T Minus 56 days and counting...

How is it that Halloween is like, TOMORROW?

Wow. This month has flown by.

Which means (choking on my stolen Snickers bar) that Christmas is 56 days away.

(inhaled the nougat filling over that...) I need a drink.

Trying to shake off the millions of fears that I have for this winter and focus on today. Trying to focus on Now.

Now, which involves my kids having a sleep-out on the family room floor, watching Pokemon together after another decent day of homeschool. Listening to them hang out. Remembering the hour-long "monster" game they played that had all 3 of them laughing hysterically. Wiping the happy wetness from my cheeks over the love I have for everyone under this roof.

Now, meaning the fairly full pantry and fridge. The rare treat of bacon for breakfast (thank you Papa) which made all of their eyes light up in anticipation.

Now, because everyone I love is healthy and here. We have a roof over our heads and clothes on our backs. This won't be the best holiday season because of gifts received, but hopefully? Hopefully it will be the best holiday season because of the gratitude we can find for the blessings we DO have.

I'll still be stressed. I'll still cry every day over things I cannot control. But my goal is to focus on the things that ARE within my control. My goal is to stay above the depression that never fails to accompany the retreat of the sunshine from our state. My goal is to LIVE my life TODAY instead of desperately attempting to insure that tomorrow will be better...

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Hope your Halloween is fun and safe! Hope OURS isn't as rainy as I think it will be!!

$500 BeiBambini Baby clothes Giveaway!!

I have been so excited about this giveaway! My fingers have been twitching as I worked out the details with my contact and it's finally done!

BeiBambini is an online retailer for children's clothing by Jeanine Johnsen. Simply adorable and very traditional while still being trendy, their baby clothes make me tilt my head and do that little "Ooh!" sigh that any woman who adores babies would recognize.

So, when I found out that I could offer 2 readers the chance to win a collection from last year's line, each worth $500? I almost considered getting knocked up, just so that I could keep one for myself!

Almost.

Keep reading and see how you can win one!!

Nearly Wordless Wednesday

Corinne designed it herself, so cut me some slack. SERIOUSLY; she drew the design out and everything!
One quick breath. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to blow out your candles so easily?
And any worries I had that the freebie Strawberry Shortcake dolls I got from BlogHer wouldn't be enough of a birthday present for my little girl were wiped out IMMEDIATELY. "Thrilled" doesn't do it justice.


I think it's safe to say that Corinne had a great 4th birthday this past weekend.

I think it's also pathetic that I didn't take more pictures... Really! I took like, 15 pics of my only daughter's 4th birthday party. WHAT THE HELL?!? I am usually the picture freak!

Oh well. It'll be a great reason for therapy in her future.


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Just wanted to add that I am SO EXCITED about the giveaways I have going on! First, there's the Bonefish Grill $25 gift certificate and there is another REALLY cool one coming up tonight or tomorrow for all of you with kids under 1, so keep your eyes open!!

An enigma*

Bit of a writer's block tonight. Lots in my head but nothing I want to pimp out for the entire world (because I KNOW that the entire world reads my blog. I mean, why wouldn't they?).

Today was a good, normal, decent day. Nothing drastically high or low besides a few moments of all-out bawling in the shower contrasting with absolute peace and happiness as I read "Ramona's World" to the kids before bed... You know. Just another day in my Midwestern, broke-ass, homeschooling life. I'm settling for a leftover beer from Corinne's birthday party (she's such a lush) as the wine didn't make this far. Facebook is calling me with its mind-numbing games and Thrilling! Updates! so I may just mark all as read tonight and cross that off my list of "things to do."

Then again, I may not. A woman of mystery! An enigma! That is I, my friends. (waggly eyebrows)

I have a giveaway running for a $25 gift card to Bonefish Grill restaurant. Check it out.

*Enigma. Doesn't that sound like a dirty word? Or something to visit the dermatologist about?

Stages of childhood...

Every child goes through at least 8,645 stages before they reach age 18. It's a scientifically proven fact.

Cross my heart.

I know this because I have been doing this parenting gig for 10 years, 8 months, and 6 days for 3 different children and my children are well on their way to achieving that number. The good stages of "I love to wash dishes with Mommy" or "Diaper Thrower-Awayer" don't seem to last very long. This is rotten not only for the loss of the genuine help but also for the fact that the BAD stages of "biting my brother when he touches my favorite bear" or "melting into a pile of screaming goo when Mommy says 'No' " seem to last that much longer in comparison.

