An Iowa Mom

Good at What?

Last week I left a comment over on Kerrie's blog, when she shared a story with us about her children discussing their behavior that day.

I think it's obvious that I blog mostly about my children and Big Daddy.  And occasionally I'll throw something in about me.  However, I do get to pick and choose what I want to share about myself.  The others, well, they are strictly at my mercy and one of these days I'm going to be shocked when a delivery boy shows up at my door and hands me divorce papers.  Or more likely, when Jake grows up, turns 18, and sues me, his own mother, for slander.

Anyway, I feel that if I didn't blog, I'd forget all the little, silly (and sometimes very annoying and not-so-silly) things my children do.  And I don't ever want to forget.  They grow up so darned fast and one day I want to be able to look back and smile.  And I want to think that the one thing that finally threw me over the edge and into the loony bin is funny and sweet 15 years later.  That hasn't happened yet.  But boy, when it does, you can bet I'll blog about it.

So, after I left the comment over at Kerrie's, I wanted to post it here too, because it was one of those not so cute things that Molly said, that I'm sure I'll giggle about at her high school graduation.  Or when she is released from juvie.  Either or ... does it really matter?

On Friday mornings the girls go over to a friends house.  We do a swap where on Monday I take her son and on Friday she takes my girls.  It's a free outing to regain our sanity, therefore, giving us more time before being thrown into the loony bin.  Ya know, the one I mentioned earlier. 

When I picked the girls up last Friday, the following conversation took place in the car on the way home:

Me:  Girls, were you behaved today?

Emily:  Yup.  I sure was.

Molly (with the biggest of smiles):  Not me.  I was naughty.  Really naughty.  I was very good at being naughty.

This Fit Or That Fit ...

I was happily making banana muffins the other day, because ya know, I'm all domestic like that ...

Can't you picture me?  My hair and make up perfectly done.  Dress ironed.  Apron fitting just right.  Children dutifully fetching every ingredient I need, without incident. 

Yeah ... me neither.

Strategically timing the mixing of the flour, sugar and bananas, I had Emily and Molly eating their lunch.  Peacefully.  I'm serious.  When the last bite had been taken, Emily asked me for a granola bar.  I asked her to wait for just a minute, as my hands were dirty and I was in the process of mixing the batter for the muffins.

To make a long story short ... Emily threw a tantrum because she had to wait.  Actually more than a tantrum ... a full fledged conniption fit, face down on the floor, throwing her fists into the carpet and her mouth wide open yelling all sorts of things resembling, "Mommy you are the meanest Mommy ever ..."  yadda yadda yadda, ya know, the norm ... therefore, losing any chance at obtaining a granola bar.

Fast forward about 45 minutes.  The smell of banana muffins filled the kitchen and little tummies were hungry again.  After all, it had been 45 minutes ... like I said.

The following conversation took place:

Emily:  Mom, can I have a banana muffin?
Me:  After the fit you just threw?

Emily:  That fit was about the granola bar, THIS fit is going to be about a banana muffin?

Thanks for the fair warning.  I'll brace myself.

My Bloggy Giveaway

UPDATE:  The winner of the giveaway has been chosen.

Drum Roll? 

ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba

WHITNEY!!

Whitney does not have a blog, so I have contacted her by email.  If she does not respond to me by 5pm tomorrow (Saturday), I will have the kids choose another winner.

Wow!  1548 entries.  Thanks for a great response!  Guess it wasn't so boring afterall, huh?  I hope you will all come and visit again.  And again.  And again.

==================================================

I'm boring.  Let's say it all together ... BBBBOOOORRRRIIINNGGG!

I had big plans for this giveaway.  There were so many things I had planned to make and share with all of you. 

However, even though I had big plans ... I also had four kids.  And frankly, that is the reason why my giveaway is so:

In unison now:  B-O-R-I-N-G!

But let's look on the bright side ... I'll have another giveaway really soon, really really soon, with more unique prizes.  So, be sure to check back!  You can easily subscribe to my blog using the form or button right over there.  OVER THERE  ----->  See it?

On to more important things  ...  I am indeed participating in the Bloggy Giveaways Carnival, I am giving away YOUR CHOICE of:

$25 gift card to Target
(who in the world COULDN'T use one of these) OR

$25 Gift Card To Barnes & Noble
(I know a lot of you have reading as a part of your New Year's resolution)

All you have to do to win is leave me a comment on this post.  I will choose a winner on Friday, Feb. 1st at 5pm CST.  Winner will be chosen by my favorite child ... that day.  Sorry, I won't know who that is, until Friday ... at 5pm.  But I promise, it will be one of mine.  Maybe.

