Weekly Winners

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. We had a wonderful weekend and got some good shots.

Caitlin laughing at "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" special.

Davey has learned to undress himself and boy is he proud of himself.

Davey really liked running among the Christmas trees.

Caitlin posing with her Charlie Brown tree.

Go to Sarcastic Mom's weekly winners to check out some great shots.

Toddler Talk

I took the kids for a walk near the high school. The senior girls were playing a powder puff game. We saw three girls with their faces painted with the school's colors. Here's the conversation we had:

Caitlin: What's wrong with those girls' faces?

Me: They painted them to show school spirit. They are going to watch the girls play football.

Caitlin: Oh. Don't they know that they should only color on paper.

Less Words Wednesday

Sparkles, sparkles, everywhere. A fairy disaster.

Ticked Off Tuesday

Christmas decorations are ticking me off. I know I'm a big old scrooge but really can't we wait till after Thanksgiving? I feel like all the decorations cause the season to be too long and lose some of the specialness. I really get annoyed by special Christmas deals that are only good till the day before Thanksgiving. I refuse to get my kids photos taken with Santa Claus before Thanksgiving even though I could save about $10 for the photo package. I worked in a department store a couple of years ago and they started putting Christmas stuff out in late August along with the back to school stuff. Should back to school, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas goods all be displayed at the same time? Am I the only one that is bugged by this? Let me know.

Weekly Winners

I didn't take many photos this week. I really need to make some time for myself at least once a week to take photos of things other than my kids. Or I guess I need to find beauty in the everyday objects which others do so well. Anyway enough rambling, here are my animal winners this week.

Go to Sarcastic Mom's weekly winners to check out some great shots.

Funny Photo Friday

Apple Smiles

Plinko Pleasure

Growing up one of the things that comforted me when I was home sick was The Price is Right. Hearing those magic words "Come on down" filled my heart with joy. Looking back on it, I think it is funny I liked it so much considering I didn't know the price of anything. I guess watching the contestants' excitement and Plinko of course was enough to entertain me. I loved Bob Barker. I especially loved watching him cringe and move out of contestants way when they were over excited. You can't really blame the guy after that lady broke his rib. I wasn't sure I'd like Drew Carey relacing Bob but now I think he is great. He gets so excited for the contestants. And I don't think that anyone will be breaking his ribs anytime soon. There is still something comforting about watching game shows when I'm feeling under the weather. The Price is Right is still one of my favorites.



This post was written for Parent Bloggers Network as part of a sweepstakes sponsored by Oliebollen.com
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Toddler Talk

After a particularly cranky day, Caitlin says to me, "You know who is grouchy like me?" I ask who. Caitlin proudly says "Oscar the grouch." Boy did she hit that nail in the head. What a role model!

Thankful...

We try to get Caitlin to talk about her time at preschool but like most 3 1/2 year olds she doesn't say much. I knew that the topic yesterday was "Being Thankful". I asked her what she was thankful for and she pretty much growled at me. I then told her 10 things I was thankful for hoping that would prompt her to think of something. She paused for a couple of seconds and then she said, "I'm thankful you stop talking."

Ticked Off Tuesday

Customer service or lack of it is really ticking me off lately. When you walk into a store rarely does an employee greet you. The other day I asked an employee where a product was and she actually sighed like I was really putting her out. What really bothers me is when I go to check out and the cashier doesn't talk at all They do not even to tell me my total. Recently I have begun to play a fun game, I stand there silently until the cashier is so uncomfortable that they actually talk and tell me my total. It entertains me at least. It is like a game of chicken to see who will cave and talk first. I win about half the time.

When I go somewhere and the employees are friendly and helpful, it seems unusual. It just is sad. Doesn't anyone teach customer service skills anymore?

Weekly Winners

The fall weather is coming to an end. It is suppose to snow here this week but we enjoyed the warm weather and the leaves this past week.


Go to Sarcastic Mom's weekly winners to check out some great shots.

Funny Photo Friday

I love this photo. An oldie but a goody.

Tutus for You

I am totally not crafty but I like to think that I am. I don't have much time to practice being crafty. This is why when I found this tutorial on Little Window Shoppe I knew I had to try to make a tutu.

I think that it came out well. It is the perfect tutu for playing in and for taking cute photos. This is the perfect project for a not so crafty person. I've made two others for my daughter's friends' birthdays. Everyone thinks I'm crafty now.

This post was written for Parent Bloggers Network as part of a sweepstakes sponsored by Klutz, the maker of some great activity and crafting books. Klutz has a special offer, free shipping and a free copy of the award-winning Activity Book (a $14.95 value) when you order $50+ via this link. Just click it!

Linky Love

No real post today. I'm all distracted waiting to hear news of the impending birth of a friend's baby. Anyway I stumbled upon this site, Craftastrophe, and it is just too good to not share. Craftastrophe shares some of the funniest crafting disasters ever. It is laugh out loud funny. So go check it out.

Wordless Wednesday

Thankful Tuesday

I was going to start a new theme on Tuesdays called "Ticked Off Tuesday" but I thought since it is Veterans Day that that seemed tacky. So I decided to write a list of things I am thankful for today.