My most favorite stage is presently in full swing in my household! Which one? It's not the "I love homework" stage or even the "I like to vacuum" stage. No, no... It's EVEN. BETTER...

Finish reading...

Stage #1672 in full swing!

Originally posted at the former Chicago Moms Blog on October 25, 2009

Stage #1672 in full swing!

Every child goes through at least 8,645 stages before they reach age 18. It's a scientifically proven fact.

Cross my heart.

I know this because I have been doing this parenting gig for 10 years, 8 months, and 6 days for 3 different children and my children are well on their way to achieving that number. The good stages of "I love to wash dishes with Mommy" or "Diaper Thrower-Awayer" don't seem to last very long. This is rotten not only for the loss of the genuine help but also for the fact that the BAD stages of "biting my brother when he touches my favorite bear" or "melting into a pile of screaming goo when Mommy says 'No' " seem to last that much longer in comparison.

My most favorite stage is presently in full swing in my household! Which one? It's not the "I love homework" stage or even the "I like to vacuum" stage. No, no... It's EVEN. BETTER...

"I love my brother/sister but I want to literally strangle him/her so I shall wrap my hands around their neck and kick and scream and try to murder him/her whenever something doesn't go my way."

THAT STAGE.

I can just hear the jealous exclamations through my computer's monitors...

The BEST part of this stage is yet to be said. For the absolute frosting on top of this stage is that when said siblings (who honestly love each other so much they actually hold hands when they fall asleep. I kid you not.) engage in bloody warfare, I get to kill 2 birds with one punishment. For we? Are a homeschooling family. And my kids? Have never had so much penmanship practice as this week has allowed.

I told you it was a great stage, right?

Remembering the angels...

Sending out love to Ruby... Know that as my daughter blows out her candles today, I think of your daughter. I know it doesn't help much, but she's not forgotten, sweetie...

For every mother who suffers holidays and birthdays without their little ones, you are never far from my mind...

Goodbye 3... It's been nice knowing you.

Sniff. I just disentangled myself from the arms and legs of my children on the couch to finish this little montage....

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Cliche, I know, but WHERE did the time go?!? Wasn't it just yesterday that she was 2?

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

And that her first birthday was last week?

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

How about her baby years?

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

If you made it through those montages, you must really love me! Trust me, the music is lovely but the little girl on them is spectacular!

No bias.

Off to clean and decorate and bake for my BIG GIRL'S birthday party on Saturday. Wish me luck that I don't cry...

Wednesday Fluff

Whoooo doggy. I'm beat. From what, I dunna no. I am positive it has nothing to do with Evan's nightly nightmares or Justin's reappearance with asthma at bedtime. And it surely couldn't be related to the letters written below... (in green is Corinne's writing: "I will be nice." In the background is Evan's writing "I will not hurt my sister." I won't tell you which child screamed hysterically about having to do this punishment and which child happily took the writing utensil on their own to perfect her penmanship. Oops. I used a pronoun!)

It also has nothing to do with the birthday party on Saturday that I haven't planned a THING for (though Corinne wants chocolate cake with pink flowers pretty please. Can do. Can do...)

I'm sure it DEFINITELY has something to do with the fact that I am 100% out of coffee. I reheated day old stuff today and that? Is the end of my stash. There ain't no barrel to scrape and Thursday morning is looming awfully near for my taste...

It's amazing what a little sunshine can do for the soul...

I'm the only Mommy who gets to be the Cat in the Hat to his Ninja...

I'm the only Mom who gets to maul him with kisses, though he pretends to not like it...

I'm the only Mommy who gets to wear pigtails with this little cutie...

I'm the only one who gets to call him my husband.

Today is about being grateful for what I've got...

Parenting/Chocolate Cake. Anyone else see the similarity?

Parenthood is weird.

Who would have thought that you could love someone else so completely that you would literally rip your own heart out to save their life?

Who would have thought that you could feel that strongly about someone you routinely want to strangle?

Wild and wacky, folks. Wild and wacky...

Oopsy doodle.

Note to self:

When you are engaged in a riveting game of Bejeweled Blitz (my high is 315,000. Oh yes; It IS.) and you hear your husband come around the corner to spy on you and you say "Don't you dare come in here! You know you always f%ck me up!" without looking up to be SURE it's your husband? Might I suggest using your eyes before throwing the F-bomb around?