Good Luck.

I know you are making your rounds through all the giveaways, but when you get a chance, stop back in here at An Iowa Mom, I'd love to have you visit, anytime.

My Life ... My Daily Words!

A friend of mine sent this to me tonight, and I LOVE IT!  To all you Moms out there ... okay, and Dads.

Enjoy.  Come on.  It will only take 3 minutes. 

3 minutes for a smile. 

SO WORTH IT!

What Is Wrong With My Children?

When I was a child, way back when ... a snow day was like a rare jewel that should be appreciated and cherished.  Mind you, I grew up in Syracuse, New York, where getting 2 feet of snow overnight was nothing to bat an eyelash at.

Then, you've got my children. 

And yesterday. 

Big Daddy and I woke up early and watched the school delays scroll across the bottom of the TV screen nestled snuggly into the armoir (how do you spell that anyway) in our bedroom.  I'll be honest, I found it a little odd that our district wouldn't even delay classes when the temperature read -23, with a wind chill of -34.  If they gave it a couple hours to warm up a bit, the kids would be safer standing out at the bus stop waiting for their ride to school.  Right?

Guess not.

Everyone up.

Everyone get dressed.

Everyone eat your breakfast.

Everyone brush your teeth.

Grab the phone that's ringing.

SCHOOL IS CANCELED!!  The buses won't run? 

I flashed back to my own childhood and how this would have been a day to remember for all time.  The best surprise one could give a kid.  The anticipation of school ... diminished ... with a phone call.  Just like that.  AWESOME!

Or so you'd think ...

Jake (stomping up the stairs):  Oh that's just great.  I got up and dressed FOR NOTHING?

Drew (bottom lip quivering):  Oh man, I was supposed to take my CLIMB test today!

Emily (full fledged wail):  You said I was going to school.  I want to go to school.  It's no fair.

That was the reaction of my kiddos.  No WHOO HOOO's.  No high fives.  No excited giggles.

I'm stunned.

I have nothing to say. 

I'm speechless.

For once.

I Would Expect NOTHING Less ...

Though he's only commented a few times, Big Daddy reads most of the posts I publish on my blog.  This is normally not an issue, though it does put a kink in things when I want to write about my boyfriend.  But I don't see him very often anymore, so for the most part ... no problem.

KIDDING!

Anyway, when he visited yesterday, he noticed the new look of the blog ... ya know, with the chick lounging on the couch with her laptop ... probably ignoring her kids ... and watching the Dr. Phil Show ... and then Oprah ...

Oh wait ... and eating bon bon's.

That's right.

Big Daddy Says To Me:

"Wow, that looks just like you.  NICE RACK!"

Uuuummmm, yeeeeah. 

Why do those words not surprise me?

I personally thought NICE BUTT ... but, who am I and what do I know?

A Backwards Resolution

Jake has always struggled when dealing with his size.  He's a small kid.  A really small kid.  Put it this way ... he's in 4th grade and wears a size 7 SLIM. 

Sports have always been a huge part of Jake's life.  Since he could walk.  Whether it be participating in sports, watching sports, playing sports video games, reading sports books ... his life has always revolved around ... sports!

Well, as you may assume, he is being passed in by his peers, in both size and ability, like a car stalled on The Autobon.  And it is crushing him ... and his self esteem.  I mean, come on, it's not uncommon for some of his friends to weigh 85-90 pounds.  He weighs 50. 

Or he did until the New Year rolled around.

We were celebrating the beginning of 2008 at a friends house.  This friend has a cousin who pitched for the Kansas City Royals ... and he happened to be at the party.  Like a gift from above, it just so happened this "celebrity" (in Jake's eyes) used to be a small kid as well.  And he was more than happy to offer up a bit of advice ...

"Eat a peanut butter sandwich every single night right before you go to bed."

Jake took this advice very seriously, as it must work ... this dude went on to play major league baseball.

So, every evening, just before teeth are to be brushed and lights are to be shut off, we make Jake a sandwich loaded with peanut butter and jelly.  Some nights we surprise him with a huge ice cream sundae instead.

Believe it or not, Jake weighed in yesterday at 54 pounds.  4 pounds in 3 weeks.  He feels like a "big man" now.

I'll keep you updated on his progress.