An Iowa Mom

I Am Becoming Quite The Expert

Twelve years and four kids later ... I can finally say with confidence that I'm becoming quite the expert at this parenting gig.  I mean, in the past, our mornings were full of yelling, whining, screaming, meltdowns, time outs (which were usually mostly for me) tears, tantrums ... well, you get the point, right?

Well, not anymore. 

Why?  Because I've learned to pick my battles.  Either that, or they've finally worn me down and I just don't give a hoot anymore.  

Whichever it may be ... our mornings are peaceful and productive these days.  For the most part, I mean, let us not forget we are still the same dysfunctional family we've always been.

However, now is more of give and take.  If I am going to take these easy going mornings ... I have to give my children the freedom to leave the house in outfits of their choice.  

Take for example Molly.  She left today in this fancy dress skirt and dirty tennis shoes, and a t-shirt to boot.  However, that stained t-shirt of hers ... suits her so well.  Don't you agree?

 

Another Year, Another Picture

We all know the routine because we've been living it since we were five years old and in kindergarten.  Each year , our mothers set out our finest set of new school clothes, woke us 15 minutes earlier than normal to style our hair 'just so'.  With a comb nestled into our book bag, we were sent out the door with reminders to smile our best smile.

And then hours later, we stood in a line with our classmates, waiting our turn for some strange woman using that same comb to yank and pull our hair in directions it was never meant to go, before shoving us onto a carpeted box and demanding we look at the camera and smile.  The bright light next to the photographer shone brightly into our eyes and the snap of the photo usually happened just moments before we expected it to.  Right?

A few weeks later we were presented with our 'school' picture.  The image that would not only be swapped with every kid in school that we considered our closest friend, but also framed and mounted on the living room wall for the upcoming year.  Right up until it would be thrown into the memory box just waiting to humiliate us to no end a decade later ... and replaced with the new dreaded pic showing us growing a year older.

Is this the experience you all had growing up?  If not, then you must think I'm some sort of crazy lunatic going on and on about the experience.   But, you should be getting used to that by now, so I'm not too worried about you.

Anyway ... I do things a bit differently with my kiddos.  Maybe it's because I remember the torture of years past.  Or because I'm lazy.  Or maybe simply because they don't ever have an awesome new school outfit suitable for such a big day.  Regardless ... my kids wake up on picture day and get dressed just as they would any other day.  They comb their hair and brush their teeth ... in our normal mundane routine.

Then they leave for school.

And when the pictures arrive home ... I always wish we would have given it a little more effort. 

However ... I don't have to wait a decade to humiliate them.

Jake - 7th Grade

 

Drew - 5th Grade

 

Emily - 1st Grade

 

Molly - Kindergarten

 

Stepping Back: And She Has Magical Barbie Powers

Earlier this summer, a rainy day was upon us, and I was in no way complaining.  I mean, after several 'outside pool days', our house was in desperate need of some TLC, not be mention I was way behind on my blog reading.   Just sayin'.

The boys zoned into their video games without persusation, however, the girls were a little bit more of a challenge.  Always preferring to be outdoors ... insisting that they stay inside is usually quite the chore.

However, I had something new to bribe them with on this particular day.  Well, not really new ... but new to us ... from the library.  And it was sure to buy me at least an hour of uninterrupted time to clean up this pit we were calling home.

The Barbie Mermaid DVD.

Oh boy!

So, I popped a bowl of popcorn and nestled them snuggly into my bed.  Believe me, that is quite the treat for them.  Remember, it's the little things when you're a kid, right?

After popping the disk into the player, I fought with the cheap remote control.  Uttering a few naughty words under my breath, I wondered why ANYONE would buy a cheap ass DVD player like the one I was farting around with?  Ahem , okay I admit it, that 'anyone' was ME.  Be quiet! Totally beside the point.

Anyway, after a few aggrevating minutes, and a few hard blows upside the remote control's head, I began to hear the annoying Barbie Mermaid theme music and the movie was finally playing, with both girls soaking it in with wide eyes. 

Before I could escape, and get on with my blog reading chores, the following conversation took place ...

Emily: O-M-G (yes, she actually said just the letters), I knew I was special.  I just KNEW it!!  Do you see how Barbie's hair just turned pink when she got it wet in the water?  Mom?  Do you see?

Me:  Yes.  With an underlying tone of "What's your point, I've got blogs to read stuff to do!"