Because that heavy shuffling that sounds exactly like your husband might just be your ever-growing ten-year-old son, wandering about the house at 11 pm, confused and bewildered into believing that it's 11 am, instead of pm. And then you might just have to wash your mouth out for swearing at your baby boy that way...

Just a thought.
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Today was a bit better. Despite the fact that I realized I had forgotten about a den meeting that I had planned (I'm the leader. Oops.) and having to punish Evan for brutalizing his sister. Despite all the little shit, today was a still a bit better... Thanks for your thoughts....

Icky, Yucky, Very Bad Day

Rawr. I am GA.Rum.Py. You may want to just turn your head and look the other way. It ain't pretty right now. My eyebrows? They're all knotted together in a perpetual frown and I am READY for 8 pm. Bring on the nighttime so that we can start a new day tomorrow!

Kids whined when asked to get dressed and (gasp!) brush teeth? Check.

Kids threw tantrums (to the degree of hysterical tears and claims that I don't care about them) over the fun activities (including science experiments, cooking on their own and making musical instruments) that I had planned for the day in lieu of boring paperwork?* Check.

Mom threw a tantrum (to the degree that I said something along the lines of "if you don't like doing FUN ACTIVITES instead of busy work all day long, then maybe you should go back to public school?!?")** that No ONE appreciated the FUN. DAY. I had prepared (damnit)? Check.

Freezing rain continued to fall and make it impossible to send said unruly offspring into the yard to burn off this attitude? Check.

Laundry is piled on my couch. Dishes are towering in my sink. I am in my robe, having never reached the nirvana that is the steaming hot shower with strawberry soaps... The kids are dirty. I am growling (literally) and Today? Today is an icky, yucky, very bad day.

Overall, this day can just fade into oblivion and I'd be happy as a lark. Of course, by documenting the absolutely craptastic day we had, I have now permanently ingrained it into my memories.

Fabulous. Genius skills. I should get paid for this shit.

* They are totally getting extra math work tomorrow. That'll teach 'em, right? I am nothing if not mature.

** I regret this, but it was said, so I can't erase it. When you've been trying to calmly diffuse an unreasonable argument, every person has their limit. Even the most serene person has their glass ceiling to be broken.

A Day In the City

We went to watch Corinne's favorite band (besides the Beatles and Tool, and I don't think we'll be taking her to EITHER of those concerts anytime soon) yesterday. Gustafer Yellowgold Rocked. The. House. Schuba's was cram-packed with the under 6 crowd and their designated drivers. Many hip, young city preschoolers sang along with Morgan Taylor as he led one of the cutest kid concerts I've ever been to. My family had already loved the music, but to have him narrate and connect the songs made the character so much fuller and more adorable. I want to send out a huge thank you to them for including me, my daughter and my best friend in such an engaging experience.

Check and see if Gustafer is coming to a city near you! I promise you, we will be going when they come back to Chicago!
This is par for the course lately. Why do all kids go through a silly face stage when being photographed? And how cute are we three? Pretty damn cute, if you ask me.

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Listen to the video. Can you tell we have the cd playing in the van ALL THE TIME?

It was such a GORGEOUS day in Chicago, that we headed over to Lincoln Park Zoo. "I love having just da girls, Mommy!" I heard this a lot... And since we managed to find an open and FREE parking spot RIGHT outside the zoo entrance, we had an almost entirely FREE day in Chicago! (We had to buy a Dora ice cream, you know...) It is always refreshing to have only 1 child on a fun outing. We watched the lions roar (twice!), polar bear swim, and monkeys beat the tar out of each other,

"They're brother and sister, right?"

That'd be my guess, baby girl.


Please look at the picture on my sidebar of the missing girl from Aurora, IL...

Cleaning for a Reason

I got an email from my mom telling me about a foundation called Cleaning for a Reason. It's a non-profit organization that provides free house-cleaning for women with cancer.

What a lovely idea. What a helpful, easy thing to do that can make a world of difference for a family struggling with such a difficult situation. I encourage you to visit their site and see if there is any way you can help. They accept donations, but if this isn't something you can do, they also need the word of mouth to bring attention to their site. Another easy way to help? If you already use a cleaning service, ask if they know of Cleaning for a Reason. Or, consider switching to a local service that does participate in this charity. And LET THEM KNOW! Let them know why you switched. Companies need to see that we care about their policies as well as their procedures.

