never Killed Anyone”.
• How someone treats you is their karma.  How you respond is yours.  Don’t get them confused – there’s a lot of rude people in the world!
• If something happened to you today and a stranger had to clean out your bedside table drawer, would you be embarrassed?
• It takes 21 days to start a habit.  Spend the next three weeks being extra nice.   Your life will change.  And so will those around you.
• You are not raising inconveniences, you are raising children.
• Office Space is perhaps one of the most perfect movies ever.  Unless you’re under 12, then it’s Jumanji.
• I should’ve named my dogs Bissell and Hoover. 
• I should’ve named my 3 year old Hurricane.
• I’m too young to have a 15 year old child.

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