Emily:  See it.  Do you see it??  It turns pink in the water.  Just like mine turns green. I just can't believe it!!

Molly:  That is SO not fair!  I want my hair to turn green too!

 

Wow ... so I guess that means I have my very own Barbie Mermaid with special powers, doesn't it? 

Settle down people, I know you all are just 'green' with envy, aren't you?  I know I would be.

Dean's Cheesy Pretzel Dip Giveaway - Week 1

Giveaway Has Ended!  Sue is our winner!  Congratulations!

Cheese is a staple in our house.  I am a firm believer that cheese belongs on every food that is placed in our mouths.  However, my family does not share that same belief.  What the heck is wrong with them?  Hello!! I just don't know where I went wrong.

Anyway, one thing my family DOES agree on is Dean's new cheesy pretzel dip.  Can you say yum?  Because that is what you'll be saying when you try this dip.  Not kidding.  It is so good.  A little kick to it, sets it apart from all the other cheese dips out on the market, and gives it a taste all it's own.

I like it so much that I'm going to be running a 3 week giveaway, each week you will have the opportunity to win a coupon for a FREE Dean's Pretzel Dip ... along with other great prizes.

This week I want you to tell me what your favorite dipping device is for cheese dips?  Have you used pretzels?  Or are you a chip lover?  Crackers maybe?  Or do you live on the wild side and use something completely different when dipping into your favorite cheese?

All you have to do is leave me a comment below and tell me.  How easy is THAT?  Too easy ... so I also need you to "like" Dean's on Facebook.  I'll make it as simple as possible.  Just click here and "like" the page. 

Next Friday, October 1 ... I will choose a winner from the comments you've left on this post and that person will receive a coupon for a free Deans pretzel dip along with a dipping tray.  It will be then that I'll post the next Dean's giveaway ... that you'll just have to check back to see what it consists of!  :)

Good Luck!

* I was given Dean's coupons and items in exchange for this post.  However, all opinions expressed are my own.  Prizes will also be supplied by Dean. *

I Blog Conference Discount Tickets!

Hello my fellow bloggers and blog readers.  I need a favor. 

Okay, after you've stopped rolling your eyes, would you mind answering these four simple questions for me?

• Do you have a blog?
• Do you live in the midwest?
• Do you consistently strive to make your blog better?
• Do you wish you could attend a blog conference offering a wealth of information, but feel you can't afford it?

If you answered YES to any or ALL of these questions ... KEEP READING!  Because, I've got the deal for you!!!!

The 2nd annual I_Blog Conference, hosted by the one and only Jody Halsted, is less than two months away, being held on November 5th - 7th.  I wanted to attend the first one that was organized last year, but for reasons out of my control ... I was unable.  Beyond bummed does not even begin to express the way I felt about that.

However, this year is another story and I'm going to be there. 

For sure.

And, I CAN NOT wait. 

Do you want to come too?  You should.

Why?  Well, in addition to the fact that I, An Iowa Mom, would totally love to hang out with you for the weekend, Jody explains the reasons why you should attend this one of a kind conference …  and they are really quite simple:

I_Blog has the most talented speakers from across the Midwest who can help you take your blog to the next level.  But I_Blog isn't just about blogging.  We will also have social media experts, incredible photographers and videographers  to teach you how to make your images memorable and speakers who will show you how to protect yourself – copywriting and trademarking- and your computer.

While I_Blog is small, it is powerful.  And you will leave with information you can utilize right away.

But don't take my word for it- I may be a bit biased.

Melanie Nelson from BloggingBasics101 and the co-author of Typepad For Dummies said, "if you’re looking for hands-on learning, discussions about your concerns and questions, or one-on-one help with your blogging needs (not just the theory of blogging), it can be hard to find those opportunities at large conferences. I_Blog is exactly big enough to ensure you come away with the things you’re looking for. You won’t be disappointed."

Linda from Travels With Children said this after last year's conference:  "One of the things that struck me the most was the professional feel to the conference.  There were no “blogging celebrities” in attendance, and the gift bags, while nice, were not the highlight of the conference.  While some bloggers’ families were at the hotel, there were no young children in the sessions as at other blog conferences.  Perhaps most notably, this was not billed or implied to be a “mommy-blogger” conference.  This was a conference for Midwestern bloggers, and both men and women, of a wide age range, were in attendance."  And, yes, she is returning this year.