Do you know of a woman who might benefit from this service? If so, I am so sorry that she is dealing with cancer. Perhaps she may be interested in hearing about Cleaning for a Reason to relieve even a tiny bit of the unquestionably enormous amount of stress in her life.

Thanks guys. And please, pass it along.

Mother Daughter Tattoos

Remember my whole mid-life, "I want to do something crazy-maybe I should get a tattoo-I don't have money-kinda need money for a tattoo-bummer" post a while back? Well, I may not be able to get one yet, nor even know what or WHERE I might want to get one, but for now, this little henna tattoo is making me happy. We studied Islam in our homeschooling club this week and the women brought henna for anyone who wanted to try it out. They brought SO much information and food and our conversations lasted SO long, that the henna wasn't brought out till the end and the crafts never even got started! I managed to get a quickie and so did Corinne, right before we left. While I am happy with it, I think it needs to be noted that you should never get a henna tattoo done quickly just before you get ready to drive 3 kids in a conversion van, buckling a 3 year old into her car seat, through the rain to the post office where you will need to write out a card for an overnight letter with the hand you currently have caked-on, drying henna upon. Not the best choice.
It still looks pretty, though. And since we had so much that we didn't get to finish on Islam this week, the unit will be extended to the next meeting. I'm thinking of asking her to retrace it so that I can keep it a bit longer. It's pretty cool...
Corinne got a REALLY fast henna butterfly which got smeared in her car seat and is WAY lighter because of it. Again: a fast henna tattoo isn't the best choice for an adult, let alone a 3 year old.

Speaking of THREE YEAR OLDS...

Oh. My. God. She's turning 4 in 2 weeks! Still shaking my head over that one... Because it's not really possible that my baby isn't a baby anymore. Is it? She is Ecstatic over our Girls' Day Out this Sunday. Just me, her, and my friend will be going into Chicago to watch Gustafer Yellowgold, and then FINALLY use the gift certificates I received from Corner Bakery, eons ago. (Sorry Corner Bakery! There really aren't any restaurants in my neck of the woods!) It is on days like that that I am SO grateful for blogging and for being seen as someone to single out once in a while. It will be an entire day out with my baby girl, almost completely paid for by blogging. You can't beat days like those.

If you're planning on going to the show, let me know! We'll be the nerds that will be dancing and singing along to the songs. Probably in the middle of the room, hopefully not atop any tables...

Speaking of fun stuff from blogging, don't forget to enter my giveaway for Discovery Toys! It's a good one!

Redirecting

You gotta watch my video on my other blog... This was not the best morning, but not atypical, either...

Maxi pads: not just for periods anymore!

I've just been informed that no one should enter the downstairs bathroom lest they die of a deadly stink bomb. Fabulous.

Between that and the maxi pads that were used as toilet paper yesterday (no one has admitted to this crime, but I have my suspicions) and the clogs that resulted from said incident, I have been spending way too much time defumigating our bathrooms.

Fishing poopy maxi pads from my toilet: yet another situation I never pictured when I said "Let's have a baby! And another! And ANOTHER!"

Hopes

Please head on over to my review site to win a free Discovery Toys' gift! It's worth the click, I promise.
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Keeping quiet today. I'll write soon, I promise.

Hope you hug someone you love today.

Hope you have someone tell you they love you.

Hope you love them back....

An outlet. HA.

4:39 am.

Hello, insomnia. I thought you had left the building? Great to have you back again.

If you own emotions and revelations that you never share with anyone, do they really exist?

If your outlet isn't private, can it truly be an outlet?

What do I do with these revelations?

How do I process my feelings if I am unable to discuss them with anyone?

I don't know where to go from here...

Who can I blame, now?

So, if I'm homeschooling them, and their main influences occur within the home or family unit, and Evan makes a remark so crude that it makes me stop playing Bejeweled Blitz (AMAZING feat in this house), then who is to blame?

Communists. I can blame communists, right?

Or being immunized as a baby. That is most likely the reason.

An inquiry, if you don't mind.

Hey, all you crafty people. I'm hoping to help my friend set up some things online and wanted to know if I was missing any key locations for these ideas. Do tell me what I'm missing, ok?

She has incredible artistic ability. As in WOW. There are some items that I think she could sell on Etsy with a decent profit. But is there a different online web/store place that she should also market her handmade stuff on?

Are you allowed to list things for sale on blogs? Just wondering, because I haven't ever done so, and don't want to encourage a "no-no."

That's about it, for now. Think creative, crafty things and help me help her, ok?

Much thanks.