Friday, April 30, 2010

OH NO HE DIDN'T !

My son would live outside if we let him.

I still recall coming home from the hospital, full of wonder and awe of our new baby boy. It took a couple days, maybe even a week for the colic to fully set in. I remember crying right along with him on the couch.

Good times.

It was by sheer accident that we found that the only time he wouldn't cry was if we stepped outside. He was mesmerized. My husband and I would take turns walking laps around our house, just to stop the crying. When he got a little older we would place him in his bouncy seat, on the porch so he could watch the trees. He was one happy little tree watcher.

Set a foot in the door, he screamed.

Not much has changed in four years. We still have an outside boy. Now he likes to sword fight with sticks, dig canals in the dirt, plant seeds, examine bugs and ride his bake. He doesn't like to come inside for anything! He often begs to eat outside. (We are talking snow on the ground here.)

So my husband is thrilled that he has a little garage buddy to pal around with, teach about all things nature and show him the way of the tool bench. They are buds in every way and I am glad.

Well...almost.

My husband has taught my son that it is super fun to....well drop trough and go number one outside. It started this winter when it was too hard to take off snow pants, boots and a coat just to tinkle a little. We are blessed that our backyard backs up to a historical farm so we just see grass and trees from our backyard. Hubs would take Jr to the back of our shed, and they would do their thing.

Well now its warm and its not really a problem to come inside and pee pee. I still will catch my first born standing behind the shed...watering my flowers. I tried to be cool and roll with it. I told myself.."he is a boy...that's what boys do." (I had a sister so I am not wise to the way of boys.)

A couple days ago I was at the park with my friend and my sons best bud. I was relishing in the fact that we could chat on a spread blanket while the kids played on the playground and how big they were getting. I glanced up to see my sons exact location when I saw a strange sight.

I could see that my baby boy was standing by the slide. (He was on the other side of it.) I could also see that his shoulders were hunched forward and he was looking down in concentration.

I started to get cold and numb as I quickly realized that the way he was standing looked familiar to me...it was the pee stance.

So being the rational woman I am, I screamed across the playground in a shrill voice. His head snapped up and he yelled back equally loud. " Mama...I'm Pee'in. I had to go." He then "put it away" , zipped up his pants and jumped on the climbing wall.

I stood totally frozen. I observed my surroundings. I bet there were ten kids around him at the time and several mamas. Once again I was mortified....I looked at my friend. I can't be sure.... but I think she was trying to stifle a little giggle.

I sat back down trying to process what had just happened. We had a talk on the way home about not going pee on the playground..or anywhere besides behind our shed. I caught his expression in the rear view mirror. It was a look that said "This woman is crazy".

I also had a talk with his daddy that night.

So now when he hits the age where he starts to get embarrassed of us and thinks his parents uncool, I will be prepared with proper ammunition. I will pull this little gem out and make sure the cute girl hears it.

Oh yeah...payback....

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Works for me Wednesday: Little plate, Big Plate

Whomever said "nine months on, nine months off" about losing baby weight, never had a baby. Or at least was some kind of supernatural being. For me, although back in my pre-baby clothes, my body never settled into the before shape.

Now I suddenly have fat....on my back. You know.... the fleshy "extra" part at the hips?!?! Don't even get me started on the little layer right on your side where your bra is trying to get it all in. (One time I tried to loosen my bra, to eliminate the extra layer only to have the girls slip out of the bottom during an awkward moment.)

Good times.

This along with trying to be more healthy in general has changed my eating ways. I feel better and have more energy.

One of the things I have done is change my plates. Yep, my plates.


Its a simple thing but it has shown me the power of the mind. For me, its less about my stomach and more about my eyes.

I have exchanged my big plate for a small one.

When I have the proper portions on the big plate, it looks like I don't have enough food to fill me up. Then I go back for seconds.

When I use the small plate with the same portions, the food looks like its in heaping portions...practically falling off the plate. It tells my mind that I am getting a ton of food and surprisingly I get full.


That works for this mama!




For more great WFMW ideas visit We are That Family!

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Mama knows Best: laundry mayhem

We as mamas have to be innovative and thrifty all in the same beat. Some how we find new ways of doing things that save us money, time and maybe if we are really blessed.... sanity!
Ahhhh...laundry. You love it when it smells nice and fresh. You hate it when its piled to the ceiling and you don't know how it got that way. Love it or hate it, you have to do it. I am always looking for ways to make the laundry experience more....manageable.

I always fold or hang clothes before I even make the trek upstairs. That doesn't really help the put away process, however. I always go back and forth between rooms. I finish in my sons room only to find something at the bottom of the pile of his and have to go back. It goes on like this ....


Recently I have developed a great process to help me and save me time. I bought 4 laundry baskets, of four different colors. Each person is assigned a color. If you have laundry it goes in your basket. I then take the basket downstairs, wash the laundry, fold, hang and place back in the same basket.

One trip to one room. It saves me some eye twitching in my left eye :)


Do you have a money/time/sanity tip to share? E-mail me at everythingmom@live.com

Monday, April 26, 2010

Menu Plan Monday: A yummy week!

I am thrilled to be able to attend the Women of Faith conference for the very first time. (I have always been too pregnant or nursing to attend in the previous years) Since I will be arriving home Saturday night at dinner time, I have decided to try a easy sounding crock pot lasagna. How cool is that!?!?! I mean really....who wants to slave a couple hours making lasagna when a crockpot can do the work for you!! Happy eating Y'all!

Monday: Grilled chicken, grilled asparagus and bell peppers, salad, crescent rolls

Tuesday: BBQ chicken sandwiches with bacon and Colby cheese, baked fries, broccoli

Wednesday: Leftover buffet- Its if not movin, you can eat it...but mama is not cookin!

Thursday: Asian pork chops, brown rice, mixed veggies

Friday: Pizza night!

Saturday: Slow cooker Lasagna (Recipe follows) salad, garlic bread

Sunday: beef roast with mushroom sauce, mashed potatoes, green beans

Slow Cooker Lasagna
1 (1 pound) package Italian Sausage
1 (9 ounce) package no-boil lasagna noodles, broken into 2 pieces
12 ounces ricotta cheese
3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
2 (26 ounce) jars pasta sauce
1 tablespoon dried parsley

Spray interior of slow cooker with non-stick vegetable spray.

In medium skillet over medium heat, crumble and cook sausage until brown. Place in slow cooker. Add noodles, ricotta, 2 cups mozzarella, pasta sauce and parsley. Stir gently to combine.
Cover and cook on low for 4 to 6 hours. 5 minutes before serving, top with remaining 1 cup mozzarella cheese. Cover to melt cheese.