And Paula from Boogers and Burps made me blush a bit with her post that said, "I_Blog 2010 is looking to be even better than last year. She has booked some national experts in social media who will not only help you where you’re at, whether you’re a beginner or growing a business, but they’ll also chat with you over cocktails or breakfast. They’re great people."

Now that I have your attention, I'll fill you in on the details.  The conference is being held at Hotel Pattee, in Perry, Iowa.  I had the pleasure of joining Jody (and her beautiful family) earlier this year at this historic hotel for a terrific brunch and tour of the hotel.  So, ahem, I know first hand that the food is an automatic A++.  

Anyway, the drive was not far out of Des Moines, and the diversity of the rooms available was out of this world.  It was so much fun to take a sneak peek into a lot of them and now that the time has come to make my reservation for the conference, I honestly CAN NOT decide which room I'd like to stay in. 

Really.

But, the hotel and it's awesomeness is not the reason for my post.

The DEAL I'm about to share with you is ...

Are you ready?

Special ticket sale September 20-25!

• Monday & Tuesday save $99 with code iblog10!
• Wednesday save $75 with code save75!
• Thursday save $50 with code save50!
• Friday and Saturday save $25 with code save25!

If you'd like to attend this conference with me ... get your ticket NOW.  These savings will NOT last long.  And the tickets probably won't either.

Just sayin'.

Note:  ticket savings codes are active from 12:05am until 11:55pm on the days listed above.  Savings are on full conference tickets only.

A New Dream To Take The Place Of The Old One ...

I don't think it's ever been a secret that Jake's true love has always been football.  Ever since the days from long ago, when he was a tiny tot of a boy, unsteadily running around the house bumping into things ... he usually had a football tucked snugly in his arms.

In the 2nd, 3rd and 4th grade, area boys are given the opportunity to play flag football.  Jake was ALL OVER THAT and enjoyed every second he spent out on the field.  In the fourth grade, tackle football is introduced and if you weigh 60 pounds or more, you can play. 

But Jake didn't weigh that much.  So, he anxiously waited for the following year.

Despite late night snacks and weight gain shakes, he just didn't weigh enough then either.

Surely a growing spurt would be in his future and he'd just do it in the 6th grade.

You guessed it.   The pounds weren't there.

A neighbor and former coach sensed Jake's huge disappointment and cheered him up by informing him that when he entered the 7th grade, there was no limit on weight and he'd be able to play football regardless.  And while that is indeed true, this year when Jake entered the 7th grade, Big Daddy and I just didn't feel comfortable sending his mere 59 pound self out among boys that were much bigger.  I mean, if  only he could have weighed just 75 pounds, still being tiny amidst the others, I'd consider it ... but I just think it would have been a recipe for disaster to allow him to play. 

So, rather than whine and complain and hate us forever ... he took it upon himself to find something else. 

And he signed up for tennis.

Yes, tennis.  Who would have ever thunk it?  He had never played before this year and it was going to take a lot of hard work to catch the skill and ability of the others, but he's working on it.

Let me explain.  They have what they call a ladder.  The kids who rank 1 through 6 play on "Team 1".  The kids who rank 7 through 12 on "Team 2".  All of the others play only doubles.

Jake started out in 14th.  The following week up to 10th.  Last week he made it to 7th, and was beyond excited when the coach approached him to ask if he'd like to fill in for a student on Team 1, who couldn't make the meet scheduled for today. 

A chance to play on TEAM ONE, hello?  He was so happy, knowing it would probably be the only time he'd have the opportunity this year.   And to make it even better, after he played his individual match, he'd be playing doubles with his best friend. 

All weekend he practiced, trying to prepare himself for today.

And then ....

He just called to tell me the meet was cancelled this afternoon.

Maybe I'm just being a major Mama Bear, but dang it ... the poor kid just can't seem to catch a break.  Maybe he can somehow manage to climb up one more spot on his own ... and play on Team 1 before the season ends.

A new dream of sorts.

Right?

A Giveaway!

My friend Amy, over at The Flege Farm, is hosting a giveaway and has asked me to help her spread the word.   

She has four tickets to give away to the upcoming Bebe Paluzza Expo in Des Moines.

If you are interested in attending this event, hurry over to her place now and enter to win.  She will be drawing for winners on Sunday!

Good luck!

BTW - There are some giveaways happening over at IowaMoms.com right now too!