1. To all the veterans who worked so hard and sacrificed so much to keep our country safe.

2. Toddlers playing for a whole playdate without fighting.

3. Toddlers eating their whole lunch including the vegetables.

4. Sunny days.

5. Kids napping.

6. Visiting friends.

7. A wonderful husband who cooked on the weekend so I didn't have to yesterday or today.

8. A clean house 2 days in a row.

9. 50 calorie mini brownies.

10. My children's giggles.

Feel free to add to the list in the comment section. And a thank you to Swistle for giving me the idea.

Weekly Winners

I was driving home from a friend's house and saw all these beautiful horses out grazing in the fields. I had to pull over to take some shots. I'm so glad I had my camera. Click to enlarge.





This horse kinda scared me as it came running towards the small fence separating us. I probably could have gotten some good shots but it seemed like he could have easily walked over it to stomp me, so I left. I'm a wimp.

Go to Sarcastic Mom's weekly winners to check out some great shots.

Crazy Christmas Eve Dinner

The holiday season will soon be upon us. When you see Saint Nick decorations next to cornucopias in the stores, I can't help but think of holiday memories. Each year when we gather around the table we tell stories of holiday past. One of my favorite stories is one that I was not even present for but seems to get retold most holidays.

I'll retell it Sophia Petrillo style...

Picture it. Christmas eve 1972. The women of the family were preparing the seafood dinner. As they prepared the stuffed jumbo shrimp, my grandmother asked my Aunt Dotty about her cat. Aunt Dotty lived alone and was very fond of that cat. Aunt Dotty told a story of how Rags got his tail caught in a mouse trap. Well that tickled my grandmother. She couldn't help but burst out with laughter. That set Aunt Dotty off. Her face was bright red as she shouted at my grandmother to stop it. That made my grandmother laugh even harder. Before they knew it Aunt Dotty grabbed a knife and tried to stab my grandmother. The shrimp were flying. Fortunately my mom could see Aunt Dotty was trying to do and was able to stop her. Aunt Dotty took a long walk and cooled down. She joined them for dinner and no one acknowledged what happened. People ate and laughed like nothing had happened. As my grandmother would say the food was all made, why waste a good meal. I don't think Aunt Dotty really would have hurt grandma anyway. She always was a little dramatic. The only thing that changed after that dinner was Aunt Dotty was called Crazy Aunt Dotty, but never to her face, of course.

This post was written for Parent Bloggers Network as part of a sweepstakes sponsored by Butterball.

Vaccine Trouble

On Monday I took the Davey for his 18 month checkup. Both Caitlin and Davey were scheduled for their flu shots too. I wasn't sure if they would give the kids the flu shots since they both had colds. The doctor said they were fine as long as they didn't have a fever, which they didn't. I thought that was weird since I was refused my flu shot on Friday due to my cold but I trust the doctor.

Well in the future I will reschedule the appointment for the shots. Davey has never had a reaction to any shots other than being tired and sleeping more. That is not a big deal, I enjoy extra nap time. Anyway Davey was unbelievably grouchy all day Monday and Tuesday. He was way worse off than before the visit. He got his tetanus shot as well as his flu so I'm not totally sure if it was the flu shot, the tetanus shot, or the combination. I spent all day Monday and Tuesday holding Davey or listening to him whine/cry. Caitlin also seemed more cranky but it is harder to judge since she is the more moody of the two. She also was not as sick with the cold.

I just wanted to share so maybe I can spare some of you the rotten days Davey had post vaccines.

Timeouts are they working?

How can you tell if giving your child a timeout is working? Caitlin often gets timeouts for misbehaving. The misbehavior ranges from not following directions, not sharing, and hitting her brother. When I give her a timeout I send her to her room. She is to stay there until she calms down and will say she is sorry if she hurt her brother. She usually is only in her room for 3-4 minutes. We talk about what she did as well. According to the literature that the pediatrician handed out and most other experts I have read, this is the way to do timeouts.

Is it working? Sometimes Caitlin will come out of timeout and say she is sorry and then go right back to the previous offense. I send her back sometimes 3-4 times. Eventually she decides to behave. I know she needs to learn that their are consequences to her actions. I guess kids don't learn this too quickly. And they seem to forget the lesson after a short time.

I think that the timeouts are sometimes just as much for me as her. Sometimes I need the timeout to regain some patience lost. That short time allows me to calm down too.

I guess they are working. I just wish there was a quicker and easier way to deal with this stuff. If anyone has a good suggestion, please share.

Until then I think I will try to bottle the magic the grandparents seem to have. The kids never misbehave when they watch them. They are either magical or good liars.

Contest Winner

Thank you everyone who entered my Pay It Forward Contest. I used a random number generator and comment #1 was the winner, Karly. And she thought she wouldn't win because she was the first commenter. Be sure to check out her blog, Wiping Up Snot. She is so funny. I once laughed so hard while reading one or her posts soda same out my nose. Anyway congratulations Karly! Once I get your info I'll try to not be a lazy loser and send you a fun prize.

Last Chance to Enter Contest

Don't forget to enter my pay it forward contest to win some fun stuff. To enter just comment on this post. I'll announce the winner tomorrow.

Weekly Winners

Ok first don't forget to enter my pay it forward contest to win some fun stuff. To enter just comment on this post.
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I didn't take a lot of photos this week since everyone was sick. Fortunately the kids recovered enough for trick or treating. Here are my favorites this week.

Serious mermaid

Cool pumkin

Glowing mermaid

The pups

Go to Sarcastic Mom's weekly winners to check out some great shots.